{Samuel's Point of View}

Song: "El Dorado" by Thomas Bergeron, feat. Two Steps From Hell

******

I sat at a desk with my hands folded and a narrow-eyed expression at the Headmaster. He wore an old, battered gray suit with a blue neck tie, and had a long gray beard. He eyed me with a quizzical expression, then looked back down at his papers.

"Samuel Hemmings, what is it that you've come to me to complain about now? Are you here to claim your innocence about something else?" His tone was curt and had an edge to it that showed he had little patience to deal with me today. I didn't care what he thought.

I leaned back in the chair and narrowed my gray eyes on him. "I'm here to report a stolen item." I say tersely and clenched my fists in my lap. The air conditioning was on in the small office, the faint whir the only sound as the Headmaster gave me a long look, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips as he realized I wouldn't elaborate. Despite the leather jacket I wore, I was still cold. I always seemed to be cold.

"A stolen item? Now that is surprising. A student stole from you?" His tone and demeanor was calm, but I knew he was going over scenarios in his head for what the item could possibly be. I rolled my eyes.

"Yes, Headmaster. You see, it was very important to me and there's only one quite like it in the world. It's a ring, made of solid gold, and I'd like to have it back. Its got engravings on it. It's a bit of a family heirloom, and I'd like also for the thief to be punished for the crime. Preferably expelled." I crossed my arms over my chest and my unwavering stare showed just how perfectly serious I was. 

The Headmaster sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "We'll see what we can do to get it back to you, Samuel. In the meantime, do go back to your studies. I know you have summer term still to finish with finals and all. The new first years will be arriving tomorrow, and I expect you to be on your best behavior."

I stood up and ran a hand through my jet black hair and smirked. "Not like you can kick me out, Headmaster. After all, my father is the one you should worry about causing any sort of trouble more than me. You know how I tend to keep to myself while on campus, and that's why this thievery is so alarming to me." I narrowed my eyes at the Headmaster. "I also assume you don't want my father knowing about this, correct?"

The Headmaster's expression turned stoic. "He knows just as well as you do that he is not allowed anywhere near the boarders of this University." He said seriously.

I smirked. "It's funny you think the little boarder control could hold him back. I have to go back to my studies, as you so enjoy reminding me of, but I do hope the culprit is caught. I'm not entirely in the mood to get my hands dirty." I smirked, the shadows in the room seeming to grow only for a moment before the lamp's light fought back the darkness and illuminated the room again.

I then turned and left the office and made my way out of the Administrator's building and across the quad, a large field dotted with stone pathways on one side with open structures over gardens with benches and hammocks. The other side was open- that was where the school hosted rugby, soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey games.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and put on a mask of indifference as I looked around me. I had to around here. I had very little friends in this world as most people were afraid of me because of who my father was. He was a Dark Lord and all- it made sense that his son would be just as evil.

I found a rock on the path and stopped to pick it up, that's when I saw her.

She was standing in the middle of the quad with a Polaroid in hand, and taking pictures. There was a wide smile on her face. I raised an eyebrow and just stood in the shadows of an open pavilion and watched her. She was new- that I knew for certain. I had never seen her before and I knew every girl here. I knew everyone here and made it my business to, so she must have been a first year.

Which was even stranger- there hadn't been any new students at Tolkien Academy in years.

She had long blonde hair that was pulled back into a messy bun with a purple bandana holding it in place. She wore overall shorts over a striped navy and white T-shirt and wore a green backpack splattered with paint. Her converse sneakers had different colored laces- one shoe with blue, the other with pink. She wore green socks.

If it wasn't her outlandish clothing style that caught my attention, it was definitely the smile that lit up on her face and laugh after she took a picture of me gawking at her.

I squared my shoulders and stuffed my fists into my pockets and marched off, trying to ignore her. I refused to interact with her in any way.

"Hey!" She called after me and I clenched my jaw and kept walking. I didn't have time for this. "Hey! Wait up!" She called, more persistently this time. I only reluctantly slowed my pace the smallest bit, but didn't stop walking, or look back. She caught up to me and gave me a look that read slight annoyance.

"Can I help you?" I asked with a heavy sigh, looking at her sideways.

"What's your name?" She asked and I raised an eyebrow. She was either very brave, stupid, or...

"You aren't from around here. Are you?" I drawled, stuffing my hands into my pockets.

She smirked. "That's a stupid name. Well, You Aren't From Around Here, Are You, where can I find Lorien Hall? That's where I'm moving in." She says with that still hint of annoyance in her voice. I found it interesting she didn't immediately fear or run from me. That's what people usually did- that, or glare in anger or throw something at me if they're feeling really brave (which never happens).

I raised an eyebrow, then pointed behind me. "Down that way. It's the giant white building, and the only blindingly white building on campus with the green vines all over it. Has all the wonderful gardens around it with some pretty flowers. Can I go now?"

She looked up at me quizzically, then rolled her eyes. "Yeah. One last thing, actually. What's your real name? Because I don't mind just calling you that splurge, but I think you would enjoy it all that much."

I glared at her. "Samuel. Samuel Hemmings. And you are?"

She sent me a smile that made my heart beat a little faster, then said, "You seem to be the school asshole, so I'm sure you'll find out soon enough."

She grabbed the handle of her single suitcase and sauntered off in the direction I had directed her in. I blinked once as I watched her go, and for once in my life, I was at a loss for words.

"Hey, Sam!" A voice called and I slowly turned to see one of the only three people who hug out with me anymore. They were either brave or felt compelled to because of our family relations.

"What is it?" I asked and looked at him. Haven Gray had wild silver hair that he had dyed that way, saying he thought it looked cool. He had dark eyes and a nose piercing. He wore a gray and white Adidas hoodie and joggers. He was also one of the few Necromancers here I thought had any actual skill. On this side, at least.

"That girl. She had a lot of gall talking to you like that. Do you think she knows who you are?"

I looked back in the direction she had walked off in and saw her talking with a tall guy with a baseball cap who I had seen very little of around campus. Must have been a second year.

"If she did, she either didn't care, or she really does have no idea who I am." I tilted my head to the side and glanced back at Haven. "Which makes me wonder who she is- back Home. Or if she is from this side."

"So...what about the school? You think she knows? Or have any idea why the Headmasters would even accept her here? If she isn't from Home, then who is she?" Haven asked and glanced at me, then looked back at her.

I tilted my head from side to side, cracking my neck, grimacing slightly. "If she doesn't find out soon, she'll be in for a rude awakening. Because if there's one thing I hate more than this school, is people who think they can get away with shit like that."

I watched as she was joined by two other guys before I turned and left, walking across the quad and dissolving into my own shadows.

******

Welcome! This book will be (sort of) like a retelling of the story found in The Lord of the Rings saga. I do hope you enjoy this book and all the little hidden Easter eggs that point to Tolkien's wondrous series. I also want to note I published this a while back, and am republishing it a chapter at a time edited and added to.

I hope you like the revisions and I look forward to updating more!

Love always,
~Cora Knight xoxo