Chapter 2 Welcome To Middle -Earth

How Bella Swan of Forks, Washington ended up in a place called Middle Earth still confused even Bella.

She could clearly remember Edward carrying her to the baseball field and Emmet teasing her about her lack of skills, they had been using an incoming thunder storm as cover for their vampire baseball game when lightning struck the middle of the field they were playing in. Bella could still remember the smell of sulphur and the feeling of the earth falling away from her feet. The next instant she heard boulders crashing around her, which she later learned was the sound of her vampire family falling to the hard dirt around her.

They had gone from playing baseball to one of the most horrific sites Bella had ever seen, there were terrible looking creatures all around them already fighting with what Bella first thought were other vampires due to their beauty. Swords clashed everywhere and suddenly Edward was crouched above her and was growling at anything that came near them. Jasper, who had hardly spoken around Bella in the past, was shouting out military commands as the rest of the family circled around her ripping monsters apart with thick tar like blood flowing in rivers.

Then the last of the monsters were dead it became very quiet as the other vampires turned to address the Cullen's.

"Who are you?" A beautiful man with long flowing hair addressed the group.

"I am Carlisle Cullen and this is my family. May I ask who you are?" Carlisle addressed the group as Esme stood by his side and the others flanked him while putting Bella in the centre of the group.

"I am Thranduil, King of the Elves of the Northern Mirkwood Forest. What are you? We have not seen your kind in Middle Earth." The King asked as the others with him gathered behind, their green garments had made many of them blend into the forest.

"We are Vampires."

That had been almost a year ago, King Thranduil had asked them to stay in the Mirkwood, and in a land filled with amazing creatures sparkly vampires didn't seem to rate that high. Alice had been thrilled with the beauty of the Elves cloths; Jasper's experience in the American Civil War had been an asset in this new world. Carlisle had found a place in the House of Healing with all kinds of new creatures to heal. Esme was in love with the architecture, how the trees seemed to have grown into structures of their own will. Most days would find Rose in the forge learning how to make Elf weapons as Emmett entertained everyone around him.

Edward, her Edward, had fallen in love with the music. He would be gone for days listening and composing. But then there was the other Edward the one that was beginning to concern her, he was possessive and cold. In his eyes was a blackness she had not seen before. She had tried to ask him about it but was reminded she was only human and therefore unable to understand.

Bella was brought out of her mussing by a sudden shout and the ring of swords clashing, per the orders Jasper had given her a hundred times in the past Bella ran to the Hall of Mirkwood and the small ante room that Jasper had made into a panic room for her. Inside were supplies to last her a year if she only ate lembas.

The room was small and dark except for the glow of her Elf sword that told her orcs were close. She had been training with both a sword and bow for months but the truth was in hand to hand combat her human strength was no match for an orc, elf or vampire; which made her the weakest creature in the Mirkwood much to Bella's distaste.

The battle could have been raging for ten minutes or ten hours for all that Bella could tell from her hiding spot but she could hear the battle moving closer and closer to her until she could recognise the King's voice just outside her door as he spoke with someone who's voice she didn't know. A deafening roar filled the Hall and froze Bella to her core, it was more fearsome than the worst growl she had ever heard from Jasper or Edward. Several minutes later the clanging stopped and the silence was ripped apart by and anguished male scream.

"Father!"

As quietly as possible Bella opened the ante room door and her eyes grew large with the scene in front of her. At least 20 orcs laid in pieces around the room, the distinct smell of their tar like blood sat in the air around her. In the centre of the carnage was an Elf with long flowing white blond hair, tears running down his face, as he rocked the former King in his arms. The Elf was covered in blood and Bella wasn't sure how much of it was his and how much was the King's.

Slowly she exited the room, feeling herself almost pulled to the Elf's side. Somehow compelled to offer what help she could as she knelt beside him, placing one hand on his uninjured left shoulder and the other on the side of King Thranduil's head.

"Your father was a great man," Bella spoke softly as she reached to close the King's eyes.

"You're hurt, let me take you to my father."

The King's son didn't seem to hear her as Bella noticed Jasper entering the room, pain echoed across his face.

"Help him," she implored Jasper while looking deep into his eyes, Jasper nodded his head slightly and suddenly the elf was falling into her side due to the overwhelming calm Jasper directed his way.