Hole In the Road

"Character is what you are in the dark."

-Dwight L. Moody

The warmth of the bed was incredible, offering much comfort to the girl who occupied it. The pliable sheets enveloped her, making the girl wish that she never had to leave the bed. Back home her bed could not hold a candle to the one that she slept in. Lizzy rolled over, smelling the fresh scent of the linen and smiled as her head sunk deeper into one of the many feather pillows.

Ellesa pulled back the curtains and light spilled into the creamed colored room (A/N: I think in one chapter I described Lizzy's room in Middle Earth as being an earthly toned. That was a mistake, its cream colored.). The young maid had watched over Lizzy the whole night just thinking about the girl and what her life was like. She turned towards Lizzy's sleeping form and cleared her throat.

"You must wake Lady Lizzy."

Lizzy knitted her eyebrows without opening her eyes. Ellesa opened the closest and began to rake through dresses.

"If you want to be dressed by the time the prince comes to escort you-"

This made Lizzy grumble loudly but she didn't make any attempts at getting up.

"You know, many females would love to be in your shoes."

Lizzy pushed back covers and angrily got up. "Newsflash, the only reason women want to be with that stuck up elf is because he's a prince. The female race is shallow."

Ellesa pulled out a green dress and held it up to view it better. "My you have such a negative view of things."

Lizzy crossed her arms and eyed the blonde haired maid. A part of her was still pissed at the fact that she had brought her concern for her scars to that pompous elven prince, but she could not stay mad. She couldn't hold anger towards Ellesa and this in turn made her feel frustrated.

"I'm not wearing that god awful thing."

Ellesa looked from the dress to Lizzy. The words she heard she could not believe. Every dress that was in the closet was magnificently made. Had Ellesa been given the opportunity to wear any of the dress in the closet she would not have turned it down. She could see Lizzy was not the average young woman.

"You must."

Lizzy shook her head and began to walk to where her clothes were in a chair. "My jeans are-"

"You must! I will not have you walking around in those rags. My job is to make sure you are properly attired, clean and presentable. So please let me do my job!" Ellesa let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in. She smiled at the dress feeling satisfied with what she had said.

"You will look just fine in this dress."

Not too disgusted, Lizzy looked at herself in a full-length mirror. The green dress had more of a mixture of earthly tones. Like all the dresses she had seen on other females, the dress was long and reached her feet. The neckline was in the modest shape of a V, the sleeves stopped at her elbows and bellowed out and around the midsection was a small brown sash. Biting her lip, she lifted up her dress a bit to view the brown boots she wore.

"I guess that ain't so bad."

Ellesa smiled placing her hands on her hips. A job well done she had performed on a girl, one who would believe to be unmanageable. A knock on the door made Lizzy look from the mirror to Ellesa.

"Well go see who it is. Do not just stand there," said Ellesa.

Lizzy went over to the door hesitantly. She twisted the handle and opened the door to see the prince of Mirkwood, standing there dressed in the exact colors she wore. His tunic was a dark green and his leggings and boots were a dark brown. The silver circlet on his head signified his princely stature.

The door slammed in the prince of Mirkwood's face.

"I'm not wearing this stupid dress." Lizzy walked further into her room while trying to pull her left arm out of the sleeve. Ellesa looked at Lizzy, her brows wrinkled, then she looked to the door.

"What is the matter?"

Another knock erupted from the door.

"If I'm suppose to be following this dumb elf prince around I'm sure as hell not going to follow him around matching him."

Ellesa held a look of confusion on her face. She opened the door and curtsied to a very angry prince.

"I do not appreciate your slamming the door in my face." Legolas walked in staring intently at Lizzy. Ellesa closed the door and turned towards Lizzy and Legolas. Instantly she knew why Lizzy had gone mad. She and the prince looked as if they were a couple since they had on the same colors.

"Right now I don't care what you appreciate. All I care about is getting out of this dress," said Lizzy, still tugging on her sleeve.

"You should apologize Lady Lizzy," Ellesa was trying to hold back a grin.

"Apologize? For what?"

Legolas shook his head. He didn't have time to stand there and argue with Lizzy. His father had arranged for the three of them to have a private breakfast. Thranduil had felt that to have breakfast with others would be a big step for Lizzy. He had told his father about the scars Lizzy had and he had said that he had to get her to open up.

