The elf was leading me back the way we came and I immediately thought I would be sent back, that Lord Elrond would not even meet me. I was thinking of a way to make him change his mind when we reached a little house that was just at the entrance of Rivendell. There another elf stood and he watched me as we approached. The elf that had led me back here had not said a word to me, which I was grateful for. I had no idea what to say to him.

'Please take your belongings,' said the elf who had awaited us. He looked different than the elf that had guided me here. He looked more like the elves that were walking around freely. I blinked in confusion. Was he a higher guard and thus had no reason for that kind of attire? Or was he a lower guard? Did they even have ranks here?

'Are you asking me to leave?' I asked, my tone flat. His face was expressionless.

'No,' he said. He did not move, nor did I.

'These are your belongings, are they not?' He motioned to the silver plate that was behind him and as I looked at it, I saw only my weapons and not those of Boromir or Ryce. Where were theirs?

'Yes,' I said, still not moving. Was that confusion that crossed his face?

'Did Lord Elrond ask you to ask me to take my departure?' I asked again.

'No,' he said again, still not showing any emotion.

'Then why am I here? Why did he not want to see me? Where should I go?' I thought I saw him smile for the shortest moment before his face turned passive again. Had I imagined it? Or was he making fun of me?

'Lord Elrond has foreseen your arrival and has approved of it. He sees no reason to keep your belongings as they are not his, so they are returned to you. Have you no need for them anymore?' He said as he moved back to the plate and as his hand hovered over my weapons, I shot forward and collected them all as fast as I could. If Lord Elrond had 'foreseen' our arrival, why had he thought it necessary to take our weapons in the first place? Was it a custom? I stood next to the elf, waiting. Moments passed in silence and I quickly looked around, only now noticing the other elf had left. I really should ask for their names as I almost caught myself calling them elf one and elf two. I just did not have to courage to ask them their names.

'Do you wish to know where your horse is?' I felt defensive immediately, even though his tone gave me no reason to. Gods, it was exhausting to be around elves and I hadn't even been here for an hour. I nodded and he motioned for me to follow him. I had expected to walk for a long time again, but we only walked to the other side of the little house and there I saw Hefric, Tordag, and Boromir's horse in an open stable. I sighed in relief and hurried over to them. I quickly looked them over and saw they still looked exactly the same as how we left them and I relaxed a little bit. I was caressing Hefric's neck as I turned back to the elf, who was so silent in just standing there I almost forgot he was there. Almost.

'Thank you,' I said, trying to rid myself of my rudeness. I had to remind myself that they had given me no reason to be so cautious towards them except for the stories I had heard. I realised I was being a hypocrite in believing stories instead of making up my own mind, so I would try my best to not be as hostile as I had been.

'There is no need to thank me,' the elf said. My defenses shot up again immediately. Here I was trying to better myself and he just waved it away.

'Well, I thank you anyway,' as soon as I realized what I had said I turned red, 'no, not like that - I did not mean... Just thank you, not I thank you. I meant to say thank you, just thank you,' I said. Now he smiled a smile that lingered, and he did not look so… strange anymore. It was the first sign of emotion I could easily recognize.

'What is the difference?' he asked. I hesitated for a bit, once again reminding myself to give the elves a chance.

'We say "I thank you" when someone saves someone else's life. In adding "I", it shows that it comes from the person, the soul. It shows that no one thinks lightly of such an action and that it is never taken for granted. The other responds with "I see you", as both show each other gratitude and respect, and essentially saying they would do it again if the need arises,' I said. The elf was quiet for so long I had thought he would not give a response. Now that was rude, never mind my earlier behavio-

'I have never heard of such a way of speaking. It is beautiful. I knew the people of the Mark value words, but-' he started.

'You know where I am from?' I interrupted him. A look of irritation crossed his face, or at least I thought I recognized it as irritation. I swallowed.

'Yes,' He simply said. Silence again. Why was he so hard to read? Were all elves like this? The silence went on and on and it started to feel very awkward. Still, I could not bring myself to ask him his name, feeling it would be too personal a question. It is just a name, for Arda's sake, just ask it!

'What else do you know?' I asked, even though the question felt out of place as we hadn't spoken for so long.

'If I were to answer that truthfully and to its full extend, I would have to talk for weeks. However, I think you mean to ask what else I know about you, and about that I can be brief. You hail from the Mark, you go by Sorrun, and this is your first time being in the company of elves,' For the shortest moment I felt relief and then I felt dread. You go by Sorrun. Is that their way of recognizing someone's name, or did he know it was not my real name? I pondered this, but decided against commenting on it. Instead I asked, 'how do you know I haven't met Elves before?' my tone was defensive all over again, I felt like I couldn't help it.

'Meeting another is not the same as being in their company,' he said. I furrowed my brow. I thought it was? Why did he speak like that? He went on, 'it is clear to me you are very uneasy being here. I can hardly blame you, and you are holding up better than some other humans I have met, and I have met many. I recognize the struggle you have in finding words. Am I right to assume you usually say any thought that arises?' Well. After having been in my presence for about only ten minutes he was already able to make correct observations. Was this what others meant by "the magic of the elves"? I hoped he was just highly perceptive and that no magic was involved. Or mind-reading. I nodded.

