OK, where did my legal crap go? It was there one minute and gone the next and you know what that means? It means I have to do all my calculations again because that's what was written in THE DISCLAIMER DAMMIT!

I'm sorry. I'm a little grumpy for two reasons. One is that my ears are hurting like hell because I got them pierced for the third time last week and they're still bruised. The other is that it took me half an hour of calculations to get all that right. Grr. Argh.

OK, so here is my disclaimer AGAIN:

Title: Things you never knew

Author: Officer BudBabe

Disclaimer: I only own Mariette, Vikki, Finwë and little bit of the plot. The rest of the characters and the other part of the plot (The better part) Belong to Tolkien enterprises. So there. Also, in this Chapter I dont' own 'I'll think of a reason later' by Lee ann Womack

Summary: Two fifteen year olds fall into Rivendell and meet younger versions of Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir. They discover things about themselves that they never knew... and so the actual plot ensues.

Shout-outs:

Moonshine44: Thanks for the compliment-This chapter is especially for you!

Chapter three

Staring down at the inky patch on the floor I felt an odd sense of belonging but not belonging, if you know what I mean.

"Jesus." Vikki turned to me, but was at a complete loss for words. I knew the feeling.

The minutes that followed seemed like an eternity. It was like in the movies when none of the actors speak but a really heartfelt song is being played as background music.

It was like a dream. I was there but I wasn't. I felt like I had permanent Goosebumps but I wasn't cold in the slightest. Every tiny noise affected me. I could hear myself breathing and was unnerved by it. In my heart of hearts I knew I was safe inside this room and nothing bad could happen to me, but I wanted nothing more to be back in my world. For once I wanted nothing more to be back in my dangerous, scary, violent world. I wanted nothing more to be curled up on the sofa in my living room, with my baby sister draped across me, asleep. Nothing more than to be with the person I had called Mum for the past fifteen years.

It's a funny thing. Most of us spend our youth wishing we were off somewhere else, exploring some exciting part of another world entirely. But when it happens, we hunger for the familiarity of our own beds and someone who loves us. Someone we have been so used to being around we take them for granted. And when they aren't around anymore, we make empty promises to never take advantage of them again. But we do.

A question tugged at my heart. I turned to Vikki, praying she could give me some sort of answer.

"Where's home, Vikki?"

Vikki mournfully shook her head, "I don't know."

I could feel tears well up and spill from my eyes, "I want to go home."

"Me too."

We were both crying then. Clinging to each other for dear life and crying ourselves blind.

A sudden knock at the door unnerved us. Composing myself and wiping my eyes on my sleeve I slowly got up and answered it.

Lord Elrond was stood outside. He looked concerned, "One of the handmaidens has just told me that there was someone sobbing in here. Are you both alright?"

I shook my head mutely, somehow knowing he wouldn't believe me if I lied.

Lord Elrond entered my room. Upon seeing the pair of us in tears he looked distraught.

"You are still not convinced?" he asked gently.

I sighed and sat down, "It's not that we're not convinced. But it's a hell of a gear change, y'know?"

Lord Elrond as well took a seat, "No, I do not know, but please continue."

I thought for a moment, figuring out how to word my approach to this, "Well... this morning, everything was normal, I mean-the day was normal. We got up, went to school, I failed a maths test-Very normal... And then we're whisked off to this place where everything seems vaguely familiar but the frustrating thing is it doesn't link up."

Lord Elrond nodded, "I see."

I continued, "And now we're here and I guess I believe that we belong here a little but I can't help missing where we used to live. Does that make any sense?"

Lord Elrond nodded. He turned to Vikki, "And how do you feel?"

Vikki shook her head, "I don't know. I'm all confused."

Lord Elrond went silent for a while. He looked like he was thinking very hard, "I would like to strike a deal with the pair of you," he said finally, "All I wish for is to see you happy, and if that means that you go back to the other world and live a mortal life then so be it. But I wish both of you would stay a while in your true home so you are able to make a suitable choice. Will you do this for me?"

