Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, only Missy.
Ya! im so glad someone is reading my story!
Bluelibellule13: Your vote for Aragorn has been noted. I know how you feel about the Legomance thing but I think with the triangle (or square I guess) it wont be like others. I also hope you like the Eomer parts, cause yeah you're right he aint romantic but he is still fun to play with.
Adalmina: Thank you my dear!
They reached an area with three possible routes and Gandalf suddenly stopped.
"I have no recollection of this place." That seemed enough reason for them to stop. Missy sat herself down next to Merry and Pippin, who were quietly conversing. Pippin was complaining about being hungry. She herself was examining her nails, and though she hadn't lost any of them she had chipped her center nail terribly when she was dragged across the rocks by the Watcher.
"So where are you boys from?" She asked trying desperately to take her mind off the dark dank mine she was in. She promised herself that she would never go into another mine as long as she lived.
"The Shire." Merry answered with a proud smile.
"I myself am from Buckland, Pippin here is my cousin he lives not to far from me as well." She gave them a small smile and then blushed deeply as she asked them her next question.
"I'm not trying to be rude but what are you?" Merry grinned and gestured to his giant hairy feet.
"We're hobbits. Don't be embarrassed Lady Artemis, not many big folk have heard of us." She bit her tongue when he called her Artemis and pressed on.
"So, is Gimli a hobbit?" She asked. She had heard Gimli call Legolas an elf and she thought she had heard something about dwarves but she had been too wrapped up in herself to listen to who was what.
"No, no, Gimli is a dwarf! We hobbits are more peaceful creatures." She glanced at Frodo who was walking past them, he gave her a small smile and she noticed a ring on a chain around his neck.
"That's pretty!" She said leaning forward to look at it. Frodo froze and every person seemed to tense and look her way though she didn't notice.
"My dad keeps his wedding ring on a chain, is that what it is?" The hobbit grabbed the ring in his tiny fist and shook his head, backing up slowly. She glanced around and then raised an eyebrow.
"What? What did I do?" Legolas rolled his eyes but said nothing, and Frodo moved to join Gandalf. Merry and Pippin shared a look but she could see they were hiding something from her. She immediately moved to where Aragorn was sitting.
"Why did I just get stared at like I wore red and purple together?" He ignored her confusing statement and gave her a soft pat on the knee.
"There are some things that you do not understand, and it would be best if it stayed that way." She hated how he had just talked to her like she was five.
"I'm twenty two, not three!" She hissed and crossed her arms in front of her chest, proving her statement wrong almost immediately. He sighed loudly, not knowing exactly what to do with her. He glanced around the group and then looked back into her doe green eyes.
"I am sorry, but I can not explain it better." She looked away. Gandalf announced the path they would be taking and everyone stood up, Missy got into place behind Merry instead of her usual spot near Aragorn. She was attempting to show him she was mad at him, ignoring boys always worked for her in the past. After another hour or so of walking she was regretting her shoe choice, even though they made her calves look amazing. She supposed in a normal situation she would have played the game she had her friends had gotten so good at. The three of them would go out to a bar and see how many guys they could get to buy them drinks and then ditch them. The bonus round was to go back to the guys they had ditched and see how many of them they could con into buying another drink. Missy was a champion at their game, and though there was no cosmos involved she could always play for attention.
"Are we there yet?" She asked softly to Merry. She didn't want to be mean to the hobbits, or Aragorn because they had been so nice to her. Legolas on the other hand deserved it, and she supposed she could throw Boromir in for good measure.
"No, my lady." He answered and she glanced at the back of Legolas' head. No, she would not play her game, she needed to look her best for that and at that moment she was far from it.
"Let me risk a little more light." Gandalf said from the front of their little caravan and suddenly the room was brighter and Missy could see the grand architecture that they were standing in.
"The dwarf city of Dwarrowdelf." The wizard told them. Missy glanced around to see everyone in awe, she herself had seen great building before and this was really nothing new. Her father had taken her to see the pyramids and ancient Aztec temples, just a lot of stone and squiggles if you ask her.
"No!" Gimli's shout broke them all out of their thoughts and they watched the armored dwarf run into a side chamber. Everyone followed and inside they found an actual tomb. Gimli was crying over what Missy thought was someone named Bawlin.
"Who is Bawlin?" She asked and Legolas turned to her sharply.
"Gimli's cousin." He hissed.
"Was he a rapper? What kind of a name is Bawlin?" The elf looked like he wanted to smack her.
