THE FORGOTTEN
Heading Up North
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings or anything else I may happen to mention.
Author's Note: The chapter in which – Grandma Sue shows up early, Lothril invites Legolas to bed, and Legolas licks his fingers. …Elvish in italics… Ask a dozen Michiganders where "Up North" starts and you'll get a dozen different answers, but we all know when we get there. Of note for non-Michiganders, up north and the UP (or da UP (letter 'u' letter 'p')) are not the same things. The UP is up north, but not all of 'up north' is the UP, "Up North" includes roughly the top half of the Mitten. Michigan is comprised of two large peninsulas – the Mitten and the UP or Lower and Upper Peninsulas (with countless little peninsulas on both, more well-known ones being the Thumb, Leelanau, and Keweenaw.). If you are totally unfamiliar with the great state of Michigan, I suggest looking up a map. The remainder of the 'real world' story is going to take place up around the tip of the Mitten (North west side) with references to more well-known places there and in the UP. I'm loosely borrowing that area because it's hilly, there are plenty of state parks and empty land, and hills.
After the awkwardness of Saturday morning, the afternoon was far more pleasant and turned into a very lovely evening of story swapping about fun times with family and friends. Sunday was nice and as it was the day of the town ice cream social which was held across the street from the church and the church was altering their schedule slightly to accommodate a church potluck and then the ice cream social for dessert. Legolas decided that sounded like fun and worth sitting through sermon over, a sermon which was far shorter than the first two he heard, and in his opinion, and he thought it the best one he had heard yet. The concept of a potluck was familiar to him in everything but name, and he found it interesting to see what modern Men would bring to such a thing. He thought Jell-O was disgusting and slimy and was fascinated by how many variations seemed to exist of noodle salad and astounded by how many dishes seemed to revolve around cheese. He liked cheese as much as the next elf, but never in his wildest culinary dreams did he think to add it to… everything… And really it just made him miss this one particular aged cheese he would get from that one particular family who had the cutest little farm outside of Dale and made the loveliest cheese that paired so nicely with that one red wine they import from southern Gondor…
Anyway, the potluck was interesting and by now everyone was used to him and Debbie Snelling was in a snit and pointedly ignored him for her all her protests to Donna and Ed fell on deaf ears. After Lothril and Legolas finished eating, they got up and crossed the street and went to the ice cream social. At first they were going to head straight to the ice cream and Legolas was looking forward to trying something new but then he saw the little white house with green roof and shutters was open and some lady dressed in clothes that certainly didn't look modern was standing on the porch and talking to people. Curious, Legolas went over and learned the house was a piece of local history, belonging to the first pastor of the church, and that today it was open for tours and if they liked, she would show him around and answer questions. Oh did he have questions! They went inside and he found the house almost uncomfortably short. There were a dress and suit on display and both of them were clearly for rather short humans. Or so he thought. Apparently people were shorter a hundred and thirty some odd years ago. She showed him around and was pointing out things she clearly thought he wouldn't recognize, but indeed, those were the sorts of things he readily recognized. There were a few things he was curious about though, and she happily and readily answered him. Indeed, she seemed thrilled to see two such young people (as she called them, much to Legolas' amusement) so very interested in the past. He was endlessly amused at how her attitude was that this was a long time ago. A hundred and thirty years for him was recent memory, but to each race their own, he supposed. After he exhausted the house tour, he went out and observed the carriage they had on display as well as the old plow, then he went and got some chocolate ice cream called Rocky Road.
Monday Legolas made good on his promise of wooden swords and presented two gorgeously carved and stained wooden swords to Julie and Eddie.
"But that is not all I have for you," Legolas said with a smile. "Donna, if you will, I will take you to the place we discussed earlier now. Would you be so kind as to drive us?"
"Of course," Donna said with a grin.
Lothril, being infinitely curious what Legolas had up his sleeve, piled in the mini-van with the rest of them as Legolas sat in the front passenger seat and navigated. She knew the road well, as that's where Lynn lived, but they went past her neighborhood to where the road turned to dirt, but instead of curving around the corner towards where Brian lived, they went straight down what Lothril had always, rightly, assumed was a driveway. It ended at a cute white house, a large fenced in paddock, and a horse barn. Julie was starting to get very excited and Legolas was all but beaming at this point.
They got out and were met by the lady who ran the barn whose name was Belinda.
"Avery!" she greeted enthusiastically as he got out of the mini-van.
"Belinda! It is good to see you! I have brought her with me this time," Legolas replied.
