Chapter Four: Festival dreams.

She barely registered three pairs of hands holding on to her as the vortex finally succeeded in dragging her in along with three, albeit unintentionally, others. As they fell through the portal many curses were yelled out mainly from Vilkas and Alyssa. The sensation while inside wasn't uncomfortable, more like slipping into water then back out again.

Middle Earth

Frodo's Pov

Elanor and I were returning to the camp, my arms heavy with firewood. Elanor was bounced around me with a bright smile on her face and a small pile of twigs in her arms, We had gone a bit to far from the campsite than would be deemed wise but the luckily nothing bad had happened. The night sky was clear with the moon and stars shining down, I breathed a heavy sigh. The reason for lord Elrond's summons was slowly eating away at my mind. What was the serious problem that he needed the council again? An evil like Sauron couldn't possibly have returned.. Could he? Images swam through my head of all the tragedy that he had brought about; the deaths, destruction and the pain Sauron and his ring... the ring...

"Uncle Frodo?" Elanor's small voice pulled me out of my dark thoughts and back to reality. Her big hazel eyes looking up at me, she had a soft smile on her lips, "Don't cry uncle Frodo, the bad man can't see you anymore" I simply stood there staring at her. How did she know? Kneeling down to her eye level and placing the firewood to the side I pulled her into a tight hug "You're right Elanor he can't, thank you for reminding me." Sharing a big grin with her I gathered the firewood put it under my left arm and offered my right hand for Elanor to hold. "Let's head back to the camp", Elanor clasped her tiny hand with mine and we headed back.

A sudden yell slashed the peace of the forest, Elanor yelped instinctively jumping behind me hiding her face in my jacket. Softly rubbing her head to reassure her, as I turned to the direction of the noise, judging by how loud it was whatever it is wasn't far. Probably closer to us than the camp, we could try to sneak pass it after all we Hobbit's are known for being light on our feet. My Tookish blood started pumping, what could have made that sound? What is an animal? Or a bandit? Before I even realized it I was sneaking towards it, barely noticing Elanor tugging at me to stop. The yell was followed by a series of muffled groans and mumbles as we got closer, peaking around a tree I saw a large...thing..

Upon further inspection I found the thing to be four unconscious people tangled together in a mess of limbs. There were two men and two women all dressed in strange garb that I had never seen in all my travels. A rustling from the bushes drew my attention away from the strangers. My head snapped towards the sound just to the left of the clearing, the dense trees and bushes blocking whoever or whatever was watching. I grasped the hilt of sting while pulling Elanor behind me ready to protect her and by a lesser extent the four strangers.

I let out a breath the relief at the sight of Elladan, Elrohir and Sam all bounding out of the bushes with their weapons drawn.

"Daddy!" Elanor happily leaped from behind me and towards Sam's awaiting arms. The two shared a loving embrace as I helped Elladan and Elrohir to carry the strangers back to the camp.

Third person pov.

The lively crackling warmth and glow of the camp's fire was the complete opposite to the sombre mood of th group apart from Elanor who hadn't stopped asking questions about the strangers. In Elanor's defence the arrival of the injured strangers had left a lot of questions to the group, who were they? How did they get injured? And what were they doing in the forest? The four of them were lying unconscious inside the tent with the Elladan as they tended to their wounds and Elrohir patrolled the area search for clues.

"I wanna go see the strangers!" Elanor whined pulling at her mothers arm as she handed out bowls of steaming stew.

After nearly burning her hand at Elanors yanking Rosie placed a bowl in her child's hands.

"You can be a big helper and bring this stew to Elladan and you can see if our guests are up and hungry." Rosie said as she ushered the child towards the tent only feeling slightly guilty

Alyssa POV

"Mama!" She shouted at her, her voice cracking.

"Please mama I'm sorry don't..." That small little girl sobbing. Tears streaming down face, her long brown hair tangled with dirt and blood hiding her pointed ears.

"I'm sorry it's my fault" She sobbed holding herself tight. "It's all my fault..."

"Forgive me...Please"

The only sounds were the child's desperate pleas to her mother's charred corpse in the blazing inferno surrounding them. As the images began to dim around her and Alyssa felt the tug of reality pulling her back, she heard a deep booming voice call out to her.