'May I give you some unsolicited advice?' he then asked and he stepped to stand at Hefric's other side, still keeping some distance which I appreciated. I nodded again.

'We are not so different from you, or at least that is what I believe. I do not know what stories you have heard about us, but there are differences in our race, too. Middle-Earth holds three Elven realms and I daresay you are lucky to have visited Rivendell before Lothlorien or Mirkwood. The elves here are more accustomed to humans, or any race for that matter. We have Lord Elrond to thank for that.' He paused and I thought about what he had said.

'Ask your questions, I know you have many. Staying ignorant will only cause more hardships. I would not go as far to call the behaviour you have shown so far rude, but it comes close. We are not prone to anger, but we have pride and to be treated on the base of prejudices is no way to repay the kindness Lord Elrond has shown you by granting you entry to Rivendell,' I cast my eyes down in shame. He was right. He'd seen right through me to the core of where my current attitude came from: prejudices. I had to get rid of them.

'I apologize,' I said. He was silent and I thought he was waiting for me to elaborate, so I added, 'I have no excuse, what you said is true. I let the stories others have told me create prejudices, without having given you the benefit of the doubt. I- it's just, you all seem so… regal. I do not know how to behave towards you,' I admitted. I heard him chuckle and I looked up at him.

'Well, there is no King nor Queen in Rivendell, but there is one in Mirkwood. I do not think you shall meet him. I accept your apology, I do not think you intended to inflict harm or disrespect my kin,' those words stung a bit as I felt I had indeed disrespected them.

'Thank you,' I said and for the first time I smiled at him. It felt just a little bit forced, but I could not expect myself to immediately know how to behave after being reprimanded once, and the uneasiness in me stayed put, even though it was a bit less.

'See you,' he said and I thought he would leave. He did not move however, and he raised an eyebrow.

'What? Is that not how you accept an apology?' I realized what he had tried to say and before I knew it a chuckle escaped.

'That is not really how it works. We just say "you are welcome" when someone has done something that helped us, or "it was no problem", or "no need to thank me" if it was done out of kindness - I -' I sighed, 'I am not explaining it right. You should ask Ryce, he is better at explaining those things than me,'

'I think I understand. One of your companions goes by the name of Ryce?' he then asked and I felt the knot in my stomach untangle a bit. So it was how they recognized someone's name.

'Yes. The other is Boromir. What do you go by?'

'Elladan. Mae govannen, Sorrun,' I liked the sound of his name, it was quite melodic.

'What does "mae govannen" mean?' I asked. I realized it must have been Elvish and it sounded like song.

'Welcome, or well-met,' he said and I smiled a small smile at him again.

'Mae govannen, Elladan,'

/ / /

I was still with Elladan in the stables when Ryce and Boromir returned quite some time later. I tried to read their expressions, but could not. There was no sign of disappointment nor happiness. They stopped right in front of us.

'And? How did it go?' I asked as they showed no intention of speaking first.

'Lord Elrond is expecting someone else soon. He wishes to discuss it with him before he comes to a decision. Until then we are welcome to stay in Rivendell. Soon someone will show us where we can stay,' Boromir said, no emotion in his voice nor on his face. I nodded and turned to look at Ryce, but he was looking at Elladan. I actively reminded myself again to make up for my rudeness from before, while now worrying it might come across as insincere.

'Ryce, this is Elladan. Elladan, this is Ryce, son of Ceorl. Ryce, this is Elladan,' I said.

'Mae govannen, Elladan,' I looked at Ryce in surprise at him already knowing the proper way to greet an elf.

'Mae govannen, Ryce,' Elladan said back with a smile.

'And this is Boromir, son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor,' I felt like my voice had sounded strange as I had said that, but no one seemed to have noticed anything.

'Mae govannen, Elladan,' Boromir said and Elladan returned the phrase once again.

'Allow me to show you to where you can take rest during your stay here,' Elladan then said as he guided us away from the stables and deeper into Rivendell.

I did not openly stare at any passing elves anymore, but not without effort.

A/N:

Hi guys! Sorry it took me so long to update - I've been quite busy lately. But don't worry! Like I said, I won't abandon this story.

So Sorrun and Ryce have arrived at Rivendell and we get to see how she interacts with the Elves.

I've been afraid that I've made Sorrun appear too Mary Sue-y and I'm doing my best to show her flaws - her opinion of Elves and her interaction with them being one of them.

I hope you still enjoy my story and here's just another reminder that I'm trying to keep the original storyline as intact as possible - I won't replace any of the 9 companions actions with something Sorrun does (or Ryce), but instead I try to weave them in with additions while not straying too far from the original storyline.

From this chapter onward there will be more interactions with other characters and not just Sorrun and Ryce and their backstory. Please keep in mind that this is my take of how the story could have gone with additional walkers, too, and how I interpret some characters to be. If you feel like I'm portraying someone terribly different from what Tolkien did, please let me know so I can either change it or explain why when it is necessary for my plot.

I'd love to know what you think so far!