Disclaimer: The Lord of the rings does not belong to me.
Worlds Apart
Chapter 20
Masquerade
Branwen's POV
I looked around the huge ballroom, I couldn't recognize anyone here, not just because it was a masquerade cum costume party but because I really didn't know anybody.
It was a rather large occassion, there could have been at least two hundred people at the party.
Mother had insisted on my coming to her friend's party with her because she didn't want to see my dress go to a waste as I didn't attend the prom night. She altered it slightly to give it a fairy tale look. I wore my moon necklace. It was given to me by a friend of my father's, or so my mother said. I can't remember, as far as I know, I've always had it. It glows a silvery blue everytime it is under the moonlight. I will never take it off, for some reason, I know it has something to do with my childhood which I have yet to discover.
In the meantime, I was just lost, I couldn't find my mother because everyone was wearing masks that were provided at the entrance and everyone was dancing like mad people... no, I'm not quite sure they were actually people, hooligans. It was a rock song, 'Paradise City' by Guns N' Roses I suspect. I've heard it a couple of time on the radio though not enough to remember the lyrics for I always switch it off because it hurts my ears.
Suddenly, the song changed to Edwin McCain's, 'I'll Be'. It must have been a song request or the change wouldn't have been so abrupt.
I stood awkwardly by the snack table. Why had I even come? It so boring.
"May I have this dance, Milady?" This guy who was dressed in a green getup and had a quiver and an arrow. He must be an elf, he had elf ears too, probably fake though. But I couldn't see his face because he had on a mask as well.
I smiled and shook my head. "No, thank you. I'm tired."
He returned the smile and nodded understandingly. "Well, if you do change your mind... I'll be entertaining myself with the company of some bimbotic girls who will share their make up secrets with me."
"Or you could stay here with me and tell me where you got such an authentic bow."
He stretched his hand out for me.
"I'll tell you, if you dance with me." He said quickly.
I sighed inwardly and took his hand. "Alright. But I must warn you, I make horrible company." This guy seemed nice enough, it must be the way he smiles, warm. Very clever, hitting me at the spot I'm weakest at. I can't keep my curiosity hidden.
With his other hand going behind me, he clasped my shoulder blade and I knew instantly that he was sincere about dancing and not wanting more than that. I heard from my dance teacher that if guys went any lower than that, it meant that they wanted to grab your ass or something like that.
"I don't mind..." He chuckled softly.
"So, where did you get the bow?"
"It was given to me...by a friend, when I visited her homeland."He said slowly.
"Why would your friend give you a bow?" I asked, thinking it was probably some kind of native gift.
"She thought I might find it useful one day." He answered. "And I think I did. Did you get that necklace from a friend as well?"
It was like an immediate reaction. I let go off his hand and reached for my necklace, feeling the smooth surface of the pendant.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked, there seemed to be so much concern in his voice for someone I had just met.
I failed to quell my impulse and I took his hand. I had never shown anyone what my necklace can do, much less a stranger but I just had to show it to him. "Come, I want to show you something." I led him out into the courtyard where the light of the moon showered gently over the beautiful architecture of the stone walls of the mansion. I didn't particularly like houses which were made of stone, but I guess they're quite lovely if I don't have to live in them all the time.
I lifted up my necklace and showed him the glow that it gave off.
Holding up my necklace, I showed him the stone that was now giving off a blue ambience and it was especially bright this evening.
"It seems to be responding very well with the moonlight today." I said as I gave the rock a rub.
"Its beautiful...just as you are." He said as he reached out to touch the lower half of my face which was not covered by the mask. Then, slowly and gently, he pulled the mask over my head. I don't know why I let him. Normally, if a stranger had done that, I would have knocked the daylights out of him. But there was something different him. Its like I've met him before.
I looked up at him and for the first time that night, really looked at him. His eyes, they were so magnificent and they just stole my breath away.
"What is your name?" I asked after managing to break my gaze away from his.
"Le--cholas." He answered, choking slightly over his name.
