This story has been bouncing around my head for a couple of months now. Well more like Mahal's Hammer has been beating it into my skull. A couple of things I want to state, first being that music is going to play a big part of this story. I intend to use it as part of the storytelling. The second is that these characters have taken on flesh and blood in my head and I want to do them justice, so I accept all forms of constructive criticism. Thanks for reading.

Blanket disclaimer:

Ownership goes to J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson, if you recognize it, it's not mine.

Sometimes the most ordinary day can change a life forever.

At least it did for Ellie Clark. She had awoken as normal, hair a mess, and a bad case of cotton mouth, at exactly six thirty in the morning. She had to be at the restaurant early to prepare for a private party. She rolled out of bed and shivered at the feeling of the cold floor on her feet. Stumbling into the kitchen, she bee lined to the coffee pot spilling the hot liquid twice before pouring it on her hand, eyes still not open enough for decent depth perception.

"Son of a -!" she yelped, the burning sensation on her hand slowly fading away. She forced her eyes open and finally poured her coffee correctly. The first sip of the caffeinated beverage worked its magic, her body becoming more responsive.

"Jessie! Get up!" she hollered down the hallway.

"I'm up. Is there coffee?" The petite blonde asked, rubbing at her eyes. Ellie gestured towards the kitchen, passing Jessie in the hallway, mug in hand and entered the bathroom. The first glance in the mirror made her cringe, her hair looked like birds had been nesting in it and she had marks on her face from the pillow. She sighed, forcing the brush through her hair. Pinning it back she pulled a floppy hat over it, tucking the shoulder length locks in. Throwing a bit of makeup on, she went and packed her bag for the day. Two chef coats, her knife set, make up kit, and hairbrush all got thrown in, followed by her iPod, phone, wallet and keys. Throwing her clothes on, she emerged from her room. Jessie was still slumped over the counter, nursing her mug of coffee.

"You and your duffel bag," Jessie remarked, eyeing the tattered black bag with some distaste. Ellie smiled, she had had the bag since she started culinary school ten years before and it hadn't left her side since.

"It's the best," Ellie replied, filling her travel mug and pulling on her coat.

"You've had that thing for like, ten years, isn't it time to replace it?"

"Nope," Ellie waved as she walked out the door. It was a five minute walk to the bus stop and she ended up waiting for the 7:15 bus to arrive. It was on the bus ride that the first oddity of the day happened. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she felt eyes on her back and heard her name whispered into her ear. She spun to look behind her, and seeing nothing she quickly went for her iPod. She settled into her seat and drank her coffee, music soothing her uneasiness and mentally preparing her for the day.

She hopped off the bus four stops later. Ducking into the coffee shop on the corner, she got a refill. A chill ran down her spine. Pulling her jacket around her tighter, she heard the voice again, a whisper of her name in her ear. She again brushed it off.

She made her way to the restaurant, Vivaldi's, a block away, coffee in hand. The kitchen was gleaming as she entered. Setting her bag down in the corner, she did a sweep to make sure everything had been properly shut off at the end of the night. Satisfied, she pulled the prep list off the wall.

It wasn't long before she was hard at work, a pile of chopped vegetables in front of her as she prepped the soup of the day. She hummed to the music playing, the sounds of Avicii's Wake me up, an effective distraction from the stress of the oncoming day. The knife flew across the cutting board, dicing carrots at high speed. The sound blended with the music and she further slipped into a peaceful state.

"Hello?" a voice called out, disturbing her Zen-like peace.

"Hi Jeremy," Ellie called out, her knife still sailing through celery.

"You're here early," he commented, setting his coat and bag next to hers.

"We have that private party for thirty tonight. And tomorrow we have full reservations all night," she replied, sliding the whole pile of vegetables into the stockpot. Jeremy nodded, perusing the prep list. He left her alone beginning his own tasks. It was right then that the voice came again. It sent her spinning seeking the owner of the voice.

"Eliza… He is waiting for you…"

"You okay?" Jeremy asked poking his head around the corner. Ellie shook her head, looking down to realize that she still had the knife in her hand and it was currently out in front of her defensively. She straightened, brushing off the feeling of paranoia. She went about her day constantly going, never having time to think about the strange voice. Order after order came in. Recipe after recipe made, hands never stopping. It wasn't until she was packing her knife set after the dinner rush that she heard it again.

"Eliza…the time is drawing near…you must come…." Ellie went white as a sheet and nearly collapsed, an iron grip on the table the only thing keeping her upright. One of the cooks grabbed her arm, steadying her.

