232 Narya.

I stirred to wakefulness slowly, stretching as a yawn escaped me.

Above me, was a wooden ceiling I didn't recognise and the walls were stone and brick, with signs of mortar and whitewash.

Reminded me of old english cottages.

Looking out the window, I could see a lush forest extending into the distance, sparsely wooded, golden rays of sunshine glittering the dust within.

Candle wax crusted a corner table and a lantern hung on a hook by the door, and my sheets scratched like linen.

No. They were linen. Like old style shit.

"Where am I?" I muttered, rubbing my eyes.

Then, I spotted something odd.

A prick of pain from the eye gunk that had dried up.

Pain. Actual pain.

Not a necessary dulled sensation left mild to ensure sense of touch and temperature that my code gave me.

What the fuck?

It was only then that I noticed it. My code....it was gone. I could still feel it's etching on my soul but it was like a dry riverbed.

Just a trench in the ground wothput the torrential waters flowing through it.

I tried using my geass but that didn't work either.

"So my psychic energy has completely dried up huh?" I sighed.

"Knew I shouldn't have overused it that much. Now I'm just here. Sitting on the bed in a stranger's house. Mortal. Weak."

I don't know if my other powers still work either.

But let's check first anyways.

I took a deep breath, breathing in the magic of this world, attuning to it. Then I flicked my wrist and drew a circle in the air, as my finger left a sparking trail.

"Oh thank goodness I can still do magic!" I heaved a sigh of relief.

At least I'm not completely powerless.

Now I just need my technokinesis to work.

Reaching out with a familiar force, I spread out my technokinesis like a sonar and felt a ping.

My portal gun. It was out there, somewhere on the house. Closeby.

I leapt off the bed, got back to my feet, stumbling a little before getting my bearings and made straight for the door to get my gun back when I heard a song. It wasn't as strong as before. Far fainter. But it was there. With it came footsteps, and a humming voice, traipsing over.

I stepped back, wary as the door swung open and the source of the sound was plain to see.

It was a man, short and stout about a little over half my height.

Some 4 feet, 9 inches, and with his pointy hat, coming up to my shoulders.

He wore a vest of cyan blue and a coat of lime green, his hat was decorated with ribbons of yellow and red and his coat had a pretty white flower as a boutonniere.

On his bottom he wore a short pair of brown pants cut at his knees, worn and frayed.

With his bushy pilgrim beard and the song he hummed, his whole appearance screed whimsy!

"Um...hi?"

"Hi he says!" The man laughed, "Tom says hi too then, strange friend!"

Tom. That was his name. And that appearance....

Now that I notice it, he wasn't humming a song. No. The song was humming around him.

Wait no....Oh. I see now.

"The fans had their theories but damn.

You truly are the Song Of The Ainur, aren't you, Tom Bombadil?"

"Strange friend, you know Tom? Yet Tom knows you not! What a curious thing!" He replied in a singsong tone.

"Why don't you introduce yourself laddie? It's only polite."

A woman's voice echoed through the house carrying the same merry joy Tom's carried.

His wife no doubt. Daughter of the River Woman if I remember my Tolkien lore correctly.

"Ah yes. Sorry. I am Jay walker. Researcher, traveler, dealmaker, warrior, part time philathropist. Nice to meet you!" I extended a handshake.

Tom looked at me oddly before shaking it in return.

"So are you the Song Of The Ainur or ..." I pushed for an answer.

I had always wanted to confirm the theory.

"Tom Bombadil is Tom Bombadil. Master of land, river and hill. Oldest and fatherless." Tom replied happily.

"Ohohohoho." A bellowing laughter descended upon the room, and another presence suddenly made itself aware.

"You truly are a strange fellow, friend of Tom Bombadil." A grey robed figure stepped forth into the room, his staff clanking on the floor.

My eyes lit up as he came into view, all pointy hatted and wizardly.

"Gandalf!" I exclaimed, having one of my few moments of nergasm as I chirped in delight.

I don't know if you've noticed my dear viewers but I am a diehard Tolkien fan.

