Chapter 5

"You're not crazy." Elrond assured her with a smile.

'What a babe!' She thought to herself

Even without the pointed ears she would still shag him senseless. All kinds of dirty thoughts were going through her head as Elrond stood before her in the flesh.

'I have a boyfriend! Put that out of your head now Molly!' Was her final thought.

She spoke up.

"Okay, so I'm not crazy then?"

"Absolutely not."

"So you're saying I summoned you somehow."

"Yes." Was his answer.

"So tell me how is it that, you came here? Where are you from really?"

"I am from Middle Earth, Rivendell to be exact."

"That's impossible, there's no such place. It's a place made up by Tolkien."

"Tolkien?" Elrond raised a single eyebrow.

"You know J.R.R Tolkien. He wrote The Hobbit, The Lord Of The Rings, The Fellowship Of The Ring and Return Of the King. Middle Earth was a place he made up." Molly explained.

"I must meet this J.R.R. Tolkien."

"I hate to break this to you Elrond but, he's been dead since 1973 and that's a long time."

"Really? So what year is this?"

"You're in the year 2005."

"2005?"

"Yeah, I'm afraid so."

Elrond noticed a replica of the one ring on a chain around her neck and gave her a look that could kill.

"What?"

"You wear the one ring." He yanked the chain from her neck.

Molly was now afraid.

"Where did you get this?" Elrond demanded.

"I got it from my mom for Christmas! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Elrond slipped it on his pinky finger, nothing happened.

"This looks so much like it, but yet there is no power in this ring?"

"Of course not. They sell rings just like this one in the gift shop." She explained calmly while trying to keep her cool.

"What?"

"This ring holds no magic and neither do any others that look like this one! It's a novelty item only dammit!" She snatched the ring back from his hand and put it on her own finger.

To Elrond's surprise nothing happened. Molly was still standing before him.

"See? Now do you believe me?"

"I have to sit down." Elrond said.

He took a seat at the foot of the display, Molly sat down next to him. She could tell by the look on his face that he had been through a lot already being in strange time and all.

"Are you going to be okay?" She asked.

"There is so much I have to learn about your world."

"We might want to take this one step at a time." She told him. "So you're Middle Earth huh?"

"Yes."

"Wow this is such a trip." She said out loud to herself.

"A trip? Are we going on an adventure?" Elrond asked.

"No, we're staying right here actually."

"Alright."

"I can't believe you are really here. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamt about meeting you and now I'm sitting here ... talking with you in the flesh."

"You've dreamt about meeting me?" Elrond had a look of surprise on his face.

Molly felt her cheeks turning bright red as she stared down at her feet. And then she turned to meet his gaze.

"To be honest Elrond, you were always one of my favorite characters."

She looked down at her feet again. She couldn't believe she actually told him that to his face.

"I am quite honored by that." Was his reply.

What Molly really wanted to do was just kiss him right there, but she had to practice some restraint. He came unglued over the ring and there was no telling what would happen if she were to steal a kiss from him. Molly looked at her watch.

"Wow! What do you know? It's time for my lunch break. Would you care to join me? I mean you must be hungry after all."

"I would be honored." Was his reply.

They left the exhibit and headed straight for the lunchroom. It was only the two of them there. Once inside, Elrond could not help but stare at the vending machines the lined the wall.

"It's not much." Molly said.

"It's quite alright."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a couple of one dollar bills, and inserted them into the slot of the machine. Elrond watched in fascination as the buttons she was pushing made sounds that he had never heard before. A few moments later, she opened the door and took out a roast beef sandwich. She put another dollar bill into the slot and punched a few buttons for potato chips. And then she went to the machine next to it and slid yet another dollar into the slot where she made another selection for a diet soda. Finally, it was Elrond's turn. Molly handed him three dollars to make his selections and then like she before he went to the soda machine and punched in a selection for cherry cola. They sat at a lone table and started to eat. Elrond was having a bit of trouble with his soda.

"Here let me get that." Molly offered.

Elrond handed her the can and with ease she opened the tab and handed it back to him. Elrond studied the can.

"Such a strange flask to hold refreshment in?"

"It's called an aluminum can." She explained.

"And you drink out of this?"

"Yes. Like this."

Molly put the can to her lips and started to drink. Elrond mimicked her. The liquid was cooling yet it tickled going down his throat. He set it down. Out of nowhere ...

"BUUUURRRRP!" It was Elrond.

Molly giggled.

"I should have warned you about that." She said with a slight laugh.

Elrond let out a series of small burps after that.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

"Ahem ... I ... uh think I'll be fine thank you." He said as he patted his chest.

Finally it subsided. They continued to with their meal until it was time for Molly to clock back in. During the rest of her shift they continued to talk some more.

"Well that was kind of interesting." She said.

"What?"

"It's not every day you get to have lunch with someone you've always wanted to meet."

"Sorry about belching." Elrond apologized.

"Don't worry about it, it's cool." Molly said.

"Cool?"

"Ah that's another thing I'm going to have to teach you. Our language."

"I would say so dear lady. But so far I like what I see here. I'm hoping that you could give me proper guidance, so I don't as you put it 'stick out'?"

"You're learning already Lord Elrond."

Molly looked at her watch and realized it was almost time for the next shift to show up.

"I think we better get you back to where you belong before I get into some serious trouble."

"I understand Molly."

They walked back to the exhibit Molly was carrying a copy of The Hobbit in her hand and Elrond took his place among the other statues. Before he became lifeless once more, he spoke.

"I am very glad that this was under different circumstances this time."

Molly smiled at him.

"I'm glad too." She answered.

"Will I see you again?"

"You can count on it."

"Good."

"Oh before I go. I wanted to give you this to read."

She handed Elrond the book.

"Tolkien?"

"Yes. You know, I mean after hours when the museum is closed, I can imagine it can get pretty boring just standing around."

Elrond nodded in understanding.

"Sweet dreams Molly."

"You too. See you tomorrow."

"I look forward to it." Elrond answered.

And then she exited the room. Elrond put the book in the display to where only he could find it and just as the sun was about to come up he was lifeless once more and Molly would be at home all snug in her bed, dreaming of him.