Chapter Twenty-Four

The next day, Teresa awoke and looked around her surroundings curiously for she did not remember being moved after falling asleep in the car. She noticed her suitcase sitting on the floor in the corner. Slowly, trying to be quiet since she had no idea where she was, she climbed out of bed and tiptoed to the suitcase. She picked it up and took it back and laid it on the bed. She opened it and pulled out some clothes and changed.

She heard the door one in the other room and froze. "I'm glad you could come over," she hears a familiar male voice say and realized that it was Orlando's. 'Is this his house?' she thought as she listened.

"Yeah, Orlando," said an unfamiliar female voice. "I was wondering why you were late for the shoot yesterday."

"Well," Orlando said nervously. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that Kate." He looked up at her and she stared at him quizzically. "I wasn't there on time because someone needed my help."

"Yeah?" Kate asked. "Who was that?"

"A girl," Orlando said flatly. Kate raised her eyebrows curiously. "I was in the neighborhood of the Grange and saw a girl pass out and no one helped her. It turns out that Mr. Samuels, the moneychanger robbed her and after being at the hotel as long as she could, she was on the street. She also had not eaten in two days."

"Oh," she said as she sat down. "Is she alright?" Orlando nodded then sighed heavily.

"Yeah," he said. "She's fine now."

"That's good," Kate said. "What did you do, take her to a shelter?"

Orlando shook his head. "No," he said. "She's here."

"Here?" Kate said and snapped. "She's here! Look Orlando, I will not tolerate this! You will take her to a shelter! I'm your girlfriend and I don't want her here!"

That was the last straw. "I will not take her to a shelter. She will be staying with me. This is my house not yours and I don't really care what you want, not anymore. I thought you were kind to people, but I see now, you aren't. She came here looking for me and for once, it is not to get a piece of me like it is now so painfully clear you wanted. It's over Kate! Please leave." Orlando got up and walked out of the room leaving Kate to stand there in shock. Slowly, she turned around and left.

Teresa jumped when she heard Orlando's footsteps coming closer, and held her breath. She couldn't believe what she had just overheard. She was now the cause of his heartache. How could she ever look at him again knowing that? The footsteps paused as if outside the door and Teresa didn't dare to breathe. Then, they receded and she let out her breath. She took a hairbrush out of her suitcase and ran it through her hair. Then, after waiting twenty minutes, she got up from the bed and opened the door.

Looking around, she saw no sign of Orlando, but then a delicious aroma wafted suddenly toward her. She smiled and followed the sent of bacon, eggs and pancakes toward the kitchen. Orlando turned and put the food on the table and looked up when he heard her enter. "Good morning," he said with a smile. "How do you feel?"

"Better," she said as she sat down at the table. "I want to thank you for letting me stay here last night."

Orlando nodded as he placed a glass of orange juice in front of her and sat down across from her. "It's no problem," he said. He grinned and chuckled. "I didn't know what you liked," he said indicating the food on the table. "I hope this is ok."

"Ok?" she asked. "It smells wonderful! I didn't expect to get breakfast before I left," she said as she helped herself to the food in front of her.

"Leave?" Orlando asked puzzled. "Why would you leave? You are welcome to stay as long as you like."

She looked at him in surprise. Then she shook her head slowly. "Your offer is kind, but I couldn't," she said quietly.

"Why not?" Orlando asked gazing at her with laughter in his eyes as he put down his fork and laced his fingers together while his elbows were propped on the table. He continued to gaze at her curiously as he rested his chin on his hands.

'He's so adorable,' she thought as she laughed lightly. Still, she shook her head. "I-I don't want to impose on you."

"Impose away," he said with a broad grin then broke his pose and continued eating. "I know this might sound strange but I know why you are here…I've spoken with your friend."

She looked at him in surprise. "My friend?" she said confused. "What friend? Who are you talking about?"

"Legolas," he answered simply. They didn't know it, but Legolas was watching them. He had seen Orlando arguing with the woman. He had heard him break ties with her, and then had seen her leave. Puzzlement fell over him like a thick shroud. Still, even with the woman gone, the meld had not resumed. He felt lost. He left them then, to seek the aid of Gandalf.

