Saeleth was the first to awake, being an elf made her quite sensitive to sound, so when she heard the sound of a neighing horse she bolted up straight and, without even thinking, drew back an arrow. Standing before her three horses stared at her as they nibbled on the grass below. Surprised, Saeleth stared at the lethal weapon in her hands, when had she taken it out? When the hell had she gotten a bow and arrow?!

Wait-

Saeleth's hand flew to the side of her head and touched the pointed end of her elfin ear.

"That wasn't a dream." She realized, though the horses and endless grassland around her should have given it away, it wasn't until she touched her ears that she really realized that she had not been dreaming at all. She was really in Middle Earth! She was really an elf! She had really just spoken to the Valar!

Suddenly Maethien gasped and sat up straight beside her, looking around wildly she met eyes with Saeleth and blinked twice in confusion before realization hit and then was replaced by a look of utter amazement.

"That wasn't a dream, was it?" She asked, smiling softly Saeleth shook her head and giggled as she rose from the ground. Maethien looked at her sister, really looked at her, and drew in a breath, her eyes wide once again. The girls both realized at the same moment that they both had markings on heir foreheads. They were almost like tattoos in gold, curling and swirling intricately above their eyes. Both were similar in design.

This is most definitely not a dream.

"What are they?" Maethien asked as she reached up to her own forehead, she couldn't feel the marking on her fingertips but she knew it was there.

"Well, I suppose Valar gave them to us." Damn, that felt weird to say. "They're the only ones who could and remember that Manwë touched our heads there." Saeleth said to her sister, she had a feeling she was right. It was pretty obvious either way, they had just been with the Valar, they were the only ones who could have done a thing like this.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Maethien nodded and sighed, she then smiled when she noticed Saeleth's outfit. She was wearing dark breeches and a riding gown in midnight blue that stopped about her knees, leather armor was strapped tight around her torso, it was similar to the one they'd seen Arwen wearing in the film.

"Whoa." Maethien said and nodded approvingly at the clothes. Saeleth, who was very fond of her outfit, looked at Maethien and saw that she too was sporting a very Lord of the Rings type outfit. She wore breeches and a long deep green tunic with long sleeves and leather wrist gauntlets. Leather armor, similar to Saeleth's , hugged and protected her chest, her tunic flowed past the armor and swung freely about her thighs.

"Wow, indeed." Saeleth said and gave her sister two thumbs up. Maethien looked down at herself, when she saw her own attire her jaw dropped and she looked at her sister with a huge smile.

"I always did like the fashion here." She said and touched the smooth silky fabric of her tunic.

"As did I." Saeleth sighed dreamily. A neigh resonated from behind her and Saeleth turned to look at the horses again. All three were mares and all three seemed to be quite comfortable with the girls near them. One was pure white the other entirely pitch black and the last a soft grey with white dappled all over her, it reminded the girls of falling snow. Saeleth looked at the white mare and slowly began to approach her, making a low clicking sound with her tongue to gain her attention.

"Hello, there." She said softly. Maethorien looked on as the white mare looked at her sister. Lifting her hand in front of her, Saeleth stepped closer to the mare slowly, seeing the chance to be petted the mare quickly stepped forward and pressed her nose on to Saeleth's palm. Maethien smiled at the look of childish excitement on her sisters face at the horses reaction. Suddenly remembering her other sister, Maethien bolted to her feet.

"Where is Elai- I mean, Anoreth?" Maethorien asked, Saeleth looked down and zeroed in on their sleeping sister sprawled on the grass. Maethien followed her gaze then grinned at the sight. Like them, she too wore breeches but she wore a a deep purple riding gown that flowed down to her knees, long angel wing sleeves flaring from her elbows. Glistening above her eyes, they could see the golden mark twirling beautifully.

Maethien smiled mischievously and gave her sister a good kick on the leg, "Hey! Wake up!"

"Ah! What?!" Anoreth squeaked, the sisters couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. She woke with a start, her eyes darting everywhere wildly. It took her a moment but then Anoreth looked up at her sisters with eyes filled with wonder and asked the same thing that they had before her. "That wasn't a dream? We're really here?"

