Of Family and Friends... and Others
Victoria looked down at the floor. Okay, okay, what?! He was who? Who was he? Either she was losing her mind, or he was, or they both were. She couldn't have heard right, he couldn't have spoken properly, and she must be hallucinating. Holy shit, what's goin' on?
" Um, what? I- I don't think I…"
Aragorn laughed quietly. " I did not think you would. It is difficult to explain, so I just hope you will trust me on this."
She looked back up at him, and returned her gaze down to the floor again. Her eyes closed. Okay, trust him… That wasn't so hard, but it would be something close to insane to do! Middle-Earth wasn't real. She had convinced herself this long ago. However, she wouldn't be surprised if it WAS real from what Tolkien had created. That was then, though, and this is now. And just as Middle-earth DID turn out to be real, she couldn't believe it.
" I don't know. I mean, Middle-Earth isn't real," she look up into his eyes, almost sadly. " You aren't real."
Aragorn smiled ruefully. " Perhaps not, however, remember, this is new to me as well. I would not have thought of you to be true either." There was silence for a while.
" What…why are you here?"
It was his turn to look away. " I cannot say."
" What do you mean?" she asked curiously. " Why can't -"
" Please," he interrupted, " do not ask any more of me. I'm sorry."
She shrugged, but still felt a nagging pain. Okay, so he couldn't tell her. Then, what COULD he do? She wanted to know why he was HERE above all places; how long he was going to stay; and WHAT the HELL she was going to tell her FATHER!
" How long are you going to stay?"
" However long it takes."
Victoria opened her mouth, but closed it again, remembering what he had said. " Why are you here… with me, I mean." Hopefully, he could at least tell her that much.
Aragorn looked up, puzzled. " I honestly do not know myself." He suddenly seemed tired, and less wary. " You are but a child."
She raised an eyebrow. " I'm not helpless, and I'm already in my teens. That has to count for something." He saw her as a young little girl. He may be, hell, seventy years* older than her, but that did not reduce her to something so small. And to hear it from HIM made her suddenly feel unworthy of his presence. Glancing at his necklace, she saw that she really was not.
" I did not mean it that way, Victoria. Of course you're not a little girl."
He was probably just saying that to make her feel better, but he didn't have to. She knew that he belonged in someone else's home.
" It's fine." She stood, and he stood along with her. " Um, you can stay in the spare bedroom. I'm sure you're tired." She walked down the hallway silently. They reached the room, and she flicked on the light switch. There was a twin sized bed inside covered with a blue quilt, and a drawr at two corners. She got the A/C running and turned to Aragorn.
" Well, it's not royalty, but I hope you like it." She took the towel from his hand. " I'll hang this in the bathroom."
He walked over to the bed, and sat on it, the soft mattress sinking in his weight. " Thank you, for understanding and allowing me to stay."
" You've thanked me enough times. It's no problem." She smiled reassuringly. " Just rest. Sleep in as long as you like tomorrow. Breakfast will be there when you wake."
He looked as though he were going to thank her again, but she held up her hand. " It's okay. You're welcome. If it gets too cold, just call me. I'll be in my room; just right of this one." She flicked off the lights, stepped out, and prepared to close the door. " Goodnight, Aragorn."
" Goodnight, Victoria." He was already in the sheets. " I will see you with the sun."
She slightly winced. Her room faced East, and the sun was ALWAYS the first to greet her. It was, what, now 1:00 am? 2? " On the morrow," she whispered, and closed the door.
After hanging his towel, she went out to the garage to take out his clothes from the dryer. They didn't look any smaller. She folded them and brought them to her room, neatly placing them on top of her desk beside Aragorn's sword and armor. She sat on her bed and sighed. This was UNREAL. It couldn't be said enough. There was no way that a Man from another world could appear in her back yard, especially a one that she admired too. So he was freakin' old, but who cares? Certainly not her! Love was always either unreachable, or not happening at all. And well, when it did happen, it was usually something that lasted no less than half a year.
