The sun shone down easily, as there wasn't a single cloud anywhere in the sky. Birds chirped, and sang. Elves talked, and laughter and singing could be heard, along with the soft sound of water that was constant in the valley of Rivendell, whose white stone buildings caught every glimmer of sunlight, and transformed it into a shining thing that blinded you like new fallen snow once you step outside your door.

It was one of those wonderful days that made you want to go outside and play with the small Elven children, (if you could catch the little buggers,) or go and talk to someone as you walked, or maybe even to sit, and just be there, alone with the sunlight and nature, thinking, writing in your journal, or maybe even reading a book. But there was one thing that I hadn't pictured it being perfect for . . .

"Lass, come on! You are not telling me no to this when you said you would try!"

I sulked, looking at Gimli, who had actually gone to the trouble to harass Rivendell's Head of Arms to find the right sized axe for me. The only problem being was that the dang thing was so heavy! It was made out of real metal. I hefted the thing again, nervous.

"I'm afraid of this thing, Gimli. I don't want to chop off any arms or legs. Especially mine."

The other dwarf behind Gimli was howling with laughter, which I was pointedly trying to ignore. What was so funny, anyway? Gimli dragged my attention away from the other dwarf by laughing himself.

"You . . ." He started, but when he looked at me, he just started to laugh again. I fought the urge to growl. Boy, Dwarves were annoying sometimes. I even knew why. They acted like teenagers . . . from my world, nonetheless. Now I knew why the Elves didn't like them very much.

He straightened, smiling broadly. "You do not have to be afraid of an Axe! I would think trying out a sword against Aragorn and firing that Elf's bow would be enough to get you to try my axe… But I suppose that-"

I did growl then. Uh-uh. Not going there. "Don't say it. If you do, I'll hurt you."

He merely smiled. But then . . .

"Since you're a woman, you may be too weak . . ."

Before I fully realized what I was doing, I swung the axe straight at him. He blocked it expertly, and I was jarred by the sound alone, but the handle shivered from the impact, and I actually almost lost my holding because of it. I pulled back, not quite sure I was doing this correctly at all. I only focused on my balance, on both the ground and the handle. I was forced to block him, or at least try, when he swung at me. Reflexively, I tried to block, and it was knocked aside, and I tripped. Finding myself on my back, he pulled away. I saw the grin on his fuzzy face.

I couldn't help it. I smiled back, and let loose a soft laugh. Anger and irritations were both great motivators, eh?

"Got me good."

"Aye lass, and it will not be the last time, either! I look foreword to the rest of this lesson. When I'm done with you, you'll be almost as good as me!"

He grinned excitedly, and I mentally cringed. He's got to be the smaller form of Aragorn; I swear . . . he's going to keep me at it till I hurt all over again. I smiled as I dusted off the clothes that I had found on my bed just as I woke up that morning, and was overjoyed that they were a deep blue color. The only thing being was that dust showed up on them like a sore thumb.

Needless to say, Gimli harrumphed and I grinned, picking my huge axe back up. We went at it for another hour, before I finally knocked Gimli over. By that time, I had lots of bruises, but, surprisingly, no cuts, slashes, scratches, slices or nicks anywhere on me.

"I can't believe you actually managed to knock me down for once! Well, I suppose that's enough for now. Even a dwarf gets tired after an hour of teaching! Did I not tell yah that you wouldn't cut anything off?"

"Yeah, you did, I just, I dunno. This thing is huge; I thought I'd be terrible at even holding it right. Sword fighting is rare in my world. Fewer still use bows and arrows, and I don't think I've heard of anyone, uh . . . Axe battling or what not."

"Then when you return, you can show them how to use an Axe!" He proclaimed, sounding sure of himself with a smug smile on his face.

When I get home, I vowed to myself, terribly sore, that I would 'definitely' work out more, and I promise never to drink that much wine to dull the aches . . . ever again.

