Chapter 2: I'm Where?

When I woke up again it was late afternoon, I didn't think I had been out long. It was perhaps an hour or so before sunset, but I could not be sure as my eyes remained closed. My head hurt and I felt nauseous. I had the vague thought that there was no rain and the sun was shining. I tried to focus on that fact but found that I couldn't. I just wanted to get up and get home where dad could help me.

The only thing stopping me from moving was the sound of voices nearby. It sounded like two men at least, with voices I did not recognize. Perhaps my dad had sent out a search party? That didn't seem likely as I had been on a straight path and his window faced the direction of the gate. Knowing dad, he had it open when I left and had watched me leave. He would know exactly where I had been going.

As I pondered the best course of action, despite my throbbing skull distracting me, I heard what the men were saying. I decided the best course of action was to pretend I was asleep and see who these men were. To be honest, I was contemplating going back to sleep, it was getting more and more difficult to stay awake and keep so still.

"What should we do Estel?" The first voice whispered. To me it was clear and almost majestic sounding. Like a spring day after a gentle rain, as if he was used to laughing. Yet with enough force in it to keep from sounding too gentle. "We can't just leave her here. We are leagues from the nearest town. Neither of us have enough skill to pull her out of her own mind if her injuries are more severe than can be seen."

"We will take her to Elrond." Said the second male. His voice was gruffer, almost as if he didn't use it very often. It sounded a bit calmer and more collected and made me think of a strong oak swaying in the wind. "It is a two-day ride to Imladris. Lord Elrond will be able to care for her injuries and make sure she heals properly."

The men discussed their plans for a few more minutes. From the sound of things they would lose several days on their mission, whatever that could be. I was concerned and still convinced I was on my own property. I began to wonder if this was a weird, delusional, concussion based dream I was having.

I just laid there and relaxed while planning my next move. I didn't know who these men were, but the names 'Estel', 'Elrond', and 'Imladris' all sounded very, very familiar. As strange as the names were, I had heard of them before. It was like a distant dream from several years ago. I thought it best to put the pieces together before I announced my being mentally present.

"…we should get going." The man, whose voice I was beginning to recognize as the one called Estel, said and I could hear him moving around. "It is not safe to linger here much longer. Foul creatures patrol these areas and I do not wish to meet them with an injure girl among us. She would be an easy target."

I must have tensed up at this or something because the first male chuckled. "Well then, you may want to introduce yourself to that poor, injured girl. She has been awake for some time it seems."

"What?" Estel said, the shock clear in his voice though I thought I detected amusement there as well. With a mental sigh I knew it was pointless to try and gain more information by feigning sleep. I groaned and sat up with my hand to my head. The world spun and I felt a strong hand support my back. Opening my eyes seemed like a painful chore but they slowly adjusted to the bright light around me.

"Where am I?" I asked with in a dry voice. "And who are you?"

The man closest to me had dark hair and piercing grey eyes. His voice told me that I was being held up by the one called Estel. I looked to the second male with us. He also had dark hair and light grey eyes but his face seemed sharper and more fair, ethereal even, and were those pointed ears?

I felt like this should all be familiar to me but the area we were in was not familiar at all. That sent a chill down my back. I did not recognize this place at all, which meant I was very far from home…

"I am Estel, also known as Strider in these parts." Estel introduced himself and I found that I was able to sit up on my own and hold a solid conversation. The other male handed me a water skin and I took a long drink, nearly chocking on the water hitting my dry throat.

Pointy ears chuckled and grabbed the water skin as Estel patted me on the back gently. "I am Elladan. And who would you be Miss?"

I hesitated. I knew that name but from where? "I am…My name is Arianna."

Elledan bowed from where he was standing and Estel half stood to do the same. "It is a pleasure to meet you Arianna." Elledan said as he handed a nasty looking green paste to Estel.

Suddenly I became a bit anxious as to what the paste was. "It's for your wound. It'll help prevent infection from setting in as well as heal faster." Estel assured me and with a nod from me he brushed my hair aside and applied the paste. At first it was warm and thick feeling but as he rubbed it into my skin all I could feel was the paste cooling and soothing away the hurt.

When he was finished, he handed the bowl back to Elledan, who proceeded to clean up the makeshift camp while Estel helped me to my feet. I swayed a bit but with a steadying arm to assist me I was able to get my bearings again. Instinctually, I reached towards my satchel and found it missing. Frantically I looked around and started to panic, causing another wave of dizziness to hit. Elledan appeared before me, satchel in hand. I thanked him and slid it over my head, hand resting on the outer material.

"Do you feel well enough to tell us how you came to be out here?" Elledan asked gently. I looked to him sadly and nodded a little.

"There was a storm." I began slowly. "I fell asleep by the river and we had to hurry home. It was already dark."

Guilt washed over me at how scared Calisto had been. "I was riding and the storm spooked my horse. She ran in a panic and I was unable to see the branch due to a lightning flash. She ran towards home and…that's all I remember."

