Thank you everyone for your feedback, I hope this chapter clears a few things up and that this story is still and enjoyable read.
When Alanna woke the next day she noticed that sunlight was already streaming heavily through her window. Her back felt better from not being on the floor all night and she was so comfortable she almost didn't want to get up, she heard a knock on her door however that caused her to have to leave the comfort of her bed to answer it. With a sigh she put on a robe over her night gown and went to answer it figuring it was Arwen she was surprised however when it was Legolas there instead.
"You're not Arwen." She said with a yawn.
"No I am not, Arwen felt the need to venture out into the forest earlier in the day she sensed something is wrong. Lord Elrond wishes to speak with you; I do not think he realized that you would sleep until past midday if someone did not wake you." Said Legolas knowing that on their travels together Alanna hated waking up, no matter how much rest she had gotten.
"It is past midday?" Said Alanna surprised she had slept for so long. She didn't realize how tired she must have been from her journey.
"Yes, Lady Bellethiel said she came in here during the morning and you were still fast asleep, I believe she said she left some new clothes for you as well as some food." Said Legolas still standing in the doorway even when Alanna left it to see what Bellethiel had left her. There was a small piece of bread and an apple as well as a note reminding her that elfin food was rather rich and she would most likely only want a small amount of bread to eat. She also noticed the new item of clothing she had been given was a dress and although it was very beautiful she did not think it to be very practical if she was going to continue on her journey once the fellowship met.
"You can come in if you like? Why not keep me company whilst I eat?" Said Alanna to Legolas for finally enter the room but only after she spoke. She noticed her staring at her differently than he had before, often he viewed her with a look of curiosity or confusion but now his expression was difficult to read. "What is it?" She asked.
"Nothing." Said Legolas realizing he had been staring, it just seemed strange to him to see Alanna dressed so feminine and to have her hair down rather than in its usual braid. He noted that when her hair was down you could truly see all the different hues of red and gold in it and it reminded him of something Arwen had said earlier in the morning about it being the color of leaves in autumn. "Your hair, I have not seen it down before, it looks different."
"I suppose it is a mess, I have yet to brush it for days. Arwen complemented it quite nicely last night after she mistook us for a couple." Said Alanna hoping she was not blushing again.
"Yes I heard, she told me of the mistake, I suppose I should have been clearer when I informed her as to why I was here I think she thought we intended to travel together rather than that we just happened to meet and become good friends. She said she noticed you were wearing my cloak and because we seemed so comfortable around one another that she just assumed."
"Yes, that is right I still have your cloak, I think Bellethiel might have taken it to have it washed." Said Alanna taking a bite of some of the bread provided to her on the table.
"I suppose I should leave now, you will need to get ready and I do not think you want to keep Lord Elrond waiting."
"Yes, I suppose I have been rather rude to our host." Said Alanna before Legolas departed. After he left she got dressed and brushed her hair. She looked in the mirror to make sure she at least looked decent, dress she had been given was simple but had a great elegance to it and it complemented her figure nicely and it was an olive green color that worked well with her coloring. She was beginning to think perhaps she should just wear green all the time. Realizing she should not keep Lord Elrond waiting she ventured out into the hall and then realized she had no idea where to find Lord Elrond and spent a good half hour wandering before she ran into someone. The only reason she ran into them was because she had been looking out one of the windows and had not seen them approach the other reason she did not see them was because they were much shorter than her.
"Oh goodness me, I am sorry I should be more careful in watching where I am going." Said the old man or rather hobbit Alanna had just run into.
"Bilbo Baggins?" she said surprised to have run into him, he was her reason for traveling to Rivendell in the first place. James and she that thought it would be the perfect excuse as to why she was wanted to journey there.
"Why yes, dear Lady, how is it you know me?" He said looking at her with surprise,
"We have a common friend, Master Baggins. Do you remember a man named James?" Said Alanna with a smile as Bilbo's face lit up at the mention of him.
"Ah yes, James it has been a long time indeed since I have seen him, after our journey he left to return to his home, he said one day I might meet someone who inquired about him, you would not by chance be Alanna?"
"Yes, I am. I came to Rivendell just to met you James spoke rather highly of you and my wanderings took me near here I thought I might chance a meeting."
"He left me a letter for you, I think I still have it round here somewhere, if you follow me to my study I might look for it and we can share a tale or two."
"A kind offer Master Baggins but I have been called to see Lord Elrond and have kept him waiting for quite some time; do you know where I might find him?"
