A Tamora Pierce and Lord of the Rings Crossover -Dancing With Lightning

Chapter 2 She suddenly smiled, and he felt his heart turn over in his chest. "Where haven't you been to?" she asked in a beautiful, lovely, divine, godly, heavenly, (okay, now he was getting carried away) fantastic voice. "Uhh." he struggled to talk: his heart was up in his throat. He took a great big swallow and said, "Are the pages and squires training today? I'd love to see them." Kel nodded. "They are, Sir Brandybuck." "Just Merry please, lady Keladry," he insisted. "Sir Brandybuck makes me feel like a hero or something." "Then I must be Kel."

* * *

"Mindelan! Get over here!" A man called from his atop his horse. With an apologetic look at Merry, who shrugged, she vaulted over the fence. Merry couldn't help watching how her chest bounced slightly as she jumped. Walking over to the man, she asked, "What can I do for you, lord Wyldon?" "Show these youths how to tilt!" Kel sighed. "My horse is in the stables, sir." Wyldon dismounted. "Then use mine." Keladry groaned inwardly. The last thing she wanted to do was tilt. She was exhausted from her riding. Oh well, she thought. There's no use arguing with my lord Wyldon. Another thought occurred to her, How come he's training master anyway? I thought he stopped. With a shrug, she dismissed the present thought and obeyed Wyldon. She mounted his horse and accepted a proper lance from him. The pages backed up, whispering quietly to each other. She backed the horse up a little, and then sent it thundering towards the quintain. Hitting the middle of the middle squarely, the pages cheered. She gave the lance back to Wyldon and dismounted, smiling meekly.

"Aim directly at it," she told the pages. "It's not too hard once you hold it correctly." The pages laughed and one yelled, "It's easy for you to say!" Kel smiled. "Yes, it is. But one day you'll all be telling the other pages the same thing." "Good point," the same one said. Kel walked back to Merry, who was staring at her. She glanced at him as they walked, trying to ignore the fact that his bright green eyes were on her face. She looked at him again and stopped walking. "What?" His eyes were almost popping. "Back there. what you did. it was. where did you learn to fight like that??" She smiled at him. "I'm a knight, Merry. Where else would I have learned to fight?"

He smiled. "Oh, I forgot." She grinned. "You did indeed. Aha! There you are!!" she ran to a person who was facing her and waving crazily. She threw her arms around the tall man as Merry walked up behind her, his eyes narrowing slightly. He couldn't believe himself. He was jealous! Of a man he didn't even know! For all he knew, this stranger could be her father. Or maybe her lover. he shook his head to clear it of all such thoughts. Wait, he was jealous of a complete stranger?! Did he love Keladry? Impossible! He'd only known her for half an hour to forty-five minutes at the most, what was wrong with him?? He rubbed his temples and tried not to swear. Maybe he did like her. what the.?? He didn't even know what he was thinking?? Her put those thoughts aside for later. Best to think about those thoughts when no one was around. "Raoul!!!!" She pulled away but kept her arm around the tall man's waist as she faced Merry. "Meriadoc Brandybuck, this is Lord Raoul, Commander of the Kings Own." "Pleased to meet you, Meriadoc." Merry just glared at Raoul in reply. Raoul raised an eyebrow, and then tried again. "I haven't seen you around before. Are you one from Middle Earth?" Merry gave Raoul a glare equivalent to that he'd given Treebeard when told that the Ents wouldn't join the war. Yes, he was THAT angry. "Uhh, Merry?" Kel stared at the hobbit, who was glaring at Raoul. *Glare* Raoul looked at Kel, who shrugged. "Well, I am sure Keladry is a fantastic guide. I need to get back to my wife." Wife? All of a sudden, Merry jumped forward and seized Raoul's hand, shaking it vigorously. "I'm Meriadoc Brandybuck. Pleased to meet you, sir!" Raoul nodded, smiling. "As I am to meet you, Meriadoc." Kel watched the scene before her, trying not to laugh. Maybe Merry just realised he was being rude, she thought. Or was it something else? He's been overly happy all day, but as soon as Raoul showed up, he got all rigid and odd. Merry let go of Raoul's' hand and waved happily as Raoul walked away.

