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Eleanor's POV

I have to admit that I avoided Legolas after the ball and made sure that I was never in a room alone with him, and never gave him an opportunity to talk to me privately.

The day after the ball, there were no lessons; one to allow us to recover from the previous night's activity, and two to allow us to talk to our visitors. So the next morning had Ginny and I having our first private meeting with Elrond and co.

After a bit of small talk, we get to serious business.

"What are we going to do? We need to get out of here because Thanduil is going to use us to get to you and I don't think anyone is happy about that."

"I agree on needing to get you two out, but at least while we are here he will be on his guard. And judging by what happened last night, I think it is probably more important for Ginny to get out as she is only needed, and therefore only safe, while Eleanor is here."

I nod, though Glorfindel doesn't look too happy with the idea.

"The best case scenario is that they both escape together. Whatever we decide on though, I am going to ensure that Dawnstar is safe and away from the Sindar." That would be mister protective Elf knight, also know as Glorfindel talking.

"Dawnstar? You called me that, Elrond, why?"

Elrond looks at me, slightly surprised at the question.

"The law-name has multiple origins. The first origin is related to the fall of Gondolin, which started at dawn. When you were born, many called you the star of the city, a new light so to speak. You were born at dawn and were sent away at dawn."

Maedhren then cuts in.

"The second reason is more esoteric..."

I raise an eyebrow, more esoteric?

"Like your sister, you have powers. We do not know the full extent of them or how to use or train them; they are something you will have to find out on your own. The name is a name the prophecies gave you as, apparently, you are significant."

Elrond takes over again.

"The jewel you now wear round you neck is called the Dawnstar Pendant."

"Sort of like Arwen's Evenstar?"

"Exactly like that. If you ever hold it up to the dawn light it changes from a simple blue to the appearance of the dawn and there is, of course, a star in the jewel."

I nod, of all the reasons the last one makes the most sense. Then something Maedhren said registered.

"There are prophecies involving me?"

"Yes, and at least one purely about you."

I bury my head in my hands and groan. After feeding Ginny a diet of fan-fictions and the relevant terminology, she understands my feelings. The elves, on the other hand, are confused.

"What is wrong?" Elladan asks.

I look up at him and endeavour to explain.

"I think I have been dropped into a bad fan-fiction. Even worse I think I'm turning into a Mary-Sue."

"Excuse me?" This time it is Elrohir who asks, well I think that is right, it could be the other way round.

Bless him, he's confused.

"Fan-fictions are stories that are written using the world and characters of another already existent story written by fans, technically short for fanatic, and those stories tend to have certain clichés that are quite common. The most common is that of a Mary-Sue. Mary-Sue is the generic name for both the character and the story-type. They both basically go along the lines of girl gets dropped into story, girl finds out that she is related to important character, falls in love, and marries good looking younger important guy, but their love has at least one major trauma before they kiss and make up. They always have a purpose in that world and are always immediately loved by all good characters of worth, you get the idea. There are several characteristics that a mixture of at least some of which make a character a Mary-Sue.

The main ones are being a princess or something very similar, falling in love with hero, powers, a prophecy about that character usually involving her saving the world, some type of trauma while in the world, and more often than not, one in the place she came from, the sort of components that make a good sickly romance story. There are others, but I seem to be racking up the things to make me count as a Mary-Sue."

Maedhren looks at me and smiles before speaking.

"If that is what makes a Mary-Sue don't feel alone, I think Ginny may well be joining you in that category."

We both look at him quizzically, waiting for him to elaborate.

"The prophecies don't just mention you, but also companions, who also get the fun of fulfilling more than one of those criteria each. I had not worked it out before I found out you had brought Ginny along, the prophecies are rather obscure at the best of times. I have never quite worked out why they have to be so hard though."

"Maybe to make sure that you did not get it unless you are supposed to or unless you are the right person to find it out. The future isn't a very safe thing to know."

They look at me, apparently quite surprised at this pearl of wisdom. Eventually one of them asks where that came from.

"David Eddings, have you ever read the Belgariad or the Malloreon?"

They all shake their heads. Kinda obvious really, it's not like they swap novels with my world or anything.

"They are two quintets that are set in a particular world and prophecy is very much the centre of the story. They have lots of very philosophical conversations about the fate of the universe and why the prophecies are complicated etc."

Ginny mutters something under her breath whilst wearing a sardonic expression. Maedhren asks her to repeat herself.

"Oh, nothing, I was just reflecting on how typical of Ellie it is for her to go for the philosophical books."

Confused looks from the elves.

"She did Philosophy and Politics at university."

They nod in understanding and then there is the same reaction Elrond gave me when he found out we went to university, which leads to a description of the British education system.

