Finding out where I belong [ A LOTR / Legolas Greenleaf fanfiction ]

4 Eagles, spiders and Elves in (S)Mirkwood.

I blinked and rolled to the side. Why am I wearing a dress? And why am I sleeping in a tent? My mind was too tired to remember anything. Hmmm… I don’t care. I yawned and closed my eyes again. Sleep. All I want is sleep, sleep, and sleep…

I heard loud laughter coming from outside and suddenly my mind seemed to wake up. Oh right. I’m in another world, called Middle-Earth, with four hobbits and a King named Aragorn, who reminds me of my former best friend, and today we’re traveling to, what was it, Smirkwood or something? I chuckled. It sounded all so ridiculous and impossible, even though I knew it was real.

I pushed my hair out of my eyes as I leaned up on my elbows. Rubbing my eyes, I thought about how easily the hobbits and Aragorn had accepted me, even though they didn’t know who I was. Maybe they’ve seen stranger things before? I mean, in a world with dragons and wizards, a girl from another universe probably isn’t that weird.

‘You’re totally going to lose, my friend!’ I heard Pippin call. ‘We’ll see. May the best hobbit win!’ said Merry. What are they doing? I combed through my tangled hair with my fingers and crouched in front of the tent entrance. I was surprised to note that I was feeling much better than yesterday. I still felt a bit dirty, and I knew my hair was getting greasier by the minute, but all the same I finally felt a bit more relaxed. I knew I shouldn’t get my hopes up too much though. ‘Those who expect, will be nothing but disappointed.’

I grabbed the hooded cloak Frodo had given me the other day, and crawled out of the tent. When I stood up, the sun immediately shone brightly on my face. I looked around to see Merry and Pippin practising swordplay, and Aragorn was sitting on a tree trunk near them, smiling and smoking his pipe. It surprised me how good the hobbits were at sword fighting, and it kind of scared me too.

I walked over to Aragorn and sat down next to him. ‘Good morning! Did you sleep well, Lynn?’ Merry asked. ‘Yeah…’ I yawned. ‘Yes, I guess I did.’ He chuckled. I noticed I felt more comfortable around Aragorn than yesterday, even though he still reminded me so much of Logan. ‘Why are they sword fighting?’ I asked him, gesturing towards the hobbits. ‘I mean, you don’t think we will actually need our weapons, do you?’ Because I really don't know how to use a dagger... I didn't say it, but I think he understood what I meant.

He stared in the distance and sighed. ‘I do not know what will come, but it is always better to be prepared.’ I nodded, and then suddenly something came to my mind. ‘Where are Frodo and Sam?’ ‘They’re gathering some more food in the forest.’ He shook his head, smiling, and I snickered. He pointed to a bowl with berries, apples and various more kinds of fruit I didn’t recognize. ‘You can take some of those, if you want. We’ve got more than enough.’ I ignored my growling stomach and shook my head. ‘No thank you, I’m… Not really hungry.’ He frowned.

‘Um, I’m just going to wash my face. I’ll be back before you know it.’ He stood up when I did, and I felt my face redden. ‘There’s really no need to do that, Aragorn. I’m just a normal girl.’ Besides, I added in my head, I’m not used to guys or men having this kind of behaviour, being so polite. I have no idea how to react, and it’s embarrassing.

I turned around before he could say anything and began to walk. After a while, I was in a small open place, surrounded by trees, but with the river flowing right through the middle of it. I laid the cloak on a rock, knelt down by the water and rolled up my sleeves. Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look. I tried to stop myself, but my eyes had already done it.

They trailed the three scars on my left wrist. I could still clearly remember the first night Ean and his friends had had ‘fun’ with me. I had been so desperate that, in the heat of the moment, I had cut myself. The next day Logan had noticed, and he made me promise I would never do it again. I shuddered and pushed the thoughts out of my head. I’m safe from Ean now. Everything’s fine.