Chapter Ten

Drowning...the very word was an accurate description for how Andie felt at the moment. It was as if she was barely holding her head above water, struggling to breathe. She curled up in a bundle on the floor with her back against a wall and eyes shut tight, whispering to herself "I'm fine... I can do this..." over and over again. Now that she was alone and allowed some privacy under the guise of bathing did Andie allow herself to break down.

Held tightly to her chest in her arms was a towel made of linen and a bar of soap. She didn't know when or if Mrs. Butterbur would return to assist her more and she preferred that she didn't. Mrs. Butterbur had her try on a dress before she hurried away to attend to other errands. It was a bit large in the chest area and hips but Andie didn't mind. It was more common for her to have difficulty finding clothes that fit because of her wide hips. So Andie was relieved that this time her size wouldn't be a problem. Her only worry about the clothing were the layers and effort it took to correctly put on the outfit. She had only just come to the realization of how strange she must've looked to Idhrenor when Mrs. Butterbur saw her apparel. If all Gandalf said was true and this was Middle earth then her clothing was a problem as they made her stick out like a sore thumb.

It wasn't hard for her to glean that she was expected to wear this dress. But the layers... she preferred her jeans. She felt so self conscious in the dress, awkward even. It was awkward enough to have to strip down to her undies in front of a stranger, female or not. She didn't speak when spoken to by Mrs. Butterbur. Gandalf had advised her not to. She hoped she didn't come off as rude and by the looks of it Mrs. Butterbur did not take offense. Maybe Berenor had spoken to her beforehand, explaining in someway why she "couldn't speak".

'It would not be wise to speak to anyone besides myself and the rangers in this room Miss Andie. For now I ask for your silence.'

It wasn't like she could respond anyway. It was challenging enough to communicate with Idhrenor and if she were to be completely honest she wasn't in any sociable mood either. He asked for silence and she was willing to comply. When Berenor had returned to escort her to the bathing facilities Gandalf told her that Berenor would be speaking on her behalf. With one look to Idhrenor she sought reassurance before she was ushered out the room by the grim ranger.

Now here she was in what she assumed to be a bathing room. It was very different from a bathroom. In fact she was most definitely sure that this was not a bathroom. The room wasn't large and the only source of light was a lone candle lit on a corner table. There was a small window with curtains closed. In the middle of the room was a large wooden tub and no toilet in sight. The sound of rain pitter-pattering against the panes filled the room and soon small sobs accompanied it. Wrapped in Idhrenor's cloak she continued to sit curled up on the floor as she sobbed.

"None of this is right. Is this all just an elaborate dream?"

"No... It can't be. I was hurt. It's been three days...no...I'm really here.."

Andie brought Idhrenor's cloak close to her nose and inhaled slowly. It smelled of leather, grass and trees... It smelled of Idhrenor. There was no way her mind was making this up. She pulled the cloak away from her face and stared at it in wonder.

"I didn't make him up...he's real. He saved me. Idhrenor's real."

The more she thought on Gandalf's words and her doubts, the more she felt inclined to believe him. Three days had passed before she finally arrived at Bree and there was much that she experienced to collaborate Gandalf's claim. The Barrow-Wight was the most convincing evidence that she couldn't refute and the bruises she carried only confirmed the truth, he wasn't lying.

"It's real?.. all of it. They're not just pretending. I'm in Middle Earth? How?"

"Why didn't I ask Idhrenor more questions?! I saw the plains! What was I thinking?!"

"How could I be so stupid?!" She shouted, face palming.

The sound of the wood creaking under shifting weight could be heard outside the door and Andie starred at it in anticipation. Berenor was guarding the door for her and she had no doubt he heard her outburst. Giving herself a moment to calm her thoughts Andie then rose from her spot on the floor to inspect the water in the tub. She dried her face with Idhrenor's cloak and gazed at the water. She was never one for baths. The thought of sitting in bath water with the very dirt and grime she just washed off floating around her was very repulsive in her opinion. Looking at the water intensely, she sighed.

There were a few specks of dirt floating around and she managed to pick them all out. She hoped the water was clean though the dirt made her highly doubt it's cleanliness. There was no faucet so she knew the water was brought in from elsewhere. She always hated that she was so squeamish at the thought of germs. She often was made fun of because of this and at times she wished she didn't worry so much of such things. She reminded herself that this was the opportunity she was waiting for, to be clean from Idhrenor's homemade ointment. As much as she disliked baths, she dislike that paste more and so she readied herself for a wash. Pushing her thoughts to the back of her mind Andie forced herself to focus on the task on hand. She silenced her worries and doubts with a firm decision on how to carry on with these men.

