Chapter 1: A Future Past
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Disclaimer: I do not own anything owned by Tolkien.
I want more time.
Time to say goodbye to my mother.
Time to tell my father that even though he left my mom I still love him and miss him.
I needed more time, time so I could travel the world...go on an adventure, hitchhike across a country!
But there was one thing for which my heart yearned that only time could give. I wanted more time so that I could find that special someone. To be given a chance to know that butterfly feeling, to giggle because he couldn't stop looking at me, to be in the comfort zone of knowing that someone wanted to protect me. Overall, I wanted to experience the feeling that someone, somewhere, of all the dots that we are in this world, someone held me as his dream.
Bright colors of blue, yellow, and red swirled in front of my eyes, intermixing to create a myriad of colors. I felt light to the point that I could be swept up into the clouds with nothing but a wisp of breath.
I felt free...almost.
Something was gnawing at me, a lost thought in the back of my head that seemed to scream at me, a little voice that was straining to be heard.
Don't let go. A voice whispered.
It confused me, don't let go of what. I pondered at the thought, but with all the light surrounding me, I instantly ignored the feeling. The confusion gave way to an overwhelming happiness. I felt so happy I could cry. I slowly lifted myself, putting all my weight onto my toes.
I grinned to myself; I feel weightless. With a small push of my toes, my body shot through the air. I couldn't help but laugh. I swirled with the colors, my black hair swaying in the wind, a contrast to all the bright colors surrounding me. I flailed my arms to the right and pushed. With an act almost like swimming, my body shot to the left.
I'm so free! I can go anywhere I want! I thought to myself.
As the colors swirled an image emerged, mingling with the colors. I paused in the air.
I saw a tall man standing on a field littered with star-shaped flowers white as snow. He was wearing clothing that I had only imagined in old medieval tales. His back was turned away from me, his body silhouetted by the setting sun.
"It's a pity that such a pretty flower represents such a melancholy event." His voice was but a mere whisper, but it sounded like he was standing right next to me. His voice sounded familiar. He paused his speaking. I couldn't tell if he was waiting for a reply, but unconsciously I answered.
"Why is it such a sad thing?" I questioned, surprised to realize I had spoken aloud. He briefly glanced back and smiled a sad smile.
"Because they are kept by the dead and only given by those who die." He gave a sigh. "Pray tell, why have you run away from me?"
"I didn't run away..."
He turned around so I was able to see his full feature, and my heart skipped a beat. There standing but a few steps away from me was a man, a stranger I had never met, yet it felt like my heart knew him...knows him.
"How do you know me?" I asked. His grey eyes clouded and he stared at me with his head cocked to one side. Before he could reply, the image broke into tiny little pieces.
The voice in my head sounded again, reminding me of a forgotten agenda.
It's not my time yet.
Again, another confusing thought. Why was I feeling that? Not my time yet for what?
I can't go! Go back! Go back! The voice sounded more frantic, begging me to listen to it.
But go back where? Where was I supposed to be? I became more frustrated as I tried harder to analyze the feeling. My feet touch the ground again as I realized that I had wandered off within my own mind.
Within a moment, a gust of air blew me off the ground and into the air. The bright colors suddenly turned black. I let out a yelp as panic overtook me.
What is happening?
I couldn't hold on to anything, shades of grays and blacks flew before my eyes. Desperately, I tried to reach out for something. The wind blew me side to side like a kite amongst the wind, I urgently tried to grasp for any object I could get my hands on. A stringy object brushed against my hand and I immediately held fast.
The wind ceased and my body harshly made contact with land. I rolled over and clutched my side, trying to ease the pain. I lay there for quite some time and when the pain subsided, I slowly got up and looked around. Endless fields that stretched on for ages painted the land. Hill of evergreen fields caressed the landscape. Not far from me were town houses surrounded by stone walls, standing out against the horizon.
Crouching down, I tried to remember where I was and how I just got there, but my memory slipped away faster as I tried to recall it. I was flying...no, that can't be right, perhaps I was dreaming, and I was here before I fell asleep...