Just then Julie got out and Legolas waved her over. Julie came over and Legolas said, "Julie, I would like you to meet Belinda. I have arranged for you to have horse riding lessons with her. Belinda, this is Juliet."
"Nice to meet you," Belinda said with a friendly smile.
Julie was, in many ways, even more reserved than Lothril, so that she looked like she was nearly vibrating with excitement made Legolas very happy.
"Would you like to meet the horse you shall be riding?" Legolas asked Julie.
"Yes!" she practically yelled.
He thought she'd like this gift. By now Eddie, Lothril, and Donna had joined them and the whole group of them followed Belinda over to the paddock where a half dozen horses were either grazing, lazing, or rolling in the grass. Legolas said something in elvish and a very handsome bay mare with a black mane and tail came trotting over to the fence.
"Jules, I would like you to meet your very own horse, Starlight," Legolas said.
"My… you mean, she's mine? Like, I own her?" Julie asked, sounding like she was torn between being hopeful and skeptical.
"Your very own horse. I bought her in your name and have paid for her stable and board for the next several years, as well as your lessons and any gear you may need," Legolas replied.
Julie looked like she might cry and in a move that surprised Legolas but pleased him to no end, she threw her arms around him and gave him a very big hug which he returned. He heard a muffled 'thank you' against his shirt and told her she was very, very welcome. Once she collected herself, Legolas suggested she get to know her horse and talk to Belinda a little as he went over to Eddie who was standing by the fence watching the horses.
"I have not forgotten about you, Eddie, but even after a month, I am not sure what I could give you that would be equal to this for Jules," Legolas said as he walked up.
"Yeah, I'm not as horse crazy as Jules. I mean, I like horses, but not like she does," Eddie replied.
"People like Jules are a rare breed, even amongst the elves. There is an elf named Brenion at home who is very much like her and is the one in charge of our stables. I think they would get along very well. But as for you – I have given the same amount I have spent on your sister to your mother to be set aside for you to pursue your interests and whatever expenses those may entail. The only rule I have for its use, is that it must be something that is practical and a skill. So if you tell your mother you are interested in eating candy, she will tell you no. However, if you decide you wish to use it for hunting gear, or save it for when you are older and use it towards your studies, or to pursue some other hobby or interest then you can. I have laid out my rules for its use very specifically to your father and mother, so they know full well what I intend for it to be used for," Legolas said.
Eddie had no idea what that amount might be, but he did sorta know horses had to expensive, or else he figured his parents would have done lessons and stuff by now. It's not like Jules hadn't been begging them for horse riding lessons since before he was born practically. He looked up at Legolas and said, "Okay. Thank you!"
"You're welcome," Legolas said with a smile. He understood the significantly more subdued response from Eddie. He had no idea how much the gift was and he hadn't just handed him the thing he had wanted literally his whole life. One day though, he'd have a genuine interest in something and he'd figure it out. And given the fact he had put the money for both of them in high yield savings accounts, he reckoned by the time Eddie found an interest, the money would have gained a bit of interest, and as Julie's amount was substantial, even though a set amount would be coming out monthly, he reckoned she would still accrue a fair amount of interest.
Julie, understandably, wanted to spend the whole day at the barn and start lessons immediately, but Belinda told her that her first lesson wasn't scheduled until the following Monday and that she needed to get a helmet, boots, and other gear. However, long before Julie was tired of being at the barn, Eddie was tired of being there and Belinda's next lesson showed up. Belinda told her she was welcome to come to the barn and see and take care of her horse whenever she liked, but asked she wait until they were a couple lessons in and she had time to teach her how and what to do. Julie agreed, gave her horse Starlight a farewell scratch behind the ears, and off they went, Legolas and Julie talking horses all the way home.
Of course all day, that was the only thing Julie wanted to talk about, to the point where Legolas offered to go back over there with her if she wished. In the end, Lothril wound up staying home with her mom and helping out around the house and Legolas and Julie headed over to the barn. Julie on her bicycle, and Legolas easily running beside her. Donna made them take her cell phone just to be safe and so she could call to tell them when to head home for dinner.
While they were gone, Eddie was holed up in his room playing and Donna and Lothril were in the kitchen working on making a strawberry pie when Donna randomly asked, "Are you nervous about getting married?"
"No, not particularly," Lothril replied easily as she cut the top of another strawberry. "The being a lady and princess at court thing is far more nerve wracking to me, but Legolas keeps telling me I have little to worry about, so…"
"I'm sure you will be fine at that. You've got a good head on your shoulders and you have a good head for politics, and Legolas will help you I'm sure. But are you nervous about your wedding night?" Donna asked as she rolled out the pie crust.
