Disclaimer: Any names/places that are familiar belong to Tolkien. He created the world, I'm just playing in it.
The five strangers began to talk among themselves. The first gestured toward her and spoke rapidly to the new comers.
Anna knew she had to do something. She couldn't just let these five decide her fate. Trying to think quickly she decided the best way to get out of this was to run. Fast.
Looking around at the five males who were quite obviously discussing her she spied an opening in the brush. Waiting until the alpha of the group had turned towards his companions completely, she took a chance and her legs sprang to life. Running as fast and as hard as she could she broke through the opening of the brush and continued on, not knowing where she was going but knowing she had to keeping heading away from her possible attackers.
She ran for two minutes before a stitch in her side started to slow her down. "Gotta... stop... smoking." she wheezed out but continued on. She chanced a look behind her to see if any of them were following her. Not seeing anyone she felt slightly better. Her head whipped back around to see where she was going and in front of her stood one of the males from earlier.
Not being able to stop running as soon as she thought she plowed into him. He didn't budge but the force of the blow knocked her backwards and she landed with and 'umph' on her butt. She started to crab crawl backwards and her hand slipped on something slick and her head flew back and smacked rather loudly on a rock.
A blinding pain assaulted Anna when she cracked her eyes open. She quickly found she was no longer in the forest. She was laying in a white linen covered bed. The room she was in was beautifully decorated, simple, but beautiful none the less. It reminded her of a hospital but seeing no machines anywhere she thought she may be mistaken.
Another bed to her right completed the hospital-like feel of the room. It was oddly homey for a hospital, Anna thought. She was wondering where the doctors and nurses were when a sudden thought popped into her mind.
The men in the woods.
They must have brought her here.
Oh God. Oh God, oh God, oh God. Anna thought wildly as she propelled herself upwards in the bed. The pain in her head stopped her quickly from jumping from the soft mattress.
With a loud hiss she brought her hand up to the back of her head and found that while she saw no blood, there was a bandage on the wound she had obviously aqquired from her fall.
"Of course." she stated pathetically, "Of course I would do something stupid like fall down knock my lights out." she muttered angry at herself. Taking a deep breath she scanned the room again. The bed next to the one she was currently occupying was close to a door, while hers was near a beautifully arched window. She slowly rose from the bed and walked towards the window.
Beautiful shades of fall were what greeted her. Muted reds, golds, browns and oranges were everywhere. It was breath taking to say the least. She gazed downward to find that she was on the second or third story of the building she was being held in. Thinking it would probably be a bad idea to try and scale the outside walls with the soft sheet on the bed, she opted for a door escape.
Thousands of thoughts raced through her mind as she turned and began making her way to the door. Who are these people? Why didn't they kill me? Am I going to be a sacrifice to some pagean god? I think they would need a virgin for that. Maybe I should tell them I'm not a virgin. Maybe they'll kill me if I do.
Her thought process ceased as the door opened and in stepped a tall male. He wasn't wearing the same garb the ones in the woods were. He seemed to carry himself with more importance. Like royalty. His steps were firm yet light. His presence was that of one who knew his place and would not be denied anything. His golden hair fell from his head in a curtain that shone brilliantly in the light of the sun. Anna wondered briefly if it was as soft as it looked.
Wow, I need that shampoo.
She finally realized he had stopped walking and stood not three feet from her accessing her as she was him. Anna stepped back unconsciously as she met his eyes. The beautiful blue shocked her momentarily.
Get it together girl. He could be a rapist and your drooling over his hair and eyes.
Anna took in his appearance once more and decided from the look of indifference on his face she would have to be the one to start the conversation ball. Since he carried himself so well, and she didn't want to die, she thought she might try to appear meek so he would feel sorry for her. But the gravity of the situation hit her full force and she changed her mind nearly shouting, "Who the hell do you think you are?!"
His mask of indifference faltered as he blinked at her in an aghast way. Apparently no one had spoken to him like that before. Either that or he wasn't expecting it.
Well I wasn't expecting to be kidnapped, so we're even. Anna thought with a 'humph'.
He didn't answer her and continued to stare at her with shock. She glanced at him again and took in his lithely built frame and decided if worse came to worse, she may be able to take him. That thought sent her into a false sense of security so she yelled some more.
"How dare you kidnap me! I didn't do anything to you! And if you're looking for ransom money, trust me, no one will pay you. I only have one member of my family left and she's loosing her mind so I doubt she even remembers me fully." Anna blurted out before thinking. She stopped suddenly taking into account that if they thought they'd get no ransom money, then they may just kill her instead of taking her back home. "But the police will be on your ass like white on rice." she threw out there, just to scare him.
When she looked up at his face again, she found that the tirade that made her feel a little better had no effect on the man before her. His mask of indifference had made an encore appearence.
