For Legolas, the car ride to the city, 20 minutes away, was like being escorted in a magical coach. Several times Everlease looked to her right to stare at Legolas, as he seemed almost frightened.

Legolas could not understand why they had to tie Ryan to a small poorly crafted chair in the rear of the vehicle, until the car begin to move. Then Legolas grasped the tie that bound him to the seat, the "seatbelt."

To him Everlease seemed most magical. She traveled as fast as a horse endowed with a single rider and had the ability to fill the car with music at the touch of a button. But he said nothing of his newness to the magic round about him, partly for pride and partly for fear. He did not know what would ensue. The ride "home" was magical, with trees and "homes" whizzing by, homes that to him looked like small mansions. The music that filled the car was that of a strange lute and the distressed voice of a young boy:

'so you buried all your lover's clothes
and burned the letters lover wrote
but it doesn't make it any better
does it make it any better?
and the plaster dented from your fist
in the hall where you had your first kiss
reminds you that the memories will fade.'

When the song ended, Everlease slapped at a button and the sound was gone. He glanced at her sideways as she let out a shuddering sigh. Legolas was sorry to hear no more of the strange enchanting music. "What was it?" he asked quietly.

She laughed quietly. "What, you don't like Dashboard?"

"Your pardon?" he asked, confused.

"It was Dashboard Confessional."

"No," he said, still confused. "Why are you saddened by the poetry of this boy?"

Once more, Everlease laughed. "It's just--"

But Ryan was stirring in the backseat. "Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom! Why are you passing our street?"

Everlease rolled her eyes, and with what appeared to Legolas as tremendous skill, manuevered the beast of a vehicle until it was once again facing north. She turned onto a quiet road, that lead to a small building with few windows. Legolas furrowed his eyebrows. Who would live in such place, bricked into darkness? He wondered how many candles they had to light just to cast a meager warmth onto the walls. Everlease interruppted his thoughts.

"Get out." He stared at her as she unbuckled his seatbelt. "Come on, you can come inside for a minute." Legolas stared at her in wonder, and got out. "But I've got to warn you," she called over her shoulder as they walked towards the building, "I'll kill you if you try to touch me. I keep three knifes on me during Ren Fest and I don't want to have to shove one into ya."

Legolas lamented that he had somehow made her feel ill of him. "Lady Everlease, I mean no harm to you or your son--"

"Drop the 'Lady' crap."

"What?" Legolas exclaimed, thrown completely off gaurd.

"Drop it. I have that crap thrown at me all day. Lady this, and Lady that. If someone would just call me Everlease I think I would be half sane."

There was a silence as she used a small flat key to open the door. They climbed the narrow, poorly made staircase in silence as well, and she then used another small flat key to open another door. Legolas gathered that this was her home, as Ryan now left her side in a mad dash.

"Man, every time I turn around, that kid has to pee."

Legolas glanced at Everlease, shook his head, and then contented himself to gaze around. "Should we light a candle?" he asked, taking it all in.

Everlease laughed. "OK, I know, it's dark but i'm not turning on any lights cos it's a mess." She smiled at him in the dark. "You might not ever see me again but if you don't I don't want to be remembered for having a filthy home."

"La--...Everlease, I would remember you for your kindness and forgiving manner. Truly there are not many left of your kind." Legolas unconsiously spoke in a warm, low tone, and Everlease felt herself smiling, regardless of the severe strangeness of the events.

They were quiet for a moment, and the moonlight filtered in on the berber carpet, showing toys and trinkets that Legolas assumed belonged to Ryan. As if reading his thoughts, Everlease turned round in concern and called, "Ryan?"

A reply came from a room not too far away: "I'm playing in my room, Mommy!"

Everlease rolled her eyes. "Ryan we have to take the nice man home, now come on."

Legolas took a leaping step towards the door. "I can let myself out," he said lowly.

"But you don't have anywhere to stay! And what about Ren Fest tomorrow, don't you have to work? Do you have a ride?" Everlease suprised even herself with her stream of questions.

'This Ren Fest again,' thought Legolas. 'It must be a festival of sorts that goes on for many days.' He supposed it was the best place for him anyways. It was quite unlike the "city."

To Everlease Legolas was undaunted and seemed to answer swiftly. "I shall stay where I will. At the hour of dawn I will wait for you by the car." Legolas felt the word odd rolling off his tongue. It seemed unnatural.

Everlease felt a strange sense of relief surge through her. "All right," she said. "Then I'll see you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," he replied, backing out through the door. "And many wishes of fair dreams tonight, Everlease."

Everlease smiled and shut the door, put her back against it and slid down it. She could not believe that she was dabbling with another Renaissance Festival lunitic.

Legolas let himself out the ground floor door, and heard it click locked behind him. He ran lightly on the grass ahead of the building, and stared at the moon. He would sleep here on the grass.