Chapter Thirty-Nine: Change
A/N: Okay, I apologize in advance for the shortness of this chapter, but what would you rather have? Five pages of absolute genius? Or nine pages of slop? What was that? Slop? Really, now? Wow, I've overestimated you guys. Just kidding. I really love this chapter, it's cool. And it's setting you up for the end(s). Thanks for the 2.5 biscuits. That was cool! Okay, anyway, I'm done. Today, TITAN was a lot of fun. We did "to the wind's," which are supposed to be ridiculously complicated, but my exhibition element did just fine. But I guess I can't talk. I have all three element leaders, but the two other kids are idiots. But we still do well. Chad (yay, Chad!) is in my element for exhibition, because we mix up the elements, and he stands next to me. I'll tell you guys more about what happened between me and Chad after the chapter, because now I know you all want me to shut up. If you're even still reading this … SORRY!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that I don't own, unless I just so happen to own it. IN OTHER WORDS: I don't own any of the LOTR characters, those belong to JRR Tolkien, that lucky bastard. I own everything else, like the plot, and my room … and Aila. SHE IS MINE! MWAHAHA.
…
Quickly, she grabbed the stereo's remote that she had thought to bring and paused the before it began to play and pulled Legolas' hand so that he came closer and started to nervously explain the basic position of slow dancing.
"Okay," she started uncertainly, but she felt Legolas' aura envelope her and she didn't really care anymore. It seemed pretty awkward around him, because of Arwen's conversations, but it all sort of disappeared when they saw each other again, no matter how much either of them dreaded it. "You alternate your feet at the floor like this," she said, starting at the ground and playing her right foot in between Legolas' feet, and putting the other to the outside of them, and she stood close to him, her body pressed lightly against his. "You want to get pretty close," she said, not looking up at Legolas or at the elves who stood around them. Each were willing and had a partner, save a few around edges, and were imitating them. "The men wrap their arms around their partner's middle like this," and she pulled Legolas' hands to demonstrate.
It was a strange feeling, to have his arms wrapped around her like that. It wasn't as if he hadn't wrapped his arms around her waist before, however. Many times he had saved her, pulled her up to the horse, out of the snow, held her against him, and she didn't feel so strangely. Perhaps now it was different. Like he wasn't saving her this time, or helping her, but just merely holding her. She placed his hands slightly below the small of her back and told the elves of where the hands should be. Vaguely, she even told them that the lower the hands were, the more you liked that person, but in an undertone. Though most of the elves heard her, none attempted to go past the small of their partner's back. They were still noble elves, anyway, and gallant at that. They would never trespass like that, and Aila smiled at them, thinking how inappropriate all the people of her world must seem to them.
They really were a world apart. Lightly, she put her arms around Legolas' neck, like she was hugging him, and there was a strange fluttering in her stomach, and again she wondered if she had eaten too much, as she had months ago in Lorien, but she shoved the feeling aside and continued to explain as the female elves imitated her. Arwen, quite alone without Aragorn, had found another handsome elf. Aila pulled her hands from Legolas' neck for a second to grab the stereo remote and press the play button as she gave the last bit of instruction: "And then you revolve slowly on the spot, the guy leads and that's how it's done. Simple enough."
This was her excuse to be close to Legolas before she left. Deep in her chest, she knew she didn't love him, and if she did she wouldn't let herself. It was strange how that worked but she liked the feeling, knowing that once she went back to her time, when she visited, she and Legolas would be no more than friends. The music began to play softly in her ear, and she leaned her head against his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, his arms, in turn, around her. She softly sung the words from her favorite slow song by Good Charlotte. It was funny how most rock groups couldn't make a slow song to save their lives, but this particular rock band had the best she had ever heard.
"I am lost and see through
I think you lost yourself too
Throughout all the day's confusion
I hope I somehow get to you
I practiced all the things I'd say
To tell you how I feel
And when I finally get my chance
It all seems so surreal"
It seems surreal to Aila as well, as she revolved slowly around in Legolas' arms, wrapped lightly around her middle, his hands resting slightly below the small of her back, pressed tightly against him, despite his loose grip. Maybe it was herself who was holding on for dear life, she could hardly tell. And if Aila thought it was surreal, to Legolas it was heaven. He knew it could never last, and that he was only dancing with her because he was the only one she knew. But still, his chest swelled as her head rested upon it, and he bent his head, resting his cheek on top of her head.