"Not really… should I be?" Lothril asked as she continued to hull strawberries.
"No, but if you had any questions now would be a great time to ask them," her mom offered.
"As far as it goes, I think I've got a better than average understanding of the mechanics in two languages, so I can't say I have a question about that, but frankly, I don't know what I don't know," Lothril answered.
"That's fair enough," her mom said with a short laugh. "Well, then I'll say this – prioritize your husband, even when you have kids. Because when they're grown and out of the house, he's still there with you, so don't let your relationship with him die while you're raising kids. Otherwise, honestly, you've always been very good at keeping friendships and relationships, so I think you'll figure that part out, and given what you've said about elves, I'm guessing if it doesn't come naturally, you will only need to ask Elrond for relationship advice. Have you met Legolas' mom yet?"
"No, she sailed five hundred years ago. I won't meet her until we sail after Aragorn dies," Lothril said.
"Well, given what Legolas has said about his dad, I'm sure Thran…Thranduil, right?"
"Yes."
"I'm sure Thranduil will be happy to talk to you too. I'm sorry you won't have anyone else around though that you can ask. At least not that you know of yet," her mom said sympathetically.
Lothril took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, me too. Though what Legolas has told me of his aunt that lives in the Woodland Realm, I may like her quite a bit. He said she's been a second mother to him since Lauríel sailed, so perhaps I'll grow close to her."
"I wish we wanted to go with you, but… we just… don't. I mean, we want to be with you but we just don't feel a pull, and I suppose that probably means we can't," Donna said. "Or that we shouldn't."
"I suppose it does. But I get it Ma, I really do. For as much as I really wish you'd come back with me… I get it. It would probably feel as horrendous to you living there when you don't wish to as it does for me being back here now, and I wouldn't wish this feeling on anyone. It's like wearing a wet wool sweater during a heatwave." There was a lull in the conversation then Lothril asked, "Is there anything I should know before my wedding night?"
"If it's not toe curling, you're doing it wrong. And tell him if you like or don't like something. Otherwise, you'll figure it out," her mom said with a wink.
Lothril quietly hulled another strawberry, once again her mind unusually quiet and blank, which meant she really probably ought to be asking a question or two, but for the life of her she couldn't figure out what.
"Oh look, Jules and Legolas are back. Good grief, can that boy run!" Donna said, watching him easily keep up with Julie as she sped up the driveway on her bicycle.
And so went the rest of the week. Legolas and Julie and sometimes Lothril going to the horse barn for an hour or two every morning, Legolas spending time with her and her siblings around midday playing all sorts of games with them, and then spending two or three hours of the afternoon sparring with Lothril, then the evenings with her family telling stories, singing songs, and otherwise just being with them, and then he and Lothril spending time together at night after the others went to bed.
Thursday evening, just as the golden light of the sunset reached peak brilliance in the dining room, a red Ford pick-up truck rolled into the Erickson driveway. Lothril was doing dishes with Legolas when she saw it pull up and got a glimpse of the driver.
"Who is it?" Legolas asked.
"Grandma Sue!" Lothril exclaimed, rinsing off her hands. She dashed over to the doorway to the living room and said, "Grandma Sue just pulled in!"
"I wondered if she wouldn't show up tonight," her mom said, getting up off the couch.
Lothril darted back to Legolas and grabbed his hand and then balked. "Ready to meet her?"
Legolas shrugged, "Ready or not, she is here."
Donna and Ed were already outside greeting Sue and Rose and Eddie were scrambling to put on their shoes and head out to see her. Lothril and Legolas followed the others outside and found everyone standing around the truck talking and carrying on. Grandma Sue stood a little shorter than Donna, who was the same height that Jennifer used to be, and she had short brown hair flecked with grey and twinkly brown eyes. She seemed pretty spry still and the biggest give away that she was in fact twenty some-odd years older than Lothril's parents was the presence of fine lines around the eyes. Otherwise, for energy and spunk, she could have passed for much younger. Grandma Sue looked over and saw Lothril and Legolas and paused.
"Hey you two! Come over here and give me a hug!" she said enthusiastically. They came over with smiles and after a round of 'how are you's' and a comment at how tall Jennifer had gotten, she looked at Avery and said, "My how you've changed the last three years! Your mother warned me about your hair, but I didn't reckon it would be so long. I'd hardly know you if she hadn't sent me a picture." Her words and manner were warm, but the look in her eyes was guarded.
"I am sure you have not changed at all since last I saw you," Legolas said with a smile, noting well the look in her eyes, but playing his part and pretending he didn't.
