THE FORGOTTEN
The Fellowship Says Farewell
Authors note: Well, I decided, for sake of my impatience, I am going to skip the funeral of Theoden and skip straight to the partings. As always, read and review! NOT EDITED!
The host left Edoras and made their way to Helm's Deep. True to their words, Legolas and Lothril joined Gimli in a short exploration of them. Lothril was awestruck by their beauty, and Legolas had to admit, they were magnificent, but he was more than glad to be out in the sunshine again.
From Helm's Deep they rode to Isengard and saw the ents once more. There was much speech in which Lothril did not have the heart to listen to, the hour of parting had almost struck.
"Well Lady Lothril," Treebeard said in his slow entish way. "I have heard rumor of your deeds. You have done quite well. Shall you leave from here to explore my forest with Legolas and Gimli?"
"I...I am afraid not. I must leave for a year, then I shall return and explore your forest if I am able," Lothril said.
Suddenly a white light came falling out of the clear blue sky. It looked almost like a star. Everyone looked on with amazement, save Legolas and Lothril, for it was the same thing that had brought her there almost a year ago.
"I fear it is time to say good-bye," she said. She hoped she would see most of them again, but she did not know. She looked at the Fellowship, they were getting a little teary eyed. She blinked back the tears as best as she could as she hugged each member, and gave them each a kiss on the cheek. To the four hobbits she whispered something different and said a good bye to all. She then turned to the Lord Elrond and his sons Elladan and Elrohir and bowed low in the elvish fashion.
"Lord Elrond, I thank you for everything you have done for me," she said. "Elladan, Elrohir, keep on eye on Legolas for me, make sure he does not get into too much mischief."
"Lothril, you are more than welcome," Elrond said.
"We shall keep an eye on him," Elrohir said. "Do not worry about that!"
She turned to Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, "Again, I thank you for watching over me while I was away. I thank you for all you have done."
They both assured her she was more than welcome and that if ever she wanted to visit, she would be welcomed. Everyone had assured her of that. Every king and ruler of every country and realm in the West had given her leave to wander where she willed.
Last of all, she turned to Legolas. "Legolas, I shall miss you dearly," she said, shedding tears at last. She flung her arms around him and buried her face in his shoulder.
Legolas kissed her cheek and said, "I shall miss you, but a year is a short time for us to wait. I love you Lothril."
"I love you too," she said. He held her tightly in his arms as if she was going to be sucked away a moment too soon, and kissed her long. She handed her bow and quiver over to Thranduil to keep while she was gone, but not her knives and said, "I shall keep these."
She stepped up to the white light, turned, cried, "Farewell!" and stepped into the white light. The moment she was engulfed in the light, she felt like she was hit by something large, but before she could turn around and look, she found herself staring at Sarah Prachitt. A stupid look was on her face and she seemed to be staring at Robby Johnson two seats ahead and to the left of her. She stopped, then she realized time was frozen, then she was hit again by something.
"Umpf!" she spun around and found a very dazed elf prince looking around. "Legolas! How did you get here?"
"I don't know. It felt like something pushed me in after you," Legolas said. "Is this your school?"
"Yes. This is horrible!" she cried, her fair face was distraught.
"Why?" Legolas asked, putting a hand on each shoulder.
"Because now I have to either hide you or explain you. Let me think!" she said. She put her head in her hands and turned towards the window. Something on her desk caught her eye. It was white parchment with a vibrant red seal upon it of seven stars. "Hello, what is this?" she asked as she picked it up and opened it. It was a letter written in Quenya and in gold ink.
"What is it?" Legolas asked. Lothril broke the seal.
"A letter from Elbereth," she slowly replied.
"What does it say?" he asked. She held the letter so both could see. This is how it ran in modern English:
Lady Lothril,
Greetings from Manwë and Elbereth! Some things have changed since you last spoke to us, and it is important you know of these changes. One of them, you have already discovered, is that Legolas is coming with you. It was decided that sundering you and Legolas so soon after being married was unfair. Do not worry about hiding him, everyone thinks he is a foreign exchange student from England, and his name is Avery Smith. Do not worry about money for him, for the amount of half of his father's treasury has been put into a dollar amount.
There is something else you should know as well, you are no longer staying for one year, but until January 20th.
Some things may be slightly altered because you went back, do not worry, nothing drastic has been changed. You still have something you must do. DO NOT look for it, it shall come to you.
