Something Special

Author: Lil-Hellraiser

Disclaimer: Don't own any of em. Nope, just my computer here and my poster of Orlando.

Author's note: Well, this was up considerably quicker than the last ones. Enjoy.

By the way, how many of you dig Hard Rock Café? Holy crap, I can't get enough of it now, for some reason. I'm TOTALLY freaking obsessed.

I just got wind that I said "friggen" when I recited a speech in school. I wondered why so many people applauded. My brain honestly did not catch that. I hope I didn't get points taken off. Old habits die hard. DAMMIT.

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I couldn't believe what was going on. It was a dream; it had to be. Chase was gone. He was just gone. No one ever found him. I hugged him tighter, then slid off him and onto the dewy grass. He was still grinning like a loon. I pulled him up on his knees.

"Chase, I never thought I'd see you again," I said, hating myself for the emotion gathering in my voice and eyes. "You aren't here." I mumbled, watching him. I just couldn't comprehend him there. He reached out and gently touched my palm, gradually twining our fingers together, and held our hands up. His smile was softer now.

"If I'm not here, then why can I hold you?" He asked, and looked at me seriously. At that moment, my brain thwarted and I viciously pushed him away. He landed on his back with a thud.

"You're SUPPOSED to be DEAD!" I shouted, and some startled birds in the trees flew off. But then I just jumped on him again and squeezed him with all my might. "What the hell happened?" I demanded. I pulled him off the ground so that he could stand beside me and surveyed him.

Same blonde hair, same blue eyes, same everything. And then I noticed.

"Chase, you still look sixteen." I said, deeply confused. He shook his head.

"I'm twenty-five, sweet pea." He informed me. I looked him over again. There had been NO change in him at all. He looked like he did when he was sixteen, although he had always looked older than his age. He could probably pass for eighteen. Nineteen at the most.

"You don't look fourteen." He muttered, looking me up and down. I slapped his shoulder.

"That's because I was seventeen when I got here, retard." I said, hands on my hips. "I'm twenty-three, as of six months ago!"

"News flash, princess, you don't look any different either!" He retorted. "Come on, twenty-three? I have trouble believing that."

"Excuse me, but me must keep moving. The Lady will not wait." Glorfindel interrupted. I jumped, almost forgetting he was there. I straightened.

"Right. Let's go, Chase." Glorfindel extended his arm and I took it, watching as Chase gaped in wonder. He obviously didn't know I had friends in such high places. Score one, me.

"We'll talk later." I whispered as I moved away from him, though it did no good because I'm sure the elves could have heard anyway.

Our company followed Diyerne up the stairs winding the giant tree and onto a wide platform. There was a line of wire or rope or something that was tightly strung to the other side of the tree, where there was another platform waiting. Below us was a deep gorge. I was amazed when Diyerne suddenly ran across the string without so much as a glance down and gracefully landed on the other side.

I looked pleadingly at Chase, silently begging him to tell me that there was another way around. The gap had to be about twenty-five to thirty feet long. He only answered by stepping up to the string and following Diyerne's example. I was transfixed as he ran smoothly across the string, causing it to bend down just a little. Once he was safely on the opposite platform, I released the breath I'd been holding. He grinned arrogantly.

How the HELL did he learn that? I guessed that there was more to his life than I knew. He had, after all, been living in Middle Earth a few years longer than I had. Score one, Chase.

Glorfindel prepared to jump onto the string, and before I could yell at him and say that he had to be the one to help ME across, he had already ran the length of the rope. I cursed.

"My Lady?" An elf with pin-straight hair and a regal expression approached me from behind. "May you require assistance?" I gave him a pained expression in return. He smiled.

"Yes, then. Hold on." Once again, before I could yell, I was scooped into the unknown elf's arms and found myself watching Chase and the others getting closer and closer before my eyes. I buried my head into the elf's shoulder, wishing the blood pounding in my ears would stop.

"Jolie, let go of him, damn." I peeked up to see the I had made it to the other side, not dead, I hadn't fallen, nothing. The elf was effortlessly holding me to him...maybe that's because I wouldn't let go of the fistfuls of his tunic that I had been pulling. I sheepishly let go and straightened up.

"Thank you very much." I said appreciatively. "I couldn't have done that on my own. I'm Jolie Aurenàrë." I held out my hand, and he kissed it, to my extreme embarrassment.

