I owe nothing to do with LORT or the works of Tolkien – dam!

The Cookie's Fate

Following those days, the stranger named Legolas came everyday, always ordering tea for one, always sitting in his usual seat and always waited for the crowds to grow quiet before asking Serena if she had changed her mind. And always, her answer was no. That painting was to stay even if she knew that the man wouldn't. Serena became curious as to who he was, and decided to ask him the next time he visited the shop. On that day, she waited, and waited, only for him not to turn up. With a heavy heart, she locked the door when the last customer left and began clearing away, unaware she had accidentally locked in a customer she hadn't seen.

She piled the plates and cups onto her tray, her head filled with answered questions that bombarded her throughout the day. Now worry overtook her, where was he? Had he had an accident? Is he injured? Even worst, has he left for good?

Turning she walked over to the sink and placed the tray by the draining board, turning the radio on, the soothing sounds of Christmas carols turned her mixed emotions to bittersweet.

Alone.

That what she was this Christmas. Both parents have died, her mother first of cancer followed by her father who had simply lost the will to live following the death of his sweetheart. With no siblings, she usually celebrated Christmas by herself, painfully aware of her friends with their families, the collection of cards on her mantelpiece, and a small pile of gifts most bought by her to give to herself. – sad isn't it? It was the one time of the year she dreaded, and as the years grew on, she was aware that the concrete façade she erected every December was cracking and threatening to crumble for good.

With a slam of her hand, she turned the radio off and tackled the baking trays with their stubborn grease left behind from the pastries she cooked.

Once that was done, she went about collecting cups, turning around to scour the bookstore area of the shop, she shrieked when she saw a tall figure standing by the bookcase, looking engrossed by the collection of multi- coloured book spines.

He turned to look at her, the light illuminating his pale face and she knew who it was.

"Legolas! What are you doing here?" she panted, her nerves singing in her body as she leaned against a wall to regain her strength which abandoned her in that moment of terror.

"Forgive me, I lost track of the time." He smiled, placing the book he had in his hands back onto the shelf.

"Before you ask, that painting is not for sale." Serena said her voice sounding more confident that she did. She was locked in her shop with the handsome stranger!

He nodded, his eyes were far off as he shoved his hands into his jeans pockets.

"Why do you want that painting?" she asked, he looked back at her and smiled.

"That painting holds dear sentimental value to me." He softly replied.

"It's you isn't it? You're the subject in the painting?" she stepped forward, eager to understand his infatuation with the painting.

His eyes for that moment held a strange glaze and she knew she had hit the truth. His nod only confirmed she was right.

"So that's why you've been hanging around." Serena realised. She watched him smiled and shake his head, "No?" her brows knitted together in confusion.

"You interest me." Was his simple, evasive reply.

"Pardon?" she rose an eyebrow as his smile widen into a grin.

"In those day I sat and waited for your answer, you made me curious. You attract me and I wish to discover it more." Legolas took a step towards her, his eyes locked with her as she gulped.

"You're very forward with your words aren't you mister?" Serena retorted, trying to regain some control over the situation, somewhere in her mind a light bulb glimmered as she realised what he was trying to do. turning, she walked to the café area and pulled down the picture and turned, thrusting the portrait into his hands.

"There, you have it. Don't waste anymore time." She snapped, the nerve of the man, trying to seduce her in order to get the picture.

His eyes looked hurt and angered at that moment, his fingers reached out and grasped her, before she knew it he gently replaced the painting back in her hand and stepped back, his voice was soft yet authoritive. "If you think I was seducing you just to gain access to the painting, you are wrong though my heart greatly desires that portrait. If you permit me, I wish to take you out. To get to know you."

She blinked, she looked down to the painting in her hand and back up at Legolas. It took a moment for his words to register and by then, she was positive he waited with baited breath.

"What like a date?" she blurted out, wishing she could kick herself after.

"Yes a date if that's what you wish." He nodded.

"that would be nice." She smiled, suddenly feeling embarrassed and was painfully aware of the rising flush in her cheeks.

"Though I was hoping to talk to you before so, just to get to know you." He grinned.

"Oh sure, you sit down whilst I bring you some coffee. You do want coffee don't you?"

"I do." He laughed but instead of sitting down, he shooed her away and began making the coffee himself, "Let me, you've been working." With Serena help of locating milk, cup and other necessities needed for a cup of coffee, they were soon seated in the big chairs, sipping hot fresh coffee.

"So tell me about yourself." Legolas put his feet up on the low coffee table, his jeans clad legs crossed over making the space between them more intimate. His long fingers wrapped round the warm mug of coffee as the curling fingers of steam arose from the tantalising liquid, teasing Serena to look at his face, his blue eyes sparkling as if he knew a joke.

