All the next day Anya couldn't eat and Thranduil began to worry for her. At last he confronted her.
" What is troubling you?" He asked after dinner that evening.
" Nothing," Anya replied. Then she sighed.
Throughout the whole course of dinner the sixteen year old only managed to swallow two bites.
Thranduil shook his head, " Something is bothering you," He sighed.
Anya stood up and left the room. She knew something was bothering her, but she did not want to reveal it until she had to.
She crept down the dark hallway until she came to Legolas' bedroom. The prince was still recovering from the day before but had been moved to his chambers. Anya gently turned the door handle and pushed the door open. She could see Legolas sleeping on the bed and a cold shaft of moonlight falling onto his sleeping form.
She crept over to where the prince slept and layed her hand on his. She knew she was not supposed to be in here but she had to see him. Anya kissed Legolas' hand and then stood and walked over to one of the windows. She gazed thoughtfully out into the garden below until she heard footsteps. It was Nindor coming to check on Legolas. Anya quickly ducked out onto the patio and hid behind some thick shrubbery.
She sat there for what felt like hours but was really minutes. Finally Anya heard Nindor leave the room softly close the door behind him and so she silently crept back into Legolas' bedroom. She looked at the sleeping prince for a moment and treasured it. He slept with a slight smile on his face and looked very peaceful. Anya sighed and before she realized it Legolas was looking at her.
" Salabel?" He said weakly.
" Go back to sleep, Melda (beloved)," Anya whispered.
Legolas nodded ever so slightly and closed his eyes. Anya walked to the door but stopped when she heard Legolas calling her.
" Salabel," He said.
" Yes."
" Something is troubling you, do not let it keep you awake," Legolas said softly.
" I will not," Anya said gently as she walked through the doorway and closed the door behind her.
Anya did not keep her promise to Legolas. She layed in bed all night tossing and turning, desperately searching her mind for any other solution, but she could not think of any. When dawn broke the next morning Anya got out of bed, dressed and went to Thranduil, he needed to know what must be done.
Anya found the king speaking with a servant in the throne room. She approached him quietly and stood there until the servant had left. Thranduil began to descend his throne and saw Anya there.
" Have you come to tell me what has been bothering you?" He asked.
" Also that," Anya answered, not looking at Thranduil.
" What else?"
" When you found me in the woods I told you I was from Rivendell but I am not," Anya said, " I'm not actually from Middle Earth at all."
" What?" Thranduil gasped, " Then you are from the undying lands?"
" No," Anya sighed, trying to think how she could explain to Thranduil where she was from.
" Where I come from you are a fictional character, we live in a very modern world that you could not begin to understand. Middle Earth is all part of a franchise called Lord of the Rings. There are fangirls everywhere who would give anything to meet Legolas."
Thranduil nodded, " Continue," He ordered.
" There are actors who look like you and Legolas," Anya said.
She reached into he pocket of her dress and pulled out her phone.
" Here you might have drawings of people but where I come from all we have to do is touch a button and there is instantly a picture."
Thranduil nodded.
" I fell into your world through a portal and I think that portal is the key to ridding Lavanor of his powers," Anya sighed at this point because she knew what the consequences would be, " If the portal were to be destroyed Lavanor would lose his powers."
" If the portal is destroyed than you will be stuck here, away from your life," Thranduil reasoned.
" Yes," Anya said, " I am going to jump through the portal, back to earth, before you destroy it."
" Than you will leave us?" Thranduil asked.
" Yes," Anya sighed. She stood and walked away and then turned back around.
" Thank you for not freaking out," Anya smiled.
" I didn't," Thranduil said, " But Legolas surely will."
TBC
