Heart of Gold

Written by Valanthe

Betaed by The Dark One Reborn and The Spaz

A/N: All of the elvish used in this story comes from home . Netcom . Com/ heensle/ lang/ elvish/ elvish. It is based off of Tolken's original language I use both the Quenya version and the Sindarin version. This based mainly off of the book though there will be a little of the movies in it.

Chapter 2—Elves?

A cool breeze was blowing through the window of Alindan's room causing Legolas to stir from where he had fallen asleep sitting at her side. It was a good thing that he had awoken at that point because not moments later Alindan stirred from her sleep. She slowly opened her eyes only to whimper from the pain the bright light caused and quickly closed them again. A few seconds later she slowly opened her eyes again to see Legolas sitting in a chair right beside her bed.

Giving him a questioning look she asked, "Who are you?"

"Father what do you know of the young woman that Harilis found in the woods yesterday?" Arwen asked as she entered her father's private library.

"Not much, I am afraid all I know at this point is that she is not from our world. I do know that she will be of vast importance in the days to come. Though I do not know in what way she will help," Elrond said turning to face his daughter, a book held in his hands.

"What do you mean?" Arwen continued to ask her father even though she felt he probably knew no more then she did about what use this stranger would be to them in the future.

"She is shrouded in shadow making it impossible to discern what is to happen to her, yet I can feel a strange impression of power coming from her at all times, though at times it does not seem to be her own. It's almost as if someone is feeding her power till her body accepts where it is." Elrond walked over to his desk and, sat down behind it, "If you would like to know more, why don't you head over to her room and check on her? She should be waking soon Then you can ask her for yourself what happened to bring her to our city."

With the clear dismissal from her father, Arwen headed to the younger lady's room to see how she is feeling and to be there to help her prepare for a meeting with her father on how she came to be there, when she awakes.

"My name is Legolas. And what my I ask is your name, fair maiden?" The Prince asked as he leaned forward in his seat to get a closer look at her. He noticed that her eyes were two different colors. Her left was blue and her right was green.

Alindan couldn't help but stare at the man before her when she heard his name. She quickly took in his shoulder length, perfect, blond hair and bright, clear, blue eyes that seemed to almost glow with life. She had to admit that he did look an awful look like the Legolas from Tolken's books but he couldn't have been the same. That Legolas was an elf or could he be, for at that moment he moved his hair from his face reveling a slender pointed ear. "You're an elf?" she cried out just as lady Arwen entered the room.

"Yes..." Legolas replied slightly at a loss for why she would react the way that she had, a look of confusion going across his face.

"Where am I? How did I get here?" Alindan asked quickly making sure to keep perfectly still so she wouldn't hurt herself.

"You are in Rivendell in the home of Lord Elrond. You were found in the woods just outside the city. You were then brought here by one of the guards to be healed," Legolas answered her questions. He was about to ask her name again when she interrupted him further.

"Wait just a minute. I'm in Rivendell, in the home of Lord Elrond, in

Middle Earth right? What is the date?"

"Yes you are in Middle Earth where else would you be? As for the date it is October the twenty first and it is nine o'clock in the morning. Why do you ask?" Legolas responded.

"That means Frodo hasn't woken up yet, which means the council has yet to be held. Crap! I am so going to have to have a talk with Lord Elrond and Gandalf. Too bad Lady Galadriel isn't here she would know what to do," Alindan started to ramble incoherently.

"My Lady, please do not over work yourself with worry, you will only cause your wounds to worsen. Now, if I may ask again what is your name?" Legolas asked while trying to sooth the young woman.

"Oh,. my apologies! My name is Alindan Thomas. It is a pleasure to meet the prince of Mirkwood as well as the Evenstar Lady Arwen," Alindan responded having seen Arwen standing in the door way to the room behind Legolas.

"How did you know my name and title?" Arwen asked as she looked a the young lady before her in confusion.

"Yes and how did you know I was a prince?" Legolas added to Lady Arwen's question with one of his own.

"Mana tiara lle faica? Aren't these common facts well know in the community?" (what do you mean?) Alindan asked Arwen and Legolas both, thinking it may be simpler if she used their original tongue.

"Le pedoedhelen? Manen—ir le flein?" (you speak elvish? How—when did you learn?) Legolas asked her quickly jumping from his chair in surprise.

"I only know a little bit from study I can read it far better then I can speak it though, for I had no one to teach me the pronunciations of the words as I went." Alindan said having switched back to common, her limited vocabulary of elvish being used up on the one sentence.

"Would you like to learn more my lady?" Legolas asked her as he slowly sat himself back down in the chair.

"I would love to! I find the language to be one of the most beautiful in the world!" Alindan responded sitting up faster then was probably smart. A groan of pain escaped her lips.

