When Estella finally came too, she could hear whispering coming from nearby and the next thing she noticed was something poking at her side. What on earth? She was not some dead animal that deserved to be poked at like that.

"Is she alive?" a male voice asked. 'Of course I'm alive!' she thought to herself and began to contemplate her situation. Feeling the soft grass underneath her cheek, indicated that she was laying on her stomach and she wondered who it was that found her. The voice didn't ring familiar to her ears as she pretty much knew a lot of the boys where they lived and this voice she didn't recognize.

"Pippin! Cut that out!" another male voice snapped at the first. "She's not some piece of meat."

'Well, at least someone has some sense of dignity,' Estella thought to herself and with a low groan, she slowly opened eyes. Blinking a few times to clear her vision and that's when she saw what looked to be three children kneeling beside her. All looking worriedly at her and she tried to think back as to what happened. Only nothing came to her and slowly began to push herself up with her arms.

Coming to a half sitting and half laying position, she cringed slightly at the burning sensation on her back as the bandage wrap seemed to stick to the wounds. Then the pounding sensation on her head began again and lifting her right arm, she pressed the heel of her palm against her forehead. In hopes to relieve the pain, but it didn't seem to work.

"Are you okay, Miss?" another male voice asked, and she lowered her arm to see that the third child looking person had spoken up this time. Causing her to really take in their appearance and noticed that they were more of short young men than children.

Looking towards the one closest to her, she saw that he was younger looking than the other two and probably the one that had been poking at her sides. He had blondish, curly hair and was staring at her with bright big eyes.

Next to him, leaning over with his hands on his knees was probably the one scolding the younger one and was much more sensible. Like the younger one, he had blondish curly hair and blue eyes. Maybe his brother or relative of some sort.

Standing off a little way behind them was the one that had asked her if she was okay, and he too had blondish curly hair but was a bit pudgy. Their ears were a little bigger than that of any human and was slightly pointed. While their feet were twice as big, bare and hairy. Nothing like she had ever seen before and she furrowed her eyebrows as she thought to herself, 'Where in the world, am I?'

"l see that you're finally awake," said another male voice, but this one sound a bit deeper.

Looking towards the sound, that's when she noticed a man walking up towards them; and he looked to be in his 30's or 40's. He had dirty black hair that hung to his shoulders, and it looked like it hadn't been washed in months. It looked unkept and bearded, unshaven. He wore a tattered, old black cloak. Under his cloak, glinted the metal of a sword and on his grimy hands, he wore a silver ring.

His eyes were grey and appealed; he didn't seem dangerous, even though he was dressed so strangely and had a sword with him. Even his eyes weren't cold and uncaring like some would think. Instead, they were compassionate and full of understanding, full of all the horrors and wonders he had seen.

Slowly looking around her, she noticed that the forest seemed a lot different than where she had been and began to panic, 'Ok, I am totally not where I should be. Wherever that may be.'

"Excuse me, sir," she asked hesitantly, as she turned back to the man. She wasn't sure if he was safe or not, even though he seemed to be. "Who are you and where exactly am l?"

"Sorry for my lack of manners. I am called Strider around these parts," he said with a nod of his head. "You are in Middle Earth, on the borders of Rivendell."

'Rivendell?' she repeated, mostly to herself as it seemed foreign to her and the man named Strider nodded his head before turning towards his three companions as he points out,

"These here are my companions. Hobbit's if you will."

"I'm Meriadoc Brandybuck," said the tallest of the Hobbit's as he rises up from leaning over and continues, "You may call me Merry, though. This here, who was poking you is my cousin, Peregrin Took."

The Hobbit he gestured towards his right, looked over at him with a small glare and she couldn't help but chuckle at this. For they seem to enjoy teasing each other and it made her feel more at ease.

"I was just making sure she was still breathing," Pippin exclaimed in defense. Merry looked over at him with a 'Are you serious?' look, before turning his attention back towards her and points to the other Hobbit as he introduces,

"This here is Samwise Gamgee." Earning a small smile from him, Estella saw that something was on his mind, and she gave him a concerned look. Seeing her looking at Samwise with that look, Merry explained, "Sam here is concerned about our friend, Frodo."

"He was badly wounded and wasn't doing well," Sam exclaimed, his face turning grim in fear and then sadness. "So, he was taken to Rivendell for healing. I hope he is doing ok."

Estella suddenly felt bad for him, but didn't know what to say on the matter and just gave him a warm smile instead. In hopes of cheering him up and then began to slowly sit up the rest of the way. Causing the pain in her head to return and she grabbed her head with a groan.