"Cause from the first time I saw you,
I only thought about you
I didn't know you
I wanted to hold on to
The thing you never say to me
Cause you said
You can't change the way you feel
Oh I could never do that,
I could never do that
But you can't tell me this ain't real,
Cause this is real
And you can see right through that
In the end it's all I got,
So I'm gonna hold on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on and on and on
And now you've got me watching your eyes
(Watching just to see, watching just to see)
Got me waiting just to see
(If you'll ever look at me)
If it goes the way it never will
(Will it ever go, will it ever go my way?)
Your eyes are watching me
During that particular stanza, Legolas lifted his cheek from her head and looked down at her, responding to the lyrics themselves. There had never been any song truer, he loved her eyes, so soft and brown, but shot with gold, green, and gray. Sometimes, even silver. Softly, she took her head from his chest as well and looked up at him, granting his wish, she smiled slightly, but he only saw the smile in her eyes. Some say that eyes are windows to the soul, and Legolas could have gotten lost in the wavy torrents of her soul, so mirrored by the discolorations and variety in her eyes. And Aila felt the same way, staring into his deep blue eyes, she could see splashes of color growing like the petals of a flower from his pupils.
Oh, and now you've got me thinking 'bout
The first time that I met you
Standing in a crowded room
But I could only see you
Again, Legolas thought that the lyrics had hit the nail on the head. He was immediately drawn to Aila, those months ago in this very hall. She was turning down elf after elf, and it was not like him to be so confident that she would want to dance with him. But he hadn't been wrong, and he was glad for his moment of cockiness. She was the only person he could see, among leagues of beautiful elves, she was the one he saw. The only one he saw.
And I hope my words will get through
Cause now I can't forget you
I wanna tell you, if only I could reach you
And make you feel this way
Oh how dearly he wished he could make her feel the way he did. How did this song mirror everything that he felt, did Aila know that he loved her? Was his secret out? But as he continued to gaze into her soft eyes, he saw that she knew nothing of his love. He looked down at her face, her chin was up and they fit perfectly, so that their faces were only a few inches away. His hair fell from his shoulders and curtained them, so that all he could see was her, and it was all he wanted to see. A sudden urge came over her and his face lowered an inch, he felt her breath upon his lips as her mouth opened and she breathed through that instead of her nose. It was soft and hot, and Legolas wanted that feeling to last on his lips for all eternity, but there was one more feeling he wished for his lips. It seemed so perfect. His face was lowering steadily now, and he was coming closer to her, but she seemed hardly to notice, still staring into his eyes. The music continued in the background.
But you said,
You can't change you feel
I could never do that, I could never do that
But you can't tell me this ain't real, cause this is real
You can see right through that
In the end it's all I've got
So I'm gonna hold
On and on and on and on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on and on and on
Oh, on and on and on
Oh oh, on and on and on
And on"
(Change by Good Charlotte)
Legolas shivered as her breath played across his lips again, and he realized how close their faces were, and he remembered seeing in her eyes the clueless-ness about his love. She had no idea, and she would be leaving soon. So soon. Most likely the next day. Who was he to kiss her like this, and then say that he did not love her. He knew, deep in his heart, that she did not want him to kiss her. He would ruin their relationship. Maybe, someday she might love him, but not today, and he didn't want to push it.
Aila finally realized that Legolas' face was so close to hers, and she opened her mouth slightly in anticipation. But just as suddenly, she realized what she was doing and closed her mouth again, unable to tear her eyes from that of Legolas. Did she want him to kiss her? She didn't love him, but she came from a time where kissing meant little more than vague 'I like you's. What stopped her was that Legolas came from an entirely different time. Would kissing him mean some sort of commitment? Did she love Legolas? Would she make that commitment? Again, her chest swelled, but it wasn't love for Legolas. It was yearning to go home, to her own time, to a place where she was a genius, and not some dim-witted maiden in the wrong time period. It seemed as if Legolas was reading her thoughts, because he pulled away quickly, and turned his head away from hers.
