Ponderings

Strider sat smoking his pipe and studied Natasha as she slept. Needless to say, he had been impressed with her composure over the past few hours. Instead of giving into hysterics that could have cost them precious time, she had been level-headed, keeping up as best she could, while wounded and had maintained it even through the treatment of her wound. And keeping silent during the entire procedure, well that just increased his opinion of her, though he wouldn't have faulted anyone for crying out through that much pain, he had done so himself at times.

But not only that. She held her head high, not because of some noble birth, but because she was confident in herself and in her skills. She met his gaze when speaking, as though daring her right to equality and spoke with an assurance that even some of the men he'd had met had lacked. She was certainly a rarity that much was already certain.

And peculiar. Her manner of speech had been odd, as were the garments she wore. Had she not, albeit unknowingly at the time, revealed her otherworldly origin, her clothing would certain have have set her apart.

Her tunic was of an odd fabric that draped better even than some elven silks, and was just as soft; and the sleeves were cut short, leaving the arms bare. She wore leggings that hugged her legs sinuously, ending in a short, laced, inflexible-looking boot that rose to only a couple inches above the ankle. He wondered that she could walk in them, let alone run, they looked so uncomfortable.

All in all, it was a revealing outfit. Not that he minded, of course, after all he'd been raised by the elves in Imladris, who were wont to strut around in the nude should the fancy take them. Her clothing hugged her curved figure and sleek, long legs wonderfully, teasing the eye while concealing everything from view. But there would be some people who would think it unseemly for a woman to show off such curves, some who held to archaic ideas and so called traditions. He'd have to find a way to cover her up, should they come across any human settlements. A shame really, she was a rather attractive woman when one got over the shock of her dress.

Auburn curls were swept away from her face in a crude pile, a few tendrils of which now outlined her sleeping face, having escaped their bindings. Her face was freckled from many hours spent in the sun, though the rest of her skin remained pale, blood loss not withstanding. She was taller than many human women were, standing just the tiniest bit shorter than Legolas and himself. An odd woman indeed.

'I wonder if all women from her world are like her.' He wondered idly, puffing smoke rings into the night.

Having sensed no danger in the immediate vicinity, Legolas' thoughts had also turned to their unusual companion. He too had been impressed by her composure and his heart went out to her in her plight. It was one thing to be kidnapped, but to be kidnapped and taken to another world, with no way of knowing if one could return, well... But Natasha had held up admirably, and, like his companion, he was greatly impressed with her.

"What do you suppose kidnapped her?" he finally asked, leaning back and watching as Strider blew a smoke rings towards the entrance. "And to what purpose? Surely, there are people to capture closer to home."

"Possibly orcs, though men have been known to do something along the same lines. But I'd favor orcs if I had to hazard a guess. As to why..." Strider shrugged.

"How did she escape then? It doesn't look like it would take too many men to overpower her."

"I don't know. As far as I could tell, she was unarmed and if she wasn't, why not use it against the spider?" Strider shook his head and was silent for a moment and then chuckled.

"What is it melethron?"

"Just her reaction to your ears, a' mael."

"It was rather interesting, wasn't it?" his smile lit up his face and stars twinkled merrily in his eyes. "What a boring world she must come from to not have elves."

Strider chuckled "A fortunate one."

Legolas' head jerked up in surprise and Strider continued. "No elves, no Elladan and Elrohir incarnations."

Legolas joined in the laughter this time, enjoying the trills his love's always sent though his being. Natasha stirred in her sleep and they both quieted quickly, chagrined they'd disturbed her rest.

"Do you think Mithrandir will be able to help her back to her world?" Strider asked suddenly.

"I hope so. For her sake. These are bad times for us all, she shouldn't have to get involved."

Strider nodded and snuffed his pipe, packing it away in his pack and shook out his blanket.

"Well, I'm for bed?" Strider said, snuffing his pipe. "Long journey tomorrow…Care to join me, meldir?"

Legolas grinned and banked the fire. Slipping beneath the blanket Strider held open for him and laid his head on the peredhel's shoulder. Soon both were sound asleep.

Natasha awoke to silence, though that had been normal since she and Nigel had arrived at the Med-station, nearly two years ago. They had taken to getting up early in their first week, there being so much to do even before the first patient arrived. But for the moment, she delayed getting up, laying instead with her eyes closed.

'What a strange dream. But why is it so dark? Surely the sun should be up by now.' She thought and stretched, gasping as pain ripped through her shoulder.

Her hand flew to her shoulder, her fingers finding the bandage from her dream and fear began to set in. Her gaze swept over the camp, coming to rest on her sleep companions. She groaned softly, and groping blindly within her pack, she pulled out the bottle of painkillers.

'Thank the gods for extra strength.' she thought as her shoulder throbbed, as she settled herself back beneath her blanket.

She stared up at the ceiling of the hideaway and examined the previous night's events. Attacked, kidnapped, escape, attacked again and then rescued by mythical creatures: it certainly hadn't been a boring night. But why her? Surely there had to be some reason for someone wanting her dead, enough to make sure she wasn't in her world where she might be saved by modern medicine.

As her gaze wandered around the oaken hideaway, her eyes kept landing on her companions. They looked so peaceful and young; if she hadn't seen them kill the spider the night before, she would have presumed them innocent and beyond the reach of the world's troubles. They were a handsome couple, no mistake about that. Legolas' head lay on Strider's chest, the latter's arm wrapped around the blonde's shoulders.

'Oh to be held like that again.' she thought wistfully. 'It's been so long since anyone held me like that.'

Shaking her head to clear it, she turned onto her good side, pillowing her cheek on her arm, fighting back the familiar wave of loneliness that was creeping over her. She'd made sacrifices when she'd decided she wanted to be a doctor. She and Nigel both had.

'Nigel's probably worried out of his mind by now.' she mused, her eyes closing to go back to sleep.

They snapped open again as something came to her. Something was not right with her companions. Sitting up, she studied each of them carefully.

"Oh my god." she breathed.