Seeing this, Strider hurried over to her side and gently grabbed her by her upper arm. Helping her to rise to her feet and she mumbled her thanks. With a nod, he says softly,

"Take it easy, My Lady. You got a nasty bump on the back of your head."

"Yeah, so I've noticed," she mumbled sourly, earning a chuckle from him. "1 feel the annoying pounding in the back of my head that won't stop"

"Excuse me miss, but are you an elf?" Pippin asked her and she looked down at him in confusion. 'An Elf?... Ok, I am definitely not in my world or back at home. I always thought that Elves were just some made up characters in one of the books. Or maybe I hit my head harder than I had originally thought.'

"Pippin! No! She is no Elf. She is of men, like Strider," Merry replied as he elbowed his cousins' arm, earning another giggle from Estela before she stated,

"Yes, he is right, I am no Elf."

"Well, you look beautiful and so I thought you were one as well," Pippin muttered with a blush.

Estella smiled sweetly at him as she took a step; only to stagger and found Strider gripping her upper arm again to hold her steady. Nodding her thanks to him, she tried again to walk on her own and noticed that the Hobbit's stayed by her side, when the man named Strider spoke up,

"My Lady, you never did tell us your name," he suggested from behind her, and she looked over at her shoulder at him. How could she have forgotten that?

"The names, Estella," she told him as she returned her gaze in front of her and focused on where she was walking.

"It is almost similar to the Elvish name Estel," Strider exclaimed in shock, and she stopped in her tracks to look back over at him. "Which means, trust, faith or hope."

"Estella is not an Elvish name?" she asks, and he just shakes his head at this. "That's too bad. It's a great name that means, 'Star' from where I hence from."

"Indeed, it is a great name and suites you well," Strider says in agreement. "Where is it that you hail from?"

"I come from the 16thcentury France," she mentioned and earned a confused look from them before sighing as she continued, "It's a long story and hard to explain. Besides I am getting a major headache at the moment."

"Why don't you come with us to Rivendell? Lord Elrond can help you," Strider suggested and she began to look around about her before turning to him.

"Well, what other choice do I have," she said as she then looked down at the three Hobbit's who smiled up at her happily. "l don't even know how to get back home."

Strider walked up to a pony, grabbing onto the reins he motioned for them to follow him as they made their way through the trees, and Pippin was the first one to break the silence, "Do you want to go home?"

"l don't know," Estella said truthfully as she shook her head and ducking under a low branch she continued, "There isn't much for me to go back home too."

"What about your mother and your father?" Merry asked and she lowered her eyes.

"They passed away when I was 9 years old," she replied sadly, and she then felt hands grabbing onto her own. When she looked down, she noticed that Merry and Pippin had both grabbed each of her hands as they walked.

"We're sorry. We didn't mean to bring up sad memories," Merry apologized and Estella shook her head.

"It's quite alright, you have no reason to apologize," she told them. "lt's not like you knew of their deaths when you asked me, no more than I can stop myself from being sad over it."

"Is there any other family back home that will miss you, Miss Estella?" Sam asked her this time as he looked over his shoulder at her and she sighed as she looked up into the trees.

"No, not really," was all she said.

Sensing that she didn't really want to talk about it, Sam just gave her a warm smile and turned around. For a short while, they walked on in silence.

A few hours later, even though Estella's back was burning and causing her discomfort; she still managed to make things lively for the Hobbit's and even Strider. They would laugh at her imitation of her best friend after being beaten in a mud fight and that's when Strider would make fun of her about not being lady-like, receiving a dirty look from her in a playful jest and getting more laugh out of the Hobbit's.

"I'm not your typical girl," Estella had stated matter-of-factly, receiving a laugh from Strider.

"I can see that now," he said as he looked over at her with a smirk and she mocked smirked back at him, causing him to laugh out again. "Are you always this crazy?"

"You dare accuse a girl of being crazy," she stated in shock as she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the 'l can't believe you just said that' look. "Do you get off on insulting young ladies of being crazy?"

"No, cause you're the first one I have told this to," Strider confessed as he looked at her with a huge smile on his face and she glared at him in a jesting way, receiving yet another laugh from him.

"Gee, thanks. I sure feel special now," Estella remarked sarcastically.

"You are special," Strider agreed with a smile. "Don't change who you are for anyone. If you do, I will have to whip you back into shape."

"l would like to see you try," she tested, and he laughed. Yet he noticed that she gave a slight cringe when he said whip and that got him suspicious.

