Carrie slowly sunk down into the chair across the room from where 'Legolas' was sitting on her couch, staring at the television screen. Neither of them spoke for a long while. Carrie watched him intently during that time, trying to determine if he really believed what he was saying. Eventually, she clicked off the TV with the remote that was still clutched tightly in her hand. Released from his trance, the man who claimed to be an elf blinked a few times and shook his head before turning to look at Carrie. She took a deep breath.

"I don't believe I'm actually going to have this conversation," she muttered to herself. To him she asked, "You're Legolas?"

"Yes," he answered quietly.

"The elf?"

"Yes."

"Prince of Mirkwood?"

He raised an eyebrow. "My father is the king, yes."

"From Middle Earth?"

Now he was staring at her in complete wonder. "Yes."

"The amazing archer?"

His mouth curled into a slight smile and he looked away from her. "So I've been told."

Not afraid to be proud of his talents, and yet not arrogant...it's too bad he's crazy or I would really like this guy, Carrie thought and then caught herself. What am I thinking? He's not…

"You really believe you're Legolas?" she asked skeptically.

"I am Legolas." He sounded far too indignant for someone who was claiming to be an elf.

She tossed the remote behind her on the chair as she stood up. "Well that settles it then." 'Legolas' stood up, following her lead. "You're completely crazy."

He folded his arms across his chest. "I assure you, I am not."

Carrie shook her head. "You think you're a fictional character."

"I think I am myself." He sounded offended but Carrie saw him glance quickly at the blank TV screen.

"Yourself?" she scoffed. "As you saw, 'yourself' is from a movie… from a book!"

"Is history not written in books?" He took a step towards her. Carrie held her ground.

"Yes, but so are stories. Made up stories. Fake stories."

"I assure you," he said, curling half his mouth up in an amused smirk, "I am quite real."

Carrie rolled her eyes. "Well, obviously you're real; I don't doubt that."

"Thank you," he answered with a wry smile.

"Don't mention it," she mocked. "However, are you an elf?" She shrugged.

"Yes," he said quickly, before she could finish.

"No!" she answered forcefully. "I mean, come on!"

He frowned at her and began to pace around the living room. After a bit he stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes. She ignored the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach.

"What can I do to convince you I am who I say I am?"

Kiss me.

Carrie's eyes widened at the thought that popped into her head and she felt her cheeks begin to flush. What on earth was she thinking? She schooled her expression, hoping he did not catch her reaction since it was completely inappropriate to the question he asked… unless he was a mind reader.

"I'm not sure."

He started pacing again and Carrie took the opportunity to rub her palms against her sides. Clearly she was the one who was insane, being attracted to this guy when he was in her house and obviously crazy. She knew he wouldn't hurt her -- she couldn't explain how; she just did -- but still, she should not be thinking these things about someone who thought he was an elf. Should she?

Abruptly, he stopped walking and faced her.

"You saw my ears, did you not?"

"They sell those!" she countered, shaking her head. "They sell fake ears!"

He shook his head as well, mirroring her. "There is not much I can do to convince you if you do not trust what your own senses show you."

Carrie rolled her eyes but did not respond. He sat back down and frowned at the floor, deep in thought. Once again questioning her own good judgment, Carrie sighed and crossed the distance between them.

"I didn't get that good a look." He tilted his head up and met her eyes, once again setting off her nerves. She took a deep breath, ignoring the fact that her pulse had begun to race, and waited for him to answer.

"You can touch them," he said softly and then added, "if you like."

Carrie bit her lip as her stomach flipped. "I… uh…" she hesitated.

He must have caught her nervous reaction because he held his hand out in front of him, palm facing her, and spoke quickly, qualifying what he had just offered.

"I want you to believe me." He pursed his lips. "Believe us," he clarified quickly.

Carrie regarded him for a moment and considered her next action. Well, why not? she thought. What's the worst that could happen? She would find a seam and pull it off, proving to him that he was crazy and then kick him the hell out of her house. Or, when she found the seam he would admit he was playing some sort of joke on her, tell her who he really was and ask her to dinner.

"Ok," she finally assented. As she reached out her hand he pulled back his hair to expose his ear and tilted his head towards her. Gently with her finger she touched the lobe and ran her finger up the back towards the tip, feeling for a ridge that would indicate where the seam was. So intent on what she was doing, she did not notice that he had closed his eyes until she heard his sharp intake of breath. She pulled back her hand, worried that she had somehow hurt him but when he opened his eyes it was not pain she saw in them.

He stood quickly and Carrie's heart raced at the proximity of their bodies. He inclined his head towards her so that their foreheads were almost touching. Wow, thought Carrie, her mind swimming. Elves' ears really are sensitive. She would have been shocked at her thought had he not spoken.

"Did you feel anything?" he asked in a whisper, his breath tickling her face.

"Yes," she breathed.

He straightened up, leaning away from her and his eyes were once more cool and collected. Carrie took a step back and frowned at him, confused by his sudden change of mood. Belatedly she realized he meant had she felt a seam.

"No!" she said. "I mean, I didn't…" She stepped towards him, trying to recreate the chemistry they just had but he sidestepped around her and wouldn't meet her eyes.

"I should not be here," he said sullenly. "I must go." And with nothing further, he turned and walked out the door, leaving Carrie staring after him wondering what just happened.