Jenn Murray wasn't exactly thrilled at her current predicament. For one, she was sweaty and tired, for two, it was swelteringly hot and, for three, she was late and her sister still hadn't shown up. Jenn sighed and sat down on a bale of straw in the shade of the barn, staring off into the forested distance that was Snowflake, Arizona. They were supposed to leave in fifteen minutes and Jenn needed to shower, change and tack Cobalt in that amount of time. She glared down the drive before rising with effort and heading up to the house. Her sister could fend for herself... if Jenn felt like it, she'd tack Honor up, but only if she felt like it.

Five minutes later found her standing in the aisle of the barn brushing an enormous black Fresian stallion, a black saddle and bridle with a deep blue saddle blanket rested over Cobalt's stall door, waiting to be used. The big black turned cobalt blue eyes on his rider and nudged her pocket. Jenn smiled and fished around, pulling out broken bits of carrot and feeding them to him. She stepped back, dropping the brush into the box at her feet and surveyed her work. Cobalt was just over seventeen hands high, and his extreemly long, wavy black mane and tail shone in the yellow light from the overhead. His coat glistened healthily, and his neck was arched elegantly, as if he knew he was been admired.

Jenn grinned and picked up the saddle blanket, placing it over his back and smoothing the fur underneath before lifting the saddle onto his back and sinching it into place. The saddle itself was made of rich black leather and was in the style of a medieval war saddle, but was  extreemly lightwieght, across the back and left side was an elegant oriental dragon done in silver. The bridle that Jenn was now lifting over his head was just as elegant, and had silver nameplates on the sides, carved with Cobalt's name and a pair of fake sapphires.

Cobalt shifted suddenly, ears shifting as he heard a car move in the driveway as Jenn shook her head and attached her saddlebags and bedroll to the back of her saddle, both black. Then she set about packing her neatly compacted assortment of clothing into one side and food in the other. The pounding of footsteps announced the arrival of Jenn's twin, causing her to look up and raise an eyebrow as the other came to a halt in front of her. She was clad in tan jodphurs over black paddock boots and a green plaid button up, her golden-brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. Jenn was the exact opposite of her sister, clad in black jodphurs and  knee high hunting boots. She wore a cobal blue buttonup over a black tank and her hair was pulled back into a tight french braid.

"You're late."

(Author: Krissy)

"Sorry."

Clover gave her sister the best "I am so sorry it will never happen again" look she could muster, then began to sadle her own horse. Her horse, Honor, was a good bit shorter then her sisters. Clover was not the tallest person in the world. She barely made the five foot mark, unlike her sister who made the
five ten mark.  She quickly sadled her horse, putting the nessceties in there, then turned to look at her sister.

"At least I was fast about it," she said, trying to cool her sister's anger.

"Just come on," Jenn spoke, leading her horse out of the stable.

Clover followed behind, the two lead the horse out of the barn toward the trail. Cloverr put a hand over her eyes and looked over the tops of the trees," It looks like rain."

"It is not going to rain. Come on." Jenn climb up on her horse and galloped off.

A While Later

"Not going to rain, huh?" Clover pulled hershirt closer to her body. It was now pouring rain. She was soaked to the bone. Her sister said little but lead the horse on. They long since dismounted the horse and were leading them. the wind blew the rain like bullents agenst the skin.

"Jenn wait up I can't.."

That was all she got out before slidding down a muddy embankment. She lost the grip on the horse and slid down and down and down, wondering if it would ever end.

(Author: Alasia)

"Clover!!!"

Jenn's voice was drowned out by the rain and the sharp panicked whinny that erupted from Honor seconds later. The bay mare had been pulled into the embankment by Clover, who was dangling over a fifty foot drop by the slippery leather reigns. Jenn ran to the edge of the embankment, leaning over the edge on hands and knees.

"Clover?! Are you alright?!"

"I think so." came the scared reply. "I can't hold on much longer! The reigns are too slippery!"

"Hold on!" Jenn called back. "I've a length of rope, I'll throw it down!"

