The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Imagines

I've Been Here Before (Middle Earth/Mirkwood)

There was a house between the Misty Mountains and the forest that you were planning on visiting.

From afar, you stood there and gazed at it, a small smile on your face. In that house most of the furniture were made for a very tall man. Once, this house welcomed 13 dwarves, a wizard, and a hobbit.

There was a time when the house was lit, and there were animals outside.

Now it was empty and abandoned.

Your smile turned into a frown. Sighing, you continued on with your journey.

Soon you reached an entrance to the forest. There was nothing to fear in that forest—before it had fallen under shadow and threat but the evil had been driven away a long time ago. Even so, the forest looked dark to you for a different reason.

You passed by a statue of an elleth and you reached out to caress her cheek. Brushing away the leaves and vines that had crept up the statue, you stared at her face for quite some time before urging yourself to move forward.

The path in the forest had been fixed when the evil had been pushed away, but dirt and other plants have grown and hidden them from sight. But you had no problem trying to look for the path. Soon enough you arrived at the place you have been looking for.

Great doors stood a few feet away from you.

You placed a palm on a door and pushed it open. It creaked and echoed throughout the caves. You winced at the noise but you reminded yourself there was no one to disturb here anymore.

You trudged up the paths until you reached a familiar set of stairs that led to a throne. Footsteps echoed loudly as you climbed up the stairs until you were looking up at the throne made out of wood.

There on the throne still sat the great robe of a king. It looked as if it had been left there earlier or sat upon before. But you saw, as you walked up another flight of stairs to get to the throne, that it had been collecting dust.

You ran a hand against the fabric, bit your lip to stop it from trembling, and closed your eyes.

Footsteps other than yours echoed throughout the caves.

There were conversations, some in whispers, some out loud.

Someone sheathed their sword.

Someone shot an arrow somewhere.

Then there was silence.

"What is (Y/N) doing up there?"

"She had been wondering why Ada's robes are of such length and width. We really should make her get down from there, Tauriel, before Ada sees her."

"A King needs robes that immediately tell someone of his status. Also, it looks good draped over that throne."

"Ada!"

"Hîr vuin."

"Now, (Y/N), get down from there and let us take a stroll in the woods as I have promised we would do."

You opened your eyes.

You were alone.

Everything felt cold.

It felt empty.

You bit your lip as you drew back your hand to wipe a tear that escaped your eye. With much haste, you walked down the stairs and out of the doors. You shut them behind you and hurried away.

But before the doors disappeared, you looked back at the realm that once prospered, hidden in the safety of the forest.

Now it is nothing but an abandoned cave.

Your heart ached even more.

There was no reason to come back.

"Before, in these halls I never stood alone,

I look at your faces and I am home,

Once, I thought we'd be together forevermore,

When I was here, with you, before.

But now you've gone and I am alone,

This place is cold, this is no longer home,

Your memories I bring forevermore,

As I stand here, without you, where I've been before."

(I write this with the thought of how everything and everyone we knew had all gone, had all passed. What if we were immortal? Or what if we were elves who decided to stay behind, and our friends have already passed or sailed? What if we, readers, have been transported to their world but all those we knew have gone? It is your decision how you will imagine this scenario came to be but one thing is certain—they are now only a distant memory. They are friends we will never see again.)