So…this is a LOTR sort of crossover type story…kind of. The main character is from a kingdom Tortall from Tamora Pierce's novels (Song of the Lioness quartet, Immortals quartet, Protector of the Small quartet, etc) but she is completely my own invention. Also some of the facts (Like who is king) are also changed, so it isn't listed as a crossover. Anyway, I really love LOTR (obviously) and wanted to try my hand at this. I hope you enjoy. (Does anyone still read LOTR fanfiction? I hope so.)

NOTE: I've gone back an edited, as well as changing it to first person since I hate writing in third person and I would CONSTANTLY mess up and have to go back and fix it. :)

Of Knights and Favors

I stared at the intricate carvings on the floor a few feet from my face, the white marble melding with the black, and the little golden flecks forming random shapes before my eyes until I heard a snicker. "Are you going to kneel there all day?" Smiling, I looked up at my king and stood, my hands clasped in front of my in more informal pose. The man before me, tall and handsome as he had been in our youth, had been my constant friend since my eleventh birthday when I had come to the palace to train for my shield.

"You called for me, Ron?" I asked, taking note of the lack of guards in the great throne room. It was rare for me to catch such a private moment with the king of the realm nowadays, but we were seldom very formal in public anyway, and my informality was reciprocated. He held his hands together in front of him, jaw clenched as he turned serious.

"Anne…I need to ask something of you." I frowned a bit, my hands relaxing themselves. The last time I had been asked a favor in this manner, I had been sent out to fight centaurs at the border, nearly dying in the process. Still, I was the head of an entire company, one of the foremost knights in the realm, and one of only three female knights to serve the King, despite a lift on the ban, which had forbidden women to even attempt the training. At 20, I was on my way to being the top knight in the realm, maybe even replacing the current champion one day. That is, if I lived to see my 21st birthday. My king and friend's face was particularly grim. "Do you know of Lord Elrond, Anne? Of the elves of Rivendell?"

I lifted an eyebrow at the name. "The legend of Middle Earth, my Lord?" I asked, forgetting our friendship for an instant amidst the surprise.

"It's hardly a legend, Anne." He scolded softly. "He contacted me. Middle Earth is very much a real place, my lady." His eyes teased me, but his tone was serious. "There are very few sailors who know how to navigate to their shores, and even fewer who will dare attempt it. But Lord Elrond has all but pleaded with me. There is an evil at work in their land, and if we sit by and allow it to take over, who is to say that it will not come here next? And who would come to save us then? Are you willing to bet our safety on the lion of the mythical realm of Narnia?"

"Ron…you're talking about fairy stories. Children's tales. How can…" I hesitated at his sharp look. Friends we may be, but he was still my king. I took a deep breath and forced myself to be calm. If Ron wished to send me on some ridiculous quest to a land that didn't exist…well, who was I, a common girl from the countryside turned knight, to argue. "I beg your pardon. Of course you are right. If this Lord….Elrond?" He nodded. "Lord Elrond needs assistance, then it shall be given. Who will accompany me, if I may ask?" This time my eyes were teasing, and his face relaxed into a smile.

"That blasted bird of yours, I daresay. But I am sending you alone. I have the utmost of faith in your ability to represent our land, and I have every company available at the border, and your company will be sent today. Those giant spiders you spotted were no joke, and our neighbors from the west seem intent on invading us. I need every spare knight and soldier patrolling. But you've got your company trained. It won't hurt them to be without you for a while. Besides, I wouldn't do Lord Elrond the injustice of sending just any knight." I felt my face grow hot. Compliments were something I tended to squirm my way out of, but he had just said to my face that he thought I was great. Bowing stiffly and ignoring his chuckle, I begged off to go pack and he agreed, telling me that the rest of my information would come in a day's time.

Stepping back into my chamber, I looked longingly at the large bed for a moment, then sighed and reached under it for my pack. The bag was quickly filled with all manner of sensible clothing; shirts, breeches, hose, tunics, and even a dress, in case this mythical Lord Elrond existed and expected his women to look presentable. After pulling out my charmed stone, made for my by a good mage friend that would keep my monthlies from bothering my when I was out 'questing' as the woman had teased, I threw some cotton pads into the bag just in case. I had learned long ago that certain things could not be replaced if the need arose. My sharpening stone, the spike strap for my hair, and a pair of gloves were thrown in as well.

A pecking at the window interrupted my packing and I smiled at the raven perched there. "Hello Mori." I held out a hand and the bird leapt onto my wrist, making my way up to my shoulder, then tugged my hair affectionately as she often did.

"Another quest?" The bird wondered. I shrugged, long past the phase where I was surprised by the strange bird's ability to speak to whichever people or animals she chose.

"Ron's got it in his head that the elves of Rivendell need my help." I mumbled irritably. The bird was strangely silent and I stiffened, turning my head to catch a glimpse of my black little friend. "Morrigan? Are elves...Is there a Lord Elrond of Rivendell waiting for me at the end of this journey?"

"There are many things waiting for you at the end of this journey, Annie girl." The bird said cryptically, then flew onto her perch and began cleaning her ebony feathers.

