Hey guys! How was your Memorial Day Weekend? :)

The song I've listened to while writing this chapter:

Vanessa Carlton – "Paradise" 3 If you wanna listen to it ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own "Lord of the Rings". But I love it!

Chapter Two:

This is not New Jersey

My eyes flew open.

And I immediately closed them again. The sky over me was a bright blue that made my eyes tear and sting. A bright blue… Where did the storm go? I slowly opened my eyes again, shielding them from the sun with my hands. I sat up and took in my surroundings. I was sitting in the middle of nowhere!

The car, the road and everything else was gone. I wasn't even close to the spot, where the lightning had struck the tree, for I couldn't recall ever having been to a meadow so huge, that you couldn't see an end to it. Grass everywhere! The air was filled with the smell of nature, but there were no trees. This wasn't North New Jersey, not at all. That left only one question… How the heck did I get here?

I got up and shrieked when my foot hit something. My suitcase! And my purse! So whoever had dumped me here at least left my belongings to me. I tried to recall what had happened. There was the thunder storm…but why had I been outside? I felt my head throbbing and instinctively started rubbing my temples. I was talking to someone…my mother! Where was she? Why wasn't she with me? We had been on our way to the airport. I bet I missed my flight.

Alright, I had to find someone who could tell me where the hell I was. I hung my purse over my shoulder, flipped out the wheels on my suitcase and dragged it with me.

" I don't even have any idea where I'm going! North, south? Towards civilization or farther away?"

I sighed…the irony was that I wasn't afraid of anything at that moment. I mean, besides getting a nasty sunburn from that blue sky. After walking for a while, I already got really thirsty and I remembered the water bottle in my purse. I stopped and sat on my suitcase, sipping water from the bottle, trying to sort my thoughts.

"Okay, if I'm still in the US, it could take days till I would cross a road or a town, depending on where I am."

That's when I realized, that the sun wasn't burning down anymore and was about to set behind the horizon.

"I should probably start looking for a place to sleep…"

I didn't want to stay out in the open like that, so I gathered my things and started walking towards a few bushes.

Suddenly I was aware of all the sounds around me. I couldn't recall ever having heard birds singing like that. And if I didn't know the birds, I had absolutely no idea of what else was surrounding me. Wild animals… I shivered. I was just scaring myself.

I got my little pillow and jacket out of my suitcase and lay down on the ground, trying to ignore the fact, that all kinds of insects were just waiting to crawl into my ears. I really had to stop that. Night was falling and the stars appeared. I had never seen the stars shining so bright. It was breathtaking. I didn't get that many chances to see the stars at home. We just have too many trees that are too tall. Sometimes on a cold winter night, the snow would reflect the starlight, but it still never had been as beautiful as now, right here under this night sky. That's when I realized that I couldn't find my favorite star constellation Big Dipper anywhere. That was strange. I turned on my side and closed my eyes. No need of giving away my well needed sleep, the bugs would eat my anyways, asleep or awake.

I woke with a sneeze. The sun was tickling my nose and I was glad it was still located in the middle of my face and not molten in this heat. It was burning hot. I wiped the sweat of my face and crawled out of my jacket to stand up and look around. The air was simmering (?) from the heat and I really felt like I had to change my clothes. I opened my suitcase and got a pair of shorts and a top out.

"I'll probably end up as a tomato, but better than sweating to death…"

I didn't know how far away I was from the next street, so who knew when I'd get another water bottle. I changed into the more comfortable clothes I picked and packed everything back in my suitcase and locked it up again. And where was the stupid sunscreen, for God's sake? I rummaged through my purse and was so caught up in it, that I didn't even realize the arrow that was pointing my way. Actually right on my back.

"Yikes!" I squealed and shot up as if I just got stung by a bee in my precious butt.

"Who are you?", asked a deep and smooth voice behind me. Even though I was scared by the stranger I couldn't ignore how appealing his voice was.

I slowly turned around and smiled. The stranger didn't only sound appealing.

"Hi," I smiled sweetly. "My name is Mia. And what's yours, Adonis?" I tried not to look at the arrow. Who had a bow and arrow these days?

All my attention was fixed on his beautiful face. He had piercing blue eyes and long blond hair, that was braided at the sides. His features were smooth and soft but unmistakenly masculine. Like heck.

He didn't smile back. "My name isn't Adonis." And with that he lowered the bow. He gestured to my belongings. "What is that box? I've never seen anything like it."

"Wow, he's never seen a suitcase? Probably not the richest guy on earth. Just my luck!"I thought while I was still smiling at him. He still had a weapon and I didn't.

"That, my friend, is a suitcase. You put your belongings in it, like clothes or stuff like that."

I kneeled down and wanted to open it, only to be pushed aside. I glared up at the strange guy, now it was his turn to smile.

"I already know what's in there, I just didn't know what it's called."

My face softened. "Oh, sure." I got back up. "Wait a moment…" My face twisted in anger, worse than before. "What do you mean by that? How could you know what's in there? Did you go through my stuff while I was asleep?" I was slowly raising my voice.

He just kept smiling at me. My knees started to go weak.

"No, my Lady, I merely observed you since you woke up." He said friendly, but I saw the mischievous sparkle in his eyes.

"I can't believe it!" I was yelling now. "You watched me getting changed! You creeper!" I poked him in his chest and tried to bring my face on the same height as his. I failed, but he got the message and took a step back.

"I didn't know you would decide to change garments in the middle of nowhere." He said calmly.

I glared at him. "I didn't know I had some pervert watching me! You should have made yourself known to me! I didn't even see or hear you!"

His smile was back. "You weren't paying attention.", was his simple answer. He reached for my suitcase and gave me my purse. "Let's go, we don't want the orcs to see you change, too."

With a pout I followed him without another word.

"What did he say? Orcs? And what is he wearing? I kinda like those leggings, but really?" I stopped in my tracks, which brought the stranger to a stop, too.

"Where are we?" I shot him a panicked look.

"In Middle Earth of course, my Lady." He answered me with confusion in his eyes.
I brought my hand to my mouth in shock.

"Middle Earth…Orcs… That's what my Dad's old books are about…" Slowly realization trickled in and I let myself down on the ground.

The stranger kneeled down in front of me. "What is wrong?", his voice was full of concern.

I could only bring out one word.

"Elrond." My father's name.

Review if you wish! Enjoy the sunshine. And if you don't have any, let me know and I'll send you some, for I have plenty right now ;D

And thank you Abormal-Amy8D for my first review ever :) Ha ha ha, I just write down whatever pops up in my mind ;D

Sanora