Okay so a lot happens in this chapter and it might be a little confusing but bare with me it will all be explained later. Also thanks to everyone who reviews every time it really helps me know that this story is doing well, or if something need more explaining.
California Year 2989
James stumbled out of the machine slightly disoriented from the travel. He stumbled to one of the chairs but unlike what he expected he was not greeted by Dr. Laver but instead a paramedic and an FBI like agent looking type of guy. The paramedic shined a light in his eye and began to ask him questions.
"Name?"
"James Anderson."
"And where are you now?"
"Earth, a year from when I left so that would be 2989. Has my friend Alanna come back yet?"
"Alanna Harrison, is unfortunately still lost Mr. Anderson. I am Agent Parson and we have been conduction an investigation on the program you participated in this past year. Had it not been for a concerned call from Ms. Harrison's parents we may have never realized that the experiment Dr. Laver and his collogues were conducting was in violation of the Human Testing Act of 2025."
"What do you mean she's lost? Where is she?" Said James in a panic, and still trying to process the information he had just heard.
"Middle Earth according to her Biofeed. Before you left you were all secretly imprinted with these chips that monitored your brainwave activities and other general health information, it also helped us locate all the participants in their other worlds. However, Ms. Harrison's information states she is alive and well but something is messing with the information and making it difficult to locate her at this time. Now we had been reading your file and you were also sent to the same location as Ms. Harrison just at an earlier time and therefore understand the world. We need you go back and try and find Ms. Harrison and bring her back."
"Wait, I just got back to earth and you want me to spend another year or whatever in Middle Earth without telling me what the hell is going on exactly. What do you mean Dr. Laver broke the Human Testing Act?"
"Dr. Laver it turns out is actually a psychologist trying to examine extreme culture shock and how people cope in new environments; he teamed up with another scientist who needed test subjects for his new invention that machine behind you there. Now you seem to be fairly healthy and sane according to your feed however most of your classmates have had to be institutionalized. Those who are fit to do so will be testifying against Dr. Laver in an upcoming trial. The more people we can get to testify the easier this case will be, which is why we need Ms. Harrison. Should you agree we would have to send you back to Middle Earth sometime before her feed was disrupted."
"So, you want me to go back in time and into another world?"
"Actually for you it's forward in time, but let's not discuss the issues with time travel, we need you to leave as soon as possible, so whenever you are ready." Said the Agent looking at him as though expecting him to leave right away.
"Do I have to leave right now? I mean if she in grave danger sure but if not can't I at least get a cheese burger or something? I mean I know it's only been a year here but I think time moves fast there cause it feels like I've been gone forever."
"We do not know the exact degree of danger Ms. Harrison is in." Said Agent Parson.
"Well, I guess it's Middle Earth here I come, again." Said James with a sigh. He had kind of been looking forward to at least seeing some of this friends again but is seemed going to Middle Earth would be a nice way to escape whatever scandal had just happened here on Earth. So he found himself putting his battered knapsack back on and stepping into the machine once more.
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Middle Earth: A Few Miles Away From the Mines of Moria
James landed to the ground with a thud feeling that familiar nauseous feeling. He looked around at his surrounding and realized he had no idea where he was, luckily for him however the Fellowship was just a short ways in front of him and he could see them walking in the distance. He was far enough away he figured that they must not have heard him arrived because none of them turned back to look at him.
He noticed they all looked very much like their characters from the movies, he recognized the four shorter travelers to be the hobbits, who were walking with the wizard Gandalf, the man behind them must be Boromir and the man next to him Aragon. Behind the men where the dwarf, Gimli, and the elf Legolas and walking in between them was a woman with red hair, who must be Alanna. He was glad to see she looked unharmed but he knew he could not just approach the group out of the blue, after all he needed to think of a reason to explain himself. He assumed he would be fine because he was an old friend of Gandalf's however he would just follow them for now.
"I've noticed you have been doing better since you have gotten some more rest." Said Legolas to Alanna.
"Yes, I have. It's much easier not the listen when I'm well rested." She said with a smile.
"Personally I am just looking forward to some good hospitality, just wait until we get to Moria. It will be easy for us all to rest with some good ale in our systems." Said Gimli.
"I suppose so." Said Alanna with a forced smile, she really hoped what Gimli said was true but so far things in this world were following the books and movies quite well, which means all they would find in Moria was death.
