Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters or settings from Lord of the Rings or Xena the Warrior Princess

Author's Note:

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ IV: Meeting the Lords of Imladris ~

I dreamed a dream in times gone by

When hope was high and life worth living

Then I was young and unafraid

And dreams were made and used and wasted

Imladris, 3018 TA, October 2

Sun rays appeared as nature's easel, giving brilliant colour to what was hidden even under the passing starlit night. There was absolute stillness. No air stirred the land and grass. No clouds drifted in the blue above. No water dripped or flowed. It was all so quiet. Peaceful. Warm. Not a sound could be heard either close at hand or in the far off distance. It was an eerie sort of tranquillity, so instead of being soothed, her senses fainted. She felt like the prey, even though no predator could be detected. It was as if the world were encased in a bubble, and there was no way out.

Xena's dreams took her back to the forest. The forest stood as noble black knights, fresh from the fields of legend. In the soft light and humid air, she would tune into the noises like the familiar sounds of her home. On each conjuring of her sacred place, she felt a frisson of joy, the same kind as she felt when she spent her time with Gabrielle. The leaves would feel wet and tougher than they appeared, the aroma went right to her brain, intoxicating, rich. Then with a steady gaze, she'd pick one small place and stare until she had unmasked the camouflage of the corpses hidden in plain sight.

She ran. She ran towards them, the souls of those she had hurt. Upon entering, shots were fired, and she saw an old friend, Gabrielle, whom she had not seen in a long time, in the path of one of the dark forests. She dove in front of her and shielded her. The dream was more of a morning terror because she felt as if she might die from the pain in her brain; she was so desperate to wake up.

But she could not.

The dream continued causing now her skin to become like the surface of a boiling stew. Beneath her thin skin bubbled toxins, which symbolized her past pained in her blood, seeking release. And released they were. One by one, the bubbles burst easily like pimples. Then a mirror appeared before her, and she studied her reflection; perhaps these new injuries would take a little while to heal... but after that, the pain would be gone, and she would be ready to live anew, to feel strong, confident, once again.

Then, there was silence. She was paralyzed, naked, and cold. She tried to move, but it didn't matter which way Xena chose; each path always led back to the same spot, the path away from Gabrielle and towards the corpses. There was only one way out. And that was through the corpses towards death. Strangely, she followed that path away from Gabrielle and towards the path to redeeming the evil she had once chosen to do.

Xena was startled awake, her heavy breathing echoed loudly in her ears, and her nightgown was drenched with sweat. It was only a nightmare. The nightmare that prompted her attempts to walk the path of redemption should continue without Gabrielle. Her dear friend had now to live her own life back in her world. And Xena seemed to cope with the idea after she died. She already missed her friend a lot, but both had a new path to follow.

Xena woke and found herself lying in the same bed, after a long unpleasant dream that still hovered on the edge of memory. She recalled she left Gabrielle and that she was dead. That's how things should have been. However, they were not. She was not only alive but in an alien world. She lay a little while longer, recalling all her memories of the past days. And although she needed answers, for some strange reason she was taking her time. It was because she felt comfortable and peaceful to face her new reality.

She was fully awake now, and the memories were returning: the day she woke up in the forest to the last night as she met that glowing male. While she was thinking of all those that had occurred to her and trying in vain to bring her memory down to her arrival in this place. Imladris. That was how the stranger call it.

Meanwhile, Elrond and Arwen appeared in the corner of the hall, and his twins' sons followed them. The doors were thrown open, and they came into a further hall. There were many doors leading to the guests' bed-chamber. There was a slight knock on the door before Elrond entered and went towards the bed where the injured woman was laying. Slowly the room was filled with three more elves, his only daughter, Arwen, and the two of his twin sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and Xena looked discontent upon the many fair faces that were gathered around inside the bed-chamber.

Elrond went forward and stood beside the silent figure. "Are you awake, My Lady!" he said, with a smile "Now, at last, the hour has come that you find your answers and we can ask our questions. You are lucky to be here, after all the absurd things you have done." Next, he stepped back taking his seat in an armchair beside the bed. All there of his children remained behind him staring curiously at the woman.

Xena's brain stuttered for a moment as her eyes took in more light than she expected, every part of her went on pause while she stared at the group of four who lashed inside the bed chamber so fast. All four in front of her were the fairest race she had ever seen. They were slender, graceful yet strong, and glowed. Now she was sure they could not be human. "Where am I, and who are you?" she said aloud staring at them.

"You are in the house of Elrond, in Imladris, or Rivendell known in the common tongue, this is an Elven town West of the Misty Mountains." Elrond dropped his gaze to take a better look at the woman taking in all the details that showed that she was not from Middle Earth "I am Lord Elrond, Lord of Rivendell."

Xena narrowed her eyes, as she slowly was awaking from the bizarre dream and her instincts kicked in. "Lord Elrond?" she quizzed as she sat up and gazed at her weapons, thinking how fast she could get to them if needed. "Neither your name nor your town sounds familiar. You saved me?" the warrior asked Elrond "Where exactly are you located? Greece?"

