Chapter Text
I woke up on a make-shift bed alongside a cart. I only remember my name, Alyssa. I'm not sure how I got here or where this throbbing pain in my head came from. As I sit up, a sharp pain triggers in my lower back making me hiss in pain. As I look at my body I notice there are cuts and bruises everywhere, did I fall? As I ponder this, an old voice says,
"Wow, you're awake. I didn't think you were going to make it, but I stand corrected." I look up to see the voice belonged to an old man with a long grey beard. He was wearing a long worn down tunic with a pointy hat. He was leaning against his staff. A wizard, perhaps? I tried speaking but my voice was very dry so I gestured for him to give me water. He was confused at first. Out of annoyance I yelled,
"Water." my yell turned into a hoarse whisper. He quickly ran to his cart and pulled out a canteen. He calmly handed it to me, I open it and drank slowly. Even though I wanted to chug it down, if I did that my throat wouldn't feel better. After a few gulps I stopped and handed it back to him.
"What's your name, elf?" the old man asked as he put the canteen back in the cart.
"Alyssa. How did I get here?" I ask desperate to know something, anything.
"I saved you, well, actually I found you. Nearly dead at the bottom of a cliff. I brought you here, hoping you might make it. I did have my doubts because, if you jumped from the top of that cliff, you had a little to no chance of survival." He said sitting down next to me. His knees popped, a worried expression crossed my face.
"Don't worry about, it comes with age." He said running his knees. Then he looked up and studied me.
"Who are you?" I asked him, but I didn't get a quick response. He just kept studying me, finally he let out a small quick sigh.
"My name is Gandalf, Gandalf the grey. I'm a wizard." He paused looking concerned."Who are you, Alyssa?" He asked looking me directly in the eye. Its as if he can tell I don't remember.
"I don't know." I say honestly. Looking off into the distance, Gandalf sighed.
"I had a feeling you didn't. Your eyes told me everything, you're scared and confused. But I can't help you, your memory may or may not return on its own." He said bluntly. I put my hand to my mouth, trying to remember. No use.
"What do you mean?" I asked losing hope.
"Some memories return on their own, others need to be triggered. I can't help with that, sorry. So I'll ask again, who are you?" he asked looking cheerful.
"I don't remember, who am I?" I was asking him as well as myself. His cheerfulness disappear into a serious gaze.
"That is no longer important. What matters now is who you will become." He said placing a hand on my shoulder. I sighed. Gandalf got up and offered his hand, to help me up. I took it, he started mumbling to himself.
"What's wrong, Gandalf?" I asked. He looked at me and smiled.
"You will be my new traveling partner." He immediately goes through his cart and takes out a sword. He hands it to me.
"Here, you will need this and we need to get you new clothes."
"I never agreed to this." I say angrily. He raises a brow.
"But you won't turn it down either." he laughed. He saw right through me, I was excited to be his traveling partner. I get to learn 'new' things and fight. Next thing I knew fifty years have passed. My sword skills have improved alot, as well as my way with words. Gandalf and I split up a month ago because he had to meet up with someone and this someone didn't like elves. I received a letter from Gandalf telling me to meet him at the shire. Well, I was here. Where is he? As I was about to leave, I heard a voice call out for me. I turned around to see Gandalf waving his hand. I walk up to him and said,
"I've been waiting here for hours! Gandalf, what took you so long?"
"I had to get a burglar."
"What?" he explained to me that he made arrangements with a company of dwarfs to take back Erebor. They needed a burglar and Gandalf was to provide one. He chose a hobbit of the name Bilbo Baggins. He also told me, the company's leader, Thorin Oakenshield, doesn't like elves. He will do everything in his power to avoid them.
"Why take me along then?! If he hates elves, he will hate me!" I snap at Gandalf.
"If he befriends you before he realizes you are an elf, you will be fine."
"And if he finds out before I'm his friend?"
"He will be forced to keep you around." He said trying to light up his pipe. A couple hours pass and it was time to head to Bilbo's place. Gandalf told me to wear a black cloak so no one found out what I was before I befriended them. When we arrived there were already a bunch of dwarfs at the door, complaining about not being inside. They all started leaning on the door to get it to open. Then one of them had a brilliant idea, to ram their bodies at the door. Basicly, break it down.
"1-2-3!!!" right as they said three the door opened. They all fell to the floor. As the fallen dwarves moan I peer inside to see who opened the door. It was the hobbit. He was looking coldly at Gandalf. The dwarves rise to their feet and raid the kitchen. I walk in with Gandalf, I was a little too tall for this house. Gandalf on the other hand shouldn't be in here. He's taller than me and he keeps bumping his head and ramming his face into the chandelier. Gandalf started counting the dwarves, then he noticed we were one short. A bald dwarf walks up to us,
"He will be here, he's just late." then he looks at me and rudely says,
"Who's he?" I was about to say 'excuse me!' but Gandalf immediately interfered.
"He's a friend. He will be accompanying us on this journey." Gandalf gave me a warning glare. He will explain later.
"Thorin won't like this." the bald dwarf warned.
"Master Dwalin, if he likes it or not my friend is coming." Dwalin shrugged and walked away. I grab Gandalf by the wrist and take him to a room away from everyone else.
"He???" I quietly question. Gandalf looks behind him, to make sure no one is listening. Then looks at me.
"Sorry, Alyssa. If they knew you were a girl, they would quickly find out you're an elf. So from now on, you are a male ranger by the name of Daniel. You are also on a vow of silence."
"You really thought this through, how I how did it take you?" I said giggling. He rolled his eyes.
"Wanna make a bet?" Gandalf asked.
"What is it?" I asked interested.
"How they find out you're a female elf. I wager it's by accident."
"You're so on. I bet I get fed up with them."
"Deal." Gandalf agreed. We walk into the dining room to see Bilbo having a heart attack, figuratively speaking. Food was being thrown and drinks being spilled. I feel really bad for Bilbo. Especially when they started to sing a song about him while throwing their plates around the household. I walked into the kitchen to see all the plates nearly stacked on top of each other.
"THAT'S WHAT BILBO BAGGINS HATES!" was the last line they sang. Which was followed by laughter. Then two loud knocks.
"He's here." Gandalf said slowly.