Chapter 9 – Someone Knows
Laura woke late the next morning. Legolas had not come to wake her, as he had many days before. She frowned, and crawled out of bed. Quickly dressing, she slipped out of her room, careful to avoid elves, and especially Legolas. Laura walked in silent thought for some time, and soon found herself in the stables. Buckley snorted and stomped his feet upon seeing her enter. She grinned, and ran to the back of the stables. Laura scratched Buckley's chin, and he made grateful little noises.
Looking around she noticed the stables completely empty, save for she and Buckley. She looked around for a saddle, and bridle. Spotting them, she turned to Buckley again. "Want to go for a run baby?" She whispered in his ear, scritching his chin. Buckley replied by bobbing his head up and down. She stepped out of the stall, and removed the saddle and bridle from their hooks.
Saddling the horse, and mounting him, they rode out of the stables together. Looking around for the path she and Legolas had taken those few times to the waterfall, she stopped Legolas coming towards the stables on Arod. She quickly decided on a path farthest from where Legolas was, and urged Buckley into a trot, and they set off into the woods. Laura rode for over and hour, and not finding anything remotely familiar or passing any other elves she began to worry.
Stopping Buckley, she dismounted and taking his reins walked for some time hoping to find a path or foot prints in the dirt somewhere. "I think we're lost Buckley." She announced, patting the side of the horses neck. "It's all his fault too." She hissed becoming frustrated. "If he wasn't so damn beautiful, I wouldn't even be here in the first place, let alone lost in the woods because of his weird mood swings. What was that all about? Yesterday? Huh? He wanted to kiss me, I could see it in his eyes, then he simply stops? What's that all about? I don't understand him! Then at dinner he basically ignored me. What is his problem, and more importantly, what am I still doing here? I should go home, it's not like I love him right?"
Laura sighed. "You're right, I don't even know myself Bucks." She stopped, and hugged the horse. "I'll stay here, in Middle Earth. Just for you though, but that doesn't mean I have to stay in Mirkwood now does it? It's not like I'm needed or wanted here." She released the horses neck, and was about to mount him again, when she heard the leaves behind her make a crunching sound.
Spinning around quickly, she found herself face to face with the one and only king of Gondor. "Aragorn," She panted. "you scared me!" The king smiled. "Forgive me Lady Mel. I heard you while I was out riding. You are lost?" Laura nodded, and smiled sheepishly. "Yes, I'm afraid I am." Aragorn nodded himself. "Then allow me to escort you back." Laura smiled, and turned to mount her horse. "Thank you Lord Aragorn." Aragorn mounted his horse as well, and they set off back to Mirkwood.
"It is my pleasure Milady. You are wanted in Mirkwood Lady Mel." Laura stared, shocked at Aragorn. "Who would want me in Mirkwood?" She scoffed. Aragorn smiled. "I know of a blonde elf, but I think you already are aware of that." "Legolas?" Aragorn nodded. "Aye, Legolas." Laura shook her head. "No, Legolas is only being nice, and welcoming me in Mirkwood."
Aragorn frowned. "You are only fooling yourself Lady Mel. I know Legolas, have for many years. I also know Mirkwood, and Thranduil does not welcome many into his kingdom. Your being allowed to remain in Mirkwood was of our dear friend the prince's doing. So I do believe you would be missed." Laura sighed. "Aragorn, would you mind um, talking for a few minutes? You say you know Legolas well. I don't though, I barely know him at all I'm sure in comparison to how well you know him."
He smiled and nodded. "Go on milady." Laura took a deep breath and started to explain. "Well I liked Legolas, a lot actually. But all he's seemed interested in is friendship with me. I stayed here, in Mirkwood. I forgot all about my other life, my other friends, and my family. I stayed here to be with him. Thus far we've spent little time together, as he is always busy with his many duties. But what time he can spare for me had been wonderful. Last evening though, after we left you he walked me back to my room and waited while I changed for the dinner. When I had finished changing and came out of the bathing room he told me I looked beautiful in my dress, I think. I blushed, and thanked him. I found he had moved close, without even having noticed. I wish I knew how he did that!" Aragorn chuckled, and she noticed he was looking quite amused.
"Anyway, I barely stuttered out that I thought we should get going, as I figured you and his father would be waiting for him to attend the dinner. But, that's when I noticed his eyes, and just about got lost in them. I may have been imagining things, but I swear his eyes were darker in color, and they had this intense look in them." Aragorn still looked on with an amused look.
"That was when he started to lean his face in closer to me. I obviously misunderstood the guesture, and craned my neck up to meet him, thinking he wanted to kiss. But Legolas just stopped, a few inches from my face and stared. Confused by that I stalked out of my room. He followed me of course, as he was escourting me to the dinner. He was cold and silent throughout the whole evening. When the king left the tables, I exited as well. Wanting to get out and get some fresh air. I just sat alone with my thoughts, beside a fountain, when I found he was there. He had followed me out, I didn't know why, and I was in no mood to find out. I don't recall how everything happened, but he somehow ended up in the fountain. I was amused as he reminded me of a drowned cat, with the ears and everything. You have cats here don't you?"
