Thanks to all my reviewers and I am going to try and say a few things to each one of you.
Eathiln: Thanks for your really nice review. I am glad you like the way the story is going.
Jousting Elf with a Sabre: I am glad you like it. Here is more.
Southern Gaelic: The twist in the story will take a while to put into place, but I am not going to say what it is, otherwise it would spoil the story.
Forleasywn-Rohan Shield Maiden: I am glad you liked the story so much. Thanks for your point about the crying blood. No I don't think you are a bad reviewer, I am glad you made that point. I think perhaps painted with blood would have been better, but what can you do?
Alibi girl: All shall be revealed in this chapter…
Mystical Full Moon Maiden: Thank you, I am honoured you think that way about my start. I just hope the rest of my story will live up to it!
Disclaimer: I only own Tysan and Aleyna.
Chapter 2
Waking up
Aleyna groaned and rolled over. She felt refreshed, as if she had just had a long sleep and had woken up again. It felt refreshing to see the sun. Although, her surroundings were a little strange, being nothing like she was used to. She was lying on an elegant double bed, with silk sheets. Above her was an immaculately crafted ceiling. There was a door to one wall, with another room which opened onto a washroom. A wardrobe was built into a wall. The wall opposite the door had carved arches, one of which opened out to a balcony.
Curious as to what was outside the window, Aleyna swung her legs out of the bed. What shocked her was the fact that she had been changed into a silk nightgown that was incredibly comfortable. What she didn't like was that she couldn't stand, she felt dizzy. And she was experiencing memory loss. It was somewhat annoying, her head felt fuzzy.
"You shouldn't be up yet." A woman glided into the room.
"I don't want to be lying around all day." Aleyna complained.
"Well, I think for starters that you could have a bath." The woman smiled.
"That would be good." Aleyna smiled.
"By the way, I'm Tysan." The woman smiled.
"I think you know who I am." Aleyna smiled.
"I do, but I still think you need a bath." Tysan said again.
As Tysan called a maid and asked her to fill a bath Aleyna was left contemplating what was so different about her. For one thing she didn't seem to walk; rather she glided over the ground, as if she was suspended above it. Her face was covered by a white gold mask with a jet rim and a single garnet tear beneath her left eye. Her eyes were a deep violet, and her hair was a deep purple, black in some lights as it was so dark. She wore a simple long sleeved dress which was in the same dark purple as her hair. A pendant hung down from her neck, a celtic cross with jet decorations.
"Come on; let's get you into that bath." Tysan smiled.
Slipping into the violet scented water Aleyna felt herself relax. The steam cleaned all her pores, leaving her feeling clean, invigorated and fresh. She washed out her long dark coppery red hair, which shone like fire in the sunlight. Her eyes were a sea green, yet could still be disconcerting when they blazed with anger. When she had finished she wrapped herself into a towel and stood around. Finding a simple slip she slipped into it, before sticking her head around the door.
"I bet that feels better. Now what are you going to wear?" Tysan asked.
"My clothes?" Aleyna suggested.
"Ha ha, nice try, here, I think you'll look good in this." Tysan held up a light apple green dress.
"No way." Aleyna shook her head.
"Just try it, it'll go really well with you hair." Tysan sighed wistfully.
After the battle that the two women exchanged, Aleyna submitted to be helped into the dress, though she was a little unhappy that she couldn't wear her jeans. Although, she thought, this dress isn't so bad once it's on. It had a v-neck, which was lined with silver patterns. The sleeves were long and flared about three quarters of the way down. There was a girdle of silver, where the girdle joined there was a trailing piece of silver.
"There we are that wasn't so bad was it?" Tysan asked.
"It all depends." Aleyna muttered.
"Come on, father's waiting to see you." Tysan all but dragged Aleyna out the door.
Tysan led Aleyna through the myriad corridors that made up Rivendell. Aleyna had found out where she was, wherever she was she hadn't thought it was possible for a place to be this large. It defied all of her expectations. She could see how someone could get lost in it; though she seemed to remember the corridors she was walking down, like she had been down them before. Eventually Tysan stopped in front of a door and knocked on it.
