Dedicated to my biggest fan: WithxLOVEx3 she rocks!

Chapter Eight
The Halls of Rivendell

I woke two days later, and saw my friends for the first time. But I didn't talk. Instead I hugged them and cried. They left me later, as the nurse elf wanted to cater to me. After I had been given some food, a warm bath, and clothes (Which were all so great I must say) I told the attendant I was going. She nodded her approval, so I left the room for the first time.

The ancient, fading beauty of the halls stunned me. In solemn reverence I explored most of the unlocked rooms, marveling at each stop. Wow, I wish I could live like this, I thought. How awesome would that be? My thoughts turned towards my comrades. However, I wasn't sure where their rooms were.

Maybe they're in the Great Hall? I headed toward there, but stepped into an enclosed marble bathing pedestal first. Quickly I fixed my longer, glossier wavy hair. I looked better, but I frowned. I have a confession to make: I'm a makeup junkie. (Really, I should be on Intervention.) Almost as if on cue, I saw my backpack under the wooden shelf. Yes!

I greedily applied just enough makeup to my face. I hugged the bag- "I love you!" (You know, that it didn't occur to me before this that was pretty weird…0.0) I had applied a light shimmer eyeshadow, and a tan coral lip gloss.

So what if other girls had natural beauty? I had beauty in a bottle. Muahahahahaha. The dress they gave me was plain for them, but ornate for me. It was curve hugging and the flowy skirt billowed out around my knees. The undershirt was a hunter green long sleeve dress, while the overdress was raspberry-mauve. It had ¾ sleeves, a hood, and a modest V-neckline. Silver slipper-heels and my disk necklace bounced when I walked.

Still lost in more thoughts, I walked out the doorway, and straight into a passerby. I lost my balance, and was going to trip over the dress's long hem when two hands gripped my waist to steady me. I moved closer, but then again, it could have been an old elf creep, so I said hastily in Elvish, "Forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive elleth, the fault was mine,"apologized Prince Legolas, who was with two other people- an elf and a man. I recognized neither, so I stood there with that dumb smile on my face. The conscious in my head spoke:

Say something Vanessa. Anything. No, something smart. Nothing great came to mind. I sighed.

"I'm lost. Could you tell me where my friends are?" Before he answered me, the dark man said to him in Elvish,

"Legolas, who is this young maiden? Surely you will introduce us, my old friend."The prince nodded, and the tiniest piece of blonde hair fell out of his perfect hair style. He brushed it back, and I happily watched his arm flex.

"Yes Nienna, this is Haldiar and Aragorn, old friends of mine," He pointed to the shorter and thicker blonde elf and then to the dark unkept man.

I nodded and said "Greetings, I am Vanessa." The one who was supposed to be Aragorn nodded and smiled friendly. He was like Viggo, but in a way different too.

Just then Haldiar spoke, but not to me. "Why what a peculiar elleth, Legolas, no? She doesn't even speak her own tongue correctly."

My face burned.

"Sindarin was not my first language." I said hotly.

Haldair froze then laughed. "Catches on quickly doesn't she though? My apologies elleth."

Legolas nodded. "She was poisoned of late, but has since been cured. That is way she cannot speak so well."

He was covering for me? But why? I decided Haldiar was like one of those guys- I don't think I like him very much.

I was not an elf. I was a human. Now though, I am a fay. I wanted to correct him, tell him his mistake. But, something told me not to. Maybe it was Elrond's reaction, or the warning in Legolas' eyes.

He gestured.

"Your companions are this way."

I said goodbye to them and walked away as quickly as my dress would allow, because of my embarrassment.

The decorative Art Nouveau double-ended doors swung slowly, heavy with so many memories. Even the marble tile cracked under its weight. It seemed as though time stopped in this magic hall- where most festivities have taken place for thousands of years.

There were hundreds of elves there. But I needn't have worried- my ears picked up my friend's strange voices.

The lights were dimming and the fire low. It was extremely hot in there- so much that I felt sleepy again. My mouth was as parched as a desert. I sauntered up to my group, who were happy I was alive (they assured me they knew I would be.) I talked for a bit, and then drank three cups of that water-energy drink stuff. It burned like alcohol, but couldn't make anyone drunk. Many people drank it I noticed, even more so then the delicious red wine being served.

Ethereal beings were mingling all around us, as surreal music played.

"You're so lucky you understand them." Whispered Lauren jealously. But was I?

"Not really Laur," I said.

I kept overhearing bits of conversation about stuff that was none of my business. Like 'he died because of this,' and she 'foolishly did that…' We were also drawing many stares from the regulars who did not know why we were here. Most of their conversation seemed pleasant though, almost to a point of boring.

"Welcome all, greetings to you who are here."The commanding voice of Lord Elrond boomed, making the hall chatter fall deathly silent. He had just stood up, along with a young raven haired she-elf and the two girly twin elves that were with Legolas in the forest.

