NAT: Welcome to the Twilight Zone: LOtR Style. Please fasten your jaws securely to your mouth, so they do not drop off in awe of my complete insanity, mushiness, and whatnot. Thank you. For those of you who keep your jaws on, there will be complimentary internet cookies at the end of the show.
okies, okies, I KNOW the last one was mushy, and this one may be too. at least i warned you.
flames will now be used to...to....to....kill Mr. Freeze, for lack of ingenius response.
The Land I Call My Home
Part 3: I No Longer Belong
"Violet! Violet, come back here!" The tall, blonde man chased the little girl across a backyard.
"Daddy!" She squealed as he swept her up and began tickling her. "Daddy! Mercy!" She gasped, out of breath. He stopped tickling, and gave her a fierce hug.
"My turn!" She turned on him, and tickled him back, while he laughed out of pure joy.
A lady sat on the back porch, watching them, while holding a baby boy, about one year old, on her lap. The boy scrunched up his tiny face, and began to wail. The man bounced up, and sprinted over to them.
"Does Legan want to play?" He asked, taking the boy and tossing him in the air. The lady jumped up, and watched worriedly.
"Legolas, Legolas, please don't! You'll drop him!" She finally called out. Legolas held the boy, and looked at him intently.
"Mama says I'm going to drop you. Do you think that's true?" The little boy shook his head with a laugh.
"Dada won shop me." he exclaimed cheerfully.
"I think it's time we taught Mama a lesson." Legolas whispered something in the boy's ear, and he nodded with a toothy grin.
"I ickle oo!" He shouted, as Legolas held him Superman style, and 'flew' him to the lady. She laughed, but her eyes were still serious.
"Really, Legolas..you scare me when you do that." She scolded, taking the baby, as he laughed again.
"Ari, I won't drop him." Legolas felt a tug on his leg, and looked down to see petite, three-year-old Violet pulling on his jeans.
"Toss me up, Daddy! Toss me up!"
"Are you sure?" Legolas faked doubt. "I might throw you too high." Violet's eyes widened.
"What will happen?" She asked with her green eyes as big as saucers.
"You'll get stuck in the sky. And then, when night comes, everyone will ask, 'What's that purple star?' And I'll have to tell them, 'That's my little girl Violet. I tossed her too high today, and she got stuck up there'."
"Daddy..." Violet whined playfully. "That's not true. Besides, I wouldn't mind being a star."
"Oh, but I would." He replied seriously.
"Why, Daddy?"
"Because, then I wouldn't be able to play with you!" He answered, tossing her up suddenly. She squealed in delight, and landed safely in his arms.
Ari looked at her watch, then up at the sky.
"Bathtime!" She announced, setting Legan on her hip. Violet moaned as Legolas slung her over his shoulder.
"Do I *bounce* have to?" She asked, as he ran up the steps.
"Yes. Mama says." He replied solemnly.
"But *bounce* you can tell her to wait!" Violet protested.
"Oh, I don't think I'll do that. If we don't start soon enough, we won't have time for a bubble bath!"
"Bubbles!" Violet shouted in his ear, Legolas grimaced, but his smile remained.
"Ubbles!" Legan echoed his big sister, while waving his arms around in the air excitedly. Ari just laughed.
*-*-*
Ari slipped into the bedroom, and sighed. Legolas was already asleep on the bed, sprawled out on top of the covers. She changed into her nightgown, and laid down next to him.
"They asleep?" He mumbled.
"You're still awake!" She exclaimed. He nodded, and rolled over to face her.
"That wasn't the question. I asked if they were asleep."
"Yep. Finally."
"I used to think chasing Orcs was hard. That was before I had two toddlers."Ari smiled softly.
"Do you ever want to go back?" She asked, rolling over into his arms. Legolas sighed as he held her close. Her hair was in his nose, and it smelled faintly of strawberry bubble bath. But he didn't mind. It was comforting, assuring.
"I used to. But not now. I couldn't leave you, Violet and Legan." He said seriously, kissing her lightly on the top of the head. "Besides, I've finally gotten accustomed to soda, and the way you people talk." He added jestfully. She laughed, and cuddled closer to him.
