A/N - Oy, looks like I forgot to put that bloody annoying, but
unfortunately needed disclaimer on my last two chapters. Buuut, here goes,
and here hopes I don't get sued, since I'm a student. They might get a few
books and a cat, but that's it.
Disclaimer - I own nuthin', except Sarah. And Will. And Lucifer. (Speaking of which, anyone want a cat? ()
Sarah sat with her head down, staring absently down at her entwined fingers. Her eyes were glazed in a daydream fashion, her face emotionless. The two elves that had helped her to her seat gave a curt nod to Elrond before departing the handsome study. Elrond returned the gesture, and immediately settled his eyes upon the girl. His gaze did not leave her as he went to sit down himself. The silenced lasted for several moments, and it was only broken by Elrond's initiative to speak.
"What is your name, child?" He tilted his head, wondering if she would answer immediately, or stay in silence.
"Sarah, sir. My name is Sarah." Her own name felt foreign to her in this place, a feeling she did not enjoy. Her wince caught Elrond off guard, but let it go. There were more important things to inquire her about.
"You say you know not how you came to this place. But what of your own home?" He asked gently. He again waited patiently for a response, and again did not have to wait long.
"Indiana, sir, in a country called America. I..I truly do not wish to burden you, so it goes without saying that I wish to return." She finally looked up, her eyes glistening gently. It was obvious she missed her home, her family. He nodded solemnly, not betraying any thoughts going through his head.
"Am I assuming correctly that this.America..is not a land in Middle- Earth?" He asked evenly, with a slight eyebrow raised. She pursed her lips, then slowly nodded.
"Yes, sir, you are assuming correctly."
Elrond stood, and walked to the open window, looking outside onto his treasured home. "That, then, deserves one last, but important question." He turned back towards her, realizing she was still staring at his chair, as if he still sat in it. Making a mental note of that small fact, he continued. "It seemed as though you recognized the names of Middle-Earth and Rivendell. How is this possible, if your home is not apart of Middle- Earth."
Sarah somehow knew this question would be asked, yet she had not figured out how to properly answer it. Looking back down, possible replies flew into her head, but only the truth seemed to come out. "In my homeland, there are tales of this place. But, until now, I thought those tales to be the work of fiction." She looked up, and, for the first time, made eye contact. "I know a great deal more than one should of a place not of her own. Yet they are just bits and pieces, as I have not read or heard the tales in their entirety." She continued to gaze at him, awaiting a response of her own. His reaction was a simple nod as he strode back to his chair to sit.
"There is one that may have the ability to help you, child. But I must send word to them first. For I doubt they will enjoy unannounced visitors to their realm, especially in this time where many dangers come at the most random times. In these tales, was there any mention of Celeborn and Galadriel?"
Sarah blinked, then nodded. "Oh yes, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. I will not doubt your claim that Galadriel is wise enough to help, for I'm quite certain she is capable of anything." Her voice was calm, but her eyes began to sparkle with hope. The only gesture that gave away her otherwise placid visage was the tight grip she put on her chair's arms. Elrond observed the reaction, and quickly concluded his reasonings. Never once would a minion of evil's eyes sparkle with hope. He strode to a small desk, taking in hand a delicate quill, then dipping the pointed tip in blue-black ink. It was apparent he was scribbling a quick note, but to Sarah's observant eyes, the writings looked as elegant as calligraphy. He waiting a short moment, then folded the paper into three sections, sealing the open end with blue wax and a silver stamp.
"Elandial, tula sinome," Elrond said loudly. And a moment later, a tall dark-haired elf entered the room, and bowed to his lord. Elrond approached him, handing him the sealed letter. "Sana sina a'Lothlorien. Ta naa ten Galadriel." Elandial nodded, then tucked it into his belt before bowing low and striding from the room much quicker than when he entered. After he left, Elrond nodded and smiled to a very grateful Sarah. "I do not suppose you are hungry? It seems we both missed breakfast with the recent events."
Sarah pursed her lips, but nodded. She never used to eat breakfast, even when the opportunity was there, yet she knew she needed to eat something. She stood, and shivered as a cool breeze caught her just right, and she realized she wore only her nightgown still. Putting her arms about her, Sarah asked meekly. "Sir, do you think perhaps I could trouble you for a robe or whatnot?" It was obvious Elrond just noticed her state of dress as well, and nodded. "Of course. I'm sure Arwen would be most happy to help you in that manner, as I am not very wise in the ways of feminine dressing." Elrond showed her to the door, and stepped out with her, closing it behind him. They turned to their right, and went down a long hallway before Elrond stopped at a door and knocked. The door opened momentarily, and the sight beyond the threshold nearly made Sarah choke. This lady was perfection personified. She was Sarah's height, yet slender as a willow tree and as graceful as its branches swaying in the gentle breeze. She smiled at her father and at the young woman to his side.
