Grumpy beginnings

I move wildly with my arms. The water is freezing! I never knew the Thames was this cold in this time of year, I mean okay it is still spring but in two weeks it is summer. The water is black as coal, I can't see a thing. Great, I broke up with my boyfriend and I am drowning. I see the newspaper of today already; girl slips into the Thames and drowns because of her own stupidity.

Great.

Suddenly the water moves and four hands are grasping my coat and my arms. I cough when they pull me on dry land.

Land, mud, sand. Where am I?

I cough again, my chest feels heavy of the amount of water I swallowed. 'My lady? Are you alright?' Someone asks stammered. I nod, still coughing up water. Hands pull me up, so I am sitting on my butt. 'Thankyou' I moan. I open my eyes and see four children?

'My lady?' one of the boys asks me, looking at me in curiosity. I look at them, they are dressed like they live in the dark ages. Is there a festival or something?

Maybe Tess and I could dress up like princesses...

'Are you alright?' One of the boys, with black curly hair and bright blue eyes sits on his knees before me. 'How did you end up in the river?' He asks me. 'Mr. Frodo' One boy stands at the edge of our little group, looking around in suspicious. 'Wait a moment Sam' The boy, Frodo replies. 'We have to get moving, they are behind us!'

'We can't leave her like this! If they find her!' Another boy shrieks at Sam. He has also curly golden hair. Sam looks again at the road, if he is nervous. I stand up and Frodo does the same. 'I am alright. I let you be. Have fun!' I say and turn around. I go back to Tess, I am going to bed. But where is there? Quickly I turn around and to my surprise, the boys are still there. 'Do you know how I get to the Big Ben?' From there I know the way home. 'And did you know if there was a man looking for me?' They look at me like I am crazy. 'Big ben?' The last boy who hasn't said anything asks me. 'Yeah, you know, the big tower clock, famous in England. The country where we are now. In our capital' They still look if I am mad. 'London?' I ask them quietly. 'Mister Frodo, she is mad, we have to go now' Sam says to Frodo, tugging at his sleeve. 'What' I shriek. 'I am not mad! And how do I name you guys, dressed like they live in the dark ages' They look at their clothing and back at me. 'This shirt is handmade and it the buttons are made of the best silver in the Shire!' The golden haired boy yells back.

Shire?

Am I in France or something, did I really cross the canal?

I shake my head. 'Look I am sorry, but I had a tough day. Can you tell me where I am, please' They look at each other and Frodo steps forward. 'My lady, you are at the edge of the Shire. Near the village of Bree'

'Which country?' My voice sounds small. 'Country? I think you hit your head real hard My lady, but we are standing in Middle Earth' Sam speaks up. Middle Earth?

What the hell is going on! Where am I?

'We are heading to Bree, My lady' Frodo tells me polite. 'There is an Inn, called the Prancing Pony. Maybe there can you seek help' I nod my head. 'Thankyou' I give him a hand. 'My name is Sara Blackwood' Frodo smiles and even though it is night and there are no lanterns here, I can see his dimples. 'Frodo Baggins' He says and it is like I hear a cry in the nightly sky. Sam steps forward and he offers me his hand, I take it with a smile. ''My name is Samwise Gamee, My Lady'

'Hi Sam' I know he blushes and steps back. The two other boys step forward and make a little bow, not taking my hand. 'I am Peregrin Took' The gold haired boy says. 'And I am Meriadoc Brandybuck' The other one with slightly dark blond hair says. 'Hi to you too' I grin. A horrifying shriek fill the nightly sky. The boys jump in fear. 'We have to hurry' Frodo says and starts walking. 'Sara!' He calls my name when I not start walking. 'Oh, yes of course' I say hurriedly and walk after them.

∞

After I think ten minutes – I can't check the time because my phone is dead – lights are starting to appear. Houses of stone and half-timbered nestle against a low wooded hill. And a thick hedge surrounds the village. We stop for a gate that looks like the entrance of the center of the village. I shiver. I am literally freezing. Merry and Pippin, they have told me I can call them that, had to drag me over the road. I am tired and I am not feeling alto well. I need a good hot shower and a warm bed. 'Come on' Frodo calls out. He stand before a what looks like a little tollhouse. In the door of the gate is a little window, it opens and an old men glances down at us. 'What do you want?' He sneers. 'We are headed for the Prancing Pony' Frodo replies. The old man swings his lantern onto us, bathing us in a uncomfortable yellow spotlight. The old man begins to laugh. 'Hobbits! Four Hobbits, and what's more, out of the Shire by your talk. And a women in your company? What business brings you to Bree?' He asks us, no orders us to tell. 'We wish to stay at the inn ... our business is our own' Frodo says quickly. To my relief the old man unlocks the door so we can go in. 'All right, young sir, I meant no offense' The old man tells us when he holds the door open. We enter Bree but the old man keeps looking at us. 'It's Harry's job to ask questions after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad ... can't be too careful' He mutters as we walk into the streets of Bree, closing the door behind us. Bree is a crowded town I see, people are standing in the muddy streets. And they look at us in curiosity. I hear them whisper. 'Sara?' Frodo asks me suddenly. 'Are you okay?' I shrug. 'I don't know' He smiles and again I can see his dimples. I smile back at him. 'There it is!' Pippin cries quietly, pointing towards the sign of the 'Prancing Pony Inn' A horse is also carved into the wooden sign. I follow the boys when they enter the Inn.

