I want to thank everyone for their kind reviews and encouragement. I do realize that a deaf person would have a very difficult time understanding spoken English and reciprocating verbally, however because of limited time and the exhaustion of explanation, I decided to speed up the process.  I hope no one is offended. I also apologize if this chapter is complete crap, I am writing this chapter whilst at work, and I can't concentrate here as well as I could at home.

With that said, Thank you for reading my ff and please leave some pleasant reviews after completion.

I do not own any LOTR characters outside of Maura and Fighter's Folly, I would like to own Legolas, though I think my husband would object.

Chapter Four- Roots Unearthed

Maura blinked in surprised confusion. Back to Middle Earth? Is this lady in my head nutters?? This is my first time visiting I believe. I don't remember visiting Middle Earth the last time I fell off Folly and suffered a concussion.

The voice in her head continued "No, lost child, Maura, I am not nutters."

Oh damn..

"The last time that you were in Middle Earth, was not simply a visit. This is the realm in which you were born to; you became estranged after unknown events which sent to you to the place called Oregon. I sent your mount to you in hopes that he would help guide you home to us."

"Wait a minute," stated Maura loudly, "who the bloody hell is telling me this, I want to see her face!" (If you couldn't tell, Maura liked to use a lot of British slang)

"As you wish."

A tall blond woman stepped from behind a transparent curtain that Maura had not noticed before. She was clearly an elf as her grace, stature and not to mention pointy ears were a dead give away. She had long wavy blond hair that fell nearly to her waist, and she wore a long layered dress that at first glance appeared to be white but when the she-elf moved, the fabric glimmered a rainbow of colors.

"I am Galadriel of Lorien," said the she-elf, "It has been long since I have looked upon your face, Maura of Oregon. You bring with you a glimmer of hope that has not been seen for an age."

Maura was taken aback by the sudden appearance of Galadriel, not to mention her stunning beauty which was both comforting and mysterious. She seemed to be familiar to Maura, but then again, it was possible that Maura had seen Peter Jackson's movie one too many times. "Will you tell me of my past?" asked Maura, looking directly into Galadriel's gaze.

Galadriel nodded slowly. "You were found in our forest by a hunting party led by Haldir," she nodded toward the elf. " Your parentage is unknown to us and though you acted like an elf, no elf mother would abandon her child such as you were found and you did not have the characteristic shaped ears or our sense of hearing. Your race was unknown to us, perhaps you were the last of a forgotten race, and nonetheless, you became one of us. You were raised by the elves of Lorien, taught to hunt, fight, shoot a bow, and move like one of us. You grew up very slowly like elven children, and also like us, you seemed to stop aging once you reached maturity.

You lived with us for 1,000 years until Sauron forged the great ring and Middle Earth became a battle ground. You were traveling to visit Rivendell when you were captured by the dark lord's army. Word had reached him of you and he believed you to be a mighty weapon that would be employed by the race of elves in order to destroy him. For some unknown reason, he was unable to kill you so he banished you to another realm and took away your sense of hearing in order to make you an outsider.

Your tale now becomes misty and unknown to me, other than your banished soul was born to human parents and that you grew up not being able to hear the sounds of the world. I could not see you clearly, even with all my talent. That is why I sent your horse to bring you home. You are needed in Middle Earth, war is upon us again.

Maura had a difficult time taking all this information in. She was shocked to learn that she wasn't human, in fact, even the elves had no clue what race she was. Her parents really were her parents, but they were her second set of parents, her first had abandoned her and she was raised by the elves until Sauron tried and failed to kill her and then banished her to Oregon. Even her relationship with Folly was changed, apparently Maura hadn't picked him but some how he had picked her with help from Galadriel. Maura felt light headed with the sudden increase of knowledge of her life and she felt as though she would collapse. She swayed on the spot and Haldir rushed to catcher.

"I think that is enough information for today my lady," he addressed Galadriel, bowing his head slightly, "I believe our guest is overwhelmed and must take leave of you in order to rest and recover from her travels and findings."

Galadriel smiled and nodded, "Yes, let her sleep under the protect trees of Lothlorien, please ask Legolas to look over her."

Maura was shown to a soft sofa placed under the golden leaves of the mallorn, thick coverlets were draped upon it for her, and although she could not see him, she felt Legolas's comforting presence. It took but a blink of an eye to fall into a deep sleep…

Sorry its shortWork calls