"There are moments which mark your life. Moments when you realize nothing will ever be the same and time is divided into two parts, before this, and after this."

-Fallen

Two days after the abrupt arrival and departure of Mr. Greyhame, Lyrin had nearly forgotten about her old friends visit as she set out for one last trip into the woods around the old house. She was able packed most of her belongings in her camping pack, since she had not come down with very much when her grandfather first fell sick, some cloths toiletries and a few personal items was all she had to her name now.

She locked up the house and slipped the key into her bag before trekking out into the woods.

about mid day she decided to stop for a while, she set her backpack on the ground next to her and strung up her hammock before settling down in it draping an arm over her eyes. she listened to the sounds of the forest around her for a while before she fell asleep, the Sapphire necklace warm against her skin.

And odd heat against her chest broke her from her nap. she lay there for a moment listening to the sounds around her hoping to be lulled back to sleep. As she lay there she heard something that made her pause- water, running water. Lyrin frowned there were no rivers or streams in the woods where she was.

Just as she moved to open her eyes a voice called out from beside her

"Ah there you are my dear"

Lyrin cracked one eye open and glanced at the familiar form beside her

"Please tell me I'm still in the forest behind the house." she said shutting her eyes again hoping this was all just a dream

"I could but that would be a lie" the old man said smartly

Lyrin's heart fluttered as she hoisted herself out of the hammock- or she would have if it was not already on the ground. the trees she had anchored to were gone, in fact the whole forest had changed around her.

"Where am I? Did you do this?" she demanded angrily, pointing a finger at him

"I did but let me..."

Before he could finish Lyrin cut him off "look I don't know what this is or you want..."

"It is not what I want but what you want" Gandalf said with a small smile

"What do you mean"

"you said you wanted an adventure so I am giving it to you and if you will stop questioning for a moment I will explain in full" he huffed

Lyrin folded her arms over her chest "alright then explain your self"

"Though you have known me as Greyhame, My name is Gandalf the Grey one of five wizards sent to aid the world many many years ago . As you know I met your Grand father many years ago along my travels but the story you know is the the whole one. your Grand father unwittingly discovered a thinning between his world and another world a portal between the two if you will. That is how I met him. I found him wandering the wilds confused and lost and over a meal he shared with me his story of how he came to be in this world. I must admit I was quite intrigued and I decided to help him find his way back. after many years we found a way to track the thinnings and where they would appear. Finally we were able to find one and send him back, and out of curiosity I went through as well for a time before returning to my world. After a while I perfected a way to stabilize the thinnings for a short time and over the years used them to visit your grandfather. And the rest you know for your self"

Lyrin was not sure wither to laugh or run, and she sat there for a moment debating between the two.

"Look Mr. Greyhame I know a lot of really good people from the medical college who specialize in people with problems like yours. There's a lot of really good treatments these days ,Why don't we go and see if we can get you some help?"

The old man looked affronted

"I should get going.." Lyrin began, grabbing her pack and hammock as she spoke.

The old mans face turned into a scowl. Lyrin watched as he stood up to his full height, growing as a dark shadows loomed around him "Do not take me for some mad man or magician Lyrin Hayward!" he thundered causing Lyrin to shrink back "I am one of the Istari, mighty guardians of this world" as he spoke the wind picked up and swirled around them as the sky grew dark.

He looked at Lyrin and regarded her startled expression before stooping back down to his normal high as the wind stopped and the sky cleared.

"I am sorry for all of that my dear but sometimes seeing is believing"

Lyrin merely nodded, unable to find her words.

"Now the as for why you are here. I was asked to aid in a quest,one that I believe you will be a great asset to."

"But where is here?" Lyrin asked gesturing around her

"We are in middle earth my dear, about a day and a half journey from the shire"

"So all the stories you told me as a kid... they're real?"

"Indeed they are. Do you recall they story of Erebor?"

Lyrin nodded

"Thorin Oakenshield is going to reclaim the mountain. That is why you are here -to aid them in their quest." Gandalf smiled

"But why me?" Lyrin asked

"In all my travels I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love. This quest will bring them into much darkness and when that happens they will need a light"

Gandalf paused before continuing

"Now then unfortunately you arrived a bit later than I expected but no matter, I will go on ahead to the nearest town and get you the rest of your supplies for this journey. Do you have a compass?" he asked

Lyrin dug around her bag for a moment before pulling out an old slightly worn compass

"Good travel due east for seven miles and you will find the camp. I'll be waiting there for you with the others."

"Why cant I go with you?"

"Well me dear to be frank you would attract fat too much attention dressed so strangely in a town. I think its best if you stick to the woods for now."

Lyrin looked at her worn jeans tucked into tall hiking boots, and her loose fitting baseball shirt underneath a thick grey shrug.

"I suppose so."

"But be wary, even though these roads are generally safe, they have grown dark in the passing years."

...

.

After Gandalfs departure Lyrin re packed her bag taking stock of what she had with her one last time. Before setting out she decided to heed Gandalfs words. She pulled out her favorite faded and worn burgundy baseball cap from her bag and pulled her hair into a pony tale before tucking it into its self creating a short updo. She then pulled the cap over it effectively hiding her long hair and shielding her face.

compass in hand she set off into the woods.

..

.

After few hours of walking the sun was beginning to wane and Lyrin was regretting ever wishing for an adventure. She double checked the compass again to make sure she was still on the right path, the small needle still pointing strong at the E. She yelped as she tripped over a tree root, sending her toppling to the ground, smattering her face and arms with dirt.

"Just bloody fantastic" she grumbled picking her self up.

after another half hour ticked by Lyrin was beginning to wonder if Gandalf had lied to her about the camp. she sat down tiredly, taking a long sip from her water bottle. As she sat there she could hear something in the distance.

Slowly Lyrin crept forward towards the noises. She crouched down behind a spot of shrub and carefully peered through hoping to see her old friend siting there waiting for her. What she saw instead was a group of gruff looking men all sitting around a small fire. some were talking with one and other while some sharpened large axes and swords.

Gandlaf's words about the dangers in the woods rang in her mind. Lyrin decided she would have to back track and find a way to bypass that area.

Slowly she crept away from the bushes. Thinking of possible routes in her mind as she went.

she had only gotten a few feet away when a loud snap sounded under foot. Lyrin froze and stared down at the broken twig under her foot.

She waited straining her hearing for any sign that the men had heard her.

"What was that"

Lyrin's heart stopped

"You two go check it out"

Panic began to set in as she heard foot steps coming her way. she carefully crept away a little faster than before watching the ground for twigs.

"over there!" A mans voice shouted from a few wards being her followed by heavy foot steps quickly approaching.

Lyrin let out a string of curses before decided it was time for plan B ,and decided to try her luck at out running them. She prayed that five years of cross country would pay off as she abandoned the cover of the shrub lining and broke off into a dead sprint

She could hear men's voices shouting, muffled by the sound of her heart pounding in her ears.

she risked a glance behind her. she could see two figures a few yards behind her.

She sprinted faster, her lungs burning in her chest.

after a few more yards she looked back again, there was only one man behind her now.

Before she could figure out where the other man had gone, strong arms wrestled her to the ground

"Got yah"