Chapter Twenty.

A super cute man called me 'milady' today. My heart soared and I had to fight the urge to kiss him.

From now on, I am only dating men who refer to me as 'milady.'

Oh. And I have this super big crush on this guy who just so happens to sell elf ears?

Jealous of my life, yet?

Well. I don't own Lord of the Rings.

I also don't own the song in this chapter. It is called 'Fix You,' and is performed by Coldplay. I'm not quite sure who the rights go to, but I can assure you that I am not making any money off of it. I just think that it is lovely.

(Sophie)

My heart did about a million flippy-turns, and my mind went blank. I couldn't believe it... After over five years, in a city full of elves, so far away from Gondor, my Romeo was now standing in front of me, just as he was before. Of course, he was dirty, and he looked like he'd been out in the wilderness for ages, he was still Romeo.

"What are you doing here?" I could barely get the words out. I felt like I'd just swallowed a bomb. If that makes any sense at all.

"I could as you the same thing?" Romeo smiled, but his eyes gave him away, so did his body language. Although his poker face is convincing, the rest of him looked about as panicked as I was. His eyes studied me, trying to decide whether I was real or not.

I stared at him, the previous game of tag completely forgotten. "I live here..." Everything felt so unreal... How could he be here? I was highly considering pinching myself.

Instead, it seemed more reasonable to pinch him.

"Ow?" He rubbed his arm and my eyes widened.

"What are you doing here?" Gondorians don't simply visit the elves!

He raised an eyebrow at me. "Are you disappointed to see me? Because I can assure you, milady, I've never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life..."

Darn him. He's only just arrived, and he's already giving me butterflies.

"Lord Boromir!" An elf servant approached Romeo with a bow. "Your room is ready for you."

Lord Boromir?

Romeo nodded gratefully to the servant, but a slight look of disappointment crossed his features. "So, it looks like our little game has finally come to an end... Allow me to introduce myself." He bowed elegantly to me, a small smile on his face. "I am Lord Boromir, son of Denethor, Steward of Gondor."

My heart sank. Lord Boromir? The man who is in line to rule an entire country? The fearless warrior, whose mighty deeds are known all throughout the world of men?

He's my Romeo?

Being the Steward's eldest son is a rather important detail that most women would like to know. Especially me.

"You are disappointed." Romeo... I mean, Boromir, frowned and looked away, disappointment evident in his eyes.

"No." I shrugged. "I'm just... Stunned." Well, this all explains how he was able to afford all of those nice things he gave me all those years ago. Figuring out that the guy you maybe sort of have a major crush on is the hero of a country is kind of overwhelming. It felt like I didn't even know him anymore.

Well... I didn't really. Who knows what could have happened in the past five years.

So, I sucked up my shock and shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Boromir. I'm Sophie." Instead of shaking my hand, he kissed it, but before I could react, Elladan sprinted towards me and planted a slap on my shoulder.

"You're frozen!" He shouted, a triumphant grin on his lips. He then continued running down the hallway, in search of the others.

Boromir watched him go, eyebrow raised. "What was that?"

Obviously, he wasn't paying attention, because Elladan clearly declared me frozen. Since I was frozen, I could not reply to poor man. Instead, I stood completely still, just as I was when Elladan tagged me.

Hey, I don't mess around in freeze tag. This game is legit.

Plus, I wasn't in much of a mood to talk to Boromir. I was a little peeved that he had neglected to tell me that he just so happened to be the Steward's eldest son.

Then again, I had neglected to tell him that I was from another world. So, I wasn't really mad. I simply wished to be a hermit for a moment, just so I could wrap my head around things. I can't deny that I have missed him these years, even though we were only in each other's company for a short period of time. Still, five years is five years. Life happens, and people change. I'm sure that he must have some lovely wife to go home to. Heck, I don't even know why he's here.

Boromir waved his hand in front of my eyes, but he got no response. I think that at this point, he was beginning to catch on to the game of freeze tag. That, or he thought that the elf had put a spell on me. Both are very good guesses.

"How do I unfreeze you?" He looked around me, like he was searching for some kind of 'off' switch. With no such luck, he sighed and stepped back. "Well, seeing as you can't move or speak, I'll just have to take matters into my own hands." Boromir hauled me over his shoulder and marched off down the hall.

At this moment, I was somewhat torn. Although I was tempted to laugh and demand a piggy-back ride around Rivendell, I was still in the game of freeze-tag, and this was getting entertaining. Even if he's no longer 'Romeo," it's still good fun to mess with him.

Some things had to have changed... So why do I feel so... normal with him?

