Summary: Taelyn, alone in Sydney with no-one bar her cat to keep her company, dreams of many things though most are not possible. Until one unexpected fall throws her right into her best dream, and worst nightmare.

Disclaimer: I own Taelyn and Leilani and nothing else. Im not going to put a disclaimer in all chapters because it's a waste of time when I'll just say the same thing I just said.

Pronunciation: Taelyn- Tea Lyn (main character)
Leilani- Lee larn ee (her female cat)

Authors Note: if anyone finds anything wrong with my fanfic, could you please R&R and explain what it is. If you don't like it, don't read it. Flames are acceptable, but could you please specify what makes my story so horrible instead of just throwing out complaints with no justification.

Vordaewen

Chapter One

Head downcast, Taelyn stumbled through the doorway into her second storey apartment, only to collapse onto the closest chair. After laying there for what seemed like eternity, she managed to lift herself up to walk to the more comfortable bed in the adjoining room. Leilani pounced on her the moment her head hit the pillow, mewing loudly, demanding to be fed.

"Yeah, Yeah", She said to the cat before falling into a light doze for the rest of the afternoon despite the starving feline using her for a pincushion.

Hours later, Taelyn awoke and glanced at her bedside clock. 7:30 PM

"Oh, Shit!"

Jumping up, she threw her Pizza Hut work clothes on and raced into the kitchen followed by Leilani who hadn't left her for most of the afternoon. Ten minutes later, with her bag containing a hairbrush, keys, mobile and a wallet, she ran out the room, only stopping to lock the door behind her.

Her boss greeted her none too kindly when she entered the back door to the restaurant.

"You're late"

"Yeah, I know, Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, just be here on time"

Taelyn turned around while rolling her eyes to get an apron from the rack.

"Up front serving" ordered her boss.

She quickly tied up her loose shoulder length fair hair into a plait before walking to the counter.

The night passed in a flurry of cleaning, cooking and serving. Taelyn and one of her work associates, Ben closed up the restaurant before he headed for his car and she headed to the path beside the road to start the fifteen- minute walk home. After walking for about two metres, Taelyn heard a car slow down and drive alongside her. Turning her head, she spotted Ben in the driver's seat, looking at her. He wound his window down and stuck his head out to talk to her.

"Wanna lift?"

"Nah, I'll be alright"

"Sure? Lots of weirdoes around this neighborhood at" he glanced at his watch "11:30" Taelyn remained silent and kept walking.

"Where are you heading?"

"That way" she replied, pointing down a main road to the right.

"I'm going that way too, come on."

Figuring that she would get nowhere arguing and if she kept walking he would probably follow her all the way to her unit, she accepted and wandered around to the other side of the car where she opened the door and sat down before doing up her seatbelt. They drove in silence for a while until Ben asked her where her house was.

"Apartment block actually, and it's a left here then a second right before going right to the end."

Ben followed her directions and stopped outside her building. He turned the engine off and turned to look at her. Feeling awkward under his gaze, Taelyn moved to step out of the car but his hand on her shoulder stopped her. She turned back to look at him and there was an uncomfortable silence before he spoke.

"You have beautiful eyes, bright green"

Taelyn once again tried to get out but his other hand grabbed her face, forcefully turning her head to look at him. She lowered her eyes to avoid the desire burning in his. Looking up once more, she saw him leaning towards her. With her heart drumming in her ears, she brought up her closed fist and with all the force she could muster, threw it in his face. His head snapped back and his hands released her. She scrambled out of the vehicle and walked backwards away from it, keeping her eyes on Ben with his bleeding nose. Unexpectedly, her feet met the gutter and she stumbled over backwards. For a split second he arms wheeled in the air as she tried to regain her balance, before falling back. Her head connected with the cement pavement and she knew no more.
Slowly, her eyes opened and started to focus. Once she could see properly, Taelyn blinked a few times before trying to sit up. A major throb overtook her head and she raised her hands to hold it. Once the pain receded, she removed her hands and brought them into her lap. Blood covered them. Looking away from her messy hands, Taelyn took notice of her surroundings for the first time. Around her were large open plains that she had never seen before. In the distance to the left stood a large hill with a tower upon it. Starting to feel a little scared, she moved towards the only cover she could see, a bush covered in red berries. Once there, she collapsed under the minimal shade it provided and closed her eyes for a moment.

