Unafraid Of You: Part 2
Ch.3 Explanations:
It was a couple days before she felt like getting out of bed to explore her new surroundings. Stephanie swung her feet over the side of the bed and tried to stand up. She was kind of wobbly at first, but after a few minutes she could walk just fine. The wound on her leg had healed completely, leaving behind a long scar across her thigh. She softly walked over to the bedroom door and poked her head out of the room. She looked down both ends of the hallway before turning to go left. She had reached a room that was like an enclosed patio. There were chairs and small tables next to those chairs that had pitchers and wine glasses on them.
"Finally decided to walk around?"
She turned around quickly, startled at first, and then smiled when she saw who it was. "I was getting sick and tired of staring at the ceiling. I had to get out of there."
Elladan smiled and chuckled softly. "I understand that feeling all too well mellon-nin."
Stephanie smiled at the endearment. "Hanon lle."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "You speak elvish?"
"I can speak it somewhat. My friend Courtney got me started on learning it."
"You must miss her. You have talked about her so much," Elladan watched her lower her eyes to the floor.
Stephanie shrugged her shoulders. "I might as well stop talking about her. I'll never see her or Allison again. I just wish I knew what happened to them and if they're okay."
Elladan walked over to her and hugged her. They had become good friends since she had arrived in Rivendell. "You don't know that. Keep your spirits up."
"It's just so hard to accept that I won't see them again. We did everything together and now it's like I dreamed it all. I feel like I didn't appreciate them enough or something. Maybe I'm just trying to guilt trip myself," Stephanie looked up at him. There was something in his eyes that made her heart beat faster each time she saw him. What was it and why was it making her feel so strange?
"Would you like a glass of wine?" Elladan poured two glasses and handed one to Stephanie.
She stared at the drink, unsure if she wanted it or not. "I don't usually drink. Okay, I've never been allowed to drink."
Elladan smiled in understanding. "Don't feel like you have to drink it pen-neth."
"I just feel like I'm being rude," Stephanie sat the glass down on the table and stared at it.
"How so?"
She looked at him once more, her heart doing a flip as she felt her cheeks blush. "Usually when someone offers you a drink it's polite to accept it even if you don't want it but I just can't do it. I don't really like the taste of wine. It has a bad aftertaste."
He laughed out loud and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "You are just too cute for your own good mellon-nin."
"It's my job to be cute," She laughed and let him lead her out of the room to the dining hall where a rather large lunch was awaiting them.
The scent of morphine and medication filled her nostrils as she focused her eyes. She looked around the room, not remembering what had happened. Just then, someone walked into the room and smiled at her, laying their hand on her forehead.
"It's about time you woke up. We were starting to worry about you."
"Where am I?"
"I am Nurse Ann and you're at Aultman Hospital," Ann checked to see that her patient was comfortable.
Courtney tried to sit up but immediately laid back down as pain shot throughout her body. "What happened?"
Ann frowned. "You were in a terrible car accident. You're lucky you survived."
Oh my gosh! Steph! Allison! "Where are my friends?"
"There was only one other there. I think her name was Allison. She's in the next room. She will fully recover," Ann began to tidy the room and placed new blankets at the foot of the bed.
"What about Stephanie? Is she okay?" Courtney didn't like the look on the nurse's face.
Ann walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. "There was no body found. It was like it disappeared. Stephanie's body is gone."
Gone? How can that be? "That doesn't make any sense though. She was the one driving. Her body has to be there somewhere."
"There was no body. The accident site has been cleaned up for the past week and no one ever saw her body," Ann stood up and began to walk out of the room.
Courtney stared ahead in disbelief. How could she be gone? Where could she have gone? This was something that not only bothered her, but scared her half to death as well.
"Thank you for coming Stephanie. I think I know how you got here," Elrond motioned for her to sit down on the couch. She did so, quietly, and listened intently to what he had to say.
Elrond sat down across from her and sighed. "I think that just before you were supposed to die, someone, or something, saved you and brought you here."
Stephanie scrunched up her face. "What? Whoa dude you lost me. Who could have saved me and why?"
"You wouldn't have been brought here if you weren't meant to be here," Elrond searched her face for some kind of understanding. "And as for who saved you, I don't really know."
"So you're saying that I'm needed here? Why? Why me?" She sat back and brought her feet up onto the couch so she could be more comfortable.
Elrond shook his head. "I have no idea. I have written to Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. I think she may know how to better explain this."
Stephanie couldn't believe that this was happening to her. Rivendell was a beautiful place and all, but it wasn't where her friends were, save for Elladan and his twin brother Elrohir that she had met that afternoon after lunch.
"I keep telling myself that this is all some kind of psycho dream that I can't wake up from. I want to see my friends Elrond. Somehow. Someway. I have to know that they are okay after what happened," Stephanie felt tears form behind her eyes. It wasn't until she didn't have them that she truly understood how precious they had been to her. Always making her laugh even when she didn't want to. Always finding a way to cheer her up when she was hurting the most.