"Well I should go and talk to Gandalf and make sure he is talking us on the right path." Said Gimli heading more towards the front of the group leaving Legolas and Alanna behind.
"I never did thank you for saving me, again…" She started to say before he interrupted her.
"If it helps any it was the first time I saved you from a pile of snow, although you could still look at it as I saved your from being lost again." He said with a teasing smile, he expression changed to a more serious one however when he said. "It's a good thing too though, I don't know what I would do without you, I've grown quite used to your presence."
"I'm sure you will find someone else who teases me just as much as I do. Gimli seems to have a knack for it." She said trying to lighten the mood. His statement troubled her in the sense that she knew one day she would not be around him anymore.
"I do not think the dwarf possesses similar enough qualities to you nin ai lhach to make him even close to being a substitute for you…" he said more but it was in elfish and spoken in a much quieter tone.
"What did you say?" She said with interest unable to hear him finish the statement.
"Nothing." He said avoiding eye contact with her and instead looking behind him for he thought he had heard something. If Alanna had been able to hear all that he had said it would have been "to make him even close to being a substitute to you, nor could anyone replace you for that matter." However instead of inquiring further on the subject she too looked behind her to see what he was looking at.
"What is it?" She whispered as his elfin eyes scanned the road behind them, for a moment he would have sworn he saw a man jump off the path to duck behind one of the many boulders on the road.
"I thought I saw something for a moment, there behind that rock." He said nodding in the direction he was looking at. The pair looked there for quite some time before thinking it must just be their eyes playing tricks on they so they continued as usual.
"So what do you think you are going to do when all this is over?" asked Alanna.
"I don't know, my father would probably want to me settle down and return home. Basically be exactly like my two older brothers"
"Find yourself a nice elfin girl, that sort of thing? However I did not ask what your father wants you to do I asked you what you wanted to do." She said with a smile.
"Did it ever occur to you that I do not need to look for someone because I have already found them?" He said with a sigh.
"Yes, I suppose we do have to talk about that."
"I have heard some of your conversations with Aragon and I agree it's really not in our best interest to pursue something besides friendship, however…"
"Before you say whatever it is you are about to say, I think you really need to think about it. I'm just trying to be sensible, I have to return home in a year's time and even if I did not you would remain the way to look today and I would become this shriveled old woman it would be weird."
"You're lecturing me about what's sensible? This coming from the same woman who nearly froze to death because she wanted to stand in the rain, and who joined a fool's quest to destroy the one ring of power? Where is the sense in those actions?"
"Yes, but those actions only affected me. Don't you understand that by choosing to be with me it's only going to cause you pain?" She said in a quiet voice. Truth be told she was glad they were having this talk it was good to finally get all these feelings and what not out in the air. However they were reaching the mines of Moria soon and this might not exactly be the best place to be discussing their relationship.
"To be quite honest pondering all the issues you have brought up has brought me greater pain. I also believe it is causing Aragon pain as well. As for what you brought up earlier you forget that those actions did not only affect you for who was out there in the rain with you then and who journeys with you now?"
"Legolas, what are you trying to say?"
"I'm trying to say that Le melon!" He said possibly slightly louder than he had intended to. Truth be told he had know this for some time and had been trying to fight it with reasons like the ones she presented. He also knew the consequences of his actions but he also knew that if he did not tell her he would regret it for the rest of his life.
"Did you just say you love me?" said Alanna not sure if he realized he had said the last part of the sentence in elfish, she thought that was what he said but she did not want to assume. If he had said he loved her should would certainly return the sentiment but she had to be sure, however they were interrupted when Legolas was called forward to scout the path ahead.
When Aragon noticed his friend coming forward he noticed he had an irritated expression on his face.
"Is something troubling you?" He asked in elfish
" Something is always troubling me, at the moment it is the fact that I just told Alanna I loved her."
"Did it not go well?" Said Aragon with concern.
"I don't know she did not respond before, I was called here." Said Legolas scanning the path ahead. He could see a dark lake and a door that was illuminated by the light of the moon and stars. Alanna who had caught up with the rest of the group was walking next to Gimli and heard him exclaim. "The walls of Moria!" when they got closer to the great stone cliffs. They soon reached the door Legolas had seen in the distance and Gandalf went closer to examine it.
"Itidin, it mirrors only starlight and moonlight. It reads 'The door of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak friend and enter." Said Gandalf.
