I woke up with a start, waking up from a Lord Of The Rings' stained dreams.

Haha, lol.

My vision came to focus and I realized that I was not waking up in my room but in a beautiful, luxurious bedroom, elvish style.

Damn, that wasn't a dream, was it?

"Good morning, Lady Leane. Did you have a good rest?" asked a melodious voice to my right that belonged to Arwen.

"Yes, thank you very much, Lady Arwen. I feel good this morning," I replied with a grateful smile. Despite my expectations, I didn't wake up feeling groggy this morning-I was actually feeling very refreshed.

"You passed out, we were worried about you. My adar- I mean my father- looked after you and saw that you were being taken care of," informed the beautiful elf. "And please, just call me Arwen," she said with a sincere smile.

Wow, not only that she was beautiful on the outside but also on the inside. No wonder Aragorn fell head over heels over this elleth.

"Only if you call me Leigh Ann," I replied smiling myself.

"Alright, Leane it is then. Now, I took the liberty to bring you some food. I figured you must be famished, especially after passing out for couple days."

My jaw dropped at that; I never passed out before, let alone for two days straight. I was a tough girl and I prided myself in being a very healthy girl who very seldom got sick.

My last vision of the eye suddenly came back to me-- it wasn't Legolas' eyes I was seeing, it was Sauron's-- but somehow something that I saw in Legolas' eyes triggered the vision. Was it my fear? I knew Sauron feeds and thrives from the fear of his enemies. This I was sure though I did not know how I got the vision. Legolas was intimidating yes, but I knew he was on the good side, nothing like Saruman or Sauron himself.

Arwen set a tray of food in front of me and gestured for me to eat, but I looked up at her, and asked.

"Arwen, is it possible that I can clean up before I eat? I felt so dirty right now and would very much appreciate a bath."

Arwen beamed up at me; surely she was relieved that I realized how smelly and dirty I was.

"I must admit, for a mortal you cared so much about being clean more than any other mortal that I met before."

"More than Aragorn?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

Arwen blushed, a pink tinged the apple of her cheek and she looked away smiling shyly. I smiled knowingly.

Looking at me, she realized that I knew. Heck, of course I knew; I watched the Lord of The Rings trilogy countless times, duh.

I didn't know how to explain about this to her, but she chose to refrain from asking about it, which I much appreciated. Maybe she just thought that I was observant. Hopefully.

The next hour was spent by me taking a divine hot bath in a bathroom connected to my bedroom-- and this started to feel more like I was in an elvish hotel.

I cleaned up well and I thank God or Valar or Eru the Illuvatar or whatever that the elves know what a soap and a shampoo is. Arwen also gave me a scented oil which I gratefully accepted, along with oil for my hair. She lent me a few elven dresses that somehow fitted my body size. I definitely wasn't skinny, but I was not fat either. Still, changing in front of a beautiful gorgeous elleth like Arwen was making me more self-conscious. I chose a simple mint green dress that fell to my knees, its soft and rich fabric felt nice on my skin. After helping me with my dress, Arwen offered to comb my hair and put on some oil on it.

By the time I looked at the mirror I gasped; I was looking good--beautiful. Well, not as ethereal beautiful as Arwen or any elves for that matter, but I was pretty.

It was definitely the dress.

I guess that's true what they said. You are what you wear, and wearing an elven dress supposed to enhanced my look or get me a lil bit of elvish look that made me look at least better than my usual self.

"You are very beautiful, Leane. I dare to say that any male that look at you must be blind if they don't look at you at least twice," she commented sincerely, looking at the mirror, smiling like a proud mother.

"Arwen," I said, turning away from the mirror to face her. "Thank you so much for all this. The bath, the food, the dress and the comfort; I don't think I could ever repay-- I don't even have any money on me right now, I mean, I don't even know what is the currency over here!" I said gratefully and maybe just a bit too dramatically at the last sentence and made Arwen giggle.

Oh, elves were capable of giggling?

That somehow made me feel better. It means they were not a creature void of emotion and feelings after all.