One thing more, time has been temporarily stopped in your time. Once you sit down in your desk, time shall resume. Remember, even though in Middle-earth you may be considered 2,517, in this place are you only 16. Do not forget to act that age.
You shall find that Legolas already has clothes that fall within your school's rules. Do not worry, we shall be watching and guiding you still.
-Manwë and Elbereth
"Legolas, did you get that? your new name is Avery."
"Yes Lothril. Did you know you were 2,517?"
"No. Now, Legolas, this is a much different world from where you come from. I think it would be best if we kept in mental contact always. And, if you see anything weird, or have any questions, ask me mentally."
"Very well Lothril," Legolas said.
"One thing more, do not tell anyone you are an elf, do not tell anyone Middle-earth or anyone there in exists, and do not let anyone know we are married. Everyone thinks I am sixteen and boyfriendless, with minimal hope of getting one before I turn twenty-six."
"Understood," Legolas said with a nod.
There was a stack of clothes on her desk, her lime green polo, khaki skirt, nylons, and loud sandals were there, on top of that was a green polo and a pair of khaki pants. She handed him his new clothes and she snatched hers. They couldn't bring themselves to change in front of a group of unseeing, frozen kids, nor the hallway, so she led him to the door that led to the school attic. She found it unlocked and they went in there to change.
Both decided to leave their elvish shoes on, and Lothril didn't bother putting on her nylons again. "I guess I don't care if I get in trouble for it!" she said.
"These clothes feel coarse," Legolas said.
"Welcome to my world," she said with a sarcastic grin. "Are you ready?"
"I think so. Where shall be put our clothes?" Legolas asked.
"Unless things are very changed, my mother's mini-van should be parked outside. We can put them in there under a seat and let them hide there. Our weapons can go under our clothes. Oh, Legolas, you need a hair cut. If your hair is not short, you shall get in trouble!"
"What should I do?"
"Well, I don't know how to cut your hair right, so... We shall take a risk and let you wear a baseball hat. Just tuck your hair up in it."
"What about my ears?"
"If anyone asks, you were born with them. People may pass it off as a birth defect of sorts."
"Good. Now, what is a mini-van and a baseball hat?"
Lothril explained as they went out to the mini-van. Yes, it was still there, thank the Valar, and they stowed their clothes and things in it. Then, she got her baseball hat off the rider's seat and gave it to him.
"Baseball hat's are not dress code, but I am willing to guess, rather pray, that you are here visiting, and are not technically enrolled in my school yet, so if you break a few small rules you will probably get by. Let's go back inside, Avery."
"Very well, Jennifer. I like Lothril better I think."
"As do I," Lothril grinned.
They went back inside the school. As they climbed the stair case leading to the second floor Legolas asked, "What does the name Avery mean?"
"He he he, the Valar have a sense of humor. It means 'ruler of the elves'," Lothril said with a grin.
They got back in the room, and found he had a desk in front of hers.
"Ready when you are," Lothril said.
Legolas nodded and they sat down at the exact same time. Suddenly a paper airplane went by and Mrs. Johnson, Robby's mother, the study hall monitor said, "Billy Crandall! No throwing paper airplanes! Come up here and get a demerit!"
The bell rang and study hall was out. The next class was history with Mrs. Stottenhelm.
"A word of warning Le, Avery, her voice is rather high and squeaky," Lothril said.
"What are you saying?"
"Your ears may hurt by the end of the class."
"Oh," Legolas said with a frown.
The students filed into class just ere the bell rang. "Alrighty class, today we are going to study D-Day. Turn in your text books to page..." said Mrs. Stottenhelm. Her voice had the effect on the elves as nails across a blackboard have on humans.
"I see what you mean!" Legolas said mentally. She nodded slightly. By the end of class both were about ready to scream. After history came the last class of the day, Drama, and the teacher was Mrs. Erickson, Jennifer's mother.
"This is where you get to meet my, mother. Mrs. Erickson's Drama class," Lothril said.
They entered the room and Legolas spotted her. Mrs. Erickson was the same height Jennifer had been when she arrived, but she was a little stockier in build than Jennifer or Lothril had been, and her features were not as elven fair as Jennifer's had been.
"Hey Avery! Are you enjoying your day so far?" Mrs. Erickson asked.
