"Who are they?"
"I don't know."
"Oi, what do ye think we should do with em?"
"Does it look like I know everything Pip?"
"Oi, one of them's waking up!"
"Ssh Pip! I know it's waking up. Get away from it Pip!"
"Merry, it looks hurt! Oh!"

* * * * *

April 25, 3018

The minute that Dallas opened his eyes he regretted it. The blinding light that shone into his semi-concious not only felt excruciatingly painful but just made him more aware of a feeling akin to a thousand bruises that covered his body. Grunting he tried moving up and succeeded in only hurting himself more. Dallas waited until the pain passed and he could see through the light. He saw the tops of trees and two faces staring down at him. They were faces of people that didn't seem to have a care in the world, which, to Dallas was odd because the world was full of misunderstandings and deceit.
The faces got further away as he tried to get up gently. Dallas winced as every part of his body seemed to go against his best efforts. He almost gave up and would have laid back down if it weren't for a soft sound to his right. With supreme effort he finally sat up and tried looking at the source of the sound. He almost gasped with horror and sadness when he saw the form of Nadia, lying to his right just a few feet away. Her shoulder-length black hair was splayed around her while her glasses sat across the bridge of her nose in an awkward position. Dallas almost felt like taking her into his arms and curing her of all her pain before ravishing her until kingdom come. He mentally shook his head of the mental images that were beginning to crowd his mind. He took a deep breath and cringed as pain flooded his chest. Don't think like that now Dal, you'll get into trouble. You shouldn't be even thinking thoughts like those. She's probably still seventeen!Dallas took another deep breath and steadied his breath.

Pippin wanted to help these strange beings that they had stumbled across after their usually raid from the farms. Merry was holding him back thinking that they were dangerous. Taking an apple from a sack that he was using for the vegetables and fruits that they usually gathered from Farmer Maggot's farm, he took a big bite from the fruit. He watched with curiousity, surprise and shock as one of the beings sat up slowly and making noises. He frowned when the creature started making breathing noises that only sounded...painful. Without a second thought, he threw away his apple and went to the creature. Pippin knew that Merry was right behind him and would have stopped him but as always the shorter of the two was quick and nimble.
"Are ye alright?" Pippin asked as he stood next to this being. The being didn't reply.
Well now, Pippin thought. Where's ye manners? Well, it's not from around here so I suppose, it doesn't have any.
Reaching out a patient hand out to this creature, he waited until it looked up at him and gasped in shock. It was a human!

Dallas looked up slowly at the general direction that the voice came from and saw that it was one of the little faces that he had seen earlier. Wincing he lifted a heavy hand and began rubbing his neck. He spoke as he did so and turned his face back to this little person.
"My name's Dallas. Where am I?"
Pippin was surprised and answered in his simple and honest way. "You are in The Shire and I am Peregrin Took, son of the Thain. My companion and I have found yourself and this other human from our long walk."
"I see. Oh shit." Dallas widened his eyes and felt nothing but shock. "Double shit."
Pippin was taken aback. He never heard humans swear and this word definitely sounded obscene. Merry was annoyed. He was the older and taller of the two hobbits. Pippin usually listened to him. He walked up towards the two and glared at the human.
"Pippin! How do we know he's dangerous?" he asked training his eye on Dallas. The young man didn't reply but looked up at the hobbits with dialated eyes.
"He's hurt Merry. That's how I know. If you're hurt and different from your surroundings, do ye think you'd be dangerous?" Pippin replied and looked back down at Dallas. "Well Mister Dallas, my cousin and I will help ye and your friend to get back in your spirits and health."
Dallas nodded and the two hobbits took his hands and with some effort they got him up to his feet. The young man pained took a couple of breaths to steady himself. With more confidence, he went to the lying figure of Nadia.
"She needs more help than I do." he said grimly and clenched a fist by his side. The two hobbits nodded. "Well then, Master Dallas, wait 'ere a moment and we will get a cart and some other hobbits to help us with that." Pippin replied cheerily though Merry frowned. Dallas nodded and the two hobbits left quickly to get the promised help. At eighteen years of age, Dallas was normal. He had good friends, grades, a family that loved him and the physical appeal of most women. He had wanted to get closer to Nadia ever since he first set eyes on her. She had an easy smile that lit the entire room, was clumsy, earthy and innocent. The very essence that he envisioned the girl of his dreams to be. He didn't know really how old she was but Nadia was the girl he always wanted to be with. He felt it the moment she looked up and smiled at him with a wistful look on her face drowning him in the sea of her hazel brown eyes.

