A.N.

Not to say that Tolkien isn't the greatest writer of all time, but his neglect of heroines disturbs me greatly. My extremely imaginative mind took control one day and began writing "The Fellowship of The Ring" with a girl added to the mix. Being helplessly devoted to Tolkien, I could not in good conscience, kill of any of the characters to make way for a female role, so I simply added one. None of these characters belong to me, save one. Feel free to send threats, knives and/or cacti. It makes no difference to me. I shall press onward and upward with my evil plot to change the Fellowship forever!

PS. I'm not sure if it will save the scene breakers (what do you call those things?) so if the story suddenly changes, I apologize

The account of the Fellowship of The Ring…revised.

The keyboard rattled annoyingly against the desktop as Shay stationed herself at the computer and began her report:

No one ever missed the Erendor house Not a driver, jogger or child walking the dog; it was huge. But more than that, it was a mess. Not a repulsive mess, with trash and tall un-mowed weeds everywhere, but simply a childish mess. Bikes were strewn about the driveway, toys throughout the yard, and strange unused objects stood on the porch, transformed by imagination to become a ship at sea, or the smallest cell in King George's dungeon. After you stared in confusion of the yard for a moment, one would glance through the windows to see the thirteen Erendor children and their parents engaging in the regular Erendor household madness. One hardly ever saw them work, because their work simply became a game for them, and to anyone else it looked like fun. Though more often than not, half of the children were outside playing in the dungeon or off on the crusades, their tree branches waving wildly as they battled against the enemy.

The phone never stopped ringing in the Erendor household, and a friend of one of the children was almost always present. The oldest child was Lynne, 22 years old and attending the local college. Next came Tessa, 20 and a manager at the local Dairy Queen. After her was Marie, 19 years old and preparing for a brilliant career in medicine. The first boy in the family was Dometan, 17 years old and loving life as much as the girls loved him, never away from his skateboard and guitar. Shay was 16 years old and the most adventurous of the lot, always the one to suggest the craziest thing, first to break bones doing it, and last to give up. After her came Micah, 15 years old and following closely in his older sister Shay's footsteps of danger and complete idiocy. Kirsten 13, Andrew 12, Lenae 10, Alex 8, Shanae 6, Nathaniel 4 and Trenton 2 made up the rest of the lively family.

The rattle of the keyboard came to an abrupt halt as Shays' head came to rest in frustration on the desk. Why her? Why now? Why ever? Her father's idea of simply throwing the computer from the third story window was becoming more and more attractive as time went on. And time had been going on. And on. And on. She had written two paragraphs in 30 min, and even trying to think about how many paragraphs were in 5 pages and how long it would take her to write 5 pages at 15 minuets a paragraph was enough to send her flying from the room, intent on catching the first flight to someplace far, far away.

Kirsten's shrill voice coming from the hallway cut through Shay's next thought of finding someone she could simply pay to write the paper.

"Shay! We're leaving! Are you coming?"

"Now?"

"Yes!"

"Who's going?"

"Everyone except Dometan."

"Lynne and Tessa?"

"Everyone except Dom."

Shay began banging her head against the desk in a steady rhythm. Why hadn't she begun this a week ago? But on the other hand, who wanted to hear about things that actually happened? If the report were fictional, she would have finished it the day it had been assigned, but real life was so incredibly boring. If it felt like her brain was bleeding simply trying to describe her siblings, how would it feel when she had to write about herself? Her head-banging rhythm picked up speed.

"Shay!"

"What?" It came out almost a whimper.

"Are. You. Coming." There was a pause, in which all could be heard was the roar of children's voices on the first floor and the steady thud coming from the study room. "Wait…you have that stupid report on the family to finish this weekend, don't you?" There was no reply. "You do. And you haven't done anything about it, have you?" Another pause. "You're banging your head against the table again. Mom told you to stop that. It gives you a weird looking indent in your head for hours."

"Shut up."

"Are you coming?"

"I can't."

"Are you sure? There will be food, and that boy you have such a massive crush on is going to be there. What was his name again…oh yes! Shane."

"SHUT UP!"

Kirsten laughed. "I'm guessing you spent that time you were supposed to be spending writing, thinking about him."

"You mock my pain!"

"Life is pain, Highness!"

Shay finished the line for her "And anyone who says otherwise is selling something."

Mrs. Erendor's voice floated up the steps "Kirsten? Is Shay coming?"

