Disclaimer: Once again – I own nothing of Tolkien's, but I'm very jealous
of those that do. I hope that counts for something.
A/N: Have you ever noticed how fast the days go by no matter how bored you might get? Well, that's been happening to me a lot, which is why it takes me some time to get these chapters written. And it doesn't help that I have like a hundred different stories in my head at any given time. Focus – must focus!!! Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 3 – Yeah, Right
Both Legolas and Alania were silent on the ride to her home. Legolas gripped the handle of the door as thought this was his first time in a car. Alania glanced over at him a few times to make sure he wasn't about to get car sick. "We're almost there."
Legolas nodded in response. He couldn't believe how fast they were moving. When he was walking on the road it hadn't seemed that the car had been moving that quickly. He was no longer confused as to why Alania had been so distressed earlier. Had their positions been switched he would have fretted about her almost being hit. In a way, he was relieved to know that she had reacted to the situation rather than that being her personality. Of course, he wouldn't be completely at relaxed until they stopped. He was grateful that she let him know the end was near, but it disturbed him to know that she noticed his unease.
A few minutes later Alania turned off the paved road onto her private driveway. It was a dirt road that wove through the trees for about a half mile to her home. As they rounded the last curve Alania smiled at the sight of the house. It didn't matter that she had been living here for almost 3 years, the sight of it always made her smile. When she first purchased the house it was a ramshackle nightmare, but she knew that with a little (ok, a lot) of hard work and some love the house would be the dream home she always wanted. Because of how far the land was from the city and how damaged the house was, she got a phenomenal deal on the property. It was a beautiful 2 story Victorian with way too many rooms for her and a dog, in a pale yellow with royal blue trim and accents. And with a little help from friends, the chimney was in working order and an almost full size dance studio in the basement. What was left to work on now were the yards and garden. This was her refuge from the world and she spent 90 percent of her time here. The other 10 percent was spent choreographing for music videos and concerts.
She had come a long way from her rootless existence. This house was the epitome of everything she ever did to be a success. It would have been all to easy to succumb to a life on the street, working as a prostitute and addicted to drugs. She didn't know who her parents were, and spent her entire childhood moving from foster home to foster home. As a teenager she had lied, cheated and stole her way into a short sentence at juvenile detention. One of the cops had taken to her and took her under his wing. She fought him every step of the way, but he was determined to make her see her own worth. When she was 18 and had been accepted to college Alania had cried on his shoulder and thanked him for giving her all those mental ass kickings she needed and didn't know it. He had helped pay for college, but he was shot and killed on duty in her sophomore year. Unable to pay for school she had dropped out and always regretted it. She vowed to get her BA someday.
To pay the bills and stay in a small rental, she started working at bars and clubs. It was at a club where she got the break. She had made friends with several of the club dancers and when one of them got sick the others convinced the manager that Alania would be perfect to replace her.
Alania remembered how terrified she was that first night. She felt half naked and ugly and certain that she couldn't dance a step. Roxy, the most vocal about her dancing that night, put a shot of JD in her hand and pushed her onto the dance pedestal in the middle of the floor telling her to feel the music and let her body do the rest. Alania did the shot and closed her eyes and started dancing, trusting that the bouncers wouldn't let anything, or rather anyone, happen to her. Next thing she knew the music had stopped, the night was over and she had just found her calling. By the time she was 23 she had a rolodex of connections and a reputation for innovation. It was all perseverance after that. Now she was close to 30 and had everything she wanted except the degree. That was next on her list.
Legolas stepped out of the car and looked around him as though he could examine everything in minute detail while standing in one place. The house seemed welcoming enough, and he loved that it was surrounded by trees. He saw Alania entering the house and turned to follow. Georn stopped him. "I think there are a few things we need to work out here Legolas. What exactly are going to tell her? And don't you think that maybe you ought to know a little about what you've gotten yourself into?" asked Georn.