"Yes, we are." Maethien said, her hands on her hips and a smile on her face. It was still very... new and unbelievable but... they were in a clearing! With horses! And armor and weapons!

"Oh. My. God! We're here!" Jumping to her feet, Anoreth laughed and danced in place. "This is amazing!" Saeleth and Maethien shared an amused look, well it seemed that she was taking this very well.

After a few minutes of laughing and dancing with excitement, Anoreth finally calmed down enough to really look at her sisters. Though she didn't miss the golden tattoo on her sisters head's, her attention quickly went to their clothes.

"Whoa, I am loving that riding dress Ke- I mean, Saeleth." Thinking that calling her Saeleth was going to take some getting used to, Anoreth looked down at her own dress and smiled wide. She could not resist the urge to do a few twirls, the skirt of the dress rising and flowing around her as she spun continuously. She loved it! If there was one thing that all three of the girls absolutely loved about the Lord of the Rings films, it was the fashion. Well,, that and everything else.

"Figures that you'd notice the clothes first." Saeleth said comically. Smiling, Anoreth shrugged and stopped spinning to look over at where was petting a huge white horse, and the horse seemed to be loving the attention. Meanwhile Maethien was being sniffed at by the black, laughing she turned to stroke her long dark mane. Anoreth looked at the last horse and found herself being watched by a beautiful dappled grey horse, she was just as huge as the other two, so much so that it slightly intimidated her.

"Well, hello, aren't you a big pretty girl." Anoreth crooned as she neared the mare, it didn't take long for her to fall in love with the giant horse. She was just so sweet and big and friendly.

"Come on," looking up, Anoreth saw that her sisters were already mounting their horses. "We need to get going." Maethien said from atop her mare, whom she had decided to name Artanis. Ha... she had a horse...

"We don't know exactly where the Hobbits or Aragorn are, Frodo could already be hurt." Saeleth added as she stroked Gadriel's silky white mane from where she sat. Looking at her own horse, whom she had decided to name Lossen, Anoreth couldn't help but feel nervous as she walked to her side and readied herself to mount. She's really quite big, Anoreth noted with wide eyes. Beside her, Maethien smiled softly as she watched her sister take a deep breath

"Ok. I can do this. 1,2...3." Pulling herself up Anoreth swung her leg over Lossen's back and landed as gently as she could, surprised that it had not been as hard as she had first thought.

"Oh! Wow. Were pretty high off the ground." The sisters laughed and rode forward, their eyes still bright with amazement. How was it possible that they were simple mortals not too long ago... and now they were elves rising through a world they'd believed to be fictional!

"Do we have an idea where we are?" Anoreth asked, her eyes were closed and she seemed to be enjoying the light breeze in the air.

"No, but the they seem to." Maethien said and patted her mares head gently, she had a feeling that they would take them exactly where they needed to go.

"We were told to head to Rivendell, perhaps that's where they are taking us." Saeleth added. Maethien and Anoreth nodded and looked ahead, the three of them noticing that everything around them looked stunningly beautiful, the armies of huge trees and the miles and miles of grasslands were something they would never have seen in the city.

"What will we tell the Council once we arrive?" Maethien asked suddenly, looking at her sisters, they had to have their stories well prepared before they arrived to Rivendell.

"Well, we can say that we felt the darkness of the One Ring return, so we came to investigate," Saeleth spoke. "When the time comes we can offer our services and join the quest to destroy the ring. We would simply be elves from," Saeleth paused for a moment to think, then nodded her head. "The Havens, who wish to assist in protecting our world."

"That sounds believable... I think." Maethien nodded her agreement hesitantly, and glanced at Anoreth. "Ann? What do you think?"

"Ooh, Ann... I like it. Anyway, I suppose that sounds believable but what if they ask about these?" Ann pointed at her forehead.

