Strider turned towards Gimli and glared down at him, obviously annoyed that some plan of action had been disturbed. "Well, no need denying it! We've come all this way through rain and storm, and now we're sitting round a table with a dead fire without warmth in the corner!" said Gimli, who gestured at the table with his arms thrust out. Legolas touched his shoulder from behind Aragorn, signing that he should not continue.

Leah was now completely dumbstruck. Just this morning she had thought she was going to be late for school, and now there were three strangers who apparently knew something she didn't. She sat in her chair, barely breathing with a feeling of despair spreading through her mind. "Could you leave us to speak in private for a moment?" Strider had now averted his glance to Butterbur, who had been sitting quietly on a rocking chair, listening to every word that was spoken.

"Hm? Oh…yes, yes. Should be off to bed anyhow. Good night sirs." He bowed his head and walked obediently out the door, leaving Leah feeling even more alone and fearful. As the door clicked, silence descended upon the room, broken only when Strider spoke again.

"Leah, we know this will be a difficult task to achieve under such circumstances as these, but can you trust us? We mean you no harm, and only wish to help," he again bowed his head in respect before he continued. "If you be willing, shall you listen to what we have to say?" His eyes shone with a strange wisdom and kindness, slowly washing away the doubt that Leah had previously housed.

"Once you are unarmed, I'll listen," her eyes again resting upon the sword, her mind numb to what she had just said. At that, Strider stood up and unbuckled his belt where his sword was attached and handed it to her, smiling.

"You are wise not to trust a stranger with a weapon, but in times as these, such caution is a luxury we can't always afford." He returned to his seat and laced his fingers and rested them on his knees. "Now will you lend your time to us?" Leah nodded. "Good. This may seem to be a very strange riddle for you now, but let me tell you this: we have long expected your arrival; five years to the day." He waited for her approval, and she gave a shaky nod, kicking her legs up beneath her to sit in a criss-cross position. He went on. "In the fair land of Lothlorién, the lady Galadriel has prophesized your coming in her mirror. It was then that she began to sing of the coming of a hero, and her voice was heard clearly through the minds of all the elves in her land."

Leah blinked. "So…there was a mirror and Galadriel saw my coming? How could this be, and what was the song?" she shook her head, confused with all this sudden information that had been rained upon her. She had the wish to crawl into her own bed and forget everything, forget this whole hero and prophesy thing. It was the voice of Legolas that broke her thoughts as he began to sing in a low voice, almost bringing to an end her selfish desires as she heard his voice sing. It was the beauty of his voice that stopped her from saying a word, as she wished it would last forever.

"When come ring and come destruction,

In a land past Middle-Realm,

A Hero lives past time and earth

To lead through sword and helm.

"Arrive they will with songs of Spring,

Naught but five years from this day,

And go they will to land of Bree,

But to be found they will not pray.

"So look not far, but rather wide

for in house they'll not be found.

Evil shall search far for thee,

And of news, 'tis little sound.

But strong with sword our hero will be,

Once taught by Elvin hand,

As another number shall join their race

In their march of war across the land"

His voice faded out into the room as the song ended. He looked up into her eyes and let the singing end, and she wished that he had not stopped, that he continued on and filled her heart with the strange joy produced by his voice. Such was the way of the elves, though she had still yet to learn that. "Such is the prophesy that was sung by the Lady of the Woods." Legolas turned to Strider, who had closed his eyes, remembering the song as well. Strider soon opened his eyes and faced Leah before he himself spoke again.

"Will you listen to what it means?" She did not know what to say, and so nodded again, beginning to finger the intricate markings on the sheath. Strider moved on with his words. "Many of the Elders of our land had come together for the first council since Frodo had set out to destroy the ring. Through many days of deliberation, the interpreted the meanings of the song, and they had brought news to us and said 'In a land not of our own there is one who will come to lead us against the wars, and they arrive on the fifth spring from now. It will be then that they shall travel to Bree, and go to a store, inn, or another place far from the abodes of the villagers, most likely confused with their minds in disarray. The enemy will also be searching for this person to turn them for their own uses during this time, foiling our only chance of victory. Few will know where to look as well, so little direction will be given on this quest. Make haste for the place when the time comes and bring them to Rivendell to be taught to use sword and Elvin weapons. Beyond that our foresight does not reach'. That is what they said, and now here we are, in the presence of the Prophesized One." He finished with another bow, his mood now formal and solemn.

"But—but I can't be a hero! I'm just—I'm…I'm…" the word 'normal' rested on her lips, but made it now further. When she looked back at her life, it seemed somehow not so. She had always been separate from others, even between her own family. Different in some way, excelling in areas that given her experiences just did not piece together. She shook her head and sighed. "I'm sorry. But, how could this be?"

The three of the others looked down on her with sympathy, knowing what she must be going through. "We know this is hard, but you must trust us. You are our only hope to win against the evil that even now could be spreading this way. It may already be too late. Come with us, and discover your true destiny, to Rivendell!" Legolas's eyes burned with a strange desire and passion, their icy blue shining in the lantern light. "You may not feel it now, but I see in you great potential to be a strong warrior if trained correctly. Please, all of the good in this land is in danger of falling and never rekindling." He stood up and bowed low, looking up with the same desire that he had moments ago, even though he had finished his speech.

This brought courage to Leah's heart, and it seemed possible. "I shall come."