A/n: I had fun writing this. I hope you have fun reading it!

A skeptic is inadvertently tossed into Tolkien's magical world of Middle-Earth. This would be a lot easier if she had read the books or at least seen the movies. LegolasOC

Disclaimer: Everything Tolkien related belongs to Tolkien!

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Chapter One: The Grand Entrance

It was a beautiful day full of normalcy and mediocrity. The last bell rang signaling the end of classes the beginning of my after school freedom. My parents probably think I'm heading off to tutoring after school like most of my classmates but today I feel that taking a nice nap under the warm sun would be much more productive, or at the very least more comfortable. My life is going pretty well: an early acceptance to a decent university with a bit of a scholarship to convince me to go. Now I just have to ride out the rest of my senior year and everything should be smooth sailing from there.

"Where are you going?"

I heard the familiar voice of my best friend, Daryl as he ran up to fall in step with me. He looked positively exhausted, probably from the crazy study schedule his advanced classes bestowed upon him.

I shrugged, "It's a nice day aka I have better things to do than be cooped up by some teacher trying to teach me material that A. I've already learned and B. they probably didn't do so well themselves considering their career in tutoring right now."

"But Melda, who am I going to talk to while the teacher's talking?"

"Ok, Daryl. You are my best friend and I love you to death but you have got to stop calling me that!" I groaned.

"My name is Beinion!" (a/n: bay-nee-on)

So Daryl has this thing. Well more like this obsession with this author J.R.R. Tolkien and the world that genius created. He insists on calling me by my "elvish" name which he probably pulled out of a hat and decided for me. He also insists on me calling him by his "elvish" name…in public which I refuse to do.

"Riiigghhttt and what does that mean again?"

"I was told it means 'handsome one'."

"And who told you that, Tolkien?"

Daryl had a sour look on his face. He twisted his lips into a pout before attaching himself to my arm. I stared at him sternly, ignoring his puppy dog pout and arm tugging. Daryl has been in love with Tolkien's world ever since we had to read The Hobbit as an assignment a few years ago. I admit I just skimmed the chapters of the abridged version, enough for me to B.S. a B+ essay out of it, which really wasn't too difficult if you think about all the fantastical things that went on in that book. Dragons and dwarves, who are we kidding?

As we moved on with our lives I refused to watch those time-sucking movies (really three hours each? really?) or read the books (but I'm sure you've already deduced I'm not much of a book enthusiast) while Daryl read Tolkien's entire collection and watched the movies countless times (despite their somewhat inaccuracy, he would tell me, not that I cared). I can't go into his room anymore, I'm afraid I'll be wrapped up in some elven cloak and made to prance around fighting dragons or something. I really don't remember what was in The Hobbit.

"Fine, Banini," I smirked at Daryl's disgruntled huff. "So you coming or what?"

Daryl shook his head knowingly, "I can't ditch, my parents would kill me. Um…so I'll catch you later?"

"Catch you later," I agreed as I changed direction towards a local park, intent on getting an undeserved nap. I heard him say bye to my elvish name again (grimace) but lifted a hand in farewell anyways, not bothering to look back.

Once I got to the park, I was delighted to find that no one was there. Usually the playground would be overrun with screaming crying children but it was strangely peaceful today. There was an old man sitting on a bench with long white hair but he was way ahead of me, snores emanating from his mouth every so often.

I made my way over to a nice patch of soft grass and plopped myself down with the sun's rays gently warming my skin. I happily fell into a deep relaxing sleep.

hours later

I woke up to the sound of water trickling, which was weird because the park had no source of water flowing through it, nor should I be able to hear it even if it did due to sounds of traffic that occurred around this time. As I blinked the sleep away from my eyes I noticed that my patch of grass felt well… rocky and uneven. I sat up and looked at where I had been napping. No grass.

"Oh my god, I've been kidnapped." I scanned the area around me in horror, expecting to see some unsavory characters lurking in the shadows. But there was no one there. No one but me and a creek… and these rocks… and these trees.

"Where the hell am I?" I tried to remember if I had done anything that would have resulted in me sitting on rocks by this creek. Did I wake up, change locations and fall back asleep? Maybe the sun was too harsh and I just couldn't take it so I sleepily moved to a more comfortable place. But the pressing question now was…just where is this place?

