The first thing that tipped me off that I was not in my room was the steady rhythm of my bed. The second was the sound of breathing that accompanied the up and down motion. Then I opened my eyes. The world around me was much brighter then my cramped one room apartment in Chicago. Sun filtered in unimpeded by the stifling smog of the city through an open door leading outside. My bed's rhythm stopped and I realized it was waking up.

I lifted my head and turned to look into the startled blue eyes of a giant.

"Well hello there little one." His voice was soft so as not to startle me but I tensed anyway.

My ears flickered at the sound of his voice. I watched him wordlessly. He reached out and gently lifted me from his chest as he sat up. I blinked and looked down, long thin paws dangled from my legs and a tail twitched below them. I swallowed and looked back up. It was not he who was a giant, rather I was much smaller.

"There you are." he said smiling and setting me down in his lap.

I took the opportunity to look at myself. I lifted a paw looking at it then used it to feel my face, whiskers, ears.

"Now how did you wind up in my room little one?" he asked reaching his index finger out and scratching me under my chin. Despite myself I began to purr. He chuckled, "You are a strange thing aren't you, how did you manage to find yourself in Mirkwood's realm and not dinner for a spider?"

I looked at him frightened, spiders? I remembered vaguely the spider from the last movie, hadn't my friends mentioned something about Mirkwood being inhabited by such spiders?

Looking up at the blonde elf, his hair was only slightly out of place do to sleep but was long and tucked behind pointed ears. I stilled, wait, Mirkwood, elves…I couldn't not believe it, I was in middle earth! I heard clearly footsteps outside as if they were right beside me. The sound startled me and I twisted out of his grasp and jumped to the ground. I landed in an ungraceful heap on the ground unused to four legs.

"Careful little one." He said surprised, "You are not too steady on your legs are you?"

I tried to stand but tangled my legs together and ended up being picked up by the elf. A knock on the door distracted the elf and I twisted and dug my claws into his hand he let go with a startled yell and a I landed on my back on the bed.

The door opened, "Prince, are you alright?"

"Yes Lerin."

"What is that?" the female voice stepped into view looking at me with mixed revulsion and interest.

"A cat." Legolas said, "Usually they are in human cities. Yet this one seemed to find my room much more to her liking."

I stuck my tongue out at Legolas his eyes widened in delight and he laughed, "It is a spirited little thing."

"What are you going to do with it?"

I ignored her turning myself onto my side and pulling myself up to my feet. I looked at them with mixed feelings. How did I make them work? The task was taken from me as Legolas plucked me up again. I gave him an irritated look yet he merely grinned, "What shall I do with you?"

"Keep me." I muttered.

Legolas blinked looked at Lerin who was watching him expectedly then shook his head, "I think I will keep her."

I looked at him curiously, did he understand me?

Lerin nodded, "Very well, I wont question you my prince, you father wished me to tell you he wants you to join him in the council room this afternoon."

Legolas nodded, "Thank you Lerin."

She gave a deep curtsy and then left after casting one apprehensive look back at the cat.

"So what shall I name you?" he asked setting me down on his desk as he rose to dress. I froze in surprise as he began to lift his shirt. I got a view of deeply toned chest before I hid my face in my paws giving him privacy. I did not want to see him naked, okay I did, but I did want to embarrass him if I ever manage to turn back into a human.

He began list of names as he dressed, dismissing one and then another.

I heard him move towards me an looked up. His hair was straitened with braids pulling it back from his face and one thin braid trailing over his shoulder.

"How about Shadow?" he asked.

I looked at him, "Shadow sounds like a dogs name. How about we go by my name, Samantha?

Legolas fell back in astonishment, tripping over his own feet and landing ungracefully on the ground. I leapt from the desk and unto his chest, I put my nose against his and looking in his wide eyes,

"You can here me!"

Legolas finally found his voice, "Y-you talk!"

I sat back on my hunches and twitched my tail contemplatively, "Yes I do, to you it seems, for little miss what's-her-face did not understand me."

Legolas shook his head, "I must still be dreaming."

I gave him the best smirk I could on a cats face and dug my claws into his chest.

"OUCH!" he yelped jumping to his feet as I jumped off.

"Well then." I said, "It's not a dream."

Legolas's lips opened and closed like a fish as he stared at me. Weren't elves supposed to be calm? I wondered, especially Legolas? I jumped up onto his bed finding myself more comfortable in my new body as time progressed.

"Why are you here?"

I flicked my tail back and forth thoughtful, "Well…,I'm not really here on purpose and I'm not really from here. But I need your help to get back to my home and back to my body."

Woah! I thought in surprise, where had that last part come from?

Legolas blinked, "What?"

"Er…yeah. I need your help returning to normal."

"How do I do that?"

"I don't know yet." I admitted, whatever was controlling my mouth a moment ago had left me stranded.

I jumped off the bed and rubbed against his legs and meowed sweetly.

Legolas melted and picked me up, "Alright then Samantha." he said scratching me under my chin again causing me to half-close my eyes in pleasure and purr, "You can stay."

"You can call me Sam for short." I said.

It is an amazing experience being a cat, even so, it was not long before I began to miss my real body.