Editors note: we don't own anything that our hero Mr. Tolkien does. We just own us. Enjoy! And please r&r!

Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins

Kerri, Colleen, and Marcie all looked at each other and grinned. They were in Colleen's basement double and triple checking their supplies.

"CD player complete with LotR soundtrack?" Marcie asked, reading off the checklist.

"Check!" Colleen replied holding up the item and placing it in her pack.

"The complete works of Tolkien including the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales?"

"Check!"

"Sleeping bags and foul weather gear?"

"Check and check!"

"I think that's it then." Marcie stated crossing off the last item on the list. "Can you guys think of anything else?" Colleen merely shrugged but suddenly Kerri's head shot up.

"Rope! If we haven't got it we'll be needing it!"

"Right!" Colleen exclaimed. "Good call Kerri! I think I've got some around here somewhere...." After a few minutes of rummaging around in boxes in her basement Colleen triumphantly held up several lengths of rope in a convenient coil. Kerri snatched it and slung it over her shoulder.

"Shall we go then people?" The girls looked at one and other and grinned again. Wordlessly they all turned and advanced on the large, hulking machine that was filling Colleen's large basement. RFD2 was the interdimensional portal changer machine thingy that Colleen had built with secret gov't funding...SHH! It could take its passengers absolutely ANYWHERE in the realms of books, or movies, or fanfics...And now the trio was going to use it to take them to the most sacred place of all....Middle Earth!

Marcie reached the machine first and enthusiastically slapped the large orange button. There was a hiss of metal on metal and then the door slid open...Smoke came pouring out creating an eerie effect.

"I splurged on a fog machine!" Colleen explained

"Ooooo"

"Nice touch!" Without further words the girls all adjusted their packs and stepped into the gaping doorway. Once inside an elaborate control panel with many switches and dials could be seen. Colleen busily worked on the controls before announcing that they were ready. "Would you like to do the honors Marcie?"

"Sure! Now, I push the GREEN button right?" she asked indicating the large green button marked "Slap me" in the center of the consol.

"Yup!"

"Just making sure...we all know what happened LAST time..." At that Colleen shuddered visibly. Without further adieu Marcie reached forward and slapped the green button with all her force. The world seemed to spin for a few moments and the girls experienced a dizzying, disorienting feeling. Then they were all knocked on their faces as the RFD2 landed with a large THUD!

"You've GOT to work on that landing Colleen!" Marcie exclaimed.

"I know, I know..."

"Hey! Guess what?" Kerri shouted.

"What?" Marcie questioned

"We may very well be in Middle Earth at this very moment!"

All three girls turned to each other with identical grins. After a few moments of tense excitement Colleen couldn't help but say, "Come on! There's only one way to find out! Marcie, would you do the honors?"

"Ok!" Marcie reached over and enthusiastically smacked the "Door Open" button.

"Is it just me or does she seem to really like smacking buttons?" Colleen murmured. But all contemplations of the matter were abruptly forgotten as the door began its agonizingly slow opening. But open it did, and the girls could see beyond into a large, vast expanse of forest. The girls gasped and were speechless for some time, until Kerri broke the silence.

"Welcome to Middle-Earth everyone!"

*-*-*

They were silent for some time, absorbing their surroundings with awe. There were trees stretching to each horizon, taller than any the girls ever seen before. Their branches were long and slender and it seemed that full green leaves covered every inch of them. It was just morning and sunlight was streaming down through the few gaps in the intertwined branches. Perhaps the thing that the fan girls noticed most was how very alive the forest was. They were standing amid a plethora of undergrowth, vines and bushes, flowers and ferns. They stood on a thick carpet of fallen leaves and lush moss. This place teemed with life. There were insects everywhere and the birds seemed to have recovered from the fright of seeing the RFD2 land in their midst for they were singing sweet songs.

For long moments no one dared speak, or even breathe, lest they disturb the beauteous forest. Finally Marcie breathed, "Wow"

"Tell me about it!" Colleen remarked in a hushed whisper.

"Luhtien vee`Sehanine" sighed Kerri. (As enchanting as Sehanine)

Now, at this point it seemed as though the girls would stand around admiring the forest all day. Suddenly, however, they heard an audible SNAP! as though someone had stepped on a twig. Whirling around they automatically reached for weapons they had not yet strapped on. Soon though, they saw that it was only a rabbit that looked at them curiously before fleeing.

