Chapter 2: The Wizard Apprentice

Elise

I awoke with a start. Gasping, I lurched off my pillow and tried to catch my breath. I clutched at my chest. It felt tight, and my heart was pounding so loud and fast it thumped in my ears and I felt like it would burst out of my chest. I was panting, and my throat felt tight and closed…as if I was still swallowing dark saltwater. I felt as though my throat was still burning from it.

But yet…somehow…I was alive. I was alive!

I tried to slow my breathing and take deeper breaths. Okay…okay…calm down…calm down…in…out…in…out…in…out….you're alive…you're alive…

Slowly, and painfully…I began to calm…and reality started to come into perspective around me. I realized I was lying in a soft bed in a small room, with daylight streaming in through the window. Never had I been so relieved to see the sun in my life.

However, my short-lived relief vanished immediately when I realized that I was in an unfamiliar place. In an unfamiliar room. Alone. Completely alone. In silence. The room, which had the appearance of tower walls, felt small…as if it was caving in on me. And suddenly…Where IS everyone!? Erika, Zade, Emily, Rick, Becca…where are they!? Are they alright? Were they hurt!? Where am I!?

I leapt out of bed in and instant and began to scramble and pace around the room. I glanced out the tiny window. Outside, the view did not look like anything my brain was in a state to recognize or recall…and it wasn't'…

My heart rate began to increase again. It began to pound louder, faster…louder, faster.

I pushed open the door and began to search frantically. For what, I didn't know. Perhaps I had the hope that I'd run into Emily or Erika or…but I didn't. I was met with emptiness, and dark, narrow hallways as I sped down the winding stone stairs, muttering to myself…calling out for answers.

That was when I saw a figure coming towards me. It was a girl. I barely noticed the smile she greeted with me.

"Good morning-Esm–" I grabbed her with unintentional harshness and desperately clutched her arm. She tensed, and pulled backwards.

"What is going on!? Where the hell am I? How did get here!? How long have I been here!? Where are my friends!? Are my friends okay!?" I demanded sharply, the bite of frustration prominent in my voice. I needed answers. The dark-skinned, ringlet-haired African girl, who was already small framed seemed to shrink in her dress. Her large brown doe eyes were wide and startled.

"Pl-please c-calm down, miss…I kn-know y-you're scared b-but…I promise you are-aren't in danger…T-truth is, I-I don't have all the answers…b-but I'll explain the b-best I can..."

I realized then that I still had a tight grip on her arm, and I immediately let go and took a couple steps back, relaxing slightly, drawing in a deep breath.

"W-would you like some tea? W-we can discuss th-this over a cuppa."

I nodded slowly, "Yeah…yeah…that sounds good."

There was a heavy silence as she led me down the stairs into a small kitchen and dining room area. I sat down in one of the chairs at the small round table while she got some water going over a flame. I continued to breathe deeply to calm myself. I would get answers at least.

-xXx-

"There you are, miss." She set a steaming cup of black tea in front of me. Then, she sat down on the seat adjacent to mine.

"Thanks." I blew over the rim of the cup, and waited for it to cool, inhaling the strong smell.

Once it was cool enough, I took a couple of sips and set the cup down.

"Alright, so what's goin' on?" I half demanded.

"W-well to start off…you are in Middle Earth. It is the Third Age, the beginning of the year 2941. Y-you are currently in Isengard, in th-the house of Saruman the White, the g-greatest of the W-Wizard order. H-he is c-currently out on business, b-but he will return s-soon."

Oh, lovely. So, I'm in the house of the corrupted b**tard that surrenders to the Dark Lord Sauron.

"S-Saruman f-found you in th-the f-forest. Y-you were unconscious and s-soaked to y-your skin…a-as if y-you had just washed up from somewhere. Wh-when h-he b-bent down t-to t-try and check your vitals, you jumped up and a-attacked him…w-with magic. B-but then you passed out again before you could deal damage and he could fight back. H-he brought y-you back h-here."

What? I attacked him with magic!? That's cool…but how!? …I wasn't a wizard. At least not the last time I checked. I'd always wanted to be…but still…

As if I was not already confused enough as it is, now I was learning I could use magic!? What in the hell is happening…

"Saruman said he's going to make you his protegee." Chimed in a new voice. Both me and the mouse-like girl turned to the direction of the sound. A tall figure was coming down the stairs. He was dressed simply with a tunic, trousers, and boots. He had pale skin, an angular face with a flawless complexion, pointed ears, and straight, raven hair that extended just passed his shoulders. I recognized him as an elf immediately.

"Faron!" the mousey girl exclaimed, "Do you ever know when n-not to run your mouth!? I wanted to tell her that b-but you w-went and interrupted me!"

"You stopped talking, Mouse." The Elf, who apparently was named Faron, replied.

The dark-skinned servant blushed, "I told you not to call me that!"

A pair of light grey-green eyes met with my icy blue gaze.

"Good morning, Lady Esmeree. Glad to see you've finally settled down with a cup of tea after turning your bedroom upside down."