"Trust but verify."

"What I am about to tell you is a tale of what I believe Miss Andie to be... No, I am most sure this is what she is. I do not think her a spy nor a part of some ruse from the shadows of the enemy. She is a rare occurrence. There has only ever been two before her to walk Middle Earth. Travelers is what we came to call them." Gandalf spoke. At this both Idhrenor and Remlas sat up straight in their seats. The tone of Gandalf's voice implied the gravity of what was going to be said.

"The first of the travelers arrived some 800 years ago. I do not recall his name. I only had brief encounters with this man. He was found unconscious on the banks of the Ford of Bruinen by the son's of Lord Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir. It was strange for one of man to be near Imladris with seemingly no purpose. It was stranger still the garments he wore. He was brought to Imladris where he later awoke and spoke in a unknown tongue, much like Miss Andie."

Gandalf stroked his beard as he thought of the past, remembering the events as they unfolded. The storm outside had begun to calm. The rumbling of thunder had silenced and the flashing of lighting ceased. Only the faint drumming of rain remained.

"I was not there, the day of his arrival, but from the account of Lord Elrond it was believed that he was a drunkard. He reeked of liquor and appeared unkempt. What's more, he was unruly and hostile. Not much can be said of this man for he disappeared from Imladris the following day. Around 600 years later, I believe, is when the second arrived. His name was Rhys and he was a kindly fellow."

"Did you know this one well?" Remlas asked.

"You said you knew the first briefly? But he disappeared from Imladris the following day." Idhrenor inquired.

"Well enough." Gandalf answered. "The first I met seven years after Rhys' arrival. It was unexpected. He and Rhys both appeared to be of the race of men but, time had no affect on him. It was too difficult to tell if Rhys was the same as the first... Ah! Cyril! That was his name. Lord Elrond was baffled at the sight of him for he was unchanged. He returned to Imladris for Rhys and now could speak the common tongue."

"Was he not mortal?" Idhrenor asked.

"How was it discerned that they were not of Middle Earth? And what of the language they spoke? How did you come to learn it?" Remlas added.

"Rhys was taught the common tongue by Lord Elrond and those in his service. I spent some time with Rhys during his stay in Imladris and learned the language he called English. Mortal, yes, that is what he was. I am unsure if Lord Elrond or any of the other Guardians of Middle Earth discovered how he lived so long for there was much on my mind and my presence was required elsewhere."

"You say the first returned to Imladris for the second. For what purpose? Was he no longer a drunkard?" Idhrenor asked curiously.

"The common goal of returning home... This is what Cyril had told Rhys. The man I met that day was no drunkard. He stood tall with all the pride of an accomplished man. He was articulate and intelligent. When he spoke he did so with such eloquence that one would be wise to be on guard lest you be swayed. It did not sit well with me to allow Rhys to speak alone with Cyril and I advised against it. It may have been Rhys' own desperation and desire to return home that caused him not to heed my words. Or it could've been Cyril's silver tongue. Nonetheless he was convinced that there was a way back to his land and he left with Cyril two weeks later."

"Was there a way back? Is there hope for Miss Andie to return home?" Remlas asked.

There was a pause of silence. Gandalf took a couple puffs from his pipe and thought hard on this question. Hope? As far as he knew there was no way back. It had been many years since he last saw Rhys and tragic was the news he last received of his fate. And now a third Traveler has appeared. What will become of her?

"Gandalf?... Do you mean to say there is no way back... What became of the two?" Idhrenor pressed on. Gandalf sighed sadly.

"I spoke with him of my suspicions of Cyril both privately and alongside Lord Elrond. For two weeks he thought hard on his decision. In this time we only discovered the means by which he believed would return Rhys and himself home, Dragons. According to Cyril, a dragon of great might could be utilized to send them back home. To this day we are unsure as to how he came to this conclusion or why he believed so. It was no easy task getting answers from this man and it was clear to see that this amused him so."

"He had a great disdain for Lord Elrond. Despite this he was polite to a point. He was on mission and it seemed to me that he was willing to put aside his enmity to ensure his success. I had warned both men of the dangers of Dragons and offered Rhys my council. I advised Rhys to challenge Cyril's words and demand proof of the validity of this plan but it seemed my words fell on deaf ears. It was a year later when I learned of Rhys' fate... the poor fellow had died at the hands of Cyril."

"Dragons?!" Remlas exclaimed incredulously.

