Disclaimer: I don't own Middle-earth or the Forgotten Realms settings. I'm just using them. I do, however, own my OCs.

This is an idea that's been in my head for a while now and it was just begging to be written. Don't worry, I haven't abandoned my other story.

In this story Arda(Middle-earth) and Toril(Faerun) are part of a multiverse. This is not a retelling of The Lord of the Rings. While parts of the story take place in Middle-earth, it is mostly a Forgotten Realms story. It takes place ten years after the War of the Ring, so there are still Elves in Middle-earth. In Faerun the year is 1372.

Chapter One: Eryn Lasgalen

Gelmir had seen the fire, a camp fire, from a hundred yards back. He'd alerted his fellow March-wardens and approached it cautiously. Now it was twenty yards from him and he could see there were only three hooded individuals in the camp, a woman and two men. He moved closer, staying just outside the light from the campfire. "Daro!" he commanded.

Startled, the strangers jumped and turned toward the direction Gelmir's voice had come from. The Wood Elf slowly stepped into the light, bow and arrow in hand. "Who are you? What business do you have these lands?" he demanded in Sindarin.

One of the men removed his hood. He had very pale skin, grey eyes, and a brown beard. He was dressed similar to the Woodsmen who lived south of the Mountains of Eryn Lasgalen. He was armed with a bow and a quiver full of arrows that were strapped to his back. A short sword was strapped to his left hip. " We don't understand you. What language is that?" he said, speaking the language of the Men of Lake-town. It was different dialect of the Lakemen's tongue than Gelmir had heard before, but he understood it. Switching to the Lakemen's tongue Gelmir repeated his earlier questions.

Gesturing to himself the man said "I'm Canderil Osting, a Ranger of Cormyr." He pointed to the other two. "My companions are Hilara and Raybur, from Waterdeep. Hilara's a Paladin of Torm, Raybur's a Swordmage. We were exploring the ruins of Netheril when we entered an ancient portal that brought us here."

"Cormyr?" asked a perplexed Gelmir. "Waterdeep? These names are unknown to me. You claim to be a Ranger, Canderil Osting. Are you a Dunedain of the North or of Gondor?"

"Please call me Canderil. I'm not a Dunedain, whatever that is." answered an equally confused Canderil. " I'm a Half-elf and I've never heard Gondor." He turned to his companions. "That portal must have taken us farther than we thought."

Gelmir's dark eyebrows shot up in alarm. This stranger had just claimed to be Half-elven. The only Half-elven in Middle-earth that Gelmir knew of were the children of Lord Elrond. Gelmir had never met them, but he knew that none of them were named Canderil Osting. Canderil had also claimed to know nothing of Gondor, yet he said he was a Ranger. The Dunedain were the only people in Middle-earth that were called Rangers. The stranger also spoke of places Gelmir had never heard of. Nothing the man had said so far made any sense to Gelmir.

"Where are we, sir?" asked the woman. She had removed her hood as well, revealing that she was of the race of Men. She had long dark hair tied into a single braid, green eyes, and fair skin. She wore armor like the soldiers of Gondor.

"Gelmir is my name." answered Gelmir. " You are in the realm of King Thranduil and Queen Taurwen. They rule the northern region of these woods, Eryn Lasgalen. My companions and I are March-wardens of this realm. To the South is the country of the Woodsmen. Further south, nigh to Amon Lanc, lies East Lorien, ruled by Lord Celeborn."

"Your companions?" Canderil asked. "Where might they be?"

"Beleg! Amras!" Gelmir called. Two more Elven warriors appeared almost instantly, one on each side of the campfire. "These are my fellow March-wardens. Beleg and Amras."

"They were here this whole time? And I thought I was stealthy." said Canderil.

The woman rolled her eyes at him and turned to Gelmir. " I am Hilara and this is my husband Raybur." she said, gesturing to the third stranger. He removed his hood.

The Elves stepped back in shock at what was revealed. Raybur was blue-skinned and hairless. His ears were slightly pointed. Here and there he had patches of what looked like fish scales. His eyes were entirely green. Raybur was about as tall as Gelmir and twice as muscular. He wore light armor beneath his cloak and a long sword was strapped to his back.