The song stopped and Legolas' embrace lingered for a moment longer, before he let go of her and stood to the side. Around her, many elves were smiling and thanking her for her small lessons. She said it was nothing and immediately began to put her stereo back into her own room again. Her chest swelled even more when she saw her own bed as she returned her stereo and she breathed deeply, returning to Middle Earth, if only for a moment more.
"I'm going," she said, loudly to Arwen and Legolas who stood around waiting for her.
"Now?" cried Arwen. She panicked for a few moments. How could she persuade Aila that she loved Legolas when Aila was leaving NOW? It was impossible! What could she do but allow her friend to leave and try desperately to soothe Legolas afterward?
"Yes, now," replied Aila calmly. "I want to go home so badly, Arwen, surely you can understand," she addressed Arwen, but her gaze shifted momentarily to Legolas, who nodded. His blue eyes dimmed for a moment. It had felt so right to dance with her, he seemed so whole in those moments, but now she was leaving to her time, and he didn't know when she was coming back to visit. "I'll visit, I promise. Soon. Good-bye, Arwen. Good-bye, Legolas." She gave each of her friends a hug, and said good-bye to Lord Elrond as well, as he came over to see her off.
Slowly, Aila began to put her foot through the mirror, still saying good-bye's to her friends. As she stepped through the mirror, her head almost completely through, she turned her face back to them, and saw Legolas' face. His eyes so sorrowful that she was leaving, almost glistening with tears. She pulled the rest of her leg through the mirror and she was gone.
Legolas tried desperately to hold back his tears, that now Aila was gone. Wild thought ran through his head, that maybe she wasn't coming back. Deep down, he knew he was being ridiculous, but he couldn't help it. He immediately excused himself and left to his chambers. As he opened his door, tears began to stream freely down his face. He loved her so much, but she had to go. He had to fall in love with someone from another time. Someone with a great prophecy. Someone who could never love him back. He had watched her walk through the mirror, and maybe when she visited, she would not come to see him. He, of course, had all the time in the world, but she did not. Perhaps he would never see her again while she lived. She had gone through the mirror to her own time.
She was gone.
A/N: Okay, I apologize in advance for the shortness of this chapter, but what would you rather have? Five pages of absolute genius? Or nine pages of slop? What was that? Slop? Really, now? Wow, I've overestimated you guys. Just kidding. I really love this chapter, it's cool. And it's setting you up for the end(s). Thanks for the 2.5 biscuits. That was cool! Okay, anyway, I'm done. Today, TITAN was a lot of fun. We did "to the wind's," which are supposed to be ridiculously complicated, but my exhibition element did just fine. But I guess I can't talk. I have all three element leaders, but the two other kids are idiots. But we still do well. Chad (yay, Chad!) is in my element for exhibition, because we mix up the elements, and he stands next to me. I'll tell you guys more about what happened between me and Chad after the chapter, because now I know you all want me to shut up. If you're even still reading this … SORRY!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that I don't own, unless I just so happen to own it. IN OTHER WORDS: I don't own any of the LOTR characters, those belong to JRR Tolkien, that lucky bastard. I own everything else, like the plot, and my room … and Aila. SHE IS MINE! MWAHAHA.
…
Quickly, she grabbed the stereo's remote that she had thought to bring and paused the before it began to play and pulled Legolas' hand so that he came closer and started to nervously explain the basic position of slow dancing.
"Okay," she started uncertainly, but she felt Legolas' aura envelope her and she didn't really care anymore. It seemed pretty awkward around him, because of Arwen's conversations, but it all sort of disappeared when they saw each other again, no matter how much either of them dreaded it. "You alternate your feet at the floor like this," she said, starting at the ground and playing her right foot in between Legolas' feet, and putting the other to the outside of them, and she stood close to him, her body pressed lightly against his. "You want to get pretty close," she said, not looking up at Legolas or at the elves who stood around them. Each were willing and had a partner, save a few around edges, and were imitating them. "The men wrap their arms around their partner's middle like this," and she pulled Legolas' hands to demonstrate.
