I managed to find my way back to my room that day, looking down every time I passed an elf on my way, not wanting them to see through me. I spent the entire day crying until sleep overtook me. By now I knew positively that this was reality and not a fantasy. I didn't hit my head and imagined all of this, because if I did, it would not make any sense for the pain and the depression of losing the life that I once knew to be this real and tangible. It didn't matter anymore that this whole thing was a fiction I watched on my screen months ago–this was now my reality and this was now my world.

I didn't know what happened to my family. Did they realize I was missing? Were they looking for me? How long had the time passed there since I was gone? Were they still alive?

I tossed and turned in my sleep. At some point I thought I heard a knock on my door but I was just too exhausted to even answer it, and I continued forcing myself to sleep, willing myself to forget everything else and not to feel as long as I could.

***

Sleep did its magic by clearing my mind. Though it didn't exactly wipe away the hollow in my chest, I decided not to act like a baby anymore. I had to be strong. Weakness was never a good look. I sure as hell didn't want to sulk forever like a spoiled brat.

So the next day I took a bath and went out, hoping that my eyes weren't that red and puffy anymore because of crying. God, I didn't even want to look at myself in the mirror. I must look really ugly.

I went to my favorite garden and sat, willing the beautiful view and the fragrance of the flowers in the air to ease my mind.

It didn’t help much.

I sat there for what felt like hours. I felt numb, knowing that world was long gone now and that I no longer have a home to get back to.

I didn't belong anywhere.

I realized how dark were my thoughts had become, so I tried hard to focus on the good: I have a permanent residence here at Rivendell.

At least I won't end up wandering in a forest and get eaten by an orc, I thought.

I also spent some time to think about my next move about the Fellowship, and I absent-mindedly played with my Infinity ring, twisting it in my finger. Lord Elrond mentioned that the bearer of each ring was always gifted with something. I wondered if I had a gift as well? And, for the love of everything good and pure, please don't tell me I only got the knowledge of everyone's fate as the only gift.

What a terrible, terrible gift, I thought.

"Good afternoon, Leane," I looked back through my shoulder and saw Legolas with all his glory stood and smiled politely at me.

"Hey," I replied with a small smile. Not bothering to replied with 'good afternoon' because nothing was good about that noon. He came to stand near me and I gestured for him to sit next to me.

To be honest I preferred to be left alone, but I guess I wouldn't be very courteous to just ignore him and let him stand.

He smiled at the invitation and took a seat on the bench next to me. His movement graceful as he moved to take a seat.

How is it that a simple movement like taking a seat can be so graceful done by an elf? Damn the elvish perks. I envied him for that.

Seemed that time passed as we sat there in a half comfortable silence. Normally I would try to start a conversation, but I was too numb to even start one. Legolas' face remained calm and expressionless. I was under the impression that he wanted to say something before he really did speak.

"I didn't see you last night and this morning in the dining hall," he began while his crystal blue eyes gazed intently at the pretty rose bushes before us. I was looking at it too, it was beautiful and people couldn't help but stare at the beauty of the flowers adorning the garden of Rivendell.

The elf didn't say anything else after a few moment, so I opened my mouth and spoke nonchalantly.

"I was busy," I shrugged, "Sleeping." I looked at him and gave him a mischievous smile.

At first he didn't smile back at me, his expression remained stoic. I knew right then that he didn't buy my words; though they were mostly truth. At some point his stare became too much again and I looked away, having this feeling like he was boring into my soul, which was still creepy. I looked forward again towards the flowers.

Damn elvish eyes! I cursed inwardly.

Then suddenly he spoke. His tone became playful, which was rather shocking. He commented.

"Ah, I understand. That's quite a responsibility a mortal has to bear everyday," he smirked with a smug face gracing his face.

"Sleep is sacred to me, Legolas. My life depended on it, so don't you ever judge my actions," I said in an attempt to return his playful teasing, but it didn't come out the way I meant it to be. It came out wrong, almost like I was really upset.

"I'm sorry, Leane," he apologized. "It was never my intention to offend you," he said as all the playfulness gone from his expression and guilt took its place.