Vikki said straight away that she would do that and then they both looked at me.

What Lord Elrond said touched my heart. He was prepared to let one of us, or even both of us go back to the place that up until today we thought of as home just so that we would be happy.

I nodded, "I will. Thank you, Lord Elrond."

Lord Elrond smiled, "Please, call me Father, or Atar."

I frowned, "What does Atar mean?"

"It is Elvish for 'Father'."

"OK." I felt a little stupid that I didn't know my own language but right then I was too tired to dwell on it.

Lord Elrond frowned at my use of the word 'OK' obviously that wasn't a commonly used word in Rivendell, but he didn't mention it.

Soon after he told us to get some rest and bade us goodnight.

After he left Vikki wandered back into her own room and soon enough I could hear her breathing softly in her sleep. Wait... I could hear really well, much better than I could before. This was really strange. I hadn't noticed it before but now I seemed to be plugged into everything around me. Outside I could hear the wind rustling through the trees and it seemed alarmingly close.

Stepping out onto the balcony I stared up into the night sky. The stars were absolutely divine and the moon looked big and friendly. It seemed to be smiling at me. Gazing down into the courtyard I could hear the gentle ripples on the water in the fountain, even though it had been off for a little while.

I held me hand up and splayed my fingers, letting the light breeze run through them. (Now that I think about it, to the untrained eye I must have looked weird) I looked down at myself and wondered how this could have happened.

The nightdress I had found lain out on the bed that evening was beautiful and I felt beautiful in it. It was made from a sort of floaty material and even thought it made me suspect that I must have looked like a jellyfish when I walked I didn't care. It was white and had no slits, nothing to accentuate my bust or legs, no embroidery, no nothing. It was just plain and flowing, running all the way to the floor and dragging a little behind me. I felt a bit like an Angel, although it did make me wonder how I was going to sleep.

I stayed out on the balcony a little longer, trying to quell my miserable thoughts. It was heavenly here and probably somewhere every girl I knew would kill to live, (including me) but there was something missing and even though I knew it was important I couldn't for the life of me think what it was.

Silently I slipped back into my room and slid into bed where I immediately fell asleep.
As soon as I opened my eyes the sunlight streaming through the French doors hit me like a truck. Someone was knocking at the door. I scrambled out of bed to answer it, forgetting I was wearing the nightdress. Whoever was stood outside would have heard me going 'Sod it!' And then a slam (that would have been me hitting the floor), and then 'Ouch! Jeez!'

I untangled my legs from the quilt and the nightdress and scrambled for the door. Outside was stood a pretty young elf holding a comb and a bar of soap among other things. Her face was contorted in confusion. I tried to smile winningly, and act as my hip wasn't throbbing from where I'd fallen out of bed.

"Um... Good morning?" I said. The young (At least, she might have been young) elf curtsied deeply and said "Good morning Ma'am. Lord Elrond has requested I help you get dressed for the day."

I almost smiled. It was as if Elrond had read my thoughts and he knew that if I tried to dress myself, I would be there all day.

I opened the door and the Elf entered. "What's your name?" I asked.

She turned to me, "My name is Oira, Ma'am."

I held up a hand. The Ma'am thing was too much, "Please call me... um... What's my name again?"

Oira smiled a little "Your name is Aredhel, Ma'am."

I smiled, relieved, "Then if you would be so kind as to call me that."

She curtsied a little, "As you wish."

Oira took me to the wardrobe and asked me to choose a dress for the day. I was filled with dread at the prospect of wearing a dress for a whole day. I looked around longingly for my school uniform but the floor seemed to have swallowed it up.

I begged and pleaded with Oira for over a quarter of an hour on the subject of wearing a dress. I discovered only one thing. Oira may look cute but when it comes to wearing dresses, she's about as cute and soft as O.J Simpson.

