The next few days were a rush of never-ending activity.  From the moment she got up until she was completely exhausted, Vista insisted on going somewhere or doing something.  Just about anything would do.  She went horseback riding, explored the surrounding forest a bit more, walked around talking to people, even went through a bit of weaponry training.  It took Haldir a day or so to realize that this was how she was coping.  By keeping herself busy, she didn't have to think about....things. 

            Then, one morning just as they were going to leave her quarters for a set of training, Vista received a summons from Galadriel, to take place that very afternoon.  She read the summons, which was written in the Common Language for her benefit, then looked up at Haldir.

"Does this mean she can help me?" she asked quietly.

He shrugged slightly, "I don't know.  Either way, she will know something that will ease you."

Vista smiled faintly and lowered herself to the floor, making herself comfortable against the nearest wall and looked up at Haldir.

"I wanna be alone for a while.  Come and get me when it's time to leave, okay?"

Haldir nodded and withdrew from the room.  Walking away from her door, he wondered if he should leave her alone.  At his last look before exiting, her eyes were dry and her face was calm.  But that was what disturbed him.  There was a chance that she could go home soon.  Maybe very soon. 

What did you expect? his thoughts mused.  She is the strangest woman you've ever met!  Did you expect her to come unhinged?  To explode with happiness?  You know her better.

What did he expect from her, though?  Certainly not the request to be left alone, after such good tidings.

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            Vista proved, once again, that she was totally unpredictable when Haldir arrived to take her to the meeting with Galadriel.  Instead of wearing one of the several dresses she had been furnished with, or even her own foreign clothing, she had donned clothes befitting an Elvish prince. 

            She wore a royal blue tunic with long black sleeves.  The leggings were black, which offset the bright orange of her normal shoes.  Her hair was brushed to a high shine and her various pieces of jewelry glittered at him from her neck and wrists.  But the most eye-catching part of her ensemble was her lips, which she had colored a dark blue, matching her tunic.  Since the rest of her face was naturally pale, it drew her lips even more attention and attracted Haldir's eyes repeatedly.  Which, in turn, began to annoy him.

##Oh, come on.##  A little voice piped up in his head, ##You know what's really bothering you, and it's not that her lips keep drawing your eyes.##

But it is. He thought back.  If they draw my attention so, what of the attentions of others?

Vista looked at him expectantly, "Well?  Are we going or not?"

Haldir blinked and shook his head, "I do not think your attire is entirely appropriate, Lady Vista."

She then stared into his eyes so intently that he had to steel himself not to look away.  They stayed like this for a moment, before Vista spoke.

"I am dressed appropriately, Haldir.  I chose these clothes because I perceived that they portrayed me accurately in your world."

"But," he protested, "these are a man's clothes!  A beautiful woman should wear things that convey her beauty, not hide it.  In this case, it would be a dress."

Vista sighed, "First off, I'm not beautiful.  I never have been and I never will be.  There's the death of your argument right there.  Secondly, I wear whatever I damn-well please.  And no one is going to change that."

There was a pause. 

            Vista watched Haldir, expecting a rebuke of some sort.  But he just looked at her, his eyes every once in a while flicking down to her lips.  She'd wondered whether the blue lipstick (which she'd just discovered in the box that held the contents of her pockets) was a good idea or not.

            Haldir gazed at Vista, the amazingly headstrong woman who'd fallen from the sky.  He'd enjoyed hearing her say his name in the past, but somehow it seemed enhanced by this blue paint.  Not for the first time, he was aware of how exquisite she was.

"I think you are beautiful." he said quietly.  "Now come, or we shall be late."

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"I must say, I am surprised at your attire, Lady Vista." said Celeborn.

She was standing in front of Galadriel and Celeborn, who were seated on their thrones.  Vista didn't fidget with her clothes, as Haldir expected.  She instead regarded Celeborn calmly.

"I must first state, sir, that I have never encountered royalty of any sort, so please excuse me if my manners are lacking."

Galadriel smiled, "Your honesty is manners enough."

Vista managed a tight smile, "As to my attire, I went over this already with Haldir.  I chose what I did to convey myself accurately in your world."