"As we have quite a few guests, I would like to introduce you to all of my kin, daughter-Princess Arwen Undomiel, and my son-Princes Elladan and Elrohir. Prince Legolas is also among our halls. Now, there are two fellowships of guests tonight- one is sitting over there,"he says, pointing to us. "Though some are of our descent, we are unable to communicate with them at the present, for they do not speak Sindarian. Please however, make them feel welcome all the same."

Same my foot! What a load of crap. What they'll do is avoid us like the plague.

"The other are a fellowship of the races I had called to decide the fate of Middle-Earth."He pointed to the opening doors.

"They are coming right now." Polite cheers and claps went up. Through the doors they came, in single-file fashion. The REAL LIVE fellowship of Middle Earth. Grey cloaked and whiskered, proud Gandalf lead the pack.

"Welcome Mithrandir," Elrond introduced.

Then came "Prince Legolas, Son of Thanduril," I clapped along with most of the female audience.

"Lord Boromir, Son of Denethor," some people cheered for the famous captain of Gondor.

"The Ranger Estel," I saw Aragorn, and watched as he passed by. He looked like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Lord Elrond refused to look at him as he monotonly said, "Master Gimli, son of Gloin." Like him, few elves acknowledged the stocky red haired dwarf as he went by.

"Masters Frodo Baggins, Peregrin Took, Meriodoc Brandybuck, and Samwise Gamgee." Pale, silent Frodo walked with his three friends, and butterball Sam blushed fiercely when Elrond had introduced him. They were all Halflings about Lauren and Bryan's height. Pippin and Merry smiled mischievously, while Lauran whispered to me."Oh they are so cute. Is that Pippin? And Frodo…" nodding in his direction. Uh, oh. I know where this was going.

I shrugged. "How do you know that's him?"

"I just knew it was Frodo, his blue eyes and pale skin stand out." She was making goggley eyes at him and Pippin while I took a good look at trying to see what she saw.

But nope, they just looked like little beardless dwarfs to me. Even Frodo reminded me of a cross between a fish and Cyclops from X-Men. Being the good friend I am, decided to withhold that information.

"Are you even listening to me?" She asked.

"Yeaah." I answered. My eyes were looking at Legolas, who didn't seem to like his whole title being spoken of, though he held his head high.

Colyne was softly bickering with Mark under her breath.

"Ple-ase Mark; you cannot beat any of those guys in a duel…yeah right."

"Yeah I definitely could. Plus I'm much hotter then that Boromir guy." I cocked my head to the side. Maybe.

"Hey are you in there?" Aleyna woke me up. I flashed her my best grumpy bear face.

"Noyes. Yesno." I mumbled.

"Smooth. Hey, leave some eye sexing of Legolas to me alright?" She winked.

"Kay." I said, but really I was more thinking along the lines of "Not really, I don't feel like sharing." At school, Aleyna was surrounded by hot guys twenty-four seven.

After enjoying a grand feast for several long hours, the tables were cleared and the dancing began. It took several minutes of rude staring at their movements to catch on, but I understood it. It was not complicated- just repetition. Frontstep, sidestep, twirl, step back, sidestep, sidestep, frontstep, twirl…

"May I have this dance?" I looked up from my narrow slippers. It was Legolas.

I smiled coyly. "If you wish." I took his hand and he led me to the floor. We danced through that one song and I (barely) managed to get through it.

"You danced very well Lady Vanessa."

"Thank you Legolas, as did you. Oh, I mean Prince Legolas." I added. But he shook his head.

"Please only call me Legolas."

I nodded. "Yes okay."

He kissed my hand properly, and walked off the dance floor. I went back to my seat, but was asked to dance by Nick, whom I thought didn't know I existed. My friends all told me while I was dancing with the elven prince, Nick looked pretty jealous. But I doubt it. Every girl in this room was beautiful. That's what friends are supposed to say duh.

Haldiar later came and whisked Aleyna away, who only nodded her answer. Apparently, he was the first guy to ask her to dance, and she was hoping a certain prince would ask her, but he hadn't. I still think she had a good time; the party girl instincts had taken over.

It must have been very late. I was very sleepy. Through half-opened lids I watched Frodo looking at the snoring Lauren, and bored Bryan. He was talking to another chunkier hobbit- probably Sam. *Shiver at Frodo's freaky x-ray eyes.* Aleyna, three songs later, had still not come back to the table. Tsk Tsk. Nick was in heaven with all the Elvish girls flirting with him, but I felt an extra twinge of envy when I saw him throw Legolas a look- because he was dancing with Delilah! She probably put her arms around him and hauled him to the dance floor anyway.

Lord Elrond's daughter Arwen, danced with the Ranger every song, despite numerous suitors and admirers asking for her time. She finally did dance with other people; her brothers, Glorfindal, and Legolas. When dancing with them though, her movements were unattached and stiff. Her navy blue eyes looked far away, as if those people weren't even there. Her father scowled, displeased. But I couldn't deny that whenever she was in Aragorn's arms, she did really glow like a star. And then I was out.

ZZZZZZZZZ.