So this story was born out of my need for a good 'girl falls into Middle-earth fic.' (Not saying mine's going to be amazing, but I'll give it a try!) Most I've read are pretty badly done or only have a few chapters and haven't been updated in years. Yeah I know it's totally cliche but maybe give it a chance?
The reason I chose this plot line was because I love the idea of someone from the 21st century trying to cope in Middle-earth. Plus I've had the hots for Legolas for about 10 years. This isn't a self insert or wish fulfillment story, I'm trying to make my OC as realistic as possible so hopefully she won't be completely annoying. I've never actually written an OC before so I'm kinda nervous about sharing this story. I started writing chapters with no intent on publishing it here because the LOTR films came out years ago but hopefully the arrival of the Hobbit films have bought some readers back to LOTR fanfiction.
Confession: Whilst I'm totally in love with the films, I confess I read the books about 10 years ago so can hardly remember what happens, therefore this story will follow the extended films. That being said I have done my homework, and do have the books on hand for reference so hopefully people will feel this is true to Tolkien.
Tolkien purists: This is a fun little story made out of boredom. Not to be taken seriously, not to be flamed because Tolkien would not agree with it. It's meant to be kinda AU. A girl falling into Middle-earth and joining the fellowship was never going to please Tolkien but it's fanfiction. Hopefully though I can stay true to the characters as even though the writing is from the perspective of a 21st century girl, I want it to feel as if she has genuinely fallen into ME and the real characters are alive there.
I get that LOTR readers are kinda critical in their reviews but hopefully you won't take this fic too seriously and can just enjoy it for what it is. It is 'girl falls into ME,' 'Legomance' and '10th walker' but some people actually enjoy that kind of thing.
Well lets hope I don't totally mess this up!
Jessica Kendrick was not having a good day. Firstly, sometime in the night her beloved Labrador had stole into her room under the cover of darkness and somehow ended up unplugging her alarm clock, she swore that dog was more human than canine at times. Secondly, because she had failed to wake up at 7AM it was inevitable that she was over an hour late to work thus ensuring bitchy Linda from accounts had already informed her boss that she would be better suited for the promotion that Jessica was going for. And thirdly, bitchy Linda from accounts had been given the promotion that Jessica was going for.
Opening the door to her one bed apartment Jessica let out a relieved sigh to finally be home. She stopped in the doorway noticing her dog; Legolas was sitting in the middle of her living room waiting for her.
"Oh no you don't." She warned, waggling her finger in the universal sign for no. "Don't go giving me those puppy dog eyes! It's your fault that I lost out on that promotion and I'm mad at you."
She entered her apartment, gently closing the door behind her and shrugging out of her long red coat. She watched as her dog cocked his head to the side, eyes becoming wide.
"I swear you were a human in a past life." She muttered, feeling her anger ebb away at his adorable disposition.
Legolas, clearly sensing this, let out a joyful bark before bounding over to her and licking at her bare ankles. She laughed, kicking off her flat shoes and bending down to stroke his head lovingly.
"Yeah yeah, you're forgiven." She smiled. "How about I get some food and then take you for a run round the park? You like that boy?"
The dog barked once more before running off into the hallway and curling up in his bed, waiting patiently for his owner.
"Alright, give me ten minutes." She made her way into her bedroom, taking off her work clothes and pulling her hair out of the messy ponytail she'd forced it into in her rush to get ready this morning. She ran her hands through her soft hair, shaking her head and pushing long golden strands out of her face.
She pulled on some leggings and an over-sized red shirt, obscuring her lithe tall frame and then set about removing her make-up until she was rid of all her foundation and mascara leaving only bare pale skin and large tired looking grey-blue eyes.
Her lightly curled hair swayed about her back, hitting her elbows, as she walked back into her kitchen and started to microwave a quick ready meal.