Elledan and Estel glanced at each other, speaking some strange language that I did not understand. It was beautiful and melodic enough that I almost got lost in the sounds the words made. Estel finally turned to me, "You are lucky to be alive Little One. There is a small cut above your eye and some bruising. For a blow from a tree at a full run, many would consider you very lucky."

I gave a small smile and inspected my bag. Amazingly, everything was safe and intact. "So, what do we do now? You said something to Elledan about taking me somewhere?"

Estel nodded. "To Imladris, also called Rivendell in the common tongue. Home to the elves and Lord Elrond."

My blood ran cold for a moment and I thought I might collapse again. How can we be going to Rivendell? That's fictional…and it's in Middle Earth. I knew the names sounded familiar and it had been a few years since I read the books and even then I only managed to read them one time, just enough to know some of the story if I really thought hard on it. Of course, it was so far-fetched…why would I even considered that is where I had ended up.

I pulled out of my thoughts long enough to realize that Estel, though I knew that was not accurate anymore, had called me over to a pair of the most beautiful horses I had ever seen. Elledan was standing next to a bay stallion that was definitely a spitfire and raring to go. I didn't understand what he said to the horse but got the idea pretty easily as he tightened the horses girth and chuckled along side Estel. They both looked at me stunned, likely thinking I understood the language.

I moved to shake my head in amusement, a dull pressure reminded me of the consequences of moving to fast, and went up to pet the stallion. I ignored the warnings of the two males as I held the reigns gently and pet the horse's nose. His breath tussled my hair as he smelled me and inspected my injury. "You are such trouble aren't you, you handsome boy?"

I swear the horse looked indignant at my response and bumped his nose against my chest. I turned to Elledan to ask the horse's name and saw the most hilarious sight…the elf's jaw had dropped nearly to the ground. Turning to Estel, I saw that he wasn't much better at hiding his shock. Confused, I hid my face against the horse's neck. I felt embarrassed for some reason.

"How did you do that?" Elledan finally choked out. "Faradrim is not what most would call a friendly horse. I'm about the only one he has ever listened to…and barely at that."

My face got hot, I'm sure my cheeks had turned red. "I've always had an affinity with animals. They just seem to like me and understand me. Though never so clearly as Faradrim does it seems. Did he really understand what I said to him?"

"Understood and was amused by it from what I can tell." Estel laughed. "For now, though I think it best you ride with me and Roheryn. He's a smoother ride and less hard headed. He also won't object to the extra work."

Faradrim snorted at that and stood tall, as if highly offended by the comments. I gave his neck a pat and told him how beautiful he was and how I would love to ride with him when I felt better. It seemed to please the horse enough that he calmed down. I went over to Roheryn, a dark grey stallion, and greeted him as well. The response was significantly gentler than with Faradrim, as if Roheryn was the older and wiser of the two and had learned to behave properly.

Elledan climbed into his saddle and waited on Estel and myself. I walked over to the side of the horse and was gently set on the back of the saddle by Estel before I could even get my foot in the stirrup. Before I could complain, Estel was in the saddle behind me and we were off.

As we rode, Estel and I spoke a little, mostly of horses. I learned the meaning behind the horses's names, their ages and a little of their lineage. Roheryn was going to soon be father to a young foal back in Imladris and there were high hopes for the offspring. I was excited to see what amazing foals the grey stallion would produce.

After a few hours my head began to ache and I was beginning to feel nauseous again. All I wanted to do was sleep but we still had yet to find a place to make camp. The area was too open and dangerous for us to stop long according to my companions. I held on as long as possible but after a while I began to feel lightheaded as well. I must have done something, because Roheryn stopped in his tracks and tossed his head in objection to continuing forward. As if Faradrim caught on, he did the same to Elledan.

Estel and Elledan seemed in tune enough with their steeds that they quickly dismounted and dropped the reigns on the horses, looking for signs of trouble. They were once again shocked as Faradrim put his head against me and nickered softly. Almost delirious I wrapped my arms around his neck and he gently helped me slide of Roheryn, who stood stone still, and onto the ground.

My companions were instantly at my side and inspecting me. I was nearly asleep as they decided to let me rest a while now and continue on in a few hours. It would be slow going in the dark but necessary. Not waiting for permission, I laid down and passed out right where I lay, a horse's soft breath on the back of my neck.

I next awoke on the back of Faradrim. Elledan had his arms around me and we were racing full speed across the landscape. I muttered his name and he shushed me, pressing my head against his chest and we went full speed towards Imladris. I couldn't see Estel but I hoped he was near. I didn't like leaving him alone in the dark for some reason, it didn't feel right.

"Estel?" I asked, barely more than a whisper.

Elledan kept his eyes forward on our path, helping Faradrim navigate the moonlit landscape. "Following close behind. Faradrim is the faster horse and I the better rider. We must get you to my father as soon as possible."

I frowned and must have done something in protest at leaving Estel behind. Whatever it was, I swore I saw him smirk at me for a split second before returning to the road. "Do not worry, he is the Dunedain. If anyone can manage himself in this area alone, it is he."

With a sigh of relief, I rested my head against Elledan's chest and drifted into a dreamless darkness.