Author's Note:
The next chapter is up. Thanks to the reviewers for the reviews.
Hope you will enjoy.
Disclaimer: Tolkein own LOTR
Chapter 12 - The Journey to Rohan
The fire cackled in front of me as Gandalf smoked his pipe under the clear star-filled sky. The brown horse, which I learned that its name was Aurin, was lazing around nearby, prancing around the grass covered fields.
It's been ten days now since we left Bree, and after I met that strange small girl outside Bohur's shop. We bought all our necessary items, including food to last a month and were now continuing our journey to Minas Tirith on the Great Road in silence. I thought back of the words the little girl had said and furrowed my eyebrows.
"What does she mean that the book has returned to its rightful place on MiddleEarth? You mean that bloody book that brought me here? That means…" Sauron must have gotten back his book and I cannot return back home! Oh no…
I placed my head in my hands in despair, not noticing Gandalf looking at me in a concerned manner.
"What's wrong Child?"
I looked up and shook my head. I cannot burden Gandalf with my problems now… he must be troubled about the Ring… and Frodo back at the Shire.
"It's nothing Gandalf… just tired. So how many more days to Minas Tirith?" I asked.
Gandalf looked at me and gave a thoughtful expression. "It's not just days Jacqueline. I believed in two months, we should be able to reach Minas Tirith. We need to cross the Misty Mountains and pass Rohan…
"So which means we will be passing Rivendell and Lorien?"
Gandalf looked shocked at my question but then later give me a weary smile.
"I always forget that you have knowledge of our world… Yes, we will be passing them. But we will still have stops in between. I am curious child, what do you know of?
I looked at him thoughtfully. "I do not remember the geographical sites of the places on Middle Earth despite knowing the key events of the Ring's fate… but I do know the key characters involved, which I shall not say anymore…" I revealed softly, taking out my sketchbook, ink bottle and quill from my sack beside me. "But… time flies… and my memories on the movies and the books are beginning to fade…"
"It's best if you forget all of them Child… thus the knowledge will not fall into the wrong hands." Gandalf said grimly. "And we still do not know the purpose of the enemy yet… and I have yet to research more about the One ruling ring…"
I gave a small smile and began to sketch Gandalf, unable to do anything else. The orange warm glow of the fire provided me with some light as I started doing the basic structure of Gandalf's face.
"I wonder how… how Frodo is doing now… in the Shire. And Merry, Pippin and Sam…"
Gandalf looked up to the night sky and gave a soft, fatherly smile. "That boy and those lads will be fine… Frodo's the Master of Bag End now… he will be busy… and burdened…"
I looked towards the fire and lingered my gaze at it, remembering Frodo's devastated cries as he saw Gandalf fell in the darkness of Moria. I shut my eyes tight at his anguished face from my vision, and Gandalf's sad gaze towards the fellowship...
I looked up to the wizard who was thinking thoughtfully of something and looked down sadly.
Will I…… will I be able to let these people… who have become my closest friends on Middle Earth go into their doom… even though I knew what lies ahead of them… Gandalf say not to reveal or change the course… yet… my heart hurts…
Journal Date: November 10th 3001 the 3rd Age
Hello. Well… this is like my one hundredth and one entry. It's been along time since I last put in my entry. Where am I? Well, let you guess. It's white and grey, hundreds of miles (which I do not know exactly how much) and it's FRIGGING COLD!
Yes. If you guess it's the Misty Mountains, you are absolutely correct! (Insert drawing of Misty Mountain from top view) Snow, Snow and MORE SNOW!
It's been nearly a month now since Gandalf and I traveled through this cold mountain to Minas Tirith. Aurin could not bare the cold and both of us sitting on him, so we ended up walking on the mountains til now. No offence, but Misty Mountain though beautiful, I can't stand the cold even with my fats providing me with warmth. (Insert Me shivering in my cloak sketch)
Ever since that dream I had of my parents, I am worried… what's going on now in my world… have time fly? Am I missed by those who knew me? Does anyone know I am actually in LOTR itself?!
And that girl… is she a friend or an enemy? How did she know of the cursed book and what does she means of the rightful place on Middle Earth? Does it mean that the book is with Sauron?! If that happens, it spells trouble…
What to do… I still have not told Gandalf of this matter… should I? He looks troubled enough to be bothered by mine further… I wish… Canthini and Betsy can suddenly pop up in front of me and give me solutions, but its unrealistic. But hey! I am in a BLOODY world of fiction, so who knows? It might come true. (Insert drawing of Canthini and Betsy)
I better stop now. Gandalf is calling me to have some bread and cheese for the night. If there's a Mcdonald here, I will definitely buy two upsized meals and eat them within seconds. Yeah... and I can introduce the world of fast food to Merry and Pippin, they would definitely like it.
