Chapter Two

"Don't worry so much Danielle. He'll grow out of it. They all do," I hear my mum say as she enters the kitchen with the cordless phone. I'm sitting by the island counter eating ice cream directly off the tub. "Of course," mum continues. "I still remember the summer we went to visit my parents. Lisa was six and she would tell me about her imaginary friend," mum says as she gives me a smile. I raise a brow in response. "She even had a name for her," mum laughs. "…called her Lego-land… Lego-lass… Oh that's right! Legolas!"

I roll my eyes at my mother. Imaginary friend indeed! I don't recall anything she's been saying. I don't really remember much from my childhood. But then again, who does? "That's right, I've been clearing some of the old things and I chanced upon a drawing she did of the both of them. Their names were even scribbled at the top! ... …"

I finish the last of the Haagen Dazs ice cream and toss the empty tub into the bin. Mum is still harping nonstop about my childhood. Picking up my MacBook, I trudge up the stairs to my room. I've got a term paper to complete.

My room door is ajar, allowing access to our American Eskimo. "Whatcha got there Mr Muggles?" I ask as I lift the dog up onto my bed. His mouth holds a drawing, my drawing to be exact. I retrieve it from his mouth and take a closer look at the picture I have drawn. I can make out two short people. One has long yellow hair while the other clearly has messy brown hair. I realise that it is my imaginary friend and I for the words 'Legolas' and 'Lisa' are written haphazardly at the top. So this is my imaginary friend, a girl with long blonde hair. I let out a small laugh at the name Legolas. Seriously? What kind of a name is that? I sure did have a wild imagination.

I have a polo game in the morning and as usual, I am running late. I quickly grab my duffel bag and head out to the garage. I take dad's new V40. He doesn't mind. What can I say; I have the best dad ever!

Man! I'm running late! I step on the pedal and take a right turn through the shortcut to the Polo Club. I have taken this secluded road countless of times when I bring my stallion back and forth to the club and the stables at my house. It's not very far really. I always leave my horse at the club at least a day before any game. It will not do me any good to ride an exhausted horse during the match.

Suddenly, a man with long hair appears ahead of my car and I automatically slam my foot hard onto the breaks. The car screeches to a stop and I jerk forward. I am saved from any injuries by the seatbelt I have been wearing. I pant as though I have run a marathon. I look forward to the windscreen and my eyes scan the surroundings for the man.

Oh my goodness! Where is he?! Did I kill him?! Shit! I've become a murderer! I'm going to hell! My heart feels like it's about to jump out of my chest. With shaky hands, I reach for my duffel bag. The bag has fallen onto the floor of the passenger seat as I made the emergency break. I cannot reach it. I remember that the safety belt is still strapped across my chest. I fumble to unbuckle myself. Goodness! This cannot be happening! Is it really my fault? I didn't see him coming! He somehow mysteriously appeared!

I manage to grab my bag and take out my iPhone. I have to call 911. I stumble out of the car with my bag clutched to my chest with one hand and the other gripping my phone. With shaky steps forward, I peer over the bonnet of the car.

There's no body! Where's the body?! Oh my goodness! I search the area frantically for a bloody corpse. Did my mind just make everything up? Is there really no man with long blonde hair? Gosh! I must be going mad! I take a deep breath to calm myself down. Deep breaths. Yes. Deep breaths. Good news: I didn't kill anyone. Bad news: I'm going bonkers! With these two things in mind, I inch my way back slowly to the car.

I nearly have a heart attack for the second time in five minutes when I see the man, alive and well, right in front of me. The man eyes me over.

"You're ok!" I manage a squeak out. The man is wearing strange clothes and is very handsome in a pretty-ish sort of way.

"I need you to come with me," he suddenly says. I blink a few times, trying to get over my confusion. "My lady please, I need you to come with me," he repeats.

Is he crazy?! Who in the right mind will follow a stranger? Nevermind that he is totally hot and good looking! What does he want with me anyway? I have my pepper spray in my bag, but I probably can't get it out fast enough.