"So he was betrayed. It was all a ruse in the end? The Dragons and returning to their home?" Idhrenor spoke mostly to himself.

"Yes... It would seem so. I heard only of Rhys' death, confirmed by Glorfindel. It is not known if Cyril still lives. None can confirm or deny this. So it was agreed that we would be ever watchful for any signs of his return or death. This included myself, Saruman the White, Lord Elrond, Lady Galadriel, and Glorfindel."

"He was only a man, this Cyril. His only crime was killing his kin, the only other traveler? Surely this does not merit the attention of five powerful guardians." Remlas commented.

"Perhaps he wielded magic same as Miss Andie. He sought out Dragons. Maybe the two are connected?" Idhrenor speculated.

"It was the nature of Rhys' death that troubled us. There were rumors of a small army heading north to the Withered Heath and who this army served was not known. We saw it pertinent to check the truthfulness of this rumor and so Lord Elrond sent Glorfindel to gather information. It was on this quest that he witnessed a great blast from afar. A blast so powerful it swallowed all in its reach only leaving a large crater. We assumed Cyril had died along with Rhys though there was nothing left of him to confirm this. A ring was all that was left of Rhys, his wedding band he called it. This was what Glorfindel brought back to confirm his news. What troubled myself and Glorfindel was the lack of proof surrounding Cyril's death. Even more so the White Council was concerned with the origins of such power and how Cyril, a mere man, was able to wield it."

"Miss Andie has no magic. I feel none from her. She explained this magic lantern to be an object used for communication where she is from. It is also used for the purposes she demonstrated early. A phone is what she called it. She says people of all ages use such objects... I think it wise for us to wait until we reach Imladris before we discuss this any further. I only wished to speak briefly of this for one never knows who is listening. Imladris is better suited for such discussions. We will call upon wisdom of the White Council. They will know what to do."

They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Gandalf thought on what Andie's presence in Middle Earth could mean. Would history repeat itself? Are they to expect others to appear as well? Remlas thought of the travelers' tale and how it pertained to Andie. Did this mean she could potentially become a threat? Or was she a fool like Rhys and would unwittingly be the cause of her own death or that of others? Then there was Idhrenor.

He pulled out the empty granola bar wrapper from his pocket and turned it in his hand. His mind bounced from all that Gandalf said to the many questions he still had. He thought on his interactions with Andie, from every argument to every misunderstanding and solution. He thought of her actions thus far. She was nervous and somewhat trusting. She was tiring and stubborn, at this he snorted softly. She was also forgiving and honest. If there was no way for her to return home then what would become of her? If this Cyril may still be alive did this mean she was in danger? Would he seek her out the same as he did Rhys? For what reason did Cyril end Rhys' life? He clearly had no intentions on returning to where they came from. And what of Dragons?

"Is that one of Miss Andie's possessions?" Remlas asked, leaning closer in to see the object in his hand. Idhrenor nodded in response, his gaze remaining on the wrapper as he did so.

"It is a wrapping of sorts... for food from her home I think. She hadn't much of provisions but still she chose to share with me." He replied, handing the wrapper over to his friend.

"She's selfless." Remlas noted while inspecting the plastic wrapper. It crinkled in his hands as he admired the way the reflective inner side caught the light of the room. It amazed him how smooth the surface was as his finger glided over the thin material.

"So thin yet it protects food. It must be durable I imagine." He commented.

"Is there something that troubles you Idhrenor?" Gandalf queried, causing Idhrenor to break away from his thoughts.

"It's nothing.." he began. He paused shortly, followed by a sigh. "Only... All that you've told us..these travelers. I am unsure wether they are to be considered friend or foe... The traveler Rhys, was he friend to you? And he was betrayed by one of his own. I am unsure of what this means. Are we to be vigilant and watch her for any signs of allegiance with the traveler Cyril? Or do you mean for her to be protected and her presence concealed lest she have the same fate as Rhys?"

The old wizard placed down his cup of tea and looked to the wrapper in Remlas hand. He extended out his own in a silent request and Remlas acquiesced. A small smile graced the wise old face of the wizard. He examined the wrapper in the same manner Remlas had and then turned his gaze onto Idhrenor as he answered.

"Rhys was a friend of mine. He was an honorable kind man. His fate was undeserved. I cannot speak much of Cyril other than what I knew of him during his short stay in Imladris. To me he seemed as a selfish man. He chose his words methodically and spoke with a great skill of persuasion I have yet seen any of the race of man to achieve. Though there is reason for us to be cautious in all regarding this matter I do not think Miss Andie to be a threat. Not knowingly at least." He explain. Gandalf then reached over the table as he handed the thin plastic wrapper back to Idhrenor, a confident smile on his face.

