Chapter 11 : An Incantation and a Journey
As promised Gandalf came the following day riding this trusty horse Shadowfall, the decendent of his former horse Shadowfax. The group was just finishing their breakfast and thinking about their trip when Gandalf spoke, "I have come back to you as I had promised. There is much to tell you." Everyone turned at the sound of his voice; Legolas and Gimli stopped talking, Vywien and Zayn put down their weapons from practicing, Aragorn and the two hobbits looked up from their meal.
Several minutes later they were all huddled around the fire. "I have been reading some very ancient books left by the old wizards. The only way to go to another realm or plane is through an incantation that must be exact or risk destroying all those it entails. A little after noon I will summon you into the other realm, where you must find the ring and bring it back." Merry questions the old wizard, "How do we get back after we have found the jewel?" Gandalf looks over the group, "It calls for an incantation, the likes of which I haven't seen before." Zayn looks around her, "You are coming with us right, I mean, you wouldn't want to send us into a realm when you are unsure if you can get us back ."The usually happy wizard looks to the ground, "I am afraid I have no choice. I can't go with you, but I will search for the incantation to bring you back."
For several hours, until it was time, no one said anything. The hobbits stomach started growling but no one paid attention to it, even the hobbits themselves. When they were ready, and had all the supplies they needed the group stood forming a circle in front of Gandalf. The wizard closes his eyes and concentrates, "Graced by the will of the White Flame, power of strength that sleeps within me. Heed your master and come forth. Enter into my hands and do my bidding!!!!! Part now the sands of time, OPEN THE GATE!!" Suddenly white flames spring from Gandalf's ring and encircle the travelers including himself, they then disappear from this plane.
* * *
On earth, a college student with dark brown hair and big sideburns was sitting just getting ready to leave his English class. Kevin wasn't fond of English and was thankful that the class had ended early. Now he would be able to go to the Trojan Center and find something to eat, breakfast had been skipped because he had slept in. As this poor soul was packing his books into his bag, he heard a WHOOMP! sound.
Kevin then looked up to see eight very strange looking people. An old man with an incredibly long beard holding a staff, dressed in a large gray robe with a pointy hat perched on his head. Beside him were two young kids, or so they seemed, dressed identically in red plaid pants and a red long sleeved shirt with a Scottish terrier on the front. To their left he saw two very confused people, the girl with long breaded blonde hair carrying a bow and sword was being given a piggy-back ride by a blonde haired guy with braided plaits who was also carrying a sword and a bow. The two looked odd some how, on closer inspection they had pointy ears! The one's next to them were in the same position, the rugged chestnut haired guy was confused as to why he had a short haired blond girl on his back.
The elf girl and blonde haired human turned tomato red and slowly got off the back of the guys. Revealing their long dresses, the elf in a long deep forest green with a gold necklace around her neck, and the human in a sapphire blue velvety dress with a buckle around her waist. The rugged guy was wearing clothes be-fitting a construction worker, with the exception of his large broadsword and dagger hanging at his waist. The male elf on the other hand was dressed like a business man in a three piece suit, with braided plaits.
Kevin stared at the group for several minutes trying to understand what they were doing in his English class, and last but not least why they were dressed as they were. The construction worker looked around, "Gandalf, did you mean to come with us?" The old man shook his head, "This is most confusing. We shall think more on this later, first we must figure out where we are." One of the small kids started tugging on his clothes, "Pip, you look just like me! I hate these clothes." Kevin's mouth fell open in astonishment, hearing the word 'pip' everything fit into place, last weekend he has seen the move Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers, Pip aka Peregrin Took was a hobbit and part of the fellowship. These were the main characters, here in South Dakota.
Kevin just stared open-mouthed at them for a few seconds. The rugged man was the first to notice they had an audience, and held up a hand to the group to silence them. They instantly went quiet, as if he was their leader and in complete command. The rugged man then looked toward Kevin, his stormy gray eyes probing deep into Kevin's blue eyes. This was a tactic that Aragorn had learned many years before, as a ranger. It was a calming tactic that worked on the biggest to the smallest of the creatures he had ever known. It wasn't the first time he had used it. There was complete silence as Aragorn worked his 'magic', interrupted only once by a 'what is doing?' from Pippin, instantly hushed by everyone else. As Aragorn probed the young man's eyes, the young man noticeably relaxed a bit, and only when did Aragorn see in his eyes that he had let down his guard, did he finally take a step closer.
"Excuse me, do you understand the common tongue?" Aragorn asked slowly, as if the young man couldn't comprehend.
"I understand English." Kevin replied.
Aragorn smiled. "Perfect." He glanced back at his friends, then toward the young man again...wondering if he should introduce everyone, then he decided on just himself. He pointed to himself, and spoke slowly yet again. "My name is Strider, what do they call you?"
Kevin would have laughed if this had been a dream. It was just so surreal! "Um...I'm known as Kevin." He wondered if he should let on that he knew all of their names, except for the two females with them. He smiled warmly at the two females directly in front of him. Zayn and Vywien glance at each other, then turn and smile at the man in front of them. He wasn't too bad looking. Aragorn and Legolas glance at each other, then both step to the inside. Aragorn directly in front of Zayn, and Legolas directly in front of Vywien...that will teach him. Legolas and Aragorn both shot Kevin a challenging look. Zayn and Vywien glance at each other, then up at the elf and man, then push them away and stand where they were before. Aragorn and Legolas glanced at each other, and pretty much read each other's minds they knew each other so well, just by glancing at each other they concluded that later they were going to have to have a talk with those two, and let them know what was 'expected' of them while they were on this strange planet.
"Excuse me, friend." Gandalf spoke next, directing Kevin's gaze from the un-spoken argument going on between the two elves and the two humans. "Could you lead us out of this..." He looks at the ceiling then around the whole room. "building?"
"Um...sure." Kevin said, and smiled at him. "Follow me." With another quick glance at the two elves, two children/hobbits, two humans, the dwarf and the wizard, Kevin shook his head and led them toward the door.
After they had exited the building the group looked around to find grass with some hard material embedded into it. Several other people were walking on them heading other tall brick buildings. Gimli, unnoticed before wearing Scottish clothing, complete with a red kilt instead of bagpipes he held an axe, stood next to Legolas. "If I am not mistaken we are on the other plane as you intended Gandalf. Though how or where we are exactly eludes me." The elf looked around and noticed a sign, "Science Center, what is that?'"
Kevin chuckled shaking his head, he walked on. "Staying up all night is not a good idea." The group looks around, in the distances Gimli sees two strange girls waving their hands in the air and running with their heads toward the ground. "What a queer place this is..." Gandalf addressed the group, "I think we should explore this place, and hopefully find a place to rest." Kevin laughed, "If you guys want, I can show you a place to rest." Kevin was in the lead, followed next by Merry & Pippin, Gandalf, Gimli, Legolas, Aragorn, with Zayn walking behind Aragorn, and Vywien walking behind Legolas.