Woah, I just realized that my face was still on its brooding state while delivering the sarcastic comeback that he took it as me being offended. I laughed, earning a frown from the elf.

"Relax! I was just messing with you!" I chuckled. "Jeez, you need to loosen up for a bit!" I told him, elbowing him lightly. That brought a relieved smile to his sculpted face.

"You're good for a mortal. You had me there."

"You have no idea," I replied smugly. I could definitely play sarcastic and mischievous if I wanted to, although sometimes I wondered if I was actually funny enough. Most of the time my jokes just felt dry to me.

I brushed away my hair that fell to my face after I laughed, attempting to tame its locks but as soon as I felt Legolas' eyes studying me, I gave up and pulled it to one side.

"Can I ask you something?" he said with a ponder in his expression. "Why is your hair color is light brown, but at the roots it looks like it is black?"

"That would be because I dyed my hair. My natural hair color is black. It is common in where I came from to color our hair," I explained, "It's intended for style, though I bet even if I colour my hair blonde, it won't be as pretty as your hair," I mumbled, teasing him, my face smug. His face turned to mild mock offended expression and he squinted his eyes at me.

"Never before I heard someone said such mockery about my hair. If I didn't know any better, I would have pulled an arrow at you," he said and did a fake gesture of lifting and arrow from behind his back. I watched as he moved his long, masculine fingers back as if nocking an arrow and released it towards me. His face was a mock seriousness.

I laughed at his playfulness and pushed his arm lightly.

"I'm sorry Legolas. But  I've been dying to ask you on how your hair always stay in place and look so neat all the time. Did you ever develop a tangle?"

This time he shook his head disbelievingly, a wide smile split his face into two. I liked this side of him. It was very attractive and his smile infectious. I had never seen Legolas this way before. The Legolas that I saw in the movie was always stoic and guarded, his smile was rarely ever seen.

"I canmot believe my ears. Never before it even crossed my mind that someone would ever ask such questions to my face."

"Tell me," this time my joke went serious. I was sincerely curious about his fabulous hair now, "What's your secret? Your hair is great."

"'Tis won't be a secret if I tell you now, would it?" he replied coolly with a smug smile. I snorted.

"One of these days, I'm going to make you tell me about it."

"Good luck," was his only answer.

Dang, that smug elven face. Didn't think I would ever see Legolas make such a face, yet here I was. I got a feeling that I was going to see it a lot these days.

We both laughed lightly and continued our banter towards each other. This distraction was very much welcomed and it seemed to chase my dark mood away.

Then I remembered Gandalf's word.

You will never be alone. You have friends here that will help you go through every obstacles laid before you.

I was pretty sure that I was thankful for Legolas' company. By now I realized my heart was lighter and this whole situation might not be all that bad after all. I promised myself that I would honor his friendship and try to be a good friend for him too.

Not long after, we both went together for lunch at the dining hall. Unlike yesterday, the dining hall today was quite packed not just by elves. I saw five cute little hobbits, eating and talking merrily, each holding a mug of an ale in their hands. I could spot Bilbo Baggins, the old one, and Samwise Gamgee, seeing he was slightly bigger than the rest. As for Frodo, Merry and Pippin, I couldn't be sure, but I got a feeling that the one eating silently might be Frodo.

At this point, he might still be sore from the Ringwraith's blade. Ouch.

I eyed the cute dwarflike creatures with interest. I couldn't wait to have a chance to speak with them. Lord Elrond and Gandalf sat on the other table and were engaged in a conversation l with each other. They saw me coming and I bowed my head slightly at them which they returned with warm smiles. I remembered my response to our talk yesterday and couldn't help but feeling a little embarrassed at my little breakdown.

There were also a group of dwarves sitting on a far end of the rectangular table chatting loudly among themselves. Their facial hair made it impossible to spot which one was Gimli. Legolas obviously led me to a seat at the furthest end of the table opposite to the dwarves, near Aragorn, Arwen and two other elves. I understood that my new elf friend wasn't friends with Gimli yet. I could almost sense irritations radiating off of him towards the loud dwarves. I bet their loud voices was even more bothersome on the elvish ears.

