A Dream Within Words

Chapter Two: Mistaken Identities

Summary: A young and very imaginative Legolas soon discovers that dreams are not always formed at nighttime, and that even they can seem unbelievably real and just as dangerous than what they are assumed to be.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything or anyone associated with Lord of the Rings, nor with the Golden Compass. I get no profit from making this fan fiction. This is purely fan made. Also, the characters that I have created (meaning the brothers) are mine (duh), and I take great pride in them. If you so desire to borrow them, feel free to ask. - Large quotes by themselves in italics are words taken from the book, simply used for the dream like sequence. Everything else will be improved (to the best of my abilities). Italics with ' shall be thoughts.

A/N: (At the bottom, now :'3 )

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Bright green eyes flashed with worry as Hérion speedily walked around the area. It hadn't even been a few minutes and his little brother. Normally he wouldn't be as worried, but what with the promise he had given his other younger brother, Taurnil, and the fact the trees were eerily silent, if not puzzled and tense. The emotions they seemed to radiate to the wood elf caused the hairs on the back of his neck to prick up, body alert and rigid. Was something here? He wasn't sure. Unable to locate the young prince, he swiftly turned and hurried inside, ready to alert his father.

As he ran, he did not notice the shimmer that rustled in the air gently at his passing.

The three children silently stared at one another, completely awe-struck by what was going on. Roger was the first to find his voice, fear enveloping his features. His hand reached out, pointing an accusing finger towards the figure on the ground. "GHOST! I knew we shouldn't have come down here!" exclaimed the boy. Lyra, although holding fear, stared at the blond being with interest. He was obviously not from Jordan, or…anywhere around the college, considering his garb and hairstyle. Perhaps he really was a ghost, as Roger claimed. Although the girl had never seen a ghost that didn't look all shiny and completely garbed in white. Curiosity won over fear at the moment with her as she continued to watch the stranger.

Legolas immediately scrambled to his feet, looking wildly around as if attempting to spot the very ghost Roger accused him of being. Not that the elf child knew, really. He just thought the stranger was making a statement. "Where's the ghost? I see naught a trace." He didn't see any ghost. The only strange things here were the two odd looking kids, a dog, and the room he was in.

Lyra finally chose this moment to speak, more puzzled than anything at the moment. "You're the…ghost," she said, uncertainty filling her tone as she watched the bewildered phantom in front of her.

"No I'm not."

"Then what are you?" she asked, feeling a bit huffy. Humans and dæmon couldn't just suddenly appear! Before the stranger could respond, Roger grabbed Lyra's arm and pulled her behind him in a valiant sort of maneuver. Lyra gave a scowl to her friend at the notion. She didn't need to be protected!

"I know what he is," began the boy, trying to keep up a brave façade in the face of the adversary in front of him. "He's one of them Gobblers, an he's come to get us."

The elf took great offense to this. Not only because the boy in front of him was treating him as if he were some sort of enemy, but also for the fact he called him a Gobbler. He didn't know what a Gobbler was, but he could tell it wasn't exactly a good title, judging by the way these two watched him fearfully and distrustfully. Even the dog seemed to whimper slightly, her body tensing as if ready to attack or go after him should he do anything wrong.

"No. I'm no ghost, nor am I a 'Gobbler'. I'm an elf," he protested, offense clearly in his voice. These two weren't listening to him at all.

Roger watched him skeptically, not trusting him. "If you're no Gobbler, then prove it!"

This was something Legolas couldn't prove, and the answer was plain on his features. It was the young Lyra who saved him from answering such a question. "Dust!"

Both boys looked quizzically at her, Legolas glancing around as if to see the dust in which she was speaking of. A few seconds of mutual respect passed through the two boys as they looked to Lyra. "Dust?" The question would go unanswered (at least for one of the boys) as Lyra waved it off and strode purposefully over to the elf and held out her hand. "My name is Lyra Belacqua. The dæmon on my shoulder is named Pantalaimon. You can call him Pan for short, though," she told him, giving him a wide grin. With a sharp jab to the ribs from the girl, Roger introduced himself (albeit with a grumble) and his dæmon.

