After Kathryn placed the order for pizza, she and Ann sat down in the kitchen to talk. Ann pulled the newpaper sitting on the table towards her and began scanning it idly. Idly, that is, until something caught her eye.
Aragorn and Legolas walked into the kitchen where Ann and Kathryn were talking at the table.
"That would be nice, Ann. But there's one problem."
"What's that?"
"The Fellowship. I don't think we could take them to an off-Broadway show. I mean, they wouldn't understand half the show, let alone trying to make the hobbits stay still for three hours."
'What are you two talking about?' Aragorn asked.
'We were considering going to see a show on Saturday,' Ann explained.
'What's it called?' Legolas asked.
'The Phantom of the Opera,' Ann answered.
'What's it about?' Aragorn wanted to know.
'It's about a man who lives in an Opera House in Paris around the turn of the century. He is called the Opera Ghost. He sang, wrote music, and played musical instruments. It's a very famous show.'
Kathryn interjected, "Hey, Ann, why don't we give them a taste of the show."
Ann grinned and cracked her fingers. "Music of the Night?"
Kathryn nodded, and they trooped downstairs to the piano. Kathryn took up a position next to the beautiful grand as Ann played the introduction. The redhead
closed her eyes and swayed softly in time with the music, until she finally opened her mouth and let her soprano voice mingle with the notes that Ann played.
Nighttime sharpens
Heightens each sensation
Darkness wakes and
Stirs imagination
Silently the senses
Abandon their defenses
Helpless to resist the notes I write
For I compose the Music of the Night
The hobbits walked into the dining room, curious. Unwilling to disturb the performance, they sat quietly in front of the piano. Boromir, Gandalf, and Gimli
trickled in the door as Kathryn continued to sing.
Slowly, gently
Night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it --
Tremulous and tender
Hearing is believing
Music is deceiving
Hard as lightning, soft as candlelight
Dare you trust the Music of the Night?
Kathryn opened her eyes for a moment and smiled as she saw the hobbits for once sitting quietly. As the lyrics continued, she matched word to action.
Close your eyes
For your eyes will only tell the truth
And the truth isn't what you want to see
In the dark it is easy to pretend
That truth is what it ought to be.
Softly, deftly,
Music shall caress you
Hear it, fear it
Secretly possess you.
Open up your mind,
Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness, which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the Music of the Night.
Close your eyes
Start a journey through a
Strange, new world!
Leave all thoughts
Of the world you knew before!
Close your eyes
And let music set you free
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling,
Sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me,
Savour each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
Let your darker side give in
To the power of music that I write-
The power of the Music of the Night!
She paused as Ann played an instrumental, opening her eyes as if coming out of a trance. She smiled at the Fellowship, who were gazing at her in rapt attention.
Ann gave a small nod, and Kathryn came back in.
You alone
Can you make my song take flight-
Help me make the
Music of the Night!
She held that note for eleven four counts, taking a huge breath at the end and breaking the spell. The Fellowship applauded.
'Kathryn, that was beautiful. Where did you learn that?' Aragorn asked.
'It's part of the Phantom of the Opera. The show we were telling you about,' she replied in Elvish.
'If you're willing to sit still for a few hours. We might consider bringing you with us,' Ann said mischievously.
'Please!' the hobbits said with puppy-dog eyes. Ann looked at Kathryn. Kathryn nodded.
'All right, you guys,' said Ann briskly. 'If we're going to go, we'll need to go shopping tomorrow. So keep that in mind.'
Aragorn groaned. He remembered well the first shopping trip. But his face brightened at the thought of Dippin' Dots.
The Fellowship slowly dispersed around the house again, since the pizza still hadn't come. The sound of the piano continued to float through the rooms as Ann distractedly played Fur Elise.
Boromir sat down beside her. 'What do you call this instrument?'
'A piano. Really, it's Kathryn's, but she doesn't play it much.'
'What music do you play?'
'What music have you heard from this age?' She countered. Boromir shrugged. 'Well, we'll just have to introduce you to some, won't we.'
She reached into a basket filled with sheet music and pulled out a few books. Boromir scanned through them, fascinated. He picked out a green book and held it up.
'What's this?'
'It's a group of - minstrels - called the Beatles,' Ann explained, taking it back and flipping through it herself. 'Let's see, what to play . . . . Aha!' She set the book on the stand of the piano, ran through a scale to warm up, and started playing.
Legolas and Kathryn walked into the room from opposite sides, both with books in their hands. They looked up when they heard music playing. Ann started singing, unaware of her new
audience.
Love, love, love,
Love, love, love,
Love, love, love,
There's nothing you can do that can't be done.
Nothing you can sing that can't be sung.
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game,
It's easy!
Legolas and Kathryn locked gazes. Kathryn blushed as butterflies filled her stomach, like they did every time she looked at the elf.
There's nothing you can make that can't be made.
No one you can save that can't be saved.
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time,
It's easy!
Legolas couldn't help it. He'd been in love before, and he recognized all the signs. But why was he falling in love with this woman? Pregnant by another man,
mortal, not even from his own time.
All you need is love!
All you need is love!
All you need is love, love,
Love is all you need.
Love, love, love,
Love, love, love,
love, love, love
All you need is love!
All you need is love!
All you need is love, love,
Love is all you need.
They moved towards the center of the room, meeting there.
There's nothing you can know that isn't known,
Nothing you can see that isn't shown,
Nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be,
It's easy!
Is this where I'm meant to be? Wondered Legolas, taking Kathryn's hands.
All you need is love!
It's true. All I need is love, thought Kathryn, smiling at Legolas.
All you need is love!
And all my baby needs is love, she thought.
All you need is love, love,
Love is all you need.
All you need is love!
All you need is love!
All you need is love, love,
Love is all you need.
Love is all you need.
Love is all you need.
And yet again, another Elf pledged himself to a mortal's life, and a woman pledged her broken heart to another man, as they kissed.
A/N: Ah, a chapter of song. Again, thanks to Summer and all our readers. I heartily dislike stories that go on for more than about ten chapters, so I'm gonna try and wrap this up pretty quick.
Obligatory plead for feedback, and we'll see you next chapter, same Bat time, same Bat channel.