"Mhmm, pizza for one." She sighed before binning the box with its large white writing that read: Dinner for one, and basically announced to the world that she was alone and single. She turned to see Legolas still sat in his bed basket in the hallway, looking straight at her. "What? Don't give me that look; we're going to the park straight after, I can burn off the calories there."
She muttered about her dog judging her as she made her way over to her bag which was still dumped in her doorway, next to her shoes. She located her phone and pulled it out to check if she had received any messages whilst she was at work.
One new text message: Dad.
One new e-mail: Domino's pizza.
"My life in a nutshell." She sighed before hitting the phone button.
She heard it ring for a long while before her dad finally picked up.
"Hi Jessie!" Her dad's deep voice sounded on the other end and she smiled.
"Hi daddy, I got your text but all it said was my name and then the words I'm and don't. Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine. You know I don't know how to work these mobile telephones. Grace bought me a new one. It's called a yPhone and I tried to instant email you but it sent before I could finish it."
Jessica grinned, snorting a laugh.
"I think you mean iPhone and it's a text not an instant email. Honestly old man, you're showing your age."
"Old man?" he scoffed but she could hear the laughter in his voice. "I'm in my prime! And that's what I wanted to text you about. My sixtieth birthday is next week and I know we normally spend it together but Grace surprised me today with a cruise booking! We're going to the Caribbean in two days time."
Jessica stood frozen, clearly her father was having a mid-life crisis. Jessica's own birthday was two days after her dads and this year she would be turning twenty-four. Her dad had always wanted to stay young, spontaneously marrying Jessica's mother, Carol, after only being together two months. Now he was engaged to Grace, who at thirty-six years old was closer in age to Jessica than she was to her father.
"Oh. Yeah sure, that's awesome. Wish someone would surprise me with a Caribbean cruise." She laughed awkwardly. "I'll just get Paige to come over and we'll celebrate my birthday with a drink."
Or ten, she mentally added with a smile.
"That's good. Just wanted to make sure you wouldn't be alone what with your mother now living in Australia and you not having a husband yet."
"Dad, I'm twenty-three, not quite a spinster yet. I'll let you know when I start looking longingly at some stray cats."
She heard Legolas bark from the hallway and laughed.
"I know but I've never even met a boyfriend Jessie. You must have had at least one, a pretty girl like you. I hate to think of you holed up in your flat all the time, just you and that mutt."
"Legolas is not a mutt." She grinned as she heard another bark.
"Lego-lass, what kind of name is that for a dog?"
"It's Legolas, you know from Lord of the Rings."
"I wish you would stop watching silly movies and go out and find a real man Jessie. I don't want you to be lonely forever."
"Silly movies? 17 Oscars would beg to differ… and I am not lonely!" She protested. "I don't like people, I like being on my own. You know most fathers try to stop their daughters dating, not complain about their lack of bedroom action."
"Okay, okay, I'll drop it… for now. And don't say the words dating and bedroom action to me in the same sentence again, I am still your dad. Anyway I've got to go; Grace is nagging that we should start packing. I'll come see you when I'm back and I'll bring you a birthday present."
"Thanks daddy. And don't forget sunscreen, you know how pale us Kendrick's are. The Caribbean is going to cook you alive."
"I won't. Love you Jessie."
"Love you, see you soon."
She hung up; jumping at the ping of the microwave which signaled her pizza was ready. She grabbed her food and settled down on her sofa, propping her feet up on the table.
"I wish eating actually burnt calories." She moaned round a mouth full of pizza. "I'd be a super model by now."
Tucking a strand of pale golden hair behind her ear she made to eat another large bite when a bang suddenly sounded from the hallway causing her to jump.
"The fuck?" She muttered making her way into the hall. She saw Legolas standing to attention, eyes focused on the small cupboard looking door that was at the very end of her apartment. She heard the bang again and heard Legolas growl softly behind her.
