THE FORGOTTEN

Friends and a Surprise

Authors note: I feel like I'm off here. Off whack. I hope this chapter helps me get back on track. I doubt it. I'm such an optimist!

New Year's Eve was a lot of fun, the two stayed up til midnight, then when it struck, they went outside and had a snowball fight. Once Legolas gave Lothril a thorough whitewashing, they went inside.

"You know, I wish you had been here my whole life. I would have had so much more fun!" Lothril said. "I love being around you. Where ever you go, fun seems to follow."

"Did you ever think it might be you?"

"I know it is not me, because where ever I go, boredom ensues."

"You're too hard on yourself," Legolas said.

Lothril just sighed. She flung herself on her bed, and stared up at the ceiling. "Probably. You always said so before. You also said I wasn't open enough. Do you think that is still true?" she asked.

"Truthfully, yes. I do. Like now, something is bothering you, and you will not tell me what it is. Come now, if you can't tell your husband, who can you tell? Whatever this is, it has been bothering you for some time now. Please, tell me."

Lothril sighed. "Ever since I've gotten back, I have noticed how different everything seems. Every thing I knew, and thought I knew, is not so. Mother and Father are not the same mother and father I knew when I left. I am not the same girl I was when I left. This is all so frustrating! Nothing is the same. To add to the confusion, there is always Julie and Rachel to contend with. I thank them for their concern, but it is making our lives difficult!"

Legolas just gave a soft sigh. "Lothril, you are doing it again, you are fretting over things. In eighteen days it won't matter anymore. Not one sentence, word, or slip. In eighteen days, it is all over. For good. Maybe on our last day, we should go public with everything, blow their minds away. Surprise them all!"

"Are you mad?"

"Maybe. Wouldn't it be funny though, to see all their faces?" Legolas grinned.

"It would be funny, but I'm not sure I dare do it."

"In any event, we can't worry about it now. It won't do any good," Legolas said with a grin. He kissed her and quietly said, "Forget it. Relax. Enjoy yourself. Time here is short."

She smiled and gave herself to his kisses and touch.

Three days before school resumed, Andrew invited KT, Maggs, Jennifer, and Avery over for a little post Christmas party, Brandon was yet away on vacation.

As they were sitting around playing a friendly, well, vicious game of Uno, KT noticed Lothril's and Legolas' rings.

"Ooooh! SHINY!" she said. "Your rings are very shiny!" She looked at them a second longer and said. "Oooh! You are wearing them on your wedding fingers. Are you married?" It was stated in her strange tone, so at first the two just smiled, She was joking. Then Andrew looked up.

"Yeah, I've noticed that. You both always wear those rings on your left hand ring finger. Any particular reason why?" Andrew asked.

Maggs, Lothril, and Legolas all looked at each other. What on earth should they do, unsure of what to do. Maggs just shrugged, Lothril looked at Legolas as if waiting for him to answer. He raised a brow, as if asking if that was really what she wanted. She nodded, and he spoke.

"Well, there is a good reason for it," he said. He listened, he heard nothing. He stood up and quickly went to the closed door of the basement. He heard nothing. He returned to his seat and continued. "That is because we are married."

Andrew and KT's eyes grew wide. "You and Jennifer are married?" Andrew exclaimed.

"Shhh! I do not want the world to know! And no, Jennifer is not married to anyone, neither is Avery, but we are. We are elves. I am Legolas son of King Thranduil, and this is my wife Lothril of Mirkwood, Daughter of Valinor."

"How on earth!" KT asked, her voice normal, which surprised Legolas a good bit.

This time Legolas told the whole story, beginning to end. Andrew dropped his Uno cards about a quarter of the way through. At the end of the story he said, "That is so cool! Why didn't you tell us before?"

"We wouldn't have told anyone besides her parents if Maggs here hadn't figured it out," Legolas said.

"That is very spiffy!" KT said. After that, Legolas and Lothril were bombarded with questions about Middle-earth. Before the night was over, Andrew and KT were sworn to secrecy about the whole matter and asked to forget it.

"Can we tell Brandon?" Andrew asked.

"No. He will not understand, and he is a bit loud. I love him dearly, but I really do not want him to find out!" Lothril said.

Andrew wasn't particularly pleased with that answer, but he respected her wishes.

Christmas break ended, and they all went back to school. There was no apparent suspicion left amongst the masses. Lothril praised Elbereth. As their time in this world was coming to a close, Legolas and Lothril allowed themselves to relax a bit more, like they did in the summer. They decided to stop worrying about everyone else, and just have fun.