I groaned, trying to remember the last hour. Elfish wine is a strange animal, it acts fast and fades fast, but oh, god, the headaches it left weren't good. No, no. Or maybe I was allergic to liquor? I hoped not. That would be bad, as this world seemed full of it already. I massaged my right temple in achy pain.

I was currently walking down the aisle of alabaster white stone, expertly carved with the talented, patient hands of the Elves. There was no roof here, and the open sky greeted me with a darker shade of blue, as it got later into the day. I looked up into the trees. They grew tall and their branches were wide, and thick with the age of years.

Why can't my world have mercy? Why can't our trees grow happily and be safe in their forest, to grow until they die naturally? But when no one really cares anymore, then how can you do anything at all, but hope?

I looked back to the path I was going to walk down, and was surprised to see another Elf walking the same corridor as I was, but he only nodded politely as he passed. I nodded back, and went to the edge of the walkway, looking out into the green land.

What loomed behind those trees? Or in them? Would I learn very much here, before I went home? Or would I stay here, within Middle Earth?

The time passed itself by slowly, as I sat on the marble floor and watched the day grow a little dimmer. I must have dozed off, because I woke up to singing. I blinked a few times, clearing my slightly foggy vision. The first thing I thought was that they were starting dinner, but it wasn't dark yet.

That's when I looked up, and saw a little sparrow singing not a foot above me, perched on the rail. He saw me, tilted his head and chirped questionably. I smiled.

"Have you come to tell me to wake up, little bird?" I asked, smiling up to it. He made a rapid reply.

Thrrrill-alil!

I smirked. He was so cute. He tilted his head, and was quiet, until he flew off. I got up groggily, and yawned.

"Jessica!"

I jumped as a pair of strong, small arms grabbed me around the waist, squeezing. I had barely enough time to notice it was Frodo who was grabbing me, before Sam came racing around the corner, also hiding behind me. Two other Hobbits ran around the corner, looking around.

"Don't let them see us!" Frodo gasped quietly. I could tell he was trying not to laugh.

"What, I get to be dragged into this?" I asked, amused.

"Shhh!"

"We heard that!" One of the chasing Hobbits proclaimed in victory.

"Oh, no! Sam, run!" Frodo laughed, letting go of me and running for all he was worth.

"Pippin, c'mon!" the one nameless hobbit demanded playfully. "We'll dunk 'em fer sure now!" They ran off before I could stop laughing. I was both alarmed and amused. Dunk Frodo? They'd better be ready for a good chase!

I made it inside, still smirking, and laughing a little at the thoughts that went through my head.

"And what doe's the lady find so amusing?" Asked a gentle, teasing voice. "Perhaps she has lost her mind." Another voice jeered lightly. I looked behind me, to see two elves smirking, both with long, ebony black hair. "No, I haven't. The Hobbits are chasing each other around the place."

"Pray tell why?" the one on the right asked.

"The one with Popper, Poppin . . . something along those lines, wanted to dunk Sam and Frodo." I hated that I'd forgotten the one's name so quickly. Who were these guys? Were they Elves, too?

"And they would be lucky to splash them, indeed! I doubt father would let them chase so if he knew! Come, Elladin, should we tell on them?"

"Indeed not! Have the lady do it! Then we will not be blamed for jesting the Hobbits into such play!"

"What?" They were dragging me into it? Ooooh no . . . "Nuh-uh, you'll have to catch me first. I'm not getting in trouble because of you two jokesters!" I jeered teasingly.

"Oh, a race to catch you would be easily won; you are tired from swinging an axe too long, and ere did you not sleep on the porch? Still drowsy, are you not?" He smirked more and took a step closer.

Jokes on them, I though, smiling. I booked, going full out, before ducking into a room and under a low table, just as they went by. I was grinning and shaking my head. Yeah, I was crazy, and I knew it. But when they came by, they both looked confused.

Score one for Jessica.

I couldn't help myself and giggled.

((Ooops, maybe she shouldn't have done that. What do you guys think? Lol. I know it is an evil cliffy. Please read and Review. What do you think will happen?))