Getting up, I shook the thoughts away. My hands still trying to ease the pain on my side, I started to walk towards what I assumed was a little city.
"Now young lady, it's best that you move on out of here before I kick you out! No money, no service!" the owner of the so-called "Town's Keep Inn" yelled at me when I asked if he could provide a room for me for the night. He had listened so earnestly that I thought he was more than willing to help me out, but when the "no money" part came out, he had turned red and whispered to me angrily.
I grew frustrated. It was late afternoon when I found myself in this place, and it was almost evening by the time I had arrived at the gates of the village. I was tired and hungry; the walk towards the city had not been easy. I had walked through mud and nearly landed by a pile of manure when I almost ran into a couple of little children. But it struck me that these "little children" hadn't had any shoes on, their feet were covered in mud and dirt...and other things I cared not to even think of.
Standing outside the Inn, a feeling of helplessness slowly crept in. I didn't have any money and I didn't know anyone in this god-forsaken town. The smell of the air had changed since I had gotten into town. It smelled like the earth just before it rains, mixed with manure, piss, and occasional whip of smoke and liquor. I needed to find a place to stay for the night, and again the thought of being alone brought feelings of panic. Looking down the road from where I was, I spotted another inn, the "Prancing Pony." Laughter and an occasional yell came from inside, with music and chatter along with it.
Standing outside the door, I peered inside. The place was packed, with men chattering so much it could put a woman to shame. Various heights and sizes walked in and out of the inn. I noticed a small cloth pouch lying right near the door. Looking around to be sure no one saw me, I bent down to grab it. I opened it and inside was various coins - gold as the sun can be.
Pretty coins, I never seen them before...I went to hold it up to find its keeper when a little voice in my head told me to keep it. My hand, though unsure, casually slipped the pouch into my pocket.
Might as well, why should I return it anyway? I need the money, and from the looks of it, no one is out to help me, so why should I help them get it back? Reassuring my guilty mind that what I was doing was fine and that I deserved to have found the pouch, I pushed the moral voice to the back of my mind and walked inside.
It had started raining outside some time ago, and this prompt me to seek a shelter for the night. I did not want to go outside once again, and so took courage and ask the keeper of the inn for a small room. I took my chance and gave the man one of the coins I had found as a form of payment. From the surprised look on his face, I reckon the coin was more than enough to pay for the night. I was just making my way to a table to catch a meal before going up to the room, when something, or rather, someone, caught my sleeves.
"Oy! Oy! Oy there!" a little hand shot up and grabbed my wrist. Glancing down, a small person with hairy feet looked pressingly at me. "Where is my pint of beer missy? I have been waiting for a long time!" I couldn't help but stare at his feet covered in thick dark hair. Looking over to his companions, I saw their feet were the same. That is so freakish and... Gross.
"Hey!" Realizing that I was openly studying their feet, I blushed and tried to tell him that I wasn't a server of the inn. "Sorry mister, but I don't actually work -"
"WHA-AT-?" he shouted, his voice almost rising above the noise.
"I SAID I DON'T WOR-" The voices and chatter all of sudden quiet down in the midst of me yelling. I noticed a small commotion was happening near the bar. "...Work here. I don't work here." I gently shook away his hand from my wrist.
Keeping my head down to avoid the stares thrown my way, I walked hurriedly away from the small person. Not watching where I was heading, I looked up when for the second time that day I bumped into a small person. He immediately scrambled up before I could take a look at him. His companions hurriedly went up the stairs with their pots and pans, their voices again melting in with the chattering, just barely reaching my ears.
"Come on Pip! Hurry! He's taken Frodo!"
(Updated Chapter: 7/14/2012)
First chapter up and done, I hope you enjoyed reading the beginning of a very exciting journey!
I hope you come back and join me for the next chapters!
P.S: I want to extend a big thank-you to my awesome beta reader lissylouwho!
P.P.S: Keep tabs at my profile page for updates! Cheers! :)
"May your soul go to heaven before the devil knows you're dead."