She was trying to think of an alternative course of action when he finally spoke, "Are you quite finished?"
He had the audacity to sound bored. Bored! Anna glared at him for good measure and since the shock of his words was still fresh in her raging mind she said only, "For now."
"Good." he gave a faint nod and stared her pointedly in the eyes, "I do not know what you mean by 'kidnapped' but I can assure you I did no such thing. I-"
"How can you know if you didn't do it if you don't know what it means?" she countered placing a hand on her hip. "And for that matter, who in this day and age doesn't know what kidnapping is?" she rolled her eyes.
She looked back towards him and saw his irritation with her immediately. She chewed her bottom lip as she considered he might not like to be yelled at so she decided she'd let him tell her what he wanted with her and then she could gracefully decline and be on her way. She might even make it back home in time to watch 'House'.
"I'm sorry." she forced out in a sweeter tone, "You were saying?" she even batted her eyelashes up at him for good measure.
His brows drew together in confusion at her turn of emotion but he continued none the less, "You were brought here because you were injured and trespassing. You were kept here and not returned to the border settlements of man because of this." he brought his hand forward to show her her ring.
Anna bristled, "Hey! That's mine." she reached up and snatched the jewelry away from him before he realized her intent. No one, not even her kidnapper slash possible murderer could take her ring. She quickly inspected it to make sure he hadn't broken it. Finding it was in the same condition in which she left it she slid it onto her left index finger, where it belonged.
"You didn't steal it?" he asked eyeing her.
Her eyes went wide at his accusation. "Steal it? Hell no, my parents gave this to me. I've had it for as long as I can remember." she stated truthfully with a glare.
"You remember your parents then?" he asked her stepping closer.
She decided to maintain the distance between them so she stepped back, "Some." She began to wonder why he was asking all these questions until a thought struck her, "Did you know them?" she asked and cursed herself for the hopeful lift in her voice.
"I do." he nodded.
"No you did." she corrected automatically. She let out a breath in a whoosh and rubbed her forehead. Getting out of a kidnappers lair took longer than she thought. She looked down at herself and noticed that her cacki-cargos and t-shirt were gone and in their place was a nightgown of some sort. Complete with lace and girly sleeves. How in the world had she not noticed this sooner?
I guess when you knock your lights out and wake up in a strange room, you should just be glad you have clothes on at all. she reasoned.
Another thought struck her, "Did you undress me?" she had unmistakable accusation in her words.
He seemed to bristle at her, "No. An elleth named Lilaith changed your clothing once we saw to your wound."
She stared at him in confusion, "Lilaith?" she asked never having heard that name before. Ever.
"Yes." he nodded firmly, "She is a servant here in Lord Elrond's house."
"Lord Elrond?" Anna stared at him again. She had no idea there were Lord's in America. Maybe he was visiting from England or something. Either way, she didn't want to stay her long.
"Where exactly are my clothes?" she asked after a glance around the room.
"They have been taken to wash." he informed her, "Though that was two days ago. I shall have them sent up as soon as possible." he told her and walked towards the door. He didn't leave the room but said something in that weird language his goons had used and shut it again.
"Hold on there, hoss." Anna stepped towards him as he shut the door again. Her words cause him to quirk a brow. "Two days? How long have I been out?" she asked.
"This would be the third day." he told her very matter-of-factly.
"What?!" Anna shouted unable to hide her shock. "Three days! Three days! Oh Lord, Mr. Collins is going to have my hide." she groaned. "Look buddy, I need my clothes pronto! I've got to get home."
"My name is not 'Buddy'." he told her pointedly, ignoring her outburst. "It is Glorfindel."
She stared at him in confusion, "Glorfindel?" at his nod she murmured, "Cruel parents."
He gave her another look of confusion, "Pardon me?"
She rolled her eyes, "Nothing. I need my clothes." she stated in a firm voice.
"I feel we should have a talk before you decide on leaving." he stated and calmly walked to a chair that sat by the arched window.
Anna watched him in shock, "No more talkie, I need clothes." she stated stubbornly and crossed her arms to make a point.
"In due time." was all he said as he motioned for her to take a seat in the opposite chair.
She ignored the invitation. "No, now." she stated putting more force in her words.
He stared at her with a quirked brow that she was begining to hate. "I do not think you are in a position to demand anything of me. I only wish to tell you important news of your family."
His last sentence forced her arms to unfold and her to step towards him before she thought better of it. She stared at him for a moment before replying, "You don't know anything about my family." She stated it firmly.
"I know your parents." he told her patiently.
"Knew. You knew my parents. In case you didn't get the memo, they're dead. Have been for seventeen years now." She stared at him, her anger rising.
He looked at her quizzically for a moment before responding, "No Anna, your parents are very much alive."