"I assume it's along the same lines as Missy." He shot back at her and then moved towards Aragorn to tell him that they shouldn't linger there. Gandalf picked up a book and handed his hat and staff to Pippin. He began reading, something about drums, but Missy was paying more attention to her nails, annoyed that she would have to go get them filled again after just five days. Suddenly a loud crash cut through the air and all eyes landed on Pippin who had just knocked a skeleton head down a well. He looked sheepish but then the rest of the body crumpled and fell backwards, the chain and bucket going with it. The sound echoed through the walls of Moria, like a bullhorn signaling their presence. All was quite for a few moments before Gandalf slammed the book closed.
"Fool of Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity." Missy glared and was about to yell at Gandalf on Pippin's behalf when a drumming noise filled the air. Her heart beat quickened to match the beat and Frodo pulled his sword half way out of his sheath so they could all see it was blue.
"Orcs!" Someone said but Missy was starting to panic. Some new monster, something worse than the giant squid! Legolas pulled one of his short swords off his back and held it out to her.
"What's that for?" She asked and he stared at her like she was dumb.
"It is to protect yourself with, you stupid girl!" He grabbed her hand and closed it around the hilt, then he took off to help Aragorn and Boromir barricade the door. She gripped the sword with two hands, her entire body shaking as she did so. She stood behind the hobbits, all of whom had their blades drawn. Boromir had yelled something about a cave troll and these words caused her to step back. Trolls? He had to be joking. A force hit the door and she jumped instantly. Boromir had his sword and shield ready, Gimli stood tall on his cousin's tomb stone, and Aragorn and Legolas had bows and arrows ready. A hole was then visible in the door and the face Missy saw caused her to back up to the wall.
"What is that?" She whispered but no one was close to her to hear. The door broke and they came flooding in. The hobbits charged forward, but she was glued to her spot on the wall. It was only a matter of time before an orc got past everyone else and spotted her. She raised the sword a little higher and scooted across the wall.
"Stop, please!" The orc swung and the force that hit her blade sent it flying, practically back to Legolas. The monster grabbed her by her throat and lifted her off the ground. Missy kicked and pulled at the fingers tightening on her windpipe but the beast was far too strong. It dragged its nails down the front of her body, her shirt shredding as if his claws were made of razor blades. A blade suddenly swept across, chopping off the orc's head. Missy found her feet on the floor again but her knees gave out instantly. She did not know who had saved her but she had no time to think on that for another orc was running straight for her. She would not let fear get the best of her this time, no this time she got to her feet and ran. She was barley aware of the giant thing she was running beneath or the fact that Legolas was running up a chain that would have been impossible for any human.
"Aragorn!" She cried as she ran past the man. He stabbed the orc who was pursuing her and then continued his own battle. She hustled back to the stone slab and cowered behind it. She had dealt with more monsters in the past week then she had been able to dream up in her entire life, and all she wanted was for it to end. She didn't dream of adventure, all she dreamt of was clothing and accessories. She didn't want to face evil and conquer all she wanted to marry a handsome man and spend her days at the spa. Maybe open up her own boutique one day but not slay demons. It was quite, she realized. She stood slowly to see everyone crowded around Frodo, so she grabbed Legolas' sword off the ground and moved towards them.
"We must get to the bridge." Gandalf said and with that they were all running. Again she cursed her shoes, which made her slower than everyone else. Lucky for her it wasn't too long before they were surrounded. She would never know if it was intentional or not but the men were all back to back in a circle and she was in the dead center. A loud roar cut through the air and all the orcs and goblins began to flee.
"What new devilry is this?" Boromir asked and they all looked to see a dark corridor turning an orange reddish color.
"A Balrog." Gandalf confirmed their fears, well all but Missy's because she had never heard of a Balrog. Before she knew what was happening they were running again, despite her terrible shoes she was able to keep up with the hobbits because of her long legs, which meant they couldn't leave her behind even if Legolas should want to. They flew down stair case after stair case until one of them was broken. Legolas leapt across first and then held his hands out for Gandalf. The old man made it with a gentle ease. Boromir grabbed Merry and Pippin and then jumped the gape.
"Artemis!" Legolas called and held his hand out.
"I can jump that far!" She shrieked; her eyes wide as dinner plates. Aragorn grabbed her around her waist and chucked her before she knew what was happening. Her foot caught the very edge and she was sure she would die but Legolas grabbed her arms and pulled her roughly against him. He looked down at her seriously but before he could speak any words Pippin had grabbed her hand and pulled her behind the others. They were running again, across the narrowest bridge Missy had ever seen in her life. She thanked god for her years of cheerleading because she now had excellent balance. They were all across and running for the last stair case when the men in front of her slowed.
