ELF, HOBBIT, OR MAN: PT 1
CHAPTER THREE: LEAVE ME ALONE!
BY NAOKO HIRUMI
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow...lady I'm saying ow! Quit poking me!" I gasped for air as the servant pulled something around my waist tightly. Dress fittings, not fun. "Lady, can you please just go find dresses that look like they'll fit me and adjust them later!"
"Nothing doing, miss. I have to make sure they're the appropriate size before fetching them." She tugged again on the blaster thing around my waist.
I grumbled and put my hands on me stomach. "If you pull any tighter on that thing, I'll be seeing my lunch again," I groaned. She loosened it up a bit. "Thank you."
About twenty minutes after the twins had left me, the servant had come in and started measuring me for dresses. And here I thought it was going to be like the other fanfictions where they just bring the dresses in and go with that. But nooooo...She had to measure everything. I know elves were thorough, but this was ridiculous! I just hoped that the twins didn't come in while this was going on.
"How are things, Hinoluin?"
Oh dear Valar, one of them had to come in.
"Just," I gasped for air, "peachy."
Whichever one it was laughed. "I'm sorry, we should have found someone else to help you."
"Really now? Then why didn't you?" I growled as the servant started measuring around my bosoms. She didn't flinch and kept to her work.
"We were in a hurry to speak to Ada."
Sighing, I gave in and let the servant go about her business. This was going to just get better and better, I knew it.
Less than two hours here and already I was being made a fool. In front of one of the twins, no less. I really hoped it wasn't Elrohir. But I figured that if Elladan was here, so was Elrohir, which just made things a worse. I wanted to lay down and take a nap.
"Hey, wait a minute. You never brought me my parchment and things." I tried to turn a little to look at whichever one was with us, but the woman just grabbed my hips and twisted me back into place. "And which one are you?"
He came around to my front and smiled. Oh sweet Varda...Elrohir! I flushed deeply. He chuckled at my blushing and clasped his hands behind his back.
"You look lovely in red, miss."
Well wasn't that perfect for my blushing issue? I only blushed darker and looked down at the woman who was pinning the hem of the pattern thingy for my dresses to an appropriate length for me. She was ignoring us.
"Thank you, Elrohir."
There was a pause. The woman stood up and helped me shimmy out of the pattern before leaving with her supplies. I stepped off the stool I had been standing on and adjusted my scarf. Elrohir watched me as I walked over and stood on my balcony.
The elf came and stood behind me. "Adar has informed my brother and I that you are to sit at our table during your stay. If that is alright with you."
"Oh, of course it's alright. It's not like I'm going to fraternize with every man here if I sit at some other table."
"Fraternize?"
"Never mind. It's alright with me." I sighed and looked down at the flowers. I spotted tulips, daisies, daffodils, snapdragons, and some other flower I didn't recognize. Maybe they were mums or geraniums. They were beautiful, as was everything else around here.
Elrohir kept his eyes on me and I shifted slightly under his gaze. I wasn't one to like being watched. Ignoring him, I leaned against the railing and watched as a few elves passed by underneath.
"Do you require anything, miss?"
I turned to him, leaning back against the balcony. "Yes, I do. Stop calling me miss. Call me either Hinoluin or Hin. Miss makes me sound like a teacher." My eyes met his. "I still want some parchment and writing utensils. I need to compose some music before I go insane. And if you can, I would like a flute."
He studied me. "You create music?"
"That's all I'm really good at. Music is my life. I love it." Looking upwards, I saw a lone cloud drift by. "My sister is the talented one. She can draw almost anything that she imagines. If somebody described something to her, she would have it drawn in a few hours, perfectly. Jaylee always was the one who mom liked best." A tear trailed down my cheek at the thought of my sister. I missed her, what can I say?
The elf gently wiped away my tear. "You miss her, do you not?"
"Very much." I looked down at my feet. The polish on my toes was chipping. Peachy.
"Don't worry, Hinoluin. Once the quest is complete, Gandalf will return to help return you to your home." He smiled at me. "For now, let's walk. Tell me about your home and what it is like there."
I nodded and we left my room.
For the next few hours, we walked around Rivendell and I told him all about Midland, Jaylee, my mother, and my friends. He asked what I did, and I told him about my music and awards and such, and after that we joked around about our siblings. We got along great. I wondered if this would turn into a Mary Sue deal. I really wished it didn't, because I hated Mary Sues.
"Lady."
Elrohir and I turned to see Mr. Pissy striding towards us. He didn't look happy. Duh.
"Yes'm?" I blinked up at him. He was almost taller than my elf companion.
"I wish to speak with you privately before the Fellowship leaves." I blinked again. "Now, if you don't mind."
I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't want to leave Elrohir because, well, I didn't know my way back to my room. I would get so lost. But then again I could just ask one of the servants or something. "Alright then. Sorry Elrohir. We'll continue our talk later then." I scampered after Boromir, taking three steps to every one of his long strides. "Dude you have long legs." He ignored that.
We ended up in a courtyard. He turned around to face me.
