Chapter one - a mysterious encounter
Winter woke up on a cold rainy day, by the sound of her alarm, in her bedroom covered by a white fluffy blanket, she went to her kitchen downstairs and made an instant mocca, with scrambled eggs, after that she got ready, putting her light brown hair in a classic messy bun, then got in the train to work.
She worked in a tea shop in yorkshire.
She put on her apron, and turned on the machine of hot water, organized the muffins and baked scones nicely, while her usual customers came in, wanting for breakfast before work, the daily smell of fresh tea and cake filled the air.
She looked out the window to find a small blinking yellow light, appearing to be walking on the wind, going up the street.
"A firefly here? in the middle of the day, how odd."She thought to herself.
The rush of the morning slowed down, and soon enough the shop was empty, it was about eleven o'clock when a strange tall gentleman came in, wearing strange gray robes and using a walking stick, if you could called that carved piece of wood a walking stick, he seated in a corner table, and she went to him, a little afraid, to asked what he would like.
"Good morning sir."She said with a kind smile.
"What would you like to order?" She added.
"Nothing really, I was actually looking for someone, a person whose last name would be Morrison." Said the man gazing at her with his grey eyes.
"That would be me…" Said Winter.
"Well, isn't that convenient! I thought the spell would leave me further than I expected." Said the man happily.
"You must be her daughter, I imagine, though you look more like your father then I expected." He added.
"I am sorry, but what exactly are you looking for?" She said, getting ready to run outside to the bookshop across the street and call the police.
"Tell me, does your family still work with plants and medicines?" Asked the man eagerly, making Winter feel more comfortable, he was probably one or her late mother's strange friends.
Growing up she only had her mother, who had a rather secretive life, she never really spoke about anything from when she was growing up or about her father, she spent most of her time at the flower shop she owned, and had a great understanding of plants and what they could be used for.
"Well I am afraid my mother has passed sir." She said in an empathetic tone.
"I am really sorry to hear that, I was very fond of your mother." He said. She thought for a moment he was going to cry, but he continued speaking as if he was in a hurry.
"Well… but I am sure you carry on her trait."
"I guess... I haven't really studied in quite some time, but if you need anything I would be glad to help." She said not really happy about it. That topic still made her feel quite sad, and ever since her mother died, she couldn't open a single book that belonged to her.
"Well then that settles it! you will make a great addition to the company!".
"Excuse me, what?" She said puzzled.
"I am sorry, I am afraid I didn't catch your name, dear." Said the man standing up, making her glad he was about to leave.
"Winter." She said, hoping that strange men would leave, and end that strange interaction.
"I am Gandalf." He said walking to the door.
He walked to the entrance and opened the door, but by the time the little bell at the door rang as it closed, he seemed to vanish.
"How very odd." She said out loud, going back to the counter.
She didn't have the time to think about it, the rest of the day was quite busy, and she left the shop feeling quite tired, and forgot about that strange encounter.
She was almost home walking on the pavement, on the empty streets on her way to her cottage, the air quite cold as usual, and she was thinking about drawing a bath for herself when she got home.
"I knew I should have ran by Lush before getting on the train." She thought to herself.
When she suddenly saw fireflies again, but this time dozens of them, she decided to entertain herself and follow them, she followed some into the woods thinking she could take pictures of them, until she felt a strange feeling of peace, that made her keep going.
She followed them until her feet felt tired, to a point she definitely should not have been wandering in the woods alone.
It was like the forest was calling to her, the lights dancing forming a path for her to follow, the air seemed to get foggier as she walked by, until she reached the end of the trees and saw a plain field, surrounded by tall mountains.
"Where am I?"
She thought to herself.
She turned around but found that the forest was gone, and she was surrounded only by mountains.
"That's impossible." She said out loud.
She turned around and walked trying to find her way back, thinking she must have gotten lost in her thoughts, but it was getting very dark, and no sign of the woods, suddenly she heard a voice coming from behind her.
"You must be Morison." Said a deep voice.
"I thought Gandalf said you would be easy to find." Continued the man.
Winter's heart was pounding. She was very scared, she slowly turned around and saw a strange man, who was very short, but still taller than her, she was quite short herself, dressed in medieval clothing, he was illuminated only by the full moonlight that shone by, she noticed he was quite far from her, almost as if he was also scared.
"We can make camp close to those mountains, but I am afraid we still have a long way to go."
She was paralised by fear, she couldn't speak and all she could think was how hungry she was, seeing how quiet she was the man continued speaking trying to be more polite, afraid he had offended her.
"I have brought good food, but we will have to replenish it when we get to the Shire."
"Who are you?" She said.
"I am sorry, I forgot to introduce myself." He said nervously, "I am thorin of Oakenshield." He said, giving a slight bow.