I'm so sorry, everyone! Life happened again.
Some good stuff (I got married, yay) and bad stuff (My grandpa had a series of strokes), job and financial situations have been a tad stressy (adulting is hard), and I suffer through phases of anxiety and depression, but I have not abandoned this story.
I am actively writing it, it is ongoing, I promise. I hit a little bit of a writers block in one of the upcoming chapters, but I am working through it.

I (again) made the mistake of re-reading it, and some changes have been made from this chapter (chapter 10) and on.
I have and will continue to leave the previous notes, in case they helped give any insight into my thoughts for the chapters.

I'm sure I've said it before, but the reviews you guys leave are immensely helpful in giving me motivation to write.
I welcome any and all constructive criticism, if you notice any typos please feel free to point them out so I can fix them.
I am my own proofreader, and I am far from perfect.

In other news, I have cross-posted this on Archive Of Our Own, same story title, though my author name is LadyLyssa (only one L in the beginning).
I'm actually quite excited about that, because I was able to post the full rape scene (It's not actually that much longer, but it flows a bit better than the shortened version on here).
I am going to continue posting the story on here as well, though.
So all of you die-hard FFnet loyalists, you don't have to switch over to get updates.

Enjoy~

Previous notes-

I do apologize about the length of time it's taken me to get to this. I have not abandoned the story, I promise.
Life happened. I won't bore you with the details.

I ended up going through from the beginning and editing a bunch of little things, so it would be a good idea to start from the beginning.

I'm trying to add more character interaction, though I'm struggling a bit with getting them all to sound right.

If any of you have prank ideas for Elladan and Elrohir, they'd be most welcome. And any opinions on whether the characters sound like themselves, or how I might write them better would also be very nice.

I'm going to attempt to get at least one or two chapters per month.

Enjoy.

After eating, we strolled through the garden, Arwen softly telling me about the plants.
It wasn't long before I started to struggle, though, trembling and internally berating myself at how weak I was acting, tired after a simple stroll.

I was broken from my mental scolding by her voice, "I'm afraid I'll have to leave you for a while. Shall I accompany you to your room, or would you rather spend some time in the garden?"

I wondered briefly if she had noticed how tired I was and was simply offering me a reason to go back to my room after such a short time, or if she actually had something to do.
Deciding all I really needed was a few minutes to rest, I responded.

"I think I'll stay out here. Thank you, though. Maybe I'll..see you later?"

The last bit was tentative, and I regretted saying it almost immediately.
What if she was really busy and now she felt obligated to come tend to the poor injured human….

She smiled, though, "Of course. I'll find you when I'm done. Perhaps we can take our evening meal in the hall with everyone else."

With that, she stepped away and gave me one more assessing glance before leaving, back in the direction of the main house.
I made my way over to a large tree, sitting carefully against it and letting my head fall back to rest against the trunk, legs stretched out before me.

I didn't notice when my eyes drifted closed, or when I started dozing.
I had no idea how much time passed before I heard a voice, pulling me slowly from the depths of sleep.

I didn't move. I doubted anyone would attack me in Rivendell.
It was definitely male, still melodic and exotic.

"Is she sleeping?"

Another voice, very similar, but obviously responding to the first, "I think so. Look at her..Arwen said it was bad...but.."

I winced a little, did I really look that bad?

The first voice responded, softer this time, almost out of my hearing range,
"Hush, you're going to wake her up. She looks so tired...Maybe we should take her back to her room?"

I slowly blinked my eyes open, pushing myself to sit up a bit straighter from the slouch that I'd fallen into while dozing and looking up to find two identical elves a short ways away.

Upon seeing my eyes open, they smiled a bit apologetically.

The one on the left took a few steps forward, then knelt, the other joining him only a moment later.
The only pair of twins I knew of were Elrond's sons, Elladan and Elrohir, and these two did look a bit like Elrond.

The left twin spoke, "My apologies, milady. We didn't mean to bother you."

Then the right twin spoke, "Perhaps we might accompany you back to your room? You'll become chilled if you sleep out here."

With that pointed out, I realized that I actually was quite cold, starting to shiver a bit.
"I..uh..I'm sorry, for sleeping out here. I didn't mean to, I was just going to sit a while and enjoy the garden..I didn't realize I fell asleep…"

The one on the left shook his head quickly, "Tis nothing to worry about, milady. The gardens are for everyone to enjoy, and there are many ways to enjoy them. I have taken a great number of naps out here."

The one on the right quickly rose, shrugging out of the robe he had on, revealing a tunic and breeches underneath.
He stepped forward, kneeling next to me and offering it to me.

I stared at it for a moment, then him, then slowly reached out to take it.
I kept getting kindness that I wasn't expecting.

I put one arm through, wincing when my muscles protested movement after so long without activity, and he was quick to reach around, helping me to get my other arm in and then closing it in the front.