"Nope."

"Well come one then, I don't want to be late."

"See ya later, sucker!" Kirsten trilled before running downstairs.

Meanwhile, in a place far, far away, a hobbit celebrated his 108th birthday. His name was known to all Hobbit kind and there wasn't one of his relatives who didn't wish they were heir to his extremely rich -and slightly mysterious- estate. Ever at 108 years old, he still didn't look a day over 60 and acted even younger. He lived with his nephew, a quite young hobbit named Frodo Baggins. The two kept to themselves and not many people saw the inside of the Baggins estate. Those who had the good fortune to be invited to tea came back with stories about the strange relics, maps and beautiful jewels inside Bag End. The only one who ever entered estate very often was their faithful gardener, Samwise Gamgee, and no one ever heard a word from him about anything concerning the Baggins. There wasn't one hobbit among the whole lot who didn't wonder how the owner of Bag end - Bilbo Baggins- had acquired his riches, but no one ever dared ask. He tended to be a rather strange man, prone to long walks alone and talk of elves, trolls and dragons. He was also rumored to be on very good terms with the roaming wizard, Gandalf who visited Hobbiton occasionally, and everyone knew that wizards and their friends were not to be trifled with.

The parties Bilbo would throw for his birthdays were always magnificent and everyone came whether they were invited or not. Tonight was no exception. The ale flowed freely and the food was disappearing from the tables as fast as the local catering service could put it on the tables. The only thing missing was the very person whom the party was being thrown for – Bilbo Baggins.

"Now where do you suppose Mr. Baggins is?"

The speaker was a young hobbit by the name of Meriadoc Brandybuck. He was quite average looking as hobbits go, but there was a constant mischievous glint in his eyes that tended to draw the ladies and cause the elderly to look too their purses to make sure their money was still present.

"Don't know. Should we find out?" His friend Peregrin Took replied.

" Now, why would we want to do a thing like that?" Meriadoc asked. "When he's gone, there's no one to supervise, is there?"

"I suppose not."

"And there's no one to make sure that the ale stays where it belongs, is there?"

"No…"

"Exactly. And there is no one to go to if the ale did in fact, disappear."

"But where would we put it?" Peregrin asked, getting straight to the point.

"I've got a wagon. We wouldn't have to take it all to my house at once of course. We could hide ½ the barrels in the trees over there and come back for them later."

"Before we drink the first half of the barrels I hope. You're no good driving when you're drunk."

"Of course."

"And you'll give half the barrels we don't drink tonight to me."

"What? But you don't drink as much as I do!"

"It doesn't matter. Fairs fair. But since you'll come over and drink mine when your barrels are empty, it shouldn't really bother you that much, should it?"

Meriadoc took a moment to think this over, and then nodded "It's a deal then."

The report had come to a painful halt an hour after Shays family drove out the long drive, on their way to the churches midwinter festival. Even smacking her head against the desk for a few more minuets hadn't helped. She now sat in the large kitchen, with an equally large bucket of ice cream in front of her. The radio on top of the refrigerator was as loud as it would go without blowing the speakers and Shay was alternatively hang banging and dancing to the music - since she didn't really have enough coordination to do both at once. Her older brother, Dometan sat in the chair across from her, reading the newest 'Musician' magazine, oblivious to his sisters' complete lack of rhythm or taste in music.

Neither of them heard the doorbell the first time it rang. They wouldn't have the second time either except for the pause in the music.

"You gonna get that?" Shay asked through a mouthful of ice cream.

"Nope."

"Am I gonna get that?"

Dometan looked up at her, a bored expression on his face "No. Let them stand out therein the cold, Shay. I would love to open the door in the morning to find a visitor frozen on our front steps."

Shay stuck her tongue out at him, but went to look out the front window to see who it was. There was a pause before Shay said in a rather strangled voice "Dometan. You might want to answer the door this time."

"Why? Is it Anna? She said she had to baby sit her niece tonight."

"No. It's…it's the police."

"The police. Augh! I was really hoping no one saw me lift that drum set out from the music shop yesterday. I worked so hard! Wrapped them in towels to keep em' from making too much noise and everything!"

"Dometan, I'm serious. Come look."

He rose from the table after a moment to look out the window with her. "Oh. I thought you were kidding." The doorbell rang again. "You want to get it?"