"I'm alright, just a dizzy spell," she said, brushing off his hand as she stabilized. "I'm going home. You guys make sure everything is done. I'll see you in the morning." A chorus of farewells followed her out the door as she headed towards the bus stop. She got about a block away when the sensation hit. She felt as if she was being pulled out of reality. Her vision became blurry and body weakened. Equilibrium gone, she collapsed.

A bright light appeared before her, a delicate hand reaching out for her. Ellie squinted into the warm light, a feeling of safety washing over her. She used the last of her strength, reaching up towards the hand. The air felt as if it had been pulled from her lungs and her head spun as her vision darkened.

TtT

Leagues away, under the Blue Mountains, Thorin Oakenshield awoke with a start, the image of wide, grey eyes surrounded by obsidian curls, burning in his mind.

TtTtT

Andromache Burrows was late as usual, the twenty three year old was dashing around her apartment grabbing books, shoving them into her messenger bag, toothbrush still hanging out of her mouth. She shoved the last book in the bag and dashed into bathroom. She stopped for a moment contemplating what to do with her long colorless hair. Yanking a brush through the waist length locks, she pulled it into a long braid over her shoulder, bangs falling into her eyes as she slapped make up on. She grabbed her brush and make up kit adding it to her messenger bag as she hopped around trying to pull her jeans on. Successfully pulling the jeans up, she slipped her shoes on, throwing her wallet, iPod, and keys in her bag. It wasn't long before she was dashing out the door, barely getting a grip on the strap of the bag as she ran. Sure enough, her phone began ringing as she darted down the stairs at top speed.

"Hello?" she panted out, practically leaping down to the landing.

"Where are you? I've been waiting for almost fifteen minutes!" the voice shrieked through the speaker. She cringed, sprinting out of the stairwell and through the lobby, slamming bodily into the side of the car.

"Sorry, Liz," she panted as soon as she got the door open. The tall brunette snorted.

"Uh huh. So why does it keep happening Andi?" she asked, pulling out onto the road.

"I was up 'til two studying again."

"Andi! You can't do that when we have six am rounds!" Liz snapped. Andi sank lower in her seat.

"You know as well as I do that I have to know every answer, every treatment, every scrap of information I can because I'm so much younger," she said quietly. She heard Liz sigh as her gaze turned out the window.

"I know," Liz said softly, slowing to a stop. Andi felt a chill go up her spine, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.

"Andromache…" Andi's head snapped around.

"Are you okay?" Liz was looking at her, a concerned look crossing her features.

"You didn't hear that?"

"Hear what?" Andi sank further in her seat as Liz's look turned as if she grew a second head. They pulled into the parking lot, Andi grabbing her bag and dashing into the hospital before Liz could question her further. Dashing into the lobby, she slowed down enough to avoid getting shouted at and made her way to the locker room where she got into her scrubs and coat. She made it to intensive care with just enough time to look over the charts before the attending came in. Putting on her game face, she went about rounds with little distraction. She didn't have a chance to sit down until her lunch break. It was then the voice came again.

"Andromache… You must come… He will need you…" Andi spun around so fast she overbalanced and fell out of her chair. Liz had just shown up with her own meal and was staring down at Andi, looking rather perplexed. Andi laughed nervously.

"My epic grace at work again," she said, pulling herself to her feet. A chuckle sounded from behind her. Andi paled as she turned around to see Dr. Masser standing there. The chief of trauma was laughing at her. 'This can't possibly get any worse,' she thought, her face flushing with embarrassment.

"Dr. Burrows," he greeted her, a smile still crossing her face.

"Hello Dr. Masser," she said softly. Liz had abandoned her, the attending scaring her friend, due to an incident the previous year, when she had frozen during a trauma situation and promptly received a reprimand to end all reprimands.

"I expect I'll be seeing you in the E.R. this afternoon?" he asked, the smile never quite leaving his face. Andi nodded, a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Good, we need your brain down there. They stuck me with all the interns and they are just hopeless." Andi cracked a full blown smile.

"Did you not call me hopeless my intern year?" She said, a gleam of mischief coming to her eyes. "Now look at you, begging me to come help. I can't deal with them without you!" She mocked. His jaw dropped, only the twinkle in his eyes showed the laughter he was hiding.

She heard an intern whisper behind her, "Did she really just say that to him?" causing Dr. Masser to burst out laughing as he slung an arm around her shoulder.

"Come on, Grandma," he commented while pulling her out of the cafeteria.

