jshaw0624: Thank you for the review :) Yes there will be a romance at some stage. Not too sure who I will put her with though. I'm debating Legolas or Faramir at this stage.

Chapter 4

'Legolas, she is unwell' Aragorn firmly called out, 'I will get some hot water and Sam could you make a hot tea with the herbs you made for Frodo.' Aragorn said walking briskly to what I assume is his pack. I looked away, not wanting to know what he was thinking. I wanted to sleep, yes that's what I wanted, I wanted sleep, I wanted the earth to pull me under so I never had to breathe again.

'Mia, I need to know where you are hurt,' Legolas had pulled me out of my wishful thinking. I sighed as he placed me on the ground and moved over to allow Aragorn room to examine me I suppose. Aragorn poured the hot water into the bowl and with gentle hands started washing my face with a cloth. I suddenly felt unusually calm and yet more awake and more tried. How was that even possible? I couldn't help but be a little intrigued with this strange group of people.

'I'm fine,' I replied shakily, trying to push Aragorn's hands away, Legolas noticed this and held my hands down.

'We are trying to help, stop fussing, unless you want me to tie you up again.'

I laughed, 'Considering that you will tie me up at some point again, your threat does not bother me.' Legolas and Aragorn both ignored my comment. I sighed, wishing I had my phone on me. I was tired of all this walking, and tired of being treated like some serial killer, 'Ok fine, I promise I won't do anything. Could you please stop treating me like I'm the one who started world war 2 because I wasn't even alive and I don't plan on starting a war. Look I don't know who you guys are or what you are doing and quite frankly I do not care. I just want… I want something I can't have.' What was it that I wanted? I didn't want to go home. I just wanted my brother but he is beyond my reach. 'Can you just tell me who you people are and where we are. I do not understand how I got here.' I finished in utter frustration.

No one said anything, though the smallest one started to say something but someone hushed him before he could say anything. I gave up, would someone please shoot me, I thought as I started internally panicking. I didn't make eye contact with Aragorn as he swiftly put something in a drink and held it to my lips,

'Drink, it should settle your stomach,' I closed my mouth tightly, phft more like kill me I thought. Then again that wouldn't be a bad thing.

'Listen and listen well, if I or anyone else wanted to kill you, believe me when I say you would be dead already. Stop being stubborn, daylight is still upon us and we must reach the snowy mountain before the week closes. We have a half day hike upon us,' I accepted Aragorn's drink.

He had been true to his word. I was still alive and this odd group had been looking after me. I decided that there is no harm in giving them my real name. I also hoped that by doing so I would also receive some answers about what this world really is. I looked him in the eye, 'My name is Winter.'

He smiled and gave me a hand up, ' It is nice to meet you Winter.' Soon we were walking again. The drink after but a little while had started to take effect and I was feeling a whole lot better. But my feet disagreed, I could feel a few blisters forming. Not surprised really, my school shoes were not cut out for a lovely hike, I thought to myself. But I had nothing else to ware.

'I'm Pippin and this is Merry,' startled I looked down and found the boys, no, Hobbits, walking next to me.

I smiled down at them, 'Nice to meet you.'

'Winter is a nice name, you're rather pretty did you know that? But your skirt is a funny colour and its short and you ware odd shoes,' Pippin exclaimed as Merry slapped him over the head.

I laughed lightly, 'Yes I suppose this skirt is a little odd, but it is a dress. My jumper at least somewhat goes with it. As for my shoes well they are just part of what I have to ware.' They both looked a little confused.

They didn't pester more on my outfit, but rather went on talking about their home to me, which I had asked them to in order to find out more about this world. It was clear that they missed it and their love for their home blew me away. I wished for a home I could be proud of. Don't get me wrong Australia is amazing, I love it, it is home. However the family I have scared me to no end. No correction, my dad scared me to no end. He was forceful, and rude, and he killed my brother. The one person whom I loved and felt safe around, gone, just like that.

I scolded myself, knowing that when I was alone I would mourn over my loss. Or maybe I wouldn't I was scared that once I start crying I would not be able to stop. I shut my brain of and continued listening to the two Hobbits next to me, yes they were a nice distraction. After a few hours I felt myself lagging behind. Legolas just continued to drag me along. My feet had entered a whole new world of pain, I grit my teeth and kept going with tears blinding me. I wished they would just leave me to my fate, but I was pretty unlucky.

Legolas must have felt my pace slow down for he turned and swiftly walked up to me. Without saying a word he swiftly picked me up threw me over his shoulder and kept walking. I protested for a while but I was too tried and my feet were killing me and I soon gave in. I thought I would try and pry some well needed information out of him. I had nothing else to do, so with a sigh I said in my sweetest voice, 'Can we please have a chat?' he was silent for a moment.

I felt him shifting me, soon I was standing up again I bit my lip trying to hold out from crying, he then picked me up again but this time bride like style, he walked on in silence, waiting for me to speak again. I blushed knowing what I really wanted to ask, and hoped he would answer,'Uh well, I was wondering why you and er the um others seem to hate me so much,' I looked down at my now freed hands.