"Yes mil.. Ma'am. It has been a very interesting day. I am learning quite a bit about... America," Legolas said. He thanked Lothril for helping him out.
The two had almost gotten through the day without incident, that is, until Mrs. Erickson decided to have a question and answer segment with Avery.
"This will be a great opportunity for us to get to know you!" Mrs. Erickson said. Legolas' eyes grew wide.
"Go for it! I'll help!" Lothril whispered. Legolas stood and went to the front of the room. He couldn't have been more nervous if he had been told to fight a balrog. Thank goodness Jennifer's mother had a stool in the front of her room. He sat down and the questions began.
"So, just how old are you?" Becky Redenbocker asked.
He looked at Lothril. "Seventeen."
Sarah Brown was next, "When's your birthday and, what are your hobbies?"
"Um," Legolas did some quick calculating in his head based on Shire reckoning and said, "May twenty-first. I like archery, horseback riding, broad blade sword fighting, long knife fighting, I like playing the lap harp, mandolin, reading, singing, dancing, woodworking, a large variety of things," he ended.
"What kind of dancing?" Becky asked. She was a short blonde, athletic girl and thought Avery was "hott".
Legolas looked back at Lothril, "Say folk!" she said mentally.
"Traditional folk. Rather unique to where I'm from," Legolas said.
Sarah Brown obviously had a crush on him as well because she got a dreamy look in her eyes and stupid smile on her face.
Much to Legolas' relief, Andrew Benson spoke. "What's your favorite book?"
"Lord of the Rings," Legolas said without hesitation.
Lothril suppressed a grin. The questions continued and with a little help, all were answered. None to soon the bell rang, signifying the end of the day. Praise be to Elbereth! As they left, Becky approached Avery.
"Hey Avery, do you have a girlfriend?"
"As a matter of fact, yes I do," Legolas said.
"Oh. Where does she live?"
"Around here,"Legolas said. He was assuming Jennifer's was nearby anyway.
"Oh. That's too bad," Becky said. "Man, you get girlfriends fast! I thought you got here yesterday!" She wasn't the most subtle person in the world. Which explained why she only ever had one boyfriend.
"I did. She had been my next door neighbor, then she moved here around the same time I was to come over here, so we kept in contact and she remained my girlfriend." Legolas explained. It was as close to the truth as he was going to get.
Becky bought the story. Mostly because the tale of how she met her first and only boyfriend to date had been even stranger than his. "Oh. See ya!" she said, as bubbly and enthusiastically as ever, and proceeded with shoving homework into her backpack. Either she was hopeful, or she was delusional, maybe both. Neither one knew, elves though they were.
Legolas whispered in elvish, "Can I claim you as my 'girlfriend'?"
"Not by name just yet. Just wait and see how things end up. Now, let us go home."
Suddenly Becky chimed up, "Cool boots Jen! Where'dya get 'em?"
"They were a gift," she said.
"Weird, I thought you were wearing sandals this morning, but you know me, a little scatter brained at times! Too bad you don't know where they got them, they're beautiful! Later Jen!"
"Good-bye Becky."
Lothril and Legolas headed down to the mini-van, where Mrs. Erickson and Jennifer's siblings Jessica and Jon were waiting, and they drove home. More than ever Lothril was grateful for her ability to mentally communicate, otherwise Legolas would have never made it to the Erickson house.
He stood at the door of the vehicle and stared at it mistrustfully. "What sort of machine is this?" he asked mentally.
"It is used for transportation. Do not worry. It can't eat you," she jokingly assured.
"Must I be locked inside of it?"
"Yes, but do not worry, it isn't alive and my mother is in total control of it," Lothril said. Legolas slowly entered and sat down. "Now, see that strap over your shoulder with the metal buckle on it?" Legolas nodded. "Watch me and do as I do." Lothril buckled her seat belt and Legolas imitated the action. He was none to happy about the whole thing, it seemed strange that anyone would voluntarily get in that strange machine and willingly strap themselves to it, but he trusted Lothril, so he did it.
As they pulled in the driveway, Lothril expected to see the one story, three bedroom house she had known her whole life, and wondered where on earth they had put Avery. Instead, however, she saw a two story house. Mrs. Erickson, Jessie, and Jon filed into the house, allowing Lothril to grab the clothes, and Legolas the weapons, after having to unbuckle Legolas herself. The knives they quickly shoved into her book-bag, and the bow he hid behind his back. They entered the house a full minute after the others, and found the mother and siblings to be off in their rooms putting on more comfortable clothes.
