A.N.: Hallo People! You don't know how much you've made me happy! I can't believe that you guys like the 1st chapter but mind you, as I've said, this is the combination of two overly-used plots. I don't really know if you guys will like it 'till the end since I'm not that good of a writer. Still because of you guys, I'll do my best!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings, and I do not write this for profit. I write this simply for my own entertainment, and for someone to read and criticize.
--
In The Beginning of The End
By Analiria
--
Chapter 2: Still Running
--
I felt a nudge on my shoulder.
I groaned, rolled over, and used my arms as a support for my forehead.
Another nudge, together with an un-human-like exhalation…
I reached for my blanket, but met thin air. I groaned once again, yet no sound came out from my throat. I rolled over my bed again, using my left hand to cover the glare of the sun. I tried to look at the person disturbing me, adjusting my eyes from the sudden light.
But then, the 'person' who was nudging me wasn't a person, but a horse. In fact, my bed wasn't a bed at all.
'What the heck?!'
I sat up and crawled away. It seemed to have felt my distress, for it took steps backward while neighing as if screaming.
I looked around, and saw a forest surrounding me. I felt something in my right hand, and saw that it was a piece of paper. I read its content. Instantly, memories of yesterday crashed unto my head. I touched the necklace that was given to me by my late parents.
'Shouldn't I be in the park? What happened? …Where am I?'
"Roheryn!" I heard a man cry out. I immediately tucked the necklace under my shirt and stood up, ready to fight back if ever the man decided to do something unwanted.
A well-built, dark-haired, greyish-eyed man stepped out from the bushes. He dressed weirdly, as if they were back in the medieval period, but without the silver armour. His hair reached to his jaw, and had a three-days worth of beard. He went towards the horse and calmed it down. He turned to look at me.
"Why is there a human girl, a child no less, out in the borders of Rivendell?" He asked with a deep voice. "…and why such clothes?"
I relaxed my body, knowing that such a question from a man means that he meant no harm. Still, that doesn't mean I'll let go of the Swiss knife inside my pocket.
'Wait a minute… Rivendell?'
I tried to ask, yet no sound came out from my lips. I raised my hand to my throat and tried to speak, but no vibrations could be felt. My eyes widened.
His eyes filled with confusion, so I stepped towards him. I stopped right in front of him and took his hand which caused him to stiffen. I ignored it and placed his palm on my throat. I tried once more to speak, and as expected, no sound or vibrations could be detected. I let go of his hand.
Affirmation crawled to his eyes as he nodded his head.
"I will take you inside of Rivendell, and let us wish Lord Elrond would have a cure." He said. "Forgive my manners. I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. I am a mere ranger, known as Strider outside the walls of Rivendell. This-" he gestured to the horse, patting its body. "…is Roheryn."
I nodded, and let a small smile creep to my lips. I looked around for my back pack and saw it just a few feet away from us. I opened it and look for a paper and pen, but to no avail. I took it and placed it securely in my shoulders. Mr. Aragorn simply raised eyebrows at this as I walked back towards him.
I silently squealed as he lifted me on the horse. He skilfully lifted himself up behind me and almost wrapped his arms as he took the reins.
I felt my face become hot from embarrassment. Never in my life, besides my father, had I a man sit behind me with arms almost hugging me…
But then, I'm only 10 years old, right?
…But then again, why do I feel butterflies in my stomach?
'What the hell...'
Lord Elrond lightly placed the tip of his fingers to my throat, his fingers cold. "Try to speak, my child."
I was taken inside a room in Rivendell which I find gloriously beautiful. I guess I'm not in America anymore, but if I wasn't then where am I?
Meanwhile, I'm sitting in a chair with Lord Elrond in front of me. Mr. Aragorn was a few feet away from us and is beside a beautiful lady 'elf', as they have called their selves. She introduced herself to be Arwen, the only daughter of Lord Elrond. Weren't elves supposed to be little and mischievous? Well, I'm glad they aren't… At least I've a reason to believe since they look different from humans.
'Wait 'till Layla sees this!' I thought excitedly. Layla always said that elves, according to mythology, was little, annoying, and had different colours of clothing depending on their personality. If an elf is good, it wears green. If it takes children, it wears black. If it was mischievous, like most of the elves are, it wears red. 'Fascinating isn't it?' I remembered Layla saying. Trust Layla to be a nerd about mythology.
An old man, who had a long white beard and wearing grey clothes, was sitting on the other side of Mr. Aragorn and Ms. Arwen and was looking at me with twinkling eyes. I would've mistaken him for Dumbledore, if not for the magic and the clothes. Beside the old man was Lord Elrond's wife, Lady Celebrian.
I complied with what I was asked and waited for the result. He sighed.
"As I've thought." He started with a sad voice. "I'm very sorry my child, but there would be no cure."
'What?! That can't be possible… what had happened to me?' I thought, shocked by what he had said. I looked up to his eyes, and saw pity.
"My child…" The old man called as he stood up and walked towards me, saying his first sentence since I've arrived. "Where do you hail from?"
He held a parchment, quill, and a black ink. I looked at him questionably. Why quill and ink, if pen is already invented?
Ignoring this, I dipped the tip of the quill in the ink bottle, and had a hard time adjusting to the slimness of the quill before writing: "I'm from Vermont, U.S.A. Where am I? When is this?"
I handed the parchment back to the old man, who read it with a raised eyebrow and nodded, before handing it to Lord Elrond.
The old man sighed. "My child, you have a different style of writing… It is good that we are still able to understand it, but there is no such place here as Vermont, U.S.A."
I raised an eyebrow at this, my sadness concerning what had happened temporarily disappearing.
"You are in the house of Lord Elrond, in Middle Earth… Today is the 18th of July, 3006 of the Third Age."
'WHAT?!'
I gently took the parchment from Lord Elrond's hands and wrote: "But that is impossible! I'm supposed to be in Vermont, U.S.A., with no 'Middle' in EARTH, together with my Uncle Fernando, with the date being the 18th of July, 2000, with no Third Age or what so ever!"
I gave the parchment back to him.
"I'm sorry child, but what has been said is true."
I looked at Mr. Aragorn with widened eyes which widened more as he nodded his head.
Lord Elrond, sensing I want to say more, held out the parchment. I took it again.
"But, Lord Elrond, if what you say is true, how can I go back to my world?"
He turned to Mr. Aragorn, handing him the parchment. Mr. Aragorn took the parchment, reading it.
Mr. Aragorn walked towards me and kneeled to get in-level with me. Ms. Arwen's eyes simply glistened with amusement while Lady Celebrian just looked outside the window.
"What is your name?" He asked as he handed me the parchment.
"I'm Reesha Lilieth Guzman."
"Well, Reesha… You can't."
A.N.: What legend do you think is responsible for this mischief? I added 'Lilieth' to Reesha's name, for my own amusement. But hey, there is a reason why I added it! Also, Reesha being mute contribute a lot in the story.
Special Thanks too:
LanaLangKent- I'm really glad you think this story awesome and well written! Well, here's your wish!
Just Me- Thanks! I'll try to keep up with your expectations, since Reesha, because of her parent's death, might become a little down… I don't really know. But, I won't make her angst-ridden, that's for sure.
BlackRoseVine- Thank you very much!
Oh, I also have a Harry Potter (DMHG) story, entitled: "Leaning in on Olive Trees". I'm working on both stories at the same time, so please don't kill me if I don't update that soon. I also have a poem with the same pairing too. If you're interested, please consult my profile. Hihi.