"What is he doing?" She asked as she looked back to see Gandalf standing on the bridge with his sword of and staff raised high. A giant bull made of fire was standing toe to toe with the wizard.
"How is that giant bull standing on that tiny bridge?" Missy asked and Legolas glared at her to keep her quite, though when he looked back the question seemed relevant. They watched as Gandalf slammed his staff down on the bridge and the stone gave way causing the mighty beast to plummet. Gandalf turned back to them with a smile but then the Balrog's whip snapped up and grabbed the wizard's ankle.
"Gandalf!" Frodo screamed but Boromir grabbed him before he could run back for the wizard. Missy looked over at Aragorn and Legolas, waiting for one of them to rush over and save him. No one moved, and it was something that took her off guard. No one was going to help him? He seemed to be the rock of their little group and he was the one who had promised to get her home. She didn't know where her sudden courage came from but she began moving back towards the bridge, that was until an arm wrapped around her waist.
"We can't do nothing!" She tried to reason with whomever had grabbed her, but before he could answer the wizard whispered something that they heard even from so far away.
"Fly you fools." Then he was gone. Frodo screamed out and Missy felt her world drop out from under her. What if he was the only one who could get her home? The strong arm that held her picked her up and began running. Her eyes stayed glued to the bridge though, and it was only when she could no longer see it that she looked up at elf. He didn't seem as angry as he usually did when he was near her. His face held such grief and confusion that she almost wanted to hug him. Sunlight blinded her as they emerged back into the outdoors. Legolas placed her on the ground and she took a single step before crumpling to the ground.
"I'll never get home." The words slipped softly from her lips as began to cry. She would be stuck in a world with monsters and tiny, big footed people. She would never see her friends again, or her mother, or Troy.
"Get them up." Aragorn demanded. She looked down at herself and then blushed deeply as she realized her shirt had been shredded down the front, leaving her stomach and strapless bra visible to the world. Normally showing off her body didn't bother her but in that place, she didn't know what kind of people she would meet. She certainly didn't want the Fellowship to see her like that. She was also bleeding. The orc had left long gashes down her abdomen but thankfully not too deep. She used her hands to cover herself as Aragorn helped Sam up and then looked to her.
"Artemis, on your feet." He said softly. She did as was told and he noticed for the first time that her shirt was ruined. He had nothing with him to give her and he glanced around at the others.
"Frodo!" He called when he noticed the hobbit walking away from them. His search for a shirt had quickly been replaced in his mind. Frodo turned around and a single tear fell down his face, Gandalf had meant so much to the little hobbit. He had almost lost hope when he realized he would not have him there.
"Come, let us get moving." Missy moved towards a large rock, then she removed her right shoe and began slamming the heel against its surface. Boromir came over to her and asked her what she was doing.
"The heels make it harder to walk… I can replace them when I get home." Her voice carried a hint of denial, and he knew she was aware that the odds of her getting home had just decreased immensely. Where ever she was from, he was sure only Gandalf would have been able to find it and see her safely there. He grabbed the shoe from her tiny hand and hit it against the rock once. The heel went flying and she looked up at him teary eyed.
"Thank you, can you do this one?" She held out her other shoe and again he knocked the heel off in one blow. She slid on the shoes, which were now flats, and then she began walking towards the others. She was almost numb with fear, her hands still gripping what was left of her shirt to cover herself. She had to believe her father would find her, he would send out search parties and have the police on it. The only problem was, when she was being attacked by that orc she had played with the idea that she wasn't in her own time, or her own world. Maybe this was hell. Maybe she was being punished for something.
"Lady Artemis, this is for you… Legolas was the only one who had a spare tunic." Aragorn said holding out the green colored shirt for her. She gave him a small smile and pulled it over her head, it was far too big but at least it did not have a gash in the middle. She looked up at Aragorn and then threw her arms around him.
"You're gratitude is not necessary my lady." Aragorn said as he gave her an awkward pat on the back.
"You're my own personal hero Aragorn, a regular knight in shining armor." She finally let him go and then resumed her fast paced jog so she could catch up to the hobbits, the only ones she was faster than. Aragorn stood for a moment watching her.
"Gandalf… what am I suppose to do with her?" He asked softly, wishing the old man was still there so he could tell him. Maybe she would be willing to stay with the elves of Lorien, that was, if they would be willing to take her. He had his doubts.