They had slept late, and Lira was hungry. She found her arms were still wrapped around Sean's neck, and he was sleeping within a peaceful state. Slowly, she inched out of his hold being careful not to wake him and left the room quietly. This time, she wanted to surprise him by making breakfast. The stove was easy to master, and she knew she could make some pancakes easily. There was a baking mix within the cabinet. Lira threw a robe on around herself and made her way downstairs.

She turned on the stove and quickly made the mix and began plopping it onto the pan. Suddenly, a pair of arms slipped around her waist. She smiled at first, but when she turned, she met a pair of deep brown and unwelcome eyes.

"Good morning, Lira," Mordah gave her a grin.
"You're not supposed to be here. And get your filthy hands off me."

"Now, now, my girl," he tapped a finger to her chin and then eyed the food she was preparing. "This world has many advantages when it comes to food. In Middle Earth, it's a necessity. Here it is an art. Soon you will be making these for me."
"Get out of here," she pushed him away. "You'll ruin everything!"

"Everything?" he cocked an eyebrow and his voice hardened. "Kindly remember you belong to me. And everything you share with this mortal will be nothing when my master is reawakened. I will be coming for you soon, Lira. And you will be ready."
"Never!"

Before Lira could even finish the word, Mordah had disappeared. She sighed deeply and turned back to her pancakes which had nearly burned by this time. Just as the encounter had ended, she could hear Sean's footsteps as he came down the stairs. He entered the kitchen and approached her with a smile. She shook off the wretched feeling she had of Mordah and looked up at him. She noticed a small stubble of golden hair on his upper lip. A crooked grin spread across her face. She liked it. However, Sean could see she was upset about something. "What happened?" he asked.
She sighed knowing there was no point in keeping secrets from him. "He was here."
Sean's expression instantly hardened, and she saw his fists clenched. "I can't believe he dared show his face in my house. I'm sorry, Lira. I would have ripped the skin off his face if I had known."
"Perhaps it's good that you didn't then. He's very powerful."
"How do you know?"

"Because I can feel him."
"Lira, perhaps we should go back to Middle Earth."
"Why?"
"You will be safer there than here. The Valar can protect you as well as me. It's easier to track you down here. Even if we disappear to some unknown island, he'll find you there as well."

"I don't want to run and hide. I want to know more about this world. I have never been happier than I have within these past couple of days. And I've never been happier than with you."
Sean's expression softened. "Do you really mean that?"
"Yes," she smirked. "Why would I go to the trouble of making pancakes for you?"
"And they smell great," he inhaled.

"Well go ahead and sit down."

Sean took his place at the table opposite of Lira and waited as she brought a stack of pancakes over and then laid a bowl of fresh fruit that she found in the refrigerator, on the table. After a brief prayer, Sean picked up his fork and began to eat…

Lira let the hot water caress her skin. This world had many enticements. She loved the feel of the shower flowing across her body. It was far more delightful than bathing in a simple lake which was normally cold. Lira finally stepped out of the shower and draped a towel over herself. She approached the mirror which was still foggy from the humidity in the room. She began to rub a hand over the mirror and nearly shrieked when seeing Mordah's face within it. He merely smiled and whispered, 'Soon.'

"Leave me alone!" she screamed.

"Lira?" she heard Sean knock on the door. "Are you all right?"
"Come in," she replied.

Sean opened the door and saw her curled up on the bathroom rug. He slowly knelt before her and cradled her face within his hands. "Hey, hey," he softly calmed her as she laid her head on his shoulder. "It'll be okay."
"He's coming for me. Please just don't leave me."
"He won't find you. He won't take you. I promise."

Lira nodded consoled by Sean's words.

"Listen," he said. "Something is happening tonight, and you may stay here with my mother if you wish or you can come with me…"
"What do you mean?"
"Well tonight is the night I turn into my dragon form. Would you like to see it?"
"Of course I would!"
"Good. Normally I go to the ocean when it happens and I just stay in a cave there and wait out the night. I guess we will be able to do that together now. And I can show you what powers I have learned to develop."
"And I actually will have a surprise for you as well," Lira replied with a wink.
"Oh, and what is that?"
She wickedly grinned. "That's for me to know and for you to find out."