For disclaimer see Chapter One.
Authors note:
._-_-_-_. Third Person Point of View
Updated this chapter just a bit, thanks to a helpful review! And some necessary info that you'll need for later in the story. Happy reading(^_^)
Chapter Two:
Good Bye
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The small group watched Fred walk off down the opposite side of the street that the orange VW beetle had gone before turning a corner and out of sight. 'Maybe a good hang over might give him a wake up call,' Alejandra thought. 'Or have him checking in to AA meetings…'
A cool autumn wind picked up, whirling her burgundy dyed hair, seemingly giving it life before allowing it to fall once more on her shoulders. Visible strands of un-dyed dark brown hair framed her face, as she stood there somewhat lost in thought. The few bar patrons began making their way down to the next bar down the road.
"Well kiddies, I'm off now. Stay out of trouble," Vincent pointed to her, "and maybe I'll bite next time. I'll see you all on Monday bright and early to have that meeting with our client" and with that, Vincent kissed her cheek sassily before he turned around. Either completely oblivious or possibly not caring at the glare Alejandra shot him as he walked off to his black Prius.
She watched him a second longer in shock. "He is really THAT dense?"
"Yes, I think he is. Dense and stupid" She turned to James to see him looking in the direction the black Prius had taken off to before his gaze fell onto her. He coyly smiled at her.
'He…wait what?' Her anger had just about blown over when she looked into his hazel eyes. "Who?" She asked, almost immediately regretting it. Who else he could be talking about! James' smile only broadened with confidence.
"Vincent. He's wrong about you…about well," now it was his turn to look a little embarrassed, "thinking that everyone thought you looked pregnant. Or that it was his…you didn't look pregnant and we all knew he was full of it. You don't look bad... You look…well, wonderful." He sent her another shy sincere look.
'Wonderful? Really?' Her mind couldn't believe it as she stuttered a reply back of thanks, and with out realizing it they were walking to the parking lot together. After a few awkward seconds they both made to say something, causing them both to stop and smile while laughing a little.
"Would you…ah, would you like to come with me to a different bar? For-for next Friday actually?" They both paused by her motorcycle looking intently at each other.
"Sure." She could barely get the word out and gave him a lopsided grin. 'Was this a date invitation? Or was it just friends? Oh my God what do I wear!' Her grin began to broaden.
His smile couldn't have gotten any bigger as it followed hers, "Great, we can talk the details over on Monday then? How about over lunch at the café? The one that's a block down from the firm?" All she could do was nod with a stupid happy smile on her face before she finally found her voice.
"I always thought you were shy? Or weren't interested in me that way?" She hoped at least he was interested in the way she thought he was.
"Well…I'm just more quiet I guess. But…truth is, I've always been interested…in you. I was just waiting for the right moment, I guess." She gave him a slight mischievous look, which he soon mirrored. "Perfect, I'll see you on Monday then." He gently kissed her cheek brushing close to her lips, lingering long enough to send her into a slight shiver before parting. "Bye, Alejandra, have a nice ride into the city." Smiling he walking off to his blue Ford mustang with an evident bounce in his step.
:~*~:
'He kissed me…my cheek. He kissed my cheek! Aye!' I felt like a freaking tween! 'And I thought he didn't even like me!' Now with a huge smile on my face, I twirled my hair around and up before placing my helmet over and securing it firmly. Mounting my Harley Super Glide and tilting it upright, I kicked the stick back, and brought my baby, Vinnie to life.
I had promised to stop by my mothers before leaving for the city early tomorrow and now I'd have a lot of gossip to tell her. Walking the bike backwards to pull out I can't help the huge smile on my face. I looked back to see James pull out and wave to me with a smile before heading out. Revving my Harley once more, I took off, pulling out down the street passing the late cruisers with their blue and red sirens blazing.
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The evening air is chilly as dusk approaches. And the ride to my mother's home being only a quick thirty-minute trip from the bar, was not enough to be a concern for not having dressed warmer. Pulling up to my mother's house I can't help but beam at the sunset behind her house. It was something I loved dearly of where the property was on top of a hill. All the colors of the autumn leaves of the trees were clearly visible down the hill leading up to where the sun was slowly setting behind them in the distance.
For all the places I had traveled to in my life, I would never get tired of the autumn sunsets here in Pennsylvania. I looked over to see a familiar jeep liberty parked in our driveway with New York license plates. My grandparents, uncle and his wife were visiting from Long Island for the weekend. Ironic it was the weekend I picked to go visit the city but there would be plenty of other opportunities to see them. I thought to myself as I walked up the driveway.
"MAMMMAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" I yell out walking in through the front door.
"QUE!" I hear my mother's answer before I see her. "¿Por qué tienes que gritar así?" she yells back at me. "Why do you yell like that!" She repeats herself in English as if I couldn't hear her the first time.
"Because, if I don't yell like that, you won't hear me. You never have your hearing aid on when you're at home...or ever." I made a point to say this, at an even level voice that was clear, and easy to understand, to all in the room as I walked in.
"What! What are you saying? Caracoles! Don't be so annoying! I'm your mama!"
I grinned. I've made my point, to everyone else in the living room, besides my mother, of course. She only glared at me before walking off to the kitchen again, nonchalantly turning on her hearing aid. I walked over, and hugged my grandparents, who were in the middle of the latest novella on Telemundo. They enthusiastically hugged me, kissed my cheeks then quickly told me, I made a better door then window. I took my queue and moved over to my uncle and aunt, who quickly hugged and kissed me before telling me to sit down and watch for a bit.
Looking over to the television, I see a very angry woman speaking Spanish, so quickly, that even I have to really pay attention to understand what she's so pissed about. All the while the man on the screen seems to be close to popping a vein, with suspenseful background music becoming more dramatic.
"Ah…I think I'll pass, Tio." I make my way over to the kitchen, where sure enough, my siblings are already there, fighting for the right to lick the cooking spoon. 'Really?' I look between the two of them, a nineteen-year-old girl and a twenty-four year-old young man fighting, for a freaking spoon. 'Will they ever grow up?' They see me, quickly come to hug and kiss me before going back to arguing about the stupid spoon. I can already see the wheels turning, in my brother's head. And sure enough, he quickly decides to just take his chances by licking the spoon all over, much to my younger sister's disgust.
"MAMAAAAA! He did it again! It was my turn!" My sister yelled and huffed at his smug face, before he quickly made off with the spoon, cackling madly.
"How old are you again?" I snickered, as she punched my arm for laughing at her loss.
"Shut up!" My sister retorts with a smile, as we heard our mom answer in her heavy Peruvian accent from the other side of the kitchen with a sigh and a laugh.
"She's old enough to know better, but too young to care." Our mother looked up and smiled, "Are you staying for dinner? I made papa a la huancaína and garlic rice."
"Of course! When will I ever say no to free food and your cooking?" I can never say no to my mama's cooking. Even though I knew how to make many of her dishes myself by heart, they still seemed to always taste better when made by her.
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Chapter part 2.1
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Dinner went by rather quickly that night with lots of the usual laughter and story telling from my mom's side of the family. My uncle telling me to make sure I left by a certain time in the morning in order to avoid six-hour traffic. My aunt making sure to tell me about a Honduran restaurant I should try in the city. My grandfather quick to dispute it, saying I should instead, go to yet another Peruvian restaurant he found. Saying that it would ultimately taste much better then the Honduran one, which only started another argument over who's country had won more FIFA world cup soccer matches, which I knew wasn't going to end well.
Laughing at their senseless bickering, I went over to help my mother with the dishes and tell her about my lunch and dinner dates with James.
"…I'm happy for you, Mami..." My mother's answer faltered. And although I don't doubt she is, I can hear a tinge of worry in her voice.
"¿Qué pasa, Mama?" I asked her what was wrong and for a few seconds she keeps washing dishes. Before I can ask again, thinking she hadn't heard me, she answered.
"…I don't know. I feel…strange. Yo no sé por qué…I don't know why…but I feel like I don't want you to go. As if something bad is going to happen. But then at the same time, I feel like something good, will happen too. I don't know what to think." She paused to look at me, "Are you sure you want to go tomorrow? Your Abuelos and Tio's came this weekend to see all of us. Couldn't you go another weekend? Or maybe take your car, instead of that motorcycle? I still don't like that you bought that thing. So many other things you could have used that money for, instead of that death trap."
"Mama," I smiled at her, "their will be plenty of other weekends where I will see them. They are here almost every other weekend and sometimes the Abuelos stay for weeks! I will be here the next weekend they come, I promise you. And as far as my bike goes, Vinnie is my baby and that's that." I grinned at her before she sighed.
"…Nunca debí dejar te ver esa serie de dibujos animados. Ratones a bordo de motocicletas… ¡Loca!" She teased about where my love for motorcycles came from before smiling lovingly to me. "Just promise me, please, that you'll be careful, ok?"
