Eventually Rory found what she was looking for, an emerald green dress, that laced up at the front to be very form fitting, but she knew that didn't worry Elves, although both male and female elves did disapprove of women wearing very low cut tops as she knew.
This dress was all right in that aspect, she meant to keep her promise to Gildor to be decently dressed. The sleaves were pretty, being soft green lace, and the uneven panelled skirt fell to her ankles, more of the lace was also in the skirt panels, and over all she felt that in this dress she was passably attractive, not that the fact she was not a particularly pretty woman had ever bothered her, it was just that these elf women were all so damned gorgeous it made her feel positively ugly.
Still, from past experience she knew elves did not think much about other people's appearance. They were all so good looking that most of them had figured out not to judge people by their looks, but by their words and actions. Certainly, her attitude and outrageous behaviour had got her more attention during the Last Alliance than sheer beauty would have. And a lot of improper advances from both mortal and even a few elven men. Which amused the heck out of both High Kings, especially Elendil, both for the way she handled those foolish enough to put the hard word on her, and for the fact that she could not understand the interest in her.
Finally dressed at last, she left her room, wondering how the heck in this maze of a house she was going to find Elrond as she had promised. She rounded a corner and saw Aragorn, and asked him for directions.
'What business do you have with Lord Elrond', he asked her, obviously disapproving of her.
'He asked me to see him', Rory replied, bitting back the urge to retort with 'find out, nosey'; this man did not like her, she knew and found him very irritating in return. After all, he did not know her and she did not like being disliked for no reason.
'How do I know you are being truthful, woman,' he growled at her.
Why would I lie', she snapped back. 'Your problem is that I don't behave like some mindless git; happy to sit back and let you blokes stuff up the world. Well, the problem is dickheads like you, so far up yourself it isn't funny, and thinking the rest of the world owes you something! Well, get over it you piece of pond slime and GET OUT OF MY WAY BEFORE I HAVE TO HURT YOU, she snarled between her teeth.
At this point, one of Lady Arwen's hand maids appeared, she gave a brief and inaudible message to Aragorn and then agreed to show Rory to Elrond. This elf was very nice, and seemed curious about Rory, but Rory could tell her little as a result of a vow to keep her origins to herself for the present.
'Lady Rory', the handmaiden whose name Rory had learned was Brenna, 'Lord Elrond is in the third room on the left down this corridor, and I do believe he is waiting for you.' The elf smiled and went about her duties, that quickly that Rory barely had time to thank her.
Rory approached the indicated door, feeling unaccountably nervous. She shook herself, telling herself not to be silly, as her hand raised to knock on the door.