A/N: This chapter is short, but it's just to explain a couple of things. Also helps to establish the relationship between Stacie and Legolas. Don't worry, it gets better! Sparks'll be flying before Thanksgiving.
~*~*~
Days went by, and Stacie found herself enjoying Legolas' company during each of them. They had become friends fast. Now that her past was literally about to be cleared, there were no akward feelings between her or anyone else. Of course she still would not be trusted with a weapon.
Frodo walked up to his old friend with worry.
"Gandalf?"
"Yes, Frodo?" The old wizard sat at a table burried in books practically.
"When Stacie leaves, will she be gone for good? I fear I shall miss her spontaneous personality." A mischievous look told Frodo the wizard had a secret he had not yet shared.
"You have no need to worry about that."
"You mean she will be able to come back?" His face lightened.
"Well, certainly not any time she so chooses! There is a time and a place for everything, master Hobbit."
"Oh? I don't catch your meaning."
"You must swear to secrecy. No one is to know of this." Frodo nodded.
"I give you my word." Gandalf leaned forward so no one else could hear.
"When the girl goes back, she shall be going back to the day her father died. She shall once more be faced with the decision of going down the path of a killer. When she is 19 again, the port shall once more open on the same day it had whence she came here." Frodo smiled in relief, but frowned when Gandalf held up a hand.
"I fear she shall only go through it if she has made the right decisions, and if her heart so desires. Stacie herself shall not and will not know of this piece of information. I want her to go about living life normally."
"I understand. I won't tell anyone else about this."
Stacie leaned back in the tree she was sitting in. She hadn't actually paid much attention to the scenery around her until now. She had been too self involved. Now though, she was breating in deep the crisp scents of autumn, her favorite season. She closed her eyes, enjoying the just the scents and sounds around her.
"How are you liking Gondor?" She nearly fell out of the tree when she turned and saw Legolas sitting next to her.
"Do you have to keep popping out of nowhere?!" Her heart was still beating wildly.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to frighten you."
"No harm done, so you're alright. Yes, I do suppose I like it. Do you like it?"
"Well, their gardens aren't quite to my liking. But my people shall help them to improve." He smiled at the thought. "Other than that, I find it to my liking."
"I take it you do well with gardening?" He shook his head.
"I specialize with trees. I do live in a forest, after all."
"So I've noticed." She laughed.
"If you had more time here, maybe I could show it to you."
"I would like that." She rested her head against his shoulder. They stayed there for what had to have been an hour. Everything seemed so serene and peaceful, and Stacie felt like she was safe when she was around Legolas.
"Are you going home when you leave Gondor?" She asked him.
"No. Not for a while."
"Why's that?"
"My friend, Gimli the dwarf, and I made a promise to each other. I'd go back with him to see the glittering caves, and he with I to go to Fangorn forest. Tell me, what shall you do when you reach your own home?"
"Me?" She sighed. "When I get home, I'll be 16 again. Some way or another I'll leave Jennifer. That'll be hard, though, since she'll be my legal guardian. I'm not sure how to fix that."
"I'm sure you'll find a way. I have faith that you'll be able to right your wrongs." She smiled. It felt good to have someone actually believe she could do good.
"Thank you. That really means alot." The two sat there in silence for a while longer, just enjoying each other's presence.
Soon the fall air began to chill and they both knew it was time to go inside.
"Shall we go in?"
"That might be a good idea." She said as a shiver ran down her spine.
~*~*~
Days went by, and Stacie found herself enjoying Legolas' company during each of them. They had become friends fast. Now that her past was literally about to be cleared, there were no akward feelings between her or anyone else. Of course she still would not be trusted with a weapon.
Frodo walked up to his old friend with worry.
"Gandalf?"
"Yes, Frodo?" The old wizard sat at a table burried in books practically.
"When Stacie leaves, will she be gone for good? I fear I shall miss her spontaneous personality." A mischievous look told Frodo the wizard had a secret he had not yet shared.
"You have no need to worry about that."
"You mean she will be able to come back?" His face lightened.
"Well, certainly not any time she so chooses! There is a time and a place for everything, master Hobbit."
"Oh? I don't catch your meaning."
"You must swear to secrecy. No one is to know of this." Frodo nodded.
"I give you my word." Gandalf leaned forward so no one else could hear.
"When the girl goes back, she shall be going back to the day her father died. She shall once more be faced with the decision of going down the path of a killer. When she is 19 again, the port shall once more open on the same day it had whence she came here." Frodo smiled in relief, but frowned when Gandalf held up a hand.
"I fear she shall only go through it if she has made the right decisions, and if her heart so desires. Stacie herself shall not and will not know of this piece of information. I want her to go about living life normally."
"I understand. I won't tell anyone else about this."
Stacie leaned back in the tree she was sitting in. She hadn't actually paid much attention to the scenery around her until now. She had been too self involved. Now though, she was breating in deep the crisp scents of autumn, her favorite season. She closed her eyes, enjoying the just the scents and sounds around her.
"How are you liking Gondor?" She nearly fell out of the tree when she turned and saw Legolas sitting next to her.
"Do you have to keep popping out of nowhere?!" Her heart was still beating wildly.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to frighten you."
"No harm done, so you're alright. Yes, I do suppose I like it. Do you like it?"
"Well, their gardens aren't quite to my liking. But my people shall help them to improve." He smiled at the thought. "Other than that, I find it to my liking."
"I take it you do well with gardening?" He shook his head.
"I specialize with trees. I do live in a forest, after all."
"So I've noticed." She laughed.
"If you had more time here, maybe I could show it to you."
"I would like that." She rested her head against his shoulder. They stayed there for what had to have been an hour. Everything seemed so serene and peaceful, and Stacie felt like she was safe when she was around Legolas.
"Are you going home when you leave Gondor?" She asked him.
"No. Not for a while."
"Why's that?"
"My friend, Gimli the dwarf, and I made a promise to each other. I'd go back with him to see the glittering caves, and he with I to go to Fangorn forest. Tell me, what shall you do when you reach your own home?"
"Me?" She sighed. "When I get home, I'll be 16 again. Some way or another I'll leave Jennifer. That'll be hard, though, since she'll be my legal guardian. I'm not sure how to fix that."
"I'm sure you'll find a way. I have faith that you'll be able to right your wrongs." She smiled. It felt good to have someone actually believe she could do good.
"Thank you. That really means alot." The two sat there in silence for a while longer, just enjoying each other's presence.
Soon the fall air began to chill and they both knew it was time to go inside.
"Shall we go in?"
"That might be a good idea." She said as a shiver ran down her spine.