Voices floated down to them on the clear morning air jerking Mel out of her shock-induced stupor. She quickly spun towards the mountain, eyes searching for a source to sound.
"People," Ella gasped, her eyes wide. They cautiously walked back to the cliff face that towered above the ledge they were seemingly trapped on. Above the voices grew louder.
"Hey!" Ella shouted up the wall of rock, hoping to catch the attention of whoever might be above them. Mel and June caught on and started shouting too. The voices ceased and small pebbles and rocks fell over the side of the cliff as someone leaned over to look down at them.
"Little help?" Mel called up, her hand against her forehead to shield the brightening sun. The person disappeared and there was a muffled conversation. Mel turned to her sisters with a dismissive shrug. Moments later a rope fell down the sheer rock face. The three women stood staring at the rope in various degrees of disbelief.
"Climb!" came a call from above, an arm waved them up.
"HA!" Ella shook her head and took a step back. "That's not gonna happen." Mel ignored Ella's protest and took the rope in her hand. It was rough and thickly braided like it was homemade.
"I'll go first," she said. She tugged on the rope to ensure its stability. She thanked every deity that existed that climbing was one of her more utilized hobbies. It took her less than 10 minutes to scale the cliff and was tugged over the last two feet. Ella and June watched nervously as her feet vanished over the top.
Several tense moments passed as they waited for Mel to give them the go-ahead. Finally, her red hair poked over the side and she beckoned them up.
"You next," June said handing the rope to Ella.
"How about no?" Ella shoved the rope away, shaking her head again.
"Ella, you will die on this ledge if you do not climb up this cliff." June growled. "Do you want to die?" Ella's face drew together in an angry pout and she snatched the rope away from June. "That's what I thought."
Ella stared up the cliff, a knot forming in her stomach. It couldn't have been more than twenty feet high probably, but it seemed like a towering skyscraper to her. She pulled the rope taught and pressed a foot to the rocks. She leaned back and pulled her weight up using the rope for leverage. She made it halfway up when her left foot slipped and she slammed against the rocks, clinging to the rope for dear life. Tears stung her eyes and she whimpered looking up to where Mel was leaning over the edge.
"I can't do it!" She cried. The rope was cutting into her hands.
"Yes, you can!" June yelled from the ground.
"Come on," Mel leaned down further, her hand outstretched. She was only another ten feet away. Ella took a deep breath, repositioned her feet and hauled herself up another two feet. Four feet, six feet, eight. She made it into Mel's reach and with the help of the strangers on the cliff, she was pulled over the edge. She rolled across the ground and came to a stop, staring unblinkingly at the sky. "Thank god."
June came next, slower than the others, her arms and legs shook and burned from years of disuse, but she never lost her will. She kept her eyes on the rock in front of her and Mel above. If she even thought about looking down she would have lost her equilibrium and will to continue inching up the side of the mountain. Finally, she made it to the edge and was pulled over. She couldn't manage to stand just yet and her hands were raw and trembling.
"Our new friends have informed me that we are in Gondor, wherever that is," Mel said matter-of-factly. June looked up to see the two men who found them. They were a sight themselves. They were burly looking, dark hair and eyes, with long errant beards that hid most of their dirty faces. Their clothes looked like the men they saw at the renaissance fest in Shakopee every year.
"Gondor?" June squinted at her hands distractedly, bits of the crude rope were stuck here and there and they were bleeding slightly.
"The white mountains?" One man said, his tone was helpful but his words were thick with an accent she couldn't place. He was shorter than the other, with a rounder figure and kind eyes that creased at the corners. The other was lanky and angular, watching with small eyes that weren't unlike a hawk or vultures. To make his appearance more intimidating two dead hares were clutched in his right hand, blood dripping from their noses.
"No idea," June muttered turning her scrutinizing gaze towards Mel.
"And where do three women, alone, presume to travel?" The hawk-like man spoke, his accent thicker, his voice was harsh and cold.
"We were hiking the perimeter of Lake Wobegon," Mel said clearly, her shoulders straightening in challenge to the man's presumptuous words.
"There is no such place." He said, his face drawn in suspicious confusion.
"Because it's disappeared," Ella said quietly. She had been standing a distance away, staring out at the reaching fields of golden grass.
"You speak nonsense. Has a madness befallen all of you? There has never been a lake on this side of the White Mountains, not in this age, not in any."
"What year is it?" June asked suddenly, a curious quirk in her eyebrows.
"3014 of the second age," the shorter man answered quickly, receiving a glare from the hawk-like one.
"What?" Mel was dumbfounded, her mouth fell open slightly. "This is a joke."
