Disclaimer: If you recognize it, then it's not mine. Characters belong to the amazing J.R.R. Tolkien, and some of the ideas portrayed probably came from other fanfics and stories I've read.
Notes: ** is the thoughts of our main character Ellen.
Chapter 2 - A Rude Awakening
Ellen moved her head, her eyes still closed. Her room light was on, the light glared in her eyes. *What's mom thinking? Its Saturday…* Her hand moved up to her face to rub her eyes awake. Her head was throbbing. She tried to squint, only to close her eyes once more. It was no good, the morning was going to be a slow one. Her eyes needed time to adjust to the brightness. *Must have left a curtain open last night. Crazy sun.*
Almost instantly, the glare was reduced. Ellen squinted, trying to adjust. She propped herself up on her elbows and fully opened her eyes, only to be greeted by a face- which was in severe violation of the eight-inch bubble around her head. Not the usual morning greeting. She screamed in surprise. *Whoa!* She fell to her back again and hit her head. Hard. Her eyes clenched in pain. Her hand flew up to rub where her head had contacted with the ground. Opening her eyes again, she looked up at the two towering figures above her. Looking beyond them, she saw the branches and leaves of trees. She withdrew her hand from her head to find leaves clutched in her fist. *Oh man, it's the dream again.* She lay they and let her eyes wander as she tried to take in the situation.
The figures above her were speaking softly, almost as if they didn't want to disturb her. They were leaning over her, conversing with each other.
"Where do you think she came from? What do we do?" The one in the blue wondered.
"Maybe we should get Elrond, he would know what's to be done. But she can't be from around here, she doesn't look…elvish." The other creature in green answered. "Maybe she's here for that secret counsel. You know, the one we're not supposed to know about?" They were still looking at her. "She looks a mess, could be she fell off her horse."
"Pippin you dolt. Do you see horse tracks?" The blue boy looked at his comrade with exasperation. He shook his head, looking at her. "And we're miles from any of the paths of Rivendell."
"Well I don't hear you offering any explanations. Perhaps, Master Brandybuck, she fell out of the sky?"
A sudden gasp from the one in blue. "You don't think… it could be…Pip, do you think it's a… Mary-Sue?!" With the mention of that term, both creatures took a leap backwards.
Both hobbits could remember a time when Girls were free to come and go within the world. They had plagued the fellowship, especially the prince of mirkwood and their comrade: Legolas. Their numbers had rapidly increased over the years, after the defeat of Sauron and the destruction of the One Ring. They had become so out of hand, Elrond, Gandalf, and Galadriel had found the need to step in and intervene.
"I thought Gandalf had blocked any access other worlds had to Middle Earth! You don't suppose…" He looked around. "…that we've been pulled out to another world again do you?" The one Pippin gasped, holding onto the other creatures hand.
"I think we're still in Rivendell. I see no difference." The other replied. "As for Gandalf, he's old, you've seen how he's been acting as of late! Not quite as sane as he used to be you know. Never did seem to have both feet on the ground…"
"Well if she is a Mary-Sue, who do you think she's after?"
"One guess, Pip."
"Legolas?"
"Of course. I mean, what was his Mary-Sue number compared to any of the other fellowship members…?"
Ellen, still on the ground, had vaguely heard most of their conversation. Not that it was important. *I'll be waking up soon anyway.* She zoned in when she heard them talking trash about Gandalf, (After all, he was pretty important to the books, and he was the only one of the Istari who had turned out ok in the end.) and soon after she heard them calling her a Mary-Sue! She sat up with a burst of energy, no doubt motivated by her flaring temper.
"How dare you! I am not a Mary-Sue! My voice pitch is normal, my hair is normal, my complexion is normal, my ears are normal, and I don't plan on changing! And on top of that, I'm not here to see your damn elf prince!" Her eyes flashed at them. Their expressions changed from ones of fear and curiosity, to ones of shock: at her sudden eruption. Then they both relaxed. She glared at them, and then fell back to the ground unconscious.
Some time later…
Waking up in her bed, Ellen thought to herself. *I have got to stop reading those fanfics before bed…These dreams get weirder and weirder. Me? A Mary-Sue?! Nutty.* She snuggled into bed. The sheets were so soft and comforting, it felt like she was sleeping in a cloud…A cloud??!! Her eyes snapped open and she sat up. The room she saw was not her own, the bed she was in was not her own. Denial followed *No.* She threw the covers aside. Panic followed. "Nuh-uh. No way." The sweats she had been wearing were gone and in their place was a silky, light colored, purple gown. *Gasp!* She leapt off the bed and headed to the nearest window-which turned out to be a stone balcony. Nightmares galore. Before her was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen. She fell to her knees, screaming. "No! No! No! No! No!" Quickly, the screams gave way to cries, which in turn gave away to silent whisperings.
Ellen was so deep in her cries and in denial that she failed to hear the light footfalls of the woman who had entered the room. She stood silently by the entrance (there was no door) in her silver flowing gown, elaborately decorated with beads that caught the afternoon sun. Her soft voice filled the room.
"Child, why do you despair so greatly?"
Ellen did not need to turn around and see who had unknowingly entered. She had read enough Mary-Sues to know what was to follow. "Arwen Undomiel, the Evenstar of your people, why do you disturb me in my time of mourning and grief?" She whispered mockingly, tears still streaming down her face. She continued to stare out over the valley. Ellen did not need to look upon the face of the trespasser to know the shock that she must now be experiencing.
There would have been none for Ellen to see. Arwen was wise to the ways of the Mary-Sues and knew some of them had the power to see the future, read minds, etc.