"My name is Legolas Thr---," the elf paused slightly. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to state who he really was. His ada and siblings were always telling him to be careful when around strangers. He would play it safe, for now. "Legolas Greenleaf," it was at that moment when Pantalaimon decided to change form, going from moth to ermine in a matter of moments. The elf child leapt back, staring wide-eyed at the being. "What is that?!"

Lyra and Roger looked from the elf (whatever that was, for they still did not know), to Pan. "I told you," responded Lyra, petting Pan on the head. "Pan. Now, where's your dæmon?"

Legolas shook his head, looking slightly distrustfully at the creature. There was some sort of magic at work here, for an animal to change shape. "I don't have one. I've never heard of one…until now, that is."

Now it was Lyra and Rogers turn to look with surprise on the fair elven child. "Everyone has a dæmon," murmured Lyra, looking with distrust at the elf in front of her, who returned the look, although with much more reason. It was apparent they were all on edge by the way they stood guarded. That would soon fade, however, as they continued to talk during their time at the crypt.

Time seemed to tick away endlessly, all three children sitting in a triangle formation on the ground, speaking with soft tones, as if afraid the spirits of those around them would attempt to listen in and report to the underworld from where they lived the on goings on the realm of the living. The two dæmon remained by their human companions, speaking when they thought necessary (much to Legolas's surprise-turned delight. He had always wanted a pet, not only to be able to keep one, but to speak to one as well and have it respond!).

"So, in your home, you don't have cars or lights or, or airplanes?!"

Legolas shook his head, having been used to being asked such odd questions from these two now. " No…at least, I don't think so. I've never heard of them before. Lights, we have. Lanterns and candles and stuff…sometimes Mithrandir will light his staff, but that is all."

"Mith-who? …Staff?! You have magic in your home?! You must come from a book!" exclaimed Roger, standing up with excitement, nearly knocking over a candle stick in the process.

Lyra shook her head at this, giving Roger a slight huff, her expression being that of 'you're-so-weird-if-you-think-he-came-from-a-book.' "No. He came from another world. From Dust." At this, Legolas stood, dusting himself off and looking at her oddly. Why would she think that? About to ask, he stopped and looked to the stairwell, remaining frozen for a moment before exhaling slowly.

"What?"

"I heard someone coming…sorry. Anyways…if we know where I'm from, and this isn't a place near my home…how do I get back?"

At this, Lyra stood as well, putting her fingers to her chin in thought before looking from Roger to Legolas. "We're going to have to ask my Uncle." "Did you forget already that your Uncle has left and won't be back for a while?" asked Pantalaimon, giving a stern look to the blond girl, perching gently on her shoulder.

"Well, we'll just have to find him. Or, send him a letter. Until then, we're just going to have to take Legolas with us, won't we?" without warning, she grabbed the blond elf's hand before heading up the stairs, Roger following right behind up the stairs. Leaving the crypt, they (Roger and Lyra, rather) moved with purpose, turning to go down a hallway (dragging along a curious and wide-eyed Legolas)…

…at least… they tried, until they were stopped by a voice….

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A/N: Well, another chapter down. This one is longer than the others for the dialogue…I sort of just stopped and skipped ahead as well. I'm sure those kiddies had loads to talk about, I just didn't have the energy to type it all. Ugh. Anyways, I would like to thank the ever so lovely Nebelkind for the wonderful review! If not for her, I'd probably be too down to update. C'mon, people! I don't know if you like my story or what! If you like it, just say so, kay? I don't bite, and it helps me immensely (puts me in a writing mood, and doesn't leave me doubting my writing style as much). Even if you don't like it, just say so! (So long as you tell me why you don't like it…)

I know you're out there, people!

Anyways, R&R, they make me giggle with joy~

- Inwe (the authoress who never shuts up in her Authors Notes…)