A/N: I know it had been two to three month, but would you believe me if I told you I had to go back to school almost everyday during the first few weeks of holiday.Yup! Oh well I will turn eleven on the 22nd of this month. Anyway some of my reviewers have kindly pointed out that I had not included the age of Nel. Well to be honest, I really did not know what age she should be, but I have decided that she would be ten, like me. Do not worry she won't fall in love. For now at least. And not in her teenage years too. Imagine being 18 and loving someone that is 2931 years old. Seriously, think about it. We would look so childlike in his eyes no matter how old. But I guess it is our freedom to write whatever we want to (YAY).No tenth-walker. So, she would look and sound immature (Haha.Y'all can't blame me for why my conversation sound so immature...though my writing still needs improving.)She is also mary-sueish, to what extent, I do not know. Tell me please. Anyway, a big thanks you to those who had reviewed especially those who bothered to provide a constructive criticism and to those whose reviews also encouraged me. And also a big thank you to those who actually made it to this chapter without giving up on this story even though you all wanted to. (I check my user statistics)
Disclaimer: I do not and do not wish to own anything that belongs to Tolkien. Though I won't mind borrowing!
Italics: Nel Thoughts (unless otherwise stated)
"Yes?" She said as an elf stepped in. Beautiful, unfortunately. One might possibly develop self-esteem issues, living here. Hopefully, not Nel.
"You must be Nel .I'm Laurien, your new guide around Rivendell, or friend if you like. I think you should get up now Lord Elrond has requested to see you. Not only that you have yet to bath and get dressed. "
"Tell him, I'll come later. I'm not in the mood to talk right now. And that goes for you too! " She said lazily, for most. She had been woken by a loud knock on the door. And she had thought that elves were silent and graceful. Well, she guessed, maybe not all.
"He said you would refuse. But you don't have a choice anyway," She dragged Nel out of the bed in a very un-elf like way.
"Oof, you didn't have to pull me out of bed you know." She said while rubbing her arm. "Is that the bathroom?" Nel was pointing at a door which was on the left corner, opposite the bed.
"No, that opens to a hallway that leads to the library." Laurien was kind of surprised. Only Royalties and Nobles had a personal bathroom. Maybe Nel was well-known in her land.
"O-kay, then where do I bath? How about a toothbrush?" Nel decided that whatever the answer was, she knew she was definitely not going to get use to this.
"There is a pool for females to bathe in. Come, I'll show you." She turned towards the door. A few steps forward, she halted. Inclining her head towards Nel, "What do you mean by toothbrush?"
I so hope that I won't be staying here for long. I mean everything here is so old-fashioned, except for the fact that their architectures are absolutely amazing. It would be nice for a holiday, to get away from all the stress and pollutions of the city life that many lead.
Laurien, who has from my room till now, has been chatting non-stop, not a very well-known trait in elves. Well, in the movies anyway. So this must be kind of trick, but the movie doesn't show everything so...
While Nel was occupied with her own thoughts, Laurien had however stopped talking; she had noticed that Nel was quiet. She had thought Nel the type of chatty person. Considering the way she spoke earlier this morning, or else she would have quietly got out of bed. If Laurien were to have a telepathic 'chat' with Nel, her thoughts would have been confirmed. For Nel gets bored easily and she occupies herself with both her 'voices', that's why when she's alone, she often start talking to herself without knowing.
"Here it is" said Laurien as she pointed towards the pool where a group of elleths were currently taking their bath.
How the hell does she expect me, a human, to bathe in the same pool with a group of beautiful, flawless, graceful, perfect, youthful looking and... pretty(?) elves. You did think that she would consider the fact that humans might be embarrassed and possibly ashamed of their naked body especially when they are surrounded by elves! But then she might not know humans at all. After all I have yet to see a human. Though she had seen only but a few of those who are in Rivendell. If only the movies had been more clearer.
She realized that she should have read the books but small words did not appeal to her very much. She also realized that she did not really know the sequence of the events that took place in the movies. Not only that, she did not even knew what year the war happened. She thought about asking if the battle has yet to begun, but she knew that it might cause unwanted attention if it was still before the war. Maybe asking the year would help. Nel remembered the Xbox game 'The Third Age'. she guessed it would occur around there, if she knew what there means.
"What year is it?" Nel realized that she had just said it out aloud. She had thought about going around the subject.
"29-32...why?"
"What age?"
"The third, wh..."