Aragorn and Arwen spotted us and nodded, smiling as we took our seats. Aragorn and Arwen greeted me, seeming too excited and too keen to talk to me even. They nonchalantly asked me how I was doing, though I saw through them.

Jeez. Did the word of me breaking down yesterday was heard throughout Rivendell already? I bet it did. I tried hard to look just as nonchalant about it and looked normal, to which the man and the elleth seemed content enough with it.

As I talked to Aragorn and Arwen, I felt Legolas' eyes on me, but when I looked at him, he was busy plucking a grape. I was being paranoid. Maybe I would never get used to his intimidating charisma, no matter how well acquainted we are.

I like to blame it on the elvish perks.

I used this time to thanked Aragorn who I just met today after everything for his help, and we all chatted pleasantly with each other. The two elves sitting with them turned out to be Elrohir and Elladan, Lord Elrond's twin sons, Arwen's brothers.

Seemed that I went too comfortable that I forgot that the elves didn't really do handshakes. I offered my hand to shake Elrohir's hand as Aragorn introduced us for the first time, but I was surprised when Elrohir took it and brought his lips to the back of my palm.

I blushed and chuckled; which of course earned a confused look on their identical faces. I kicked myself inwardly, realizing my mistake and did my best to explain my actions.

"I'm sorry," I said, smiling guiltily, "I was trying to shake your hands for greetings, but I was surprised that you kissed my hand instead. I'm not really familiar with the gesture."

At this, understanding graced their faces and I breathed out my relief. I ended up teaching them a simple handshake, to which Elladan remarked.

"Why, I think the gesture is nice, but too masculine in my opinion. I'd rather kiss the beautiful lady's hand," he quipped with a grin.

Beautiful?

That remark surprised me, and it brought question to my mind: how did elves being so courteous and nice all the time? They knew they didn't have to commend my average looks. I mean... have they seen those ellith?

I blinked myself back to reality and only smiled at Elladan. We continued our chats and ate merrily. I asked a lot of things to them about this place which they kindly obliged to answer. I also eventually found out that I had to watch out for the twins. They were charming, yes. Smart, but mischievous. They teased me a lot, especially Elrohir. I thought I saw a brief flicker of shame across Arwen's face when Elrohir made a comment about me never been riding a horse.

"That's absurd, my lady. Surely you ever been on a horse before! How old are you?" he asked with a playful scrutinizing tone that wasn't very prince-like, or even courteous for someone like Lord Elrond's son.

I, of course, being me, always had something to answer them.

"Much younger than you, old man," I jabbed with a smug face, earning a loud laughter from Elladan.

Of course Elrohir looked young and attractive, being an elf and all, but he could be a thousand years old for that matter. After his laughter subsided, Elladan then spoke up to defend his brother.

"Technically he's an elf, and being elves, we both are on our prime time, lady Leane," he said with a wink, and everyone in the table laughed except Arwen that was busy chiding her brothers unbecoming jokes and Legolas who looked at Elladan stoically before seeming to find his food somehow more interesting.

I honestly had a great time. For a moment I forgot about all my sorrow–that until a tall and buff blond man came in wearing a royal fur coat. His sword was sheathed on his hip and on its hilt I saw a white tree symbol. The symbol of Minas Tirith, of Gondor.

It was none other than Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor. He walked with his head held high in confidence and charisma. Little did he know that he was marked for death.

A lump formed in my throat and nausea filled me, a cold ran through my spine, making me shudder. To say the least, I lost my appetite. I tore my eyes away from Boromir and looked down at my plate (staring is not polite) and stared at a piece of chicken (or whatever meat it was) intently.

I heard Arwen chidding Elrohir and Elladan for their childish remarks which they replied with, "Easy, mother," while Aragorn was listening rather too intently at such unimportant talk in which I wondered if he too was unsettled by Boromir's presence.

When I looked to my left, I saw Legolas looking at me, worry and concern written across his face and I wondered if he could sense my sudden change of emotion.

Could he? Damn elvish perks!

I smiled at him with the 'I'm fine' smile and chewed my chicken half-heartedly, finding it hard to swallow.