Hello again!

Thank you MutteringsofMadness for your comment! :D

And thank you all for reading this story!

Enjoy!

Chapter 20

After we had disappeared behind the corner, well, I was starting to feel awkward. The elf-boy was still carrying me and I started to fidget in his lap.

"Umm... I appreciate your help, but where exactly are we going?"

The handsome elf-boy's blue eyes found mine and I gulped. OMFG! He is soooooo hot!

"So you can finally speak? I'm taking you to a room where you can be treated and washed." his smooth voice said. Washed? OH God! I must look and smell awful!

"T-thanks. I-I can walk now." I stuttered embarrassed. He just smiled at me warmly,

"I can assure you, My lady, carrying you is no problem at all." Whatever you do, do NOT blush Lily!

Still I felt my cheeks warm up again. "Oh, okay then."

It took a minute for him to then stop at a door. He pushed the door open with his leg and stepped in. The room had one bed and a window. It definitely wasn't big. There was another door in the left which probably was some sort of a bathroom. Good because Mother Nature is already calling...

He put me down to the bed and bowed. "I'm going to get Mirima to come and help you. Please do not move until she comes here."

Then he turned to leave and bring this 'Mirima' person here. The words left my mouth before I had time to stop them, "Wait!"

He turned around surprised, "My lady?" Well done, Lily!

"Well, I... Wanted to thank you again and... What's your name?"

He smiled, "No problem, My lady. My name is Glanhelmion. What is yours?" AN/You say it: "Glahn-helm-ee-on."

"I'm Lily." I smile back.

"Lily... Beautiful name. And not surprisingly it means the flower lily."

I nod and can't help but ask, "And what does your name mean?"

"It means 'light-skinned'. It was an honor to meet you, Lily. I'm sure we meet again at dinner."

With a last smile he leaves, closing the door.

...

Wow...

I lay down on the bed and start waiting for this 'Mirima' to come. Soon someone knocks at my door and I sat up.

"Excuse me? My name is Mirima and I was asked to come here just a moment ago. Are you Lily? May I come in?" the female voice said.

"Yeah. You can come in."

A beautiful elf-lady (probably twenty-something) came in and I just gaped at her. With really blond long hair (almost white) and stunning green eyes she was easily one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

Why are all of the elves so handsome or beautiful?

"Wow. He was right. You need a wash before dinner..."

I became self-conscious. "Is there a mirror or something in here? I wanna see how bad I actually look."

She nodded and went to the door on the left and opened it for me to go in. Soon I was staring at myself. Or what I think was me... I had dirty skin from the sweat, huge bags under my wide eyes and my hair was... Let's just say greasy, messy and downright dirty.

I looked like I was a mad, mad girl... living in the woods.

Mirima said she would get me something to wear for the dinner after asking if I had injuries to tend to. I surprisingly had nothing big only little cuts and bruises. And of course the tiredness and sore feeling on my muscels.

After I had had a bath which took me an hour, yes an hour, I got out and looked at the dress and undergarments Mirima left for me to wear. A dark blue dress and black undergarments. The dress wasn't even anything special. Sure it was pretty and long with shoulder-length sleeves but it had no fancy accessories. No bling.

Thank God. I hate wearing those kind of fancy dresses...

I stepped out of the bathroom and Mirima smiled at me and said, "Much better."

She combed my hair while I got to enjoy feeling clean again and smelling good. I seriously hope the others took baths too...

"All done." Mirima said and looked at me up and down. She had just braided my red hair and by her smiling, I knew I looked decent again.

"Thank you Mirima. You helped a lot." Smiling I didn't make a move to rise from my sitting position on the bed. She nodded.

"Now we can go to dinner. But I have to warn you about something..." I raised my eyebrows curiously. "...I heard that there are dwarves in there too. Noisy bunch too. And more than ten of them! Can you believe it?"

I chuckled, "Yes, I know. Actually I am kinda with them... Unfortunately." Mirima looked more than surprised. Shocked was the right word.

"You must be joking! Why would a girl from the race of Men be with a company full of male dwarves?!"

"That's a long story. But don't worry. There is also my cousin, a hobbit named Bilbo and Gandalf the Grey with us." I assured her.

"But still... That's just...extraordinary..." She looked like she was thinking of something for a while until she just sighed and looked at me again.

"Come. I want to hear more later but for now, let's go to dinner."

I was already tired and wanted to whine about wanting to go to sleep already, but decided against it when my stomach chose to grumble in that moment. I sighed and nodded and we were soon on our way to the dining hall or whatever place we would eat.

I could hear the company before I saw them. I could actually hear Bofur singing and the others cheering for him long time before Mirima and I came to their view. That didn't mean they saw us though. On the contrary, I just stared at them horrified. They were noisy, impolite and embarrassing. The elfs looked at them with the same expression as mine. I almost felt ashamed about being with them.

Please don't tell me I have to sit with them...

I noticed Thorin and Gandalf eating with Elrond. I swear I saw Thorin smile a little at them. Gandalf and Elrond shared a look.

I looked back to the company and saw Mike. He looked so out of place sitting between Nori and Oin. Bilbo didn't look much better.

"Lily? Are you going to dine with your...companions?" Mirima asked and turned to look at her.

"Oh, well I... Actually, can I eat with yo-"

"Hey look!" someone shouted interrupting me, "It's the lass!"

Shit.

I really thought about pretending not to hear or know them when all attention turned to me. Too bad I was soon dragged to their table by Fili and Kili.

"Lily, don't scare us like that! We really thought you were dead when we noticed you were gone!" Dori started and the others joined in. I had to smile a little, they were clearly concerned about me. That means they care.

"Where did you disappear?" Mike asked.

"Let's just say, I need to stop reading and start jogging when we get back home." He rolled his eyes at this and 'hmph'ed.

I looked at the food. Salad. Bread. Salad. Wine. Salad. Water. Salad.

Gosh... I'm not a freaking vegetarian! I don't even like salad!

"Where's the meat?" I asked, and that started another commotion. Clearly, they agreed with me.

After the 'dinner' we all went outside because the dwarves wanted to be as far away from the elfs as possible. I was a little disappointed that I didn't see Glanhelmion at dinner.

I would have wanted to go to sleep, but they didn't exactly ask me what I wanted. They were already annoyed when they learned who made my pretty braid. And let's not forget about the dress...

Mike and I decided to take a walk. Or in other words, this was my escape from Thorin when I saw him coming our way. I did not have the strenght for him to lecture me too.

"I'm still hungry." he whined. Like me he disliked salad.

"Don't whine. We all are."

Mike was just starting to say something when he noticed something. "Hey, are those...blueberries?"

I looked at where he was looking and noticed a starting forest with bushes in front. There were berries growing on the bushes which surprisingly looked like blueberries. We moved closer and they still looked like ones.

Our stomachs grumbled at the same time. We shared a look.

"What if they aren't blueberries and we die?" I asked.

"If they are poisonous they wouldn't grow in here."

"You sure?"

"Pretty much." his stomach grumbled again.

We didn't like salad but both of us loved berries, especially blueberries and strawberries.

"Okay. You first." I stated pointing at him.

He narrowed his eyes, "Why? I thought it was women first?"

"Because you're hungrier than I am."

"So? Ah, whatever." he then took one and looked at it. A second later he ate it. I looked at him to see if anything happened.

Nothing.

He grinned and took another one. "These are better than blueberries."

That did it.

I started eating them as well and a huge smile split on my face. These were definitely better than blueberries.

We continued eating happily, not knowing what was going to happen to us later because of it...

Hope you liked! :)

Please review! :D

TheSarcasticAngel