'It's so dark,' said Sam, as the company walked down the cement steps to the subway station below the ground. The station was busy and seemed very dim in comparison to the brilliant day above.

'It smells bad,' said Merry.

Gimli fidgeted a little and snorted. 'It's not that bad,' he said, trying to sound brave.

Legolas held on to Aragorn's arm. 'I still don't think this is a good idea,' he whispered.

'It's faster,' said Aragorn.

'It won't be that bad,' assured Boromir.

The hobbits looked dubious.

'What are those?' asked Frodo, pointing at the tracks, set low in the ground.

'They look frightening,' said Pippin, hiding behind Gimli.

'Do you think someone were to die if he fell on them?' asked Merry looking up at Boromir with morbid curiosity.

'Probably,' said Pippin.

'I don't know,' said Boromir.

'What are they for?' asked Sam.

'The train rides on them,' answered Aragorn.

'What's a train?' asked Frodo.

'It's rather like a giant car,' said Aragorn.

'I'm scared of cars,' said Pippin.

Boromir picked him up. 'Don't worry, I'll take care of you.'

Pippin did not look completely convinced.

A deep rumbling filled the station and the ground shook.

'What's that?' cried Frodo, clutching at Aragorn's legs.

'It's the train,' said Aragorn gently.

Sam and Merry clutched each other as the train rolled in.

'It sounds like a dragon!' exclaimed Pippin.

Legolas gave Aragorn an 'I-told-you-this-wasn't-a-good-idea' look.

The subway pulled to a stop and the passengers disembarked.

'Let's go,' said Aragorn.

'I am not getting on that dragon!' Frodo declared.

'Neither am I,' said Sam.

'Nor I,' added Merry.

'And I'm not,' Pippin agreed.

Boromir raised his eyebrows at Aragorn.

Aragorn turned to Gimli for help, but the dwarf refused to meet his eyes. Aragorn sighed. There go my plans for using public transportation.

'Fine,' he said. 'If you're that scared, we'll walk.'

The hobbits seemed to have no problems with admitting that they were scared and hurried eagerly to the stairs leading to safety.

Aragorn followed them shaking his head. At least I'll never have to take them on an airplane.

Sunday was the perfect day for a picnic. The sun was bright, the air was warm, and a feeling of general good will hung over the park. Aragorn sat on the grass watching the hobbits chat together, just happy to be outside at last. Gimli was sitting near Boromir arguing with him about the highs and lows of American culture, and Legolas was sitting by himself, humming a song and gazing up contentedly at the leaves on the tree above them. It was beautiful.

Aragorn leaned back against the tree and picked up a sandwich; their fare wasn't fancy, just tuna fish, chocolate cupcakes, watermelon, and iced tea, but it was wonderful to share it in the sun with his friends. At least everyone was happy; that was a nice change. Gimli was usually grumbling about work, the hobbits complaining about being stuck inside, Boromir sulking about being so far from Gondor, and Legolas brooding over the sea, but for once, everyone was fine.

The sounds of laughter and automobiles filled the air; he closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath of dirty city air.

'That's my sandwich, Pip,' Merry declared.

'I don't see your name on it.'

'You already had three!'

'I'm still hungry.'

Aragorn smiled and ignored their squabble.

Legolas moved closer to him, a smile on his lips. 'I actually like it here right now. Do you?'

Aragorn nodded. 'I suppose every place has its good days.'

Legolas picked up a piece of watermelon and took a bite. 'I like this, it's very good.'

Aragorn nodded. 'Isn't it?'

He watched the American people milling about the park in their bright summer clothes, enjoying the day. For the time, they didn't seem so different from the humans he had known in Middle-earth. Aragorn looked back over at Legolas, the sea longing had been draining on him, and yet, he said that he would not go. He did not give a reason for not leaving them; he simply said that he would not leave. And yet, he would now sit for hours, staring out towards the sea, unmoved, and sometimes, he would cry himself to sleep. Yes, Merry's picnic suggestion had been wonderful.

'No, really she had four cases of Coca-Cola. Four!' Gimli was saying. 'And she didn't seem to see anything wrong with that.'

'I like coke,' said Boromir.

'It's giving them soft brains,' Gimli concluded. 'Too much sugar, not enough protein, no wonder they've wound up like this.'

'I would agree that the excess consumption of soda pop would indeed do strange things to someone, but that doesn't mean you have to condemn soda out right,' protested Boromir.

'You're only saying that because you like it,' snorted Gimli.

'So what if I do? Is that so bad?'

'Soda is a symptom of a weak society,' Gimli insisted.

Aragorn shook his head and turned sleepily away, and that is when he saw him.

