Teal'c walked through the gardens of Rivendell, admiring their beauty. As First Prime of Apophis he had seen sights that most humans could only dream of, places that defied description in any language. This place, with its sense of peace to accompany its beauty, was the most wonderful he had ever seen.

There was no true distinction between the house and the forest beyond. One moment he was walking through marbled halls, the next the trees painted overhead gave way to clear skies and creaking boughs. The floors were strewn with leaves inside or out, and vaguely he wondered how the elves managed to keep animals from fouling the polished wood.

He nodded as he passed one of the guards, who returned the gesture before continuing on his way. After two days of questioning Elrond had allowed them the run of his home as long as they swore not to attempt to escape or harm anyone. For the simple pleasure of being so near an almost uncorrupted nature, Teal'c was happy to oblige. They still had guards, men seldom seen that trailed each of them when they left their rooms. Trusting, these elves were, but not foolish. The sun was just beginning to set, burnishing the foliage with its light.

"Here now, you're a big one."

Teal'c looked around, trying to locate the voice.

"I'm down here, sir."

Teal'c looked down, and saw what he would have assumed was a child, but for the depth of his voice. The boy stood no taller than his upper thigh, his curly hair covering his ears. Teal'c assumed he was an elf child. O'Neill had explained to him that elves aged very slowly, so this might be natural for one of their own. "Is there something I can assist you with?"

The boy shook his head. "No, I was just wonderin' who ye were. Everyone's been so secret around here for the past two days I was startin' to worry."

Teal'c raised one eyebrow. "I am Teal'c. My companions and I arrived in Rivendell early yesterday morning."

The child smiled. "I'm Peregrine, most everyone calls be Pippin, or Pip dependin' on their mood, though Gandalf tends to call me a Took most of the time." He held out his small hand, wincing when Teal'c shook it. "That's some grip. Ye might want te tone it down next time though."

Teal'c nodded. "Indeed," his eyes searched the surrounding area. "Should not a child be accompanied by his parents?"

Pip looked at him, then his eyes widened, his mouth making a silent 'oh'. "I'm not an elf, if that's what yer thinkin'. I'm a Hobbit, and it's been a while since I've needed anyone te look out for me."

The jaffa tilted his head. "What is a hobbit?"

Pip smiled, swinging his arm in the direction of the path they were on.

"I"ll tell ye all about us." The child… hobbit… he corrected himself, started talking almost immediately, his lilting voice charming Teal'c instantly.

Daniel watched as Gandalf made another smoke figure, a large eagle with wings spread and talons reaching for invisible prey spiraling into the room. The two had been talking since Elrond left them earlier, and he was still full of questions.

"You're world sounds unbearably dull, with no magic and nothing but humans running about."

He smiled at Gandalf, "Sometimes it can be, but I'm glad we don't have elves. The humans of my world fear what they do not understand, and probably would have hunted them down ages ago."

Gandalf's expression was sad, but understanding. "Then how do you know that the elves aren't simply hiding among your people? Or in the wilderness, what little is left of it?"

Daniel thought for a moment. There were still places in the world where very few people, if any, had ever set foot. "You might be right. It would explain the legends of elf-like creatures in almost all cultures, from Asian to European to Early American." He had a thought. "Do unicorns exist here?" At Gandalf's blank expression he explained.

The wizard thought for a moment. "There were creatures like what you speak of, Ages ago, before the twilight of the world was ended. I have never heard of a man, or elf, seeing such a creature since."

Daniel walked onto the balcony and took a deep breath. "I still can't believe that I'm actually here. Any minute now I expect to wake up in my apartment, and have all this be a dream."

Gandalf moved to stand next to him, watching the beauty of Rivendell in the setting sun. "There are few places in this world that are a match for this place, both in beauty and peace. The only place that I can think of that surpasses this would be Lothlorien."

"Lothlorien?"

Gandalf nodded. "It is another elven city, one of the four that still exist in this world. It is home to the Silvan elves, of which the peoples of Rivendell are descended." He ran a hand over the banister, which was carved in the likeness of a tree trunk. " Rivendell is an attempt to recreate that place, and while it does not truly surpass it in beauty, it does have one all its own."

Daniel sighed, before turning to his companion. The wizard had been smoking something for some time now, and he wondered if it was a form of tobacco, since it reminded him of the sweet smelling stuff his father used to smoke. "Gandalf, what are you smoking?"

The wizard smiled, taking his pipe out of his mouth, "It is weed, as the hobbits call it. I'm afraid it has become something of a habit of mine, especially when thinking."

"Is it addictive?"

