Part 4

Dawn squeezed Willow's hand as they waited outside the Elvin hall for their escorts to take them to see Lord Elrond and his guests. "Well, at least we clean up pretty."

Willow glanced down at the periwinkle blue gown that she wore and over at the flowers that were woven in Dawn's intricately braided hair. She smiled at the memory of Dawn's grumbling when the Elvin women had helped them get ready for the Welcoming Feast. "Maybe it's something in the water here to make everyone appear beautiful. I've certainly never cleaned up this nice in Sunnydale."

"Huh, I didn't think of that. That kinda explains a lot. Maybe there's like a glamour spell here and they really look like trolls."

"A glamour spell would not cover the stench of a troll."

Dawn and Willow yelped at the sound of the new voice and spun around to confront the stranger that appeared behind them. Willow's cheeks turned a bright pink as she gazed into laughing blue eyes.

Legolas had heard the rumors that were circulating Rivendell about the mysterious visitors that had arrived with Gimli. The tales ranged from the travelers were a powerful female wizard that accompanied her Princess to one that said they were emissaries of the Dark Wizard Saruman who hoped to broker a deal with the Elves. The most outlandish tale being told was that they were travelers from another world as if other worlds existed outside Middle Earth.

"And yet another hottie that didn't get drowned at birth." Dawn mumbled as her racing heart finally began to calm down from the fright.

Legolas bowed his head slightly to the two women, "I am Legolas of Mirkwood, son of Thranduil."

"I am Dawn of Sunnydale, daughter of Joyce." Dawn smirked as her information was just as useless to Legolas as his was to her. Like they knew what or where Mirkwood was.

Willow found herself caught in the gaze of sparkling blue eyes as he waited for her introduction. She took her cue from Dawn, "I am Willow of Sunnydale, daughter of Sheila."

"Ah, you are not the Princess or wizard that you're rumored to be."

Dawn turned panicked eyes toward Willow. She'd forgotten that she'd let the Dwarf think she was a Princess and Willow was a wizard.

The red head came to a quick decision, if they were to get any help from the Elves in finding a way to defeat Glory or if there was an answer to defeating Glory in this reality they'd need to be as honest as they could without giving away information that would be dangerous to Dawn or herself.

Willow wracked her brain for the name of the Dwarf, she knew it wasn't Grumpy, but she couldn't remember what it was. Gumbo? Gimpy? Gimli!

"Gimli thought I was a wizard because I use magick." Willow thought that was safe enough as the Elves already knew about her magick.

"And the Princess?"

Before either Dawn or Willow could answer Legolas' question two Elvin women stepped out of the shadows. A dark haired elf shyly approached Legolas with her head slightly bowed, "Forgive me, Prince. We are here to escort the guests to Lord Elrond."

Dawn's eyebrows rose at his title. "So, I'm not the only one that doesn't give their title at introductions." Of course she wasn't about to admit that her title was Key and not Princess.

Willow turned to their Elvin escorts with a smile. She'd never been so happy for an interruption than right then. She hadn't known what to say about Dawn being a Princess and then to find out the blonde elf was a Prince. At least they had the excuse that they were from another world and that they hadn't stupidly said they were from this world. Willow shuddered at the thought of being caught in that lie. This was why she sucked at lying her mind always raced with the possibilities of getting caught.

Legolas nodded to the two Elvin women before smiling at Willow and Dawn. "Until we meet again, Willow and Dawn of Sunnydale."

Willow relaxed her muscles when the two escorts brought them to a small patio overlooking the lush valley and cascading waterfall. The peace that she'd felt on seeing Rivendell returned when the slight spray of the waterfall misted across her face.

"Welcome to my home, I am Lord Elrond."

Dawn spun around at the sound of Elrond's voice. "Geez, I hate that.  Angel used to sneak up on me all the time."

Elrond considered the two young women standing before him. He felt the magick of the slight red head but what he hadn't expected was the slight magick emanating from her companion. Gimli had said they appeared from a tear in the sky and that they were fleeing from someone named Glory.

Galadriel had probed the minds of their guests as they slept and had not found evil intent. It was decided among Galadriel, Thranduil and himself that they would offer aide but cautiously. They could not afford another war like the one with Sauron.

"I'm Willow and this is Dawn."

"Master Gimli tells that you come from a tear in the sky."

Dawn and Willow exchanged glances before they turned their attention back to Elrond. "We're in search of answers that will help us in a battle."

"You think you'll find the answers here?"

"I hope so." 

Elrond saw the truth in Willow's eyes. "We, too have experienced battle recently and if the answers that you seek are here we will help you find them." He waved his arm back toward the building, "Come join in Gimli's Welcoming Feast. There will be time enough tomorrow to begin your search."

Dawn gripped Willow's hand tightly as two ornate doors swung open in front of them to reveal the Feast. The tables scattered throughout the hall held dignitaries from the Dwarves, Elves and Humankind.

Willow slightly relaxed when her eyes found Arwen's kind smile among the crowd. Next to her was seated a regal dark haired man who wore a white crown. He smiled gently at Arwen before turning his attention to the newcomers.

Dawn's eyes swept the hall as she crossed the threshold into the room. She noticed Legolas laughing as he stood next to the dwarf, Gimli.  Her gaze shifted from them and a slight blush stained her cheeks as her eyes were held by an elf that was standing to the left of a regal blonde woman. Dawn dragged her eyes away from the elf when Elrond began to speak.

"Here are my guests, Willow and Dawn."

The Elves began to sing a song of welcome as Elrond escorted them to their seats at the front of the hall. Aragorn stood as the women approached.

"May I present Aragorn, King of Gondor and my daughter, Arwen that you've already met."

Dawn leaned in to whisper in Willow's ear, "Shit, if it wasn't for those hairy Dwarves I'd say everyone in this world was beautiful."

Willow nervously smiled at Aragorn and Arwen. What were the odds that on arriving in this new reality they'd meet a Dwarf, a Queen, a Prince, a King, and an Elvin Lord?  It beat getting almost killed by a mob of green demons. Dawn was definitely picking the realities from now on.

Elrond turned to his left, "May I present Galadriel and Celebron of Lorien."

The two regal blonde elves bowed their head in acknowledgment before returning their attention to the Feast.

Dawn's eyes were again captivated by the elf sitting at their side. Butterflies were dancing in her stomach but she wasn't sure if it was from nerves, stress or the hottie that she couldn't take her eyes off of. Dawn's attention snapped back to the hall when a platter of food was placed before her.

Willow leaned over and whispered in Dawn's ear, "see something you like, Dawnie?"

Haldir wondered at the sudden bright red color that spread across the young one's cheeks and the twinkling eyes of her wizard companion.