Sorry for the lateness, school's been killing me as of late.*Please leave a review and tell me what you think*
(Chapter Twenty-Seven)
"Does these ones fit you or no?" I asked Hadlir outside the men's dressing room at a Old Navy store in the Ontario grand mall. "What about the color? Is the black too harsh for you or do you prefer something a bit more subtle like perhaps tan, grey or brown?"
"I think black pants is just fine." He told me as he handed me the pair he just tried on. "I don't want you to spend too much money on me."
I couldn't' help but snort at his comment. I had stopped by my local bank on our way to the mall to withdraw seven hundred and fifty dollars from my savings. Yes, given that I haven't yet graduated from college for at least another three weeks or so, I thought it wouldn't hurt that I withdrew a large amount after making sure that I had my rent and other bills paid first. "Its nothing right at this minute. Just as long as I got my bills to pay, I'll be fine." I waved it away. "Why don't you go look for three pairs of shirts that might be good with the pants and I'll go find some extra stuff for you." I pointed in the direction of the men's shirt area. "I have a feeling that whatever you pick will look good on you, regardless." I encourage him with a bright smile. Haldir sighed while he walked away from me. "It's not all that bad as you think it is." I called after him before turning around at the sound of someone calling my name.
"Acadia!" I saw Bianca rush up to me with her little sister, Carrie, who was hanging by her hand and trying to walk as fast as her little seven year old legs could carry her while her sister pulled her along. I slightly grimaced at the possible feeling she might have seen me with Haldir. I hadn't even thought of a good alias to call him by since calling him by his birth name would seem rather odd since it was from the LOTR series. I could only pray that he would have good mind of at least staying way for a moment or two while I talked with my lab partner.
"Hey, Bi." I greeted her warmly as we exchanged hugs. "Hi there Carrie, are you staying out of the sweet jar?" I got to her sister's eye-level and lightly pitched her cheek.
Carrie giggled, revealing her two missing front teeth. "Yeah, maw sister been good at hiding dem!" She beamed up at me. "Right, big sis?"
"I've been trying to hid them from her." Bianca corrected with a roll of her eyes. "So what brings you here?" She nodded to the pants in my arms. "Is your godfather coming out sooner then expected? I thought he wasn't going to be able to fly out for at least another two weeks due to a recent business trip."
"Well, I just thought of getting him a few pairs of jeans to wear around the house or for an outing." I lied. I glanced slightly over her shoulder to find Haldir looking thought a rack of plaid shirts. Good at least he's occupied with those for a while. "You know how my godfather is, Bianca. He loves his casual clothes after always wearing a suit and tie everyday." I added with a short laugh.
"Its good that he's coming out to see you." She told me while giving her sister a hug. "Its been a while, but I'm sure you will enjoy some decent company after graduation. Do you guys plan on doing anything special afterwards?"
"You mean after the ceremony?"
"That and in the days that he will be here. What are you planning on doing together? And it better not be "I'm just gonna play chess all day with him' reply, Acadia." She wiggled her finger underneath my nose with a exasperated look on her face. "I've heard that excuse way too many times out of you before. Its high time that you get up your ass and do something bold and different for a change."
If only she knew the truth. I told myself in my head. Things were definitely changing around my own little world and I wasn't too sure if it was for the better or the worse of me that I had two elves, who were not supposed to be even a part of reality itself. "No, no, we are not going to be playing chess, Bi. I think he might just drag me out clothes shopping."
"And what's wrong with a little extra clothes? I mean, its not like he's buying out the whole store or something. And to add a further point, Acadia," Bianca smirked. "You could need it anyway."
Carrie chose this moment before I could reply to tug at her sister's hand impatiently. "I wanna go eat ice cream and play at the arcade!" She cried. "Please? Can we go now?" She began tugging more rapidly at Bi's hand and I took my cue to smile. "Well it looks like your little sister really, really wants her ice cream and games, so I'll just see you Monday morning, Bi." I said while I watched her being pulled in the direction of the entrance that would lead them back into the mall.
"Okay, see you thin." She called back before they soon disappeared out of my sight. Heaving a sigh, I almost screamed when I turned around to find myself starting at Haldir's chest. "Shit!" I cried, holding a hand over my pounding heart. "You scared me. Don't ever come up from behind me like that, I hate it when people do that to me."