"Look, Keladry," she turned towards him and looked at him expectantly. "Thankyou for taking the time to show me around today. It was really nice of you to do that for me." Kel blushed. "It's fine. I didn't do much showing, though. We just wandered around while we chatted. I didn't explain anything." "No, just spending time with me and making me feel welcome -that's what I mean. I really feel welcome now, and it's all thanks to you. Thankyou so much." Kel reached over and hugged him around the shoulders. "It's fine," she told him again. "I think any visitors to Tortall should be welcome." Pulling away, she grinned at him. "Come on, I'll show you around properly."

* * *

Daine smiled happily as her arrow hit the middle circle of the target. Behind her, Gimli the dwarf sighed unhappily. Daine looked at him expectantly. He smiled. "That bow of yours -Legolas the elf has one too. It's too long for dwarves to wield. We're too short, of course," he explained, gesturing sadly at his legs. Daine hid a smile as he went on, "But of course, we are the best axe fighters in all of Middle Earth, and-" "Enough, Gimli. You will scare Veralidaine away." Daine looked to see Legolas Greenleaf standing behind her. She grinned at him and mouthed, 'Thankyou'. He winked at her and took the bow from her hands. "Is this Elvish?" he asked. Daine shook her head. "I feel a strange sort of magic coming from this." His eyes narrowed. "Where did you get it??" "My father." "Who is your father? I would like to meet him." Daine's face fell a little, and Legolas said hurriedly, "Oh no, don't worry about me meeting him."

"It still hurts," she muttered to herself. "Even after all this time." she shook her head and looked at Legolas, trying to smile. "It's just. my father, he's a God." Legolas' eyes widened. "Really." She nodded, looking back at the ground. "Yes. about. umm, thirteen years ago, when I was eleven, bandits came into our village and attacked it. My Ma and Grandda got killed and I fled to Tortall. When I was sixteen, Numair Salmalín and I got transported to the Realms of the Gods, and I met my father. My father gave me this bow just before I went home. So the 'strange sort of magic' you feel in this is my father's magic." "Oh. Well then," Legolas scuffed his foot along the ground. "I suppose, being a God's child, you'd be somewhat immortal, wouldn't you?" Daine cocked her head, thinking. "Hmm, I suppose so." Legolas blushed a little, then smiled suggestively. "I'm immortal."

Daine turned bright red and picked up her bow rather than answer that. She aimed at the target, and shot. Her arrow flew through the air and once again hit the middle circle of the target. Legolas chuckled. Daine put her bow down and looked at Legolas. "What?" "I could teach you how to hit the middle of the middle of that," he offered. "I did!" Daine cried. "No you did not." "Did so!" "Did not." "Did!!" "Did not." "Did!!!!" "Did. not." "Fine! I didn't!!"

Legolas smiled at Daine, who was glaring at him. "Well?" he asked. Daine picked up her bow and put an arrow against it, pulling the oiled string so it was almost brushing her ear. "Now what?" she asked grumpily. Legolas kneeled next to her and slid his left hand over the one that was holding the bow, while he moved his right hand around her shoulders to steady the other hand. He moved her hands a little out of their place, and Daine wondered why. His right cheek was pressed against her left. Daine felt extremely flushed, and she realised just how good he smelled. He murmured, "Now, just pull it back the tiniest bit more." she obeyed. "And when you are about to loose, just pull it back a little further. Never have only one eye open, it obscures your vision, and make the arrow fly a little to the left. I know this will sound odd, but make sure that the bridge of you nose is lined up with the middle target. Pull back. and loose!" He pulled away from her just as she let go of the arrow, and smiled happily as the arrow landed in exactly the middle of the target.