After school everyday they would go home, do homework at the kitchen table, then go outside and wander about the snowy woods, and when the sun went in, they went into the house, ate supper, then went off to their room.

"Jen and Avery aren't around much are they?" Jessie asked her mother one day.

"They're not glued to the television if that is what you mean," Mrs. Erickson said. "If you wanted to be around them, then I suggest you go outside with them. I am sure they wouldn't mind your company."

"Well, okay. But what about them in the house. When they are inside, they are upstairs. What's so interesting about Jen's bedroom and the guest room that keep them up there for so long?"

"Maybe they are responsible students and they actually study after school. Unlike you little Miss "C" in math when I know you can do better!" Mrs. Erickson said. "Hey, why haven't you been wearing those pink bunny slippers I gave you for Christmas?"

"I...uh...erm...lost them!" she said with a cheesy grin, praying it would offset what she said.

"You better pray they are in your messy little room little missy!" Mrs. Erickson scolded. "Go look for them."

Jessie nodded and slowly made her way to her room. Upon reaching it she went over to her bed and saw her pink fuzzy bunny slippers sitting there, like they had always been there. A note was on them that read "Did you miss us?" Jessie was so delighted at the finding of them, that she hugged them, then put them on and ran out to show her mother.

...Meanwhile, in the upstairs...

Legolas finished lighting the candles and sat down next to his wife. He reclined himself against a pile of pillows.

"Mel nin, how are you today?" he asked with a grin.

She repositioned herself so she was leaning on him. "Quite good Legolas darling."

"Lothril, why don't you give me a nickname?"

"What?" Lothril asked, turning her head to look at him.

"Well, everyone else you know has a nickname, one that you gave them, I even gave you a name and a pet name, but you have not given me one."

Lothril grinned. "Well, I would, but the only two I can think of are Leggy and Leggsie, and those were given to you by crazed fangirls that right fanfiction."

Legolas nodded. "Yes, those fanfics you have made me read. Some of them are disturbing and..."

"Let's not speak on it! I would much rather enjoy myself than creep myself out thank you! If I think of one, I'll give it to you," she pledged.

Legolas smiled and kissed the top of her head again. She moved around so she was sitting on his lap and could turn to face him. She placed a kiss on his lips and asked, "Do you suppose the honeymoon will be over when we get back? I mean both of us will have to resume responsibilities again."

"What does that have to do with anything? I won't be riding out to war again most likely, and my grandfather established rules many years ago that the king and his royal family is not to be disturbed after... nine at night. I believe that is what time it comes to. So no worries there."

"Yes, but royal pressure certainly..."

"Is forgotten after nine at night if at all possible. Unless there is an emergency, we are to ourselves from nine at night til after breakfast."

Lothril smiled before giving him another kiss, "You elven princes' have it easy!" she teased. "And what am I to do, what role do I play when we return?"

Legolas kissed her again. "Do you really want to be discussing royal duties now?"

"Not really," she said before she gave him one of her sensationally sweet kisses. He loved those kisses, more potent than wine, sweeter than honey, softer than rose petals by far!

"Why do you not kiss me like that more often?" he whispered once she released him from her kiss. He ran his fingers through her waist length brown hair. She only grinned and kissed him again.

School continued on, same as always; monotonously. The two began to forget some of the things they had been so careful about in months past. They felt free to glance at each other during class, to walk next to each other in the hallways, speak in elvish whispers, which is something they dared very rarely before. They spoke mentally constantly, and were accused on occasion, of daydreaming. One day, Legolas was caught daydreaming in Mr. Helzershanks class.

"Earth to Avery! Earth to Avery! Come in Avery! This is Mr. Helzershanks to Avery!" the teacher said.

Legolas blinked and looked at the teacher.

"Were we off in Never-neverland again?"

"No sir, I never go there. Far too boring for my tastes," Legolas replied with a grin.

"Then where were you Avery?" Mr. Helzershanks asked. He was in a casual mood today.

"Home," Legolas simply replied.

"Are you sure you were not with Miss Erickson up here? Your gaze was in that direction."

He was a shrewd man, he would enjoy a meeting with Elrond! Legolas only suppressed the grin and the glitter in his eyes that threatened to show themselves. "I was just thinking of when I met her, that's all," Legolas replied. "She was the first American I ever met."

"I see!" Mr. Helzershanks said with a grin. He knew more than he let on. That was the story of his teaching career. With that he turned the class' focus back to the fascinating study of rocks.

Around mid-January, the Julie and Rachel conspiracy actually held a conference at Rachel's house. Their discussions were not as intense as they had been. For some reason they no longer suspected as much as they did of the two, despite the increased evidence of "unsavory" activity. Elbereth yet had her hand in things, she was watching still!