There was a long silence, broken only by the sound of his gesture towards the twins "Those are my sons Elladan and Elrohir, who found you nearly dead Outskirt of Imladris. You were poisoned by an Orc blade and you were beginning to fade. The poison was overcoming you at last. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. You have a lot of strength in you. You are no longer in any danger. To answer your questions my sons saved you and I aided your healing."

Next, his eyes fell upon his daughter as Arwen spoke "You are not familiar with Rivendell nor Misty Mountains? We are located in Middle-earth. I do not revoke any town with the name of Greece. I am the daughter of Elrond, Arwen, and who may you be my Lady?"

Xena was at a loss for words because none of the information that they were offering to her made sense. She was smart enough to figure out that her injuries were treated and she was saved. But the confusion was rising as neither the location nor their race made sense to her.

She fell in deep silence again copping with all the new details that Lord Elrond was offering her. She leaned against the headboard of the wooden bed staring at the group of four. Her instinct told her that she could trust them. Not only because they saved her from her death, but because all four were orbiting a unique aura of pureness.

"Fair enough," she said "I am Xena of Amphipolis that is located in Greece. Greece is a realm, and it should sound unfamiliar as your locations do to me. Could you perhaps now give me more information about this Middle-Earth and your kind?"

"Yes, we could," Lord Elrond finally uttered, "And we will". Since he lay eyes on the injured woman Elrond knew that she was not from their world. That did not bother him at first, but when he found out that she was cable to kill a group of orcs on her own. He needed to know who the woman was. In these dark times, spies of the enemies were everywhere. "And you will have to answer ours. For now, you should know that you are safe. No evil can cross Rivendell. You are in an Elven town, so we are Ñoldor Elves. You can figure out the details later. For now, rest and heal, and we will speak again to what will happen to you." he added and stood up ready to take his leave.

"What makes you think I can trust you?" Xena asked boldly without overthinking her words. She understood what Elrond told her, and strangely enough, she was not taken aback from hearing that they were not human. Surely she was curious to figure out what Elves were.

"My Lady, you already know you can trust us," Elrond disclosed "You will find your answers in time as will we!"

"You cannot tell me what to do or not do!" she snapped "If I want to leave, I will. I thank you for saving my life, and for the hospitality. But the rest has nothing to do with you, Lord Elrond. And the name is Xena."

Elrond turned and examined her for a long moment. Xena seemed not to be an ordinary human. He was not sure if he could trust her or not, but he was sure he was strong and a warrior. "Enough with this. Since you have entered our realm and you are not from this world you will remain here. Until you are healed and Gandalf is back. Then we are going to decide what is to become to you and if you will be let free to roam Middle Earth." the Lord of Rivendell cried loudly making his authority known.

Xena turned her deadly gaze against Elrond and stood up. It did not matter if her broken leg was complaining she was furious and angry "I acknowledge not your law! No right have you or any of your kin to keep as a prisoner." she declared and stepped to grab her weapons.

"You seem to know a great deal already of our laws and kin," Lord Elrond scoffed as he took a step back watching her pick up her sword and aim towards him "You will remain in Imladris, for our sake and yours. You do not know the evil that you will face outside. And do not try to escape, the worse of our guard can shoot you down."

The twins and Arwen were watching the argument in disbelief. Usually, humans were marvelled at the existence of elves. But the newcomer did not care who they were. Her tongue was on fire, and even if they have saved her life, it seemed as it did not matter. She was ready to strike them down if she had to. But they did not interfere as Elrond and Xena talk, because they agreed with their father.

"I care nothing for your Evil and I came not to spy upon you, but," she took a long pause to breathe and steady herself "I do not know the reason I ended up here. But If I recall correctly it was your sons who brought me here, and not I!"

"You will rest now and we will talk in good time. If you seek further information you will find a library in the north halls, food will be brought to you if you have further questions ask the maidens. And as I said for your own good, do not try to escape." added Elrond turned away leaving Xena with Arwen and the twins.

The moment she realised she'd misinterpreted his actions, his words, she threw her sword against the bed and watched as the Lord of this house was leaving. She sat back on her bed and tried to calm down. Xena was not a fool, she could predict when she was in danger, and for the time being, it would not be wise to fight the Elves.

She decided to play along until she would be healed. And deep down she wanted to have that talk with Elrond and Gandalf. Maybe they would know why she ended up there. Of course, she would not let her guard down nor would she trust them fully. "Who is Gandalf?" she suddenly asked Arwen as she was slowly calming down.

"Mithrandir is an Istar." Arwen responded in a calm and sweet voice, "He is a wizard. I believe humans call him that."

Xena rolled her eyes, "Then my final hope to get out of her is an old man with magic tricks. I already feel lucky."

"Wait until Gandalf hears that," Elrohir joked.

Elladan interfered "My lady, I would suggest you take your time and rest. Then you should read about Middle Earth, the races and the Evil in it. We do not wish any harm upon you, but we need answers as much as you do."

Xena finally agreed. The glowing man was right she needed to figure out where exactly she was, and what it meant to live in Middle Earth. Since she would take some time to heal she should use this time to gain all the knowledge she could about this world. Like that her morning talk came to an end. The twins and Arwen left her to rest and changed.

((Upcoming Chapter Five))

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