"I beg your pardon? Lecholas? Is that your name? For real?" I stuttered. I suddenly realised how rude I sounded and waited for him to respond.
He cleared his throat and repeated. "Nicholas Greenleaf."
"Oh. Nicholas. That's like Russian, right? Or is it French? My name's Branwen Monroe. I don't know where I got my name from... Mother says my father and his bestfriend picked it out for me. Which is kinda weird because I can never imagine two guys picking out names for a baby. I know I'm rambling but please don't smile at me like I'm some little girl who won't stop talking because I will hit you. I swear I will hit you." At this point, Nicholas was smiling at me like he had never been so amused before.
I was joking about hitting him and I almost burst out laughing as I said that. And besides, I liked his smile. Its like I feel exactly the way mom does when she says that my smile makes her day.
"So tell me, Branwen. Did your mother ever tell you your father's age?" He asked, his smile growing wider.
I raised an eyebrow. "Is this a trick question to make me look stupid? Because if it is, I'm going to ignore you."
Nicholas laughed. "You sound just like her."
"Who?" I questioned. Did he know my mother? Everyone says I sound like her.
He immediately shut his mouth. "Nobody." He mumbled.
"Oh c'mon! Spit it out! Who is it? Your mother? Your sister? An ex-girlfriend?"
"An ex-girlfriend. Whom I wish I could see just once more."
"Well, what happened to her?"
"I screwed up... let her marry my bestfriend because I didn't know how to make things right for her and our...baby. " He said sadly.
"What? So your child will grow up not knowing you're her father? That's...sad. I'm sorry."
"She will... one day, I hope." He nodded, he expression unchanged.
"She will. If you let her know... I'm sure she'll understand...how old are you anyways?" I asked but before he could answer, someone tapped me on my shoulder.
I turned around and my eyes met with his.
"Elijah." I managed to let out a breath. "You're here too?"
"Yes, and I see you have some new company already... you're fast, Monroe." He spat, grabbing my wrist and tightening it. I could not believe he would be here too. I know Elijah, and he would never be caught dead in a costume party and not to mention, he was definitely not dressed for the occassion.
"Were you stalking me? I told you, leave me alone Elijah. We're broken up for 2 weeks already, give it a rest. I don't like you anymore."I shot an icy glare at him and threw his hand off mine.
He grabbed me once more, and this time, his grip was even tighter.
"You're hurting me."
But before either Nicholas or Elijah could react, I reached for the arrow in Nicholas' quiver and then I pushed Elijah up against the wall with the arrow to his neck.
"I swear, Elijah, if you touch me again, I will push this right through your neck and up your brain. Or whatever you have in place of your mind. Do you hear me?" I snarled at the older boy, who was now shaking. I was incredibly strong for a girl, especially when I'm angry.
"Ye--ess... Yes." he stammered as I loosened pulled away from him and he sank to the floor like mud.
I unconsciously tossed the arrow back at Nicholas, and at that moment, not really caring if he got hit by the arrow or not. I was really fuming at that point. But he caught it with ease and slid it back into his quiver.
"That was..."
"Ex-boyfriend. Long story. You don't want to hear about it."
"Is it always like that? With the guys I mean. Do they always stalk you?""
"Well, no. You know something... I always thought Elijah would be the one for me but it turned out that there was this other boy. He's been right under my nose all this time and I can't believe I didn't see him. But well, I guess that's life for you."
"So why not ask that boy out?"
"I...can't... he's angry at me. We had the lamest argument ever and it was such a stupid thing to argue about...I... don't know what to do."
"Have you ever told him you're sorry?"
I shook my head and bit into my bottom lip. Everytime I thought about Colin, I could practically feel my heart break and it hurt like hell.
"You handle your arrows well. You know archery too?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"I'm alright I guess. You're not bad yourself. Not many can pull out an arrow that quick, instinct perhaps?"
"From practising day in and day out. Its hard work but I love it."
"Show me. Shoot something." He said, handing me his bow and an arrow. I shook my head and pushed it away.