Georn was right. If the car was any indication, he had no idea what was inside the house. He kneeled down so that Georn could whisper in his ear. Georn explained that Alania did not know anything about their mission nor had she any idea that Georn was a shape-shifter. Georn had spent the last year learning everything he could about Alania and her culture in order to prepare Legolas when he arrived. He explained to Legolas some of the more important differences between this world and Middle Earth, such as electricity and the instruments that use it, what to do in a bathroom in this world, what a telephone and computer were and to avoid something called anchovies at all costs. This must have taken some time as Alania was calling for Georn from the porch.
Legolas hadn't had the opportunity to speak to Georn about what to tell Alania, so for the moment he improvised. "Mind if I use the phone?"
"Sure." Alania was still a bit anxious about Legolas in her home, but he had been exceedingly polite and gracious. As he dialed, she put on a kettle and started to heat up some dinner. Turned out the Legolas' friend was not at home, so Alania did what she felt was the only right thing to do and invited him to stay the night.
"Do you always ask strangers to spent the night?" teased Legolas.
"Um, no. In fact I shouldn't even be asking you, but I can't explain it. There's something about you. Heck, Dante seems to think you're safe and he's very overprotective about me. But I'll be bracing my door with a chair tonight and have a very sharp pointy knife under my pillow just in case. A girl's gotta protect herself" replied Alania with a smile.
The banter continued in this manner all through dinner, during which Legolas made sure that there were no anchovies. Tea was served in the living room where, even though it was still warm outside, Legolas took it upon himself to build a fire. It was cozy and Alania felt more at peace than she ever had before in her life. She sat back and listened to Legolas tell about his home. It sounded beautiful, this Mirkwood forest and Alania could picture it in her head as he described it to her. She would have been content to listen to his voice for the rest of her life.
Legolas watched her as he spoke. She was leaning back in her chair, her eyes closed and mouth smiling. He could tell she was envisioning Mirkwood and he was glad to know the idea of it made her smile. He had noticed all day the different smiles she had. It was quickly becoming an obsession of his to catalogue each one. She had a smile of reassurance, one of tension, one when she was nervous and trying to hide it, one filled with mirth, one she gave you when she was teasing you and there was the one she had when she was relaxed. None of those smiles had anything on the one she gave when she was laughing. Alania was a woman who laughed and smiled with her whole body. She gave in to the moment completely and the smile showed it. Legolas wanted to spend the next 1000 years just trying to get her to smile like that over and over again. He couldn't imagine how this woman had grown on him so much in one day. And it was with that thought that he realized that he had to explain what his purpose was. He leaned over and touched Alania's hand to get her full attention.
"Alania, I think that I ought to explain something to you."
Alania tensed up immediately. She knew this crazy perfect feeling and evening weren't going to last. He was a lunatic with a purpose and she'd better get ready to defend herself. Then Legolas launched into his story, who he was, why he was here, that she was to help him with his task and that Dante was Georn the Shape-Shifter. Alania sat mouth agape as Legolas talked. It was worse than she feared.
She was speechless for a few minutes when he was through. "Take your time. I understand that this must a lot for you to take in" said Legolas.
"Ok, let me get this straight" said Alania a few minutes later. "You're an elf from an alternate reality called Middle Earth who is here on a 'quest' to save your world. My mangy pooch, whom I found a year ago at a supermarket parking lot, is really someone who can turn into anything he wants, so of course he turns into a dog, and was sent here to find me to help you save the world. Yeah, right!" Alania laughed nervously. "You are crazy and I am calling the cops and stay away from me." Alania slowly got out of her chair, as if and sudden movements would cause Legolas to pounce on her in attack. She backed away from Legolas, who sat calmly watching her, towards the kitchen phone.
Georn took the opportunity to jog to her side and said "Well a dog was the only thing I could think of that all humans seem to like." With that he changed to his normal form, causing Alania to faint for the first time in her entire life.
Seriously people, please please please read and review. I need the feedback like I need chocolate!!! Thoughts and ideas are totally welcome. Speak I say! For this is your forum!
