A/N: HELLO INTO THE DARKEST RECESSES OF SPACE! Sorry for the late upload, I was gone for a week and then my laptop crashed. But I am back now! This is chapter two, but from now one, I will be switching between the girls point of view. For the curious people out there, the name Melanie means dark-skinned (Greek) and Rebekah means captivating rope. (Hebrew). Anyways, Read, Enjoy and Review!
Chapter Two
Honestly, I'm surprised. Surprised I crashed the car, surprised I'm not dead. I'm surprised at how warm and comfortable I am. I feel as though I'm covered in sun-warmed towels or a blanket fresh from the dryer. Warmth radiates through me. I could easily fall asleep here for a week. Unfortunately, a hand keeps on shaking me.
"Uh, Mel, you might want to get up." A nervous voice filters into my ears. Wait. What happened? I was meeting with Rebekah...
Rebekah! I realize it's her voice calling my name. I slowly open my eyes to the bright warm light and sit up.
"Bekah, what…." I look around me, eyes widening. Before us are 12 light-enrobed figures, but one seems to stand out from the others. He's tall, imposing and regal in his bright purple robes. His long white hair glows as well, drawing my attention to the eagle perched on his shoulder. There is only one person he could be. Manwe, king of the Valar. My mind reels. "Oh." I state, putting my exemplary vocab to use as I scramble to my feet in a hurry.
"I know. Do you think?" Bekah asks, a grin gracing her features. We both know what this means. Either we're both having the same dream, which is highly unlikely, or…
They're real.
"Yes, I think so." I answer the unspoken question, pulling my friend to her feet as we face the 12 figures. Two of the figures step forward, joining Manwe as he walks toward us. One of them is a beautiful women, her midnight black hair strewn with shining stars. That is Varda of the Stars, Manwe's lady and Queen of the Valar. The other figure takes me longer. He is also tall and imposing, but more muscular than Manwe. His robes look like they are made of water, as does his beard. He can only be Ulmo, of the seas, rivers and waters of Middle Earth.
"Welcome, Rebekah, Melanie, chosen warriors." Manwe says, with a voice like thunder.
"We're not dreaming, right?" Bekah whispered in my ear.
I shake my head. "I don't think so."
Manwe continues, despite our silent conference. "We have chosen you for your Knowledge, your passion, your strength of mind and your love." Manwe continues. "Middle Earth stand waiting on the edge of evil and goodness, with Melkor waiting for the quest to fail. WIll you venture out into the land you so love? Will you accept any quest we give you and save middle earth?"
Save Middle Earth? A quest? I really really wanted to say yes, but I couldn't. I was the reason we were here. I glance at Bekah. After all, it's my fault the car crashed, and between the two of us, she'd always been the more sensible. But her eyes mirror the excitement in my eyes as we confirm our thoughts with a single look.
"Yes, we accept your quest." I say with a confirming nod. Of course, you never know what could happen on Middle Earth, but it's Middle Earth. We love Lord of The Rings and almost all the characters in the story. How could we say no?! Who wouldn't want to visit a place they spent most of their waking hours writing, thinking and dreaming about.
I watched as a glowing tendril of golden light creeps away from Manwe, wrapping first around Rebekah's left arm, then around my right. The light glowed with a strong intensity, the soaked into our skin, leaving two golden spirals tattooed across our arms. Not what I had wanted for my first tattoo, but at least it didn't hurt. I'm sure it would grow on me.
Manwe now moved so that Varda could stand before us. Her glow was like that of the stars, and her voice was ethereal and calming, like a husky lullaby a mother whisperes to her panicked child. She spoke to Rebekah, hands clasped demurely in front of her.
"Rebekah, one with captivating looks, you shall now be Jael, sister of the stars" Varda's glow encased hand reached out and gently touched Rebekah's forehead, hovering over her brow. "I give to you the gift of the Istari and the blood of the stars. Guard your heart well, my evening star. Shine brightly against the darkness." She stated as a glowing cocoon of light flowed from her to Bekah cloaking her in its brightness. It surrounded her as Varda stepped back, and then disappeared along with Rebekah. I had no time to protest as Ulmo stepped towards me.
The reclusive sea king smiled at me, his watery robes crashing round him like waves breaking on the rocks.
"Melanie, Child of the shade, you shall now be Ahsryn, sister of the river." His voice was like a storm on the sea, and he reached out a hand, gently gracing my forehead. A feeling of calm, still, motionless water flowed through me. "I give to you the gift of the waters, and the blood of the river. Guard your heart well, my precious siren. The fate of Middle earth depends on you."
Then the light around me flared brightly. I closed my eyes against the dark, mind mulling over the words of the Valar. I felt as though I were falling into a dream.
Then I slept.
