Chapter Twenty-One

'Oh, princess!' Legolas whispered in anguish that night. 'I wish more than anything that I could touch you right now. I love you so much!'

"I know Legolas," Teresa whispered into the darkness. "If all you say is true, you will soon enough. I feel just as you do."

She felt rather than heard Legolas sigh. 'All right my love,' he said quietly. 'You had better get some rest; I have a feeling that tomorrow will be a long day for you. If you wish to talk to me, just think what you want to say, I can hear your thoughts and it will be less conspicuous that way.'

Teresa nodded. "Alright, my love." She said as she undressed and climbed into bed. "Good night."

'Good night, princess,' Legolas whispered as she fell asleep.

"Legolas," Gandalf said as he woke the Elven Prince from his sleep the next day. Legolas yawned and stretched. He must have been worn out from Aragorn's pace as well he realized, seeing as he had not slept since they had been in Lothlorien. Gandalf was still urging him to move faster.

"What?" he asked as he yawned and stretched once more then got to his feet. "What is it?"

"Hurry," Gandalf said as he beckoned Legolas to follow him. "I need to speak to you."

"Why?" Legolas asked as he hurried through the trees after the wizard.

"You were right Legolas," Gandalf said. "Well, um, half right anyway." Gandalf slowed as they entered a clearing with a pond that was surrounded by rocks.

Legolas' face clouded with confusion. "What are you talking about, Gandalf?" he asked quietly.

"Legolas, I was given a message by Ilúvatar during the night," Gandalf said as he settled himself on a large bolder. "You said last night that something wasn't right; That Haehithien knew everything but she did not know that you were betrothed. Then that you had a dream that Eletharanna was coming to Middle Earth. Well, you were wondering how you could have a dream that she wouldn't know about if we were in her dream."

"Yes," Legolas said as he watched the old wizard warily. "What about it?"

"Last night Ilúvatar spoke to me again," Gandalf said. "He showed me what you saw, and it is true. She is coming so we must act quickly."

"What?" Legolas asked incredulously and tried not to laugh. "What are you talking about?"

"Eletharanna is coming to Middle Earth—the real Middle Earth. She is going there to take the real Legolas back to Valinor with her. He does not like her anymore than you, my friend," Gandalf said.

"Well," Legolas said. "How do we stop her?"

"We don't," Gandalf said and spoke over Legolas as he started to protest. "We don't, you do."

"But how?" Legolas asked thoroughly confused.

"You have precious little time," Gandalf warned. "Teresa must get to London quickly. After she arrives, you have no time to loose. She must meet Orlando in order to stop Eletharanna from taking the real Legolas with her to Valinor. Once they meet, you will be merged with the real Legolas who will in turn merge with Orlando. Only then will the real Legolas be safe from Eletharanna's arrival."

"So, you're saying that I had the dream from the real Legolas?" Legolas asked Gandalf. "Arwen was right then…"

"What do you mean?" Gandalf asked puzzled.

"Well," Legolas said quietly as he slowly paced while deep in thought. "I spoke with her in Rivendell. She said that the union between me and Eletharanna…well, the real Legolas and Eletharanna might not be what Ilúvatar wished to happen."

Gandalf nodded. "That appears to be so," he said quietly. "It appears that I was correct in a way, though this is her dream, Ilúvatar is using the connection she shares with Legolas in Middle Earth to combat the union he doesn't agree with. It also appears the Eletharanna fights to keep it."

"Yes," Legolas said as though in a trance. "I see I have my work cut out for me…"

There was a soft knock on the door just after dawn. Jason stuck his head in the room. Teresa was still asleep but Dr. Jackson had arrived earlier than usual and asked to see her immediately. "Ms. Teresa?" Jason said as he stepped into her room. He hated to wake her. It was good to see that she was sleeping peacefully since he knew she was terrified of hospitals. He roused her from sleep then left her to change. Moments later, they were on their way back to Dr. Jackson's office.

"Ah, good morning," Dr. Jackson said as Jason pushed Teresa into the room. Teresa merely nodded as she covered her mouth and yawned. "I have some good news," he continued with a smile. "In a few hours, you will be out of here and on your way to London."

Teresa looked up in surprise. "Really?" she asked with wide eyes and Dr. Jackson nodded with a smile. "I had hoped but I never thought…"

"That I would see things your way?" Dr. Jackson asked grinning and Teresa nodded. "Would you like to go home and pack? I can arrange for Jason to take you."

Teresa shook her head. "I don't want to waste the time," said distantly. "If the people who claim they are my family want to, they can. I suppose they will want me to contact them later?"

Dr. Jackson nodded. "Yes," he answered. "Here are their names and addresses." He pushed a piece of paper across the desk to her. Without even looking at it, she folded it and put it in her pocket. A moment later, he slid another stack of papers to her. "Here is your flight information along with your hotel reservation. I booked you a room at the Grange City hotel. It's supposed to be the best. I only booked you for three days because I paid for that myself. We pulled insurance files on your husband and the insurance company is paying out $500,000. You should be able to live quite comfortably." Teresa nodded as she took the stack of papers.

Hours later, Teresa and Jason were at the mall where she was buying a suitcase and clothes for her trip. After she was finished with her shopping, Jason dropped her at the airport and wished her luck. She boarded the plane and was soon airborne heading for New York for the next leg of the journey.

'You did it!' Legolas said happily. 'I'm so proud of you.' As he said these words, a warm feeling came over her.

'Legolas?' she thought. 'You did it!'

'What do you mean?' he asked in confusion yet hope was building inside him.

'It's just that I felt you touch me,' she thought with a smile. 'I know it sounds impossible but you hugged me.'

Legolas was in awe. 'I don't know how I did it,' he said. 'I just thought of holding you. I wanted to so bad.'

Teresa smiled to herself. 'Well,' she thought. 'It worked.' For the remainder of the journey to New York, Legolas held her. It felt so wonderful.

When Teresa boarded the plane that would take to London, night had fallen. She settled herself in the seat and sleepiness washed over her. 'You should get some rest,' Legolas said quietly and Teresa nodded slightly. 'My love?' Legolas asked 'When you reach London, I will have to leave you for a while. I will need to make contact with Orlando.' Legolas however received no response for Teresa was already fast asleep.