"This way! I think," Lothril said. She slowly went up the staircase, praying her bedroom and the guestroom were at the top. There were two doors in the entire upstairs. The first one they opened they saw luggage neatly stacked in a corner. "This must be yours," she said. They put his weapons and clothes in his room then went to the next door.
They opened it and found cream, texture painted walls, with green and white curtains and thick green carpeting. There was a definite effort on the part of Jennifer to have as Middle-earthian looking bedroom as possible. Maps of Middle-earth and various places were on the walls and favorite quotes from books were written in calligraphy and hung upon the wall. She looked over at her bed and saw it was now queen sized. Why on earth it was she couldn't imagine, but she was glad! Her bed had always been a little too small and now...
"And this must be mine!" She said with a grin. You can come in if you wish, but if we hear anyone come up the steps, you must get out."
Legolas nodded. He walked in and looked about at the digital alarm clock, the stereo, and the lamp that she had. She had a few candles and candle powered lamps as well. Lothril explained to him what the clock and the stereo were and turned on the stereo. Lothril thought Legolas was going to fall over when her Lord of the Rings soundtrack music blared out.
"How do so many people and instruments fit inside that small...Some one is coming up the stairs!" Legolas said. He bolted out the room and into his, just before Jennifer's mother reached the top of the stairs. She walked right past Avery's room and to Jennifer's.
She heard a knock. "Just a second!" she said as she buttoned up her jeans. That was one thing she wished was in Middle-earth, blue jeans. "Come in!"
"He Jen, I want you to make sure Avery feels welcome. He's only been here a day, I know, but I think he feels a little out of place. Introduce him to your friends. Judging from today's class, I think he would get along with them nicely. Ok hun, can you do that for me?"
"Yes mom, gladly!" Lothril said. He must have come for only half a day.
"Thanks, I knew you would. Supper's in a few hours, so why don't you show him around the yard or something," Mrs. Erickson said. She left the room. Now, something you must know, the Erickson's had a heavily wooded yard with a stream that ran through it and a pond, several acres large it was, and had plenty of trees for elves to climb, though none that humans could.
"Hey Avery!" she called the moment she hit the door of her room. "Want to go on a walk?"
"Yes, that sounds nice," he said through his door. She opened the door to his room and sat on his bed. "You know, it's warm enough you could where jeans and a t-shirt," she said as he was putting on a long-sleeved t-shirt. He was still wearing his khaki pants.
"What?" Legolas asked. She walked over to the dresser and found a pair of jeans and a t-shirt that said: IF THIS SHIRT IS CLEAN, I AM AN ELF. IF THIS SHIRT IS DIRTY, I AM A HUMAN. WHO WANTS TO SPEND A SHORT LIFE DOING LAUNDRY ANYWAY?
"Perfect!" she said. "Put this on." She tossed the shirt and jeans at his head. He held up the shirt, read it, and laughed.
"Ha, ha," he said. "How droll."
He put on the shirt and jeans and decided jeans were much more comfortable than khaki's, but were still not as comfortable as elvish clothes.
"Legolas, darling, we still need to get your hair cut. Wait right here while I call to get you an appointment to get it cut."
"Call to get an appointment to cut my hair? That does not make much sense to me," Legolas said.
"I'll explain it all in a minute," Lothril said as she ran downstairs. She grabbed the phone and ran back upstairs and called her hair salon. She would have taken him to a barber shop, but there wasn't one she knew of in less than an hours drive. In five minutes she had an emergency appointment with the only hair stylist she trusted, Kathy. "Come on Avery, let's go tell my mom your going in for a hair cut," she said as she put the baseball cap back on his head.
They went downstairs and Lothril found her mother in the kitchen.
"Mom, Avery said he needed to get his hair cut, so I'm going to take him over to Kathy."
"Okay Jen, be back before supper!"
"Thanks mom!" Lothril called over her shoulder as she dragged Legolas out to the mini-van. Lothril got in on the drivers side and they drove away.
"I didn't know you knew how to drive this thing," Legolas said.
"I had gotten my license a few days before I left for Middle-earth. Now, when we get there, just do whatever Kathy says. Something you should know as well, this is called a mini-van. As things go along, I shall teach you the difference and names between all the many vehicles we have."