"Arwen, we have a bit of a story to tell you. Might we come in?" The lady smiled again, and nodding, opened the door completely to allow her visitors to enter. She closed it after Sarah had inched into the room. Elrond murmur some words to what looked like to be a lady's maid, whom nodded and left immediately. Elrond and Arwen sat on two velvety couches, while Sarah chose a simple chair, nod wanting to interrupt the elves, and also not wanting to spoil the luxurious furniture with her clumsy human touch. She wouldn't, but Sarah still felt that way in the presence of the unearthly creatures.
Elrond told Arwen the story, from what he knew, which left Arwen in amazed silence. She settled an unabashed gaze on Sarah's face, much to Sarah's chagrin. Her gaze softened, realizing she was making the young girl uncomfortable. She glanced back at her father.
"She will be cared for, Father. Worry not." All three of them turned as the maid came in with a tray. With the aromas coming from it, they surmised it was breakfast and Elrond stood.
"I'm sorry I must take my leave. I have business to attend to." With a parting hug from his daughter, he left. Sarah eyed the tray, then pursed her lips and looked at Arwen.
"By your leave, lady. May I? I am rather hungry." Arwen stepped over to Sarah and took a seat near her.
"You do not need my permission, Sarah. So please do." Arwen smiled serenely, folding her hands before her as Sarah picked up a bowl of hot broth, taking a test sip, then another larger one, noting it was not too hot to drink. By your leave, lady? Where in the hell did I learn to talk like that? Hmph, too many romance novels. But, it seems fitting, sadly enough.
Sarah looked back up to see that Arwen had left her chair. She turned and saw her, with a deep blue dress hung over her arm. Sarah blinked, looking at the dress, then at the lady.
"Lady, I..I only wished for a shirt and pants. Not.." Sarah was at a loss, as her eyes went back to Arwen's.
"Nonsense. You are a guest here, and shall be treated as such. And please," Arwen said with a gentle tilt of her head, reminiscent of her father, "Call me Arwen."
A/N #2 - I wanna thank Samantha and Arjuna for reviewing. I smiled so much my cheeks hurt when I realized I had not only people that reviewed my story, but actually LIKED it! *hugs* Thanks you two, a lot. Uhm, as a side note, do either of you want a cat? (
Disclaimer - I own nuthin', except Sarah. And Will. And Lucifer. (Speaking of which, anyone want a cat? ()
Sarah sat with her head down, staring absently down at her entwined fingers. Her eyes were glazed in a daydream fashion, her face emotionless. The two elves that had helped her to her seat gave a curt nod to Elrond before departing the handsome study. Elrond returned the gesture, and immediately settled his eyes upon the girl. His gaze did not leave her as he went to sit down himself. The silenced lasted for several moments, and it was only broken by Elrond's initiative to speak.
"What is your name, child?" He tilted his head, wondering if she would answer immediately, or stay in silence.
"Sarah, sir. My name is Sarah." Her own name felt foreign to her in this place, a feeling she did not enjoy. Her wince caught Elrond off guard, but let it go. There were more important things to inquire her about.
"You say you know not how you came to this place. But what of your own home?" He asked gently. He again waited patiently for a response, and again did not have to wait long.
"Indiana, sir, in a country called America. I..I truly do not wish to burden you, so it goes without saying that I wish to return." She finally looked up, her eyes glistening gently. It was obvious she missed her home, her family. He nodded solemnly, not betraying any thoughts going through his head.
"Am I assuming correctly that this.America..is not a land in Middle- Earth?" He asked evenly, with a slight eyebrow raised. She pursed her lips, then slowly nodded.
"Yes, sir, you are assuming correctly."
Elrond stood, and walked to the open window, looking outside onto his treasured home. "That, then, deserves one last, but important question." He turned back towards her, realizing she was still staring at his chair, as if he still sat in it. Making a mental note of that small fact, he continued. "It seemed as though you recognized the names of Middle-Earth and Rivendell. How is this possible, if your home is not apart of Middle- Earth."
Sarah somehow knew this question would be asked, yet she had not figured out how to properly answer it. Looking back down, possible replies flew into her head, but only the truth seemed to come out. "In my homeland, there are tales of this place. But, until now, I thought those tales to be the work of fiction." She looked up, and, for the first time, made eye contact. "I know a great deal more than one should of a place not of her own. Yet they are just bits and pieces, as I have not read or heard the tales in their entirety." She continued to gaze at him, awaiting a response of her own. His reaction was a simple nod as he strode back to his chair to sit.