And this place is nerd heaven!

I may or may not have squeaked like fangirl right then and there.

"So you know of me too?" He stroked his beard.

"Most curious indeed. And the faint whiff of the void on your person. I have some questions for you if you wo-" He continued but I couldn't hear him over my excitement.

No, Jay. You are a grown man. Control yourself.

You can geek out later. Finding the portal gun comes first-

Grurgh!

My stomach rumbled as a flush of embarrassment spread over my face.

"Uh....."

"Hahahahaa! Come friend. Let's eat first. You can talk after. " Tom patted my back, as he practically dragged me out to the breakfast table.

"I suppose we can talk after you have had something to eat." Gandalf relented too, following us out as I eyed the simple spread of food Tom's wife a golden haired lady had laid out on the table.

Bread, cheese, eggs, beans, some sausages and salami. And of course, tea.

How bri'ish of 'em, innit?

I joked internally.

But what caught my interest was the portal gun laying on the mantelpiece.

"Ah, my uh...weapon. Can I have it back?" I asked.

"Of course." The lady replied, "We wouldn't keep it from you. But you kust understand our concern, when Tom brought you in half dead." She smiled kindly.

It reminded me of my grandmother.

"I was worried you wouldn't make it for a moment there."

"She stood vigil over you all night, Tom's wife. Tom says you're lucky to be alive! Your injuries were grave!" Tom added.

"I see. Thank you. Really." I bowed my head.

"It's more than I could ask. I am grateful. If there were anything * could do to return the favor..."

"Well of course you can, young lad. Eat the breakfast before it gets cold. I made it with love and effort. Don't let it go to waste." She said with a cheeky grin.

I nodded obediently and chowed down, tears brimming in my eyes.

This feeling, the taste of home...I haven't felt this way since Offee died.

I sniffled as the lady of the house patted my back gently.

Really, such kind people, the gentle land, the peaceful vibes that can calm even my famously paranoid nerves.....

This is why I loved Tolkien's world.

Whenever I felt anxious or paranoid, and had bad dreams, this would always calm me down. Just that sweet soundtrack is enough to bring peace to the most disturbed minds.

Ah, middle earth. Such an idyllic land.

I would love to live here once the datk lord is vanquished.

Even the air smelled of magic and miracles here.

If Offee hadn't died... we'd have had our honeymoon here.

Shame that had to happen.

At least the sausages taste great so... silver linings?

.

After breakfast, hearing he was headed to the Shire, I hitched a ride on Gandalf's carriage under the pretense of answering his questions about me.

"Here." Said the lady of the house, handing over the portal gun.

"Be safe, laddie." She patted my head, smiling warmly, "Don't get into.... whatever you got into before."

We both chuckled, and I nodded.

"I won't. And I am truly grateful for you nursing me back to health. If ever you should need my help and I am around..."

"I understand. But worry about yourself first. Here Tom is master. But out there evil lies in the hearts of men. You are more likely to need our help again." She teased.

I smiled and nodded, moving on to Tom.

"Going already strange friend? When Tom has barely known you? We haven't even played and chatted over pipe weed. I haven't shown you your path. What if you get lost?" He sang.

"Gandalf will be with me. He won't let me get lost."

"That is not the path Tom is talking about! The path you have lost is one of the heart. Your own path that led you here. It's gone wrong and off the trail, hasn't it? You can't hide it from Tom!" He said knocking my head with his cane as I felt something wash over me.

As if all doubts had vanished from me and a fresh life had been into my body, I tingled all over with energy for but a moment.

My code flared up for the briefest of glances before returning to it's new normal of dead dry.

"Don't go off the path. Tom says. Remember who you truly are. What you really want." Tom said before he twirled around and skipped away.

I looked at his back for minute, before giving up and climbing onto the cart as we rode away.

.

"So you mean to say that Bilbo Baggins has had the Ring all these years? That it has been passed along right under our noses? Do forgive me but I find your voidwalking tale itself to already be difficult to believe much less this." Gandalf said, knocking on the round door carved into the stonework that was one with the little hill it resided in with his staff.