"In times of doubt I find it is the small things that reassure me. This wrapping for instance may appear small and insignificant but the intention behind it is grand. A gesture of care and kindness was shown to you and at the expense of herself. Her selflessness speaks well of her character." Gandalf continued, sitting tall back in his seat. Idhrenor eyes stared at the plastic thoughtfully, considering all he was being told. He was too focus on Gandalf's word that he was unaware of Remlas observing him quietly.

"From what I have observed between the interactions of you two I can see she means no one any harm. When she realized she had struck you she rushed to your aid. Even when you denied her help she persisted. When she thought us thieves and panicked she was only consolable by you. Then when told that she would be escorted by another she looked to you for reassurance. Her caring nature and trust for you tells me she is not nefarious. Let us not forget her willingness and honesty. Foe, I think her not but time can only tell if she is a friend. She may yet be neither." Gandalf finished.

"Will you take her to Rivendell then?" Remlas asked.

"Yes but I will require your help. She mentioned meeting a powerful being known as Tom Bombadil. It was he who gave her the map she carries and sent her on her way to Bree. I must head to the Old Forest to confirm her tale. While I do so I would like for you three to escort her to Imladris. I will meet up with you on the East Road. Tomorrow morning I will depart. Take care that you are prepared for the journey and leave no later than the afternoon."

She was uncomfortable. She was cold, frustrated, and uncomfortable to be exact. The bath water was lukewarm and it didn't take long for the temperature to cool even more. Then there was the layers of the dress and difficulty she had figuring out which went on first. Andie tried to remember the order Mrs. Butterbur handed each garment when helping her try them on. The first layer was a chemise, a thin under tunic that reached her ankles. Then came a kirtle which simply acted as a slip. The last layer was the dark green gown that she wrestled on. The blouse was flecked with flowery embroidery of vines and small white flowers. The sleeves were straight and reach just past her elbows. The skirt of the dress was relaxed and without design. The gown was faded in color and had a few spots of patchwork on the skirt. This told her the dress was probably well used and she didn't mind. It was still beautiful in her opinion as her favorite color was green.

She hardly wore dresses back home. It was something she never really felt comfortable with. She didn't think she looked nice in them but that didn't stop her from admiring this dress. It was a nice a dress. Simple in design and well suited for running errands. It was just the layers that bothered Andie and she frustratingly tugged at the outfit where it stuck due to the wetness of her skin. It bugged her to no end how the under layers bunched up around her arms under the sleeves. The towel she was given didn't serve it's purpose very well and it hardly dried her hair. It didn't help when Berenor knocked on the door either. Andie wasn't sure if he was rushing or checking on her. The sound of the knock instantly made her panic as she thought he would enter. She rushed to the door as quickly as she could in the encumbered dress and in her haste managed to trip over her own feet causing her to land against the door with a loud thud.

Andie released a small groan and within seconds the doorknob twisted and turned left and right rapidly. The door shook hard but remained closed and she sheepishly remember that she had locked it after Mrs. Butterbur left.

"Mea Domina?! Sunt tibi bene?!"

"Mea Domina?"

"Domina Andie?!"

The door continued to shake with such force that she had no doubt Berenor was fully capable of breaking it down. She pulled herself up from the floor, tucked away the hair on her face and opened the door to reveal a worried ranger. He stumbled over the threshold as the door pulled open and steadied himself on the frame of the door, careful not to topple over her. His eyes searched her form for any injury and then flitted around the room searching for an assailant.

"Berenor" she said, trying to think of a way to communicate that all was good. She looked a messed. The gown shifted partly and hung off one shoulder as she wasn't able to fasten the tie on the back. Her hair was wet and disheveled and her glasses smudged. The sight of her unharmed relived Berenor and he looked at her expectantly for an explanation.

"I fell" she explain embarrassed while rubbing her foot.

Studying her actions he begun to connect the dots between the thumping against the door, her disordered appearance, and sore foot to the series of events that led to her collision with the door. He fought back a smile and tried his best to remain stoic. His lips pressed into a thin line and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. Andie's embarrassment deepen and she frowned at him.

"It's not funny!" She pouted, crossing her arms across her chest.

His smile grew into a grin. It was at this moment when Mrs. Butterbur appeared. A look of curiosity plain on her face. She and Berenor exchanged words causing Andie to huff frustratingly at not being able to understand their language. She adjusted the gown and pulled on the back as she attempted to fasten the opening close. Seeing her struggle, Mrs. Butterbur slapped her hands away and assisted her with the ties all the while shooing Berenor out of the room.