"You always were a charmer," she said grinning. "Anyway," she said addressing everyone, "I decided to roll in tonight and then tomorrow we can take off after I've caught up with you all. It's been ages since I've seen you, Ed and Donna! You need to come up and see me more! I've got that big ol' house and nobody in it but me and the cat. Why don't you come up for the Fourth? What day is it this year anyway?"
"It's a Sunday," Donna said.
"Oh, then you're probably busy with choir," Sue replied.
"No, actually. This year they decided to put together a brass band for the picnic instead of a singing thing. We were thinking of going up somewhere too," Donna replied.
"Perfect! Well let me know what you decide. My guest bedrooms aren't going anywhere," said Sue.
Everyone stood around and chatted for a while and did a little catching up and then Sue said she was going to go check into a hotel a couple towns over until the Ericksons insisted she stay with them and she could sleep in one of the girls' rooms. After some discussion, Legolas insisted she stay in the guest room and that he would sleep on the couch, and once that was settled, they all headed inside where they continued talking for a good long while. All night though, throughout the conversation Grandma Sue would glance over at what was supposed to be her grandson with a peculiar look. Like she wasn't quite sure of what she was looking at, but she treated him and talked to him exactly as she always treated her grandson Avery.
It grew late and Legolas excused himself to go pack his things before she went to bed and quickly moved his weapons and the duffle bag full of cash into Lothril's room and then put his packed bags with borrowed clothes from Avery and his elvish things into her room as well then returned downstairs.
Shortly thereafter, everyone decided it was high time to go to bed, so everyone said their goodnights and Lothril insisted Grandma Sue use the bathroom first. Once she was ready for bed and the door to the guest room shut, Lothril mentally told Legolas to come upstairs. Silently he ghosted up the stairs and past the guest room and into Lothril's room without so much as a sound.
"Is everyone asleep downstairs?" Lothril asked after shutting the door behind him.
"They are all in bed, but your father and mother are awake yet," replied Legolas as he sat down on the edge of her bed.
"Good enough. Are you going to sleep on the couch?" she asked as she pulled out her pajamas and things from her dresser.
"No. This house is very quiet, but the couch is against the wall shared with their room and I can hear too much. I doubt very much any mortal ears would hear anything, but I am certain I would if they decide to act upon their words and I would rather they have their privacy," he answered.
"What?"
"Truly, it is a wonder there are only three of you," he commented casually as he picked up the green sketchbook sitting on her nightstand and began flipping through it to see what she had drawn recently.
She froze as she was digging through her sock drawer. "Oh. Can we not discuss my parents' sex life?"
"I think it is sweet that after they are satisfied of their desire to have children they continue to express their love for each other that way. That is not the way of things with elves. Usually," he said.
She shook her head slightly and gathered herself and replied, "Well, mortals do not live so long, so they tend to do it as long as they can, but I would really prefer not to think about my parents doing it downstairs."
He paused his perusing through her sketchbook. "You are very odd sometimes. Are you not pleased to learn your parents are still very much in love?"
"Thrilled, but I still do not want to think about them doing it." She shuddered at the thought.
"I am not asking you to envision it, I am merely commenting that I think it is lovely your father and mother are still very much in love and still wish to express it to each other in that manner, especially after they are through having children. Usually after elves are done having children they cease love making. I have not known many mortal couples, so this is a bit of a novelty to me," he said.
"You have said 'usually' twice now and Elrond stated it as an absolute. What do you know that he does not?" she asked.
"My father and mother. He knows them, but not their habits."
Her eyes grew wide and she turned around and stared at him. "And why do you know that? Wait, do I want to know why you know that?"
"Mom told me, though I had long guessed it. It was fairly obvious."
"Come again?"
Legolas chuckled silently at Lothril before he composed himself enough to answer, "It was a very simple deduction. My dad and mom completed their vows in a clearing some distance from the festivities and then when we moved up into the north of Mirkwood, they created a small clearing and wound around it certain spells of concealment. Every year on their wedding anniversary they would disappear for a night or two and then reappear. It did not take much imagination to string together what was going on. Then later mother brought me to that place so we could plan a surprise party for dad and as I had never been there before, she mentioned briefly they had created to celebrate their wedding anniversaries and there were certain concealment spells wrapped around it so unless you either created it or were brought there by someone who had been there, you simply would not find it, and that it was the only safe place to plan things because the spells would not permit a third person to enter or for us to be overheard."
"Well that was officially more than I wished to know about the love life of your parents," she said as she turned bright pink.