Her eyes snapped open as she heard footsteps coming towards her on the other side of the bush that she had cowered behind. Peeking through the leaves, she saw four children and one man walk past where she had previously been laying. Hoping that they would just pass by her, she remained quiet as they moved on. The four children where talking loudly about something when Taelyn heard the mans footsteps stop. Daring to look out through the bush, she saw him examining the dirt. That's when she noticed the line of blood, her blood, which led him straight to her. She cursed under her breath as she heard him come near her.

Taelyn lay on her back, staring up at the sky until his head came into view. The man was rugged looking, as if he had been outside for too long. Accompanying his looks where also his smell of outdoors, mixed with sweat. His brown hair fell in front of his blue eyes as he looked at her. Taelyn realised she had been screwing up her nose and immediately stopped. As she continued to stare up at him, he looked her up and down trying to determine is she was dangerous or not. Guessing what he was thinking, Taelyn spoke.

"It's alright, it's not like I'm going to kill you or anything."

He still appeared unsure, but Taelyn awkwardly dragged herself to her feet and looked up to meet his gaze, which was still on her, defiantly, trying not to appear too scared. As it was obvious that he wasn't going to say anything, Taelyn tried to start up a conversation

"Where am I?"

"On the East-West road, near Bree"

Taelyn just sat there having no idea where that was.

"Strider?" one of the children inquired, "Who's that?"

Taelyn looked down to the kids and smiled. "I'm Taelyn. And you are?"

"I'm Peregrin Took," said the one who asked "but my friends call me Pippin"

Following their comrade's lead, they all introduced themselves one by one.

"I'm Meriadoc Brandybuck, or just Merry"

"I'm Frodo Baggins of the shire, and this is Samwise Gamgee"

"But we call him Sam" said Pippin.

Sam just stood there close to Frodo and glared at her.

"I'm Aragorn, otherwise known at Strider" came a voice from behind.

"What are you doing out here?" inquired Pippin, always the curious one. Taelyn just shrugged her shoulders and looked around at all of them, still confused herself.

"What's wrong with your head" asked Sam, noticing the blood all over her head, getting slightly curious and worried for her.

Everything after that happened a bit fast. Aragorn basically ordered her to show her and he cleaned it up using water from a bottle at his hip, before wrapping it up using a bandage he got from somewhere. The children were explained to be Hobbits, which silenced her for a while when she realised they were older than she was. Although she was still wary of them, Taelyn began to like them. The pain eased away with some sort of plant that Aragorn made her eat, although it made her rather sleepy. She fell asleep under the last bit of shade from the bush and the hobbits and Aragorn sat talking a little way away.

They sat in a comfortable silence around a fire that Sam built, each lost to his own thoughts. Every ten minutes or so one of them went to check on the new addition to the group, who would stay with them, at least until they managed to find a town somewhere.

A few hours after the sun left the world in darkness, Pippin raced back from checking on Taelyn, nearly crying.

"What's wrong?" demanded Strider.

"Taelyn.... She's gone." he whispered sitting down on the hard ground. Aragorn went to check and found that she had indeed disappeared.
Taelyn awoke seeing a blur of white. She screwed her face up in concentration, wondering where she was. A lady in white appeared in her vision, saying something she didn't quite catch. A nurse, she realised. She was in a hospital. Taelyn started to panic, wondering where her newfound friends were. A familiar face came into her vision and she started to scream when she saw him. Ben.

"What's wrong?" questioned the nurse.

"Get him away from me" she replied quietly and coldly. The nurse ushered Ben out of the room and Taelyn fell into a restless slumber.