Okay, first I'd like to say that I don't own 'Lord of the Rings'. All said material belongs to J.R.R Tolkien. This is simply a work of enjoyment that my three friends and I wanted to share with others.
Reviews are welcome, but not required. Flames will either be removed or responded to in kind. I do welcome constructive comments, though. That would be you there, Saber Apricot! ;)
Second, I would like to thank my two /nice/ reviewers, Saber Apricot and Kuramasgirl556. Both of you are very nice and I've taken your advice in trying to make my chapters a bit longer! Sorry for their shortness!
So now that's out of the way, you may continue!
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" Welcome to Rivendell, Lady Nicole. I am Lord Elrond, Master of this House. These are my sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and my daughter, Arwen."
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Elrond's children nodded to Nicole politely and Nicole found herself nodding back, completely uncomfortable with everything around her and not knowing what to do.
After that, Lord Elrond, Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir, and all the other Rivendell Elves started back into the Homely House. Nicole looked to Legolas and he urged her forward with a slight push, obviously wanting her to lead the way. Nicole went forward slowly, not wanting to leave Legolas behind since he was the only thing that was halfway familiar to her.
Past the first beautiful archway of Rivendell, there were Lord Elrond's twin sons waiting there as Elrond and the others continued to walk away.
" Lord Elrond bade me to lead Prince Legolas and his company to their rooms. If you would follow me, your Highness?" One of the twins started to move down the short corridor, that Nicole saw opened into a small courtyard, and beckoned Legolas and the other two Mirkwood Elves to join him. Nicole looked to Legolas with uncertainty. Legolas stayed firmly rooted to his position and addressed the other twin.
" And what of Nicole? What is she to do?" Nicole felt herself blush again at Legolas' kindness since she wasn't used to being treated with such kid gloves. It was very nice, if embarrassing.
" Lord Elrond wished for me to show the Lady to a room as well where she can change. He then wishes to speak to her. Is that alright, your Highness?" Legolas nodded and rested his hand on Nicole's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, before following the young Elvin Lord waiting for him. Nicole watched him go and swallowed hard, once again not sure what to do or how to react.
" My Lady?" The twin waiting on Nicole broke Nicole's silent musings and Nicole felt herself blush again, for being caught drifting off and being called a Lady by an Elf.
" I'm not a Lady, my name's Nicole. What's yours?" The Elf, who was very handsome like his father though less serious looking, seemed a bit surprised by Nicole's speech. Nicole wondered how much more she would surprise people while she was here.
" I am Elrohir. If you would please follow me, I am sure that we can find you clothing that is less saturated and that covers more." Elrohir offered his arm to Nicole, who stared at him for a moment before uncertainly laced her arm through Elrohir's, all the while blushing because of how much skin Nicole realized that she was showing in comparison to everyone else.
" If it's alright for me to ask, why does your father want to speak with me?"
" To discuss how you came to be here and how to escort you back to wherever you came from," was all that Elrohir said before drifting off into silence again. Nicole, not wanting to pester the Elf with more questions, felt content to look around her at all the wonders that were Rivendell.
It was defiantly the most beautiful place Nicole had ever seen. The stone work on the arches and in the courtyards, the beauty in the trees and plants that abounded around the House, and the Elvin people that Nicole and Elrohir occasionally passed took Nicole's breath away. As they finished walking up a small flight of stairs and Nicole mentally admitting that she was lost, Nicole glanced out a glassless window out into another courtyard and saw something else that took her breath away.
There, sitting on a bench and munching on apples, were the four Hobbits from the Fellowship. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin all sat there, talking, laughing, and eating to their heart's content. Before Nicole realized, she and Elrohir passed the window and the four Hobbits were blocked from Nicole's sight. In the movie Nicole had thought the Frodo and the others to be quite cute, but when she saw them in the flesh she realized that they were more handsome than the Elf whose arm she held!!