This continued for the rest of the trip and the Hobbit's would just watch as the scene played out between the Ranger and the young girl with amusement; only to laugh when Estella came back with a snark remark and causing Strider to laugh out once again. In all their travels, they never seen the Ranger laugh quite this much and it was all because of this one girl.

"How much farther is it to Rivendell?" Estella asked after another hour of walking. Her feet were killing her, and she began to realize that her body was beginning to grow weaker, but she forced herself on. Not wanting to slow them down, she managed to keep up for some time and now she realized that she had to force her body to move. 'What is going on? What is wrong with me? Am

I sick?'

"It's not that much farther. We should be there by mid-afternoon," Strider stated as they continued up a small incline and that's when her body failed her. Feeling herself falling forwards, she knew she didn't have the strength to catch herself and when she landed in the soft grass her world faded into darkness.

Pippin was the one who looked back to check up on her and when he saw her collapse on the ground he quickly turned to Strider in a panic as he yelled out,

"Strider! It's Estella!"

Strider stopped and turned to see what the commotion was about, only to see Pippin run over to the form lying on the ground. Merry and Sam had followed him too in a rush; fear and panic reached his eyes as he rushed over to Estella's motionless form. Taking the bow off, he saw that it was greatly damaged, and he tossed it to the side before gently rolling her over onto her back. Feeling her forehead, he looked up towards the hobbit's.

"She's burning up. The fever is high," he told them as he turned to Sam. "Sam, I need you to bring me some water and a rag. We need to get this fever down."

Nodding, the young hobbit took off towards their pony, Bill. While Aragorn swiftly lifted her up into his arms and caused her hair to move in just a way that Merry caught a glimpse of something. Motioning Strider to stop, Merry began to look at what caught his attention and noticed that it was a cut of some kind poking up from under her dress.

"Strider, I see something poking up from under her dress," he pointed out and Strider looked down at him in confusion. "It appears to be a cut of some kind."

Gently going down on one knee, Strider laid Estella down on her side as he inspected what Merry had seen and noticed that there was indeed something poking up from under her dress. It ran up near her neck and he began to unbutton the back of her dress. When he had finished unbuttoning the back, he lowered the white fabric of her second dress and noticed that a bandage wrap went around her whole upper body. Only it wasn't done very well and seemed to have come undone as it was hanging loosely around her body. Revealing some of her skin underneath and that's when he noticed that the cut was extending further down her back.

Pulling a small sword from its scabbard that hung on his hip, he began to cut the bandage wrap and wasn't ready for what he was about to see. After successfully cutting the bandage, he began to peal it away and once he did, his eyes went wide at what he saw. Beside him, Merry and Pippin's eyes looked like they would bulge out of their heads if they widened anymore.

There, all over the young woman's back were multiple laceration marks caused by a whip and a lot of them were deep and infected. Strider now knew what had caused the fever and if he didn't get her to Rivendell fast, she would die of poisoning.

"What happened to her, Strider?" Merry asked him and Strider shook his head as he gently laid Estella down on her stomach; her left arm was laying straight down her left side as her right arm was bent up towards her face.

"l do not know," he said as he began to inspect the damage of the infection. "Some of them look recent than the others and have gotten infected."

"Is she going to be alright?" Pippin asked worriedly and Strider looked up towards them before stating,

"If I don't get her to Rivendell soon, she will die. I can slow it down, but we need Elven medicine to fully get rid of the infection."

Their eyes got big at the news. Sam had run back to them as fast as he could and when he caught a glimpse of her back he froze where he stood, un-believing at what he was seeing and Strider turned to him.

"Thanks Sam. Now I need to ask another Favor," Strider said to him as he took the water pouch from his hands. Sam only nodded, not once taking his eyes off the young girls back. "Sam! Sam, Listen carefully."

When Strider saw that he now had the young hobbit's full attention he continued. "I need you to find me some more of that weed we used on Frodo," he told him, and Sam nodded quickly as he hurriedly took off into the woods. Strider then turned to Pippin and Merry. "Merry, I need you to get me some bandages and ointment. Pippin, I need something soft to lay her head on."

The two hobbits nodded as they took off towards the pony and Aragorn looked down at the young woman in disbelief. Who could do such a cruel thing to someone as sweet as her? Anger inside of him began to boil in rage at whoever did this to her, yet he felt hopeless and scared that he wouldn't be able to save her.

There was no way he can get her to Rivendell in time and he had yet the heart to tell the hobbits this for they have come to care for her in such a short amount of time.