"Lothril, truly you confuse me sometimes. Why would you not want to know that your parents and parents by marriage are happy and loving with each other? Should it not make you glad to know they are in happy marriages?"
"I am glad to know they are happy, but I want to know nothing of their love lives."
"You know nothing of their love lives, except that they exist."
"And that is more than I wanted to know. By the way, is it not highly unusual that a couple would still be making love five thousand years after they finished having children?"
"Somewhat, but I have no idea how frequent it was. Regardless, the only hard and fast rule amongst elves is that we make love as long as we desire it. The desire generally ceases after we are finished bearing children. Clearly my father and mother still desired it or else they would not have continued it. By the way, we shall be making love ourselves soon, and I would suggest you speak with your mother about it before we depart tomorrow if you not have not done so already."
"Mom cornered me earlier this week," Lothril said.
"Good."
"I am glad you approve, now I am going to change for bed."
"I should as well," Legolas said as he got off the bed and went over to his packed bag against the wall. Proof they had definitely spent too much time traveling together manifested itself in this moment. Without a word they both started to change, he facing his bag and the wall, and she facing her dresser and her back to him. No discussion needed or understanding to come to because it was now habit.
"I am dressed," Legolas said.
"Just a moment and I will be also. There. You may turn around."
"Where should you like me to sleep?" he asked.
"In truth, I miss your warmth beside me and as neither of us have any intention of marrying here, I want you in bed with me," she answered.
"I certainly shall not try to talk you out of it. I miss being beside you also," he said as he neatly finished folding and putting his clothes in the bag. "It is your bed, which side do you prefer?"
"I do not really care, but I will let you have the outside edge as I am narrower than you," she answered and clicked on her lamp. "Can you turn off the light?" She asked as she crawled into bed. He flicked off the light and followed.
"It is like being in Ithilien again," Legolas said quietly.
"Wait," she crawled out from under the blankets to the foot of the bed and opened up the window. "Now it is like Ithilien."
"Indeed," he smiled as she crawled back under the sheets. "The wind in the trees and the sounds of woodland creatures – except for the sounds of the city, I can almost believe we are back there."
"Just wait until tomorrow night. It shall be silent and we shall see stars."
"I look forward to it greatly," Legolas replied.
"Legolas," Lothril said, sounding a little timid.
"What is it, meleth nin?" he replied.
"It may be a bit forward of me, but is that what you usually wear to bed?" Lothril asked.
He chuckled quietly and said, "If we were a normal elven couple, it would be very forward, but all things considered, I am surprised you did not ask back in Ithilien."
"I almost did."
He looked at her in the dark with a grin and a raised brow. "Truly?"
Her eyes darted over to him then back up towards the ceiling and she nodded. "But what do you usually wear to bed?"
"Usually? Not this. I generally do not pack my pajamas on long hiking trips," he answered.
"Then what did you wear to bed in Imladris?" she asked.
"This," he answered casually.
"Very well, but what do you usually wear to bed?" she pressed.
Legolas smiled. "I think I like you being forward and persistent."
"You are not going to draw this out and torture me, are you?"
"It is tempting," he said before he rolled onto his side and kissed her. "But right now I shall answer you – I usually wear a pair of soft loose trousers."
"And?"
"And nothing. If it is very cold I may put on a tunic if I do not feel like stoking the fire, but that is only in the very cold of winter," he answered. "What do you usually wear to bed?"
"This," Lothril replied. As it was early summer, she was wearing a pair of loose cotton shorts and a T-shirt. "I do not really wear designated pajamas as such, though I do have a couple sets I have been given. I usually just wear soft shorts or pants and a shirt with long or short sleeves, depending on the weather. Mirkwood was the first time I had worn a proper nightgown in years, and it was certainly more comfortable than the flannel one I had worn last. I suppose I shall resume nightgown wearing when I return," she mused aloud.
"Wear or not wear whatever you wish. The servants will not care one way or the other, and if you wish them to not see you first thing, simply order them wait to attend you until you summon them," he said.
"I can do that?"
"You can do whatever you like, melethril. That is what I have been trying to tell you for a year now – they are servants. Their whole job is to do what they are told. You can order things done in any manner that pleases you. Except when we are wed, I will be placing strict orders none bother us until we summon them, for I have plans for our mornings," he said with a grin.
"Oh? And what are those plans?" Lothril asked with a raised brow and a grin.
"The same as my plans for our nights," Legolas replied.
"What if I have plans for our nights also?" she asked teasingly.
"Then we will take turns," he replied simply with a grin.
She chuckled quietly and found his hand above the blanket and held it. He smiled and brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it softly. For a little while longer they spoke quietly and then fell asleep holding hands.