She frowned, confused. That door had been locked since she moved in. the landlord told her it lead to an old loft conversion but it was no longer structurally safe so had been locked and sealed off, however the door was left in her apartment. It was a small wooden thing with a large brass handle that kind of creeped her out. Nobody wanted a door in their house that was locked and you had no idea what was inside. She'd seen enough horror movies to know it never ended well, but then the landlord had offered to knock ten percent off her rent every month because of the door and she moved in the next day.
She had moved to Manchester, from her hometown of Plymouth, to attend university and this was the only flat that met her budget and let her bring her dog, which her mother had bought her as a gift for passing her A-Levels and to soften the blow that once she left for university she was immigrating to Australia. That was six years ago now and she barely thought of the creepy door anymore.
She stood, listening, but didn't hear anymore noise come from the end of the hall. Eventually Legolas sat back down, resting his head on his paws and closing his eyes so she took that as a sign that everything was fine.
Probably just a pigeon got into the loft or something.
"Come on you, let's go for that walk!"
Returning from the park, Jessica freed Legolas from his lead and watched as he bound into her flat, aiming straight for the small kitchen and began to bark loudly. Hurrying inside, she quickly shrugged off her coat and slammed the door behind her before making her way into the kitchen to see what had Legolas so concerned.
"Hey boy, what's wr-" she stopped, her body going cold as she registered there was another person in her kitchen.
He turned at the sound of her voice and Jessica resisted the urge to scream, instead she made a grab for the nearest thing she could find, a baking tray, and held it up in front of her as a shield/weapon.
Fear froze her voice as they stood staring into each other's eyes, the only thing that separated them in the small space was Legolas. Her brain started to function as she realised her dog was with them.
"You… you had better leave or my dog will eat you."
Legolas looked up at her as she said that, let out a whine and then walked over to the stranger and began to rub himself against him.
Jessica's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Stop that, you Judas." She hissed.
She heard an old sounding chuckle and she looked up to the man's face. That was when she finally took in his appearance. He was old, really old, with grey hair and a large grey beard. He wore a long grey robe and had a large hat upon his head, whilst he held what looked like some kind of weird walking stick in his hand.
"You are Jessica, I believe." It was more of a statement and Jessica lowered her baking tray slightly. So he knew who she was. Hopefully that meant he wasn't some kind of axe murderer.
"Y-yes. I mean yeah, I'm Jessica. How did you know that? Do I know you? How did you get in?"
He laughed and his eyes seemed to twinkle with hidden knowledge which made her feel really young and somewhat at ease, all at the same time.
"They call me Gandalf the Grey, I believe you've heard of me."
Now it was Jessica's turn to give a slightly hysterical laugh.
"Gandalf?" she repeated, for the first time taking in his attire and noticing his similarity to Ian McKellen's character in the films. "That is a great costume. Did my dad put you up to this?" She relaxed, placing the baking tray back on the counter.
This would be her dad's idea of a joke to try and get her to stop watching those silly films.
"This better not be the birthday present he was talking about, a Gandalf stripper 'cause I was really hoping for a 3D TV." Then her eyes widened. "You're not a stripper are you? I mean no offence, but you're a little older than I normally go for and I wouldn't want you to break a hip or something."
"Hush child. I do not know these things of which you speak; I am truly Gandalf the Grey."
"Yeah and I'm Galadriel. If you don't mind I've kind of had a long day, can you please get out of my flat?"
She heard him mutter in a language she did not understand and she began to feel uneasy again.
"Seriously dude, I'm so close to calling the police." She pulled out her phone from her bra and began to type in the numbers 999, making sure he could see.
"What a strange device. It truly is another world here."
She paused, feeling slightly sorry for the escaped mental patient who thought he was Gandalf. She sighed, putting her phone away. He was just an old man who probably had dementia and needed returning to his nursing home.
"Sir." She said in what she hoped was a soothing voice. "Mr. Grey, why don't you sit down and you can use my phone to give someone a call, let them know where you are. I'm sure they're worried."