I wondered if he had heard me, I was about to ask again but he stopped me, 'Look at me.' I really did not want to but he stayed silent, I slowly looked up into his crystal blue eyes, those eyes took my breath away, I almost forgot to breathe. He nodded, 'Heed my words, young one, trust will take time to build, but we do not hate you. These are dark times, we must be careful. If this were another Age, you would be most welcomed, but we have no idea where you are from, or why you are here. Hate no, not unless you give us reason to. Distrust yes, but more so we are being cautious.' He gave me a small smile before adding, 'Was there something else that plagues your young mind that you wish to discuss?'

'Apart from, what is happening and who you people really are and what you are running from, then no.'

'Over time you will learn who we are. I believe you know of the Shire, thanks to our Hobbit friends, what of elves do you know?'

Elves? I frowned, 'They are but a myth, they are not real.'

'I must sadly inform you that they are real. I am an Elf, Legolas of the Woodland Realm. Gimli is the dwarf, and Gandlaf is a wizard.'

If I had been walking I would have fallen over, 'No, no, that's crazy, this is crazy, and that type of stuff is not real. How is this even possible?' I felt my breathing become faster, I started panicking and they were scared of me, why? I was nothing but a human.

'All will be well mellon, sleep now, it has been a long day for us all, we are close to where Aragorn intends to camp.'

Sleep -was he serious? After telling me all this my mind wouldn't shut down, so sleep would be impossible. I couldn't believe this world really exists.

'Is this really happening. Or is this just happening in my head?' I asked. Legolas looked down at me for a moment.

He spent some time just watching me before asking, 'Would you rather this to be happing inside your head or outside your head. Once you have answered that question then you should have your answer. But I can assure you we are as real as you are. Now sleep little one.'

With that confusing answer a soft melody entered my mind. I looked up to see Legolas quietly singing to me. My eyes started to drop and I felt myself slowly drift off.

I woke up, and found myself on the ground with a blanket on me. I sat up and instantly Aragorn was by my side, pulling me up and out of sight. Had I missed something?

A cry of angry birds flew overhead, after a few more moments I was dragged out, 'What was that?' I asked, slightly out of breath,

'Spies of Saruman. Our passage is being watched we must move quickly, we have no time to spare. Our road leads up the snowy mountain.' I looked up and thought, oh for the love of all things good in this world don't make me climb a mountain of snow.

White, that was all I saw. Never in my life had I seen snow, at first I was over joyed and I really wanted to make a snowman. But unfortunately these guys were on some mission and paid little attention to my needs well more so my wants. Since the day Aragorn found me vomiting, he had kept a close eye on me making sure I drank water and ate. Tears would sting my eyes as I nibbled at my food, for someone as worthless and ugly as me I did not deserve food. I shivered hugging my body close to me as snow fell faster from the sky.

We had started to walk up this cold unforgiving mountain, I liked to think I get some bonus points for doing this trek in a dress. The Hobbits looked no better than I felt. I took comfort knowing I was not going through this on my own. Legolas seemed to glide across the snow, this made me jealous, but to his credit he stayed close to me making sure I wouldn't fall. Apparently they hadn't thought one of the Hobbits would fall, hah, I was over the moon that this time it was not me. I turned to the fallen Hobbit and held out one of my cold hands, he took my hand and I pulled him up. His other hand went straight to his neck.

His eyes became wide and his hand shook in mine, 'Boromir, give the ring to Frodo,' Aragorn called out in a commanding voice.

If Frodo hadn't looked so worried I would have laughed. Boromir walked up to Frodo with the ring dangling in front of him. I heard something, a weird voice; for that moment I could not help but stare at the perfect gold ring 'You shall pay the ultimate price for leaving. I will destroy you in this world that is indeed very much real.' I quickly let go of Frodo and walked away. What was happening to me, now I'm hearing voices, voices that threatened me no less.

Legolas placed a hand on my shoulder and pushed me out of view from the ring, Frodo soon had it covered up. Aragorn seemed to relax a bit more. We moved on, the steep climb was hurting my legs, my feet, and my brain. Yes my brain, I think I'm getting a brain freeze. All of a sudden I started freaking out at the possibility of frostbite.

My brother's voice echoed inside my head, telling me what to do if someone got frostbite. And how it was one thing we Australian's needed not worry about. That was for my year eight essay, he was getting frustrated, we had to share the computer, and he being in year 11 needed to do his work. So he helped me with mine to get it done faster. My heart ached for my older brother's hugs, teasing, advice, comfort and his weird sense of humour. Yes it is true part of me had died the day I walked into his room and saw his body. I would never forgive dad for going too far.

I did not think it were possible to become any colder but alas I was wrong. At this stage I was offered a cloak, by which I pulled on gladly. It offered me some warmth, but not enough, for me to stop shivering, 'There is a voice in the air,' Legolas said.

'Good and I thought I was the crazy one hearing voices and all, I guess I should be happy I'm not the only one,' I stuttered out, and received a glare from all but the wizard, who called out, claiming it was Saruman.

Before I knew what was happening a hard blanket of snow drowned us all. I lost the use of my arms and legs, they had finally reached a point where I could no longer feel them. I gaged on the snow as panic settled in and I full out started crying, perhaps it was out of happiness. I may finally be able to join my brother in another life. A light appeared above my head I felt fresh air slowly make its way into my lungs. I was pulled up coughing and splattering. But what terrified me the most was the lack of movement from my body, I couldn't help but let out a panicked whimper. I wish I had been left to die.