Gandalf laughed. "Goodness, no! At least, I've never heard of someone being unable to stop smoking the weed. It is mostly calming, and has a pleasant smell." He reached in his robes, removing a leather package containing another pipe and a small, tied pouch. "Would you like to try it?"

Daniel smiled, taking the pipe as Gandalf explained the proper way to pack the weed. Well, as they say: when in Rome.

Jack stared into the still waters of one of the several pools of Rivendell, watching as the stars slowly came out in the sky over his head. He remembered dreaming of a place like this, well not exactly like this, but a place with wizards and witches, elves and dwarves and warriors. He'd stopped having those dreams when his Dad told him to get his head out of the clouds and start living in the now, instead of somewhere that didn't even exist.

His old man just didn't say it in such nice words.

Here he was, a man on the wrong side of forty realizing that all those places he fantasized about as a child did exist, he'd just had to wait a few decades to get there.

"You are very troubled for one that has come to this place."

Jack jumped, almost falling into the lake. A strong hand grabbed his robe, hauling him away from the edge. He turned around to thank the man that saved him a dunking, and froze.

The man was a woman.

"Wow you're…strong."

She smiled, folding her hands in front of her. "Elves are much stronger than humans, Colonel O'Neill."

"Guess so." He rubbed the back of his head. "Well, you know my name…"

The woman nodded, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulders. "I am Arwen, daughter of Elrond. I wished to meet each of you at the evening meal, but it appears that will happen sooner than expected." She reached out, touching the scar over his eye. "You have led a hard life."

Not knowing whether to back up and risk getting dunked or let her touch him he stayed still. "Yeah, smart mouth and all that, gets me more trouble than it's worth." He paused. "I remember. Elrond said you needed help with a hobbit. What is a hobbit anyway?"

Arwen raised an eyebrow. " Hobbits are something that can only be experienced. You will meet several of them at the evening meal. I will give you a word of warning, however: watch your plate."

"Watch my plate?"

She nodded, "Or you may find that what you have chosen to eat has been taken by another. It is their way."

Jack sighed. Great. After twenty years he was going to be back in boot camp.

She smiled again, looking over the water. "Do you like our home?"

Jack nodded, looking around. "Yeah. Actually I was wondering how long we'd be allowed to stay, freeloading and all."

Arwen's brows dropped. "Freeloading? I am not familiar with this term, but if the question is how long you can remain in Rivendell, then you may do so until Gandalf and my father can find a way to send you home."

Jack sighed. "And if they can't?"

"Then you would be allowed to seek out others of your kind, or remain here as long as you wish."

The colonel looked around him, listening as what he assumed were crickets chirped in the cool night air, the rustling of the leaves in the trees. If he couldn't get home, why would he leave here?

Before he could think about it any further, he felt a hand on his arm. "Come, the evening meal with start soon."

"I'm afraid I will need more time to understand what you are explaining, Samantha."

"Don't worry, Lord Elrond. Most people do when I start rambling about subspace fields and dimensional shifts."

The two were sitting in a library, watching the sunset from what looked to be the highest room in Rivendell. "Why do you live here? I mean, from what you tell me, most of your people live somewhere else."

" I built Rivendell has a refuge from the raids of Sauron, and it became my home." Elrond's eyes darkened with memory. "On occasion I will travel back to Lorien, but my heart dwells here."

The sun finally slipped behind the mountain ridges and a small globe on Elrond's desk began to glow, as well as several that were lined along the walls, casting the room in blue light. "Wow." Sam reached for the globe, stopping with her hand hovering over it. "May I?"

"Certainly."

Sam handled the globe carefully. It was light, almost seeming to float above her hands. The illumination it gave was weak, but grew steadily in the gathering dark. There was no heat or any other indication of what it was made of, and she turned it over several times before looking at Elrond. "This is amazing. What kind of energy source does it have?"

Elrond smiled. "It is a firefly. The globes respond to the need of those around them. If we were to leave, they would stop making light until someone entered. If you awaken, they will glow slightly to allow you to adjust."

"Magic?"

Elrond nodded. "Of a sort, Samantha. The power of my people has allowed us to make this place, and sustain it as the world outside our home falls to ruin."

She gently set the globe down and did a double take as it settled on the desk before moving upward. It did float. "I could probably explain how it works if I was in a lab with enough equipment, but magic?"

Elrond seemed to deflate slightly, turning his eyes to the outdoors, where she could see several other, larger globes were casting their light in the gardens. "It seems a sad world in which such things do not exist, nor elves nor any other creatures save for your own. Are you sure you wish to return?"

Sam opened her mouth, ready to argue. Of course she wanted to go home. She had a life there, a career that was more satisfying than anything she had ever imagined. She made a difference.

