Chapter 6

The next morning Adrienne slept in after having stayed up late the night before. At around eleven o'clock she awoke and forced herself to get up, stumbling over to the washbasin. She splashed cold water onto her face, not only to wake herself up but also to help the headache she had. She still wasn't very well acclimated to Elvish alcohol, even though she hadn't exactly lost her wits at all the previous night.

She dressed and did all those tedious morning things that do not need recounting, and proceeded to head for the door, hoping to find breakfast or someone who would make it. She opened the door, and to her surprise there stood Legolas, hand in the air about to knock.

"Perfect timing." Said Legolas amusedly, "I'm glad to see you are finally awake." Adrienne just blinked at him groggily. "Ah, I see you are in need of refreshment." Legolas continued, offering her his arm.

Adrienne took it and said, "What has put you in such a goddamn good mood?"

"I'm not," he replied, grinning, "you're just in a particularly bad one."

Having breakfasted and been supplied with something not dissimilar to Alka- Seltzer, Adrienne walked with Legolas around the city in no particular direction, talking about the party. Legolas was pleased to hear that she had indeed had an enlightening time meeting people, and had had many memories return to her.

They walked to their favourite spot, a quiet place by a stream, and sat for a while in silence. Suddenly Legolas remembered something.

"How could I forget?" He said, "Your father said he wants to meet with you today."

"Oh. When?" Asked Adrienne, wondering what he intended to speak to her about.

"He didn't say, I suppose he will come looking for you sometime. Perhaps we should stay closer to your rooms so that you are easier to find."

"Good idea." Replied Adrienne, standing up.

***

Meanwhile, Elrond was already looking for his daughter, and just as he was walking to her chambers, Legolas and Adrienne rounded the corner on the same path.

"Mae govannen." He said to the pair, smiling. "May I join you?"

"Of course." Replied Adrienne.

They talked about the party and how Adrienne's life was. She told them that being in Middle-earth still felt like a dream, and admitted to missing her life on Earth a great deal despite enjoying herself in Rivendell.

"I miss my family." Said she. "I often wonder what they are doing; whether they think I've run away, or been kidnapped or something. I expect they'll eventually assume I'm dead."

"I wish I could tell you otherwise," said Elrond with deep sympathy in his eyes, "but no doubt you are right. They had no knowledge of this.

"But I really came here to talk about your future. If the prophecy is true, then you will need to be ready for when the time comes." Both Adrienne and Legolas nodded in agreement. "In fact, seeing as Legolas here has taken such an interest in you, perhaps he'll be able to help train you."

Adrienne could swear Legolas blushed ever so slightly as Elrond said this, and he agreed to do so.

"Very good." Said Elrond. "I assume you know where to find all the necessary equipment?"

"I do."

"Excellent, I suggest you start as soon as possible." Said Elrond, who continued to thank them and told them that he really must be going as he was meeting a messenger from Lothlórien within the hour.

With that, he was gone.

"Perhaps we should fetch your bow, Adrienne."

"Today?" Moaned Adrienne, still recovering from her hangover.

"Tomorrow then?" Asked Legolas hopefully.

"I promise. Can we just chill for the rest of today?"

"Chill?"

"Relax."

"Oh! Of course." Said Legolas, smiling. "I know just the place."

***

Adrienne followed Legolas down various paths, eventually coming to a winding passage lined with tall hedges. They walked down this for a few minutes, and came to a small garden, enclosed by a ring of trees. A tiny stream trickled past a single flat rock, perfect for sitting on.

"This is my favourite place in Imladris. I come here whenever I need to think." Said Legolas.

Adrienne watched the gorgeous Elf look around the garden as though it held many cherished memories. The expression on his face, and the way the light breeze blew his hair across his face - now more than ever before her knees turned to jelly. "It's beautiful, enchanting." Said Adrienne vis-à-vis the perfect little garden.

"*You're* enchanting." Said Legolas quietly, and *almost* nervously, as he stepped towards her.

Before Adrienne had a chance to react to the unexpected approach, Elladan burst into the garden. "I thought I might find you here. I thought you would like to know, Elrohir has returned earlier than we thought.

"Great," replied Adrienne, "of course I'll come." She could see the disappointment on Legolas' face as they left the garden. Of course, she felt it too, so much so that it surprised her.

Her mind whirled as they headed for Elrohir's chambers. She wanted more than anything for Elrohir to have arrived just ten minutes later! What was she thinking - she'd only known this man for just over a week, but somehow.

***

After meeting Elrohir, Adrienne retreated to her chambers. Although it had been good to hear of Aragorn and Arwen, in fact rather exciting considering she had only ever read about them, she had been dying to get away so that she could think about what had happened that afternoon with Legolas.

She wasn't quite sure that those two words, "You're enchanting," had ever actually been said by him - maybe she'd imagined it, but gods, she hoped she hadn't.

Adrienne cast her thoughts to the previous few days, though they felt like a month at least, and thought of all she had been through. No wonder she felt something for him, he'd barely left her side; supporting her, even carrying her spirit at times. For the first time she really thought about and realised that he was far more than just a pretty face, and perhaps more than just a friend.

She put the topic out of her mind for the moment, and looked for the bow that she apparently owned. She found it in a cupboard in her bedroom, along with a quiver of arrows. Like everything else in Rivendell, it was lovely. She held the bow in her hands and mimicked shooting with it, and with the action returned suddenly memories of using the bow.

Restless, Adrienne picked up the diary for the hundredth time and tried again to read it, but still to no avail.

Finding nothing else to do, fatigue enveloped her and before she knew it she had fallen asleep atop the covers of her bed. Her dreams that night reflected the thoughts of the day. She dreamt of her Earth-family, of archery, and most of all of Legolas.