Responses:

Kevin luver- yes, we all love our Evans! Best friend a girl could have. You miss him, I know, I know. You're allowed to forget him for a little. As you say, "what he doesn't know won't hurt him" but then you always go and tell him anyway, never mind. Maybe Evan will come, who knows.

Hyper Senshi- I don't blame you, but Kirstin was my friends last week. Well, it's not last week anymore, so who knows if we'll be friends this week. Well, I do forget spell check sometimes, but it's usually more grammar check that I wish was better.

Hex of the Unseelie- I don't even know what's going to happen in this fic, I'm totally clueless! Plot's coming to me as I write it. Not going anywhere fast, then. I should have updated sooner. (Aren't I getting faster at this? Lol)

Exodia Himself- Thank you! I would put you in, but the transportation happened at a Surf swim meet, and I doubt you were there. Sorry!

***A/N- (Started 11/30/03 at 3:40 pm) I've decided to tell you guys how long it takes me to update each chapter so that you can yell at me even more for not updating that often. This chapter is dedicated to the anonymous reviewer Emily for reviewing. If you're reading this, THANK YOU! All right, I have absolutely no ideas for this fic, so any are appreciated in reviews. As always, please review, please leave reasons to dedicate chapters, and please enjoy!

~*Chapter 7- A Walk In the Garden*~

Breakfast was wonderful. Fruits, scones, everything. A meal fit for a king. Well, it was for a king since Thranduil was there. We sat at the head of the table with the king and everyone could see us. Erika looked especially pleased sitting next to Pherlam. I didn't blame her, he was better looking than anyone at our school, and most people would die to go out with him, not caring at all what he was like. Erika had Kevin, so I knew this was not going to turn into a serious relationship, but more of a very close friendship. And I was sitting there next to Aldayondo. How lucky was I?! He was so nice, so sweet, so understanding, so... perfect. I hadn't noticed that I was staring at him until he looked up and smiled at me. I must have blushed bright red before re-concentrating on my fruit.

When I had cleaned my plate, Aldayondo came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. "Would you care for a walk in the garden?"

I guessed the shyness had worn off a little. "I would love to."

He helped me out of my chair and guided my hand to take his arm. The garden's located on the other side of the kitchen, so we had to walk across the whole thing. I was sure Erika was us, all right! Finally, my chance for everyone to see me with a guy. The garden was bright and warm, despite the dark, damp forest. We found a path lined with red, pink, white, and yellow roses. There was a bench halfway down, where we sat. I felt uncomfortable. The mix of dress, flowers, and cute guy were making me nervous. I'd never been in a situation like this before.

"Am I making you nervous?" I kept forgetting, could Elves read minds? I knew Galadriel could, but could all of them? It was starting to seem like they could.

"It's not you, I've just never been in a situation like this before."

"You've never been with a male before?"

"No, but never with a guy like you."

"What do you mean, like me?"

"Well, a guy that's not my brother of best friends. Never alone, I'm usually with other friends."

"Anyone closer than a friend?"

"You mean like a boyfriend?"

"A what?"

"Someone who was courting you."

"Oh, no never. Just Evan and the guys."

"So you are uncomfortable around me because you have never had anyone court you before?"

"Partly, and partly because I hate dresses."

"But what other choice do you have?"

"Where I come from, women are allowed to wear pants, what you call leggings."

"But milady, women here cannot wear such garments, you must wear a dress."

I guessed it was best not to argue with him. From what I'd heard, Elven etiquette involved females were 'Seen but not heard.' Something I would hate about living in the third age of Middle Earth. Instead I just fiddled with the hem of my dress, avoiding eye contact.

"What's it like where you live, in a world where women can wear leggings and no one is the wiser?"

"It's not like you would think. There is always war, always poverty, always hate and always death. I am lucky enough not to see that every day, but it does affect us all in the end. Having to watch the news, that's where people tell you what's happening in the world, and hearing of a death on the other side of town, hearing that we're sending even more soldiers off to fight in war, and hearing how many of them die each day. There is no stop to the killing."