"Nothing, just asking." as though that would be enough. Nel had been disappointed. She thought that the third age would refer to years in the 3000s thus making it easier. But now she knew that it could be anyway from year 1 to 10000 and she would not even know when the war would begin or if it is already over. Laurien kept silent, knowing it would not be her business to find out more." Would you mind if I...
"You what?"
"Be left alone to have my bath."
"There are others around you would not be 'left alone' even if I leave..."
"I know but...please?"
"Okay." She sighed. Laurien did not understand the purpose of this. Neither did Nel, but she wanted it to be so.
The pool was not huge; it reminded Nel of a Jacuzzi. At first she thought of jumping in with her clothes to hide her unsightly fats on her thighs and stomach but she realized she had nothing to change into. She looked around for anything that Laurien might have left for her. There was only a towel. She realized that she would have to strip down to her undergarment, but she won't go any further. It wasn't that she was shy, back home this was nothing new to her, it was just the elleths. The elleths were obviously naked with their perfect body, perfect curve, slim, fit and their complexion was flawless. Nel knew that they knew that she was here and that they were simply minding their own business's just hope that they won't turn around. After removing her clothes, Nel walked towards the pools using her clothes to hide her body. Once she entered, she threw her clothes on the bank. Her eyes spotted three small glass bottles of liquid which she guessed Laurien had left too.
After her bath, during which one of the elleth had tried to talk her, to which that Nel had politely responded though short, she headed back to her room. Nel had used her clothes on the way back. Thankfully the bathing pool area is secluded and leads directly to her room. There she saw a simple brown dress that lay on the bed. It was nothing special, just plain. On it was a note in elvish. Nel picked it up, wanting to read. However the language used was not of her own and therefore she dried and changed herself thinking that she would ask Laurien for translation later.
Laurien came up later to escort Nel to meet Elrond. She also apologized for the dress. It seemed that the dress was borrowed from one of the maid whose height and size was close enough to Nel. There were also four dresses that are currently being made for her. If she wanted any more she has to pay. Nel knew she had no middlearthian money, but if she was going to stay for long she would not mind working. This time Laurien attempted a small talk with Nel. She knew that Nel wanted to be left alone, however it would be rude to not speak at all especially to a guest who seems to be out of a place.
"Where do you come from?"
"Form a distant land, you would not have heard of it. "Nel did not knew what to say exactly to those who had asked so far, she had been truthful to Elrond but to the other's, she is not sure. It would be up to Elrond.
"How about you parents? Surely they would not leave a child so young to travel across middle-earth alone! Especially one as young as you!" Laurien knew it was none of her business but she was curious as to why Nel is here alone.
"They do not know I am here. I had awoken to find myself here." Nel said, hoping there would be no more question. She knew she was supposed to be curious and everything but her mind was not working clearly. Perhaps she was still in shock. After all she had expected to awake back home like the last time.
"You know, you could be more cheerful." Laurien was getting tired of the bland expression she had on her face.
Cheerful? Why should I be cheerful! Imagine being drop into another world, especially one you have heard about! But she doesn't know that I guess.
"We have arrived. I would take my leave now," and with that she left. The door had two vines which formed an oval on the top. In the oval was written a word that was in the language Nel had saw in the letter. The door was familiar to her. It was the study room. Reminded of the letter Nel made a mental note to remember to ask for translation even though she could already guess. Nel knocked.
"Enter." came a voice from the other side. Nel entered. This time Nel had a better look at the minor details in the room. There was a small portrait at the front corner of the room. It was of Elrond and Nel guessed, his wife, sons and Arwen. Though Nel had not read the book, she knew that Elrond had sons but she did not expect it to be twins. She also knew that something happened to his wife. All this little information, she got from conversations and researches. Wanting to know the names of the sons and what happened to his wife, she asked. Elrond was already beside her.
"Who are they?" Nel asked pretending not to know.
"They are my family. That by my side is my wife. The one in front of her is my daughter Arwen and those are my sons Elrohir and Elladen. However that matter is now not important, perhaps later we can talk about it. But for now, I would like to speak to you of your presence here."
"Okay, uhm...Lord Elrond?" she asked not knowing if he should be called so, after all she could not clearly remember the movie as she once used to.
Not noticing her uncertainty, he continued, "I do not know what your purpose here is, though I do know you are here for a reason be it by the will of the Valar or someone's. It may big or small but important nonetheless, to whatever that will happen in your life or someone else's. I also do not know the length of your stay or whether you will go home. All this was not shown to me, except of you being here."
O-kay this getting weird. It is not as though I am here to fulfill some kind of prophecy. Hopefully not anyway. Maybe it's him...nah I would have seen him by now. But the room, it was the same as then. It could be a sign...
