Disclaimer: I do not own any of Tolkien's material.
A/N: Okay, as much as I hate to do it, I have to come up with a mary-sueish explanation as to why Aubrey is an elf. But as to her personality, it will still remain intact. No sparkly magic jewelry, no magically learning how to wield a weapon, and no brainwashed suitors. Only her heritage is mary-sueish. If I even get remotely close to Aubrey starting to turn into a Mary-Sue, WARN ME! ;)
Many thanks to...
LilactheDryad— (Some say the glass is half empty, some say the glass is half full, and all I want to know is if I can drink the rest of the Kool-aid in cup. And yes, I did start at the beginning.)
CodenameAgentC— (I can ask for no greater compliment than the fact that you liked this enough to read all that I have written so far in one sitting. And thank you so much for telling me that you find the characters relatable. That is always the hardest part for me, because while they may be relatable to me, they may not be so to other people.)
Me And Not You— (Glad you love it and that it made you laugh! I'm sorry that you have to wait so long in-between postings, but I have been working on several stories at once. And I honestly love making Aubrey blow things out of proportion. But in her own words, 'my body randomly decided to mutate into a pointy-eared organism that I didn't even know existed and you expect me to be okay with it and act like life is all hunky dory?')
I've never gotten so many responses so quickly for a new story! Thank you's to those who reviewed!
"Whoa."
"That is the fifth time you have made that exclamation.', Ellandan complained as we walked through the halls of Rivendell.
"And I'll say it again. Whoa."
"Stop pushing his buttons, Aubrey.', Cassie huffed in annoyance.
"But it's fun!', I grinned.
She slapped the back of my head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
Cassie gave me a meaningful glare before she continued to walk.
We reached what I assumed to be Elrond's study door and Elrohir gave two firm knocks before we were granted permission to enter. A dark haired figure (who I automatically knew to be Elrond) was thumbing through a stack of papers as he stood behind a desk, his back turned towards us.
"Glorfindel sent me rather strange tidings.', he stated curiously, not turning around as he continued to sort through the documents in his hands.
"And now he's sent you two strange creatures.', Elladan muttered underneath his breath.
"You miscounted. He sent you four strange creatures, including yourself. And it takes more than a comment like that to get under my skin.', I retorted.
He glared at me and I glared right back.
"If the two of you would kindly stop glowering at one another we will try to sort out this odd happenstance."
We both turned to see that Elrond was looking at us with eyebrows raised in amusement and took a quick moment to study him. His dark black hair reached a little ways past his shoulder and was pulled back from his face by two small braids. His eyes were stormy grey, just like his sons, and everything about him screamed wisdom and power.
"Sorry.', I managed to mumble sheepishly.
"Forgive Aubrey, my lord. She is in denial.', Cassie apologized with a snigger.
I opened my mouth to make a smart retort but Elrond silenced me with a wave of his hand and a question directed towards his sons.
"Denial?"
"She is having trouble believing that she is an elf.', Elrohir explained.
"She is also right here.', I grumbled.
Elrond's eyes narrowed for a moment before they began to twinkle. What he found so amusing, I have no clue.
"I would have directed the question towards you, but if you are in denial you would have been less likely to answer me truthfully."
Crinkling my nose, I thought about that for a moment.
"Makes sense. But you try transforming into something you didn't even know existed twenty-four hours ago and tell me you don't have trouble believing it."
"You have not always been an elf?"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"Duh. When was the last time you saw an elf with freckles and red hair? I'm not even sure that I am an elf!"
"You are of our race, child. But whether or not you are fully elven remains to be seen. I, for one, suspect the latter."
He nodded to Elladan and Elrohir and the twins quickly left the room.
"I still don't see how this happened. Neither of my parents are elves and I was definitely human when I fell asleep last night."
"Perhaps there was a concealment spell placed on your parents to mask their features? They may have been elves.', he mused as he pulled out his desk chair and sat down to face us.
"But if they were elves why do I have freckles?"
"Oh! Oh! I know! I know! Pick me! Pick me! Pick meeeeee!" I turned to grin at Cassie, who was waving an arm over her head to get attention.
"Reverting back to second-grade?"
She smirked back.
"Gael."
The way she said the name I expected her to be dropping a mic at any moment. I shook the image from my head to stare at her.
"What does my great-grandma have to do with anything?"
"Just something strangely cryptic she said whenever we went to visit last year."
"She always says stuff like that. No one ever listens to Gran— she's insane."
"Maybe you should start. She may have been on to something."
I did not stop myself from rolling my eyes this time. Cassie playfully punched my arm.
"Alright, alright. What did she say?', I asked as I rubbed my newly sore shoulder. Elrond watched us with a perfectly serene expression, like two girls from another universe dropping into his realm was an everyday thing.
My best friend stood to her feet and I groaned as I realized she was going to reenact the whole conversation she had had with my Irish grandmother.
"Listen here, lassie. Aubrey 'be part-irish by her mother's side, but more magic is to be found on her father's side. I'm tellin' ya' lass, something is mighty strange 'bout him. Fairy blood runs through his veins."
