Elves do not deal well with betrayal, and Melannen was no exception. Within fifteen minutes she had packed everything she needed and left with her dog, not giving Legolas even the time to explain himself. That was, if either of them felt an explanation was needed. She did not really know where she was headed, driving down the interstate with only twenty dollars and half a tank of gas. It was not that she was surprised, or even angry, but whatever it was, Melannen did not like it. Elladan sat in the passenger's seat, his black nose rubbing against the window. Occassionally he would whine impatiently, but for the most part shared her silence.
Melannen recalled an old friend who lived just across the state border, by now the woman probably had grandchildren and would wonder greatly at Melannen's agelessness but at least it was a place where she might find peace. She had stayed there once before, nearly five years prior to her first meeting Elladan at the cafe.
She drove long into the night, until an uncharacteristic drowsiness came over her and she was forced to pull into a parking lot. She layed down in the backseat, trying to think things over. Though her musings were not long lived, because as soon as she had settled down into a comfortable position, Elladan climbed over the seats and curled up in a smoky-colored ball beside her. The dog yawned and got up, trying to get more comfortable, then deciding that it would be better between his master and the seat, he wormed his way between the two before stretching out his four long legs. The act nearly pushed Melannen off, and she had to cling to the sides of the seat in order to stay there.
"Dog! You're almost as bad as your namesake!" she grunted, pushing him over. Had she been looking at his face, Melannen would have seen that his lips curled up in an almost snarl, yet not so, because he was grinning. The dog yelped when her hand caught an bit of his fur. "Well, move over then! Fatso!"
After nearly five minutes of bickering, the two came to a very unsatesfactory compromise. Elladan was on his back, pressed between the seat and Melannen, while Melannen was half on the seat, half off.
The next day they woke up early and covered the remaining distance within a few hours. When they arrived at her friend's house, Melannen put her dog on a leash and went up to the front door.
When she knocked, her friend, Maggie (short for Margaret), opened it. The lady had grown older, and more than slightly wider. Her grey hair and bright brown eyes made her seem like the stereotype grandmother. Melannen would not have been surprised if she had a checkered apron in a closet somewhere. Maggie was short and tubby and had a wide smile.
"Rachael?" she asked, barely recognising her old friend.
Melannen nodded. "Hi, Maggie!"
The two embraced, "Good gracious, girl, the years have been better to you than me!" the woman said, clapping Melannen on the back, not able to hide her amazement at Melannen's immortality. "How are you?"
Melannen shrugged, "Alright I guess."
"Well, I know you, if you were 'alright' then you would not be here. Last time you came, you were weeping over some guy, what is it now?"
Melannen smiled at her good-natured scolding, "Same reason." Little did Maggie now how similar. "I was hoping I could stay here until I was back on my feet."
Maggie rolled her eyes, "You mean, until Mr. Wonderful comes and gets you?"
"No!"
"I know one thing, whatever it is that you are looking for isn't outside, come on in." she glanced suspicously at Elladan, "He won't bother my cats now will he?"
Melannen shook her head, "He literally thinks he is one. I think he's bilingual, to tell you the truth." she said, rubbing the dog's ears. They both laughed and went inside.
It had been nearly two weeks that she had stayed with Maggie, and Melannen felt no better, only worse. She held the small blade against her wrist, sliding the sharp edge over her skin, debating on whether to cut it or not.
Elladan was locked outside in the back yard, raising holy hell. The large animal was throwing himself against the doors, and clawing at any space he could fit his paws. Maggie, though, followed Melannen's orders to keep him out, no matter how psychopathic the dog acted. Though the old lady was seriously beginning to wonder if she should call animal control.
Legolas turned in his sleep, a horrid threat had been growing on his mind since Melannen had left, though tonight it was raging like fire. He could not place a finger on what feeling it was exactly, but it was the worst thing he had ever imagined. It was like seeing Morgoth return, all of his kin slain, and Valinor burned all at once. He got up and paced nervously, unable to even sit down for a minute in order to calm his thoughts. The nagging pull in the back of his subconsiousness was driving him insane. Again. Though this time, it was even worse, it was not fear or hate or sadness, but something like all of them rolled together and multiplied by ten thousand.
Finally, he got in his car and left. Legolas had no idea where he was headed, and to be plain, he did not even care. Something was calling him.