Despite that they, and all the elves I'd seen were thin, the robe still dwarfed me.
The sleeves were long, falling well past my hands, the front where it opened incredibly loose, each side able to wrap around me almost to my back.
It was quite long, too, and I felt a bit like a child, playing in grown up clothes.

I tried to stand, ending up accidentally standing on the edge of the robe and stumbling.

The one who'd offered the robe gently caught my arms, helping to right me.
"Are you alright?"

"Yes..Thank you."

They were both incredibly tall, at least six and a half feet.
The top of my head was about even with their shoulders.
I glanced between them uncertainly, I couldn't tell which was which.

I was tired of referring to them as the left and right twin.
"Ah..My name is Alyssa."

The one who'd given me his robe and caught me smiled, "My name is Elrohir, and that is my brother, Elladan."
Elladan waved slightly, having stood up at some point while I was busy being clumsy.

We stood there for a long, silent moment.
I wasn't sure what to say to them, and they looked like they felt rather the same way.

Elladan was the one who spoke first, sounding a little bit unsure.
"Are you..enjoying your time here, in Rivendell?"

I couldn't help but smile, feeling better that these creatures of seeming perfection maybe weren't so perfect after all.
"Well, it beats dying in the wilderness."

Elladan winced a little, looking like he wished he hadn't spoken.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.."

He trailed off awkwardly.
Elrohir was looking at his brother with a rather 'what are you doing' expression.

A giggle forced itself out of me, which had both of them looking at me oddly.

Elladan actually tilted his head a little, an adorable expression of confusion on his face.

The giggle grew into a full laugh as I pictured a dog or cat tilting their head in the same way, the thought of comparing elves to furry pets enough to have me laughing so hard I had to lean on the tree to remain standing.

I knew I probably looked ridiculous, wearing Elrohir's giant robe, leaning against a tree, laughing like a crazy person.
I managed to calm down enough that I was just snickering, but one look at their tilted heads and amused expressions sent me spiraling back into laughter.

It was another few minutes before I was able to calm down enough to stop laughing.
"I'm sorry, you just..you look so funny when you tilt your heads like that. Like a confused puppy."

I snickered again at the way their eyebrows raised at my reason for laughing.

Elrohir's voice was amused and a bit disbelieving when he spoke.
"You think we look like..puppies."

I tried to stifle the laughter, wondering if perhaps I'd offended them already, but that fear was quickly stopped when Elladan laughed, a musical sound that made me happy just hearing it.
"Well, I don't think I've ever been compared to a puppy before. If we're puppies, I think you're a kitten, little and burrowing."

Elladan plucked at the shoulder of the robe that ensconced me.

Elrohir peered at me closely, leaning down slightly.
"Or perhaps a laughing fox kit?"

I giggled again, and Elladan nodded, "Yes, I think so."

And just like that, the awkwardness was gone.
I knew I was going to have fun with them.

I shivered again, despite the added warmth of Elrohir's robe.
I was no longer skeletally thin, but I still hadn't filled out enough to have any body fat to conserve heat with.

Elrohir offered his arm, "Well, kit, may we accompany you to the dining hall? It's nearing the evening meal. It will be warmer inside."

I hesitantly slipped my arm through his, feeling a bit self conscious walking next to two giant handsome elves, but it didn't take long before they were telling me all sorts of fun things to do, and I didn't even notice the feeling fading, too busy laughing at the funny things they were suggesting.

Arwen found me a short while later sitting at a table in the kitchen, small bits of food left over from our meal, Elladan and Elrohir on either side of me, telling stories of their previous pranks expressively and with many hand motions.
She smiled at the sight of me laughing between them, and left quietly, going to the dining hall to eat, choosing not to disturb us.

"Erestor was livid! We'd stacked the books from his study into a book fort and used our robes to make the roof. He found us in there, reading the book we were currently studying. He couldn't decide whether to punish us for making a mess in his study, or be glad we were actually studying! In the end, he made us put the books back, all where they'd been before, but not before throwing his robe atop ours and joining us for an hour of reading in the book fort. He never admits it, though."

I laughed as Elladan finished his story, trying to stifle a yawn a moment later.

They exchanged a look, and Elrohir stood, clearing our dishes away.
Elladan was still smiling, though not quite as exuberantly as when he'd been telling the story.
"Would you like to retire? You're still recovering, we've been forcefully instructed by Arwen that we aren't to keep you, if you were tired."

"I suppose it would probably be a good idea."
I rose slowly.

Even though I'd been more active that day than I had for the past few days, I wasn't exhausted.
Not like I had been the last few days while recovering.

I was tired, but I felt good.
I felt like I had recovered more in the last day, being outside with Arwen, and laughing with the twins.

Elrohir returned from cleaning up, "Do you remember where your room is?"