He gave me an apologetic smile before holding to four pairs of different long sleeve turtlenecks and a plaid shirt. "Will these do? And is a small sorry make you feel a little better?"
"Yeah, sure." I grumbled while I held up the pants I was holding on for him. "Go try these on again with those shirts and if you like them, I'll buy them for you. Next shop we are going next is Payless for some boots and a pair of casual shoes. The roads and walkways are very different out here, so you'll need comfortable shoes that will last you a good while."
Haldir took the pants from me and headed back into the men's changing room. I went to the men's underwear area and grabbed several bags of socks, boxers and briefs for him before I walked over to the women's area to find a couple of sleepwear for myself. Bi was right in telling me that I needed new clothes since I hadn't really gone shopping for myself clothes wise for almost four years now. I had always told myself that whatever I had or my godfather got for me while he was visiting was enough. I didn't really like shopping altogether, but Haldir was an exception now since it was very important that he blended in with the so-called 'crowd' in my world. If Liam could do, I'm sure he could since I had found out for myself upon observing him at home, Haldir was a very quick learner when it came to new sights and experiences that was different from what he was normally used to. I hoped that after perhaps some more interactions between Liam and him over the next however long it was going to be that he was gonna stay with me, things might get a little less awkward for the pair and less headaches for me.
Not that the younger elf was much of an issue, but given that I was still having a hard time remembering my own experiences in his world, I felt too awkward around him whenever we were alone. I pushed the thought aside and tried to focus on looking at the satin night shirts in front of me. If it true that I survived in Middle Earth, given that I had a very bad mouth around him and his people. My cheeks warmed at the horrified thought of what I could have said in front of Lady Galadriel and her husband. Oh God, I hope I didn't offend them or say anything wrong that they might end up taking it the wrong way. I could only imagine what those two would think of me now if I were to ever see them again.
I heard a slight cough next to me. "I think I'll get these." Haldir told me when I looked up at him. "The colors go rather well together and I like the material as well against my skin."
"Ok, I was just getting a couple of stuff for myself." I said blankly. "Lets get going. I still want to buy you those shoes I told you about."
The next few stops weren't too bad after we went to Payless. I told him while we were getting his foot sized that we would be meeting up with Liam at his shop afterwards for lunch. Based by the slight look of discomfort he made, I quickly assured him I could always call Liam and make if for another time if perhaps it was too soon in a single day to see him again after this morning's encounter. Haldir merely shrug and told me that I was his hostess so it was up to me, not him. As frustrating as it was, I told him then we could just make it for another day and eat lunch at home for now. We continued on our shopping spree at a few bath and body shops and I got my pajamas that I was looking for at Forever 21. I didn't appreciate the ogling and mouth dropping looks I got from the other female customers when they spied Haldir standing patiently beside me with an indifferent, but polite look on his face, so I made my selection quick, paid for it and left the store with him tagging behind my heels at a leisurely pace.
By the time we had left the mall, it was almost five in the late afternoon so I felt it was best that we head home so I could fix us a belated lunch/dinner.
"Acadia?"
I had been too preoccupied with my mind to pay much attention to Haldir as we continued walking home. I glanced up at him out of the corner of my eye. He was staring straight ahead of him, but I could tell that he was bothered by something. "Yes? What's wrong?" I replied. We came to a crosswalk. I pushed the "walk" button and waited for the red light to turn green. "Something on your mind?"
I caught his shrugging. "Well it must be something important that you want to convey to me if you are acting this way." I pressed before crossing the street. He kept up with me easily. "Just tell me. It might be something that I've already heard before anyway. No big deal."
"I hope my presence isn't going to cause you an unnecessary problems or personal issues between yourself and your friends and family. I couldn't help but overhear that your godfather is coming to visit you soon for your college graduation. I wondered if perhaps you wanted me to go elsewhere as I am fully aware he doesn't know that you are no longer alone."
