A/N: Shalane is an Asian, so I gave her a Chinese name as well. Don't be surprised by that. And well, like all my other fics, I'm not very sure why I'm writing this and how it's going, so please review and tell me. Thanks.
LessonsOne: The Crossing
The wood teemed with the quiet noise of life if he stood still to listen. Sunlight streamed in through the breaks of overlapping leaves; shafts of soft yellow that calmed his heart.
Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood—in times of old named Greenwood the Great—moved silently but surely among the trees, a figure clad in the green and brown of Woodland Elves.
It had been almost two years after the fall of the Dark Lord Sauron. Many of his kindred far sundered had left for the Blessed Lands after the War of the Ring, and his sire Thranduil was amongst those.
He had stilled his yearning for the Sea to rule what remained of his people that wished not for the havens yet, but felt the Sea-calling ever in his heart.
Wishing for some peace if not from the storm in his heart, then at least from his duties as a king, he had roamed Mirkwood ere the first rays of Anor had arisen.
Now he stopped, sharp eyes of green looking around for water. He was thirsty, for he had emptied his water-skin long ago, and the day was surprisingly hot; the trees seemed to press in. He was in Southern Mirkwood.
Legolas liked Southern Mirkwood little, for it was where the seed of darkness had been fostered and grown, and the feeling of the Shadow still lay in the heart of the wood; it would take time for light to once again penetrate it fully.
Yet it was there that Legolas knew none would think to look for him, and he was willing to venture there alone if he took his bow and arrows with him.
The faint smell of water reached him, and he turned to the left, steps making no noise as he treaded lightly over the fallen foliage. The sight of a still, clear lake greeted him.
He bent and cautiously scooped up a handful of the water, sipping some, closing his eyes to focus on the taste of the water. Satisfied that it was not harmful, he finished the small pool in his palm and reached for more.
Legolas froze, fingers jerking back from the lake's surface, eyes narrowing in expectance of danger. "What devilry is this?"
For in the lake was the image of a female in a place he did not recognize. Her back was to him, and she faced a window looking out into the night.
He hesitated for a moment, unsure of what he should do, and touched the water lightly.
Nothing happened for a moment, and then as if a force stronger than he grabbed hold of his hand, he fell into the lake.
***
Shalane sighed and threw her backpack onto her bed carelessly, flopping down after it. Yet another day in school getting picked by those in her class.
An Asian girl in a Western country, she found that she did not fit in. The fact that she was tomboyish did not help things any. She cursed the day her father received the offer to work overseas, then scolded herself. What are you thinking about? Dad works so hard to support us, and all you do is grumble.
Shalane rose and walked over to the window. She had came home late to avoid her parents asking her too many questions during dinnertime, for they knew that she felt alone. She loathed her parents' concern, and felt ashamed for it, for she did not like to worry them.
She shook her head, turning her attention to the stars that twinkled outside. The fullness of the moon complemented the stars, and she felt herself calm down a little by them.
A crash and a startled hiss came from behind her, and Shalane whirled around, unable to react for the moment, for she did not expect any danger in her own house; and gaped. A man lay facedown on the floor in front of her. The papers on her dresser were messed up.
She groaned, and glared at the still figure once she regained control of her mind back. She would need to rearrange her papers again. "Wait till you wake up. I'll kill you." Then, curiosity of a teen set in and she went to inspect her dresser.
The only way he could tumble in the direction he had was that if he had leapt out of her dresser, but there were no scratches nor cracks nor anything unusual, and she scratched her head, puzzled. How the man had entered her room was a total mystery to her.
Getting back to him, she slipped her hands under him, and with a groan of effort, rolled him onto his back. He was much lighter than she had expected of a grown man, and better looking than men she had seen. At that, he moaned and stirred, opening his eyes, springing up deftly into defense. "Who are you?"
Shalane placed her hands on her hips. "I should be the one asking you that. You are the one in my room, after all."
The man glanced around, his silky blonde hair sliding a little to reveal pointed ears. Shalane stared at him in suspicion. She had got a total weirdo in her room! "What are you anyway? An Elf? What's up with those ears?"
"Aye, I-am-an-Elf. And I am Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood. Name yourself!"
"Yi Ling, are you okay?" Shalane's mother called from the stairs outside her room.
"Yeah, I'm okay!" She yelled back, praying for her mother not to come.
She saw Legolas scan around frantically and gestured desperately to the bathroom. He disappeared into its darkness a few seconds before her mother entered. How he knew she was coming was not known to Shalane. She would have to ask him that later, if he was not caught.
"What happened?" Cai Meiqi poked her head into Shalane's room, and saw the disordered messed-up state of her daughter's dresser. "Why are your papers all over the floor?"
"I, uh, accidentally dropped them."
The older woman sat down on the bed and sighed. She had thought that a change of environment would be good for her daughter. "Is it school again?"
Shalane shook her head no, but the older Cai went into a speech about how she should try to make friends and go out more often and all.
Throughout the 20 minutes, Shalane kept stealing glances at the seemingly devoid of life bathroom. When her mother finally finished, she had to practically chase her mother out of the room and lock the door.
"Legolas?" She called softly.
The man—Elf—whatever he was poked his head out of the bathroom, ascertaining that there was indeed no one there. When he was satisfied, he stepped out of hiding; seeing Shalane breathing heavily, he bowed his head in apology.
"My apologies, lady, for I had no wish to put you in trouble."
Shalane was startled at his politeness even after the way she had snapped at him. "It's all right," she finally said, waving his words away, and yawned. "It's getting late. You can take my bed."
"Nay, I will rest on the ground."
She shrugged. "Your wish. Boy are you lucky that I'm starting vacation the day after."