Disclaimer: LOTR is not mine, which includes elves and hobbits. :pout:

It's All in My Head: thanks. Yeah, I don't like it when the oc goes head over heels off the bat either. Where's the fun in that? I'm glad you like Lorelei. I get tired of the damsel in distress routine, so I made sure she could fend for herself a bit. Oh, and if your interested I have another fic up for HP, but it is an OC focus, the twins, chamber of secrets, and the past. I'll have my Wolfen fic up soon too.

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She was glad she had stuffed the jacket in her bag earlier because even with just the bag across her back it was difficult maneuvering through brush and branches. Her spirits lifted as she went further into the woods finding there were less ground bushes and the trees were a bit farther apart. Luckily, her feet were well coordinated enough to keep correcting themselves so that she would not be caught by the sinewy roots that seemed to reach for her, trying to imprison her to the earth below. The only sound that she could hear was the quickening thumps of her speeding heart and the blood rushing in her ears as it was pumped to stay with the pace that she was exerting. Her lungs took long draws in an effort to send the needed oxygen through out her body.

Not able to sense or hear a pursuer since she landed from the balcony, she began to wonder if anyone was actually still behind her. Waiting till she viewed some semi-flat land before her, she turned her head to see if there was anybody. The layers of trees made it difficult to tell, and she almost missed the figure in green. If she had not seen the blonde hair and pale face he would have completely blended in with the rest of the place. 'Nimble fellow ain't he?' she grumbled glimpsing how the other seemed to weave in and out of trees and appearing as if his feet were not even touching the ground. And by the looks of it he was easily gaining distance. 'Crap!' She turned around and barely avoided a tree that was right in her path promising a rather painful encounter. 'Dang things sprouting up out of nowhere!'

'Think girl, think! He's ten yards behind, a fast runner, probably knows this place a whole lot better than you, and doesn't seem like he would kindly give up and go back to brush out his pretty-boy hair, heh. I wonder if I have a pair of scissors in my pack?' she innocently pictured him standing with encircling blonde blond clumps on the ground, and him with hair cut at odd lengths. She grinned. 'Focus, that's plan c) captured and out for revenge. So either keep running till you can run no further or do what you do best.' She kept her pace trying to see what was further ahead. Hearing moving water, she ran towards the sound through some dense and tall brush. Taking advantage of the extra seconds of cover she looked about the brook that she had heard. A few trees rested at the banks and some rocks stuck out of the gurgling water. One tree to her side was close to some of the rocks. 'Let the games begin.'

Keeping far enough away from the area of trees and rocks to whither suspicions, she rushed to the bank. After pocketing a couple large pebbles, she lithely stepped to the first stone protruding out of the water only a hand-span in width. The rock path to the tree was not extremely hard, but some of the stones were small or odd-shaped, requiring much needed concentration on the footing. It was not long before she reached the tree and catching a low branch she pulled herself up. Once there she got onto another branch a little further up that faced in the opposite direction of where her follower would pass by and rested against the trunk. 'Okay, breathe in breathe out, in, out.' She focused her breathing to slow its frantic race allowing her heartbeats to become measured and not so loud in her ears. The slight shake of small branches alerted her of the arrival of another at the bank. Peeking over one of the tree's extensions she saw the guy searching for her running form and then at the slight depressions of her tracks on the forest floor. 'I was right, he knows how to track. Good thing my feet didn't get wet otherwise they'd have left marks on those nicely placed rocks.' She was hoping he was falling for the ruse and believed that she had either gone across, down or up the river. Her fingers traced the bark on the large tree that hid her from sight while waiting to see her opponent's next move. 'Have to give him some motivation I guess.' she thought while taking out two pebbles and threw them across the bank in the direction farthest from herself. The tracker swung his head in the direction of the light crunching of the thrown pebbles hitting leaves on the ground. Just like she hoped, he went across the brook using the stepping stones and went in the opposite direction of her.

Getting down carefully she followed the brook the in the direction that would lead her away from the chaser. The dirt of the bank silenced her steps, but also left tracks. This caused her to move quickly. Five minutes later of seeing the same terrain made her start to doubt her actions. 'Okay, so where am I? I'm definitely not near the cemetery, and the trees are not good old Washington trees,' she analyzed the vegetation around her. Some were young trees, but then some looked really… really old. She figured one she saw to be over two hundred years old as it rose high overhead. Its leaves and branches blocked the sunlight so that a fifty foot radius around the tree was shaded. One leaf was bigger than her hand. Redwood was no longer a possibility. 'Where did these bozos bring me? And how the heck was she going to find her fing way home!' So caught up in trying to figure out what she should do, Lorelei did not even notice she had stepped through two bushes into a clearing.

