Hi everyone! Sorry It's been so long since I updated. I've been busy in with summer madness!
Anyways… Here's the second chapter. Evangelina starts to realize Middle Earth just may be her new home and deals with that realization. Hope you enjoy!
Special thanks to my Beta, theseaisblue.
"In the short time I've been here, it's been hard to accept that this is all real and not a dream; but the longer I spend here, the less likely it seems." I said as we entered his study. It was smaller than I expected with a table, which served as his desk covered with papers, a small stack of books, and maps, four chairs in the corner next to the balcony and several candles and lanterns that provided proper lighting.
I sat in a wooden chair across from the lord. I looked at the him closely for the first time. He looked very different, but yet, so similar to the actor who portrayed him in the movies. His hair was much longer and darker while his eyes were a much lighter grey. His facial structure however was similar in many ways. High cheekbones and dark brows accented his wisdom-filled eyes. His jaw was set firm and his lips lay in an unreadable line. The lord looked completely neutral.
"Evangelina... Where do you hail from?" he was very to the point, not that I expected any less.
"My Lord, as I said before I hail from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States of America. But, I can assure you that you have never heard of such a land. Even with your vast knowledge." I said trying not to upset the Lord, but also to the point.
"Then my lady, my question is how did you come to be in the realm of Rivendell? When my sons found you, you were on the verge of death."
"That is a mystery to myself as well. I wish I knew. All I remember is..." I stopped and thought about it. I didn't remember what happened. It was as if a mental block was there protecting those last moments of my old life.
"I remember darkness. Before that, I only remember facts about my world. I was a student. I am twenty-one years old. My parents died when I was very young."
"The wound you had would not be healed by most. My healing abilities were tested to save you. It looked as though, an Orc tried to slit your throat." His words sparked something in my memory. No Orc wanted me dead. I wanted a way out, not a new start. Okay… let's change the subject.
"My lord, I come from a different time and world, where Middle Earth is nothing but a fictional world created by a talented writer. I have thought about how I got here and the only rational reason is that something happened to me causing me to leave my world and come here. I believed it was just a dream. I think about this world of wizards and rings of power, and believe that I truly have somehow ended up in Middle Earth. But my biggest question is why?" I was being as honest as I can be, with both him and myself. It's been over a week! If this were a dream it would have lasted hours not days.
"That is very interesting tale and unheard of beyond the magic of Wizards."
"I wish I could give you further explanation but I truly cannot explain it even to myself."
"I will think on it and see if there is anything in the books I have. In the meantime, 'why' this all has come to pass is something you will have to discover on your own. I offer you a place here in my home until you find those answers. My daughter, Arwen, has come to enjoy your company. She needs female companionship in her life right now." Celebrian sailed leaving her alone.
"One last question for now..."
"You said you were twenty-one summers old. Were you human or elvish in your world?"
"There was no such thing as elves, dwarves or the like my lord. We were all humans. Why do you ask?"
"You now shine with the light of the Valar my lady. You are an elf." I felt all the color leave my face and my eyes widened in shock. Everything seemed increased in acuity, but I thought it more related to being in a new world... not becoming an elf.
"Lady Evangelina?" he asked standing. I simply reached up to by ears and sure enough, I felt the pointed tip.
"I'm going to retire now my lord. It's all too much for today." I said turning towards the door.
"I am sincerely sorry for waiting this long but you needed to know." he said as I opened the door.
I ran to my room with as much speed as I could, getting lost twice along the way. As I reached the door, I slammed it behind me.
I sat on my bed staring at the ceiling for hours, eventually falling into a restless slumber. I heard a knock on the door.
"Lady Evangelina, it is I, Arwen. Would you let me come in?" She asked gently. I rose and went to the door.
"My ada says you had no indication of your nature. I came to offer my own apologies. If I had known you were previously human…"
"It is fine Arwen. It is all just so much right now it is over whelming. I just need some time to process it all."
"I understand, but please feel free to ask me anything. I will answer as best as I am able."
"Right now, I just want to do some thinking on my own, but a tour of the grounds would be nice so I don't get lost anymore."
"I think I am able to do that." She said smiling as we rose. As she did, there was a knock on the door.
"Sister?" I looked up to see twin men standing in the doorway. They had dark hair like Arwen, but had grey eyes. They were tall and each dressed in maroon tunics.
