Haldir helped Kate retrieve the luggage, and he followed her to the hotel. He seemed mesmerized by the moving doors. Kate walked through and folded her arms grinning as he continued walking through them over and over.
"Ok come on, pretty boy," Kate finally grabbed his arm. "Stop playing with the door."
Haldir walked in and smiled. "This place is beautiful Kate."
"Good be quiet, dont touch anything, look dont touch, and dont go more than twenty feet away from me."
Kate made her way up to the front desk as Haldir set the luggage down making his way to the immense fish tank in the lobby. Kate took out her identification, but then realized she did not need it. The front deskman grinned at her.
"Katelyn! So good you could come back for a stay. Should I reserve your suite?" the well dressed man in his late forties asked.
"Um, sure. Sorry it's been a long day," Kate answered.
"Just get back from Europe eh? How is Josh doing then?"
"I haven't seen him yet," Kate said looking confused.
"Well, I'm sure he'll find you. He has a way of doing that easily you know? Well here is your key," he handed her the metal item.
"Thank you."
Kate turned back to Haldir seeing him gazing up at the many chandeliers and touching the persian rugs. She kindly took his arm and led him away from the fish tank.
"I'm tired so I want to get back up to the room," She told him.
"You live in a wondrous time, Kate."
"Not so wondrous when you're around it though."
Kate led Haldir to the elevators but she wanted to see the pool first. Haldir was not impressed since he had seen many fairer and larger pools made of polished marble and ebony yet he did enjoy seeing the jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room.
"Perhaps we'll go have a swim later. I dont like coming to the pool when its crowded," Kate told him
The elf and the mortal made their way to the elevators, and Haldir stepped in nervously and panicked as soon as the doors closed. Kate took his hand to steady him as the elevator made its ascent.
"It's ok, Haldir. This is a device that lets you shall we say climb the stairs to the tower in Minas Tirith without having to take a step. Very useful it is."
Haldir left the elevator as soon as the doors opened relieved. He then noticed a mirror looking out at him as he stepped off. Haldir smiled and touched his hair. Kate grabbed him by the sleeve.
"Come on, Haldir," she pulled him away from the mirror. "Yes we know you look sharp in your leather jacket. Let's go."
Kate reached the room and fitted her key into the lock instantly sighing as she stepped in. The suite was large and yet seemed familiar to her. There were two beds thankfully on the right side of the room, a television in front of the bed, closets and bathrooms to the right of the bed and a large bathroom with a jacuzzi tub to the left as well as a double window looking out at the city of Chigago. Kate sighed and colappsed on the bed.
"Very good indeed."
Kate closed her eyes but suddenly bolted up as a loud noise filled the room.
"Ugh! Haldir!" she said taking the remote from him and turning off the television.
"Kate!" he said trying to take it from her. "Give it back!" he demanded.
"No! I'm tired. You can watch tv later."
"All you wish to do is sleep? We already slept on the plane? How can you sleep in a city like this, Kate?"
"Haldir, I'm tired. Please, can you just be a nice boy and be quiet?"
"Very well, Kate. I shall be content to simply watch you sleep."
Kate smiled and took her former place on the bed. Haldir gently approached her and covered her soft body with the covers. Haldir rustled Kate's hair and noticed how much she had changed since coming here. She was even more beautiful he though touching her copper strands, soft cheeks, and her ivory skin. She was perfect to him. Haldir made his way to the window and looked out at the city. It was so grand, and he wondered if he should have left his homeland. He looked back at Kate, and all regrets passed away. Haldir slowly drew the blinds until the room was dark. He knelt down beside Kate's bed and watched her sleep. He traced the curves on her face and watched the rise and fall of her chest pleased that her nightmares had abated.
"Perfect, Kate. Divine. Kate, can I keep you?" Haldir whispered in her ear.
Kate stirred and turned onto her side so her back was to Haldir. He breathed in the scent of her hair and slowly touched her back. Haldir smoothed aside her hair and looked at her bare skin. He could see her back had many scars though it was still beautiful. Haldir slowly fell asleep to Kate's soft breathing.
Kate finally awoke and saw Haldir slumped over the bed his head resting in her lap. She smiled in spite of this, and slowly ran her fingers through his silky hair. He was beautiful she thought with the moonlight resting upon his face. Kate slowly brushed aside his hair and touched his tipped ears. She ran her fingers upon the edges. Kate ran her hands upon his own and wondered what it would be like to be held by them. His hands were strong yet clean and beautiful. Suddenly, Kate wanted to slap herself. She couldn't fall in love with an elf even if he did come all this way with her and sing a beautiful song upon the plane. Kate would not let herself fall in love with him. The mortal pushed Haldir's head out of her lap yet he still did not awake. She slowly slipped out of bed. Kate made her way into the bathroom and closed the door. No sooner had she wandered in that the main door to the room opened. A young man with dark curly hair cropped below his ears walked into the room. He saw the light on in the bathroom and smiled knowing Kate was in there. The young man kicked off his shoes and turned the corner into the bedroom and instantly gasped seeing Haldir slumped over the bed, his own bed. The man clenched his fists and made his way back to the bathroom door and knocked on it loudly.
"Wait a second!" Kate called out.
She opened the door wrapped in a towel holding her hair up in a pony tail. She expected to see Haldir and raised her eyes at seeing the man.
"Kate, what's that guy doing here?" he asked.
"Excuse me, but who are you that you think you can wander right into my room?" Kate objected.
"Uh hello...it's me Kate. Did Europe do something to your brain. I thought the desk clerk told you I'd be over later."
"Oh Josh, um sorry. That guy in there. It's not what you think. He's just a friend from Europe," she white lied. "We just got in tonight, and he's exhausted."
"Why didn't you give him his own room?"
"Well there were two beds, and I didn't know you would be coming over. I can get him his own room but he's not that used to Americanized culture."
"So who is this guy?" Josh urged her.
"His name is Hayden. He's a friend from one of the universities I visited," she lied again.
"Hmmm. Hope he's not trying to move in or anything."
"He and I are not like that. We could never be."
"Well you said you were going swimming?" he asked looking at her.
"Um yes. I need to wake him up too. He wanted to go."
"Well, I'll join you. But I need to use the bathroom."
"Well, I'm almost done."
He raised his hand to his chin smiling. "We could get dressed together."
Before Kate could even think of a response, she saw Haldir turning the corner an angry expression upon his face.
"Um, Josh this is Hayden, Hayden Josh."
"Kate, may I speak with you?" Haldir asked her.
"Not now. I need to get dressed."
Before the men could answer, Kate disappeared into the bathroom locking the door behind her.
