CHAPTER 2
THE NEW WORLD

Disclaimer, I do not own Lord of the Rings nor Middle earth, I only write this story for pleasure and not for money.


A soft grayish-gold light awoke Jesse. He shifted his position a little and became aware of his surroundings as he opened his eyes. Jesse knew right away that he wasn't at home, nor in anyplace he had been before. Large moss and vine covered trees loomed over his head and he found himself to be lying in soft grass.

Jesse's eyes focused on something much closer to him than even the blades of grass around his body. It was a lock of long blonde hair. Jesse thought for a second that it might be his but he soon remembered his cancer and shook his head, the lock swung from side to side with his head.

The boy took his hand a brushed the lock behind his ear but stopped halfway, his fingers resting on his ear. There was something different about it, it wasn't round as all human ears are, but pointed…like an elf's. He stood up with a start and let the lack of hair fall back into his eyes. Looking down he saw much more blonde hair around his shoulders. His complete attire had changed, he was no longer wearing jeans and a T-shirt, like normally, but leather breeches and a cream colored tunic.

"It's gone! The cancer's gone!" Jesse cried out to no one in particular.

"Cancer?" Questioned an elderly voice. Jesse spun around and found himself face to face with an old man. Jesse's biceps rippled with excitement.

"Gandalf!" Jesse gasped.

"Aye, dear boy," Gandalf said calmly, "But I do not recognize your face."

Jesse hung his head and shuffled his feet. "I'm not from around here."

"We've had many like you. But none took the form of one of our own." Gandalf walked around the boy inspecting him with a curious eye. Jesse stood with a rigid back until the swishing of Gandalf's white robes stopped. "It's almost like you were meant to be here…Jesse."

The boy perked up at his name and turned to face the famous wizard. "How do you know my name?" Jesse asked. Gandalf bent over and plucked a red notebook and pen out of the grass. The notebook had Jesse's name scrawled in the upper right corner.

Jesse had been so intrigued with his new surroundings that he hadn't noticed that his notebook and pen got transported as well as his soul. He reached out to grab the items with his dominant hand, his left. Gandalf suddenly grabbed his writs and stared at the boy's hand. "Interesting," Gandalf muttered under his breath before releasing his grip and returning the items to their owner.

Without notice the wizard slipped something into his own pouch. If you weren't paying extreme attention you would have not been able to make out the object, but if you were you would know it was a black Sharpie.

* * *


Gandalf stood with his back to the giant spider web. "Welcome to Mirkwood!" He said with an arm raised and a glint in his eyes.

Jesse looked at Gandalf's staff with interest. He wondered how such a simple piece of wood could be the center of a wizard's power. Jesse longed to hold the polished wood in his hands. Gandalf saw the boy looking at the staff. "Many people wonder how it contains so much magic." Jesse smiled; it was exactly what he was thinking.

"My staff will help me discover why and how you came here, and if you are ever meant to return. It will take me long to discover these answers, so until I do, you must learn the way of the wood elves." Jesse grinned. He didn't read Lord of the Rings over and over again for nothing.

Jesse leaned toward Gandalf and whispered something in his ear. The old wizard smiled. "Perhaps you know more than I expected. I must leave you, for the sooner I know answers, the sooner you will be informed of your fate." The man smiled and disappeared behind the many mossy trees.

The boy found a boulder nearby and sat on it's moss covered surface. Jesse opened up his notebook and uncapped the pen, but he soon realized that he had no more to wish about. His cancer was gone and he was an elf!

Jesse sat staring at the black page in front of him. The woods were quiet except for faint music in the distance. It was a beautiful but sad melody. Jesse sat for a moment listening before heading off in the direction of the music to investigate.

* * *


She sat cross-legged in front of a small, bubbling brook, a small wooden flute was to her lips and her fingers moved gracefully over the holes to create the music Jesse heard earlier.

He stood with his back against a tree, listening to the girl play with incredible talent. The song ended and the girl placed the flute in a felt pouch hanging from her waist. She swung a quiver over her shoulder and grabbed a bow that lay on the ground next to her.

"Beautiful…" Jesse said aloud, and before he knew it, she had knocked an arrow and aimed it straight at his nose. "Whoa!" Jesse said raising his hands, "Mellon." The girl moved her aim slightly and released the arrow. It flew and stuck in the tree a few inches from his head.

She walked up the Jesse and grabbed the arrow. Her face was a few inches from his. "Sneaking around these woods could get you and arrow between the eyes." He breath was hot and sweet. She wrenched the arrow from the tree and walked away he golden brown hair blowing in the gentle breeze behind her.

"Wait," Jesse called out, chasing after her. The girl turned on her heels and pointed the arrow at him in a threatening manner. He placed his hand on her and lowered the arrow slowly, his eyes locked with hers. "What's your name?" Jesse asked shyly.

"Eavan," she whispered softly before twisting her wrist from his grip as she ran deep into Mirkwood.

Jesse turned to the nearest tree and whacked his forehead against its rough bark. How stupid can I get? Jesse thought to himself, Why don't I chase after her? "I dare not," Jesse answered himself out loud.

"Dare not what?" Eavan asked emerging from behind the tree Jesse's head was pushed up against. He could feel his face turn bright crimson and he was glad that she couldn't see him blushing.

Eavan gently grabbed Jesse's shoulder and pulled him away from the tree. "Dare not what?" She repeated.