All Shall Fade

Chapter 7

In Theory

“Still here then?” I mumbled to the white ceiling after waking up and finding myself in my bed in Rivendell. A part of me had still been hoping to wake up in bed at home. I yawned and rolled out of bed, wincing as my blistered feet hit the floor. I’d have to see if they had any blister patches lurking around… But then again, why would they? Why would you need blister patches when you live in a mythical world full of Elves with magical healing powers? It’s all absolute bull if you ask me.

I sighed and looked around, taking in my room for the first time. No surprise, everything was white, silver or a pale gold. It seemed like they had a strict colour-scheme going on here… The room wasn’t big, but not too small. Just right. “Ugh, you sound like Goldilocks now.” I snorted at myself as I walked over to the curtained floor-to-ceiling window that inhabited one side of the room. As I pulled back the curtains I was surprised to find no glass. It wasn’t a window after all – it was a freaking balcony. “Sweet.” I grinned as I looked out at the pale dawn. My balcony had a fantastic view of the surrounding area. It was nothing like any landscape I had seen before. “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” I quoted with a sigh. Although I doubted that I’d gone for a little jaunt over the rainbow. No matter now many times I clicked my heels and said ‘There’s no pace like home’ I wasn’t going to be getting back any time soon. This place was so much nicer than my apartment back home. I’d better not get too comfy though; I needed to figure out how to get back.

With that thought in mind, I walked over to the small wooden desk that stood on the opposite side of the room and found a neat stack of paper sitting on it. It was rough, unlike modern-day paper, and felt more like fabric. It was obviously some swanky hand-made stuff. I sat down on the floor and pulled my slightly battered pencil out of my pocket and set about writing down theories about how on earth I’d ended up here.

After half an hour, I had several theories mostly based on all my sci-fi and fantasy knowledge, and they looked like this…

Theory 1

It’s a prank.

I’d pretty much immediately ruled out this one.

Theory 2

It’s a dream.

This was also ruled out.

Theory 3

Cross-dimensional travel. ‘Middle Earth’ is actually a parallel dimension and the weird pine-tree was like a ‘gate’ between the two worlds. Maybe I can use it to get back? Or maybe there are other ‘gates’?

I liked this theory, because it meant there was a chance I could get home. I liked the diagram too.

I stared at the pieces of paper scattering the floor before adding a few more.

Theory 4

I’ve finally gone mad and this is all in my head and in reality I’m sitting in a straight jacket in a mental ward somewhere.

What? It sounded plausible to me. I’d always slightly questioned my sanity…

Theory 5

When I hit that tree I suffered severe brain damage and have slipped into a coma, and this is an alternate reality my mind had made up so that I don’t get bored whilst I’m brain-dead.

Also plausible.

Theory 6

I’ve found Narnia. Start looking in wardrobes for ways out of here.

Yeah… That last one was a bit of a long shot.

I sighed and stared at my theories, but none of them seemed like a definite explanation. I found the comatose and the ‘finally gone mad’ ones the most likely though. It was nice to think that my subconscious mind was this creative. I stared at them until I thought my eyes were going to burn holes in the paper, but instead little patches of moisture appeared on it, and I realised it was caused by the tears that were falling from my eyes. I supposed it was really beginning to hit me now. I wasn’t dreaming, I wasn’t in my own world, and in a way I was still as lost as ever. I wondered what was happening back home right now. Had they found some kind of parallel version of me? Or had I just disappeared? What if I’d hit my head really hard and died, and this was some kind of afterlife? No... That was stupid. I was pretty sure I was alive. In that case, was this some kind of Narnia deal and I would eventually go back home, and I’d arrive only a few seconds after I’d left? I hoped so… That would be a pretty consequence-free option. As I stared at my doodles, I heard a soft knock on my door.

“Come in.” I called, glancing up and smiling weakly as Arwen walked in. “Hi.”

“Good morning.” She smiled; curiously glancing at the papers spread everywhere.

“Oh yeah, I used some paper. I hope you don’t mind.” I sniffed as I tucked my pencil behind my ear and put the unused paper into a neat pile, whilst rubbing my eyes with the heel of my other hand.