The walk back to the room was silent. Andie glanced at Berenor every so often. The quite between them felt so awkward to her. She tightly hugged her clothing to her chest and wondered about Berenor and Remlas. We're these Idhrenor's friends? Or brothers? Family? She snuck another look at him trying to see if he had similar features to Idhrenor. This time she was caught. Their eyes locked and Andie quickly averted her gaze. She didn't know what to do.

"Should I say something? Wait..I'm not suppose to talk unless I'm alone with them. Ugh. He wouldn't understand anyway.." She sighed as she tugged on the hood of the cloak. The time alone didn't feel enough to her. At least she was able to let out her emotions in private. She wasn't sure of the time but hoped they would all sleep soon and she would be granted time to herself once more. Maybe the others were already they reached the room she stood by his side meekly awaiting to enter.

The door opened after Berenor knocked once and he guided her in by placing a hand on her back. The rangers instantly began conversing among themselves. She paid them no mind and instead walked to 'her' bed to put her clothing away in her bag. Before she tucked her jeans and shirt into her bag she pulled out her hairbrush. She stuffed her hoodie into the remaining space of her bag.

"Good thing I only ever buy spacious backpacks"she thought thankfully. She then checked the skirt of the dress and much to her disappointment there where no pockets.

"No pockets.. great"She thought annoyed.

Andie left her phone on the bed and turned to look at the rangers seated around the table along with Gandalf. She regarded them for a few minutes. All but Gandalf drank from large mugs filled with what Andie assumed to be more alcohol. The room smelled of a sweet fragrance, one she was not familiar with. They were all smoking long brown pipes and she thought twice about approaching them. She didn't want to disturb them. They looked relaxed and she knew she was out of place among them. She also didn't want to appear unfriendly by keeping to herself. There was also the issue of her asthma and how being near them while they smoke would be problematic for her.

She made up her mind to give Idhrenor back his bar of soap and return to the bed to brush her hair. If they wanted to talk to her they could approach her. Walking up to the group of men she held part of her borrowed cloak up to her nose to minimize how much smoke she breathed in. The men all ceased their conversation and acknowledged her with a nod. She wasted no time in handing Idhrenor the bar.

"Thank you" she said appreciatively. He would have no idea just how thankful she was for the soap. She felt refreshed now and was very happy to be clean. It spoke volumes that she actually used the soap. She had convinced herself that soap was self cleaning. Idhrenor grabbed the soap and nodded in understanding.

"Miss Andie won't you join us?" Gandalf asked, gesturing to an empty seat.

"Oh uh.. Is it ok if I sit in the bed? I don't mean to be rude." She said timidly.

"My dear it's quite alright if that is what you wish. I take no offense. I only thought it good for us to get better aquatinted with each other before we embark on our journey tomorrow."

"Oh. Right. Yes." She said reluctantly.

"Do you still fear us? I assure you we only wish to help you."

Andie bit her bottom lip and internally battled with herself on wether or not she should tell him she couldn't be near the smoke. She would feel bad if they had to stop smoking because of her. She would be fine with it at a distance and it wasn't like she would be living with them forever. She already felt like a burden having to be escorted around and watched.

"Miss Andie?" Gandalf asked.

"I... I trust you. As much as I can right now at least. I just don't want to be a bother." She answered.

"Needing assistance is no bother to me or for them either. It is our duty to help those who are lost or in peril. There is no need to worry." He reassured.

"Andie" Idhrenor spoke as he rose from his seat.

"Sedens placere" he said politely, offering his seat. As much as she wanted to she knew she couldn't. So she declined respectfully.

"I'm sorry, I can't. It's the smoke. It's not safe for me to be breathing this in. I have a condition that restricts my capability to breathe. It's triggered by things like my allergies, smoke or —"

"Goodness me! Why did you not say so sooner?!" Gandalf exclaimed immediately putting out his pipe. He then spoke earnestly in their foreign language to the rangers and they repeated his action.

"Oh! You didn't have to do that! I could have just sat on the bed near the window. It's not a big deal really." She said a bit embarrassed.

"Not a big deal? I would hope you valued yourself more than this. Surely you don't think your life worth less than comforts that one can do without?"