"A very elaborate one," June muttered. She pushed herself off the ground and dusted her pants off.
"Why do you question the year? What kind of witches are you?"
"Harron," the round-faced man stepped forward, putting himself between the sisters and the outraged hawk-man.
"We are not witches," Mel said incredulously.
"Excuse my friend," the shorter of the two turned back to the sisters, a hand over his chest. "I am Amondir and this is Harron, we are watchmen of Erelas." There was a long pause as the sister looked at each other, none sure of what to say.
"I am June, these are my sisters, Ella and Mel." June was the first to break the silence. "I don't know how we got here, but very clearly we are lost."
"Come with us, Erelas has supplies and roof, there is a storm coming." Amondir nodded to the south where grey clouds were spilling over the horizon. Without waiting he and Harron turned and sought out the path that led down the mountain. Mel grabbed Ella's arm as she went to follow and turned to June.
"So, we just follow the strangers so they can kill us?" Mel asked, thin eyebrows raised.
"Do we have much of a choice Mel?" June retorted. "I don't know where we are, or who those men are, but we don't stand much chance sitting here on these cliffs waiting for the lake to magically reappear. Besides there three of us and two of them, we have the advantage."
Ella followed close on June's heels as they marched down the mountain, Mel lagging behind slightly. True to Amondir's words the sky grew grey and rain began to pelt down on them as they reached the endless plains. In the foothills, great boulders created a labyrinth between the large mounds of earth that disturbed the flat landscape. They followed a well-used path around one of the larger rocks and a group of buildings came into view. Atop the tallest hill in sight stood a large tower of neatly stacked timber, a rough-hewn roof covered it from the elements, and a teardrop shape hung above the wood. A stone building with a thatched roof was nestled into the bottom of the hill, its solitary door facing them, smoke rising from the chimney. What appeared to be a barn was only a short distance away, June could smell the thick scent of horses and hay from where she was. Ella must have been staring because Amondir slowed slightly and looked to the tower.
"Erelas, a warning beacon of Gondor, we light them to warn the south of impending danger." He said.
"Them?" Ella asked. Amondir nodded.
"To the north and south, there are other beacons, when one is lit the other watchmen see it and light their beacons, the whole of Gondor knows of trouble within moments."
"I feel like cell phones would be easier," Ella said shrugging.
"Cell phones?" Amondir scrunched up his face in confusion.
"Right, of course." Ella shook her head, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Nevermind."
Amondir and Harron led them into the shack of a building, its grey walls stained dark by the falling rain. They ducked in the door, the sisters following closely. The inside of the shack was surprisingly roomie, a table took up most of the immediate space when they walked in the door and along the far side of the room bunks stood, built directly into the wall and ceiling. Four sets of bedding and various belongings were strewn about the bunk area. On the table maps and large wooden mugs were sitting in disarray. A chair had been drug away from the table to the mantle of a fireplace that was on the left wall. In the chair, an elderly man slept with his booted feet resting inches away from a crackling fire.
Amondir and Harron shed the cloaks they wore and hung them over the backs of the chairs set around the table. Harron threw the hares on the table, moved to the fire, swinging an iron kettle around to sit above the flames. He gently kicked the sleeping man who startled awake, a slurry of curse words spilling from his lips.
"We have visitors," he nodded to the sisters who stood awkwardly at the entrance. The old man let out a long low whistle.
"So's we does, so's we does…" June curled a lip at the lecherous gaze he cast over them.
"Ignore Gwaurhoth, what he lacks in manners he makes up for in … well nothing, to be completely honest, most nights he falls asleep on his watch, but he is harmless, really." Amondir chuckled as he cleared away the empty mugs and maps. Gwaurhoth nodded in agreement, propped his feet back up, and started snoring again.
"How many of you are there?" Mel asked suspiciously.
"Four," Harron said, shifting the fire around a bit and adding another log. Mel shot June a pointed look.
"Harron, why don't you relieve Galon of his watch?" Amondir suggested motioning for the sisters to sit at the table. Harron stiffened but did not argue, he quietly retrieved his cloak and left the shack. Amondir watched the door for a few moments before speaking quietly.
"We haven't much time before Galon will arrive," he cast a look at the still sleeping Gwaurhoth. "You are not of this world." This was not a question, not even close. The sisters looked at each other.
"We… don't know," June said, her eyes shifting from one sister to the other.
"You aren't, believe me," Amondir gave them a sad smile. "When I was a boy a woman came to Minas Tirith, she too claimed she knew not where she was, her clothes were odd, much like yours. She was brought before Steward and was proclaimed a mad witch. Harron suspects much the same of you."