It was a strange feeling, to have his arms wrapped around her like that. It wasn't as if he hadn't wrapped his arms around her waist before, however. Many times he had saved her, pulled her up to the horse, out of the snow, held her against him, and she didn't feel so strangely. Perhaps now it was different. Like he wasn't saving her this time, or helping her, but just merely holding her. She placed his hands slightly below the small of her back and told the elves of where the hands should be. Vaguely, she even told them that the lower the hands were, the more you liked that person, but in an undertone. Though most of the elves heard her, none attempted to go past the small of their partner's back. They were still noble elves, anyway, and gallant at that. They would never trespass like that, and Aila smiled at them, thinking how inappropriate all the people of her world must seem to them.
They really were a world apart. Lightly, she put her arms around Legolas' neck, like she was hugging him, and there was a strange fluttering in her stomach, and again she wondered if she had eaten too much, as she had months ago in Lorien, but she shoved the feeling aside and continued to explain as the female elves imitated her. Arwen, quite alone without Aragorn, had found another handsome elf. Aila pulled her hands from Legolas' neck for a second to grab the stereo remote and press the play button as she gave the last bit of instruction: "And then you revolve slowly on the spot, the guy leads and that's how it's done. Simple enough."
This was her excuse to be close to Legolas before she left. Deep in her chest, she knew she didn't love him, and if she did she wouldn't let herself. It was strange how that worked but she liked the feeling, knowing that once she went back to her time, when she visited, she and Legolas would be no more than friends. The music began to play softly in her ear, and she leaned her head against his chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, his arms, in turn, around her. She softly sung the words from her favorite slow song by Good Charlotte. It was funny how most rock groups couldn't make a slow song to save their lives, but this particular rock band had the best she had ever heard.
"I am lost and see through
I think you lost yourself too
Throughout all the day's confusion
I hope I somehow get to you
I practiced all the things I'd say
To tell you how I feel
And when I finally get my chance
It all seems so surreal"
It seems surreal to Aila as well, as she revolved slowly around in Legolas' arms, wrapped lightly around her middle, his hands resting slightly below the small of her back, pressed tightly against him, despite his loose grip. Maybe it was herself who was holding on for dear life, she could hardly tell. And if Aila thought it was surreal, to Legolas it was heaven. He knew it could never last, and that he was only dancing with her because he was the only one she knew. But still, his chest swelled as her head rested upon it, and he bent his head, resting his cheek on top of her head.
"Cause from the first time I saw you,
I only thought about you
I didn't know you
I wanted to hold on to
The thing you never say to me
Cause you said
You can't change the way you feel
Oh I could never do that,
I could never do that
But you can't tell me this ain't real,
Cause this is real
And you can see right through that
In the end it's all I got,
So I'm gonna hold on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on and on and on
And now you've got me watching your eyes
(Watching just to see, watching just to see)
Got me waiting just to see
(If you'll ever look at me)
If it goes the way it never will
(Will it ever go, will it ever go my way?)
Your eyes are watching me
During that particular stanza, Legolas lifted his cheek from her head and looked down at her, responding to the lyrics themselves. There had never been any song truer, he loved her eyes, so soft and brown, but shot with gold, green, and gray. Sometimes, even silver. Softly, she took her head from his chest as well and looked up at him, granting his wish, she smiled slightly, but he only saw the smile in her eyes. Some say that eyes are windows to the soul, and Legolas could have gotten lost in the wavy torrents of her soul, so mirrored by the discolorations and variety in her eyes. And Aila felt the same way, staring into his deep blue eyes, she could see splashes of color growing like the petals of a flower from his pupils.
Oh, and now you've got me thinking 'bout
The first time that I met you
Standing in a crowded room
But I could only see you
Again, Legolas thought that the lyrics had hit the nail on the head. He was immediately drawn to Aila, those months ago in this very hall. She was turning down elf after elf, and it was not like him to be so confident that she would want to dance with him. But he hadn't been wrong, and he was glad for his moment of cockiness. She was the only person he could see, among leagues of beautiful elves, she was the one he saw. The only one he saw.
