The Present…
Melissa sat up, confused by this new lush, green landscape. The grass looked so pure, so alive, as if it was its own character. She turned her gaze to the rest of the landscape. The sun had not yet risen fully, and yet, the air smelled so crisp and clean, cleaner than what she was used to smelling. It was almost as if she had come to another world, another realm, not her own.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, given off a golden light, she caught a glimpse of the trees. They were tall and some of them were birch trees, with smooth white bark surfaces. Before her was a cave with a gaping mouth. The stone was greyish-blue, with the interior, from what she could see, had piles of gold coins, jewels, gemstones, and skeletons. Corpses that had been left abandoned in this cave.
Melissa stood up, stumbling as she walked towards the cave. She looked back to see the golden, dark brown rimmed portal spinning in the near distance, towards two of the birch trees. She returned her gaze to the cave entrance, looking inside for a glimpse at the treasure. A low growling sound could be heard inside, making her tense up.
She was lucky to wear her traveler's clothes, but where was her weapons? She checked herself, realizing she didn't have a sword or a dagger on her belt. She didn't even carry a bow or arrows. She sighed, realizing she forgot to buy those things at the First World Renaissance Faire. She needed them, but she guessed she forgot all about them. Well, she wasn't a skilled archer and hardly had any fencing training. She sorely wished she had taken up a fencing class, while attending her college.
Now, she was ill prepared to face this new world and its dangers, if there were any for her to face.
The growl became louder, forcing her to jump back by a couple of feet as a purple, fully grown dragon stepped outside the cave. Melissa stopped at the same time as the dragon, watching the creature stare at her with its flaming red eyes. The purple dragon smiled down at her, as it collapsed on the dark green grassy ground, curling up into a ball, and finally falling back to sleep.
Melissa stared at the dragon in confusion. Was it going to attack her? Why did it just let her go? She shrugged, inching back to the cave to collect some jewels.
"Looking for some gold?" a feminine, guttural voice broke the silence, causing Melissa to turn and face the dragon again. The dragon laughed, telling the human woman, "You won't find anything useful that could bring you home."
Melissa looked at the dragon in confusion and nervousness. What had Bilbo Baggins done to appease the dragon Smaug? Wait. That was it! She should appease this dragon, make sure this dragon didn't mean to do her harm or anyone else for that matter! Yes! She should outsmart this dragon!
"Tell me your name, lass," the female dragon said in interest, already curious about her.
"I am a Sage, a patron, a writer," Melissa closed her eyes. Why did she let slip the part about her being a writer? If this dragon found out she was a fanfiction writer, then she might learn who she was.
She opened her eyes, staring at the female dragon again. Sweat beaded on her forehead. To her surprise, the female dragon chuckled, then let out a cackle of excitement and enthusiasm. Melissa relaxed, and yet kept her guard up. She had no idea what this dragon might do to her, if she learned who she was.
"All right, let's play Bilbo's game," the female dragon said, timidly.
Melissa stared at the dragon in confusion. "Bilbo's game?" What did this dragon know about The Hobbit book?
"Yes, Bilbo Baggins, is it?" the female dragon said, gazing at her again. "Yes, Frodo Baggins is inland, along with one of his ancestors. His second ancestor, Parker Dooley, is also inland. And yet, Frodo Baggins' third ancestor happens to be reaching this island as we speak." She smiled, telling Melissa, "No need to fear me, Melissa Fickle. This isn't one of your stories, where dragons are feared and killed off by anyone fool enough to carry a stick with them or rather a sword. The rules are different in this Universe, Miss Melissa Fickle."
"How—How do you know my name?" Melissa asked, her knowledge of our world slipping from her thoughts.
The female dragon laughed again, informing her bluntly, "Oh please. The Storyteller gave me records of all the people passing through and entering this realm, as well as this Universe. The second Seven Realms holds it guardians responsible for each of the seven realms that are in this world. I am one of the guardians for the Land of Hobbits and Dwarves. Each guardian stands watch over each of the four borders, separating this realm from the other realms." She added with candor, "You have nothing to fear from me, child. Trust me, you don't."
"I wish I could, but I don't see how dragons are friendly to their prey," Melissa said, cautioned and fearful for her life.
The female dragon laughed a third time. Melissa didn't get it. Was there something about her that caused the dragon to laugh?
"My child, you are no prey to me," the female dragon said, cautioning her as well, "If you were, I would have killed you on the spot." She gestured out to the island, telling the human woman, "You can search the cave for anything useful. You'll need those gold coins, if you want to get good lodging. You'll need weapons from my cave, should you run into danger. Can you fight, child?"
"What?" Melissa asked, the question forming in her eyes. The female dragon shook her head. Melissa realized that wasn't good.
"If you can't fight, then you're useless," the female dragon said, curtly. "But then, you are not the first to come to this world without a weapon or any skill in battle. Eliza Bowler-Dooley was the same, before she met her husband, the light red dragonoid named Parker Dooley. From what I know about her, Eliza's dead. She's been dead since the Time Before the First Age." She looked at Melissa, saying, bluntly, "Well, I would suggest coming back to this cave and collecting your supplies and weapons. Do not leave this island until you are ready. You don't know the dangers you'll face or your destiny, which the Fates already know about."
