Disclaimer: I only own Galareal and Alwyn. Aria is used with permission, and Elwing and Erestor, well, I took the names from Tolkien, but they're not the same characters. I don't like long stuff, so here's the story. Please review!

Chapter 1: An Sudden Turn of Events

To say that Elwing was a normal girl with a normal life is not quite true. Elwing was short - very short. She was almost sixteen and yet she was four foot eleven and a half inches. There was another thing, Elwing only had one arm. Her left arm stopped shortly below her elbow. Other than that, she was pretty normal.
She went to a small school in the country and was friends with everyone. Her best friend, however, was Aria. Aria was only a year older than Elwing and only two inches taller. They both shared a love for The Lord of the Rings and both longed to visit Middle Earth. They could write elf runes as well as English, and they knew some Sindarin as well. They were constantly together, sharing secrets and sharing laughs.
The secret Elwing guarded most carefully was her crush on Erestor. He was charming, kind, and very cute. She had liked him for a long time, but only talked about him with Aria.
You could well say that Elwing's life was that of a normal teenager, that is, until IT happened.
Aria and Elwing were outside between classes on day, exchanging notes and greetings. Everyone was inside; everyone except for Erestor. He had gone outside for fresh air, and now stood unnoticed by the door.
Elwing and Aria had started heading inside when Aria remembered she had left something in the other building. Aria went back to get it, and Elwing continued towards the door.
Elwing spun around as Aria's scream pierced the air. She stared in horror as a score of orcs poured out of the nearby woods. Some of them grabbed Aria and the others ran towards Elwing.
This must be a dream, this can't be happening! Orcs aren't real, I must be dreaming! Elwing stood paralyzed with fear, hoping she was merely having a nightmare.
One of the orcs was much faster than the others and outdistanced them quickly. As his clammy hand wrapped around Elwing's wrist, she screamed with the cold realization that is wasn't a nightmare.
Thwack! The orc suddenly reeled back clutching his eye. Elwing brought herself back to reality to find Erestor standing between her and the orc. As Erestor fought the orc, Elwing looked around frantically for Aria. To her dismay, she saw a crowd of orcs carrying Aria into the woods.
By now the other orcs were catching up. Erestor gave the orc one final punch then grabbed Elwing's hand.
"Come on, we gotta get out of here!" he said as pulled her along.
"What about Aria?" asked Elwing worriedly.
"Don't worry, we'll come back for her, but right now we have to find somewhere to hide."
Elwing followed reluctantly as they raced to the building and ran inside, slamming the door behind them.
When she could breathe normally, she gasped, "They got Aria!"
Erestor nodded silently.
Then another realization set in. "You beat up an orc!" said Elwing with awe.
"If that's what it was," he said grimly.
"Well what do you think they were?" asked Elwing indignantly.
Erestor shrugged. "I don't know, but whatever they were, they meant business. I agree, they sure looked like orcs, but they only exist in Middle Earth, right? Unless I'm dreaming."
"Well I must be dreaming too, cause I saw them clear as day," Elwing shuddered. She rubbed her wrist unconsciously.
Erestor looked at her. "Are you okay?"
Elwing nodded. "I'm fine."
Erestor listened carefully. "Come on, I think they're gone."
He opened the door softly and poked his head out. Motioning for Elwing to follow, he walked outside. The ocrs were gone, so they walked back to where they had first appeared. The orcs had left tracks, but about six feet into the woods, the tracks vanished.
"This keeps getting weirder and weirder," Elwing said incredulously.
Erestor nodded in silent agreement. Suddenly, he stooped and picked up a piece of paper.
"Check it out, I think one of the orcs dropped it," he said, handing it to Elwing.
"It has runes on it," said Elwing in surprise.
"Don't you and Aria know how to read runes?" asked Erestor.
Elwing nodded. "But I don't understand, orcs don't write in runes."
"Well, what does it say?" asked Erestor impatiently.
"Patience is a virtue," said Elwing calmly.
Erestor rolled his eyes and sighed. "Okay, okay, now what's it say?"
"It must have been written by an elf and merely picked up by an orc," said Elwing. "It says that the orcs have been going through the country taking prisoners and-" Elwing stopped, the blood draining from her face.
"What?" said Erestor anxiously. "What does it say?"
"It says they're taking the prisoners to be slaves in Moria," said Elwing dazedly.
Erestor swallowed hard. "You mean..."
Elwing nodded. "They've taken Aria to Moria!"
A noise behind them caused them to jump. Expecting more orcs, they turned around ready to run.
"Whoa friends! We will not harm you," said a friendly voice. To their surprise, the voice belonged to an elf. There were two elves in fact. The first one had long black hair and keen gray eyes, the other had long blonde hair and soft green eyes.
The first one bowed. "My name is Legolas. Galareal and I have been sent to fetch you. I believe Elrond said it had to do with your friend who was taken by the orcs?"
Erestor looked at him skeptically. "How do you know that?"
Legolas shrugged. "You will have to ask Gandalf when we get to Rivendell."
Elwing perked up. "We're going to Rivendell?"
"If you and your friend will come," replied Legolas.
Elwing looked at Erestor. Dream or no dream, I'm helping Aria. "I'll go," said Elwing resolutely.
"I'm with you," said Erestor firmly.
"Follow me," said Legolas.