AN. Sorry, this chapter is late with all that's been happening all motivation has gone out of the window. My university has announced today that all papers will be restarted and be performed in 4 weeks one after the other. so study will be full-on. I will write as much as I can in the 3 weeks left of lockdown.

I go back through the portal and turn to see that the elf is still lurking around the Rivendell archway. 'Oh man,' maybe I could go and see what's it like in the seaside portal. It would be nice to see the sea again. I wonder if it is very different from the sea back home. I walk out of that portal and I find myself on a high hilltop looking over the sea. To my left. In the distance, I can see a small seaside city of the sort. The rest of the land around is rolling grassland with great cliffs falling to the sea.

The wind is quite strong here and it has a chill to it. So, I don't get blown off this hilltop I make my way down the faded path towards the buildings. As I get closer, I see some locals and realize that they are elves. Wait I don't remember a town or settlement of elf by the sea in the movies. Could there be cities and other things I don't know of? Then again, I don't really remember having a proper look at a lord of the rings map. I only remember the coast in the east and the long mountain range in the middle of the land. Stopping to ponder this I look over the ocean once again.

Could I be time travelling? Or the mosaic are portals like I suspect could I be travelling all over the world and these elves don't know anything to do with the rings. Would it be safe here? My stomach complains again, and I think of how I can get some food. Maybe I can get some food here, but I quickly remember that I have no money or equivalent to money. I don't even know if I would be welcome here. They are elves and I am a strange Human wearing strange glasses and magical sneakers. I can't go walking into this town wearing these let alone without shoes or any kind of travelling gear.

I turn back around and walk up the hill to the archway moment at the top of the hill. Once back up the top of the hill I sit on a bench to catch my breath. Sitting on the bench looking at the sea sparkle I wonder do I even want to go back to Rivendell. Nessima is nice but I don't want to be a burden on anyone. She is accepting me into her house without even knowing who I am. But I don't really have anywhere else to go. I am useless I have no way to make money and I would be mooching of people for the rest of my life.

I sigh heavily and hear some voices in the wind. Oh no someone is coming. I quickly run back to the portal and jump thought. I am back in the star room again. This is pretty cool. I can teleport what must be halfway around the world. Looking at the mosaics I feel a little bit powerful. I could lead two lives if I wanted no one would know. I smirk in my head. But then again it just sounds like too much work.

The elf at the Rivendell portal is now sitting leaning his back on the portal. There is no way for me to go back with him blocking it like that. I wouldn't want my legs to materialize into his back or something. I don't know how this portal works. My choice is to go back to the garden but it's hard to move around there and there is nothing to do. There is no way I am going into the dark portal god knows where that leads to. I could stay here but again there is nothing to do here and its quite stuffy. The best option is to back to the seaside portal. It is the option most likely to offer food. And I listen to my stomach. Before going there, I need to make sure I blend in, so I take off my socks and sneakers as well as my glasses. I place them out of the way so if I need to make a quick escape back through the portal. I don't trip over them and break my neck. The next thing I need is something to barter with to get some food. I look around the room and there is not really anything that is not physically part of the room. I doubt the angel lady would be happy if I pillaged the room. I decide to go through my wallet just in case there was something in there. I start pulling everything out and putting the cards and IDs to the side as they are no use. Money also is out of questions as it has words on it and otherworldly.

I am surprised how much junk I have in here. receipts, expired Coca-Cola promotion enter to win codes. A noel Leeming gift card that I got from my brother for Christmas. That I would never be able to use. Library card and other loyalty shop cards. Old appointment cards for doctor appointments. I imagine trying to trade my student pass Starbucks card to an elf saying if you go to Starbucks you can buy one and get one free. I laugh of how stupid that would be and I can imagine how offended and confused the elf would be.