"I have traveled a long way to speak with you Jessica, but yes I will take a seat." He breezed past her, into her living room and sat himself down on her sofa. She grumbled, taking the uncomfortable chair opposite him and held out her phone to him.
He shook his head. "That won't be necessary. As soon as I am done here, I will leave and unless you choose to follow, you will never see me again."
Why would I choose to follow him?
Her forehead wrinkled in confusion and apprehension.
"Right, sure, go ahead then." She motioned with her hand for him to talk.
Let him ramble for a little while, then he'll leave. Might as well humour him, I bet he doesn't get many visitors in the nursing home. Although if my grandad was still alive and dressed up like Gandalf I'd definitely visit him. That costume is really good.
She was pulled from her thoughts as he began to speak.
"I am looking for someone to share in an adventure." She couldn't help it, she laughed, but he chose to ignore her. "I must warn you that, should you choose to accept, the way will be filled with many perils and much danger."
"Just to clarify." She interrupted. "Which adventure are you talking about? The Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings?"
He gave her a dark look.
"I chose this world to enter because I was assured that there would be humans who knew the outcome of the one ring's fate, but you must not share these details with me. It is too much to tempt fate."
"If it's so secret why would you want me to come along?" She lost herself for a moment, getting carried away with his awesome cosplay, he never once broke character and Jessica found herself playing along. "What's the point in a tenth member who knows the future but can't say shit about it? This is like some badly written fanfiction plot. Also let's not forget I've never held a sword or ridden a horse in my life so I'd probably be dead within the first few pages."
"I have seen my death, through shadow and fire. My end and my rebirth draw near. Once I am gone the fellowship will struggle. Without my guidance they will be lost. Aragorn is a wise man but not even he can see the future, he looks to me as a teacher in this quest. He knows my wisdom will guide him right, without it, he may falter. It is you he must turn to for answers in my absence. You will not tell of all you know, merely guide and encourage his decisions so that he may learn to trust in his own strength. It is the only way we will prevail and he will become confident enough to be a true king."
Jessica was totally absorbed in his story telling, the way he spoke, the look in his eyes, it was hypnotising. If she wasn't of sound mind she might have found herself believing him.
"Why me?" the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. Didn't everyone long for a magical adventure in which they were chosen to help save the world?
"Because you have read the books and you reside in this dwelling."
She blinked, the spell totally broken.
"What? You could have at least said I was the chosen one, or my beauty and knowledge would bring all of Middle-earth to their knees or something along those lines." She mumbled sarcastically.
"You misunderstand Jessica. I have patiently waited for the arrival of someone suitable to arrive here. You live alone, you have little familial ties and I sense your loneliness. You have a passion for Middle-earth and know our story; also the door which joins our two worlds is here, in your home."
She rolled her eyes.
"Really? You think I would have noticed this door before. Should I go check the back of my wardrobe as well, make sure Narnia's still there."
"You must know if you choose to enter Middle-earth there is no possible way for you to return to this life. I have used the power granted to me to open the doorway and will only be able to keep it open until the morrow's eve. I won't have the chance again to request your help. I know that our quest does not depend upon you but it would ease an old mans mind to know that my companions would have you to look to in times of need."
"So basically I'm not special and the fellowship doesn't really need my help, but you want me to give up my own world to help save yours? And I take it I won't be getting paid for all of this life endangering nonsense?"
He shook his head, laughing quietly.
"Well when you put it like that, where do I sign?"
He sighed, but his eyes still held their mirth.
"I have told you, you will not be forced or coerced into this decision, for it is not one to make lightly. Do know this, that I have looked upon your life and all I have seen is one of loneliness, of longing. Middle-earth could have need of you, and you of it."
"I am not lonely. Did my dad send you? I told him I'm fine, and besides if I need company I have Legolas."
Gandalf's eyebrows rose on his face.
"You have the elf?" he questioned.
"What? No, my dog."
"You named your hound Legolas?"