"No! I'm running upstairs and changing into the disguises we bought for if they ever found us. I'll see you in five." Shay joked, trying to laugh. The joke fell flat onto the floor. "You get it." Dometan nodded and opened the door.

Three officers stood on the porch, hats in their hands and grim expressions on their faces. "Is this the Erendor household?" The shortest of the three asked Dometan.

"Yes it is."

"And you are?"

"Dometan Erendor, and this is my sister, Shay." The officer nodded at them both "I'm sorry to sound rude," Dometan said "but what are you doing here?"

The officers' shoulders fell, and the shortest one spoke again. "Could we come inside, please? We have something to tell you that we'd rather not talk about out here in the cold."

"Did Dad finally eat enough pound cake to give him a DUI?" Shay said with a chuckle.

"If we could just step inside, Ms Erendor."

Dometan nodded and led the three into the kitchen. "Would you care for some water? Ice Cream?"

"No thank you."

There was an awkward silence, during which the officers stood and fidgeting with the hats in their hands or looked around the kitchen.

"So…this is some weather we're having, isn't it? I'm finding that driving on all this ice can be a pain. But the snow is perfect for snow wars." Shay said brightly "I've always wondered if the police and firemen ever just take an afternoon and set up snow forts in the front yard of the police station and have a go at each other. Who ever looses has to buy donuts for the other station, you know."

One officer chuckled weakly but the others simply looked down at their shoes. Dometan sighed, "Just say it."

"Mr. Erendor-"

"Dometan."

"Dometan." Yet another sigh echoed through the room as the officer ran his hand through his hair. "Dometan. This is probably the hardest job I've ever had to do. You see…why don't you take a seat."

Dometan and Shay simply stood, looking at him blankly.

"Tonight…your parents are Josh and Maria Erendor, aren't they?" Shay nodded, and officer continued "It seems that on their way to wherever they were going tonight, the roads were a bit icier than they had thought and the vehicle they were driving slipped into the oncoming lane. I don't know if your father realized it or not, but…the oncoming bus didn't realize it in time and…and the two vehicles collided. With both vehicles being as large as they were and both going 55, the impact was over 100 mph."

"Are they alright?" Shay broke in, panic in her voice. A look of pain passed over the officer's face, such a deep pain that Shay knew in her heart what he would say next.

"None of them lived."

For a moment, neither of the Erendor children could say anything. Finally Dometan choked out "None. All of them died."

"Yes. I'm so sorry."

"But…they were just going to the church. It's not that far away. There's hardly enough time for Dad to go 55 for more than a minute"

"It happened in that minute. I'm sorry. More sorry than I could ever express. But I promise you; none of them felt any pain at all. None."

No one moved. There were no tears, no screaming, nothing. Just silence and bewilderment.

"Is there someone you would like us to call?" One of the other officers asked tentatively.

"No."

"Are you quite sure? Not a Grandparent? Uncle, Aunt?"

"Both our Grandparents on Dad's side died a long time ago. We never knew Mom's parents." Said Shay dully.

"A friend?"

"No, thank you."

There was another long pause.

"We would like to take you down to the station then. I don't wan to leave you two here alone."

Dometan looked up at him, his eyes almost vacant "I understand sir, and I know you simply have our best interest in mind, but I assure you, neither of us will do anything to harm ourselves if we're left here."

"I don't feel that-"

"I want to stay here, Dom." Shay mumbled, "I want to stay here."

"Please sir, let us stay here." Dometan said, a note of pleading creeping into his voice.

The officer in charge nodded after a moment "Very well. But I would be more comfortable if you would call someone and have him or her come to stay with you. And one of us will come by every few hours."

"There's no need, sir."

"It's no problem to us, and you may find that you appreciate it."

Dometan nodded " Thank you, sir."

"Well…would you like one of us to stay with you?"

"No."

"Very well. One of us will be by in a few hours."

"Yes, sir."

The three officers nodded at them, each reaching out a hand to lay it on Dometan's shoulder, then Shays. Then they left, putting their hats back on as they closed the door. As the latch clicked in place, Shay fell to the floor, sobbing.

AN. Wide eyes I hope I didn't freak you out too much. Chapter two is almost done and we'll be getting into the merging of our own world and Middle-Earth. Don't feel like you have to review, seeing as not much of the story is here yet. But if you would like to, feel free  Thanks

-Shiplass-