"Please, t'was nothing. And you are a very pleasant person to be around. Besides, not everyday I have a girly friend around so 'tis a pleasure," she replied with such sincerity, her eyes twinkled with playfulness.

A wave of gratefulness and happiness of her friendship rolled off over me. The back of my eyes was about to water but I pushed it down.

Dang, I became such a softie these days, didn't I?

"Thankyou again for everything, Arwen, and your friendship is like a balm over my... confused, lost heart!"

She giggled at my antics. It was somehow surprising and refreshing that such friendship with Arwen was so easy to achieve.

We spent the rest of the morning chatting and Arwen showed me around Rivendell. Its beauty awed me again, and being comfortable with Arwen now, I didn't bother closing my dropped jaw every time I saw something wonderful, in which Arwen only smile knowingly. Surely she knew that the beauty of Rivendell would enthralled any mortals. She also told me that Lord Elrond and Gandalf would be seeing me after lunch.

By almost noon, Arwen excused herself to attend some matters and I felt suddenly guilty for taking so much of her time. She was a princess after all; she must have things princesses needed to do.

Instead of accepting her offer to escort me back to my room, I opted to explore by myself. Now that I dressed accordingly, the stares of the passing elves were not as intense as before.

As I walked to a deeper level of the city, I was astounded by my finding.

A garden so beautiful, I might say this could be a magical secret garden out of a fantasy movies. My heart jumped slightly at the beautiful sight; I drank in the view, the colorful, blooming flowers, the scent. It was just breath taking.

My mouth opened and I exhaled with excitement, sniffing the fragrant air enthusiastically. Everything from here was just perfect and for that moment my troubles seemed long forgotten and I couldn't contain the smile on my face.

[Legolas' POV]

I walked through the path of Rivendell with a content heart. Rivendell was just as beautiful as it was three hundred years ago. It was of course, a different kind of beauty from my home, Mirkwood.

The thought of Mirkwood brought a smile to my face; I missed it, but being here and content for now was enough for me.

On my lovely stroll around the city after my archery practice, I met lady Arwen. We greeted each other and I couldn't help but felt relieve when she let me know that the woman we met a couple days ago had recovered her strength.

I couldn't forget the horror I saw in her eyes the other day when our eyes met at the gates of Rivendell. One second she was marveled and astonished at the sight of city of Rivendell, then in an instant as her eyes caught mine staring at her, she became flustered, and the next thing I know her eyes became distant and unfocused.

Her eyes were on my face, but I knew better.

Her expression changed to horror stricken and a shadow grew on the back of my mind. Suddenly I sensed something was not right in the air. I could feel a dark force lurking and I saw it in her eyes.

She saw it too, and she feared it.

I remembered myself being tensed and became greatly alarmed, and as she lost her consciousness, I caught her before she fell to the ground.

Aragorn were too busy sharing secret, meaningful and loving glances at Lady Arwen to even notice it until she was on my arm.

We brought her to the healing room while Lady Arwen went up to Lord Elrond to inform him of our new guest and her predicament. Not long after that we witnessed Lord Elrond examined her. I a saw bothersome look on his face. He commanded everyone to leave the healing room before he started voicing his mind.

"She is indeed from another world. She's the one that the prophecy foretold about. What happened to her just now was only a taste of a darkness that rose from the West. Sauron's power is growing and she felt it, more than the others," he stopped his pacing and turned to face me.

"You felt it too, didn't you, Legolas?"
He need not a response from me to know the answer, as he continued, "Yet she felt it tenfold as you did. She has yet to control her senses."

At this point, I shared a look at Aragorn. We both had a confused look on our faces-Lord Elrond was still talking in riddles to us.

He continued pacing around the room, a habit of him that I noticed as a sign of distress. To another, it might as well looked like he was deep in thought, but I prided myself in my ability to read another's emotion that was better than most, even amongst other elves.

"She is much too important and it is no accident that the Valar brought her here far from her world. I'm afraid her fate now is tied to the One ring," he turned his gaze sharply at both me and Aragorn.

