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

Author's Note:

Arwen was the one who brought Frodo to Rivendell in the films. I retained the Glorfindel rendition from the book. Nonetheless, I'm included a few little adventures with Arwen in the coming chapters.

This is a LegoRomance (slow-burn)

~ XVII: Banquet in Imladris ~

~ Part I ~

Imladris, 3018 TA, October 25

In the absence of light, sleep was comfort.

Yet was that sleep good or bad? Well, that depended on if the intention that produced the "comfort" was emotionally indifferent or well-rooted due to the days-long events. As with many ethical and philosophical points, the output or result had everything to do with the quality of the input. And the input of today's council was nothing of what she expected. The details and the severity of the matter made her want to climb onto her bed and sleep through her confusion.

A dark lord, a Ring of power, and a rising War. Those were the main inputs of the council and the outcomes. A fellowship of the Ring. A party of people of different races securing save passaged for the ring into the doomed land of Mordor. Such a hazardous mission! However, Xena was familiar with missions, quests and wars. The words were familiar and their meaning. Fighting was her life, she was a warrior.

The problem started as she could not cope with the races of this world. In some parts there were similarities, but deep down it was like they were too good to be true. Especially the elves. The elves were like the fairest creatures Xena had ever seen, and she was sure that they were the fairest in Middle Earth. Males or Females were generally tall and had the greatest skill of body. She had noticed that they had even keener senses that Men. They were slender, graceful yet strong, and were resistant to extremes of nature, illness and disease.

Their ears were so bizarre, the ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than humans. She had figured out that their hair colour would change between clans, and the colours of their eyes were in different shades of blue or grey. She was particularly curious about Legola's eyes colour. The first time she met him around dawn, his eyes seemed a darker shade of grey. In bright daylight, his eyes seemed a grey-blue colour. And there was one more small detail that had caught her attention Legolas was ambidextrous, he could use his right hand as good as he could use his left.

As the night drew on, Xena found herself inside her bed-chamber with many questions and a mind for food and drink. Spacing out remembering her days in Imladris and in this alien world. And now she was down with a mission, there was a plan and a journey to follow. She would finally walk free in Middle Earth and come cross the places she had only seen on the maps.

The sudden knock on the door brought her back to reality. She cleared her voice and walked over and opened the wooden door. A fair lady was standing in front of her. It was the daughter of Elrond, Arwen. Her mind was clouded as well with heavy concern she could not shake. It was about the rising darkness, the ring, Frodo who had to carry the ring and Aragorn. He could be skilled with a blade, but dark forces were rising so fast and strong.

Arwen slowed her stride and exhaled a heavy breath that had been aching in her chest for some time. She turned and gazed at the human "I have been looking for you," she said in a fair whisper tone, "I wanted to give you this." She lifted her arm and handed Xena a long blue velvet gown. "There is a gathering," she informed her "More than a meal, a feast for all our guests. Regardless of what happened, you are welcome to join us."

Xena looked up into the elleth's eyes, who smiled tenderly, and Xena seemed to consider this before responding "Well, we better get some food then. Today is going to be a very busy day tomorrow." Xena accepted the gown and raise a curved eyebrow "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Wear it," Arwen persisted "You carry yourself as you have been not welcome to our home. You could not know, but you were never a prisoner. There a few maidens who can attest to such bravery as yours, and It caused consternation in our house. You should join us today, meet some more of our guests, have a proper meal, and go beyond the misleads."

"It's not what it looked like!" Xena insisted and turned her gaze towards the heavy gown "But if that its an offer of a truce, accepted."

"Put on your gown, lay down your weapons, and join us for a lovely and brief union. Because things are changing and I feel we will no longer be able to feast in a comfortable and pleasant state of mind." Arwen assured her.

Xena nodded distractedly and secured the gown in both hands "Alright... friend."

As promised, the cheerful celebrations started with the gathering of elves, men, dwarves, and hobbits in Rivendell's dining halls. Imladris's night lights were turned on, and visitors and strangers alike were taken aback by the home of Elrond's rare splendour. The mood was cheerful as if the reason for their assembly were not so serious, and everyone mingled as friends among friends. The only semblance of hatred existed between elves and dwarfs.

All have arrived and were seated, the feast had begun trying to relax and forget the seriousness they would have to deal with from tomorrow on. There were so many details to prepare for the journey of the Fellowship it would take time and a lot of hard work. But tonight was not the place and time to talk about the darkness or the one ring.

The four hobbits were sitting next to Bilbo, who was now old and very different from the hobbit he once was. Next to them sat the folk of Durin, Gloin, his son Gimli and the rest of their company. Across them at the end of the large table sat Boromir, Glorfindel, and a few more important elves of the house of Elrond. At the beginning of the table sat the master of Imladris, next to him his daughter and his twin sons, Aragorn, Legolas and on the right side of Legolas sat Aeariel of Lothlórien.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared at the start of the west side. Legolas' cold gaze froze at the view of the running shadow. Seconds later, he was sure it was not a shadow, rather a slender female figure. His eyes blinked once, revealing the perplexity on his own face. By then he could clearly see the form of the maiden wearing a gown. She seemed like a familiar maiden, tall and proud like the one in his mind. Before the maiden had finally shown herself. Legolas's fork dropped against the table, getting everyone's attention.

When she consented to wear the velvet gown and make herself presentable moments ago, she had no idea she would have such a wonderful consequence. She had attracted the attention of the whole crowd, including Legolas, and she quickly began rushing through the halls in search of a seat. It was all embarrassing enough, but now it appeared this elf; this shockingly handsome and almost disturbingly poised elf —had witnessed the entire thing. And worse, he was gesturing for her to take a seat on his left.

