CHAPTER NINE
A strange sensation awoke Amanda the next morning. The low vibrations lulled her out of whatever dream, to the reality of darkness. She reached for her cell phone that now lay under her pillow. It apparently had emptied itself from her pockets of her wet slacks, and tunneled its way to the bottom of her hamper.
She depressed the answer button, but was met with silence, the caller had hung up before she had been able to take the call. The screen displayed a number that had rendered a groan from her at once. She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration and checked her voicemail. She was not surprised to hear her uncle's voice complaining that she did not immediately answer his call, and that he expected better of her. He then informed her that they were closing one of the smaller realtor offices, and all the accounts and employees were being moved to the new office. Then informed her of what he expected of her to accomplish, to make the move swift and trouble free as possible. She was expected to be there, and handle the transition that afternoon. Amanda got up to shower and located her more appropriate office attire, before venturing down the steps.
As the sun rose, it lit the eastern sky. The dew had settled in the morning light the morning layered in an icy glaze, promising an early winter. Amanda leaned against the sill of the window with a mug of coffee in her hands. The welcoming aroma was her only company. She looked out and wondered where he was. Legolas rarely left the house. It served as a haven for him. However, this morning she had awoken, and he was not there.
She wondered if whatever that had brought him into her life, had just as quickly sent him home. Amanda sighed and turned from the window, crossed the room and sat upon the couch. The house seemed empty without him. He was ever present. In just a short time she grew accustomed to his presence in the small house. She would have to go into to work that afternoon, though usually she could accomplish her duties over the internet, but there had been new accounts, and all the information was only available on hard copies. She would have to enter them into the database, and configure user accounts for whomever was their caseworkers.
She sat there lost in thought staring into her coffee, watching the swirls rise to meet the cooler air. Her brain was still hazy from sleep, but there was a wariness that had settled in her gut. She exhaled a long breath and readjusted the cup in her hands. The hairs on the back of her neck rose, her eyes slowly narrowed and she turned at the sensation of being watched. She jumped when a hand enclosed over the coffee mug. Her brain trailed a moment before latching on to recognition of the hand that now kept the coffee from sloshing over the rim and burning her.
"You have awoken earlier than normal, did your dreams trouble you?" he asked.
She took a moment to recover then asked a question of her own. "Where did you go?"
He scanned her face. A slight frown tugged at his lips. "At night while you sleep, I venture through the forest and scout the area around Elssandra's lands. Forgive me, my Lady, I did not mean to bring you distress."
For some reason, this information hurt her. She knew she was being unreasonable. Of course, he would be trying to find a way home. "You go there every night? Don't you sleep?"
"Elves do not require sleep as humans do." He informed her though his voice was traced with something else.
Amanda closed her eyes and shook her head. "Oh, of course not." She then looked at him and waved her hand through the air. "And you do this every night?"
"The past few, yes, I wait until your breathing has slowed. Afterwards, I make sure all is safe here before I go." He tilted his head and then concluded. "You are angry."
Amanda sighed and ran her hands over her face. She had no right to be upset. "I was worried. I thought that you went home. I know you need to at some point."
Amanda shook her head then. "I am being ridiculous... Of course you need to find your way home."
He nodded and gave her a sad smile. "There is much I left unattended. I need to get word to my father that Elssandra has her eyes set on the Gollum creature." He then sat upon the couch beside her. "Though, you can ease your worry, I have been merely trying to test her defenses. I do not want to be caught unaware on enemy territory.
"Legolas it is fine." She closed her eyes, then looked at him.
"I will inform you when I have acquired the necessary information to depart." He told her.
She sighed, and tried something else. "What have you learned?"
He brought his knees up, and rested his chin on them as he watched her. "She seems to have image capturing devices on her property. I inadvertently attracted attention once. Thank the Valar that there was a stray cat that was blamed for my folly."
She took another sip from the coffee that now had cooled. "If a cat could be mistaken as you, then it was probably motion censored."
