Chapter 2

- - - -

"Yes! Yes! Push me higher!" shouted Baylie.

Her mother laughed joyfully and continued to push the swing that Baylie was seated on. The weather was warm and pleasant, with the sun bright as it shined down on them. Baylie clapped her hands and when her mother quit pushing her, she frowned.

"Why did you stop, mommy?" she asked.

She turned to see her mother staring off into the distance, her finger pointed to something that Baylie could not see. Worried, she jumped off the swing and ran in front of her mother.

"What is it?"

Her mother glanced down at her, but nudged her head forward. Baylie turned around and saw a man standing far off in the distant. From what Baylie could see, he had long brown hair and a handsome face. He was dressed strangely, with a long silvery cloak hanging from his shoulders.

When he noticed Baylie staring at him, his mouth twisted into a smile and he waved his hand.

She looked up at her mother and questioned her.

She smiled down at Baylie and touched her shoulder. "Protect."

- - - -

Baylie's eyes popped open and she stared up at the night sky's. The air was chill and silent as she sat up, a painthrobbing in the back of her head. Groaning, Baylie stood and rubbed her head, wondering where the demon had taken her.

She was still deep in the woods and the park was no longer in eyesight. Other than her head hurting like hell and a gash on her arm, she was fine.

However, Baylie began to get frustrated as she walked down a pathway which was conveniently located in front of her. The clouds were blocking the moonlight, so it was hard for her to see as she felt around for something to hold onto.

After picking up a branch and breaking it in half, she sharpened the edge with her pocket knife and placed it back in her jean pocket.

She continued in a steady pace, making sure to watch for any signs of the demon and his buddies even though everything was in shadow.

After what felt like hours, Baylie stopped and studied her surroundings. Off in the distant, she could hear footsteps trotting over fallen leaves.

Baylie smirked and hid behind a tree. The sounds were coming closer… and closer. Her heart began to beat in excitement; she was ready to get revenge on anything with an ugly face.

Crunch. Crunch.

With every second that the sounds grew closer, Baylie readied herself, gripping her hand tightly around the stick. When a shadow formed from behind the tree she leapt out and swung the stick out in front of her.

It came in contact with a metal blade, breaking it in two.

Baylie's body was swung around and she set her feet firmly in the ground, trying to regain her composure. When she looked up, the blade was pressed up against her neck and she watched as the shadowed figure walked into the moonlight.

A handsome man, with long brown hair and blue eyes stared back at her. He was tall, standing inches taller than Baylie, and had chiseled features. For a split second Baylie was caught in his hotness but quickly snapped out of her reverie and turned her arm around, freeing herself from his hold.

The man reacted promptly and grabbed onto her arm.

Baylie swung around and grasped his wrist, squeezing tightly. He cried out in pain and released her, backing up to tender to his arm.

As Baylie caught her breath and watched him, her eyes grew big.

It's the guy from my dream! she thought.

He was dressed almost identical to what he was wearing when she had her premonition. Underneath his black cloak he wore a pair of gray trousers and a white blouse. This was not the first time Baylie had dreamt of something it come true… it is just strange that he was here in Maysville.

"State your name!" he barked after tending to his arm. "I said now, woman!"

Baylie raised an eyebrow and laughed.

"Are you kidding me?" she snapped. "Look, you're in my turf now, so show me some respect and tell me your name."

The man made a face. "I kid you not." he said, his voice calmer. "And we are not in your… turf, my lady. You are on my land."

He took several steps toward Baylie, and in response she folded her arms and stood her ground.

"And tell me…" he continued, taking a moment to eye her. "… how big of a concurrence is it that a fragile girl appears soon after a group of Orcs are found trespassing in my homeland?"

So that's what they are called. Halie thought, nodding her head.

"For your information, Mr. Medieval, I've been in these woods the whole damn time." she then looked behind his shoulder and let out a scream. "Move!"

Baylie was so use to being the hero and shoved the man out of the way in time as the 'Orc' lunged for him. She swung her arm up and knocked the Orc back, and as it stumbled she twirled her leg in the air and struck his neck, breaking it.