“Why are you crying?” She asked as I blinked.

“It’s nothing.” I sighed, trying to force back the tears. Suddenly, she was kneeling beside me. I hadn’t heard her come over as her feet seemed to barely touch the floor as she walked, and she gently pulled me into a comforting embrace.

“Tolo hi, man mathach?” She murmured soothingly.

“Erm… Pardon?” I sniffled as her long hair tickled my damp cheeks.

“What is the matter?” She repeated in English and I shook my head.

“I-I just want to go home…” I whimpered, “I don’t want to stay here… I wish none of this stuff had happened.” She didn’t reply as I sat and cried myself dry, and when I had no more tears to shed, she sat back.

“I cannot help you get back to your homeland, but I do bring you good news.” She smiled, gently squeezing my shoulders, “Frodo has awakened.”

“R-really?” I stammered, scrambling to my feet, “Can I see him?”

“Not yet child.” She laughed melodiously, “You need to wash.”

“Oh yeah… I stink.” I laughed weakly, glancing in the gold-framed mirror that stood by the door. My face alone carried enough dirt to plant a small garden in, and the only way you could tell that I had pale skin underneath was by looking at the clear tracks my tears had left down my cheeks.

“I will send for water to be brought up.” Arwen smiled, standing and walking to a curtain that hung from the ceiling. I had assumed that it concealed a window, but she pulled it back and revealed what appeared to be a small bathroom. I raised my eyebrows as I walked in and saw the silver bathtub that sat on the floor. No running water huh? Well… I guess that was to be expected. Everything seemed to be a few centauries behind here. I hoped I didn’t have to watch out for anything like the Black Plague here. Although I’d already survived the ‘Black Breath’, I wasn’t in a hurry to encounter the ‘Black Death’. “You can wait in here, I will return later with clothing for you.”

“Uh… Thanks.” I smiled as she glided back to the door and silently left. I went back into my bedroom and tidied away my papers, setting them back on the desk just as someone knocked on the door. “Come in!” I called, expecting Arwen, but two other female elves glided in, both bearing large silver pitchers of water. They smiled at me and walked into the bathroom. I heard them filling up the tub and silently prayed that they didn’t have some kind of ‘servants-hang-around-whilst-you-take-a-bath’ custom here. Luckily they both came out with their empty pitchers and one handed me what appeared to be a white towel.

“Um… Thank you.” I stammered, as she flashed me a dazzling smile and glided out with her companion. ‘Wow… Pretty people…’

I snapped out of my daze and traipsed into the bathroom. The small room had filled with steam already as I set down my towel, pulled off my hoodie and cast it back into the main room. It was quickly followed by my vest-top and leggings, and I stepped into the hot bath. “Ow, hot, hot, hot!” I cried under my breath as my feet that had been tenderised after all that walking painfully met the water. I bit my lip and quickly sank into the deep bath. Bliss. I sighed and dunked my head under the water, before setting about scrubbing the mud off my skin.

After completing the daunting task of removing all the twigs and leaves from my hair, I stepped out of the water which was now a delightful muddy-brown colour, and wrapped myself tightly in the towel. Automatically, I reached back to pull out the plug – but of course there was no plug. “Idiot.” I muttered to myself as I walked back into my room, and to my surprise found that my clothes were gone and a forest-green dress had been laid out of my freshly-made bed, with a pair of matching ballet-style pumps beside it. “Ooh, pretty!” I smiled, running my fingers over the silky fabric, before drying myself off and trying it on. “Nice.” I nodded in approval at my reflection in the mirror. The long sleeves fitted my arms nicely, and reached a few centimetres past my wrists, whilst the skirt flowed down from the fitted torso and brushed my bare toes. It was very medieval, but in a way it was more simplistic and elegant then that… It was very elvish. I towelled my damp hair as I analysed the dress, just as Arwen walked into my room. So no more knocking, huh?

“You found the dress.” She smiled.

