Chapter 9: Meetings

A/N: Okay, I know I said two weeks but three will have to do. I've been busy with school and marching band …opps just labeled myself, oh well. Anyway, the main point is I have been busy but I have a break in two weeks so hopefully I will get some good updates both with this story and with When the Strong Soften.

Oh, I had something to say what was it? I don't remember if I do, I'll put it later.

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Annadîn observed the old friends that night and the next. Somehow, throughout the day she managed to not meet up with the hobbits. But she did find Legolas in her room one the day.

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Annadîn opened her door and dropped her books on the table she had set beside it. Closing the door, she took off her shoes and placed them in front of the small table. When she turned around to face her room, she froze. There was a large pause as she stood with her back against her door staring at the Elf on her bed.

"Annadîn what are you doing back so soon?"!

Annadîn's eyebrows rose as she looked at him with an 'is that right' look.

"Okay, sorry to bother you like this, but I am trying to hide from the onslaught of two beings named Merry and Pippin."

She nodded her head with a disbelieving looked placed on her face.

"Annadîn do not look at me like that! I'm sorry to intrude upon your space but I cannot leave at this moment."

'And why not?' Annadîn's look asked.

"They are coming down the this minute."

Sure enough, Annadîn heard padded footsteps outside the door and then a door open. Seconds later the steps appeared in the corridor again.

"He's not in there Merry." One stated.

"Oh well, we'll try somewhere new then." The other replied.

Their steps disappeared.

Annadîn shook her head and walked over to her vanity. She pulled her hairbrush from one of the draws and carefully slid it through her hair. Neither being talked as she did this. Annadîn stared out of her window as Legolas looked around her chambers. Not knowing how to brake the awkward moment, Annadîn walked over to the large window and sat before it.

"Where have you been?" Legolas questioned.

Before answering Annadîn leaned over and opened the window. As she breathed in the spring air, she shrugged. She could not tell him, he would not understand her thought process.

"Annadîn?"

She ignored her name though, for a second longer she was a girl who belong in this place, a girl looking out of her window, enjoying the landscape.

"Annadîn?"

This time she looked over to find Legolas sitting at the other side of the window. She blinked her eyes and then turned to the window again. Pulling her knees to her chest, she fidgeted with the skirt of the plain white dress she wore. This continued for some time until Legolas took her hands in his own.

"Will you come tonight?"

Annadîn shook her head.

"Please? They are kind beings who just wish to please."

But Annadîn shook her head again. She wasn't ready yet to face these creatures that they were so attached to. After taking one last look at Legolas's pleading eyes, she placed her cheek on her knees so she looked out of the window. Her long auburn hair fell over her arm and spilled down her dress, a dark contrast to the simple color.

"Alright then, I shall see you later Annadîn." Legolas released her hands and stood. For a heartbeat, he towered above her. Then, he placed his hand on her head and let his fingers glide down to the tip of her hair and then he departed.

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"There is something wrong." Legolas stated. "I cannot tell you what, but I do not think it has anything to do with the Hobbits."

"I do not know Legolas. And that is all I can honestly say! I have not seen her since Serina was brought back."

"I know Estel, but I'm so confused. We still do not know anything about her, or where she is from. How she got here, and especially why she acts in such sporadic ways."

"If I could read her mind I would Legolas, if just to tell us where to start. But I cannot, so you and I will both have to wait."

"Wait for what?" Arwen questioned entering the room.

"Legolas says that Annadîn is acting strangely again. We both are beginning to fear for her."

"She will not depart from here, this I know. She likes it. I believe this is one of few places that she can find peace in."

"Find peace when she is by herself all the time. Avoiding us." Legolas stated.

"Legolas use your head my friend. Your friendship with the human has clouded your immortal mind. Why would one stray from the only familiar thing?"

"But why would she fear that she is intruding?" Legolas questioned.

"She does not come from this place Legolas, it obvious. It is almost as if she does not come from this world. Perhaps she feels it is best if she gives us time with the hobbits. Or maybe she thinks it will be easier for her if she distances herself." Aragorn uttered.

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"Do you want anything?" Serina questioned.

Annadîn shook her head.

"Are you positive?"

A nod was her only answer. Annadîn's eyes were peeking through the small crack.

"Alright then. If you need anything just pull me to the side will you?"

Bright eyes turned to Serina. Annadîn nodded her head. She did not want her friend to worry for her, but she did not want to join the others just yet. As she stared at Serina for a moment, the worry became evident in her eyes. A smile placed itself on her lips and she pulled the maid into a hug. When she pulled away, Serina did not look so worried.

"I'm going do not worry, I will not bother you any more tonight, I promise." And with the statement, she disappeared.

