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)

~ VI: Nor a guest Nor a Prisoner ~

Imladris, 3018 TA, October 2

Xena was now safe in the House of Lord Elrond east of the Sea. She found that she no longer felt in need of rest or sleep but had a mind for food. Elrond and all three of his children have left her alone. As the noon drew on, she decided to get dressed and explore Rivendell, and if she were lucky enough, she would feed herself. She got out of bed and discovered that her broken leg was a little better at moving. Along with that, she still needed to use the wooden stick to support herself.

She dropped her gaze on her clean garments of black cloth and her leather armour. In the light that flows water-like through the windows of the old bank, Xena stripped off the nightgown, that strangely enough, she was wearing still. Looking in a mirror, she was startled to see a much better reflection of herself than she remembered. Against her ghostly skin, her cuts and bruises were grotesque, but she knew she was lucky not to have died.

She sighed and reached for her black cloth garments to wear. "Lucky," she scoffed, taking one more look at herself. Anyone returning after their death would be thankful to be back and alive, and she was not. She had accepted her death; she was ready to leave the living world. And now what? She would have to start a new life in this unknown forsaken land called Middle Earth.

However, she was a stubborn one. Stubborn in all the best and worse ways. And once again, she would live through this life, which she wished to be a short one. The garments fitted her excellently. Again she noticed the high quality of the fabric, which was made of natural fibres that seemed to sometimes hold up better over time. Her thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," she prompted.

The door opened, and a fair elf maiden appeared. She had long dark hair, like hers, and her eyes, a light blue, shined in the intense light the room provided. She held a wooden basket filled with towels, robes, soap, and slippers. "My Lady, I brought you elements needed for your future baths. You will find the springs in Rivendell's eastern parts, on the edge of a narrow gorge of the river. In case you need a warm bath, every building provides one in the north parts." the elleth explained as she placed the basket on the edge of the bed. "Shall I aid you further, My Lady?" she said, offering a gentle smile to the tall woman in front of her.

Xena sized the beautiful elleth noting the fine details on her body and face. There was a slight silence inside the room as she leaned over and checked the basket. The elves gave her a generous and hospitable welcome, and she seemed baffled at their gestures. They rescue her and dress her; however, they do not trust her and they would even kill her if she tried to escape. She smirked; it was not easy to kill her only if she allowed it.

"No, thank you," Xena said with a monotonic tone cutting off the beautiful maiden. "I will figure things out on my own."

"If you need anything else, I'll be at your service. I'm Aeneth, chamber and pure maiden of the house of Rivendell." the elleth introduced herself and bowed.

"I will inform you, Lady Aeneth, if needed," Xena added as she turned to face the mirror once more. "You can ensure your Lord that I have not escaped..." she rose her gaze and looked at the maiden through the mirror. "Yet!"

"What are you suggesting, my Lady? I am only following protocol," Aeneth smiled, bowed, and exited the chamber leaving Xena to her devices.

At that moment there, she knew that she was being watched. Her instincts had kicked in, and she knew that Aeneth was not there only to offer gifts and her aid but to check if Xena was still in her room. She decided to ignore it. For the time being, she would play along. But she could not promise that her anger would allow her to be treated as a fool.

Then she grabbed the leather armour and started to wear it. The short skirt covered her hips and most of her lower area. The top revealed her smooth shoulders and accentuated her neck and all that would have made her appear soft as a wisp if not for the detail in leather, two straps, one leather and one metal, that were holding her breastplates up. The leather one was wide and strong and went from the back over her shoulder to attach a ring to the front of her black leather bodysuit, matching it. A touch of strength, just enough, to give this princess the presence of a warrior.

She ended up getting fully dressed as if she would ride out to war, except for the right leather boot due to her broken leg. She would not take her chances to walk unarmed in a distant place. However, it was time for her to answer some of her questions. They should know by now that she hardly takes 'no' for an answer. She took one more look at herself in the mirror before she turned around and, with the help of the wooden stick, stepped outside.

"There, brother!" Elrohir pointed towards Xena, who had just reached the main Hall.

Xena recalled the two male figures as the ones who found her and rescued her. Now, she could see their form in the sunlight, like Kings splendid and marvellous. An urge rose inside her to discover more about that race. There was something highly with those beings. She could not decide if she should hate them or trust them fully.

"Xena, wasn't that your name, milady?" Elladan asked her, "How are you feeling?

She nodded slowly as she skipped next to them, still staring from time to time, bewitched by the little details she found out. "I am ready to explore Rivendell." Xena offered and narrowed her gaze. "Are you two going to guard me along the way?"

Elrohir was ready to lie to her and ensure her that their appearance was an accident, but Elladan cut him off and spoke, "Would it not be better, my Lady, we getting to know more ways of the place."

"Fine," she agreed and gestured for them to show her the way. "Let's go!"

"It's a big house this, and very peculiar. Always a bit more to discover, and no knowing what you'll find around a corner!" Elrohir began to narrate about the Last Homely House East of the Sea. "Our town is at the edge of a narrow gorge of the river Bruinen;.."

Truth be told, Xena was lost while walking side by side with the twins. Elrohir's description made her only feel like she was living through some fairytale. The twins led her along several passages and down many steps, and soon they stepped in front of a large hall with a dais and several tables for dining. The Hall of Elrond's house was filled with folk: Elves for the most part, though there were a few guests of other sorts.

Xena looked at them in wonder, for she never had never before seen so many fair beings in one place. Most were in deep conversation, and others were eating. Xena delayed taking a closer look as she detected that most of the elves were similar in appearance, dark-haired, but some with silver hair followed different dressing codes. What confused her was that their faces were ageless, neither old nor young, but some of the faces were glad and sorrowful if someone looked closer in.