This was a task that might rival the one of the ring.

"It does not matter that the two of you have on similar colors. No one will notice I'm sure." Ellesa took Lizzy's arm so as to stop it from getting free of the sleeve.

"We must be going," said Legolas.

Ellesa gave a modest nod. "Enjoy this fine day Lady Lizzy and stop looking so glum."

Lizzy proceeded to follow Legolas out the door with a frown. She looked back at Ellesa before closing the door and saw her begin to make her bed. It was something Lizzy should have done, something she would have been punished for not doing. Lizzy closed the door.

Legolas glanced over at Lizzy and noticed that her form appeared weak and fragile, as if the slightest thing would break her. Despite her cold demeanor she was in fact beautiful.

"Where are we going?" Lizzy crossed her arms. She still felt humiliated after what happened last night. No one should have ever seen her scars.

"To have breakfast with my father. He seems to like you."

Hunger was a factor for her stomach. It had been days since she had a decent meal that wasn't just stuff she stole from drug stores and gas stations. She sighed when the memory of her mother invaded her. Every Sunday her mother would make up a big breakfast for her and her two brothers and afterward they would go to the park. Her brothers would play soccer and she would enjoy being pushed on the swings by her mother.

"Are you not hungry?"

"I'm fine," Lizzy quickly snapped.

They arrived in a courtyard that was close to the palace. It had a beautiful tree that was unknown to her. It consisted of dark green leaves and a red exotic flower was sprouted all over the tree. The tree sat in the middle of the courtyard and underneath it was a small table with three chairs. On the table there appeared to be some unnamed food.

Lizzy rubbed her eyes. To her the image appeared dream like. The sun was shining down on them but the weather was quite pleasant. Legolas looked around for any sign of his father, but there was none. He proceeded to the table and Lizzy distantly followed. She sat at the round table somewhat surprised to see that she knew only a small portion of the food set out.

There was a plate of toast, what looked like biscuits, jam, butter and muffins. All the rest was up in the air with her. Legolas, who had taken his own seat, paid no attention to Lizzy seeing as he spotted his father making his way to the table. The king of Mirkwood was dressed in fine colored garments of green and his circlet sat proudly on his head. He smiled when he saw his son and Lizzy come into view.

"Legolas, Lady Lizzy. What a marvelous day is it not?" Before sitting down Thranduil took Lizzy's hand and placed a kiss on it followed by a pat. She resisted the urge to snatch her hand back and barf. Legolas saw the uncomfort in Lizzy when his father touched her. There was some emotional stress in her that needed to be freed. Luckily, his father took no notice.

"You are in a bright mood," Legolas said, watching his father sit down across from him.

"I come baring news."

Legolas took an apple, intrigued by what his father might have to say.

Lizzy watched as Thranduil took a piece of toast to his plate and began to add butter.

"Plans for the ball are making way and I have invited the guests, including Lord Hemora and his daughters."

Legolas resisted the urge to mutter a string of curses and roll his eyes. He knew what his father was hinting at. The whole purpose of this ball was to force him into picking a companion; at least that was what he thought.

Thranduil looked at Lizzy who just sat in her chair looking down at her lap.

"Lady Lizzy, have a muffin. They are in fact the best around." Thranduil picked up the plate of muffins and held it up to Lizzy's view.

There was a bit of uneasiness about eating with the king. Legolas she didn't care about for she loathed him. The sight of the muffins made her mouth water and stomach growl. She picked a blueberry one and whispered her thanks. The king set the plate of muffins down. From what his son had discovered, it sounded as if this girl had endured a lot, he just wanted to make her feel comforted.

"The date has been set for two months from now in May."

Legolas nodded. That would give him time to prepare for the awful night.

"And might I comment that the two of you look charming." The king had noticed that both his and Lizzy had on coordinating garments. He wondered whether or not they were growing fond of each other.

"Can I have another?"

Legolas and Thranduil turned to Lizzy and notice that the muffin that should have kept her occupied for a few minutes was gone within two. There were light crumbs on her cheek. When she asked she looked at neither of them.

"Yes, you are welcome to however many your stomach may desire," said Thranduil.