She closed her mouth before the words were spoken, eyes focusing on the globe that floated serenely over the wood.

"Lord Elrond?"

Sam started, turning towards the elf standing in the doorway, "The evening meal is ready."

Elrond nodded, "Thank you, Elohir." He extended his hand. " Please, Samantha. Such heavy thought is best saved for another time."

Jack looked around as they entered the dining hall, and it was a hall. There were dozens of people walking around, holding glasses and chatting about almost everything. All wore robes, including Glorfindel, he noted. There was a single large table laden with food, and his mouth watered at the smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread.

"You approve," Arwen said at his side.

Jack smiled, "Oh, yeah."

Suddenly, a man detached himself from the crowd of elves. He wasn't like any of the elves, who were clean shaven, and he wore a shirt and pants instead of flowing robes. "Colonel O'Neill, I am Strider."

Jack extended his hand, smiling internally when the man took his wrist. Danny had once described it as a 'Roman handshake' on some mission or other. "Pleased to meet you."

The man, Strider, flicked his eyes to Arwen. "It appears you have captured the Lady Arwen before any others."

Jack could feel her smiling. "You speak as if you would need to capture me."

Oh yeah, definite sparkage there.

She turned to Jack. "Would it be remiss of me to leave you now?"

"Oh, no. No sense in being stuck with an old man all night."

Strider laughed, "I'm afraid we are both older than you, Colonel O'Neill."

"Please, call me Jack." He said automatically, then stopped, eyeing the man's dark hair and rugged appearance,. " Okay, Arwen I can understand, but you?"

Strider laughed, "My people are descended from the elves. I am well over eighty human years."

"And here years are?"

"Twelve months, which consist of 30 days."

Great, he was the oldest looking person here, with the exception of Gandalf, and he was ironically enough one of the youngest. "Hope I look as good as you do at eighty."

Strider nodded. "As do I."

Before he could say anything else, a heavy weight settled on his back. He turned and found Daniel and Gandalf, though Danny was looking light on his feet.

A little too light.

He also smelled…sweet.

"Excuse me," he said, turning to the wizard and archeologist. "What have you gotten yourself into now, Danny?"

The younger man smiled. "I think I found the Middle Earth equivalent of marijuana." He giggled, then hiccupped.

Jack turned to Gandalf, who shrugged. "This effect will soon pass. If I had known the weed would hit him this hard, I would not have allowed him to smoke so much."

"Great." Jack sighed. "Come on, Daniel. Sit down before you fall down."

"You gotta try this stuff, Jack," the archeologist said as Jack led him to a chair.

"Not tonight." Well, maybe later, but he wasn't about to tell Daniel that.

When his friend was safely seated Jack kneeled in front of him. "Don't suppose this can go under cultural misunderstanding?"

Before he could comment further Daniel seemed to sober right in front of him, losing the slightly glazed look.

"Hi Jack."

Jack turned to the wizard. "Is this normal?"

Gandalf nodded. "Once the weed is in the system, he will not react so…violently… again."

Daniel was watching the two calmly. "You should try it Jack, it's very relaxing."

Jack chuckled. "Come on, I think I see Teal'c and Carter sitting down already."

The three made their way to the middle of the table, Jack and Daniel stopping dead in their tracks. Teal'c was currently the center of attention for three children- while Sam watched and tried not to laugh from the look of it- who were doing everything from feeling his robes to asking him questions at the same time. And surprisingly enough, the jaffa was allowing this with his usual calm.

"It appears your friend has found the hobbits, or they have found him."

Both Daniel and Jack perked up at that. So these were the hobbits. "But, they're kids."

Gandalf smiled. "They are full grown men among their people. In fact, Daniel, they may be older than you. Pippin is almost twenty-nine."

At the sound of his name one of the curly heads looked up, eyes finding Gandalf immediately. "Gandalf! Ye didn' tell us there were more Big People here!" he called before climbing over another hobbit and starting forward. "I'm Peregrine Took. My friends call me Pippin, or Pip."

Jack shook his hand. "I'm Jack O'Neill."

As soon as the words were spoken the hobbit moved to Daniel, and another one took his place. "Samwise Gamgee, Sir. Most call me Sam."

"Nice ta meet ya."

"Meriadoc Brandybuck. Merry to my friends."

Jack looked at Daniel, who was trying to get his glasses back from Pip. This was going to be an interesting evening.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU so much for reading this! Special thanks to Amelia, PhBee, J, Falan, Celeste, Frances Holland, Daughter of Bast, organized chaos, otsi, and Nala, for the reviews! They really help keep my Muse around!.

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