Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 5: Mother

Cathy's POV:

"What?" Abby and I exclaimed at the same time.

Wait, did he just say that I was a Seer? No. No I'm not. I don't know anything about this world. Or a world. Or anything in general.

"But not of this world," Elrond continued, taking my shocked silence as a sign to continue. "The book you wish to write, you can See into that world."

"H-How do you know I'm writing a book?" I asked.

"I have seen you since you began writing when you were a child. That is how I knew you were here and who you are."

I thought back through those times when I was writing snippets of the story. Some of the times, if felt like casual writing, but other times, it felt like I was right there in the story; writing down everything I saw. I just thought that other writers experienced the same thing.

"All those ideas..."

"Is you partially seeing into that world," Elrond nodded. "You think your ideas change constantly, but the future is never set in stone. You see alternatives; the whole story. And when you settle on an idea, it will most likely happen in that world."

I shook my head. Who would have thought that I was a Seer? Also, how ironic is it that I'm planning on being an author? That one book isn't the only idea that I have. I have plenty more story ideas. Were there others like me? Was the author of the Hobbit the Seer of this world? I'm willing to bet money on it.

"I knew we were in the Hobbit." I laughed dryly.

"Sorry?" Gandalf tilted his head curiously.

I gave a small laugh. "I-uh-think someone wrote about this world back in our world. But I just read one of the books. It was called the Hobbit and there were thirteen dwarves on this quest to a mountain to get their gold back from a dragon."

Gandalf, Elrond, and Strider all looked shocked at me. I guess from their expressions that this quest has either happened or is already in progress.

"That happened over seventy years ago," Strider gasped.

"There are other books," I continued. "But I don't have any idea what happens in them. I never read them."

Elrond and Gandalf shared a look again before turning to Abby and I. "We'll discuss more of this later," Elrond said, rubbing his temple. Suddenly, I wasn't seeing an immortal elf, I was seeing an aged elf. His eyes seemed to have aged and his face looked worn.

I wanted to ask more questions. But looking between the elf and the wizard, I can see that they were just as confused and frustrated at this situation as I was. I met Abby's gaze and she nodded. She must have seen what I have when looking at Elrond.

Abby and I said a small bye and left the garden. As soon as we reached the empty corridor, Abby turned to me.

"Now what?" She asked. "Apparently we're stuck in this world. What's going to happen back at home, Cat? Will we be declared missing or dead? Do you have any idea what my family is going to go through when they hear something of that news?"

A flare of anger went through me, but I quickly put it out. I can't fight Abby, she's the only person that I have. I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "Yeah, I have a decent idea," I muttered. "Since my family will also freak out. But we can't do anything. Gandalf and Elrond don't know, and I'm pretty sure that if anyone will know anything it would be them."

"What about Saruman? Yeah, he's a bad guy, but he somehow sent one of his... things to our world and brought us here. Maybe-"

"No." I interjected.