"Luinadan!" cried Amras, nocking an arrow to his bow.

"Orch!" shouted Beleg, drawing a sword.

Gelmir was too astonished to speak, much less attack. He didn't know which surprised him more: the fact that a being such as Raybur even existed or the fact that Hilara called him her husband.

Hilara sighed. "Something tells me you've never seen a Genasi before." she said conversationally. "Raybur is a Watersoul Genasi."

"I am not your enemy." Raybur said in a rich baritone voice.

"That remains to be seen." replied Gelmir. "What is a Gen...asee?"

"Genasi are descendants of humans who interbred with genies from the Elemental Planes." said Raybur. "One of my ancestors was a genie from the Elemental Plane of Water. My body is infused with the magic of that Plane. I've also studied arcane magic and swordsmanship..." he trailed off as he noticed the looks the Elves were giving him.

Gelmir had tensed at hearing the word magic. Magic was a word that mortals used to describe the works of both the Elves and the Dark Lords Morgoth and Sauron. Which was absurd, the works in question couldn't be more different: the Elves sought to create beauty, the Dark Lords sought to dominate and corrupt the world.

"You have studied magic." Gelmir asked.

"Yes, though I'm no wizard, like my mentor." answered Raybur.

"Your teacher was a Wizard? Now I understand your use of the word magic." said Gelmir. He knew Wizards were not evil (save Curunir, but he had perished). "I knew not that any of the Istari, had passed on their knowledge to mortals."

"My mentor was indeed mortal." replied Raybur. "There's something strange about this place, I can barely feel the Weave. I suspect that my spells would be much less effective here."

"We cannot answer that, for the ways of the Unseen are a mystery to me." Gelmir said. "Perhaps the Golodhrim would know, but they have departed from this land."

"Gelmir, a word?" said Beleg, in Sindarin. Gelmir nodded and the two Elves walked off for a private conversation. Once Amras and the strangers were out of earshot Beleg said "Meddle not in the affairs of Wizards, my friend. This matter is beyond us. Would it not take a Wizard to unravel the riddle that is these strangers?"

Indeed it would, thought Gelmir. This entire situation was starting to remind him of the day when Mithrandir and Aragorn, son of Arathorn, brought the corrupted Halfling Smeagol to the Woodland Realm. After being interrogated by Mithrandir, Smeagol was held prisoner by the Wood Elves for some years. He escaped during an attack by Orcs and fled to the Mines of Moria. It was because of this that Legolas, King Thranduil's son, journeyed to Imladris and eventually became one of the Nine Walkers. After meeting the strangers, Gelmir had the feeling he was witnessing an equally strange yet momentous event.

Gelmir nodded. "I believe you have the right of it, Beleg." he said. "Genies? Elemental Planes? A Ranger who is not of the Dunedain? It is all nonsense to my ears."

"We should take them to the king." replied Beleg. "He will know what to do with them."

"Lord Legolas's encampment for those emigrating to Ithilien is closer to us." Gelmir said. "Perhaps we should go there and take counsel with him."

Beleg nodded. "Agreed." They returned to Amras and the strangers.

Upon hearing Gelmir's decision Hilara said "We will go with you, then. For though I'm uncertain whether to trust you or not, I sense no Evil in your aura, Gelmir, or your companion's. If you wished to harm us you would have so."

"You do not seem evil to me either." replied Gelmir. "Though some of may be odd to look upon. I cannot say if Lord Legolas will be inclined to aid you, but I will do so if I can."

Hilara's POV

Gelmir, Beleg, and Amras led Hilara and her companions to a somewhat large campsite an hours walk from where they had met. In the camp were many of Gelmir's people: men, women, and children, engaged in various task. Most of them stopped what they were doing and stared incredulously when they saw Raybur. A few commanding words from Beleg, spoken in their own language, had them back to work in seconds. The sight of children confirmed what Gelmir had told Hilara before they had set out: that this was not a military encampment. There were no Wizards or Clerics in sight, which surprised Hilara. Magic was ubiquitous in Faerun, but Gelmir's people seemed content to use mundane methods for everything. Perhaps, she thought, they only used magic when it was absolutely necessary.

