A/N: So…tell me how this part goes too? I'll be really grateful. ^^ And oh yeah, for those words with the accents on them, it's how Chinese words should be said, but it's kinda hard to explain it here. Those who are Chinese should know how to read Hanyu Pinyin, right? But I've also provided the English translation here. *Shrugs* No choice. Shalane and her family *are* Chinese.
LessonsTwo: Starting Off The Wrong Way
Legolas awoke before dawn broke, and rose from his position on the floor and crossed to the window. A gentle wind blew steadily in, and he was glad that Shalane's window faced the woods.
The slight rustle of skin brushing against quilt made him turn his head to the figure sleeping in her bed, and Legolas smiled-winced as he recalled the brief argument they the night before.
"You take the bed, Legolas," Shalane snapped. "I don't want you to catch a cold or something."
"Elves do not fall ill, Lady," Legolas spoke sharply back.
"What kinda crap is that?" The teen grunted and threw her arms up in frustration. "I still dunno where you came from, but I still don't believe you're an Elf. Elves don't exist."
"The Firstborn exist just as real as you Atani do." Legolas used the lowly name the Eldar had given to Men of his world in his spite.
"Elves are for kids," Shalane scoffed.
Legolas's voice became lower and harsher, for the Silvan folk were less wise but more dangerous than their kin of old. "Do not speak ill of the Elves."
Stubborn and ready to anger though she may be, Shalane sensed that she had crossed a line, and retreated in haste. "Fine! You take the floor!"
Legolas shook his head, scolding himself for having behaved like a child and arguing with the girl, of whom he could see had yet to reach womanhood. You behaved as an Elf-child yestereve, Legolas. Do not let it be so again.
His sharp Elven eyes caught the slight shivering of Shalane's body, and he crossed the room to pull the quilt up for her.
The teen mumbled something incoherent, and awoke at his slight touch, yelping and bolting upright at his closeness. "What are you trying to do?"
Legolas cocked his head. Why did the girl behave as if he should not be near her? "I saw that you were cold, and pulled your cover up for you."
Shalane breathed heavily, trying to rid herself of the fear that he would…do something to her. Irrational fear, she told herself. If he wanted to…to do it, he would've raped me already.
"D-don't come too close to me the next time," she stammered, then scowled at him. "Don't sneak up on me."
The Elf snorted in disbelief. "Lady, if a gesture of help brings me your scorn, then I will not do it again if you wish it not so."
"Good, don't!" Shalane threw the covers off and stormed into her bathroom to wash up, grumbling. "Third day of vacation and I feel like punching someone already. Namely Legolas."
***
She had sneaked a sizable amount of toast, ham, eggs and coffee up to her room for Legolas and herself before her parents awoke, and they took breakfast together, for Shalane did not trust the man—Elf, or whatever he claimed to be.
"So," she began by way of small talk, "tell me how you came to be here, again?"
Legolas sighed, for he knew that she did not believe his words. "You would not believe my words if I spoke. Should I speak and face your scorn again?"
Shalane scowled, for she knew that she had been less than friendly. "Well, who in her right mind would believe you?"
"I should not speak then," Legolas declared.
"Fine, then don't."
The Elf shook his head in defeat, tasting the bread of crisp Shalane called toast, and found that it had a warm yet fresh taste to it. "Might you instruct me in the way of this…toast?"
Shalane snickered. "From what you told me, there is no electricity where you come from. Toasters need electricity."
Legolas narrowed his rich green eyes, curbing his anger. "Lady, you try my patience."
"And you try mine," the teen snapped back. "You should know that toasters need electricity."
"We do not have these in Middle Earth, by Elbereth!"
"Crap, crap an—"
"Yi Ling! Nĭ qĭ lái le ma?" Shalane's mother knocked on her door. (Shalane, are you up?)
"Go! Hide!" The teen gestured frantically for Legolas to hide.
The door opened and her mother poked her head in to see her daughter surrounded by plates of half-eaten toast and ham, and coffee. "Wŏ yĭ wéi wŏ tīng dào le shĕ me." (I thought I heard something.)
"Méi yŏu ah. Zhī yŏu wŏ yì ge rén. Wŏ jīn tiān bĭ jiào zăo qĭ." (No, there's only me. I woke up earlier today.)
"Okay," Cai Meiqi said, reverting back to English. "Go on and have fun."
When her mother left and the door closed behind her, Shalane locked it and turned. Boy, Legolas sure was quick. "Legolas?" She whispered.
The figure of the self-claimed Elf pulled himself up from outside her window and vaulted in easily. "My apologies once again, Lady."
"Nah, it's cool." She eyed him. "C'mon, I'll go dig up some of my Dad's clothes. We gotta get you outta these," she pointed to his garb of brown and green," and into proper clothes."
Legolas frowned. He liked the idea not at all.