A/N: Have you ever noticed how fast the days go by no matter how bored you might get? Well, that's been happening to me a lot, which is why it takes me some time to get these chapters written. And it doesn't help that I have like a hundred different stories in my head at any given time. Focus – must focus!!! Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 3 – Yeah, Right
Both Legolas and Alania were silent on the ride to her home. Legolas gripped the handle of the door as thought this was his first time in a car. Alania glanced over at him a few times to make sure he wasn't about to get car sick. "We're almost there."
Legolas nodded in response. He couldn't believe how fast they were moving. When he was walking on the road it hadn't seemed that the car had been moving that quickly. He was no longer confused as to why Alania had been so distressed earlier. Had their positions been switched he would have fretted about her almost being hit. In a way, he was relieved to know that she had reacted to the situation rather than that being her personality. Of course, he wouldn't be completely at relaxed until they stopped. He was grateful that she let him know the end was near, but it disturbed him to know that she noticed his unease.
A few minutes later Alania turned off the paved road onto her private driveway. It was a dirt road that wove through the trees for about a half mile to her home. As they rounded the last curve Alania smiled at the sight of the house. It didn't matter that she had been living here for almost 3 years, the sight of it always made her smile. When she first purchased the house it was a ramshackle nightmare, but she knew that with a little (ok, a lot) of hard work and some love the house would be the dream home she always wanted. Because of how far the land was from the city and how damaged the house was, she got a phenomenal deal on the property. It was a beautiful 2 story Victorian with way too many rooms for her and a dog, in a pale yellow with royal blue trim and accents. And with a little help from friends, the chimney was in working order and an almost full size dance studio in the basement. What was left to work on now were the yards and garden. This was her refuge from the world and she spent 90 percent of her time here. The other 10 percent was spent choreographing for music videos and concerts.
She had come a long way from her rootless existence. This house was the epitome of everything she ever did to be a success. It would have been all to easy to succumb to a life on the street, working as a prostitute and addicted to drugs. She didn't know who her parents were, and spent her entire childhood moving from foster home to foster home. As a teenager she had lied, cheated and stole her way into a short sentence at juvenile detention. One of the cops had taken to her and took her under his wing. She fought him every step of the way, but he was determined to make her see her own worth. When she was 18 and had been accepted to college Alania had cried on his shoulder and thanked him for giving her all those mental ass kickings she needed and didn't know it. He had helped pay for college, but he was shot and killed on duty in her sophomore year. Unable to pay for school she had dropped out and always regretted it. She vowed to get her BA someday.
To pay the bills and stay in a small rental, she started working at bars and clubs. It was at a club where she got the break. She had made friends with several of the club dancers and when one of them got sick the others convinced the manager that Alania would be perfect to replace her.
Alania remembered how terrified she was that first night. She felt half naked and ugly and certain that she couldn't dance a step. Roxy, the most vocal about her dancing that night, put a shot of JD in her hand and pushed her onto the dance pedestal in the middle of the floor telling her to feel the music and let her body do the rest. Alania did the shot and closed her eyes and started dancing, trusting that the bouncers wouldn't let anything, or rather anyone, happen to her. Next thing she knew the music had stopped, the night was over and she had just found her calling. By the time she was 23 she had a rolodex of connections and a reputation for innovation. It was all perseverance after that. Now she was close to 30 and had everything she wanted except the degree. That was next on her list.
Legolas stepped out of the car and looked around him as though he could examine everything in minute detail while standing in one place. The house seemed welcoming enough, and he loved that it was surrounded by trees. He saw Alania entering the house and turned to follow. Georn stopped him. "I think there are a few things we need to work out here Legolas. What exactly are going to tell her? And don't you think that maybe you ought to know a little about what you've gotten yourself into?" asked Georn.