"Wait, what?" Mel laid her hand on the table, holding herself steady.
"Harron and Galon will have you tried before the Steward," Amondir pressed on. "You will need to flee from here, tonight."
"Wait, how are we supposed to go anywhere, we have no idea where we are!" Ella squeaked a little too loudly. Amondir hushed her as Gwaurhoth snorted in his sleep but did not wake.
"I will send you with a map and supplies, different clothing as well."
"Where will we go, we know no one," June said, her brow furrowed.
"You will make for the Gap of Rohan, in the foothills there you will find a woman called Naurhoe or Margret to you, perhaps." Amondir stopped talking as the door swung open and young man tromped through the door. He couldn't have been older than sixteen, his face still holding to youthful roundness and acne. He had no beard and his eyes were an astonishing bright blue. He wore a sour look on his face and he silently walked through the shack, his soaked boots leaving wet prints in the dirt floor. He threw his cloak over a post for the bunks and sat heavy on the bottom one, removing his boots.
"Come with me," Amondir got up and grabbed his cloak, leading them outside into the rain. The sisters followed silently, heads bowed against the now howling winds that came out of the mountains. Amondir lead them to the barn, ushering them into the large doors.
"I apologize for the poor accommodations," Amondir said. "You will stay here until I can bring you the things you will need, it's dry and warm for the day anyway." He showed them to a clean, empty stall. Ella threw her pack in the corner and fell into the pile of hay at the back of the stall with a hmph.
"Thank you," Jane said sincerely. Amondir nodded and left them alone in the barn.
"What the fuck," Ella cursed from her corner of the stall. She sat with her legs crossed on the pile of hay, her hands tugging at her curly hair. June wandered into the stall and dropped her bag next to Ella's. Her head hurt from trying to figure out what was happening. She leaned against the stall wall, her head against her arms.
They stayed silent for a long time. Mel hadn't moved from her spot at the front of the stall, June was going to each horse in the stable and petting them, while Ella had taken to pacing the length of the barn aisle.
"What are we going to do?" Ella moaned as she came to a stop next to Mel.
"Survive," Mel said determinedly. "We are going to do exactly what we have to do to either get home, or wake up, or whatever to get back to normal. We are going to survive this." Mel had realized as they were being escorted to the barn that their lives were very real danger here. Whether she was dreaming or hallucinating or if this was real. They were all at risk. This was not the tame woods of home where they had grown up. Their survival was not a sure thing here.
"Right, alright, we got this." Ella nodded her head, her words more an affirmation to herself. "We can do this."
"We know how to survive the wild," June said joining them. "This is what dad was preparing us for."
"I don't think he had this exact situation in mind," Ella pointed out. June laughed and gave her little sister a shove. "Let's rest while we can."
Mel sat on the ground with her pack in front of her. Ella and June were playing Cat's Cradle while she sorted through the gear they had with them. As far as weapons went they had a bowie knife and the swiss army knife June had given her. They had exactly one packet of trail mix, a granola bar, and a half a pack of crackers that Ella had shoved in the bottom of her bag. Three bottles of water, six extra pairs of socks, courtesy of their mother no doubt, and a copy of some regency novel that belonged to June. Mel had a thirty-foot length of rope and two carabiners, a compass, and her flashlight. None of them had packed essentials as they had expected the hike to be short.
"Shit," a sudden thought flew through Mel's mind.
"What?" June asked, her eyes on her sister.
"Mom," Mel sighed. "Did anyone call her when we got to camp?"
"No…" Ella's mouth stayed in that o shape as the realization hit her.
"We better get home before the end of the week," June said collapsing the string she and Ella had been stringing between them. "It's going to be like dad for her all over again."
"Only we won't be there to help. She's going to send out a frigging manhunt for us."
"Damn it," Mel got to her feet, shoving all their stuff into her pack. The world was getting darker and Mel pulled out her flashlight to give them some semblance of light.
"I have to pee," Ella said suddenly, her face a mask of horror. June laughed and pointed to the back of the barn where a pile of soiled straw was. "Ugh." She got up and walked to the back of the barn, griping the whole way.
"You okay?" June asked Mel, helping return the gear to the pack.
"Not really," Mel said with more venom than she had intended.
"Yeah, me either, I keep thinking this has to be a dream, but… it's not…" June fidgeted with the rope before shoving it in the pack.
"How do you know?" Mel asked.
"Does it feel like a dream?" June asked. "I know it feels surreal, but dreams aren't this structured. This isn't a dream. This world is as real as ours." She reached out and pushed her hand against the stall wall for effect. "I just can't believe this is real though."
