The next morning, I woke up Elrond and Lussë was replaced with an elf I did not know. I was about to wave to her, hello but her seeing that I was awake. The elf stood and left the room. 'Ok good morning to you too.' I think sarcastically.
Feeling a little drained from last night I lie back down. 'Ugh. Last night and yesterday were weird. Elrond probably thinks I am crazy.'
I sit up again bored. My eyes are blurry, and everything is bright. This is a common visual disturbance after one of my migraines as my head is still tender.
I should put my glasses on. I think back to what Lussëennë said last night as my glasses would be seen as a magical item. He said it would be ok for me to wear but then again I don't want to be singled out as the girl with magical glasses. Maybe I can get some new ones made.
I get out of bed and go to my boxes of stuff. I want to put on my glasses now, as I don't wish to get a second headache in a row. I think Lussëennë will tell me off if he doesn't see me wearing them.
After putting on my glasses and changing into my brown dress with shorts underneath. I look at my other items here. Elrond and Nessima were talking about me moving out of the healing place soon. I will be taking most of my stuff with me but there are a few items that could be dangerous for my wellbeing if others find them. Like the stuff in my wallet and my phone. I also want to stash my pills there, so no one steals them or harms themselves from ingesting them. I think I might try hiding them in the star room place where I got my ring and saw that angel lady. I think I heard Elrond say that he has never been in that room so I think my stuff will be safe in there. I really want to get my phone in there asap as if someone finds a way to turn it on then they could possibly read one of the few Lord of the ring fanfics on there. I check in my bag for anything else I want to hide and remember my back up charging cable for the phone and decide to hide that too. Everything else should be fine.
Not wanting to delay this I put the small items in one pocket of my shorts that I have on under my dress and I carefully jam my wallet in the other. As it is a long rectangle it sticks out and causes a large budge under my dress. There is not anywhere else to hide it as my bust is not that large, so I place my hand on the bulge to press it flat. That looks kind of normal. It's a bit awkward but I will walk the whole way with my hand there.
Leaving the healing house might be a bit tricky without getting stopped but I decided that if I look like I know what I am doing and have confidence then hopefully I can make it to the star angel lady room.
It was quite easy to get out as there was no one around and the one or two who were about were busy. Once walking out of the healing house I realised I had forgotten two things. Guard one and two. I thought they would stop me, but they didn't move when they saw me walk through the main door. Thinking it would be suspicious if I were to turn around and walk back inside after seeing them. I continue walking and make my way to where I think the star room place is. I was about three meters past the guards and I was just thinking that they weren't going to follow me when the guards begin to follow. The way that they stepped forward at the same time was super robotic. 'Dam these guys are scary.' It's hard to see their faces so they feel so cold and unfriendly. It took all my will to not break out in a sprint, to run away from them. After walking for about 5 minutes or 5 flights of stairs down I decide to ignore them and pretend that they aren't there. That calms my nerves a little and I feel I can act again that I am just going on a lovely stroll.
To make the guards think that and whoever is watching I stop occasionally to look at the view or anything that interests me. It was no hard to do as there were so many interesting things. There are grand trees and plants that I had never seen before. Some look similar to oaks or trees from back home, but these trees are way larger and older. I feel a bit alienated as I am not used to not knowing the name of the trees. I enjoy some flowers in the front gardens of the house. There are so many colours and I take my time to smell quite a few. It did not take long for me to stop smelling the 'roses' as a beautiful white flower with small petals and a pink middle made me sneeze. After that my nose started to run and my eyes water. 'great, stupid allergies' I grumble to myself.
I didn't really remember how to get to the star room place, but I do remember that it was almost at the bottom of the valley quite close to the river and by one of the many gardens. Keeping that in mind I take the paths that run along the river and any stairs that go down. I lost track of how many I went down and I don't look forward to walking back up.
Some things look slightly familiar, but I am not sure as everything looks different during the day. It was not until I was right outside the archway when I realised I had arrived. I stopped there and pretend to look at the river.