"Yours is not a world of immortals that do not die, am I wrong?"

"You are correct, but even immortals could not live long in my world. Guns kill, hate kills, people kill."

"What are guns?"

"The invention of the devil. They are a weapon even more effective than arrows or swards. From a great distance, you can aim, shoot, and kill a person with ease. There is little need for training because of the accuracy insured with each."

Aldayondo was silent for a moment: letting the fact that I lived in a world with more death than his flood his mind. "Does it affect your family?"

"No, not as much as some. I have a cousin, Brian, in the Marines and a second cousin, Matt, in the Army. I don't think either of them is at war right now. I'm guessing you have more than one family member in the Mirkwood army."

"You are correct. My brother, Annuntil is an archer, my cousin, Nefhir is a swordsman, and my uncle, Vebor is head of the archery training."

"If you lived in my world, I would be scared for you, but in your world, I know the power of the Elves, that your skills in archery and fencing are no match for those of orc. You should be proud of your family's positions."

"I am. My whole family is. Enough with all this sad talk; let us address a happier topic. Tell me about your friends."

I proceeded to babble for twenty minutes about all of them. Jess and her studying methods, Ann's odd obsessions, Lindsey's home-made clothing, Maya drooling over *certain guys*, Evan's obsession with *a certain girl*, and how different everyone was. I did not say anything about Erika, letting him draw his own conclusions about her. All my friends were all unique and you could pick them out from across a large room. "Tell me about your friends," I demanded from Aldayondo.

"You know them. Legolas and Pherlam and my best and only friends. Living in the palace as we do, there is little chance to meet other Elves our age. The only females we meet are visiting from the other realms, and of course the two other palace-dwelling maidens. It is hard to fall in love with someone you have know your whole life, though."

"There is no one forcing you to love them."

"No, not them, but someone. Or I will be put in an arranged marriage, probably with the Lady Arwen of Rivendell."

I laughed to my self, knowing that this would not happen. "Do not worry, Aldayondo, I do not think that you will have to be put in an arranged marriage. You are a very nice young man, and any woman would be lucky to have you as their husband."

"Thank you," he whispered almost inaudible to my range of hearing. Now it was his turn to be fiddling with a hem. I thought he might rip the fine stitching of his tunic. I too looked down, except at my shoes, or slippers. I felt a light touch on my hand. Aldayondo was timid, so I grasped his hand, reassuring him.

"We should go back inside, people are going to wonder where we went."

I nodded in response, not wanting to open my mouth, afraid of what I might say. Breakfast was long over and lunch was going to begin in a short time. We walked right out of the dining hall and headed in a direction that I guessed was for my room. After a fifteen minute walk, I found I had guessed right.

"Thank you," I whispered under my breath, knowing that he would hear me anyway, because of his spectacular hearing.

"Would you like me to pick you up for lunch as well?"

"Yes, thank you. I don't think I could find my way if you did not."

"I will see you then. Good bye."

I finally risked eye contact. His eyes were like something I could fall into. I imagined my self falling into a blue pool of water. The water was warm despite its depth. I stayed under for a long time, not struggling for air. When I surfaced, I realized that the feeling were still the same. I was warm in Aldayondo's embrace. Did I fall foreword, or did I un- knowingly hug him? Either way, that's where I was there. I released the embrace and stood straight.

"Good bye, Aldayondo." I turned to go, but gave him a quick peck on the check before disappearing into my chambers.

***A/N- (Finished 12/27/03 at 11:15 pm. Total time: 28 days, 7 hours, 35 minutes.) Ok, so not exactly the fastest update in the whole world, but I did update! Most of it was feeling that no one was reading my stuff anymore because I didn't get any reviews on my Pirates fic for so long. Thanks to Argentinean Beauty for reviewing. Anyone reading this should thank her because without that review, you might not be reading this update for another month or so. Sorry for lack of Erika in that chapter, she'll be in the next one for sure. Please remember to leave reasons to dedicate in your reviews. And remember to leave reviews. Later Dayz!

-TKF :-D