Lost Horizon

Tobi is a good boy

I do not own Lord of the Rings or the work of JRR Tolkien

Two: Forces of Destiny


When Artemis awoke, she found herself lying on a patch of mud. A few feet away, Morhen lay, unmoving in a small ditch.

Groaning, she crawled over towards his body.

Cautiously, she shook his shoulder.

He responded with a low groan, lifting his head from the ditch. His faced was covered with mud.

"Art?" he coughed, sputtering. His nose was broken, streaming blood.

"Yes, it's me," she responded. "Can you get up?"

He folded his long legs and pushed himself up unsteadily. "Is this Jannah?"

She looked at their surroundings. They were in a forest clearing, the sun was shining and she could feel the wind on her cheek. The ground beneath was muddy and slightly damp.

"No, I think…we're alive."

He looked at her incredulously. "But…we…" he drifted off into silence as he took in their new surroundings.

Artemis pulled herself together. She could remember piloting the plane towards the innumerable army of Melkor, but nothing of the crash. Her hair was even singed from the burning plane.

"We should try and find Gawain. He might know what's going on here."

Morhen nodded; he stumbled dizzyingly. Artemis grabbed him and put his arm around her shoulder. Unsteadily, they walked out of the clearing and onto a large forest path.

"Gawain!" called Artemis, trying to peer through the forest for any sign of the blonde haired Elf.

As they slowly walked along the forest path, there was no sign of Gawain.

Morhen shook his head. "Think he's dead, Art," he murmured.

Artemis shot Morhen a deadly look. The man still had blood running from his nose; it had become encrusted on his beard. "I can't believe that, Morhen. We both are here…"

"I think we should take a break, Art," replied Morhen simply, not daring to meet Artemis's eyes.

They both sat down slowly at the bottom of a large fir tree. Artemis closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on her face.

Morhen suddenly clasped her shoulder. "Do you hear that?"

Artemis began to shake her head, and then she began to hear the sound of hooves.

"Stay here," she whispered, drawing her sword from her belt.

Cautiously, she edged towards the forest path.

Heading straight for her were two great brown horses, on top of the horses were riders clad in silver-grey cloaks.

"HEY HEY!" she shouted, waving her arms to the riders.

The riders pulled sharply on the reins of the horses. One drew a long sword, while the other drew a bow and arrow.

They spoke strangely, in an old language that Artemis did not know.

Artemis gripped her sword, fearfully, heart thumping in her chest.