"Just because my hair is white doesn't mean you can call me that," she groaned, ducking as his hand reached up to muss her hair. Most people were not aware of the close bond the two shared, both of them prodigies in their own right, with genius parents who put an excessive amount of pressure on them to succeed.

"Come I'll buy you a lunch that doesn't put you in Gastroenterology." And that he did, taking her to a restaurant a few blocks from the hospital. In downtown Baltimore there was quite few places to choose from, but the pair always went to the same restaurant, Vivaldi's. They had the best soups in town and was the go to for many attending doctors. Andi was struck by the somewhat somber mood of the usually lively restaurant upon her entrance.

"How many?" The hostess was soft spoken, fitting with the quiet atmosphere of the day. Andi and her companion exchanged confused looks as they took note of the staff wearing all black instead of the usual red button downs.

"Two," Masser answered quickly, eager to eat and get out of this place. Andi felt the cold shiver down her spine, and just like before the voice came.

"Your destiny is here. You must help Eliza save them." The color drained from her face and she stumbled, a dizzy feeling striking her as she followed the hostess. Masser caught her arm, stabilizing her.

"Are you alright?" He asked, keeping her steady as she shook of the last of the dizzy feeling.

"I'm fine Matt, don't worry about me," she smiled up at him easily. He didn't let go until she was seated. The two quickly ordered, somewhat disturbed by the change in the place. Andi was puzzling over what was going on when their food was brought to them.

"Excuse me?" She turned to the waiter, seeing the usual double take at her hair, she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Why is everyone wearing black and there is no music today? OW!" Masser had kicked her under the table.

"Today is the two year anniversary of the disappearance of Ellie." The waiter said quietly. "She was the executive chef here when we opened five years ago. No one knows what happened to her. Excuse me, I need to see to my other tables." He stepped away leaving Andi speechless.

"You feel like an ass, huh?" Masser commented, sipping at his soup. Andi nodded.

"Did you know?" she asked, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper.

"Not until we sat down. They have a picture of her I can see," he said pointing behind her. Andi turned around and felt queasy. The picture show a beautiful woman with long black curly hair and gray eyes lit up with laughter. But it wasn't the image that made her nauseous, but the name underneath, "Eliza 'Ellie' Clark, We miss you." It was then, her pager went off. She checked it, quickly forcing some soup into her rolling stomach. Masser was also peering at his pager. He pulled out his cell phone as the two stood, and was talking someone in the trauma unit.

He cursed, throwing money on the table, "Incoming G.S.W.s, you're scrubbing in." With a minor wave to the staff, they dashed out the door.

Twenty minutes later, they were standing over two brothers who had gotten a hold of their father's gun.

"Dr. Burrows, you take the ten-year-old. O.R. four is waiting for you. I'll be in O.R. seven if you need anything." Masser was already pulling his six-year-old patient towards the elevators. Andi took a deep breath and grabbed the gurney containing the unconscious boy. Their parents were sprinting in the door as she pulled him onto the elevator. Catching sight of their faces as the doors closed, she sent up a prayer to whoever was listening that she would bring them good news.

The next three hours passed in a flurry. The bullet had gone through his lung and lodged itself in his ribs. Two inches to the left and it would have gone through his aorta and had he survived that paralyzed him. As it was, she successfully removed the bullet and repaired the damage to the lung. It was with a sigh of relief that she left the O.R. She looked through the window into O.R. seven as she passed seeing that Masser was still hard at work on the six year old. He looked up and catching her eye, she smiled giving him the thumbs up. He returned the grin before turning his gaze back to his patient.

Looking down to make sure there wasn't any blood, she then made her way to the waiting room to let the parents know the good news. It was as she was leaving them that the voice came again.

"The gift of healing is blessed… You will need it to save him…" Andi's world spun for a moment, she fell against the wall. Masser was suddenly in her eyeline, she could see his lips moving, but no sound made it through. She found herself being picked up and put into a bed. Sound rushing back into her world.

"I'm fine," she said, brushing off the nurses buzzing around her.

"You just collapsed," Masser snapped, taking her vitals.

"I'm just dehydrated," she replied, glaring him down. He was not cowed by her gaze. She pouted, falling back against the pillow.

"Well you're not wrong," he agreed, giving instructions for an I.V. and rest. Andi protested loudly, though she was being ignored.

"Can't I just go home? I'll sleep better there," she reasoned. Masser paused, thinking it over.

"When the I.V. is in your system, you can go home," he compromised. She sighed, knowing it was the best she was going to get.

