Jessi hopped onto her horse, a lovely palomino mare called Mea, and tossed back her long brown hair. She looked at the dark shadowed forest in front of her and sighed. Mea snorted and began to walk forward, keeping her head high and ears picked back. Jessi let her horse take her where it chose to go, which was, as usual, into the forest. The palomino walked steadily through the trees, bearing her rider well. As they went, the summer sun chilled, being under the trees, Jessi felt the cold and goose bumps showed on her arms.

The forest around them seemed quiet, the birds that had made their homes in the trees didn’t feel the need to sing on the beautiful evening that it was. In fact, the only sound came from the rustle of leaves above. Jessi relaxed her grip on the reins and smiled to herself, until suddenly there was heard the sound of a twig snapping in front of her. Her head shot up and her green eyes fixed on the spot that the sound came from. Mea stopped dead and tensed her muscles. Jessi’s eyes fell on a figure that wasn’t there before, her heart began to race as Mea swished her tail nervously.

The figure stepped forward, into a ray of light, to reveal a tall handsome male with long blonde hair and startling blue eyes. A kind faced man, wearing moss green leggings and a tunic. The stranger clutched his forehead and winced. Jessi dismounted and stepped forward, curious to know who this strange man was, thought much to the dislike of Mea, who snorted angrily.

‘Excuse me?’ She said timidly.

‘Hello.’ The man said.

‘Can I help you?’ Jessi asked, taking another step forward.

‘Maybe you CAN help me. My name is Legolas Greenleaf. Where am I?’

‘Erm…nice to meet you, Legolas.’ Jessi brow winkled in confusion, she knew that name from somewhere, but where? ‘I’m Jessica, Jessi for short. I can tell you that you’re in Jubilee forest. Does that help?’

‘I’m sorry, I cant say it does. I cant remember the past few days, I cant say how I even got here.’ Legolas swayed on his spot and winced again.

‘Are you ok?’

‘My visions blurring.’ Legolas said slowly, moving to lean against a tree. ‘That’s never happened before.’

‘It quite often happens to me. Maybe you should go home and lie down.’ Jessi suggested, letting Mea lick her hand.

‘I don’t have a home, unless you can tell me where Mirkwood is?’

’No sorry.’ Legolas sighed and hung his head, confused by his surroundings, and the strange clothes this lady wore. He was unsteady on his feet, and Jessi knew this. ‘Come on, you can have a drink at my house.’

‘Thank-you, my lady.’ Legolas stood up straight and took Jessi’s hand in his, kissing it lightly.

‘You can ride Mea, to save you having to walk.’ Legolas jumped onto Jessi’s horse with the ease of a cat, he gripped the reins tightly. Mea pawed her fore hoof, protesting being ridden by a stranger. ‘Mea, quit it!’ She gently kicked Mea’s leg. ‘Sorry, Legolas. She can be a real bitch with people she doesn’t know.’ Legolas puzzled at the strange words used by the female. Jessi lead Mea forward, who snorted furiously.

While they walked, Legolas’ keen hearing picked up a drone from the distance. Everything around him seemed strange. The noise, the smell and even Jessi. Her clothes and speech were unusual to him. After a few minutes, Mea began to calm down and her protesting stopped. Jessi smiled up at Legolas, who smiled back. They didn’t speak until they reached Mea’s stable, where Legolas jumped off and looked around at all the other horses in the yard, there were 11 in total. All different. As Jessi put Mea back, Legolas walked around, reading the name plates.

‘Are all these yours?’ He asked

‘No, five are mine, the rest are just kept here.’ Jessi explained, bolting the stable door. ‘Come on, lets get you inside.’ She led Legolas up a paved path to the back door of a large old farm house. The door led into the kitchen, which was modern with a square table, a granite sink, and around the walls, a grey work surface. ‘What would you like to drink?’

‘Just water please.’ Legolas marvelled at the strange things around him. This was completely different to what he was used to. Jessi handed him a glass of ice cold water, which he downed instantly. Jessi watched him curiously, wondering where he came from, why he spoke so politely and why he looked at everything as if it was new to him. Of course, she didn’t know that this was new and strange to what he was used to.

‘Hows your head?’ Jessi asked, her large green eyes watching the figure in front of her.

‘Still spinning.’

‘Why don’t you have a lie down?’ Legolas nodded and allowed himself to be dragged through the hall and up the stairs. Into a spare room, with a cream carpet and pale blue walls. This room was only just big enough for the comfy double bed and a the small wardrobe. ‘You have some rest. If you need me I’ll be in the kitchen.’ Jessi left the room and returned downstairs. By this time, the sun had disappeared beyond the horizon.

Jessi didn’t normally let strangers into her house, but, somehow, she felt she knew Legolas from somewhere, and he seemed like a nice man. ‘Besides being absolutely gorgeous.’ She thought to herself, lifting up the flap on her laptop and switching it on. The night wore on slowly, and the house grew darker and quieter.