" Here is your room, Nicole. You will find clothing inside that you may change into. I will wait for you here so I can take you to my father," Elrohir told Nicole as they reached a door further down the third corridor from the window that Nicole saw the Hobbits in.
" Thank you, Elrohir." On the way to her room, Nicole had been trying to mentally pronounce Elrohir's name the way that he had, not wanting to mispronounce it. Nicole wanted to give herself a pat on the back when she had just said it and not bungled it.
Nicole stepped into her room and gently shut the door and bolting it behind her. She was slightly surprised that there was a lock on the door but was glad for it since she didn't want anybody walking in on her. Leaning against the door for a moment, Nicole tried to collect her thoughts as she looked about her room.
It was a lovely room, one that looked very similar to the room that Frodo woke up in when he first came to Rivendell, but instead of a Elvin woman carved on the wall behind the bed, there was a carving of a beautiful bird, one that Nicole thought looked very much like a peacock or maybe a phoenix. The sheets on the bed were a pale shade of blue and a light breeze came in through an open, double-door window.
Pushing herself away from the door, Nicole went to the window to close it but looked out once before doing so. Nicole found herself looking out upon the deep forest that she and Legolas had come from. Now that she was looking out upon it and remembering the river that she fell in, Nicole realized that river was the very same one that the Nazgul were swept away in by Arwen.
Nicole took her eyes away from the landscape and shut the window. She turned from the window and towards her new bed to see a small bundle of cloth folded neatly on the coverlet. Nicole walked over to the bed and picked up the bundle of cloth, which was a slightly darker shade of blue than the sheets on her bead, and as it unfolded in her hands, Nicole realized that it was a simple dress. There were no designs on it save for the minute wave the thread caused near the neckline and hem. It also had long sleeves and, as Nicole held it near her to judge the length, it reached past Nicole's ankles.
Pulling it away from her Nicole realized that she had left something on the bed. Keeping the dress in one hand, Nicole picked up the other, smaller bundle of cloth. As it unfolded, Nicole realized that it was a slip and it was made of a silky fabric that felt like the wind made into cloth.
Nicole put the dress and slip back on the bed and began to pull off her soggy cloths. Leaving her underwear in place though it was still slightly wet, Nicole pulled the slip on over her head. Next she picked up the blue dress and pulled it on as well. As the hem of the dress fell past Nicole's bare feet, she glanced around and spied a fully furnished vanity table, though many of the things Nicole wasn't quite sure the bottles and cases were used for. But amidst the Elvish girly things, Nicole spotted a brush. Picking up the hem of her dress, Nicole made her way to the vanity and sat down on the little stool that had been tucked neatly away beneath it.
It took Nicole less than a minute to pull the brush through her drying and knotted hair, this being because the longest strands of her hair barely touched her shoulders and her entire hairdo was feathered. Putting the brush back down, Nicole looked herself over, gave herself a nod in acceptance, and then went to the door. Before she opened it, Nicole cast her gaze around the room once more in search of a pair of shoes or slippers, but saw none.
' Well, if Galadriel can get away with walking around barefoot, so can I!' Nicole thought as she pulled open the door to her room, leaving her wet clothes in a crumbled, though neat pile near the bed and she found Elrohir dutifully waiting for her on the other side.
Elrohir remained silent for a moment, gazing at Nicole in a half turned position from the window opposite of Nicole's door.
" What? Did I put it on wrong or something?" Nicole looked down at herself, trying to figure out what Elrohir was looking at. Elrohir smiled softly again and completed his turn to face Nicole.
" Nothing is wrong. I was merely fascinated as to how much you were transformed by simply putting on a dress. If you would allow me, I believe I can improve your dress." Not waiting for a reply, Elrohir reached into a pocket of his robes and pulled out a long, white ribbon that shimmered in the light. He stepped up to Nicole and slipped the ribbon around her waist.
Nicole stood frozen for a moment as the Elvin Lord's arms were wrapped around her waist and she felt a blush creep up her face as Elrohir remained close to quickly tie the ribbon in front. When he was finished, the ribbon fell elegantly from Nicole's waist and Elrohir stepped back to admire how well a simple ribbon could make something better.