"Of course, Mama. I'm thirty years old remember? I'm pretty sure I can take care of myself by now." I give her a relaxed smile.
"I know you can, but…you are my baby, and you will always be. No matter how old you are or where you are and I will always worry for you. I love you, mi Pesada" She put the plate down and hugged me tightly, quite suddenly.
"…I love you too, Mama." I put the drying towel down and returned her hug. Kissing her forehead before putting my cheek there for a moment. She usually never liked it when we made references to her being shorter then us, but once in a while, she let it be. I thought it was her, just starting to get on in years, for being more emotional all of a sudden as we stood there in the kitchen hugging.
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I left the house that night shortly after saying my goodbyes, and sending my love to my family, with lots of kisses and hugs. My grandmother, spending more time with me then usual in good byes as she took my face in her hands. She starred up at me for the longest time, and then started to cry quite suddenly, as if she wouldn't see me again.
I begun to tell her I was only going to be gone for a weekend, and she said she knew that, but for some reason couldn't stop crying. Having my Abuela cry, was enough to start the rest of the family crying. I felt like I was in the airport all over again, nine years earlier, ready to go for my semester abroad in Italy. With my family a bawling mess, as if I was never coming back. If anything, we Hispanics are a very emotional bunch, for sure!
Having finally pulled myself away from my loving family and having already stopped at the gas station to fill up, I arrived at my house. Forty-five minutes after that strangely, heartfelt goodbye and went straight to my late night packing. Yes I was also a bit of a postponer, so sue me. I had at least gotten my list ready if that counted for anything.
"Yea, I'm a bit of a procrastinator, I need to start suing myself." I said out loud as I rummaged through my stuff. "Maybe I'd actually get stuff done sooner…or lawyer up against myself. Now that would be an interesting head case." I had at least gotten my list ready if that counted for anything.
Pulling out my light brown leather saddlebags, as well as my solar panel backpack from my closet, I set them on the bed. I figured it'd be easier to charge my phone and iPod that way rather then wait to get to my girl friend's apartment in the city. I doubted I'd have time to fully charge them there since we'd be off, museum hopping. As well as looking for the best happy hours available, the rest of the day. I took out my list and started packing various toiletries, a pair of flip-flops for the shower, extra pairs of socks, panties and a strapless bra.
'Oh! And maybe these sexy dance heels! Never know!' The city was chalk full of dance clubs and I could maybe convince my friend to go to one. 'And if that's the case,' I mused and I packed my white bikini. 'Maybe I could convince her to go to that one nightclub with the pool in the bar area. Never know!' I then idly packed a pair of comfortable blue jeans and a white gypsy skirt, a simple black t-shirt, a white tang top and a white embroidered peasant blouse, I thought showed off my shoulders rather nicely.
Thinking about looking nice, I also grab some of my jewelry trying to pick what would look good with the three rings I already had on my right hand that never came off. I finish the one side of the saddlebag with my pajama flannel bottoms and an old hoodie from the camp I use to work at. Grabbing my solar bag, I put my notebook and sketchbook along with a bag of various pens of different colors, pencils for drawing, erasers and a pencil sharpener.
"Hmmm… what else?" I looked at my list again checking off various items. I had moved to sitting on my bed, while packing. I got up then and haphazardly grabbed a large handful of clear plastic rain parkas I had bought from the dollar store and stuffed them in my bag as I walked over to the kitchen. 'A pack of pop tart smores, two oranges, five cups of instant ramen noodles. In case I got hungry while I was at her place.' She was rather notorious for not having food in her fridge with the amount of take out places available to her. That, along with two bottles of water, went into my backpack.
I walked over to the fridge then, opening it up just from habit. Glancing around idly for a moment or so, and moving the milk from one side of the shelf to the other. Nope, nothing had changed inside since the last time I checked. Not seeing anything of interest, I shut the fridge door. My vision then went straight to my odd ball collection of novelty magnets. A simple yellow and black magnet, caught my eyes easily from all the others, just like it always did. The other magnets I had we're of different arrays of colors, themes and patterns. I had a hologram of New York City that I had acquired during one of my many trips there. A vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles magnet I had gotten not only because I loved the cartoon as a child. But also because it was in mint condition and I had found it at a garage sale, tossed aside like it was of no vaule. Maybe it didn't have an extraordinary value, but it did to me. Beside it was another hero of my childhood, MacGyver. Duct tape and all.
