*Sigh* …There will be a long A/N at the bottom… The rights to Lord of the Rings do not belong to us…
Chapter 4
After waking, Legolas decided to check up on Elyssa. He gingerly stepped into her room before walking to her bed and standing over her. She was snuggled endearingly in her covers and he decided it best if he didn't wake her.
He made his way downstairs and sat on the couch. He sat there for a long time just watching the walls… looking at his nails… playing with the zipper on his pants—he had still not gotten over his fascination with it. But it wasn't long before our little elf friend found himself stating the words, "I am bored."
Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. He decided that Elyssa would be waking soon and would need a bit of cheering up. He walked over to the kitchen and poked his head into the fridge. He struggled to remember the ingredients of the stew she had made a few nights before.
"There was green… lots of green," he remembered merrily, pulling out cabbage and a jar of pickles. He took one of the pots from under the counter and placed it on the stove. Taking a knife, he hacked the cabbage to pieces before placing it into the pot. He opened the jar of pickles and poured it in, brine and all. He turned the heat on all the way, as he had seen Elyssa do.
"Hmm… the stew was also brown," he looked around and spotted a jar of peanut butter. Opening the lid, he sniffed it, "This does not smell like the stew." But, shrugging his shoulders he grabbed a spoon and dumped in a good amount. He dipped a finger into the jar tasting the remaining peanut butter, "Quite good…" He looked to the stew once more. It was bubbling nicely.
"It's missing something," he mumbled, opening the door to the fridge once more. He pulled out a single radish and placed it delicately on top, in the very center as a garnish. He replaced the cover. Smiling with satisfaction, Legolas hoped that Elyssa would like it. He trotted off with the remaining peanut butter and sat back down on the sofa scooping out the rest of the jar out with his fingers.
At that moment, he heard a loud ringing noise pierce the silence. He leapt up and stood in place, confused, before he heard a loud banging. Legolas immediately recognized this as knocking. He shuffled over to the front door and opened it. A man and a woman stood on the other side cheerfully, wearing matching outfits. They held thick black books in their hands.
The lady looked Legolas over noting first his peanut butter smeared mouth, then the jar in his hand, and finally an open fly zipper. A piece of his happy face Joe Boxers were peeking out. She smiled broadly. He won't be difficult to convert…
"Good morning," the girl greeted, "My name is Agnes Sullivan."
"And I'm Joseph McGregor," said the man. "We're with Jesus Christ from the Church of Latter-Day Saints."
"Jesus…?" Legolas asked uncertainly.
"That's right. Now, what would you say to someone who would offer you peace and happiness for all of eternity?"
Legolas blinked and stared at them blankly.
* * *
Elyssa groaned and rolled over squashing a pillow over her head. The light from the sun glared fiercely into her tiny room. She suddenly bolted upright, awake. How exactly had she gotten home? Her memories were cloudy and her head pounded. Since her room faced the west, the sun at her window meant it was afternoon. She looked down at her clothes; she hadn't changed out of them from last night. She squinted, concentrating hard before finally only coming up with the realization that she hated Courtney. Of course, she already knew this so she shrugged, her last real memory of last night being that she was drinking iced tea… and something about the wind… Another bolt of pain ripped inside her head just behind her eyes, "What the heck was in those drinks?" she muttered to herself, slipping out of bed. "When I get my hands on Courtney I swear I'll…" Elyssa trailed off when the smell of something burning filled her nostrils. The pain in her head began to throb once more. She quickly changed her clothes and thundered down the stairs.
A hand flew to her mouth; the sight that greeted her downstairs caused a small squeak to escape her throat. Ushering the two gaping Jehovah's Witnesses out the door she turned to Legolas who was still wondering what had gone wrong.
"Legolas, what is this?" she asked pointing to the scorched mess on the stovetop, which happened to still be turned on. Hastily, she shut it off noticing that he had used her mother's best pot, too. But when she turned to him, ready to kill, all anger melted away. She peered at his face. Somehow, there was peanut butter smeared on his forehead and on the corners of his mouth. His eyes were apologizing. Her vision was drawn toward his open fly. "Still fascinated, are we?" she asked, stifling a giggle.
Looking down, he blushed a bright red. Quickly he twisted around and rushed to a corner coming back only after she heard a loud zipping noise, "They are quite efficient, My Lady."
"Yeah, zippers are great," Elyssa said grabbing a paper towel and gently wiping the peanut butter from his face.
"Are you angry?"
"No, in fact, I'm feeling a lot better."
Legolas wasn't sure how he'd accomplished it, but he had cheered her up… he was proud of that fact. After taking one last regretful look at the radish bobbing up and down in the charred mess, he proceeded to "help" Elyssa cook a real meal—which happened to consist of him watching her while she prepared the food.
* * *
The two had spent the day carefully selecting DVD movies from Elyssa's vast collection, after which, Elyssa had to explain what movies were. They both now sat on the couch watching Titanic; Elyssa sipped on a cup of coffee. Rolling her eyes at Jack and Rose, she wondered how anyone could fall in love in the matter of just a few days? She glanced at Legolas, who was greedily devouring the peanut butter and her eyes softened. Perhaps it was possible…
Noticing Elyssa's stare, he offered the nearly empty jar to her. "Wood woo wike fum?" he asked. Smiling kindly, she poked a finger into the jar finishing it off. He yanked it away and swallowed, "I was only being polite, My Lady," he pouted peering into the jar to see how much she had taken. Elyssa laughed and then gently, she took it from him, placing it on the coffee table. She brought her feet up, shifted closer to him, and rested her head on his shoulder. His warmth radiated into her and she trembled. Their close proximity stirred strange emotions in her. Believing she was cold, Legolas quickly wrapped an arm around the girl. The simple contact caused Elyssa's insides to churn. She closed her eyes and inhaled his unique scent. Her eyes remained shut, her breathing became regular and when Legolas turned to look at her, she was sound asleep.
