Chapter 1- Elves?

Vanessa could feel something hard beneath her head, a rock perhaps? She was vaguely aware of the world around her, hearing the slight gust of wind and the soft stir of birds that rustled in the trees above her head. She eventually blinked her eyes open, tearing herself away from the peace of her unknown surroundings. She was startled at the face above her, someone with piercing blue eyes. She nearly jumped out of her skin, scuffling back on her hands along the rocky and misshapen ground, in some sort of retreat from the man. He was tall with long blonde hair that cascaded over his shoulders, a look of worry clouded his face and he held out an arm in a gesture hoping to calm her down, while speaking in a language that was undeterminable to Vanessa. Upon seeing her confusion, the man changed language.

"I'm sorry, milady, I mean you no harm" he held a strong arm in front of her intending to help her up from the ground. Vanessa ignored his gesture of kindness and pushed herself up on her newly grazed hands, she was not sure in this man was trustworthy; she needed no help from strangers. She wobbled on the spot momentarily, having trouble controlling her own balance.

"Wh…Who are you?" She croaked softly

"I am Legolas, son of Thranduil" He said robotically, before softening his eyes "May I say it is an honour to gaze upon someone as fair as you?"

Vanessa could feel a blush creeping up her cheeks as her heart beat rapidly.

"I am sorry Milady, but I do not know of your name…" Legolas interrupted her from her thoughts

"Vanessa" She said softly

Legolas frowned, probably from the foreign name that Vanessa held, but he ignored his confusion it in fear of frightening the girl further.

"And, Lady Vanessa, Where do you hail from?" he asked in an attempt to disrupt the silence that had fallen between them "Unless my eyes deceive me, you appear similar in appearance to that of the Lothlorien folk, minding your hair, of course"

"umm… I'm from Australia…?" Vanessa said in a frown.

"Forgive me, Lady Vanessa…"

"Just Vanessa" She interrupted.

"Forgive me, Vanessa, I have heard of none such land. Do elves inhabit land there too?"

"ELVES?" Vanessa gasped, as handsome as this man was, perhaps he was delusional…

Legolas stepped closer to her and lifted a strand of her hair away from her ear, frowning slightly before stepping back.

"I find myself asking for your forgiveness yet again, Milady…"

"Vanessa" she butted in

"…I mistook you for elven kind, but I now see you do not bear the ears."

Ears? Out of curiosity, Vanessa moved her eyes to look at Legolas' ears, they were pointed! A gasp escaped her lips. Legolas jumped slightly

"My Lady, what do you fear?" Legolas asked gently. Vanessa swallowed the lump in her throat, perhaps she was the one that was delusional, she wished she were at home…

"Where am I?" she asked suddenly, upset at herself for not asking this question sooner.

"You are on the borders of Mirkwood, Milady." He looked into her eyes, she was confused "Middle Earth?" he added.

"But I am from Earth, just Earth! Not Middle Earth!" She let out a sob and Legolas placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

But then after a while, she remembered:

"Hayley!" she yelled suddenly, startling Legolas slightly, she turned to him "Where is Hayley? She should be with me, she's short, blonde, blue eyes?"

"There is nought here but you and I, Milady" said Legolas calmly, looking around at the forest.

"VANESSA!" she yelled at him "call me Vanessa!" her knees buckled and she fell to the ground, she started crying uncontrollably, Legolas unsure what to do, stood behind, placing a hand on her shoulder yet again, he stroked her hair as the tears fell down her cheeks.

"It is okay, my friend" He said softly "You shall accompany me back to my father, he will know what to do, I am sure he will allow you to rest in our hospitality."


Vanessa cried for a little longer, pushing herself away from Legolas and standing back up, she felt strong again, certain that she would soon be returning home WITH Hayley, she was not going to give up. She looked to Legolas

"If Mirthwood would take me, I'd very much like to come with you."

"Mirkwood," Legolas corrected with a smile "I am almost positive you will be welcomed by King and company."

Vanessa allowed herself to smile faintly.

"Come," Legolas gripped her hand "It is but only a short walk."

She allowed herself to be led through the forest by Legolas, who was still holding her hand. She looked down at their intertwined fingers; she felt a warmth stretching up her arm and a tingling where his hand touched hers. She felt childish for feeling such things.

"Excuse me if it is too intrusive," began Legolas, ripping her from her thoughts, "But why do you wear such…unusual….clothing?"

Vanessa looked down at her school uniform, which consisted of a blue blouse and a long, navy winter skirt. She laughed

"It is my school uniform," a smile spreading over her face as she saw his confusion, she squeezed his hand "and forgive me if I am overstepping, but where I come from you would be considered to be dressed in…unusual…attire."

Legolas chuckled "It would appear to some that we hailed from different worlds, Milady."

"Please call me Vanessa" She rolled her eyes.

"Only if you call me Legolas," He smirked "You should not refrain yourself from using someone's name, even if it is foreign to you. Also, like you, I am not one for formalities."

"Okay, Legolas."

Vanessa looked back to the forest in front of her, she thought about what Legolas had said…different worlds…should she tell him? Or should she just continue on as though she were from a distant land? She decided on the latter, for now at least.

"Vanessa is an unusual name," Legolas observed, "But I like it just the same."

"As I admire yours, Legolas" she smiled, it was amusing the way his name fell from her lips.

Suddenly Legolas brought himself to a halt, pulling Vanessa with him. Vanessa turned to him, intending to give him a piece of her mind for almost pulling her over, but she could tell that he could hear something. She closed her eyes and attempted to listen, she could hear it too…

"VANESSA!" Legolas yelled, pushing her out of the way just in time to save her from a horrifically giant spider.