breathecali - i'm glad you like the story :) it's nice getting reviews :) my older sister is actually 5"8; she towers over me!

AN- Did you know, dislocating your shoulder is very painful? Also, I know this chapters a bit short, but the next few should be longer :) also, if anyone wants to Beta, let me know :)

disclaimer- only Rhian, OC's and plot alterations. The wonderful world I am borrowing belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter 7

"I understand this is very difficult for you." Elrond said gently, sitting beside her.

"You are to stay here, in the healing rooms for a few more days, until you are fully healed, and then we will set about finding answers to your

numerous questions." Rhian sat bolt upright, which was very painful, and felt down her side.

Sure enough she could feel bulky bandages, and it hurt to touch, and move, and breathe. She felt the gash on her head. It was un-bandaged, but

she could feel the small stitches.

"I think I fell off Grover." She said, and Elrond smiled...she clearly needed more rest.

"Who is Grover?"

"Theodred's horse."

"Sleep now, little one, you have been through much."

"No, I think I'll get up for a little while, if that's okay." Elrond was surprised by her eagerness to be moving, but glad by her seemingly undamaged

unaffected aura...anyone else would be severely psychologically shaken by their encounter with the wraiths.

"That is fine, but if you feel unwell, you must come back, immediately. Elladan and Elrohir will wait for you, outside, and I'll send Eleniel in to help

you dress. I'm sure you'll understand that your clothes were ruined in our rush to treat your injuries."

"Yes, no problem. Thank you."

He kissed her head, and left her in peace; she liked him, he was a very fatherly elf.

He found his sons, lurking around outside, as they were prone to do.

"She is determined to get up for a while. I want you to show her around, and make sure she doesn't over exert herself; it would do her more harm

than good."

"Yes father." They chorused, while grinning at each other; no doubt they had mischief planned. He sent in Eleniel, who bowed as she went.

"My Lady." A beautiful elf curtsied to Rhian, as she came into the room.

"Please, call me Rhian."

"Yes, My Lady Rhian." Rhian would have groaned; but it was a sign of respect, and she would have to get used to it, if she was to stay. She

suspected Lord Elrond would make sure of it.

The elf had brought in a lovely pale purple dress, with silver embroidery.

"I fear it may be too long for me." Rhian looked at the dress. It was beautiful, but it would be too long if it was fashioned for elves; there was only

a slight height difference, right enough.

"That is all right, My Lady, Lord Elrond has allowed me to modify it for you." The elf helped her change, without straining her side; quite an

achievement, Rhian thought.

"My Lady, you are very beautiful...for a human." Eleniel was being completely sincere in her words. She seemed almost disbelieving.

"Thank you." Rhian blushed, as Eleniel brushed out her golden curls.

"There you are, my Lady. You look like a princess."

"You are too kind, Eleniel. But please, call me Rhian. My lady is too formal." Eleniel smiled at the little human, and gave her a hug, before leading

her out to the twins.

"My Lords." She followed Eleniel's lead and curtsied to the handsome elves.

"Well, Lady Rhian, we would like to show you around Imladris."

As soon as it was just the three of them, and the twins were sure Eleniel couldn't tell on them, the formality dropped.

"Can you ride a horse?" asked Elrohir.

"No." The elves gasped; this was unheard of.

"Come on, we'll teach you." They pulled her to the stables laughing at and teasing her the whole way.

Elladan's cheeks turned a fine shade of pink, when he realised she was too small to get on the horse herself; Elven horses were tall and large, like

the Rohirric horses.

"May I lift you?" she laughed at his embarrassment, "Of course, My Lord."

"Good. Then we can treat you as we do our sister." Elrohir answered while Elladan lifted her onto the horse; it seemed the twins acted and

thought as one the majority of the time.

They taught her to ride the horse properly, although she wasn't as bad as they thought she would be; she didn't fall off half as much as they

expected her too; apparently, travelling on a horse for days at a time taught you how to hold on.

"Back straight, knees tight, head up, hold the reins." They corrected her as needed, and she started to get relaxed on the horse. Then a thought

suddenly occurred to Elrohir, who turned around quickly to face her.