He carried me right past Arwen, whose jaw immediately dropped as she watched Lord Boromir of Gondor carry her unmoving friend into her father's study.

"Excuse me, Lord Elrond?" Boromir knocked on the open door of the study, where Elrond sat reading a giant book.

The elf lord looked up from his book, and his eyebrows shot up when he saw Boromir and I.

"Is there a problem?" Elrond seemed a little thrown off by what he was seeing, and I can't blame him. I was a little thrown off that I'd let it happen.

"Yes." Boromir put me down on the floor, and I immediately resumed my past position, before I was thrown over Boromir's shoulder. "Milady's frozen."

Elrond rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry, Boromir, but I do not play that childish game. If it is really a problem, then just leave here there for a short while. She'll grow tired eventually."

Well, poop on you, Elrond. I've got endurance! I can do this all day!

(James)

Rivendell is a lot peppier than Mirkwood.

Seriously, I was beginning to think that this entire world was nothing but dark and creepy forests, but Rivendell certainly proved me wrong. The sun was shining down on the beautiful city, and the waterfall was a nice touch. My mind immediately began searching for ideas on how to convince Maerwen to move here.

Our small troupe of elves (and super-cool human, me), rode into the city on our tall horses that morning. Every single one of the elves I traveled with looked perfect, like they'd just walked out of male underwear catalogues. I, on the otherhand, looked less than perfect. By elven standards, that is. Legolas and Ainion made sure that I looked alright before we reached the city. They'd prefer it if I didn't ruin their super-sexy group of elves with my human imperfections.

Nice guys. Love 'em.

"Prince Legolas!" A blonde elf stood at the gate as we rode in, smiling at the prince. "It's been a long time since I've seen you, here!"

"Glorfindel!" Legolas slid off of his horse and embraced the other, taller elf. "How have you been, my friend?"

Glorfindel sighed and shrugged. "I've been well. There is much to worry about these days, it seems. What brings you so far from Mirkwood?"

Meanwhile, I'm standing awkwardly to the side, while all of the other elves greet their old friends.

"I come seeking counsel with Elrond."

Glorfindel seemed to laugh at this. "Aye, you and the rest of Middle-earth. We've got men from the northern countries, and a man from as far south as Gondor seeking counsel. Elrond's calling a council for tomorrow to discuss some recent discoveries, and you are more than welcome to attend. Even the high and mighty dwarves have come for our advice."

Ohhh no. Dwarves + Elves = Poop.

I've never actually met a dwarf, so I've got no problem with them, but elves absolutely loathe the poor chaps. The two races prefer to keep their distance.

"You brought a human of your own?" Glorfindel was now studying me, a curious expression on his face.

Legolas gestured for me to come forward, and I quickly obeyed. I felt a bit left out, standing all alone.

"This here is Adan. I found him, and raised him as my own."

I rolled my eyes. "No. You found me, almost got me killed by a spider, and then you proceeded to make fun of all of my human imperfections for the next five years."

Legolas shrugged, a guilty smile on his face. "I am afraid that you've got me there, my friend."

Glorfindel was eyeing me, like he was trying to remember an old face. "Forgive me for staring, but you look extremely familiar... I can't quite put my finger on it, I'm afraid."

Legolas turned to study me intently and shook his heasd. "No, I think that most humans are more attractive."

Ouch!

"Now, Legolas." Ainion comes to save the day! "You know as well as I that Ainion is handsome. Would Maerwen fall for just any mortal?"

Suck that, Legolas.

"I can't wait for you to fall in love in love, and she turns you down." I glared at the elf. He does nothing but make fun of me, and I KNOW that I'm attractive, dangit.

But Sir Legolas is far too perfect for love.

"Nonsense, Adan. Love is for the weak."

Then I'm the wimpiest wimp of all wimps.

.

"Niceee!" I nearly attacked the giant banquet table set up for lunch, if it wasn't for the fact that these three little guys were already having their way with it. "Well... This sucks."

Legolas laughed and slapped me on the shoulder. "Do not worry, Adan. You're a mighty warrior, now! Warriors wait for no one! As for me, I'm going to go see if I can find Estel. Glorfindel said that he was here, but I've yet to see him."

Estel? "I wanna meet Estel!" I've heard nothing but hardcore things about him.

"You'll meet Estel tomorrow at the council."

Council? "I'm invited?"

Legolas sighed as he searched the room for his old friend. "Yes, Adan. I'm bringing you and Ainion with me."

Sweet! "I would give you a hug, but I'm afraid that you might behead me."

My friend smiled. "Good choice."