" T-thank you………Uh, what exactly am I supposed to call you? I don't care about you calling me Nicole and I know I called you Elrohir before but I don't want to overstep anything while I'm here."
" Just call me Elrohir since you insist that I call you Nicole. Though we would never admit it to my father and the other Elders, Elladan and I don't care much for titles anyway. Come now, Nicole, my father is waiting to see you." Elrohir offered his arm to Nicole again and she took, less nervous than before now that she looked more appropriate to her settings.
Elrohir led Nicole through Rivendell silently once again and Nicole's mind raced as to what she was supposed to tell Elrond when she came to him. But she had not figured anything out by the time Elrohir stopped inside the large library that Elrond and Gandalf had talked in during the movie.
" Father? Nicole is here to see you now." Elrond, who had been leafing through a book, looked up and saw Nicole once more.
" Ah! Such a great change with a simple change in clothing, Lady Nicole! Thank you for coming to meet me. You may go, Elrohir." Elrohir nodded to his father, patted Nicole's hand and gave her a small smile before turning and leaving.
Nicole stood in that spot for several moments, not sure how to proceed………especially since Elrond had gone back to leafing through the book he held. Nicole looked around the room and wondered if Gandalf had already arrived.
' Of course he has, silly! Frodo's awake, isn't he? Gandalf has to be here!' Nicole gaze left the large bookcases and went back to Lord Elrond and found him looking at her.
" Y-yes?" Nicole squeaked softly and it caused Elrond to smile.
" Tell me, Lady Nicole-"
" It's just Nicole, Lord Elrond. I already told your son, Elrohir, that I'm not a Lady and shouldn't be called one………besides, it sounds weird." Again Lord Elrond smiled as he closed his book and placed it back onto the shelf. He took a step towards Nicole and, once he reached her, started to circle her while looking her over.
' Great………an Elf who was a vulture in another life,' Nicole thought sarcastically.
" W-what is it, L-lord Elrond?" Nicole wanted to smack herself to stop her stuttering but kept utterly still as Elrond finished his second circuit around her. He stopped in front of Nicole and looked deep into her eyes. Nicole wanted nothing more than to look away since she hated looking strange people in the eye, but she found that she couldn't. She found herself drawn into the dark blue gaze of Elrond and felt that there was nothing she could keep secret from him.
" You come from a land far away from this one………from across the seas of Water and Time. You know things, secret things, of the coming war and what it holds for all the Free People. You know of the One Ring and where it hides."
" H-here in Rivendell, Lord Elrond." Nicole suddenly became more nervous than before and wondered exactly how much Elrond knew.
" And do you know who carries the One?" Nicole paused for just a moment, long enough to take a breath and to swallow, before answering:
" Yes, M'Lord. Frodo Baggins of the Shire carries the One Ring. H-how do you k-know this?" At that moment Elrond's eyes broke away from Nicole's and looked over her shoulder. Nicole turned her head slightly and jumped at the sight of Gandalf standing behind her.
" Because he saw it in a dream and Galadriel and I confirmed it. Your coming here has caused a large stir in the higher forces. All sides know of your presence here, you are only lucky that Prince Legolas found you when he did." Nicole swallowed hard at the news and Gandalf stepped further into the room, his staff clicking softly on the stone floor.
" How long has she been here, Lord Elrond?" Gandalf moved past Nicole, to Elrond's side and turned to look at Nicole.
" No longer than an hour. Legolas brought her here, and then Elrohir took her to her room and then brought her here. There is all of where she's been." Gandalf and Elrond took a few steps away from Nicole, who made a face at suddenly being ignored. She tried to listen to what they were saying but she soon realized that they were talking fiercely in Quenya and there were far too many words that Nicole didn't know for her to translate it. But what Nicole did gather was that they were arguing about her and the One Ring.
