Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien does. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.

Inspiration Theme Music for Fanfic: Warbringers: Jaina – "Daughter of the Sea" – Peter Hollens cover – World of Warcraft.

Warning! This fanfic moved up in rank from Rated T to Rated M for sensual content.

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Welcome to the first part in my In the Shadows Series, part of my In-Between Series and my Long Series. :)

I know. Four fanfiction stories at once, all within my Long Series. It's a challenge, I know. But if it makes sense, then all is well. :)

My In-Between series happens right after the final part in my Origin Series. But how this happens is coming up in my Origin Series. So, if you're confused, that's all right. My head's spinning with keeping up with the events in my Long Series. It should be fun! :)

That said, enjoy! :)

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The storm was fierce that day. As the rain pounded on the ship, the Persephone, Braxton Leeway didn't rest. Even though he could shapeshift into a full-grown Saint Bernard, Braxton chose this time to be human, with curly dark brown hair, pale skin, and rugged features. He wore blue naval officer outfit, giving him the status of being captain. The cloak he wore was navy blue, complete with its own hood.

Now, Braxton was battling another vessel, an enemy vessel coming from the distant shores of the water world Sicillina! It was a new world that had opened up in the Portal Realm, a new world created by the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea, with Aslan's help to bring it to life. Sicillina was the world that Braxton wanted to bargain for a few things to help the poor folks living at the First Base, before the fire destroyed the city.

Braxton still blamed Seraphina, a woman with curly brunette hair, pale skin, and donned in a light blue dress the last time he saw her, before the fire started. She went mad and wound up becoming a Sith Lord named Darth Ordar. For a moment, Braxton thought he and his friends lost Seraphina, that she wouldn't return to the Light Side of the Force.

To Braxton's surprise, Seraphina returned but Darth Ordar was someone Braxton didn't want to cross paths with.

He wondered what happened to Seraphina, after he left to go out to sea and whether or not she had survived the downfall of the First Base. Seraphina wasn't the only one who caused trouble, for the hobbit Frodo Baggins and his wife Bethany were responsible for the destruction of Patton and Cyndera's armory. Patton and Cyndera had the best weapons and armor, with racks upon racks of weapons and armor for the citizens to use.

They had everything! Braxton appreciated their armory. He loved going in there to see what new weapons, armor, and yes, even tools, were built, crafted, and made by the couple. A shame it had to be destroyed, before Darth Ordar came and destroyed the city after Frodo and Bethany destroyed the armory.

"Braxton!" the chief commanding officer cried, pointing out something in the distance, "Look! The fleet is retreating!"

"What?" Braxton's mind returned to the present. They were in a fierce thunderstorm. It seemed like the enemy ship was moving away. Something caused this. Braxton looked ahead, checking to make sure nothing happened to them.

No. Instead he heard a voice. A siren's voice. His crew was entranced by the mysterious voice. All except Braxton, who remembered his Dalmatian-Shapeshifter wife Jane Leeway. Jane had become Seraphina's best friend, since their time at the First Base happened and before its destruction. One of her true friends, as it were. Seraphina was a hassle, but this whole mess with Darth Ordar really shook everyone up. Who was he? And why did Seraphina have these two sides? Was it some mystery?

No! Braxton's mind returned to the present. He had to stop this ship, before it crashed into the rocks. Braxton ran over to his coxswain, taking the helm in an attempt to avoid the sharp rocks heading their way.

"Men, women, brace yourselves!" Braxton cried, as the ship plunged into the sharp rocks. Braxton was thrown overboard, sliding out of the ship, over the ship's railing. He fell over, tossed into the sea like a cork.

He blacked out, not knowing what had happened to him.

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"Braxton, awaken!" a siren's voice, the same feminine voice, drove Braxton to awaken. Braxton was in the sea, searching for the voice that guided him. There was a mermaid with long, flowing silvery hair and donned in a silver bra and a silver tail. She had pale skin and looked absolutely stunning. The way she approached him, kissing him on the lips, drew oxygen back into his body.

Braxton didn't know what was happened next. All he knew was the mermaid guided him to shore, bringing him to an island, complete with a white sandy beach. He spit out water, before collapsing on the sand, falling asleep and thinking of nothing else except his wife and a way home.

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Thanks for reading. :)