He was walking calmly, as if he belonged there, his pale face full of mild curiosity. Despite his outlandish outfit of dark blue bell-bottom jeans, brown strap sandals, and a cinnamon coloured wrap-around shirt, he looked remarkably poised. He drifted gracefully through the park, swaying lightly to an unheard music, his long dark hair dancing gently in the breeze. There was a kind light in his grey eyes as he turned towards them, but Aragorn knew him even before he saw his face. Yes, there was no mistaking Lord Elrond.

Elrond strolled casually up to them. 'Lovely day, isn't it?'

'Yes, beautiful,' Aragorn managed to answer.

Elrond sat down beside him and picked up a cupcake. 'It's been awhile, hasn't it?'

'Yes.' What is he doing here? Does he know how to get back? Can I risk speaking Elvish in public?

Elrond pulled the wrapper gently off the cupcake and took a small bite. 'Did you miss me?'

'Yes, of course I missed you, but how did you get here?' Aragorn demanded.

'That's quite a story, we can discuss it later.' Elrond smiled warmly at him. 'How have you been?'

'Confused,' Aragorn said in all honesty.

'That is unfortunate,' said Elrond.

Aragorn looked quickly at his friends, they all seemed just as surprised as he.

Elrond smiled at Legolas. 'Are you all right, my dear?'

Legolas nodded. 'Quite.'

'What are you doing here?' asked Frodo.

'I was just taking a stroll, and I happened to spot you, and I decided to drop by for a visit.'

'Mmm, Elrond?' said Aragorn.

'Yes?'

'You've got,' he reached over and wiped a smudge of chocolate frosting off the tip of Elrond's nose. 'Got it.'

'Thank-you.'

Does he expect us to play normal? Aragorn wondered.

Yes. Elrond's sea grey eyes answered. I'll play along.

'Do you know my cousin, Derek Manning?' Aragorn asked.

'We've met,' said Elrond smoothly.

'And you do know Edel Greenleaf, right?'

'But of course.'

'And Henry Grant?' Aragorn continued, nodding at the dwarf.

'Yes, I have had the pleasure.'

'And these are my kids, Peter.' He nodded at Frodo. 'And Sam.'

'It's so good to see you two again.'

'Hello,' said Frodo.

Sam smiled at him in confusion.

'And Derek's twins, James and Christopher.'

'I like to be called Jimmy,' said Merry quickly.

'And you can call me Chris,' Pippin declared.

'And you may call me Edward. There is no need to be formal and call me Mr. Wood.' Elrond smiled at them fondly.

Aragorn could hardly contain himself; he so wanted to speak to Elrond in private.

'So, Edward,' said Legolas, 'When are you going back?' There was a hint of fear in his hazel eyes.

'I don't know yet. You see, I am not sure of how I could get back. Air fare is so expensive now.'

Aragorn gritted his teeth and glared down at his lap. Blast! What is he doing here?

'I missed you, Edward!' cried Pippin suddenly, throwing his arms around the elf lord.

Elrond recovered himself brilliantly and hugged Pippin back. Merry soon joined in the hug, and then Frodo, and finally Sam, until the four hobbits had pushed Lord Elrond down onto the warm grass with their embraces. Legolas laughed and joined them. Elrond wrestled himself free and sat up, straightening his hair out. Aragorn smiled to himself as he remembered the happy days of his childhood.

Suddenly Elrond's face became grim. Aragorn followed his gaze to a short, pale man sitting some distance away on a bench, watching them.

'He's here,' Elrond murmured.

'Who?' asked Aragorn.

'Grima.'

Legolas looked over at the stranger. 'That's the man who followed us, the night I first saw the sea,' Legolas whispered.

'Who is he?' asked Boromir, drawing Merry and Pippin close to him.

'Grima Wormtounge, servant to Saruman,' Elrond answered. 'He has found us. We have to get out of here.'

Sam quickly put the leftover food in the picnic basket.

'Do you have somewhere to go?' asked Elrond.

Aragorn nodded 'We have an apartment.'

'We'll go there first, but Saruman is searching for you; we'll have to leave this city.' He placed a loving hand on Frodo's head. 'We can't let him find us.'

Aragorn glared back at Grima, only to find that he disappeared. 'He's gone!'

Elrond looked back. 'He's probably gone to tell Saruman.'

'Is he here?'

'No, Saruman is in New York City. He thought that is where you would be.'

'How did you find us?' asked Frodo.

'I knew where we had sent you.'

'About that,' said Aragorn. 'Why were we brought here?'

'To keep you safe. It was Mithrandir's idea, and at the time, it seemed reasonable. We did not yet know that Saruman also had the ability to transport…but there is no time to discuss such matters now. We must hurry.'

'What do you propose to do?' asked Gimli.

Elrond smiled quietly. 'Disappear.'