Chapter 35
A Strange Dream
Jupiter's POV
Snowball came outside and rubbed against me.
"He really is adorable."
"Isn't he? I've always wanted a cat. I mean, I love dogs, but I've always really wanted a cat." I picked him up. "When I was a kid, I found a stray cat and I would feed it. It would follow me home and then it snuck in through my window. It made me happy. Grandma gave me the food for it…but then my parents found it. They threw it out my window and it ran off. It never came back after that and I didn't blame it."
Tauriel put her hand on my shoulder and looked at me sadly.
"I am sorry. But you are here now. Your life is a happy one. You have friends, family and you have your cat now. Are you not happy?"
I looked at Snowball and then smiled at her.
"Happier than I've ever been."
She nodded with a smile and we went back inside.
After dinner I showed Kili and Tauriel to their room. Tauriel smiled and walked in.
"I hope you'll both be comfortable."
"Thank you. I am certain we will be. Tauriel has lived in Erebor for so long, she needs to be in an elven environment. I want this child to know of its elven heritage as well."
I smiled and pat his shoulder.
"You're going to be an amazing father, Kili. And you're all welcome here any time." I said.
He hugged me tightly like he always did and then I left them to get some sleep. Legolas wasn't there so I went to take a bath.
Legolas' POV
Snowball followed me inside and then immediately ran off. Kili and Tauriel were fast asleep and I went to my room. Jupiter was not there. I frowned until I heard her singing in the bathroom.
Lonely, the path you have chosen
A restless road, no turning back
One day you will find your light again
Don't you know
Don't let go
Be strong
Follow your heart
Let your love lead through the darkness
Back to a place you once knew
I believe, I believe, I believe in you
Follow your dreams
Be yourself, an angel of kindness
There's nothing that you cannot do
I believe, I believe, I believe in you
Tout seul
Tu t'en iras tout seul
Coeur ouvert
A L'univers
Poursuis ta quete
Sans regarder derriere
N'attends pas
Que le jour
Se leve
Suis ton etoile
Va jusqu'ou ton reve t'emporte
Un jour tu le toucheras
Si tu crois si tu crois si tu crois
En toi
Suis la lumiere
N'eteins pas la flamme que tu portes
Au fonds de toi souviens-toi
Que je crois que je crois que je crois
Que je crois en toi
Someday I'll find you
Someday you'll find me too
And when I hold you close
I'll know that is true
Follow your heart
Let your love lead through the darkness
Back to a place you once knew
I believe, I believe, I believe in you
Follow your dreams
Be yourself a angel of kindness
There's nothing that you cannot do
I believe, I believe, I believe
In you
It was a beautiful song. I smiled and she continued to hum the song. I saw her brush out her long hair and I walked up behind her.
Jupiter's POV
I smiled as Legolas walked up behind me. He took the brush and brushed out my hair himself.
"My grandmother used to brush my hair. She used to sing that song too."
"It is a beautiful song. I wish I could have met your grandmother."
"Me too."
"Tell me about her."
I smiled and he put down the brush. He took me out into the bedroom. We sat down on the couch, which I liked to call a wrap around couch.
"Where do I even start? She was incredible. She was very beautiful and very intelligent. She was always there for me and I could always tell her everything. She protected me from George and Isabelle. They never dared go against her, but I never knew why. She was the only barrier between me and them. She was a fabulous cook! I never went hungry with her. She always celebrated my birthday and she was the only one gave me a present on Yule."
"Yule?" he asked.
I smiled and looked at him.
"It's a holiday. There's a tree and you decorate it and all the gifts for one another go beneath it. You put a star on the very top of the tree. She always made a great dinner for just the two of us. George and Isabelle were off drinking or gambling. Grandma said she was leaving me all her money, but she died before she could do anything about a will. They got the house, the money and they threw me onto the streets. There was nothing I could do so I did whatever I needed to survive. Well all besides drug dealing and prostitution. I was walking downtown when I wound up here…."
I told him everything about my grandmother. And when I finished he said,
"She sounds just like you."
I smiled and kissed him passionately. We separated and he stroked my cheek. I laid my head on his chest and fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes I almost screamed. I was in my grandmother's house.
"Jupiter where are we?"
I looked to my right and saw Legolas.
"Wait, you can see this too?"
He nodded and I took a deep breath.
"This almost feels like a dream. Come on."
I opened the door and I heard a smash. I held out my arm to stop Legolas and I saw someone walk across the hall.
"Oh….shit."
"Oh George! Did you call for this man here?"
My mother had her hands on Legolas.
"Get off my husband!"
I threw her back and she looked at me strangely. She was drunk.
"Still drinking? I'm surprised you're not dead."
"I know you."
"Of course you do you dumb bitch! I'm the daughter you threw onto the street!" I snarled.
"Jupiter!"
"Jupiter!?"
My father came up behind me. Legolas and I had no weapons. Legolas pushed me behind him and I looked at my father.
"I told you that you're not allowed back here you little mistake!" He snapped.
My eyes widened and my childhood came back. I held onto the back of Legolas' shirt and closed my eyes.
"You're not getting any money! You've ruined our lives enough!" my mother said.
I was trying to block them out.
"How dare you speak to her that way!"
Legolas grabbed my father and lifted him off the ground.
"I will make you regret all you did to her!"
"Legolas!"
He threw my father into a wall and my mother grabbed me. She hit me and I fell to the ground.
"Grand-mère me aider!"
I could hear myself as a child, calling for my grandmother. But she wasn't coming this time. I had to help myself. Then I saw my father hit Legolas in the face. My eyes went wide with rage and I threw my mother off.
"Jupiter-"
I screamed and just like in Lothlorien, the room we stood in was destroyed. My parents were on the ground and so was Legolas. He stood up and ran over to me. I put my hands on his arms and looked into his eyes.
"Did I hurt you!?"
"No, of course not. But you are hurt. You are bleeding!"
"What the hell are you!?"
I looked at my father. I thought about all he and my mother had done to me. I wasn't afraid anymore. I walked right up to him and grabbed him.
"I'm Jupiter Greenleaf! Daughter of Elros and a princess of Numenor! You told me my whole life that I was a mistake, and the worst part is I actually believed you. Now I know I'm not, and that I was stupid for thinking I was. You keep my grandma's house and you can keep her money because I have a better life now. I have a family who loves me, and friends who love me. I fought in a damn war! They call me a war hero and I'm a friend to a king! And a daughter-in-law to a king. You've been wrong about me all my life. You're pathetic George. You and Isabelle both. You weren't even meant to have me. I was sent through time by my real parents so I would be safe. So screw you two for treating me the way you did. I pity you. You're miserable, pathetic and low life human beings."
I let him drop to the ground and I went back to Legolas. I looked at him and he smiled gently. I threw my arms around him.
"I am very proud of you. And your grandmother is too, I know she is."
I closed my eyes and sighed. I heard someone walking up behind me and I turned. Isabelle looked at me.
"So you're not really mine?"
"Nope."
"And I had to go through childbirth for nothing!?"
I rolled my eyes with a sigh and punched her. I took Legolas' hand and then went outside. The city was glowing just as I remembered it.
"This is Chicago?"
"Hm."
"It is different, but it has its own beauty." he said.
I smiled and then I heard someone shouting. It was Kili's voice.
Legolas' POV
I opened my eyes and found Tauriel and Kili there. My eye went wide when I saw the blood.
"Jupiter!"
It had not been a dream after all.