Disclaimer: If you recognize it, then it's not mine. Characters belong to the amazing J.R.R. Tolkien, (Except for Ellen, who is of my mind.) 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 3 -

Ellen picked at the bread-like substance, but found she wasn't too hungry. It wasn't the food. It all looked wonderfully delicious, but her stomach had somehow twisted into a knot, which made it difficult to digest anything. She felt Arwen's gaze rest on her as she sat there, and it made her feel guilty about not eating too much. Ellen did her best to avoid it as she drank some cold water from the glass on the tray. They sat there a few minutes before Arwen spoke.

"You are not hungry."

"No. I'm sorry. I hate to waste all this good food, but my stomach…"

"There is no need to explain. Many of the Mary-Sues were concerned with what all the good elven food would do for their figure." Arwen had such a way of stating what she thought to be obvious. She never sounded haughty or sarcastic, she just simply stated things, matter of factly.

"Its not that. Arwen! I'll eat later. I'm sorry to deny you the joy of watching me eat, but my stomach is in knots. I'm nervous I suppose. I hope you can understand that. Could you please stop comparing me to the Mary-Sues?

She paused as if to think a moment. "Yes. Of course. I am sorry. Now, about your clothing. It would not be proper to attend the meeting in the attire you were found in, but the gown you wear now would not be much more appropriate. I will see if I can find some sort of leggings for you to wear…"

"Leggings?"

"Yes. Do you not wish to wear them? The other…" *There she goes again!*

"Other what, Arwen?" Ellen knew she meant to say Mary-Sues.

"Of course." Arwen grinned knowingly. "Let me try again. What do you wish to wear?"

"What would you wear?"

"A gown such as this." She stood up and twirled around slowly, so Ellen could view the proper attire. It was long, so it slightly dragged on the floor. The neck was low cut, and the sleeves were puffy by the shoulders. A cape hung on the dress from the neck down to the floor.

"Well, maybe if I wear something similar to that, I will not draw so much attention to myself." *And I won't be wearing leggings that scream Mary-Sue.* "Perhaps, if its not too much trouble, you could find something that is not quite so low in the neck? And maybe without the puffy sleeves?"

"Wonderful." Agreed Arwen. She took the breakfast tray and exited the room.

Merry and Pippin passed Arwen as she left the room where the girl was staying. Arwen knew what they were up to. They tried to appear innocent as they leaned against the wall, whistling and looking around, but she knew they planned to sneak in on the girl and see what she was about. Arwen didn't stop them. Undoubtedly they were the ones who had the best chance of cheering her up. Legolas had not succeeded, and that was rare. He had been somewhat hurt at his failure, but he would recover.

Ellen was still seated at the table on the balcony. *Three…Two…One…*

"Come in!" She called over to the entry.

"Hey! How did you know?" Pippin exclaim as him and Merry entered the room.

She raised an eyebrow. "I know everything." She looked to see if the hobbits believed her. "No, really, it just seems like I've been attended to all morning. As soon as one person leaves, another comes in. Like I'm not to be left alone."

"Well, then we'd better not leave you alone!" Cried Merry. "Wouldn't want to break the cycle!"

"So are you feeling better?" Pippin asked. "You seeming rather, how do I say this, rather intoxicated, last time we saw you…"

"Pippin!" Merry exclaimed. "Sorry. Pippin here doesn't think before he speaks, or ever for that matter. He's just saying that because your eyes were glazed and you passed out." He leaned in closer. "Were you drunk?"

Ellen look astonished at this forwardness. "No."

"Oh." Both hobbits spoke together, their faces more sober.

"You know everyone is always saying…" Pippin started.

"About how the Elves have such wonderful wine and beer…" Merry continued.

"But really, they can't compare with the inn at home in the Shire." Pippin finished.

"Really?" Ellen was becoming amused at the way in which the conversation was heading.

"Yes. You would think it would be otherwise." Pippin claimed thoughtfully. "Especially since these elves are so blasted happy all the time…"

That made Ellen giggle. "Have you and Merry been here long?"