"There is one that may have the ability to help you, child. But I must send word to them first. For I doubt they will enjoy unannounced visitors to their realm, especially in this time where many dangers come at the most random times. In these tales, was there any mention of Celeborn and Galadriel?"
Sarah blinked, then nodded. "Oh yes, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien. I will not doubt your claim that Galadriel is wise enough to help, for I'm quite certain she is capable of anything." Her voice was calm, but her eyes began to sparkle with hope. The only gesture that gave away her otherwise placid visage was the tight grip she put on her chair's arms. Elrond observed the reaction, and quickly concluded his reasonings. Never once would a minion of evil's eyes sparkle with hope. He strode to a small desk, taking in hand a delicate quill, then dipping the pointed tip in blue-black ink. It was apparent he was scribbling a quick note, but to Sarah's observant eyes, the writings looked as elegant as calligraphy. He waiting a short moment, then folded the paper into three sections, sealing the open end with blue wax and a silver stamp.
"Elandial, tula sinome," Elrond said loudly. And a moment later, a tall dark-haired elf entered the room, and bowed to his lord. Elrond approached him, handing him the sealed letter. "Sana sina a'Lothlorien. Ta naa ten Galadriel." Elandial nodded, then tucked it into his belt before bowing low and striding from the room much quicker than when he entered. After he left, Elrond nodded and smiled to a very grateful Sarah. "I do not suppose you are hungry? It seems we both missed breakfast with the recent events."
Sarah pursed her lips, but nodded. She never used to eat breakfast, even when the opportunity was there, yet she knew she needed to eat something. She stood, and shivered as a cool breeze caught her just right, and she realized she wore only her nightgown still. Putting her arms about her, Sarah asked meekly. "Sir, do you think perhaps I could trouble you for a robe or whatnot?" It was obvious Elrond just noticed her state of dress as well, and nodded. "Of course. I'm sure Arwen would be most happy to help you in that manner, as I am not very wise in the ways of feminine dressing." Elrond showed her to the door, and stepped out with her, closing it behind him. They turned to their right, and went down a long hallway before Elrond stopped at a door and knocked. The door opened momentarily, and the sight beyond the threshold nearly made Sarah choke. This lady was perfection personified. She was Sarah's height, yet slender as a willow tree and as graceful as its branches swaying in the gentle breeze. She smiled at her father and at the young woman to his side.
"Arwen, we have a bit of a story to tell you. Might we come in?" The lady smiled again, and nodding, opened the door completely to allow her visitors to enter. She closed it after Sarah had inched into the room. Elrond murmur some words to what looked like to be a lady's maid, whom nodded and left immediately. Elrond and Arwen sat on two velvety couches, while Sarah chose a simple chair, nod wanting to interrupt the elves, and also not wanting to spoil the luxurious furniture with her clumsy human touch. She wouldn't, but Sarah still felt that way in the presence of the unearthly creatures.
Elrond told Arwen the story, from what he knew, which left Arwen in amazed silence. She settled an unabashed gaze on Sarah's face, much to Sarah's chagrin. Her gaze softened, realizing she was making the young girl uncomfortable. She glanced back at her father.
"She will be cared for, Father. Worry not." All three of them turned as the maid came in with a tray. With the aromas coming from it, they surmised it was breakfast and Elrond stood.
"I'm sorry I must take my leave. I have business to attend to." With a parting hug from his daughter, he left. Sarah eyed the tray, then pursed her lips and looked at Arwen.
"By your leave, lady. May I? I am rather hungry." Arwen stepped over to Sarah and took a seat near her.
"You do not need my permission, Sarah. So please do." Arwen smiled serenely, folding her hands before her as Sarah picked up a bowl of hot broth, taking a test sip, then another larger one, noting it was not too hot to drink. By your leave, lady? Where in the hell did I learn to talk like that? Hmph, too many romance novels. But, it seems fitting, sadly enough.
Sarah looked back up to see that Arwen had left her chair. She turned and saw her, with a deep blue dress hung over her arm. Sarah blinked, looking at the dress, then at the lady.
"Lady, I..I only wished for a shirt and pants. Not.." Sarah was at a loss, as her eyes went back to Arwen's.
"Nonsense. You are a guest here, and shall be treated as such. And please," Arwen said with a gentle tilt of her head, reminiscent of her father, "Call me Arwen."
A/N #2 - I wanna thank Samantha and Arjuna for reviewing. I smiled so much my cheeks hurt when I realized I had not only people that reviewed my story, but actually LIKED it! *hugs* Thanks you two, a lot. Uhm, as a side note, do either of you want a cat? (