Eventually we get back to the topic.

The conversation goes on to lunch with much plotting... err planning.

For the next few days this format: Wake up, get dressed, have breakfast, lessons, lunch, then spend the afternoons with one or more of Elrond's party, and finally dinner before going off to do our own things.

Fairly soon, the meetings with Elrond and/or friends and family also include weapons training. This shocks the Mirkwood elves.

Until that is I show that I am already a competent fighter. Well competent enough. I used to fence for a few years until study got in the way and my school had decided that the best way to deal with girls being attacked when leaving the school from after-school clubs was to give us a 6 week self-defence course.

To give you an idea of how these lessons worked they were started with the line: "Anyone attacking you is probably going to be bigger and more dangerous than you, so you are learning how to disable them long enough to run".

Basically, this was how to fight dirty and used every trick I had been taught to win my fights and the elves quickly discovered that I have good aim and a very good knowledge of the sensitive parts of the body and which parts would disable a person most easily. In other words I would be very good in a fight, but not in a formal competition.

Several nights later, I came back from an after-dinner conversation with Ginny and Miriel and entered the bedroom, suddenly feeling that something was wrong.

I soon worked out what it was. Someone else was in the room.

I carefully walk into the centre of the room when I suddenly feel arms wrapped around me and lips on my neck.

Strong hands caress my midriff, but fail to calm me. I have learned by now that it is not proper for a lady, particularly one of my station, to have a male in her room because it means that she is sleeping with him and that is all that is required to be married within the elfin culture.

The person leads me to my bed and moves round me, lips never leaving my skin. As he moves to kiss my lips, I can finally see who it is. The golden hair and green clothes give it away as the Prince of Mirkwood.

I pull back from his kiss and attempt to find out what he is doing. He kisses me rather thoroughly again before pulling back and cups my face in his hands.

"Why do you torture me, fair star of the dawn?" he asks on a sigh.

I frown, both at the question and the endearment he uses.

"You allow me to touch you, encourage me, and raise my hopes of ever getting you. I was almost ready to believe you may eventually love me, but then the moment your demon-slaying knight walks through the door you shatter me by being all over him. At first I hoped it was a cruel joke, that you could not be that shallow and uncaring, but now you won't talk to me or be near me or..."

He stops talking as his voice brakes and I can see the raw pain in his eyes. I suddenly feel really rather bad about both the joke and avoiding him.

I sit down on the bed a pull him down beside me before hugging him

"It was actually a cruel joke, but I was scared of what you would do afterwards because you looked pretty angry. I didn't really mean to hurt you; well I wanted to annoy you and make you jealous, but not hurt you."

His reaction to this is to kiss me so deeply that I lose all sense of anything but him right until I register him above me, us both lying on the bed, and try to fight off the waves of panic. I try to push him away gently and that seems to wake him up.

He pulls back from me with a sigh before kissing me again.

"I can't honestly say I'm sorry, that is exactly what I wanted when I came here. I have to admit you did make me very jealous and all I wanted to do was make sure no other could ever have you. For that I am sorry, but trying to seduce you and enjoying every minute of it is not something I am sorry for."

I ask something that has been worrying me.

"Would you have forced me to if I had fought you touching me?"

He looks at me with both shock and a slightly haunted look in his eyes. He hesitates to answer me.

"No, I would not, though I hate to admit, it would have taken more self-control than I would like to admit to for me to be able to stop myself. I cannot hurt you though I definitely desire you."

He holds me and strokes my hair gently before speaking again.

"If there was the opportunity for you to escape Mirkwood, would you take it, even if you did love me?"

I hesitate before answering.

"Yes, I would. I will not be kept political prisoner, no matter how fond of you I am. If I am going to live in Mirkwood, it will be entirely out of my free will. If I escape and you find me and convince me to marry you, then I will come back to Mirkwood and be your wife, but I will never marry you unless I am allowed out of Mirkwood and am allowed my freedom."

He looks at the floor for a while before nodding.

"I thought you may feel like that. Do not tell my father, or any of the Mirkwood elves this, but I will assist in your escape if necessary."

I look up at him, rather surprised. He smiles wryly at me.

"I want at least some chance of getting you."

I have to laugh and I wrap my arms around him and kiss his cheek.

After a little more talk, mostly inconsequential, he leaves and I call for Aniya to help me change into my nightclothes.

Yes I do need help to change; these dresses are way too complicated.

Ginny's POV

I'm still very quiet over breakfast the next day. I feel as if I'm not really there or watching from outside my body. The conversations buzz in my ears. When the Imladris elves, Ellie and I rise from the breakfast table and go down the corridor to the comfortable library, I walk along thinking and holding myself by the arms.