Xena glared at him as he chuckled at her expense and nodded. She would not make a scene in a room full of guests and high-elves. She noticed that she was again seated at Elrond's table, next to his children and among all these folk so high and fair. She had a suitable chair, she felt rather out of place; but that feeling quickly passed. The feast was merry and the food was all that her hunger could desire.

"Welcome and well met!" said the dwarf, and he actually rose from his seat and bowed. "Glóin at your service," he said, and bowed still lower "You have already met my lad Gimli."

She followed the salute and nodded with a slight bow "Xena!" She remembered seeing him with Gimli a few times, and she even recalled his note of the time the Mirkwood elves had captured him and his company. "Yes, we became good friends finding out our common enemy," she added smirking and casting a fast glance over Legolas.

"Quite right," answered Glóin "And I do not ask, for I have already been told all about you by my son Gimli."

A few of the guests and members bowed and greeted Xena. There was small talk between Glóin, Gimli and Xena and everyone went back to conversing with each and sharing the food and drinks. Xena slowly adjusted to the company and she forgot the place and time. Even if there was no meat offered she had to admit that the food was better than usual.

Arwen gazed up at Aragorn from the corner of her eyes but kept silent. He looked at her as well, sharing a small moment. Despite having already met, being in the same room the two would always end up gazing at each other for a small amount of time. Few knew about them being in love, but it did not take long and Xena spotted that those two surely share some special feelings.

"What is it, old friend?" Aragorn asked as he observed Legolas still staring at the human who was talking with the dwarves and seemed to have a deep conversion. "They're close."

His lips thinned and his glare narrowed as Legolas leaned against Aragorn and whispered "Can you tell how long they are going to accuse Mirkwood?"

"No," the ranger answered him truthful "As long as there is a tale to tell, I suppose. And you should be glad she has not read Bilbo's book; else, they might converse all night."

"Look at them. They're not frightened speaking about Mirkwood in such manners." Legolas could not contain his annoyance watching the human and the dwarves gossiping about his home in the worse way possible.

"You draw far too much attention to yourself, Legolas," Aragorn answered as he placed his hand against his friend's shoulder "You are still a guest of Elrond and we are surrounded by so many important guests."

The twin sons of Elrond had already listened to the two men's conversation and were eyeing their friends ready to jump in and make things worse. Aragorn would not allow it though. He was not sure what had triggered his friend to act like an annoying child but here was not the place or the time to start such an argument.

Elrond was in his chair and near him sat the Lady Arwen. Aragorn sat beside her; his dark cloak was thrown back, and he seemed to be clad in elven-mail, and a star shone on his breast. They spoke together, they were in a deep conversation as were most of the guests.

"I assume that explains your joining us on this journey?" Boromir asked Xena as she was talking with the hobbits about her own adventures in Middle- Earth. "They claim you slew twenty orcs with your own hands upon your arrival, milady?"

Those near them were silent, intent on listening to the seriousness of the question and finally finding out the truth. Xena turned and faced the man, she recalled his name was Boromir, and she nodded grimly "For your information, I have Lord Boromir," she answered quickly.

"My lady, it's a gift that you can protect yourself," Boromir continued "but a lady should never have to fight and put herself in danger."

Again Xena had won the attention of the table, she gazed at Boromir and laughed. Oddly enough she did not get offended as she usually would She understood that most men would react like the men from her world. Women were not supposed to fight. Women should be weak and cute.

"I would not know Lord Boromir, you forget I am not from this world!" her answer came in a kind tone without disrespecting Boromir or starting an argument. "In my world, you fight, or die!"

"That goes for our world as well," laughed Gimli cutting off the odd moment.

Elrond and Gandalf seemed pleased with her reaction, most of the time she would argue her way through or even threaten. Legolas was staring at her with open eyes in disbelief, if he had asked her the same question he would end up again with a broken nose.

"Actually," Elladan replied, "She is a very skilful warrior."

"And how was your world?" suddenly asked Frodo very curious "Did you have a family there?"

"They will miss you," Pippin added, "and will not be able to see them again?"

"Were you married?" asked Merry "did you have children?"

Xena took a moment to listen to all the questions that had been paused one month following her arrival, and there was now a full table of people waiting to hear her responses. She drained the final drink from her cup and groaned; she disliked discussing her old life, but if they were really interested, she could answer their questions.

"Well, I wouldn't have put it that way precisely," Xena said "My world has not as many different races as yours. We surely do not have elves."

Most laughed as she mentioned the elves and she continued "It's just home, with good times and bad..." she went on and explained a bit about her world, before she spoke a bit about her family "I had a good friend we used to take many adventures together, her name was Gabriel."

"I had a son, Solan and later on a daughter Eve. Solan died years ago, Eve faces her own path." Xena dropped her gaze against the table and she slowly felt grief taking over "I had a family and friends, but I died. There was nothing left in my old life. Only those I wronged and killed, I should be dead, and not roaming freely another world."

The whole table was confused and fell into silence, they did not know much about her past. The truth was it did not matter any longer, since it was another life she had lived in another world. Even Xena was aware of that. But all the deeds she had done, and all the people she had killed were still a weight she was carrying with her.

She excused herself and rose up, aware of the numerous eyes on her. She did not care what they would think, because it seemed they would judge a woman with her past. She needed some air before she would end up recalling her past and lose herself inside it.

She found a small opening and stepped into the balcony choosing the darkest spot to breathe and watch the night sky.

((Upcoming Chapter Eighteen))

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