Chapter Ten.

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(Kristy)

"Well, it's about time you showed up." I had woken up before dawn and decided that I'd go ahead and get the house ready for the day, as well as make breakfast. Collin stumbled into the house just as the sun began to rise over the horizon, looking like he'd only just woken up.

He strolled in and plopped down at the kitchen table. "Good morning to you too, Kristy! How are you?"

I smiled; typical Collin. "Pretty good. What were you up to all night?"

"Exploring." Collin shrugged. "Minas Tirith is beautiful at night; you should see it. It's just like New York, only with candles and lanterns instead of street lights."

"Get into any trouble?"

Collin gave me a, 'seriously?' look. "Do you know me at all? I prefer to avoid conflicts."

I laughed and threw him an apple. "I didn't think so."

Movement could be heard coming from upstairs, and Gandalf soon came down the stairs and seated himself at the kitchen table with Collin.

"Off to the library again, today?" I asked while setting a plate of pancakes in front of him. Don't ask me how I managed to make pancakes, because I can assure you it wasn't easy.

The wizard shook his head and sighed tiredly. "I need a moment's rest from that blasted place."

So I take it he wasn't finding whatever he was looking for.

"What is this flabby... thing?" Gandalf picked up a pancake and wiggled it.

"It's a pancake." Next, I placed a small pitcher of home made blueberry sauce next to him. Mother was quite the cook, you know. "Pour some of this on it. We eat them all the time back home. Want some, Collin?"

My friend shook his head. "No, thanks. I'll stick with eating my apple."

A knock came from our front door. Gandalf has friends?

All three of us stood and made our way to the door. When Gandalf opened it, we were greeted by three young boys carrying ridiculously large bouquets of the most beautiful flowers I'd ever seen.

"Can we help you?" Gandalf was just as confused as I was.

The boy in the center spoke. "We were told to deliver these flowers to the stubborn young lady with long brown hair on the second floor balcony. Is there such a woman, here?"

Dang it, Sophie. I'm gonna kill you.

(Sophie)

I woke up to the sound of a knock coming from downstairs. The sun was just now beginning to rise in the sky and the sunrise was turning the city a beautiful soft shade of pink. With a sigh I closed my eyes and enjoyed the silence for once.

That was, until Kristy kicked open my door. She came into the room somehow managing to carry three vases filled with some of the most amazing flowers I'd ever seen.

Kristy walked to the long table against the wall and nearly slammed the vases down. "Okay, who is he, and where can I get one?"

I raised an eyebrow and stared curiously at my friend. "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean!" Kristy pointed to the flowers. "Just a few minutes ago these kids knocked on our door, saying that they were told to deliver these flowers to the 'stubborn young lady with long brown hair on the second floor balcony.' Sound familiar?"

What the heck? Did that man send me these?

"Where'd the kids go?"

"They're still outside." She shrugged. "Evidently, they need to take a message back to their master; a message from you."

Okay. So it was the man. Quickly, I looked around for some ink and paper. Finally, I found the needed utensils in the desk that was in the corner of my room, and I hastily wrote two simple words: Try again. I ran downstairs and bolted outside.

"Make sure your employer gets this." I slapped the note into one of the kid's hand with a triumphant smile.

Kristy stood behind me, shaking her head. "If you don't tell me what's going on, I might just kill you."

I popped my head inside and looked around. Collin was asleep on one of the sofas, and Gandalf was sitting at the kitchen table eating... pancakes? The coast was clear.

"Come with me..." Grabbing Kristy's arm, I pulled her upstairs and into my room. "Okay, long story short... This man has a crush on my and is trying to find out my name. The past two nights he's stood underneath my balcony and we've talked for a little while. Nothing big, okay?"

Kristy glared at me with narrow eyes. "I knew we should have rock-paper-scissored for the balcony. You get all of the good things! You fell into the world of men with Collin, I fell into the world of hobbits alone. You get the cool bedroom with a balcony, I get a bedroom with a single window. You get a freaking Romeo and I'm stuck baking Gandalf pancakes! When can I have some fun?"

"Kristy, with looks like yours, you could have hundreds of Romeo's, but you never get out! Don't sell yourself short."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Whatever. But if he has a brother, you're hooking me up."

I smiled. "Will do!"

Kristy went back downstairs, and I was left alone with my many flowers.

I can't believe that he really did this. These flowers were absolutely gorgeous, and I'm not gonna lie, it tickles my soul to get flowers from an extremely handsome man. Still, he was going to have to do better than that if he wanted to get anywhere.

... one hour later...

Another knock came at the door.

"Got it!" Kristy went for the door. Collin was still asleep, sprawled out on the sofa, and Gandalf had gone to the market. My friend opened the door and I could hear her let out a frustrated sigh from where I sat at the kitchen table. "Sophie, come here."

If that man actually came to my house for a legitimate visit, I don't know what I'll do.

