Gina and I were just sitting there in her room, talking. Partially force of habit? Yeah. Partial gabbing? Oh, definitely . . . but for the most part, it was all about Lord of the Rings.

"C'mon, Jessica! You have to admit that from what you hear, it's a good story. Say it, ok? I know your thinking it!!" She exclaimed, looking hyper and cheerful.

"Gina," I replied, sighing, "I don't even like the things I hear about it! Something about some stupid ring controlling a whole world just doesn't sound all that interesting to me. And that Killerborn or whatever isn't sounding promising either, more like he needs to take a Tylenol and sleep off his bad mood."

She looked positively horrified. "Killerborn? It's Celeborn!! Oh, My, Gawd!! I so can't believe you don't even know his name by now!! Ok, girl, you are so going to learn some Elvish. C'mon, I'll teach you." She said, smiling evilly at me. I eyed her, but she just smiled more.

Just how evil can somebody get?

"Please? At least let me try! Or else . . ." She began, giving me a look that promised pain and suffering for me, "I'll never stop talking about Lord of the Rings around you. Ever."

I winced in horror. No, terror was more like it. I knew she'd keep her promise. That's what got to me so badly. I groaned in defeat, plopping down on the bed, looking at the ceiling in defeat.

"Alright! Fine, but you have to baby-sit my sister for me tomorrow. And, you gotta watch Telletubbies with her, and Barney." I said, watching her with a demonic, gleeful relish as she squirmed in horror. I laughed when she glared at me.

"Lessons start now."

My smile slipped.

Damn.

'No.' I thought silently, turning my head. 'Oh, nooo . . . It couldn't be. No. Not this bloody early . . . Argh.' I lay there, already half awake already. I was about to complain loudly, when I inhaled. I kept my tongue, being quiet. I even opened my eyes. What was that wonderful smell?

Bacon?

I felt my mouth begin to water as I sat up. God, but that food smelled delicious. I put my shoes on, and smiled. For some reason, though, when I went to the mirror, I saw that my hair needed no brushing. So, I got up and headed to where I thought the smell of food was coming from.

But then again, that was everywhere. What do you do when you get lost in an Elf-house? I had no clue, and after much grumbling about never being able to find it, a smirking Arwen stepped from behind a door, and lead me down to the cafeteria, or whatever they called it. I sighted the food and helped myself, abandoning Arwen to herself.

What surprised me was that hardly anyone else was even here yet. I looked around, looking for a familiar face, and ended up sitting with one that wasn't. But he was small, and funny. He had fuzzy, untamed, curly reddish blond hair and a happy looking face. 'He can't be too much taller then Gimli,' I thought, amusedly, sitting near him.

He said that his name was Pippin, or, in his words, "Hullo, Miss! I'm Peregrin, Peregrin Took, or you can call me Pippin if ya like. I prefer it, actually." He left me smiling after he'd said that.

"Well, I'm Jessica. You'd lose your ears if I told you my full name. Just call me Jessica. I should say that it would all be all well and good if I could get more of this kind of food back home, it's delicious."

"Oh, You'd only be so lucky. This here is Elvish food! And no mistake, its a lot harder to come by than you'd think it to be." He nodded. To add emphasis, I guess. "This is only my third helping. This stuff is good, too. Can't any Hobbit disagree with this kind of food. Or, rather, none that I've met." He stated happily, digging into his plate and eating what looked like some fried mushrooms.

I stared in wonderment at the Hobbit. His third helping? He had his food piled high, too. How could he eat so much? Where the heck did it all go? "Where do you keep all of that food? You're so little, and I'd bet I couldn't eat three helpings of this kind of food, no matter how good it was. I'd burst."

I ate as he talked. He told me about his friend Merry, and Brandybuck Hall, And Sam and Frodo. I surprised myself when I got a second helping. I got some of the things that Pippin mentioned, but the pork rinds I stayed away from. I really just liked Bacon better, thank you.

The fried mushrooms were good. Just as good as Pippin had said. I filled up after my second plate. But now I was thirsty, too. I asked an Elf that passed if they had anything non-alcoholic, but he shook his head, smiling. I frowned lightly.

"Well, can you get me a light wine then? I'm not used to alcoholic drinks."

The grinning Elf wandered off to get some. I thought him kind for doing me the favor. Pippin was kind of staring at me, and I did a double take.

"What?"

"Nothing, Lady Jessica. You just shocked me. Almost everyone I know likes to drink. That you never had was surprising."

"Why?"

"Dunno," he said, and went back to his food.

I excused myself and left after I had my drink, feeling a little bit too happy. I knew that I was buzzed, but I didn't mind. It felt too nice for me to mind.

Eventually, I was walking down the outside corridors, and was very, very bored. I mean, c'mon! Hyper with nothing to do? Now that was just a bleedin' shame . . . I moved my hair behind me, and onto my back, thinking that it was getting in the way. I looked to my right when I suddenly heard the metallic clang of metal ringing clearly through the summer air.

