STRANGE DREAM

Revised copy with extensions!

Throwing on a pair of dark jeans and a black t-shirt Amara walked drearily down the stairs, the dream still lingered on her mind.

"Good morning Amara." Her mother greeted her.

Amara stifled a yarn and replied, "Ditto." She sat down at the breakfast table and grabbed an apple. She frowned as her mother lit a cigarette.

"Do you mind?" Amara grumbled. Her mother ignored her.

"Me and your father are going on a business trip in France. Your father's got a big deal with another firm. We leave tonight."

Inside Amara was bursting with happiness but outside her face remained blank.

"How long will you be gone?" She asked casually.

"Dunno two weeks? Maybe three."

Amara got up and pulled her backpack on. She strolled out the door without a bye.

Feeling like school would be hell for her again she took her time. At least one weight is lifted off my shoulders, she thought referring to her parents. Now if only people would stop bothering me. Her thoughts followed to her dream she had last night. The still forest calmed her to no end and she felt that that was where she belonged...where she wanted to be.

Entering the school, she went straight to her locker and shoved a couple books in. When she closed the door she turned to see a face in front of hers. Amara rolled her eyes.

"Where's my homework nerd?" Brad, the boy who threatened her yesterday was standing in front of her waiting with his posse. Amara shuffled through her backpack and pulled out a notebook. She threw it to him and he walked off with a high five to each of his friends.

"A thanks would have been nice...ass hole," Amara mumbled walking to her first class.

Throughout the day she was glared at, whispers followed her and she sat with her only friend at lunch, an equal "dork" like her a girl named Brittany. Both were teased but coped with it together at lunch since they had no classes together.

It was nearing the end of the day which relieved Amara to no end. No more would she have to deal with people who made her life miserable at least for a couple more hours. Walking through the crowded halls someone called Amara four eyed. She paid them no mind and kept walking. The final bell had rung and she was on her way to her part time job at a small local bookstore.

"Hey metal mouth I need some homework done!" Amara's eyes followed the voice, the voice that taunted her since third grade, Carie Peterson. She was the most popular girl in school and her boyfriend was none other than Brad. Amara just stared, after a minute she walked away.

'Why am I such a dork?'

She made her way down the street and to her job hoping she wasn't late. She entered the bookstore; the jingle of a bell met her ears.

"You're late."

Amara sighed, "Sorry." Her boss, a mean looking woman threw her an apron. Amara stuffed her backpack in her work locker and quickly put on the apron.

"There are boxes in the back that need to be unloaded." Amara nodded and took to the back. She sighed once again while she looked at the number of boxes of books that needed to be put away.

"This'll take me all afternoon."

Her boss patted her on the back, "You better get started then." Muttering inaudible curses, she picked up the first heavy box and started unloading.

Night had fallen over Los Angeles and Amara was still at the small bookstore. Her boss asked for her to lock up when she was done and she agreed to. 'Parents are probably long gone by now', Amara thought while putting a thick novel on a shelf. Her eyes felt heavy as she stacked numerous tomes, her hands working without her brain in a cycle. Book after book her eyes got heavier and heavier until she finally slumped over the box falling into a whirl wind of dreams.

She was back in the forest again but this time near a pond.

"What am I doing here," she asked out loud. Amara peered into the pond; her eyes went wide at what she saw. Of course it was her own reflection, but it was different. Her glasses were gone leaving her eyes exposed, her braces were too and she wore not her usual gray and black conservative clothes but a light dress that clung to her skin.

Amara rubbed her eyes to make sure this was actually her. She pulled strands of hair behind her ear and gasped, her ear was pointed. Sensing someone else there she turned around. Again the strange man was there just watching her not saying a thing. As soon as their eyes met the scenery changed to the dark sidewalks of Los Angeles.

Amara felt her features change, her glasses were back and she felt the metal in her mouth again. Still the odd man with pointed ears was staring at her. A weird feeling came over her. Trying to realize what the feeling was she looked at her stomach as a wet feeling went through her shirt...blood. Then she realized the feeling was pain. Looking back at the handsome stranger she then collapsed.

The trees that riddled Mirkwood provided much shade to the elf below. Andir heaved a heavy sigh as he watched wildlife around him. Things clearly were changing not just in Mirkwood, the only home he had ever known, but throughout Middle Earth. Andir noticed the change as Mirkwood's army began to train harder than usual. Not that the training was getting to him, it just worried him.

Andir brushed a strand of blond hair behind his ear, getting lost in his thoughts he did not hear the light steps of his friend approach him.

"Hello Andir, I would not have thought to see you here."

Andir looked up from his position against the tree, clearly startled. "Ahh Legolas, I should have expected to see you sooner or later, trying to escape from your princely duties."

The elf in front of Andir scowled causing him to chuckle lightly but once again Andir's mood turned serious. Legolas noticed this and sat next to his friend waiting for him to say what was going on in his mind. Andir looked as if something worried him greatly but he was not one to speak of his true feelings. Andir sighed knowing what his friend wanted out of him.

"Legolas there is not anything wrong with me. I'm quite alright."

"Be that as it may, if you were alright you would not be here, wallowing in the mists of nature. You would be training or running after some young maiden."

Legolas knew something was wrong with his friend. He was already seeing signs of gloom coming over Andir like a heavy veil. Andir was always lively.

"Something is to happen, I can feel it. Middle Earth is not as it used to be." Andir looked to the sky as clouds loomed over them, each one becoming darker than the next. Legolas felt the same as Andir. Indeed something was to happen, but what? No matter what happened Legolas would fight to protect his home.

"I too feel that something is to happen but whatever it is we will stay together to protect Mirkwood."

Andir smirked. "Always the one to lift spirits." He stood and began to walk toward the training fields. "I'm off to practice my swordsmanship. Care to join me?"

Legolas stood himself, "Sorry I will have to decline your offer. I wish to not be found by my father right now, going to train would be a give away."

Andir kept walking, "Suites yourself."

Legolas walked amongst the trees of old, taking in what his home had to offer. 'It is about to storm,' his mind told him, but his feet would not lead him anywhere near the palace. He just needed to escape from it all. His father, who constantly pressed him to be behave more like a prince pushed him to the point where fled from the palace. A couple pf hours would do him good.

The rain drops began to come one after the next, each one increasingly becoming fatter. Legolas continued to walk amongst the wet drops which dampened his golden locks. He forgot about the dangers and threats that Mirkwood's forest had to offer. His mind drifting much like Andir's had. A weird atmosphere sparked up around the wood and the rain fell faster, the wind blending into it.

Legolas quickly decided to turn back, the storm becoming too much. When he turned back not even his keen elven eye sight could make out the path ahead. 'How did this storm come about so quickly?' Tree branches rattled and thunder boomed through the sky. It was like Mother Nature herself was angry and determined to unleash her mighty power. The wind got strong enough to blow the elf from his standing position and planted him against a tree, engulfing him.

As a result of the hard impact against the tree, the elven prince slipped into a state of unconsciousness and the storm slowly but surely cleared up.