Transported
Time ticked forever on and a indigo-eyed UCLA student eagerly scribbled notes from the lecture she was listening to. When it came to Biology, she always found how different system of bodies and cells worked interesting. The dull tone of Dr.Gibbs made everyone else around her space out, except for a few. The bell rang and a speedy homework assignment was thrown at the college students, whether they heard it or not is a different story all together. She packed up her notebook in her backpack and strapped her guitar case to her back.
Two years had passed since the encounter with the elf and in those two years her life had taken a semi-dramatic turn. Those things had caused her much grief but she worked through them and never let them resurface. Those were in the past and right now she had important matters to get through. When reading the newspaper she picked up on campus, she saw that a local construction team were looking for undeveloped land to build a shopping mall. They had found a vacant lot, which happened to be Amara's secret park.
Seeing that her classes had all ended, she decided to take a drive there to say goodbye to what had become her fortress of solitude when she needed to get away from her parents. Protesting was no use because another mall was what everyone would want. A place to pig out and buy clothes at the same time. Dumping all her stuff in her car, she got in and drove off. It only took thirty minutes to arrive to her destination and in that thirty minutes she thought about how much she would miss the park.
The park in which she shared only with one person. The same park in which that person left her without a word. Sighing, she picked up her guitar case and headed toward the park. Quickly, Amara spotted her favorite tree and sat underneath its protective shade. She took out her guitar and began to pluck at a few strings, not making a particular song.
'I can't believe this place will be gone.' She thought. 'Everything seems to be leaving me. First my so called parents and with them my identity, Legolas, Brittany...Nathan.' Nathan she thought with a sad sigh. She tried not to think about him, her first love. How she lost him, she didn't want to think about. It haunted her at night, the very thought of him. Shaking her head, she stood to stretch her limbs and have a walk around.
-Come to us.-
"Who's there?" Amara called out looking around. A loud voice had spoken out but yet she saw no one.
-Come to us Amara. It is time for you to find out your origins.-
Amara walked deeper inside the park, her guitar held protectively in her hands. A feeling of fear was held inside of her. Maybe she was just hearing things. 'Hopefully that was the case,' she thought. She wanted nothing more than to turn around and run back to the safety of her car but she felt a force, a magnetic pull almost, directing her deeper into the vacant land.
Beautiful sparkles appeared, dancing before her eyes, all of different colors. It was a magical air about and it made the edges of the girl's mouth curl into a smile.
-Close your eyes young one.-
Amara did as instructed. She felt as if she were high on some drug. It was a feeling she never wanted to loose. After awhile she opened her eyes and what was revealed to her took her breath away. Deep rich colors befell on every tree and an open waterfall made her gasp. Never had she seen such a sight.
A white path was before her. This couldn't be the same park was it? She didn't ever remember something like this in L.A. Scanning over the scenery her guitar was held loosely in hand. The air smelled of fresh water and newly born trees.
Clearly she was not in Los Angeles anymore.
-Walk the path.-
Again she wondered who the voice belonged to. "Where am I?" She asked softly.
-Walk the given path young one and you shall find out who you are.-
Blinking a few times and having one more look around, she decided it was best to follow the mysterious voice's instructions, seeing as she had no idea where she was.
Walk to Rivendell
The voice had not come back to her as she walked the white earthly path. It seemed like forever that her feet walked forward. At least six or seven hours had passed, and as she walked she soon began to tire. More than ever, she wanted to turn around and go back home, where a nice warm bed would welcome her. She had come this far, it would be useless to go back now.
She would see what this 'voice' wanted her to see.
How could walking a path tell me who I am anyway? She thought with a yawn.
Her feet burned with exhaustion, but she continued to drag them forward.
"If only I had my car I could-" The sound of an owl stopped her speech. Amara darted her head around to see if she could spot it. Of course she couldn't spot the owl; the sky had already long ago darkened. This only spooked her more and made her push further faster. Her guitar had been securely strapped to her back, seeing as she could no longer carry it in her hands.
Her stomach rumbled with hunger, even a cracker sounded good to her right about now. Sighing and sticking her hands in her pocket, her saunter was halted by a sight of a marvelous dwelling. It was built, it appeared, around the trees and the sound of water could be heard near by. It was a sight for anyone to see. Maybe this was the place she was supposed to be. It looked like a place out of tales.
Amara walked up to the tall ashen gate. Looking for a bell of some sort, she was met with a voice.
"Halt stranger! What may be your business in Imladris?" An auburn haired man stood before her. He appeared out of nowhere it seemed which startled her a bit. Looking the stranger up and down, he held a haunting stare. Quickly, Amara cleared her throat to focus at what was before her. She had walked the path the voice had said and now she was here in-
"Wait a sec, did you say Imladris?"
He did not answer her question, but continued to question her. This girl before him did not appear to be from these lands. He eyed her as he pulled the bowstring back even farther, aiming an arrow at the girl. Amara held a terrified look on her face. She was about to be shot by a total stranger and all because of some stupid voice!
"I-I came to...see Lord Elrond!" She stuttered out the quickest lie her brain could concoct. If it was true that she was in Rivendell, surely he would let her see Lord Elrond, seeing as she had knowledge of him.