"I think so..Do either of you know where it is? I'm not completely sure I'll remember all the turns.."
I twisted my fingers together, peering out the kitchen entryway and trying to remember which direction it was in.
It felt like so much had happened since I left my room that afternoon.

Elladan stepped up, "I believe I know which one it is. We'll go with you, that way if we all get lost, at least we'll have you there to protect us."

I laughed again, and we set off.

It only took one wrong turn before I found my way back, and they left me with a parting farewell, and the agreement that we would meet up for lunch the next day.

The next several days went very much the same.

I met Arwen for breakfast, and then we spent a few hours just walking around, helping me to gain back strength and easy mobility.

She'd hand me off to Elladan and Elrohir around lunch, and we'd spend some time exploring, and once I was moving easier, climbing trees, where we'd lounge and Elladan would try to help me make sense of the Sindarin geography book that Erestor had given me, while Elrohir innocently dropped leaves on our heads until he got too bored and decided that it was time for more exploring.

The second time they caught me taking a nap in the garden after Arwen left, they brought a large, heavy blanket.
They proceeded to swaddle me quite securely until I was a bundle of laughter, then they plopped down next to me, stretched out, and we all took a cat nap.

That was an interesting experience.

I'd gotten in the habit of clinging to things, branches, bushes, tree trunks, during my travels.
Insurance, of types, to make sure I didn't fall out of the trees I slept in, or roll away from my sheltered hiding spots.

The result of this habit was that, when I awoke from the nap, it was to find that I had at some point scooted closer and was now curled and clinging to Elrohir.
He was awake, of course. Both of them were.

Elladan was on his side facing us, keeping up a soft conversation in Sindarin with Elladan.
Both of them looked highly amused with my cuddly behavior, as well.

That seemed to break the personal space bubble from then on, and they had no qualms with physical contact after that.

I met Bilbo during one of my first meals in the dining hall, and broke away from both the twins and Arwen for the first time since leaving the healing house.
They watched with matching looks of perplexed confusion as I made a beeline towards him immediately upon seeing him.

There was no mistaking who it was.
He looked quite old, and was very short, but had a look of warmth about him.

Even as he sat next to a few other elves, merrily chatting away, I could tell that interruption would not be seen as a bother to him.
"Excuse me, I.."

What did I say?
I certainly couldn't just say 'you're Bilbo, right? Would you tell me your stories?'

He turned at my hesitant words, offering me a smile.
"Ah, my dear, it is good to see you up and about! I witnessed your entrance into Rivendell, it was quite concerning. Ah, but you must still be recovering! Sit down, sit down. Join me, I love to meet new folk. My name is Bilbo Baggins."

He motioned at his side where no one yet occupied a few chairs.

I sat carefully in the chair he was indicating.
"Thank you. I didn't mean to interrupt..It's a pleasure to meet you, master Baggins. My name is Alyssa."

"Oh enough of that, call me Bilbo, please. There are no interruptions in good conversation, simply new and interesting topics! There you go, then, pull up a chair. You caused quite the commotion, coming in the way you did."

He leaned a little closer, lowering his voice in a conspiratory way.
"Between you and me, I think a little bustle every now and then is good for everyone here. Not too much of course, just enough to keep everyone on their toes."

I blinked at him, feeling a bit blindsided.

"I..I didn't think it was that bad. Though, to be perfectly honest, I don't really remember much of my arrival.."

"Not at all surprising, my dear. You were in a poor state. But let us not dwell on misfortune. Let's get some food in you. You're far too thin. It's not healthy."
He leaned back slightly, motioning at the table of available food.

It all happened so fast, I just wanted to meet him and then suddenly he had me seated comfortably next to him with a plate full of food.
Talking to him was somehow easier.

He was happy, once I curiously asked when he had first come here, to start regaling me with his many adventures, and I was happy to listen, chiming in with questions and curiosities, getting a new, and yet so familiar perspective on the stories I grew up reading.

All the while, Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen sat quietly conversing amongst themselves and their father.
Occasionally they glanced over to check on me, finding with ever growing curiosity that I seemed more comfortable with Bilbo upon first meeting than I had with any of them.

It wasn't until the next morning that they got a chance to ask about it, for Bilbo and I spent the remainder of the evening together.
We went first from the dining hall to the hall of fire, where he cajoled me into singing for him, and then sang for me.

We went joyfully back and forth, and I found that I felt almost normal around him, despite that he was so clearly older, and very much shorter.
As horrible as it sounded in my head, he didn't feel otherworldly and inhuman as the elves did, so I didn't feel out of place with him.

After spending almost an hour singing back and forth at eachother, with much laughter thrown in between songs, I started to yawn incessantly.
He was quick to dismiss the apologies I offered for my easy tiring, and would not take no as an answer when offering to walk me back to my room.

We parted that night with the promise that we would continue sharing stories and songs another time.

By the end of the week, I was feeling much more myself.