"I literally portaled us here. But fine. We will find out soon enough. Remember, if I am right...."

"Yes. Yes. I will reward you with Narya. Once the ring is destroyed, it will be a mere trinket though, I must warn you." "Let me worry about that, okay?" I waved off his concerns.

"Go away. I have no time for well wisher, ill wishers, gift bearers and long lost distant relations!" Bilbo's voice could be heard from within as the door opened to reveal a young man.

"Don't be like that Bilbo! Let's at least see who it is." Frodo said, as he looked at me then at the grey wizard and his face lit up.

"Gandalf!" He jumped over giving the old wizard a hug.

"Good to see you too, Frodo." Gandalf patted his back.

"But I'm afraid I must hurry." He said, stepping in and I followed with a nod of acknowledgement to Frodo.

He greeted back confused.

"Gandalf! You're early!" Bilbo cheered up seeing his old friend again, and ran over.

"Tea? Coffee? A little cake?" He offered.

"No. Nothing today, thank you. This is a bit of an urgent matter." Gandalf refused.

"Urgent? Didn't you come here for my hundred and eleventy first nameday celebration?" Bilbo asked.

"That too yes. But there is something I must confirm first." Gandlaf leaned down and looked Bilbo in the eyes.

"Do you happen to have a ring, golden and magical?"

"Why yes. But it is just a simple magic ring. Turns me invisible. Nothing more." He explained.

"No rings of magic are simple in this world, Bilbo. But there may yet be hope if we identify it now.

May I see it?" Gandalf asked.

"Uhm....of course. It's just...uh.... it's uh..." Bilbo began to frantically check his pockets and tables to no avail.

"It's in your vest pocket. No not that one. The other one." I pointed out, as Bilbo rummaged through it and sighed on relief as he found the ring. Frodo on the other hand eyes me curiously.

"How did you know?" He asked as they moved on to the living room while Frodo offerede some cake.

"It's better you don't know about that." I replied.

"Are you a wizard too?" Frodo whispered.

"You know what, let's go with that." I nodded.

"Just give me the ring for one moment, Bilbo." Gandalf could be heard raising his voice.

I smiled cheekily and called Frodo's attention.

"Watch." I said, mimicking gollum just as Bilbo had his outburst.

"No! It is mine. My own! My precious!"

"Wow! How did you do that?!" Frodo perked up.

"A wizard never reveals his tricks!" I chuckled, chomping down on a piece of cake, as the lights flickered in the house.

How that was even possible in the middle of the day in a house lit with candles and bonfires is a question that can only be answered by one word.

Magic!

I wanted to research this too but that will have to wait.

I need to get to the magicians world today and it's better of I have Narya, the anti-master artifact ring that Gandalf wields before I get in there and get possessed by some ghost or some shit.

".....I am not trying to rob you, Bilbo! I'm just trying to help you."

A whimper, then an agreement.

And bilbo handed the ring over to Gandalf.

Gandalf himself flinched as he touched the ring, it's evil laid bare before his eyes.

His grip failed and the ring fell to the floor with a tinkle, rolling around till it reached me, knocking against my feet as it came to a stop.

"Do I need show further proof?" I asked Gandalf as I picked up the ring.

Suddenly, a great eye, lidless and wreathed in flame appeared in my vision.

"Join me! I sense a great hunger in your heart. Use me and you shall have it all-" It tried to tempt me, only for it to get chucked into the fire almost immediately to everyone's surprise.

"You resisted it!" Gandalf exclaimed in surprise.

"How?" He asked.

"I don't trust wish granting artifacts as a matter of principle. If someone or something offers me a wish, tempts me with my heart's desire, I do to them exactly that." I pointed at the ring now burning in the fireplace.

"Now check and see for yourself. The truth revealed in flames. The black speech of Mordor."

Gandalf nodded, and kneeled down, picking out the ring with a poke as he looked it over.

Etchings, burning, appeared on the inside and Gandalf nodded.

"One ring to rule them all, one rong to find them.

One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." I said in Tengwar and Gandalf flinched.