She shifted uncomfortably as she nodded.
"Why that name?"
"He's my favourite character." She shrugged, a little embarrassed. The guy clearly loved Gandalf; she didn't want to offend a crazy person by saying someone else was her favourite. She liked all her limbs attached to her and in one piece.
"Interesting." He smiled and his eyes lit up as if sharing a secret.
"Not really." She mumbled. "Isn't he every girl's favourite? He's a total badass with a bow, comes from royalty and is played by Orlando Bloom. The dude's hot."
Legolas, the dog, took that as his moment to enter the living room and bounded his way over to the strange man.
"Indeed. But a dog will not live forever. He cannot offer what a human can."
"It's alright Cilla Black, I don't need you playing matchmaker. A woman can actually survive without a man you know."
She felt like she should add sister to the end of that sentence and snap her fingers at him.
"I was speaking mainly of companionship." His eyes smiled at her.
She sighed, pulling out her phone again and loading up her gallery. She moved to perch on the edge of the sofa next to him, shoving her phone in his face and sliding her thumb across the screen so he could view some of the thirty two pictures she had of herself and Legolas eating an apple in bed together.
"Not lonely." She said again as 'Gandalf' looked mildly disgusted.
He stood, brushing down his robe before turning and making his way down her hall.
"Hey wait, the front door's the other way!" She yelled as she ran to catch him up.
She stopped suddenly as she saw him standing in front of the creepy wooden door.
"I will be able to keep it open until the morrow's eve, after that your chance shall be lost. If you want an adventure and the chance to completely change the world as you know it, all you have to do it enter through this door. The door will only open if you really and truly want it, Jessica Kendrick." He didn't turn to her as he spoke, only twisted the large brass handle he held in his wrinkled hand. The door opened slowly and Jessica felt her breath catch and she watched him duck and walk through, the door shutting softly behind him.
She stood staring for an immeasurable amount of time before timidly making her way over to the door. Her apartment was deathly silent, adding to Jessica's trepidation. Slowly she reached out a manicured hand and touched the knob, feeling that it was still slightly warm from a human's touch. She heaved in a large breath and squeezed her eyes shut, twisting quickly. Her eyes flew open when it didn't budge. She heard the lock moving as she wiggled the knob back and forth but yet the door still did not open.
"I've gone crazy." She whispered.
She made her way back to her living room, picking up her phone from the table where she had left it. She opened her contact list and hit the dial button next to her best friend Paige's name.
"Hey Jecca, what's up?"
"I'm having a little bit of a mental breakdown right now. I just saw a ghost, a fucking ghost, a ghost dressed as Gandalf-"
"Woah slow down!" Paige laughed, interrupting her friend's rambling. "You saw Gandalf's ghost?"
"I think I need to go to hospital, I need some drugs. I just hallucinated meeting Gandalf."
"It sounds like you've had enough drugs." Paige paused hearing her friend sniffle. "Jec, are you okay? You sound like you're about to cry."
"Of course I'm going to cry, my brain is broken! And I can never watch Lord of the Rings again, it's messed me up, I'm going to write a strongly worded letter of complaint to Peter Jackson, I'm going to-"
"- Um, Jecca. Chill out okay. I'm getting my keys now, I'll be over in ten and you can stay at mine tonight, okay?"
Jessica nodded before realising Paige couldn't actually see her.
"Yeah sure, that'd be great."
She looked down to see Legolas was sleep on the floor in front of her feet. She couldn't leave him here with some demented spirit roaming her flat.
"Paige, can I bring Legolas?"
"You and that dog." She heard her friend mumble. "I suppose."
Jessica smiled, knowing that Paige had a real soft spot for her Labrador, despite what she said.
"Okay see you soon."
I have a few chapters written already but it does take time to get the plot completely right and I only write when I feel inspired so please don't panic if I don't update all the time. I can't commit myself to a posting schedule but reviews are always encouraging ;)