I find a post-it note from early last year which is a shopping list. Ok, rubbish. There is also a sailor moon sticker one of my Auckland friends gave me. 'Lol,' I don't know how I would be able to explain what a sticker is. One of the last things I pulled out was a note mum had written to work and income stating that; I was living with them and how much the board is. I feel sad and a little stupid as this is really the only thing I have left of my mum. I don't have any photo or anything as it is all on my nearly flat phone. It hurts that it must be a stupid note to the government basically asking it for money. Why couldn't I be normal why couldn't I be healthy and get a normal job? I stuff everything back in but leave out a couple receipts. The warehouse one has a plain white back and I think I might be able to trade some origami. I carefully fold it into a triangle so I can rip off an even square. The edge is quite jagged, but it was the best I could do without scissors. I quickly fold it into a paper crane it was easy to do as I do not know how many I have made in the past years. I am sure I have even made them with my eyes closed. My finished product Is a cute little white swan, you can just see the back ink showing but I am sure the words would be gibberish to them anyway. No harm could be done. Looking as close as I would ever be to a Middle-Earther and my bargaining product I am ready to go back through the seaside portal. I watch it for a minute or so and I see no one about.

I quickly go through the portal I look around and there is no one about but I can hear voices again. I look down the path and I see two elves walking this way slowly strolling and stopping often to pick flowers or point at stuff.

I mentally look at myself and wonder what who would they think I am if they saw me. I don't know if there are any human settlements around so I can't claim that I originate from them.

I can't say I travelled here as I doubt, they would believe it as I have no shoes on. Maybe if I say I am travelling with a group of people that are camped in the direction away from the town and they are frightened by elves, so they sent me to come to get food instead. I don't have any more time to create my backstory as they have spotted me. I walk down the path hoping they won't stop me or talk to me. Once I am in the city hopeful I would blend in or there are enough people about I won't be noticed.

The elf couple nod and greet me in passing as I walk down the hill and I copy their nod that I had seen many times watching the elves in Rivendell.

I after I pass them, I almost let out a sigh of relief, but it quickly catches in my throat when one of the elves Speak "Wait, excuse me."

I turn around to look at the couples. Struggling to think of something to say if I speak in English then they would know something is up with my weird dialect. "Ahh, yes?" I question hoping that everything is ok.

"Pardon sorry to disturb you. I am…" the female elf is slow and thoughtful with her words and her great effort in trying to speak human.

She turns to her walking partner. "What is the word for curious?"

The male elf shrugs and replies "I do not know. You are more fluent than me."

The elf tries again "May I ask if you are well?"

I decide to switch to elfish as I think she wouldn't understand my answers and it was painful to watch her struggle with her words. "Ah, yes I am." from her surprise look. I happy my ring translation is working.

The elf looks happy. "Oh, you speak Sindarin."

I feel a little stupid. Humans speaking elfish must not be common. "Ah yes, only a little. I am not that good." I excuse myself.

The elf smiles fondly at me. "No, no you are doing well. Your pronunciation is perfect. It is not common for humans to speak Sindarin so excuse me for being shocked."

"Ah, yes. My friend is teaching me. He is a great teacher."

"I am sorry to have stopped you, but it is quite unusual to see a human as you are. I was worried as you were not dressed for travelling that something was wrong." She says looking at my feet.

"Ah. No, I enjoy walking barefoot sometimes." I laugh hoping my lie is not too outrageous.

"Oh, how unusual. Have you walked far?" she asked greatly amuses

Ok, she knows that I am not from a settlement nearby. Definitely going with the plan that; I am camping nearby.

"A little. I and my companions are camped in that direction." I point in the direction I supposedly came from.

"Oh, you make this walk by yourself?" she asks confused.

"Yes, they are wary of elves, so they have sent me to do their bidding." I hope they believe all this bullshit.

The male elf talks this time. "You do not travel with this friend that speaks Sindarin but ones who are wary of elves?" he is quite confused and Is picking at my lies.

"Ah no. I think my friend is in Rivendell at the moment. I am from Bree and was asked on this journey for the very reason I can speak a little Sindarin." I am glad I am good at making up stuff on the spot.

"What business do you have here?"