Finally I consented to wearing a Cyan gown. It dropped straight to the floor and had a sort of Muslin over gown that made it shimmer. The neckline dipped and the sleeves flared from the elbow. When I stared in the mirror I frowned at my reflection and Oira, who was stood behind me brushing my hair, frowned straight back at me.

Oira fashioned my hair in a long braid, which she then wound around my head like a crown, leaving a few wispy bits at the front. I looked quite pretty actually.

After Oira had finished my hair she gently nudged me out of my room, telling me to go down to breakfast as 'Lady Arwen' would be waiting for me there. My mind immediately went into slow motion because I couldn't figure out who she meant. Once I had established it was Vikki she had been talking about I mentally slapped myself on the forehead and went off to find wherever breakfast was held.

And promptly got lost.

I think I must have wandered around in circles for a while, hoping that no one would send out a search party for me because... well, how embarrassing would that be?

As I ended up in the courtyard by my quarters for the third time I sat down on the wall of the fountain and heaved a great sigh.

"This cannot be good." I said to no one in particular but myself. I sat for what must have been a good ten minutes, just daydreaming and humming nervously away to myself.

A sudden noise behind me made me jump about three feet in the air. I turned to see one of the boys who had found Vikki and me in the Garden the day before.

"Lady Aredhel?"

I stood, "I beg your pardon?"

The boy straightened and said, "You are Lady Aredhel are you not?"

Shit. I'd forgotten my name again. I was going to have to find a permanent marker or a sticky label or something.

"I am. Sorry," I smiled sheepishly, "Still getting used to my new name. You're Prince.... Oh. I've forgotten that too. Sorry."

The Prince looked a little taken aback, "I am Prince Legolas, Lady." He said coldly "I was told to come and fetch you as Lord Elrond grew worried. Finwë and Elrohir are also looking for you. " He looked at me like this was supposed to mean something.

I frowned. Again. I was getting a headache from all this frowning, "Who?"

I could tell that inwardly Prince Legolas was sighing impatiently, "Your Brothers?"

Anxiety griped at my stomach, as it always did in situations like that, but the feeling was quickly taken over by indignance. I was trying to remember all this but it was sort of a big change and I was annoyed with this uppity prince for not respecting that. I decided that two could play on the ice- elf-o-meter and flashed him a sugar sweet smile.

"Right, right, sorry about that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I am rather late."

I then flounced past him and was about to make a dramatic exit and then closed my eyes in horror. I still didn't know where I was going.

I slowly turned and looked at Prince Legolas from under my eyebrows, "You wouldn't happen to know where Breakfast was would you?"

He looked at me, a smile playing on his lips, "I can accompany you if you wish."

I could feel a blush creeping up my neck and I shook with silent indignance. That wasn't fair! He wasn't allowed to be cold toward me and then act all gentlemanly. It was completely against the rules.

"If you could, please." I muttered through gritted teeth. Prince Legolas stepped forward and offered his arm to me. I took it and linked my arm through his skeptically.

The route to breakfast, I discovered, was embarrassingly simple. Really. Even for me. As Prince Legolas and I stepped through the door into the hall I took my arm back and murmured "Thank you."

Prince Legolas took my hand and brought it briefly to his lips. Even in my angered state, I had to admit, that was pretty sweet of him.

"Anytime, I would be happy to be of assistance Lady Aredhel."

I have to confess I was more than a little surprised about that. He stood up straight and walked away to sit down in his place. I let my eyes rove over the people eating and spotted Vikki - Or Arwen as she is called from now on.

I hurried to sit beside her in the empty place she had obviously saved for me. I sent her an apologetic glance as I sat down and began to tell her all about that morning's events.

I was just getting to the part where Prince Legolas had discovered me by the fountain when Lord Elrond stood and cleared his throat.