She turned off her lights and laid in her bed. Now, what was she going to tell her dad? Her thoughts got as far as telling him that she found him behind the lemon tree before she dozed off.
The sun streamed in the window brightly, calling the girl asleep to wake up. Victoria threw her cover over her head and slept on her side, ignoring the bright light. No matter how many requests she made of getting heavy curtains, she never got them. " The sun will wake you up," her father says, " or else you'll be in there forever." He's right too. Sleep at one, wake up at one. What a way to live…
Twenty minutes passed and she had her little nap before the sun reached its peak of not moving until the next hour. Throwing the covers aside, she sat up and got out of bed. Her hair was in a mess and all she could think of was the bathroom to fresh up. She opened the door and heard voices. Oh shit! Aragorn!
She dashed down the hall and into the kitchen. " Look, I can explain-" she called as she arrived. There, sitting at the dining table, were her dad, Dan, his girl friend, Katy, and Aragorn, eating French toast.
" Good morning," greeted her dad. " It's about time you woke up."
Victoria looked at Aragorn, who just smiled. " Um… good mooring, daddy, Katy, and Aragorn." She sat with uncertainty beside Aragorn.
" Morning, 'Ria," replied Katy. " You want some toast?"
There was already a plate and fork in front of Victoria. She took a couple of slices.
" Good morning, Victoria." Aragor took a drink from his water. " I would have gone in to wake you up before nine."
" Which is about ten minutes from now," added her dad. " Are you still going to the mall?"
" If I'm not in trouble."
" Why would you be in trouble?"
" Well, I bet you found out by surprise that Aragorn was here, and I just let him in, and didn't wake you up or anything. Not that I knew he was going to be here! I mean, I don't think I could've left him out there, it was, like, midnight, and I believed him, and nothing could go wrong. And so I thought that in the morning, I could explain to you that this was -"
" Okay, okay, I get it," said her dad, laughing. " We had a talk this morning, and I understand."
" You do? But you never understood Tolkien, nor Middle-Earth nor that Ara-"
" He explained it to me. Its all right. Just trust me. Now eat. Breakfast is almost over."
Victoria looked up at Aragorn beside her, who just nodded to her plate. She picked up her fork and ate, still completely confused about how her dad and Katy understood.
" So, um, when will you start your…mission?"
They were Aragorn's room. He was looking around the room in search for something.
" Your clothes are in my room. As for Anduril and your armor, I really don't think you'll…need…them," Victoria's words died as Aragorn left to her room. He returned with his belongings, but looking a bit confused.
" Why are there pictures of me in your room?"
She felt her face burn. " Those, well, I don't know. My room just came with them…"
Aragorn did not buy it, and just smiled. She looked at him and left, knowing that he would get changed.
She went into her room and looked at the poster of the whole Fellowship. The ones surrounding it were mostly of Aragorn, and some Legolas, and others of Boromir and them. She never expected Aragorn to just go into her room, not that she minded, but he would have done better with a warning…
It was twelve o'clock and she and Aragorn were going to the mall. The Man probably had better things to do, but he wanted to come along, and so he was. For one, Victoria couldn't say no, as she wanted him to go; and for two, her dad suggested that he come along as well. Obviously, he knew more than Victoria on Aragorn's mission or situation. But…
WHAT was she going to tell her FRIENDS?
Her dad was a problem, and now that that was solved, what about her FRIENDS?! Sure they were supportive, and would be most definitely thrilled about Aragorn, but, how could she explain it to them? " Oh, hey guys, this is Aragorn, you know, from ' Lord of the Rings' ? I found him in my backyard." What the hell? Was that the best explanation she could come up with? But hey, what ELSE can she tell them?
Aragorn came out of his room and Victoria spotted him as he moved out into the living room. She followed him and watched as he sat down on the couch, apparently, waiting for her, who was already done.