Elrond watched her. She was deep in thought and he was loathe to interrupt it at the moment. She seemed so melancholy all of a sudden. "There may be a way, but I will have to talk it over with Galadriel first."
Stephanie looked at him with wide hopeful eyes. "Please, I would do anything just to know that they were okay."
He smiled at her and lightly kissed her forehead, as if she was his own daughter. "I will help you in any way that I can. I promise."
"Hanon lle Elrond. I appreciate it so much."
Ch.4 Disagreement Between Siblings
"Elladan? Are you okay?" Elrohir furrowed his brow in concern. This was the third time that he had caught his twin day dreaming and staring off into space. It was starting to worry him.
Shaking his head of his thoughts, Elladan smiled at his brother. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"
Elrohir laughed. "You've been day dreaming all day gwador. What is on your mind?"
"Nothing. I'm just in a good mood, that's all," Elladan turned away from Elrohir to continue polishing his dueling knives.
Catching on to something, Elrohir grabbed the bottle of polish and ran away a few feet with it. Elladan threw his brother and evil look and held out his hand.
"Give it back, 'Ro. I'm not done yet."
Smiling brilliantly, Elrohir tossed the bottle from one hand to the other. "Tell me what's on your mind and maybe I'll give it back."
Elladan took a few steps towards Elrohir, who backed away. "Come on Elrohir, you aren't being fair. Now give me that bottle right now."
"If you would cooperate with me you'd make things a whole lot easier. So tell me, what's her name?" Elrohir laughed at the shocked look that crossed Elladan's face.
He sighed and looked at the floor. "Stephanie." He mumbled it quickly and quietly so he could get away with at least saying it.
Elrohir lifted a hand to his ear. "What was that brother? I didn't catch that."
"Leave it be, Elrohir. I said her name and you were dumb enough to miss it, now give me that polish," he was beginning to get really mad. Elladan looked up into his twins sympathetic face that looked exactly his in every aspect except the eye color.
"Don't get mad 'Dan. I'm just trying to get you to talk to me. We don't talk as much as we used to when we were elflings. I just miss it," Elrohir walked over to Elladan and laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently.
Elladan smiled sadly. "I'm sorry 'Ro. I didn't mean to ignore you."
Elrohir handed his brother the bottle of polish. "Here. Now, what was her name?"
"Stephanie," Elladan watched his brother's face change from happy to worrisome.
"Really? How long have you felt this way about her?" Elrohir picked up a book that he had been reading earlier and sat down with it on the couch.
Elladan didn't understand the look that he was given, but chose to ignore it. "Since I first saw her. What's got you so worried all of a sudden?"
Elrohir looked at Elladan with seriousness in his eyes. "She's mortal, 'Dan."
"Yes, so?"
"You can't be serious. Normally I would be happy for you but this is beyond anything that I can be happy for," Elrohir stood up in frustration and threw the book on the floor.
Elladan laid his weapons on the table and faced his twin with anger. "What is your problem? Have you gone mad? What is so bad about me being in love with her?"
Elrohir ran his hands through his hair nervously. "I won't lose you to a mortal Elladan. If you love her that means you have to give up your immortality to be with her and then when she dies you'll die too, of a broken heart. I won't let you do that to yourself Elladan."
"Listen to me Elrohir, and I want you to listen closely. I love her. I know you're only worried for me but you shouldn't be. It doesn't matter how I die or if I die, as long as I am with her nothing else matters," Without another word, Elladan sheathed his knives and stalked out the door, mumbling curses under his breath.
Ch.5 The Promise Of Something New
"I don't think I really like that color on me," Stephanie watched the seamstress roll her eyes and pull out another color of fabric.
Finwen sighed. "You must pick a color my lady. You need some gowns and dresses for the banquets."
Stephanie loved how impatient the elves around here got. It was entertaining to tease them every once and a while. It was kind of like teasing her friends. A small pang of pain tore through her heart at the thought of them. "I think I like that red color that you have in your left hand."
"I thought the reds might interest you. Not very many elves around here look good in red except for Elrond's children of course. But that's only because they got their father's dark coloring instead of their mother's fair coloring," Finwen held the scarlet red fabric up to Stephanie and smiled. "Yes, it suits you. I will take the other colors that you chose and I'll make you some beautiful dresses to wear."
"Thank you Finwen. I'm sorry if I've been a pain. I just – "
"…miss your friends? It's understandable pen-neth. Things will work out though. I know they will and you shouldn't worry. You'll see them again," With one last smile, Finwen picked up the many colors of fabric and breezed out of the room. Stephanie walked over to the balcony and leaned against it, resting her arms on the banister. The wind played with her hair that had grown quite long since she had arrived in Rivendell about a month ago. Had it really been that long already? She closed her eyes and let her mind go blank. So much had happened and all she wanted was a little peace of mind.