They awoke the next morning with the sun and dressed and headed downstairs long before anyone else stirred. By now Legolas had a mild coffee addiction forming and had making it figured out, so he brewed a pot and then pulled out some fruit from the fridge and the remaining half of a loaf of bread he had made yesterday. He well decided the bought bread at the stores there was dreadful and he much preferred his own.
"Would you like some toast, melethril?" he asked as he sliced off a piece for himself.
"Toast does sound nice. Make it two pieces for me, please."
"Certainly," he replied and cut two more.
She popped her two pieces in the toaster and pulled out the crunchy peanut butter. As soon as the toast popped up she pulled it out, nearly burning her fingers in the process, and began precisely scraping on a thick layer of peanut butter. Legolas watched this with some amusement.
"That looks well practiced," he said.
"You have to put it on when the toast is hot or it doesn't turn into melty goodness," she said as she quickly slathered a thick layer on the second piece. Legolas could see the peanut butter already softening and melting a little on the first piece.
"May I try a bite?" he asked.
She gave her 'I'm-trying-not-to-smile' frown and said, "Ooooh, I suppose."
He didn't say anything but he did give a pleased grin and reached for the gooey toast and took a bite, getting his fingers covered in warm peanut butter in the process. It was certainly crunchy enough and with the contrast of the melting peanut butter and the slight saltiness playing off the nutty flavor, he could see why she liked it. "Would you please make some for me?" he asked, setting down her piece.
"Oh, go ahead and finish that one she said," before taking a bite of her other piece. She grabbed the other slice of bread and popped it in the toaster for herself. "It's good stuff, isn't it?"
He nodded then swallowed another bite. "Quite."
"We don't have peanut butter in Mirkwood, by chance, do we?"
"I am afraid not," he said before taking another bite. After he swallowed he added, "We do not have peanuts. We do however have walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds, but the almonds we import from Gondor."
"I have not had chestnuts, I don't think, but I think we could make a nice walnut, hazelnut, or almond butter if we had a mind," she replied as she quickly picked the toast up out of the toaster and began spreading peanut butter on it.
"You have not had chestnuts? Oh, melethel, you are missing out! They are wonderful roasted," he said. "Add some butter and cinnamon and you have a particular treat! Sometimes we will mix butter and honey and melt it and then dip the chestnuts in it and roll them in cinnamon and nutmeg and eat it with sliced apples and sweet cream."
"That sounds very nice," she said with a smile. "I think I won't be missing out too much there."
"Indeed not. I appreciate sweet things as much as anyone, but desserts here are too sweet. I prefer to taste whatever it is and not just sugar. There ought to be a level of subtlety and balance," he cut himself short as some of the peanut butter had dripped onto the side of his hand, so he set down the toast and sucked off the peanut butter then licked his fingers as they were a peanut buttery mess and then finished off the toast and licked his fingers again.
Lothril watched with some amusement then said, "My word, you are like the rest of us!"
"What do you mean?" he asked, looking a trifle confused.
"In all our travels, I don't think I saw you lick your fingers once."
"I was in mixed company. We elves have a reputation to uphold, you know," he casually replied.
Lothril laughed long and hard at that. "I must be a huge disappointment to our kind!"
"The pheasant was understandable. The Rohirrim certainly know what they are doing with fowl. I shall even overlook the celebratory feast we had when Frodo and Sam awoke, as it was clear you were well within the bounds of Gondorian table manners, but you sneaking a taste of the blueberry pie at our betrothal with your finger is unpardonable," he reproved with a grin.
"Look, elloneg (elf-boy, lit. little male elf)," she said with a raised brow and a grin, "I was snidgeling long before I even knew what Middle-earth was and back when I thought elves were tiny people that made shoes, cookies, and toys, and I shall continue to snidgel until the breaking of Arda. But I will refrain from licking my fingers at formal functions. I make no promises about snidgeling though."
Legolas laughed, "You are incurably firith, despite everything; and now that you have brought it up – what does snidgel mean? Is that even a word? And why do people here think elves are smaller than hobbits and make shoes, cookies, and toys? I admit, we do make all those things, but why do they think that is all we make? And who thinks we live inside trunks of trees? How could you do that if the tree was still living? And why is there not this great misconception about dwarves? That Snow White moving drawn… what is called again?"
"Animated movie?"
"Thank you, that Snow White movie was not wholly wrong, and the story in that book your mother showed me is accurate of some dwarves, though clearly not Durin's folk – but my question stands: why do they get elves so very wrong but Dwarves mostly right?" Legolas asked.
