"But me lord, ye canna' expect us ta stay with that Elves!"
"Ye'll have ta get used ta the idea, we're stayin' and ye canna' do anythin' aboot it," Gloin, Steward Under the Mountain commanded, "Our king needs that help o' the Elves, an' that's all we need. Donna get yer beard all in a twist, Nordit. We'll be leavin' 'afore two sunrises a'past."
The company of dwarves trudged onward. Gloin knew that the valley was nearby; he had seen it once, in his travels with his now-deceased best friend and King under the Mountain, Thorin Oakenshield.
Gloin sighed heavily, remembering wistfully the adventures they had gone on all those years before.
"Me lord?" Asked a surely dwarf.
"Yes, Bumpo?" The steward turned to regard the other dwarf, a stable fellow with an exceptionally well-trimmed beard tucked into his belt.
"Me lord, our scouts've reported seein' the Elven city. It be not three miles to tha' north," he finished in a thick dwarven accent.
"Thank ye, Bumpo. Ye've managed ta' keep them rangers in line, 'ave ye? Bunch o' strange folk, those, useful in a fight, though..."
The old steward rambled on, and poor Bumpo had no choice but to highlight the long monologue with "Yes, me steward," and deep bows.
Bumpo was relieved when steward Gloin's son, Gimli, came to take his place.
"That's kind of ya, Bumpo. I think tha' some o' the dwarves need some help with our supply cart." He sent a nod Bumpo's way, and the dwarf's expression showed his relief.
"Ye know, Da', this canno' be good fer our dwarves. We're takin' them deep into tha forest!"
Gloin shook his head. "No, me son, we're no' just taken' 'em into tha forest, we're takin' 'em ta elvish lands!" Gimli groaned, reminded once again of the elves and their cruelty to his father's friends in Mirkwood.
Sarah was falling. She had no reference point, as she was back in the white room, but she knew she was falling. She felt air whistle by her ears and a rush from adrenaline powering her now-useless muscles.
She blinked as her viewpoint changed. Now, she was falling towards earth, and fast. Below her she could see trees, a river, and in the distance a large snowy mountain range.
She began, to her surprise, to slow down to a comfortable speed, until she stopped falling and simply hung in midair, twenty feet from the ground.
Looking around for something to grab on to, she spotted a tree branch. She reached for it.
A mistake.
Sarah started falling again, and cried out as she hit the ground, hard. When she opened her eyes, she felt an acute pain on her palms and one ankle. She tried to stand, but with a sharp pain in that ankle, she decided to settle for sitting up instead.
She looked around, not surprised to find herself in a forest.
"Wow," she whispered; the trees were huge, and a full green color filled their branches. The grass she sat on was also extremely healthy-looking. She saw several butterflies.
"Anyone there?" called a voice from afar.
Surprised that another human would be here, Sarah hesitated, then yelled back, "Yes. Could you help me?"
"Of course," came from behind her. She started. "How did you get..." She trailed off, staring at the face she saw.
"No.." She whispered. It couldn't be.
Blue eyes blinked and regarded her curiously, "No what?"
"You're.. You're.." She couldn't find the words. How could she be talking to an elf?
"Shh..." He whispered, placing a hand on her forehead, "Rest. You're hurt. I will take you to Lord Elrond."
She looked up at him. "Wait a minute," she said, realizing who she was talking to.
"You're not Leggyboo."
The elf blinked again, "I'm not.. Leggyboo?" Who is this?"
Sarah grinned, "Legolas. You know him?"
The elf nodded, understanding, "I have met him."
"You're Glorfindel, aren't you?" Sarah raised an eyebrow.
Now it was the elf's turn to be puzzled, "Yes I am," he said after a long pause, "How do you know me?"
Sarah shook her head, laughing, "Silly elf, of course I know who you are!"
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow at her, puzzled by her speech, "You are certainly a strange girl. Come. We must go to Lord Elrond," he said again.
Sarah looked pointedly at her foot. "I don't think I can walk. Can you help me?"
The elf smiled. "Of course." He held out a hand to pull her up, which she took. He helped her to stand up and put an arm over his shoulders, but she had trouble reaching up.
"This isn't going to work," she mumbled under her breath, not expecting Glorfindel to hear her.
"Of course it will!" He grinned, "Ill carry you."
Sarah was pleasantly surprised to find that he was more comfortable to lean against than she had thought, and dozed off halfway to the Last Homely House of Elrond.