"Elrohir and Elladan this is..." she paused, allowing me the opportunity to introduce myself.
"Evangelina" I said looking between the twins.
"These are my older brothers, Elladan and Elrohir. Elladan is older and on the left." I know I will get them mixed up for sure. They look more alike than most identical twins I've ever seen. I can easily see the family resemblance to Elrond.
"Pleasure to meet you my lady and it brings us joy to have another lady in the house besides our annoying little sister." The one on the right, Elrohir, said as they both bowed their heads before smirking towards their sister.
"The pleasure is all mine." I said nodding my head as well.
Though I was not a huge Lord of the Rings fanatic, I know a lot about it from the movies and reading the books. This is unreal to be here, even if it's just in a dream.
"Father wants to speak with you as soon as you are able." Elladan said looking at Arwen.
"His study is on the way to my chambers. Would you two mind giving Evangelina a tour of the grounds in my stead?" she asked.
"Not at all." Elrohir said smiling. She paused as she passed them.
"And try not to scare her. She is still adjusting to everything." She said with a stern look at both of them.
"It makes us wonder who the older siblings really are." Elladan said sarcastically as she closed the door. But if my memory serves me right, the twins were known for their mischief. Perhaps this may be more fun than I thought.
"Where should we take our victim…I mean guest, first?" Elrohir asked.
"Do you have a library? I love to read." I offered a suggestion.
"To the library it is then, my lady, but there is much to show on the way there." Elrohir said offering his arm out as if for me to take it. I looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He didn't expect me to… I literally just met them.
"Lady Evangelina, it is rude to turn down the arm of a Prince, even if it is Ro." Elladan said laughing towards the end. I slowly extended my arm to the younger twin who only smiled as he placed his other hand on mine. As we passed down the hall, we passed many rooms, which they pointed out to be personal quarters of the royal family and guest suites. Arwen's was next to mine, the twins' were across the hall and Elrond's wasn't far from theirs. We came to a large, open, and elegantly decorated room.
"My lady, this is the grand hall. We have balls, festivals, and feasts in the room. If you spend any amount of time here, you will come to dread this room. At least we do." Elladan said rolling his eyes.
"Why, those sound as though they would be fun times? Girls from where I come from dream of such events." I asked confused. I may not have enjoyed life, but the world of fantasy created by the books I read lead me desire such a life. A place to belong, dancing with a prince, to be loved…
"After nearly three millennia, it gets boring and tedious. I am sure our dear friend Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, would agree." Legolas is real too?
"I see."
We continued through the large house, which was more like a palace. They pointed out different rooms of importance like the hall of history, where I assume, the shards of Narsil are. Finally, they reached a large wooden door that was very intricately carved.
"This is the library. My father has thousands of books here in every language of Middle Earth." They opened the door and my jaw hit the floor. They were not joking. There had to be at least ten thousand books here. There were rows and rows of shelves. Tables, lanterns, and candles were spread amongst the rows.
"When we were little, we lost Arwen in here for almost two hours." Elladan said laughing. I looked at him with widened eyes.
"Is there anything else you would like to see?"
"Nothing in particular, any suggestions from the infamous twins of Rivendell?" I asked with a smirk of my own.
"Our reputations proceeds us, but as an elf, you will need to learn a few other places. Ro, would you mind showing her to the stables and training fields? I am to meet Glorfindel for a meeting soon."
"I would not mind at all, if it is acceptable with the lady?" He stated looking at me with a smile.
"Not at all my lord." I said nodding and the older twin left.
"So, why did your brother really ditch?" He looked shocked that I picked up on the lie.
"Dan's last attempt at a courtship was with the daughter of the stable master. He avoids going there at all costs." Elrohir said while shaking his head.
"I see, so at least that is one thing that isn't different. People here still avoid their ex's."
"You could say that." he said laughing as we walked out a door and onto a path. It made me feel better that elves aren't completely perfect. This whole situation seems unreal. I am walking down a path with an elven prince in a parallel universe that I thought only a story. But perhaps, the children of Lord Elrond aren't so bad. They seem nice, something that is completely foreign to me. I'm just glad they haven't brought up how they found me despite it being obvious of Elrond telling them bits of my background. That day will prove a long and unwanted experience. For now, I guess I will just go with the flow.
Hope you like it! Let me know what you think with a review, follow, or favorite!
Thanks! Until Next Time!
-B