"No." I said, sticking out my tongue at him.
He grinned. "Then how will I know how good you are?"
"You'll just have to take my word for it, that I'm very good at it. I might even be better than you."
We must have spent the whole night together, laughing our heads off. It was really odd because we liked the same things, like the clarinet and stuffed-crust pizza and we always found the ocean fascinating, the perfect place to dream. We loved trees and horseback-riding, even though, Nicholas said he thinks he's done too much of it in his lifetime.
I looked at my watch and realised that it was already eleven thirty, I was supposed to meet mother at the porch half an hour ago!
"Branwen! Where have you been, have you been having such a good time that you forgot all about your poor mother?" I turned to find her standing a few metres from where Nicholas and I were. And as soon as she noticed him there with me, she gasped. For a minute there, nothing happened and then she pulled off her mask and smiled at him.
"Hello, Legolas."
Kylie's POV
"Hello, Kylie."
Could it really be you?
I dropped my mask and slowly walked over to him but I could not contain myself and found my legs running. I took him in my arms and I would not let him go. I held him so tightly because I wanted to know if he was really there, when I realised how real he was, all I could do now was cry.
I had waited so long for you and now you're finally here.
My tears came and they would not go but no one would ever know what joy I was feeling now.
Because I love you so much, Legolas.
I love you so much I can't even say it because I'm afraid that if I say it, all the magic will just disappear and you will just vanish.
But if you can hear my heart pounding and see how wide the smile on my face is, Legolas, you know that I do.
Very, very much.
End of chapter 20
All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
I looked for him but did not find him.
The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
"Have you seen the one my heart loves?"
Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
Songs Of Solomon 3:1-4
Plasmolysed Cell Membrane: Well, I hope you're satisfied Vicki. I think its gonna wrap up in about 2 chappies. Thank you for your loving support, and you reviewers, thanks for your reviews!
To my brother Nicholas, Elly will be back soon!
Worlds Apart
Chapter 20
Masquerade
Branwen's POV
I looked around the huge ballroom, I couldn't recognize anyone here, not just because it was a masquerade cum costume party but because I really didn't know anybody.
It was a rather large occassion, there could have been at least two hundred people at the party.
Mother had insisted on my coming to her friend's party with her because she didn't want to see my dress go to a waste as I didn't attend the prom night. She altered it slightly to give it a fairy tale look. I wore my moon necklace. It was given to me by a friend of my father's, or so my mother said. I can't remember, as far as I know, I've always had it. It glows a silvery blue everytime it is under the moonlight. I will never take it off, for some reason, I know it has something to do with my childhood which I have yet to discover.
In the meantime, I was just lost, I couldn't find my mother because everyone was wearing masks that were provided at the entrance and everyone was dancing like mad people... no, I'm not quite sure they were actually people, hooligans. It was a rock song, 'Paradise City' by Guns N' Roses I suspect. I've heard it a couple of time on the radio though not enough to remember the lyrics for I always switch it off because it hurts my ears.
Suddenly, the song changed to Edwin McCain's, 'I'll Be'. It must have been a song request or the change wouldn't have been so abrupt.
I stood awkwardly by the snack table. Why had I even come? It so boring.
"May I have this dance, Milady?" This guy who was dressed in a green getup and had a quiver and an arrow. He must be an elf, he had elf ears too, probably fake though. But I couldn't see his face because he had on a mask as well.
I smiled and shook my head. "No, thank you. I'm tired."
He returned the smile and nodded understandingly. "Well, if you do change your mind... I'll be entertaining myself with the company of some bimbotic girls who will share their make up secrets with me."
"Or you could stay here with me and tell me where you got such an authentic bow."
He stretched his hand out for me.
"I'll tell you, if you dance with me." He said quickly.
I sighed inwardly and took his hand. "Alright. But I must warn you, I make horrible company." This guy seemed nice enough, it must be the way he smiles, warm. Very clever, hitting me at the spot I'm weakest at. I can't keep my curiosity hidden.
