Fayre woke up slowly and sat up, clutching her head. Usually her magic didn't take so much from her – she had never fainted before. Then she noticed the three figures in the clearing.
She had never seen them before; she knew all the Elves of Mirkwood, and these newcomers were not elves. They were human, all three of them, young and female and dressed in strange clothes. And asleep.
The one closest to Fayre had dark brown hair, and skin that was a shade lighter. She was dressed in strange blue pants and a sleeveless dark red top, her hair tied back. Fayre touched her shoulder gently, but she didn't wake.
Fayre moved to the next, an olive-skinned girl with dark red hair, dressed in drab grey clothes. Her skin was covered with dust and soot, but she too didn't wake.
The last one was a pale girl with shiny black hair. She wore a dust-streaked shirt and a black skirt, and she had a burn mark on her palm.
Fayre returned to where her spell book was lying on the grass. Save three unfortunates from doom – These three must be those that she had saved, but she hadn't expected them to end up here!
I have to send them back. Fayre didn't want to imagine what her father would say to her, if he discovered that she'd used her magic like this. She flipped through the pages frantically, hoping to find a reversal spell. She came across the page after the spell she had used, and began to read.
The spell written on the other page
Cannot be reversed, cannot be changed,
From the places they lived, they are gone,
This world is now their only home.
Their only home... Fayre looked at the faces of the three unconscious girls in the they were stuck here, then.
She glanced up at the sky. Night was beginning to fall, and the girls showed no signs of waking. Fayre did not relish the idea of trying to drag them through the forest at night, and she didn't dare leave them alone, unprotected. She sighed and curled up, using her spell book as a pillow, and waited for morning.
When morning arrived, the girls began to stir. Fayre was already awake, hungry and impatient to get back to her home. Who knows what Father is doing, she thought worriedly.
The red-headed one was the first to wake. She opened her eyes quickly, then sat up and saw Fayre. "What – where am I?" she asked harshly, before noticing the other two girls that were beginning to wake. She got to her feet and glared at Fayre. "Where am I and who are you?"
The other two were awake now as well, both staring around the clearing in shock. Fayre made calming motions with her hands. "Shh, calm down, all of you. You're safe." She tried to smile in a comforting manner.
They are stared at her.
"My name is Fayre, of Mirkwood." She gestured to the trees surrounding them. "This is Mirkwood, the forest where I live. If you come with me, I can take you to a place where we can talk further."
The red-headed one frowned. "Well, Fayre, I'd much prefer to return to my family."
Fayre winced internally. Sometime soon she would have to tell them, but not yet. "We can discuss that later. What are your names?"
"I'm Saige." The pale, black-haired girl spoke for the first time.
"Kadira." The red-head said it like a challenge.
"Layla." Her eyes flickered around, searching the woods nervously.
"Come on, then. It's less than an hour's walk." Fayre waved a hand and the ward around the clearing vanished. She took a moment to get her bearings, before heading for home, gesturing for the others to follow.
"So, where in Panem is this Mirkwood?" Kadira asked, as they were walking through the woods, "I've never heard of it before."
"Panem?" Saige said curiously, "Where's that?"
Kadira looked surprised, "Well, it's... it's..." she frowned, "I live in Panem, District Twelve. Why, where are you from?"
"Phoenix, United States of America," Layla interjected, "I've never heard of Panem, either. Or Mirkwood."
"Oh, America!" said Saige in a relieved tone, "I know where that is, I'm from England, just across the ocean." Saige and Layla exchanged grins.
Fayre didn't look at them. "I've never heard of Panem... or America, or England." She took a deep breath. "This is Mirkwood, in Middle earth. I've seen the maps of all the places where people live, and none of those exist."
"What? How can where we live just disappear?" Layla looked stunned.
"It's not that it disappeared, really – rather that it never existed," Fayre turned to face the three girls, "It's because I cast a spell – it was an accident, I swear – I didn't think it would bring you here, I just thought it would protect people – but then you appeared – and I don't know how to get you back – and –"
"You brought us here?" Kadira scoffed, "With magic?"
Saige seemed surprised at Kadira's scepticism, but Fayre continued before she could say anything. "I think you're from another world. Each of you. Three different people from three different worlds."
Stunned silence greeted this announcement.
"You said – you don't know how to get us back?" asked Layla softly.
"No." Fayre twisted her hands together nervously. "Can any of you remember what happened before you came here?"
Layla bit her lip, "There were... people, I didn't know them, but then they tried to attack me..." her voice trailed off.
"Bombs." Kadira whispered, remembering the panicked crowds. "They were dropping bombs on District Twelve. I was stuck..."
"Death Eaters, everywhere, and my sister was there, and then," Saige looked down at the burn mark on her palm, "Then he broke my wand."
"So we... we died, then? All three of us?" Layla looked at Fayre questioningly.
Fayre nodded slowly, "I think that, instead of dying in your worlds, you were transported here. But if there's any way at all to send you back, I'll do it."
"Would it work?" Saige considered Fayre, "I mean, could you do it by yourself?"
"Perhaps," she said, "But the best idea would be to go to Rivendell, where Lord Elrond is. He may be able to help us more." And maybe I'll show Father that I'm as capable as Legolas.
The other three girls nodded, and they continued on to the palace of Mirkwood.
When they reached the palace, it was almost noon. Fayre organized rooms for the other three, then went to see her father.
"Father," she said politely, curtsying, "I must go to Rivendell at once!"
"Why, daughter?" her father asked.
Fayre told him the whole story; her magic use and the appearance of the three girls. "I have a duty to do, Father. Would you have me abandon them?"
"Of course not, daughter. I will organise guards and horses for your journey."
"The guards will not be necessary."
"Can the others take care of themselves?" her father asked.
Fayre shifted awkwardly. "Well, maybe the guards can come too."
The next day, the four set out for Rivendell, with a company of guards to escort them. The three girls had changed into more suitable clothing, borrowed from Fayre – their old clothes attracted too much attention. They were all wearing dresses, finely embroidered but tough as well.
"How long until we reach Rivendell?" Fayre asked the Captain of the guards.
"Ten days, if the weather stays clear," he answered, "We should reach Rivendell only a few days after your brother."
The weather stayed fine, and on the afternoon of the tenth day from Mirkwood, they reached Rivendell.
"What brings you here, daughter of Mirkwood?" asked Elrond, as the four companions were ushered into his hall.
"We need your help," Fayre said, gesturing at the three girls. "These three have been brought here from – from a distant place, and they must be returned there."
Elrond nodded wisely. "We will debate the matter in council tomorrow. You are invited, but until then, rest."
Fayre and the three girls were escorted to rooms that had been prepared for them.
Where's Legolas? Fayre wondered, but by then it was dark, so she resolved to find him the next day.
A/N: Thanks for reading! There might be a bit of a break over New Year's, but THERE WILL BE MORE CHAPTERS SOON!