' I can't believe I'm really here. After all that daydreaming and idle fantasying, and it comes true! I wish August was here, she could make all this seem lighter.' August, whom was one of Nicole's closest friends and avid fan of The Lord of the Rings, always seemed to make Nicole happier with a little inside joke that involved Middle-Earth or the people in it. What Nicole found special was that, more often than not, was that she would be the only one besides August who understood the joke, or found it as funny as August.
As Gandalf and Elrond continued to whisper hurriedly, Nicole began to worry about what Gandalf had said. The thought of the Sauron and Saruman knowing of her presence and of what she knew frightened Nicole in the very core of her being, especially since she apparently didn't have any of those nice Mary-Sue type powers that were usually supposed to come with this type of trip.
Nicole's mind played over all the different types of powers that Mary-Sues had from the fanfictions she had read online. Many were common, such as being turned into a Wizard, Elf, or Hobbit. Some were more exotic like………well Nicole couldn't think of any more exotic ones than that at the moment, but she was sure that they were out there. And as she continued to ponder this, Nicole started to play 'Concerning Hobbits' through her head to calm herself, it being one of her favorite songs from the movie. Nicole became engrossed with it inside her mind, mentally adjusting each minute flute and violin piece that she could remember. Inside her head, Nicole was trying to recreate an orchestra.
What Nicole didn't realize was that Gandalf and Elrond had stopped talking and had turned to look at her. Nicole had now taken a step towards Elrond's bookcase and was scanning all the Elvish titles, trying to find any words that she understood, all the while keeping 'Concerning Hobbits' playing inside her head.
" Well, it seems that you have an exotic gift after all," Gandalf said, breaking Nicole's peaceful little veil that she had draped around herself. Nicole looked up with a startled expression to find Gandalf addressing her again………and being more confusing than he normally was.
" What do you mean?" Nicole locked her hands behind her back as a small child might, because she had been in the motion to take down one of Elrond's books. The book had been titled 'Bes Anarinya', which meant 'To Marry My Sun' in Quenya. To Nicole that sounded like an Elvish romance novel and she had wanted to look through and try and translate some of it.
" The music you just played, it seems to be you gift that you have brought with you." Nicole's startled expression changed to one of utter confusion as she continued to look between Gandalf and Elrond.
" What music?"
" That little tune that you created just now. It was quite beautiful………It reminds me of the Shire." A flame of understanding sparked within Nicole's eyes but that only made it seem more unreal as she opened her mouth to speak again:
" You mean you heard the music I had playing in my head just now?" Gandalf and Elrond nodded their heads and Gandalf smiled kindly at Nicole as she still looked disbelieving, more now than ever. " How could you?! How did I do it?!"
" That is one of the mysteries of your being here that we do not yet understand. Know that your gift is a powerful, if simple, one and take great care of it. You never know when it might prove useful," advised Elrond.
" Um…" Nicole began nervously, " If you don't mind me asking, Lord Elrond, how am I supposed to get home? Do either of you know?" Gandalf and Elrond looked at each other for a moment before turning back to Nicole, who was starting to become crestfallen.
" We do not know how to send you back, Nicole, and for this I am truly sorry. I believe that once this predicament with the Ring is over we may be able to find a way to send you back to your home, but as for now we cannot help you in that respect." Gandalf's heart went out to Nicole as he saw her eyes fall downwards.
" There's nothing you can do?" Elrond and Gandalf shook their heads and Nicole suddenly felt as if she wanted to cry. At first she had been happy about finding herself in Middle-Earth but there had always been the subconscious knowing that she would be able to get back home. Now Gandalf and Elrond crushed that knowing into the dust.
" Do not worry, Nicole," Gandalf said comfortingly, " Things will work out in the end. They always do. Now, if you'd like, you can explore some before dinner later tonight. Lord Elrond and I have some more things that we need to discuss." Before Nicole could utter a word, Gandalf had gently pushed Nicole out of the room (she was getting mighty tired of people doing that) and moved further into the room with Elrond.