I stared for a moment, then sighed, knowing all about the stubbornness of ravens. I'd learned that particular lesson the hard way. "Very well. Keep your secrets. I'll learn soon enough." Still, my curiosity was piqued. If there was a Middle Earth, and this 'Lord Elrond' wasn't a hallucination of a hardheaded king, then what was I to do with it? I was a knight, a young one. Facing some vague evil in a strange land was hardly something I was prepared to do. Then again, I served Kind Ronald of Tortall, and if King Ronald of Tortall wanted me in Rivendell, to Rivendell I would go.

The next day I woke at dawn, sure that this would be the last good night's sleep I would get for a while. Stretching and moaning until the bird nipped my ear for complaining, I sighed and threw myself back on the pillows. "I hate the morning." I grumbled, pulling myself out of the nest of covers and putting out some bread left by one of the servants for Mori, even though the bird could easily hunt for herself. After sampling some of my own breakfast, I dressed in my traveling clothes; a tunic and hose, sturdy, comfortable boots where I hid my two short knives, my gloves, a belt which held my sword, and a heavy hand fan given to me by a good friend in the court, a woman who'd trained with both the Shang and Yamani warriors. The razor-blade-edged fan served as both decoration and as an 'appropriate' weapon for women of a high status. The large weapon-in-disguise had served my well many times, and I wouldn't travel without it.

I stared at my bow for a while. It was a long bow, nearly as tall as me, and was useful if inconvenient to carry, much like my glaive, another weapons I was reluctant to travel without. I decided to ask Ron's opinion when we met, then, bird on my shoulder and pack on my back; I went to get my orders from the King.

I always noticed the beauty of the palace when I was about to leave it. It had been my home for nine years now, and the occupants felt like family. When I had first arrived on the day of my birthday, a cold and exhausted runaway, and a commoner at that, I had feared the giant halls, the ornate furnishings, even the carefully quiet serving girls. But now, after seven years of training and going out on quests and into battles, I couldn't imagine coming home to any place else. Thoughts of my childhood home were, as always pushed away as I tried to think only of my new home.

Ron waited in a small chamber off the throne room, two guards, old friends of mine, flanking the door. I smiled and bowed shortly at the two men who allowed me inside, then stepped in front of the door that shut behind me. Ron was sitting on a low chair, and looked me over. "Perfect." He stated in approval. "Anything more, and you would be inconvenienced." I nodded a bit in disappointment. Traveling without either my glaive or longbow would be hard. A row of small throwing knives were belted to one calf, but we wouldn't last long in a real battle, and I always had to track them down afterwards. "I have a map for you." He pulled out a large envelope, inside of which was a neatly folded map which showed a strange place, made up of strange places with strange names, like 'Mordor' and 'the Misty Mountains' both of which sounded rather ominous. "Ride to the eastern border. You'll meet a captain there, watching for you. He has promised you safe passage. His fare has been paid in advance." I didn't bother asking how long he had been planning this little trip, nor for how long he had known of the existence of this 'Middle Earth.' He would certainly never answer. He and my raven had that in common.

"Thank you. I will leave immediately." I bowed shortly, and turned to leave when he caught my hand, pulling me to a stop.

"Anne…" He pulled my face close, resting his forehead against mine, a habit from our childhood we had dropped years ago, when we were both squires and were expected to behave with some decorum in public. "I'll miss you."

"Try not to get into too much trouble when I'm gone." I said lightly. He grinned at my discomfort and kissed my hand, knowing exactly how to annoy me. I swatted him away and left the room, refusing to let myself look back.

"We'll be back." I whispered to Mori, though I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince.

The ride east was uneventful, save for a few bandits. But those were dispatched easily enough, and after three days on the road, I found myself taking deep breaths of salt air with mixed feelings. Boats weren't particularly fun to ride, but it was my destination that worried me. The map, well worn with my own use, was nearly memorized by now, but anxiety curled in my stomach as the sea finally came into view. 'What if I forget where everything is? What if I lose the map? What if this is all a trap?' I tried to shake my head to dislodge my negative thoughts. The annoying habit of imagining the worst against my will seemed to be fighting my common sense, on which I prided myself, and I forced myself to imagine the map again, going over the odd names and the roads which sprouted throughout the realm like roots of a tree, going at strange angles and sometimes ending abruptly, as roads were wont to do. Mori gave a little trill and nibbled my ear, trying to calm me, and eventually I was able to breathe easily again.

The captain of the little ship, who stood a good foot taller than me and was burly and brusque, ordered me to a cabin immediately, an order with which I easily complied. I still knew next to nothing about the contraptions and had little desire to. For a full seven days I spent much of my time in the tiny, dark room, with a window open to allow my friend room to fly, and did little other than stretch to keep my muscles from tightening, and sword exercises. Skills wielding my fighting fan were sharpened, as was my aim with the little throwing blades. Needless to say, by the end of the week, I was wondering if swimming home would be an option, and the cabin's walls were covered in nicks from my throwing knives.

Stepping off the gangplank and onto the green shore after the horrific boat ride was over, I looked around the unmagical looking and totally empty hills and forlorn little river which seemed to go on for miles with a bit of disappointment. I had been expecting...a bit more. Thinking back to the map, I realized that I had to go northeast along the river to reach the city of Rivendell. I also realized that I didn't have a horse. Swearing softly, I began to walk, coming up with creative curses for my king and best friend.

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! :)