Jenn ran to Cobalt, who had planted himself twenty feet away and fished out a length of rope from her saddlebags and tied the end to the stirrup strap of Cobalt's saddle. She led the stallion forward, and thre the rop over the edge.

"Have you got it?!"

"Yeah!"

Jenn mounted Cobalt and signaled for him to back up, and he began to do so. The rope began creeping up the edge as they pulled Clover up. Honor was standing thrity feet away, reigns dangling, shaking. Cobalt's hoof slipped, and a shout came from Clover's end of the rope. Lightning flashed over the wooded landscape, revealing in the mist shroud of rain that Clover was pulling herself up onto the embankment. Jenn sighed in relief before untieing the rope and allowing it to fall to the ground. Thunder rumbled across the sky and lighting srtuck a nearby tree. A loud crack was heard and the tree began to fall. Cobalt reared, letting out a terrified whinny. Jenn fell from the saddle, landing with a thud on the rocky ground, flat on her back, the wind knocked out of her as Cobalt thundered away. Jenn's vision began to blacken as Clover appeared in her feild of vision, asking if she was okay.

~ * ~

"Honor?"

Honor whinnied as lightning lit the sky again. Clover looked up at her mare as she bolted. "No! Honor!!!"

She stumbled to her feet and made chase, dissapearing into the torrents of rain. Behind her, Jenn lay unconcious on the ground, a gash above her right eye.

~ * ~

The sun shone brightly over the treetops, and wisps of white clouds were the only remainder of yesterday's storm. In a meadow, about a half mile away Cobalt stood in the center of the feild, reigns dangling, head down. Movement to the side caused his head to snap up as a man appeared, leading a pale gray into the meadow. He stopped, staring at Cobalt before dropping his gelding's reigns and moving forward. Reaching out to Cobalt slowly.

"Hush... Hold on... I won't hurt you."

He got a grip on the reigns and calmed Cobalt, petting his nose before asking. "Now who do you belong to?"

~ * ~

"C-clover?"

Jenn groaned and blinked her eyes open, staring up at the clear sky with fuzz addling her brain.

"Clover?"

She sat up on her elbows slowly, wincing at the pain in her back, gasing around the clearing for any sign of her sister anf their horses. "Cobalt?"

A crash from the right sounded and a man appeared, leading Cobalt and a pale gray gelding. He stopped, staring at her while Cobalt marched forward and leaned his head down to nuzzle her. "Are you alright my lady?"

Jenn blinked. "I think so..." she let out another groan as she tried to sit up. He moved to help her, and get her seated on the fallen tree, looking at the gash abover her eye carefully. "What happened?"

"Last night... the storm... Clover slipped and went over the edge... I got her up and them lightning struck the tree. Cobalt reared and bolted. I was thrown. Don't remember much after that, blacked out.... Where's Clover?"

"Who?"

"My sister!!"

"Calm down!" he said, "I am Elrohir, and you are?"

"Jenn."

(Author: Krissy)

Clover turned over in bed, pulling the covers farther over her head. The light filtering in the room did not please her eyes.She snuggled closer in the soft bed. Then it stuck her, like Ben Franklin's bolt of lightining.

"Jenn," she sat up strait in bed searching for her sister.

All her eyes met were the kind stare of a pair of ocean eyes,"  It's okay you are safe. You took quite a hit there. Be glad your mare did not run you over."

Clover was shocked she said little but rubbed her head, which had just started throbing, "My sister."

"I am sorry I do not know your sister, nor how to find her."

"Who..who are you?"

"Frodo, and you are?"

"Clover. Wait Frodo? Does that mean? Where am I?" she layed back down letting out a heavy sigh.

"The Undying Lands."

"Om my."

Clover passed out in the bleak darkness that was at least familar to her.

(Author: Alasia)

Jenn sighed and exited the steam filled bathing room. It felt so good to be clean, and the heat from the bath had helped ease her aches and pains. She stepped out into the room that had been given to her and smiled. Her clothes were being cleaned, and lying on the bed was a gown made of a shimmery light blue material. It whispered across her skin as she pulled it on and turned to the full length mirror, smiling. She brushed her long hair out and pulled on a matching pair of slippers before exiting the room.