Lothril shrugged. "We used to have it right, or closer to right, but somewhere along the way I think Elves got crossed with fairies, lost their wings, and eventually began making silly things. There are a lot of things that we used to understand, forgot what it was, and then chucked it all into the nursery and made it so child-friendly that it no longer resembles the original at all."
"But why do dwarves get remembered rightly?"
"What's to remember? They dig for ore and gems and make things with them. Also, to answer your earlier questions – snidgel is not a word, well, not an official one anyway, I think I made it up… I don't remember, I've been using it my whole life. Anyway, it means sneaking a taste of something before you're supposed to and without anyone noticing."
"I noticed, so does that mean you were not snidgeling, or perhaps it was merely an unsuccessful snidgel?" he asked with a grin.
"It was a successful snidgel. The pie looked the same afterwards. That you caught me is neither here nor there."
He nodded, "I see. So if I steal a small bite of your toast –"
"I'll stab you with the butter knife. If you ask though, I may let you have a little more."
"Such violence," he teased.
"I take my peanut butter toast seriously." She paused and looked at the coffee maker. "Coffee is ready."
"Oh wonderful! I need something hot to chase the thick peanut butter," he said, standing quickly and getting a mug for himself out of the cupboard. "Would you like some?"
"Yes, please, but I want to fix it myself," she replied, standing and heading over to the counter.
"Fix it? But it is perfect as it is."
She shook her head as she pulled out the frothing pitcher and then got the milk out of the refrigerator. Legolas peered over her shoulder. "What shall that do?"
"Make the milk hot and foamy," she answered as she pressed the button and it began whirring and the milk formed a whirlpool. Lothril reached for a bottle of Vanilla syrup and poured in a splash then put the lid on it and waited for it to softly click off.
"Are you going to put that in your coffee?" he asked.
"That is the plan," she replied. A moment later it was off and she poured it into her mug then poured in some coffee and said, "This, my friend, is called a vanilla café au lait. Want to try it?"
He thanked her and took a sip. "That is nice, but I want it plain after that toast."
Just then they heard footsteps on the stair and a moment later Grandma Sue came into the kitchen. "Well you two are up bright and early! Good morning!" she greeted with a smile.
They returned the greeting and asked if she wanted some coffee, and she said she did, but she could help herself, so Lothril, who was still standing right in front of the cupboards, handed her a mug.
"Would you like some breakfast?" Legolas asked.
"Depends on what you've got," Grandma Sue replied.
"Whatever you like," Lothril answered.
"I could really go for some pancakes and bacon, but we should wait until the others get up," she said.
Lothril waved her hand dismissively, "They won't be up for ages. If we do pancakes and bacon we can just make what we want now and they can have what they want when they get up."
"That's true," she said with a smile. "Want any help?"
"No, no, just relax and we'll make breakfast," Lothril answered.
It never ceased to amaze Lothril how everyone in her family had a knack for showing up when food was ready, but sure enough, as soon as the smell of bacon began wafting through the house, doors started opening and people began filing into the kitchen where Legolas was commandeering the stove with an assist from Lothril. Before long everyone was sitting at the dining room table having breakfast. After they finished eating and a few hours of talking and catching up it was time for lunch and after a quick sandwich they began packing up the car. As Legolas was heading back upstairs he was stopped by her parents.
"Can we have a quick word?" Donna asked.
"Certainly," he said.
"In case we don't see you again, we want you to know we really are happy for you two," she said.
"Thank you," he said with a slight bow of his head.
"Here, we want you to have this. Most anything we would have given you two otherwise for a wedding gift wouldn't really make sense for you to bring to Middle-earth, or it would be too cumbersome to carry, assuming you don't return to your own front door, but we still wanted to give you something," Donna said. It was a small square box. "You can go ahead and open it. We already gave Jenny hers."
"We were gonna give it to you last night, but Ma Sue showed up sooner than I thought she might," Ed said.
He pulled off thick white and silver wrapping paper and opened the box. It was a brooch made out of cut and polished moss agate shaped like a leaf and put in a silver setting and a silver ring with the same stone cut in an oval and set in a thin silver vine.
"It's not a family heirloom, but we don't have a lot of those that could be easily carried on a backpacking trip," Mr. Erickson said. "But it is unique to here and something to remember us by."
Legolas looked at Ed, clearly touched. "Thank you. I shall treasure this. I have never seen the like of it before. What sort of stone is it?"
