Firstly thank you sooo much for everybody who reviewed after the first chapter. Passiflore, immortal chord and princesaangelbebe you just made my day or even a couple of days with my first three reviews ever :) I already love being part of this community and I'm going to try and update as often as I can. Holidays are coming up so I hope I will be able to write a lot.
Secondly I just wanted to say sorry in case I make any language, spelling or grammatical mistakes. English is not my first language and I'm not really great with writing dialogues so it is really probable I will have mistakes in the structure. Just let me know if you find anything. Enjoy! :)
Ari opened her eyes just to see an overwhelming darkness around. All of her senses felt incredibly dull when she tried to explore her surroundings but after a while of focus she was able to feel weird sensation washing over her whole body. Water? Inhaling the air she could taste its humidity and a how sticky it felt in the mouth. Hearing came back next and she could notice the quiet sound of waterdrops falling onto the ground. The air smelled of mushrooms, mud and wood. She blinked when she realised water was pouring onto her eyes and sat up suddenly.
Her hands touched the ground soaked with water and wet leaves brushed along her cheek making her cringe. Her blue eyes tried very hard to see anything but all she could make out were grey shadows surrounded by endless fields of black. She closed her eyes treating them only as a distraction from examining the surroundings. The rain was falling systematically and she could clearly hear the sound of drops hitting lightly against the leaves. There is a tree, quite big judging from the spread of sound two meters to her right. And another one behind her, further away three, maybe four meters.
Her hand reached to her face brushing wet strands of hair out of her eyes and cheeks making her realise that something was definitely missing here. Glasses! Ari jumped at that sudden realisation and started to comb the surroundings with her fingers. It took her a while to find them, lying in a small hole in the ground about a meter to her right. She placed them carefully over the nose and opened her eyes again.
"Much better now" she murmured. Looking around now she noticed many tall trees irregularly spaced around her. The sky was covered in dark grey clouds and rain was pouring down leaving wet smudges on the surface of her glassed obscuring the view. Suddenly a lightning appeared above her head followed by a loud thunder that made the trees and ground shiver violently. The storm continued.
The surroundings was more visible and details were easier to distinguish in the flashes of white light. They gave Ari the opportunity to stand up finding support in tree branches above her head. She looked around and started assessing the situation. How is it possible she is outside. The trees didn't seem familiar and she couldn't see the lights. It must be quite a distance from her house.
But somewhere inside she already knew that something unbelievable has happened. She remembered the sensation of flying upwards as if dragged by some invisible force, her flight not stopping at the ceiling, continuing on through white and milky mist. She wasn't home anymore. The air didn't feel right here. She jumped lightly and landed bending her knees. The gravity force is not the same here,she could feel it. How is it possible?
Suddenly she heard something apart from the constant rustling of the leaves and rumble of thunders. There is somebody out there. Her mind processed the information long before the body reacted. Few seconds later she forced herself to act. She needs to get out of here. Think! Where is the sound coming from? Left about twenty meters, moving quickly along. She will have at most five seconds. Her body reacted after one. She threw herself between the trees stumbling over roots and smaller bushes and plants. Surprisingly after a few meters the forest ended exposing a sandy or rather muddy road that right now was closer to resembling a river.
Running out of the forest she slipped on the wet ground and slid a few meters opening her eyes just in time to see a horse with a dark figure mounting it come to stop just a few centimeters from her chest. She screamed and tried to stand up but the slippery ground made it impossible making her fall flat back onto the ground. Not much later she saw an arrow appear pointed straight at her head, ready to shoot. She raised her hands above her head, terrified by this sudden life threat.
Another lightning sliced the sky in half throwing some ghostly white light onto the tall figure on the horse. She could see the details of the face really briefly but that was enough to strengthen her fear even more.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?" the figure threw the hood of his head exposing his long blonde hair to the rain. He looked at her lowering down the bow as soon as he realised she does not posses any means of protection. Her mind started racing frantically adjusting to the wild beating of her heart. She was desperately looking through her memory for an answer that could be "right" in this situation, but the only thoughts that passed through her mind concerned advanced techniques of integration. Live long and prosper? No it doesn't go like this. God bless you? Not exactly the best idea.
Finally she just blurted out, "My, my name is Arianwen. I...I come in peace". As soon as she spoke she realised how stupid it must have sounded and lowered her eyes to the ground.
Tall blonde looked down at her confusion visible at his face "You may arise Arianwen, I have no further intention of hurting you."
No further intention? What is that supposed to mean. She tried to stand up shakily, her legs still not in the best condition, but she slipped and fell again splashing water from a puddle onto her jumper. He reached out offering his hand and helped her rise to her feet.
His voice was hesitant as if he wasn't exactly convinced if he really means what he is saying, "Legolas Greenleaf at your service, pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Arianwen"
She suddenly let go of his hand almost falling into the mud again. "Le...Legolas?" She looked up at him she studied his face more closely for the first time. His long blonde hair now completely wet from the rain stuck to his plain face and tucked back exposed his pointy ears. Light blue eyes looking at her with doubt. This could not be happening. How was it possible? Think! Could the multiverse theory be true? Or was it time travel? She always believed in all of it, but the probability...but it had to be him, it had to be middle earth, she just felt it.
Staring at him with her mouth wide open she said quietly, "Please call me Ari, Arianwen is just..." she stopped looking for the right word. "...too regal" she finished hesitantly. Surprisingly he smiled to himself as if amused by something which caused even bigger confusion on her side.
He realised it had made her uncomfortable and his smile diminished as soon as it appeared. Legolas turned his head towards her looking slightly down and said, "You shouldn't be standing here in the rain, you are already soaking wet. There is a small inn a few kilometers down this road where I was planning to spend the night. I will take you with me. You can explain everything there"
"Explain? Oh, yes, yes, of course..." She shifted uncomfortably and unconsciously took a step back. What is she going to tell him when they get there? He was after all a stranger. You don't just go off horse riding with total strangers. But what other alternatives did she have? Stay here in the rain, middle of the forest and get herself killed eventually. She took a step forward approaching the him despite hesitation clearly visible in her eyes. Legolas smiled again as if for a while he thought she was not going to join him. He helped her onto the horse's back later situating himself in front of her. He whispered something quietly but in a strong voice, and the horse started quickly along the road splashing water mixed with mud onto nearby trees.