"What?" Melissa asked, right as the female dragon closed her eyes.
"Goodnight Melissa. You'll need it," the female dragon said, drifting off to sleep. Melissa looked at the dragon in wonder. This female dragon did not attack her, nor get defensive with her. This confused Melissa.
What sort of world had dragons living in peace with humans? It was out of the question and seemed rather outlandish. Melissa hoped to put up a fight with a dragon, should she meet one. Now, she didn't have to? What were the logistics of this world, let alone this Universe? Melissa had to know, but first she needed to explore this island.
Oh, wait. She couldn't leave the island just yet! Not until she was ready. She turned to the golden, dark brown rimmed portal, watching it vanish seconds later. Melissa sighed. She was trapped here, with no way out. Should she find another portal and leave this world, this Universe, alive? Should she explore this world, see what she might find here? She wanted to stay and explore the world. She didn't come here just so she could go back home in retreat, living out her days not knowing if and when she would get another chance like this again!
Home could wait. For now, she would trudge on and hope for the best, if hope could come sooner.
.
She walked on for another couple of feet, surprised to see a waterfall and a small pool of water close by. She wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand, doing her best to keep herself calm and focused. However, she did not expect to find a man about her size standing next to the pool of water.
She hid behind a tree, looking out to see the man bare-chested and wiping the sweat off his brow with his wet white shirt. He wore a fresh set of clean dark blue breeches and dark green suspenders. His hair was wet, curly, and dark brown, while his skin was pale, and his eyes were bright blue. She watched him, seeing his elvish features and his short pointy ears. She breathed heavily, staring at his hairy feet. The hairs on the tops of his feet curly and dark brown, as if he was a hobbit.
No! This man was a hobbit! But how?
A tree branch snapped, causing Melissa to hide behind the birch tree in fright. She caught a glimpse of the hobbit man's gaze staring at her in fright and confusion. Oh no! She had been spotted. Great! She leaned against the birch tree in agony. She shouldn't have spied on him!
"Are you lost, miss?" a fair masculine voice broke Melissa's train of thought. Melissa turned and faced the same man she glimpsed at by the pool. His hand rested against the tree, right above her, leaving her in a shocked state of mind. The hobbit man looked at her in candor, and yet there was something about him that interested her. However, the hobbit man stared suspiciously at her, as if she interrupted his quiet solitude. "I see you were snooping at me. Trying to catch a glimpse of me? Do I frighten you, miss…"
"Melissa… Fickle," Melissa said, stumbling over her words.
The hobbit man smirked, admitting freely, "Well, that is an unusual name." He extended a hand to her in introduction, "I'm Andalis, the son of a hobbit and a mermaid. Pleased to meet you."
Melissa shook his hand, staring at his eyes. They certainly were beautiful to look at! She couldn't stop staring at him. He looked away for a moment out of embarrassment. Had she frightened him?
"I'm sorry," Melissa said, breaking the silence and their awkward moment. "Um…" Her heart pounded in her chest. His soft hands… they felt like the same ones that brushed against her back. She looked up at him now, seeing the intense look in his eyes. Did Andalis recognize her hand, too? Had he felt her presence in this world? How would she know? They only just met.
"Um… nice hands," Andalis said, embarrassed once again.
"Thanks. Yours are, too," Melissa said, unsure what else to say.
Melissa looked up at him, wondering what Andalis was thinking. This was too embarrassing and too awkward a conversation for her to feel comfortable around him. Well, she did interrupt him. She was responsible for interrupting his peace and quiet. It made her wonder what Andalis would do next, what he would say to her to break the silence and, quite possibly, give them both the comfort they need. Unless she was the one who needed to break the silence, make it easier on him, she hardly saw a way out of this silence.
Of course, meeting a dragon and a hobbit on the same day was more than enough to make Melissa's head spin. How was she to calm down, when everything seemed so out of place in this world? Surely, if someone else came to this world, unaware of what they would face, they would probably think things differently, as opposed to her, who was standing in front of a Frodo Baggins who wasn't Frodo Baggins, but looked just like him in The Lord of the Rings book trilogy.
How was such a thing possible? How did she know this hobbit man was related to Frodo Baggins or was really Frodo Baggins in disguise? It was hard to say what that meant, especially since Melissa only dropped in this world today.
Andalis cleared his throat, getting Melissa's attention once more. "Let me get dressed, and then we'll talk some more."
Melissa nodded. It was a start. "Of course. Um… I'll just be over here." She stood next to the birch tree, her back turned to Andalis as he put on a clean blue shirt. She sighed, her breathing heavy again. Why was it so hard to breathe around this hobbit man?