I only got a quick glance at the archway but for me, it looks like someone painted some super black paint on a brick wall. The others must not see that as it would be very suspicious, and it would be like super obvious that there is a secret portal archway.
I feel if I just walk through the archway right in front of the guard and disappear right in front of their eyes it would be a bad thing and I might be labelled as a witch. I don't know if that is a really bad thing here, but I don't want to find out. I don't plan on burning at the stake anytime soon. How do I get rid of them though...? All I need is for them to take their eyes off me for a second and I can jump through the archway which is a step away. I know this is cliché and overused in the modern world, but I think I have the perfect plan. This is not the modern world so it just might work.
I turn back to the guards and take a few steps to look like I am returning to the healing rooms. It is then I look up and look past the guards and point in the distance with great horror on my face. Shouting "Oh my fucking god. A troll."
Both elves turn quickly on guard to go against whatever has shocked me. With their backs turned I turned and ran towards the archway. I run pretending I was going to run past the arch but at the last second I sidestep. The guards seeing nothing and quickly turn to see me running away. They make after me and I think I timed it perfectly as with the slight curve of the walls and occasional post they did not see my sidestep. I look back to the way I came, and I see the mosaic reflection of what is happening outside. I see the guards run past, but the doorway is not wide so the run out of view. That would keep them busy for a bit. I finally feel safe since no one is watching me. I look around the room and everything looks the same as I saw it last. Right now, would be a great time for the angel lady to pop up and explain why I am here, or this was just a big joke and sent me home. I stood there for a bit hoping it would happen, but the room stayed quiet.
Sighing I walk over to my pedestal. Better put the stuff here before I forget. After emptying my pockets and placing my stuff there I look at the other pedestal's paintings wondering if I recognise any of the people portrayed in them. I almost kicked myself, of course, I would not know them. I wonder about them as I look at a painting of a female elf wearing pure white plated amour. Man, she looks kickass. I wish I could read the words above the painting to know her name or something, but the words were strange and more dots than letters. Her pedestal had no ring on it, and I get an idea quickly looking around the room to the other pedestals. My plan was quickly crushed as I see that all pedestals are empty. No stealing rings to use a ring to teleport home like the angle mentioned that was used to travel to different stars.
Feeling guilty and that fact there is not much else to do in this room I make my way to leave. I stop and look at the six archways knowing what one was the exit. I was super obvious as it was the one with a mosaic picture of an elf feeling and banging what looks like an invisible wall. This elf looks a little familiar, but I can't place where. He is where dark clothing which is a little unusual for all the other elves I have seen were wearing bright cheerful colours. The mosaic doesn't give much detail, but I can see that his long dark hair is pulled back into sleek plats. I stand watching him thinking where I had seen him before, while he tries to find a secret lever or something. As the mosaic doesn't really show facial features I don't think I really know what this elf looks like it's really his body shape that is familiar. The elf raises his hands up and I remember. He was what I saw in front of the door last time when I went to leave. I forgot about him, as when I went through there was no one there. I thought that I was just seeing things as it was dark then. But seeing him now with the light background he is quite visible.
I can't really leave now with him inspecting the door like this. Maybe I can use one of the other doors to get out. From left to right there was a mosaic of an ocean view. A blank wall. The one with the elf. A garden of some sort with trees. A dark one that is hard to see but I think I see a rock wall. Blank one again that is just the normal brick of the rest of the walls. I think the blanks one might have been doorways, but they don't work anymore. I suspect these are portals as if it was just a normal door with a forcefield they would all look similar and look out at Rivendell. I know the most left one is not of Rivendell as Rivendell is quite inland no oceans or large lakes. I want to try the fourth one hoping that it most likely leads to Rivendell with it being a garden and everything. The dark one looks spooky and I don't want to take that one.