“It’s beautiful.” I gushed, smiling as I twirled. “I never get to wear stuff like this back home – I feel like a princess.” I giggled a little as her smile widened.

“You may borrow as many as you like – I cannot wear them all at once.” She said, walking over to the desk and picking up a comb.

“It’s yours?”

“Yes.”

“Oh… Well, thank you.” I smiled as I saw her with the comb and my eyes widened in alarm. Combs and my hair didn’t mix. I hastily finished drying my hair and let it hang in straggly, damp tendrils around my face. It would probably puff out again once it was dry. Arwen took my hand and lead me over to the bed, where she stared combing out my hair. I winced as the comb caught in my many tangles, but it was nice to feel clean and polished after so much time wandering through forests – where the closest thing I’d had to a bath was falling in a bog. When she was done, she started braiding a few strands and tied them together at the back of my head. “Thanks.” I mumbled awkwardly, knowing I’d have to take them out the second my hair went back to its usual frizz-bomb state. Arwen stood and returned the comb as I admired my reflection in the mirror.

“If you go out onto the walkway at the end of the corridor you will find Frodo and your other friends.” She smiled, before walking out of the room. I smoothed my dress and my hair before walking after her, but she wasn’t in the corridor outside when I got there. I sighed and set off in the direction she had pointed me in, and after I had passed a few more doors the walls of the corridor abruptly disappeared, and I found myself standing on a large balcony that seemed to run around this level of the building. I smiled as I walked over the thin carpet of fallen leaves and breathed in the intoxicatingly sweet smell of fresh air. I admitted to myself that I might be a tiny bit sad when it came to leaving this place… But I’d rather go home and pretend that nothing had happened than live in this foreign world. I walked over to the stone rail that marked the end of the balcony and leant on it as I looked down at the empty courtyard below.

“Alice!” I turned at the sound of my name and grinned as I saw Pippin waving at me. He was standing beside Merry, Sam and – to my great relief – a very healthy-looking Frodo.

“Hi guys!” I cried, running over to them and catching them up in a tight five-way hug. Once we’d all released each other I stood up straight and brushed the creases out of my borrowed dress. “So, are you feeling better Frodo?” I asked and he nodded shyly just as I noticed another, much older Hobbit standing nearby.

“Alice, this is my Uncle Bilbo.” He smiled and I received a warm handshake from the old man.

“Pleased to meet you.” I said as he laughed.

“It’s an honour!” He grinned widely, “I’ve been wanting to meet you – Gandalf tells me you aren’t from these parts, perhaps you’d like to tell me of your travels someday?”

“I’d love to.” I nodded, wondering how on earth I’d explain how I wound up here when I didn’t even understand it myself.

“I’m very interested in travelling and adventures!” He explained enthusiastically, “Which reminds me, Frodo! I want to show you my book! Perhaps some other time my dear?”

“Of course.” I smiled as he took Frodo’s arm and led him away.

“Where are you walking to Miss Alice?” Sam asked me.

“Oh, I was just going to explore a bit.” I sighed, “And you don’t have to call me ‘Miss’, just ‘Alice’ will do.” I assured him with an easy smile as I waved goodbye and continued on my way along the balcony. I came across a delicate-looking spiral staircase that wound its way down to the ground below. I carefully padded down it, trying to make my steps as light as possible until I reached the solid stone ground. I found myself on a small path and I followed it until I appeared in the courtyard I had admired from the balcony. As I walked, I looked up at the buildings that had left me lost for words yesterday when I had stood here. On the outside, I felt like I belonged a bit more due to my new clothing, but on the inside I still felt like an outsider.

It wasn’t like one of those adventure movies where the heroine finds herself in a new world but feels like she was always meant to be there… It was more like I’d fallen down the Rabbit Hole. And Wonderland may have been wonderful, but Alice didn’t belong there. She’d woken up and found it was all a dream. My Wonderland wasn’t as easy to escape.

“Eek!” I squeaked as my thought track was abruptly cut off as I walked into a solid and very much aliveobject. I tumbled to the ground and landed heavily and ungracefully on my behind.

