"I love you…" A sweet voice and a faint smell of flowers, my heart warmed up and my body stirred. In this darkness I was, there was no danger no more. Those words repeated ever so often and each time they slowly etched themselves in my memory. This woman, I longed for her.
My eyes opened, it was dark and quiet. I was laid on the stone cold floor, the air was heavy and every breath took effort. Once I came to my senses, memories of the chase came to mind and so did its aftermath. My muscles ached along with the wound on my head, less than before at least.
*Ding!* The sound of metal, reverberated and reached my ears. Adjusting to this darkness, I caught sight of great pillars, made of stone and carved with intricate symbols and runes. Crates and boxes, of various shapes and sizes. This most likely a storeroom, even thought I didn't look like one.
*Ding!* Again the sound echoed and found me. I was drawn to it, I caught sight of a light at the entrance of the room I was in, pushing off the floor, I stood and followed that metallic rhythm.
I was lead to a flight of stairs, overlooking a hall that was empty and devoid of light. None but one, at the center of the room there was fire burning and the smell of coal reached me.
Walking down the stairs, I pressed my hand up against the wall for support, a rugged surface of stone. Everything was made up of it, from the walls to the floor. Who would have the skill and patience to achieve such a feat I thought.
But time hasn't been kind to this hall, cracks have formed along the walls. The statues that decorated the room had there limps broken, parts of them scattered on the floor. What would once have been the pride of the folk living here, now were just ruins.
Pushing the thought aside, I walked towards the light and source of sound. An anvil and furnace, tools of smithing arranged on a workstation and scorching heat that the closer I got the more I felt it. That wasn't all though.
There was this lone figure, with a hammer in hand. He was an old man with a beard that reached his belly, short in stature but with muscles that made up for it. His gaze locked onto the metal he was working on and with every strike sparks flew, giving shape to something new.
"Well look who is finally awake!" As if having eyes on the back of his head, he seemed to have noticed my presence.
He stopped working on his craft and turned to look at me. One brown eye and one missing, a wound where it should have been. His gaze was sharp and piercing, it held the weight of ages.
"I...want to thank you for saving me." I was glad to have finally met another person in this strange place I have ended up in.
"No need for thanks, those wolves were pestering me for ages. Their pelts will fetch a nice price! Haha!" He laughed, his voice thick and rumbling. He approached, barely reaching to my chest in height and took a good look at me.
"Hmm...come you should be hungry. Have you ever tasted mountain wolf before?" He thought for a moment, I saw it in his eyes, before calling me to eat.
We a wave of his hand, he motioned to follow me. With short and sturdy steps he led me through the hall and to what would be the entrance to this place. A stone door, simple in design, nothing but some runes on its surface. With a push it easily opened to him.
"Aye, its a beautiful night. Take a bowl and warm your body by the fire. Eat your fill and after we will talk." The moon lit the face of the mountain that we emerged from, nothing could hint at this place being there, other than the stone door. It was well hidden, nothing like I have ever seen.
A campfire was lit, next to it a small tent with a table with basic eating utensils. I grabbed a bowl and sat by the warm flames. The smell coming from the cauldron that hang above the fire was inviting. I served myself and ate.
"Wow...delicious." It was a warm and thick stew of meat and vegetables. The wolf bits were tender and melted in my mouth, filling my stomach. I ate it in an instant and grabbed another bowl.
"Glad you like it. Now, who are you laddy?" The old man sat opposite to me, he had grabbed a pipe that he lit up and smoked.
"My name is Maegol...this might sound weird but I don't remember much. I woke up in the woods and next thing I know I was being chased by a bear...and the wolves." My first days weren't the best, I explained the to him.
How I awoke and remember nothing of where I came from and hardly my name. I was lost and with no knowledge of what this world I was in was. But I didn't mention the dreams I was having, he would probably think I was a lunatic.
"*Puff*...how interesting. And that tattoo of yours where did you get it?" He pointed at me left arm.
"What tattoo…" I never knew I had it, my shirt was hiding it up to this point, but now that I wore none, as it had been torn to shreds from my running through the forest, it was revealed.
Long and twisting runes run down my arm in a form of snake, from my shoulder down to my wrist. Every so often there was a break in the design, as if it was created in parts...it felt alive, looking at it long enough gave me the impression that it moved on my skin. I felt my hairs standing and unease.
"You feel it too don't you. There is something dark and grim about it. I pray to Aule it isn't so...you have been cursed laddy." The dwarf stated, shadows cast down his eyes. This was an unexpected turn of events.
I felt tricked, how could curses be real. The where a hoax from what I knew, was he trying to trick me into buying a potion from him or something I thought. But then again…
"How does that work? Like magic? I don't understand...hitting my head seems more plausible." He was my savior but that didn't mean I would trust his every word.
"No...not magic. Listen to me, if what you are saying is true and you don't remember nothing. We are going to need a lot of time explaining, so take a deep breath and listen to me carefully." Taking another puff of his pipe, he leaned forward and started walking me through this world I was in. This Middle Earth!