Bright, piercing lights, that was the first thing Rumor woke to. She blinked slowly, like a cat awaking from a nap, and looked around her surroundings. No longer was she in the forest with the two carbon copied men, now she was in a white room that was filled with bright sunshine pouring in from the window. Raising herself to a sitting position Rumor could see outside the window and past the balcony. She appeared to be in a city of some sort, but it was different then any city she had ever seen before.

Quickly she grew frustrated with all the questions that stormed her mind. Where was she? Where were those guys from the woods? Who were the guys from the woods? And where the hell was she? Throwing the covers off herself, she tried unsuccessfully to get out of the huge, king-size bed she was in. It didn't work as well as she would have liked it too, because as she attempted to take a step, a wave of dizziness washed over her causing her to collapse to the floor.

Landing with a loud, painful thump, Rumor sat on the floor shocked. Nothing had ever been able to take her down so easily and now here she was, sitting on the floor in some stranger's house, not even able to walk. Pain shot through her entire body, and Rumor winced as her wrist shouted in pain from the position it had landed in. Groaning softly, Rumor didn't know what else to do but sit there, for she was unable to rise. Footsteps fell outside the bedroom door, and the door creaked open. "My lady?" A sympathetic voiced asked, "Are you alright?"

Rumor shook her head, trying to fight the growing darkness. "I'm fine, leave me the fuck alone." She said sharply. Never before had she asked for help from anyone but Driver, and she was not about to start now. It struck her then, Driver; he didn't know what happened to her. He might think that she abandoned him or something. A new wave of emotion hit her, and it was one that she recognized quickly, and it was one that she tried to ignore most of her life; sorrow.

Tears pricked her eyes, but Rumor did not allow them to fall. Fighting back the tears that threatened to leak from her eyes, she looked up at the face of the person in her doorway. It was one of the carbon- copies from the woods. Laughter bubbled out of Rumor for some odd reason. She did not know why she was laughing, and she didn't know why she couldn't stop. "My lady, I think you should get back to bed." The gentle voice came again, but it did not stop Rumor from laughing hysterically. To a person passing by, the man in the doorway ordered, "Go fetch my father." The person nodded and rushed off after looking at the pathetic girl sitting on the floor, laughing.

Kneeling down next to the girl, Elrohir picked her up with ease and laid her gently back in the bed. "My name is Elrohir, my lady." He murmured softly in her ear. By this time a tall figure appeared in the doorway, "Father, what is wrong with her? Will she be ok?"

Rumor looked up into a pair of huge brown eyes which were filled with concern and confusion. Her laughter died away immediately. "My lady, I am Lord Elrond." He said quietly. Rumor looked up at him with confusion, "Lord, lord of what?" She asked.

A smile grew upon his face, "Why, I am lord of the last Homely House. And who might you be?" He asked concernedly. "Rumor Davis." She muttered under her breath.

"Of course, and while you are here you shall a guest of honor." Lord Elrond replied smoothly. "Now why don't you rest, and then when you awake, all your questions will be answered." Rumor nodded, for some reason she trusted him. He didn't look like the kind of person who could harm anyone. She was enraptured in his eyes, they held mystery and wisdom. It was has if he had lived the lives of many men and seen all that there was to be seen. Slowly her eyes began to close, and almost at once she was asleep.

Lord Elrond turned to his son, Elrohir, "Watch after her, my son. I feel there is a great story behind this girl and fear that none of it is good." Elrohir nodded carefully, trying to figure out what his father meant. "Of course, ada."

As he headed out the door, Lord Elrond looked back and watched his son settle in a chair next to the sleeping girl. She was in good hands, he thought to himself as he turned to head for his study. He had a lot of thinking to do tonight, and all of it was on the frail girl who lay sleeping in the oversized bed.

Hey all! I know not much happened here, but next will be more interesting! Promise!