"How do you know Elven?"

"Apparently, I was blessed with the gift of tongues." She replied, keeping her eyes on the path.

"Okay, then, try this." To her surprise, he started speaking English; she didn't need to translate in her head.

"You just said 'What did I say this time'"

"El, what type of question was that; she could have guessed." Groaned Elladan, who was beginning to relax around the little human.

"Okay, try this." He gave his brother an evil grin.

"Will you marry me?" she burst out laughing.

"No, sorry, you're not my type." He looked marginally disappointed, as Elladan and Rhian continued laughing at him. They continued they're banter,

until Elladan pointed out it was getting dark.

"Look! It's Grover!"

"Who is this Grover you speak of?"

"My horse!"

Right enough, a huge chestnut horse was being led from the woods into the grounds by a wary looking elf, who was making sure to keep a fair

distance.

"I found him wandering near where you found the woman...He took a while to calm down. I wasn't able to touch his leg."

Struggling to get off the horse, but doing so eventually, Rhian ran to Grover.

The horse jerked away from the elf, and ran towards her. Elladan winced; almost sure she would be trampled by the horse.

But he stopped, and kneeled on the ground beside her, an act few horses could ever be trained to do. She flung her arms round his neck, as he let

out a huge sigh.

"This is your horse, my lady?"

"Yes. I thought he was gone."

"He threw you." the elf said, narrowing his eyes.

"I'm sure he had a good reason." She said, tickling behind his ear. She walked round him, and looked at his left back leg. It had a huge bloody

gash, and the chestnut hair was matted and stained black.

"Oh, pet." She sighed, and leant her head against him, her small hands running through his mane.

Standing, she walked around him, and undid all the saddle bags, and Elrohir helped her to attach them onto the elven horse. But as she went to

get on the other horse, Grover snapped at her skirt, catching it with his teeth.

"Wow, calm down." Rhian patted the other horse, and climbed onto Grover.

The bigger horse waited for her to settle herself, before he stood. The other elf, climbed onto the shunned Elven horse, and rode back to speak

with Elrond.

"I think it may be time to head back." Elladan said quietly to Elrohir.

Both had noticed that Rhian had grown quieter, and paler, although she never complained.

"Let's go." They turned, and headed back to the city.

Elladan caught Rhian before she fell out of the saddle; she hadn't complained once, but he had seen her sway.

The pain in her side had been getting worse as they day went on; she understood how it had almost killed her; clearly falling off horses was not a

good idea.

Elrohir and Elladan had been very good to her, teaching her to ride properly, and she didn't want to ruin they're day by complaining.

She had felt herself sway, and Grover whickered, and she landed in strong arms, before she reluctantly surrendered to the black again.

"Father is going to kill us." Groaned Elrohir, as they placed Rhian carefully on the bed.

"Why am I going to kill you my son?"

"Um, ask Dan." Elrond was tempted to laugh at his sons' deference, but he kept his face straight.

"Well, El decided we should take her out, and teach her to horse ride, but we didn't think that it was bothering her, she never said anything to us."

"I suspected she would over exert herself. It is not your fault. I must change her dressings, go and get some supper."

"No problem. Also, her horse from Rohan has arrived. He was found wandering, with all his saddle bags attached. They're attempting to treat him

in the stables, but he's bad tempered with everyone but her."

"Very good...have her bags brought up to me."

He sent them away, smiling; they were glad to be free of a scolding. Eleniel came, and changed Rhian back into a night gown.

Elrond peeled the bandage away from her wound. It was healing nicely but, there was still a hint of infection. Using some fresh herbs, he cleaned

the wound, and then he placed a warm towel on top.

Eventually, he re-bandaged her wound, he moved on to the gash on her head.

Although it was not as deep or particularly large, it was still a head wound. It was fine; healing well enough that he could eventually take the

stitches out.

What puzzled him was how fast she was healing. Elven medicine tended to increase the rate of healing, but not at this magnitude.

Settling in the large chair beside her, he began to read the musty parchment, which he had found in the oldest part of the library, and waited for

the Hobbit to arrive.

Arwen had been gone for three days; she would return soon with the Hobbit, Frodo Baggins.