NAT: Everytime I reread this part, Vanessa Carlton's A Thousand Miles plays over and over in my head, and I have no idea why. Just read please. R/R WELCOMED WITH GREAT WELCOMES! Flames will be used to hurt Seb, because, all though I originally planned him to be the nice dude, Nate (who I now think is MUCH cooler) took over that job, while Seb just became a big brat. Anywho, read.
The Land I Call My Home
Part 2: Dance To The Stars
Two weeks later...
Nate was cooking dinner, singing along with a Linkin Park CD, while Legolas watched him with interest. Seb and Jon sat in front of the TV, watching a movie. The CD player fascinated Legolas, while he just learned to ignore the TV. His hair was brushed down, and the hat lay abandoned on the counter, the apartment being the only place where he would take it off.
"Legolas, hand me that pan, will you?" Nate pointed to a pan on the counter, not taking his eyes off the chicken he was cutting.
"Here, Nate." Legolas handed him the pan, and Nate smiled his thanks.
Minutes later, Nate cursed loudly.
"Blast it! Forget the stupid chicken!" He growled, dumping the black and charred chicken into the trash. "The pan must have been too hot."
"Seb," Jon nudged him. "Your little bro ruined dinner again. Let's go pick up some girls, and take 'em out to dinner, like I suggested." Seb turned around to see Legolas biting back a grin, and Nate scowling at the pan.
"Fine..fine..I'll get the car. Legolas, grab your hat and come with me. Nate, clean that up, and Jon, go grab one of my shirts. You're covered in grease." Jon looked down at his shirt, and saw that Seb's statement was true. The morning and afternoon had been spent at the downhill course, where Nate and Seb had dominated, Jon had fixed bikes, and Legolas had watched and timed (Much to his own delight, for he found the stopwatch amazing).
Legolas obediantly picked up the hat, and trailed after Seb. As soon as they left, Jon began talking to Nate.
"Legolas is kinda creepy sometimes. He doesn't talk, he just listens and watches everything, like a hawk."
"Aww, don't pick on him Jon. Everything here is new to him. How would you feel if you were in his shoes? Don't you think you'd stay pretty darn silent?" Jon grudgingly agreed, as he put a new shirt on.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Ready." Nate confirmed, and they left the apartment.
*-*-*
"They're hot." Jon whispered to Seb, and he shook his head.
"Not three. We're looking for a group of four." He replied under his breath.
"Four? You mean Legolas wants a girl too?" Jon asked in surprise, barely low enough to stay out of Legolas' earshot.
"He didn't ask, but I don't want him left out." Seb replied. Jon frowned and kicked at a rock.
They walked the streets of their Maine hometown, just as the light was fading, and the streetlife was booming.
"There!" Jon pointed to a group of four girls, not half-bad looking either. Seb nodded.
"Let's go." On the way over, he nudged Nate, who, being the smallest and the youngest, seemed to have more of an effect.
"Hey, girls." Nate said smoothly. "You have plans for tonight?" Three of the girls looked at each other a giggled, while the fourth scanned the boys with concealed interest, her bright green eyes taking in detail. She smiled at Legolas, and he couldn't help smiling back.
"No, not really." One of them finally replied.
"How about dinner with us, at Captains?" Nate offered. The girls looked at each other again, and giggled some more, before turning back to the boys.
"And if Daddy calls me," The first one began again. "Who shall I tell him I'm with?" She tapped her cell-phone. Nate grinned broadly.
"Tell him the Lapham Downhill Devils and Co., of Downhill BMX Racing have taken you to what is arguably the best seafood restauraunt in the state." The three girls blushed, and turned back to each other, leaving the fourth one out of the conversation.
"Okay. We'll go." The girls nodded eagerly.
"Do I have the pleasure of your name?" Nate asked, holding nearest girl's hand.
"Brandy." She giggled again. Seb did the same with the second girl.
"What 'bout you, doll? Gotta name?"
"Nicki." She replied with a sweet smile. Jon made his move, and took the hand of the third girl.
"Does your angel face have a name to go with it?"
"Cessna." She answered. Legolas listen to the introductions in barely contained disgust. He would never understand men. The fourth girl looked at him, and he found himself looking back at her.
"Well..." He began awkwardly.
"Yes?" She answered.
"What is your name, praytell, fair Lady?" He asked, resorting to Middle-Age manners. She blushed a bit.
"Ari." She replied with a soft, mysterical smile. Legolas found himself speechless.
"Shall we join them?" He finally asked, nodding towards the disappearing sixsome.
"Why not?" She replied. He bowed low, and offered his arm as he straightened. She grinned joyfully, pleased with the strange man and his manners.
"Lady Ari, if I may?" He asked. She nodded, and linked her arm through his.
*-*-*
"Dinner was wonderful." Seb announced, sitting back in his chair. The three Barbie-stereo types nodded in agreement.