"Perhaps the room with Isildur's Sword, I can take you there if you would like Lady Alanna."
"That would be very kind of you, and please if you are a friend of James call me Alanna." She said with a smile.
Bilbo asked that she do the same and lead her to the room where he thought Lord Elrond would be and asked Alanna if she would join him to discuss their mutual friend when she was finished with her meeting with Elrond. When Alanna entered she noticed someone standing in the room and she assumed it was Elrond.
"Lord Elrond, I am deeply sorry for keeping you waiting but I have a terrible sense of direction and did not know where to find you." She said looking very apologetic she really felt bad for keeping someone so important waiting.
"So I am told, Lady Alanna, Legolas has told me this. He has also told me that you come to Rivendell to seek Bilbo Baggins for he is an old friend but it seems he has never actually met you but that a friend of his James mentioned you." Said Lord Elrond turning to face her. Lord Elrond had a look of wisdom about him and his face seemed ageless, neither young nor old. His expression was difficult to read and she could not tell if he was too angry with her for her tardiness.
"That is correct Lord Elrond, I have actually just run into Bilbo." Said Alanna trying not to laugh at just how true that statement was.
"You know it is strange, Lady Alanna for I have met your friend James he was about your age then and traveling with Mr. Baggins and like you no one seems to really know him or have ever met him for that matter it is almost as though he had just appeared here. And yet to appear at such an important time for he was there when Bilbo found a rather peculiar ring, do you know the ring I speak of, Lady Alanna?"
"Yes, Lord Elrond." Said Alanna she felt slightly uncomfortable under his calculating gaze.
"And then, you seem to just appear and happen to be travelling to Rivendell when a Council of all of Middle Earth has been called to discuss the fate of the ring which I speak of, and this ring is in fact coming to Rivendell, so my question Lady Alanna is why are you here?"
"To do research Milord, I was sent by scholars in my homeland to learn of the different races and lands in Middle Earth and that is what I intend to do."
"You mean to tell me you have no interest in the One Ring of Power?"
"To say I have no interest would be a lie Milord but who in Middle Earth does not have interest in it? I have however learned for my studies, that it is a tool of absolute power and I am told absolute power corrupts absolutely and think that perhaps it is best if no one possesses the ring." She said truly meaning the words she spoke but also knowing Lord Elrond was in support of the idea of the destruction of the ring she supposed it helped to be on his good side. In all honesty she was frightened that she would soon be in its presence, she had seen what it had done to many in the books. Lord Elrond seemed to nod in a way that said he accepted her answer.
"Perhaps then you would like to attend the Council and see how the races of Middle Earth interact with one another?"
Alanna and not expected to be invited to the Council at all she planned to hide in the bushes with Sam and the other hobbits because she had not real reason for being there. She was in fact so surprised that it took her a moment to speak. "You're inviting me to the Council of Elrond?" She said in disbelief.
"Yes, Lady Alanna. When your friend James arrived in this world from what I am told he ensured the ring went to Bilbo and having it in the hands of a hobbit all these years has kept it safe. Now you have arrived and though I see truth in your words when you say you are here for research, I trust you can do more and suggest you attend the Council."
After that is seemed Lord Elrond was done speaking to her and she took her leave and went to find Bilbo like she had promised. It provided a nice distraction from the fact that in a few days time Frodo would be arriving with the ring and seriously injured. The two spend hours talking about James and Bilbo's adventures. He showed her his completed work and she flipped through it ideally while Bilbo complained about how difficult it was to write in the Shire.
"At least you had started to write something, I plan to publish a book when I return home and I have yet to take any notes or do any further research since I arrived." Said Alanna remembering she was in fact in Middle Earth to look for discrepancies and focus on any untold information that was not present in the books or movies.
"My dear, I am an old man now and I have learned that when you are young such as yourself it is best to enjoy life and work on writing your book later."
"It is different where I am from Bilbo." Said Alanna with a sigh, but she had half a mind just to listen to Bilbo it would be so much easier.
"Your friend didn't write a single thing down when he traveled with me and you must remember it may be different where you are from, Alanna but you are not there now are you?"
"No I suppose not." Said Alanna with a smile of course James would have not written anything down he was always procrastinating any work he had.
"Now why don't you read that letter he left you and then I will give you a tour of Rivendell." Alanna had forgotten that Bilbo had found the letter almost an hour ago but they had been so busy talking she did not have time to read it. Bilbo said he would leave and give her some privacy and wait for her outside. She began to read the letter.
