Chapter 1: Work with me.
It was a mysterious Friday night... I want you to wonder why it was a mysterious Friday night and not just an ordinary Friday night, because then there's an element of pre-introduced surprise, which I like the thought of. I wore a pair of black denim shorts, high waisted if you wanted to know, a red plaid shirt, black socks over skin coloured tights paired with light blue boots. Why is this important you ask? It's not, it just adds context to the story, in relation to the fact that this choice of outfit was considered inappropriate where I was going next.
Don't worry, there is no need to wonder about that one. The answer is simple... Middle Earth! I know, I know, it sounds clichéd and it is, but not for the reason you would think.
"Clarisse! Get over here and have another shot!" Darcy called, clearly the drinker out of the pair of us. I know that most worries say that both go through, but not in some cases, in some cases the choose one is specifically chosen for the storyline!
"I think I'll just head home Darcy! Have another drink for me." I replied, brushing a red curl out of my flushed face and walking out of the bar door, heading for the subway station. "Jesus Christ why is it taking so long?" I muttered after arriving, leaning forwards to get a better look. I heard someone shouting at me to get back, I naturally ignored them in my drunken state, the train hitting me hard in the back. I lay on the tracks, staring brokenly at the ceiling, feeling a warm puddle spilling out beneath me.
"Miss! Miss!? Miss are you alright?" A woman called, I rolled my eyes and got up, brushing down my tights and cleansing my arms.
"Yeah, course I'm fine." I replied airily, looking at her as she kept gazing at me stupidly.
"Oh God, has someone called an ambulance?!" The woman screeched, I winced and shook my head.
"There's no need, I'm fine. Uh look, I'm going home, don't bother with an ambulance." I said, passing another bystander who ignored me as well. "Jeez." The walk home took less time than usual, I left the explanation on the fact that there were no cars out so I didn't need to wait for the lights to change before crossing the street. "Finally! Home sweet home." I sighed, walking into the sliding door and falling back onto my ass with a grunt. "Uh, Terry? The doors broken again." I said loudly, the elderly man shuffling over and looking up and down the street, a man coming to the door.
"So sorry about that, I'm looking for a Clarisse Reynolds?" He requested, Terry stammered for a few minutes before nodding.
"Apartment fourteen for Miss Reynolds, although I don't think she's home yet Sir." Terry said shakily, heading back to his desk and sitting back down. I quickly ran up the stairs before the mystery man, opening and locking my front door. There was a knock, I knew it was him.
"What do you want?" I called through the door, he chuckled and shook his head.
"I am looking for someone to join me in an adventure."
"I'm not sure I want that actually." I said quietly, after having listened to the man who called himself Gandalf telling me about dragons and Dwarfs and stolen homelands. "This Thorin character sounds like he would hate me."
"I'm sure he will, but he shall not have much of a choice once I explain why." Gandalf replied calmly, sipping his tea with ease.
"Yeah but I don't get it. You're saying that these Valar want me to go with a company of twelve Dwarfs, a Hobbit and a Wizard to kill a Dragon and take back a cold, dark Mountain in the North East of Middle Earth and then fight a war whilst keeping the line of Durin intact the whole time?" Gandalf nodded. "Sorry but I've read the books and seen the movies, those three are awful at keeping themselves out of danger! I mean, the only thing Fili really says throughout the entire movie is 'Kili' because he's always in trouble! It doesn't help that Thorin almost gets himself killed by that great white bastard and his rancid mutt." I wanted, throwing my hands up in frustration. "I mean, if Dwalin couldn't stop Thorin being so stubborn and pin headed then how in hell am I supposed to?!"
"My dear, these are all questions you must answer for yourself." Gandalf said unhelpfully, I groaned and flopped back onto my couch.
"As if I didn't almost get hit by a goddamn train already tonight." I sighed the buzz of the consumed alcohol wearing off. "What happens if I fail?"
"Then the Valar make you repeat the entire journey as many times as they must until you save the three sons of Durin."
"I thought you said we'd arrive straight at Bag end." I muttered grumpily, walking alongside Gandalf angrily. Before we had left my apartment, he had requested that I change my clothing, I had opted for a pair of black jeans and a blue flannel shirt with a long sleeved black top underneath. I kept my blue boots on as well, making sure to pack a bag with extra underwear and clothing in for the journey, doubting that the Company would be making very many stops.
"I said we would arrive close to Bag end." He replied, rolling my eyes, a thought popped into my head.
"Gandalf?" He turned his head and looked down at me. "The map you give Thorin, he won't be able to read it will be?"
"No, but I will lead him to Lord Elrond one way or another." The wizard answered slyly.
"He'll catch on..." I frowned. "You know it's Moon Runes don't you?" He nodded once. "I know what it says Gandalf... I won't tell him, but I do know what we have to do and where we will go."
"That is the only thing keeping me confident that Thorin will agree to your presence on this quest." I turned pink as i frozen, the Wizard sighed and stopped as well. "What now?"
"I have a tattoo of what the runes say on the inside of my upper arm... I also may or may not have an intense knowledge of this stories plot line and the one that happens after it... I don't like it Gandalf, not one bit."
"The one after it?" He pondered, choosing not to pursue the topic. "I would suggest keeping that tattoo to yourself Miss Reynolds. Lest you be named a Witch and killed for it."
We arrived at Bag end in the mid afternoon, finding Bilbo sat puffing on his pipe in the warmth. I've got to say, Martin Freeman did Bilbo justice, there wasn't a lot of difference between the two. I ignored Gandalf's confusion tactics, admiring the Hobbit's garden enviously.
"Do you garden Miss?" Bilbo asked as Gandalf bustled off down the path away from us.
"No, I killed the only plant I ever owned and it was made of plastic." I replied, Bilbo frowned and looked around for the Wizard.
"How inconsiderate of him, it would appear that Mr Gandalf has left you behind Miss..." He trailed off, I blinked and then shook his extended hand.
"Clarisse Reynolds." I said, he nodded and gave me a smile.
"Well, you had better come in the Miss Reynolds, I should imagine that Gandalf will remember and be right back in no time."
As it turned out, the Wizard did not come back until the next morning, although he kept his presence unknown to Bilbo and I just knew that he was putting the Dwarf homing device on the front door... Which I also knew was likely to give Bilbo a heart attack when he found out.
"Oh he's not going to be happy at all." I whispered, heading back to the room the Hobbit had leant me for my stay, it was tonight then, when the Dwarfs would turn up and destroy Bilbo's house.
I decided quickly to stay out of the way for as long as possible.