' Looks like I'm on my own for now. I hope I don't get too lost in this place.'
Reviews are welcome, but not required. Flames will either be removed or responded to in kind. I do welcome constructive comments, though. That would be you there, Saber Apricot! ;)
Second, I would like to thank my two /nice/ reviewers, Saber Apricot and Kuramasgirl556. Both of you are very nice and I've taken your advice in trying to make my chapters a bit longer! Sorry for their shortness!
So now that's out of the way, you may continue!
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" Welcome to Rivendell, Lady Nicole. I am Lord Elrond, Master of this House. These are my sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and my daughter, Arwen."
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Elrond's children nodded to Nicole politely and Nicole found herself nodding back, completely uncomfortable with everything around her and not knowing what to do.
After that, Lord Elrond, Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir, and all the other Rivendell Elves started back into the Homely House. Nicole looked to Legolas and he urged her forward with a slight push, obviously wanting her to lead the way. Nicole went forward slowly, not wanting to leave Legolas behind since he was the only thing that was halfway familiar to her.
Past the first beautiful archway of Rivendell, there were Lord Elrond's twin sons waiting there as Elrond and the others continued to walk away.
" Lord Elrond bade me to lead Prince Legolas and his company to their rooms. If you would follow me, your Highness?" One of the twins started to move down the short corridor, that Nicole saw opened into a small courtyard, and beckoned Legolas and the other two Mirkwood Elves to join him. Nicole looked to Legolas with uncertainty. Legolas stayed firmly rooted to his position and addressed the other twin.
" And what of Nicole? What is she to do?" Nicole felt herself blush again at Legolas' kindness since she wasn't used to being treated with such kid gloves. It was very nice, if embarrassing.
" Lord Elrond wished for me to show the Lady to a room as well where she can change. He then wishes to speak to her. Is that alright, your Highness?" Legolas nodded and rested his hand on Nicole's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, before following the young Elvin Lord waiting for him. Nicole watched him go and swallowed hard, once again not sure what to do or how to react.
" My Lady?" The twin waiting on Nicole broke Nicole's silent musings and Nicole felt herself blush again, for being caught drifting off and being called a Lady by an Elf.
" I'm not a Lady, my name's Nicole. What's yours?" The Elf, who was very handsome like his father though less serious looking, seemed a bit surprised by Nicole's speech. Nicole wondered how much more she would surprise people while she was here.
" I am Elrohir. If you would please follow me, I am sure that we can find you clothing that is less saturated and that covers more." Elrohir offered his arm to Nicole, who stared at him for a moment before uncertainly laced her arm through Elrohir's, all the while blushing because of how much skin Nicole realized that she was showing in comparison to everyone else.
" If it's alright for me to ask, why does your father want to speak with me?"
" To discuss how you came to be here and how to escort you back to wherever you came from," was all that Elrohir said before drifting off into silence again. Nicole, not wanting to pester the Elf with more questions, felt content to look around her at all the wonders that were Rivendell.
It was defiantly the most beautiful place Nicole had ever seen. The stone work on the arches and in the courtyards, the beauty in the trees and plants that abounded around the House, and the Elvin people that Nicole and Elrohir occasionally passed took Nicole's breath away. As they finished walking up a small flight of stairs and Nicole mentally admitting that she was lost, Nicole glanced out a glassless window out into another courtyard and saw something else that took her breath away.
There, sitting on a bench and munching on apples, were the four Hobbits from the Fellowship. Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin all sat there, talking, laughing, and eating to their heart's content. Before Nicole realized, she and Elrohir passed the window and the four Hobbits were blocked from Nicole's sight. In the movie Nicole had thought the Frodo and the others to be quite cute, but when she saw them in the flesh she realized that they were more handsome than the Elf whose arm she held!!
" Here is your room, Nicole. You will find clothing inside that you may change into. I will wait for you here so I can take you to my father," Elrohir told Nicole as they reached a door further down the third corridor from the window that Nicole saw the Hobbits in.