There was one thing that strayed on the edge of her mind that haunted her day and night. He was always there in her dreams. Smiling at her. Laughing with her. He was everything she wanted and more, but he was not to be had for the wanting. How could and immortal elf like him ever love a mortal like her that would one day die and never be seen again?
A couple hours passed as she watched the sun set in the sky, letting the stars and moon take their turn in the endless sky. She heard her door open and someone walk in, but she ignored it, not wanting to leave such a peaceful sight. Warm hands rested on her shoulders and gently began to massage the tenseness out of them.
"Why so tense mellon-nin?"
She smiled and shook her head. "You know why Elladan. I'm anxious to hear news from Lady Galadriel. It's driving me crazy."
Elladan chuckled and continued his massage. He could tell that she was enjoying it by the way that she bowed her head to allow him better access to her neck and shoulders. "You must be patient. You will see them again. One way or another, you will see them."
Stephanie turned to face him and frowned. "I miss them 'Dan, I really do. I've said that over and over and it's probably annoying the heck out of everyone, but I can't help it. They're my best friends. Practically my sisters."
"I understand that, but you must have faith and you need to be patient," He offered her a comforting smile then gently held her hand in his and lead her back into her bedroom. "I was told to bring these dresses up to you."
Her breath caught in her throat as she gazed upon the beautiful pieces of clothing in front of her. Each dress was different from the other in some way. There was even a tunic and leggings laying there that she could use for riding.
"Wow. Finwen really over did it," Stephanie picked up the tunic and held it in her hands. The fabric was extremely light and softer than silk. It ran through her hands, almost like water. On the left of the tunic, right above the breast, there was an "S" stitched into it.
"You like it? I had it made for you so that we can go riding tomorrow morning after breakfast. Would you go with me?" Elladan watched her face light up. She threw her arms around him and hugged him close.
"Thank you Elladan. I would love to go riding with you. I have to say that I don't really know how to ride," Stephanie felt her cheeks get hot. He reached out and held her face in his hands, lifting her gaze to meet his. His eyes seemed so endless.
Elladan knew that he had gotten this far, he couldn't go back now. He only hoped that he was reading the signs right, that she liked him as much as he liked her. Slowly he lowered his head to hers, searching her eyes for any sign of uneasiness. When he found none, he softly brushed his lips against hers in a tender kiss. Feeling her body relax, he became bolder with the kiss and deepened it, exploring her mouth and enjoying every moment of it. Too soon, they both needed air and pulled away.
Stephanie couldn't believe what had just happened. She had never even thought, not even in her wildest dreams, that she would get her first kiss from an elf. Maybe from Logan Seaman, which was believable, but not from an elf.
"I've wanted to do that for quite some time now," Elladan never let go of her face. He kept it in his hands, not wanting her to look away. He needed to look in her eyes to know what she was feeling.
Stephanie smiled. "Wow. And that's all there is to say about it."
Elladan laughed and pulled her close into a warm hug. "This is a promise of something new and exciting meleth-nin. I can't wait to get started."
"What does that mean? Meleth-nin? I like the sound of it."
"It means my love. And that's what you are to me," Elladan couldn't help but smile at the blush that crossed her face. "You're cute when you blush."
Stephanie playfully punched his arm. "Don't say that! You'll only make me blush more and I hate blushing."
Elladan grabbed her hand as she went to punch his arm again. "You know, it isn't nice to punch someone that loves you." Quick as lightning, before she could say anything, he captured her lips with his in a bruising kiss, completely taking her off guard. She relaxed into it eventually and wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. It was in that position that they were found by Glorfindel and Erestor who had wanted to tell them that dinner was ready.
"This is new, isn't it Erestor?" Glorfindel smiled at his friend then chuckled at the bright red faces that now looked down at the floor, embarrassed for being caught.
Erestor shook his head, a smile crossing his face. "Don't tease them so Fin. You wouldn't like to be teased if someone caught you in a situation like that."
Glorfindel laughed. "Alright, alright. Come on you two, dinner is ready and i'd rather you eat the food than each other please."
Stephanie and Elladan nodded, and then gave a relieved sigh when the advisors finally left the room. Elladan smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for you to be embarrassed like that."
"Don't worry about it. I guess it could have been worse," She grabbed the blue dress that was lying on her bed and disappeared into the bathing room to change. When she came out she spun around for Elladan to see the whole thing. It was a pale baby blue dress that went down to the floor. The sleeves were long and ended in a bell. The neck came down low, showing little of her breasts and the fabric clung to her body, showing off her form.
Elladan stared in awe at the young woman in front of him. "I think I might just skip dinner and have you instead."
Stephanie laughed. "Don't you dare. I'm hungry and I want real food, thank you very much."
"Fine, but I'm saving room for desert," Elladan grabbed her hand and lead her out of her room, closing the door behind them.
"What kind of deserts to elves eat?" Thinking her question was innocent enough, Stephanie completely missed the smirk directed at her.
Elladan leaned in close to her ear as they walked. "I don't know about other elves, but right now my desert is holding my hand."