All were silent. Clara's heart was beating so loudly she was sure it was heard by everyone else. There were not butterflies in her stomach but snakes. She stared at the ground in front of the hobbits, not wanting to look up. Her fingers tugged at the sleeves of her top, she hooked her thumb front the hole in the netting, which was a bad habit she was trying to give up.

The hobbits looked at Clara. Frodo knew what they were thinking. It was a hard thing to believe. They were hobbits of the Shire and had been brought up with wild and wonderful tales but none of them were ever to be believed. Although the small group there knew that there was more to the world that they lived in, the story of Clara's was something that one of them had ever heard. And they didn't even know everything that Clara had told he, Elrond and Gandalf earlier.

Amber coughed and they all jumped.

"We all know you?" She said nervously.

Clara nodded slowly.

"We're all friends?" Asked Lou.

She nodded again.

"I know it sounds insane." Clara blurted out. "And I'm not expecting you to believe me because I know that if someone told me that I'd have a hard time believing it." And she trailed off into silence not really knowing what else she could say.

Amber looked at her.

"We do, well I do believe you." Replied Amber quietly and a wave of relief washed over Clara.

"Me too." Said Rose and Lou nodded and smiled.

Clara felt a weight lifted off her shoulders and a faint smile appeared on her face.

"So tell us more." Merry asked Clara.

But before she could say a word, they heard a small gasp from Sam. Following his gaze each now saw an elf walking gracefully towards them. Even though they had been in Rivendell a couple of days, Sam was still in awe of the elves when he was near them. She glided towards them, her auburn hair falling over her shoulders and shining in the sun above them.

"I have been asked to take you to see lord Elrond." She said to Clara.

"Err.sure." She said, still trying to adjust to the height thing.

"Follow me." Said the elf and turned away.

"I'll see you later?" Asked Clara hopefully, her eyes passing over each one of them and resting her gaze on Frodo.

"You will." Said Frodo.

"K." Said Clara. She looked at the elf, who was already walking away. "I better go."

"Goodbye." They called after Clara as she ran after the elf.

"What's the matter Frodo?" Asked Sam, seeing the look on his friends face.

"I can't help feeling I should go with her." He said. "She's only just woken up today. This must be confusing for her."

Merry grinned. "Go ahead. We'll see you after."

Frodo looked at Merry and smiled.

"I'll see you later." He said and followed hurriedly after Clara.

They all watched his move away from them. Then Pippin spoke up.

"I don't know about anyone else. But I'm hungry."

"Me too. Let's go." Replied Rose quickly and with a grin she stood up, the others doing the same. "If we're lucky we can make afternoon tea!"

"I thought you might want someone with you." Smiled Frodo as he caught up with them.

"Thanks." Said Clara, returning the smile. "Where are we going?" She asked the elf.

"To the Chamber of Elrond." Replied the Elf.

"Oh. Doody." Said Clara.

They continued to walk in silence. Again Clara had the same feeling in her stomach as she had a few minutes back. Meeting Elrond and Gandalf for a second time was unnerving. It wasn't because she was frightened of them. In fact she liked them very much but it still didn't mean she hadn't realised while reading the books that you shouldn't get on the wrong side of either. That was what scared her slightly. And even though what she had said to them really wasn't likely to anger them, she was having a moment of doubt and at that time she felt that just about anything could happen!

They rounded the corner and passed through a doorway in into what at first looked like a wide corridor. Then she saw that to her right were stone arches leading away and a few oak doors intricately patterned. To her left were more arches. These were made out of wood and we're joined together as the wood twisted in and out of each other in knots. Beyond the arches to her left she saw a large, slightly raised, round platform open to the sky. On the far side were stone figured carved into the alcoves. And on the other side the base of a thick tree and greenery and such were growing. In the near centre was a large stone pedestal and opposite that was a chair. In it sat Elrond and to his right sat Gandalf. They looked up as they entered. He smiled and stood up, Gandalf raising himself also. Elrond waved his hand for them to come over.

As they stepped onto the platform Clara looked about. She could see that on the left there was a set of stairs that lead up and to a bridge going into the trees. She looked up behind her and there she saw the back of a statue that from where she stood was bent over as if looking at something. She knew what it held.

"Good day." Said Elrond looking down at them.

"Quel re." Replied Clara, not realising that she has said it until she saw Elrond's eyebrows rise in surprise.

"You speak elvish?"

"Errr.a little." Muttered Clara.

"Indeed. You are full of surprises." He said, but his tone was warm.

"Well not many." Replied Clara.

"We shall not keep you long." Said Gandalf. "We understand that today has been confusing for all of us. I should image you are hungry and would like some food."

"Food." Said Clara brightly. "I could do food!"

Gandalf smiled, "Very well. Frodo, you decided to come along to?"

"I came as a.support." Said Frodo.

Elrond sat down slowly in his chair and looked at Clara steadily. She moved her feet nervously.

"You must understand that what you have said is something that is hard to believe." She finally said.

Clara nodded.

"God." She thought. "He really does have the kinda voice you could listen to all day and not get tired of." Her brain switched back to reality and away from off topic thoughts as Elrond stood up and walked a few paces away and turned back to face them.

"But we can see no reason for you to make it up. Nor can we see any other way to explain your being in Middle Earth. You certainly do no dress like a ordinary hobbit."

"I don't dress normally in me own world neither so there no change there." Said Clara.

Elrond smiled, amused.

"That does not surprise me."

"Well that's good! Coz surprising people all the time would get annoying." Clara said matter o' factly. "So.er.does this mean that you believe me?" She added nervously.

Gandalf nodded.

"We do."

"Oh, yayness." Clara breathed a sigh of relief.

"We have decided hat you shall stay in Rivendell for the time being while we try and find a way that you have found your way into Middle Earth. How does that sound?" Asked Gandalf.

"That sounds absolutely peachy. Couldn't ask for a better place to stay. Thank you." She looked at Frodo and said in a quiet voice. "Do I have to bow?"

"Do you normally?" He replied.

"Well no. In Essex you either say 'cya' or run like the wind."

Frodo gave her a puzzled look.

"But clearly I should do none of those things."

"Now Clara. I shall let you depart. I am sure there is much you would still like to talk about." Said Elrond.

"Er.yeah. I mean yes.sir. Thank you." She stuttered.

Frodo smiled, amused at how the so far talkative hobbit seemed to be lost for words.

"I shall see to it that you are looked out for." Smiled Elrond.

"Thank you. Again." Said Clara. She did a half bow and nearly topped forward.

Laughing nervously she looked at Elrond and found he was laughing and Gandalf was chuckling to himself. She turned to Frodo and found that he too was laughing.

"Come along." He said. "There is much to see."

Elrond and Gandalf exchanged amused looks as the two hobbits walked back the way that they had entered.