"Do not utter that black speech here!" He frowned, alarmed, "The servants of the dark lord have ears everywhere."

"Don't worry. By the time they hear it, the ring and it's lord of evil will be no more." I assured him.

"How?" He asked.

I smiled and opened a portal straight to Mordor.

"That portal leads to Mount Doom in Mordor. Give me Narya, let me leave this world and then have Frodo toss the ring into the portal. Easy as pie."

"This...." Gandalf looked at my simple plan and balked, surprised.

"What? Would you rather Frodo walk physically into the heart of Mordor and personally throw it into the volcano?"

"No. That would indeed be unwise. Yes. This is the right way." Gandalf agreed.

"Great. I have set the portal to be open for the next ten minutes. Give me Narya so I may leave first. Then, do what you will." I requested, hands extended.

Gandalf nodded and took off the ring of fire from his finger and put it gently onto my palm.

"A ring of power is a great responsibility. Wield it wisely." He replied, worn and weary.

Too many surprises for him today, huh?

Guess his old heart couldn't bear much more.

I chuckled and put on the ring of fire, Narya.

Instantly, I felt the world change before my eyes as a great willpower surged within me like a fire stoked.

Narya. The ring of fire. One of the three elven rings of power, it was the ring that protected against domination and tyranny, giving it's wielder the power to inspire hope and light the fires in the hearts of men for that woth is good and right.

Though, I cared mostly for the anti-mond control feature it provided. The rest was secondary.

If Celebrimbor heard that he'd be rolling in his grave.

But, anyways. Time to go.

The world of Magicians awaits!

I opened a portal inside the wards of Brakebills and threw the portal gun into the Mount Doom portal, waving goodbye to Gandalf and the Bagginses as I walked through.

Why dump the portal gun?

One, because it was empty and useless.

And two, because it would draw unnecessary attention from all sorts of entities and I'd rather keep it out of their hands until I can remake it when I'm in a safer, less vulnerable position.

The portal closed behind me as I landed on the pristine white pavement of Brakebills and got an eyeful from a very well dressed student lazing about on the headstone of the school.

"Nice vest." He said, taking a long drag of his cig and letting out star shaped smoke, "Can't say the same about your pants situation...."

I was wearing clothes borrowed from Tom Bombadil and thus was dressed in his usual attire.

Including the frayed and torn pants.

I did enter Lord Of The Rings as a severed head.

"Yeah. Kind of a rushed job. Didn't have much other choice. It was torn pants or no pants and trust me, everyone would prefer this over the alternative."

The man raised an eyebrow as he slid down the headstone and onto his feet, taking a squeeze of my butt.

I frowned, but let it slide. It was harmless anyways. I can always just reject his advances later when I have more power. Right now though, I needed every advantage I can get and I'd rather not get teleported out of the wards by a pissed off Eliot.

"I wouldn't say everyone." He winked.

"Quentin Coldwater?"

"No. Jay Walker."

"That is-"

"Yes. I know. Any pun or insult you can think of has already been said. Don't bother." I laughed it off.

He nodded, smiling.

"Eliot Waugh." He extended a handshake.

"Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure's all mine." I replied, " So anyways, I was here for the exam?"

"Yes. That one. Second floor, first door to the right." I nodded.

"I'll take you there. Wait." He slapped my butt again as his eyes wandered over to the back of me and I could hear a metal grate creak.

I turned around to see a nervous guy shuffle in, looking confused.

"Quentin Coldwater?" Eliot asked again, getting a nod, "You're late."

"Uhm..uh...yes. Where am I, actually?" Quentin asked, shifting, twiddling his thumbs.

"Brakebills University. Follow me. You too, handsome." He beckoned with his finger and I nodded.

Let's do this shit!

___________________

Phew! 3k words baby!

Y'all better appreciate that grind! XD

Took a while to write.

In the Magicians world. Finally!

Thanks for reading.

Donate your powerstones.

See ya later, skaters!

Also, if you want to support me buy me a cup of coffee or read ahead go to,

www.pat.reon.com/goldenfingers