Finding Home

Title: Finding Home
By: thegraybluebird
Author's Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkein's characters (but I wish I did in some cases *wink*), but only my own and this story.



CHAPTER 2

As Chayton began to wake, her mind strayed from those thoughts of a dream slipping away to those of pain and confusion. Her eyes fluttered open, but her vision was still blurry. She rubbed her eyes gently until they came into focus. She shreiked, as a man with long, brownish hair hovered over her, watching her. Chayton thrusted her hands up, whacking the man in the nose. He let out a grunt as he held his hands over his nose and fell backward.

Chayton scrambled backward and climbed to her feet. Her legs and arms did not hurt as much, but the throbbing pain on the back of her wrist caused her to halt her actions for a moment.

She stared at him and raised her fist again, letting her hurting right hand lay at her side. "What do you want?! Who are you?!"

"That's a nice way to treat someone who had been watching over you for the past day or two," The man chuckled heartilly, rubbing the blood away that dripped from his nose.

"Don't you dare laugh at me. I did not ask you to take care of me, you know," Chayton said, frowning.

The man took a step forward, and Chayton recoiled. "I will not harm you, mellon nin."

"I am not your "melon lin" or whatever you said! How do I know you won't harm me?" she asked.

The tall and slightly muscular man raised his hands at Chayton. "If I was going to harm you, don't you think I would've already done so, Chayton?"

"How did you know my name?" she asked, worried.

The man pulled a small wallet from his pocket and flashed the picture of Chayton inside. "Strange thing to carry yourself in this...thing," he said.

"Give me that!" Chayton swiped her wallet from the man and put it in her back pocket. She hardly ever carried her purse anywhere. "What kind of a freak doesn't know what a wallet is!!"

The man looked at her, bemused.

"It's got my identification and everything in it," Chayton said. "Don't you have a wallet?"

The man had an estranged looks upon his face. "Where are you from?"

"God, you want to know my bra size too?" Chayton scoffed and crossed her arms.

The man had a questionable look upon his face. This stranger didn't seem dangerous at the moment, so Chayton lowered her defense somewhat, and took a better look at the man. He wore dark leggings, a shirt, and an overcoat. A necklace of an angel hung around his neck. His eyes seemed gentle, but also fierce and determined.

Chayton rubbed her eyebrows and sighed deeply. "Look, I'm sorry. I don't know what got over me. What did you say your name was?"

"I am called Aragorn," he replied. He smiled at her and bowed.

"What the heck kind of name is that?" she replied, skeptical.

"Well, I would ask you what sort of name is Chayton?" Aragorn answered, crossing his arms. "But since it must be the name your father gave you as an infant, it suits you, as my name suits me."

"Whatever," Chayton said, sighing.

Chayton looked up at the treetops. She noticed that this was not the same forest she had been in the previous morning. The trees were giant and thick. The air smelled of nature's life--berries, moss. It was clean and crisp as a newly washed apple. It was not home anymore.

"Look, if you don't mind, I'd like to be getting home now. You wouldn't by chance know where the nearest bus station is, would you?" Chayton asked. Her light brown skin glistened under the sun.

Aragorn's eyebrow raised, for he found a strange interest in this girl. She was definately not from his world, for she acted and looked like none in Middle-Earth. He cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry, but there are no such bus stations. Here in Middle-Earth, we have only horses," Aragorn explained to her. "But for now, we must walk."

He grabbed at Chayton's arm, but she yanked it from his grasp. "Don't touch me! I'm not going anywhere with you!"

"I'm afraid you will be better off coming along with me, for there are worst dangers in these forests at night," he warned. His eyes lit up with truth.

Chayton's bottom lip quivered. "Danger? Like what, wolves?"

Aragorn's face had a stern expression on it. "Something like that, but much worst. Do you care to find out?"

Chayton blew out a defeating sigh and complied with Aragorn. She did not want to find out.

"Great, I'm with a guy named Aragorn in a place called "Middle-Earth." I didn't know there was a top, middle, and bottom Earth," Chayton mumbled to herself.

"What, my lady?" Aragorn asked.