Andie was speechless. She didn't know how to respond. She didn't dare glance at the others but could see in her peripherals the rangers watching her. She was used to people smoking around her without a care for anyone. In her building complex she had a neighbor who smoked every morning and night. He was so lazy that he wouldn't even do so outside in the summer. Instead he would stand in the hallway and smoke by the window adjacent to her own and she had to learn to make due with the problem. Of course she politely asked her neighbor to stop and when that failed she complained to the superintendent. Neither worked. So she resigned to keeping her bedroom window close and suffer the heat. It wasn't solely this one experience that made her this timid and meek. She lived in New York and the truth was that more often than not the people were not kind, and then there was her family.

"I... Uh... thank you?" She stumbled over her words. A small breeze reached her face and she looked in the direction of the window to see Idhrenor opening the pane widely.

"It's fine. I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll be fine. It doesn't even bother me much. Usually I get a headache or start to wheeze after a few minutes but, I feel fine and no wheezing. Are we leaving early tomorrow?" She said hoping they could move on to another topic.

"Yes" Gandalf answered sensing her discomfort on the matter of her health.

"It has been decided that you will travel ahead to Rivendell with Idhrenor and the others. I will meet you on the road later on. I will be leaving in the early morning. You needn't worry of anything. Idhrenor, Remlas, and Berenor are quite skilled and will not lead you astray. There is one thing I can do right now to help you get adjusted." He elaborated, standing before her. Gandalf raised his hands and placed it on the top of her head, her hair still wet and tangled. She looked up to meet his gaze and shifted uncomfortably.

"What are you doing?" She asked nervously.

He didn't answer. Gandalf closed his eyes and began to murmur in an unknown language as his hands slid down to her temple. Andie's brows knitted together in confusion and she did not like him being this close. She grabbed his hands and was about to pull them away when she heard her name being called.

"Andie!" Idhrenor scolded.

"Non" He admonished.

Her grip faltered and she released his hands. The room was quiet, so quiet that Andie could hear her heartbeat in her ears. Then she was free from Gandalf and he smiled at her warmly. She had no idea what happened or why Idhrenor chastised her.

"This is beyond awkward."She thought.

"Umm... what are you doing?"

"I placed a spell on you. One that will temporarily enhance your memory skills. Simply put it will help you remember what you are taught. This does not mean you will be proficient in all you learn. This spell will not do all the work for you. Idhrenor and the others will teach you Westron and you will be able to remember each word but the pronunciation, sentence structure, word conjugation and such will be up to you. You will have to practice diligently to retain as much as you can. You will only have a month before the effects of the spell wear off."

She eyed him with great disbelief. "A spell" she said skeptically.

Andie patted her hair where Gandalf had touched and checked for evidence of said spell. It bothered her that he would do this without informing or even asking her. She understood that he was trying to help but she didn't like the idea of someone casting 'spells' on her. She took a step away from him and hugged herself tightly.

"Thank you for helping me... but could you not do that.. I mean without telling me first?" She said timidly.

"Ah! My apologies My lady. I meant no harm. The spell will only help you. It is late. Let us get some sleep. I'm sure it has been a long tiring couple of days for you." Gandalf concluded.

Gandalf then turned to speak with all three men and Andie decided to returned to her bed. He was right, the pass few days have been overwhelming. She reached for her brush and began to comb through the wet tangled mess on her head. Her hair was usually straight. She would straighten out her hair after every wash but with no hair straightener she would have to make due with her brush. She brushed and brushed and fought with a few knots, all the while watching the wizard speak with the rangers. Her eyes settled on Idhrenor and then shifted over to Remlas and finally Berenor. She took note of the similarities between them; height, outfits, body build. Then she listed the differences in her mind; facial qualities and personalities.

"Are they brothers? Gandalf keeps calling them rangers.. maybe they just work together."

She sighed. "I hope this is the right decision. What else am I supposed to do? Should I go back to the Old Forest? Should I have asked Tom to help me backtrack? Maybe...but didn't Gandalf say there was no way back now? What does that even mean? If I somehow ended up here shouldn't there be a way to somehow get back? And what about back home... Mom and Dad... My family... they must be worried sick. Dad would've noticed something wrong when I didn't text that I was on my way home like always. I wasn't even able to finish my text to Mom..." she worried silently.

The tell-tale tightness of anxiety filled her chest and she closed her eyes when she became mindful of her increasingly negative overthinking. She rested her hands in her lap and took in deep slow breaths and released them in the same manner.

"Stop. I shouldn't think this way. I have to just focus on the now. I am here and this is what matters. I am safe. I will find answers. I've gotten this far. I may not be where I want to be but at least I'm not where I was... I'm not lost alone anymore. There's someone trying to help me. Four someone's helping me... I'm not alone.."

