Okey dokey, a few things need to be explained here. I mentioned a certain Rhov (or Rhovanion Rilien) and he is the hero of my story "Mischief in Middle Earth" so yes, you will have to read to understand several things that may confuse you. Secondly, all blonds beware, blond jokes will be used in this story from time to time so if you don't have a good sense of humor do not and I repeat do NOT read this story. I think that's all...I will be answering any questions that come up in the reviews on my next chapter (won't be out for a while). Have fun! REVIEW!
"Quit it!" I yelled, my voice slightly muffled in a heap of damp leaves. The poking stopped but several voices began to argue in a strange language I'd never heard before. Pushing myself up from the ground, I rubbed my forehead, telling myself it was all just a very bad dream. Leaves and dirt fell from my hair and head making me feel very grimy.
Once my head cleared and I quit being dizzy, I was able to take in everything around me. I was in a dark, dank, very damp forest and… Who the heck were they? Oh, no! Hippies! They all had long blond hair, wore weird clothing, and spoke strangely. One of them noticed me watching and lifted his hand, which shut the others up.
"Who are you? You are no elf, that I can see, but you do not look like the sons of men." The blondest, bluest eyed one said. Gag, I hate blond hair.
"I'm not saying anything to a bunch of hippies high on marijuana thank you very much. My mother always said to not talk to strangers and in this case I most certainly will heed her advice." My crazy brother must've sent me back to the 60's; he knows I hate that period of history.
All the wierdos blinked in unison and turned toward each other, whispering in their weird language (if it was a language). The really blond one stared at me, almost in disbelief.
"Do you not know where you are and who you are talking to?"
"Don't know don't care, buster." I sniffed, feeling slightly smug that I'd thrown these idiots off.
"I am the Prince of all Mirkwood and these are my followers. We have been very merciful in not killing you the moment we spotted your body lying in the leaves! We shall take you to the palace I think, this is now out of my hands."
"Get a life, stupid. Not only can you NOT fool me with that stupid 'I'm the Prince of Mirkwood' baloney but may I add you are ABSOLUTELY CRAZY!" The last bit came out as a scream. "I AM ABSOLUTELY CRAZY! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING; YOU ARE JUST IN MY DREAM! I'M DREAMING, JUST DREAMING!"
Ok, so I got a little hysterical, but you have to understand I had just been told by my little brother that he hated me (for reasons unknown), got sent back to somewhere I didn't know, and had been told that I was talking to the Prince of Mirkwood. Now how many people do you know that could have stayed completely calm through that whole episode. Not many I'll bet.
They all stared at me while I began screaming my head off until one of them at the presence of mind to knock me over the head with what looked like the haft of a knife. I went out like a light.
Legolas stared down at the prone form with eyes as wide as serving platters. Never before had he heard such an earsplitting racket as this human had emitted. Was it some kind of ancient language or was it a signal to its fellows? Whatever it had done, they could not leave it here to give information to its companions (if that was its purpose) or killed by some wild animal, as Legolas had never left a helpless anything to its fate.
With some discussion between himself and Hanath (a trusted friend), the other elves picked up the girl to carry her to the Elvenking's palace. She was lighter than they thought and Hanath carried her easily enough. The whole company was silent during the trip all thinking of where such a human could come from, where they let their woman dress in pants no less.
When they arrived at the gate to the Elvenking's palace, Legolas sent word to his father to come immediately to the dungeons. Meanwhile, the elves deposited the girl in a relatively comfortable cell and left as quickly as they could.
Thranduil and Legolas watched the girl while the young elf explained to his father. The Elvenking held up his hand when Legolas mentioned the foreign word "marijuana".
"Do you know what she meant by it?"
"I'm afraid I don't. But she wasn't making any sense at all so it was very hard to follow her."
"I see…"
"Should you speak to her after she wakes up?"
"Nay, we will let her stay down here for several days. Tell the guards to feed her well but to stay away. Who knows, she may be some witch of the Haradrim, you saw how dark her skin was."
"Very well, Father." Both exited, neither knowing that this strange human would make just as much trouble as Rhovanion Rilien had. And that's saying a lot.
I woke up to the darkness that usually is associated with dungeons, feeling hungry, sick, and confused all at the same time. Since hippies wouldn't put a person in a dungeon, I decided to assume I was in the Middle Ages. Not a bad place to be but I could think of better spots.
"Here is your food, human."
