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(Chapter Six)


"Twenty-seven, twenty-eight,twenty-nine. Thirty."

I collapsed to the cool grass, panting heavily from the sets of push-up I had forced my body to endure. The back of my legs and middle core were screaming from the burn, but I promptly ignored it all as I got to my feet and began again another set. Two days of being in Haldir's house had made me want to go outside and set a daily morning routine.

If I couldn't really go my normal stuff like I usually do back at home, the least I could do to help speed up my body's immune system while keeping my figure in shape was to create various exercises that involved intense cardio and boxing. I had searched the house up and down for something to punch at but I couldn't really find anything that fit what I was looking for until I found a leather burlap bag that wasn't being used in the kitchen. I filled it up with fresh soil, tied several layers of twine and rope before heading outside with it and tying it to one of the low branches.

Haldir had been going in and out of the house to take care of his various duties while I was left alone to do whatever I want. Which was hard since my mind was used to going onto a computer to do either homework or browse the web for several hours. I shook my head. "What a way to live almost on the brink of primitive." I said to myself between my push-ups. "If I don't get to do something other than lounge around all day, I'll be sure to go completely mad with insanity."

Flipping onto my back with a thirty second respite, I began the painful process of half crunches with one leg cross over the other. My mind thought back to the morning I had awoken to find myself snuggled against Haldir's chest. He was soundly asleep as I had slowly gotten up and hurried upstairs to brush my teeth and wash my face up. He had seemed so peaceful in his sleep, not bothered or touched by the outside world's dark events or hidden memories of what he had experienced from battle. I pitied him deeply and wished in my heart that there was something more that I could do to help me get of the trauma. But there wasn't anything I could do except be his friend while he did the same for me.

I stopped what I was doing and just laid there on the grass while staring up at the clear sky above me. The sun's rays were pouring through the gold leaves of the silver trees, enhancing the breathtaking beauty further until I swore that I wished I had my camera to take a picture and forever hang it on my living-room wall.

"Acadia?" A soft female voice spoke from nearby. I lift my head slightly to find Lady Galadriel standing underneath one of the trees. She was dress in her usual white gown, but this time she also had a heavy cloak thrown over her shoulders.

I hurried to my feet. "Good morning, my lady." I wiped my sweaty brow before gesturing to my damp workout clothes. "Sorry about all of this. I just needed to pass a little time with some cardio workout this morning." She nodded in understanding while she slowly walked over and took a seat at one of the stone benched by the stairs that led up to the talan.

"One of my men had seen your workout and sent a report to me. I was curious to see what it was you do for myself." She said with a smile that made me smile back. Of all the people I have been or been around my whole life, I got to admit that whenever I was around her, things just seemed to fall away from my shoulders while I felt happy inside.

"Glad I was able to entertain you." I half joked while taking a sip of water from a jug. "So what brings you out here other then the guy's report of me being crazy?"

Galadriel laughed merrily for a moment. "The usual things. I often go among my people from time to time to see how things are running." She glanced up at the talan. "How's things going so far with your stay here? Is everything to your liking? Do you need anything? Clothes? Personal items?"

"Um, well there is one thing I do kind of need pretty soon." I said a bit sheepishly.

"Please tell, perhaps I could be some assistance in helping you obtain what you need. Don't worry about working for it or anything. I always make sure that my guest are well taken care of with what their needs are."

My cheeks got hot. How the heck does one tell another female whose your hostess that you need pads? I wasn't even sure if elleths were even able to have periods since they were immortally beautiful. Then again, if they didn't have periods, then how the heck would there be babies produced if such a cycle didn't exist at all?

"Er, can I ask you a personal question as a woman to woman?" I asked her softly.

Galadriel nodded. "Of course, anything."

"What do you do when your period is about to start? Like what do you use to...you know...prevent your dress from becoming soiled with the blood and all." I ended the last part a bit lamer then I expected. Hell, it was overall awkward of me asking such a stupid question from the highest being. I averted my embarrassment gaze. "Never mind, I shouldn't have asked."

"No, it's quite alright, Acadia." She waved aside my comment with a half smirk. Galadriel looked around us before motioning for me to take a seat beside her on the bench. "I may not have what you are used to using, but we elleths use several layers of thin cloth to help catch the menstrual blood. You have to wash them of course when its time for you to change. I could have one of my handmaidens make a basket of the clothes and some leather trousers for you to wear so you feel a little more secured."

"Er, and what about panties? Do you wear those as well?" I added.

"Those too." She nodded. I gave a sigh of relief. At least there was still some decency that I could relate to and not feel award of having to go around bare ass underneath my clothes.

"Thank you very much for helping me, my lady. You don,t know how hard all of this has been on my mind since I arrived. Its almost like stepping back in a time period from the past and having to figure out what and how I'm going to survive without the things I'm used to having on hand. Kinda scary when one thinks about it from time to time."

"I fully understand how you feel, Acadia." Galdriel replied sympathetically. "I was scared myself after my kin and I had arrived to the shores of Middle Earth. We didn't know if there were other of our kind like us here, who were an enemy or who was friend. The land was very much different then in the eyes of us high elves." Her blue eyes became sad and distant for a moment. "We lost so many good people during the cold winter months. Its a wonder that I had chosen to follow the wisest of my two brothers into the unknown lands and create my own ruling realm with the help of my husband, Celeborn."

"It must be really wonderful to have such a strong and wise elf for a husband and partner." I said with understanding. "In my world, its really rare to find someone whom you truly can love and cherish for the rest of you life without having too many unanswered issues or secrets. Even though a woman might settle down with a man for a while, its common on my culture at least that she will most likely break up with perhaps seven or more men in half of her lifetime after reaching puberty before the one turns up."

