A Hero for Middle Earth(Percy Jackson/LOTR Crossover)

Chapter 2

Percy awoke to the sound of running water. He hadn't even opened his eyes yet when he realized that he was sleeping outside, most likely in the middle of nowhere, if the Valar's sense of humor was anything to go by. I mean, really, Percy thought, who sends a guy on a quest to save the entire world without telling him what he has to do? Oh, wait; the gods did that all the time... He groaned and got up off the soft grass and heather he had been sleeping on. He realized he was in the middle of a forest, with a small creek gurgling to his right. Where the creek flowed there was a small gap in the tree canopy above, though the forest wasn't very dense anyways.

It must be very early morning, Percy reasoned; it's still dark out, but there's a reddish haze in the sky from what I can see. He walked over to the creek and knelt down to flush water over his face; nothing left him more refreshed and awake. Just out of curiosity, Percy willed the water to form a trident. He felt a small tug in his gut, and a watery trident rose above the waters and came to his hands. Percy smiled and let it fall back to the creek. "So my powers do still work in this world; good to know." He stood there for several moments, simply listening to the creek; in this land, the water felt... more alive.

When he got back up and dried his face, he leaned against the nearest tree and relaxed. All Percy did for a long time was think. He thought so hard and fully that he was positive Annabeth would be proud. He thought about his quest- what was he supposed to do? He knew nothing about this land, its peoples, or the different nations. Percy kicked a rock in frustration.

"Well you guys could at least give me a little bit of help!" Percy called out at the sky. Then he sat down at the bottom of the tree he was leaning against. "I don't know where to start; I don't know what I'm supposed to do," he said more quietly.

"You are frustrated are you not?"

In an instant Riptide was in Percy's hands and he spun around, looking for the source of the voice. "Who said that?"

"Yet you are also worried," the voice breathed.

"Who are you?"

"A friend, if you will. Do not be discouraged; remember Manwë's advice. He says to seek out Gandalf, and he will help you. I go one step further: I say also seek out Aragorn son of Arathorn."

"How am I supposed to find him?" There was a pause, and the only sound for a while was the creek running its course, that's when he realized that the voice had been coming from the water. "And why does your voice come from the water?" Percy called out in a last-ditch effort to continue the conversation.

"You and I are more similar than you think Perseus Jackson, demigod son of Poseidon. You are bound to water, as am I. For that, it was I who was sent to help you. Do not worry, you will find Aragorn."

"Oh, um, thank you." Percy coughed out. "So, is that it, or -."

"Manwë sends you a token. When you find Gandalf, show him it."

Percy felt something weird on his left hand. When he looked at it he gasped. "What the-?" On his ring finger appeared a ring; it hadn't been there before.

"This will help you on your quest."

"How did-?"

"Remember the waters, Perseus, when you are in need." There was a pause, and just when Percy was beginning to think the talk was done, he heard the fading voice say, "When the time comes, do not be afraid to be the leader," and everything went back to normal. His conversation was over.

-------------------------------------------------------

Percy had a lot to contemplate as he sat by the creek. Now he knew that he had to try to find a certain Aragorn fellow. As he looked back at the creek, he saw the reflection of many stars. Out of curiosity, he gazed upwards at the purple sky and gasped. Shining above him were millions of stars still burning in the early morning. His curiosity piqued, Percy climbed the nearest tree to the top, and lo and behold, there, in the east, was that third silmaril, shining brighter than ever in the dawn sky. A light breeze from the east ruffled his hair and caressed his face; just then he noticed that he was in fact on the edge of the woods, and he thought he saw smoke wafting up in the air several miles away. Taking it to mean civilization, he climbed down from the tree and started to walk.