The next three hours crawled by, Liz stopping in to say hello and bring her food. Otherwise, only nurses came in. Andi cheered loudly when Masser did reappear.

"Yes, yes, go home, get some rest," he laughed, taking her I.V. out. Andi sprinted out of the room. Stopping in the locker room long enough to change and grab her bag, she left the hospital. Making her way to the bus stop, she heard the voice again.

"Andromache… It is time…" Andi felt the world spin, she fell to the pavement, the air leaving her lungs, the strength leaving her body. A bright light washed over her, the warmth of it filling her body. She looked up, seeing a delicate hand reaching for her. She raised her hand towards it, vision darkening before everything went black.

KkK

Curled up in his bed, Kili, son of Dis, awoke out of a deep slumber, the vision of emerald green eyes surrounded by bright light searing through his mind.

KkKkK

Cynthia Marie Astor awoke peacefully, eyes blearily staring in the general direction of the nightstand where the clock sat. She was mostly blind without her glasses or contacts but she knew that yet again she had awoken before the alarm. A slim arm reached out grasping for her glasses.

"Marie, it's time to get up." A voice called up to her.

"I'm up mom." She called back. She crawled out of bed, stumbling into the bathroom. A quick splash of cold water on her face washed the last bit of sleep from her body. She looked into the mirror to see her long strawberry blonde hair was currently matted to her skull on one side and sticking straight up on the other. She yanked a brush through it, cringing as the knots resisted her efforts. Pulling her hair into a well-practiced ballerina bun, she breezed through the rest of her morning routine. Contacts, brushed teeth, clothes, and down the stairs she ran.

"There you are." Her mother greeted her as she bounded into the kitchen. Marie reached into the refrigerator and pulled out yogurt which she took happily to her stool.

"Got a long day today I won't be home 'til after nine." She said, eyeing her mother, who seemed unnaturally frazzled.

"Today is the three year anniversary of the disappearance of Eliza Clark and the first anniversary of Andromache Burrows' disappearance." Marie's attention was pulled to the small television playing the news.

"So sad isn't it?" Marie spared her mother a glance as she spoke. "Their families must be frantic."

"Executive chef Eliza and surgical resident Andromache's cases are still open and their families are pleading with the public, hoping for any information that may lead to finding them." The anchor continued.

"Mom I've gotta get my stuff and go. My class starts at 8:30."

"Okay dear. Hurry up." Marie sprinted up the stairs and starting shoving books, tights, sweatshirt, wallet, phone, glasses, and toe shoes into her duffel bag. She found all of her things and slung the bag over her shoulder. She made her way down the stairs and pulled her shoes on.

"You realize that bag is as big as you are?"

"I know mom." Marie rolled her eyes.

"You'd better get going. Be safe. I love you." Marie hugged her mom before grabbing her keys off the rack and dashing out the door. Tossing the bag into the backseat of her Pontiac Grand Prix, she settled in and took off. She had a thirty minute drive from the suburbs into Baltimore.

Plugging her iPod in, she set it to shuffle and smiled when 'Shut up and dance' by Walk the Moon started playing.

"Oh don't you dare look back

Just keep your eyes on me

I said you're holding back

She said shut up and dance with me

This woman is my destiny

She said oh oh oh

Shut up and dance with me"

Marie was dancing in her seat, eyes still on the road, one hand on the wheel while the rest of her body was in motion. She caught a glimpse at the car next to her, waving at the driver who was openly laughing at her.

She belted the song at the top of her lungs. Her voice was a sweet soprano ringing through the car. The drive passed quickly as she sang. A chill ran down her spine and she could hear a voice in her ear, quiet yet managed to drown out the blasting radio.

"Cynthia…" She shook her head. "What the hell? No one calls me Cynthia. Yep, officially losing it." She mumbled.

She pulled up in front of the dance studio in what seemed like no time at all. Dashing in, she swiftly changed in to her tights and laced her shoes up her legs. Greeting her classmates with a smile, she joined them in warm ups.

"Good morning Madame Barrister." The class chanted.

"Barre." She said shortly and it began.

Two hours later Marie and her partner Daniel, practically fled the classroom.

"I don't understand what was wrong with Barrister today but I hope it never happens again." Marie said, flopping down next to her bag.

"She was a bit more critical than usual." Daniel said, diplomatically. She snorted rather unattractively at his statement.

"A bit?"

"Okay a lot but maybe something happened that's none of our business." He said, pulling sweatpants over his tights. Marie copied his movements, switching out her toes shoes with sneakers.