"The festival has begun the champions have been chosen all will show their truest self to the Father of Time."

Alyssa bolted forward in shock, Beads of sweat running down her face and her arms shaking. She looked at her unfamiliar surroundings as they slowly came into focus. Staring up at the ceiling she began to remember what happened "What was that?" Alyssa fell back on the bed breathing hard as though she had just fought four dragons at once, "Miss?" a soft calming voice called to her felt a hand settle itself on her shoulder causing her to jump ever so slightly.

Alyssa face paled a little to see a strange but handsome looking man looking at her with concern filled eyes, His grip on her shoulder tightened in a comforting gesture. Before the man could even blink Alyssa twisted her body as she flipped him on his back drew a hidden knife to his throat. His eyes widened in shock at what just happened as she growled "Who are you? Where are my friends? Answer me before I slit your throat."

The man was rendered completely speechless by Alyssa's actions much to her annoyance as she pressed the knife close enough to draw a little blood. "Don't make me ask again."

Silence filled the air as the unknown man was still tried find words. Alyssa was already stressed from the dream and everything that had happened, it could be understandable that she had little patience to the unresponsive man.

So she promptly knocked him out.

For the first time since her awakening Alyssa allowed her a brief respite, remembering her aunt's training she observed her surroundings hearing the echo of her aunt's commanding tone.

"Never lose sight of surroundings Alyssa, Your environment and how you adapt to it can change the course of any battle in your favour. Those who don't adapt rot and die. Do you wish to die, Alyssa?"

She was in what seemed to be little tent with various barrels and boxes spread throughout she breathed a deep sigh of relief to see Farkas, Gelebor and Serana all lying beside her unconscious but safe. In the far corner lay their weapons in neat pile, pulling out her twin Daedric blades she gave the smallest smirk as she gave them a twirl. Turning her attention now on the stranger taking in his appearance making mental notes.

He was dressed head to toe in full body armor with intricate engravings with a simliar elven style. It's was polished to perfection she could see her reflection, she would guess he was of noble birth.

Hearing the faint sounds of voices outside of the tent, Alyssa made a slight tear in the side of the tent and peaked through. She saw five people surrounding a campfire she noticed the were quite small children... maybe. As she slipped out into the forest as fast as lighting. She cast a frost rune just at the entrance of the tent to protect her friends. Alyssa stepped slowly on the dead leaves as she dove deeper into the forest but just enough to study the camp.

There was two horses that were grazing nearby along with a carriage, she could probably carry Serana to the carriage without being seen maybe even Gelebor but Vilkas? She didn't have a chance in oblivion carry that big lug without being caught.

She crept closer to the camp careful to stay in the shadows There was five children in total all with curly waves of hair, they were gathered around the campfire chatting amongst themselves. She took a few more steps hoping to hear a word or two.

Alyssa was right at the edge of the clearing now with both the children and the her friends tent in view. She knew she had her friends to get out of here regroup and find out where they were. She knew she wasn't in Skyrim heck she doubted they were even in Nirn, how Alyssa knew that she had no idea other than a deep sinking feeling in her heart. She clutched the amulet tightly that still hung around her neck.

This is all you're fault.

Alyssa could approach the children try to get some information or at least point her in the nearest villages direction. She pondered where these kids parents are, the elf she knocked out resembled none of them. Maybe they were kidnapped from their families.

No that's not it look at them, they are obviously well fed none of them look malnourished. she reasoned with herself. Ok then orphans maybe...?

Studying their garb she noticed their clothes in good condition and well made nowhere near as beautiful as the elfs but still it was clearly lovingly made.

Who are these children?

Durring her observation of the children they began to gather closer to the campfire deliscious scents wafted through the air teasing Alyssa. Her stomach growled in response she and her friends had eaten sparingly in their haste to reach the chantry, ignoring her empty bellly she turned her attention back to the five children no wait! Six?

Indeed there was a six child if her eyes were not decieving her the child was half the size of the rest. About the same size of a young baby, Mini as Alyssa had nicknamed had ran off with a steaming bowl in her tiny hands heading for the tent!

Mini was about to run straight into the frost rune! Deadly precision she dove from the bushes snatching mini inches before icy death. Holding mini out from her arms she felt the child tremble in her grasp.

"AHHHHHH! MOMMY! DADDY!"