Andie opened her eyes and blinked away the tears that had accumulated under eyelids while her eyes were closed. She quickly wiped them away and peeked in the direction of the men to see Gandalf and Berenor gone. She looked around to see Idhrenor and Remlas each in a bed. Remlas was already laying down with his arms folded on top of his chest. His hood was on and covered his eyes. She wasn't sure if he was asleep yet. Then there was Idhrenor who was sitting on the foot of his bed observing Andie with curiosity.

"What is he looking at?" She thought annoyed. It felt as if she couldn't have a moment to think with out someone watching her. She avoided his stare and hurried to finish brushing her hair, hoping he would look elsewhere. When she was done she stuffed her brush away in her bag and dared a glance his way. He was looking out the window now, at what exactly she did not know. The rain had stoped and now the sound of crickets could be heard. She felt another breeze pass by and she shivered. Her hair wasn't doing her any favors and the breeze worsen how cold she felt as well.

"Isn't he cold?" she wondered, pulling out her sweater.

"It should be ok to wear this just for tonight right? It's better than letting him be cold because of me. How do you take this off again?" She wondered.

Andie struggled with the clasp and glared at it with great frustration. "Why is this thing so hard to take off?! The stupid pin wont budge!"

Admitting defeat with the darn clasp, Andie walked quietly over to Idhrenor with her fingers still fidgeting with the pin. Idhrenor turned his attention towards her and smirked upon seeing her trouble. His smirk annoyed her but not in a bad way, it renewed her determination to undo the clasp herself. She pushed his hands away when he tried to help her. She squeezed, pushed and pull, nothing worked. She fidgeted and fidgeted, nothing again. She huffed angrily at the object and tried a fourth time.

"And—" he began.

"No! I got it." She interrupted.

After one last try she was finally successful. The clasp had a little hook on the end of the pin that acted as a second latch to ensure it remain closed. She felt stupid that it took her a while to notice it. She never seen a pin like it before.

"I'm not so helpless after all." She thought victoriously.

"Although I could've just pulled it over my head.." she came to realize.

She handed him his cloak and pin with the best smile she had to offer. This was a rare gesture he was receiving. Andie rarely smiled as so. She smiled, yes, but never with such gratitude or meaning. She hated her smile and sometimes felt there was no reason to smile. She often used it as a mask to give the perception that she was fine or happy. In fact Andie had mastered many smiles, the polite smile, the false happiness smile, the embarrassed smile, and the "grin and bear it" smile. But this one was less practiced. This one was real. He may not be aware of it but Idhrenor was now among the incredibly few who were gifted Andie's genuine smile.

"Thank you" she said confident he understood her words.

"Gratias tibi"he responded while shaking his head no. She gave him an unsure look and tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"Gratias. Gra-ti-as. Gratias." He sounded out for her.

Realizing he was teaching her the words for thank you she repeated each syllable. "Gra-ti-as."

"Ti-bi" he continued on to the next word. She repeated after him once more.

"Gratias Tibi" He spoke clearly, his deep voice low and soft.

Andie thought hard on the pronunciation of the words. "Gra-tias Ti-bi" she said slowly. Idhrenor smiled at her and nodded.

"Gratias Tibi Idhrenor!" She said overly happy only for Idhrenor to shush her immediately.

Andie's hand shot up to cover her mouth and she peered over to Remlas. He didn't move or complain. A small chuckle emitted from Idhrenor and she smiled bashfully at him. Seeing the cloak still in his hand she gestured for him to put it on. He raised a brow at her and she pointed to Remlas and then to him, the cloak and then finally his bed. He watched as she acted out the action of sleeping by placing both her hands together and tilting her head to the side to rest on them. He grinned at her and shook his head no. He pointed to her and then her bed and said the word for sleep in Westron.

"Somnum" he instructed her.

"Son-num" she repeated.

"Non. Sss-oom-num." He corrected.

"Som-num" she tried again. "Somnum"

"Andie Somnum" she spoke confidently with a bright smile. She nodded in agreement to convey she wouldn't argue about sleeping. She only wanted to return his cloak and make sure he was alright. Before she turned to go to bed she engulfed him in a hug. He grunted in surprise and froze momentarily. She tighten her hold on him until she felt him hug her back lightly.

"Gratias tibi Idhrenor." She said without a hitch, releasing him from her embrace.

Without another word she walked to her bed and put on her sweater. She zipped it up, slipped on the hood, and laid in bed on her stomach. She hugged the pillow to her face and closed her eyes thinking happily on the moment shared between herself and Idhrenor.

"Maybe there's hope after all. I'm not alone anymore."

