Author's Note: Yes, yes, I know: It's been months since I've updated. Don't hate me too much. I've been off enjoying my summer break. Well, classes have started again, and I've decided it was time I got back to writing. Thanks for the reviews; they were appreciated.

I had to go back and reread the other chapters for errors, so hopefully those will be fixed shortly. I STILL need a beta reader really badly. I emailed a couple of people but no one wrote back. Oh well. The search continues!

+ CMCB

Disclaimer: Tolkien's work and characters are still his own. Nothing's changed!

Part I, Chapter 3: See Edith Climb. Climb Edith…Climb.

The sun had eased just below the horizon, and another day was ending. The nervous creatures of the forest had returned to what one would consider "routines" after being interrupted by a screaming girl's arrival earlier that day. A small black bird called to its mate. The mate answered briefly. The bird hopped indifferently over a pair of muddy footprints, eager to find whatever nourishment the wet earth beneath it would provide.

Suddenly, the ground began to tremble, and there was a loud noise, as if a giant sheet of paper was being torn in two. It was the air itself was being ripped apart, leaving a large and glowing tear in existence. The bird flew away, joined by its mate and all the other birds that were fleeing fearfully for their lives. Animals that couldn't fly ran, and those that couldn't run hid.

For a few moments, it seemed that the world was ending, starting with that very spot. But then, the glowing tear began to dim, and the noise with it, but not before an elderly woman was sent flying into the muddy little pond. The gateway closed behind her.

For a moment, all was silent. Finally, the woman began to stir.

"Oh! My arm!"

The pain was all she could think about as she gagged up liquid filth. She had never cared too much for the great outdoors. The only reason she even remained so far from town was due to how cramped together everything was. She hated the way the houses and stores stuck together as if they'd been glued that way. Still, she'd take the cluttered houses or even the endless countryside over wallowing in the mud any day. This was horrible.

Edith rubbed her aching right arm, hoping to make the pain go away. It didn't. Her arm was terribly sore, and it hurt her if she moved it too much. She relied largely on the left side of her body in order to get to land.

When she managed to make it out of the pond, she immediately tried to shake as much mud off her floral-patterned dress as possible.

"Ruined," she sighed. A dirty dress was the least of her problems. She knew that this wasn't home. Everything felt different. The air, the shadowy trees around her, and even the mud that stained her dress. They were all real and familiar. But something was wrong with this place. She needed to find her granddaughter. "Melody!" She shouted to the darkening woods. "Melody, where are you?"

Her voice echoed out, but that's the only response she received. Shuddering, she became aware of the cool air, and how far away she was from her warm house in the country. Her arm. Edith wanted to cry. At her age, she doubted that it would ever be right again. She didn't think it was broken, but after such a fall…

A twig snapped in the distance. Because of how quiet the woods were, there was nothing to distract from the sound. Edith listened. It could have been a small animal. Maybe it was Melody.

Edith started towards the sound. Maybe Melody had been hurt and couldn't answer.

Forgetting her arm, Edith hurried through the woods, pushing branches out of her way and stumbling through bushes.

"Melody? Is that you? I'm almost there, don't worry."

Edith was almost to what appeared to be a clearing when something growled. It was a low and menacing sound and it stopped Edith in her tracks. There was a second growl. This time it was little louder, and a little closer. Something was coming toward her. Edith was certain that it was not her granddaughter.

- - - - -

"Come on, tell me!" Melody pleaded. "I wanna know where we're going!" She was sitting a top a large beautiful white horse. It turned out that the horse didn't have a name either. She decided to call it Bana.

"You have odd names where you come from," Orlando had said, "Very odd."

That's the last thing he said to her, and he would say no more, not even as Melody asked repeatedly about their destination.

"It's a secret kingdom isn't it? I bet that's what it is. You're taking me to a hidden castle somewhere and you want it to a surprise, right?" She squealed. "Oh this is so exciting!"

Orlando, who was leading the animal on foot, smirked but said nothing. It was driving the young girl insane.

"Pleeeaase….can't you just give me a hint?"

