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Laer4572: This one's kinda slow but it gets better I promise.

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A/N: This is a short chapter and probably a little boring but it explains a couple of important things. It gives a major hint as to the time frame of the story and it introduces Thranduil and his demeanor towards the group. The story will begin to pick up in the next chapter I promise.

The group has been walking for a day and a half and everyone is tired. "How much further?" Christy whines. "I'm tired and hungry."

"Oh shut up Christy! You are not the only one that's tired. Look at Professor Jones and James. They're hurt but do you hear them complaining all the time?" Melinda snaps in irritaion.

The two elves watch them in curiosity before Gelmir turns to Alexis. "Is everything alright?"

Alexis chuckles. "Yes, they just do not get along very well and Christy's whining is getting on Melinda's nerves."

Gelmir nods. "Tell your friends that we will reach Mirkwood soon."

Alexis slows down until she is walking next to the Professor. "Gelmir says that we will reach Mirkwood soon." She notices him holding his side and frowns. "How are you doing?"

Professor Jones sighs, "My side is beginning to throb really bad. I'm afraid that infection is starting to set in."

Alexis reaches up and feels the Professor's forehead and her frown deepens. "You're running a fever."

"I know."

Alexis watches him for a minute before catching up to Gelmir. "Gelmir, Professor Jones's wound is becoming infected and he's running a fever. How much longer will it take to get to Mirkwood?"

Gelmir glances over his shoulder to see the Professor favoring his side and frowns. "We will reach Mirkwood within the hour." He reaches into a small pack tied to his belt and removes a vial and hands it to her. "Have him drink this. It will help slow the spread of infection."

"Thank you."

They are appraoching the palace when they hear an awfull wailing and several elves surrounding a tree. They look like they are trying to coax something out of the tree and Alexis gasps when she see's what it is. "Gollum" she whispers. Suddenly Gollum jumps out of the tree and runs into the woods. "Oh, no." Alexis says fearfully.

Professor Jones looks over at her. "What? What is it?"

Before Alexis has time to respond large ugly creatures begin pouring out of the forest. "Run! Run to the palace! Quickly!" Finrod yells as he draws his bow.

"Run!" Alexis screams as she pulls the Professor toward the palace. The others follow her without question when they realise what is happening.

"What is the meaning of this?" an elf demands when they tumble into the palace.

"Orcs! Orcs are attacking. The guards need help!" Alexis yells and elves begin to rush outside to fight off the orcs.

"Al," James calls as the Professor begins leaning on him heavily. With James' arm being broken he has trouble supporting him and Zach catches Professor Jones before he falls. Melinda helps Zach lay the Professor on the floor and Alexis kneels next to her unconcious teacher.

"He's burning up," Melinda says and reaches in her bag for a cloth while Alexis uncovers his wound to check it.

An elf kneels next to them. "What happened?"

"He... fell and was pierced by a piece of metal," Alexis says. It wasn't exactly a lie but she didn't feel it would be wise to tell anyone here the full truth. She looks up at the elf and gasps when she sees the crown on his head. "Forgive me, your majestly." Alexis quickly stands and throws a meaningful look at the others as she bows. They all catch on and follow her lead. "We didn't realise who you were," she finishes.

"That is quite alright my child. You were attending to more important matters."

Alexis looks up at him sharply thinking he was being sarcastic but his face shows nothing but concern. He reaches down and picks up the Professor. "He needs a healer quickly. Follow me."

They follow King Thranduil through a maze of hallways before he steps into a room and places the Professor on a bed. An elf imediately rushes over and begins examining Professor Jones as King Thranduil speaks quietly to him. After they're finished talking the King turns to the group. "Calen is the best healer in our realm. Your friend will be well taken care of. Now, if you will forgive me I must speak with the Captains of my army about the attack. I will send someone to show you to a place you may eat and rest until I can speak further with you."

"Of course, your majesty. Thank you," James says and holds his arm as he bows slightly.

King Thranduil frowns. "Are you hurt, child?"

James nods. "I think my arm is broken."

"You will stay and let the healers look after your arm." Thranduil turns towards one of the elves working on the Professor. "See to this child's arm as well. He fears it could be broken."

"Yes, my lord." The elf bows and then leads James to another bed before beginning to examine his arm.

Not long after the King leaves the room a maid comes and leads the remaining members of the group to a large room. The walls are covered in elegant tapestries and several couches and chairs are placed around the room. "The King has instructed me to bring you something to eat. Please make yourselves comfortable and I will return soon."

"Thank you," Alexis smiles and after the maid leaves she turns and tells the others what she said.

"I could get used to this," Christy sighs as she sinks into one of the plush chairs.

Melinda stretches out on one of the couches and grins. "Christy, for once I agree with you."

Alexis makes herself comfortable in one of the other chairs but Zach walks over to the large fireplace and watches the flames dance around. "Well, don't get to comfortable. We could still find ourself in the dungeons if the plane wreckage is found."

Alexis nods in agreement and leans forward in the chair. "He's going to want to know where we're from, where we're going and why we were in his woods. We can't tell him the truth. King Thranduil loves riches and if he finds out we're from another world where our technology is far superior to theirs he will imprison us so that he can keep it for himself."

"So what do we tell him?" Christy asks.

"We tell him that we are from a small human group that lives near the Shire and has no permenant home. We are seeking the Wizard Gandalf the Grey to deliver a message from our ruler about recent attacks around the Shire. We are here because we were fleeing a band of orcs that had attacked us," Zach says and everyone looks at him in surprise. "What?" he shrugs. "I watched the movies."

Alexis chuckles. "That's good but we don't want them to think we lead the orcs that attacked them here. We'll say that we're here because we heard that Gandalf had passed by this realm recently."

Everyone agrees to the story and then drifts off into their own thoughts for a while.

"Do you think Professor Jones will be OK?" Melinda asks softly. The door opens and everyone turns as James enters the room.

"How's your arm?" Alexis asks him as he sits down.

James sighs. "It's broken. And once they found someone I could understand, they assured me that it will be fully healed in about a moon cycle's time. I guess that means about a month," he shrugs.

"How's the Professor," Zack questions and everyone looks at James expectantly.

James smiles softly. "His fever is already starting to come down and they assured me that he would be fine." Everyone finally relaxes a little and they tell him the story they came up with.