Appearances can be Deceiving
Waking up was a terrible ordeal. First, Araya seemed to have disappeared (A/N: Actually, someone told her not to wake Joari up) and as a result she woke up only when bright sun started stabbing her eyes. Her brain felt tight, her mouth dry, and she really had no clue what she could expect today. Then she faced the worst problem yet: What on earth was she going to wear??? After a little searching and slamming, she managed to find her wardrobe.
"Wow… great, just great. Never thought I'll complain of having too many clothes to choose from." It was filled with… dresses. From what she could see, LOTS of dresses. It looked like the perfect hunting ground for the extinction of pants. "OoOoOohhhh no!" It would take her forever just to choose a dress that she could be caught dead in. One way would be to close her eyes and just reach in for a dress, but all she got was some pinkish gossamer-ish dress that would be the ultimum of feminity. She looked around for some dark colored dresses, but there didn't seem to be any (A/N: Did I mention she'd opened the spring/summer wardrobe? ^_^) "AARRRGGGHHH!!!!" There was nothing to it. If she was going to have to go into her 'helpless female mode' she might as well do it to the extreme.
She looked at the pink creation again. "Looks like I'll have to give those elves a run for their money. At least this doesn't have flowers stamped all over…" She tried it on and was relieved that it wasn't as transparent as it seemed to be. She got out her small make-up kit in her bag and painstakingly lightly applied the dark blues. It was tough just making sure that they were light, not to mention having to make them look natural as well. For once, she wished she usually wore normal or at least light colored make-up. Vivid greens, oranges, reds, purples and blues didn't really fit into her new surroundings.
After she was done, she looked at her reflection in the mirror, and pondered what she could about her hair. Leaving it down would make her look even plainer, yet spiking and pinning it was totally out of the question.
In any case, that was how Araya found her, staring at the mirror, when she came. "Joari! What's the matter?" Araya asked as she moved across the room. "Er, Urm, Eck, ah…. Morning Araya." Joari didn't expect her and she wasn't sure how she looked in the dress and the stuttering and blushing and trying to keep her image were beginning to tell. She grinned a small, lopsided grin. "Heh, Araya, I was wondering… er… could you…er…domyhairforme???" She was about to freak. That was about the dumbest request that she's ever made, and she was beginning to doubt her sanity.
But Araya didn't look the least perturbed. She didn't even ask for a reason why Joari was 'dressing up' for once. Instead, she started to scrutinize the poor girl. Then she left the room. Joari folded her arms on the dresser and began to mock sob, careful not to ruin her make-up. Oh, the humiliation!
Meanwhile, Araya was walking down the hallway, heading towards the gardens. "I wonder why she's dressing like that today?" she voiced out the question she did not ask earlier, knowing that it would most likely push Joari to the edge and back to wearing her usual clothes. It was a surprising to note how sweet she looked, albeit that the she'd somehow managed to shade the area above her eyes blue, something that she's never seen before. But it enhanced her sapphire eyes, and made a delightful contrast with the pink dress. But what could be the reason behind all this? Joari had such a fiery spirit, so it was not likely that she'd been told to, and she's done so out of her own choice. But what was it? Then Araya remember a certain blonde prince. OH…!
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That was the furthest reason from Joari's mind when she began to rationalize her actions. In the end, she concluded that insanity and just her new surroundings had finally gotten to her. Whatever. I wear what I please. No one has a word in it but me anyhow She'd finally managed to calm herself until Araya came back. In her hands was a small bunch of baby's breathe. Joari sweatdropped. Flowers!!!??? "I got these. We could braid them into your hair." Araya stated as she started working on Joari's hair. She picked up the blue strands and used them for braiding. The ending effect was great, and even Joari couldn't protest. Though it felt freaky having flowers in her hair, it looked really good, so there was nothing to say against it. "Thanks Araya. So what's been up so far?" Araya petted a stray strand into place. "Well, the palace is bustling about getting ready to leave." "To leave!? Why?" Araya looked at her, surprised. "Didn't you hear? The wedding of King Aragorn and Lady Arwen will take place in Gondor." "Oh." She remembered her conversation with Legolas. Looks like I won't be learning anything from you…
"Gondor… hmmm…" Suddenly, she was struck by a thought. "How am I gonna get there?" Araya looked at her, puzzled. "Why, by following everyone going there! Is there any other way which you to take?" Looks like she doesn't know… but she wasn't gonna waste time explaining something she already didn't like, "Nevermind," she started for the door, "Do you have any idea where I can find either Lord Elrond/Gandolf/Legolas???" Since she received no reply, she decided to ask for directions. To hell whether or not they're busy packing!
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After about an hour of banging into highly distracted and, if possible, unaccommodating elves, she finally ushered herself into the library. Afterall all this time, they'd better be in there the three occupants blinked, trying to recognize her. She rolled her eyes Do I really look that different? "Hello? Gentlemen? It's me, Joari." Legolas approached her, "Is there anything wrong, Lady Joari?" She gave him her I-just-got-up-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-bed look. "No, nothing at all, except that coming here has brought back unpleasant memories of elbowing through crowds on a Christmas eve shopping spree." Noting the blank looks that they were giving her, she sighed. It's no wonder I can never stay mad here.
"Sorry, just a joke." She said, and started to laugh. The others laughed as well, though rather uncertainly. "But I came here to ask: Can I go for Arwen's and Aragorn's wedding?" Elrond was surprised, "Of course, my lady. What made you doubt so." She shrugged nonchalantly, "Nothing. I would've gone anyway if you didn't let me. But what I really wanna know is, how am I going to get there?" Gandolf was perplexed, "What exactly do you mean child?" Elrond and Legolas got the picture, and realization was flooding their faces, but she elaborated a little further for the white wizard. "Like, you know, won't it be a little dangerous? And I'm not speaking for myself only." Then Gandolf got it.
She held up her hands. "Okay, before we go panic-zone, I have a little proposal. What about I just go ahead by myself first? That way, all of you would be safe." Elrond shook his head, "And how will you protect yourself?" she grinned, "don't worry, I'm not as helpless as I look. Anyway, I've got a good authority on the fact that I won't be kicking the bucket anytime soon." She let them think about that, smug that none could contest that. "Ok, that's fine then," Elrond and Gandolf looked in surprise at the blonde prince. "BUT I'll just like to know: Do you know how to get there?" Elrond and Gandolf both relaxed visibly, and they waited to see how she'd respond to that.
Joari was stumped. After a LONG pause, she conceded defeat, "No. I don't" but she wasn't going down that easily, "I'll just bring a map along. Surely you could spare me one?" she looked pleadingly at Elrond, who shook his head firmly, "Not if you're alone." She looked at all their unyielding expressions with her puppy dog appeal factor at 'max'. Though it was EXTREMELY hard, the three men managed to hold strong. "ARG! You people have hearts of stone! You're supposed to be sympathetic!" she still didn't get a response, "Ok, fine, so what do you suggest then?" Legolas smiled innocently (A/N: !!![heart attack]), "Why, that you have an escort of course."
"WHAT!?" Joari sweatdropped. Does he even know what he's just suggested?
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Hehe, if you still dun get it, he's thinking of an escort as more of a protector whereas she's picturing it as more of *something* else. :D email/ review if you still have no idea, you innocent pple :S oh, ya, this was written so that I won't be executed tmr morning. :D Chao till next time… REVIEW PLEASE!