" I really don't think they'll let you walk around the mall with your sword."
" Why not?"
" Times are hard., and something happened. You would look like a suspicious character." She sat down on the couch across from the one he sat on. " But then…' she looked at him curiously, titling her head. " You would look like a very familiar character. There are Tolkien fans out there, and they'll no doubt think that you were Viggo Mortenson."
" Viggo Mortenson?"
" Never mind. It's a long story. But if people stare at you, or even run up to you, asking for your signature, just… umm. Aww, damn, this is going to be a problem." She bit her lip. " You can't go out in anything other than what you have?"
Aragorn stood. " I forgot my belongings outside, I think. May we go out to your yard?"
Victoria went over to the kitchen. " I'll get it." She went to the lemon tree outside and looked around. Underneath some freshly dropped leaves and lemons, there was a dark brown bag. She took it and returned to her house. " Is this the one?"
" Yes, thank you." He took it and opened it, neatly taking out all of his clothes, which would not help his appearance. " What about this?" It was a soft green long-sleeve, a dark green tunic, and black leggings.
" Well, what I meant was that how was I going to disguise you. You need your mail and everything right? Even your sword?"
" Yes."
She sat down. on the same couch. " Aragorn, you're going to have to tell me what your mission is. Do you know where to look? Um, how you're going to do this?"
He looked at her. " It will come to me," he said simply. " And that is when I will meet it."
Damn it. This was all just some riddle, wasn't it? She sighed. " All right, but about the autographs, just smile and pat their heads. And say that you're not really Viggo Mortenson."
" And if they ask if I am the real Aragorn?"
" They won't," she stood and faced him. " but if they do, tell them what you like."
The Mall was packed that morning as they arrived at twelve thirty. Victoria's dad just dropped her and Aragorn at the entrance, gave her his card and cell phone.
" Call me when you're done all right? No later than five."
" Six!"
" Fine, five thirty then. And stay out of trouble. Aragorn, I really don't want to ask you for favors but…"
" I will keep watch over her," Aragorn replied. " You do not have to think anything of it."
" Thank you." Dan looked at Victoria. " Don't give him trouble."
" He's not a baby sitter, and I know how to take care of myself."
" I know, I know. See you guys later."
" Bye, dad."
" Good bye."
Her dad drove off.
" Hey, are you hungry? I was going to meet with my friends in the food court anyway." She turned to the doors. Aragorn followed her.
" I'm fine. Do you wish to eat?" The automatic doors opened and he looked a bit curiously at them.
" No," she replied, laughing. " You'll get used to this, don't worry." They walked through the wing to the center square. She already noticed that people passing were looking at Aragorn, mostly with interest. Victoria dared all of them to approach him. They were going to get the disappointment of their lives.
" I'm surprised that the guard at the entrance didn't notice your sword," she said out of the blue, suddenly thinking about it.
" He probably doubted that I could do much with it." He seemed to look around all at once, taking in his surroundings. " Your shops are inside one large building. It is cool indoors, I notice; also, in your home."
" Tea, electricity and A/C. You get to love modernization after a while." They walked to the escalator. She walked unto a step, and motioned for him to follow. " They move, so you don't have to. It's a lazy world."
Aragorn stepped on cautiously and caught up to Victoria. " How interesting."
She shrugged. " Not so much. But yeah, it's neat."
They arrived at the second floor and in the food court. All of the tables to eat were practically full. People were all over the place, and she began to feel self conscious as people looked her way. However, she knew that they were not looking at HER.
" Hey, Aragorn, take my hand." She held out her hand, and he took it in his own.
" Are you well? You looked frightened of something."
I'm scared that you might be swept away from me. She smiled. " No. I don't want to lose you. I mean… it's really crowded." Against her, she knew that he looked like something that popped out of a fairy tale back in the Middle Ages; as though he was a handsome knight from King Arthur's table or a captain of a grand army; a war hero. He would indeed attract much attention.