"Well done!" Gimli cried from behind. Legolas smiled at Daine, who was grinning at the arrow. "Again?" Daine nodded, and he helped her grip the bow again. She put her hands in the regular spots again, but Legolas moved them. "It helps the arrow fly better," he explained. "Oh." "Okay, I will let you do this yourself this time," he told her. Making sure her hands didn't move from the spot Legolas had moved them to, Daine pulled back a bit -and loosed. She screamed with delight when it hit the- "Middle of the middle. Goodness, Daine, how did you do that?" Daine and Legolas turned around, and saw Numair leaning on the fence. He glanced at Legolas, and then looked back at Daine. "Legolas taught me," she told him. "He's a wonderful teacher. Just like you!" Numair frowned at Daine. "All right. Lindhall and I want to do a small experiment. I'm just letting you know; I'll either be home extremely late, or early tomorrow morning? All right?" "That's fine with me. Where's Kitten?"

"I told her to find you- oh, here she is." A little dragon the colour of silver walked up to them, chirping happily. It threw itself into Daine's lap, and she put the bow down, cuddling the little dragon. "Hello, darling," she murmured as Numair walked away. She looked up at Legolas, who was staring. "This is Skysong," she told him happily. "I met her ma when I was thirteen, almost fourteen. Her ma died, but just before she did, she gave me a vision of this little one. Skysong's a girl, and she's very smart. She can open locks just by whistling," Legolas turned to his pack and pulled out a piece of bread. He was about to take a bite from it when Skysong jumped forward and snatched the bread from his fingers, swallowing it whole. Legolas turned pale, and he stared at Skysong with frightened eyes. "What's the matter?" Daine asked, pulling Skysong away from Legolas' packs and sitting her in her lap. "She just ate a piece of Lembas bread," Legolas told her worriedly. "And?" "One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a full grown man," he told Daine slowly, as if she was stupid. Daine giggled. "And you think it'll make her sick?" Legolas nodded. He had the strangest image of the dragon exploding into a thousand pieces as her stomach bloated to twenty times - or more - larger than its normal size. "I think it will make her explode," he said softly. She laughed. "Look, don't worry about her. She can eat anything without getting sick. She ate a box of myrrh once. She burped smoke rings for a week, so I was so scared all that time. Then she just stopped. She'll be fine." Legolas looked at her doubtfully. "Are you sure?" he asked. Daine nodded, playing with Skysong. The dragon pushed her over and whistled triumphantly.

"Get off, you baby dragon," she laughed, pushing the 'baby dragon' off her. She smiled at Legolas as she sat up. "What?" she asked. There was a misty smile on his face. She picked up an arrow and twirled it around her fingers. "I was thinking. you are the most beautiful man I've ever seen." She dropped the arrow. "What?" "You are the most beautiful man I've ever seen." "I'm the most beautiful what??" "Man." Daine frowned. "Was that supposed to be an insult?" she asked. Legolas looked confused. "Why would it be? You are the most beautiful man I've ever seen."

Little did she know that people from Middle Earth called both sexes 'man'.

She jumped up, and Legolas jumped to his feet as well. She looked wildly around for the dwarf, but he seemed to have disappeared. She frowned at the elf. "What are you talking about??" "I have already told you, you are the most beautiful man I have ever seen." Daine pointed to her chest, beginning to get irritated. "Do men have these??" she gestured wildly at her chest with her hands. "Well, the fat ones do, but-" "No, my lady. There are many men with breasts. The obese ones and the slender ones." Daine stared at Legolas. "What??" Legolas looked utterly confused. "Why are you getting so angry, Veralidaine?" "BECAUSE YOU'RE CALLING ME A MAN!!!" she screeched.

Legolas winced from her voice, and ran after her as she stormed off.

* * *

"Me again?" Kel complained as the maid ushered Merry and her into the room. Lord Wyldon looked up from an argument with Alanna. The older lady leaned back in her chair, pouting. When Wyldon stood up to meet Merry, Alanna poked her tongue at his back, quickly drawing it in it when he turned around. Kel stifled a giggle with her hand.

