Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 6: Dreams of Fate

Abby's POV:

I stood at the edge of a courtyard. A circle of chairs mostly occupied it and in the center of those chairs was a circular stone table. In the center of the stone table was a golden ring, and I could hear whispers coming from it. Something special is going to happen. I can feel it. I passed a couple chairs to get closer to the table to inspect the ring when Frodo appeared on the other side.

"Frodo?" I asked. He looked much better than he did when I last saw him. His face was full of color and life. Although, his expression made me stop in my tracks. It was serious, but also looked like he was dreading this moment.

"I will take it," he said to me.

"Take what?"

"I will take the Ring to Mordor."

Suddenly Gandalf appeared behind Frodo, then Strider. A blonde-haired elf appeared then a hairy dwarf. Followed them was another man, then Sam, Merry, and Pippin.

"What's going on?" I asked, not really directing it to anyone.

"Will you join them, Abigail?" asked a quiet voice.

I jumped and turned to see a tall, beautiful woman standing before me. She had long, golden blond hair with a vine crown that looked much like Elrond's. She had light blue eyes just like me except hers looked much older and wiser. She wore a white dress with long sleeves that had a repeated pattern of embroidered leaves. Her face, like Elrond's looked young yet old at the same time. I can see pointy ears poking out from underneath her hair. She must be an elf.

"W-what?" I stutter.

"Will you join them?"

"Why would I join them?"

"Because you will find your true place if you go with them."

I looked back at the group. They seemed frozen in time, their empty eyes looking off into nothing. "Frodo said he'll take the Ring to Mordor," I turned back to the woman. "If I go with them to Mordor, I'll return home? Is that what you're saying?" I felt myself get excited. I found a way home.

"You will find your true place," she repeated. "Wherever that is. But you are meant to be here, in this world, for this journey."

"Why? Why me? Why not someone who knows this world? I know nothing."

She gave me a wistful look and I suddenly felt like I was a fifteen again; questioning everything that had to make me do something. "You and Cathy will have to figure that out on your own. But you must join this quest. You and Cathy. Tell Lord Elrond that you have to attend the Council of Elrond that is in two days time. That is your only chance to find your true place."

"Why would he let me go to this council, let alone go on this quest?"

She then looked me in the eyes. "Because the fate of Middle-Earth truly rests in your and Cathy's hands. We will speak more when you come to Lothlórien. Until then, take care, Abigail."

*****

I bolted upright in bead, breathing heavily with every muscle in my body aching. What in the world was that about? Who was that woman? I have never seen that woman, yet something about her was familiar, like I've been expecting her.

Sunlight suddenly bathed the room and it surprised me that it was morning already. It felt like I just fell asleep. I lay back on the bed, and trying to not let that dream bother me. Should I talk to Elrond about that Council that's supposed to be meeting tomorrow?