I felt a little guilty that my conversation had made him feel so uncomfortable since he knew how I lived prior to him appearing. "Haldir, let's stop here for a bit." I pointed at the local park nearby. "I need to rest my feet for a few minutes and tell you something about me." Once we had seated ourselves on a bench with the bags piled on one side, I turned to him with a serious look on my face. "Listen, you don't know my world yet to go somewhere else and be on your own. How are you going to survive if you don't know how our technology works or how money and the importance of society depends solely on the ability to be able to do things to survive?" I pointed at his chest. "I am fully aware of the issue, but I'm not worried too much about it since I could easily lie my way past him about it by just saying your a visiting friend of Liam's."
His beautiful face frowned. "Even so, I don't think he would approve of you being alone with a man in your home. If my memory serves me correctly, you had told Lady Galadriel that you are not the type for relationships or having men being too close to you."
"Yeah, and what about yourself? You told me that you have feelings for me."
"That's different. Our society is very different from the mortals in the way we have fully respected both sexes. But I still don't feel too well of meeting your godfather if you are going to lie about me. What if he tries to catch me in your lie and I end up being burned by it? How am I going to explain myself and where I come from with a simple lie, no matter how small it is."
It was my turn to frown. I hated to admit it, but Haldir was right when I wasn't the type to lie about myself when my godfather already knew of what happened to me in my past and he'd find out that I was lying to him. I rubbed my temples between my fingers with a groan. "Man, this is really putting me between a rock and hard place." I looked out the distance. "I guess it couldn't hurt if I just told him that I was in a relationship with you for some time." I finally said slowly. I glanced up at his unreadable face. "I could just say that you just moved in with me recently a few months ago. If he sees that I'm ok around you, he might just buy the whole thing without question."
"If he even buys it at all." Haldir said blandly. "I'm just worried if he should find out that you are not telling the truth, Acadia. What are you going to do then when he begins to question you then?"
"Let me deal with that, Haldir." I replied sharply as I stood up. "Come on, its getting late and I want to get something in my stomach when we get home."
"I hope you understand that this is really hard for me right now just as it is for you, Acadia." He said softly while giving me a small squeeze on the shoulder. "Neither one of us asked for any of this to happen. But it just did and I'm trying to do the best I can to accept what is given to me with a good heart while I try to help you in any way I can."
My inner consciousness felt really bad after hearing him say that. From now on, this no longer wasn't just about me. Liam and Haldir both are not a part of my world and yet now they are and I had to do what he just said. Make the best of it for the time being, but not hurt either one's feelings. Even my own. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly while grabbing some of the shopping bags. I could feel Haldir's gaze in the back of my head, but I allowed myself to remain calm. "Its going to be ok." I smiled up at him. "If you took good care of me back in your world, then its high time that I repay the favor and do the same for you in the fully abilities that I can until you or someone else finds a way for you to go home."
He looked up at the setting sun. The soft orange and pink rays bathes his fair skin, making it appear almost a rosy color. "If I still have a home to return home to." He said very softly. "The darkness is spreading too fast across the lands. The strength of men is waning and my people are fighting to the death to remain alive in their own lands or depart the shores of Middle Earth while they still can. Is there still a ray of hope left in this world?"
I didn't say anything. I should probably hid the books out of fear if he should ever find them and read the final outcome, it might end up changing everything that is supposed to take place with the ring-bearer and all involved within the fate of the One Ring. I had a good feeling that Galadriel had already known based upon meeting me in her realm, but had kept silent for her people's sake as well as mine. I grabbed Haldir's hand with my free one, pulling him abruptly from his thoughts. "Let's go home now and see what we can eat." I told him. "Aren't you hungry?"
Not waiting for a reply, I started pulling him with me back onto the busy sidewalk. There was still plenty of time for me to plan things out, but right now I felt it was best that I helped with Haldir's adjusting here then rather pull my hair out with the stress that nothing was the same. I made a mental note of calling Liam and apologizing to him for not keeping our agreement for lunch, but I was sure he would understand, given that he too had gone through the exact same thing himself before, however long ago it was. The only major difference between him and Haldir, was that he had done it all alone. This time, Liam wasn't alone anymore as the only immortal here, but I prayed that whatever the difference of circumstances were in him and Haldir, things would go smoothly as I learned to accept my world as changed while theirs continue fighting for rightfulness and freedom of all who lived in Middle Earth.