"Enter." Came a male voice.
Tysan and Aleyna entered the room. Aleyna's breath was taken away. The walls were covered from floor to ceiling with bookshelves. There was a light wood desk, very large, and had a man sitting behind it. He had brown hair and his eyes were weary. There were also two other men and another woman, all with black hair and blue eyes. The woman was wearing a blue dress and the men were wearing identical outfits, apart from the fact that they were wearing different colour tunics.
"Ah, Tysan, Aleyna, do sit down." The man indicated some chairs.
"Why did you call us all here father?" The other woman asked.
"Yes we were wondering." One of the men leaned back.
"Well I do believe introductions are in order first." The older male behind the desk said, "Aleyna, I am Elrond, Lord of Rivendell, this is my sons Elladan and Elrohir and my daughter Arwen." Elrond introduced the people.
"That would mean I was in Middle Earth." Aleyna looked confused.
"Where else would you be?" One of the men, Elrohir asked.
"You know I told you all about Aleyna before she arrived." Elrond snapped.
"It's nice to know you were expected." Aleyna muttered to herself.
"Father, why did you ask all of us to come here?" Tysan cut off any other conversations.
"I think you all need explanations." Elrond sighed heavily, "Especially you two." Elrond turned to face Aleyna and Tysan.
"What do you mean all I need to know is why Aleyna appeared?" Tysan looked upset.
"They are one and the same thing." Elrond sighed.
"So you mean Aleyna's arrival, me and my brothers finding her, are all connected?" Tysan asked, disbelief creeping into her voice.
"They are one and the same. Now, if you would let me explain…" Elrond growled at his sons, who were about to ask a question, "Aleyna was born here, in Middle Earth. Her father was a fey knight and her mother was an elf. Her mother and father both left Middle Earth to protect their daughter. But, Aleyna's mother left behind another child. She had been raped and she had given birth to that child, a half-wraith. I took that child on and cared for her as my own, as did my wife. It was almost my wife's duty to help her sister. And that child has grown now, and sits in this room." Elrond finished.
The whole room sat in quiet, each person reeling from the force of that revelation. Aleyna felt way out of her depth, she felt so small, as if things were happening around her that she didn't know about. What hurt her the most was the fact that her mother and father had lied to her all her life. And she had believed them. Some things didn't quite seem to fit though.
"Who was my father?" Tysan muttered her voice quiet.
"The Witch King of Angmar." Elrond answered.
"I am sorry cousin." Arwen said, before walking out of the room.
"This doesn't change things." Tysan smiled at Elladan and Elrohir.
"Like we would ever dream of letting it." Elrohir joked, before shutting the door.
"I have things to see to." Tysan walked out the door.
"Aleyna, I think you would like some answers." Elrond said as Aleyna went to leave the room.
"Are you a mind-reader?" Aleyna asked, with a wry smile.
"You must want some answers. I've just revealed things that could change your life." Elrond shrugged.
"You could say that to say the least." Aleyna sighed.
"I know it's hard." Elrond sympathized.
"Just before we go on, any other earth shattering news?" Aleyna asked.
"You're betrothed to Legolas of Mirkwood." Elrond calmly stated.
"Fine then, if I am an elf, why did I get a fever?" Aleyna asked.
"I don't know, I think it is because you know a little too much about the future." Elrond shrugged.
"Very convenient." Aleyna sighed.
"I think you should do some weapons training." Elrond smiled at the look on Aleyna's face.
"Thank you, uncle." Aleyna hugged Elrond before breezing off.
A few minutes later found Aleyna back in her room tapping her foot. She didn't have a clue as to what she was to do. Just as she was about to go for a walk, seamstresses appeared with Arwen, who explained that Aleyna was to be fitted with some training clothes and dresses. That took the rest of the day, and by the time it was evening Aleyna collapsed into bed exhausted.
Author's note: I just thought I would start to say a little something to each reviewer, which I haven't done before. So normal drill, and I hope you don't have any more questions.