Chapter 2

One year later...

I went to bed after watching TV because I noticed it was 2:30 in the morning. I walked up to my room and put pajamas on, you know, normal routine. I climbed into bed and hadn't been there for more than 5 minutes when I felt someone sit on the on the edge of the bed. I opened my eyes and Legolas was sitting there. He was wearing jeans and a faded green t-shirt with Converse. "Hi. I couldn't sleep, so I came over here." Legolas said with a smile. "How did you get in?" I asked, somewhat surprised.

"Through the window." I looked outside. I didn't think that the dead gnarled oak branch would hold someone up, but I guess he's lighter than a normal human. I walked back over to my bed. He wasn't sitting up. Legolas was lying on the bed, eyes closed. I could barely suppress a laugh, but I didn't complain. I lay down and drew the sheets around me. I glanced over at Legolas. He hadn't moved, but his eyes were open. The second I moved closer to Legolas, I heard snickering from my closet.

"All right. Who's in there?" I ask, grabbing a hunting knife from next to my bed (huh? Well, I have one). I flicked the lights on and swung open the door. Arwen, Annabeth, Percy, Audrey, Talfryn, Sarah, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin and Aragorn were packed into the closet. I looked over at Legolas. He was still in the same position, only he was smiling. I pulled everyone out of the closet. They fell on the floor laughing hysterically. "Why are you guys in my closet?" I ask, bewildered. "We were going to tell you to get ready to go to China, but we decided to go to New Zealand instead," Arwen said.

"That doesn't explain how you got into my closet at 3:00 in the morning." I say, sort of confused. "Well, it's a funny story. You see, you weren't here when we got here a few hours ago, sooo, yeah. We hid." Percy said, in a secretive sort of way. "That still doesn't explain why you are in my closet!" I say impatiently. "We took a shortcut," Aragorn said with a smug expression. "I give up," I say, completely annoyed and exasperated. "No, I think they knew I was here, so they decided to spy on us." Legolas adds, making me even more confused. "What's going on?" I say. Everyone starts to laugh again.

"You don't know?" Arwen says in fake disbelief. "Legolas here-" Legolas' face grows bright red, "- told us he had something to ask you." Right then, I knew where this was going. "It's his choice." I say. Legolas stood up, glaring at the others. "Fine. We'll go downstairs." Aragorn said, understanding. He led everyone downstairs. "I think you already know what I was going to say." Legolas says, sitting back down. "I think I know... This isn't a joke, right? 'Cause if it is, whatever. If it isn't, then yes." I said, blushing.

Legolas smiled and walked over to me. He took my hand and said gently, "Why would I lie to you about this?" It was my turn to smile. Legolas kissed me. I dropped the knife I had been holding the whole time and wrapped my arms around him. I heard giggles coming from the closet. I broke away from Legolas' arms and said, "Can I borrow your bow for a second?" He smiled and handed it to me. I notched an arrow and drew the string back. "Who's in there?" I call. Legolas opened the door.

Merry, Aragorn, Pippin, and Gimli were clumped together around a small fire. Next to Gimli, a hole was noticeable. "You tunneled through the floor and lit a fire? You know, there's some great new inventions called stairs and electricity," I say. Aragorn smiles and innocently says, "But this is way more fun." "I give up," I say, letting the arrow fly into the wall directly above Aragorn's head.

He ducks. "You missed," He says. "I wasn't trying to hit you. If I had wanted to, you would have three arrows through your head," I say in a somewhat menacing tone, "In other words, get out!" Gimli dives backs through the hole. Pippin and Merry try to follow him, but their legs are waving in the air. I start laughing in spite of myself. Aragorn is trying to pull them out while Gimli is trying to pull them in. It makes for a very comical scene. I start laughing. Merry and Pippin are yelling at Aragorn and Gimli to stop. Everyone else comes back upstairs. We finally pull out Merry, Pippin, and Gimli. Everyone is on the floor laughing.

I am completely wiped out. I lay down on my bed and tell everyone to shut up and leave. They grumble, but then Arwen says that it's time to go to New Zealand. It's now 6:00 in the morning. I go into my closet to see if I can find any clothes to pack. The bottoms of a few of my shirts are singed from the fire. I throw on a blue shirt over my camisole and go into the bathroom to put some jeans on and get ready. I look in the mirror.

My ears are ever so slightly pointed, unnoticeable, unless someone was looking for Elves. I didn't notice it before, but a silver leaf (like the cloak clasps) is suspended around my neck by a slim chain. I throw some clothes and toiletries into a backpack and am able to fit a bow and quiver in it (where did that come from?).

I throw on a white hooded sweatshirt with a hidden pocket. A small dagger goes into the pocket. I put some Converse on and go back into my room. An argument has started. Apparently, Aragorn is supposed to watch over Minas Tirith. I start yelling at everyone to shut up. I finally restore peace by standing on my bed and shooting arrows a few inches above their heads. That did it. "You all are in the year 2010. Minas Tirith is back in Middle-Earth, which is back through the portal in the woods." I said. "We're leaving now. Arwen, what time does the plane leave?" I ask, turning to her. She has changed from her dress to a red shirt and skinny jeans with sandals that she stole from my closet. I notice that everyone is in modern clothing with backpacks.

"Uh, in about an hour," she replies, checking her watch. I realize that it takes about half an hour to get to the airport. I look outside. A pickup truck is parked in the driveway. "Everyone follow me!" I led the strange party downstairs and out to the truck. Six people could fit in the seats, but a few would have to ride in the back of it. Let's just hope no one pulls us over, I think. I started to pull onto the highway when a broken down car starts drifting toward us. I look at who's driving. Eight Orcs were fighting over who gets to drive. They see us and start to veer toward us.

Gimli throws his axe towards the Orcs, almost pitching over the side of the truck bed. Legolas, Talfryn, and Aragorn stand up and fire arrows at the Orcs. Meanwhile, I'm trying to drive with four hobbits, Sarah, Percy, and Audrey piled up behind me. It can get very distracting, as I found out. We finally made it to the airport alive. I grabbed my backpack and went inside to get the tickets. Everyone else staggered in. I told them to go clean up and get out weapons licenses. "What? We have to have licenses for weapons? That's a crappy rule." Aragorn said. "Just look in your pockets. I handed them out a few days ago." Thank God everyone had theirs.