Chapter 1- Impoverished

A/N: This story came to mind when I was very young, around Grade 6, I suppose. Though I didn't live an impoverished life. I lived a downtrodden one, I often get bullied that I no longer want to go to school, but didn't have much of a choice. Writing this story was one of the biggest distractions I have back then, and has been rewritten several times, than I can no longer count how many pages I have wasted, and tore, until it developed to something into this story. LOL! Anyways, I hope you'll enjoy this one.

There will be some elements coming from 'The Book of Lost Tales' and 'The Silmarillion'.

Quick Summary/ Overview :

Rosamund Harris lived a hard life. Working on a job that barely pays enough to survive monthly, and a boss who often refused to give her salary. Bullied, downtrodden and trampled on her whole life, there wasn't a day she worked hard and tried to get herself out of her impoverished life. She just didn't expect it to end in death. So when Eru Iluvatar gave her another chance at life, she embraced it wholeheartedly, without knowing what was in store for her.

Oromë, the Valar of hunt had sent two emissaries to middle-earth; The Istaris Alatar and Pallando, tasked to weaken Sauron's defenses, as what Eru Iluvatar instructed. However, they have failed, and was destroyed by Sauron himself. The Only remaining Istari true to his call was Gandalf. However, Gandalf could not accomplish everything all by himself.

Knowing the situation full well, Eru Iluvatar tasked the Valars, especially Oromë, to care for the poor Rosamund, and edify her, so that she may one day be virtuous and worthy to fulfil her purpose, to aid the remaining free people of Middle-Earth in their fight against Sauron.

ONE

"Why is this only £800?" Rosamund complained, as she had not been paid for three months, and when the company decides to pay her, they only give her something so little as £800. Not enough to cover for the three months she worked and the overtime she took.

"Take it or leave is Ross..." the boss said nonchalantly, ignoring her complain.

Rosamund clenched her fist and hit the table in frustration and anger. "Listen here you... I did not work for three fucking months, and took overtime to finish the project, just to get paid peanuts!"

"If you ever do that again... I swear I'll fire you." the boss warned. "Anyways, it's not my problem...

"I don't fucking care! I couldn't care anymore, give me my money!" she demanded.

"There is no contract, I can pay you whatever the hell I want..." the boss chuckled.

"Fine... I'm leaving this pathetic place you call company!"

"If you ever leave, I will see to it that no one else will hire you!"

"What?"

"I will make sure that anyone who interviews you will want my letter of recommendation. And I will tell them you are dishonest, bad at work, late, uncreative insubordinate!"

"But that's not true! you can't do that!" she yelled.

"Watch me..."

"There is no contract..." she said, telling a loophole in her situation. "And..." she took the USB out which contained all her design works that she had created for the project, dropped it down the floor, and crushed it with her foot, hard. That it crumbled into pieces. "There goes your campaign..."

"What the fuck did you just do you bitch?!" the boss said, mortified with what she had just done.

"Destroyed 'your' project... good luck in finding a new designer... or even fulfilling the deadline." she said, with a triumphant smile. Though she'll starve all over again for another month, she didn't care, as long as she still had her pride and self-respect.

She quickly walked out of the boss' office to find other employees to be staring at her, and they all erupted in cheers, as she walked out of the floor, and into the elevator.

The good thing was, she was still able to cash the £800 cheque. However, she didn't know if it was enough to last her a month with meager funds.

Going around the aisles of countless food in a cheap grocery store, she couldn't help but think bitterly of what her life had become. She had been kicked out of the house at sixteen, and depended on herself then. Her father was an irresponsible man, though he earned a lot, it was mostly her mother who paid for everything they had, while he spent it on other women, and his 'other' child.

She clenched her fist, remembering how she ended up in a shelter at a young age. It was because of her father's mistress, or rather her father, that she was in this predicament in the first place.

As the checker scanned all the produce she had bought, she saw the ticker mover over the £50 mark. Which was her actual monthly budget.

She frantically started removing items from the conveyor belt, and was met by stares of the other people in the counter. She felt a little ashamed, and quickly walked out of the grocery store as soon she paid and her groceries were put into bags.

The skies had been grey as soon she stepped out of the store, she would have to hurry to the tube if she didn't want to get caught in the rain. With a sigh, she stepped into the pavement, and attempted to cross the street.

She planned to have a bowl of canned soup and some refried beans for dinner. And perhaps play her favourite computer game tonight, maybe just to forget her current situation. Her character, which is an archer, had already reached a high level, high enough to access some privilege inside the game.

"Miss wait! you forgot your change!" a woman from the grocery store called from behind her, taking her out of her reverie. She turned around to walk back towards her, and get the money she had forgotten to take. Only to find herself, flying a few metres away and landed in the pavement. A car had just hit her and she felt sudden abrupt pain. She saw everyone running towards her in a slow motion, before everything blacked out.

"Everything will be alright now, child..." a soft voice was heard in the darkness. Though it was dark, the voice made her feel unafraid, secure even.

She opened her eyes to find herself in a beautiful place, she didn't know how she could see the stars, and the galaxies up in the sky, as she stood in the grassy fields of golden flowers, but she could. She thought for a while, and believed that she must be in heaven.

"How is this possible? did I do enough good?" She thought herself, and tried to recall her deeds and misdeeds while she lived on earth.

"Child..." the gentle voice called her again, she turned around to find someone walking towards her, though that someone looked harmless, she felt afraid, causing her to fall to the ground and on her knees. She was in awe, as she watched Him draw closer towards her, and sat beside her. He was magnificent, and His beauty is indescribable. But there was one thing she was sure of. Sitting next to her is none other than her Maker. The Creator.

"Do not be afraid..." Eru gave a reassuring smile, as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you?" she asked, but before she can even finish her question, He nodded.

"Am I in heaven?"

"Yes... but not for long..."

"W-what do you mean?"she asked worriedly. "Please don't send me back there... It's dark and miserable, I can't live another day in that world. You've seen how my life played out, so please, do not send me back in there." she pleaded , as tears fell down her cheeks.

"Do not worry... I would not... but I have something in store for you..." Eru said, as she wiped the tears off her eyes. "You never were from that world Rosamund, you never belonged in there..." Eru added, which made her feel more confused.

"W-what do you mean?"

"In time... child, you will know..." He assured. "I have plans for you, plans to help you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..."

To her, it felt vague, but somehow, she felt confidence in Eru's words.

"I will give you a new life, and a new purpose, and hope..." He added, she felt moved with his words. How he wished his earthly father spoke the same as her Creator. But no, all her father gave was give her repetitive disappointments throughout her whole life.

"What is my task?" she asked enthusiastically, which made her receive a sincere smile from Eru.

Eru had been speaking a little vague, hence she wants to know what exactly it is.

"You are to aid in fighting darkness, the darkness of the world." Eru stated, seriously.

She suddenly regretted asking, hearing how serious Eru announced her task, and suddenly felt a heavy weight on her shoulders. She was a nobody, and didn't know how to accomplish such heavy task.

"But do not worry child, you will not be alone, there will be others, and I will always be there for you, even in the Darkness. As long as you never stop seeking me my child, as long as you keep hope in you, even in the darkest days, you will be fine." Eru assured, and there was confidence in his words.

"Sleep now... for tomorrow, you will begin your new life... You will now be known as Minerva..."

Eru smiled, as she suddenly found herself sleepy. Despite the vagueness of her task, she found herself looking forward to it.

A/N: First chapter done! Hope that you liked this one. Also, I'll be doing some soft editing, as I might have grammatical errors.