"Now that the appropriate listeners have arrived," He glanced at me, who turned beet red, "I can make the joyful announcement that Arwen and Aredhel, darling daughters of my dear wife and myself have finally come home. I would like to propose a toast and wish them love and happiness throughout their lives. There will be a great ball tomorrow in honor of their return!"

Everyone cheered and then tried to crane their necks to catch sight of us. It was sort of unnerving. I wasn't used to being watched by so many people unless they were in an audience and it was dark.

Breakfast ended soon after that and Finwë and Elladan (I think it was Elladan) caught up with us.

"Father wishes to see you." Finwë addressed me breathlessly, "Did you sleep well?"

For the first time that day I felt at ease with someone I had met in that goddamned place and smiled sweetly, "I slept quite well, thank you. Why does Lord Elrond want to see me?"

Arwen nudged me and said "I think it might be the fact that you were so late for breakfast."

My heart sank, "Now that I couldn't help. I got lost."

"Suuure." Arwen looked at me doubtfully with her eyes but a smile was tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"What?" I asked suspiciously. Finwë and Elladan were smiling now.

"Mari-Aredhel... We saw you come in with Prince Legolas." Arwen was turning a little pink from where she was trying so hard not to laugh.

I gasped, "You can't be serious! He was really rude to me."

Arwen frowned and for a second I thought I could see Vikki shining through a little, "Well you must have resolved it before you got to Breakfast because that kiss on the hand was rather friendly don't you think?"

I opened my mouth to retort but sighed instead, "Yeah. I don't understand it either." I turned to Finwë, "Where does Lord Elrond want to see me?"

"He is in his library. Would you like me to show you the way there?"

I nodded, eager not to be lost again.
Finwë escorted me up to Lord Elrond's study and told me he would wait outside and then accompany me to the East gardens, where Arwen would be with Elladan, Elrohir and Prince Legolas. My heart sank at the mention of the prince's name but I tried not to show it.

I knocked on the door and turned the handle gently as soon as I heard the command, 'Come in.'

Lord Elrond was sat as his desk, a heavy tome in his lap. Lady Celebrían sat in an armchair not far away looking at her hands. They looked up as soon as I entered.

"Aredhel, you look beautiful today." Lady Celebrían said to me gently. I blushed, "Thank you, "I said softly, "You look very beautiful too."

I was still having trouble believing that the divine woman sat not four feet away from myself was my mother. She smiled at me and Lord Elrond motioned for me to sit.

"I'm sorry I was so late to breakfast this morning. I got really lost and went around in circles for rather a long time..." I stammered as I seated myself.

Lord Elrond held up a hand to silence me, "Please do not apologize Aredhel. It's quite acceptable as you have been here but a day. I called you in here to express a concern I still have about your belief that you belong here."

I was silent for a moment, thinking really hard about what I had to say here. Finally I opened my mouth;

"I'm not saying that I don't believe my true past lies here. I just... isn't it natural to express a wish not to let go of something familiar? And in turn isn't that what makes you disbelieve everything new? This is a big change and I'm not sure I can handle it all immediately."

Lord Elrond nodded, "I see your argument... What would you wish me do?"

I was touched by his concern... I think it was then that I started to truly believe his love for his daughters, "Isn't it more what I can do for you?" I asked, "The only thing standing in the way of me finding Aredhel is the mental block that makes me forget her. I think what I need to do now is to get rid of that block and you can have your daughter back."

"Does this mean that you believe that you are of truly elf kind?" Lady Celebrían stood and moved toward me. She cupped my face in her soft hand.

I was captivated by her beauty, which was even more accentuated by the unshed tears glistening in her eyes.

"I think so... what happens if I can't remember though?" I voiced my fear. Lord Elrond smiled.

"With your consent, we will cross that bridge when we come to it."

"What about Vik-Arwen? Did you say the same thing to her?" I had to know.