"It is for me to see that you are well cared for. Which would you have first Mary-Sue? Me tend your wounds or your breakfast?" Her voice betrayed no hint of sarcasm or hate toward Ellen and her Mary-Sue status. Arwen was simply taking care of business. Ellen stood up and turned around. She looked to Arwen and spoke with a quiet, choked voice.
"Ellen."
"I am sorry?"
"My name… is Ellen."
"I see. And you wish for…?"
Seeing no use in argument, she sighed. "Breakfast please."
"As you wish." And with that, Arwen left the room, leaving Ellen on her own in a perfect gown, in a perfect room, and in a perfect valley, on what was turning out to be a "perfect" (please note sarcasm) day.
Ellen looked out on the valley one more time, then went over and collapsed on the bed. *Had Arwen said wounds?* She did a quick check. There was no blood, no cuts, no pain, nothing. Ellen smirked slightly. *Arwen must be used to the routine by now. Or else she's out of her mind…* A noise coming from the entry interrupted her thoughts. *Is there no peace for me here?* She turned.
In through the entrance, appeared *of course* the elf.
"May I enter?"
"Seems to me I don't really have a say in what's going on. Suit yourself." She simply stated, not coldly. She turned back to face the balcony.
"Are you healing well? When my hunting party found you on the path last night, I feared…"
"I'm sorry." She interrupted. "Legolas you didn't find me last night." He stopped and looked at her, apparently confused. Ellen was finally getting her thoughts together. "Merry and Pippin found me this morning." She smiled at the elf who was wearing an expression of sheer perplexity.
Confused, the elf questioned hastily. "Who?"
"Merry and Pippin. You know, the hobbits?"
"Right, hobbits." His memory came back. "They found you?"
"Yes. Don't take it too harshly." She tried to appear sympathetic but a smile came through.
"So you aren't my Mary-Sue?"
Her smile quickly faded. "No!" Meaning no to both: belonging to him, and being a Mary-Sue.
He looked at her suspiciously. "Boromir's dead you know. Haldir too."
"Yes. I know." Ellen had read the books. She knew everything. But she failed to see what he was getting at.
"So you belong to Merry or Pippin?"
"No! Neither! And I am not a Mary-Sue!" She screamed, causing the elf to cover his ears. *Sucks to have sensitive hearing doesn't it?*
"I am sorry I asked." He replied, taking his hands off his pointed ears, and he meant it. But he didn't leave. His presence was making Ellen uncomfortable. After a period of silence, Ellen spoke.
"I don't know what I'm doing here."
"Neither did the others." Legolas replied as an afterthought. Ellen looked up at him with an icy glare and he quickly apologized.
Both looked up to see Arwen arrive with breakfast. She was about to speak, when Ellen turned to Legolas.
"You have to go now. I need my rest and Arwen's going to see to it." Ellen was glad Arwen had been quick in the preparations. She wasn't sure how much longer she could have handled having the elf stare at her. Like a piece of meat. Like a Mary-Sue. She shuddered.
Arwen had been caught a little off guard by this statement by Ellen, but she tried not to appear fazed by it. "Legolas, if you would please?" She motioned for him to exit. Legolas shrugged, got up, and left the way he had come in. Once he had gone, Arwen continued.
"Do I understand correctly that the Prince makes you uncomfortable?"
"Well, he wasn't the one to send if you were trying to cheer me up, if that's what you mean."
"I see."
"No you don't." Ellen stood up. "I am not a Mary-Sue! How many times must I say it for you to believe me? Do I need to cry some more? Maybe I should sing it to you. Would that help? I hear elves like singing."
Arwen watched the human as she finished her tantrum. Slowly, comprehension was dawning. "You aren't a..."
"Mary-Sue? No I'm not." She fixed her hazel eyes on Arwen. "I don't know why I'm here or how I got here. I know. None of the others did either. But I'm different. Aren't I?"
"Let me see. We'll start with your hair. How long was it in your world?"
"Middle of my shoulder blades."
"And the same length it is now. Hair colour?"
"Brown, but it has some natural red highlights when I'm in the sun. So don't think I'm changing."
"Right. Your eyes?"
"Hazel…" She trailed off.
"Hmm." An eyebrow raised. Arwen didn't think she was finished.
"Okay! I admit it. They range in color from green to brown, but it depends on what I'm wearing. Its not my fault. That's just how they are."
Arwen nodded understandingly. "And your skin…"
"Is not pale. And I do not plan on it losing color anytime soon."
"Alright." Then Arwen rose and set the breakfast tray on the table located out on the balcony.
"So what do you think?"
"I think only time will tell." She said as she set down the tray. Then she turned and smiled. "But it is time for your breakfast, not for your judgment."
"My judgment? Oh right. I'm going to be evaluated by Elrond, Gandalf, and company to decide if I am to go on the quest of the ring right?"
Arwen looked surprised at her. *Surprised that I know about it, aren't you Arwen?* "Actually the quest of the ring has been completed. Many years ago, in fact." Ellen's mouth dropped open. *Of course. Boromir and Haldir have already died. Think Ellen.* Arwen continued. "However there does seem to be a need for you to speak to Gandalf, my father, and another guest. A relative of mine in fact, who has yet to arrive."
"Oh. A mystery is it?"
"To some. Come now. Eat."
"Question."
"What is it?" The lady replied as Ellen sat down to eat.
"What is the obsession with elves and their need to feed people as soon as they appear in Rivendell? Even if they aren't hungry or starved?"
"Elves relish food, but we have not the same needs as mortals when it comes to dining. I suppose we find it interesting to see how a creature finds the need to eat so much, so often. Without food, the strength of mortals seems to quickly diminishes."
"That it does." And with that question answered, Ellen started picking at the bread-like substance.