"I know what you mean," Mel sat down and stared at the beams above her. Ella came stumbling back to them, adjusting her spandex running pants as she walked.
"They probably think we are harlots," June said watching her sister hike her pants up.
"Harlots, whores, witches," Mel waved the flashlight around to accentuate her point. "We might as well plan on burning at the stake right now." They all laughed but it faded into awkward silence as they considered the very real possibility.
"Who do you think this Na… Nu… Margret woman is?" Ella asked positioning herself back into the haystack.
"She must be from our world, maybe?" June suggested.
"If she's still here that means she hasn't found a way home yet either…" Mel said, the words sticking to the back of her tongue. Strangely she was becoming less worried about not finding her way home. Maybe she was going into shock.
"Maybe she didn't want to go home," June said.
"I guess we'll find out, let's just hope it's not too far away," Mel said.
As the night grew darker around them the sisters huddled together in the haystack, listening to the sound of rain and wind and scurrying rodents (much to Ella's displeasure). Eventually, the rain gave away and just the wind whistled through the cracks of the barn. Mel had turned the flashlight off to conserve batteries and she was pretty sure Ella and June were sleeping. She always seemed to be the last one awake, even when they were kids. Sleep wasn't something she needed a ton of. The others though, god help anyone who disturbed their sleeping patterns.
Mel jumped at the sound of the barn door being opened. She jumped to her feet, flashlight at the ready, shining in the direction of the door.
"It's only me," Amondir shielded his eyes from the light of the flashlight. He was laden with clothes and leather satchels. "These will have to suffice." He dropped the bags and handed Mel the pile of clothing. "What is that?" He asked, nodding towards Mel's flashlight.
"Flameless torch," She said, having caught on to the medieval feel everything had. She heard him mutter something along the lines of 'fascinating' as she went and woke her sisters.
"There's a week's worth of cram, you'll have to ration or hunt along the way, there is not much between here and there save wild hare and the occasional migrating goose so eat sparingly." Amondir opened a satchel and withdrew two sets of long knives. "Can any of you wield these?" June bit back a laugh, it was more likely that they'd impale themselves.
"Doubtful," Mel said. "I'm guessing you stick them with the pointy end though."
"That's the gist of it." Amondir handed Mel a set of knives and another to Ella who reached for them readily. He then went back to the door and hefted a quiver of arrows and a bow over his shoulder.
"That I can probably handle," Mel said admiring the curve of the bow. She had been in 4-H archery camps since she could walk almost. She handed the knives over to June and took the bow from Amondir, testing its draw weight. She easily drew it to the corner of her lip and aimed it at an empty wall. She nodded in approval.
"You'll want to sleep in shifts, there are less savory things in the open than Gwaurhoth," Amondir said. "Wargs and Orcs roam the lands openly now, they prefer to move at night."
"What and what?" Ella said, eyes wide.
"Wargs, Wolves of Gundabad," Amondir answered like they should know what he was talking about. "They are wolves with the intelligence of a man and the malevolence of Morgoth himself. And Orcs, Orcs are the creatures of nightmares and they won't hesitate to feast upon you while you scream."
"Okay!" June interjected seeing Ella's eyes widen with every word Amondir said.
"I'm not going out there," Ella said, her pale face somehow even paler. June shot a glare at Amondir who looked sheepish. Mel kept a stiff upper lip though she too seemed paler in the blue light of the flashlight.
"How long should it take us?" Mel asked setting the bow and quiver aside.
"Four days at most, going slowly," Amondir replied. "Take horses, they will get you there faster."
"Who is the quickest, the gentlest, and the surest?" June asked, her eyes lit up. Horses were her area of expertise.
"The bay with a white face is the fastest, he is Fleetfoot. The little grey is gentle, she is Windstar, and the big bay with no white is the one I trust most, you may take him, he is called Bellbor." Amondir looked fondly at the large horse that had his head swung over the stall door, watching them.
"Why are you helping us?" Mel asked, not ungraciously.
"Because all those years ago, when I was a boy, that woman who came to Minas Tirith, she saved my life." He looked at his feet. "It was because of me that she was brought to the Steward. I should like to repay her somehow. If you can get to her, help her find her way home too. That would be enough." Mel nodded her understanding.
"Thank you," she said quietly. Amondir nodded solemnly and pulled a map from one of the bags. It was made of thick pressed paper adhered to a thinner skin to keep it dry. He rolled it out of the dirt floor, the hand drawn landscape deep and black against the pale paper. June and Ella gathered around them.