"Wanna get coffee?" She asked, slinging her bag over her shoulders. Daniel raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you have class?"

"Not 'til noon." She said, pouting. "Come on, ol' buddy ol' pal. Get a girl some coffee and a pastry." Daniel laughed as he shouldered his bag.

"So I'm buying now?"

"Come on boyfriend." She teased. He slung an arm over her shoulders and led her out the door.

"Let's go to Starbucks." He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She wrapped her arm around her friend's waist as they walked.

"How's Lisa?" She asked as they walked.

"She's good. We're going out this weekend." He replied, a smile crossing his face as he thought of his girlfriend. Marie smiled at the look on his face. Lizzy was a gem and she was extremely happy for her best friend. She herself enjoyed Lizzy's company and her understanding of the friendship between Daniel and Marie.

The two had been dancing together since they were four years old. Their mothers had put them in the same dance class and that was it, a lifelong friendship formed. Their dance teachers loved pairing them together for performances when they could as the pair knew each other's bodies and movements instinctively. A trait that was particularly useful for last minute performances. They were close, close enough that many mistook them for a couple upon first glance.

"What do you want?" Daniel asked as they approached the counter. That same chill from the car ride slithered down her spine. The voice slid across her hearing.

"He is waiting for you. It's time to go to him." Marie spun around pulling away from Daniel.

"Marie? Are you okay?" He asked. She shook her head and blinked up at him.

"You didn't hear that?" She asked, a little shaken.

"Hear what?"

"Never mind. My mind's playing tricks on me is all." She said quickly, turning to look at the menu. She ordered quickly putting some distance between her and Daniel as she collected herself.

"So what class do you have today?"

"Psych of Gender and Math for dummies."

"That's not the actual name for the class is it?" He laughed.

"Might as well be." She giggled. "I'm only taking it to fulfill the requirement you should know that."

"I know that you're dumb as a box of rocks when it comes to math." Marie opened her mouth to let out a snarky comment, but sighed instead.

"Sadly I can't disagree." The pair laughed as they took their drinks and headed out the door. The pair talked for a while sitting on the curb outside the dance studio, sipping at their coffee.

The pair went their separate ways and Marie headed off to class. She managed to get through her classes without falling asleep. A fact that she was proud of, especially when it came to her math class. Getting into her car, she felt the chill again.

"It is time… Your companions are waiting."

"God damn it!" She swore as she dropped her keys. She sat for a moment, collecting herself. Giving herself an internal pep talk, she started the car.

She headed back to the dance studio. She taught the beginning ballet classes and had to go prepare. The afternoon passed quickly. Teaching the kids made it difficult for Marie to think of anything else. Beginning at three, she spent the next three hours teaching three classes of three different age groups. She breathed a sigh of relief as the last group applauded and began to leave the room.

The voice raced through her head, giving no warning.

"Cynthia… Your fate is here." She staggered, falling back, her hands wrapped around the barre.

"Marie?" She started.

"Madame Barrister." Her instructor smiled as she crossed the floor.

"You did well today. The children seem to enjoy you as an instructor."

"I love working with them. Even if they are exhausting." Marie smiled as she spoke.

"Are you going to stay and dance for a while?" The Madame asked.

"I thought about it. But I have a lot to do." The voice was really upsetting her.

"What's bothering you?"

"Have you ever felt like you were being, well, summoned for lack of a better term?" Marie asked carefully.

"Once." Madame said, eyes locked on the window.

"What happened?"

"I found my fate."

"That was vague." Marie said, smiling at her instructor.

"That's the only answer I have." Madame smiled softly at her student. She turned the music on and nudged Marie. The girl sighed and moved to the center of the room. Closing her eyes, she let herself fall into the music and just moved. A peace filled her, this was comfort, familiar.

She danced until she couldn't continue, collapsing onto the floor. Enjoying the quiet of her mind, Marie laid there for a while. Eventually, she looked up to see that Madame had left. Sighing, she gathered her things and left. As she approached her car the world began to spin, she collapsed losing all the strength in legs. The air was pulled from her lungs. A warm light appeared, Marie looked into to see a hand reaching out to her. Using the last of her strength, she reached up her vision darkening as everything went black.

Madame Barrister stepped out of the studio. She looked up at the sky.

"Take care of her."

FfF

In his bed under the Blue Mountains, Fili, son of Dis, bolted upright out of a sound sleep. Hazel eyes framed by curls of the softest red danced behind his eyes.

So this is the beginning. Click the pretty buttons and let me know what you all think.