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"I wanted you to meet a friend of ours. But I have not seen her in days?" Aragorn told Merry and Pippin.

"It's fine Aragorn, I'm sure we'll see her sometime."

"I hope so, she is a sweet girl." Arwen stated. "But she is not one to talk."

"We'll change that won't we Merry?"

"Of course Pip."

"I would assume she is off reading somewhere." Gimli added.

"Reading?" Pippin questioned.

"Anna does not go anywhere without a book in her face, or under her arm. I would assume that she is an intelligent one."

"Reading." Pippin stated again.

"Wait Pip didn't we see a girl in the library the other day?"

"I think we did. I'm not sure."

"Did you?" Legolas questioned.

"Well I'm pretty sure it was a girl. We went inside to just look around and in one of the corners, we saw someone alone. Once we caught a glimpse of them, we left. So I'm not really sure who it was."

"Oh that's right, we did." Pippin said agreeing with Merry.

"So what have you two been up to lately?" Gimli questioned.

"Nothing much right Pippin?"

"Nope nothing much, just trying to find Legolas during the day. Which is actually quite hard."

"Really?" Aragorn inquired with a raised eyebrow. He looked over to the Elf who simply shrugged. But as he did so, his eye became alert.

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Annadîn shrunk away from the door and stood up. She knew he was coming, just like she knew when her brother was coming. But as she turned around to go back into the kitchens, she knew it was useless. So, Annadîn simply sat back on the floor staring at the wall ahead of her.

Seconds later the door swung open and Legolas was in the small room. He stood for a moment surveying what little objects occupied the space. Then, his eyes fell on Annadîn who sat with her eyes on the white wall ahead of her.

"Hello Annadîn." He said sitting down next to her.

She nodded in response.

Then, the two sat for a while, neither moving. Some servers came through the room and took the first course out into the dining hall. Both human and Elf turned their head and watched them enter the room without plates. And they continued to watch them reenter the kitchens.

After the last server was inside the kitchen Legolas stood up. He looked down at Annadîn who slowly lifted her glance from the wall to him.

Annadîn looked up at Legolas and knew what he was going to ask. She could tell it in his eyes, even in his mannerisms. But she did not want to be asked. As she looked up at him she begged him not ask, to just let her be for one more night. But she did not get her way.

"Come join us." Legolas invited holding out his hand to her.

She looked at it. It was the second time he had done this. Asked her to do something that she was not necessarily ready for but what she wanted. Taking a deep breath, she placed her hand in his and looked into his eyes. Legolas smiled warmly at her.

"They are very friendly do not worry. Please?"

Annadîn nodded and smoothed her black skirt before the two left.

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"Where did he go?" Gimli muttered.

"To retrieve Annadîn." Arwen said simply.

"In there! Anna is in there? Right, I'm sure." Gimli grumbled.

"Is this the girl you wanted us to meet?" Pippin questioned.

"Of course it is Pip. I don't think there are many girls running around here by the name of Anna."

"Shut up Merry."

The two hobbits proceeded to have a childish fight, with faces and names.

"Are you two done?" Legolas questioned, who had once again appeared.

When the two saw him, they quickly closed their mouths. Both of their gazes turned to Annadîn who was still holding hands with Legolas. They took in her whole presence. The length and color of her auburn hair, her short stature, her simple clothing, they also saw her small nose, and red lips. But what caught them were her eyes. Tonight they were green and sparkled; they were her way to communicate to the outside world.

"Here you are Annadîn." Legolas pulled out a chair for her sit in. She did and he pushed the chair up to the table after releasing her hand. Next, he went and sat in his spot and turned to Merry and Pippin. "This is Annadîn, Annadîn this is Merry and Pippin." He revealed.

"Hello." Merry said politely.

"Hi," Pippin chimed.

Annadîn nodded her head to their greetings. After a few seconds, the rest of the table went back to eating and resumed their conversations. Meanwhile, the Hobbits continued to stare at Annadîn. And Annadîn ducked her head. Her finger found her earring and she began to play with it.

"Annadîn I believe if you do that anymore you will pull it right out of your ear." Aragorn stated.

Annadîn glanced up from underneath the veil of her and looked Aragorn in the eye. She gave him a weary smile and removed her fingers from underneath her hair. Then she set her hands in her lap staring at the table in front of her. She had looked once upon the Hobbits and once she did, she wanted to flee. Without even looking up, she knew that Legolas was watching her, worrying about her. But no matter what she told herself to do, she could not look up. She could not look once more upon the child like hobbits.

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Thanks for all the support you guys, and thanks for reviewing. I'll thank you guys in the next chapter I swear.

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