"Lady, come with us on the quest. You know of many things that might happen, do you not? You could be of great service to us." He had a glint in his eyes and I didn't like it. "We need you."
Okay, that sounded strange. And a little perverted, but that was just me. "Why do you want me so badly?" Again with the pervertedness. "I may know of things to come, but I do not want to change the course of the future. Of your future. As much as I want to help you, I will not come. Nothing will change my mind."
He scowled at me. Well, it looked more like he was constipated than anything, and I tried not to laugh. I covered it up with a cough.
"Please, we need you on this quest."
"Dude, no means no. I am staying right here in Rivendell like Elrond said. So nyah." I stuck my tongue out at him.
Mr. Pissy growled at me. "We shall duel, then. If I win, you come with us. If you win, you stay here or do whatever you please."
"Um, okay?"
Ten minutes later found us holding swords, facing each other, ready to duel. I suppose I was lucky that my uncle had taught me how a few years ago and we went at it every summer when he visited.
Without warning, Boromir made his first move which I blocked. I retaliated by trying to knock his sword away. He forced me back, and I almost fell. Luckily I was quick enough to move before I lost a hand. Or arm, whichever. I ducked under his arm and made a funky move that I had made up myself and almost knocked away his sword. Boromir gripped it tightly at the last second and swung back to try and knock away mine. I squeaked and grabbed my sword with both hands, nearly falling over with it.
I saw a few elves gathered at the edge of the courtyard, watching us. Grinning, I decided to give them a show.
As Boromir struck again, I suddenly howled and dropped my sword, falling to my knees holding my hand close. I forced out some tears, crying ever so fakely. The elves all looked at me, astounded, then back at Boromir who looked utterly bewildered. The son of a steward dropped his own sword and rushed over, kneeling in front of me.
"Lady, I am sorry. How badly are you wounded?"
Looking up at him, more tears fell, then I broke into a wide grin. "Not at all." I scrambled to my feet and pointed triumphantly at him. "I win! I get to stay here." And with that I scampered off before he could say another word.
I wandered around for a while, trying to find my way back to my room. As I turned a corner, I saw that blasted servant going into a room with an armload of dresses so I followed her. She turned as I stepped into the doorway and smiled.
"Here are your dresses, miss. There are under garments beneath them. Please make sure they all get put away properly." Then she left. Just like that.
So, being as bored as I was, started putting them away, inspecting each dress before I placed them in the wardrobe. There were three various shades of green, five white ones, two deep red ones, and a pink one. Each one had a different style to it. One of the red ones had a box neck and looked like it would go almost off the shoulder both ways. I fell in love automatically and decided to wear it.
After stripping of my other clothes, I struggled into the under things before wiggling into the dress. It fit perfectly, and I was right about the neck line. The only problem now was the matter of tying the laces in the back. Peeking out into the hallway, I only say miscellaneous people wandering about. Nobody I recognized. I sighed and closed my door.
My regular clothes were lying in a heap on my bed, so I folded them nicely and placed them in a drawer in the wardrobe. My scarf stayed, however. With any luck, maybe I could snag a white one, as well, to go with the red and green dresses. My red I could wear with the white and pink ones.
I laid down on my bed, sighing contentedly as I sunk slightly into the soft mattress. The pillows were real down and were oh so soft. My eyes drooped closed and I nuzzled into the pillow I was laying on.
And of course, just like at home, I was about to drift off to sleep when somebody knocked on my door. I groaned and shifted enough for my mouth to be uncovered. "Go way..." I prepared to roll back over for some sleep.
"Hinoluin? Please may I come in?" Elrohir. Course it had to be him.
"Fine fine..." I sat up, looking obviously grumpy.
The door opened and the elf stepped in, smiling slightly. In his hands were parchment and a flute. In his other were quills and a few ink bottles. I grinned and scrambled off the bed and onto my feet.
I would have hugged him if he hadn't been holding everything. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh sweet Valar, my sanity has returned!"
Elrohir grinned at me as I took everything from him. "You are very welcome, Hin."
Dancing across the room, my dress swirling around my ankles, I arrived at the desk and set everything down and began arranging them according to how I wanted them. I felt his eyes on my back, but this time I honestly didn't care. I was way too happy.
"Your laces are loose." I paused at his voice. Oh yeah, huh? I looked over my shoulder, trying to look at them as he continued. "Would you like assistance?"
I blushed and squirmed slightly. This wasn't appropriate for a man to help a lady with her laces! Oh dear. What am I to do? I did want them tightened, but not really from a man. Um, um, um, um...
Before I knew it he was behind me, fixing them anyway. My face must have been neon red right now. OH MY GOD I'M TURNING INTO A MARY-SUE!
Elrohir turned me around when he was finished and smiled down at me. I hung my head in embarrassment. This was wrong, and I was turning into a Mary Sue. Could things get any worse?
"Brother!" And in comes Elladan. Peachy.
We both turned to look at him, my eyes as wide as a deer caught in the headlights of my car. He stared right back, confused as to what had been going on.