"Gee thanks, you're too kind." I said, my voice dripping sarcasm. The dude, whoever he was, didn't see to understand it and bowed, seemingly surprised. Great, they didn't know what sarcasm was.
"You are most welcome, human."
"Ok, buster, first I am not just a human, I'm a girl. Second, why the heck am I in here?" I said, waving my hand around the dungeon.
"We are in dangerous times and strangers are not welcome." He replied, almost sorrowfully. "But perhaps if you tell the council who you are, perhaps they will let you stay as a guest."
"Well wouldn't I just love to stay here all my life? Wherever here is."
He blinked and stared at me for a moment. "Do you not know where you are?" When I shook my head, he sighed and sat down on a bench across from my dungeon door. "Mirkwood is to the East of the Misty Mountains and West of the Long Lake. Gondor and Rohan are to the South. We are part of the Wilderland of Middle Earth."
"Middle Earth?"
He blinked again. I swear he was beginning to look like an owl. "Middle Earth is East of the land of the Valar. Lady, do you not know where you are?" he asked again.
Well, duh. Did I look like I knew where I was? "Are you sure that the true name of your continent isn't Australia or something?"
"I do not understand what you mean by continent." He said, his face becoming a perfect picture of confusion.
Deciding to take a different tack, "Never mind. What year is it?"
"2956 of the Third Age."
My mouth flapped open like fish and I couldn't breathe for a couple seconds. 2956 of the Third Age? The guy jumped up and pressed close to the bars. "Are you alright?"
"No." I squeaked. "I can't… breathe…" Panic enveloped his face and tore off down the hall, probably to get the psychiatrist or something. My breath came out in short gasps as I realized that yes, my brother probably did mean to send me back to the really Dark Ages or something but must've made a mistake in his calculations and I'd ended up in a different world! With that thought, I completely broke down as I realized not only could I not get back home but also there was no way for my brother (if he had change of heart of course) to get me back!
It hit me with stunning pain that I would never see Mom and Dad, my family, my friends, my home, nothing ever again. I sat down with a thump and buried my face in my knees as I completely lost control and began wailing.
Sure you can talk about 'Get a grip, girl' or 'What a crybaby' but you try to fathom being totally cut off from everyone and everything you've ever known. You wouldn't be laughing then I'll bet. Voices began outside my cell door but I was in no mood to speak and just continued on wailing.
"What did you say to her, Hanath?" Thranduil asked, aghast at the violent emotions emanating from the distraught girl.
"She was asking me questions about Middle Earth and then asked me what the year was. I told her and she began to gasp for breath; that's when I ran to fetch you."
Lady Lindwen, who had accompanied her father and brother down to the dungeons, quietly began to cry at her fellow female's distress. She tugged at her father's robes until he turned around.
"What is it, Lind."
"May I take her out of that dungeon and put her in my room. I promise to be careful and not let her out but she is so distressed that I think being away from here would cheer up." Lindwen begged.
Thranduil stood, undecided for a moment until Legolas spoke. "Perhaps my sister is right, Father. Maybe the girl lost her memory and can remember nothing."
"Very well, I will consent to having the girl moved but you must be very careful Lindwen. A guard will be posted outside your bedroom so that the girl cannot escape if that is her plan." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, a sign he was stressed. "The council will be postponed until she has some knowledge of herself and where she is."
Lindwen smiled and raced off to her room to prepare it for its second occupant. Legolas sent Hanath for two more elves to help him with the girl. When alone, he opened the cell door and crept noiselessly over to the sobbing girl (her wailing had ended sometime ago) and shook her slightly. She ignored him completely, clutching her knees to her chest for dear life.
"We are moving elsewhere as my sister does not think it is appropriate for a young girl to be kept in a dungeon." The girl continued to sob. "What is your name?" Nothing. "Ah, Hanath. I cannot get a word of the girl but we'll have to move her anyway."
Hanath picked the girl up and followed Legolas to Lindwen's room followed by the two elves that would be guarding the Princesse's room for the duration of the girl's stay.
"Poor dear." Lindwen clucked sympathetically and motioned for them to set the girl down in a large seat. "Have no fear, brother. Evil is not in her, this I can feel. Although," she sighed, "Rhov could tell better than I. How I do miss him."
Legolas bowed and motioned the others out of the room. Just before he close the door, he saw Lindwen sit down on a foot rest and stroke the girl's hand. There was no response.