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"So what shall we do today, Merry?" Pippin asked while plopping down on the grass.

The two had decided to wander about after the midday meal. They were really glad for the elves aiding their sick friend, and the beds and food were good and all, but they silently agreed to get away from the enhanced hearing of elves. It would just be nice to able to talk freely for a while. With their luck something would slip out and offend the dwellers of Rivendell and where would that get them? Elves might have a spiteful side. Sure, they did not seem to, but you never can tell with the silent types. Merry and Pippin did not think that with the possibility of finding themselves no longer welcome in Rivendell, that it was all that worth it to test the thought.

Merry sat down not much more gracefully than the other. Leaning back on his hands and legs stretched in front, he took in the open patch of woods he and his friend were taking a respite in. He had to say, Rivendell might not be their lovely Shire, but it was stunning with the lofty trees, brilliant waterfalls, and breathtaking city. Closing his eyes he took in a relaxing breath. Then there was a rather persistent nudge in his side.

"Merry," poke.

"Merry?" Poke.

"What is it Pip?" he turned to his right.

"I asked a question," Pippin rolled his eyes.

"I have neither a clue or really a care as to what we do," Merry shrugged lazily.

"Eh, something will call to us sooner or later I gather. So did you see Elrond nearly trip this morning?" Pippin changed topics with that excited and giddy look in his eyes.

"I was with you, remember? I was starting to believe elves could do no such thing, what with their refined and agile ways," the second replied breaking into soft laughter.

"Aye, me too. I was a wondering were I had dropped Sam's cloak," the other joined in.

"It worked out rather nicely I would say, a great deal more interesting than merely hiding the cloak from Sam," Merry said with Pippin nodded enthusiastically.

After a few minutes of happy laughter the two settled down. The only remnants of their jovial bout were the sudden smile now and again as they replayed the memory of Elrond almost kissing the ground. Then Pippin's brows drew together in concentration.

"What I can not comprehend for the life of me is how everyone outside of the Shire eats so little. I am surprised they do not just whither up," Pippin threw his hands up in exasperation.

"I mean, I went to the kitchens and asked an elf there when twosies would be and the old maid-er elf gave me the queerest look to be had. Well, I just ambled back out of there fearing she would take the broom to me or even worse, the pot that she was a cleaning," his face showing his surprise and slight fear of the kitchen worker.

"It is all beyond me. I mean the cook had never of twosies!- Oof. What was that for?" Pippin glared at Merry while rubbing his side that was so rudely elbowed.

His friend though did not say a thing. He was looking ahead without acknowledging Pippin, who in turn looked in the direction to see the reason for him being jabbed. His eyes widened as a young lady stood at the other side of the area. What was so odd was the outlandish clothing she was wearing. Instead of a dress like most maidens wore, she had on some tight, black britches and shirt. Her shoes were of the same color and were rather shiny and rounded. It was still surprising to see such small feet. He doubted he would ever grow accustomed to the sight. She was pretty though; shapely, gentle features even though she looked deep in thought, and light brown hair going past her shoulders.

"oh." 'Yep, I knew something would come and make the day interesting.'

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"-cook never heard of twosies!- Oof. What was that for?" came an irritated voice.

"oh."

Lorelei looked up and saw two fellows sitting on the ground. They wore what looked like breeches, white long-sleeved shirts, and yellow vests. Both had mops of curly hair though one had a dark brown and the other was lighter and almost reddish. They looked like the mischievous, trouble-making sort but at the moment they were watching her with raised brows and one had his lips in the shape of an 'o'. She figured he was the one who had been talking. A silence filled the air as both parties watched the other, waiting for someone to make the first move.

"Hello, I be Merry and this here is Pippin," the fairer one said with a smile.

"…"

"Uh, hi. I'm Lorelei," Lorelei responded slowly, not sure what to do.

"You are not an elf by chance are you?" the one named Pippin finally spoke up having recovered from his stupor.

"No," she said raising a brow. 'Elves? Are these two on drugs?'

"Thought so. It is a relief to see someone else who does not share the trait of pointed ears and regal poise. Not that they aren't hospitable and nice, but they tend to be a wee bit too proper and elegant for me. I will admit with earnest though that their food has won my heart so. Well, if you are not an elf, then what is it that brings you to Rivendell?" she was surprised how he said all of that in one breath and was also not quite sure how to answer.

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Not as long as I like it, but I have to go back this weekend and review how LOTR goes. Well, hope you liked this chapter, and pleeeasssseee review. It is so nice to know that people are reading this and what they think. I don't mind flames, better than nothing. Oh, and my birthday is coming up :jumps up and down: so I get to party. So you can give a review as a prezzie. :wink: Thanks for reading.

Cattt