" Thank you, Elrohir." On the way to her room, Nicole had been trying to mentally pronounce Elrohir's name the way that he had, not wanting to mispronounce it. Nicole wanted to give herself a pat on the back when she had just said it and not bungled it.
Nicole stepped into her room and gently shut the door and bolting it behind her. She was slightly surprised that there was a lock on the door but was glad for it since she didn't want anybody walking in on her. Leaning against the door for a moment, Nicole tried to collect her thoughts as she looked about her room.
It was a lovely room, one that looked very similar to the room that Frodo woke up in when he first came to Rivendell, but instead of a Elvin woman carved on the wall behind the bed, there was a carving of a beautiful bird, one that Nicole thought looked very much like a peacock or maybe a phoenix. The sheets on the bed were a pale shade of blue and a light breeze came in through an open, double-door window.
Pushing herself away from the door, Nicole went to the window to close it but looked out once before doing so. Nicole found herself looking out upon the deep forest that she and Legolas had come from. Now that she was looking out upon it and remembering the river that she fell in, Nicole realized that river was the very same one that the Nazgul were swept away in by Arwen.
Nicole took her eyes away from the landscape and shut the window. She turned from the window and towards her new bed to see a small bundle of cloth folded neatly on the coverlet. Nicole walked over to the bed and picked up the bundle of cloth, which was a slightly darker shade of blue than the sheets on her bead, and as it unfolded in her hands, Nicole realized that it was a simple dress. There were no designs on it save for the minute wave the thread caused near the neckline and hem. It also had long sleeves and, as Nicole held it near her to judge the length, it reached past Nicole's ankles.
Pulling it away from her Nicole realized that she had left something on the bed. Keeping the dress in one hand, Nicole picked up the other, smaller bundle of cloth. As it unfolded, Nicole realized that it was a slip and it was made of a silky fabric that felt like the wind made into cloth.
Nicole put the dress and slip back on the bed and began to pull off her soggy cloths. Leaving her underwear in place though it was still slightly wet, Nicole pulled the slip on over her head. Next she picked up the blue dress and pulled it on as well. As the hem of the dress fell past Nicole's bare feet, she glanced around and spied a fully furnished vanity table, though many of the things Nicole wasn't quite sure the bottles and cases were used for. But amidst the Elvish girly things, Nicole spotted a brush. Picking up the hem of her dress, Nicole made her way to the vanity and sat down on the little stool that had been tucked neatly away beneath it.
It took Nicole less than a minute to pull the brush through her drying and knotted hair, this being because the longest strands of her hair barely touched her shoulders and her entire hairdo was feathered. Putting the brush back down, Nicole looked herself over, gave herself a nod in acceptance, and then went to the door. Before she opened it, Nicole cast her gaze around the room once more in search of a pair of shoes or slippers, but saw none.
' Well, if Galadriel can get away with walking around barefoot, so can I!' Nicole thought as she pulled open the door to her room, leaving her wet clothes in a crumbled, though neat pile near the bed and she found Elrohir dutifully waiting for her on the other side.
Elrohir remained silent for a moment, gazing at Nicole in a half turned position from the window opposite of Nicole's door.
" What? Did I put it on wrong or something?" Nicole looked down at herself, trying to figure out what Elrohir was looking at. Elrohir smiled softly again and completed his turn to face Nicole.
" Nothing is wrong. I was merely fascinated as to how much you were transformed by simply putting on a dress. If you would allow me, I believe I can improve your dress." Not waiting for a reply, Elrohir reached into a pocket of his robes and pulled out a long, white ribbon that shimmered in the light. He stepped up to Nicole and slipped the ribbon around her waist.
Nicole stood frozen for a moment as the Elvin Lord's arms were wrapped around her waist and she felt a blush creep up her face as Elrohir remained close to quickly tie the ribbon in front. When he was finished, the ribbon fell elegantly from Nicole's waist and Elrohir stepped back to admire how well a simple ribbon could make something better.
