~Callie's Point of View~

Song: "The Night We Met" by Lord Huron

******

I watched him disappear in front of me. I felt my throat burning as I no longer held Sam in my arms, but empty space. I choked on a sob, holding a hand up to my face. I had to keep writing.

Holding back tears, I wrote. And when my computer died and faded out of existence, I pulled out a notebook and pen and filled it with the rest of the story.

Hours went by. The sun rose again and the trees and woods disappeared. I now sat in a large, open field. The school was gone. The buildings. Imara, Haven. My friends. All of them. They were all returned. And I sat and constructed my new life until I had filled two more notebooks.

And then the exhaustion hit, and I fell back against a rock, falling asleep.

When I woke up again, I was in a dense forest. My head was spinning, and I had almost forgotten what had happened. But then I remembered. I remembered everything. I lifted my hands to my face and felt my ears turning to points. I wore elven travel clothing, a satchel filled with scrolls sat next to me.

I released a shaking breath and closed the bag and slung it onto my shoulders. I had to hide these- keep them away from everyone else.

I stumbled off into the forest, knowing where I was, until I was stopped as a silver sword shot out towards me.

I jumped and raised my hands and my eyes met the intense blue stare of Haldir.

"Who are you?" He demanded in Sindarin.

I swallowed hard. "My name is Calissa. I seek sanctuary." I replied, the language flowing effortlessly off my tongue. I had never used my full name before- not once. I was always just "Callie". But here, it would be different.

"Very well." He said. "Follow me." I was led by an entourage of elves with bows and swords to the center of Lothlorien. By the time we made it, I stopped at the foot of a large set of stairs and looked up to meet the intense blue eyes of Galadriel.

Her eyes studied mine, and then she froze. "Come here, child. You have been through much." She held a hand out to me, and I remembered it was the backstory I had made for myself that she knew. I ascended the stairs and took her hand and she turned to some servants and commanded them to go and prepare me a room and a bath.

I followed the servants numbly and let them do all of these things for me, all the while wondering where Baldor was. I needed to find him. I struggled to remember my life before this, but I could feel it slipping away little by little. Tolkien Academy didn't exist, and that meant California didn't exist here. And neither did New York.

I frowned at my hands as two maids combed and braided my blonde hair back from my face, and I remained silent as all of this happened.

By the time I was cleaned, all I could remember was my life in Middle Earth. I had constructed it the same as my life before, and now, that was all I knew. I was two thousand years old. I grew up in Mirkwood and Rivendell as wards of Thranduil and Elrond. My parents were abusive until they died, leaving me to be taken care of elsewhere.

I looked in a mirror and saw I had a scar on my jaw from a thrown wine glass. My eyes were bright blue and my blonde hair was lighter now. My skin fair. My fingers were calloused from wear writing and painting.

I sat heavily on the side of the bed provided for me after the maids told me when dinner would be, and then closed the door. I fell back into the pillows and couldn't help bust suddenly feel more lost than ever before. Where was I, and how did I end up here?

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't remember anything. I lifted my hand to the small wire-wrapped ruby on a silver chain. Anything, that is, except that whoever gave me this necklace was extremely important. What was his name...? It was escaping me. Maybe he remembered me, even if I was struggling to remember him. It was like a dream- I knew he existed, but... who was he?

When the knock finally came to announce that dinner was ready a few hours later, I got to my feet and pulled on a robe, fiddling with the ruby as I followed the maid to wherever it was dinner was being served. I stopped at a set of doors and smiled a little at the elven guards who pulled them open.

I entered the hall to see Galadriel seated with Celeborn at the head of the table. Their guests circled them, and there was an empty chair that I was directed to sit in. I walked over and sat down in the chair silently. I picked up the goblet before me to find it filled with wine. I grimaced and set it back down again.

And that's when I saw him sitting across from me. His black hair was a tousled mess and he was staring at me. His gray eyes were wide, and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was familiar. And that's when his eyes fell to the hem at my neck.

His eyebrows furrowed and he mumbled, "No... it can't be really you, can it? Is that you, Callie?" He whispered, a small smile touching his lips. The table was watching the two of us and I was aware of every eye at the table watching me.

I frowned. "I... yes. That is my nickname, my name is Calissa. I... I'm afraid I've been in an accident. My memories are not put together completely. Are you... the one who gave me this?" I say and touched the gem on my neck.

His features softened and his smile faded as he said softly, "Yes. I did. It's me. Baldor." He swallowed hard, looking nervous for a moment.

"Baldor... yes that name is familiar." I say and ran a hand through my hair. I looked to my wrist, and then stopped. I looked at him. I looked to Galadriel. I rubbed my hands together, then lifted them to rub at my neck. "I... I'm sorry." I whispered, feeling awkward and nervous all at once.

"Calissa, would you like to take your dinner to your room?" Galadriel asked gently. I merely nodded and Baldor was looking at me in concern.

He looked to Galadriel and they seemed to have a silent conversation. From what I had heard about her, she apparently could read minds and speak telepathically.

"Calissa. Baldor. Come with me, please." Galadriel said suddenly and I felt my anxiety spike. I subconsciously touched the scar on my jaw, but stood and allowed the servant to clear my space at the table. I noticed Baldor caught the movement and looked away.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I followed Galadriel, Baldor walking next to me in silence. We entered a small courtyard filled with flowers and vines. At the center of the stone floor was a small basin filled with water. It reminded me vaguely of a birdbath.

I rested a hand on the rim of it, then pulled away. I looked up to see Baldor looking at me.

Galadriel made sure we had privacy, then said gently, "Baldor, can you explain how you know Calissa?"

He opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated. "I... we met long ago. In a village. No one liked me there, but she didn't seem to care. She defended me, cared for me, and befriended me. We fell in love. I gave her that necklace. And then something happened and we were separated. But now she's here."

Galadriel looked to me and asked gently, "Does this sound familiar to you, Calissa?"

I hesitated. "I... can't say. It does, but it feels like it happened in a dream. He looks familiar, but I can't place why. I came here thinking of the man who gave me this, but couldn't remember his name. How can I remember someone but also not know who they are? It's strange, isn't it?" I laughed nervously.

He met my eyes and said gently, "I won't force you to remember me, Callie. But I remember you. I'd do it all again, and you have no idea how happy it makes me to see you here. Whole, and unharmed."

"Calissa, would you be comfortable if I left the two of you to reconnect?" Galadriel asks and looked to me.

Baldor seemed to agree with Galadriel, nodding his head. "Only if you're comfortable."

I paused, looking between them, then slowly began to nod. "I feel comfortable with him, Lady Galadriel. I'm not afraid." I said softly, and offered him a small, shy smile.

Galadriel merely nodded, and turned and left the courtyard. We stood several feet apart, and I fiddled with a tassel at the waist of my dress.

Finally, I spoke. "Please. Don't be sad about me not remembering everything, alright? Something tells me I used to tell you not to worry about me a lot. Or, at least, made sure you were alright."

He smiled softly. "You did. You're the most selfless person I know. It's what made me initially fall for you."

I nodded, shifting from foot to foot. "A-Alright. You mentioned that the village we met in, that I didn't hate you. That we were friends and then became more. Why did the others there dislike you?"

He hesitated, then said, "Because my name is Baldor Sauronion. The Dark Lord is my father."