He chuckled. "I'll tell you this much," he said, "you are right about there being a secret involved. But that is all I'm allowed to tell you."

"Cool!" she exclaimed. "I won't ask questions anymore, I promise. I don't want to ruin the surprise."

"Well, there's no more time for questions, milady." He stopped when they reached the top of a small hill. "We have reached our destination."

Melody blinked. Daylight was almost gone, but there was just enough of a glow for her know where it was he had taken her. It didn't take Melody long to figure out where she was. She knew this place.

"Oh my gosh," She gasped. "I…I don't believe it! Rivendell!"

- - - - - -

Edith backed away slowly, carefully stepping behind the tree to her right. Did the beast see her? She knew that whatever was making that growling noise could not be human.

Suddenly, the growling stopped. The woods were deathly silent. Edith prayed that the creature would leave her alone and that by some miracle it wouldn't know she was there.

There was a howl. A long, loud, and heart stopping sound that made Edith tremble with fear. It was a wolf. And from the responses the animal got throughout the forest surrounding her, it was anything but alone.

What was she to do? It could sense her, she knew it could, and if she ran, it would only chase her. Edith couldn't run that fast. Nevertheless, she couldn't just stand there. The wolf would eat her for certain. She glanced upward. Perhaps she could climb this tree. Wolves couldn't climb trees, at least she hoped they couldn't.

Edith eyed the thick branches above her. She had liked climbing trees once, but that was such a long time ago. She jumped up, and managed to grab hold of a branch. The bushes in front of her trembled. The wolf was coming through! Strengthened by terror, Edith began to scurry up the tree, relying on her one good arm and her legs to climb as high as she could. It wasn't high enough.

The beast sank it's teeth into her dress and began to pull, determined to bring her down. She looked down and saw that the animal was indeed of wolfish nature, but it was too large to be a normal wolf; it was a were-creature. Its yellow eyes stared back at her hungrily. It was going to kill her. The knowledge made Edith cling desperately to the tree. Her dress was beginning to tear, and as Edith tried to climb higher, she feared that if she lived, she'd be left in just her slip. Luckily, when the dress did tear, it was only a small portion.

The wolf-beast spat the cloth out in disgust. He howled. Edith took advantage of his frustration and climbed up a little higher. There was a thick branch just over her head. If she could somehow make it further up the tree, she would at least be able to sit down. She was so tired.

When she dared to look below her, she discovered that the creature wasn't howling in frustration; it was calling for help. Soon there were half a dozen beasts pacing around the tree. A few moments later, there were at least ten of the animals growling beneath her. Taking a deep breath, Edith mustered the last of her strength to try and boost herself onto the branch. She gripped branch with both arms, and tried to lift herself up, but she wasn't strong enough. And the pain in her arm was too much. Edith lost her footing and fell to the ground.

A wolf broke her fall. The impact made the creature yelp and it startled the others, but only briefly. The were-beasts circled her, as they had circled the tree only seconds before. The creature beneath her growled viciously. She got off quickly as it snapped at her, scrambling back towards the trunk of the tree. The woods were filled with the sound of howling. Edith covered her ears. It was like a maddening wind, and it was not what she wanted to hear before she died.

What was once ten wolves had doubled to nearly two dozen. And that's when she saw it. Out of the pack of the large were-creatures, one came forward. Even though the beasts circling her were twice the size of normal wolves, this one was nearly three times as big, if not more. It was clearly the leader, because when it began to circle her, the others backed away. They were waiting for it to make the first move.

Edith closed her eyes as the creature lunged for her. It never made it to her. Edith opened one eye and was stunned by the sight of the great beast lying lifelessly before her. It hadn't made a single sound. Something was protruding from the dead animal's throat. A simple but beautiful wooden arrow.

Author's endnote: Did you really think I was going to let Edith die? Shame on you! I hope to update again tomorrow. I finally know the direction I want this story to take, and I think that means I'll have less trouble with laziness and writer's block. Thanks for reading, and if there are any beta readers out there, I need you!