'Oh no fuck, fuck what do I say.' "Sorry I did not understand what you said." I say trying to buy some time. I can't say I am selling anything as I don't have anything to sell and I can't let then expect any interaction with these mystery elf hating companions. I could say am buying something, but I don't have the money.

What does this place have to offer that that I can't get anywhere else?

"Why are you here? "The elf changes his wording.

Since this is the sea then I could say I am getting a shell. "One of my companions um... Brothers daughter is very unwell. She, her dream is to see the sea. Her father has visited many times and told her many stories of the great sparkling blue water that stretches as far as the eye can see. But sadly, she is too sick to travel here. We fear she has not much time left. "I trail off looking sad.

"Oh, dear." The female elf says sadden at my tale.

"Her father who cannot leave her side wished us to come here in the hope of retrieving a piece of the sea and bring it to her. "

"Oh my, how sad." the elf is teary-eyed. "Do you know what you are going to bring back?"

"No. This is the first time I have seen the sea. I do not even know what there is. I could not imagine how beautiful this place is. I was hoping to come here and pick something that looked interesting. Maybe a pretty stone."

"Oh, No. You must take back a shell."

"Sorry?"

"A shell. It is from a creature that lives in the sea. They come in beautiful shapes and colours. "

"A shell? I fear I do not know what it was even if I saw one."

The elf looks at the male elf and says "We must go with her and help her collect a shell for the poor girl."

Oh, great I made my quest sound too good. "No, I do not wish to trouble you," I say hoping to get rid of them.

"It is no trouble at all. We would love to help. The easiest way to the beach is this way." She says and they start out towards the buildings downhill.

I feel bad getting them to find a shell for a fake dying girl. But I can't back out now. As we get close to the buildings I can't help but be in awe of the architecture. It is quite similar to what I would imagine what Greek or Roman buildings would be like.

"Beautiful are they not."

"yes, you are blessed to live here. It is so different from what I have seen"

"The scenery in Rivendell is beautiful too."

"I have been told that it is, but I have not been there myself."

"Oh, I thought your friend is from Rivendell."

"He is but he visited me in Bree."

"you have visited here why do you bot go with him and visit him there?"

"My family forbid it."I don't want my family to sound like elf haters. So, I follow up with this. "They worry I am too close to him."

"Are you courting? Please tell me the name of this lucky ellon?"

I nearly choke in sock are all elves this presumptuous. "No, No. We are only friends. He travels to Bree frequently and I.. ahh we met and ah…." I am lost for words I am tripping up on my lies. "His name is Lusseenna."I say hoping it's a common name.

"You are smitten." She gushes. Happy at this cute girl talk.

"Ah no. I don't think he likes me that way. I am….." I say sadly. I can't finish saying that no one wants me I am not Beautiful.

"Cheer up. You don't know that. Eves can be quite mysterious with love. It took half a century before Rochon here professes his love to me."

Not really wanting to continue this conversation I say nothing. Also, I was distracted by the with the smell of food. We are walking down a street with building on either side. I can't tell if any are shops where I could buy food.

"Excuse me? Hello?" the elf says trying to get my attention.

"Oh sorry, what were you saying?" I quickly say, giving her my attention.

"I was saying that your dress intrigues me?"

"Oh, what about it?"

"It is made of fine elven made cloth is it not? Was it a gift from your friend?"

I stopped listening once again as the food smell grows strong an I can finally see the cause. There is a build with bread and loaves in the window. 'Mmmmm bread.'

"Are you well?" the elf asked worried and gently taps me on the shoulder.

"Huh?" I say surprised breaking out of my daze. I didn't realize that I had stopped walking. "Ah sorry. I am ok."

"Do not mind me asking but perhaps are you hungry?"

"Ahh um, no. It's nothing, we must quickly go and continue on our quest." I say trying to put her at ease.

"It is obvious. You are hungry, I can practically see you drooling. We do not mind if you go and buy something, we will wait here for you." She says kindly.

"No, I have nothing to… buy with." I don't even know what money looks like in this world. "Come let us continue." I feel really embarrassed, who would want my stupid paper crane. It holds no value. I start walking off in the direction that we were walking in. The female elf catches up and falls into step with my stride.