I step thought the overgrown garden one. I probably would have been a dead giveaway that no garden would be that wild or neglected but I knew that wherever I am it's not Rivendell. It is quite quiet here with only the sounds of the birds and trees. I have stepped into what looks like a courtyard or what once was one. One of the walls and what looked like once was an adjoining building is falling down. Plants grow wild and cover the other high walls. It is like nature has claimed the structure returning it to the land.
I notice that the air feels cooler here and darker not so happy or bright as Rivendell. I walk along the fallen down wall to try and see if I can see anything. I see a few buildings, but the foliage is quite thick. This might have been a town or village, but it would have been long ago disbanded as how much the plants had taken it over.
This place is weird but peaceful. I decided to just spend some time relaxing here as it's nice not to have someone watching me all the time. I carefully walk over to the middle of the courtyard to what might have been a statue or fountain. All I know it has a platform to that would be nice to sit on.
'Ouch,' I think as what looks like a blackberry vine scratches my ankle. I move more careful with my foot placement wishing I had gumboots on. I notice that the berry vine has small budding white flowers on it. Huh, it must be Spring here or colder as the berry bushes at home had some ripe berries on it already. I mentally kick myself for thinking of home as I feel homesick and wish even more I was back with my family.
Finally reaching the stone ledge I sit down on it and bring my legs up, so they are out of the reach of the weeds and grass. I don't know what animals or bugs that could be hidden in there. Omg, there could have been a snake in that long grass. Remembering that I am no longer in New Zealand I must be wary of stuff like that. I sit there for about 20 minutes alert to everything around me keeping watch for snakes or something. It was not long till something did catch my eye, but it was peaceful and free. A small bird was flying around me chirping happily.
"Why hello there Mr birdy." I greet it as it lands on the fountain edge. I can see now that this is indeed a fountain. I ponder how there is still water in it and how it is still clean. This must be a natural water spring and the water must flow somewhere or it would be dark dirty water in this fountain. The water is quite clean as I can see the bottom. There seems to be a few rocks and pebbles that contrast the grey stone bottom. I dip my finger into the water, and it is not freezing like I thought it would, but it is warm is this hot spring? I quickly take off my sneakers and socks and place my feet in the pool. I feel all my tension wash away. I love hot pools and spas. One of my fondest trips was when I went to Rotorua with mum. I try not to think about that as I don't want to feel sad and I know it will take me down a dark depression road of homesickness and regret as I cannot go home.
I focus on the rocks at the bottom of the pool. A bright orange one stands out to me and I push up my skirt and shorts to see if I can reach it with my foot. It takes a few tires as the rock is quite smooth, but I manage to pick it up. Out of the water and in my hand. I find it to be quite hard I don't know why but I expected to crumble away in my hand. The small rock is about the size of an egg but is flat. On one side is perfectly smooth but one the other I can feel intents of a circle with and a wobbly edge. I look it on an angle as its wet I can see the slight pattern as the sun reflects off the water. It almost looks like a sun or a star-like geometric shape. "Huh, strange" this rock intrigues me so I decide to keep it.
I hear a chirp beside me, and I realise the bird is still there. I thought it would have flown away.
"How can I help you on this fine day Mr birdy?" I ask it jokingly. It cheeps back and turns its head to the side. It about the size of a sparrow. It cheeps again and it hops a few steps away distracted by a similar bird that swooped thought the garden. I thought the bird was just a simple brown colour but at this angle, the feathers have a deep almost forest green sheen to them. "You are very pretty Mr birdy." The bird ruffles its feathers then cheeps at me before flying off after the other swooping bird.
I laugh at it. It certainly has a personality. I look back to the water and notice a small feather floating on top of the surface. I pick it out and look at it. It is a simple brown with grey flecked pattern and a sea or forest green on the very edge of the blade. The bird must have dropped it. I will keep this too to remind me of the fond meeting of Mr birdy in the garden. I chuckle to myself.
Starting to get hungry I decide to head back. The sun is high in the sky so it must be past lunch.
