"Where's my sister?" I asked Strider instead, avoiding why I was here and who I was.
"What do you mean?" He asked, although he seemed to be slightly distracted with whatever was going on behind him.
"Isn't there another girl around here?" I tried to sit up again, but he pushed me back. He didn't reply to me at first, instead saying something to his friends. I heard footsteps fading away, and then Strider turned back to me.
"My companions say that there are only men here, this being a battlefield. We need to get you out of here." He repeated.
Despite further questioning, Strider ignored me and instead seemed to issue orders to his strange friends. Events started to blur together, and after a while I forgot about questions and focused more on pain. I think at some point, I was lifted onto something, and then I remember moving. Blackness started to ebb at the edge of my vision, the last thing I remember is strider's mouth saying something to me, before I lost consciousness.
The first thing I felt when I awoke was annoyance, because I had lost consciousness two times in the same day. The next was I realized there was no longer a sharp pain in my chest. My eyes slid open, and I found myself in new surroundings, which appeared to be in some sort of bedroom. It had a wide window, which was open and was letting in morning sunlight and the drapes gracefully danced with a small breeze. I turned my head to the side, and found Strider there. He cleared his throat.
"Glad to see you're awake." He said calmly, "How are you feeling?"
"Pretty well, all things considered."
"I am pleased to hear that. Are you well enough to answer some questions?"
I sighed, great here came the hard part, "Sure, why not?"
"Firstly, who are you?"
"My name is Jemma."
"That's an odd name, but I like it. Where are you from?"
I tried hard to think what Tommy would say if he were here right now. Surely he'd know what to say. I wasn't really in the mood to lie, but telling Strider the blatant truth would be too much for him, or so I suspected.
"I'm from far away from here," I settled with.
"And how far do you mean? I have had my fair share of travels, perhaps I might have heard of it." He pressed. What is he trying to find out?
"I don't think you would have heard of it."
He sighed, clearly disappointed that I hadn't answered him clearly then said, "Very well, Jemma, if you want to keep to your secrets go ahead, but be warned I am obliged to mine."
Strider looked as though he wanted to say more, but the door opened and a very tall man in gray robes walked in. He had a long gray beard, a pointy gray hat, and a wooden walking staff. The man glanced at me, then Strider, and back to me.
"Good morning." He told me and then to Strider he said, "Some of the men wish to speak to you, I would not tarry and keep them waiting; if you know what I mean."
Strider nodded, and rose from the wooden chair he had been sitting on. With a nod in my direction, he turned and left me and the man alone in the room. Once the door was shut, the stranger looked back at me.
"Hi…I'm Jemma." I said slowly, not sure what the other was waiting for.
"Gandalf." He continued to stare.
"Did I do something, Gandalf?" I asked.
"I am not entirely sure yet. Tell me, why were you out in the middle of that nasty battle?"
"I don't really know." I answered truthfully.
"Strider said you mentioned another girl, but when the men looked for her, she was nowhere to be found."
"That is strange." I muttered, wondering if somehow my brother's technology had malfunctioned. If that was the case, then either she was back at home or here in this world somewhere. I guessed the latter, because I remembered her putting one of the bracelets on. So she must be around here somewhere, the problem is I don't know where.
"Tell me, Jemma, why is that strange?"
"Because she was with me when we traveled here. I don't remember how I got to that battlefield, but I must find her. She means a lot to me."
"I understand," he glanced out the window at the sun, "I must go now, but I will return. My suggestion to you is to rest easy for the next few days. The healers say that you may feel weak for a while, all part of the process of being healed by magic."
I watched him as he left, without a second glance back at me. I waited a few seconds after the door closed, and then slowly sat up. Dizziness filled my head for a moment, and when it cleared I stood up and carefully made my way to the door. Through the door, I heard voices outside and, as I got nearer, I started to understand the words.
"What is your take on her?" I recognized Strider's voice.
"If she is a secret spy of the enemy, she hides her evil well. When I looked into her eyes I saw only innocence and longing. She really does miss her sister." This was Gandalf's voice.
"You sound as if you trust her, a stranger! She could have easily been planted on the battlefield for us to find. There is no reason to trust her, not until we have her full story." Strider sounded annoyed that Gandalf found me 'innocent'. I didn't understand, when he was talking to me he seemed nice enough, trusting even.
"Calm yourself, anger does not solve mysteries, only clear thought will." A third voice said, this one was very calm. He spoke words, but they sounded like songs to me.
"Legolas, I do respect your counsel. Tell me, what do you think of her?" Strider asked; he seemed a bit calmer.
"She is obviously not from Rohan or Gondor. My belief is that she is from North of the Iron Hills. Not much is known about that place, so it is quite possible." Legolas replied.
"Your words ring true, Legolas. But let's dwell on another matter. What to do with her and how to keep her from finding out about the Ring."
"I believe Elrond will have something to say on the matter." Gandalf suggested. I heard footsteps walking away. Then there was silence, and I was left alone with my questions.