It wasn't long before Andie fell asleep and he could hear her snore lightly. He easily pulled on his cloak and swiftly fasten it. The hood was slightly wet from her hair but it didn't bother him at all. He laid back onto the bed and placed an arm under his head. He thought of the day and all he had learned. He thought of Andie and how he could help her. It would be a long journey to Rivendell, one that he couldn't promise would be without danger. She wasn't a bad person, he didn't get that impression from her. She was just in a difficult situation. There would be answers in Rivendell, he was sure of it. He yawned into the palm of his hand and gladly welcomed sleep. It would be a while until they would sleep in beds comfortably under a roof and he wouldn't take this opportunity for granted.

They were both asleep, one more than the other. But that was expected of Idhrenor. He was known to sleep lightly, always on guard. Remlas had heard them, their entire interaction. He heard the mini language lesson and the gratitude Andie expressed a bit too loudly. He heard his friend laughing and peeked from under his hood without moving to witness what was the cause of his amusement. There he saw Andie covering her mouth embarrassed that she had been so loud. He smiled inwardly being mindful to not show any sign of being awake, though he knew his friend would not be tricked so easily.

Remlas noted she was more relaxed when it was just them two. She bloomed around him and he could see that she was more confident when she was dealing with Idhrenor. Perhaps with time she would be less nervous around himself and Berenor. She was an oddity to him even with her dressed less strangely now. Travelers, the very notion of one not originating from Arda was baffling. Were there other worlds? And if so, then how many? What did this mean for their world? How did these Travelers come to Middle Earth? Did Miss Andie really not know how she came to be here? Would there be more to come? Are others already here? And then there was the very thought that troubled him earlier arose in his mind once more, dragons. What of dragons? What would a traveler want with them? Remlas was sure nothing good would ever come from any dealings with dragons.

So lost in his brooding he was shocked to see Idhrenor in Andie's embrace. He was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Idhrenor grunt and his gaze darted to the two them hugging. It surprised him even more to see his comrade return the embrace and the sight made him forget about his previous thoughts. He watched her pull away and heard her thank him clearly, understanding her well, Gandalf's spell working marvelously.

It had been too long since he last saw his friend open up to another in such a way. Remlas did not want to ignore his worries or concerns. They were too great to be dismissed but he couldn't ignore what he saw either. Andie was a gentle soul. She was kindhearted and thoughtful. And if she was able to get through the thick wall Idhrenor had sealed himself in years ago then Remlas surmised she was worthy of their trust and protection. Same as Andie had decided, though neither would know the similarities in their thinking, Remlas would trust but verify.

A/N: Hello everyone! So the group is now heading to Rivendell and Andie isn't the first to appear in Middle Earth! This was a an exhausting chapter to edit but I was so excited to post it. I know not much seemed to have happened in this chapter but it laid down some pieces for future chapters. Let me know what you thought about Gandalf's tale of the Travelers. What do you think about Gandalf's spell? How did I do with describing her dress? (Describing clothes is hard for me). What was your favorite part in this chapter? I was researching Glorfindel but I wasn't able to find if the correct way to address Glorfindel was Lord Glorfindel or just Glorfindel. Let me know which is right if you know. I truly appreciate it.

[Note: Just to clear up one inconsistency. In chapter 8 (I believe) I wrote that Remlas was able to acquire a few dresses for Andie. I ended up changing that in this chapter. Remlas instead is meant to have told Idhrenor that he was able to ask Mrs. Butterbur if she was willing to trade for one of her old dresses. She agrees to the trade and this is the dress that she helps Andie try on. I will be editing this in chapter 8 soon.]

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favorite and followed! Welcome and a big thank you to Sage S. Adoren, Gwen-ddynnnnn, lotus20, Rebel-heart13, Mari-chan96, astrit090, White Wolf Leader, Enileve, TheFlame-Burned-OutButIt-Glows and Jillian Baade for the reviews, follows, favorites. :D

If you're looking for a great Hobbit story read involving ThorinxOC then I highly recommend the talented Shylowdeath's "The Undecided Title of Sara Miller". She just recently posted her 48th chapter and I just had to give her a shout out for such a amazing chapter and story.

Jillian Baade: I'm so glad to hear you liked it! :D Thank you for the feedback and the review!

Mea Domina: My Lady

Domina Andie: Lady Andie

Sunt tibi bene: Are you well?

Non: No

Gratias tibi: Thank you

Somnum: Sleep

Disclaimer:

Everything belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien except my OCs and the unrecognizable parts of the plot.