Chapter One

Splitting headache was all that I felt. Peeling my eyes open I winced at the light that hit my eyes. I quickly realized I wasn't in Kansas anymore. Snapping to attention I took in my surroundings and did a mental check of myself. I was in a forest, certainly not in the cul-de-sac of my hometown. The forest I was in was dense, and old from the smell. The trees were tall, thick and young in age. The air was light and crisp, the only kind of air you could find like that was up in the mountains. Vaguely I wondered if my father had found my body and dumped me up in the mountain ranges hoping the fall had killed me. But this wasn't any mountain I was familiar with. Hell I wasn't even sure where I was. Evaluating that I was indeed alone I took a personal inventory of myself. I was dirty that was for certain, the mixture of the rain water from where I fell combined with the dirt and soil from where I was now made me extremely dirty.

My body ached, my back especially, nothing felt broken I thanked my lucky stars for that, except for my ankle, that didn't twinge the way it was supposed to. A few pokes and prods later I determined it was likely broken or at least severely sprained. I looked down at my state of dress…or lack thereof. My tunic dress was torn and shredded and my hair was held loosely by a hair-tie. I had very little to go by where I was at, I didn't even know where I was, or which was north. A bird overhead squawked startled me as I turned my attention to the treetops, but I didn't see the animal that made the sound. A low growl got my attention, turning my attention to my immediate surroundings I saw a large bear. Brown from what I could tell, with the amount of pain I was in, it made everything a little hazy. The bear got closer, and soon it was close enough to take a chomp if it wanted. Instead it bent down and sniffed my hair. It didn't smell as badly as I thought, it had a deep woodsy scent, earthy like mud. He sniffed my hair and my body and my leg, lingering slightly on my leg. I held as still as I possibly could. But the temperature was starting to drop, and I was beginning to get cold.

The bear looked me directly in my eye, definitely not a typical bear behavior. It huffed stepped back and laid down, it's belly towards me. Hesitantly I crept closer, he, allowed it. I was able to ball up right up against him between his front and back paws. It was definitely strange and not normal bear behavior but I wasn't about to question it. His warm body radiated heat and I was beginning to get drowsy. I wasn't sure what part of me but I was certain this bear wasn't about to let anything hurt me while I slept, I snuggled into the bear's side and the bear rumbled in approval and I let sleep overtake me.

"Do you see that Mithrandir?"

"I do have eyes Aragorn,"

Peeking open my eyes I felt the bear rumble in displeasure beneath me. The tension of the bear beneath me I opened my eyes fully and took in my surroundings. It was morning as far as I could tell. The bite of air was harsh against my cold and exposed skin, and despite the bear's best efforts to warm me I could feel the onset of illness in my body. A fever had already started, a ways away I could see two men the first human beings I had seen since I first awoke here. One was older in his sixties I would guess, he wore grey from head to toe. His hat was pointed and long, his hair was cut short to his shoulders and a grey beard was down to the middle of his chest. He wore grey drab robes that was sectioned by a brown cord around his middle.

The second man was maybe in his thirties to forties, his hair was dark brown nearly black, his hair was cut at his chin, there was a scraggly beard on his face, it wasn't very long and it was cut short. He wore a dark grey long-sleeved shirt beneath a brown leather vest. He wore dark pants with a belt around his waist and boots on his feet. He had a sword in its scabbard on his hip hanging on the belt. He looked at the bear and I in wonder.

"It's a girl," the man stated.

"I can see that Aragorn," the old man stated.

Cautiously the pair took a few steps towards the bear and I and the bear growled menacingly and the pair stopped hands raised in surprise.

"We mean no harm," Aragorn said slowly.

The bear growled but relaxed a little, the man, named Aragorn turned his attention to me.

"Are you injured?"

I couldn't speak, my throat parched, but I nodded once. I heard the man curse in a language I was unfamiliar with.

"She needs aid," Gandalf, the old man, said quietly.

The bear whined slightly and then maneuvered himself so he was more or less offering me to him. Reluctant to leave his warmth I cringed back into the bear, but he nudged me forwards towards the two men. Aragorn had taken off his cloak and gently wrapped me in it, covering my body and helping keep the warmth the bear had provided. Gently he put a hand on my forehead.

"She's feverish,"

Gandalf, the old man, grumbled and told Aragorn to move quickly, something about elven medicine. I wanted to ask, but I also had no strength. The last thing I remembered before I succumbed to the darkness was glancing up at Aragorn's face who repeatedly told me I was going to be ok, that I was going to make it.

Waking up this time, was much more pleasant. I was very comfortable, opening my eyes the room was lightly lit, and I was lying in a bed softer than any one I had laid on before. Looking at my body I was wearing a dark blue nightgown. Using my arms I used them to push myself into a sitting position, my leg was wrapped in some hard wrappings. The room was beautiful, designed more in woods and leaf like designs. I then noticed I wasn't alone. Standing on the far end of the room was a man I could only described as elegant. He was tall, maybe 5'9" and slender. His hair was brown, similar to the color of chocolate. He wore a silver circlet on his head. He wore beautiful robes of red, greens, and browns. A gold rope was around his waist separating the robes. He was regal, elegant, things a man from my time would be nervous and 'ashamed' of being seen as. He was stern, that much was certain, he definitely didn't seem like a joking type, nor did he seem one to cross.

"I see you are awake,"

I didn't say anything but he came over and gently pressed his hand against my forehead. Although the fever was gone I was still hot and his hands were cold and felt good on my skin, I closed my eyes against the contact.

"Your fever endures, but your wounds heal." He stated.

Again I didn't answer, he sat in the chair at my bedside, I then noticed the table with a steaming tray of tea…he offered me a cup, I took a drink I wasn't much of a tea person but this was delicious.

"Thank you," I whispered when my voice wasn't so hoarse.

He inclined his head in my direction a sign he had heard me.

"May I ask your name?"

I took another drink.

"Braelyn,"

He looked thoughtful.

"Do you know where you are?"

I shook my head.

"I don't remember much," I responded.

He looked at me and I knew he was analyzing me to see if I was telling the truth.

"You aren't from this time," He said after a while.

I froze slightly but I nodded slowly.

"That is the only thing that makes sense," I mumbled.

He nodded.

"Do you remember anything from your time?" the man asked.

Reluctantly flashbacks entered my mind from my times with my father and I flinched.

"Things I'd rather forget," I whispered.

The man studied me, I felt his very eyes piercing into my soul searching.

"I will not ask you of them today, you are still recovering. However you must understand this is not a usual happening, we need to try to piece together why you are here."

I nodded, not looking at his face.

"I am Lord Elrond, of Riverdale. That is where you are, in Riverdale. You are currently in our house of healing. You'll stay here until you've healed, from there we'll begin to try and figure out why you are here. Let us help you."

I looked up at his face, it didn't sound angry or condescending. It sounded warm and welcoming like a father's. I searched his face and I hoped, I really hoped he'd be more of a father figure than my own.

Only time would tell...