Xena took a step forward and then the next; it was like the place was calling her in. The twins exchanged an earnest smile and followed her. They were aware of what Imladris could do to a simple human mind. And even if they already figured out that Xena was not a simple or ordinary human, she should be impressed by their homeland, like every human, elf and other living thing.

Such loveliness in living thing Xena had never seen before nor imagined, and she was both surprised and abashed to find that she had a seat at Elrond's table among all his children so high and fair. Elladan pulled the chair for Xena to sit next to Arwen, who was already sitting at Elrond's table with another blond he-elf. She soon noticed that most of the folk inside the Hall were staring at her.

Xena did not linger and took a seat, feeling somehow small and somewhat out of place, but that feeling quickly passed as food and drinks were offered. She chose bread, cheese, and wine, and she never touched anything green, although its quantity was high in numbers. The food was enough to settle her hunger and the wine her annoyance. It was some time before she turned to her neighbours.

Minutes earlier, Legolas had followed Arwen into the vast Hall, which was packed with tables filled with a loud murmur that had become a joyful background song rather than discernible speech. All of the Elves welcomed Arwen and Legolas, with the feminine elves wishing to remain a little longer around him. From his place at Elrond's astonishingly long table, he could see the majority of the audience.

Legolas sat across from Arwen, randomly looking around the Hall when he watched the twins approaching. His piercing blue eyes spotted the one that they were following. He studied her features with his sharp elf eyes noticing the broken leg. Although she appeared to be wearing armour, he recalled it was the woman of last night, which was quite odd. There was something about that stranger that Legolas found unsettling.

She seemed to be reasonably confident herself and bold; showing up wearing armour and weapons while having breakfast was somehow insulting. Furthermore, Legolas watched her taking a seat at their table and the many curious eyes looking at her. And while at first her eyes were filled with wonder and astonishment, she quickly became used to her surroundings.

Legolas was ignored, and the strange woman was eating and talking to the twins, as she would time to time look at him boldly. The son of Thranduil observed how different the woman was from last night. There was something different to how she carried herself; she was confident and beautiful but not innocent. That woman in front of him had a scent of darkness inside her.

Over and above, Mirkwood Prince was not the only one who had his eyes on her. Xena had seen the blond elf sitting across from Arwen as she stepped into the Hall. Indeed he was breathtakingly beautiful, but he seemed prideful she noted the strong jaw and the cold-eyed stare he was now fixing her with. Of course, the Warrior Princess did not know much about elves, but she spotted the difference between the blonde elf and the children of Elrond.

"And I do have to ask," Legolas said with a clear tone suddenly gaining their attention, "for I have already been perceived your stare upon me for too long." His cold blue eyes met hers, bold and angry. "Have no one told you in your home that it is rather insulting to stare?"

Xena found herself getting angry very easy at the blonde elf's comments. "Apparently, no one dared to educate me upon the matter!" she offered in a low and deadly tone. She could be many things, but afraid was she not. However, the male could end up facing her worse side, as she had enough of the elves and their rules.

Her boldness surprised Legolas and confused him. She indeed was different from any elf or human he ever met. "Tell me your name," Legolas demanded with a deeper tone, prideful looking her straight in the eyes, waiting for an answer. Though his face remained impassive, and his body still gave nothing away.

"How about you tell me yours?" Xena challenged him, revealing that she was annoyed by his behaviour. She had many skills, but when she was angry, she would not hide them. Every inch of her face showed how irritated she was.

Legolas narrowed his gaze upon her, and he easily could drag the matter further. But it was foolish to start a show in front of all the elves and guests of Elrond. If he was in Mirkwood, he could easily drag the matter further. "I am Legolas from the Woodland Realm." he decided to speak finally while crossing his arms.

Xena kept eye contact as she listened to him, revealing his name. But neither his name nor his homeland meant anything to her. "Strange name, strange land," she answered while calming down "I am Xena, of Amphipolis."

"Aren't you far from home?" Legolas questioned as his curiosity rose, and he found the need to learn more about the strange human called Xena.

Xena smirked while observing the elf called Legolas; she was amused at his behaviour. "Aren't you as well," she responded with her eyes fixed on him. "I believe neither you nor I hail from Rivendell!"

His lips formed a slight smile that fainted soon; few people would address him and challenge Legolas. Perhaps it was because Xena did not know who he was, and he preferred it that way. He nodded, agreeing with her. Surprising enough, the twins and Arwen watched both with open mouths.

Legolas was not an elfin that would not know how to react in such a situation. It was puzzling to watch the prince of Mirkwood start a direct discussion with someone in such bold tones. But Arwen admitted that maybe in such ways, they would get more answers about their guest.

"Then we concluded that we both are guests of the house of Elrond and we should respect that," Legolas added, his gaze skimming across her face, still calm, giving nothing away and waiting for her response.

Xena narrowed her eyes against him one last time and leaned closer to him. "You are their guest. Apparently, I am their prisoner!" she hissed. Then she pulled back, drank the last sip of wine, grabbed her wooden stick, and stood up. "Thank you for the food!" she continued and turned around and left.

Legolas queried Arwen, incredulous, "Prisoner?" as he saw Xena leave the Hall and then turned to face Arwen. Arwen groaned and nodded. Arwen described what had transpired that morning and why her father forbade her from leaving Rivendell until he and Gandalf could discuss the subject. Legolas recognized the circumstance. However, the phrase 'prisoner' still resonated weirdly in his ears.

((Upcoming Chapter Seven))

Thank you for taking the time to read this! Feel free to Review - Follow - Favorite!

zirkejespi: Indeed two decades have already gone by.

amyunder: Thank you ^_^