Hi everyone! Sorry I've been gone so long! I have been so busy with trying to find a job, church drama, and club stuff! But I am back without further delay!

Thanks to my beta, the seaisblue, she is absolutely amazing!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Life of an Elf

I woke the next morning still hoping I'd stare up at my teal bedroom ceiling. However, I had no such luck. The beautiful decor of the Elves still surrounded me. I rose from my overly large bed and opened the thick curtains, lighting the dim room. I went to the washroom that adjoined my room. I splashed my face with the warm water brought up from the spring. I slowly looked in the mirror and took in my full appearance for the first time, taking note of the changes. My brunette hair, now fell well past my shoulders almost to the small of my back and my skin was flawless and pale, accenting my pink lips and grey eyes. My face was much thinner and sharper. My figure had always been small, but it seemed my curves were more noticeable against a tall, thinner frame. I was so different; most would say for the better, perfect by the standards of the 21st century. I shut my eyes for a moment to process this new view of myself. There was one last feature to view that was undeniably the benchmark of the elves. I pushed back my hair and turned my head slightly, exposing my now pointed ears. I stepped back trying to accept this she-elf in the mirror. I am no longer the human from my past life, which is over apparently. The sooner my heart can accept that, the sooner I can make a new start here in Middle Earth. I just wish it wasn't in a world of fantasy.

I pulled on a light pink gown that was laid out on a nearby chair. Then I tried to style this long hair, but had no clue. I have always had long hair just to my shoulders, but this is plain ridiculous. I sighed and sat down on the chair next to the vanity in defeat. Why did I have to take out that perfect braid?! There was a knock on the door, which frustrated me more. I rose to answer it.

"Arwen! Thank God! Could you braid my hair please! I am not used to such long hair."

"Of course, but it is still short for an elf's. Was yours even shorter?"

"Yes, it barely passed my shoulders. Thank you! It was behaving yesterday, today it is hopeless."

"Anytime, my family is here to help you make this transition. Do not feel belittled should you need to ask for help. Now what kind of braid?"

"There's more than one type?!"

"Obviously, males and females have their own styles, but we women have generally five styles."

"Five! Geez! I can't even do one."

"I will teach you. My father has asked me to teach you the elvish language and etiquette. Both will be required if you plan on spending any amount of time in Rivendell."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now hold still." Her hands went quickly and soon she was finished handing me a mirror.

"This is a common court braid. I wear my hair like this most days, when there are no guests in our home. It keeps the hair out of my face and I can make it as tight or loose as I please." She said spinning to show me her own braid stretching much further down than my own. It resembled our French braid from home. I smiled, hoping I can learn a simple braid.

"Now, let us go. We do not want to keep my brothers waiting. They're very irritable when hungry." She said helping me up. I smiled and tried to picture the twins in distress at the breakfast table. We walked through the halls and I recognized the path from last night's twin tour.

That afternoon, I met with Lord Elrond and his two advisors, Erestor and Glorfindel. They looked at me with curious eyes. Arwen had warned me that the two were like night and day, very literally. Erestor, Elrond's chief councilor, was dark haired and very serious. Contrasting, Glorfindel, who had golden blonde hair, served more as his closest friend.

"Lady Evangelina, your tale is one of unique making, unbelievable." Erestor stated with a stone cold stare. I wanted to squirm in my seat under the glare.

"I promise you my Lord, that I have spoken nothing but truth. I myself share your wariness. It is indeed farfetched." I said trying to look at the advisor with some confidence. Before he could speak again, Glorfindel spoke up.

"Erestor, it is indeed difficult to believe, but I like Elrond believe her tale. She has not done anything to draw doubt from us. Until she does so, we should have no ill will towards her."

"Thank you my Lord." I said nodding to the elf.

"With all this said, I formally offer you a place in my house hold until you find your answers. My family will ensure you are taught the proper lifestyle of an elf. First, you must learn to speak our language and everyday mannerisms. Though you move with the grace of an elf, there is still much for you to learn and practice. I leave my daughter to teach you these things."

"Arwen had mentioned this to me and I am very grateful for your hospitality and generosity." I said bowing my head in thanks. I rose to receive a smile from Glorfindel and another glare from Erestor. That guy is obviously not my biggest fan.

I was met by Arwen outside of her father's study with a curious smirk on her face.

"So, how did you fair?"

"I'm pretty sure Erestor hates my life, but Glorfindel seems to like me."

"He is set in his ways. Any changes in our city and he gets his tunic in a bunch." She said laughing.

"I noticed. So what's on the agenda for today?"

"We are going to the library to get a book to help me teach you Elvish." She said smiling. I have a good feeling Arwen will be a good teacher. My horrible grammar will be a challenge though. Everything here is so prim and proper including their speech.

Several hours later, I could count to ten and say hello and goodbye. It was so different from English, making it very difficult for me to pick up the pronunciations correctly. She was more focused on getting me the basics that I needed to know on a daily basis. Then, we could go into the actual sentence structure and all that boring stuff.

"Honestly, not being raised with the language, it will take you a few years to be proficient."

"It's just so hard. I took French in high school, so now I'm going to have three languages going through my head when I'm talking."

"You will get well practiced in time."

The first few months of my time in Middle Earth, I spent learning all I could about this world. Having read Tolkein's books when I was in high school, I know a little bit but as I spend more time in my lessons with either Elrond or Arwen, I feel like I know less and less.

