Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or places in this fiction except for those of William, Catherine and Bernard.
Summary: It is 1964 and three college students have won an essay contest on languages of Middle Earth. Professor Tolkien has invited the three winners over for dinner at his remote country estate. When they get there they have discovered the Professor gone and a strange doorway leads them to the adventure of their lifetimes.
You Are Invited…
"Do you think we really have the right address?" William Hardston asked his fellow travelers as their cab pulled up in front of the old dilapidated country manor. It seemed to their eyes that no one had lived in this place for quite awhile. All foliage was bushy and overgrown and the paint on the home was peeling and worn.
"This is the only house in these parts, though why someone would want to live in such a remote place is beyond me," the cab driver told them.
Catherine Tulare lifted one discerning eyebrow. "Well, let's get on with it then, shall we?"
"Yes, let's," agreed Bernard Levenford. They fished out their wallets and paid the cab fare, instructing the driver to wait until they were sure someone would answer the door before he drove off.
The three college students made their way up the crumbling porch stairs. Bernard lifted the heavy cast iron door knocker and pounded it loudly three times.
They turned in astonishment as the cab took off quickly down the driveway, dust flying from its wheels. The driver did not wait to see if they had the right place after all.
"Asshole," William muttered.
They waited some time and then tried the door knocker once more.
"Professor Tolkien?" called Bernard. "Professor it's Bernard Levenford, one of the contest winners." Still no one answered the door. "We are here by your invitation Professor."
After waiting a few more moments Bernard walked over to a window and tried to peer in.
"Well, now what?" lamented Catherine.
"Maybe he's got a hearing problem. He's very old you know," William shrugged. He placed his hand on the doorknob and twisted it. The door was unlocked and he pushed it open on its squeaky hinges.
"Hello Professor?" William called into the house as he took one step in. "Professor it's us, the contest winners. Are you here Professor?"
William stepped tentatively into the house with Catherine and Bernard following close behind him. A whistling tea kettle was the only sound that met their ears.
They followed the high pitched whistle down a long entrance hall.
"Professor?" called Catherine. She looked at the old moth eaten furnishings and papers strewn about the floor and tables. It did not seem that someone of the Professor's fame would live in such a manor. She knew that this was not his usual residence, however, as he had a house near the university as well.
They followed the noise into the kitchen and looked about for any signs of life. Catherine strode over to the stove and turned the flame off under the kettle. There were cookies on a plate as well as some mugs and tea bags on the kitchen table.
"Should we just wait for him?" Bernard ventured.
"Well, I'm assuming that these treats are for us," said William as he picked up a cookie. "Though I thought the invitation said 'dinner' on it."
"Don't be a prude," Catherine grumped at him. "I think it will be a honor just to be here with the esteemed Professor. I wouldn't care if he served me breath mints and dishwater."
Just then the yell of a man in great pain was heard in the distance.
"Lord, what was that?" Bernard said quickly as they all turned to leave the kitchen.
"Professor?" Catherine called as they stood in the great hallway again. "Professor, where are you?" They could not decide where the yell had come from as they turned their heads in all directions.
"I'm checking upstairs," William said as he hurried past the other two. He took the stairs two at a time.
Catherine and Bernard wandered around the ground floor through parlors and the dining room but could not find anyone. William joined them again soon, telling them that no one was upstairs as well.
Then the power flickered off and on and finally off again, leaving the three bewildered students standing in confusion. As their eyes adjusted, however, they noticed that a sliver of light seemed to be coming from beneath a closed door in the hall; a door they had thought was just a pantry.
They walked up to the door and Bernard opened it halfway. "Professor? Are you in here?"
When they received no answer they opened the door completely, squinting their eyes at a bright light that was coming from below eye level. Directly in front of them was a narrow staircase leading down towards this strange light.
They descended the stairs single file until they were standing in a well lit room. But the light was not coming from a light bulb or any source of electricity that they were familiar with. Against one wall a swirling vortex of light about six feet in diameter shimmered with a hypnotic radiance.
The three students stood there, entranced by the sight. William finally found his voice as he said, "What on God's earth is that?"
Bernard turned to a desk nearby and picked up a pencil. He proceeded to throw it at the light. The vortex sucked it in and the pencil was seen no more. "Fascinating," Catherine mused.
"Would you look at these," William said, drawing their attentions to the wall on the other side of the room. What looked like medieval clothing hung from pegs all along the wall.
Catherine walked over to a discarded jacket and trousers which lay on the floor. She picked up the jacket and held it up. "This is the Professor's jacket. I saw him wear this at the lecture the other day."
They all three looked at each other now in surprised understanding. "Do you really think he did it?" Bernard said. "Do you think the old coot went into that light over there?"
"This is nuts!" William exclaimed. "You mean that this is some kind of portal or time warp thing?" They had all been thinking the same thought and now looked at each other as they let it all sink in.
"Bloody brilliant!" Bernard said as a smile grew on his face. "And I think I have a pretty good idea of where it goes."
"Middle Earth!" Catherine chirped. "My God, it's a real place! Professor Tolkien didn't make it up. He is living it!" She felt William nudge her arm and she turned her head to look at where he was pointing.
On three of the costumes hanging on the wall, there were notes pinned with their names on them. They looked at one another in excitement at what this meant. Professor Tolkien wanted them to follow him!
Bernard shook his head, "Oh no, we can't possibly."
Catherine grabbed his arm, "Why not? We are all language students! We know all the languages of Middle Earth. We won his contest. This is our reward!"
"What if we get stuck there forever? Or perhaps we may get killed! We may know the language but can we defend ourselves? Have we been trained in weapons? Who knows where that thing will spit us out! We could end up in Shelob's cave for Christ sake!"
William looked at Bernard in exasperation, "Oh come now Bernard! Do you think Professor Tolkien would go if it was that dangerous? He's an old man you know. He must be able to come back any time he wishes. He returned to write the books didn't he?"
"Besides, he wants us to follow. He even left us the proper attire," said Catherine as she grabbed the dress with her name on it. "I for one, am not going to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity."
"Neither am I," William said as he took his clothing off the peg.
Bernard watched the others as they began to fiddle with the fasteners and laces on the clothing, trying to figure out how to dress in them. He looked at the vortex again. "You heard him yell in pain. It must hurt to go through."
"Don't be such a wuss," William said as he slipped off his shirt and put the soft leather over his head. His eye caught a stack of bows and quivers in the corner as well as a few swords standing on end against one wall. "Look, here are some weapons," he exclaimed.
"Oh, that's just great," whined Bernard. "I suppose you know how to use them?"
"No, but you don't have to know how," William laughed. "You just have to look like you know how to use them."
"Until someone lops off your head, you mean," Bernard retorted.
"Are you coming or not?" Catherine asked.
Bernard thought this was insane. How could they just trust their lives like this? But inside of him a battle raged. This was definitely one of the most exciting propositions of his life but at the same time it was the scariest.
"Well?" Catherine asked him again as she tightened the laces on her bodice.
"No guts, no glory," William stated.
Bernard sighed heavily. "Oh bloody hell, give me the damn costume!"
William slapped him on the back and exclaimed, "That's the ticket!"
When they were all dressed and armed they stood before the swirling vortex and looked at one another. Catherine stood in the middle and took their hands. "This may hurt," she said.
"Just wonderful," mumbled Bernard.
"On the count of three then," William smiled. "One… two… three…"
If you'd like to hear about the adventures of William, Catherine and Bernard in Middle Earth then send me a review and let me know. I would definitely like to continue if there is interest. Thanks!