"I love you, Elf and all, Legolas."
"I love you too, Ari." He replied. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
*-*-*
"Daddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Legolas heard the joyous scream in his ear the instant before the small figure bounced upon him on the bed. "Daddeeeee! DaddyDaddyDaddy!" She repeated jumping up and down.
"Dada! Dada!" Legan toddled in after Violet, and struggled to pull himself on the bed. Legolas blinked and sat up, sleepily pulling Legan onto his lap, while Violet clung on his back.
"What's the occasion?" He asked with a yawn, as Ari appeared in the doorway of the bedroom.
"You're awake!" Violet shouted with enthusiasm, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
"Dada up, Mama!" Legan announced, pointing with a chubby finger to Legolas, a large grin plastered upon his young face.
"They've been waiting for," Ari paused, and looked over at the clock. "Twenty minutes for you to wake up."
"Daddy, you said we could go to the park today!" Violet reminded him excitedly, sliding off the bed, and attempting to pull him out after her.
"Did I?" He asked Ari, while following Violet, and climbing out of bed.
"You did." She answered, while watching them with her soft smile. Legolas stood, in boxers and a t-shirt, yawning, while holding Legan in one arm, and being tugged towards the dresser by the other arm, which Violet firmly grasped and pulled on.
"Okay, okay. I'll get dressed. Go finish breakfast." He set Legan down and Violet ran out of the room, followed by toddling Legan. As soon as they left the room, he sat back down on the bed.
"Who needs an alarm clock?" Ari asked wearily, sitting down next to him. Legolas rubbed his ear.
"Not me."
"I'm going to go help them with breakfast. You should get dressed before Violet realizes you're not as enthusiastic as she is about everything."
"Like waking up?" Legolas asked with a lopsided grin.
"Exactly." Ari laughed as she left the room. Legolas looked around the bedroom, and smiled at the familarity of everything. The dresser and matching bed he and Ari had picked out together, the comforter which had been a wedding present from Ari's parents, and other little things.
Like, the sippy-cup on the dresser, the doll on the floor, his sneakers, and Ari's journal. He stood up, stretched, and lightly stepped over to the dresser, pulling out shorts and a t-shirt.
He disappeared into the bathroom, and closed the door. Minutes later, as he pulled on his t-shirt, a little hand was knocking furiously at the door.
"Daddy, are you dressed yet?" Violet demanded.
"Yep." He replied, as he opened the door, and picked her up.
"Toss me, Daddy!" Violet squealed.
"Not inside, you'd hit your head on the ceiling." He said gently, setting her down near the table. Ari whizzed by, handing him a bowl of cereal and a spoon.
"Eat. Then, please, get Legan dressed? Violet, no, don't go outside yet honey, help Mama clear off the table. Legan, don't you dare throw that spoon! Violet, no, the eggs go in the fridge. There, that's better. Legan, all done? Legolas, hurry up! I can't keep them in here for much longer!" Legolas had been slowly eating the frosted flakes, watching Ari buzz around the kitchen and prevent accidents, but at her plead, he began eating faster. He picked up Legan, and tucked him under one arm while he finished the cereal off with the other hand as the bowl sat on the counter. Legan grinned and drooled blissfully on the floor.
Ari bent down to wipe up the drool, and wipe Legan's mouth off.
"Legolas! Go get him dressed!" She begged, turning back to Violet. Legolas set Legan down on the floor, and tapped Ari on the shoulder. She spun around, and started to say something else, when he put a hand on her mouth.
"I love you. Now, breathe and calm down." She did as he ordered, and he kissed her lightly on the lips. Violet watched with wide eyes, while Legan stared in wonder at the bubble he was blowing with his drool.
"Eww..." Violet finally managed to blurt out. Legolas dodged past Ari and picked Violet up.
"You want one?" He demanded playfully, as Violet squealed and struggled against his gentle hold.