Dear Alanna,
I have decided to write this letter so that you would have something to remember home by and also to give you some advice. First of all can I just say how awesome Middle Earth is? So awesome in fact I didn't do much research so…yeah I'm screwed but I'm sure I can throw some bs together for when I get back, once I'm done writing this letter anyway. I have no idea how Dr. Laver wanted us do this research I mean, we didn't get to bring any cameras or anything and I didn't have time to write stuff down! I fought a dragon! A dragon! I couldn't be like excuse me Mr. Dragon let me write down that you are actually much more scary in real life than you are in the book. But I digress.
Let's see tip number one, take lots of mental pictures. Tip number two enjoy yourself worry about your work later just talk to as many people as you can and you will have plenty to write about. After all that's how the first historians did it. Just be like the ancient Greek historian Thucydides who while he was in exile interviewed people about the Peloponnesian War, but don't get exiled. Tip number three don't try to beat and elf in a drinking game it doesn't work, seriously I tired. Tip number four they say elves are beautiful in the books and they really mean it and I know about your weakness is that whole pretty boy type so don't fall for an elf especially since they don't really like the whole elf-human thing…and yes I know it worked for Arwen and Aragorn but that's different.
Alanna couldn't help but laugh at this time because the letter was so much like something James would say and also he knew her all too well that he would actually argue the point she made in her head.
Tip number five, getting shot with an arrow really hurts, I mean really really hurts avoid that if at all possible and don't worry I'm fine. Tip number six…yeah I can't think of anything else right now. I actually have to go soon, I will see you when we get back, enjoy your time in Middle Earth.
Your Friend,
James
After she was done reading the letter she went outside to see Bilbo talking to Legolas in the hall. Legolas had actually gone to look for her because he wanted to make sure her meeting with Lord Elrond went well and he realized that he had grown rather used to her company.
"Legolas, I have not seen you since this morning how has your day been?" She said with a smile it was nice to see a familiar face in these halls.
"Well, and your meeting with Lord Elrond?"
"Unexpected, he asked me to attend the Council. I also ran into Bilbo though and he had been kind enough to give me a tour of Rivendell." She said noticing that Legolas seemed to frown at her mention of attendance to the Council.
"You know my dear, I fear my age has caught up with me and I am in need of some rest for awhile, perhaps we can do the tour another time or you could get someone else to." Said Bilbo with a smile.
"Alright, rest well then, Bilbo." She said biding him farewell as he stepped back into his office leaving Legolas and Alanna alone in the hall.
"And you have known him naught but a few hours and you are already friends. Not to mention you have said but a few words to Arwen and Bellethiel and they already seem rather fond of you. I am being to think there is not a single person you have met that has not befriended you" Said Legolas with a laugh.
"I do not believe Lord Elrond and I will be sitting down for a pleasant chat anytime soon if that helps, and not everyone I met has befriended me." Said Alanna rolling her eyes at him.
"Yes, about Lord Elrond you said he invited you to the Council?" Said Legolas looking serious once again.
"Yes, I am puzzled as to why though, for some reason he thinks I can help or something. I'm not sure I want to see the ring though, it frightens me."
"With good reason." Said Legolas understanding why she might not want to be in its presence. He did however not want to dwell on something so negative when they did not have to yet so he changed the subject. "Perhaps you would like me to show you around Rivendell since Bilbo seems unable too at the moment?"
"Are you sure you will be able to make it? Bilbo is not but 111 and is unable to due to age and you are what almost 4,000?" Said Alanna with a teasing smirk although she knew Legolas was immortal she still liked to tease him about his age.
"You're right we might have to cut the tour short nin ai lhach, but not for my age. It will be dark soon and most children do not stay up that late, tis past their bedtime." He said with a smirk, using her nickname as he often did when teasing her.
"I think I will manage." She said with a laugh as they proceed down the hall and out into one of the many courtyards. Legolas began to point out various land marks and building explaining their importance or why they looked the way they did. Alanna of course had lots of questions and he was happy to answer every one of them. Alanna knew the time of peace was coming quickly to an end and soon she would be starting on a very treacherous journey. She had been happy to hear from James and planned to take his letter with her so she may read it when times seemed tough. She decided she would take his and Bilbo's advise, she would have plenty of time after her journey to write down all the information she had learned, for now it would be best just to observe all she could.
Well there you have it another chapter. Don't forget to review.