Hi everyone this is my first story please review let me know what you think!
The night was cool and crisp, the kind of nights you only get in autumn or early spring. It was quiet as if nature itself was sleeping. Verity Woodward sighed, looking up at the moonlit sky; she had spent all evening in her garden. No vegetables or any plant of use grew there; it seemed no matter how hard she tried, she exterminated anything that wasn't a flower. Her garden was small, a quarter acre lot packed to the brim with nature. She still occasionally found room to fit a plant here or there when she got one on sale. Verity walked through her dark garden deciding tonight she'd sleep in her hammock outside. The hammock was flagged on all sides by hostas and moss. A large lilac shaded the area during the day, later in the season tulips, and hydrangeas would spring up making the area feel more alive. She knew her mother would frown on her sleeping outside, but she didn't care.
I could hear speaking, their tongue unfamiliar. It must be morning the brightness of the sun heated my face. I opened my eyes stretching, blinking in the bright light. Two glowing figures stood over me, I was not in my garden I was on the floor of what looked to be a type of palace?! They were still speaking unaware of my movement. It was a man and a woman, or the most angelic man and woman I've ever seen. They couldn't possibly be human. The man, wore blue robes, his blonde hair seemed to look white reflecting the glow from his skin. It was almost painful to look directly at him with how brightly he shined. The woman was tall wearing a dark green robe, her hair adorned in flowers. Most I could not identify. Her expression made me shudder, a fiery glare. I stopped observing the beings and tried to quietly crawl away from them, suddenly the flowing sound of them speaking stopped. I looked up terrified knowing I'd been caught. Are they going to kill me? Not like I'd have much of a fight they literally glow in the dark and are freakishly tall. The woman bent down beside me, her expression softer.
"Hén im gar- limb thel- an cin" [child I have much purpose for you]
She spoke the foreign tongue to me. I cleared my throat nervous "I uh don't understand where am I?" my voice cracked under my nervousness. The man sighed also taking it upon himself to squat next to my frame he rested a hand on my shoulder causing me to flinch and clamp my eyes shut.
"Have no fear child, we mean you no harm. I am Manwë, this is Yavanna"
I opened my eyes and looked up at him, squinting slightly at his light. He was gesturing to the woman, his eyes were soft.
"Yavanna has given you a gift, you will use it to …" he paused giving a glance to the woman "You will use it to free middle earth" he said finally.
I gulped "I don't understand what gift? What's middle earth? Where am I?" my words came out fast and frantic.
"Your realm you have a gift for nature, that is my gift here, darkness has clouded Middle Earth and my creation groans. The Ents sleep. Your heart is true Verity Woodward, I have chosen you-"
I interrupted her "what do you mean chosen me for what? Where am I… no offense, "
She smiled reassuringly "all will be revealed, we must make haste Olórin will be waiting for you. This gift I give you is great and powerful, you dare not use it with malicious intent. All of Middle Earth depends on you child"
"The white wizard approaches!"
"What would Saruman be doing in the woods?"
"Perhaps he knows the hobbits are here..."
"Do not let him speak! He will put a spell on us!"
"We must be quick!"
Gandalf led me through the forest I clung to his cloak my knuckles turning white. My memory is blurry on how I got here, who I am, or why; bits and pieces come to me. Gandalf found me and it was very easy to convince me to join him. I was so terrified every noise I heard made me flinch. It did not help the clothes that I wore were not meant for travel, my leggings and hoodie seemed to attract every vining plant and thistle. I'd have to stop every few paces and unstick plant material from the fabric. I wasn't wearing shoes; my feet were already raw from what we have walked. Gandalf has assured me I'd get boots soon. He's offered to carry me but I could not bear the embarrassment of needing to be carried by such an old man. Shouldn't I be carrying him around taking care of my elders? I know my name, how old I am the rest seems like a dream. I'm not sure if it'd even recognize my reflection. Gandalf has reassured me my memories would all come back eventually. I heard a war cry and stumbled back in time to see three men jumping to attack Gandalf. I hid behind Gandalf still clutching his cloak. I was trembling not sure how much longer I could stand without my knees giving out. I don't remember much of where I am from but I know there is not this much violence.
"Hello, my friends," Gandalf spoke warmly. It caused my knees to instantly stop shaking the peace in his voice calmed me; I however did not release his cloak and held firmly to it as my life depended on it.
"I have been expecting you, though I now wonder if I might have found you faster had I simply let you come to me." He paused I could feel him smiling underneath the cloak, friends? What kinds of friends attack you?
"Or perhaps not… you are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits!" his voice boomed
"Where are they you murderous traitor?" one of the men yelled. I gripped the cloak tighter, trying to hide deeper into it. Gandalf has been all I've known in this world even my memories don't feel real to me.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday," he answered carefully his voice held no anger that the other men held "they met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"
"Who are you?" another screamed
"It's Saruman!"
"Show yourself!"
Gandalf strode forward taking me reluctantly with him as I would not release my death grip on his cloak.
"It cannot be… you fell"
"Yes" Gandalf tensed under the cloak and answered gravely "Yes I fell. I fell and I fought. Up the endless stair I climbed, pursuing my enemy. On the highest peak we battled, from down in the darkest places of the world where time passes not, until at last I smote his ruin upon the mountain side"
I wonder if I also had died and that's how I happened upon this world.
"Forgive me Mithrandir, I mistook you for Saruman"
Am I dead? Is that why I cannot remember... No there was something else there was a woman a beautiful woman and she gave me a gift what was it?
"Come we have work to do, I would like for you to meet my companion she is sent by the Valar" suddenly Gandalf moved, making me in clear view of the men. How long had I zoned out? I yelped and jumped to hide behind him again
"It is alright Verity, these are my dear friends" he nodded towards the group. I eyed them trembling holding the cloak comically up to my face covering my entire body except my eyes. The man in the middle held out his hand, he had shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes, he was scruffy looking but not unkind.
"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn" he said reaching out for my hand. His voice was kind and gentle. Contrasting the harshness I had heard of it earlier. I reached out on hand releasing my grip on Gandalf's cloaking causing him to chuckle at my shy antics.
"This is Legolas Greenleaf of the woodland realm" he took a step back leading me towards the others by the hand. The one he gestured to was tall, almost in appearance to the man in her memories.
What was his name? The one with the gift?