Who Will Call Them From the Grey Twilight, the Oath Makers?

Quenya in italics. Zoë speaks Quenya, from being an all out Tolkien fan

Zoe slowly slid the paper out of the envelope to read:

Congratulations on your application to the F. A. U. L. T. T. Y. (Favorite Authors Using Living Toys to Thank You) program! As Professor Tolkien, I deem it my honor to inform you that the Elves you have received are Maedhros and Maglor. If these names are not familiar to you, I ask that you immediately call _-_-_.

These living toys will activate within an hour of your opening the box. On the next sheet are instructions for the care of your Elves. F. A. U. L. T. T. Y. is in no way responsible for the actions of your Elves. If you or they are damaged, it is entirely your problem. The Elves are non-returnable. They will be with you for the duration of the week, though if you wish to retain one or more for an extended period of time, just say 'I wish to keep you' to the Elf you wish to keep, and they may stay for one week more. An Elf is renewable two times.

Zoe and Alex looked at each other.

"Uh-oh" they said simultaneously

Just then, the two figures lying stretched out beside them stirred. As Zoë and Alex looked on in horror, they perceived that the cloth and stuffing had turned to flesh. Maglor sat up and looked around.

"Where in Middle-earth am I?" he asked.

While Alex looked at him like he had two heads, Zoë replied calmly, though with her heart inwardly racing,"My Lord, you are not in Arda at all. You are in a completely different time and place. This is America. Can you speak the tongue of men?"

"Yes," he replied, this time in English. "Though why I must is still a mystery."

"Must what?" demanded Alex.

"Must speak English," said Zoë. "Is something wrong with Maedhros? He stirred, but he hasn't gotten up."

"Maedhros is here, as well?" exclaimed Maglor. "Truly Mandos spoke aright when he said, 'Beyond Aman shall ye dwell in death's shadow.' I did not think that he meant beyond Arda when he said, 'On the House of Fëanor the wrath of the Valar lieth from the West unto the uttermost East.' Is this some further punishment of the Valar, after all we have endured?"

"I know not," Zoë sighed. "All I know is that a mysterious box arrived on my doorstep with you two inside it. This brings us back to my earlier question. How is Maedhros doing?"

During this conversation, Alex had bent over Maedhros. "He's breathing," announced the ten year old, "though I think we should get him somewhere more comfortable, like the couch."

Together all three of them lifted Maedhros onto the long couch in the next room. For several minutes, they sat beside him, looking at each other and feeling very uncomfortable. After about five minutes, Maedhros stirred.

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"Not in Arda, my lord," replied Zoë.

"We are in a different world," Maglor interrupted. "Apparently we arrived in a box as plush toys, and we are going to be here for a week, living in this world."

"WHAT!?" Maedhros sounded shocked.

"It is true," sighed Zoë. "Do you think you could use the tongue of men? That is what we speak here, and the only tongue my brother understands."

"I can," said Maedhros slowly in English, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts. "What are we going to do now?

The question hung in the air for several minutes. Then there was a flash of headlights on the wall, coming in through the thin lace curtain. Mommy and Daddy were home!

As Zoë and Alex sat like deer caught in the headlights (quite literally, I'm afraid, they heard the sound of the car turning off. They glanced at each other, then each of them grabbed the hand of an Elf. They raced upstairs like rabbits.

"Maedhros, Maglor, stay right here," panted Zoë, dashing into her room. "Alex, get into bed quick; you were supposed to be there half an hour ago!"

"But what about…?" started Alex.

"No time for it!"

"But..."

"No time for that, either! Hurry!"

Taking several deep breaths, Zoë composed herself. She was still breathing hard, though, as she walked down to meet her parents, and to help with Nathaniel, Robert, and David, her other brothers. If anyone noticed that she seemed out of sorts, they said nothing, nor did they comment on the boxes in the living room, which Zoë and Alex apparently had forgotten about. It was only after the twins and Nathaniel had been put down, that Daddy said anything.

"You've been flustered quite badly. What happened?"

"I umm, I err, there are two Elves upstairs in my bedroom. I'm not joking." As Daddy made to interrupt, Zoë plowed on. "Their names are Maedhros and Maglor. They are the sons of Fëanor from The Silmarillion. I am not crazy. Here, let me show you."

Leaving her parents blinking like owls at her, she ran to her room, taking the steps two at a time. She went into her room, calling softly as she did so.

"Maedhros, Maglor, come and meet my parents. Keep your voices down; my brothers are sleeping."

Mr. and Mrs. Hebrew's eyes popped out of their heads, and their jaws dropped halfway to the floor. Their daughter, Zoë, was coming down the stairs with two men, two very tall, very proud men, who could only be Elves.

"This is Maedhros," she said, indicating the one with only a left hand. "And this is Maglor. Maglor, Maedhros, these are my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hebrew."

"We are pleased to meet you," said Maedhros, speaking for both of them. "It is truly an honor to meet the parents of our host."

The look on Mr. and Mrs. Hebrew's faces was priceless. It was one of utter shock. Wordlessly Zoe handed them the first paper from F. A. U. L. T. T. Y.

I want to say thank you once again to Crackers for beta'ing this for me, and to all of you who reviewed. Bearwolf207, Elrond's Scribe, Beocorgi, Elf from Downunder, fantasychica37, Galad Estel, and Haneshiro. Hannon Le! To everyone else, a review makes my day. I get excited every time I see one. To let you know, the next chapter may be long in coming, as I have to wait for a book to arrive to finish it.
Estelio Eru,Nimrodel