"Keladry-" "Kel, my lord." "Keladry, Cleon has sent us a letter, asking us to send you back. The people miss you, and he feels he isn't doing job as well as you did." Kel bit her lip, thinking. "Do I have to?" she said at last. "Tobe really loves it here, and we only just got back." King Aragorn walked into the room, and sat on the chair next to Alanna, who smiled at him. Aragorn looked at Kel. "Éomer was going to give you some of his soldiers, but they're about to go to the Yamani Islands. Orcs and Uruk-hai have attacked many towns and cities. But, I am glad to lend you some of my men."

Kel nodded, now tugging on a plait. "I really don't want to go back -I just got home- but, I guess. if I have to go. I will." Merry piped up, "Will Pippin be with them, Aragorn?" "Most likely." Merry nodded his head, secretly jealous. Pippin, being the friendly hobbit he was, would probably get to know Kel really well. Kel bowed and walked from the room, Merry following her like a lost puppy.

* * *

"Veralidaine! Why will you not speak to me??" Legolas followed her into her rooms, just slipping through the door as she slammed it. She ran a hand through her messy hair. "Because you're a fairy." Legolas stared at her, his hair also a little mussed from the wind outside. "Excuse me! I am not a-fairy! I am an elf! Fairies are this big-" he held up two fingers three centimetres apart, "-and they have no common sense! I do!" Daine smiled wryly. "No, I mean you're gay." Legolas suddenly smiled. "Of course! Forgive me for mistaking you, my lady, I am indeed gay! Oh, when the-" "No," Daine interrupted. "I mean you like men." "Of course I do! But, back to my gayness-" "No! I mean you love men!" "Of course I do! They are very nice! Now, back to my gay-" "NO! I mean you have men doing it up your butt every night!" "What?"

Daine sighed in exasperation. "You do know what 'sex' is, don't you?" Legolas nodded. "Well, I mean you have sex with other me-males! They do it up your rear end!" Legolas turned red. "Well, excuse me!!" Daine shook her head in exasperation and went to the mirror, about to straighten up her clothes, when Legolas grabbed her arm and roughly faced her towards him. "I am not a-fairy! I am not-gay! I am an elf!" He walked haughtily to the door and wrenched it open, to find himself face to face with a very confused Numair. He whirled back to face Daine. "And a very gay elf!" he said before pushing past Numair and storming down the corridor. Numair stared at him for a moment, before looking back at Daine.

"What's up his ass?" he asked carefully. "Some guy's dick," she snapped, grabbing a cloak from her drawers: it was getting cold outside. "I'm going for a walk." Numair now watched her go, confused. He sighed in exasperation and went to the shelves and got an extremely thick book, laying down on their bed and flipping it open to a page.

* * *

"I'm really sorry, Merry." Merry shook his head and tried a smile. Luckily Kel wasn't looking: it looked like a grimace. "It's fine. I knew you'd have to go eventually." "I know. It's just. I really wanted to show you around, you know? It was, like, I had a really fluffy thing to do, instead of something that meant something. I just wish I could stay here and do fluffy things for the rest of my life." "But. the way you help people. before you came, all your friends were talking about you an saying what a fantastic person you were. I couldn't wait to meet you, and I feel extremely privileged that I got to spend a day with you. I envy all those people that have known you for your life." She smiled up at him from the floor, trying to stuff a shirt into her packs. "I don't help people that much." she murmured. He knelt beside her as she closed all her packs. "What about all those things you did in Scanra last summer, hmm? I heard it all; you're a living legend over here. You're a fantastic person, Kel. I'm glad to have met you. In fact, I've been extremely blessed." Kel hugged him, trying to blink tears from her eyes. "That is the nicest thing anyone's said to me," she told him quietly. "Good," he told her. "You deserve it."

He saw her look up into his eyes and his heart started to beat faster. Their lips were only inches apart. He moved to close the gap, but-

-someone rapped on her door.

She pulled away from Merry and rushed to the door. She opened it and saw an enormously irritated Daine standing there. "Can I talk to you-oh, you're leaving." Kel smiled. "Yes. I have to go back to New Hope. Cleon's not doing a good enough job down there." Daine actually smiled. Looking down the hall, she gasped.

"Rikash."