" T-thank you………Uh, what exactly am I supposed to call you? I don't care about you calling me Nicole and I know I called you Elrohir before but I don't want to overstep anything while I'm here."
" Just call me Elrohir since you insist that I call you Nicole. Though we would never admit it to my father and the other Elders, Elladan and I don't care much for titles anyway. Come now, Nicole, my father is waiting to see you." Elrohir offered his arm to Nicole again and she took, less nervous than before now that she looked more appropriate to her settings.
Elrohir led Nicole through Rivendell silently once again and Nicole's mind raced as to what she was supposed to tell Elrond when she came to him. But she had not figured anything out by the time Elrohir stopped inside the large library that Elrond and Gandalf had talked in during the movie.
" Father? Nicole is here to see you now." Elrond, who had been leafing through a book, looked up and saw Nicole once more.
" Ah! Such a great change with a simple change in clothing, Lady Nicole! Thank you for coming to meet me. You may go, Elrohir." Elrohir nodded to his father, patted Nicole's hand and gave her a small smile before turning and leaving.
Nicole stood in that spot for several moments, not sure how to proceed………especially since Elrond had gone back to leafing through the book he held. Nicole looked around the room and wondered if Gandalf had already arrived.
' Of course he has, silly! Frodo's awake, isn't he? Gandalf has to be here!' Nicole gaze left the large bookcases and went back to Lord Elrond and found him looking at her.
" Y-yes?" Nicole squeaked softly and it caused Elrond to smile.
" Tell me, Lady Nicole-"
" It's just Nicole, Lord Elrond. I already told your son, Elrohir, that I'm not a Lady and shouldn't be called one………besides, it sounds weird." Again Lord Elrond smiled as he closed his book and placed it back onto the shelf. He took a step towards Nicole and, once he reached her, started to circle her while looking her over.
' Great………an Elf who was a vulture in another life,' Nicole thought sarcastically.
" W-what is it, L-lord Elrond?" Nicole wanted to smack herself to stop her stuttering but kept utterly still as Elrond finished his second circuit around her. He stopped in front of Nicole and looked deep into her eyes. Nicole wanted nothing more than to look away since she hated looking strange people in the eye, but she found that she couldn't. She found herself drawn into the dark blue gaze of Elrond and felt that there was nothing she could keep secret from him.
" You come from a land far away from this one………from across the seas of Water and Time. You know things, secret things, of the coming war and what it holds for all the Free People. You know of the One Ring and where it hides."
" H-here in Rivendell, Lord Elrond." Nicole suddenly became more nervous than before and wondered exactly how much Elrond knew.
" And do you know who carries the One?" Nicole paused for just a moment, long enough to take a breath and to swallow, before answering:
" Yes, M'Lord. Frodo Baggins of the Shire carries the One Ring. H-how do you k-know this?" At that moment Elrond's eyes broke away from Nicole's and looked over her shoulder. Nicole turned her head slightly and jumped at the sight of Gandalf standing behind her.
" Because he saw it in a dream and Galadriel and I confirmed it. Your coming here has caused a large stir in the higher forces. All sides know of your presence here, you are only lucky that Prince Legolas found you when he did." Nicole swallowed hard at the news and Gandalf stepped further into the room, his staff clicking softly on the stone floor.
" How long has she been here, Lord Elrond?" Gandalf moved past Nicole, to Elrond's side and turned to look at Nicole.
" No longer than an hour. Legolas brought her here, and then Elrohir took her to her room and then brought her here. There is all of where she's been." Gandalf and Elrond took a few steps away from Nicole, who made a face at suddenly being ignored. She tried to listen to what they were saying but she soon realized that they were talking fiercely in Quenya and there were far too many words that Nicole didn't know for her to translate it. But what Nicole did gather was that they were arguing about her and the One Ring.
