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Ch. 5: Confessions, Part I
Elrond came in a few minutes later, Gandalf at his side. "Jennifer, it is good to see you again." The Elf lord seemed surprised when I didn't stand up to greet him, then seemed to take in the situation in a glance. "You've been badly injured in your time away from us. Your companion seems rather overwhelmed, herself."
"Middle Earth was quite a shock to her, especially as drunk as she is." Elrond just raised an eyebrow. "She'll be fine. As for me, there's nothing to be done, at least nothing I know of. I will never regain my mobility. I've accepted that, but I'd rather live as an invalid here than there." At least here in Middle Earth, people would care for me for my own sake rather than out of a sense of obligation. The Elves were always gracious, even to the least able of visitors, and I would be no exception. Here, at least, I would have some dignity and choice (and the food would be edible).
"I see. Glorfindel is away at the moment. The times have become troubled, even in the short time you've been away. The One Ring has been found, and all Middle Earth must decide what to do…" Elrond continued to speak, but his voice faded in the torrent of memories. Glorfindel. This wouldn't be as easy as I had thought. How would my return affect him? I wasn't exactly the healthy girl who had left. I wouldn't care, except that it isn't fair to him. While I did want to be here in Middle Earth rather than that nursing home, coming back presented some real problems. I suddenly reappear, and all of a sudden he was married to an invalid. I started to cry.
"Do not worry, Jennifer. All will be well." Gandalf spoke for the first time. He reached down and cupped my cheek in a wrinkled hand. "He will be grateful you have returned, even with your injury." There was no question as to who 'he' was. "The last year has been very difficult for him. Your disappearance was hard on him. He's missed you tremendously. He will not care about the injury. Don't worry about it. All will work out right. Trust me in this. You'll see—it really will." He patted my cheek, then the old wizard sighed. "This has been a lot for you to take in. I'm certain crossing between the two worlds is exhausting. I suppose it would be best for you to rest now." It was such a relief to see Gandalf. He has always been like a grandfather to me, and if anyone would understand, he would. His words didn't solve the problems facing me, or even delay them, but they were a comfort, anyway.
I nodded weakly, then managed to find my voice. "I think it would be best if Renée and I could share a room. She'll be confused when she wakes." Confused is probably a major understatement.
Elrond nodded, and Arwen left to make the arrangements. Elrohir carried me to a room and Pete guided a rather confused Renée, who had just come to. I heard her ask if it was time for school before she passed out again. Pete carried her the rest of the way. He was walking beside of Elrohir and me, and the tender way he looked down at her tore my heart. He cared a lot, but I wasn't sure if she would ever be ready to accept him. The time with Joe had left scars on her heart as well as bruises on her body. Pete might yet convince her, but he was also setting himself up for possible heartbreak. I truly hoped Renée would be ready for a relationship with him. She had been hurt so much, and Pete would care for her like she was the most precious thing in the universe. It was almost as if they were made for each other.
We arrived at the suite of rooms, and Pete carried Renée into the first one. Elrohir brought me into the second. Arwen was there, and she pulled the covers over me once her brother laid me on the bed. I was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
I woke to a bright morning. I was alone in the room, but an open doorway led into another. The sun was already high in the sky. Renée was awake and standing in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. I called her name, and she came in.
"Hi! How are you doing?" She was wearing a dress that must have come from Arwen. The bright green suited her. It was nice to see her in something other than jeans and rude t-shirts.
"You sound cheery. You were pretty overwhelmed last night." I had to chuckle.
"I was also very drunk. This place is amazing!" She spun in a circle, arms outstretched and head back, to make her point. From the look on her face, you might have guessed she'd found Eden. Really, that thought wasn't too far off, especially for her. I had difficult issues to work through yet, but for her it was a chance to start completely over.
"I take it you managed to avoid a hangover. Have you had a chance to explore yet?"
"Yeah, but everyone was pretty busy. It's kind of funny—I didn't even have a headache, and I usually have awful hangovers, especially when I get that drunk. I felt great when I woke up. I even woke up in time for breakfast! There was some fuss over some little people called hobbits. A guy called Glorfun—Glorfing—Glor-something brought of them in, but one of the hobbits was hurt… What's wrong?" She saw the affect the name had on me.
"Glorfindel. I just don't know if I'm ready to see him. That's all."
"He's the one, isn't he? He's your guy."
"Yes. Sit down and I'll tell you the story. I promised I'd tell you some day, and I think this is the time." She did, and I started, "When I was 22, just out of college, I was out hiking in the woods with a couple friends. They were really hyper, and it was starting to get on my nerves, so I hung back a little. Somehow I got turned around and then I fell down a ridge into a lake. I'm not usually that clumsy, but it was almost like something was pulling me down, first off that ridge, and then into the water.
"I found myself coming out somewhere like the lake we came through. I don't think it was the same lake, but you get the idea. I got to shore and tried to figure out what had happened. I knew something was strange, but I didn't realize yet that I was in a different realm. I knew something had happened, because the trees were much taller. I got up to look around and promptly realized I'd broken my ankle in the fall. The next thing I knew, an arrow was pointing at my face. I held up my hands, trying to look innocent, and pretty soon I was looking up at a guy who was even taller than me. That really is a rarity—I'm 5'11", or at least, I used to be. It's an interesting thing to balance on one foot, hold up your hands, and then try to face an Elf with an arrow pointing in your face.