"Brother...? Miss?" I growled deep in my throat. Elladan just kept staring.
"Er, excuse me, boys." I scampered out into the hall, heading towards the washroom. My face was burning like no tomorrow.
As soon as I got there, I shut and locked the door, as well as the window. Wait, why was there a window in here anyway? Pushing aside that thought, I sat down against the wall, holding my knees close.
I could not stay here and be attracted to that man...er...elf! It would only lead to trouble and me becoming a Mary Sue. I hated Mary Sues. Becoming one would be my worse nightmare come true. I laid my head on my knees and sighed. What was I suppose to do? If I was suppose to stay here, I was doomed to be a Mary Sue. And I was getting really sick of that name. I sighed again.
I wanted to go home. Yeah, Rivendell was beautiful and peaceful and everything I've ever wanted in a safe haven like this, but my home was my home. Everything there was familiar and safe in my own world. My heart was truly there, not here like I thought at first. Thinking for a few minutes, I figured I had only been in Middle Earth about three hours. If I was falling apart like this so soon, how would I survive a few months here, for the most part on my own?
Tears flowed down my face and I sniffled. I missed mom and Jaylee and Alessandra (as much as I hated Jay's friend) and my puppy Squeeker who was at the groomer's. I wanted to go home, get my friends together and have a mani-pedi facial party and watch movies until dawn and then go to the mall and blow three weeks of my allowance in Hot Topic and Waldenbooks. I sobbed and hugged my knees closer.
Needing music, I got up and started back towards my room. I heard footsteps behind me and I started running. Tears blinded me but I kept going, not caring where I was going. Turning a corner, I ran into a hard something. A hard warm something.
"Hinoluin, what's the matter?"
I looked up into the worried face of Aragorn. Sobbing, I looked back down and hid my face in my hands. "I want to go home, Aragorn. I just want to go home and never come back here!"
He helped me to my feet and gently hugged me. "Come now, let's get you back to your room to calm down. We can talk about this there."
We made our way back to my room, Aragorn waving off questions about my condition. As soon as he led me back inside, I grabbed Izzie and turned him on as loud as he could go so I could listen to music and talk to Aragorn at the same time.
"Why were you weeping?"
I sat on my bed and folded my hands in my lap. "I miss my home. I really want to go back. Aragorn, I don't think I can stay here for so long. I'm never in the same place for more than two weeks. Every month I would take some sort of trip to another city or across the country. I miss my family so much, and my dog." Looking up at him, more tears fell. "Aragorn my heart is breaking. I need to go home. I have to. Or get out of Rivendell soon. I can't stay here until Gandalf comes back."
He was silent for a few moments and I tuned back into my music. It was My Chemical Romance and my favorite song, You Know What They Do To Guys Like Us in Prison. Long title, yes, but I loved it. Aragorn cleared his throat.
"I can possibly arrange it for you to travel with a companion every couple of weeks, if you'd like." I looked up rapidly. "Maybe the twins would accompany you. Where would you like to go?"
Pondering this, I stared down at my hands. Where did I really want to go? There were so many places to go, how could I choose so few to keep me busy for a few months? "I suppose I'd like to see Rohan, Minas Tirith, Gondor, perhaps Hobbiton? Maybe Mirkwood, if possible. Bree?"
Aragorn nodded thoughtfully, thinking over my requests. "I shall speak with Lord Elrond and his sons before the Fellowship departs. As soon as we come to a decision I will let you know." He smiled comfortingly at me. "Is there anything else you wish to speak about?"
"No, I feel better now. Thank you, my king." I bowed my head respectfully. Chuckling, he gently touched my shoulder before standing and leaving me to my own devices.
Flopping back onto my bed, I sighed deeply, thinking about those months that lay before me. And I wondered if my Pop-Tarts at home were cold and stale, or if any time had passed at all and they were still hot enough to melt the styro-foam plate I had put them on. Or if Jay ate them.
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AUTHOR'S NOTES!
Wow, this chapter took me a while. Sorry everybody! -smiles sheepishly- My summer radio class has started and I should be working on my first show which is due Monday, and then I have to clean my room, put away laundry, help my brother clean his room, help my friend Beth study for her permit test (her fourth time taking it! -ducks the chair thrown by Beth- ), and THEN load all my poetry onto fictionpress and deviantART. So I'm a busy authoress right now.
And we've been having some troubles at home, so I'll update as often as I can. I'm going to work on the next chapter right after I post this for you, so hopefully it won't take long! I have some ideas ready to go, and the first two DVD's sitting above me on the top shelf of my desk incase I need to refer to anything, so I hope I don't screw anything up. Even though some characters might be OOC since it's been forever since I attempted a Lord of the Rings fic.
Anywho, I'm off to post and start chapter four for all of you! Thanks for reading so far and I really hope you stay tuned the whole was through! Oh yeah, and if anybody was wondering, I will be changing the title, but not within the chapters. I've changed my mind about this being a multiple part fic. But I have ideas up the wazoo for the next installment of the same type of series! -winks cutely- So I'm off! Review, if you'd be so kind!