Georn was right. If the car was any indication, he had no idea what was inside the house. He kneeled down so that Georn could whisper in his ear. Georn explained that Alania did not know anything about their mission nor had she any idea that Georn was a shape-shifter. Georn had spent the last year learning everything he could about Alania and her culture in order to prepare Legolas when he arrived. He explained to Legolas some of the more important differences between this world and Middle Earth, such as electricity and the instruments that use it, what to do in a bathroom in this world, what a telephone and computer were and to avoid something called anchovies at all costs. This must have taken some time as Alania was calling for Georn from the porch.
Legolas hadn't had the opportunity to speak to Georn about what to tell Alania, so for the moment he improvised. "Mind if I use the phone?"
"Sure." Alania was still a bit anxious about Legolas in her home, but he had been exceedingly polite and gracious. As he dialed, she put on a kettle and started to heat up some dinner. Turned out the Legolas' friend was not at home, so Alania did what she felt was the only right thing to do and invited him to stay the night.
"Do you always ask strangers to spent the night?" teased Legolas.
"Um, no. In fact I shouldn't even be asking you, but I can't explain it. There's something about you. Heck, Dante seems to think you're safe and he's very overprotective about me. But I'll be bracing my door with a chair tonight and have a very sharp pointy knife under my pillow just in case. A girl's gotta protect herself" replied Alania with a smile.
The banter continued in this manner all through dinner, during which Legolas made sure that there were no anchovies. Tea was served in the living room where, even though it was still warm outside, Legolas took it upon himself to build a fire. It was cozy and Alania felt more at peace than she ever had before in her life. She sat back and listened to Legolas tell about his home. It sounded beautiful, this Mirkwood forest and Alania could picture it in her head as he described it to her. She would have been content to listen to his voice for the rest of her life.
Legolas watched her as he spoke. She was leaning back in her chair, her eyes closed and mouth smiling. He could tell she was envisioning Mirkwood and he was glad to know the idea of it made her smile. He had noticed all day the different smiles she had. It was quickly becoming an obsession of his to catalogue each one. She had a smile of reassurance, one of tension, one when she was nervous and trying to hide it, one filled with mirth, one she gave you when she was teasing you and there was the one she had when she was relaxed. None of those smiles had anything on the one she gave when she was laughing. Alania was a woman who laughed and smiled with her whole body. She gave in to the moment completely and the smile showed it. Legolas wanted to spend the next 1000 years just trying to get her to smile like that over and over again. He couldn't imagine how this woman had grown on him so much in one day. And it was with that thought that he realized that he had to explain what his purpose was. He leaned over and touched Alania's hand to get her full attention.
"Alania, I think that I ought to explain something to you."
Alania tensed up immediately. She knew this crazy perfect feeling and evening weren't going to last. He was a lunatic with a purpose and she'd better get ready to defend herself. Then Legolas launched into his story, who he was, why he was here, that she was to help him with his task and that Dante was Georn the Shape-Shifter. Alania sat mouth agape as Legolas talked. It was worse than she feared.
She was speechless for a few minutes when he was through. "Take your time. I understand that this must a lot for you to take in" said Legolas.
"Ok, let me get this straight" said Alania a few minutes later. "You're an elf from an alternate reality called Middle Earth who is here on a 'quest' to save your world. My mangy pooch, whom I found a year ago at a supermarket parking lot, is really someone who can turn into anything he wants, so of course he turns into a dog, and was sent here to find me to help you save the world. Yeah, right!" Alania laughed nervously. "You are crazy and I am calling the cops and stay away from me." Alania slowly got out of her chair, as if and sudden movements would cause Legolas to pounce on her in attack. She backed away from Legolas, who sat calmly watching her, towards the kitchen phone.
Georn took the opportunity to jog to her side and said "Well a dog was the only thing I could think of that all humans seem to like." With that he changed to his normal form, causing Alania to faint for the first time in her entire life.
Seriously people, please please please read and review. I need the feedback like I need chocolate!!! Thoughts and ideas are totally welcome. Speak I say! For this is your forum!