"You don't seem too surprised about it." Orlando said matter-of-factly.

Teresa nodded. "He said that there was only one other person who could hear him. What did he say?"

"He told me that you came here to find me," Orlando said after swallowing a bite of eggs. "That I'm the only memory you have." He paused before continuing, "Is that true?"

Teresa nodded. "Yes," she said before drinking a bit of juice. "I don't even remember my family. My doctor sent me out here because he thought it best I find you, than stay with people I have no memory of, and have everything come flooding back at once."

Orlando nodded then reached across the table for her hand. "All the more reason for you to stay I think," he said with a smile and she smiled back. "I don't have to be to the set until later, so we can go pay Mr. Samuels a visit, and get your money back. Ok?" Teresa nodded as relief flooded her.

After they finished breakfast, Orlando called Randolph to take them over to Samuels' store. When they arrived, Teresa noticed something she hadn't before, the moneychanger was also the owner of a pawnshop. Orlando held the door open for her, but he approached the counter first. "May I help you?" Jack asked as he came up to the counter while Teresa looked around the shop.

"Yeah," Orlando said as he reached over and pulled a sword from a scabbard he had seen when he entered. Jack watched as this obviously experienced swordsman practiced with the blade, swinging and twirling it expertly. "Do you see that woman over there?" Orlando asked pointing the blade toward Teresa as she looked around, and Jack nodded. "Do you recognize her?"

"No sir," Jack said as he shook his head. "I'm sorry I don't."

"Well," Orlando said as he still practiced idly with the sword. "Let me fill you in… She was in here two days ago to change her money to British pounds…five hundred dollars to exchange to be precise. I believe she talked with you."

"A-as I told you sir," Jack said nervously. "I've never seen her before."

Orlando turned and beckoned for Teresa to join him at the counter. "Well," he said to Jack with a smile. "I think you're lying." Turning to look at Teresa he asked, "Teresa, have you ever seen this man before?"

"Yes," she answered without hesitation. "He's the man who stole from me."

Orlando looked to Jack and smiled as he watched him pale. "W-what are you g-going to d-do?" Jack stammered nervously as his eyes continuously flitted from the girl to the man before him who still held the sword.

"Nothing," Orlando said matter-of-factly. "That is," he drawled. "If you give her the money you owe her." He swung the sword around again and rested it on a single finger. It balanced perfectly. He studied the hilt for a time then inspected the blade itself. It was a remarkable piece. How, he wondered.Did the owner of a sleazy pawnshop come to have a weapon such as this? He felt sorry for the poor fool that had probably been given a great deal less than what it was actually worth.

He sighed contentedly as he twirled it about again and thought back to the days when he played Legolas in the Lord of the Rings movies, then Wil Turner in Pirates of the Caribbean. The weapons were one of the reasons he loved the films. "Then," he continued. "You might even make a profit." Jack swallowed hard then nodded. "Oh," Orlando said as an afterthought. "If I ever hear of you swindling anyone again, you can bet that I'll turn you over to the authorities on Teresa's testimony."

Five minutes later, Teresa counted her money and Orlando became the owner of the sword. He held open the door and she exited on his arm. When they were in the back seat of the limo once more, neither could contain their laughter anymore. Orlando was the first to stop laughing and he gazed at her in awe.

"What?" she asked still laughing. When he didn't answer at first, her laughter slowed to a stop. "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Orlando shook his head. "I-it's just I've never heard you truly laugh," he said quietly. "I love the sound of it." She blushed as he grinned at her. "I wish I knew more about you."

"I wish I did too," she said as she looked into his eyes. "I would tell you if I could."

Orlando nodded. "So, now what?" he asked, changing the subject. "You have your money back and it is in pounds so you can use it here…" he said idly. "You know, you are still welcome to stay at my house. I really don't like the thought of you leaving when I'm apparently the only person you remember. I would be delighted if you would stay," he said as he reached for her hand and gazed into her deep blue eyes.

"I-I don't know what to say," she said. Never in her wildest dreams had she dared hope that she would receive such a reception.

"Say yes," he whispered as he searched her eyes with a pleading gaze.

She nodded and simply said, "Thank you."