Those were the closest ones that surrounded the simple yellow and black magnet. This one was in the shape and color of a road caution sign. Only it had a little black stick figure of Gandalf on it. One of his famous lines, 'You shall not pass!' Underneath it. This particular magnet always made me grin. Yet right now for some reason, I couldn't help but feel that it oddly reminded me of someone. I stood there contemplating this for a few seconds more before I felt I was being stupid and pushed the thought aside. Closing my backpack I ambled my way out of the kitchen.
Back in my room, I grabbed an old issue of US weekly I had commandeered from a previous visit to the doctors. 'Why not?' Incase I found myself at a rest stop along the way and got bored. It too was shoved into my pack as I walked back to my bedroom. 'Oh! I almost forgot!' My friend had wanted to see my belly dance gear I had started acquiring for my costumes. Rummaging through my drawers, I picked my nice leather antique coin belt that had Middle Eastern metal work on it, with lots of coins and bells. I packed a simple lime green coin hip scarf along with it as well. I contemplated bringing my dance bra but the weight of it made me think twice before leaving it. 'She'd see that another time.'
I finally put my purse, and a small tool kit in, before zipping up my pack, grabbing my saddlebags over my shoulder and headed to the garage to strap my things on. Finishing up there, with the addition of the small gas canister since I never could seem to find a gas station in the city. Not that I ever paid attention to the GPS anyway. I deemed myself finally ready for bed.
Tomorrow was going to be a beautiful day as far as the weather looked and it would be a good day to start out on my mini journey. I felt really good about it. Strangely good actually. I really didn't know why, other then about seeing my friend, but I just did. After setting my alarm, I snuggled into bed.
As my body began to relax into my soft covers, I thought back, briefly to my family.
How my mother and grandmother had been especially emotional and wary about my trip into the city. They were never this bad. Well, save for the airport incident a few years ago, where nothing happened but…I knew the women in my family. They could sort of sense things at times.
Things that were about to happen. Kind of like a sixth sense of sorts but it was not something super strong, I knew. And it didn't happen all the time either. It had helped us avoid problems, sometimes even serious accidents in the past, very bad things that could have happened.
It wasn't something to depend on though. It was mostly just a strong, gut feeling we'd get, or even strange reoccurring dreams. I had it happen myself a few times before as well but right now, I couldn't feel anything except exhaustion.
'Mama had said, something bad but…also that something good would happen. That could be a lot of things though…I just have to think positively, always look on the bright side,' I thought with a yawn and began dozing off, focusing on my ride. About the beautiful day coming this morning, and on soft hazel eyes I'd see on the following Monday.
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Chapter part 2.2
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Morning came quickly. Seeming to have come almost in the blink of an eye. I felt fully rested though, and quickly showered, ate breakfast and dressed in light blue jeans, a thick brown simple belt with an off white cream colored tank top followed by my brown leather jacket and dark brown high boots that went up just over my knees. Normally high boots made it hard to ride but these were rather well worn through the years and I could maneuver my knees well enough for them not to be a bother.
Removing my teal leather fingerless riding gloves from my jacket pockets, along with my aviator sunglasses, I felt I was ready for the days' ride. It was nearly six thirty in the morning, and if I wanted to beat traffic, I had to get going. After pulling my bike out of the garage and locking up my house, I strapped on my backpack as I walked back to my bike, Vinnie. Straddling him with a mischievous smile, I tugged my helmet on over my head. Putting on my sunglasses, I closed the visor, turned on my bike and took off still smiling.
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It was already starting to turn out to be a beautiful day as I rode down the interstate. There were very few cars out this mid autumn day, but who was I to complain! My Harley hummed along the road, and I made a mental note to check in and call my friend, right before I arrived at the first toll, before the Lincoln tunnel.
Coming around a curb, a rather familiar car was on the side of the road with an equally odd and familiar looking old man beside it. '…The orange punch buggy from last night!' It's emergency lights were on, and upon getting closer and slowing down I saw the poor old man had not one, but two flat rear tires. 'This guy's just full of luck.' I thought as I pulled over in front of him.
Turning my bike off, I took my backpack off, laying it on my bike along with my helmet and place my sunglasses back on. Walking over to him I nod my head in greeting, "Morning!"
"Good morning, my dear lady!"
Rather nice guy I suppose. With a nice accent, that I just can't quite place, as I look him over. It's not really British but has a hint of an Asian flavor to it as well. After working at an international camp I know what Brits and a few others sound like, and his accent was colored. He's still wearing the same ocean blue suit jacket and hat and as I can now see, matching trousers. Even his shoes were blue!