I wonder… how Frodo and the three hobbits are… I hope he's doing well in the Shire…
Journal Date: November 12th 3001 the 3rd Age
Hey again. We managed to travel finish half of the mountains, as said by Gandalf. YESH!!!
Gandalf and I chatted much during the hike. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin, his side of Bilbo's story, the history of Pipeweed and more about my world.
Do you know that Gandalf actually kept a rather huge sword within his cloak? Just happened to see it when he was cleaning it. I wonder how he kept it and still managed to move so freely.
No weird dreams yet… and freaky meetings with the girl (insert drawing of small girl). I suddenly feel as though I am being hounded by a child ghost… scary thought.
Okay. We have to travel again. So I stop here for now.
Oh yes, the night skies on Middle Earth are definitely breathtaking. Managed to take a picture with my handphone. I hope I can show it to Frodo when we meet each other again soon.
Craving for some meat… (Insert drawing of roast chicken)
Journal Date: November 30th 3001 the 3rd Age
Sorry for the late update. We have been traveling really hard now. Luckily so far, we had not met any dangers during the journey but walking continuously for weeks and having little breaks and sleeps is having a toll on me. I wonder where Gandalf got all his strength.
Oh yes. Guess what? Gandalf some how managed to cure my eyesight just a few days ago.
"Too striking, your spectacles, as you call this device," he said. Now I am trying to get used to not having my specs on my eyes.
I learned much of the history of the Last Great Battle, and the history of elves from Gandalf, but unfortunately I forget most of them, since Gandalf said them when we are bowling through the half knee height snow and I cannot write them in you. I also learned of the Gods and the stars, in fact the constellations in this world is exactly the same as in my world. Just that the name is different. Cool!
I think I forget most of my Chinese now… perhaps I should start writing my journal in Chinese… hmm…
Journal Date: December 8th 3001 the 3rd Age
WE ARE FINALLY OUT OF MISTY MOUNTAINS!!! YES! (insert drawing of chibi me kicking a small scaled Misty Mountain)
Now we are full steamed ahead to Minas Tirith on Aurin again! No more frost biting winters!
Gandalf said he wishes to stop at Rohan to stay for a night at Edoras. His friend, King Theoden will accommodate the both of us then and we need to restock our provisions. So which means I can get to meet Eowyn there, the White lady of Rohan. Can't wait. But since I am like 17 years before the Fellowship… she should still be around the same age as me. Wait. That means when 3018 comes, I will be like… 34 years old?!?!?! WHAT THE HECK! Ok, switch topic.
I have been dreaming on many things lately. Weird random stuffs unlike those 'visions' I saw of my family. Like one time, my world is attacked by meteorites, and the other, of me being chased by zombies… Its been a long time since I last dreamt such stuff…. Is that a good sign? I do not know… (Insert random doodles)
Or perhaps my mind is too stressed up. Yeah, that's right. I really need a nice soft bed to sleep in… yeah… (Insert bed with me sleeping on it)
"Jacqueline, wake up..."
"Let me sleep… I just come to the good part… Chicken rice… laksa…. Yum….."
"… don't test my patience child. WAKE UP!" I could hear Gandalf saying impatiently. I groaned and turned to the other side of my sleeping position. "Please Gandalf… I am really dead tired… I have only managed to get a shut eye today…"
Suddenly I was drenched in cold water and I jumped out from my position in shock, fully awake. Aurin neighed, as though he was giggling at me whereas Gandalf stifled a laugh, his staff in his hand was glowing.
"GANDALF THE GREY!cough YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT TO ME!" I cried in anger as I tried to dry myself. Gandalf gave an apologetic smile, which I did not know if he was sincere.
"Well Child, it's just that we need to make haste to Edoras before the sun sets, and there you can rest to your heart's content. Besides, you smell quite… how you say it, stink." Gandalf grinned before signaling Aurin to come closer and stroke his mane.
I rolled my eyes, my anger dissipated quite easily. "Same to you dear wizard. Then you better get the two of us to Edoras as soon as possible, if not both our combined smells shall cause worse damages than the fumes of Mordor on Middle Earth," I said sarcastically, before wrapping up my sleeping mat and loading it up on Aurin.
Gandalf lifted his hand and smelled his cloak, and grimaced. "Indeed. Shall we my lady?"
I sighed and pull myself up the horse with much effort. After sitting on Aurin's back, Gandalf followed suit and held his reins.
"To Rohan, my dear wizard! And with great haste for if not, I will kill you with my both hands for drenching me and disturbing my sleep."
"With a great neigh and a hearty laugh from the wizard, we sped in full speed to Rohan, the land of the horsemen.