They moved through the court, and there were people actually standing to see him. Victoria just raised an eyebrow and held her head up high, ignoring them. They could try what they wished. Aragorn would stay with her. She searched through the area, looking for her friends. What did they say: By the section before the way to the movies? They came closer to that region and spotted three of them: Serena, Clarissa, and Jadine Lason, another good friend of Victoria's.
" Hey guys!" she called out to them. She and Aragorn approached them.
They turned around. " Hey, Vicki - oh my gosh!"
" He, um, looks just like Aragorn!" said Jadine, looking complete priceless. " Oh shit, Vick!"
" Victoria," began Clarissa. " he - what Jade said!"
" Um yeah, guys, this is, well, Aragorn." Victoria gestured to each of her friends. " Aragorn, this is Jadine Lason, Serena Arner and Clarissa Dean. They're my most bestest friends." She smiled brightly at them.
Aragorn chuckled, probably at the expressions on their faces. " A pleasure to meet you all." He held out his hand, but they just gaped at him.
" You guys! Show some tact."
" Err, right." Serena took his hand, and looked at it, turning and studying it. " Wow, my gosh, Vicki…"
" If he's a look alike, he's the BEST one I've ever seen. Even though I've never seen one." Clarissa took his hand away from Serena and shook it. " Hi, I'm Clarissa, but you can call me Claire. What's your real name by the way?"
" I'll explain it to you guys later. But he's really Aragorn, okay?" Victoria began to think that maybe they WOULDn't understand.
" Don't mind Claire. I'm Jadine, but you can call me Jade." Jadine shook his hand. " Wait until Ryan comes."
They all took a seat at the table that her friends saved. Victoria still had not let go of Aragorn's hand, and was wondering if she should withdraw it before Aragorn felt uncomfortable. But she couldn't, and she really didn't want to.
" I know I should wait, but I'll explain," began Victoria. " Or, Aragorn and I can explain." And they did.
Long minutes passed and Victoria and Aragorn got through their story.
" A mission huh?" asked Jadine.
" Hey cool!" said Clarissa. " When can we start?"
" I don't think we start anything, Claire," added Serena. " I really don't know what to say though."
" Then don't say anything." Clarissa smiled. " So Aragorn," she glanced pointedly at Victoria, " How's your dear Arwen?" She LOVED teasing her didn't she, that malevolent little girl.
Victoria glared at her and sank in her seat. Her gripped lessened on Aragorn's hand, and then let go. The Man withdrew his hand, but with what expression, she did not know.
" She is faring well, I hope. The last time I saw her was before I left."
" Do you want to see her again?"
" Of course. But I have to do what I must."
" Her necklace is beautiful."
" I know."
" Wha - ow," hissed Clarissa. Jadine or Serena must have kicked her. Victoria was about to do the same, but she really couldn't afford to look up and meet everyone's gazes if she did.
She stood, her eyes still at the table. " I have to go to the restroom. I'll be right back." She walked quickly away before Aragorn could say something.
In the lavatory, she leaned against the wall and sighed. Why couldn't she stand it? It was all fake and unreachable to her. What does it matter? WHY does it matter?
It just wasn't fair. " I think I know what she goes through," she whispered, and wiped a lonely tear away.
Just then, the earth began to shake. It felt just like the earthquake on Friday. She crouched down against the wall, covering her head. The women in the stalls were screaming. Ooh, sad for them. In the toilet… that was one of Victoria's fears: using the toilet or showering when an earthquake happened.
The deep rambling passed, and the lights flickered off. There were several moments in the dark, until the generators kicked in. Everything came back to life. Victoria stood shakily and watched as the women rushed out of their stall looking uneasy. Hm, that was weird, two earthquakes in a row…
There were screams outside. It first started with several people, then they grew to more. The stomping of feet could be heard and the clashing of METAL? Cries of anger, death, and horror filled the area. Something was here…
TBC…