"I think I remember seeing you last night at the bar, right?"
"Oh yes! You did see me there, Lady." He smiles at me rather cheerfully. His long beard and hair covering most of the front of his jacket with its length and volume that comes down past his hips. He seems rather, tall…now that I am standing next to him; how in the world did he fit in that buggy?
"Oh. So, ok…well…It's good to know you got out ok last night. Um. Looks like you need some help? Did you, call someone already, do you have AAA? It looks like you're going to need one more tire before you can go on your way, so..." I mentally cringe at my chose of stating the obvious and ending. 'Oh well, here's my sign. It's a NEPA thing I guess.'
"A rather nice couple pulled over earlier and were kind enough to give me their spare tire. Yet alas, they had to be on their way and wished me luck. And I don't need this AAA. I am a bit old though, you see. And my old bones, they do complain a bit when I tried to change the old tires, myself. I have all the tools needed though. As far as those mobile contraptions, I have done rather well through all of my old years with out one and do not see why I would need one now." My eyebrow rose.
'I guess he was hoping I'd change his 'old' tires.' I thought a bit sarcastically. He's just as stubborn as my Abuelo. He too, said he didn't need a cell phone either. Except he finally agreed to get one when he too was stranded on the side of the road for hours on end. 'Must have not been stranded long enough for this one then.' I nodded my head and asked him where his tools were. I then advise him to just take a seat over by the highway railing while I helped him out. I was glad my grandfather taught me how to change a tire and a few other manly things he had always thought the women in our family should know. I would be able to get this done quick and still be on time to beat the morning traffic into the city.
I noticed now, he had what seemed like a large walking stick as he went to sit on the railing. He pushed his rice hat back and let it hang by the neck strap over his back. His walking stick looked like it was made of a sturdy oak branch and was only sanded down slightly to keep the natural waves and flow to it. He must have had it in the car with him. 'What a character.' But then again I thought, 'the world needs colorful people like him.'
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I had already lifted the orange buggy up with the jack, locked the lift and had the new tire in position while I was taking the bolts off the flat tire. "Ow!" I took my finger back and almost put it in my mouth instinctively, but the grim from my hands made me think twice. I had pinched my finger just slightly. I decided to take my gloves off before I dirtied them any further.
"Careful, my lady! You do not want to go injuring yourself before you have even started your journey!" He stated quickly before sitting back down on the rail. He began to look me over and began muttering to himself. "I cannot believe I was searching in the wrong lands all this time. I did complete my first mission to assure the west was not outnumbered long ago with Alatar, which was very important, but…to think, I should have been even farther east. When I was told far east to begin with I stayed in Rhûn, after the second Dark Lords fall. When I should, have come here! I told Alatar we should have continued onward! Either way, I suppose I would have had to wait ages, still…and at least I made it in time for the nineteen sixties of this land...Oh but thank the Valar, he came when he did! Just in time too. He was most helpful in being able to tell me where exactly to find her. Although she is not as beautiful and lovely as he claimed she would be, but to each their own I assume…"
He continued to mumble to himself and look me over. His gaze wasn't in a leering type of way, but it was still unsettling, nonetheless. He watched me for a moment or two while I took the remaining bolts off. His weighty gaze suddenly softening, enough to were I could actually feel it change. I looked up to see him slowly grinning at me. "…You are the One!"
I can't help but raise my eyebrows a bit but continued to work. I notice him then walk off, towards my bike. I kept an eye on him as he placed a hand on my seat and began to whisper something before tapping, ever so gently on the seat of my bike. I guess it must have been the reflection of the sun or something but I could have sworn a light came off of his finger and shone onto my belongings and bike. 'I should just try and hurry up fixing his car,' I think looking at him. 'Before he turns out to be Charles Manson's long lost cousin or worse, a relation to Rob Zombie.'
I resume to work a little faster and try and keep an eye on him, but before long my focus is on moving the old tire off and putting the new one on. I didn't even see him behind me, whispering. Before I felt him tap me suddenly on the head, with his walking stick. A strange feeling slightly reverberate through my body and mind causing me to in take a quick shaky breath.
"Ah… sir? Could you just, sit-sit down over there? It's a little unnerving having someone tap you on the head while trying to change tires." My grip on the axle tightened as I looked at him.
"You are the One!" He repeated with a smile, although for some reason he looked a bit more tired then a few minutes ago. Almost drained.
