Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own any of the characters, settings, or events I have taken from Tolkien's works.


I am Erin, and I'm lost. Um, may I ask where I am? The man looked down at her suspiciously.

he said, his accent changing the sounds subtly, That sounds Elvish. Erin hurriedly spoke up at the look on his face.

I'm from Maryland. I'm not an elf. Wow, I never thought I'd have make that clear. I must be under too much stress. The man continued to stare at her, then responded.

No, you do not have the elven look about you, regardless of your name. I am called Widfara, and you have entered the lands of Theoden, King of Rohan.

she said. How do I respond to that? Is the name supposed to mean something to me? Maybe he'll tell me what to do.

Well, traveler Erin, you must come with me to Edoras. Theoden-King will decide your fate. That sounds interesting. She smiled wryly. It doesn't sound like I have much choice.


Widfara had dismounted, and motioned for her to mount the horse. Erin hesitated, suddenly remembering that she was still in her uniform skirt.

At least I've got shorts on underneath. She started forward. How hard can it be to ride a horse? Erin managed to get on the horse with relative ease, with assistance from Widfara, who swung lightly up behind her.

Speaking too softly for Erin to understand, Widfara urged the horse forward. At the walk, Erin thought, See, there's nothing to it. Once the horse hit a full gallop, though, she realized she'd judged too soon.

All the blood drained from her face as she swayed from side to side. She clutched the horse's mane and closed her eyes, moaning softly. Oh gosh, she thought, I think I'm gonna be sick.

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The miles passed in a miserable blur, and Erin continued to ride like a sack of meal. Eventually, her nausea eased enough for her to open her eyes, though she kept them pointed straight ahead for the majority of the time.

Widfara remained silent as he steadily guided the horse over the rolling hills. At a lessening of speed, Erin finally spoke, with a distinct effort to control her still unsteady stomach.

Why are we stopping? There were no buildings within miles, unless they were behind some hills. Is there something wrong? Erin asked. Widfara shook his head.

No, but look at the sky. Erin had been so wrapped up in her misery that she had not even taken notice of the time, and the sky was rapidly darkening as the sun disappeared behind the hills. We will stop here tonight.

Oh great. Staying out in the great outdoors. Just what I need. So I can get attacked by wild animals, or die of pneumonia, or something like that. Erin stopped herself. She had finally come to accept that she was not dreaming, and for the moment had no way of getting home where she belonged, but that was no reason to get morbid or anything.

Besides, Widfara seems to know what he's doing. And on the positive side, I can get off of this horse.

Under the shelter of an over cropping of rock Widfara swiftly dismounted and removed blankets from a pack hanging from his saddle. As he set up camp, Erin gratefully (though none too gracefully) slid from the saddle and sank to the ground.

Once she could feel solid earth beneath her again, she sighed. I cannot see what my friends find appealing about horse riding in the slightest. I'm never going to get on another one as long as I live.

Her stomach grumbled loudly; Erin realized that she had never eaten her after-school snack.
And who knows how many hours have passed since then. She quickly pulled out the muffins and ate two, trying to sort out her situation.

I'm stuck in some foreign place that I've never heard of, and that maybe is in a totally different time than I'm from. I have no way to get back, and I'm being taken to some king who will decide what to do with me. Afterwards... But she didn't get any further in her analysis, as, exhausted by a day of riding, she fell asleep leaning against a stone.

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When she awoke, she was covered in a rough blanket and lying beside the rock. The sky was beginning to lighten, and Widfara was readying the horse. Erin suddenly became much more alert. I have to ride that, that, creature again. I don't think I can even get on it, much less ride again.

Her entire body was sore in places that she didn't even know she had muscles. Widfara glanced over as she attempted to stand. He smiled.

So you are awake. We will reach Edoras today by the afternoon if we start immediately. Erin tried to smile back as she walked stiffly towards the horse, her pack still slung over her shoulder. At the horse, she hesitated, and Widfara, correctly reading her pause, gave her a leg up.

Once he had stowed her blanket away again, he joined her on the horse. Erin braced herself as the horse started moving, mentally preparing herself for the inevitable nausea. Remarkably, though, it did not come. She looked up, and realized that she was actually fairly comfortable, even with her sore muscles.

You are beginning to feel the rhythms of the horse, young traveler. His name is Fasrunne. Erin grinned, and patted the horse's neck.

Fasrunne. I like that.

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With only a brief stop to eat a meal of biscuits and cold meat provided by Widfara, the journey went quickly. Erin found herself looking with delight at the green expanse before her and at the teeth of the mountains prominent in the distance that she had been unable to absorb the day before.

You know, maybe I could learn to like this. At the thought of her future though, she realized that no one knew where she was. My parents must be wondering what happened if they tried to call home. And none of my friends know that I went for a walk in the woods, besides the fact that from what I've learned from listening to their discussions of fantasy novels, they probably couldn't find that odd archway anyway.

She sighed. It seemed to be becoming a bad habit. Widfara spoke, drawing her out of her reverie.

Why do you sigh? The journey is ended. The city is before us. Erin looked where he indicated, and gasped in wonder. Straight ahead rose a tall hill, framed by the mountains, and from the hill grew a city. It was crowned with an enormous building that glinted gold in the bright daylight. Edoras.