"Right..."
"Let's talk about yourself now. You should be more clear by now."
"I already told you my name and where I come from!" What else does he want to know!
"You can start with your family and the place you came from."
"Well, I have a younger brother, an older sister and both my parents. The world where I come from is very different from this. The difference is technology and the fact that there are only humans in the world. Technology so far has improved our lives. And destroyed it too. Don't ask me to explain it, there are many examples but they are irrelevant to the current situation and if necessary, I will explain certain things to you."
" I see why you do not believe who I am. You do not believe in the existent in elves" Elrond understood that seeing another race might be knew to her but her world only had man and he doubted their ability to survive on their own. Somehow he sensed that Nel's world is experiencing problems caused by man but voicing this out is not of his concern.
Nel loved the elves in the movies, but she really had no desire to meet them or even dream of falling into middle earth. She had often wondered about meeting an elf, but she realized she would be too afraid too even meet one. And why? Because she was afraid of their perfectness, how they would look at her and the fact that they might not even like her. She had thought of all of this before and had reached the conclusion that Lord of the rings should just remain as another movie and not part of an obsession, although it sort of became one, a slight obsession.
"Do you have any idea on why you are here? Perhaps a strange incident that you do not understand?" Maybe she could help him.
"No" Nel was not afraid of Elrond, but she was afraid that she would make a fool of herself. She usually does that in school and it only happens when she talk too much. Well, at least now she knew what exactly she was afraid of. Nel has decided to keep quiet of the dreams. Perhaps it has to do with middle earth and maybe it, after all is just a dream and nothing to worry about. This she hoped.
"I shall give you time to get use to this world but now, we can talk about my family. My sons are to return tonight if nothing is to happen to them. They are returning from Lorien." He knew that she was curious about his family.
"How about Arwen and..."
" My wife? She has gone beyond the seas. Arwen however is in Lorien and it seems that she wishes to remain there." Nel did not know what beyond the seas actually meant but she guessed that it meant his wife had passed away and therefore her reply was just a small "oh". She had asked no further, though she wanted to.
After that, Elrond had allowed Nel to do a little exploring. That is with Laurien of course. First they had stopped in the kitchen to get some food for Nel has she had skipped her breakfast. There were many places to see in the building and each room they went to was equally as huge and majestic. They were now in the very room that Aragorn had met Boromir and where Nel remembered Aragorn had said his "I'm not Isildur" speech while holding up the sword. Nel could faintly remember what happen and the room of course did not look exactly like it did in the movie. She spotted the statue and the shards of Narsil on it. But she also saw another man and he also had seen her. He looked at her and gave her a small smile, like one would, to a child.
"You there, come over here." he called to her. She obediently went to him. "What is your name?" he asked.
"Nel." She tried to recall anybody in the movie that might have resembled him, but none came. Even then she felt that she had met him before, had seen him before and the feeling she had did not feel good. He was a man of that she was sure. His beard and moustache confirmed that. He had shoulder length dark brown hair and his eyes were gray. This seemed strange to her as in the movie everybody had blue eyes but she knew not everything happened according to the movie.
"I am Arathorn and what may I ask are you doing here?" His voice was gentle and so was the look on his face but she knew that was only because of his smile. She could tell that he changed his appearance when necessary.
"Lord Elrond said I could look around..."
"No, I mean Rivendell. The days are growing darker, men rarely travel along here nowdays. What of your parents, where are they?"
"They are not here.I am not of this world. I just woke up here." She said in a small voice.He had that type of effect on her.The way he talked and looked at her made her feel like a five year old.
"Oh.You must be quite bored being the only person of your age. Maybe next time when I come here again, I will bring my son along. His only a year old but you can play with him. " He said, sounding as though she being of another world is not uncommon here.
"Okay" She said. She really did not know what to say but thankfully, Laurien had interfered saying that she needed to show Nel around before lunch as she had to get back to her duties. "Who is he?" Nel asked Laurien once they were out of the room.
"He is the chieftain of the dunedain, the heir of Isildur."
"What are dunedains?" Nel asked. She thought that she had heard the word in the movie before but then again, maybe not.
"I will tell you another time. Come let me show you something." She had brought Nel to another room and as before she was telling Nel the history and stories behind certain objects and painting. Although Nel was listening. She could not shake off the feeling that she had seen Arathorn before.
A/N:Finally, I have completed this chapter. About the hundred dollars, turns out that she refused to part with her money and therefore I agreed to just $50,Oh well. Remember to check my new story which will be out soon and most important of all, remember to R&R.