See the first chapter for the complete Author's Note.
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Middle Earth - Tolkien's or Peter Jackson's.
Reviews: Only two reviews so far?! C'mon, you can do better than that! I certainly hope more than two people are reading this. Isn't anyone the slightest bit curious? :p
As the Fellowship walked, the girl Leya peppered them with questions. Their quest was briefly described, and each introduced himself. When she heard of Aragorn's life as a Ranger and the many names he was called by, she relaxed a little. Perhaps I'm not so strange to them after all, she thought. He is an enigmatic traveller too. But he is of their world, which I am not, and they clearly trust him. I wonder if they'll ever trust me. Her reverie was interrupted by Aragorn's reminder that it was time for her to introduce herself and explain her presence in the forest.
After a moment's pause, Leya began to speak. I came from ...a land far away, beyond the lands of Middle Earth. I won't tell them it's another planet, she decided. If I remember correctly, no race on this planet has developed space-flight, so it would just be confusing. I came here to... to travel and enjoy the various lands of Middle Earth and the hospitality of their peoples. I had intended to visit the sea, but... through accident found myself in this forest. I cannot return to my own land for some time. She felt guilty at her omissions, even though what she had said was mostly true.
Your journey was ill-timed, Leya the traveller. Darkness and evil are spreading through Middle Earth from Mordor. I daresay you would not have found Sauron's land very hospitable pronounced Gandalf wryly. Now that you know of our perilous quest, can you not see why we at first distrusted you? Your tale is a strange one, after all. I myself am rather inclined to believe it. A spy would choose one of the races of Middle Earth for his disguise, not claim to have journeyed from unknown lands.
By now they had left the forest behind. The mountains loomed before them, snow-capped and intimidating. Leya was just about to ask whether they intended to cross the mountains when someone shouted . She ducked beneath a ledge of rock, and saw the others do the same as a cloud of black creatures appeared in the sky, circling overhead. Curious, she turned to Legolas, who had taken shelter under the same ledge. He explained that they were birds called crebain', and acted as Saruman's spies. He seemed intrigued by the fact that Leya had not heard or seen their approach.
You are no elf, then said he, as they crept out from their hiding place.
No, I am not an elf. Do all elves have such sharp senses?
Yes, indeed; we elves can see and hear much clearer and farther than the other races. Especially dwarves, who have little use for sight in their dark mines he added in a mocking tone, half-turning towards Gimli. The dwarf glared at Legolas, and snarled something that Leya couldn't quite hear, but it all seemed rather good-natured somehow. Leya decided it did not concern her, and moved away from the two towards Gandalf.
However, before she reached him, she was accosted by two hobbits. She knew one of these small people carried the magic ring that was the reason for their journey, but these were two of the others - Merry and Pippin were their names. She remembered them as the ones who had gaped at her in the clearing when she awoke. They seemed mischievous and curious, and she looked down at them with a smile as they walked along.
We heard you tell Legolas you're not an elf began Pippin but you look a bit like one to us.
Leya couldn't help replying And do all tall people whose ears are a little bit pointed look like elves to you? but the excited hobbits were serious - well, as serious as they could be, anyway.
No, but... uh.... The little hobbit seemed to be having difficulty putting his observations into words, and finally pronounced: But you're a bit more elfy than that; you even... kind of... walk like an elf, somehow.
Well, I'm probably more graceful than Aragorn and Boromir, she decided. So perhaps these hobbits think all big people are slow and clumsy. Or am I a little strange, even for a human?
Merry's insistent voice dispersed her thoughts. You came here from some faraway land - how'd you manage it? Was it magic like Gandalf and the elves have?.
At the mention of magic, Leya perked up for a moment, then grew pensive. She seemed to be holding something back, though what it was no one could guess.
Not exactly magic... well, no, I suppose it was a sort of magic... How do I explain space-flight to them? she wondered. At any rate, I... uh... can't work that magic myself, and someone who can will not be here for many days. That's why I'm with you.
I wonder what it's like where she comes from, Merry wondered Pippin, looking excited.
I bet there's all sorts of strange creatures. Maybe even orcs and trolls and dragons!
Leya chuckled. The other two hobbits (one leading a small pack-pony) had joined them, and the mood seemed momentarily lighter. she replied. Maybe dragons. Lifting the edges of her cloak with her hands, she tossed her braid from side to side like a tail. Leya stretched her neck, pretending to sniff the air, and circled the group of hobbits. She flapped her cloak in convincing imitation of a pair of wings, and a fierce light grew in her eyes as she swooped towards them with a snarl.
At first they laughed at her imitation of a dragon, but Leya soon sensed the pony was growing nervous, and its handler wore a disapproving frown. She abandoned her darting, flapping antics and composed herself just as they abruptly caught up to the rest of the party. Pippin seemed about to compliment her amusing show, but was swiftly hushed by Merry.
The group had stopped moving, and Leya noticed that the rising ground on which they stood was, in fact, the lower slopes of a huge mountain. Its upper reaches were covered in snow, and its peak was lost in the clouds high above. Leya had never seen such a formidable sight. Gandalf was speaking to Legolas and the men, and Gimli was grumbling in a dissatisfied manner. Finally Aragorn saw fit to inform her briefly of their plan.
They were going to cross the mountains. And they were going to do it here.
