Anna stood staring at Glorfindel for well over two complete minutes. She knew that he most likely thought she was moronic but couldn't bring herself to care.
He didn't know anybody who had a phone? No one? Not a soul? Impossible. Well maybe the correct term would be improbable. Either way he had to be lying.
"Okay." she started drawing out the word, "Do you have other means of contacting someone?" Anna racked her brain and tried to think of what was used before Mr. Belle invented the telephone, "A telegraph maybe?" she asked somewhat hopefully.
He again looked confused. "Again, I do not know of what you speak." he admitted staring at her curiously. "However, I could send a message to someone, if you have a need."
"A message." It was Anna's turn to look confused, "How exactly are you going to send someone a message?" she asked skeptically.
"On horseback." he spoke as if she were the stupidest person he'd ever had the misfortune to meet.
A mental image popped into Anna's mind, "Like the Pony Express? Well, thanks," she smiled briefly, "But I really need to relay message a little quicker than the days it will take some dude on a horse to accomplish."
"To whom are you sending this message?" he asked and it looked as if he were prepared to jot the note and send it on it's way via pony.
Anna thought for a moment. She really wanted to send one to police that explained her situation and need for help but doubted he would send any message like that. This whole ordeal was just so confusing. Her head hurt from her fall and this guy thinks that she's some lost child and claims her parents are really alive and well somewhere. And all she can think about is flinging herself dramatically across the beautiful bed and crying her heart out like they did in the old black and white movies.
She mentally shook herself. Buck up. Just because this is a situation you've never been in before doesn't mean that you can't out-wit this idiot and get out of here...
Except for the fact that you don't really know where 'here' is.
"That's it." she stated throwing her hands out in defeat, "I'm smoking." she snatched a pack of cigarettes and her lighter off the elegant table and made her way to the door. "How do I get outside?" she thought to turn and ask Glorfindel.
He had rose from his seat, "I will show you." he told her and lead the way.
Had Anna been able to focus a little more, she might have chose to pay attention to her surroundings as he led her through the building to the outside. However her head was killing her and being frustrated at the situation and herself for being kidnapped took center stage in her head, so she mainly watched the floor careful to keep close behind her captor.
As soon as they cleared the open archway that distinguished outside from in, she whipped out a cigarette and lit up inhaling deeply and tried to clear her mind for a few seconds. After her second drag she turned to Glorfindel who was watching her with an odd look on his face.
Her eyebrows knitted together, "What?" she asked, self consciously.
"It is nothing." he shook his head slightly, "Only that I have never seen a woman smoke before."
She stared at him for a moment, "Well, now you have." she said as she blew out the grey smoke in a stream, "Anyway, how long does it take for a guy on a pony to get a message delivered?"
He looked somewhat offended by her casual tone and careless words, "An elf will ride a horse with the message." he informed her.
He had seemed to want to tower over her while he spoke and that gave Anna cause for confusion. "An elf?" she snorted, "Whatever." she said shaking her head, "Not like I would trust a kiddnapper with my message anyway." she murmured turning away from him.
"I feel I must inform you about the excellent hearing of elves." Glorfindel said with a raised brow.
Anna blushed slightly and then regained her composure, "Well, if you know you weren't meant to hear it, don't listen." she stated illogically.
He stared at her quizzically. "What?" she finally asked, exasperated after a full minute of his stare.
He nodded and broke the stare, "You are strange." he said almost as if to himself.
"Says the man in tights." Anna rolled her eyes. Her mouth finally asked what her mind had held onto, "So you think there are elves here?" she asked taking in the scenery around her. She'd always been interested in Celtic traditions and mythology but she grew out of believing they existed when she was ten.
"I do not think there are elves here, I know there are." he stated, staring at her.
"Really?" she let out another snort, "Well sorry to be the barrier of bad news, but elves don't exist." he started to say something but she held up her hands, "I know, I know, your really mad at your parents right now, but let me let you in on another little secret, there is no Santa either."
He stared at her dumbfounded for a full minute, "I do not know whom this Santa is but you have been sorely misinformed about elves, Lady Anna."
She looked at him and shook her head, "I think you've got that the other way around. I'm sorry, dude, but elves just aren't real. They were made up to frighten kids, or in some stories teach them moral lessons." she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
He seemed to be angry with her and she guessed if he really believed in the whole 'elves are real' thing he probably would be. And if she didn't already believe he was ready for the loony bin, his next statement convinced her whole heartily.
"I am an elf."
She stared at him and willed herself not to laugh. Her will failed. She was laughing so hard tears rolled down her cheeks. He said it calmly, mimicking her earlier tone, which honestly, just made it more funny. She stopped when she caught his angry glare in her direction, "Sorry." she said though it wasn't very believable since her voice still held some of her laughter, "You were saying?" she prompted, interested now in where the conversation might lead.
He held his glare, "I am an elf. You needent mock me for being one. We are a very intellegent race."
"Yea," she agreed with a nod, "If you weren't intelligent, you wouldn't know how to make those cookies so addictive." She knew she shouldn't have said it, but she couldn't help it. His demeanor just made it more funny and she found herself laughing again.
He stared at her with such intensity that she wondered breifly if he hit women. "I do not know what you speak of, but I will inform you to not speak of elves so disrespectfully. It will gain you nothing." his tone was biting.
"Okay." she agreed and sensing how angry he had become, she ceased her giggles. She decided to change the subject since he was so touchy about this one. "So what is this place really, like a home for midevil re-en-actors?" she asked finally looking at some of the architecture of the place. It was beautiful, to say the least. Everything was intricate and ornate, no detail left undone. The carvings were fantastic. Any architecture magazine would have a feild day with this place. Every shot could be a cover.
"You are currently in Rivendell, in the house of Lord Elrond." he said it with such pride that she almost believed him. Almost.
"Really?" she asked deciding not to disagree with him until he had fully calmed down, "And where is this Lord at, perchance?" she asked hoping that was the term for 'Take me to your leader' so she could convince him to let her go.
"He is off visiting his daughter in Gondor."
Well crap.
Anna thought for a moment, "Well, who is in charge until he returns?"
"I am." Glorfindel said with pride in his voice.
"That's what I was afraid of." she muttered turning from him to put out her cigarette. "Well, since your not gonna let me go, obviously, and since I've probably already lost my job, you might as well introduce me to those parents you were talking about." she stated, "And then we can get this whole thing over with and you'll see that I'm not some lost kid and you can let me go." she didn't add in that she was going to report him to the cops when she finally got out of this place.
Glofindel latched on to the first part of her statement, "If you wish to see your parents I shall escort you." he finished this statement with a small bow that was almost comical had he not looked so serious about it.
"Great. Let's go." she nodded and stared at him waiting for him to lead the way.
He realized her intent and a small smile graced his lips. It was so small and brief Anna might have missed it had she blinked. "My Lady, I will take you to see your parents on the morrow, for now you need rest if you are to take the journey."
Anna looked confused, "Journey? What journey?"
"It will take well past a fortnight to reach Gondor." he informed her, guiding her indoors and towards her room.
Anna briefly remember the mid-evil term. "Two weeks?!" she all but shrieked. She thought for a moment, "Let me guess we're traveling by way of Pony Express, right?"
He didn't enjoy her little barb and she knew it. She moved to say something else and then thought better about pissing him off again.
"We shall head out at first light tomorrow." he informed her as they reached her room. "Your meal will be brought to you." he said as she stepped inside.
"What does-" Anna broke from her question when she turned and found he had shut the door and was gone.
Author's Note: Sorry it took so long for me to post this. It took a while for me to write it... I should have another chapter up soon... hopefully.