Here Elrond paused in his tale. As he hesitated, a female Elf, plainly clad in a
grey gown approached him. She said something softly, and left again.
'It appears our lady guest has awakened', remarked Elrond. 'So I shall call a
halt to this tale I tell and I shall see her and find out how she came to be here
this time. Gandalf, Aragorn, would you please accompany me?'
In her room, Rory was sitting up in bed, arguing with the healers about what she
would eat; She seemed to consider that soup was NOT on the menu and that she
wanted something else to eat. 'Don't care what', she said, 'but I haven't eaten
soup since I was three, and I'm not about to start again now'.
'Arianwen', said Elrond, to the same Elf lady that had spoken to him in the
council room, 'please let her have what ever she wishes to eat within reason;
Rory knows better than anyone else I have ever met what her body needs to heal.
Also, unless I miss my guess entirely', and here he smiled in memory, 'she has
been involved in strange adventures and who knows when she last had a decent
meal'.
'About three days I reckon', said Rory, 'How long have I been here this time?' she asked.
'Since yesterday, Lady Rory', replied Aragorn
Rory looked at Aragorn 'You have me at a disadvantage, Sir', she said softly
Aragorn replied 'Please excuse my lack of manners, Lady. I am Aragorn, son of
Arathorn, in the corner is Gandalf the wizard and',
Rory interrupted him 'Elrond', she said. 'Didn't expect to see you again. Where
am I anyway?'
'In Imladris, or Rivendell, my home', Elrond replied.
'Hhhhmm', mussed Rory, 'I wonder how I got here this time! Hey', she said
suddenly, 'How much time has passed here since I was last here? Well, not here,
but in Middle Earth'.
'Roughlythree thousand years', said Gandalf, speaking for the first time.
'Fair dinkum?' yelped Rory. 'Only two years in my time'. She stared at Elrond,
'guess I'll have to believe the immortal bit now'.
Gandalf was laughing loudly. 'Is she always like this?' he managed to ask Elrond between chuckles.
'No', said Elrond, 'usually she is worse!' and started laughing himself.