She wandered down the hallway, amazed at what she saw. The buildings were made of white stone and wood, surrounded by gardens and trees. Jenn stopped and leaned on the railing, watching a pair of songbirds chase each other. Someone cleared thier throat behind her and she turned. Elrohir stood behind her, smiling.

"Hello."

He stepped up next to her. "I hope you are feeling better."

"I am, thank you."

"My father would like to meet you, he may be able to help you find your sister."

She turned to him and smiled. "Lead on."

He offered her his arm and she blushed slightly, taking it and letting him lead her. They stopped in the doorway of what appeared to be a study. An old man in white from head to foot was speaking to a man who looked remarkably like Elrohir. Elrihir cleared his throat and both men looked up. "Father, Gandalf, this is Jenn. Jenn, may I present My father, Lord Elrond, and Gandalf Greyen."

Jenn smiled as both men rose and bowed to her. Elrohir led her over to them and they sat back down.

"Tell me what happened." Elrond said, watching her.

"It was only supposed to be an overnight trail ride, but we hadn't been gone for more that two hours when it started raining. we were too far away from home to turn back, and we agreed to keep heading for the cabin we were supposed to stay in... We were leading the horses because if the rain, you could barely see three feet in front of you. Next thing I know Clover slipped, falling in a muddy embankment and over a fifty foot drop, she was hanging onto Honor's reigns, but they were slippery and she couldn't hold on much longer." Jenn paused and took a deep breath. "I had a length of rope in my pack, so I tied one end to my saddle and threw the other down to Clover. I remounted Cobalt and got him backing up Colver managed to pull herself back up onto the embankment when lightning struck a nearby tree. Cobalt reared, and since the saddle was already so slippery, I fell, landed flat on my back. I heard Clover yell Honor's name, but I passed out after that."

"Were there any prints Elrohir?"

Elrohir shook his head. "No. If there had been the rain washed them away. The tree nearly landed on Jenn though, the impact may have covered them as well."

Elrond nodded in thought. "Take your brother and search the surrounding areas - "

"Wait." Jenn said, causing all three to look at her. "I'm going with you."

"What?" Elrohir said. "You can't - "

She cocked an eyebrow. "I can't what? If I can ride that stallion on a good day, I can very well ride now. I'm not leaving Clover out there by herself."

"Jenn, I belive - "

She cut Gandalf off. "No. I'm not leaving my twin sister out there. Period, you can't change my mind. I can be ready in ten minutes - twenty if you let me saddle Cobalt."

Elrohir sighed. "All right. I understand, if that had been Elladan, I would feel the same."

"What about me?"

the voice came from the doorway, causing all four of the rooms occupants to look up. A man stood in the doorway, identical to Elrohir, and a little more that curious. "Well?"

Elrond spoke. "Elladan, I want you to go with Elrohir and Lady Jenn to search for her sister."

"Wait." Elladan said. "She's coming."

Jenn let out a frustrated sigh and crossed her arms. "Why do all of you think I'm such an invalid?!"

The men looked surprised, but Jenn continued. "If I knew my way around the forest I wouldn't even bother taking the two of you with me, might get the job done faster that way."

She stood and stormed from the room, heading back to her bedroom to change into her spare riding clothes.

~ * ~

"So..."

"Where is she?"

"Exactly." Elladan said as he and Elrohir stood with their horse, waiting.

"Her stallion was gone, so she must be ready." Elrohir said.

"She better not have gone off alone." Elrond said.

The thundering of hooves filled the area and the four men watched as a huge black stallion cantered into the courtyard. Sitting on his back was Jenn, clead in black breeches, black boots and a black tank, her hair swept back into a braid. She pulled the horse, up gazing down at them. Now that Cobalt was rested and clean he looked very impressive, and promptly snapped as Elladan reached out to touch him.

"Cobalt." Jenn said sharply, and the stallion pulled back just before his teeth closed on the startled Elf's hand.

"This is your horse?" questioned Gandalf.

"Yes. This is Cobalt, purebred, wartrained Friesian stallion. I'm the only one who can ride him." Jenn replied. "Shall we?"