Gelmir led them to a pavilion in the center of the campsite. Inside the pavilion were two people, a male and a female, clad in green robes standing by a table across which sprawled a large map. Looking closely, Hilara thought the two must be related. They both had dark hair and blue eyes and moved with an air of authority that was usually reserved for royalty.

Gelmir made the introductions. "My Queen, my lord, I give you Hilara, her husband Raybur, and Canderil Osting. They come from a distant land, I know not where it lies." To Hilara and her companions he said "I give you Queen Taurwen and her son, Legolas."

The Queen regarded Hilara warily. "From whence do you come?" she asked, directing everyone's attention to the map on the table.

Hilara and Raybur approached the map. It was a map of a vast landscape divided by a river running North to South. The Eastern side of the map was dominated by a very large forest. Due north of the forest were mountains, to the east of the forest was a lake. North of the lake there was a single, lonely mountain. On the West side of the map were what appeared to be empty lands, for the most part, divided by a mountain range, also going North to South. South of those mountains were more empty lands. Many locations on the map were marked with runes that neither Hilara nor Raybur could read. The runes were undoubtedly the names of those locations.

"This isn't Faerun." said Hilara. "Look at these landmarks and the runes that identify them. We may not even be on Toril anymore!"

"We could be in a land across the Sea, but I think not." replied Raybur with a shake of his head. "When I came to Toril from the Planes, ten years ago, I could neither read nor write the languages of Faerun. Or make sense of any maps I saw. I believe you're right, we are in another world altogether."

"Another world?" asked Taurwen, perplexed.

"It's the only answer that makes sense." Raybur said. At the Queen's confused expression he continued "Perhaps we should explain how we came to be in your realm."

Hilara and Raybur then told Taurwen and Legolas of their most recent adventure with Canderil. How, while exploring Netherese ruins, they had passed through an ancient portal and emerged in Eryn Lasgalen. Gelmir then told how he and his fellow March-wardens had met Hilara and her companions in the forest. The Queen and Prince listened intently and asked few questions. They seemed genuinely astonished by Hilara's and Gelmir's reports, though less so than Hilara would have expected.

"So you truly come from another world?" Legolas asked, incredulously.

"We call it Toril." answered Raybur. "Has no one of this world traveled the Planes before? Or summoned a being from them?"

"Never before have I heard of these Planes you speak of." said Legolas. "However, your presence here may provide the answer to a most curious riddle."

"Is that so?" asked Hilara.

"We have received strange reports of late, from the East" Legolas continued. "Our scouts claim to have seen unusual creatures roaming the kingdom of Rhovanion. What they are we do not know,but their behavior is similar that of Orcs." He lifted the edge of the map and withdrew a folded-up parchment from under it, which he then handed to Hilara. "One of the scouts who saw these creatures drew this."

Hilara unfolded the parchment and briefly regarded it. "These look like Gnolls." she said before handing the parchment to Raybur.

"Why would Gnolls be in this world?" asked Raybur as he handed the parchment to Canderil. "How would they even get here?"

"We know not." answered Taurwen. "Perhaps you should tell us more of these...Gnolls."

"As you say, they're much like Orcs." Canderil replied. "They lead a tribal way of life and often assault other races without provocation. Sometimes slaughtering entire villages. It's said that they worship the demon lord Yeenoghu. Much of the Gnolls savagery comes from him."

"Perhaps my companions and I could be of service to you in this matter." Hilara said . "We can travel to this Rhovanion and learn what the Gnolls are up to." She turned to Raybur and Canderil. "If we find out how the Gnolls came to this world we may find a way back to Toril for ourselves."

"Very well." said Taurwen. "You have my leave to depart tomorrow. You may rest here tonight. Gelmir, son of Lindur, and his fellow March-wardens shall guide you to Rhovanion. Legolas and the rest of our people in this encampment are bound for Ithilien, I shall return to Thranduil and inform him of your errand."

