Chapter One
Middle Earth,
Outskirts of Bree, 2939
Jessica woke up, finding herself in forest. Where am I? The last place I remember was in the sea! What am I doing in a forest? Jessica thought as she stood up. Jessica looked around, and all she could see was a forest. She hoped there would be a village nearby so she could ask where she is, and find a nearest Inn to stay as well. "Ah, I found you at last, Miss Jessica." said a deep voice coming from behind her. Jessica quickly turned, and she saw a man dressed in grey robes and a tall pointed grey hat, carrying a staff. Jessica almost wanted to laugh at the way the man dressed.
"Who are you? Why are you dressed like you're going to a costume party?" asked Jessica. The old man laughed. "I am Gandalf the Grey Wizard, I have summoned you here." said the old man. Hearing this, really made Jessica laugh. "Oh come on! Yer got to be jokin' me! Wizards aren't real! They only exist in bedtime stories to get the kiddies to go to sleep!" laughed Jessica. "Is that so? You don't believe I'm a wizard?" said Gandalf.
"I'm afraid so, sir. You appear like one of them old men who carry a tin can asking for coins." said Jessica. "Now, now, Miss Jessica, maybe I should give you proof of me being a wizard. You carry a stone in your possession that is a sentimental value to you. A Moon Jewel, I should say." said Gandalf. "Wait-how did you?" stammered Jessica, sharply, as she grasped the jewel tightly. "You can't have it. It was my fathers, I'm not letting it go." said Jessica, sharply.
"Now, now you're don't have to worry about that, Miss Jessica. But that is something we need to discuss, though. I know about the stone and its powers. Something more than what your late father has told you." said Gandalf. Jessica's eyes widened in shock and surprise, when Gandalf mentioned her father. "You-really are a wizard!" gasped Jessica. First, she didn't believe him, and now hearing that the wizard knew about her father and the stone, and everything came together.
"So, what about the Moon Jewel, why is it so important to me?" asked Jessica. "Your father told you it has powers, but he left out quite a bit of what it does. This jewel symbolizes you as a Savior of Fates." said Gandalf. "Savior of Fates? What does that supposed to mean? I could have saved my father! Why didn't it let me save my father?!" Jessica shouted, tears falling down her face.
"Your father lead himself to his death, as well as your fellow crew mates. All because of greed, and his love for the treasure he had possessed. How long was he in possession of the treasure chest?" asked Gandalf. "Forty years." Jessica replied. "Pirates, like dwarves, are known for their greed, that can lead them to madness, and that's what happened your father, and now, we're going into the most important topic and why I've summoned you." began Gandalf.
"And that being?" asked Jessica. "You will that out in due time. IN the mean time, you will be dwelling in Bree, and work as a barmaid to earn your keep and stay at the Prancing Pony Inn. Once you are settled there, I am going off on some other business I have to attend to." said Gandalf. "Will you come back?" asked Jessica. "Yes, I will come back! I'm sure I won't be gone long." said Gandalf. "We'll just see about that." grumbled Jessica, as she followed Gandalf further in the forest.
Once they arrived in the village, Gandalf led Jessica to the Prancing Pony Inn, making arrangements with the Inn Keeper, Henry, and he agreed of taking Jessica in as a barmaid, as well as setting up a room where she can stay. It's not like I worked as a barmaid before, done it before I became a pirate! thought Jessica. "Farewell for the time being, Miss Jessica! I will return sometime!" said Gandalf, and the wizard left.
Village of Bree
March, 2940
One year went by, Gandalf returned to Bree, not only to visit with Jessica, but also on another important business as well. As the wizard entered the Inn, he could see Jessica busy serving drinks to the customers. As Jessica was serving drinks and food to patrons, she saw a lone figure sitting alone at a table. His handsome features had caught her attention. He had long raven hair, with silver streaks, and blue eyes, and he was dressed in a dark blue tunic, and silver chain mail.
Wow, I never seen eyes that blue on anyone before! Jessica thought. "Miss Jessica, aren't you going to serve that fellow a drink and food, or are you going to stand there all day!" called out Henry, breaking her thoughts. "My apologies, Henry!" Jessica called back, and she approached the table of the man she was looking at. "What would you like to drink, sir?" asked Jessica. "Two mugs of ale please, and some food." said the man, his voice deep and gruff. Jessica nodded, and she walked away. The man stared at her, as she walked away, and she took notice he was looking at her.
After she went, she shortly returned with the food and drink.
"Here you go, sir! Enjoy!" said Jessica, and soon as she turned away, she bumped right into Gandalf. "Ah! Miss Jessica, I finally found you at last! Care to join us?" asked the wizard. "You know her?" asked the man sitting at the table. "Ah, Thorin-let me introduce you to a friend of mine! This is Miss Jessica, I found her laying stranded in the woods a few miles from the village! Miss Jessica, this is Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, dwarf from Erebor." said Gandalf.
Jessica's eyes widened, couldn't believe what Gandalf had just said. Dwarf? You've got to be kidding me? He doesn't look like no dwarf at all! Dwarves are old, short and ugly! This fellow is far by means, no dwarf! Jessica thought to herself, and she smiled at the dwarf, pretentiously. "Its nice meeting you, Thorin!" said Jessica. "And you too, Miss Jessica." said Thorin, nodding his head towards her. "Miss Jessica, you wouldn't mind bring me some red wine and food please?" said Gandalf "Of course!" said Jessica, and she left the table while Gandalf and Thorin talked.