In the meantime, Andrew, KT, Maggs, Lothril, and Legolas would get together once a week and discuss Middle-earth and all such things. Brandon was glad to be left out, he didn't like Lord of the Rings, and he knew that was all they would talk about. Besides, all of them got together frequently enough!

"I still have a hard time believing you both are elves!" Andrew said at one meeting. "I mean, two of my good friends are elves! It's weird, but really really cool!"

"Did you ever see the dragon Smaug Legolas?" Maggs asked.

"Yes, once or twice I saw him flying over head, high in the sky. Never up close though, for which I am grateful," he replied.

"How tall is Aragorn?" KT asked.

"About my height," Legolas replied. "And he looks a good deal like the movie Aragorn too!"

"YAY!" KT said as she clapped her hands.

Legolas grew quite fond of the four friends of Lothril, and counted them amongst his friends. He didn't think any of them would die for him necessarily, but he knew they would be faithful to him and Lothril until the day they each died.

The next day was a Saturday, and the Erickson family had plans to be gone all day and the elves were given the option of staying or going, and they chose to stay, Jessie and Jon however were forced to go.

"Why can't we stay with them! We promise we'll be good!" Jon pleaded.

"Because Avery and Jennifer are not a babysitting service. Besides, you two have been acting up lately and I wouldn't wish either of you on my worst enemy," Mrs. Erickson replied. The matter was settled, and they left.

"Well, It is just you, me, and Honey," Legolas said.

"Yes! Just the way I like it!" Lothril replied. They looked over at the dog, which was sound asleep. Poor Honey could never take a nap while Jessie and Jon were around, so the minute they were gone, she was sound asleep.

They went up to their room and Legolas said, "We have the house to ourselves. We could watch a movie, read a book in peace, actually have control of the television, or make a snow model of Minas Tirith outside. What do you say?"

"You forgot the other option," Lothril grinned.

"And what is that?" he asked with a knowing grin. As if he didn't know...

"We could wash all of the bedding and the curtains," Lothril said, with all apparent seriousness.

"You are joking, aren't you?" Legolas asked.

"Of course!" she said. A grin crossed her face and Legolas grew afraid.

"I'll be doing the laundry if you want me," he said backing away towards the door.

"I just love watching your face when I act like that," she laughed. "You are so ridiculous at times! Good Valar! If I look at you like I love you, you become frightened. I don't really know why either! And no, that is not what I am thinking. I was thinking we just lounge around and watch the snow fall," she said, still laughing.

"I told you, the she- elves in my family can be very persuasive when they act like that! My uncle didn't even want children and they had five. My father is one of the very few that has ever had just one," Legolas said, drawing slowly back towards her, as if he was not sure she had been teasing or not.

"Well you were the one that said you wanted children," Lothril reminded. "I told you I did, but would not press the issue if you did not."

"I do, but not for a few more years. I don't want to be building a house and establishing a realm with young elflings to worry about. I want the dust to settle first, which incase you have not noticed, it has not."

Lothril shook her head and smiled. "And you think I'm the strange one."

Two weekends later, Maggs, Brandon, KT, and Andrew came over to the Erickson house.

"So what do you want to do?" Maggs said.

"Well, we got six more inches of snow yesterday, great packing snow, so that brings the total to two feet. Dad has already scraped the driveway, so there are huge snow banks on both sides. Perfect for a snowball war," Lothril hinted.

"YEAH!" Brandon yelled. "That sounds like FUN! Let's do it!"

Jessie and Jon had heard the discussion and they came up looking pathetic and hopeful.

"Can we join you guys?" Jessie asked doing her best to look pathetic.

"Sure," Legolas smiled.

Everyone quickly threw on their snow gear and headed out the door. They divided themselves up into teams, Legolas, Jessie, Maggs, and Brandon on one team and Lothril, Jon, KT, and Andrew on the other. They went to work building their snow forts on either side of the driveway, which took half an hour, for the snow forts were six feet wide and four feet tall. Three on each side worked on the fort while the other one made snowballs. In ten more minutes, they were ready to go. They were going to use the basic rules of war, which were well known to everyone but Jessie, Maggs, and KT. Before the war began Andrew asked, "Does this mean that the rules for prisoners as set up by the Geneva Convention apply?"

"No," Lothril said. "This is no holds bard. Take no prisoners. And if we should, they fight for us!"

"Cool," Andrew said.

Suddenly, from the enemy camp they heard the command to fire. Lothril's team returned fire and the battle ensued. Soon, Legolas sent out snowball snipers to attack. They had specific instructions to capture Lothril. The snipers? Jessie and Maggs. Lothril didn't see them, for she was wiping snow out of her eyes when they crossed, all apart of Legolas' master plan.