The Inn is fully crowded with men, talking and drinking beer. But when the boys enter, everyone looks up in curiosity and again I hear them whisper. But Frodo ignores them and walks to the reception of the Inn.

I narrow my eyes at some of the men, they are looking to long at me and I don't like it. A shiver runs down my spine.

Seriously what is this place?

'Underhill ... my name's Underhill' Underhill? And thirty minutes ago he said his name was Baggins. I open my mouth to speak the keeper of the Inn answers Frodo. 'Underhill?' He asks him in suspicious. 'We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?' Frodo replies hurriedly. The keeper frowns.

Seriously what a weird names have these people. Underhill, Gandalf the grey.. Baggins. Hobbits..

Soon they will tell me that witches are real. The keeper looks puzzled at Frodo. He mumbles Gandalf's name a couple of times before recognition strikes him. 'Oh, yes! I remember ... elderly chap... big grey beard ... pointy hat?' The keeper shakes his head. 'Not seen him for six months'

Really...

Frodo turns around to face us, he looks shocked. 'What do we do now?' Sam frantically whispers. Again I shiver, this time from the cold and the wet clothing. 'I suggest we are going to sit down, warm ourselves and eat something' At the mention of the word 'Eat' Merry and Pippin light up. I search for a table and find one against a wall. We sit down and when a waitress comes by, I stop her. 'Miss can we order some food and drinks' She looks at us and smiles. 'Of course, it's coming right away!' And she walks further.

Wait, so they have no menu? I am really in the Dark ages..

While we are waiting on our food, Sam keeps looking around. 'Sam, he'll be here. He'll come' Frodo says, trying to comfort Sam. 'I am going to get a beer, anyone else?' I shake my head as do they others and Merry walks away. 'Frodo, that friend of yours, can he help me?' I ask Frodo. 'I hope so, he is a great wizard'

Wizard?!

'Wizard? Are you telling me he is a wizard?' Frodo looks puzzled, if he doesn't understand my question or he thinks I am crazy. 'What's that?' Pippin asks suddenly when Merry ploinks down at the table with a beer mug in his hand. 'This, my friend, is a pint' Merry answers happily and takes a sip. 'It comes in pints? I'm getting one' Pippin says with eager and stands up from the table to get a pint for himself. I chuckle when I see him unsteadily walk away. 'Your dinner' The waitress is back with five plates of food and sets them down in front of us. She goes away and comes one minute later back with mugs filled with water. 'Enjoy your meal!' She says and continues her job.

'How much?' I ask the boys when I reach to my pockets.

Dammit.. No money!

'5 pennies each' Sam answers before taking a bite of his bread. 'Pennies, is that the same currency as in England?' Again they look at me if I am crazy. I shake my head. 'Don't break your head about it and I look at my plate. I have one piece of bread and a piece of baked corn. 'You've got a whole half already!' Sam shouts after Pippin. I chuckle at his words. I start eating my food, feeling better already. 'That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we arrived' Sam says tense to Frodo. The both of us look to the right, a stranger sits alone at a table in the far corner of the Inn. He is smoking a pipe and he is hidden in a cloak. Frodo gestures quickly at the Keeper of the Inn, who rushes towards our table. 'Excuse me, that Man in the corner, who is he?'

'He's one of them Rangers; they're dangerous folk they are, wandering the wilds. What his right name is, I never heard, but round here he's known as Strider' The Keeper answers Frodo. 'Strider' Frodo mumbles to himself. I can see that Frodo is holding someone beneath the table, he begins to sweat.

Does he know the man?

'Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins. He's over there!' We hear Pippin call out, pointing across the bar to Frodo. Frodo quickly leaps to his feet and pushes his way to the bar. I swallow my breath. Okay, what is happening here..

'Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin, twice removed on his father's side ... if you follow me' We all hear Pippin say before Frodo can reach him. But when Frodo does, he grasps Pippin's sleeve, spilling his beer in the process.

'Pippin!' Frodo shouts in fear. 'Steady on, Frodo!' Pippin replies and pushes Frodo away so he stumbles backwards. Frodo falls to the floor and all the attention in the Inn turns to Frodo. Something shiny flies to the air and lands on Frodo's outstretched finger and then he vanishes.

What the actual.. What?

SHE IS IN MIDDLE EARTH!