"How do you know my name?" she demanded. "I didn't tell you my name." she thought for a moment, "Did I? No I'm sure I didn't." she stated with confidence. Then the last part of his statement sunk in and she became somewhat angry at him. A few years ago the hope that maybe her parents were alive and well somewhere finally died and she'd moved on with her life. For him to dredge up a dead hope was cruel.
"I know many things about you, Anna, and I will share them if you will only sit." he motioned once more towards the vacant chair.
She was fully angry with him but half of her was curious at what he thought he knew about her parents. She tried to fight the curiosity and bolt but from the room but in the end it was too strong. She had to know. So she took a deep breath an calmly walked to take the seat across from him.
She sat slowly watching him intently. "Well," she said after a moment of silence, "Proceed." she imitated his arrogance and waved her hand at him.
He again quirked a brow at her but began speaking anyway, "You are not whom you think you are." he told her and continued before she could interject, "Eighteen years ago your real parents took you into hiding for fear of the coming war. They were afraid that if somehow evil took you, you would be lost to them forever. They decided that the best way to save you from the upcoming battle was to hide you where no one would find you. They enlisted the help of Gandalf the Grey and used his magic to transport you to another place. Where, I know not. They found a couple willing to take you and keep you safe from harm. That ring," he pointed to her finger, "was given to you so that they would know you, should you find your way back." he finished.
She stared at him blankly, "Have you been eating forest mushrooms?" she finally asked.
He stared at her curiously, "What I have told you is truth." he stated.
"Suure." she rolled her eyes, "And I can train pink elephants to dance the tango."
He stared at her blankly for a moment, "If you do not believe what I have said, you will see in time." he told her. She could tell by the intensity of his gaze that he meant it.
Anna let out a breath in a whoosh of air, "Look, I don't know who you thinkI am, but my parents are dead. They died a long time ago in a car crash." She hated opening up old wounds but he had to understand that she wasn't a lost child. "They were coming home from a holiday party at my dad's work and their car was t-boned by a drunk driver. They're dead." she stated simply, "Gone. Finito. Worm food."
He stared at her curiously again, "Did you love these people?" he asked.
She stared back at him, "They were my parents, of course I loved them. Though I don't really remember too much about them." she allowed, "Just little things."
"Then how can you speak of their death so casually?" he still had a confused look upon his flawless features.
She shrugged, "I've had a lot of time to get over it." she stated honestly, "I mean, I grew up without them there, so..." she trailed off into silence.
A knock on the solid door sounded a few moments after her last statement, bringing Anna back from her hazy memories and to the present. Glorfindel rose and opened the door for a petite young woman who was nothing short of beautiful. She said nothing but carried in her clothing and laid the articles on the vacant bed closest to the door. As soon as they were out of the woman's hands she left the room just as quietly as she came.
Anna immediately jumped up and all but ran to her clothing. It was time to ditch the stuffy night gown and get back into her comfortable cargos. "Wait a minute." she said as she spun to face Glorfindel, "Where's all my stuff. I know I had stuff in my pockets. I always have stuff in my pockets."
"If you are referring to the items that were taken out before washing, they are on the table." he pointed towards the small table that sat in between the beds.
She turned and saw that her keys, cigarettes, lighter and other various objects she stuffed into her pockets were all sitting right on the table, and in and orderly fashion at that. She smiled and then realized her cell phone was at the bottom of a pool of water back in the cave. That left calling someone she knew to pick her up impossible. Unless Glorfindel would let her use his phone. She didn't think he would, but no harm in asking. "Hey, can I use your phone?"
He had that blank stare again, "Phone?" he questioned. The way he said it made it sound as if he'd never spoken the word and was trying to see what it sounded like rolling from his toungue.
"Yea. You know, phone. Telephone." she stated looking at him. When he continued to stare blankly at her she tried again, "You know the thing that Alexander Graham Bell invented in 1876."
"1876?" he asked even more confused, "I do not know what it is you speak of."
"You don't have a phone?" she asked clearly baffled.
He shook his head, "I do not know what a 'phone' is. Why would I have something if I did not know what it was?" he inquired with another quirk of his brow.
"You're not serious?" she stared at him.
"I do not lie." he stated, his tone suggested she had somehow insulted him.
"Well, I need a phone. I have to call someone to get me the heck outta here." she stated. "Do you know anyone who has a phone?"
At the swift shake of his head she came to two conclusions; either he was lying or he really had no idea what she was talking about.
Great. Just great. Now what was she supposed to do?
Author's Note: Sorry that this took so long to post. A lot had to be said in this chapter and I know it's somewhat long, but I couldn't seem to find a place that I could break it up efficently. Thanks to all my reviewers, I hope you continue to enjoy this story.