Lady Esmeree? That's not my name! But…I suppose…if I am apparently a wizard, it sounds cooler and…more wizardy than Elise…

"B-be nice!" Mouse snipped, "And g-go heat up a pot and get breakfast going." She added.

"Fine." the elf made his way into the kitchen to follow her orders.

She sighed, "A-allow me to i-introduce Faron, Lady Esmeree. H-he is the o-other servant in th-this h-house…a-and my older brother."

"How does that work? You're human and he's an elf."

"Self-proclaimed brother and sister." Faron answered, "Both of us were orphans on the streets of Bree. We met in the village when we were children and we have been together since then."

"Makes sense…" I trailed off, and then went back to the original conversation, "Where are my friends? Do either of you know?"

"No. Sorry." Faron replied.

"Y-you w-were alone wh-when w-we f-found y-you…w-we d-didn't e-even kn-know y-you had f-friends th-that sh-should have b-been with you. I'm very sorry…" by her apologetic tone, I could tell that Mouse felt bad about the entirety of the situation I was currently in.

"I-It's fine…" I trailed off. I guess I'll have to find them myself…maybe Saruman would know…

"When is Saruman coming back home?" I asked suddenly.

Faron shrugged. "I don't know. He should be home later this afternoon but he is a wizard to one never knows for certain."

"When he does get back, I'd like a word with him." I half-demanded.

"I-I am sure that c-can be done." Mouse said to me, offering a soft smile. I then noticed she had dimples and freckles…and I then realized how adorable she was.

"Thanks." I smiled back at her.


Becca

I woke up on a table with leaves and brambles in my hair. I was a little sore, and I had a headache. Mmm…what happened? I felt confused and a little sad, but I did not know why. I blinked open my bright blue eyes when sunlight streamed into them. When my vision came to, I was staring at an old wooden ceiling of a small cottage.

"Hmm?" I sat up. When I did, several hedgehogs that had apparently been crawling all over me scattered.

"HAZELLE!" a voice suddenly exclaimed. A figure rushed over to the table and caught me by surprise. The figure was a little man with a scraggly greying brown beard, long hair, and a floppy brown hat. His blue eyes were wide with concern.

"Oh, hey Radagast." I said. Wait, how did I know him? Hmm…weird.

"Thank stars you're alive! You fell out of a tree and I thought I'd lost you! Does anything hurt? Is anything broken!?" he scuttled around me, fussing over me, "How are you feeling? Do you need any herbs?"

"I feel a little woozy and my head kind of hurts." I replied, "But other than that, I'm fine…I think. Hmm…" Why am I sad though? I can't remember anything that could have made me sad…but yet…I feel empty…like…I lost…someone…or something…I dunno…

I was not about to share that information though. This little old man, as adorable and loopy as he was…was still sort of a stranger to me and I wasn't about to trust him with deep feelings like that.

"Here! Come off the table and I'll make you some tea."

"Hey, thanks." I replied. He helped me up and off.

"Can you stand okay?"

"Yeah I think I'll be fine." I took a few steps and staggered a bit, before I sat down in a little dinky chair at the messy, unkempt table.

I rubbed my head and tried to remember a thing I thought I forgot but could not actually recall forgetting…as I picked my brain it hit me.

Wasn't I just with my friends not too long ago? Maybe. I think…We were somewhere…I knew I had been with them but I could not remember where we were or what we were doing.

My hand suddenly felt clammy…but empty…as if it had just been entwined with someone else's and now it was not. Like…that feeling you get when the other person lets go…

That's weird.

I suddenly was hit with the compulsive need to get up and go out. I got out of my chair and made my way to the front door of the cottage.

"Wait, Hazelle!" Radagast called from the little kitchen area, "Where are you going?"

"Out." I replied.

"But why? You need to rest. You've just fallen out of a tree!"

"I can't right now." I replied, "I've got to go."

"I don't know. I have a lot of questions. I need to just…clear my head…look for something…Something I forgot."

"But don't you want to eat something first? You always eat before you leave."

I briefly thought about this. My belly rumbled and I realized I was famished.

"Mmm…okay." I walked back over to the table and sat down. When I did, a little hedgehog scuttled across the table and over to me.

"Oh! Hi bubby." I patted the little creature on its spiky back and scratched its head. It melted into my touch and pumped its tiny little leg like a dog would. Soo cute!

Radagast set a cup of tea and a plate of scrambled eggs in front of me.

"Here."

"Thanks." I smiled.

He joined me at the table. "What are your questions, Hazelle? I probably do not have all the answers, but I will answer to the best of my ability."

I stopped petting the hedgehog. When I did, it scuttled away. I picked up my chipped cup and sipped my tea, "I don't really know yet. Let me think about it…" …Because, in all honesty, I really didn't know. I felt like I didn't know anything I should have known. I knew I had a lot of questions…but I struggled to form them into words because I could barely remember what they were. And that feeling of melancholy I didn't understand…gnawed in my chest and tugged at my heartstrings. And in that moment…I hated my ditziness.

What the hell was it!?