"No! No, don't! I'll get cooties!" Violet shouted as Legolas kissed her on the forehead. He ser her down, laughing, as she wiped furiously at the spot where he had kissed her. Legolas picked up Legan and went to get him dressed.
*-*-*
Legolas looked again at the address on the slip of paper, and read aloud to make sure he had everything right.
"Roller rink...1050 Kasey Avenue..." He looked up at the street sign, and frowned. Norton. How did he end up on Norton?
The light turned green, and Legolas pushed the gas to go forward, while trying to figure out the hopeless system of streets. Seven years, and it was still hard to navigate. He finally decided that it was the crazy American Human way of thinking.
A cell phone rang, and he jumped before answering it.
"Hello?"
"Legolas?"
"Ari! I'm almost there." He lied, turning on to Hamerheist St.
"Good. Violet's afraid your going to miss her birthday party."
"Put her on the line."
"Daddy?" Came the hesitant voice only seconds later. "Will you make it in time for my birthday?"
"Of course. I'm almost there, I promise. I just had to stop and pick something up."
"My Barbie car!" She squealed, and Legolas heard a thump as the phone was dropped. Ari's voice came on a minute later.
"You told her!" She accused. Legolas blinked, and glanced over at the recently wrapped Barbie sports car.
"I didn't! She guessed!" He protested. "Hold on. I'll be there in just a second." Click. Legolas tossed the phone on the seat, and swerved onto Kasey Avenue with a relieved sigh.
He could see the large, neon sign of the rollerrink only a few hundred yards down, and he sped up a little as he got closer.
Out of nowhere, pulled a large pick-up truck. Legolas slammed on the brakes, and even with the seatbelt, was thrown forward. He screamed as he hit his head on the steering wheel, and all went black.
*-*-*
Ari looked impatiently at her watch, and then at the phone again. It had been ten minutes, and she suspected Legolas had gotten lost, as usual. She was about to call again, when the scream of a siren reached her ears from outside the rink. Ari suddenly had a gut-wrenching feeling she knew what had happened.
"Nate, watch the kids, will you?" The family friend looked up, and nodded. "I'll be right back!" Ari called, as she rushed out the door and up to the road. A large red pickup truck was on it's side in the street, and her heart sank as she regconized the sleek black Explorer that she and Legolas owned, upside down next to the truck. Panic hit.
She ran faster than she thought possible to the Explorer, and a policeman tried to hold her back.
"M'am, please, it's not safe."
"But my husband's in there!" She shouted at him, pointing to the Explorer. The policeman looked over at the SUV, and shook his head.
"M'am, no one was in that car when we arrived. We've been looking for the occupant, we think he may have wondered off in shock. There was a bit of blood on the steering wheel..." That's all the further he got before Ari sank to her knees on the asphalt, whispering in horror,
"He's gone back..."
*-*-*
Violet looked over carefully at her Uncle Nate, and slipped past him when Nate was helping Legan. She ran out the door, determined to follow her Mama, and possibly find Daddy. She heard a police car up on the road, and pumped her little legs as fast as she could.
She gasped when she saw the wreck. First, she saw Daddy's car. Then, her Daddy's favorite bucket hat. Then, she saw her Mama, sitting on the road and crying.
"MAMAAAAAA!" She screamed as loud as her lungs would allow, running over to Ari. Ari looked up, startled, and grabbed her little girl, holding her tight.
"Mama, where's Daddy?" Violet asked frantically, looking towards the car.
"Daddy's gone, Violet...Daddy's gone..."
*-*-*
Glorfindel was riding his horse at an easy trot through the woods, looking up at the sky, and enjoying one of the few peaceful moments of the day. True, the Dark Lord Sauron had fallen, but not without cost. Frodo and Sam made it back in poor health, but they quickly recovered. Merry and Pippen had journeyed with them back to the Shire years ago.
But the house of Elrond could not be quieted as quickly. King Aragorn had gone, and taken Arwen to Gondor with him, and they had two small children already. Gimli the Dwarf never strayed far from Rivendell, with the unspoken hope that Legolas would someday return, while most had given the youngest Prince of Mirkwood up for dead, carried off by the Orcs no less.