"Are you alright my lady? Where did you hurt yourself?" Legolas asked her quickly as he started to rise from his chair only to be stopped by her waving her hand at him.

"I am fine. I just moved a little to fast is all. I was also wondering if I could get you to look at my archery skills and see if they need any work. Maybe I could also find someone to teach me how to wield a sword as well?" She asked shyly, barely able to look at him for fear of him making fun of her for being a woman.

As if he were able to sense her unease, he quickly put it to rest. "Of course I would my lady, but only after Lord Elrond tells you that you can get up and be about. Is that understood?" He asked her, giving her a look that was suppose to intimate, but only seamed to make her laugh.

"Of course, Your Highness. I would never dream of going against your wishes," She said, enough sarcasm laced through her voice so that he knew she wasn't serious, but only enough so that he knew she was joking.

"Then it would be my pleasure to teach you my lady. I think that you would make a very apt student," He agreed. "Now I will take my leave of you ladies and allow Lady Arwen to help you to dress and get ready for a meeting with Lord Elrond," He said as he rose from the chair and bowed to both women before leaving them. He then went to speak with Harilis about a possible swordsmanship trainer for the young Lady Alindan.

With out any real thought Garrett pulled his .9mm out and shot it straight at Saruman's head. Saruman having guessed that this would be the man's reaction, threw up a shield that blocked the shot from reaching him.

"Now, now. Why would you want to shot a man who is only trying to help you to get your revenge on the woman who caused you to come here," Saruman said to Garrett in an antagonizing voice as a way to get him angry. Saruman had his orders not to harm the man that would be coming to him, unless the man completely refused to help them.

"Now why would I trust some nut in a robe. Huh?" Was Garrett's reply. He simply continued to wait for Saruman to let his shield down so that he could shoot him.

"I am no 'nut in a robe' as you put it. I am Saruman the White. Chief council to the Dark Lord Sauron the Great. The entity who is about to take over this world. You have two choices; you can either join him or be against him," Sauron declared, his voice rising in pitch and volume as he continued to speak. He turned away from the man on the ground and headed back to the tower.

As Garrett watched him leave, he wondered at the best way to get this guy out of the way so that he could go after his half-sister, if she was even here like that crack pot had said. Although his proposition did sound kind of appealing, Alindan would be in no condition to rat him out or even do him any harm. Hell, no one would be able to do any harm with a bullet hole through the chest, let alone his helpless baby sister. Deciding that he would take the offer, at least until it proved dangerous, Garrett quickly got up and followed the man in white into the tower.

"Come on, Lady Alindan, you will look lovely in the gown I lent you. Come out of the bath room so that I may finish your hair and you can talk to my father about your being here," Arwen called out through the closed door to the bath. She hoped that the promise of the meeting with her father would entice the young woman out of the bath.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming out," Alindan said as she came out of the bathroom really slowly. "Well, what do you think?"

"You look lovely, seron-nin," (my friend) Arwen answered when she saw Alindan walk out in the floor length, blue to green gown that accented her multicolored eyes.

"Sure, and you're not just saying that to get me to go meet with your father so that you can go see Estel." Alindan said in sing song voice that Lady Arwen could not help but laugh at which simply got Alindan's joke across all the better.

"Come now, Lady Alindan, why would I wish to part from your lovely company? We are growing to be such good friends," Arwen responded after her laughter died down with a huge smile on her face.

"I do not know why you would wish to such a thing. Hmm maybe so that you could have some peace and quiet with the man that you love while I am keeping your father occupied so that he will not encroach upon the two of you together. Though he does approve of Elessar, he just does not what to she you get hurt by his passing when it happens, even though it will be far into the future. I will miss you most dearly, Lady Arwen when I must leave I count you as a good friend though we have only know each other a matter of hours," Alindan said a small tear slipping from her eye.

"And I will miss you, Lady Alindan. You have become like the sister that I never had. Growing up with my three brothers was never easy for me, as most elven women never learn the arts of war and I had no one to tell me that I should not, and so I would follow my brothers to the practice fields and would watch them practice and would practice as well. One of the other girls saw me practicing in the gardens one afternoon and said that I should have been born a fourth son not a daughter for all the sword play I knew. This sent me in tears to my father who comforted me as best he could for he was only a man knew nothing of the matters of the female heart. I wish you had been her that time for I think we would have made quite the pair fighting all the boys at their own games," Arwen returned pulling Alindan into a huge hug.

"Now, you must be off. If you are late, father will be most upset. He has other meetings to attend to today as well," Arwen said as she pulled away from her.

"Yes, yes, I know with al of the preparations for the council coming up, and with Frodo still being unconscious, he has far too much to do than to waste his time with a simple mortal that has trespassed in his land," Alindan said as she walked out the door, not waiting for a reply from Arwen. She knew that the elf princess would contradict her and say that it wasn't true.