When the hobbits returned, Pippin picked up her head and placed a rolled-up mat under her head while the other two-handed Strider the supplies he asked for. As he began to work, the hobbits sat down on the other side and watched helplessly as their new friend would cringe when Strider touched a sore spot.

What seemed like hours, Strider had stopped with a small sigh and turned to the hobbits who were looking at him. Waiting for the verdict of the young woman's life and Strider stood sat down, looking defeated.

"Strider! Will she be, ok?" Sam asked hesitantly, as if fearing the answer, he was going to receive and the other hobbits turned to Ranger.

"l did what I could, but the infection is too deep," Strider told them as he placed a hand over his mouth. "We need to get her to Rivendell for more advance healing."

"So, what are we going to do?" Merry asked firmly, for he wasn't liking the fact they were just sitting there doing nothing while she fades away.

"Rivendell is still a few hours away, Merry," Strider stated as looked over at the young hobbit. "Even if we run, we won't reach it there in time before the infection spreads through her body and kills her."

"We cannot just let her die," Sam said close to tears. He was already worried about Frodo and now seeing another friend dying was taking a toll on him

Just then, the sound of horses was heard and Strider slowly got up and motioned for the hobbits to stay there with Estella as he checks it out. The hobbits watched at the Ranger made his way through the woods like a professional hunter until he was out of sight and then turned back to Estella.

Strider peered out from behind a tree and sighed when he saw his long best friend riding up with his companions. Stepping out he bowed towards them saying,

"Sulliad, Legolas. Mellon nin." (Greetings, Legolas. My friend)

"Sulliad," Legolas greeted back with a small smile, before looking confused. "Why are you not yet at Rivendell?" (Greetings)

"Dire circumstances have delayed us," Strider said with a bow. "l could use your assistance in the matter.

"What assistance do you require?" Legolas asks as he dismounted his horse; only to stop when one of his companions spoke up,

"My Lord, we must not delay. Your father will not be pleased if we do not do as he requested before we must head to Rivendell."

"Galdir, I will not abandon my friend in his dire of need," Legolas sneered back at the elf before turning to Strider. "Lead the way, Mellon nin." (My Friend)

Strider led Legolas back to where he left the hobbits with Estella and when they arrived, Legolas's eyes went wide when his eyes landed on the young woman. She looked to be around 19 years old, her waist length curly red hair sprawled out to the side and over her right shoulder. She was indeed beautiful, even though the dirt and grime that plagued her face. He was now curious as to what color her eyes were, but now wasn't the time and he turned to his friend in confusion and shock.

"We found her in the forest, unconscious. It appeared she had bumped her head against something, and we assist that she come with us to Rivendell," Strider explained as Legolas walked up to her and kneels on one knee before looking back over his shoulder.

"What is the cause of her ail?" Legolas asks as he looks back down at the young woman on the ground. Strider walks up to the other side of her body and pulls back the bandage for Legolas to see. Legolas's eyes when wide in shock at what he saw and then looked up at Strider. "What or who has done this?"

"We do not know, but I fear she got this before we found her in the forest," Strider replied.

"l will leave my companions with you as I take her to Rivendell," Legolas stated as he stood up and turned around as he called out, "Gladir, bring me my horse!"

"What are you going to do, My Lord?" Gladir asked in disbelief as he brought a white stallion over to him and Legolas mounted.

"l am to leave you with Strider and the hobbits, while I take the young..." Legolas stopped midsentence as he turned to his friend. "l didn't get her name."

"Estella," Strider told him as he finished buttoning the back of her dress after placing the bandage back on and gently lifted her up into his arms. Legolas' eyes went wide for a moment and then went back to normal as he looks down at the young maiden in his friends' arms while stating,

"It's almost like an Elvish name."

"That's what thought too," Strider says with a nod as he walked over to him. "She is very dear to us, especially to the hobbits. Keep her safe."

With a nod, Legolas lifted her up and placed her across his lap. Resting her back against his right arm that held onto the reigns, her head fell onto his shoulder; her right arm was dropped to her sides while the other laid across her middle. Turning to his horse he chanted,

"Noro lim, Suldal, Noro lim!" (Run fast, Suldal, run fast) (Suldal means: Windfoot) (n/a I don't know Legolas's horse's real name, so I just made one up. :-))

Suldal took off at full speed, Legolas holding onto Estella tightly so she wouldn't fall off, they raced in and out of the trees. Looking down at her, he couldn't help but feel drawn to her and that startled him. He never got even close to falling in love and he wasn't about to start. Yet, this young woman in his arms was making it extremely hard and that scared him

An hour had passed when they reached the entrance of Rivendell and Estella's breathing was becoming more ragged. Noticing that her fever had gone up again, he urged Suldal faster and quickly passed under the great stone arch. Next, they made their way down the narrow path that led to the city with such grace and speed.