With his other hand going behind me, he clasped my shoulder blade and I knew instantly that he was sincere about dancing and not wanting more than that. I heard from my dance teacher that if guys went any lower than that, it meant that they wanted to grab your ass or something like that.
"I don't mind..." He chuckled softly.
"So, where did you get the bow?"
"It was given to me...by a friend, when I visited her homeland."He said slowly.
"Why would your friend give you a bow?" I asked, thinking it was probably some kind of native gift.
"She thought I might find it useful one day." He answered. "And I think I did. Did you get that necklace from a friend as well?"
It was like an immediate reaction. I let go off his hand and reached for my necklace, feeling the smooth surface of the pendant.
"Is there something wrong?" He asked, there seemed to be so much concern in his voice for someone I had just met.
I failed to quell my impulse and I took his hand. I had never shown anyone what my necklace can do, much less a stranger but I just had to show it to him. "Come, I want to show you something." I led him out into the courtyard where the light of the moon showered gently over the beautiful architecture of the stone walls of the mansion. I didn't particularly like houses which were made of stone, but I guess they're quite lovely if I don't have to live in them all the time.
I lifted up my necklace and showed him the glow that it gave off.
Holding up my necklace, I showed him the stone that was now giving off a blue ambience and it was especially bright this evening.
"It seems to be responding very well with the moonlight today." I said as I gave the rock a rub.
"Its beautiful...just as you are." He said as he reached out to touch the lower half of my face which was not covered by the mask. Then, slowly and gently, he pulled the mask over my head. I don't know why I let him. Normally, if a stranger had done that, I would have knocked the daylights out of him. But there was something different him. Its like I've met him before.
I looked up at him and for the first time that night, really looked at him. His eyes, they were so magnificent and they just stole my breath away.
"What is your name?" I asked after managing to break my gaze away from his.
"Le--cholas." He answered, choking slightly over his name.
"I beg your pardon? Lecholas? Is that your name? For real?" I stuttered. I suddenly realised how rude I sounded and waited for him to respond.
He cleared his throat and repeated. "Nicholas Greenleaf."
"Oh. Nicholas. That's like Russian, right? Or is it French? My name's Branwen Monroe. I don't know where I got my name from... Mother says my father and his bestfriend picked it out for me. Which is kinda weird because I can never imagine two guys picking out names for a baby. I know I'm rambling but please don't smile at me like I'm some little girl who won't stop talking because I will hit you. I swear I will hit you." At this point, Nicholas was smiling at me like he had never been so amused before.
I was joking about hitting him and I almost burst out laughing as I said that. And besides, I liked his smile. Its like I feel exactly the way mom does when she says that my smile makes her day.
"So tell me, Branwen. Did your mother ever tell you your father's age?" He asked, his smile growing wider.
I raised an eyebrow. "Is this a trick question to make me look stupid? Because if it is, I'm going to ignore you."
Nicholas laughed. "You sound just like her."
"Who?" I questioned. Did he know my mother? Everyone says I sound like her.
He immediately shut his mouth. "Nobody." He mumbled.
"Oh c'mon! Spit it out! Who is it? Your mother? Your sister? An ex-girlfriend?"
"An ex-girlfriend. Whom I wish I could see just once more."
"Well, what happened to her?"
"I screwed up... let her marry my bestfriend because I didn't know how to make things right for her and our...baby. " He said sadly.
"What? So your child will grow up not knowing you're her father? That's...sad. I'm sorry."
"She will... one day, I hope." He nodded, he expression unchanged.
"She will. If you let her know... I'm sure she'll understand...how old are you anyways?" I asked but before he could answer, someone tapped me on my shoulder.
I turned around and my eyes met with his.
"Elijah." I managed to let out a breath. "You're here too?"
"Yes, and I see you have some new company already... you're fast, Monroe." He spat, grabbing my wrist and tightening it. I could not believe he would be here too. I know Elijah, and he would never be caught dead in a costume party and not to mention, he was definitely not dressed for the occassion.