"And what about yourself, Acadia? Don't you want to have a family and children in your lifetime before its too late?"

I could feel my face color from the neck up to my roots of my hairline. I kicked my toe at the grass as she continued to wait for my reply. "If I ever get back home, I still have to finish my work in college and graduate with my bachelor's degree, find a job and work up enough money to support myself before I even decide to look for a perspective partner for life."

"But how do you feel about finding true love?"

It was at this point of the conversation I was beginning to have a uneasy feeling that she wanted to know more then just about how my world worked. She wanted to know how I worked as a person who was so different from her and the people that lived in Middle Earth. Apparently, a woman was only considered strong and powerful if one was to already have high status and fame, like Galdriel for example. But for others, it was like they had to prove themselves to their counterparts just that they could get by. Or, just live the tradition life of being the good wife and mother, bear children into the world, nurture and teach until they reached their manhood or womanhood before all were married off early or sent to train as a soldier.

I couldn't see myself tied down a to anyone. If I was tied and chained to someone I didn't really like, I'd just call up my lawyer and write out an divorce and get my ruined life back on track. That was why I really had a negative vibe against falling in love with men in general. They always cheated at some point of the relationship, get bored, grow lazy with helping out on the responsibility of being together, don't want to do very much or just plain annoying and stupid.

"I, um," I started to say in an very uncomfortable voice. "I don't really find myself settling down at any point of my life." I finished the last part rather quickly because Haldir had appeared suddenly around the corner with a basket in hand. I jumped to my feet. "Oh, your back!"

"I got you a few things while out at the market this morning." He said with his usual soft smile. Galadriel stood to her feet as he gave her a slight bow. "I'm very happy to find you here this morning with Acadia. I was beginning to wonder if she was starting to grow too lonely around here without anyone much to talk to."

"That is why you should show her around and introduce a few of our kin who are able to speak the common tongue, my march warden." She replied with a very slight frown. "I thought you did that a few night ago after she moved in."

I saw his face color for once. "Oh, I told him to wait because I was still very much tired from being ill, my lady." I interjected. Haldir sighed with relief as I came to his rescue once again. "So now that I'm better and moving about, Haldir." I turned upon him with my most charming smile. "I think we should take a walk around this afternoon and show me what your city is all about."

Hadlir carefully put the basket down on the grass and rubbed at his right leg with one hand. "I'll take you to a few shops as well so you can pick out your own clothes because by the current state of your currents one that you are wearing." He gestured towards my sweat pants and damp hello kitty shirt. "Those won't last very long here."

I grabbed at my shirt and pulled it out slightly. "So? These weren't meant to be every day clothes to begin with. I either sleep in them or I work out in them."

I heard Galadriel chuckle as she stepped around me to get by. "Well, I'll just be on my way now." She announced as several of her handmaidens, including Celeborn, came into view in the nearby distance. "I'm having a meeting council today with the lords and a few ambassadors from our woodland kins. They are in need of help from us since recent raids have weaken their defenses against the invading Orcs and wild men. I'm guess that you will want to have some time off from this affair until you have shown her where everything is located?"

"Yes, if that is ok with you,m'lady." He replied meekly. "I'd appreciated it greatly."

"Then its settled. Just make sure you go see master healer Tuvandiel to do your physical therapy this evening."

Haldir's lips thinned slightly but he nodded his head while following beside to escort her to the waiting group. I watched him greet Celeborn who in turn waved to me with his kind smile. I waved back and picked up the heavy basket, almost toppling under its sheer weight before slowly balancing it while I carried it up the stairs one by one.

"What are you doing?"

Turning my head backward slightly, I saw Haldir hurrying up the steps two at a time before he swiftly grabbed the basket from me. "You could have injured yourself or fallen down the stairs if your not careful." He chided me while heading inside the house.

"Hey!" I cried. "I've been lifting weights for a long time. I'm sure that a little heavy basket doesn't really make any differences for me." I heard him grunt from the kitchen. Rolling my eyes upward at the heavens, I headed upstairs to take a hot soak in the bathing room. How come men never, ever really responded other than using male noises and gestures to get their point across? It just so damn fucking frustrating and annoying. And everyone wonders why the heck I never get myself in situations with men.

I stripped out of my clothes in my room and tossed them in the hamper before sticking my head out into the hallways to see if Haldir was nearby before I ran out butt naked into the bathing room and slammed the door behind myself. The steam hit my face before I was even near the large wooden tub. I sighed with joy as I eased myself slowly into the water, my tight muscles relaxing under the heat itself. I leaned my head back against the edge of the tub with my eyes closed.

"Now this is what I call heaven." I told myself before jumping in surprise when the door opened and Haldir stuck his head in. I hid my naked boobs from his gaze but he didn't look directly at me while placing two large towels on the nearby bench.

"I forgot to replenish the towels this morning." He explained before closing the door behind him. "And your things are on the bed when you are finished with your bath. I'll just be downstairs fixing our mid-morning meal. No rushing."

"Thank you." I called out before resuming my soak. It was kinda funny seeing his eyes move everywhere but me while I lay in plain naked view, literally. I allowed a low giggle to escape while grabbing the lavender soap bar and a wash towel. "Things are starting to look up so far, Acadia. You will just have to enjoy everyday to the fullest until its time to go home."

My hand paused mid stroke and I stared out the bathroom window for a moment. This world didn't seem too bad so far, but I knew that danger was soon to show itself eventually in time and I had to be prepared for anything that came with it.

Its just...what would happen if I were to die here in this world? Would it change anything back home or would I truly be lost amide people and events that weren't supposed to be real while life went on normally.