Prophet (a LOTR fanfic)

At the Inn of the Prancing Pony

I was cold, and I had a splitting headache. The pain pulsed through my temples and beneath my closed eye lids, wrenching me from sleep and back into the world of the living.

The light streaming through the window blinded me when I opened my eyes to a strange room. The little furniture that occupied the space was rough and unfinished, and the walls only panelled in wood. There was a table, two chairs, and ashes smouldered in the hearth. The bed I occupied was lumpy, uncomfortable, and not all that warm. What had possessed me to stay in this rat hole? I tried to remember what had happened the night before, but I just drew a blank. I shook my head and swung my legs off the bed and onto the floor. I shakily stood and made my way out of my small quarters and into the hall, then down the narrow flight of stairs.

I made it down to what looked like a tavern, whose furniture seemed just as rough as the stuff in my room. There was a balding old man with grey hair washing tankards behind the bar and he looked up when I came stumbling into the room.

"Mornin' miss, if you'd be looking for something to eat I can getcha something." I nodded and he disappeared, returning with a plate of cheese and bread. I paused for a moment, wasn't it morning? Noon at the latest, surely. People usually didn't serve these kinds of things for breakfast. I simply shrugged and patted around for some change, discovering a couple strange coins in my pocket. I pulled out a few and slapped them on the counter.

"Thanks, but where am I, exactly?" 

The man looked a little confused.

"Why, you're in the Prancing Pony miss! only the finest tavern in Bree." 

Prancing Pony? Bree? This scene felt eerily familiar.

"Well, how did I get here?" 

The man paused and leaned towards me, eyes darting around the room.

"It was that ranger, Strider they call him." 

Strider? 

"Said he found you outside the gates, by the side of the road." He whispered as if he was imparting some forbidden secret, but I just nodded and walked away, sitting down at a table tucked away in a corner. My mind was blank as a sheet, running through the bartender's words over and over, trying to make sense of it all.

I took my time eating, and after I was finished, I got up and made my way to one of the small windows at the front of the tavern. It was raining, so there was no way I was going to risk going out in the cold without a coat or something. I ran up to my room, looking for any clothes that might have been left lying around. There was a blanket hanging over a chair, so i grabbed it and held it up, discovering this blanket was actually a cloak! Weird. Instantly I wondered if this cloak was special or just standard issue. I shrugged and tossed it around my shoulders, tying it in the front. looks like it was just standard. Don't get me wrong, I was still thrilled, though confused.

I swished it around me a few times and wished I could see myself in a mirror. my wish was granted when I turned and saw a mirror that I hadn't noticed, though what I saw came as quite a shock. I seemed taller and thinner, as if someone had stretched me out. My clothes had changed too; I now wore a pair of brown leather hunting boots that reached just below my knees, trimmed in silver and pressed with intricate patterns. Tucked into my boots were a pair of sturdy black pants, which were covered down to mid thigh by an angular tunic. It was very elegant, black and grey with accents of dark green all through it. A leather belt was tied around my waist and kept my shirt fitted and snug.

Then I looked at my face. This wasn't the me I remembered. my face was longer, my features more angular. My hair was still brown, but it had darkened into a deep chestnut brown, and my eyes! they used to be a washed out hazel, but now they were bright green like a pine tree. I shook my head in disbelief and my hair flopped away from my ears, showing off the new points. I reached up and touched them, astonished.

I could barely believe it! how the hell had this happened anyways?

I stopped dancing around like an idiot long enough to discover the sword and dagger that had been hiding under the cloak. this day was just getting better and better. I unsheathed the sword and carefully inspected the blade. It was double edged, straight as an arrow and sharp enough to split a hair in two. What I could only assume was elvish script ran down the entire length of the metal and the hilt swirled around the grip, ending in a dragon claw pommel.

I gave the sword a few practice swings; a little heavy, but otherwise pretty awesome. I sheathed the sword and tied it around my waist. I grabbed the dagger next, pulling it out and examined it with as much care as I had the sword. The dagger was curved and was only single bladed, but it was light and nimble. I tied that to the other side of my waist and made my way down the stairs again, now decked in my new equipment.

By the time I had finished with my new weapons, what I assumed to be the regular patrons were beginning to file in and I decided I should stay for the night. I had a feeling things were about to get interesting around here. I watched the tavern fill up from my table in the corner and I scanned the growing crowds for the man I knew I would see. I didn't have to wait long.

When the tavern had reached almost full capacity, he slipped through the door, overlooked by nearly everyone, and snaked through the crowd, sitting down at a table on the far end of the room. He turned towards me and I caught sight of his face.

Aragorn had arrived.