"Whew. That was close!" Colleen exclaimed, having snapped out of her daze.

"How so? It was just a rabbit." Marcie commented.

"Yes but it could have been an angry elf ready to turn us into pin cushions."

"An elf wouldn't have stepped on that twig. We'd have been dead before we had any idea they were around." Kerri stated matter-of-factly.

"True." Colleen conceded "But we'd still better get going."

"Right. The longer we stand around the more chance we have of being discovered." Marcie added. Without further conversation the three girls turned and made their way back inside RFD2. They'd changed into their "ME clothes" which consisted of leggings in elven fashion, longish shirt/tunics and close fitting leather vests (or jerkins as Colleen seemed to insist upon calling them), in Colleen's basement before they left. They were wearing sturdy boots and arm guards for archery. They had decided not to put on their weaponry before leaving in the event that the RFD2 would perform some unexpected maneuver. They didn't want to accidentally stab anyone in the eye.

Now, they opened the special compartment in the portal machine and removed three swords in intricately detailed scabbards. Following this came three lovely bows and quivers and a large assortment of daggers of different size and shape. Standard equipment on this trip was one sword, one bow and full quiver, one long dagger to hang at the waste and three throwing daggers. Each girl adjusted her weapons; Marcie placed her daggers in sheaths in her right boot, left calf and in between her shoulder blades. Kerri also placed a dagger in her right boot and one on either wrist hidden by her long sleeves. Colleen too placed a dagger in her right boot (well, we're all right handed!), between her shoulder blades and on her right wrist. All three slung their quivers and bows across their shoulders and attached their swords and long daggers to their belts.

The girls acquired the silly grin of those armed to the teeth. Kerri voiced the feelings of them all with, "I just dare someone to attack me!" They giggled and fingered their weaponry.

"I'm just all giddy right now!"

"Ack! I know! Don't you just wanna stab something!?!"

"Oh yeah! Taking those weaponry classes was a GREAT idea Kerri!"

"Thank you, thank you..." Kerri said patronizingly with a little bow, soliciting grins from her companions.

"Who knew we'd be using all that stuff in MIDDLE EARTH though!?!!! Ack! So excited!"

"Yes, but we wouldn't be here if not for your invention Colleen."

"Ack! Not such a big deal! If you hadn't figured out how to get us out of 19th century FRANCE. And if Kerri hadn't sucked me into loving it the way she did...Ah well. Is everyone ready to go?!"

"MmmHmm! We don't want to be late! That darned Council should be starting soon!" Marcie exclaimed checking her watch.

"Right! Ok guys," Kerri said pulling out her wall hanging that the trio had decided to use as the standard map for this journey, "Ok, according to this here map, we're just east of Rivendell, right near the Loudwater. We'll have to cross it to get to Imladris..." here she trailed off.

"THE Loudwater?"

"Where GLORFINDEL saved Frodo?"

"The very same." Kerri replied grinning from ear to ear.

"Eek!" Marcie squeaked.

"Ack!" Colleen exclaimed.

"Shall we go then?" Vigorous nods met Kerri's suggestion. The girls grabbed their packs and sprinted out of RFD2.

"Hang on!" Colleen said turning back towards the RFD2. She pulled out a small black device and pushed the button on it. BEEP! BEEP! The RFD2 suddenly disappeared. "What?" she asked responding to the blank looks on her friends faces. "We don't want some curious elves to stumble across it do we? Built in cloaking device! I added it after that fiasco with Erik on the roof of the Opera house."

The girls set off through the woods without further incident. Kerri was in the lead with the map rolled up in her fist, followed by Marcie and finally Colleen, who began to hum. Kerri instantly took up the tune and Marcie (having the best singing voice) took up the words.

Upon the hearth the fire is red,

Beneath the roof there is a bed;

But not yet weary are our feet,

Still round the corner we may meet

A sudden tree or standing stone

That none have seen but we alone.

Tree and flower and leaf and grass,

Let them pass! Let them pass!

Hill and water under sky,

Pass them by! Pass them by! ......