A New World

Chapter 3: The best

What they call home here in Rivendell isn't anything like what I would call home. No sofa. No tv. Actually I haven't seen one of those anywhere yet. Just a bunch of rooms with beds, closets, weapons, paintings, and emptiness. The only thing I can relate to is the kitchen. And that is not even much. Legolas has a sink. But it's made of wood. And the water comes from a lake nearby. It took me about half an hour of him explaining to understand that. He doesn't have a stove either. He has a grill on his terrasse, on which he has to make every single dinner. Well, he doesn't know what he is missing. But still it made me laugh abit. Or a lot actually. Poor guy.

He showed me his house when we arrived last night, and I must admit it is pretty nice. We didn't talk or anything. I just went straight to bed, and now I just woke up. This bed is just as amazing as the one I woke up in yesterday. Except that today I hopefully won't be kicked out and almost get killed. I stand up from the bed and realize that the closet in the room is open. It is filled with clothes. I check it out. Then I see a note on one of the hangers. On the same hanger is also an outfit. Not my style, but everybody here seems to wear that kind of clothes. I look down on the note. I says my name, which forces me to try and stop smiling.

In a hurry I am dressed like one of them. A long shirt, tight pants - or what I would call leggings, and a belt. Next to the closet is a pair of boots and I grab them. My size. It doesn't take me long to put them on and walk out of the room to look for Legolas. I can hear him down on the terrace, and happily I move downstairs to the ground floor. Just in time to watch him cut off a chicken's head. That made me scream, and him realize that I was there. He puts down his knife and the chicken.

"Jenna! Be quiet!" He walks toward me, grabs my arm and pulls me out on the terrace where the chicken is.

"Don't you eat chicken where you come from?" He asks and washes his hands in a bucket of water next to the chicken. I nod. Again in shock. He shakes his head and starts pulling off the feathers of the chicken. "Well, this is how it's made." He says.

"Please stop that. For now." I beg. "That is really..." I turn around to look at something else than blood. "gross."

"You did know that chicken is an animal, right?" He asks. Is he making fun of me?

"Of course! I just didn't expect to walk in on you covered in blood!"

"Well that happens, Jenna. My work is to shoot things. Chicken too. Things being food, if you're in doubt." He is making fun of me. But at least he stopped doing the chicken-thing. "There is some bread inside on the table in the kitchen if you're hungry. I got it this morning." He smiles at me, and I can do nothing but to go inside and eat vegetarian breakfast in the form of bread with nothing on the side.

A few minutes later he comes inside with a plate. The meat from the chicken is on it. I guess he threw the bones and stuff outside. Gross. I finish my lump of bread when he sits down.

"Do you know what we're going to do today, Jenna?"

"No..? Talk to Gandalf?" That made him laugh. I don't get this guy.

"Gandalf is arriving tonight. We have all day, and it is the best for you if we use that time practicing your skills with a bow. Or a sword if you want. That's is up to you." Is he crazy? Does he want me to look like some elf shooting apples with arrows? "So pick your choice and we will get started." He is crazy.

"Uhm.. Bow?" I mumble. What am I supposed to do? He nods and stands up.

"Good. Lets go to the market and get you a bow and some arrows then."

"But. I have no money?"

"Money? You don't need money. You're a miracle. People are fighting over who gets to sponsor your weapons and food and everything." I feel stunned.

"Please tell me that is a lie."

"No lies."

"So people expect me to actually be great with a bow? 'Cause I gotta tell you, I suck with a bow. And a sword. And everything else in that category." Again I made him laugh. What's funny?

"Give it a try, Jenna." And that is all the free will I get. Because about ten minutes later, I find myself at the market with a bow in my hand and a salesman trying to talk good about it. Good thing I have Legolas, because I apparently don't have a clue.

"Kathiél. We'll need some stronger arrows. And a solid bag. And I will pay you."

"No no! Don't pay anything, it is an honor to get the chance to give it to you. Here's my best bag." He hands over a bag filled with arrows and I grab it carefully. Overwelmed as I am. "And these arrows are specially made from my own backyard. The best." I don't know what to think, so I just smile gratefully at Kathiél the salesman and await for Legolas to get me away from this weird situation. Apparently he hears my silent wish.

"Thank you. Hopefully this will be a success." Legolas says and with those words he turns around and we walk away from the booth.

"So. He seemed like he expects me to be the new Robin Hood?" I say, afraid to disappoint him and every one else here.

"Robin Hood? Who's that?" God!

"No one. But really. I'm afraid to disappoint them all." That made him stop. He is looking surprised at me.

"Jenna. Now stop. As long as you are doing your best, there is no one getting disappointed."

"Yeah right." I mumble. I refuse to believe that. He grabs my arm and walks me to the middle of a big lane away from the market. There is quiet here. A silence that i hope can help me concentrate on the bow and the arrows.