Coming up to the bridge, he pulled Suldal to a slow trot as they made their way across when they reached the other side, he saw Lord Elrond walking out to meet them.

He was a regal Elf with long brown hair flowing down his back. His eyes were stern and yet held a certain kindness to them. They held much wisdom as they had seen many horrors and wonders through his years. On his brow sat a circlet as he nodded to Legolas as he rode up.

"You are early and yet without your companions," Elrond responds as Legolas pulls Suldal to a halt and dismounts with Estella in his arms. "What is the reason of your early visit?"

"Aragorn has asked me to bring this young woman, for her life is in danger," Legolas replied and Elrond looks down at her. His eyes shone with happiness and fear.

"So, she has finally come," Elrond said softly before turning to Legolas. "Come!"

Legolas followed after him as he headed inside and headed down a flight of stairs. Legolas was confused on the matter of what Elrond had just said. Was he expecting her?

"You knew of her coming?" Legolas asks in shock as he hurried after Elrond as they turned and headed down a corridor.

"A week ago, Lady Galadriel told me of her coming," Elrond stated as they turned left and headed down another flight of stairs before continuing. "A girl from another world would appear and help bring peace to Middle-Earth."

"The Prophecy," Legolas whispered in stunned silence as he looked down at the young woman in his arms. She was breathing heavily as the fever began to take its toll over her body and he pulled her close. "Her fever is getting worse."

"What ails her?" Elrond asks as he looks over his shoulder at them.

"I rather not tell you for you shall see soon enough," Legolas told him and Elrond nodded.

They reached a set of huge oak doors and Elrond pushed them open to reveal a large room with a queen-size bed in the center. Green and gold blankets covered the bed, and a beautiful, wooded armoire stood to the right next to an adjourning room that held the bathroom. A balcony sat to the left, pulling a gentle breeze into the room.

Elrond made his way to the bed as he motioned for Legolas to lay her down and he walked up; gently laying her down on her stomach and then turned to Elrond. His face held confusion and worry as he waited to see what Legolas would reveal to him.

"The sight is not pleasant," Legolas warned him as he began to unbutton the back of her dress. After doing so, he then pulled down the white garment to reveal the bandage that Strider had placed, and he took a deep breath before pulling it off.

Turning to Elrond, he saw utter shock and disbelief in his eyes as he looked at the damage on the young woman's back. Turning to Legolas he began,

"This is going to take some time. Once I have rid her body of the poison and infection, you are to be in command of her care. Unless you wish for someone else to do it instead."

Legolas nodded but wasn't sure if he was up for the task and he let out a small sigh when Elrond left the room to get some supplies. Sitting on the side of the bed next to her, he saw that her eyes were clenched tight as if in pain and her right hand tightened itself onto the pillow. How could someone do such a thing to someone else? It was unnatural and he didn't understand it.

Elrond returned shortly with Arwen right behind him and when she saw the sight before her, she gasped lightly in shock. Turning to her father, her eyes held many emotions, shock, anger, sorrow and disbelief.

"Ada, who has done this to her?" she asked in distaste as she walked up on the other side from Legolas sat on the bed and lightly touched her back. This received a painful hiss from the girl and saw her cringe as she tightened her hold on the pillow. Picking up a small towel, she got it wet and began dabbing the lashes tenderly. (Father)

"We do not know, my daughter," Elrond said as he shook his head. "l need you to find out for me once she is awake and able. Could you do that for me?"

"l will try my best, Ada," Arwen says with a nod before turning back to the task at hand. (Father)

Elrond then began to chant a healing spell as he spread the ointment over the wounds and when he was finished, he turned to Legolas.

"l managed to rid her body of the poison and infection," he replied as he looked over at the young woman, who was now sleeping peacefully, and he smiled. "A few more days and her back will be gone of those wounds. Until then, she needs plenty of rest."

With a nod, Legolas watched as Elrond and Arwen headed out of the room to meet the rest of the group. After placing a blanket over her form, he then too headed out of the room and towards the Dining Hall. His mind still thinking about the young woman who had made her way into his heart in such a brief time and sighed.