Lizzy reached for another muffin and jammed half of it into her mouth, showing no table etiquette at all, but the king didn't seem to mind. They ate in silence for a while. The birds chirped in a whimsical way that it gave the air around them a sense of peace. Legolas smiled as he saw Lizzy begin to down the berry juice in her cup.

She put her cup down and caught Legolas' stare. She glared and reached for another muffin. Legolas dropped his smile. There was just no being kind to the girl.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Gandalf has sent word. He will arrive to examine Lady Lizzy after he is through attending to some business."

"Examine me?" Lizzy dropped what had to be her fourth muffin. She looked at Thranduil with confusion, anger and some sense of panicked fright.

"You need not worry. He merely wants to ask you a series of questions. Perhaps then he will be able to figure out why you travel between two realms."

Lizzy nodded. Maybe this wizard would know why this was happening to her.

"W-what kind of question will he- this wizard be asking me?"

"I have not the slightest idea. Do not worry," said Thranduil.

Over her dead body would she answer any questions that meant her secret life would be uncovered. Her appetite had decided to leave so she crossed her arms and looked down.

"Well father I'm afraid Lizzy and I have to get going."

Both Thranduil and Lizzy looked at Legolas as he stood from his seat. Lizzy had not the slightest idea about what the elf was talking about.

"What are you two doing today?"

"I planned on taking Lady Lizzy for a walk along the forest paths."

This was what Legolas had not wanted to do at all, but he needed a place that was quiet so that perhaps she would open up. The image of her angry scars had made him feel sorry for whatever she was going through. It made him show sympathy towards her even when she glanced at him with her grey cold eyes.

"Do not go too far and keep watch over Lady Lizzy," Thranduil said.

"I will father." He offered a hand to Lizzy but she disregarded it and stood from the table on her own. Legolas dropped his hand and began to walk in the direction of the forest.

Thranduil smiled after the two with a slight shake of his head.

Lizzy scratched her arm and looked at the tall trees as they towered over her. The path they were on was clear enough yet there was forest debris on the path. The trees had built a shield against the sun so very little light was coming in from the sky. Animals made their presence known by making noise or scurrying from shrubs, trees or bushes. She was not much for nature, but had to admit that the atmosphere was quite relaxing.

She glanced at Legolas and wondered why he just didn't stick her in a room somewhere. Lizzy knew that her hated her so why was he taking her for a walk? There was a bit of drowsiness creeping into her. For once she was stuffed. Her stomach was filled with muffins instead of junk food, which was very uncommon.

For that she was grateful. Maybe she could trust the king. He had so far treated her with kindness. There was just that voice inside her head that constantly told her not to trust anyone. She was not to step from her castle.

"I used to walk this very path when I was younger." Legolas was trying to break the silence between the two of them. He knew nothing about the girl; only that she carried a deep dark secret.

Lizzy crossed her arms and looked once more at the trees. She didn't respond.

"Do you like the outdoors?"

Silence.

"Are there places like this from where you are from?"

Again, silence met his question.

Legolas felt slightly frustrated and his anger toward the girl. Here he was trying to be nice and she was still being as rude as ever.

"You understand that you are being incredibly rude," Legolas said. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face Lizzy.

Lizzy too stopped. "So what, why do you care?"

"Believe it or not I do have a sense morality."

Lizzy groaned. "You hate me and I know it, so why drag me all the way out to this lame forest?"

"I was trying not to hate you, but as of right now you are giving me very little reason."

His blood was boiling. Obvious it was a big mistake taking her on a walk.

"Why can I not do something nice for you?"

Not wanting to carry on this argument Lizzy began to walk ahead of Legolas backwards.

"I'm nothing to you. Just some responsibility your father gave you. You could care less about me."

Lizzy stopped walking and stared defiantly at the elf. Yes, she knew the truth and not at all was she hurt by the fact that this prince that stood before her cared nothing about her.

"It is not true."

Something felt wrong. There was something not right with the ground she was standing on. Before the path felt hard beneath her feet, but the spot she now stood on was soft. She tuned out Legolas' voice to focus on this spot.

'You're just being paranoid for whatever reason.'

Paranoid was not what she was at all. The ground underneath her gave way and she let out a scream.