Suddenly, monsters start appearing from the trees. Yes, monsters. The really hideous looking kind and not like those from Monster Inc. I didn't count how many of them there are but I'm fully convinced I'm dreaming. Of course I'm dreaming. It must be. There are no other explanations for this. This is just one very weird and bizarre dream. That's all. Or nightmare. Yes, I think nightmare is a better word.

The man moves so fast that I barely see the first shot coming. One of the monsters is lying down on the ground with two arrows embedded in his neck. I run, extremely terrified, to the back of my car for cover. The man is armed with a bow and arrows and has deadly aim. Oh my gosh. I am going to die. I slowly creep out from behind the car to have a better look at the situation. It turns out that several men with long blonde hair, looking very similar to the man earlier, have appeared and are picking out the monsters one by one.

I guess this is a very good time for me to get away while all of them are distracted. I mentally debate on getting back inside the car and running away on foot as fast as I possibly can. I quickly decide on the latter when one of the monsters crashes onto the car.

Before I can get even three feet away from the car, the man I almost ran over stood in front of me, effectively blocking my way.

"You have to come with me, my lady" he insists.

"Me?! Why?!" I cry.

"It might be difficult for you to come to our land. Please stay close to me," he says, disregarding my early question.

He turns his back and walks towards the pile of dead bodies. Goodness, goodness, GOODNESS! DEAD BODIES! Monsters or not, the good looking men have killed them! I inch my way back really slowly. He is crazy and dangerous! I have to get away from him! From all of them!

He sees that I'm not following him and before I know it, I'm being dragged across the forest before I can make a run for it. One of his companions carries my duffel bag while he practically manhandles me.

"If you had followed me just as I asked, it would have made things easier for you," he tells me.

I continue my fruitless struggles against him. "Where are you taking me? My parents are going to call the police if I don't come home!" I say, sounding very close to whining. "Please! Wait! Hey!" I wail as I try to move in the opposite direction he is heading. But he has a tight grip on me.

Suddenly, he comes to an abrupt stop and he pulls me behind him. His companions have quickly stood in front of us with their weapons drawn. Quite a distance away from us, I see more of the monstrous creatures. Oh my gosh! There are more of them?! Just how many of them are there?! What are these hellish creatures and strange men doing out here in Napa Valley in the first place?! Oh my gosh! Where the hell is the SWAT team?!

I drop to a squat on the ground and bury my head below my arms. This just isn't my day.

Again, the fight is over before I know it and he comes to pull me up to my feet.

"I apologise in advance, my lady," he says.

"What?"

"It will be faster this way."

Faster what way? Is he going to kill me? Before I can even ask him that, I'm lifted off the ground and he throws me across his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.

I let out high pitched sobs as he carries me for quite a distance. When he finally stops and puts me down, I beg for my life.

"Please don't kill me!" I plead.

"You can go in through that door, my lady," he motions to a portal of some sort in the middle of nowhere.

Oh my gosh! I'm going to die when I enter that portal! I beg harder with my palms put together, "Please spare me!" There are tears in my eyes. I don't want to die! I haven't even gone on my first date yet! I know. It's pathetic. I'm nineteen, have never gone out on a date, and am going to die. Fantastic.

"I'm not going to kill you, my lady. Now please, go in."

I break into hysterics and drop to the ground. "You're lying! I've already seen all your faces! Kidnappers usually kill those who have seen their faces. I've seen that in movies. I know!" In a last ditched attempt, I try to get up and am stopped immediately by him.

"I am Legolas of Mirkwoord. I give you my word, I will protect you and let no harm come to you."

With that, he grabs me by the arm and pushes me into the portal.

To be continued…

oOo

A/N: Well, I'm deciding to make this more towards AU. I will not be following the fellowship. Please let me know what you think. Reviews and constructive criticism will be much appreciated.