Celeborn gave Vista a look that couldn't be called anything but 'fatherly'.

"But shouldn't a woman wear a gown of some sort when meeting royalty?"

Vista's eyes flashed, "I don't wear dresses.  If you brought me here to criticize how I dress, I fail to see why I'm still here."

Haldir grabbed Vista's arm and turned briefly to the seated royalty, "Excuse us for one moment."

He pulled her into an alcove, out of earshot.

"What are you doing?" he whispered angrily, "You will show the proper respect-"

She ripped her arm from his grasp and slapped him.

"Don't you dare grab me like that!" Vista hissed.  She was incensed.  First Celeborn started bugging her about her clothes, then Haldir drags her by the arm out of earshot to reprimand(?) her. 

Galadriel looked over at Celeborn, "Did you have to pester the poor woman about her clothes?"

Celeborn gave Galadriel a slight smile, "I wanted to see how Haldir is handling her.  I admit that I wasn't sure about having him look out for her."
"He certainly would not have been my choice." came a voice from opposite the thrones, "But they seem to be...getting along."

In the course of their unheard conversation, Vista slapped Haldir again. 

Celeborn raised his eyebrows at Galadriel, who calmly smiled at him.  Meanwhile, the heated discussion in the alcove seemed to have reached a compromise.  Vista approached the thrones again; Haldir hung back like he had before.

"Okay.  You," Vista pointed at Celeborn, "were out of line bugging me about my clothes.  I was out of line snapping at you.  Can we move on?"

"A wise decision, Lady." came the unidentified voice from the other side of the courtyard.

Vista turned and couldn't believe her eyes.  No freaking way!

Galadriel smiled, "Yes, Mithrandir, a wise decision indeed."

Mithrandir, also known as Gandalf, approached Vista, a kindly smile on his face.

"It is nice to see you getting along so well with Haldir." his eyes twinkled.

Vista refused to be goaded, "Why was I called here?  Why am I here period?"

Mithrandir grinned, "You know what you want.  That can be both good and bad."

Vista arched an eyebrow, "What makes you think my wanting to go home could be anything but good, sir Mithrandir?"

He smiled, "There may be some who do not wish your departure."

She flushed, "Right now, I could care less.  Either tell me why I'm here, or I'll go find something else better to do."

Celeborn raised an eyebrow, "Maybe you should seek to better control your temper."

Vista took a deep breath and forced herself to relax, "Can you help me get home.  That's all I wanna know."

Galadriel gave her a mystifying look, "That answer can be given by the wizard in our company.  Gandalf has studied the scrolls of history and knows the past like the present.  Seek instead your knowledge from him."

Vista spun, "Sir, how may I get home?  Does history have any enlightening info?"

Gandalf smiled at her, "Ancient Elvish lore tells of a human who fell from the sky.  He came from a different time, he said.  A different place.  But, while he was with the Elves, he fell in love with one of the Elven maidens.  She indeed loved him too, and, despite the dissent of her family, she forsook the immortal life and married him."

Vista sighed, "That's a very nice story, Mithrandir.  But I fail to see what it has to do with my getting home.  The man in your story seems to have made this Earth his home.  Maybe that is what you are driving at.  But I refuse, absolutely refuse, to stay here for the rest of my life."

Strong emotions warred across her face; anger, fear, sadness.  Tears filled her eyes.  She turned and ran from the courtyard, seeming determined to outrun the story.

Haldir shot a dark look at Gandalf, "Do you seek to make her more miserable?  If this is so, you have indeed found the easiest way."

"Haldir!" came Celeborn's sharp rebuke.

Galadriel placed a gentle hand upon that of her husband's and looked calmly at Haldir.

"You are neglecting your duties, Haldir."

Huh? "I know not your meaning, my Lady."

"I have placed the Lady Vista in your care, and yet she is not in your company."

Not needing to be further chastised, he departed in search of Vista.

"Do you think it wise, not finishing the story, Gandalf?" Celeborn asked after Haldir had gone.

Gandalf nodded, "I think it is a good idea not to let her know the ending."