Hilara glanced at her escorts. Beleg did not look happy with this arrangement. Amras wore a neutral expression. Gelmir just looked weary. Apparently the March-wardens (or maybe just Beleg) wanted to return to their post, rather than become entangled in a Faerunian mystery. Unfortunately for them this mystery could effect their people. Why were Gnolls operating in an unknown world that lay outside the Planes?

Meanwhile in Faerun...

Many would question the wisdom of holding a council of war in an ruined fortress, Ferran knew. He didn't question it, it had been his idea. The others thought this site was too exposed. Ferran wasn't too concerned about spies or assassins. Why should he be? He was a Half-dragon wizard protected by powerful servants and even more powerful magic. Anyone attempting to spy on this meeting would only see what Ferran and his allies wanted them to see.

Ferran laughed aloud at the thought, especially when he considered the path that had led him to this moment. His rise to power had begun more than a hundred years earlier. While studying the pathways between the Inner and Outer Planes, Ferran discovered a portal to a parallel universe. Passing through the portal Ferran arrived in a world called Arda. Arda was similar to Toril in some ways and quite different in others. The gods(if they could even be called such) of Arda were less active than the gods of Toril. Ferran saw few temples and nothing even resembling a clergy there. The technology was a few decades behind Toril's. Magic in Arda was more like a force of nature than a tool used by spellcasters.

While he was there Ferran learned of the Rings of Power. The idea of using a Ring of Power to control the masses appealed to him. He began to seek them out, following many rumors to their source, which were often dead ends. Ferran wasn't the only one searching for the Rings. Both Saruman the White and the Necromancer of Dol Guldur were actively trying to find the Master Ring; Ferran just barely managed to escape their notice. In the end the Necromancer(Sauron) recovered three of the Dwarf Rings, three others were destroyed by dragons, but Ferran saved the last one from a similar fate. He returned to Toril with that Ring so that he could study it and learn its secrets.

In the very same year that the One Ring was found by Bilbo Baggins, Ferran discovered how to create Rings of Power. With the aid of a duergar smith Ferran forged a Great Ring of his own. They also made many lesser Rings that would be subservient to Ferran's Ring. To control the other Rings Ferran knew that his Ring needed to be incredibly powerful. He allowed much of his innate magic,dragon magic, to pass into his Ring. Much to Ferran's surprise he wasn't diminished by this. On the contrary while he wore the Ring his powers were enhanced. Disguised as a merchant, Ferran traveled throughout Toril, giving the lesser rings to various individuals. With his Ring Ferran was able dominate the very minds of other people, but he found those who wore his lesser Rings easiest to control. These people became very powerful and ceased to age. However living became a burden to them. After a few decades, according to the nature of the wearer and their strength of will, they fell permanently under Ferran's control. They were his thralls now until the end of time!

When Sauron's Ring was cast into the fires of Mount Doom and destroyed Ferran's rings were unaffected, as Sauron had no hand in their creation. Ferran then returned to Arda and rallied the remnants of Sauron's servants to fight for him with the promise of a new world to conquer. Orcs, Trolls, Wargs, and Easterlings all flocked to Ferran's banner believing him to be a god. They were the foundation of the armies that Ferran would use to take Toril. Many of Toril's evil aligned creatures allied themselves with Ferran when he returned from Arda. Gnolls, Kobolds, and even lesser Fiends were his to command. Word spread of a Shadow that had fallen on southern Faerun. Few knew the truth of this dark army; that it was a fire that would consume the world.

As Ferran and his entourage entered the courtyard the guards, two Gnolls, stepped aside. Behind Ferran came three individuals (a Human, a Drow, and a Tiefling) to whom he had given Rings. Although they were under Ferran's control they had not become Wraiths yet. That process would take centuries, possibly millennia for the Drow, as they slowly faded into what the peoples of Arda called "the Unseen" and became little more than extensions of Ferran's will. The Human was a barbarian chieftain. The Drow, a priestess of Lolth. The Tiefling, a sellsword. They'd been in these roles for decades, while secretly aiding their true master. Now the time had come for them to aid Ferran openly as he sought to bring a new order to the Realms.

