Jessica lay alone on moist ground in a lush forest. She slowly opened her eyes and groaned as she regaining consciousness. She sat up and looked around groggily. That's a pretty tree; those usually don't grow out here. It's a nice change from the pines, though. Her eyes widened with the sudden realization that she was nowhere near the city.
"I'm having a dream," she stated firmly as she tried to get up. Her body protested and she collapsed. "Okay, I'm having a really real dream," she said, grumbling.
After a moment, she tried to get up again. She crawled to a tree, using it for support. Reaching for a branch, then the next, and the next. Eventually she was able to get to her feet and stretched her aching body. The last time Jessica could recall being this sore was when she'd ridden her horse hard without warming up first.
She looked down at herself and groaned. Her jeans were torn in several places, her white button-down shirt was filthy, and wet, which may it partially see through. "Great." Somewhere in the back of her mind, Jessica was beginning to suspect that she was not dreaming, but this was a reality she did not what to consider at the moment. Instead, she continued her examination of her apparently unharmed person. Luckily, she had decided to wear the combat boots that her mother always objected to. Hey, they were comfortable! She wasn't exactly a Goth, but then, she wasn't exactly a fashion model, either. Good. At least my feet will be okay.
Jessica drew a deep breath and looked around. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto, she thought, looking at her surroundings. "Okay, Jess, you're not going to get hysterical. You're not the hysterical type." She looked around, finding a stick she could use to walk with. And her purse! Score one for Jessica! Then she drew herself to her full height and started moving…that way.
Despite the boots, Jessica's feet started to hurt when she realized she had been walking for several hours. She had already gone thought panic at what might have happened, terror that she would never get out of the forest, hysteria that she might starve to death, and finally ended with the mind numbing boredom of endless trees. Her mind had return to contemplating where she was when and the most disgusting excuse for a creature jumped in front of her. She let out a surprise squeak, her hands going to her mouth. It seemed just as surprised as she was. Then it started growling at her. So she he growled right back.
It reminded her of her cousin, Mike. Well, except the rotting flesh that is. It was really a disgustingly gross little…thing. You can't scare me, whatever you are, she thought, hoping that the same tactic on she used on Mike might intimidate it.
The creature cocked its head in confusion. Then it suddenly grabbed her by the waist and tried to kiss her. Jessica was so stunned, she couldn't move for a few seconds. Then her brain started working again and she used her walking stick to let it know this was not acceptable behavior. "Do you mind? We haven't been introduced!" she heard herself saying. Oh, crap, I'm getting hysterical again.
The thing let go, stared, and screamed angrily. The only thing this accomplished was to be struck a second time.
Jessica hoped this would deter any further…groping. It didn't. The creature made another grab for her. So she beat the living daylights out of it. Her aching muscled protested, but she didn't care. She was hot, tired, scared, frustrated, and more angry than afraid of this whatever it was.
When Jessica was satisfied the thing would not come back at her, she stopped and it cowered back, its arms over its head. Then it crouched down low and whimpered, as if asking if she were done. For no apparently reason, she decided she would name it, "Mike"
Suddenly, an arrow appeared out of nowhere, piercing "Mike." Jessica let out another alarmed squeak and wondered if this was why women used to faint all the time. Two of the most beautiful creatures she had ever seen, appeared out of the bushes. They were identical, as far as she could tell. Twins, probably. They were both tall and beautiful, with long ebony hair, and muscular looking. One of them was looking at her. What the heck!
One nudged "Mike" with his foot while the other was looked at her. Okay, she thought, looking from one to the other. She looked at the one who may or may not have been checking her out. I guess you can be Twin A. And the other can be Twin B.
"Are you well, my lady?" Twin A asked in elvish.
Jessica raised her eyebrow. Not to her great surprise, they spoke a language she didn't understand. Although, it was a beautiful language to listen to.
"I don't think she speaks elvish," said Twin B.
Twin A rolled his eyes. He raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture. Receiving no response, he started towards her. She was obviously frightened, for she raised her stick in warning. He just smiled and continued to hold up his hands. She frowned and tilted her head in confusion.
Twin A pointed to himself. "Elladan," he said firmly.
Jessica frowned. "Aladdin?" she repeated. This must've been close enough to the correct answer, because the man smiled and nodded. He pointed to Twin B and said, "Elrodhir."
Suddenly the lightbulb went on. He's telling me their names! "El-rod-hir," she repeated. The names were strange and she was sure she'd gotten them wrong. She pointed to herself. "Jessica."
The men exchanged glances. Then Twin A…no, Aladdin, or whatever he was called, repeated her name. He seemed happy when she smiled back and relaxed slightly. Then he called out something and a young man stood up from behind the bushes where they had been concealed. "Eldarion," he said, pointing to the boy.
"El-dar-ion," Jessica repeated. "Great. Now we all know who's who. Now what?"
She gave them a small smile and then fainted dead away.
OoOoOoO
Eldarion hadn't been too sure about accompanying his uncles, Elladan and Elrohir on one of their tracking trips. He later had to admit, it was the strangest one he had ever been on.
First, there was the mortal woman they had seen wandering through the forest, talking to herself. As strange as this was, it wasn't nearly as strange as when they later saw an orc jump out at her. Rather than screaming and running like any other woman that Eldarion had seen, this one stood her ground and actually growled back when the orc growled at her.
Eldarion wasn't sure about his uncles, but he found himself impressed. Being even more so when the orc kissed the woman and, instead of fainting, she struck it with the staff in her hand. He had already notched an arrow and was preparing to shoot the orc, only to be forestalled by his Uncle Elladan, possibly because he didn't think his nephew had a clear shot. But even he seemed surprised when the woman began beating the orc.
Within a few minutes, this warrior maid had the orc cowering. The three watching elves found themselves amazed and amused by this scene. The stranger had taken an animal whose sole purpose in life was killing and had it cowering and whimpering like an infant.
Eldarion had difficulty containing his laughter, even after receiving a quelling look from his uncles. All he could think about was returning to Gondor and telling his father the whole bizarre story.
Before the orc could gather its wits, and its courage, and attack the woman again Eldarion watched as his Uncle Elrohir expertly fired an arrow, killing it instantly. Naturally, this startled the stranger, and the elder elves stepped out from the bushes, motioning for Eldarion to remain out of sight. He looked at the staff still in the warrior maid's hand and nodded.
It was immediately apparent that the stranger did not speak elvish. Eldarion watched as his Uncle tried to get across to her that they meant her no harm. She held up the staff in a defensive manner as he approached, but she did not lash out, which seemed to indicate that she understood at least the gestures of Eldarion's uncle. Then they learned her name. Jessica. An odd sounding name to the boy's elven ears.
To the amazement of them all, the warrior maid smiled before collapsing in a swoon.
