Lira stood on the ship looking out at the moonlight falling upon the still sail. They had crossed the great barrier into the world beyond. She no longer became forced into the dragon form, but she could still take it on if she wished as could Sean. She held the star glass in her hand looking back at the mist, which concealed her home, her world. Sean knew it must be difficult for her to leave everything she had ever known behind. He slowly came up behind her and leaned on the balcony. She did not look at him but kept her eyes fixed upon the stars.

"You look beautiful," he said noting the flowing silver dress, which fell below her shoulders. Her hair fell long and soft down her back, and a circlet of Mithril rested on her head.

"It was a gift from Galadriel. She bid me wear it."

Sean took her hand softly in his and looked up at the stars with her. "I remember the night they showered us."

"What is your power?" she asked changing the subject.

"Unlike other dragons, I have the power to heal myself and others of fatal wounds. I do not have much skill in fighting though."

"Then I will have to teach you in dragon form and out of it how to fight."

"And I will teach you of my world, how to dress, how to act, how to look, and how to dance."

She wrinkled her nose. "I do not dance."

"I shall teach you."

"What is wrong with the way I look then?" she asked.

"Absolutely nothing," he grinned brushing a hand across her cheek.

The touch was so light, but it sent shocks through hr body and shivers up her spine. Before she could open her mouth to speak, he continued.

"But you must disguise yourself if only to delay 'Judgment Day' as it were."

"The time will come soon enough," she answered.

He grasped her arm sharply. The firm demanding move caught her off guard, and her instincts told her to fight back. "I will not let him take you from me," Sean growled.

"You speak as if I am yours, Sean!" she wrenched her arm away.

"You are, and I am yours as well. We are one, Lira in everything but physical form. But our memories are stumbling blocks. We have both been reborn, and we have a mission. That mission is not simply to destroy the other dragon and keep him from Middle Earth. It is to unite our hearts, minds, and souls once again."

"And if I do not wish to unite with you?" she asked.

"That is what we must overcome."

"Sean?" Lira stepped out of the car looking at the small salon. "Where are we?"

"Just come on," he took her hand. "You'll like this."

Sean pulled her into the beauty salon very eager. He signed in with the woman at the counter, which gave Lira a chance to look around. As soon as she did, she attempted to sneak away.

"Oh no," Sean grabbed her waist playfully and forced her into a chair. "You're not running away."

"I will not do this," she glared looking at the hairdressers spraying different things from bottles into people's hair and sheering off the strands.

"Hey, you sailed all the way from Valinor, and you fought a dragon in a previous life, came face to face with the Valar. I think you can be brave enough to get a couple strands cut off and a makeover, and if you're nice I'll treat you to a facial or a massage."

"But look at what they're doing!"

"You don't see other people objecting do you?"

"No, but that's a regular way of life," she began toying with her long dark curls.

"Lira," he knelt. "Look at this," he held up a strand. "It has all split ends and is knotty. I assure you, you will be much better with it cut shorter. And it will grow faster once it is cut shorter."

"How can that be?" she asked.

"Trust me," he grinned.

Her nose was filled with the scent of hairspray and mousse. She watched one hairdresser clipping one woman's blonde hair into a Tinkerbell style, and she wrinkled her nose in disgust. What in the world could possibly drive women to such ends as cutting their beautiful hair to a station higher than a man's? The woman's lips were painted, her cheeks rosier, and her eyelashes blackened. Lira bit her nails in nervousness until she heard her name called.

Two young women with blonde curls and a man with short spiked dark hair appeared ready to take Lira back. Sean squeezed her hand.

"Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

They led her to the back room and the man advised her to sit in the chair in front of the mirror. He began to fool with her hair and inspect her face.

"Well, excellent skin by no doubt, very fair. Beautiful eyes, absolutely gorgeous enchanting eyes but hidden by bushy almost connected dark eyebrows. So I suggest we start with that."

"My eyebrows?" she questioned, but he already began to rub some alcohol against her brows.

"Sean?" she looked nervously.

"Don't worry," he chuckled. "He's just going to wax them."

An odd smell came into Lira's nose, and the man put what felt like hot, black sand upon her eyebrows and let it dry. She closed her eyes tightly knowing what he was going to do next. Lira squeezed Sean's hand and let out a gasp, as the wax came off.