"I believe she knows something about the threat of Mordor. The fact that you found her, Aragorn, heir of Isildur," he stressed his words at Aragorn's title of inheritance, and I could feel Aragorn tensed beside me, "...is a sign that her presence held an essential part to the fate of the ring, though I know not what it is her role yet. In such a perilous time, it became imperative that we keep her identity a secret. We cannot risk her and her knowledge to fall to the hands of the enemy. Not until she tells us what it is she knows about the ring. Not ever. Her identity must be kept secret."

"Aragorn, Legolas, I need you both to be so kind help her through this and to look out for her in her stay here in Imladris, for this predicament, this burden that she bear--," Lord Elrond took her left hand gently and for the first time I notice the silver ring with engravings on it attached on her finger-- from which I could sense magic emanated from.

Realization dawned on me: She was a ring-bearer, the one prophesied as what lady Arwen spoke of before. A ring bearer which posses the knowledge of the fate of the One ring and the ones tied to its fate. It was almost unbelievable that someone so young should bear that kind of knowledge.

The Lord of Imladris' face softened at the sight of the unconscious mortal woman.

"...it is heavy and soon enough she will recognized it. She had went through a scorch trial to proof herself worthy of the Infinity ring. But for now, let us go and give her much rest that she needs."

My train of thoughts was put aside as my elven ears picked up a soft gasp and sounds of footsteps coming from the garden area, bringing my mind back to the present.

Instantly I knew who it was; it couldn't be any of the elves for elves didn't walk soundly as mortals do. It wasn't also Aragorn's for the sound of the gasp were feminine. That left only one possibility: the subject of my earlier thoughts, Lady Leane. I walked to the source of the sound and found myself at the garden.

There she was, awake and well. Now that she no longer wear the strange attire from her world that was a little masculine than normal, she looked less a weird woman from another world. She looked belong, and also pretty attractive for a mortal.

Her light green dress trailed her as she walked across the garden to soak in the view. I watched as her jaw hung open, taking in her surroundings in awe.

Ah, there it is that look again.

It was amusing to see the least. She looked like a little child that just acquired some toys that she craved for a long time.

I realized by now that she didn't notice my presence, so I cleared my throat to alert her of my presence.

[LEIGH ANN POV]

Someone cleared his throat and I jumped in surprise; the sound came right behind me.

How the heck I didn't hear anybody sneaking up behind me?

I turned around and met Legolas' striking blue eyes. This time I didn't shy away from him. The tension and the intimidation that I felt radiating off of him couple days ago was long gone.

A genuine polite smile now gracing his glowing face. And was that amusement I saw in his eyes?

Jeez, this guy is confusing me.

"Uh, my Lord Legolas," I addressed him awkwardly, knowing him as a prince of Mirkwood. I gave a slight bow of my head and mustered a nervous smile. I hoped that came out normal. He tilted his head at my acknowledgement, but made no comment about it.

"My apologies, Lady Leane, I didn't mean to startle you. I was trying to alert you of my presence before. Forgive me," he said sincerely.

"It was fine, really," I replied, "...and please, call me Leigh Ann, and drop the lady. It is way too formal for me and wasn't really necessary."

And that I am not one.

He raised an eyebrow at my request.
"On one condition. Drop the lord," he replied, light danced in his blue eyes.

"Done. Nice to meet you again, Legolas."

"And I, you, Leane," he answered, seemingly pleased that I dropped the lord.

Drop the lord.

My mind suddenly pictured Legolas fall on his bottom on the floor. Nothing graceful about it. I tried to stifle a laugh that threatened to surface, inwardly scolding my wandering, weird mind, but Legolas seemed to notice this.

"Is there something that amuses you, Leane? Please, do tell," he said with an eyebrow arched as if in challenge, but I sense no hostility coming from him, to which I felt relieved.

Hell, I couldn't just tell him that I just pictured him fell on his butt, so I distracted him with another thing.

