AUTHOR'S NOTE This chapter marks the return of Artoo! Enjoy. Thanks for the reviews!

Also, Elladan and Elrohir are two of my favorite characters in LotR, but seeing as how they aren't in the books that much, I've kind of taken my own characterization approach with them, which I think is fairly close to what limited canon information we have. Think of them as kind of the Middle Earth equivalent of Fred and George Weasley.

DISCLAIMER Don't own them.

…

The sun rose and set several times before Obi-Wan's wounds had completely healed. Lord Elrond came every so often to check on him, as did his beautiful raven-haired daughter, Arwen. The twins, though he still could not tell which was Elladan and which was Elrohir, kept him amused during his bed rest and Aragorn taught him the ways of the planet on which he had landed.

"Middle Earth?" Obi-Wan repeated.

"Yes," Aragorn said, looking at him strangely. "Surely you've – "

"Never have I heard it called that," Obi-Wan interrupted hastily. "Where I'm from, we call it something different."

Aragorn nodded. "Arda perhaps? Peoples from long ago called it Arda."

With a smile, Obi-Wan nodded. "Yes, yes. Arda."

"The land you are from," Aragorn asked. "What was it called?"

"In the official language, we call it Coruscant."

Aragorn leaned forward excitedly. "Your language is so different! What are some of your other names?"

Obi-Wan smiled. "Let's see. There's Naboo and Alderaan and Kamino and Tatooine. There's Geonosis, but that is not so pleasant."

"Is that the home of your enemies?"

The Jedi nodded grimly. "Yes. It was once their stronghold. It has been a year of war and still no end is in sight."

They saw in uncomfortable silence for a moment, Obi-Wan brooding on the war he was absent from and Aragorn on the one he felt was coming. To lighten the mood, Obi-Wan said, "What about your language?"

"You mean our names?" Aragorn asked.

'Not quite,' Obi-Wan thought. "Or the places around here. I have never been to this part of Arda before."

Aragorn cocked an eyebrow. "You must truly be from a distant land."

'You have no idea.'

"The Eastern lands perhaps? Maybe the land you call Coruscant is that which we call Rhûn." Obi-Wan said nothing. Aragorn shrugged and continued. "This land you are in is called Rivendell in the Common Tongue and Imladris in the native Elven tongue."

"Do all of your lands have two names?" Obi-Wan asked nervously.

Aragorn laughed out loud. "Many of them, yes, but I will only teach you the common names if you wish."

"I am a fast learner," the Jedi replied with a wink. "Perhaps eventually I will learn both."

"I suppose that depends on how long you stay with us."

"Yes," Obi-Wan said softly, but several worries flashed through his mind. 'How am I supposed to leave? How badly was the ship damaged? Where is my lightsaber? By the Force, I've left Artoo!'

"Aragorn, I wonder if your father would permit me to walk among his beautiful home for a while? I feel the fresh air would do my health a world of good," Obi-Wan asked.

"I cannot imagine that he'd mind. The feast for your arrival is in less than three hours' time," he warned. "Trust me that you do not want to miss it."

Obi-Wan smiled. "I will not," he promised. With that, he quickly excused himself from Aragorn's company and made his way toward the forest.

From high above on his balcony, Elrond watched the Jedi steal silently into the trees. "Where do you suppose our guest is sneaking off to?" Glorfindel asked from behind him.

Elrond furrowed his brow. "I do not know, my friend. There is something very strange about Hyarion."

"How so?"

Elrond turned to Glorfindel – his most trusted companion. "Can you not feel it, Glorfindel?" he asked. "Hyarion carries within him the power of Elves, yet he is mortal. No Numenorean blood flows through his veins but he is as powerful as I remember Gil-Galad to be."

Glorfindel was silent, pondering the man who called himself Hyarion. "How do you know the man has no trace of the Ancient blood?"

"Tis but a feeling, Glorfindel. Nothing more." The Lord of Imladris turned his gaze back to the trees into which Obi-Wan had disappeared. "Perhaps there is another he must see."

Deep in the woods, Obi-Wan slowed his pace as he tried to remember where his ship had been heading during the crash. He dared not call out, for the Dark Side crept closer with every step he took away from Rivendell. Instead, he opted to follow his honed intuition, reaching out for the unique humming of the crystal that he had used to build his lightsaber.

It did not take him long to locate his lost weapon, for he had had it by his side for many years. Gratefully, he dropped to his hands and knees to crawl unceremoniously into a bramble and retrieve the silver handle. "Aha!" he said aloud once he'd emerged.

A distinctly ecstatic-sounding whistle caused Obi-Wan to spin around. He laughed when he saw Artoo rolling toward him as fast as was possible for him. Had the droid had any face or expression, Obi-Wan was sure that he would be grinning.

"Artoo!" the Jedi cried gladly. He patted the droid's domed head. "Survived the crash okay?"

Artoo beeped affirmatively, then asked a question. "If you're asking where we are, I'm not exactly sure." The droid made an unhappy noise and Obi-Wan had to smile. "I'm sorry, Artoo," he said. "I'll work on that."

He stood up and brushed the leaves from the tan robes Lord Elrond had given him. Artoo squealed in distress. "I have to go back to Rivendell!" Obi-Wan said. "They are my only chance to learn more about where we are. How is the ship?"

Artoo's answer was not reassuring. Obi-Wan sighed. "Well, try to get the navicomputer and the comm working at least, will you?" An affirmative response. "Good. I'll be back to check on you as soon as I can."

He left Artoo leaden with guilt over leaving the little droid alone in a very strange land. Artoo had become a close friend to him and he worried about what could happen.

Obi-Wan felt very safe among the creatures who called themselves Elves and had so graciously taken him in, but having his lightsaber once again at his side made him feel that much more secure. A deep sense of peace flooded over him as soon as he crossed the border into Lord Elrond's realm. He relished the feeling.

The twins greeted him like grinning gargoyles and Obi-Wan knew that they were up to no good. Unfortunately, he also had a feeling that their plans somehow involved him.

He was right. Elladan and Elrohir each linked an arm through his and escorted him like identical sentinels through the halls of Elrond's home. "Not that I mind your company, friends," Obi-Wan said. "But where are we going?"

The one on his right – the Force told him that it was Elrohir – grinned, a perfect picture of wicked innocence. "Your honor feast starts quite soon, Hyarion," he said.

"What kind of hosts would we be if we do not see to your preparation?" Elladan asked.

Oh no. "My preparation?" Obi-Wan repeated.

They had reached Obi-Wan's door. "Certainly!" Elrohir said. "Don't worry. By the time we're through with you, you will look like the finest Elven lord in all of the Western Lands!"

Obi-Wan smiled nervously.