Alindan slowly approached the door to Lord Elrond's private study with a slight trepidation. She didn't know if he would greet her kindly or if he would be against her for trespassing on the lands of Rivendell, especially with it being so close to the council. She knocked softly on the door, hoping that he wouldn't hear her so that she could run away and hide from the fact that she was even in Middle Earth.

"Come in, Alindan. You need not fear us," Lord Elrond said as he opened the door just as she knocked. He had heard her foot steps in the hall just before the door and knew of her hesitation due to the slowing of her steps as she got closer to the room.

Alindan, slightly taken aback by his knowledge of her thoughts and her presence, could not speak so she simply walked in to the room with her head bowed and waited to be told what would become of her. Because her head was down, Alindan did not notice the figure clad in gray that sat in the corner watching her and deciding how important to the fellowship she would be, if a fellowship were even to be

formed.

"Lady Alindan, how are your wounds fairing this morning?" Gandalf asked from his place in the corner.

The question seaming to come from no one and no where startled the poor young woman so badly that she jumped, causing a burst of pain to pass through her chest, making her bend over double trying to ease it. Gandalf seeing his folly quickly stood and put a supportive hand on her back only to have it thrown off by her quick jerk to get out of his reach and away from his presence. Taken aback by her actions Gandalf simply froze and waited for her to calm down.

"I am sorry good sir. I meant no affiance. You simply startled me." Alindan said once her breathing had calmed. She hoped that the simple lie would cover for the fact that she shied away from any male touch after what her brother had done to her.

"It is quite alright child. I simply hope that you did not injure yourself further because of me." Gandalf said noticing her lie, but not knowing what it was covering and felt it was her own business and would not meddle in her affairs.

"Now, Gandalf, if you are willing to behave yourself and if you, Lady Alindan. are alright, we will continue with why we have all gathered her this morning." Lord Elrond said, just barely masking the laugh in his voice as he addressed the two as he walked back to his desk.

"Of course, Lord Elrond." Alindan said as she sat in front of his desk in the chair placed for her. "About what would you like for me to explain?"

"What happened to you just before you were found in our woods?" Lord Elrond asked leaning forward to rest his arms on the desk in front of him.

"I was packing a bag to go to the area where I practice my archery when someone burst into my room. It was a guy dressed all in black, he pinned me to the floor and told me that if I didn't fight or scream, he might spare my life. Well, the only thing going through my head at the time was that I needed to get to my daggers, so when he started to get off of me, I kicked him just left of his manhood. Well that just seemed to piss him off even more and he pulled out a gun and shot me clear trough the chest. That would be the wound you found on me. I do believe that if it weren't for your aid I would be dead right now. That wound would not have been able to be healed.

"I thank you with all of my heart, Lord Elrond, for the aid you have given to me these passed few days. You have my aid in any way you may need it, and you as well Lord Gandalf." She said standing and curtsying before them both and not noticing the surprise that passed across both of their faces.

"How did you know my name, young Lady?" Gandalf asked the young woman giving her a look of confusion.

"Oh my." Alindan said her hand flying up to cover her mouth in her shock. "I come from a world called Earth, just Earth. There the story of the ring is just that, a story. It is one of the best fictional stories ever written. I therefore know the fates of all the companions. But, I ask you now please do not ask me what will happen, for if I tell you it might change the outcome of the war." Alindan explained, her fear for the people of the fellowship plain in her face and words.

"You are wise for one so young. Most would do what ever they could to make themselves important. You, on the other hand, do all you can to protect the fates of those you have not even met before." Gandalf said of her. What ever else he was going to say was interrupted by Alindan's next comment.

"You get me wrong Lord Gandalf. I know already of a few of those I wish to protect. I also know that I will be a part of this journey. I can see no other reason for why I was brought here than to help on this quest." Alindan said as she rose from her chair and left the room to calm her nerves.

'I can't believe I let myself get that out of control. I will have to go and apologize to both Lord Elrond and Lord Gandalf later. I hope that I will still be able to attend the council.' Alindan's thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling out to her.

"Lady Alindan! Lady Alindan, please wait," yelled out Harilis as he came running down the path towards her.

"What is it, my Lord?" Alindan asked of the ellon that had come running towards her.

"Lady Alindan, I was told by Prince Legolas that you wanted to learn the art of swordplay. Is this true my Lady?" Harilis asked.

"Yes it is. I would very much like to learn to use a sword," The lady replied, which caused a smile to appear on the face of the hidden Legolas.

"Well, then, why don't we go and get started?" He asked her. For her response, all she did was give a slight bow and signal for him to lead the way.

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