Elrohir mounted his horse, his brother following his lead and led them off into the trees. Jenn was forced between the two brothers, and niether she, nor her horse were happy about it.

(Author: Krissy)

"Mmmm." Clover rolled over in bed. This was so not her day. Her body ached, her head ached, and what made it all even worse was that she had no clue where she was and how she got there. Okay well she knew she was in the Undying lands, but where excatly it was, that gave her the worst headache of all. She wondered why that name sounded so familar. Frodo, that name rang chords of its own in her head. She pulled the covers over her face. Why were these names so familar, where had she heard them before?

After a few minutes of thinking it occured to her. "Frodo! That was who Jenn was always wanting me to play when we were little," she sat up, shucking off her covers. "She wanted me to play him because I was so short." She sighed, falling back down. Other then the fact she played Frodo as a child, she could remeber no other information about him.

Clover laid her arm over her eyes, blocking out the harsh light. A soothing bird song came through the window. The song itself washed peace over her tired body. She uncovered her facve and looked at the window to see the most beautiful bird perched on the windowsill. It was a bright scarlet and orange, like a setting sun, its feathers sparkled in the light. Clover sat up, smiling. She watched the bird fascinated by its beauty.

"I see you have taken to Beauty?"

Clover turned to the doorway where Frodo was standing. "Is she yours?"

"No, she is no one's but it seems that she has taken a fancy to you. I am not surprised though," he walked over to the bed and sat on the end of it.

Clover smiled, " Her name is very fighting."

"Yes, her beauty is more then to be excpected even for a Pheonix," he explained as, Beauty flew away, leaving behind a feather.

"A A Phoenix? You mean they are real?" she questioned, getting up and picking up the feather.

"Yes, they are more then real. You have been honored with a gift. Phoenix's do not leave such things for just anyone. It is  somethign you should keep with you always."

"Wow. This place is wonderful!"

"Yes, it is."

Clover smiled at her reflection in the full lenght mirror. The dress Frodo had given her wass beautiful. It was scarlet, just like Beauty's feathers, and aroudn her neck was a scalert choker, the feather attached to it. She smiled, it was her size, no fussing over it, trying to make it fit her. She closed her eyes, and
amzing as this place was, one thing tugged at her heart, Where was Jenn?

(Author: Krissy)

Pippin’s eyes wondered around the room. This place seemed no better to him, then Middle Earth was. No matter where he was or what he did, it still ached, a dull festering pain. Pictures, sounds, feelings, they all screamed at him, wether awake or sleeping. Tears stung his eyes, as he hung his head down, numbness
crept though his whole body. His pain engulfed him, until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Clover kneeled next to the crying man, "Are you okay?"

The man looked up, tears flowing freely down his face. Her heart broke, pain was so apparent in his features, storms in the depths of his eyes. She pulled him into a hug, cradling him against her body.

Pippin did not move from her embrace, this strange girl. He put his head to her shoulder and let the tears out even more. It felt good to be held, to release all the pain inside him without anywhere they to chide or comfort him in words. The girl’s arms were warming, warming the cold places of his heart. She asked no questions, made no effort to resurface his pain, she was simply there for him as he cried until his strength failed.

Frodo watched clover sit by Pippin’s side. She had not left him since he had found Pippin in her arms. Even after explaining thing to her, she would not budge. All she said was, she did not want him to wake up alone.

Light, blinding light filtered into his vision. The light faded softer, in the outline of a woman, an angel, into the girl who had held him. He smiles a weak smile at her and she gave a soft one back.

She picked up his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, his heart fluttered.

"Who are you?" he managed to get out.

"Clover, I’m a friend of Frodo," she replied, stoking his hand with her thumb.

"I was not aware Frodo had friends like you," he spoke, glancing at Frodo.

"She is a new friend, one acquired while you were away. She is going to stay with us for awhile, she has to find her sister and we are going to help," Frodo countered at Pippin.

"Sounds good to me," the other hobbit replied his eyes going back to the girl.

"Me to," she echoed, returning his gaze.