"One what?" I didn't mean for the attitude but I was getting slightly creeped out.
He blinked a few times. As if confused at the fact that I didn't know what he was talking about before gently saying, "The One, who will bring order and change that is needed for the survival of your race!"
I blinked a few times before it hit me. '…Aww…poor sweet old kooky man,' I think to myself, finally smiling up at him. To think that just by changing this man's tire he thinks I'm going to save human kind. I guess I don't feel as bad about kneeling down in highway dirt and possibly scoffing my boots. "I'm just doing what any Good Samaritan would do, sir."
"You are going to become the defender! The guard of the King and the two Princes, his sister-sons, you will be the savior of the Line of Durin!"
I rapidly blinked again. '…Ook…that was a quick change in subjects…and mental health,' I now can't help but look down and see my boots are soiled and covered in grimy highway dirt. I give him a smile through my sigh though. 'Poor guy really is senile,' I think to myself as he continues on about kings and princes and I even hear him mention a dragon. 'I really have to try and get finished and get back on the road before he does. Being as confused as he is I don't want to test his driving skills while I'm on a motorcycle. No wonder he was at the bar last night, it all makes sense.'
I continue to work, and he continues to babble on about how I can't make too many change's as it could be devastating to certain events in time. 'Wow…this guy's, really getting into this. I wonder if his family knows where he is?' I look at his license plate and can't help but chuckle a bit, 2BLUWIZ. I don't want to know what he drinks in order for it to be blue…
"Pay attention! If this is the only way that you do, then you must repeat everything I tell you! I must be sure that you will remember everything I have said, before you are gone today!" He scolded me imperatively.
"Ok, ok, ok… Can't make too many changes, it's not good." I decide to just humor him, what's the point in arguing with someone who thinks I'm going to save King Arthur and the world?
"Good! Good! Now listen closely! You must begin training as soon as you arrive! Make sure the Elves train you in the arts of battle! You must know how to use a sword and bow! Possibly long knives. Which ever your preference, it matters not! But you must know how to defend yourself and especially others! You must also learn how to live off the land as well!"
"Train me in the arts of battle? …Elves?" I can't help how cynically that all came out of my mouth. I raised my eyebrows before going back to work. 'Screw King Arthur, I guess we're talking freaking Middle Earth or some Dragon Age shit now.'
"Yes! Immediately!" He says rather urgently again. I can't help but look at him with my eyes a bit wide as I start lowering the jack, having fixed one side of the car. I start securing the bolts one last time while the weight of the car is on them.
"Ok...Sounds…Humph! ...Good." I grunt a bit, trying to tighten the bolts as much as possible. No way was I going to risk them coming off while he drove off. And then have grandpa kooky here tell the cops after his nine car pile up, that was caused because he was telling people that, —they shall not pass,— that I was the one that helped change the tires. 'This day can only get better,' I think positively to myself.
"Sadly my lady…I do not know how long you will have to prepare. My power is not as strong as it once was and I can not place you in the appropriate time that I have anticipated you would need. But I should hopefully place you in a time where you will have enough of a spell to at least become proficient in the language, weapon skills, and have some sort of plan of action in place. If you have enough time, I'd suggest looking for Gandalf to help you with the language, for I am afraid I can no longer do that."
"…Power's not so strong, should have enough time to become a Kung Fu master, so I guess I can finally dump the Muay Thai lessons, and a linguist. Ya know," I looked up at him, "too bad you weren't around for high school French classes. I could have used an A. Anyway, I should have a plan to take over the world and talk to Gandalf... But I want to be Brain the white lab mouse, he can be the other one, Pinky." I say back to him wryly as I pump the jack up. No wonder he has a long beard, old man thinks he's a fucking wizard!
"This is no laughing matter! The world is at risk! Can you not see already what is happening to your people?" he scolded me once again rather heatedly.
"Ok! Ok! Ok! Learn the language, weapon skills, have a plan of action and if possible find Gandalf to help me. I was just messing with you a bit." I locked the jack in place.
"This is of, dire importance! The Arkenstone must stay in the living line of Durin through the rightful King under the Mountain! Thorin is the rightful heir! You must also assure that his covetousness for gold, and his biased views of the Elves does not take hold of his heart! If he should succumb then all shall be in vain!"
