Hello, this is my first fanfiction and I hope you guys like it. I've been working on it forever despite the fact my friends find it very predictable. Oh well. I'm not the best writer in the world. LOL. I should warn that it is the typical scenario of someone being "magically" transported to Middle Earth. Very common theme but I thought I might tweek it a little bit. This whole chapter is the introduction and a bit cute. :) So once again, I hope you like it and please RR! Thanks a bunch.

Stories. Everyone has a story that is just waiting to be told. Some are humorous and provide entertainment. Others are sadder and solemn with a lesson as part of its purpose. Whatever a story may be written for, this one is unique. I have not told it for years and I never thought I would be believed since it is truly about me. Since I am getting older, it is a part of me I should share with a distinctive view. Maybe you will not believe me or maybe no one will. That is a risk I am willing to take. This story is my own. It is a past with no future.

Erin was only two when she made the error that changed her forever. Being two, what could she do that was so dramatic? She was a normal two-year-old who enjoyed watching Sesame Street on TV and playing with toys. She liked anything pink especially her Barbie dolls. Erin loved butterflies, rainbows, and anything girlish. She seemed so innocent; except Erin had a mischievous side to her. It was nothing drastic for a person her age. Of course, she would run around coloring on walls when her mother wasn't watching. She would pinch her baby sister just to see what would happen and would steal cookies from the cookie jar. In fact, this is what led up to her error.

It was an average spring day and her mother had baked cookies for a party that was to be held later that night. Erin's father had been working on scientific research for years and was able to discover a new species of insects. This party, in his honor, was to be the highlight of the family's year with awards, magazine reporters, and the press. It was quite a big event for the family and very important to her father. At this specific time, Erin was in her fancy party dress and watching TV. Everything was going well until Erin's little sister, Kathleen, started crying.

"Darn it," Erin's mother said as she ran up the stairs leaving the cookies behind. Erin continued to watch her show until she realized how good the newly baked cookies looked.

"Come on," a voice said in her head, "Go eat a cookie." Debating for a moment, Erin responded as though she was talking to someone,

"Mommy said no cookie for Erin!"

"Eat one before she comes back," the voice said. Erin was beginning to think quite a lot considering she was two. Following directions was not one of her strengths but rather a weakness.

"It'll be yummy," the voice said again but Erin needed no further convincing. She was already in the kitchen. Pushing the chair against the counter, she climbed up and reached for the plate of cookies. Spotting them, she took one and shoved it into her month. It was still warm and gooey from the oven. A cookie like this had never tasted so sweet.

"Yum, yum, yum," Erin said to herself as she was chewing the cookie with her mouth opened. She ate it immediately and realized that she wanted another. Looking around and listening for her mother, Erin grabbed another one and wolfed it down. Then she reach for another, ate that one. She had a fourth one, a fifth one, and then stopped when she heard she mother come down the stairs. Erin jumped down to the chair and sat back down watching TV, still chewing her last cookie. Her mom walked into the kitchen and it didn't take her long before she saw the missing cookies.

"Erin," her mom said gently, "Did you have a cookie even though I said you couldn't?"

"No," Erin said a little too quickly for the question.

"Erin," her mom said again, "Did you have a cookie?"

"Erin had no cookie," Erin responded again.

"You aren't lying to me?" Her mom asked with a little bit of impatience.

"No," Erin said again with a small smile spreading across her face. But Erin didn't fool her mother for a minute. Her mom saw how many cookies she ate and was very disappointed. Erin was put in a ten-minute time out to think about what she had just done. Even though it wasn't a big deal, Erin felt bad and embarrassed that she had eaten the cookies.

"Erin been very bad," she said to herself, "And mommy no be happy." She thought how she could fix everything and decided to make some new cookies for mommy. Once again, her mother was called upstairs because of her little sister. Erin jumped out of the time out chair and started cooking. She put together some sugar, cocoa, milk, Hershey's chocolate, brownie mix, flour, and several other ingredients considering she had no idea was she was doing. She began looking through some of Daddy's storage drawers and didn't find anything to make cookies until she found something that caught her eye. She had never seen it before and was able to identify some of the letters on the label. "T...I...M...E," Erin began reading, "T...R...A...V...E...L." Having no idea was the letters meant she glanced down and saw that the liquid was a pretty green and looked like melted jello to Erin. "Yummy, yummy," she responded as she quickly poured some of it into the giant bowl. Mixing them all together, Erin thought that it needed more of Daddy's jello. Pouring the rest of the bottle in she quickly decided to taste it. This is where the story begins.

Erin had no other memories of the events that had enfolded after the taste of her recipe. The only explanation she was ever given was from a good friend. Erin didn't time warp but rather ended up in another world, Middle Earth. This good friend was no other than Gandalf the Grey. The year was 2851 of the third age and Gandalf was traveling through the mountains to the meeting of the White Council. He was delayed when he came upon a small, human girl whom was both hungry and tired. Taking pity on her, Gandalf took her upon his own horse and cared for her. He then continued to ride planning to leave her in the care friends in Edoras. His plan changed quickly when he found that she had abilities no other human child had ever possessed. The girl could perfectly replicate simple spells that Gandalf had performed and could quickly learn other languages. With this knowledge, Gandalf knew the girl needed more protection then the world of men could give. Instead, Gandalf traveled to Imladris (Rivendell). Upon arrival, Lord Elrond was not pleased with Gandalf's decision.

"Gandalf," Elrond asked firmly, "How can we be sure she is not another trick of Sauron's." Elrond had known the cruelty of Sauron through war itself. Sauron was full of malice and deception, so much that even the most suspicious of his deeds fell to his power. No one could defeat him and the only time his power decreased in power was when madness drove one man to insanity. Even then, this man fell to his death from Sauron. No one was safe and Sauron was very difficult to stop.

"I would know if Sauron dwelled in the appearance of a child more than any mere mortal could. A human child is a matter you are familiar with," Gandalf replied, "You are better equipped to protect one especially with power in any mean." Noticing Elrond not being settled with the manner, Gandalf continued, "I am asking you and people to raise her. Not train her. That matter I shall deal with myself. Treat her as you would any other of your people. At this early of an age, she can be easily instructed." At this, Elrond had no reason to continue in arguing. He agreed to assist Gandalf in the raising of this human girl. Hoping to raise her to be an example of the war against Sauron, Elrond gave her the symbolical name of Elendil.