A/N: I forgot my disclaimer in the first two chapters so here it is.

Disclaimer: Legolas and all related charaters belong to JRR Tolkien. No intentional copyright infringement is intended through their use. Shalane and her family are made up by me; please ask before using. Thanks.

Lessons

Three: Adapting

   Legolas stood in front of a shiny thing Shalane called a mirror, clad in garbs she called a T-shirt and jeans. He cocked his head at the mirror, staring at himself. Only in lakes or still water had he ever caught his reflection before. *Those* were his mirrors.

   He shifted a little uncomfortably in his new clothes. The T-shirt was loose fitting and was cool enough, but the jeans were a little too tight and held not the softness of his leather leggings.

   He saw Shalane behind him, giggling, and frowned. "What might be so funny, Lady?"

   The teen could not hide a small. "You don't look like you belong in those clothes."

   "Aye, I do not," Legolas snapped. "Would I that I may return to Mirkwood, I'd—"

   "Oh, not those stuff about Mirkwood again!" Shalane groaned. "I told you there's no Mirkwood here or anywhere else!"

   "There is a Mirkwood, and it lies east of the Hithaeglir."

   "Shut up about that already!"

   Legolas glared at Shalane as she turned away, and said in anger, "I would change back into my leggings, Lady."

   "Fine!" Shalane threw the soft leggings to him, and the Elf caught them with ease. "But we're going to have to hide your ears, and we're going to get some clothes." She dug around in her closet and came up with those kind of woolen cap that pulled down over the ears. "Here ya go!"

   Legolas stared in horror at the retreating back of the girl.

***

   They walked into a building of immense space, and brilliant spots of light illuminated the space, though no rays of Anor shone in. The marble were dark, not of the whiteness he was used to in the Elven haven Imladris

   Legolas froze, and Shalane had to drag him with her into a departmental store. The number of clothes there astounded the Elf. "W-what do they do with clothes this many?"

   Shalane glared at him as if he was acting stupid. "You're really nuts, or what?" She shook her head. "Man, if I didn't pity you and your nutty act-stupid-attempts, I would've called the cops already."

   Legolas gave her as strange a look as she had given him, but remained silent, so the teen shrugged and started choosing some clothes for him, and forcing him to try them on.

   Then when they brought the clothes to the cashier (Legolas had a confused look at that as well, though he was not pleased that he had been forced to buy those…strange garb) and she told them that the total to be paid was forty-seven dollars, Legolas had produced a few gleaming gold coins.

   The cashier's eyes had grown wide and Shalane hurriedly grabbed the coins from Legolas's hand, stuffed them into her pocket, and took out her wallet, paying with her own money.

   If looks could kill, Shalane would have been a murderer already.

***

   "Oh gosh, I'm so darn humiliated!" Shalane groaned and covered her eyes. "What were you thinking of?" She dug out those coins from her pocket. "You think these are real gold?"

   Legolas sent her his usual dark glower. "Yea, those are real gold, given to me by Gimli, a Dwarf of the Company."

   "Great. Now you drag Dwarves into this." She returned the coins to Legolas, thinking them not of worth. "Now I'm broke."

   As they strolled down the lane to Shalane's house, snickers came from behind them, of which it seemed that Legolas had been long aware of, for he seemed not startled to confront their trailers.

   "Well, well," a boy sneered. "The little twit has a new friend."

   Shalane sighed, and Legolas caught a small tiredness in it, and he had a feeling that this had been happening for some time already.

   "Leave me alone, Billy."

   The boy named Billy sneered and addressed his companions. "Miss Asian here wants us to leave her alone!" He laughed, and then snatched the shopping bag from Shalane, despite her protests.

   Legolas was lightning quick. No one saw him move, but one second Billy was holding the bag, and the next, Legolas held it and Billy was hissing in pain and cradling his wrist.

   "Do you not have manners?" Legolas spoke angrily. "You do not take things not of your own."

   "Hey, who the heck are you?" Another boy demanded.

   "Lego—"

   "Scram, Roy!" Shalane snapped. "Lay off him!"

   "Why, you little—" Roy moved forward to grab Shalane, but Legolas blocked his way.

   "Harm Shalane, and you will learn lessons not easily forgotten." Legolas now had a dangerous look to him, as were the wont of anger incurred of the Silvan Elves. "Do not try me."

   There was silence for a moment before Shalane dragged Legolas away. The boys didn't follow them, and she breathed more easily.

   "Whoa," she said when they were back in her room. "I never could've stopped them like that."

   By then, Legolas had calmed down. His face was soft as he asked, "Why do you let them treat you this way? Does your land not have laws?"

   "The law doesn't care about minor things like this," Shalane answered. "But thanks."

   "My pleasure, Lady."

   Shalane smiled.