"It's just funny how I was intimidated by you a couple days ago, but now all I feel is only gratefulness toward you, Aragorn and Arwen. I haven't got the chance to thank you for your assistance when I... you know,"

...passed out at the vision of the crazy eye speaking in black speech and draining the life out of me, I thought to myself.

I told him that and bowed my head a little bit in acknowledgement. He smiled at this and I couldn't help thinking that he even looked better and more attractive than the Legolas that I saw in the movie, even more so now that he didn't seem all dangerous and ready to kill me.

Uh oh, bad angle, I thought. Don't want me to dwell in that kind of thoughts. Having a crush on a gorgeous elf that can live forever while you were just a simpleton mortal with approximately seventy to eighty years lifespan didn't sound very appealing.

Little did I know that he noticed my slip up at mentioning Aragorn's name, because at that time I should only know Aragorn as Strider.

"You are welcome, Leane. I hope you feel better now after your rest?"

"Yes. Hannon le (thank you), Legolas," I thanked him in Sindarin, his native languange.

His eyebrows lifted up in mild surprise that I spoke Sindarin. For a split second afterwards I realized my slip up and I kicked myself inwardly. I shouldn't have tried to sound like a smart ass. I was from another world or planet for all I know, I wasn't supposed to know any Sindarin.

So in a desperate attempt to cover it up, I continued ranting, "...especially after the bath. I was overjoyed about being clean again," I nodded my head and smiled a little nervously at that.

It was the truth though; the bath was one of the things that relieved me the most besides rests and food. It made me feel less like a hopeless beggars next to immaculate elves that all of them happened to look like supermodels.

"I didn't realize you speak Sindarin aside from the Common Tongue," curiosity evident in his intelligent eyes.

Crap.

"...and the fact that you care about cleanliness is an unusual trait to find among the mortals."

"I only know a few Sindarin words. And I hate being dirty, so if there's any chance to clean up I should take it right away. Especially now in this world."

He was silent for a moment before commenting on my revelation.

"What's your world look like?" he said with a genuine interest and curiosity on his face.

"Well..."

And that was the start of our pleasant and friendly conversation. I was more than happy to tell him about my world. Los Angeles, the technology, the architecture, the people, my friends.

However I avoided mentioning about my family, as it would only serve as a painful remembrance of homesickness.
Legolas was a good listener, and I was glad that he didn't ask about my family.

I also asked him about Mirkwood, and from the way he talked about it I could sense the slight longing along with pride of his home and its beauty. Mirkwood did sound awesome, magical in a dark, mysterious way, yet beautiful.

Just like Legolas, I thought. It only fitted.

We also talked about many other things, and before we know it, a couple hours had passed and my tummy made a sound that never annoyed me before, but at the time, it did. Legolas' super hearing caught it and he stopped in the middle of his speech, smiling.

"Ah, time flies so fast. Now it is already lunch time. You must be hungry. Would you care to join me for lunch, Leane?"

I sighed. He was so polite; I knew he heard that rumbling of my stomach.

"You heard it, didn't you?" I said with an embarrassment and didn't bother hiding it, pointing my index finger at my stomach. He chuckled.

Of course he did!

"It was only normal. Elves' stomach never made any sound, but I am already used hearing Estel's rumbling stomach. Come now; let us find some food in the dining hall."

As he talked, he offered me his right arm and after a moment contemplating what the gesture supposed to mean, I took it gratefully. The manners of the elves or men at this age were surprisingly very well kept and practiced; it was something that you wouldn't find everyday in the twenty-first century.

We walked arm in arm together and though Legolas' strides were supposedly longer than mine--it was only appropriate as he was much taller than me--yet he slowed down and synced his pace with mine.

By lunchtime when our food were almost finished and we talked animatedly--or it was me that talked animatedly because Legolas was just as graceful and being a good listener and all--I realized that Legolas made a really pleasant company and conversation with him flowed easily. I sensed that he also enjoyed my company, and I was sure that soon we will be very good friends.

Legolas taught me something that day. I should remember to never judge someone based on their appearance or first impressions, or else, I would never discovered a good company in this strange and beautiful world called Middle Earth.