A Stranger In The Woods

Chapter 23: Changes

Katie slept soundly the entire night, and didn't wake until almost lunchtime the following day. She stretched out on her bed, smiling as she took in the beauty around her. The room was perfect. Big, airy with gorgeous furniture, and best of all an attached room with a washtub and chamber pot. Oh, how she had missed having a bathroom.

Slowly, she forced herself off the soft mattress and looked around for something to wear. The clothes she had left in a pile by her bed had mysteriously disappeared, replaced by a pale green dress hanging by her door. She had a sneaking suspicion that she would not be getting her traveling clothes back.

"Oh well," she muttered, slipping the silky fabric over her head. As long as they gave her something other than a dress to wear the rest of the journey. She pulled the dress down over her hips and walked over to the large mirror that hung above the dresser to examine herself.

She gasped at her reflection. She hadn't looked at a mirror since Rivendell, and the changes were obvious. At least to her. Her hair was lighter from being out in the sun and longer… A good deal longer.

Katie fingered the strands in amazement, wondering how she hadn't noticed the change before. She took a step forward and studied her reflection even closer. The cut on her cheek was completely healed. Not even a scar remained. She had been expecting to look tanned and wind blown, but instead her skin looked smooth, flawless. 'Almost,' she thought with a gasp 'like Legolas'.'

Goosebumps broke out over her flesh and she rubbed her arms nervously. They felt different. It took a second to figure out why. 'I don't have any arm hair,' she realized with a start. She checked her legs. "None there either," she whispered to the stranger in the mirror.

Suddenly a thought came to her. 'Is this what Galadriel meant when she said all would appear different in the morning?' She had no idea.

Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn't eaten in over 18 hours. She cast one more uneasy glance at her reflection before walking out the door to find the others.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

She found her group sitting at a table under some trees. They had already started with their meals and everyone looked up and stopped eating when they saw her.

Katie stared at them nervously. Did they notice all the changes in her appearance also? The silence stretched on awkwardly. Finally, mercifully, Gimli broke it with one of his obtuse comments.

"You look different," he growled, then stuffed a huge bite of food into his mouth and loudly began eating again.

"Different how?" she whispered, fearing they had noticed everything.

"We are just not use to seeing you wear a dress," Aragorn said with a smile as he slid over to make room for her.

"Oh," she breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe they didn't notice everything.

"And you have your hair down," Pippin added, and then continued eating as well.

Everyone took his lead and began their meals again as Katie fixed a plate and sat down beside Aragorn. Soon the hobbits were busy asking questions about where they were headed next and how long they planned to stay in Lothlórien. Katie just smiled; relieved the focus was off her.

After lunch, everyone went their separate ways. Katie watched as they left and decided to go for a walk. She really didn't know what else to do. Nobody had given her a schedule, so she figured she was supposed to entertain herself. She chose a nice shady path and set off. After a few minutes, her mind drifted to Legolas. He had spoken only twice during the meal, answering something Merry had asked. He had not said two words to her, but she had felt him staring at her more than once.

'Does he think I look different?' She wondered as she walked along aimlessly. Throughout the journey, she had always placed her hair back in either a ponytail or a braid. The only time she let it down was at night when she slept. 'I wonder if he thinks I look better with it down.'

She bent over to smell some flowers just off the path and jumped as a figure emerged from the shadows beside her. It was Haldir.

"You should not stray to far from the city," he said as he took a step towards her.

Katie put a hand to her chest, trying to slow her pounding heart. "You shouldn't sneak up on people," she snapped, angry at being scared out of her wits.

Haldir just smiled and took her arm, leading her back onto the path. "So, tell me, how do you like Lothlórien?" He asked after a minute of walking.

Katie smiled, deciding to forgive him. 'After all, he's an elf. He can't help but sneak up on people.'

"I like it a lot," she replied, her eyes lovingly scanning the surrounding trees.

"Is it much different from your home?" He asked curiously.

Katie scoffed. "Very different."

Haldir looked at her closely. "Do you wish to return there?"

She thought about it for a moment. She wasn't sure she could choose. "I miss my dad," she said honestly.

"That is not what I asked," Haldir pointed out softly.