"Did the meal please you, Lady Ari?" Legolas asked softly, low enough so that only she could hear. She nodded.
"It was wonderful, Legolas." Ari answered. She hadn't yet corrected him for calling her Lady Ari, in fact, she found it quite enchanting. She found everything about this strange man, so unlike his peers, enchanting.
Legolas found himself enjoying the present world for the first time since he had arrived. She was so interesting, exquisite. Nate nudged Seb, and pointed with his eyes, and raised eyebrows. Seb turned to look at Legolas and Ari, who were caught up in one another's eyes, oblivious to the growing number of stares from the other occupants of the table. Jon and Cessna had now noticed the intent gaze between the two, and Brandy and Nicki were slowly catching on.
"Heya.." Nicki nudged Ari and purred seductively. Ari turned to her with a displeasing frown, and Legolas looked down at the table cloth, his cheeks on fire.
"Everyone done?" Nate asked, standing up. "I'll go pay." He left the table, and Ari continued to gaze scornfully at Nicki, while Legolas sipped his water in an attempt to make his hot cheeks cool.
*-*-*
"Dude!" Seb exclaimed as soon as they got into the car. "You didn't even get her number!"
"Should I have asked?" Legolas asked, watching wistfully as Ari disappeared down the street.
"Oh, definatly." Seb nodded. Legolas sighed and stared at the sidewalk, through the window as Seb pulled away from the curb.
*-*-*
"Aragorn." The dwarf asked cautiously, stepping beside the man, atop the hill.
"Yes, Gimli?"
"Do...do you think he's alright? Wherever he is?" He asked, a bit uncertainly.
"I know not, Gimli. And I wish to Elbereth I did."
*-*-*
Along with time, many things had changed in Legolas' life. Learning to drive the strange car machine, a New Found Glory concert, learning how to ride a bike, among other things, had conspired. Legolas constantly found himself making up excuses not to go 'Girl Picking' with three guys. He thought back with a grin to one of his best excuses,
"Nate, I'm not going!'
"Legolas, come on. It'll be fun."
"No, and besides, I am at least 2,000 some years older than any girl I go out with, so why bother?" Laughter had followed immediatly after, while Legolas stood frowning at the three.
Just an hour before, he had managed to brush them off yet again. Ari still lingered on his mind, and he couldn't fathom why. He decided he'd go for a walk.
He left the apartment, and reveled in the cool breeze, and the setting sun. He found himself walking to the park, as he was doing more and more lately. He finally stopped, and sat on a bench, gazing up at the stars that were beginning to twinkle.
Four long months and the constellations were still unfamilar to him. He wondered often, if there was any way to get back, and found himself wishing most earnestly to return. He hated the world he had entered. The music, however enchanting he had found it first, was now bothering him. The smell of oil and gas littered the air, and he was lucky to find a clean breath anywhere. The woods were unfamilar, sickly, and thin, according to Elvish standards, but the lonliness was the worst.
The stars glittered brighter, and he sighed, setting his hands on his lap. Words and memories bombarded him, the closeness of the sky bringing back things, and making his eyes water with longing.
"Oh, Elbereth, will I ever go home?" He whispered softly, searching in vain for the bright Elven-named star.
"Who are you talking to?" A voice from behind asked. He jumped, and spun around.
"Lady Ari?" He asked in disbelief.
"Legolas! It's been a while, hasn't it?" She exclaimed, sitting next to him.
"You remembered me!" He proclaimed, somewhat joyously.
"Of course. No one else has called me Lady Ari before." She replied with a smile. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" She more stated than asked, looking up at the stars. Legolas followed her gaze.
"Yes." He murmured. "The stars..."
"You are lonely." Ari announced mournfully.
"Why do you say such?" He demanded suddenly, inwardly awed that she mentioned what he had just been feeling.
"Why else would you be talking to the stars?" She asked. He couldn't answer. She went on. "Actually, I've been thinking a lot about you."
"Really?" He asked, surprised.
"Really. You were just so queer when we met, yet lonesome. I don't know how to say this, really, but, I don't even know you, and yet, I've missed you..." She stopped, and sighed.
"I've felt the same." He admitted. There was an awkward pause. Suddenly, Legolas stood and held out his hand. "Dance, Lady Ari?" She looked around the otherwise deserted park, and the large patch of green grass behind him, bathed in moonlight.
"To what?" She questioned.
"To the stars." He replied truthfully. She smiled, and took his hand. As they danced in the grass, under the stars, Legolas looked into her eyes, and Ari gazed back into his. Legolas was surprised to find that the lonliness had disappeared. Instead, it was replaced by a great peace of mind. He felt as if he could dance forever....
NAT: okies, i know you're all going to kill me for this, but can you wait and at least kill me later, when I do something awful and unexpected? the awful thing that makes this different from the rest? yeah, you heard me! Legolas Breakdown, Panic Style.