"Very well," Legolas said. This world was insane. He had only been there a few hours and already he was seeing drastic differences.
In a few minutes they were at the hair salon.
"Hey Jen! How ya doing? Is this Avery?" Kathy asked. She was a curly headed blonde with brown eyes and a bubbly, friendly personality. She was one of those people you can help but like.
"Yes," Lothril smiled back. "He would like to donate his hair to that place that makes wigs for children cancer patients."
"I would?" Legolas asked in a whisper.
"Yes you would," she whispered back.
"You do know you have to have ten inches of more of hair to donate right?" she said looking back and forth at Jen and Avery.
Lothril took of his hat to reveal a foot and some inches of long, silky, blonde hair for donation. Kathy smiled and said, "Have a seat!" and motioned to one of the chairs. Legolas undid his braid as she got a rubber band to tie his hair off with. She tied off his hair and snip, snip, there went fourteen inches of the most unique and beautiful blonde hair known to our time. Legolas looked at his loose, uneven locks in the mirror. He was almost shocked, his hair hadn't been that short since he got it caught in a bush in Imladris while playing hide and seek with Elladan and Elrohir and had to get it cut to get out.
Kathy took Legolas backed, washed his hair and brought him back to the chair. This was all quite new and strange to him. "How do you want your hair cut?" she asked.
Legolas had no idea, luckily, Lothril did. "Short, something that would pass at school, but not too short."
"Got ya," Kathy said. She had cut the hair of more than one boy from Jennifer's school and knew exactly what to do. Short, tapered in the back, but a little bit left on the top so he could do what he wanted with it. Messy, combed neatly, whatever.
"Thank you Kathy! You're a life saver! That is perfect!" Lothril praised. She paid the lady and the two left.
In the mini-van on the way home Legolas said, "The last time my hair was this short, I was born."
Lothril laughed. "Get used to it, it shall be that short until January twentieth."
They made it back to the Erickson residence, informed Mrs. Erickson they had made it home safe, then explored the yard. During the exploration, many things were explained, as best as Lothril could explain them.
Suddenly, they heard a bell. "That is the signal for supper," Lothril said. They hurried back towards the house to find everyone outside at the picnic table eating ribs.
"We already said grace you two. You'll have to say it for yourselves then dig in," Mr. Erickson said. And now, Legolas was beholding Jennifer's father. He was tall with a trim build, red headed with deep set blue eyes, and a mustache.
"What did your father mean by saying grace?" Legolas asked mentally.
"It is when we thank Illuvatar for our food," Lothril explained. "A practice held by some yet in this time, and most definitely held by this family."
"I see," Legolas said. They bowed their heads and said silent prayers, though in truth, Legolas was counting out seconds for what he thought would be a suitable length for such a thing. After seven seconds, Lothril asked him mentally what on earth he was doing and told him to open his eyes and eat.
Lothril and Legolas were given ribs, covered in the family's favorite barbeque sauce. Legolas had never had barbeque covered ribs, or anything barbequed for that matter. He glanced around and picked up the ribs, his hands instantly being covered in sauce. He took a bite and became very conscious of the fact the sauce was on much of his face that lied between nose and chin. He set them down, wiped his mouth off with a napkin and said, "This is quite a messy business isn't it?"
"Duh! Haven't you had ribs before?" Jessie blurted out.
Legolas may have been slightly insulted at her tone if he hadn't remembered he was suppose to be only a few years older than her, and this world was quite strange. "No, we don't have ribs quite like this back home," Legolas said while staring down at them. This was new, quite new, and strange!
"Avery, would you like some pop?" Mrs. Erickson asked upon observing he had no beverage.
"No thank you. May I have some water?" he asked. What was pop?
"Sure!" Mrs. Erickson said as she went inside to fetch him some. A few minutes later she returned with a tall glass of ice water.
"Thank you ma'am," he said just before he took a sip.
Authors note: Just so you know, pop is the Michigander term for soda, coke, carbonated beverages. Ok, I think this is the third chapter I've written today! Yay for me! Thus begins the adventures of Legolas in modern times! MWAHAHAHAHA! Lucky Lothril, he's there, he's gorgeous, and he's got more money than either one know what to do with! I think this whole thing shall prove very interesting. Very interesting indeed! Review please!