'…Oh good gosh, forget the nine car pile up, the poor guy is going to give himself a heart attack with how passionate he's getting over some fan fiction he must have read into his reality.' I thought, with worry suddenly filling me. "Ok, sir? I love Tolkien's works as well and have read my share of fan fictions. But you need to calm down. I don't want to leave and have you get sick over this so..." I watched him for a moment as he began to pace back and forth behind me, making me a bit more nervous to leave him alone unless he calmed himself down.
"I will only calm down once you take me seriously, and repeat my words! I will not become sick, but your race already has!" He ranted rather curtly.
I sighed, again, and stood up to give myself a quick stretch, rolling my head from shoulder to shoulder before bending over once more to grab the last spare. I kneeled down before speaking in a monotone voice. "The Arkenstone must stay in the living line of Durin, with Thorin who is the rightful heir and King. I have to make sure he isn't an ass that gets too prideful, greedy or prejudice against anyone and keep his ass, as well as his nephews ass' alive or the world is doomed." He quickly let out a breath seeming to be more annoyed then upset with me.
He continues his rant as I continue with the damn screws that are tighter then the other side were. "Human kind will be doomed! Not the world! It'll keep going with or without your race on it!" He stated adamantly. "You must stay close to not only the King but with the Princes as well! Their survival is especially critical! Now! I have a letter that you are to give to Gandalf, and only he may see it!" He quickly gave me said letter, with a wax seal that kept it closed. A rune symbol was pressed into it. I took it, studying it. There was script, written on the front that looked like the same script in the movies that was on the One ring.
'The dude is thorough. I'll give him that.' I said as I looked at the nice supposedly Elvish script before repeating.
"Stay close to the royals, make sure king isn't a jerk, keep young princes alive since their survival is important. Ahh…more lives spared, give letter to Gandalf only…can I tell him it will self destruct after sixty seconds?" I deadpanned as I put it in my inner jacket pocket suddenly feeling very Bond-ish. I really can't help myself sometimes. I blame my uncle and so does everyone else.
The elderly man gave me another annoyed look before continuing as if I hadn't said the last part. "Most importantly, my lady, you must follow your heart. That is the most important piece of information I can give you. Follow your heart, for it will choose wisely in more ways than one, yet do not forget your head! It will help you more then once. More lives can be spared, there in the past, if you succeed in aligning Thorin with the Elves in friendship, rather then in dire need. Not only in the battle of five armies but possibly in the War of the Ring itself! Anything and everything concerning that, is in the letter to Gandalf, so I will not waste time with that. I will say, that by following your heart, you will also save lives here in the present...now I can not reveal to you who will claim your heart in the end but—"
"Stupid bolt!" I cry out and stand up, pushing the axle with my foot to loosen the offending bolt. "Ya, ya, ya before you ask, I heard… Follow my heart it'll choose wisely but don't forget my head. Lives will be spared, all around. Gandalf will talk to me about, the letter. Follow my heart, follow my heart, etc., etc., etc.…" I choose to leave the last part out since I already knew who was going to, hopefully, claim my heart on Monday.
He stayed silent and watched me work with finishing up the last spare. He finally seemed to be rather tired from his rant, I hoped. I wiped my brow a bit and began to lower the jack back down. I was thankful there was a slight breeze through this whole ordeal so I wouldn't become as sweaty as I could have, and wearing a cream tank top under a leather jacket no less. I start to tighten the bolts again for good measure on this side of his buggy when he started to speak again.
"Good…" He stated wearily. "You have listened…as well as possible and I have told you everything I could tell you."
"…You never told me your name." I interrupted. He paused and looked at me almost contemplating whether to tell me or not. I hoped he would, so I could remember it and call the police department later to see if anybody was missing a kooky relative.
"You may call me…Rómestámo."
"Alejandra." I answered back. What an interesting name he gave himself, but at least he doesn't think he's Gandalf or Radagast…although the last one would have explained a lot more.
He smiled at me once more. "Defender of mankind…" His eyes almost seemed to twinkle in the morning light then. "Yes, you are the One." I gave him a tight-lipped smile and continued to tighten the bolts.
He paused a moment before he continued on with a more serious face. "…Your family loves you very much, although I am sure you already know this. And they will be very proud. Your family will also know of your family there and the deep, true love you will find. Do not fret. I will make sure they know, once I know. He has come just in time and will be able to tell me everything.
"I wish there was more I could do for you to assure you, that your family here will be very well taken care of. I wish I could say that you will see them again but, you will not, I'm afraid. Eru works in ways in which we cannot fully understand, but his love is always true. And the Lady Galadriel assured me of your part, before I left to the East those many years ago. You were always the Chosen One and yet it took me millennia's to find you. And even longer for him to find you, for you were not to be with him until now.