Lothril, had a plan of her own, to be the sniper and take out Legolas and besieging his fort. She snuck out, and didn't see Jessie and Maggs behind the tree. Before Lothril knew what was happening, she was being tackled by two people. Maggs grabbed her feet, and Jessie grabbed under her arms and they began dragging her away, which was comical. Legolas laughed and Lothril had flashbacks to the last time this had happened.

Instead of struggling however, she simply went limp and cried out, "ANDREW! DO NOT COME FOR ME! TAKE OVER! I SHALL RETURN!" She was hauled, with much difficulty, to Fort Trees, which is what they had agreed to call it. KT insisted on theirs being called Fort Shiny.

Lothril was gladly dropped at Legolas' feet.

"Next time you want to capture someone, have Brandon and yourself do it!" Maggs said exhausted.

"Thank you Maggs and Jessie, you have done well," Legolas said with all the jocular seriousness he could muster. Jessie and Maggs went back to the snowball fight and left Legolas to his captive.

Legolas glared down at her with the biggest smile upon his face she had ever seen. He was very much enjoying the success of his plan.

He sat down next to her reclined form and said, "So, I have caught you at last. Your troops are without their captain, and you cannot call for aid. What shall you do now?" He did his dead level best not to smile and sound quite serious.

Lothril got the play acting look in her eyes and dramatically and heroically said, "My troops have a commander, and a good one. They know not to come for me, no matter what. I shall escape with out them. And what shall I do now? I shall... run!" she said, suddenly she bolted up and dashed away. Legolas was after her in a flash, leaving his second in command, Brandon, to take over. Lothril was not able to go far before she found herself again being tackled to the ground. Legolas picked her up, flung her over his shoulder with the greatest of care, and carried her back to the fort. He stood her up and held up his hand in a sign of parley.

"What do you want?" Andrew called out, trying to sound mean and cocky, but with minimal success.

"I have your captain, your fort is falling to pieces, and we have the better marksmen. If you let us keep your captain, we shall stop attacking your fort and let you go free. Only if you promise not to retaliate or attempt to rescue her," Legolas said in his official diplomatic voice.

Lothril's team took council for a second. "Okay, you can have her!" Andrew said.

Lothril hung her head in faux defeat. "How horrible. I am captured by the dreaded Lord Avery. I am certain he shall make me his slave and make my life miserable," she said sarcastically.

"I shall!" Legolas hissed in her ear, grinning from one side of his face to the other.

"Game over!" Andrew declared. "You guys won. Good game!"

They all went inside and found hot coco and hot cider waiting for them. Once they had all thawed, they began to speak of their little game of war.

"We have to do this again sometime, but with some more people," Andrew said. "Like, a highschool wide game of war."

An idea struck Legolas and Lothril. "Perhaps we could convince Pastor Bob to have an activity here where we play a giant game of war," Legolas said. Instantly his mind began to race as to what the most defendable places were in the Erickson yard. Of course, he would have no problem for he could be in the trees, but what about all the poor humans on his team? He was so absorbed in thought that he didn't hear all the exclamations of praise and encouragement he was receiving for the idea.

"Earth to Avery!" Lothril said. She snapped her fingers in front of his face as if she were releasing him from a trance.

He gave a small start and said, "Oh sorry. I was day dreaming."

That night, a few hours after their friends left, they were up in their room and Lothril was sitting on her bed while Legolas got ready for bed.

"Well, Lady Lothril, you are still my prisoner. That means I must still deal with you. Now, I shall not punish you for your crimes, if you renounce your team and swear allegiance to me," Legolas said, in his militaristic voice.

"I shall not renounce it. Nor shall I swear allegiance to you!" she said back with all the mellow drama she could muster.

"Are you sure, for if you do not, you will suffer the consequences."

"I will never renounce it, unless you beat me in a fair game of checkers!" she valiantly said.

"Agreed!" Legolas said. Lothril pulled out her checker board and pieces and a fierce game ensued, but Legolas, being the better strategist, defeated her. "Now, you must renounce them and swear allegiance to me."

"Then I henceforth renounce my team and swear allegiance to you," Lothril said with a grin. "And I shall prove to you how deep my allegiance goes. If you wish Lord Legolas."

Legolas smiled. "I do wish it, fair Lothril mel nin."

He sat down on the bed next to her and they kissed.

Authors note: I can't think of a thing else to do with this chapter. Kind of random. I know. Review anyway please! Wow! That whole last part broadsided me! Okay then!