* * * * *

Gondor was dark and brooding. It was no place to be in during the night. No place at all. Kit shivered in the shelter of the stables that held some horses. She had been wandering around the city ever since she woke up. She had never felt so alone in her entire life. None had noticed her at all and how her stomach growled! I hate this place, Kit thought. Why am I here? Why would Nadia bring me here? I want my mom! I want Nadia! I want Alex! I want somebody who can protect me!
Kit began crying feeling emotions that were intense for someone her age. Seven years of age and being in this position was hard. As she cried, she didn't realise that she was not alone anymore. The little girl almost screamed when rough hands took her arms and elbows.
"What is your business in Minas Tirith." a gruff voice asked. Kit looked up wide eyed and saw a tall man with fair hair and a shaggy beard.
"Faramir," another gruff voice said. "What have you found little brother?"
"A young child Boromir. I do not know how the little thing found its way into the stables without getting noticed." the man called Faramir replied. Kit was scared and had hoped with all her might that she would be found by people who understood that she was lost. The man that was holding her was scary and stern. He needed command and showed it. She felt relieved when the man finally let her go and backed away from them shakily. She had been told from an early age not to talk to strangers. These men were obviously strangers and Kit was not sure whether they would hurt her or not. The man that had asked her about her "business" began talking to the other man in a low voice. When they were done, Kit stood her ground and waited for a punishment she was sure that she would recieve.
"Hello little one, I am Boromir and you are in the King's stables. Tell me, what are you doing here?" asked the second man and Kit liked him in an instant. She wiped her nose and tried not to cry.
"I'm Kit and I was with my sister Nadia. I woke up in a dark place and I was scared. It began raining and I tried to find shelter. The stables were open and I slipped pass the men out front. Please don't hurt me!" Kit said. Boromir nodded. The first man knelt down on one knee and looked at her in the eye.
"My name is Faramir. I am sorry for being rude but at times like these, home is a place to be." Faramir said and looked down at her sternly. Kit sniffed.
"I don't know where home is." she replied. "I don't know where my sister is or my cousin or the guys that helped us out. I don't know where I am."
These words seemed to put these men in a different mood. Faramir seemed to soften in features somewhat but a burning flame was in his eyes while Boromir looked grim.
"I'm sorry Kit but the stables are no place for a young child like you. Would you like to come with us to the palace? You can not stay here for the night and it is dangerous being alone here." Faramir said.
"Aye and in the morning we will look for your sister and cousin." Boromir added, stretching out his hand. Kit liked the idea and with the innocence of the young child she was took Boromir's hand. She would wait until tomorrow and find her sister. Time was of the essence and she did not want to be alone.

* * * * *

Lawrence Hogan was in pain. He couldn't feel his arms, legs or any other part of his body. He had woken up earlier that day and found himself in a large flat plain with very few rocks. With some effort he had sat himself into an upright position and looked around. Shit. he thought to himself looking grim. Where the hell am I?
He couldn't see any other living person at all. Thinking that there must be someone out there to help him, the red-headed young man struggled to stand. He didn't get far because he doubled over in pain. He decided that he should stay where he was until help arrived. Somewhere out in this wide plain were the others. He would find them somehow or they him. He didn't know how long he had lain there but he must have fell asleep. In the dark dreams that he had, Lawrence found that himself in a boat rocking back and forth in a storm. He didn't realise through his dazed mind that he had been picked up by a group of men upon horses and taken to a city upon a hill. No one questioned his identity and Lawrence was laid down in a small room. He was treated like a normal patient and the folks of the city waited impatiently for this stranger to awaken. They had also found another out on the plains. A young boy was wandering around looking lost and confused. He had cuts and bruises all over his arms and explained that he had fell.

* * * * *

Joe felt sick and it was not pleasant. He almost puked up whatever he had eaten at the picnic. He found himself surrounded by leaves, ferns and trees. Sitting up, Joe felt as if he was being watched. Even dazed, Joe felt a part of him react instantly to his surroundings and he sat up straight. Now was not the time to sit around. He gasped in shock when something wrapped itself around his leg. He looked down and it was a tree root. He couldn't stop the sickening crunching and crackling of the great tree drawing him into its bark.
"NO!" he croaked loudly. "SOMEONE PLEASE SAVE ME!"
His voice grew hoarser and quieter as the root dragged him in. Feeling almost ready to give up, Joe heard singing. In renewed vigour he began yelling for help. The singing got louder and Joe watched with amazement as an old man came walking past. He had a greying beard and a blue hat. The song he was singing was something Joe had never heard before.

Hey ho, derry day and merry may.
Tom Bombadil I am singing for Mr. Willow to delay.
Drink the water from the stream, dig your roots and back to your dream.

In amazement, Joe felt himself being let up and he scurried from where he had been despite the pain. He crawled towards the man who stooped to his level and with a steady arm helped him up. Joe almost fell over when the man let go of him.
"What are you doing in these woods?" asked the man.
"I don't know." Joe replied.
"Well, it's lucky I came across ye. It's getting dark and my dear Goldberry is waiting. Would you like to come along?" he asked. Joe nodded politely and the two made their way. The old man helping Joe along the path.

* * * * *

The Marchwarden of Lothlorien walked along the patrol looking for signs of anything unusual from the outskirts of Caras Galdhon. His keen senses alerting him to every move. The other elves that were with him had felt a disturbance and they had come to investigate. They didn't expect to find three young men sprawled in the river Nimrodel. Their clothes were dirtied and bloodied.
"Rumil, bring them up. The Golden Lady will see what is to be done. Hurry!" said the marchwarden. It was clear that the young men were hurt and not armed. In the quickness of the elves, they brought the younglings with them, feeling naught the shadow that had been growing in the east.

* * * * *

Author's Notes: Hoped you liked it! =D Not much written I know and I'm ashamed of that but well you'll see. R/R and I'll love you forever! I swear it upon the...Precious! =D I know I'm sad but wellz, I'm crazy and insane, nothing to be done about it! -L.O.