Dwarf, my little rear end! He's not a dwarf, I don't believe it, not on bloody bit! Just keep your tongue to yourself, Jess, you don't want to stir up a hornets nest, Jessica thought as she went for Gandalf's drink and meal.
Shortly, Jessica returned and she served the meal and drink to Gandalf, and she sat with them. "Now since we have discussed the plan, and the fourteenth member. Now I will bring up an additional member of the Company. Miss Jessica, you will be joining us on Thorin's quest to reclaim Erebor." said Gandalf. "So, you want me to help Thorin and a merry group of dwarves? What's the deal on that?" asked Jessica, as she didn't realize, she offended Thorin, and Thorin became very angry, especially at Gandalf.
"Gandalf, you have your lost mind! We will not allow a woman, a woman of the race of Men at that, to join us on our quest! She remains her, continuing her duties as barmaid!" snapped Thorin. "What's wrong about a woman joining your quest?" snapped Jessica, angrily. "For one, you have no skills in combat, and your duties are here. Plain as that!" said Thorin. This really angered Jessica. Suddenly, she jumped right into Thorin's lap, aiming a dagger she quickly took out from her boot, aiming it at Thorin's neck.
"Thorin, let me inform you, you have no idea whom you speaking to here! I am Jessica, daughter of Pirate Captain Eric! You are messing with a pirate, don't anger me! Or I will slit you from navel-to nose!" hissed Jessica. This movement took Thorin by surprise.
But however, Thorin didn't buy any of it. Hearing that Jessica was a pirate, he wouldn't have people of her sort among his Company. "Now you're befriended pirates, Gandalf? NO! She is still not coming!" barked Thorin. "Well, then-you will never make to the mountain." grumbled Gandalf, and he gave Jessica a side glance. "What?" asked Jessica. "Its time that the truth needs to be in the open. Show him the stone, Jessica." said Gandalf. "Why? He would just take it from me!" said Jessica. "Jessica, just take out the stone. No one is going to take it from you, I promise you that." said the wizard. Jessica sighed.
"Very well." said Jessica, as she pulled the Moon Jewel out of her pocket. Gandalf explained Jessica's jewel and its powers. "She and the jewel is the reason why she is with us, Thorin Oakenshield. This jewel will save your life, and the lives of your family. You have to trust her." said Gandalf. "Very well, I trust her! But I better not catch her stealing my belongings." said Thorin. "Why would I steal from you? No treasure is worth stealing, and I'm happy with what I've got." said Jessica. Thorin looked at Jessica with a strange look. Jessica's face saddened as she spoke.
"Not as worth as leading people to their deaths during a storm!" grumbled Jessica, as she walked away from the table.
"What was all that about?" asked Thorin. Gandalf told Thorin the story of Jessica's father, and his death, and the deaths of his crew, caused by Captain Eric's obsession with his treasure. Thorin's eyes widened at this. "Oh." said Thorin softly. And he looked towards Jessica's direction. Then Thorin turned to Gandalf. "She will come with us." said Thorin. "I will tell her." said Gandalf. As the evening progressed, Jessica sat by the fireplace by herself, as she stared into the flames.
"Is this spot taken?" spoke up a deep voice behind her. Jessica looked up and she saw Thorin looking at her. "No, no. You can sit here if you like." said Jessica. "Gandalf informed me about your father's death. I'm sorry to hear that." said Thorin softly. "Thank you. I warned him, Thorin. He would never listen, I warned him." said Jessica, wiping a few tears from her eyes. "You and I have a very similar situations. My grandfather, years ago, when he ruled Erebor, he fell under a gold sickness, he love for gold and treasure grew and grew by each passing day, and it worried all of us-and the one day-Smaug the dragon came, destroying our home, the Town of Dale and Lake Town." said Thorin softly.
"Did your Grandfather survive?" asked Jessica.
"Of course, he survived, because of me, he survived, as I led him out of the treasury." Thorin continued. Jessica remained quiet. "Is he still around now?" asked Jessica. "No. That will be a tale for another time, Miss Jessica. Go and get your some rest." said Thorin. Jessica nodded. "Good night, Thorin Oakenshield!" said Jessica. "Good night, Miss Jessica!" Thorin replied, as he watched Jessica head to her room. There is something about her I find intriguing, Gandalf is right, I'm sure she wouldn't be a problem on the quest, Gandalf thought.
The next morning, Jessica woke up, and got dressed and she firmed Henry she would be going away for a while. After that, Gandalf had a private discussion with Jessica. "I like for you to leave before Thorin does. You will head for Hobbiton. And here is the map I laid out for you. You will also approached a home of Bilbo Baggins, that is where we will meet." said Gandalf. Jessica nodded, as she took a map Gandalf had made for her. "Now, there will be twelve other dwarves among this quest, and you will meet them later." said Gandalf. Twelve others? Oh boy, this is going to be interesting, thought Jessica.
"Don't worry, they'll warm up to you. They may not like you at first, but you leave them to me and Thorin." said Gandalf. Jessica nodded, as she watched Gandalf walk away.
Afterwards, Jessica went and packed her belongings, and she took the money she had been saving from the earnings of working as barmaid, and she purchased a horse. After that, she departed from Bree, beginning her journey to the Shire.