"I won't say it was love at first sight—after all, he was threatening my life, but it didn't take long before I fell in love with him. He had to carry me back to Rivendell. I was attracted to him, even then, and the trip was an exercise in concentration and trying to hide my feelings. Eventually we got to Rivendell, and I settled in here. Elrond didn't say much about who I was or how I'd come here, but I just let it pass. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I'd asked more questions. Questions or no, life was perfect then. Time never seems to mean much here, and several years passed before we started to talk about marriage. We went ahead with our plans, and we got married. I was on top of the world. During the wedding banquet, I wandered outside alone for a little fresh air. I came to the river, and leaned over it to dip my hands in. Suddenly, I fell into it and found myself back in the world we came from.
"There wasn't much to do except get on with life. Seven years had passed here, but almost no time had passed there. I went back to my job and tried to live a normal life. After a couple years, a drunk driver smacked into my car as I was coming home from work. It left me in that wheelchair and the nursing home, and not much more happened until you showed up. You know the rest."
"Wow. I don't think I know what to say." She took my hand and squeezed it. I couldn't feel much of it, but the sentiment was there.
"That's OK. I've had years to think about it, and you've had a couple minutes. I just don't know what I'll do when I see him again. When I left, I was perfectly healthy, and now I'm paralyzed. He's so strong and graceful, and I come back and suddenly he's married to an invalid. In the first couple years after I got hurt, I often thought 'at least it happened here and not while I was in Middle Earth. At least they don't have to put up with me.' Don't get me wrong—I'm really glad to be back. Life here is infinitely better than in that nursing home, but it'll still be hard. At least I can live the rest of my life here instead of that nursing home. Now, though, I think it's time to get on with that life. Do you think you're game to help me get dressed?"
"Yeah, I think so. It shouldn't be too difficult with a dress. Pants would be another story, but I don't think women wear them here, anyway." She grabbed a dress that was hanging on a chair. It looked suspiciously like one of my old ones. Arwen must have laid it out for me.
"Not often, and yes, a dress is a lot easier than pants. Why don't you help me sit up?"
She did, and then helped me swing my legs over the side of the bed. I managed to slide out of the nightgown and get the dress over my head, and she lifted me up enough to get it down and hanging properly. I sat down heavily. Now that I was dressed, it was my turn to ask questions...
Ch. 5: Confessions, Part I
Elrond came in a few minutes later, Gandalf at his side. "Jennifer, it is good to see you again." The Elf lord seemed surprised when I didn't stand up to greet him, then seemed to take in the situation in a glance. "You've been badly injured in your time away from us. Your companion seems rather overwhelmed, herself."
"Middle Earth was quite a shock to her, especially as drunk as she is." Elrond just raised an eyebrow. "She'll be fine. As for me, there's nothing to be done, at least nothing I know of. I will never regain my mobility. I've accepted that, but I'd rather live as an invalid here than there." At least here in Middle Earth, people would care for me for my own sake rather than out of a sense of obligation. The Elves were always gracious, even to the least able of visitors, and I would be no exception. Here, at least, I would have some dignity and choice (and the food would be edible).
"I see. Glorfindel is away at the moment. The times have become troubled, even in the short time you've been away. The One Ring has been found, and all Middle Earth must decide what to do…" Elrond continued to speak, but his voice faded in the torrent of memories. Glorfindel. This wouldn't be as easy as I had thought. How would my return affect him? I wasn't exactly the healthy girl who had left. I wouldn't care, except that it isn't fair to him. While I did want to be here in Middle Earth rather than that nursing home, coming back presented some real problems. I suddenly reappear, and all of a sudden he was married to an invalid. I started to cry.
"Do not worry, Jennifer. All will be well." Gandalf spoke for the first time. He reached down and cupped my cheek in a wrinkled hand. "He will be grateful you have returned, even with your injury." There was no question as to who 'he' was. "The last year has been very difficult for him. Your disappearance was hard on him. He's missed you tremendously. He will not care about the injury. Don't worry about it. All will work out right. Trust me in this. You'll see—it really will." He patted my cheek, then the old wizard sighed. "This has been a lot for you to take in. I'm certain crossing between the two worlds is exhausting. I suppose it would be best for you to rest now." It was such a relief to see Gandalf. He has always been like a grandfather to me, and if anyone would understand, he would. His words didn't solve the problems facing me, or even delay them, but they were a comfort, anyway.
I nodded weakly, then managed to find my voice. "I think it would be best if Renée and I could share a room. She'll be confused when she wakes." Confused is probably a major understatement.
Elrond nodded, and Arwen left to make the arrangements. Elrohir carried me to a room and Pete guided a rather confused Renée, who had just come to. I heard her ask if it was time for school before she passed out again. Pete carried her the rest of the way. He was walking beside of Elrohir and me, and the tender way he looked down at her tore my heart. He cared a lot, but I wasn't sure if she would ever be ready to accept him. The time with Joe had left scars on her heart as well as bruises on her body. Pete might yet convince her, but he was also setting himself up for possible heartbreak. I truly hoped Renée would be ready for a relationship with him. She had been hurt so much, and Pete would care for her like she was the most precious thing in the universe. It was almost as if they were made for each other.