"Do not worry child. You will come to a point where you will have a choice. You must chose to stay, or chose to go on. That will be only your choice, and many lives will depend on it, for even now the future is not set in stone. But it will still be your choice. That will be where you must take heed of the most important advice I have given to you."
The axle dropped to the ground with a loud clang from how I tossed it. I put my gloves back on barely wiping my hands before doing so and started walking backwards. Not even bothering to dust my boots off. "Look sir, I fixed your flats. Don't follow me. And stay the fuck away from my family or I will call the cops." I made sure to look him in the eyes as hard as I could, since my sunglasses were tinted brown and I knew he could see mine. I stood near my bike twirling my hair up; took my sunglasses off quickly and placed my helmet on before readjusting my aviators back on. I could feel my skin slightly perspiring now, but I knew it was more from his crazy talk about me never seeing my family again, then from the heat of the morning sun.
"May you have a safe journey. And may the Valar bless and aid you, Lady Alejandra."
I put my backpack on, securing and clipping it in the front before climbing on quickly, turning on my bike and revving it. I found it odd now that not a single car had passed, the entire time I had stopped. Before I could think any more on this, I suddenly felt a cold sweat and the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I turned around, expecting a gun-wielding psycho, but instead, saw a blue circle of brilliant light forming at the end of the old man's staff that he was pointing in my direction.
Not pausing a second more, I took off on my bike down the road. Madly hoping that a police car would be around to offer some sort of safety. Instead, I realized I was some how slowing down. "That's impossible!" I screamed aloud. I had a full tank of gas! I looked down at my gages, and it showed my tank was indeed full, and I was still going at sixty miles an hour. I revved again, pushing forward to eighty and still nothing.
I glanced back, and a cold terror ran up my spine and my eyes widened in sheer panicked fear. Behind me was something so frightening I could only describe it, as a swirling black void with blue light flickering on the edges. A fucking black hole had opened behind me! I could no longer see the man or his car behind it, as it was large and growing in size and in force. I tried to push for more speed, going to ninety, my tires leaving black tread marks on the asphalt as my bike continued to move backwards with me on it.
I pushed to hundred, but my attempts were utterly useless! I was rapidly moving backwards, into this void of complete unknown darkness. I started to cry, as fear and panic gripped me. 'Am I going to die? Was this old man a demon? Would I ever see my family again?' I tried calming down as I was slowly and steadily still being sucked in, along with other debris, into this ominous hole directly behind me.
I thought suddenly, that maybe, if I was fast enough. I could turn around quick enough to evade the void and use its pull to help me get away from this demon in man's skin! I dared to muster up the courage. The pull on my bike and myself was becoming stronger, and ahead of me I saw a long line of my dark tire streaks that marked the road, like scratch marks. And I made my decision. In one swift motion, I popped my bike on the back wheel turning it to the right edge of the void.
I almost cracked a smile, thinking my plan had worked, as I tried to make my escape on one wheel, yet the void only widened and my bike sped ahead, straight into it, allowing the darkness to finally engulfed me.
Translations for Spanish:
chismes- gossip
Caracoles- Literally means snails but also used in Peruvian slang like Carajos; wow or a nicer way to say shit with out it being such a bad word but implying it.
Tio- Uncle
Tia- Aunt
Nunca debí dejar te ver esa serie de dibujos animados. Ratones a bordo de motocicletas… ¡Loca!- I never should have let you watch that cartoon series. Mice on motorcycles. Crazy(f)!
Pesada(o)- Literally means heavy but in Peruvian slang means pain in the neck, can be used as an endearment when talking to family and close friends.
And if you are wondering the bike I had in mind for this is a Harley Davidson FXD Dyna Super Glide 2002 with a shimmery off white paint coat, light brown leather seat and matching leather saddlebags with a matching full helmet. I will one day own a bike (specifically I want that bike) so I have already done some previous research on Harley's. (and yes I know doing a wheelie is crazy on that bike but really, so is a freaking wormhole opening up on the highway ^_~) I've always wanted a motorcycle ever since watching BMFM when I was just in first grade lol, which is why I have kind of done a little tribute to the show here and there in this story. One day (when I have money! I made the mistake and bought a house instead p) I'll have my baby and his name will be Vinnie!
Again, thanks for reading! And please take some time to review my story! I'd love to know your thoughts. Thank You!