"From where do you hail?" Asked the man, still aiming at Amara.
Amara bit her lip. 'Am I really in Middle Earth?'
Without thinking she said Mirkwood. The reaction from the man or elf really, seeing as the tips of his ears poked from his neatly tied back hair was hesitant before he put his arrow back into its quiver. He stood straight and looked down at Amara.
"Mirkwood, Ay? If that be so, how did you come from that land? Seeing as to pass through the forests of Mirkwood alone are perilous and you come alone and unarmed."
She swallowed but found that there was no moisture in her mouth at all. Already she was tangled in a web she herself weaved. How was she going to escape this one?
"Well...I...You see I did have a-a sword but it was lost to me on my travels here."
She mentally scolded herself for a lie that sounded stupid even to her. The elf raised an eyebrow. "Explain to me your garments then, for I have never seen anything like them."
Casually, the young woman looked down at what she had on. A tough but rugged pair of jeans that supported holes in both knees and a blue tank top covered her small body. She ignored the fact that if she really was in Middle Earth, they wouldn't at all be dressed as she would. Thankfully the elf didn't leave much room for her to answer.
"And what is it that is harnessed to your back."
"It's a guitar. Look are you going to question me all night or are you going to allow me to speak with Elrond?" Just as Amara said those words a strong sense of annoyance coursed through her veins and filled her heart, but this annoyance was not at all her own.
She glared at the elf before her who kept a straight face. Finally with a sigh, he bid her to follow him through the white gates. Shaking off this intense feeling Amara followed the elf towards the beautiful House of Elrond. She was lead up beautiful staircases and it seemed a bit of the earthly outside was growing on the inside. In awe, she tried to grasp the sight of everything but was had to keep up with the long strides of the elf.
He seemed not to have liked her very much, for the distinct feeling of abhor flowed through her and oddly she was unable to shake it off. Being around a peaceful place with peaceful creatures walking about should have made her feel calm, despite that she had been transported from her own world. The two arrived outside of a grand oak door and the elf gave a knock. Tenseness went through the girl.
'I'm about to meet Lord Elrond.' She thought.
A voice bid them entrance and the elf went in and Amara followed.
"Haselfur, how is your shift going? There was no problems I trust." Elrond looked up from his desk. Amara was taken aback. The wisdom was very apparent in his eyes. It seemed that he was deep in thought as he was, before they entered, reading a thick book.
'If anyone can get me back home it's gotta be him.'
"I found this girl outside the gates. She says she comes from Mirkwood but believe her I did not."
Elrond nodded his head, his eyes finally settling on the girl before him. "Very well, you may leave us."
As soon as Haselfur bowed and left, the feeling of annoyance and hate left Amara and she sighed in relief. She stood stock still as if waiting for Elrond to give her an order. Elrond closed the book that had occupied his time and entwined his fingers in front of him.
"Have a seat please." He said, motioning to the chair in front of his desk. Amara obeyed and shakily sat down after leaning her guitar on the side of the chair. Nervousness racked her for she was sitting with thee Lord Elrond from Tolkien's Middle Earth. Their was a brief stunted silence before Elrond spoke up.
"Tell me in truth, do you come from Mirkwood?"
Was it necessary to continue on with the lie? Elrond could be trusted couldn't he? She did not want to make matters worse, but what would he say if she told him she had been lying to the guard? Overall, her morality and a huge amount of weariness kicked in and she told him the truth with some tension.
"I lied to your guard. I-I didn't know what to tell him. I don't even know how I got here."
Elrond listened to her as she recalled the whole story of the forest and the voice that led her deeper into her beloved place of solitude. By the end of her tale she was more tired than ever. Elrond noticed this and stood. For awhile her studied her as if searching for something that had long ago been lost.
"My lady, does thee have a name."
"Yeah, it's Amara. Look, I'm sorry for lying to your guard and stuff, but I didn't know what to do."
Elrond raised a hand to silence Amara. She noticed how heavy his clothing looked. The rich greens he wore made an air of importance around him.
"Quiet child, all shall be forgiven. It is late, too late for the young. I will have my daughter show you to an available room and there you will rest until morning. It is then at sunrise we will speak more on your predicament." He spoke these words in a kind manner and as if on key, a striking elf maiden made her way through the slightly open door.
The maiden gave a small curtsey. As she rose, Amara saw the full extent of this elf and immediately she knew this was indeed Elrond's daughter.
"Father."
"Yes Arwen, if you would be so kind as to show Lady Amara to an empty room I will be eternally grateful."
Arwen tipped her hear in reply and turned towards Amara, silently beckoning her to follow. Tiredly, Amara dragged her feet out of Elrond's study. Elrond lightly smiled at the two and went back to reading his thick tome.
Arwen's long flowing hair trailed behind her as she walked, which almost hypnotized the girl following her. Fatigue went through her like the plague and she was more than ready to drop off to bed. Arwen seemed to be silently counting the doors, and she came to a stop at one. She opened the door and Amara stepped in. She turned to Arwen and wearily thanked her before she found the bed and dropped off to sleep.
"Quel kaima," (Sleep well) Arwen said softly closing the door.