"Nothing," she said, swatting her hand through the air. "Anyway, who are you calling 'Lady?""

"It is a form of respect toward women here. Does it bother you that I call you that?" Aragorn asked. His deep eyes seemed to smile at her.

Chayton had never been called a lady or a woman before, so perhaps this would be something fresh and new for her. Chayton answered. "It's fine."

Aragorn placed a hand on her shoulder. "Come Lady Chayton, we must make it back to the others at camp before nightfall, or they will worry."

"Others?" Chayton asked, worried once again.

Aragorn didn't give Chayton another chance to speak as he led her off through the forest. Once they had been walking for an hour, Aragorn let up their grueling pace somewhat. He could tell by Chayton's facial expression that total exhaustion was near. He offered her his arm once again, but she declined.

"I can hold my own," Chayton said.

"This I can see," Aragorn said, chuckling. "How is your other wrist?"

"It's fine; it'll be fine once I get home," Chayton said.

Aragorn pushed his hair behind one ear. "And where is home?"

"Wisconsin, in the United States. Have you ever been there?" Chayton asked stupidly. "Oh, yeah, of course not. I'm not even sure it exists anymore, now that I am here in "Middle-Earth.""

Chayton lowered her head away from Aragorn and bit her lip. Aragorn's concerned eyes followed their path ahead.

"Can I ask why you were in the western part of this forest, alone and unprotected?" Aragorn wondered. "It is still dangerous, even for one as courageous as you."

"I was just out jogging in the rain, and then I woke up here. I don't wish to discuss the details," Chayton replied humbly.

Aragorn placed his hand lightly on her shoulder, feeling her skin recoil from his touch. "I will be here, if ever you need to talk. Maybe soon you will learn to trust me."

Chayton's eyes watered, and she closed her eyes for a brief moment. In that instant, her foot became caught on an overgrown tree stump, lunging her forward. She knew she would hit thr ground, and that this time her wrist would probably be shattered. Chayton didn't want to open her eyes and see the blood. She felt sick in her stomach already.

A moment passed and Chayton felt as if she were secured by somthing or someone. Perhaps Aragorn had caught her, or perhaps she was unconcious again. Chayton opened one eye, to meet a most beautiful face. She thought that she was asleep, until he spoke to her.

His clear blue eyes were dotted with green, and his long, blond hair flowed freely just below his shoulders. His gentle face and his sweet, yet stern voice snapped Chayton back to reality.

"Are you alright, my lady?" he asked.

Chayton was mesmerized by his beauty, but still managed to speak. "Wow....I've never seen anyone with pointed ears before."

The man, (or whatever he was,) laughed justly, joined soon by the chuckling of Aragorn beside him.

"I am an elf. My name is Legolas Greenleaf, my lady," he said. His eyes sparkled.

Legolas helped Chayton to steady on her feet, and she looked at him from head to toe. "Thank you."

Legolas bowed slightly, smiling in her direction. "It was my pleasure, my lady."

Chayton was both confused and flabbergasted. "How did you-- Where did you---?"

"I was in search for Lord Aragorn, for he had not yet returned," Legolas replied.

"And Legolas has quite the timing, as it seems. Don't you think so, Lady Chayton?" Aragorn chuckled again, and clasped hands with the elf. "it's good to see you, mellon nin."

Chayton had her right wrist resting beside her stomach. She raised her left hand and shook her finger at the two of them.

"There's that funny word again--"melon-lin." What is that?" she asked.

"The words are "mellon nin," and they mean "my friend" in the elvish language," Legolas corrected.

Chayton unknowingly shook her head. "Uh-huh, okay."

Aragorn and Legolas exchanged glances and shrugged.

Aragorn remembered Chayton's exhaustion and led her on by the arm. "Come, my lady. We will make it to the camp now, so you may rest."

Chayton felt somewhat safer with Aragorn and Legolas, but would she feel the same around the others she was to meet?

Legolas trailed behind Chayton, admiring her natural beauty. He could sense something ailed her, but for now, he would only leave it at that, a thought. He watched the sun in the deep blue sky, and listened for any intruding force.