"Watch your back!" the man shouted at Baylie, pushing her to the side as he decapitated the head of another Orc with his blade. "Here come more!"

And he was right. Three more Orcs were charging towards them, their bodies coming in and out of the shadows, and Baylie didn't hesitate as she met one half way, jumping high into the air and with both feet, kicking it in its chest and impaling it into a branch.

When she turned back around, the other two Orcs were headed for her as well. The man cut in between them and knocked over one as the other grabbed onto Baylie's waist, swinging her around and slamming her into the ground.

Baylie grunted and kicked herself up. The Orc came back around and football tackled her, tossing her over his shoulder.

"Oiy'frok tele'nai!" it shouted at the other, which darted away from the man and headed for the woods.

"Put me down, stinky!" Baylie yelled.

She dug her nails into its eyes, pulling and scratching whatever she could. The Orc cried out in pain and released Baylie, dropping her on her bottom.

"Get the Slayer!" it barked at the runaway Orc, who hesitated, but continued running into the woods.

The eyeless Orc growled in anger, following after his friend, leaving Baylie and the man alone.

Neither of them spoke for awhile as Baylie dusted off her jeans and her jacket.

"Are you alright?" Baylie asked, walking toward him.

The man stepped back, his eyes narrowed. "Y-You are… you are the Slayer?"

Baylie shrugged sheepishly. "I suppose. Is that a bad thing?"

The man slowly shook his head and continued to stare at her in amazement.

"Well…" Halie began uneasily. "… is something wrong with that?"

"There has not been a Slayer in over a hundred years!" he exclaimed. "I stand before you in awe! You are cunning in skill, standing before me so… petite, so fragile. And yet… you have such finesse!"

"I'm not some kind of exhibit in a museum, you know!" Baylie said pointedly, feeling offended. "Never judge someone for their size."

"Trust me, I already know." the man stated playfully. "Forgive me… my name is Arathorn, son of Aragorn, and this is my homeland Gondor."

"I am Baylie Hayden, daughter of… well, I'm not sure what my father's name was, but we're actually in Maysville, New York."

Arathorn stared at her incredulously. "My lady--"

"I can try and help you find your way back to where you came from," Baylie interrupted, waving her hands around dismally. "You have to at least realize that you are in America."

"You are doing a good job at making my head spin by speaking in riddles, Slayer Baylie," he said softly. "Now, please, you must understand that this is not the America you speak of. This is Middle-Earth."

Baylie sighed and rubbed her head. Perhaps he was telling the truth, and she just POOFED out of nowhere, and landed in Middle-Earth. But then she remembered reading something about Middle-Earth in the library of her Guardian's home… and, as she struggled to remember, she could swear he mentioned something about Gondor… and a King… Airborn?

"My lady?" asked Arathorn worriedly.

"Are you the King?" she said suddenly, looking up at him. "King of Gondor?"

Arathorn half smiled. "I am only Prince. My father, though, is King."

"And his name?" she pressed on.

"Aragorn…" he answered slowly. "My lady, please, come with me back to my home to meet him! He will want to speak with you… a Slayer!"

"Right…" Baylie trailed off. "… so, let me get this straight," she placed her elbow on her hip and bit her lower lip. "you are Prince of Gondor… those demons we killed were called Orcs… your father has never met a Slayer before, and will want to meet me?"

Arathorn nodded.

Baylie grinned, quietly thanking her mother for her premonition because not only was he easy on the eyes, he was prince!

However, as she followed Arathorn through the woods she could not help but feel guilty for leaving behind those people the Orc had slaughtered.

She sighed. There's not much I can do about that now, she thought sadly as they neared an opening in between the trees, which revealed a beautiful city made of stone. Daylight was now shining through the clouds as they made their way down a gravel pathway that lead to a massive gate.

As they walked through the doorway Baylie thought more on this premonition and what exactly her mother had meant by 'protect'. She also struggled on coming up with an explanation on how she arrived in Middle-Earth.