Darren O'Connor sat at the end of the jetty in Hillarys Marina, with his head in his hands. Almost three
weeks ago, his best friend, Mirra Anderson, had disappeared at that very same jetty. Her parents had found
her car in the car park, about two days after she had been missing. A local shopkeeper had told them that
he in fact did see a girl of Mirra's description that day, but had seen her fall into the water and when he ran
over to help her the girl was gone. Nearly hysterical, Mr and Mrs Anderson had called round to see Juliet
and Adam O'Connor, who cancelled their flight to London to help search. Darren who had been in his room
reading at the time, had thought it was another of the jokes that his best friend liked to pull on him. Boy
was he ever wrong.
The wind began to pick up, blowing Darren's short brown hair all over the place. He lifted his face out of his
hands, tear streaks were evident and his chocolate eyes were red from crying. A small ripple in the water
caught his eye, not that far from where his legs were dangled over the edge of the jetty. When he looked
closer, Darren saw a small gold ring, half buried by the sand. Curious, he leaned in for a closer look.
SPLASH! Darren hit the water. It stabbed at him like icy knives, hitting him all over his body. He was sinking,
lower and lower, to the bottom. He lay sprawled out on the sand, unable to surface. The ring lay inches
away from his head. Darren reached out his hand and snatched it, but his triumph was short because he was
suddenly pulled through a swirling mass of green light. After what seemed like hours and only had been
minutes, Darren landed flat on his back in the middle of a woodland clearing.
Breathing heavily, Darren shakily rose to his feet and looked around at his surroundings.
"Well, I can rule out anywhere in Hillarys…" He muttered and brushed the dirt off his…..tunic?
Darren looked down at himself. He was no longer wearing the jeans and T-shirt he had put on that morning,
but instead was dressed in a dark green tunic and black tights. On his feet were brown boots embroided
with silver and gold threads. By his side, was hung a beautiful sword, encrusted with a single ruby.
"What the hell?"
Behind him, Darren heard a twig snap and as quick a lightening he was surrounded by 40 arrows, pointed at
him.
"Oh my god."
......................
The water in the pool sized bath reached Mirra's chin as she indulged in it's warmth. She washed her hair
with the lavender smelling, Middle Earth equivalent of shampoo and conditioner, then hopped out and
pulled on a pale green dress. Letting her wet hair hang in a plait down her back.
"Morning, Sam." Mirra said as she sat down beside him in the dining hall.
"Hello, Mirra, Elrohir was looking for you." Sam replied.
"For me? Why, what did he want?" Mirra asked, taking a bite of her Elvish breakfast.
"I don't know, something about "the Prince of Mirkwood" I had no idea what he was talking about." Said
Sam, taking another spoonful of porridge.
Mirra almost chocked on her food.
..........................
Mirra spent the rest of the day, trying to avoid the twins, which was working quite well to tell the truth.
It was late afternoon and Mirra was making her way down a corridor, her nose in a book, that she had been
aloud to borrow from Elrond's study. The bottom of her gown got caught under her shoes and she tripped
her book flying away.
"Damn.." Mirra muttered under her breath and started to get up.
"Are you alright, milady?" Someone asked and helped her up. Mirra nodded.
Two clear blue eyes met Mirra's Sapphire ones and she was mesmerized. The kind stranger that was helping
her up for tripping, was in fact non other then the Prince of Mirkwood himself.
This realization made Mirra trip again.
"Be careful, we don't want to trip again." Said Legolas, catching her halfway.
"No.." Mirra whispered, eye's meeting the Prince's again.
"I am Legolas of Mirkwood." Legolas, told her giving a bow.
"I'm Mirra." She replied, when she could speak again.
"A pleasure to meet you." Said Legolas, placing a soft kiss on her hand.
Mirra was sure she was red now. Then she remembered her book.
"Oh! Where is my book?" She gasped.
"Here it is." Smiled Legolas, picking up the book from by her feet and handing it to her.
"Thankyou." Mirra smiled up at him. Yep, she thought, I love being in Middle Earth.
...................
Darren sat wide-eyed staring at the man in front of him. Elrond of Rivendell?!?!?! This defiantly had to be a
dream.
"Mirra, would never believe this.." He murmured.
Elrond arched his eyebrow. "How do you know my niece?" He asked the boy in front of him, who looked
equally shocked.
"She's my best friend, how can she be your niece? She's never spoken of you before!" Darren's head was
whizzing, he was dreaming, there was no other explanation for it.
Elrond got up from his desk and walked over to the door. "Hatheó, could you bring my niece, Mirra, to me."
He told the servant who was waiting just outside the door.
Ok, this was weird.
....................
Mirra and Legolas were sitting in the gardens of Rivendell, simply talking and enjoying the warm sun,
when a servant from Elrond came running up the path.
"Lady Mirra!" He called. "Your uncle, Lord Elrond, wishes to see you."
I never knew that Lord Elrond had a niece, thought Legolas.
"Do you have any idea why, Hatheó?" Mirra asked, wondering why Elrond wanted to see her.
"None, my lady."
"Alright, I'm coming." She told him, then turned to Legolas. "I'm sorry I have to go Legolas, I've had a great
time talking to you, perhaps we can talk again?"
Legolas liked that idea. "Of course, would you let me accompany you to your uncle's study?"
"Sure."
....................
Darren and Elrond sat opposite each other, not speaking, when finally there was a light knocking on the
door.
"Come in." Elrond called.
The door opened and Mirra came in, a curious look on her face. "You sent for me?"
Darren recognised that voiced, he turned around to face the door.
"Mirra…" He whispered. It was true, Mirra was standing in the doorway dressed in a beautiful pale green
gown. She looked great. Now Darren really hoped he wasn't dreaming.
Mirra on the other hand was confused. She looked down at the boy sat opposite her new found uncle.
"Darren?"
"Mirra!" Before anyone could stop him he was out of the chair and at the door with his arms wrapped tightly
around Mirra.
"OhmygodMirraIwasterrifiedIthoughtsomethinghadhappenedtoyou!"
"Darren, slow down!" Mirra cried when he released her. "It's wonderful to see you, don't get me wrong, but
what are you doing here?"
Darren's face fell. "I was hoping you could tell me."
Elrond chuckled. "I guess he's a friend of your's then, Mirra."
Mirra nodded.
"Well then young sir, your are welcome to stay in Rivendell as long as you like."
"Thankyou." Darren mumbled.
"Your welcome. Mirra, do not forget that tomorrow the council will be held." Elrond said and Mirra nodded
again. "Well, you two must have quite a bit to talk about, run along then."
Mirra and Darren left Elrond's study and made their way into the garden.
"You didn't answer my question before." Mirra, said an hour later, he face in the direction of the setting sun.
"What are you doing here?"
"I don't know, I don't even know how I got here, all I know is that I am here and so are you. It works for
me." He replied, smiling.
"What was it like? I mean before you came here?"
"It was sad and lonely, we all miss you Mirra, your mum and dad are beside themselves with worry, no one
knows what happened to you. There must be a way back there and I'm going to find it."
Her mum and dad. Mirra felt a stab at her heart, how could she not have thought about them? She let out a
tear, for the first time since she came to Middle Earth, she felt homesick.
......................
Thankyou everyone for you good reviews, especially to OrangeBlossom07!!!Sorry it took ages to update!
Luv, Sam.