"Me? There isn't much to tell other than the fact I owe this shop. No, lets start with you." Serena smiled, she reached forward to claim a biscuit that Legolas had found and insisted they ate but his hand stopped hers.

"I have a proposition." His voice made her look up, an incredible urge to kiss him assaulted her mind as she dizzily looked at him.

"What is that?" her voice more husky than she'd had liked.

"Lets toss a cookie."

"Huh?" she grunted, half expecting his proposition to consist of pumping their lust out on those chairs, there and then.

"we'll toss a cookie to decide who tells their story first. If it's the chocolate side up, I win and you speak. And vice versa." He picked up a cookie and looked at her, she giggled and nodded her consent for him to go ahead. He flipped his thumb and caught the cookie and opened his palm, their eyes eager to know the results of that child-like, fate-deciding action.

And it was fate that played her hand, for the cookie landed chocolate side up and Serena told him what he wanted to know. Strange that such fate lies in a cookie, a perfectly small innocent delicacy that would later make Serena curse all biscuits. (the fate of the momentous cookie was unavoidable – it was eaten by a pleased looking Legolas)

As the clock's fingers drew closer and closer to midnight, Serena and Legolas's conversation got deeper. They talked of religion, mean of life, personal dreams and ambitions and in all of they spoke about, never had Serena once heard anything about Legoas. She didn't know where he lived, parentage, age, siblings....nothing personal other than his opinions of life – which were interesting and made for some conflicting conversations, as two ideas crash head on with interesting results. It wasn't until she looked at the clock did she realise what time it was. Time flies when you're having fun certainly applied to that moment of time!

Two fifteen!

Serena winched, she had to get up at seven to start baking the cakes ready for the day ahead and now is not looking forward to the prospect.

She cast a glance back at Legolas who had his jumper sleeves pushed back and arms, elbow deep in soapy washing-up water. He adamantly insisted he helped her wash up the mountain of dishes collected throughout the day alongside their two cups and a plate.

He looked at her and followed her glance to the clock, the grimace on his face told her he was thinking the same and placed the last plate on the draining board before wiping his hands dry on the towel she handed him.

"It's later than I thought." He smiled, he picked up his coat with feline grace and turned back to look at his hostess with a smile.

"Thank you for keeping me company." Serena said, sounding more pathetic than she'd had liked – great now he'll think she had no life!

"No, thank you. Its been a long time since I've spoken to a person like I have done tonight." He shrugged himself into his brown suede jacket and flipped his long loose hair over his collar, aware she watched his every movement. He knew he had that effect on people, especially women but for once he wished that Serena didn't view him just as a lust object. It was nice to be considered as someone with a mind – as well as good looks!

He slowly walked to the café door and turned, "I'll meet you here at seven. Is that alright?"

"What?....oh our date! That's fine. Seven." Serna unlocked the door and recited the times.

"Well until tomorrow." He stepped out and smiled wirily. An uneasy silence fell between as they looked at each other, each unaware of how to end the night.

"Right....err this is awkward." Serena blushed and bowed her head, breaking the silence that made her sorely tempted to scream at him to kiss her!

"What would a perfect gentleman do right now?" he asked, an eyebrow raised as he stood before her with a smile, his hands thrust into his jeans as the wind gently caressed his soft hair which shone like sliver in the faint light of the café's sign.

"He would give me a peck on the cheek, bid me goodnight and leave." Serena smiled. In a blink of an eye, he stepped up close to her, so close she could feel his body heat teasing her closer and the smell of his skin made her senses dance.

"It's a good thing I'm not the perfect gentleman." He softly said, and before she realised what he was about to do, his lips were upon hers.

All doubts.

All worries.

All dreams.

Were momentarily forgotten.

Only the caress of his tongue against hers mattered.

Only the softness of his hair against her palms mattered.

Only the touch of his fingers framing her face mattered.

After that time in which heavens collided and universes were born, he pulled away, departing from her with a gentle nibble on her lower lip. His eyes held hers for a moment then he whispered.

"Goodbye Serena, until tomorrow."

He stepped back and smiled then walked away, the darkness of the street swallowing him yet the echo of his boots upon the cobbles lasted, singing sweet notes to Serena's soul as she stood there for a long while, her fingers touching her swollen lips.

He was right, he wasn't the perfect gentleman to leave her there that night, yearning for more.

Whether Legolas was a perfect gentleman or not to Serena, from that moment the stranger has touched her heart in a way she thought impossible. She never did get to sleep and instead spent the restless moments baking for the day and planning on what to wear for the date the following night. After all, all us women know how much trouble goes into selecting the right outfit for it leaves a lasting impression on the opposite of sex. Little did Serena know, she'd had left a mark on the stranger who's face was captured in the painting she loved, in the deepest way a mark can be left. Yet it'll be that painting which will lead him to his betrayal, and forcibly open a new world to Serena. One that she'll never comprehend.