Lord Elrond nodded, "It is a strange thing. I see a lot of you in each other. The bravery, the purity and the beauty you own is reflected in each other, and yet couldn't be more different. You are both truly unique."
I left the study on an absolute high. Things were finally starting to make a little more sense. Finwë was waiting for me and I flashed him a brilliant smile to show my happy mood. He didn't ask what I had spoken to Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrían about. I guessed this was because he and the twins had already pumped Arwen for information and come up with nothing.

We walked to the west gardens where I could hear Arwen's musical laugh running over everything. I smiled. Vikki had laughed just like that and it gave me comfort to hear something familiar. I made a mental note to talk to her later about what I had spoken to Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrían about.

As soon as Arwen saw me she flew towards me and pulled me into one of our special greeting hugs. It was then that I realized we had been friends for so long we almost were like sisters. I could see over her shoulder that Elladan, Elrohir, Finwë and Prince Legolas were looking confused.

Arwen led me over to the stone wall she had been sat on. It was in a pretty little spot, under a huge cherry blossom tree. The smell was absolutely amazing and I could see little bits of blossom in Arwen's hair already.

My heart felt considerably lighter after I had spoken Lord Elrond and Lady Celebrían and I could feel the worried ridges in my brow that had been giving me a tension headache ease up a great deal.

"I was just telling everyone how you sang 'I'll think of a reason later' for that talent contest..." Arwen trailed off as she noticed my face. I could hear Finwë laughing behind me.

"Do I sense an amusing tale?"

"No." I said quickly, although I could feel my face heating up.

"Oh Please sing it for us?" begged... Elrohir? I was definitely going to have to make name tags. I shook my head stubbornly, "No chance." I muttered through gritted teeth.

"Oh why not?" said Arwen 'innocently'.

"You know very well why not." I said quietly "Putting on the country accent makes my throat sore."

"Just one verse and the chorus then? Please?" I could tell Arwen wasn't going to leave me alone so I sighed resolutely and began to sing;

'I heard he was goin' to marry some girl from Denver

Then my sister came over had the Sunday paper with her

There was the girl on the social page,

Lookin' in love and all engaged

We decided she don't take very good picture

It may be my family's redneck nature

Rubbin' off bringin' out unladylike behavior

It sure ain't Christian to judge a stranger

But I don't like her

She may be an angel who spends all winter

Bringin' the homeless blankets an' dinner

A regular Nobel peace prize winner

But I really hate her

I'll think of a reason later...'

I stopped and had to laugh because that song has always struck me as really funny. I could see Arwen was laughing behind her hands as well. My laugh quickly turned into a cough however as singing in a country accent always makes my throat tickle.

Out of the corner of my eye, however, I could see Prince Legolas frowning disapprovingly. I sighed inwardly and turned to him, "What troubles you Prince Legolas?"

He looked surprised that I had remembered his name and his ice blue gaze rested on me, "That is a rather vulgar song, if I am asked my opinion."

There was a silence between the six of us. I gathered myself, "That is because you haven't heard the entire song, Prince Legolas. It's about a lady who's jealous of another woman because she marrying the man she loves." (A/N: That's my guess anyway)

Prince Legolas looked taken aback and in my head I was going 'ah ha ha ha ha ha!' he soon composed himself though and said, "Then it is a very childish way to show one's love."

That did it for me, "Have you ever been in love Prince Legolas?"

No. I don't believe I said it either. My jaw froze up about the same time my heart stopped working.

"Um... Let's change the subject shall we?" I turned to look at Arwen, thanking her with my eyes, "Yes lets." I agreed hastily, turning back to look at Prince Legolas. And that's when we all noticed he was gone.

"How did he do that?"
OK, I'm going to leave it there because it's quarter to 11 at night and I've spent the best part of today writing all of this. Please review!

Also, I realize Aredhel sounds a bit Mary-sue-ish but that's intended... It will all be brought to light soon!!

P.S. Someone couldn't give me a description of a Mary-sue in their review could they? It would be so much help.