The sounds of bird calls floated through the air. I stood up only to wince as the rocks rubbed harshly against the soft bottoms of my feet. Wait a minute. Where are my shoes? Panic set in as I looked around for my shoes. What am I wearing?

My jeans and t-shirt were replaced with what should've been a pristine sun dress type thing but it now had splotches of dirt on it from me rolling around in confusion on the floor. I was about to go into hysterics. I looked down at my hands, whew still human. Even that little detail was enough to slightly calm me as I laughed sheepishly. Of course I'm still human. I bet stupid Daryl is playing a prank on me. Maybe he drugged me or something to force me to play his Tolkien games or something.

"Daryl!" I called out into the unknown. Seriously unknown. Everywhere I turned I saw the same exact thing. Trees, rocks, creek, occasional bushes, and small wild life. I took a few wobbly steps, trying to avoid anything jagged that would have me bleeding and miserable.

"Daryl you get your ass over here right NOW! This isn't funny!"

No response. I growled angrily as I started to walk in a random direction, screaming Daryl's name and all the painful things I was going to do to him as soon as I got my hands on him.

"Daryl you answer me right now!"

Silence…and then…

Was that a snarl?

I whipped my head around and instantly wished I hadn't. There standing about fifty feet away from me, was the ugliest person I have ever seen in my whole life. I don't even know if he counts as a person. The ugliest THING I have ever seen in my whole life. The worst part is…he saw me too. Mr. Ugly wasted no time running towards me, gnashing his dirty sharp teeth like a dog with rabies.

So I did what any sane, normal human girl did. I screamed and I ran. Run now, ask questions later. If Daryl paid that guy… if that guy is an actor… I slowed down to see if it were still following me. Yes. It is. And it is not happy.

Still screaming and running, I was now shouting for anyone that could hear me to call 911, get the police, swat team, FBI, whatever it takes to get that drooling, angry, murderous thing away from me. I used to be on track, but that was freshman year of high school and I'm not in perfect shape like I was before. Besides, I don't see anyone else running fast on rocks in bare feet.

"Wait, wait stop, please," I gasped as my legs gave out. I fell into the muck, not realizing I had been running along the creek. The thing was nearly upon me now; I wanted to burst into tears I had never been so scared before. He swung his metal blade thing at me and I tried to dodge; it cut shallowly into my leg instead of plunging mid thigh where he was aiming. As pain coursed through my body, so did my adrenaline. I scrambled away from him as he yanked his weapon out of the mud.

"ARE YOU CRAZY?" I was screaming at the monster now, more angry than scared. This could not be happening to me. This does not happen to me. Why would anyone want to kill me of all people?

Somewhere in my pondering my self-preservation instinct honed in and I rolled away from another strike, this time kicking him backwards and pulling myself to my feet, hobbling away as fast as I could with all the pressure on my uninjured leg. I screamed as I felt a grimy hand grasp my ankle and pull me down to the ground. Behind me I could still hear it snarling and now screaming?

I looked back from where I was cowering on the floor and saw an unshaven dirty hero, clearly human thank God, slashing the crap out of the monster. I glanced up to see the thing's weapon lodged in the tree trunk five feet above me. I realized now that the man had pulled me down to save me from the unpleasant fate of having my head chopped off. Thank you grungy man.

Having thoroughly killed the thing, the man turned to look at me.

"Are you alright?"

A wave of emotion hit me at that moment and to his and my horror I started to cry. Hot tears coursed down my dirt smudged face. I felt so embarrassed and relieved at the same time. He looked at me patiently as I composed myself, stumbling to my feet before sinking back down with a hiss.

"Let me take a look at that." He inched forward, hands held in the air to show he meant no harm. I felt foolish for making him think I was some unbalanced psychopath or something. He was now enlisted as my only friend in this tree, rock, monster filled place. He gently lifted the hem of my dress. I would've called him a lecher if I weren't bleeding out in front of him. After about a minute of wound inspection, he pulled out of his pack some green leaves, which he chewed and used the pulp as a salve. I stared at his handiwork, fascinated and grossed out, as the blood flow stemmed. He tore of a piece of cloth from somewhere off his body and bandaged my poor leg.

"Thank you," I managed hoarsely before realizing this was the first time I had said anything since he showed up to save my sorry behind. He gave me a good natured smile before repacking his bag and helping me to my feet.

"What brings a maiden unarmed and helpless so deep amongst the trees of Mirkwood?"