Ferran's allies were gathered around broken pedestal. Nearest to the courtyard's entrance stood none other than Telamont Tanthul, ruler of Thultanthar and leader of the Shadovar, clad in the traditional dark armor of the Netherese. Telamont had been the first Faerunian to willingly join forces with Ferran. During the decades prior to his return to the Realms Telamont had sensed Ferran's growing power and seen a potential ally in the new Ring Lord. Within the last year Ferran and Telamont had gathered their forces and conquered the realm of Sembia in a matter of weeks. This victory was a statement to all of Toril: those who stood against the alliance of Ferran and Telamont would be crushed. Ferran had no doubt that Telamont had his own agenda, but by the time he was ready to act Ferran would already rule the world.

Beside Telamont stood his son Aglarel. Like his father Aglarel wore Netherese armor. He had proven himself to be a capable field commander during the war in Sembia.

Across from Ferran was his most enigmatic ally, a Cambion named Vid'ron. The Half-Fiend towered over all of them. He wore no armor and was in fact naked from the waist up. Clearly, he wasn't too worried about his own safety. This wasn't surprising to Ferran, Vid'ron had a reputation for literally tearing people limb from limb. Other than that Ferran had been able to learn little else about the Cambion.

"Oh, you waited until my arrival to begin?" asked Ferran, his voice dripping with condescension. "How thoughtful of you. What news from the North?"

"Ill tidings, Ring Lord." answered Vid'ron. "The priest Zasian Menz failed to obtain Azuth's Staff for Cyric. Mystra still lives."

Ferran spoke without emotion. "How did he fail?"

"Menz was foiled by a pair of Half-Demons." said Vid'ron. " They were allied with an Angel."

"If what Vid'ron says is true then Mystra will be even more vigilant." said Telamont. "She may decide to intervene in our affairs. Conquering the Realms will be quite difficult with someone like Elminster or Khelben Blackstaff hounding us."

"For now her attention will be focused on Cyric." replied Ferran. "We must act while she is distracted. I've located the Elven tome. It's in the possession of a wizard named Iben. He lives in the city of Neverwinter on the Sword Coast."

"You've sent word to him, asking for it." said Vid'ron. It was not a question.

Ferran nodded. "Iben refused the offer made by my emissary. It seems I'll have to be more direct. Kur-sarc!" the barbarian chieftain stepped forward. "You will go to Neverwinter and retrieve the tome from our reluctant wizard. Kill him if it's necessary." Ferran told him. The barbarian, Kur-sarc, inclined his head towards Ferran, then turned on his heel and walked out of the courtyard.

Aglarel cleared his throat. "In the meantime we should continue our plans to invade Cormyr." he said. "The Cormyreans were undoubtedly alarmed by our conquest of Sembia, they will be prepared for an attack from the East. If we strike from both the East and the South, marching an army through the Hermit's Woods we'll divide their forces on battlefields of our choosing."

Ferran chuckled "Your son shows initiative, Telamont. He will make fine leader for your people." he stated. Aglarel kept his face neutral, but he stood straighter upon hearing Ferran's praise. Ferran, knowing that Telamont did not approve of his son's admiration for him, enjoyed watching this display."His strategy is sound, but we'll need something more to truly break the Cormyreans. Vid'ron, perhaps you could rally some of your kin to assail any Cormyrean spellcasters once the battle is joined on both fronts. That should thoroughly demoralize them. Once we send in the dragons the Cormyreans will be overwhelmed."

"If we're all in agreement," said Telamont. "I'll begin making preparations the campaign."

"Rejoice Telamont, for all of Toril is within our grasp!" said Ferran.

Translations

Curunir: Man of Skill(Saruman)

Mithrandir: Grey Wanderer(Gandalf)

Daro: Stop/Halt

Luinadan: Blue Man

Orch: Orc

Istari: Wizards

Golodhrim: Noldor, Deep-elves

Yes Legolas's mother is alive in this story. Since Tolkien wrote nothing about her I decided to take the a few creative liberties. This chapter also referenced events from The Empyrean Odyssey books. Now I've played with the Forgotten Realms timeline a bit so that these events happen sooner than they do in canon. I hope nobody is confused by this.