One day, I sat under a tree in the far gardens trying to read a few pages of an elfling's book. It is much more difficult than it should be. I heard two sets of footsteps coming towards me and looked up to see the twin sons of Elrond.

"Look here Dan, what do we have here? It is a grown elleth reading a child's book!" Elrohir said teasingly sitting down beside me.

"Well, it's not like I can even read this most of the time. Arwen focuses mostly on spoken words not the written language. She said once I learn the pronunciation, writing will be much easier."

"How do you think your teacher would feel if we steal you away for the afternoon to go for a ride through the forest? You have been stuck with those boring sticks in the mud for over three months without a day to yourself!" Ro said taking the book out of my hand.

"I would love to…however I do not know how to ride a horse! I never saw one outside of our state fair and that was from ten feet away."

"You can ride with one of us. Now come on!" Elladan said pulling us both up to our feet. We approached the stables and I saw the tension in Elladan's demeanor, proving true Elrohir's story true.

"Dan, relax, I had Miriel promise to have them both out of the stables today!" Elrohir said shoving his brother into the massive stable. I followed behind the two and was awestruck with the creatures in the stalls around me. The twins disappeared into two side-by-side stalls. Elladan appeared first leading a chestnut mare with a black mane.

"This is Verya, or Brave in the common tongue. I have raised her from her time as a foal, but she never leaves Rivendell." He said patting the beast on its neck before stroking it a few times, whispering in elvish.

"And this is Vanya, my beautiful one." Elrohir said scaring me with his reappearance. He led a white mare with a black mane. Both horses were magnificent and rather large in build, which didn't help my growing fears. Then I noticed something horrifying.

"They don't have saddles." I said barely above a whisper.

"You know we elves don't need to saddle our friends. We ride bareback as long as we do not ride to battle. But we did put on reins since you are riding with us today" Elladan said mounting his horse.

"Elrohir is a decent rider I suppose. Perhaps he should bare you this first journey." He said grinning while urging the mare forward. I looked at the younger twin with fear evident in my eyes.

"You will not fall, my oath to you my lady." He said offering his hands as a step up.

"Swing your leg around gently and whatever you do, do not squeeze her sides with your heels."

"I'll try, but no promises." I said squeezing my eyes shut as I tried to mount the horse blindly reaching for Elrohir's shoulders.

"Evangelina, open your eyes or you may miss me and the horse entirely." Elrohir said grabbing my waist, laughing before I even touched him. I opened my eyes and looked between him and animal next to him.

"I'm scared okay! This horse is two feet taller than I am!" I said stepping back, ending up against the stable doors.

"Come here." He said holding out his hand to me. I warily took it. He then put it up the horse's neck. The fur was softer than I expected. I ran my hand up and down her neck a few times, letting the tension release slowly from my body.

"She may look scary but she is a gentle and graceful horse. You have nothing to fear." I looked at the horse one last time before swallowing hard.

"You promise I won't fall?"

"With my life." I nodded before he reassumed his step position I put a hand on his shoulder and on Vanya's back. I took a deep breath and with an encouraging nod from Elrohir, slowly swung onto the horse's broad back. I grabbed onto the horses neck thinking it would buck at my landing but it held still except for turning to try to look at its new rider. I was tense and scared, trying my best to not squeeze my legs against the mare as Elrohir asked.

"Step one done: get nervous wreck of a she-elf on the horse." He said chuckling as he made to jump on himself.

"Wait! Is there even room on here for both of us?" I asked with widened eyes.

"I've rode with three people. Two shall be no trouble at all." He said as he gracefully came up behind me. One hand cautiously wrapped around my waist and the other went around me to grab the reins.

"Be gentle, beautiful one, this is her first ride." he said smiling in elvish.

"What did you say? I only got a few words: gentle and first..."

"I said to be gentle since it's your first ride."

"She understands you?"

"In some ways more than others, but I'm sure she senses your fear." I closed my eyes and braced myself for the horse's immanent movement.

"Relax we have not even started moving." Relax?! I am on the back of a creature that is double my size!

"Actually, I think getting on the horse is enough of an accomplishment for today." I said going to get off the horse, trying to shift around to jump off, but his grip on my tightened.

"Oh no. We are going for a ride now, because I doubt even my father will be able to get you back on this horse if you stop. You cannot hide from your fears for eternity."

"I can try..." I mumbled but he shifted behind me and the horse started forward. I clamped on to his arm and I felt his chest shake with a muffled laugh. The horse walked slowly as I held my eyes closed shut. We made our way to the city gates quickly and there Elladan was waiting patiently.

"Let us show her the beauty of our realm." He said urging his horse forward at a trot.

"Hold on to her neck but don't pull on her mane." He then ordered Vanya to follow her sister's lead, gaining slight speed to a trot as well. I eventually released my vice grip on Rivendell's younger prince and opened my eyes slightly to see the forest passing by before clamping them shut once again.

Hope you liked it! I just love writing Twin scenes, they can be a pain to get right but once they're finished it's an awesome feeling!

Anyways, next chapter, she's gonna start sword lessons and she attends her first festival in Rivendell! Wonder how that will go over?

Also, I've had several inquiries about a particular blond elf... he may make an appearance in the next chapter...if I get enough requests for him.

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