Laura finally finished her babbling, and took a deep breath. Aragorn laughed loudly this time, and Laura turned to look at him. He nodded. He started scratching his chin, a frown forming. Laura silently wondered if he had fleas, or if fleas even existed here. She had to stop herself from laughing, she didn't think it would be considdered propper to be laughing at a king. "Do you know about elves?" Aragorn asked. Laura stared at him a moment before replying. "You mean about the fact they can die of a broken heart?" Aragorn nodded. "You must understand that for Legolas the decision to love a mortal is a great one, and must be considdered very carefuly. If he does love you, he will not be able to dent it. But you must allow him the time to explore the feelings he may or may not be developing for you. I would venture to guess that is what last night was about."
Laura sighed. "And I tossed him into a fountain. I don't except him to want to see me again, let alone explore anything to do with me." Aragorn laughed, causing Laura to frown. 'Maybe I should have asked him about the fleas.' She thought to herself. "Lady, if he was following you out to the fountain, do you think he had a reason?" Laura frowned again, and mumbled to herself. "I thought Gandalf was the one who spoke in riddles." Aragorn stared a moment confused then laughed. "You have met Gandalf?" He asked.
Laura was deep in thought when she answered. "Huh? Oh, no I haven't. I just saw the extended edition of the two towers." Aragorn stopped his horse, and stared at Laura's retreating back. Laura didn't notice at first, being lost in thought. When she did look up, and notice he was no longer at her side she stopped her horse. She turned to see Aragorn dismount his horse, and make his way over to her. "Off." He commanded, reaching up to assist her. "Explain to me what you have just said. Extended edition of the two towers. I do not understand that odd string of words."
Laura stared, eyes wide and put a hand to her mouth to cover it, as if that could have changed what she said. "I, I, I don't…" He put a hand up stop her. "The truth, now." "Aragorn, I don't know that you would even understand if I told you." Aragorn shook his head and taking her arm led her over to a fallen log. Once they had taken a seat Aragorn looked straight into Laura's eyes. "You will tell me now whether or not you think I will understand."
She closed her eyes and nodded. "Where I come from we have these things called movies. They're like moving paintings, or drawings, or the images on tapestries. They tell a story much like tapestries do, only they're very lifelike. The people in them appear as I appear before you, and the images move. Aragorn your story, the story of Middle Earth durring the war of the ring was turned into a movie based on a book written by a man named Tolkien. I'm not from this world or at least not of this time."
Aragorn stared, eyes wide, a look of shock and confusion on his face. "You understand why I didn't think I should tell all of this to you or anyone then?" She asked when Aragorn had been silent for sometime. He nodded slowly. "How? How did you end up here?" Laura shrugged. "I astral projected, thought I do not expect you to have the slightest clue as to what that is. I also don't want to explain it, it would take far too long. He nodded.
Laura frowned. "Aragorn, you're not afraid of me now are you?" Aragorn again looked her in the eye, his face a mask of shock, and confusion. "Nay, I am only confused as to what to think Lady Mel." Laura sighed. "Good, I wouldn't want to lose one of the few beings in this place I can call a friend." Aragorn smiled, and took her hand. "Nay, I would require much more to be frightened off." Laura laughed. "Yay!"
Aragorn stood, and helped Laura up. Before he knew what happened Laura had pulled him into a big bear hug. "Aragorn, I'm glad I told you. It's sort of a relief to have someone know. You wont tell anyone though will you?" He shook his head. "I will not, though you should tell Legolas at some point." Laura nodded. "I will if I feel he is ready to hear it. I don't want to scare him away anymore than I already have or freak him out. Plus I'm almost certain the king would make me leave if he knew. I don't know what I would do then, where I would go or anything." Aragorn gave her a sympathetic smile.
"You have all of Middle Earth Milady, and Gondor would welcome you anytime you need it, and there are other villages and cities of men that would welcome you." Laura frowned, and sighed. "But I so love it here, with the elves. With them I feel most comfortable, I feel a strange connection to them." She motioned to the trees all around them.
"And to nature. That's what elves are about, nature and protection of it. Loving it. I've always felt that way, my whole life. But where I came from things are very different to them, to this place. Nature, wildlife, preservation, these things mean nothing to the majority of people where I lived. Entire species of animal are stomped out in favor of progress, and cheaper rental homes and pointless everyday life things. I hate it there, I feel I have more in common with elves in that respect." Aragorn smiled. "Come, let us return Lady Mel. My wife will be missing me I am sure."
They returned to the horses and rode home in silence. Both with much to think of and much to consider. Upon their return Laura noticed Legolas standing with another elf conversing in the trees. He looked in their direction as if he sensed them and nodded, a smile on his face, Aragorn returned the nod. Laura however found herself looking away. She and Aragorn wound their way through walking elves towards the stables where Laura returned both horses to their own stalls, and cared for the other horses that hadn't been fed or watered. Aragorn left her saying he needed to find Arwen and let her know he had returned.
It took Laura a long while removing the soiled hay from the stalls, and replacing it with fresh hay. She was headed towards the feed which was kept in the front of the stables when Legolas entered. She immediately stopped what she was doing, and looked to the ground to avoid his gaze. HE was the last elf I the world, the entire of Middle Earth that she wanted to see now. "Do not cease your duties on my account milady." She heard him say. "I'm only here to collect Arod. Do not worry about his care either. I will tend to them when I have returned." Laura looked up, the hurt evident in her eyes, nodded, and set about her work again.
A/N: Sorry, this is kind of a boring chapter, but I wrote like a TON in my notebook, and it was all going to be one chapter. But since I've decided I don't want my chapters over 2500 words I posted it. I'll be typing up the rest with a lil bit of action soon enough. :) Thanks, if ya read, thanks if ya like, thanks if ya review! /author waves