* * *
Elyssa's eyes slowly opened. Standing at the front of the living room were her parents, mouths agape. She quickly sat up and looked to Legolas, he was curled up on the couch, mouth open, eyes closed. He was in la-la land. A wave of fear washed over her as she turned back to her parents. She gulped.
"You're home early." Her parents didn't move, "I… this is… uh—"
"I left a message on the machine," her mother remarked.
"I've been out a lot lately…" Elyssa explained meekly, lowering her eyes to the floor.
"I see…" her mother said looking over at Legolas who was now just waking up. "And who might you be?"
"Wha…? What is going on?" Legolas asked groggily.
Elyssa sighed, "Legolas, these are my parents. Mom and Dad, this is Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, a tree elf from Middle-Earth."
Her parents glared at her, "Like we've never heard that one before."
"Helly, go get my shotgun."
* * *
Elyssa woke in a cold sweat, relieved that it was only a dream. She was still snuggled comfortably next to Legolas on the couch. Noticing the credits to the movie were rolling, she grabbed the remote and turned off the T.V. She looked up and found Legolas was curled on the couch, his eyes open and unseeing. Her mouth dropped open.
"Ohhhhh noooo…" she whispered. She'd killed him. She didn't understand how, but she'd killed him. Burying her head into his chest she wondered if he was epileptic. "I'm sorry I ate the last bit of peanut butter," she sobbed. Just then, the faint sound of a heart beating and an arm going around her caused her to jump up in alarm.
"Elyssa, is the movie over?" he asked staring into the blank T.V. screen.
"Why aren't you dead?"
"Am I supposed to be, My Lady?" he asked suspiciously, glancing nervously at the empty jar of peanut butter. "I am sorry things did not go as planned." He edged away from her wishing he had his bow and arrow. Elyssa burst out with what Legolas perceived to be insane laughter. His eyes widened with fear.
"No, Legolas. I woke up and your eyes were staring into nothingness. I thought you were dead… I've never been more scared in my life."
Legolas stopped edging away and proceeded to tell her that elves sleep with their eyes open. Elyssa, curious, began asking more questions.
"Wow! What else are elves known for?"
"Elves are known for their great archery skills, their nimbleness on their feet, for their beautiful songs, and also many other things."
"Songs? Can you sing for me, Legolas?"
Legolas sniggered, "Just as you did for me, Elyssa?"
"When have I sung to you?" the girl said, panic rising in her voice. She dug her nails into his arm.
He gently shook her hand loose, and ignoring her question he said, "There are many songs that I can sing for you." He thought for a second choosing carefully. Then he began, each note of the song filling the tiny living room with his beautiful voice. Elyssa gazed at him, mouth open, her head tilted slightly to one side.
"I didn't understand a single word in that song," she admitted, "but it was beautiful anyway. What was that song about? It sounded so happy! I bet it was a cheerful song."
He looked at her, an amused expression on his face. "Actually, My Lady, the song was about a young elf who fell in love and died of a broken heart."
"I knew it! That was my second guess. But an immortal elf dying of a broken heart? Come on… I mean, come on now," She looked at him seriously, "come on."
"It's true," he said, a little concerned over Elyssa's strange behavior, "Elves are also known for dying due to broken hearts."
Her eyes widened, "Really? Aww! That's so cute!" she squealed, "But sad, also sad. But cute!!" Elyssa noticed the strange look Legolas was giving her, "Uh… But sad… sing me another!"
Legolas smiled and sang again, his voice rising and falling with the tune. Elyssa listened intently until she felt her eyes droop. Unconsciously, she found herself pressed against Legolas' chest. She sat there contentedly as he stroked her hair.
"I bet this is the happy song…" Elyssa whispered before drifting off. She would never know that the song was about the sweet agony of newly found love.
* * *
Now that that's over... thanks go out to everyone who reviewed... most especially The Harlequin for all of her encouragement and to killslay for the constructive criticism. I guess it's time for us to do some esplainin'...
I'm not sure how the impression that Elyssa's singing was good came into play... Courtney was sarcastic, she wrote Elyssa's name on the karaoke list maliciously in order to embarrass her. Elyssa's voice was in fact devastatingly horrible, hence the lack of applause. Her dancing was just as bad. The song Memories is a lovely song... it's one of my favorites, too (Jerika smiles and waves) if sung properly. Courtney was singing it off-key, that doesn't mean it was a bad song. Had we said the song sung was Britney Spears' "Oops I Did it Again" it wouldn't have made much of a difference.
The ears... ah yes, the ears. That was my fault (Erika's). Jerika suggested that we mention the fact that everyone who saw such a tiny imperfection would believe it to be a birth defect, and therefore, not question it. After all, who exactly would question someone who had an extra finger or was perhaps blind. That's just rude. Silly me. I said that no one would care that his ears weren't mentioned. I suppose I was wrong… And the poem about how to return home... I already mentioned how cliché it was in the author's notes at the end of the chapter. In fact, I apologized for it. I also mentioned that I had good reason for putting it in there, besides the fact that it was so convenient.
Again, thanks for all of the overwhelming support we've been getting. Keep on reviewing! ^_~
Jerika and Erika