We arrived at the suite of rooms, and Pete carried Renée into the first one. Elrohir brought me into the second. Arwen was there, and she pulled the covers over me once her brother laid me on the bed. I was asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
I woke to a bright morning. I was alone in the room, but an open doorway led into another. The sun was already high in the sky. Renée was awake and standing in front of the mirror, brushing her hair. I called her name, and she came in.
"Hi! How are you doing?" She was wearing a dress that must have come from Arwen. The bright green suited her. It was nice to see her in something other than jeans and rude t-shirts.
"You sound cheery. You were pretty overwhelmed last night." I had to chuckle.
"I was also very drunk. This place is amazing!" She spun in a circle, arms outstretched and head back, to make her point. From the look on her face, you might have guessed she'd found Eden. Really, that thought wasn't too far off, especially for her. I had difficult issues to work through yet, but for her it was a chance to start completely over.
"I take it you managed to avoid a hangover. Have you had a chance to explore yet?"
"Yeah, but everyone was pretty busy. It's kind of funny—I didn't even have a headache, and I usually have awful hangovers, especially when I get that drunk. I felt great when I woke up. I even woke up in time for breakfast! There was some fuss over some little people called hobbits. A guy called Glorfun—Glorfing—Glor-something brought of them in, but one of the hobbits was hurt… What's wrong?" She saw the affect the name had on me.
"Glorfindel. I just don't know if I'm ready to see him. That's all."
"He's the one, isn't he? He's your guy."
"Yes. Sit down and I'll tell you the story. I promised I'd tell you some day, and I think this is the time." She did, and I started, "When I was 22, just out of college, I was out hiking in the woods with a couple friends. They were really hyper, and it was starting to get on my nerves, so I hung back a little. Somehow I got turned around and then I fell down a ridge into a lake. I'm not usually that clumsy, but it was almost like something was pulling me down, first off that ridge, and then into the water.
"I found myself coming out somewhere like the lake we came through. I don't think it was the same lake, but you get the idea. I got to shore and tried to figure out what had happened. I knew something was strange, but I didn't realize yet that I was in a different realm. I knew something had happened, because the trees were much taller. I got up to look around and promptly realized I'd broken my ankle in the fall. The next thing I knew, an arrow was pointing at my face. I held up my hands, trying to look innocent, and pretty soon I was looking up at a guy who was even taller than me. That really is a rarity—I'm 5'11", or at least, I used to be. It's an interesting thing to balance on one foot, hold up your hands, and then try to face an Elf with an arrow pointing in your face.
"I won't say it was love at first sight—after all, he was threatening my life, but it didn't take long before I fell in love with him. He had to carry me back to Rivendell. I was attracted to him, even then, and the trip was an exercise in concentration and trying to hide my feelings. Eventually we got to Rivendell, and I settled in here. Elrond didn't say much about who I was or how I'd come here, but I just let it pass. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I'd asked more questions. Questions or no, life was perfect then. Time never seems to mean much here, and several years passed before we started to talk about marriage. We went ahead with our plans, and we got married. I was on top of the world. During the wedding banquet, I wandered outside alone for a little fresh air. I came to the river, and leaned over it to dip my hands in. Suddenly, I fell into it and found myself back in the world we came from.
"There wasn't much to do except get on with life. Seven years had passed here, but almost no time had passed there. I went back to my job and tried to live a normal life. After a couple years, a drunk driver smacked into my car as I was coming home from work. It left me in that wheelchair and the nursing home, and not much more happened until you showed up. You know the rest."
"Wow. I don't think I know what to say." She took my hand and squeezed it. I couldn't feel much of it, but the sentiment was there.
"That's OK. I've had years to think about it, and you've had a couple minutes. I just don't know what I'll do when I see him again. When I left, I was perfectly healthy, and now I'm paralyzed. He's so strong and graceful, and I come back and suddenly he's married to an invalid. In the first couple years after I got hurt, I often thought 'at least it happened here and not while I was in Middle Earth. At least they don't have to put up with me.' Don't get me wrong—I'm really glad to be back. Life here is infinitely better than in that nursing home, but it'll still be hard. At least I can live the rest of my life here instead of that nursing home. Now, though, I think it's time to get on with that life. Do you think you're game to help me get dressed?"
"Yeah, I think so. It shouldn't be too difficult with a dress. Pants would be another story, but I don't think women wear them here, anyway." She grabbed a dress that was hanging on a chair. It looked suspiciously like one of my old ones. Arwen must have laid it out for me.
"Not often, and yes, a dress is a lot easier than pants. Why don't you help me sit up?"
She did, and then helped me swing my legs over the side of the bed. I managed to slide out of the nightgown and get the dress over my head, and she lifted me up enough to get it down and hanging properly. I sat down heavily. Now that I was dressed, it was my turn to ask questions...