' I can't believe I'm really here. After all that daydreaming and idle fantasying, and it comes true! I wish August was here, she could make all this seem lighter.' August, whom was one of Nicole's closest friends and avid fan of The Lord of the Rings, always seemed to make Nicole happier with a little inside joke that involved Middle-Earth or the people in it. What Nicole found special was that, more often than not, was that she would be the only one besides August who understood the joke, or found it as funny as August.
As Gandalf and Elrond continued to whisper hurriedly, Nicole began to worry about what Gandalf had said. The thought of the Sauron and Saruman knowing of her presence and of what she knew frightened Nicole in the very core of her being, especially since she apparently didn't have any of those nice Mary-Sue type powers that were usually supposed to come with this type of trip.
Nicole's mind played over all the different types of powers that Mary-Sues had from the fanfictions she had read online. Many were common, such as being turned into a Wizard, Elf, or Hobbit. Some were more exotic like………well Nicole couldn't think of any more exotic ones than that at the moment, but she was sure that they were out there. And as she continued to ponder this, Nicole started to play 'Concerning Hobbits' through her head to calm herself, it being one of her favorite songs from the movie. Nicole became engrossed with it inside her mind, mentally adjusting each minute flute and violin piece that she could remember. Inside her head, Nicole was trying to recreate an orchestra.
What Nicole didn't realize was that Gandalf and Elrond had stopped talking and had turned to look at her. Nicole had now taken a step towards Elrond's bookcase and was scanning all the Elvish titles, trying to find any words that she understood, all the while keeping 'Concerning Hobbits' playing inside her head.
" Well, it seems that you have an exotic gift after all," Gandalf said, breaking Nicole's peaceful little veil that she had draped around herself. Nicole looked up with a startled expression to find Gandalf addressing her again………and being more confusing than he normally was.
" What do you mean?" Nicole locked her hands behind her back as a small child might, because she had been in the motion to take down one of Elrond's books. The book had been titled 'Bes Anarinya', which meant 'To Marry My Sun' in Quenya. To Nicole that sounded like an Elvish romance novel and she had wanted to look through and try and translate some of it.
" The music you just played, it seems to be you gift that you have brought with you." Nicole's startled expression changed to one of utter confusion as she continued to look between Gandalf and Elrond.
" What music?"
" That little tune that you created just now. It was quite beautiful………It reminds me of the Shire." A flame of understanding sparked within Nicole's eyes but that only made it seem more unreal as she opened her mouth to speak again:
" You mean you heard the music I had playing in my head just now?" Gandalf and Elrond nodded their heads and Gandalf smiled kindly at Nicole as she still looked disbelieving, more now than ever. " How could you?! How did I do it?!"
" That is one of the mysteries of your being here that we do not yet understand. Know that your gift is a powerful, if simple, one and take great care of it. You never know when it might prove useful," advised Elrond.
" Um…" Nicole began nervously, " If you don't mind me asking, Lord Elrond, how am I supposed to get home? Do either of you know?" Gandalf and Elrond looked at each other for a moment before turning back to Nicole, who was starting to become crestfallen.
" We do not know how to send you back, Nicole, and for this I am truly sorry. I believe that once this predicament with the Ring is over we may be able to find a way to send you back to your home, but as for now we cannot help you in that respect." Gandalf's heart went out to Nicole as he saw her eyes fall downwards.
" There's nothing you can do?" Elrond and Gandalf shook their heads and Nicole suddenly felt as if she wanted to cry. At first she had been happy about finding herself in Middle-Earth but there had always been the subconscious knowing that she would be able to get back home. Now Gandalf and Elrond crushed that knowing into the dust.
" Do not worry, Nicole," Gandalf said comfortingly, " Things will work out in the end. They always do. Now, if you'd like, you can explore some before dinner later tonight. Lord Elrond and I have some more things that we need to discuss." Before Nicole could utter a word, Gandalf had gently pushed Nicole out of the room (she was getting mighty tired of people doing that) and moved further into the room with Elrond.
' Looks like I'm on my own for now. I hope I don't get too lost in this place.'