Chapter 3
I followed Strider through the room towards them. I was really nervous, for some reason.
"Welcome to Rivendell, milady. Perhaps we should take a seat before we hear your tale," the man I assumed was Lord Elrond said indicating some chairs near the desk. I sat in the chair nearest Strider and farthest for the desk. I quickly retold my story, leaving out the bit about the Xanic. I sat there waiting for someone to say something.
"I feel you were sent to Middle Earth for a reason, if you did not have a purpose to serve here you would not be here," the old man said.
"I agree with Gandalf, we will discuss it further at the council which will be held tomorrow, for now I will have a maid show you to a room, where you can rest, until tonight, Lady-"
"Victoria my name is Victoria," I said finding my voice.
"Well, Lady Victoria, this is Celesta, she will be your maid while you dwell in my home," Lord Elrond said looking at me. "Oh Aragorn, I do believe Prince Legolas arrived earlier and is looking for you." I looked at Strider/Aragorn before I let Celesta led me out of the room. I followed her down the hallway absentmindedly thinking that my family must be worried about me, that was if they didn't think I was dead. I felt myself bump into to someone.
"Sorry," I mumbled not really looking at the person I had bumped into.
"The fault is entirely mine, milady," I look at the person I had bumped into. A tall elf with long blond hair a sparkling blue eyes said looking at me. "I do not believe that we have been properly introduced, I am Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood,"
"it's a pleasure to meet you," I said finding my manners, " I am Victoria Aideen."
"The pleasure is all mine, Lady Victoria," staring boldly into my eyes. I stared right back into his eyes, deciding that I would make him be the first to look away.
"Milady we should go," Celesta said pulling slightly on my arm. I let her lead my down the hallway towards my room. Once inside she closed the door.
"I cannot believe you were so bold with Prince Legolas," she said laughing.
"Where I'm from women and men are equals and a woman does not have to play that she is meek," I said sinking into a chair.
"Come the bathroom is this way, I am sure after traveling through the woods you will like a long hot bath," Celesta said moving towards a door leading off of the room, "you bath and I will lay a dress out for you to wear to dinner tonight," she said shutting the door. I kicked off my vans and stripped out of my sweat suit I looked at myself naked in the full length mirror that was near the bathtub. I debated talking out my belly button ring, but decided against it. So I was standing there naked in front of the mirror looking at the remnants of several bruises on my hips and my abdomen. I touched the pentagram pendent that I wore around my neck. It had been a gift from my great grandmother the day I was born. It was white gold, with gem stone on the each one of the points. I sighed missing my family more then ever and I stepped into the bath it was warm but not to hot. I sank into the hot water, wishing I had the foresight to bring my book into the bathroom with me. I washed myself so glad to have the dirt and grime from traveling off of my body. I grabbed a bottle of what I figured to be shampoo and smelled it. It smelled like wild flowers. I undid my hair which I had been religiously wrapping into a bun every morning since I'd been in Middle Earth. I let it tumble down all around me while I
grabbed a pitcher to fill with water to soak my hair so I could wash it. As I scrubbed my head and my hair I sang quietly the words to Eva Cassidy's version of "Over the Rainbow," it had been like a theme song for me ever since I decided to make the big move across the country away from my family, I listened to it or sang every time I felt hopeless. I rinsed my hair and stood up an reached for a towel.
I dried myself off and tightly wrapped a towel around my body before I reentered my room. Celesta was standing at the wardrobe looking at several different dresses. They were beautiful, the elven style reminded me off medieval clothing.