Well, there was no man; just one of the little boys from earlier this morning.

"Good morning again, ma'am." He bowed deeply. "I come to deliver another gift." The young boy handed me a small package wrapped in colored paper. The paper peeled back and revealed a beautiful silver hair piece encrusted with jewels.

"Wow..." Kristy stared googly-eyed at the stunning accessory. "He's banking."

The kid cleared his throat. "A message for my employer?"

"Tell him thanks, I guess. It's still a no, though."

Kristy slapped me hard on the arm. "Sophie! You can't just drag him on!"

"I warned him, he had it coming!"

My best friend shook her head and went back inside. "Honestly, Sophie, I don't know what we're gonna do with you..."

... five hours later...

"Sophie! I'm done! You get the door!"

Man, he sure did mean what he said last night... He's determined.

Every hour on the dot, that poor little boy returned with a new gift for my collection. After the hair piece he brought me a box of fine Gondorian candy (they were amazing), then he brought me a crap load of expensive wine, then I recieved a freakishly awesome cloak in a bright blue with soft white fur on the inside and fanccy embroidering as an outline. Then, he got me a jewel-encrusted jewelry box; such a small thing, but I've never owned anything so beautiful before in my life. Would you like to know what he brought next?

The kid stood outside of our door, looking tired and impatient; obviously sick of our little game. Still, he put on a smile and held out a small wrapped gift.

"If this does not woo you, I do not know what shall..."

Ohh, so it's something good?

I carefully unwrapped this present and was completely shocked at what I saw.

The most beautiful necklace with a sparkling blue jewel hung from a silver chain. This was probably more expensive than all of the other gifts put together.

"I can not accept this..." I handed the young boy the necklace and shook my head.

He gave me the most stunned look, like I'd just eaten a live tarantula. "What do you mean, you can't accept it? What kind of woman wouldn't want such a fine jewel?"

"Somone who knows when something's gone to far. Obviously, he spent enough money on me to buy a house. Give the necklace back to him and tell him to meet me here tonight, okay?"

The kid shook his head and turned away. "Alright, milady, if that's what you really want."

With a sigh I turned back into the house, only to see Kristy standing in the doorway, smiling. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks. Even though I think I've gone a little crazy, thanks."

Collin chose that moment to wake up, and he noticed my many gifts sitting out around the living room.

"Did I miss something?"

.

.

Night time. Finally, I get to face the man who's spent a fortune on me, just to learn my name. To be honest, I'm actually rather nervous...

Just like the past two nights, I stood on the balcony and waited for my unknown Gondorian to show up. I'd spent all day thinking about what to say, but I suddenly found myself at a loss for words.

"Hello there, milady." The man's cheerful voice rang out in the cool night air. "You sent for me?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies that were going psycho in my chest. "Yes, how much do I owe you for all of these things you sent to me?"

"Nothing at all, milady." He smiled. "It was nothing."

Okay, so far so good. "You know, I don't need all of this stuff... You really didn't have to get me anything..."

"Ah, but I warned you. I'm determined."

"Yes, you did." I laughed. "Thank you for everything, but I really don't want any gifts..."

He gave me a confused look. "Then what is it you do want? You're unlike any other woman I've ever met; most females seem to fall for whatever man gives them the most gifts."

"Yeah, well, not me. I'm not much of a material girl, if you haven't noticed. I prefer to base my opinions on people by how they treat me; not by what they have to offer me."

I've never been one for fancy or expensive things. Never have I followed seasonal fashion trends, and I've never gotten the 'latest' hairstyles. No crazy hairdo's, no big jewels, no fancy clothes... Just me.

"Tell me your name when you are ready, then. There is only one thing that I want, right now." He took a step closer. "Allow me to come up and speak with you face to face?"

Well. Gandalf never said anything about having boys over past midnight... So technically, I can't get into trouble.

"Good luck getting up here." Yeah, I'd like to see him try to scale these stone walls. Not even Collin could climb up here without a tree.

Yet the man took my challenge and began to climb up the wall with ease.

"Do you often climb the walls to a woman's bedroom, then?" If this guy was a man whore, I wanted nothing to do with him.

No matter how cute he may be.

And muscular.

Heck, I'm getting carried away.

"No, I'm afraid not." He said as he climbed over the balcony window.

Wow, he was tall. Then again, most everyone's tall compared to me. Now that he and I were face to face, I could finally see him clearly. He had bright grey eyes and hair down to his shoulders. Also, he had one of those cool beards that was there, but not OVERLY there. You know, the facial hair that's decently trimmed but not shaved?

Hell, I wouldn't blame you if you shot me, now. I'm not very good at describing things, am I?

"You're short."

"Thanks, Captain Obvious."

"You're welcome, Lady Sarcasm."

Hey, this guy knows some jokes from my world! A little different, but still.

I smiled up at him. "I've got a feeling I'm gonna like you."