"What do you suppose that means?" Said Merry
"It's quite simple. If you are a friend, speak the password and the door will open." Replied Gandalf in a confident tone. He however tried some sort of spell and the door did not open at all. Alanna had a feeling it would be awhile before they got the door open and so she turned her attention to Legolas instead, who was at her side once again.
"Did you truly mean what you said earlier?"
"Do you even know what I said earlier?"
"I had an idea; my elfish isn't that good though so, I'm still not entirely sure."
"I said I love you." He said causing the dwarf Gimli who was also beside them and therefore heard the entire conversation to scoff and say. "I hope this doesn't come as a surprise to you, I told have told you the elf had feelings for you weeks ago."
This caused Alanna to laugh and say "Oh really and how is that?"
"The ranger and him kept having long talks in Elfish and like you I don't know much of it but the kept mentioning a her, and you being the only member of the fairer sex in the fellowship and the way he looks at you I could only assume. Now put the lad out of his misery and tell him you feel the same way." Said Gimli rolling his eyes.
"Legolas, I love you as well." She said with a smile. The moment however was short lived because while they had been talking the rest of the fellowship had figured out the riddle opening the doors to Moria. Everyone's attention was now focused on the dark entry way. As they entered Alanna felt a felling of foreboding
Gimli however did not seem to feel the same way and said to Legolas "So, master elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the dwarfs, roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone. This, my friend, is the home of my cousin, Balin...and they call this a Mine...A mine!"
Gandalf had lit a light on his staff and its glow was now spreading through most of the cavern entryway. However unlike way Gimli had been describing the mine was instead full of skeletons, with rusting armor and arrows sticking out of their bodies.
"This is no mine...it's a tomb!" Said Boromir after looking around.
"Oh...no...no..no... !" Exclaimed Gimli with sadness.
"Goblins!" Said Legolas after pulling an arrow out of one of the bodies and realizing what kind of people used it. Everyone in the fellowship was on edge and drew their weapons. They made towards the entrance once again when Boromir said "We make for the Gap of Rohan. We should never have come here."
Frodo however was suddenly dragged alone the floor by something grabbing his feet. He cried out causing Boromir and Aragon to rush forward to his aide. Aragon severed the tentacle of the beast that had grabbed Frodo and some of the Fellowship began to join in as well. In the commotion Alanna found herself shooting arrows at the beast from closer to the further outside of the cave than she originally intended. She was so distracted she didn't even have time to reach when someone grabbed her from behind and pulled her into a crack in the wall. The person had a hand over her mouth and she struggled for a moment before she realized who it was.
"James?" She said when he lowered his hand. She did not recognize him for a second because of the beard that was on his face.
"Alanna, I have to take you back." He said gravely, he had been following her for some time and saw how much she liked it here and it made this very difficult to do.
"James, what are you talking about, my year is not even close to being up yet. I can't go back." She said getting out from their hiding place and hoping to rejoin the Fellowship. However when she looked around she noticed the door to the mine was caved in and there was no way else there.
"Look, is complicated but something goes wrong with the experiment you don't make it back when your year is up." He said to her with urgency. Alanna however was not listening and already began to try and lift one of the great rocks blocking the entrance. "What are you doing?" asked James.
"I have to meet up with the Fellowship, you must understand James, I can't go back especially not now." She said looking at the great pile of rocks and realizing it was hopeless to try and move them. She knew Legolas would notice almost instantly that she was missing, she also knew they would probably think her to be dead.
"I know, I've been following you all this time. I heard everything, god damn it Alanna what did I tell you in my letter?" He said angry with her for making his job harder.
"You said I don't make it back, did it ever occur to you that maybe in the future I do not wish to be found?" She said with a sigh.
"No I thought something might have happened to you, like you might have died."
"Well it does not matter now; you being here had messed up the timeline. Everything is already different."
"I know, perhaps we can still fix things though. I will promise you now Alanna that I will stay with you until the ring is destroyed and I know that you are safe. If you are near death, I'm bringing us back without protest, if not in a year's time you can decide what you wish to do."
"Alright, that is fair."
"Well, there is no way we are getting into the mines; our best bet would be to head to Lothlorien." Said James with a small smile. "We have a lot to talk about and quite a lot of time to do it."
Well there you have in James, will not be in the story more so that will make things interesting. Also keep being awesome and review!
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