And I hope my words will get through
Cause now I can't forget you
I wanna tell you, if only I could reach you
And make you feel this way
Oh how dearly he wished he could make her feel the way he did. How did this song mirror everything that he felt, did Aila know that he loved her? Was his secret out? But as he continued to gaze into her soft eyes, he saw that she knew nothing of his love. He looked down at her face, her chin was up and they fit perfectly, so that their faces were only a few inches away. His hair fell from his shoulders and curtained them, so that all he could see was her, and it was all he wanted to see. A sudden urge came over her and his face lowered an inch, he felt her breath upon his lips as her mouth opened and she breathed through that instead of her nose. It was soft and hot, and Legolas wanted that feeling to last on his lips for all eternity, but there was one more feeling he wished for his lips. It seemed so perfect. His face was lowering steadily now, and he was coming closer to her, but she seemed hardly to notice, still staring into his eyes. The music continued in the background.
But you said,
You can't change you feel
I could never do that, I could never do that
But you can't tell me this ain't real, cause this is real
You can see right through that
In the end it's all I've got
So I'm gonna hold
On and on and on and on and on and on and on
On and on and on and on and on and on and on
Oh, on and on and on
Oh oh, on and on and on
And on"
(Change by Good Charlotte)
Legolas shivered as her breath played across his lips again, and he realized how close their faces were, and he remembered seeing in her eyes the clueless-ness about his love. She had no idea, and she would be leaving soon. So soon. Most likely the next day. Who was he to kiss her like this, and then say that he did not love her. He knew, deep in his heart, that she did not want him to kiss her. He would ruin their relationship. Maybe, someday she might love him, but not today, and he didn't want to push it.
Aila finally realized that Legolas' face was so close to hers, and she opened her mouth slightly in anticipation. But just as suddenly, she realized what she was doing and closed her mouth again, unable to tear her eyes from that of Legolas. Did she want him to kiss her? She didn't love him, but she came from a time where kissing meant little more than vague 'I like you's. What stopped her was that Legolas came from an entirely different time. Would kissing him mean some sort of commitment? Did she love Legolas? Would she make that commitment? Again, her chest swelled, but it wasn't love for Legolas. It was yearning to go home, to her own time, to a place where she was a genius, and not some dim-witted maiden in the wrong time period. It seemed as if Legolas was reading her thoughts, because he pulled away quickly, and turned his head away from hers.
The song stopped and Legolas' embrace lingered for a moment longer, before he let go of her and stood to the side. Around her, many elves were smiling and thanking her for her small lessons. She said it was nothing and immediately began to put her stereo back into her own room again. Her chest swelled even more when she saw her own bed as she returned her stereo and she breathed deeply, returning to Middle Earth, if only for a moment more.
"I'm going," she said, loudly to Arwen and Legolas who stood around waiting for her.
"Now?" cried Arwen. She panicked for a few moments. How could she persuade Aila that she loved Legolas when Aila was leaving NOW? It was impossible! What could she do but allow her friend to leave and try desperately to soothe Legolas afterward?
"Yes, now," replied Aila calmly. "I want to go home so badly, Arwen, surely you can understand," she addressed Arwen, but her gaze shifted momentarily to Legolas, who nodded. His blue eyes dimmed for a moment. It had felt so right to dance with her, he seemed so whole in those moments, but now she was leaving to her time, and he didn't know when she was coming back to visit. "I'll visit, I promise. Soon. Good-bye, Arwen. Good-bye, Legolas." She gave each of her friends a hug, and said good-bye to Lord Elrond as well, as he came over to see her off.
Slowly, Aila began to put her foot through the mirror, still saying good-bye's to her friends. As she stepped through the mirror, her head almost completely through, she turned her face back to them, and saw Legolas' face. His eyes so sorrowful that she was leaving, almost glistening with tears. She pulled the rest of her leg through the mirror and she was gone.
Legolas tried desperately to hold back his tears, that now Aila was gone. Wild thought ran through his head, that maybe she wasn't coming back. Deep down, he knew he was being ridiculous, but he couldn't help it. He immediately excused himself and left to his chambers. As he opened his door, tears began to stream freely down his face. He loved her so much, but she had to go. He had to fall in love with someone from another time. Someone with a great prophecy. Someone who could never love him back. He had watched her walk through the mirror, and maybe when she visited, she would not come to see him. He, of course, had all the time in the world, but she did not. Perhaps he would never see her again while she lived. She had gone through the mirror to her own time.
She was gone.