"Were you stalking me? I told you, leave me alone Elijah. We're broken up for 2 weeks already, give it a rest. I don't like you anymore."I shot an icy glare at him and threw his hand off mine.
He grabbed me once more, and this time, his grip was even tighter.
"You're hurting me."
But before either Nicholas or Elijah could react, I reached for the arrow in Nicholas' quiver and then I pushed Elijah up against the wall with the arrow to his neck.
"I swear, Elijah, if you touch me again, I will push this right through your neck and up your brain. Or whatever you have in place of your mind. Do you hear me?" I snarled at the older boy, who was now shaking. I was incredibly strong for a girl, especially when I'm angry.
"Ye--ess... Yes." he stammered as I loosened pulled away from him and he sank to the floor like mud.
I unconsciously tossed the arrow back at Nicholas, and at that moment, not really caring if he got hit by the arrow or not. I was really fuming at that point. But he caught it with ease and slid it back into his quiver.
"That was..."
"Ex-boyfriend. Long story. You don't want to hear about it."
"Is it always like that? With the guys I mean. Do they always stalk you?""
"Well, no. You know something... I always thought Elijah would be the one for me but it turned out that there was this other boy. He's been right under my nose all this time and I can't believe I didn't see him. But well, I guess that's life for you."
"So why not ask that boy out?"
"I...can't... he's angry at me. We had the lamest argument ever and it was such a stupid thing to argue about...I... don't know what to do."
"Have you ever told him you're sorry?"
I shook my head and bit into my bottom lip. Everytime I thought about Colin, I could practically feel my heart break and it hurt like hell.
"You handle your arrows well. You know archery too?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"I'm alright I guess. You're not bad yourself. Not many can pull out an arrow that quick, instinct perhaps?"
"From practising day in and day out. Its hard work but I love it."
"Show me. Shoot something." He said, handing me his bow and an arrow. I shook my head and pushed it away.
"No." I said, sticking out my tongue at him.
He grinned. "Then how will I know how good you are?"
"You'll just have to take my word for it, that I'm very good at it. I might even be better than you."
We must have spent the whole night together, laughing our heads off. It was really odd because we liked the same things, like the clarinet and stuffed-crust pizza and we always found the ocean fascinating, the perfect place to dream. We loved trees and horseback-riding, even though, Nicholas said he thinks he's done too much of it in his lifetime.
I looked at my watch and realised that it was already eleven thirty, I was supposed to meet mother at the porch half an hour ago!
"Branwen! Where have you been, have you been having such a good time that you forgot all about your poor mother?" I turned to find her standing a few metres from where Nicholas and I were. And as soon as she noticed him there with me, she gasped. For a minute there, nothing happened and then she pulled off her mask and smiled at him.
"Hello, Legolas."
Kylie's POV
"Hello, Kylie."
Could it really be you?
I dropped my mask and slowly walked over to him but I could not contain myself and found my legs running. I took him in my arms and I would not let him go. I held him so tightly because I wanted to know if he was really there, when I realised how real he was, all I could do now was cry.
I had waited so long for you and now you're finally here.
My tears came and they would not go but no one would ever know what joy I was feeling now.
Because I love you so much, Legolas.
I love you so much I can't even say it because I'm afraid that if I say it, all the magic will just disappear and you will just vanish.
But if you can hear my heart pounding and see how wide the smile on my face is, Legolas, you know that I do.
Very, very much.
End of chapter 20
All night long on my bed
I looked for the one my heart loves;
I looked for him but did not find him.
I will get up now and go about the city,
through its streets and squares;
I will search for the one my heart loves.
I looked for him but did not find him.
The watchmen found me
as they made their rounds in the city.
"Have you seen the one my heart loves?"
Scarcely had I passed them
when I found the one my heart loves.
I held him and would not let him go
Songs Of Solomon 3:1-4
Plasmolysed Cell Membrane: Well, I hope you're satisfied Vicki. I think its gonna wrap up in about 2 chappies. Thank you for your loving support, and you reviewers, thanks for your reviews!
To my brother Nicholas, Elly will be back soon!