Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings is not mine

"If you want to enjoy the rainbow, be prepared to endure the storm."
–Warren Wiersbe

"The stars at night are big and bright,
Deep in the heart of Texas.
The prairie sky is wide and high,
Deep in the heart of Texas . . . ."

"Would you cut that out already? That must be the tenth time you've sung that verse!"

"Eleventh. I'm sorry, Susan. I can't get it out of my head."

"I know you can't, Samuel. Otherwise, you would've stopped by now."

"I can't help thinking it means something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. The voice in my head isn't mine. It's as if someone else wants me to hear it, but why that, of all songs? We're not even in Texas."

"Whose voice is it?"

"I'm not quite sure."

The two young teenagers were at the park, playing tennis but not really paying attention to the score or even to the ball. They presently had two balls lodged in the fence, five that had gone over the fence, and one stuck in the tree next to the fence. They had been playing for ten minutes.

Samuel was the first to notice a strange visitor coming down the path to the park. His long golden hair blew with the wind and his dark green robes marked his as a stranger.

Susannodded, and the two ran up to greet the stranger. He noticed them too late to do anything. Still a little startled by where he was, he'd forgotten to cover his ears.

Only Samuel, however, noticed before the Elf reacted. He nodded his understanding and Glorfindel relaxed. He wasn't going to call the news and announce a new alien species that had pointed ears. Susan would've, so Samuel said nothing to his friend.

"My name's Susan," she said. "Are you lost?"

"Actually, I am," the elf admitted. "I'm Glorfindel."

"Samuel," the boy said, shaking the Elf's outstretched hand.

"What strange place is this?"

"Detroit, Michigan," Susan said.

"The Untied States," Samuel added.

Glorfindel groaned. "I thought so. Thanks a lot, Tom. Wonderful! I was supposed to be sent to the Undiscovered Island, not the United States!"

"The Undiscovered Island? You know of it?" Samuel asked.

"I'm told that's where my friends went."

"Well, you're off by quite a bit," Susan observed.

"I noticed. Have you any way to get there?"

"Nope," Samuel shrugged. "How'd you get here?"

"A friend of mine named Tom Bombadil, but he wouldn't come with me. Said something about having to collect water-lilies."

Samuel smiled, but Susan just looked confused.

"So what can we do?" Glorfindel asked.

"Not much," Susan admitted.

"Close your eyes," Samuel said. "I can try this."

"It's dark," Elrond said, shivering.

"I warned you."

"Yes, you did, Mithrandir. I should've listened."

"Nonsense. You're doing fine."

"How much farther?"

"Quite a ways."

"They haven't attacked yet."

"Don't say anything, and they might not."

It was too late. Beside him, Gandalf heard Elrond collapse. He tried a blast of light from his staff, but all remained dark. Then he heard a quiet voice in his ear. Gandalf nodded, willingly closing his eyes. "Take us there," he agreed.

"Open your eyes," Samuel said. Nothing had happened. They were still at the park. "Oops," Samuel laughed. "It was worth a try."

"Now what?" Susan asked.

"Let's show Glorfindel around. There's nothing we can do about the Undiscovered Island or his friends now."

Glorfindel sighed. 'The boy is right,' he thought. 'I should stop worrying. Elrond can take care of himself.'

"Okay," he said out loud. "Where should we go?"

"Where are we?" Elrond asked, a little shaken.

"It might help if you opened your eyes, mellon nin."

"Funny, Mithrandir. Real funny." He did open his eyes, though, and, to his surprise, could actually see. They were on the border of the forest, near a log cabin.

"We're on the very western side of the forest," Gandalf said in answer to Elrond's question.

"Are we close?"

"Very. In fact, I believe it may be in the cabin."

"Peter, wake up," a faint voice called. He didn't want to. He wanted to stay in the grip of unconsciousness as long as he could. Yet he knew he couldn't. Peter knew that call. Someone needed his help.

Specifically, it was Merry. He and Sam were trying to wake both Peter and Faramir. Morgan hadn't returned yet.

"Wh . . .what?" Peter heard Faramir say. "Uh . . .where am I?"

"Yeah! He's alive!" cheered Merry.

"Please . . . not so loud," Faramir groaned. "Where's Morgan?"

That got Peter to open his eyes. "Well, well," Sam laughed. "Look who's up. I don't know where she is, Faramir."

"I shouldn't have let here come," Peter sighed. "Athos will be especially hard on her. She's his friend."

"That doesn't make sense," Merry said.

"I know it doesn't, but it's the way he is. She'll be fine, though. Her strength has always been of will instead of body."

"What does he want from us?" Faramir asked.

"Our help, more than anything," Peter said. "He thinks if he pushes us hard enough, we'll give in and join him. That mustn't happen."

"It won't," the steward assured him.