Chapter Two
School and Dwarven Concussions
Jamie leaned back in her seat, her head dangling behind her, her eyes closed. She was so tired; why did school have to start so early? Why couldn't it start at nine o'clock, at least, so she could possibly sleep until seven at home? She felt something flick her between the eyes. She knew who it had to be.
"Stop flicking me, Vikki."
Nearby, just behind Jamie, in fact, stood a small girl with long brown hair and a fiery disposition. She giggled, holding something.
"I didn't flick you."
Jamie's brown eyes flashed open. She turned around in her seat at the table, gathering her unruly hair into a mob that was somewhat orderly.
"Yes, it was; I know it was you."
The others at the table nodded in agreement. Vikki shook her head, still smiling.
"Take that back or I'll never let you see these pictures I printed out."
Michael, another person sitting at the table across from them, rolled his eyes.
"No one wants to see anymore pictures of that stupid elf, Vik."
The girl glared.
"I happen to think Legolas is very handsome, but that's beside the point."
Jamie just looked at her friend.
"Then it is Legolas pictures?"
The demonic smile on the girl's impish face only grew.
"Nope."
There was a pause as Jamie wondered what in the world her friend was implying. She watched curiously as the girl flipped the stack of papers in her hand around to reveal a multitude of Boromir pictures. The girl squeaked as she snatched them away.
Vikki laughed.
"I knew that's what you'd say."
Mike rolled his eyes again.
"What, Jamie? After all this time you're finally interested in the opposite gender and its for a guy who doesn't even exist?"
The girl took time out of her diligent shuffle to glare.
"Never mind, I have to remember who I'm talking to: the wonder twins: completely obsessed with Tolkein."
The two merely laughed. Vikki continued to point out others of significant interest throughout the pile. Not one contained a picture of Legolas, of course, considering she had already taken those out to keep for herself.
Another boy, Nickolas, merely shook his head.
"What? You fall for the human? Come on, you know the dwarves are better."
It was now the girls' turn to look heavenward.
"Yeah." Jamie replied vaguely.
"Sure, Nick, whatever you say." Vikki added.
"Hey, Nicky," Mat interrupted. "I think they need a hug."
The boy stretched out his arms; the girls moved over.
"Oh, come on. You know you want a hug. Come on; hug-hug."
"Why don't you go give one to your dwarf buddies, hm? I'm sure they're missing you right now." Jamie threw back, sarcastically. Nick twisted his face around.
"Hey, you never know! One day dwarves might come back to rule the earth! And when that day falls down on you I hope you are all ready for it." He was smiling. He probably would have continued, too, if something small, hairy, and heavily armored had not dropped out of nowhere and landed on his head.
"Gerroff me!" he cried, shoving the something away. The others watched in curiosity as Nick stopped moving to stare at the something in shock. Standing up and creeping around the table, the others were soon similarly at a loss.
There, only about four feet off the ground stood what appeared to be a young dwarf. His read hair had only grown a foot from his face and his brown eyes flashed maliciously.
"Who are you?" he thundered, picking up a hand ax and waving it in their faces. "Answer, before I cut out your tongues and you're unable to!"
"It's a . . ." Nick stuttered.
"Oh my gawd. . . ." Vikki mumbled.
"No way." Mike stared.
"It's a dwarf!" Jamie whispered to herself in amazement. Unfortunately for her, the creature had pretty good hearing.
"Yes! Gimli, son of Gloin and one of the royal line of Durin, at that, so if you four wizards don't send me home right this minute I promise on the beards of my ancestors that you will not live to regret it!"
Still waving his ax around, Gimli made a lunge for the table, standing atop in all his dwarven fury.
"Nick," Michael began, bewildered. "That's Gimli."
At this the other boy was shaken out of his stupor.
"Really, Mike? I couldn't tell from his introduction."
Suddenly the bell rang for homeroom.
"What'll we do with him?" Jamie asked, distraught.
"Show him to Mr. Murphy." Vikki and Mike said together.
"No, no; not yet at least." Nick spoke thoughtfully, scratching his chin. Just as he spoke, another friend, Roland, walked over. Everyone held their breath at what he would say concerning the small little man.
"So who's the short hairy dude?"
Gimli's eyes gleamed.
"At last! One of the wizards has taken up the courage to insult me! For BALIN!"
With that the dwarf jumped off the table in Roland's general direction. The boy's eyes went wide as he ran around the table, eventually hiding behind Jamie while Nick and Mike captured the midget to calm him down. Vikki was no help at all, considering that as soon as she was out from harms way, the girl sat down and laughed.
"Who the heck is that?!" Roland cried, stepping out into the open.
"Gimli." the others all said at once. The boy looked to each of them in turn, to the dwarf, and back to them.
"You gotta be kidding me."
The dwarf continued to struggle, eventually biting Michael on the hand.
"OW!" the boy rubbed his injury. "I'm gonna have rabies!"
Gimli drew another ax, one the others had failed to take away, from his belt.
"All right, you wizards-"
"Hold on, Gimli!" Jamie stepped in. The girl was getting tired of the dwarf's antics. At this moment she was particularly worried about Mike's hand, since his girlfriend was not there that day and she knew that somehow the girl would pin all this on her.
"Gimli, we are not wizards. We are humans. Please calm yourself!" she stuck out her hand as she cautiously walked forwards.
"Give me the ax, Gimli."
"No!"
"Come on, Gimli, give me the ax."
"I don't trust you!"
The rest of the group held its breath as she inched forward. Vikki was about to yell something inappropriate when the girl suddenly had the ax in one had and the dwarf's wrist in the other. Before Gimli could wrench himself free, she sat him down on the table and looked him in the eye.
"We are not going to hurt you, ok? We're your friends."
"Hey, maybe you should do as Amy says." Vikki smirked, interrupting. "You'd make a great psychiatrist."
The girl glared.
"Jamie's right, ya know, Gimli." Mike ignored Vikki's comment. "We were good friend with your uncle Oin, a long time ago."
The dwarf's eyes shown.
"You knew Uncle Oin? You must be friends! Ah ha ha ha!" With that he grabbed the thing nearest to him and hugged hard. Unfortunately the nearest thing was Jamie's neck. Not wanting to offend the little man but definitely finding the need to breathe, the girl eased his arms off her.
"Uh, as much as I love this touching family reunion," Rols interjected, "we have eight minutes to get unpacked and to homeroom."
The group all looked around at each other. After turning to everyone in turn, all eyes soon rested on Jamie. Vikki was grinning evilly.
"What?!" the girl cried.
"Hey, he's your little friend." Vikki responded.
Her counterpart thought feverishly.
Two minutes later Gimli was sitting in an unused girl's bathroom on the second floor with a bag of pretzels, four bottles of coke from the machines, and a small box of oreos.
"Now stay here until we come get you, ok?" Nick told the dwarf. Gimli merely nodded and burped.
Getting to their classrooms on time, school went without incident . . . until, that is, lunchtime.