I shriek and make a violent start as two pairs of arms are suddenly wrapped tightly around my waist, sandwiching me between Elladan and Elrohir.

"What's up, Miss Mopey?" One of the twins asks.

I smile weakly up at him.

"Nothing."

"Don't give us that, we know when our little Ginny isn't happy." Says one.

"And if you don't tell us..." says the other

" ...we'll be forced to tickle it out of you!" They chorus.

Somewhere along the line I had unfortunately let slip that I'm one of the most ticklish people around – even a tiny poke in my stomach will have me screaming for mercy.

The twins' mirth is so infectious that I'm working hard not to smile.

"Please don't."

There's a telling pause and I immediately break away from them, running up the corridor. Due to their elfin physique, the twins quickly catch up with me and begin to tickle me all over.

"No! Please, stop it! No!" I am trouble breathing.

Adindel suddenly bursts in from a door to our left.

"Will you please keep the noise down!" He shouts at us

"Sorry, Your Very High and Mightiness." The twins bow floridly, somehow managing to look slightly drunk.

Adindel's face turns beetroot-red.

"What do they teach you at Imladris? It certainly isn't respect for your elders." Woo! Take a chill pill mate.

"Pompous git." I whishper as he turns.

But before Adindel can react, the twins have whipped me around the corner out of sight.

Once we are all seated comfortably, the meeting begins.

"What are we going to do? We need to get out of here because Thanduil is going to use us to get to you and I don't think anyone is happy about that."

"I agree on needing to get you two out, but at least while we are here he will be on his guard. And judging by what happened last night, I think it is probably more important for Ginny to get out as she is only needed, and therefore only safe, while Eleanor is here."

When Elrond says this, I bow my head, my hands clenched. Until this conversation, I've never really thought about my situation. I depend on Ellie for protection and even though I know she would never abandon me, I can't help feeling a little scared. I think back to last night, picturing Thanduil's look of pure anger. I bite my lip. Erestor, who is sitting next to me, reaches over and comfortingly lays his hand on mine; I clasp it tightly.

Elrond, Ellie, and Maedhren, meanwhile, are talking about the meaning of Ellie's law-name: Dawnstar and the fact that she appears in various prophecies. I perk up when I hear this as our adventure is suddenly starting to sound a lot like fan-fiction! I grin as Ellie does her best to explain the concept.

"If that is what makes a Mary-Sue don't feel alone, I think Ginny may well be joining you in that category."

Ellie and I look at each other with the same wide-eyed expression before turning our attention back to Maedhren.

"The prophecies don't just mention you, but also companions, who also get the fun of fulfilling more than one of those criteria each..."

Wait a tick, did he just say 'companions' as in the plural?

I lean back in my chair as I try to fathom this out – who on the earth is going to be coming with us?

Ellie's voice suddenly breaks in on my thoughts:

"...They have lots of very philosophical conversations about the fate of the universe and why the prophecies are complicated etc."

"Trust Ellie to bring to philosophy into it!" I mutter darkly.

"Sorry – what was that?" Maedren asks.

"Oh, nothing, I was just reflecting on how typical of Ellie it is for her to go for the philosophical books."

More confused looks from the elves.

"She did Philosophy and Politics at university."

They nod, but I can tell they don't really understand. This leads to an explanation of the British education system.

Eventually we get back to the topic and we spend the whole morning going over various ...err ...strategies.

As the days go on, Ellie and I spend more and more time with the Imladris elves. They have begun to give us weapons training.

Ellie, having done similar stuff before, is already very good. I, on the other hand, need to brush up on my fighting skills. I do try to concentrate, honestly. But, what red-blooded girl wouldn't find it hard to concentrate on how to give the perfect left hook when they're being taught by various well-built and bare-chested male elves? Besides, all you really need to do is knee your attacker in the groin and run.

I've also begun to spend lots of time with Erestor. We go out riding mostly – never on our own though. The escort is ostensibly there to guide us and keep us from harm, but we all of us know that he's really only there to make sure I don't escape.

I've now gotten used to riding on an un-tacked horse, but it's still a lot of effort. Elves control their horses with their hands and legs; and when you're trying to steer a horse, while trying to stay on, AND trying to look at where you're going, you really do begin to lose all feeling, even in places you didn't know you had.

One day, Erestor raises a topic which I've been trying desperately not to think about.

"We'll be leaving tomorrow." Erestor states in his quiet, calming voice.

"Do you have to? I've been really enjoying our rides out together."

"So have I."

He turns to see where our escort is and then whispers:

"Don't worry; you'll be out of here soon."

But how soon will that be? Oh please, God, get me out of here...