"Well," Saeleth thought for a moment before sighing and lifting her shoulders in a shrug. "We are going to have cross that bridge when it comes. It'll be hard enough to gain their trust by being strangers... I'm willing to bet that they'll be twice as hesitant about letting strangers from another world entirely to help in this quest."

Maethien grimaced softly as her sister's words truly got through to her... She was right. They were going to have enough trouble attempting to gain their confidence as it were, perhaps telling them that they were powerful elleth's sent by the Valar from another world to help them in their dangerous quest was not the best thing to start their conversation with...

"You know, seeing as you gave me a nickname. " Ann suddenly voiced in an attempt to lighten the mood. "What would be yours? I mean, I love our new names but sometimes a nickname is just what we need." She said with an amused smile and turned to look at Maethien. "For example, I could occasionally call you Mae instead of calling out Maethien all the time." Anoreth nodded to herself proudly.

Saeleth raised a brow at her little sister. "That sounds good and all but you know that nicknames aren't often used among the elves." Her sister laughed and shrugged, tossing her a bright smile.

"So? We could be the first ever to use them." Saeleth rolled her eyes but smiled. Though she did really like her full name, she wasn't really opposed to a nickname. And they would be the first to ever to use them. Finally, Saeleth shrugged and laughed.

"Why not." Ann grinned then narrowed her eyes at Saeleth. "Okay. Let's see, what's a good nickname for Saeleth... Hmmm."

"How about Eleth?" Mae suggested.

"Doesn't that mean elf-maiden?"

"So? She is an elf-maiden, isn't she?"

"Good point. Oh! What about Elle?!"

"Oh, I like that one." Mae smiled and nodded.

"We have a winner! Saeleth?" Finally satisfied, Ann turned to Saeleth and waited for approval. Saeleth, who had been quiet during their entire debate, finally sighed and smiled.

"Elle it is."

"Yes!"

Maethien looked away from her sisters and suddenly realized that it was getting dark. "Alright, enough fun, we need to find the Hobbits and Aragorn." Damn, she wondered if she would ever get used to saying stuff like that.

"What if Frodo really is already hurt?" Anoreth asked, worry in her tone.

"I have a feeling that we'll be able to help, but we need to find them first." Maethien said and looked at her sisters solemnly, Saeleth nodded and looked ahead of them with her heightened elvish sight.

As she searched, Saeleth saw something very familiar in the distance. "Its Bilbo's trolls!" Without another word she shot forward, Mae and Ann right behind her. Stopping by the huge trolls the sisters looked at each other then looked at the sky above. Maethien wasn't sure how but she knew that the Hobbits would be arriving soon. Probably the Valar trying to aid them in their quest, they were new to this world. They would need their help as much as possible.

"The Nazgûl will be close," Maethien told her sisters, her hand on the hilt of her sword. "We need to be careful. Come on." Taking charge, like a fierce leader should, Maethien found a protected spot among the trees where they could watch their surrounding but keep well hidden in the shadows.

Time passed and the darkness of night surrounded them, the silvery glow of the moon became their only source of light. Maethien heard a group of people coming. More like running.

"Do you think its them?" Elle asked, having heard them as well.

"I'm not sure." Maethien mounted Artanis once again and drew out the long curved sword from its sheath. "I'll take a look. Stay hidden." Ann and Elle nodded and stayed close to each other as Maethien rode off into the dark forest.

Do I even know how to use a sword? Deciding to put her faith in the Valar's gifts, Mae continued to explore the forests quietly. It was not long before she heard the sound of a party of five coming fast through the forest. Not far behind that party she could hear the eerie screams of the Nazgûl. When she heard the sound of two more people on horses she knew right away that her sisters had found them as well.

Hurrying through she came upon the three Hobbits and her sisters. Anoreth was on the ground with Frodo cradled in her arms, her free hand hovered over his wound, a soft light illuminating from her palm. Behind her Saeleth was speaking to Pip and Merry gently, reassuring them that Frodo was going to be okay. Quickly dismounting Artanis, Maethien hurried towards Frodo a smile rising in her lips. She was completely unaware that a warm, pure light had blossomed around her as she walked toward them.