I burst out laughing. I should really be acting all demure, as I am in the presence of one of the greatest elves in Middle Earth, but I can't help the laughter that bubbled up from my chest.
"Oh, Cassie!', I gasped out in-between giggles. "You can't be serious! You think my dad is an elf?"
She plopped back into her seat and scowled in my direction.
"Of course I'm serious! I mean, have you met your dad? He's... majestic."
"I am soooo telling him you said that." I laughed harder, and tears began to pour down my face.
"You can't!', she wailed hysterically.
"Can too." I flashed her a smile as I whipped the tears from my eyes. "But you forget that my dad is redheaded too. Elves do not have red hair."
"One word: Tauriel."
"Tauriel was non-canon.', I argued. "And I repeat: elves do not have red hair."
"The Woodland Elves are known to have such coloring."
Not helping, Elrond.
"Okay, say my dad was an elf. How did he get into my world and how did we get into his?"
"Portal?', Cassie piped up.
"Nope. I would have noticed the magic sparkles."
"Valar?"
"Nu-uh. That's wayyyy too far fetched."
"A thinning of the veil that separates Middle Earth from our world?"
"Cassie, are you trying to make us sound like Mary-Sues?"
"You already are. I mean, you turned into an elf for heaven's sake!' my friend giggled.
"Because I was already part-elf. But if my dad is an elf, why aren't his ears pointy? Why were my ears not pointy?', I wondered.
"As I said, perhaps there was a concealment spell.', Elrond calmly replied.
"There is no magic in my world."
"Then that would explain the lack of points.', he said as if it were the simplest answer in the world. I felt like banging my head on the desk.
You have some serious explaining to do when I get home, daddy-o. When I get home... make that if I get home.
"I. Am. A. Doggone. Mary-sue.', I growled again.
"Would you please explain what that term means?"
"It means somebody's life is the cat's pajamas.', I mumbled.
While Cassie interpreted my words into Middle Earth lingo for Lord Elrond I paced the room.
I suppose I'm here because this is dad's home turf. But why the heck is Cassie here? Who am I kidding? There probably isn't even an explanation for everything that has happened. Typical for a Mary Sue. Things just randomly happen for no reason.
We were led to a set of connecting rooms and left to ourselves, being told that someone would come to help us ready for dinner. I quickly observed my room. A queen sized bed sat under an open window, and a matching armoire sat on the left wall of the spacious room. A small side table was conveniently placed beside the bed.
I flopped onto the white quilt that covered the mattress with my limbs sprawled in all directions. I grabbed a fluffy pillow and shoved my face into it before letting out a muffled yell of frustration.
"Feel better?"
I pulled the down-filled bundle off of my face and glared at Cassie.
"No.', I snarled before moving the pillow back into its new position.
"Okay then."
She plopped down beside me and let out a feral howl.
"What the heck was that for?', I asked as sat up and threw my cushion at her face.
"I was acting like you.', she laughed as she threw the white object back towards me.
I huffed in exasperation before falling back into the mattress again.
"Cassie? What if we never get to go home?"
"I guess we cross that bridge when we get to it.', she sighed, mirroring my own discontent.
"This is going to sound completely crazy, but I actually miss Mark. Immaturity and all."
"What about Colton?', she baited. "Don't you miss him, too?"
I threw another pillow at her. She dodged and laughed at dark look I was giving her. A knock on the door interrupted our verbal joust and we hurriedly tried to make the bed neat again. Succeeding to the point where the covers looked only mildly rumpled, we sat innocently on the quilt and bade the person to enter.
An elleth with dark tresses (I have a feeling that Cassie and I will stick out like sore thumbs with our blonde and red hair) entered the room with two dresses slung over her arm.
"Good evening, little ones. I have come to help you prepare for dinner?"
Muriel, as she introduced herself, was something akin to a mother hen. Elrond had an aura of wisdom while Muriel had one of comfort and tenderness. We chatted as she helped us get dressed (corsets are clearly the work the of Sauron) before she quickly showed us to the dining hall.
"Ugh. I just realized something.', Cassie whispered as we were directed towards the table we were told to sit at.
"What?', I whispered back.
"We're in Middle Earth."
I let my lips tip into a sardonic smile.
"Just now figuring it out, huh? Tell me, what shocked you out of your stupor?', I teased as I poked her in the ribs.
"This world doesn't have pizza.' she pouted as she squirmed away from my hand.
I laughed at Cassie's grimacing face.
"Seriously? I swear that you have the mind of a hobbit."
I yelled into my pillow again as soon as I reached my room.
I point blank refuse to become a Mary Sue.
So what if my dad is an elf? What if I randomly swapped languages? What if I randomly grew a new pair of ears and no longer have to shave my legs because the stubble mysteriously disappeared?
I am never, never becoming one of them.
And with that goal in mind, I stormed out of my room to find the library.
In the Library...
Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.
After spending two hours trying to find the library— I am too stubborn to ask for directions— I finally stumbled in by accident and realized a very important detail.
I. Can't. Read.
It's a good thing though: Mary-Sues would be able to read. Right? Oh please tell me I am right!