"I have just realized that we have been quite rude and has not introduced ourselves. I am Northril and Rochon is my partner."

"Oh, greetings. I am Olivia." I mentally kick myself as soon as I say my name. I should have used a fake one. But then again I don't know any female human names of this world except for Éowyn.

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Northril says happily. "May I ask why you do not have any money? I wish not to intrude."

'what a nosey elf.' I think. "I and my companions left at short notice. We did not have time to pack enough supplies the money we did have has already been used to barter with. We are low on food as it is. We are…. Hmm, what is the word…. Each of us only eats little each meal."

"Rationing?" the elf supplies.

"Yes, that. We hope to be very quick with our task, so we get back sooner for the girl as well as our bellies."

"Oh, but it is a few days travel to get to Bree."

"We have our horses so It will be quick. We have enough food just to last us. I have been freely giving my companions a larger proportion than myself as I believe that they should have the energy if we run into trouble."

"But you matter too, it will do you no good to faint of hunger walking back to your camp."

"No, I am fine. Besides it is a lot easier to ignore hunger than a sword in your chest."

We both stay silent after that. I don't know why she is silent by I was mostly silenced by the beauty of the beach that we were now walking down a flight of stone steps too.

The water is so clean. The sand is white almost like sugar. I run a little as the beauty fills me with so much joy. The beach reminds me of home, and I could almost believe that I am home in the bay of the island.

I bend down and pick up a small spiral cone-shaped shell. Wow. You don't get shells like this at home. It has a blue and yellow zig-zag pattern. I lift it up to my ear and I can hear the rushing sound of the waves in it. Haha, this would be perfect. "Look, look what I have found. It is so pretty." I say turning and showing Northril my shell.

"Yes, that is very pretty. You have picked up a sea snail shell. I think this will be perfect for your poor girl. It looks like it has nothing living inside."

I was about to say something, but I noticed the male elf walking down the stone steps. I didn't realize we had left without him. I guilt rises in me for a second I even believed that there was a sick little girl wait for me to bring this shell to her.

"I must go now. Thank you for your help." I say sadden with guilt.

The male elf has reached us now he hands me a warped cloth. "Here you must eat."

I foolishly had taken it from him without realizing what it was. I slightly unwrapped it and found that it was a small loaf of bread. 'oh no. I have cheated them out of food as well. "No. No. I cannot accept this. I have nothing to give you. I cannot take your food. You are too kind." I say quickly trying to pass the bread back.

"No, we insist. Rochon brought this for you. We are just happy to help you." The female elf pushes my hands back so I would accept the loaf. I feel teary eyes at my guilt and their kindness.

I reach into my pocket and pull out the little paper crane. "Here take this. I made it to barter with, but decided it was not worth enough." I pass it to Northril.

"Oh, how adorable. How did you make this?" she accepted it and looks to cherish it.

"I ahh, folded the paper a special way." feeling embarrassed like I do with anyone who praises me for my artwork.

"The paper is so high quality." She gushes in amazement. 'whoops. Note to self never do this again'

"It is just a small scrap of paper I had. Anyway, I must be off. It was pleasant to meet you. You are so kind and caring. Goodbye." I say and rush off before I say or do anything more that would get me into trouble. While running up the stairs I hear them shout goodbye.

I run almost the whole way through the quiet town and didn't stop till I got to the path leading up to the archway. It's a good thing it was relatively easy to remember the way as I would have been a problem if the offered to walk me back to the archway. I am also good with detection so that helps to. I catch my breath and strode quickly up the hill. Once reaching the top, I look around to see if anyone is about and finding that the coast is clear I step through the portal.

I look at the Rivendell portal and see the elf is still there. Feeling exhausted I sit down on the floor next to my shoes and eat the loaf of bread. Now I have eaten and with nothing to do it was not hard to slowly slide to lay on the floor. I did not realise how tired I was. I did have a big day today though. So I easily fell asleep on the stone floor.