"That hurt!" she whined.

"Don't start complaining," Sean told her. "This is for you."

She sulked as the man began to inspect her hair. "Well obviously too long," he chuckled fooling with the hair at her waist. "How far, Mr. O'Connor?"

Sean motioned to the man and whispered in his ear. He smiled and rubbed his hands together.

"You got it, Sean!"

"My hair! What are you going to do with my hair?" she asked nervously.

"We're going to give it a little trim, honey. Nothing to worry about."

He set her back into a sink and began to wet her hair with warm water. It actually felt very relaxing as he worked shampoo and conditioner into her tender scalp and the knots within her hair. He finally pushed her neck upward and dried her hair with a towel. Then he began to use a comb, which didn't hurt until he came to a knot. Sean thought it wise to blindfold her when the man began cutting her hair.

"No, no!" she put up a big fuss.

"Lia, I wont do anything to upset you or make you ugly," Sean assured her. "You are very vain. Now I want it to be a surprise, ok?"

She finally consented, and the hairdresser blindfolded her eyes and began to trim her hair while the women gave her a manicure and a pedicure. She had never felt anything so good as two pair of hands massaging her feet and hands with different creams. She could grow to like this. Finally the young man took the blindfold off, and he told her not to scream when she looked in the mirror and recognized someone else. She took a deep breath as he swung the chair around, and she wanted to scream, but managed tears instead. It was change, and most women hate change when it comes to their appearance. Her eyebrows were nearly gone, and her hair was cut to the style of an elf's resting below her shoulders. She saw the women cleaning up the remainder of her hair. He had also straightened it, and added a slight layer. Her cheeks were rosy pink now, and her lips were painted a deep crimson. Everyone seemed pleased with the effect; especially Sean. But a tear dripped down her cheek. Sean placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Lia, you look beautiful," he assured her.

"Oh yes, seems like you've been hiding your pretty face behind your hair. Now look at it. The boys will fall all over you."

Sean gave the man a careful warning eye. Lira looked at herself once again in the mirror and touched her hair. It felt soft, thick, and straight. She glanced at her face again.

"There now," Sean took her hand and lifted her up. "Since you've been such a good girl, I'm going to treat you to a massage."

"That will cost more, sir," the young man told him.

Sean glared. "Blast the cost! This is for Lira." "You don't have to do it, Sean," Lira told him.

"No you just be quiet and relax."

She smiled as he led her to the waiting room for the massages. He purchased a half hour massage for Lira and picked up a magazine while waiting for her to be done. A middle aged woman took the girl back into one of the massage rooms and swept aside a curtain. A comfortable odd looking bed stood in the center of the room, and the woman instructed Lira to take her shirt and bra off. Lira gave a questioning look, but noticed the woman leaving the room for a moment to retrieve something, and she obeyed. Lira took her place on the bed laying on her stomach with her face in between the head-hole. The woman came back in with a series of lotions and wet washcloths. She began to massage Lira's back working her powerful hands into the girl's shoulders and muscles. Lira sighed thinking it felt wonderful but she was rather ashamed of the small scars she received from her father's beatings. She expected the woman to ask about them, but was surprised when she didn't.

"You have a lot of tension in your neck and shoulders," the woman said deepening her hold on Lira's neck and rubbing out the tension. "Try relaxing more."

Lira did and found the results rather pleasing. She could spend all day here as the woman rubbed different lotions into her skin and kneaded the areas in her back. The half hour passed away quickly, though, and Lira went back into the waiting room. Sean stood up when he saw her.

"How was it?" he asked.

"Absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much, Sean."

"Well," he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You ready to go home for awhile? Tomorrow, I'll treat you to the mall, but it's already..." he checked his watch, "Four thirty. I'd like to get dinner going for my mom."

"Your mom?"

"Yes, you'll get to meet her tonight."

"But I don't have any clothes," she objected looking at the loose fitting jeans and long sleeved top.

"Well, during your half hours, I took the liberty of disappearing down the block real quick and picked this up for you," he motioned to a shopping bag. Inside was a dainty pair of sandals for running along the beach and a knee length white dress with spaghetti straps. "Hope it fits," he smiled.

"Sean, this is all very good of you. You went to a lot of trouble doing this for me."

"You're worth it," he smiled.