He glanced out the window. Lost in thought, as he gazed beyond her window, and in-between the limbs of the dense forest.
"I have to go into work this afternoon." She told him.
"I was wondering at the change in attire." He turned to look at her then, his gaze traveled over her. "Perhaps I may be of assistance."
She chuckled and shook her head. "I don't think so."
He tilted his head and spoke. "If there are things that require lifting, I can aid you."
"It's not like that." Amanda smiled and bit her lip, then continued. "I work with computers. I have to type in information, run diagnostics, and make sure the software is running properly."
"I see." He stated though she could tell that he really didn't. He glanced back out the window as a thought struck her.
Amanda glanced over at Legolas, since he had taken up residence, she had not even opened the entertainment center again. Halloween usually meant sugar coma and horror movies. However, some trick-or-treaters made their way to house, if for anything it was a spooky atmosphere. She debated with the idea of them actually watching scary movies. The Elf rarely let his discomfort be known. She felt as if he kept himself closed to her. She wondered though, just how much of it was him trying not to burden her.
It was then he turned and looked at her "What plagues you so?"
Amanda bit her lip.
Can Elves read minds too? I would be in so much trouble! Or he would run screaming in fear. My mind is a dark and scary place.
She smirked at the thought. Amanda sighed, then glanced over at the entertainment center. She was unsure how to word it. She didn't want him to feel pressured.
He observed her glance, and answered before she was able to voice it."You want to watch the T.V.?"
She hesitated, and glanced down before returning his gaze and responding."I was wondering if it would have bothered you."
"I am grateful that you consider my feelings in regards to this, but there is no need for distress." He tilted his head. "It bothers me not."
She did not like bringing up painful memories, but she wanted to be sure of how he felt."Even after what happened?"
Legolas shook his head and smiled. "No, I understand it is merely images, and cannot bring me harm."
Amanda smirked, and was relieved that he seemed ok, even after all that had happened. "Would you like to be afraid of the T.V.?"
He turned back to her, with a bewildered look on his face. "If they are merely images, why would I fear them?"
"Some of those images can be scary. There are horror movies." She told him.
He wrinkled his brows and looked at her in confusion. "And why would you want to watch images that distress you."
She rolled her eyes. He could be so annoying at times. "It is like a scary story. "
"And you think you know of images that will bring me to fear?"" He looked at her then.
He actually looked a little smug. "I have been in many battles defending my homeland. Many have died and there has been much bloodshed."
Arrogance had seeped into his voice as he continued. "I now know these movies are only as plays, and are merely illusions of pain and death."
He smirked at her as if he dared her to find something. "It will be quite a task you present yourself with, to find images that will disturb me. "
"Challenge accepted." Amanda told him. Then without warning, a thought crossed her mind. An evil smirk slowly began to play across her face. "Actually, I have something in mind."
I am currently working on Chapter 13, attempting to pull together some pictures for my website, I have her dress, I found one, then tweaked it in Photoshop. Though now I am stuck rewriting it. As for his I am still hunting. If you have ideas, and want to help, leave comments under this story on my website. Link is in my profile. And thanks to everyone, for their comments, encouragement, and random virtual cookies.
To my awesome Reviewers:
XxJigoku-no-HanaxX - I just like the holiday celebration activities, though the ghost house is intresting.
ashleyk44 - Note to self, google a picture to put on website and try to describe pumpkin carving in upcomming chapter.
ObsessedwReading - It shall get worse... Mwhahahaha
Glory Bee – He loves to consult the google…..lol
LittleNK - That is why Amanda installed filters. :p Though that would be interesting, especially after how he reacted to thongs. Actually when I wrote that scene I had in mind a different reaction, but then it hit me. What if it didn't bother him? He was from a very different culture. So who knows just what bothers him and what doesn't, heck I don't even know till it comes up and I try to look at it from a different angle.
Maria – I am so glad that you love this story, thanks again for your kind words.