It was then that my friend left me, and I was abandoned to stand alone behind four hungry midgets.

Now, I'm too nice to deprive little people of their food, so I was a gentleman and let them have their fun. Meanwhile, I took this free time to search for a good place to sit. Dwarves? No, Legolas might kill me. Elves? Maybe. More elves? Unlikely. Man carrying a frozen Sophie around? That looks fun.

Wait.

Sophie?

I rubbed my eyes. Maybe it was just a trick of the light.

But there she was. Standing stock still as the man set her down by the table.

My heart stopped. My long lost best friend, the silly young girl from my own world, who took games of Marco Polo more seriously than getting her license, was here. After six years of living without my friends, after accepting the idea that they didn't make it to this world, she appears in the most unlikely place. In the world of elves.

But she couldn't be real, could she?

(Sophie)

Well, Elladan. Any time, now.

Boromir has carried me around all day, trying to figure out how to unfreeze me, and we still haven't managed to find that dang elf so he can unfreeze me.

In the world of my friends, the game doesn't end until everyone is frozen, and the freezer unfreezes you.

Stupid, but it makes the game last longer.

So, I've done my best to remain still, but after so many hours, my own immaturity about this was beginning to stun me.

I yawned, and Boromir smiled.

"Tired? You know, you could easily unfreeze yourself..."

I shot him a glare, making him laugh at me even more than usual.

"You're ridiculous."

Nothing I haven't heard, before.

"Sophie?" A familiar voice made me move willingly for the first time in three hours.

My head shot around to catch sight of someone who I'd thought was long gone.

"James?"

My old friend smiled, tears in his eyes. "It is you!"

My heart about exploded. I threw myself into my old friend's arms, tears streaming down my face. "You're alive!"

James held me tight like he'd never let go. "I can't believe you're here, Sophie... Where have you been all of these years?"

"I've been everywhere... Rohan, the Shire, Gondor... James, I thought you were dead."

He smiled and shook his head. "I've come close more than once, but I'm alright. Goodness, Sophie, you look great... Is Kristy with you?"

Oh my gosh. Kristy's gonna have a heart attack. "Both Kristy and Collin are here. Collin's asleep, though. He and I were attacked by orcs and stranded in the wilderness down south. He's kind of exhausted, even though it was a week ago..." I suddenly remembered Boromir, who was still sitting at the table next to us. "Boromir! Come here and meet my long-lost best friend!"

(Third Person following Legolas) ... Be shocked.

He had searched everywhere. Aragorn was nowhere to be found. Legolas was about to give up and return to the dining hall, but a distant singing caught his attention.

"When you try your best but you don't succeed,
when you get what you want but not what you need
when you feel so tired but you can't sleep. Stuck in reverse..."

It was the most beautiful voice he'd heard in centuries... Since his mother left for the Undying Lands. She used to sing all day and night, with the most beautiful voice he'd ever known. Then, one day, she stopped singing. She grew more dull and depressed, ans it got to the point where she could not take it anymore. She left.

Ever since then, even the best singers of Mirkwood could not amount to the voice of his mother. Now, the voice in the distance sounded so much like her. He had to find it.

"And the tears come streaming down your face
when you lose something you can't replace.
When you love someone but it goes to waste,
what could be worse?"

He got closer and closer to the voice, until finally, he came to a courtyard. Legolas stopped, and hid behind an oversized bush. Slowly, he peeked his head over the leaves, not wanting to be seen by the owner of the voice.

Spying isn't prince-like. They hire people for that.

What he saw was cupid.

No, not really, but boy, did that little booger stick an arrow in his heart.

It was a human. The most beautiful human woman he'd ever seen.

She was sitting on a tree root, drawing with charcoal. Her long blonde hair fell down her shoulders, and the brightest green eyes he'd ever seen were perfectly set in a delicate face. Her skin was pale, and she looked equally as beautiful as any elf he'd ever seen.

"Lights will guide you home, and ignite your bones
and I will try to fix you..."

He wanted to get closer, and he would have, were it not for the stubborn bush he was hiding in. Legolas stumbled, causing the bush to shake. The woman ceased her singing, and her head shot up towards the bush.

"Hello?" She called out in a gentle voice. She stood, and moved closer to the bush.

Legolas ripped himself free in a panick, and booked it out of there.

Once he was sure that the woman did not follow, he stopped, and for the first time in ages, he had a hard time catching his breath.

What just happened to him?

All he knew was that James could never hear of this.

Ever.

Or the mighty prince would actually have a weakness.

Love.

I know. Love at first sight, how cheesey.

But that's how it happened in my dreams, and I plan to stick to it. :)