Chapter Thirty-One

The next morning Teresa and Orlando received a wake up call in time to catch their flight. They dressed in a hurry and made sure they had gotten all their things packed. After checking out, they returned the rental car and took a shuttle to the airport. Teresa couldn't believe that she was actually going back with Orlando to London.

To her great surprise, her entire family from Albuquerque was there to see her off. Naomi was there as well. She went up to Teresa and hugged her tightly. "Be careful," she said, "Good luck." Teresa's parents were next to wish her well. "We love you, Teresa," her mother said and when she pulled away, Teresa saw tears in her eyes. As Teresa's father pulled her mother away, Adrian's parents came to hug her next. "You're sure about this?" Adrian's father asked her and she nodded. " Adrian would want you to be happy," his mother said as she wiped the tears from her eyes and squeezed Teresa's arms above the elbow.

Next, Michael approached shyly. "Mom's right Teresa," he said. "Please forgive me for the way I've acted, I was thinking only of how I felt. Adrian and James wouldn't want you to be sad. I am glad you have found happiness…and love again." Everyone looked up in surprise except for Naomi who smiled quietly to herself.

"Is this true?" Adrian's father asked and slowly Teresa nodded then looked over at Orlando as he moved closer to her.

"Yes," she said finally as she smiled up at Orlando as he wrapped his arm about her waist. "I love him." She looked at their startled faces.

"You would replace Adrian so quickly?" Adrian's father cried and Michael stepped forward to usher him away.

"No, dad," Michael said as Teresa stood in shock.

"Dad," Teresa said. "I could never replace Adrian. I loved him and James very much, I always will love them, but I cannot live in despair at their loss. Please understand, Orlando loves me and I love him, but Adrian and James will always be in my heart and thoughts." This seemed to calm him and Teresa sighed heavily as she looked at her beloved family.

There was a boarding call over the intercom and Orlando gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "That's us," Teresa said. "I'll call you later, ok?" she asked as she kissed them all one last time and they nodded as Orlando turned and gently pulled Teresa after him.

"Wait!" Michael yelled a moment later and both turned to see him running toward them. When he reached them, he held out his hand to Orlando who looked at it uncertainly. "You take good care of my sister," he said sternly.

Orlando took his hand then, and they smiled at each other. Michael pulled him in for a hug startling him, and Michael laughed as he thumped him on the back with the palm of his hand. "I will, I promise," Orlando said when Michael let him go.

"You'd better," Michael said threateningly, but then Orlando noticed the laughter in his eyes. "Or you'll have to deal with me…brother." Teresa couldn't believe it; Michael really did accept Orlando, and finally knew that Teresa was happy, but that she would not forget them. "You were right, sis," he said as he took her hands. Adrian and James wouldn't want us to dwell on the past, and our loss of them. Take care."

"Thank you Michael," she said. "And I promise, we will see each other again soon." He nodded to both of them, and they turned and headed through the gate and boarded the plane.

"Well done, my beautiful Haehithien," Legolas whispered in her ear when they were on board. Teresa had turned her back to Orlando for a moment to put her bag in the overhead compartment. She turned around quickly when she was addressed as Haehithien. Before her stood her Elf prince, or was it really Orlando? It was hard to tell, for both seemed distorted. "Fear not, princess," Legolas said. Your mission is complete. The meld is working now."

"But how?" she asked puzzled, and looked at him in confusion. Before her, Orlando was glowing with a golden radiance. It was not a scary sight, but beautiful. His eyes turned blue and his hair grew and turned from brown to black and his clothes even changed right before her eyes.

" Orlando wanted to protect you by not having you with your family when you admitted your feelings for him, in case they were angry," Legolas said. "He did not want you to be hurt any more. Admitting to your family that you loved him was the last step needed to restart the meld, and you have done that. Ilúvatar has granted you a choice, my love," Legolas said with a smile. "When you and Orlando are ready to leave this world, you may go to Middle Earth. There, Legolas' spirit that is now melded with Orlando's will be predominant, and from there, you have the choice of remaining in Middle Earth or taking a ship from The Grey Havens."

Teresa couldn't believe her ears. "You mean I'll…" she started, but trailed of to silence.

"Be an elf?" Legolas asked, then nodded with a smile. "Yes, my love, you will be granted all the qualities and abilities of the Elven people. You and Orlando will be immortal."

Teresa was speechless, and for a while all she could do was stare at Legolas' glowing, ghostly form. "And until then?" she asked when she found her voice.

"Until then, both of you will live as the Dúnedain, the second ones, here in your world," he answered. " Orlando's spirit will dominate until then, and he will love you as I do. We will be together my love, farewell until then." She watched as the golden ghostly image bent down, took her hand and kissed it. When he released her and stood straight, the image flickered then faded and she was facing Orlando once more.