I immediately perked up a little bit more, and smiled. Hell yes! Swords! I loved swords! I was headed down the nearest set of stairs and followed the heavy, and yet light, because of their distance from me, clinks and clangs of sword fighting. I was only too happy to follow the sounds until I reached, what I assumed to be the practice area.

'Yes! Goodbye, boredom!' I thought happily. I watched as I came across the sight of two men sparring. Or, that's what it looked like they were doing, anyway. One of them had long, soft brown hair and a mustache and beard, but really it was just a goatee. He had a woodsy kind of a look to him.

And he was somehow genteel. I realized with a start that this was Aragorn. He sure looked different. The other was an Elf who seemed to be sparring with ease, but didn't look like he was winning. I blinked in surprise when I realized the opponent was none other than Lord Elrond.

If I'd been any more surprised, I'd have fallen on my head, I was sure of it. Why had I even thought that Elrond couldn't fight? I mean . . . the Elf was the head of a house. Of course he knew how to fight! I shook my head as I watched in amazement as Elrond suddenly turned the whole fight around, and knocked Aragorns sword right out of his hand, and stood down, his sword pointing to the ground.

I smiled as Aragorn picked up his sword and nodded to Elrond. He seemed to sigh, and looked almost displeased.

"Then it is done, and it shall be remade. I still do not wish for this my friend, but it is how it would have been anyway, in the end."

"Well said, Aragorn. And true." Replied Elrond, nodding softly.

I wondered if I should even be hearing that. Or anything else that they were saying, or that they were going to say . . . I took a step back and wouldn't it so happen that the very second I moved, or so it seemed, I was in Lord Elronds glare. I felt like I'd been caught spying or something. Aragorn was watching me now, too.

I felt myself blush in embarrassment. I smiled feebly. "Hi . . ."

"What are you doing here, Lady Jessica?" He asked in a very soft, very serious kind of a voice. It carried, though. I took a moment to marvel at that. Oh, boy, if I answered this wrong, was I ever in trouble, but I answered, despite the danger.

"Well, I heard the sword fighting, and I got curious and came your way. You see . . . in my world, swords don't really exist, except for rich decoration, and are rare to come by unless you find a sword collector. I've always thought they were really cool though, and I just thought that it was really, really awesome to even be able to see you guys were actually sword fighting. I mean, I've never even really seen that before, and when you guys ended the sword fight and started talking about . . . Well, whatever it was, then I started to feel like I shouldn't even really be here and listening to it, because it isn't really any of my business and all . . ."

I frowned uncomfortably, a little ashamed, and looked away, feeling a little bad for my supposed spying. I looked back a moment later, only to find that there were looks of surprise on their faces.

"Do you mean to tell us, that in your world, there are few to no swords in use, and are merely for rich people to use as decorations?" Aragorn asked in disbelief. "How do you protect yourselves?"

"Well, we use guns. It's sort of like a very highly advanced bow and arrow . . . well, kind of. It's metal, and shoots these little bullets, or pieces of metal at you. I don't really know how to explain them. I mean, they're at least ten times as dangerous though. And louder than thunder."

A look passed between Lord Elrond and Aragorn, before Aragorn smirked, and Elrond gave a little nod. I grew both concerned and curious. What were they planning?

"Would you like to learn how to use a sword, Milady?" I smiled and nodded. I hoped I wasn't too weak, or that holding up the sword wasn't too big of a problem. Let me be honest, I've never been big on exercise.

Aragorn walked over to me and I stood up a bit taller. Didn't want him to think I was afraid of this, now, did I?

"Do you think you could handle my sword? Or do you need something lighter, or smaller?"

I blanched inwardly. His sword!? My god I'd end up killing myself!

"Oh, I definitely need something a little smaller and lighter. I'd die from getting a Hernia trying to do anything with that thing. No offense but I mean . . . well, look at it, Aragorn, and look at me."

He smiled like he was going to laugh, but wisely did not. He left, and I walked towards Lord Elrond a little. He raised an eyebrow questioningly. "So," I asked, curious, "who's teaching me?" He smiled, and I knew I was in deep doo-doo. It was so that knowing smile that you knew meant trouble. Can we say, Uh oh?

Oh God, I thought. Just then Aragorn reappeared, and brought a semi heavy, half as tall as me, sword. I think it was supposed to be complimentary to my size, but I felt like a dwarf with this sword.

I took it though, and Aragorn held the scabbard. I weighed it, heck, I even held it out, and decided it was a good sword. That and I liked the oriental leaves on the blades.

"Are you ready?" Lord Elrond asked, and withdrew the sword from the air, and tried to copy how he was holding his sword. I smiled.

Let the training begin!

God help me. o_ o