"No, not that long, we just walked in not two minutes ago. You invited us in yourself." He gave Merry a "she's not too bright" look.

"Good Heavens Pip! You know what she means." Merry knocked him in the arm. "We've been here for about a weeks time, Shire reckoning. So who's Mary-Sue are you? We were wondering…"

"I'm not a Mary-Sue." She correctly him rather nicely considering she'd spent all morning trying to convince two others differently.

"Well of course you are!" Exclaimed Pippin. "You knew Merry's name, but neither of us ever told you that's what it was. You just knew, probably read about us in those books they talk about; or that other thing, what did they call it Merry?"

"Mivies? No wait, Movies!"

"Yes that's it."

"Well actually yeah, I've done both. But I didn't know you were coming. I already explained that to you. I haven't been left alone for a minute this morning, it was a lucky guess." She finished.

Merry just studied her face, but Pippin exclaimed. "Ha! You see? She is a Mary-Sue! She knows about us because of the books! Now tell me… how did you get past Gandalf's Mary-Sue blocking spell?"

"I… uh.. I don't know! Probably because it only blocks Mary-Sues?" She closed her eyes in frustration and looked away.

"Really, you can tell us! We won't give it away!" Pippin told her.

Merry however saw she was being sincere. Pippin went on in his rambling: wondering where she came from, who's Mary-Sue she was, and what she was planning on doing while she was in Rivendell. Merry smacked him in the arm again. "Pip, shut your mouth before I stuff it with bed sheets." Pippin pretended to be hurt, but thankfully closed his mouth and said no more. Merry looked at Ellen, who had picked her head up when he had threatened Pippin. "You aren't telling tales, are you?" She shook her head, her watery eyes told him everything. "Then why are you here?"

"I don't know. I don't remember coming here or anything. I just know I was in my bedroom one minute, and the next, I'm on the ground - with Pippin violating my comfort zone." Pippin looked around the room like he didn't know what she was talking about.

Merry thought to himself. She sounded like she had left a happy life behind. And she certainly didn't sound as though she wanted to be in Middle Earth. "What do you remember about last night? Anything that stands out? What were you doing, what you were thinking about? Merry inquired.

"It was late, and it was dark. There was a storm. I was laying in bed thinking about some stories I had read earlier and about my friend Conrad." She felt a wave of pain when she remembered him. What was going to happen now? It was unlikely she would ever see him again and it gave her an empty feeling. She tried to ignore it.

"Anything else?"

She thought for a moment. "No, that's all." She sighed.

"You weren't carrying the bible around were you? Girls who carry them around often somehow managed to fall into Middle Earth." He questioned.

"The bible?" *What has that got to do with anything?* Then she remembered in some stories she had read, the authors had referred to Tolkien's books as bibles. "No. Never. I mean I have it on my bookshelf in my room, but I haven't touched them for the past few weeks."

Merry could see that all the serious talk was not helping to improve her sad mood. "Well enough of that!" He cried. "You know what she needs Pip?" Pippin looked up and grinned, first at Merry, then at Ellen.

"A tour!!" They cried out together.

"A what?" She questioned doubtfully.

"A tour! Merry and Pippin style!" Pippin couldn't contain his excitement. "We'll show you all there is to know about elves, then you won't feel so out of place!"

"I don't know…" Ellen remembered how crazy Merry and Pippin could get.

"Of course you'll come!" Said Merry hopefully.

"Well, I guess I don't have anything better to do."

"Great!" Both grinned happily at her.

Just then Arwen walked into the room with a large gown in tow. The hobbits jumped up, bowed to her and then left the room in a hurry. Arwen watched them leave, then asked Ellen. "Have a nice visit?"

"I'm still trying to recover." Ellen told her. But Arwen could see she was in a better mood, and that made her glad. Hobbits were amazing, and those two had a knack for breaking the ice and boosting spirits.