Author's Notes: Thanks to all that reviewed! Since I loved every single one of them, I decided to grace you all with a new chapter sooner than what is considered normal for me.
littlehorse: You're the third or fourth person to point that out to me! I really can't help but commit that mistake repeatedly; I just couldn't help it! The errors you found are the ones that slipped my notice. I'll try to keep grammar mistakes to a bare minimum, though. And don't hesitate to point out any mistakes I commit; it helps me become a better writer.
blah, blah are conversations in Elvish
Everett claimed that our universe – the universe we see, the universe of rocks and trees and people and galaxies out in space – was just one of an infinite number of universes, existing side by side.
Each of these universes was constantly splitting…a world where you brushed your teeth in the morning and one where you didn't. And so forth, on and on and on. An infinity of worlds.
–Timeline, Michael Crichton
CHAPTER ONE – The Girl Awakes
The group of mismatched people had been marching towards the heart of Lórien for several hours before they were intercepted by a host of Elves. The leader of the company spoke with Haldir before continuing on their way.
Haldir turned to the Fellowship. "They bring a message from the Lord and Lady of the Galadhrim. You are all to walk free, even the dwarf Gimli. It seems that the Lady knows who and what is each member of your Company. New messages have come from Imladris, perhaps."
He removed the blindfold from each of the members of the Fellowship. They blinked, drinking in the beauty of Lórien. Then, after looking around, the Company gaped at what Rúmil, Haldir's brother, was carrying. It was a girl.
"How did a child of Men sneak this far into these Woods?" Legolas asked, amazed.
"We do not know," Haldir sighed. "My brother has spotted her a few hours ago."
Aragorn moved closer to Rúmil and examined the girl-child. "She has a slight cold," he announced after taking in her flushed face. "She may have been exposed to the rain yesterday afternoon."
Aragorn told Rúmil to put the girl down and asked, Was she awake when you found her?
I woke her up, answered the Elf. She groaned, stared at me, asked me something in a language that seemed similar to the Common Tongue and promptly fell unconscious.
Aragorn frowned. Were her eyes glassy? Out of focus? He gently placed his hand upon the girl's forehead and checked her pulse.
No to both questions. Rúmil wondered where this was leading.
So it is a mere cold then. Aragorn thought in relief. He was afraid that the girl would need to be carried all the way to Caras Galadhron.
While the Ranger examined the girl, Haldir had a far-away look upon his face. His eyes were unfocused and he looked as if he were unaware of what was happening around him. After a moment, Haldir returned to normal and addressed Aragorn.
"The Lady Galadriel wishes us to wake the girl up." The Company looked confused as this statement. The Lady certainly wasn't in the immediate vicinity.
But Aragorn merely nodded and shook the girl gently. "Wake up," he whispered to her ear.
"Katie Bell…"
Katie looked around. Gray mist surrounded her and there seemed to be no walls; no dimensions in this place. All around her was just an endless sea of fog, yet, strangely enough, she could see clearly. She pondered on this paradox for what seemed to be an eternity and a day before a voice cut through her thoughts.
"Katie Bell…Katie Bell…" the voice was distant, delicate and ethereal. It was beautiful, yet it had a note of urgency in it that slightly marred the elegance of the voice.
"Who…who are you?" Katie felt inferior next to the owner of the voice.
"I am Y'narë, Guardian of the Portal. Welcome to my Realm." A woman appeared next to her. Katie would have liked to describe her, but the Guardian was beyond description.
"Why did you bring me here?"
"I wanted to warn you that when you wake up, you will have a bit of a shock."
Katie frowned. "What kind of shock?"
Y'narë evaded her question. "You have answered the call of my Gate and entered the Portal. Therefore, it means that you want to learn the pure magic of the Woods. Many before you have come near my Gate, yet you are the only one who responded to Its calls after a century of being dormant."
"Oh…" was all Katie could say.
Suddenly, a man's voice filled the air. (If there is air in this place…Katie thought bemusedly) "Wake up…"
"Who's that?" Katie asked Y'narë.
The Guardian merely smiled and kissed Katie's forehead. "May you learn the beauty of the Woods of Lórien…" she whispered.
"Wake up…"
The Company watched as the girl stared at Aragorn. "Who are you?" she whispered. The girl's odd accent and the placement of her cheekbones immediately marked her as a foreigner. "Where am I?"