"Frodo," kneeling beside the little Hobbit she smiled kindly, and before she could think of what to do, she spoke. "Im Maethien. Telin le thaed. Lasto beth nîn, tolo dan nan galad." Confused, Maethien looked around for Arwen, those words had been hers to say, weren't they? Was she coming?

No, child. Arwen's role in this quest has changed. It is up to you, now. She recognized the voice in her thoughts as Varda's. What did she mean by that?

The sound of someone rushing towards them quickly had both Maethien and Saeleth raising their weapons. Aragorn emerged from the trees and looked upon them with a shocked expression, his eyes narrowing at the sight of their weapons, his hand inching toward his own as well.

"Who are you?" He asked cautiously, almost aggressively so. To show that they meant no harm, Mae immediately sheathed her weapon and gestured for her sister to do the same. Not wanting to alarm the ranger.

"I am Maethien, these are my sisters. Who are you?"

"I am Strider," he noticed the glow in Ann's palm and quickly stepped closer, his fists clenching at the sight of her. Unsure whether to demand they release Frodo or perhaps ask for their assistance in saving him. "What is she doing?"

"Do not worry, she is aiding him." Maethien said to him softly, or at least she assumed she was aiding him. "We are here to help, Strider." Mae promised and turned back to kneel beside Frodo, quickly Aragorn did the same and went to apply the Athelas to Frodo's wound. Though he was not entirely sure he could trust the elleth's that had found them, he did nonetheless, as he often tended to when met with the fair folk of which he had been raised with.

Ann, having also heard Varda's words, looked at her sister and Aragorn with wide concerned eyes. "I have done what I can to slow the poison but he must be taken to Rivendell, he must be taken to Lord Elrond."

"Then there is no time to lose." They all stood, Aragorn lifting Frodo into his arms. Maethien whistled for Artanis and helped him secure Frodo onto her back, then Aragorn turned to face Maethien solemnly.

"Let me ride with him, the road is dangerous." He said gravely.

"I know," Maethien smiled reassuringly at Aragorn. "I am a fast rider. I can take him. I know what hunts him and I do not fear them..." Maethien reached over and set a hand of Aragorn's, the surprised ranger looked into her eyes. "Trust me, Strider... I am not your enemy. I wish no ill will to Frodo... I want to help." The two warriors shared a long glance, a silent conversation going between the two.. Then a screech of a Ringwraith pierced the air and Aragorn, who had been fighting a war inside of him, finally nodded. Mae swung onto Artanis skillfully and looked at her sisters. Quite suddenly, Maethien felt fear strike her heart. What was she going to do? She wasn't sure if she could leave her sisters behind, she wouldn't know if they were okay. What of they got hurt while she was away?

"Ann, you must go with them." Following her intuition, Saeleth quickly turned to her sister and ushered her toward her horse. "They may need you. Hurry!" She was very aware that her heart was pounding in her chest, she was afraid, but she couldn't let the fear paralyze her.

Ann quickly did as she was told and climbed onto Lossen's back her eyes wide with anxiety. Once they were settled they both looked down at Saeleth, the worry evident on their faces.

"Do not worry. We will see each other soon. Stay safe, my sisters." Saeleth said soothingly to her sisters, smiling gently at them as she did. The words just poured out of her! She wasn't sure exactly how she had been able to say them but she was sure that she meant them. The words gave Maethien and Anoreth the push they needed, their eyes watered but they smiled at their sister. Breathing in deep, Maethien gave Saeleth a firm nod before looking down at Artanis.

"Noro lim, Artanis, noro lim!"


Oh. Just so you know, Mae is pronounced like Mai (Mah-ee) rather than May.


Im Maethien. Telin le thaed. Lasto beth nîn, tolo dan nan galad:: Frodo, Iam Maethien. I've come to help you. Hear my voice, come back to the light.

Noro lim, Artanis, noro lim:: Ride on, Artanis, ride on!