"Dayflame, yes, quite appropriate." He murmured. Chase coughed.

"I think you know who Haldir is." He sneakily slipped. I looked closely at the elf. He resembled the guy who played him in the movies somewhat, but the real thing was so different. He didn't look like he had an annoying stick shoved up his ass in real life. He looked downright charming, really. Wasn't he the Marchwarden that the Fellowship met on the borders of Lorien? He probably got the position within the next eight decades.

I thanked him again for helping me across and promptly smacked Chase. "Where'd you learn to do that?" I asked him. He smiled secretively.

"Jolie, I've lived here for almost ten years. I pick things up."

"But why are you a damn scout?" I asked incredulously. He shushed me and took off his cape, throwing it over his shoulder. I saw how much he really HAD changed. His was definitely more muscular. The elves, I guess they just got stronger but didn't show it too much, but humans do, and man was Chase ripped. His biceps and triceps were practically showing through the fabric of his tunic, and he looked toned all over. He moved like an elf and copied their mannerisms almost perfectly, too. I shook my head. Questions later.

The rest of the elves followed us across the rope. We climbed down from that platform and traveled through maybe a mile a forest, where the leaves just got golder and golder. The trees were as tall as the Statue of Liberty and I got dizzy just looking up. When we came to a stop, we were at the bottom of a beautiful full tree with small stairs winding up it. The elves then separated from us and walked off to their own duties, while Haldir, Diyerne, Glorfindel, Chase, and myself slowly climbed the stairs. The tree was magnificent, unusually darker in gold, and with beautiful lights strung all through the tree giving it an ethereal look. When we approached another platform HIGH up in the tree, I saw two elves standing way at the far end in an enchanting glow.

Chase, Glorfindel, Haldir, and Diyerne immediately bowed. Not knowing what to do, torn between deciding to curtsy or bow as well, I ended up tangling my legs and shoving my head forward in an effort to get them both done. I heard Chase struggle to maintain composure. I glared.

We all ventured towards the two elves, none other than Celeborn and Galadriel. They looked SO perfect that I seriously needed a tissue. They were beautiful. Dressed in their finest and groomed to their best, I could think of no one else who could come close to even comparing with them. Galadriel was thin and pale and her eyes were of the deepest blue. Celeborn looked like true royalty, his robes gleaming in silver and mithril with his a silver circlet perched on his head. His expression was stern, but not one that made you fearful. They both had an air of content about them.

"Greetings, friends from Imladris." Celeborn started. "Long have we awaited your arrival." His voice was strong and comforting.

"We were held up slightly at the mountain pass," Glorfindel informed him. "The orc sightings had grown and we thought it best to wait for them to move south some miles. It threw us off schedule by about four days."

Celeborn nodded in understanding. He began to talk again but I had trouble listening, due to a voice inside my head.

You've rekindled your friendship.

'Yes,' I said back to it, knowing this time that it must be Galadriel. 'But I am a bit confused. We need time to talk.'

We will all talk. There is much to say.

Galadriel swept her gaze over me, her eyes penetrating my soul.

You are nervous.

'I don't know what to think anymore. I'll need time for an explanation to sink in.'

She nodded the briefest of nods and her attention was once again on her husband. I had no idea what was going on and was left in the dark by the time I got my wits about me.

"...too far to see. However, Diyerne is exceptional in that area. His council is invaluable." He was finishing. Glorfindel had nodded once to Diyerne, who in turn bowed and left the platform. Celeborn opened his arms.

"Friends, we are delighted upon your visit, and welcome you graciously to any comfort Lothlorien has to offer." With that, he bowed (the men returned it...men, men elves, same difference...) and exited through a tunnel near the back of the room. Glorfindel left as well, but Chase remained with Haldir.

"Haldir, shouldn't you go?" I asked. He shook his head.

"I am training to take Diyerne's place as Marchwarden." He said leaning against the wall so damn gracefully. "I am filling in for him, and taking up some of his duties. He is feeling that his time may be ticking away." Chase sucked in.

"Are you positive?" He asked. Haldir nodded, and Chase looked sick. Galadriel stepped forward.

"Hello, Jolie." She said slowly. Her voice was heavenly; like clouds and church bells. It was loving and forward and hypnotizing all at once. I fell in love with it. "It is time for some answers."

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Kinda short, but at least I'm going. By the way, does anyone know how to pronounce Celeborn's name? I don't think I am. Thanks!