"That is exactly what I want to know along with…what was that thing?" I looked suspiciously at the rugged man.

"That was an Orc. This one must have escaped from the bloodbath yesterday. It's the last one, I believe."

"You believe?" I glowered. Orcs… hm…there were more of those things? "And where's Mirkwood? Can you direct me to the five, the one, or the six-oh-five from here?" If I got back to a freeway maybe I could hitchhike my way out of this madness.

"I regret that I have no notion of what you are talking about," the man looked strangely at me. "Are you with any others?"

At this point I realized that Daryl is nowhere near me and that this wasn't one of his silly pranks. I must be dreaming. The wound on my leg stung as I moved it reminding me, no this is not a dream.

"Um…no."

"Perhaps if I took you to the Old Forest Road," the poor guy was trying to be helpful. Maybe the "old forest road" was their five freeway?

"Are there businesses there? Somewhere I can make a call?"

There's that strange look again.

"Are there humans there?" I laughed jokingly.

"Most likely we will run into elves before we run into Men up here-wait where are you going?"

At the sound of "elves" I started limping away from this lunatic. He's just like Daryl! Crazy talking about elves and orcs…and orcs. I knew I heard that word before! Sorry buddy, as much as I appreciate you "killing" that "orc" over there, I do not Live Action Role Play. Not when I'm happy and well, and certainly not when I'm lost and feeling mentally unstable.

"Maiden! Where are you going in that condition of yours? You have not even graced me with your name," he finished sarcastically as he easily caught up with me.

Oh geez. My leg was hurting just from this little jaunt and it was clear that I needed him more than he needed me. "My name is Melda," I gave him that stupid elf name that Daryl always called me. I sure ain't giving him my real name! What if he were a stalker or some psychopath? The man looked genuinely surprised, probably because I'm no beloved to begin with.

"Yes, my name is Melda and I am going to sue your little LARPing company for having me sustain injury during one of your little games," I felt bolder as I threatened him. For some reason I can't say I was surprised when those words had no meaning to him.

"You may call me Strider as others have and I do not travel with any company that you speak of…" the man trailed off.

I wanted to stab him in the leg and see how much fun he's having in character and in real pain. Resisting the urge to do so, and ultimately ruin my case in court, I sighed heavily.

"Fine, please take me to your land of Men or whatnot." Maybe I could find someone who didn't take their role as seriously as he did.

"I am afraid that you will have to be more specific than that," Strider said flatly. The irritation in his voice was becoming extremely evident.

"Um…what was it called…Murdock…Mordo…" I strained to think of the names of places Daryl used to babble on about.

"Mordor?" He supplied dryly.

"Yeah! Take me there!"

"I assure you, you do not want to venture into Mordor…ever."

"Ok. Humor me then. Where am I supposed to go?"

"You are not from these parts."

"I am not from your world!" I shouted angrily, frustrated tears welling up in my eyes. I swallowed and held my glare, trying my best not to submit to the idea that I am stuck in some crazy land and that I should've paid more attention to stupid Daryl and his stupid Tolkien craze.

Strider sighed but looked visibly relaxed, "I know not of what trials you had to get to this place but I believe I know someone who can help you."

I blinked back the tears, "Really?"

"Gandalf the Grey."

"Is that supposed to mean anything to me?"

A sigh. "He is currently conducting business in the Halls of Thranduil. I will bring you him and let him decide what is to be of your fate."

Finally instead of mouthing off like I normally would, I decided to shut up and listen. This approach might work better. Start plotting. Find civilization. Ditch the man who had no sense of personal hygiene, arg and who saved me I guess. Find my way home. Sounds like a great plan to me. I look up to see that Strider had already gone on quite far ahead of me and was shouting something about Orcs liking the ones separated from the pack. What pack? Nevertheless I hobbled towards Strider, who had the decency to wait for me, before we headed off to this Thranduil guy's place. Hopefully I'll find all the answers and a ticket out of this place.

TBC!

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A/n:

As a note, although the character in the story has never read any of Tolkien's books or seen any of the movies, I have ;) (plenty of times in plenty of places). LotR ftw 3

Hope you guys enjoyed the beginning of a very fun adventure! See you soon (:

Where did I get the "elvish names" from? , . Take your pick. That's what I did. Well I chose one that I fancied more (and one that could be shortened later on, you'll see Melda, which was stated to mean beloved, be called "Mel")