Elrond's house had since been trapped in a sorrowful daze, as the residents attempted to act happy and pleased, and meals were served, days went on, but it wasn't the same Rivendell it had once been.
True, the fall of Sauron, the destruction of the Ring, and the departure of Arwen had something to do with it, but the disappearance of Legolas played a small part. Seven long years, and no word or whisp of the Elf had come.
Glorfindel's thoughts were interupted by a scream to his left, and he turned hard upon the horse, and galloped in the direction of the sound. Within minutes, he reached a strange figure, sprawled out upon the forest floor, face and stomach to the ground. The figure was wearing strange clothes, and had short hair, yet he had Elvish ears, and a strange familarity about him. Glorfindel slipped off the horse, as several other Elves rushed into the small clearing.
"We heard a scream, and came to investigate," One of them announced. Glorfindel nodded, and crept forward. He knelt, and carefully pushed the Elf over onto his back, and gasped. However strange the rest of the Elf may have appeared, the face was unmistakable. It was Legolas. He had a gash on his forehead, and his breathing was shallow, but Glorfindel was overjoyed, nevertheless.
"Legolas!" He whispered, shaking the Elf. The other Elves who had joined gasped as well, and two of the three moved forward to see that it was indeed Legolas, the long lost Prince.
He blinked, and looked up confusedly.
"Glorfindel?" He murmured, somewhat disjointedly. Glorfindel nodded. Legolas shot straight up, into a sitting position, almost knocking Glorfindel down.
"Calm down, Legolas!" Glorfindal cautioned, as Legolas shook his head violently.
"Where are they? How'd I get back? Where are they?" He demanded.
"Where are who?" Glorfindel asked in surprise.
"Where are they?" Legolas demanded again, leaping to his feet and looking around. The forest surrounded them on all sides, and Glorfindel saw the light in Legolas' eyes go out.
Legolas felt as if someone had plunged a knife into his heart. He knew instantly, that his family might as well be dead. He had no hope of seeing them again. He was back, but he didn't want to be back.
"I want them back..." He whispered softly, sinking back down to the ground. Glorfindel watched in concern, and reached out to touch his friend's shoulder. Legolas jerked away, and wrapped his arms around his legs, rocking back and forth as if in a trance.
"I want them back." He repeated. Glorfindel looked over at one of the three Elves.
"Go get Elrond. Bring him here, now." He ordered. The Elf nodded, and kicked his horse gently, with a whispered Elvish word.
*-*-*
Elrond followed the Elf upon horseback, almost afraid to believe the words. Legolas was alive, and in the forest. But, his mind had been injured, somehow...
The Elf lead Elrond into the clearing, and pointed. Legolas still sat, rocking back and forth, eyes wide and unblinking, yet full of pain. Elrond hastened to him.
"Legolas?" He asked in a whisper, kneeling. Legolas jerked away from Elrond's extended hand.
"Don't touch me." He growled. "I want to go home. I want them back. Now!" He demanded, looking up at Elrond. Elrond blinked in surprise.
"Who, Legolas?" He asked gently. The Elf shook his head.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Legolas.." Elrond began again, but Legolas suddenly clutched his head and moaned.
"Not now. Not now." He muttered, as Elrond watched worriedly. "Please, not now." The plead turned into a low groan, and Legolas slumped over, unconscious.
"Help me. We need to get him back to Rivendell, now." Elrond stood up, and Glorfindel nodded.
*-*-*
Elrond watched Legolas toss and turn, with worry. Elves weren't supposed to get sick, yet, Legolas was. And the only sign of injury was the gash to his head, which wasn't even very deep. Legolas continued to thrash, and everyone once in a great while, an intelligeble word would escape his fevered lips.
So far, they had only caught three.
'Home', 'Please', and 'Ari'.
NAT: So, did I shock you? Did your jaws drop? Did you hands clamp over your mouth? R/R! Are you in tears? I must knoowwww....Flame me if you like. I'm wearing fire-retardant material today. I cried when I wrote it. My friend cried when I read it to her. The last parts, anyway....