"You will stay along the mountains the entirety of the way, they will be your guide and your shelter." He drug his finger up the map until the mountains broke apart and the words 'The Gap Of Rohan' were written in fine calligraphy. "Naurhoe resides here, in the southern edge of the gap. You will find three large boulders in a perfect line, follow those to the mountain path, you will have to lead the horses from there, the way is treacherous. The path will lead you straight to her home. A warning though; she may not… be welcoming."
Mel raised her eyebrow but didn't say anything, she was their only hope.
"Keep to the rocks and boulders at night, do not kindle a fire lest you attract all the orcs in the kingdom." Amondir's face was drawn and serious. Mel nodded her understanding and peered at the map.
"Thank you Amondir, we truly appreciate it," she rolled the map up and placed it into a bag. June walked off to get the horses ready and Ella followed.
"I am the only one on watch now, you must go quickly, while the others sleep." Amondir stood up and looked thoughtfully at Mel. "May your journey be swift and without perils." He left them in the barn, leaving a feeling of foreboding in his wake.
June made quick work of saddling up the horses, though the straps were a bit more cumbersome everything seemed to work the same. She gave Ella the small grey mare, Windstar, Mel the bay, Bellbor, and took Fleetfoot for herself. She knew if anything happened she was the best rider and could run for help. Mel packed the new satchels accordingly, a weapon in each and split the necessities in case they got separated. Ella sorted through the clothes they were given. Rough wool tunics and equally as rough pants. There was a leather jerkin that would fit only Mel, flat chested as she was, and three well-worn cloaks. She furrowed her brow and held up a pair of pants.
"Wearing this is necessary?" She asked.
"I'm thinking, if we want to blend in, yeah," Mel said.
"I'm keeping my undies," Ella said, contorting her face in a disgusted look.
"Probably a good idea, I don't think these have been washed in a while," June picked up a light colored tunic, sweat stains visible in the white lamp light.
"That's gross." Mel agreed.
They each took a tunic, pants, and cloak. June opted to not only keep her bra and underwear but the t-shirt she wore as well. Ella and Mel tucked their 'normal' clothes into their packs and they all swapped their hiking boots for the smooth soled traveling boots Amondir had given them. None of their pants fit correctly and it had June giggling quietly to herself. Hers were too tight, hugging all the wrong places of her lower body, she was grateful for the tunic's length. Ella and Mel's were too big, they both had belts cinched to the tightest place possible around their hips. Ella's flooded around her ankles, too long to be decent so she tucked them into her boots. Poor Mel had the opposite problem, as the tallest she had a good inch of uncovered ankle. Clearly, all of the clothes had belonged to Amondir and it was useless to try and swap them. Instead, they all looked like homeless renaissance enthusiasts.
Lastly, Mel found a crude pitchfork, worked a hole into the pile of soiled straw, and buried their brightly colored nylon packs into it. Hopefully, they would just be forgotten there.
They led the horse from the barn, around the far side so they couldn't see the watch tower. Mel helped June up onto the large horse who snorted tossed his head excitedly. She turned to Ella who was holding the reins of her horse out slightly and eyeing the poor animal suspiciously. The mare stood there inconspicuously, her head hung low, and her eyes drooping.
"No," Ella said, shaking her head. "I can't ride! You know I can't!"
"Oh for the love of all that is holy, Ella!" Mel said grabbing the reins and tossing them over the horse's head. "Get on."
"I can't." Ella spit, her arms crossed.
"It's not going to be a pleasant walk, Ella, get on the damn horse!" Mel was on the verge of yelling.
"Stop it! Both of you." June called from the back of her prancing and pawing horse. "Ella you either ride your mare, or you ride with me." Ella stared at the impatient horse with wary eyes.
"I'm good, I can walk."
"You can't keep up on foot," Mel argued. June's horse snorted again and rose up on his back feet slightly, clearly anxious to get moving. June huffed and rolled her eyes at the horse's behavior but was extremely annoyed.
"For fuck's sake Ella, get on the horse!" She snarled. June didn't do well on a lack of sleep.
"June…" She whined.
"Ella, please," June sighed. "That mare is half dead, she's not going to hurt you!"
"Fine," Ella turned to the horse and accepted Mel's leg-up. Once on the horse, her hands were shaking and she clung to the saddle and horse's mane for dear life. Mel climbed into her saddle and June gratefully loosened her hold on her reins. They set off to the north, the dark night swathed around them, protecting them from curious eyes.
Just a little note, I will be trying to update on the regular but this is more of a relaxation thing for me so who knows how it will go! And howdy to everyone, its been a long time!