"Okay. I'm ready," Andalis said, causing Melissa to turn around and look at him. His white shirt was still damp, but at least he was wearing a clean shirt. Melissa lowered her head, doing her best to keep calm. Only when Andalis approached her did Melissa feel like fainting. "Who are you? You came down from the sky, flying in from a portal, and now, you landed in my world. Why is that?"
"I don't know," Melissa said, her thoughts racing. Everything she knew she forgot. Why did this hobbit man make her thoughts muddle? Was there something about him she missed? Something she hadn't caught on yet.
Andalis leaned in, looked into her eyes, before saying, "Let's go." He walked away, leaving Melissa with her breath taken away. He returned his gaze to her, telling her, "You can tell me more about your world when we get home. You are coming with me, aren't you?"
"The cave," Melissa whispered, remembering what she was supposed to do. "I have to get back to the cave! I need to grab some supplies!" She rushed back to the cave, heading inside before Andalis caught up to her. Inside, she grabbed a pack and found some gold coins, right as Andalis grabbed her hand. Melissa looked at him in fury, asking him, "What?"
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," Andalis warned her, sharply.
"Why?" Melissa hissed. "Shouldn't I take these coins and this pack?"
"Melissa," Andalis said, getting her attention again. "If you take these coins and this pack, or anything else in this cave, then you'll just head home." He added, "You only come to this cave as a last resort." Melissa dropped the coins and the pack in fright. Andalis whispered in her ear, calmly, "Melissa, if you really want to go back home, to your world, you will follow the dragon's instruction. I know she forgot to mention that part, too, but it's true." He shouted to the purple dragon, who hated to be disturbed from her slumber, "Isn't that right, Mandrake?"
"Hmm. It certainly is, Andalis," the purple female dragon said, smiling. "I'm sorry. I did forget to mention that part."
"You could have told her about this cave. You are the guardian of the portals in this realm," Andalis exclaimed.
"I'm only in charge of the portal leading to the Land of Hobbits and Dwarves. My cave and my island are her gateway back to the First World Renaissance Faire, the faire she left not too long ago. The one that only stays open for a few weekends and then disappears from her world for the next five years," Mandrake said, calmly. "She was warned beforehand that if she came to this world, that she couldn't leave it until she was ready to go. She does not look ready to leave. I can see it in her eyes that she's not."
Melissa gulped. Great! Now, what was she to do? "I don't want to leave this world. I just got here. But I… I want to go home."
"Yes, but I'm afraid you're stuck here for now, not until your five years are up," Mandrake said, profoundly. "That is, if you decide you want to go home. The faire will reopen in five years' time. What will you do then, child?"
Melissa slumped, collapsing on the cave's floor in anguish and agony. She couldn't leave this world, not until her five years were up? How many years was that at home? How long were those five years here? She had to ask, before she went any farther on her journey.
"Eh… Mandrake," Melissa asked, getting the purple female dragon's attention, "how long is five years' time, between this world and my home world? How long?"
There was a pause. That wasn't good!
"Five years in this world could mean thirty years in your home world. But five years could also mean until you're ready to go home. Only Aslan can decide how long you will stay here and how long before you leave this world," Mandrake said, calmly and truthful. She shook her head, telling Melissa, "Don't determine the years, Melissa Fickle. If you determine the years you've stayed in this world, you'll never get home. You're stuck here either way. You might as well accept it and move on. You are not the first to seek your home world and still not see it again."
Melissa sighed. She couldn't go home. There was no such path to take her home now. What was she to do with her time that she had in this world, let alone this Universe? Was she really meant to stay in this Universe, in this dimension? Then again, she wanted to come here. How blind she was when she set out on this journey! It must have been those brown bears that set her on this path! Or was it her own choices that decided her fate?
She never should have left her blue car behind. She should have returned to the dormitory like a good girl and worked on her studies, get a job, start a family in her home world. She knew now that old life was gone. She had to accept her new life now with candor and with grace.
But what was she to expect, to find in this world? Frodo Baggins? Possibly, but she never knew if she could stand it, meeting the canon character she always wanted to meet. At least, now, she had this chance to meet him in person, for however long it lasted.
"Melissa," Andalis broke Melissa's train of thought, causing her to look up at him and let her mind return to the present, "you coming?"
"Yeah. Just hold on," Melissa said, staring down at the brown pack, as well as the gold coins sitting on the cave floor. Maybe if she picked up a gold coin, then she'd have a way to get home. But then, the gold coins would always be in this cave, wouldn't they?
Should she pick up a gold coin, keep it inside her pocket where she could always find it? Would she go back home, knowing that she could come back to this world at any time, if she found the right portal? In the end, the decision was made for her, as Andalis grabbed her hand, distracting her from her task.
"Come on. It's time," Andalis said, seriously.
Melissa looked at him and then the gold coins. Her decision was made up. She stood up, leaving the gold coins and the pack behind. She looked at the purple female dragon Mandrake, waving to her, before Andalis dragged her away from the small opening and down a new road, a new path, that Melissa had no clue, no idea how her journey would end.
Just that she was lucky to be alive, for however long it lasted.