"I don't know," she admitted, wondering why he cared. "Nobody here needs me- or wants me around…At least back home I have my dad."

Haldir gave her a placating smile. "You are needed here more than you realize."

They walked in silence for a moment as she thought about his comment. 'Does anyone really want me here?' she wondered, feeling sorry for herself. 'Does Legolas want me to return home?' The very thought filled her heart with a hopeless dread.

Just then, she spotted the elf in question- deep in conversation with a woman.

Katie studied the elven woman critically- tall, thin, long beautiful blonde hair. All in all, the woman was gorgeous. Jealousy rippled through her and she quickly turned away.

"Quel andune," Haldir called out- spotting the elves. (Good afternoon)

Both elves looked up as Haldir led her over to where they stood.

"Vedui," the lady purred. (Greetings)

Legolas remained quiet. He caught her eye and quickly looked away.

"Mani naa lle atta ten umien? Haldir asked pleasantly. (What are you two out doing?)

The attractive woman smiled up at him. "Taren Legolas ar amin manke san tri all." (Prince Legolas and I were taking a walk.)

She looked back over at Katie. "Ya naa re?" (Who is she?)

Katie frowned slightly. She could already tell she wasn't going to like this woman. 'Probably because she's flirting with Legolas,' part of her mind spoke up. Still, it annoyed her when people talked about her as if she wasn't there. Especially when she couldn't understand what they were saying.

"She is one of my group," Legolas answered softly.

The woman looked over at him, surprise clear on her face. "A' edan edainme?" She whispered in astonishment. (A human woman?)

"Mankoi naa re er en Tel'Mithrim?" (Why is she one of the Grey Company?)

"It is a long story," Legolas said with a slight frown.

The woman turned to Katie and smiled. "I am Pernia- daughter of Anarrima and Galomir," she stated proudly.

"I'm Katherine," Katie muttered. She felt an urge to include her mom and dad's names, but resisted.

Pernia looked her up and down slowly before turning back to Haldir. "Mani nae lee atta umien?" She asked sweetly. (What have you two been doing?)

"I was just escorting Katherine back to her room," Haldir said with a smile. "I found her roaming around outside the city."

Pernia smiled an annoyingly perfect smile. "Naa Tanya ikotane?" (Is that so?)

Katie fought down the urge to scream and turned to Haldir. "I'm tired. I'm ready to go."

Haldir looked over at her- eyebrows slightly raised.

"I will take her back," Legolas spoke up before he could answer.

Haldir glanced from her to Legolas- then back again. "Do you want me to come get you for supper?"

"No. I will take my meal in my room if that is okay." She turned to Pernia. "It was nice to meet you," she lied.

The woman just smiled politely back at her.

Legolas took her by the arm. "Quel re," he told the two elves with a nod of his head. (Good day)

"Quel re, Taren Legolas" Pernia answered back. (Good day, Prince Legolas)

Legolas turned and led her towards her room. They walked several minutes in heavy silence. Katie took the time to study him closely. He had changed from his traveling clothes and now wore a long silver tunic. He no longer had his weapons strapped on his back, and the change was startling. 'He looks good,' she realized. 'Really good.' The silver outfit made his face glow- causing his hair to look even lighter.

"You look different," she muttered when he caught her staring.

Legolas gave her a long side-glance. "So do you," he pointed out.

"I'm just not use to seeing you without your weapons," she explained, feeling a little embarrassed at her blatant staring.

"You are in a dress," he shot back.

Katie smiled. "I don't know which is stranger," she admitted.

Legolas' lips curled into a grin. "Both," he decided.

They walked in silence for a few more minutes, both deep in thought.

"Thanks," she said nervously as they reached her door.

Legolas turned and met her gaze. "I will see you tomorrow," he said softly, then turned and walked away.

Katie watched until he was out of sight, then sighed and opened the door to her room. "It's gonna be a long night," she muttered as she shut the door behind her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: I know a few of you readers might be mad that I put the translations in the story instead of in this note, but I've read stories that I have to scroll down the entire page each sentence to find out what it meant, and it annoys me. I've decided if it's a long conversation, that I would include the translations in parenthesis after each sentence. Everyone okay with that? To bad if not, it's my story.

Katie-sue