A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews. The spacing doesn't bother me at all, but it if makes it easier for people to read I'll definitely take more time and do that. And I know, I'm not very good at details. I hope that the more I write, the better I'll get at that. I think of things so fast that I just want to get them written down and move on to the next idea. But thank you so much for the advice.

Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR. And there is some Star Wars stuff in here, but it's mostly just background info that is explained to the reader throughout the story.

And They're Off

She nodded. "Yeah. I'm pretty clueless, and I feel like a moron because I don't know all the kings of Numenor and have to ask what Imladris means."

"Why, it means Rivendell in Elvish. Do you not Elvish, my lady?"

"See, there you go. No I don't know Elvish."

He shook his head. "I find that very grieving. For a child to not remember the language of..." he cleared his throat. "Perhaps I should take my leave."

"Dude, you were about to say something important. Spill it," she said, her voice getting a menacing tone to it.

He lifted his eyebrows. "I am not the one to tell you these things, my lady. I cannot reveal anything that you do not yet know."

"Then who can?"

"I could not tell you. Gandalf made it very clear that you must remember on your own."

She put her hands on her hips. "So that's how it's gonna be, huh? Do you have any idea what I'm capable of?"

"I do not think it would be wise of me to answer that."

She grinned. "You are so smart. And humble. I like you, Legolas. I think we're going to get along just fine."

He smiled. "I am glad to hear that."

"You don't have to go anywhere, do you?"

"As of yet, no. Why do you ask?"

"I need a history lesson," she admitted.

He nodded. "I would be delighted. Please," he said, motioning for her to sit down. He began with the very creation of Middle-earth, with Iluavatar and Ulmos and all of those gods. Then he told her about the three Elven tribes (tribes is the wrong word I know) and the sailing to Valinor. As he spoke, he was amazed at how well he was able to capture her attention. To an outsider, the names did get confusing and the beginning and the chaining of Melkos did seem rather dry, but she didn't seem to focus her attention on anything else as she spoke. He ended by telling her how Bilbo came across the Ring in the Misty Mountain when he was with Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield's company to defeat Smaug the dragon and reclaim the treasure.

"So Mirkwood's an evil place?" she said as he described it.

He shook his head. "Not at all. It used to be called Greenwood until a shadow began dwelling there. But since the shadow has been moving north, the danger has somewhat lessened. And if you are traveling under the watch of my kin, then you've nothing to fear."

"Oh yeah, your dad's the king. So you're next in line for the throne, huh? That must be pretty sweet."

He looked at her. "Has all this talk of history made you forget? You are also a princess."

She gasped. She was! She was a Jedi princess. "Oh my gosh, I didn't even think about that! I'm gonna have to be a queen, oh my gosh! Legolas, what am I gonna do, I can't be queen! I can't even drive yet!"

He laughed again, getting to his feet. "I do not think you need to worry. Your reign is nowhere in the near future." He helped her to her feet.

"But I don't even have any loyal subjects. Who will I trade with?" she asked, becoming less serious.

"You will always have my people. The Queen of the Jedi will always be highly spoken of among the castle."

She smiled. Outside, the sky was pink and she could see the sun peeking up from the valley just between some of the falls. It was breathtaking. "Wow, a sunrise. You must have a big importance in my life."

He looked confused. "My lady?"

"It's just that I've never seen a sunrise before. And one like this...that's just amazing. Moment like this aren't easily forgotten, don't you agree."

"I do agree," he said, marveling over the sudden jewel of wisdom from this young maiden's mouth. "I have lived for thousands of years, and moments such as this are rare."

They left a couple of days later. In those two days, Laura made another friend in Rivendell. This friend was a horse whom she and Sam were very fond of. They named the horse Epona. Before setting out, Arwen was able to find Laura in her room as she finished changing into a simple black outfit that was more comfortable than the dresses.

Laura smiled at her. "Hello, Arwen. Did you come to say goodbye?"

Arwen held something. It was a sword, hidden in a bundle and tied. "We have more in common than just our physical appearance, Laura," Arwen said quietly. "And if you are anything like me, you are not going to stand by in times of peril." She gave Laura the sword and smiled.

"Oh, Arwen I've been meaning to ask you something!" she remembered. "This might not apply to you because you're an Elf, but," she lowered her voice, even though they were the only two in the room. "How do you deal with, you know, feminine troubles?"

Arwen laughed and whispered in Laura's ear. Her eyes widened. "That's genius! You could patent that and make a fortune, you know." As Arwen got up to leave, Laura noticed that the necklace she usually wore was gone. It was a shiny object that she thought was a flower. It was silvery.

Arwen noticed Laura staring at her bare neck. She nodded sadly. "I gave it to Elessar."

"You mean Aragorn?" Laura guessed. Arwen nodded again. Aha, so there was something going on between them! But Arwen looked so sad. She turned again to leave.

"Arwen," she called out. Arwen turned around, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'll protect him for you," she promised.

Arwen let a sob escape from her throat and embraced Laura. A little surprised, she patted Arwen on the back. She knew all about the world of love and in love and breaking hearts, just anything to do with men. She was sixteen, by the way. So she thought she knew all there was to know.

Finally the moment came when the nine were to depart from Rivendell. Laura slipped the sword onto Epona's saddle, concealing it with a blanket. Elrond made his speech that no oath was laid on any of them to go any further than they wanted to. He said that the hopes of Elves and Men went with them, and with that, Frodo started off.

Laura waved at the Elves as she left, following the Hobbits. She listened to Merry and Pippin talk most of the time, since the rest were pretty much quiet and kept to themselves. Sam held Epona's reins and walked in front of her, and Frodo was always very quiet. She was almost scared to try and hold a conversation with Aragorn or Boromir or Gandalf, and Legolas was just out of the question. She didn't feel intelligent enough to talk to them, like they were mocking her every minute.