“Man ceril?” A soft voice cried and I looked up to see what I had bumped into – a large white horse. I then looked to the source of the voice as the rider dismounted and suddenly knelt in front of me, “Hiril, man ceril?” My eyes widened as I took in the breathtaking features of the male elf that crouched before me, his slivery blonde hair hung perfectly straight – I was so jealous – over one shoulder and his deep blue eyes locked on mine as I stared at him. His eyes were even further accented by his flawless pale skin – again, jealous – and grey travelling cloak.

“Um…” Was all I managed to splutter as he stared at me. I was definitely beginning to think I was dreaming or something similar – it would make sense for me to send myself to a place teeming with ridiculously hot guys.

“Heniach nin?” He tilted his head adorably as I blushed.

“Em, sorry, I don’t speak Elvish.” I stammered, painfully aware of how red my cheeks were.

“My apologies.” He said in a sweet, musical voice. ‘My god he’s so cute I want to keep him as a pet!’ The voice in my head squealed as he smiled gently, “You are so fair I mistook you for an elf. Are you alright?” His compliment made my blush deepen – even though it wasn’t true – and it was a moment before I realised that he’d asked me a question.

“Erm… Yes… Sorry. I-I didn’t mean to run into your horse… Um… Sorry.”

“It is quite alright.” He smiled, as if he was amused by my stammering as he gently took my hand and helped me to my feet. I realised that our little conversation had an audience as I noticed the group of elves all of similar appearance to my companion – although none were as good looking. “I have never seen you here before, what is your name?”

“A-Alice.” I blushed again as I stumbled over my own name.

“A-Alice?” He frowned, looking like a confused puppy.

“No… Sorry, it’s just Alice.” I bit my lip nervously as he laughed quietly.

“My name is Legolas, son of Thranduil, Prince of Mirkwood.” He smiled, kissing the back of my hand which he still held, causing me to almost faint. A prince? I’d just walked into a horse belonging to a prince? And I’d just been picked off the ground by the same freaking prince?!

“It’s erm, nice to meet you.” I said shyly, ducking my head as he allowed my hand to slide from his grasp.

“The pleasure’s all mine.” He murmured. Aw crap… If my blush gets any deeper my face might just go a permanent shade of red.

“Well,” I cleared my throat and looked up, “I uh, had better be off – I don’t want to keep you from wherever you were going. I-it’s not that I don’t want to talk to you it’s just you looked like you were doing something before I walked into your horse… Sorry about that.” I babbled and he laughed again.

“I hope to see you again soon then, Alice.” He smiled.

“Ok… See you later Legolas.” I stammered out rapidly as I nodded to him and quickly walked away, but not before almost bumping into one of his companion’s horses. I heard him laugh behind me as I apologised and scurried away. I think I just made a massive fool of myself. I silently cursed myself under my breath as I kept my head low and scuttled to the other side of the courtyard, where I ducked under an arched trellis and suddenly found myself face to face with Strider. “Hey.” I smiled, nodding at him in greeting, and he politely returned the gesture. I noticed that he had changed out of his travelling clothes and was wearing a silvery velvet shirt with a dark waistcoat-type-thing over the top of his dark trousers. I had to admit, he polished up nicely… Not that I didn’t like his rugged outdoors-y look just as much.

“You look well.” He commented and I nodded.

“Yeah, you too.” I said, crossing my arms across my chest so I didn’t feel so awkward. He looked at me for a long moment before speaking again.

“You haven’t found a way to get back to your world yet, have you?”

“So Elrond told you then?” I sighed and he nodded.

“Yes, and he also told me to advise you not to tell anyone where you are from yet, apart from those who already know.”

“Sure.” I sighed, “I’m still working on a way to get out of here… Hopefully I’ll be out of your hair soon.” He stared at me for a few seconds before nodding and walking away. I turned and watched him go. So now that he knew I wasn’t from this world, we couldn’t be friends or something? Does that count as racism? Probably not… They probably don’t even have racism in this bloody perfect world – where the guys are all hot and everything else is ridiculously beautiful.