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You are in the Woods of Lórien," answered Aragorn. "Now it is my turn to ask you questions. Who are you and how did you come this far into the Woods?"
"I'm Katie Bell and I have absolutely no idea as to how I ended up here," answered the girl. Katie looked at the others and raised an eyebrow at Aragorn. "Care to introduce me to your companions?"
"Forgive me, my lady, for I have forgotten my manners!" said Aragorn, bowing his head briefly. "The Man is Boromir, son of Denethor. The Dwarf is Gimli, son of Glóin. And the Hobbits are Meriadoc, son of Saradoc ("Call me Merry!" said Meriadoc); Peregrin, son of Paladin ("Also known as Pippin!" said Peregrin); Samwise, son of Hamfast ("It's just Sam, miss,"); and Frodo, son of Drogo. The Elves are Legolas, son of Thranduil; Haldir, Warden of Lórien and his brother, Rúmil. 'Twas Rúmil who found you, my lady," he added.
Katie took a good look at her "saviors" while Aragorn was introducing them. Aragorn and Boromir both had raven hair and the same general look about them. Maybe they're from the same country… she thought. Katie never saw a Dwarf before and thought that he looked like a miniature Hagrid. The "hobbits" looked like men the size of children with big hairy feet and pointed ears.
When Katie heard the word "Elves," she tried to look for small creatures with squeaky voices. But all she saw were three tall men all pointed ears and blond hair.
"No way!" Katie exclaimed, surprising the Company. "There is absolutely no way could they be Elves! I mean," she continued in a softer voice, "elves are creatures about waist-high and have squeaky voices! They're the ones who cook our meals and tidy up after us! Those guys," – Katie pointed at Haldir, Legolas and Rúmil – "are probably the opposite of what Elves should look like!"
Legolas frowned. How dare she assume that Elves are small with squeaky voices? "I assure you, my lady, that we are certainly not waist-high! And does my voice sound squeaky to your ears?" he asked her coldly
Katie blushed. "I'm sorry! It's just that, well, that's the description of a House Elf…. I've only read about real Elves once, you know, and it's said that they're reclusive and the last time an Elf was spotted was more than a hundred years ago; I never really expected to meet one…"
"We forgive you, my lady," answered Legolas after a brief pause. "I admit, my kindred has always been isolated from the edain and the rest of the Second-born."
"Are you able to stand, my lady?" asked Aragorn.
"I wouldn't know unless you help me stand up," Katie answered.
Aragorn pulled her to her feet. He was surprised at the strength of Lady Katie's grip and the roughness of her hands; she may have been used to heavy labor.
Pippin marveled at the height of the girl. She looked young – she was probably around his age if she had been a Hobbit-lass – yet she was almost as tall as Boromir! Pippin had never seen a child of the Big Folk before, and he expected them to be at least a bit taller than him.
"Hullo!" he said, walking by Lady Katie's side. "I was just wondering…how old are you? You see, my lady, I have never seen a child of the Big Folk before, and I thought that you would only be a little, er, taller than I am…."
Katie blinked at Pippin and smiled. "I'm seventeen years old. I may look young, but I would be of age in a few months, on June. And please, drop the 'my lady'! I'm not used to formalities."
"Very well, my – I mean, Katie. And you said that you'd be an adult in a few months? Then it seems that I would be considered younger than you are, if I were one of the Big Folk."
"How old are you, Pippin?" Katie asked curiously.
"I am twenty and nine years old, Katie."
"Twenty-nine?!" Katie was astonished. "You're older than me! How could you be considered as younger than I am?"
"He would have to wait for another four years before he comes of age, Lady Katie," said Merry.
"Four years…" Katie murmured, counting on her fingers. "You have to be thirty-three before you reach an adult status?" she asked indignantly. "That's unfair!"
"Not everything in life is fair and just, my lady," said Merry. An awkward silence lay over the daughter of Men and the son of Halflings.
The Company of eleven walked for a while until they reached a small hill. "Behold! You are come to Cerin Amroth," said Haldir. "Here we will stay awhile, and come to the city of the Galadhrim at dusk."
Author's Notes: So, how was that? I'll be trying to update every week; Monday nights or Tuesday mornings. Just so you know, my time zone is GMT +0800. As always, constructive criticisms are welcome, but flames will be ignored.
