Meanwhile, Alex had thought up the question she had wanted to ask, and was now ready to come out from behind her well. She went over her little speech in her head, hoping that when she spoke the words they came out smooth, not made up or rehearsed. She crawled out from behind the stone on all fours and came face to face with a pair of boots.

"Tell me my dear," Orophin pried, picking her off the dirt. "Does the earth talk back?"

She smiled flakily and looked towards the ground. [Mayday, mayday! Uh deny, deny, deny!]

"Okay, I know what it looks like and frankly… It's exactly what it looks like." [Psh, yup some denial!]

"You were…trying to rip your pants to wear an elvish gown?"

[Sure] "Ok, that works."

"Uh huh," he muttered to himself. "Anyway, was your question addressed my lady?"

"Oh absolutely," she agreed, lying through her teeth. "Haldir is very knowledgeable."

"May I ask why you were seeking him?"

Alex swallowed and took a breath. Nice and calm, nice and slow. "I wanted to know where you all go to the bathroom way out here."

[Oh yes, very charming. Spaz!]

"Well I think that is very amusing," he laughed, "But Haldir did not find it childish and silly?"

"Absolutely not. I am genuinely curious I'll have you know."

"I am sorry to ruin your fun my lady, but you will not get a chance to use the aforementioned toilets."

Alex froze and looked up at him. She didn't ask him to take her where she was supposed to go. Had she been ordered out and he chosen to tell her?

"It is quite a walk, I hope you are up to it," he continued and Alex realized she had her mini panic attack while he was still speaking.

"Where are we going?"

"You haven't heard a word I said, have you?"

"I'm sorry."

"Now I know how Haldir feels," he laughed, smiling at her. "I said I'm to take you home."

"Home?!"

"Well, our home. My home" he corrected himself quickly, as Alex mentally bashed herself over the head. How could she think he could magically make her disappear. "I'll take care of you."

[Uh huh, that's not how it's supposed to go. I'm supposed to see some Lady person.]

"Are you ready?" he spoke to her again, "It is quite a distance."

"Well," she spoke to herself as she stepped over to him, "at least I'll loose some weight."

=====================================

"I'm stopping!" Alex called out, her feet throbbing their 'thanks.'

"Not yet Lady Alex, we've only just started."

"Just started?! Orophin that was at least two hours ago! How far is this place anyway" she groaned, pulling off her own boots and wiggling her toes. "I'm dying over here."

"Did I not tell you it was far?" he walked back to her, "I warned you."

"Did not. You mentioned it once, that's not warning."

"Twice, actually. You were not listening."

She made a hissing sound and looked away from him. "Fine, twice. But I'm still taking a break." She crossed her arms and stared, almost daring him to challenge her. Seeing he had no choice, he plopped down beside her and ran his finger over the dirt.

"May I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

He looked at her, rather confused. "Does that mean yes?"

[Shit, note to self: Don't use slang.]

"Yes it does, I'm sorry. Old habits, you know?" she shrugged as if suggesting her modern way of life was an acceptable excuse for her speech. "Shoot usually means 'yes' if it follows a question."

He nodded, tucking that bit of trivia into his brain so he could impress her the next time by not asking. "Do you not wish to stay here at all? Even the slightest? With me I mean."

Alex sighed and scooted over closer to him. "That's really bothering you, isn't it?" she asked gently, tucking a strand of his hair behind his pointed ear.

"Just a little."

She took his hand and held it firm. "Orophin, I could use every trick in the book to try and get you to fall in love with me. I've seen the tricks and I have an idea of how they work. But that's low, and wrong, and deceitful, and well don't get me started. That's for low, desperate, losers and so help me Orophin, you don't deserve a loser. For the love of pinstripes you deserve someone great."

"I don't understand about tricks and losers, but you are great. I know you are."

She smiled sadly, "After how long, a few days? Orophin it takes years to truly know someone. We… we aren't so lucky."

"But I want you to be here."

That did it. Alex was losing the battle. He had this way of sounding so sweet and innocent you felt like you were popping a child's toy balloon if you disagreed. "Now you do, for whatever your reasons may be. Have you forgotten we argued before?"

"Nonsense," he waved his hand dismissing it. "Complete stupidity. That does not matter."

"No Orophin," she held his hand tighter. "If it mattered before, then it will again. If something that tiny can set us off on each other…"

"Rumil shall be the peacemaker."

Alex smiled a little, it warmed her heart deep down to see how he was trying. " I don't even know you." she tried again, holding his hand to her heart. "I have no idea what's going to happen to me and you're the only one who showed the slightest concern."

Orophin brushed back her bangs.

"And," she concluded finally, wrapping her arms around him. "I am out of excuses."

"Thank Eru for that"

Orophin tilted her head up towards him and leaned in, kissing her as soft as he possibly could.