"Moss agate," Ed replied. "My friend, well you met him – Mr. Morrel, he's an avid rock collector and a year ago or so he gave Jenny a moss agate leaf pin as a thank you for babysitting their boys. Anyway, she loves it and she wears hers all the time and we figured something like this would be the perfect gift for you guys. He said he found them up on Lake Superior. Hold it up to the light."
He held it up to the light and was fascinated at how a stone could look like moss and fog trapped together. He thought them very fair and though these were very clearly just polished rocks, he treasured them as if it were made of precious gems. They were a brooch and a ring given in love and thoughtfulness by the parents of his beloved – two people he never thought he'd meet. He put the ring on and held up his hand to see how it looked.
"Oh good, that looks really nice on you and it seems to fit," Donna said.
"It fits very well," Legolas said. "Thank you both." He gave Donna a hug and a kiss on the cheek, but only gave Ed a hug as Lothril had mentioned before that her dad's side of the family was not as openly affectionate as her mom's side.
"Take care of our little girl," he said.
Legolas nodded solemnly and said, "Until the breaking of the world."
Legolas told Lothril he would help pack the car and told her to say goodbye to her family. In a lot of ways, she and her parents had been saying good bye all week, so she simply gave them a long hug and a kiss and a promise to be careful and that when she would give them a call. Then she gave a hug to her brother and sister who made faces, then dashed back up to her room to make sure she had everything and then got in the truck and left.
It was an old pick up with a bench seat in the front and no back seat, so they were all sitting in the front. Grandma Sue drove, Lothril was in the middle, and Legolas on the side. As it was middle of the afternoon on a Saturday, it only took about ten minutes to reach the freeway. They had ridden in relative silence through town and as soon as she had merged onto the freeway, Grandma Sue spoke.
"Okay, start talking," Grandma Sue said. "It's obvious to me you aren't my grandson. My grandson Avery was the spitting image of my husband Richard, and you do not look like my husband Richard, and the Ericksons are either in on it, or they're deluded into thinking you're him. Explain." She glanced over at Legolas and then at Lothril.
Legolas looked at Lothril and said, "Shall you explain, or shall I?"
"You tell her. I've been telling this story everywhere I go for the last fourteen months," she answered.
"Well? Spill. Or I'm heading for the first police station I see," Grandma Sue threatened.
"Very well, but it is a long tale and will probably sound quite strange to your ears, but I swear to you I shall tell you naught but the truth."
"We've got time," she answered.
"Obviously I am not your grandson Avery. My name is Legolas and I am the son of Thranduil of the Woodland Realm in the Greenwood, until lately, or as it seems to me, it was known as Mirkwood."
"Mirkwood? Like, Bilbo and the dwarves in Mirkwood?" Grandma Sue asked.
"Yes, one and the same."
She started laughing. "Son, if you're going to lie, you should pick something more believable. Now start with the truth this time."
Legolas looked at her with all the seriousness he possessed and said, "I am speaking the truth."
Grandma Sue glanced over at him a couple times, trying to keep her eyes on the road, but desperately trying to see something in this stranger's face. "Okay, let's say I believe you. Is your long story going to explain where my grandson is and why you're here?" she asked, sparing him another glance.
"Mostly. But again, it is a long, strange tale and needs to be told fully in order to be understood."
"Mostly? Alright, I'll try not to interrupt again, but if you haven't convinced me by the time we reach my house, I'm hauling your rear end to the sheriff. Understood?"
"Yes," Legolas answered, and then continued. "About fourteen months ago to my reckoning, my father and I had a series of strange dreams, the dreams were different, yet it was clear they were related. In my first dream I saw a girl sitting in a window of a stern, brown brick building and I would hear a voice saying, 'The daughter of exiles needs return, thy Lord and Lady bid thee fetch her. Jennifer is her name and she alone shall greet thee.' When I spoke of my dream to my father he said that he had a similar message, but in his dream he had seen the same woman, but dressed in elvish clothes and dancing in the midst of elves, then later walking down a corridor, and then riding hard with a grey clad company on some mission that seemed most desperate. It seemed clear to him that whatever or whomever this daughter of exiles was, it was obvious she was to be in Middle-earth, not wherever she was, and had some sort of work to do. It was apparent to us that the dreams were sent by the Valar and therefore must be obeyed, but we did not know how or when. Then I was given another dream telling me the hour was nigh. I awoke and immediately sought out my father, who was also seeking me, and it seemed we had been given the same dream. Quickly I dressed and my horse was brought to me and I rode out of my father's halls with all haste. I cannot say how I knew which way to ride, but the direction seemed apparent to me, and so forth I rode until I saw what looked to me like a white sun resting upon the earth, but not so bright and neither cold or hot. I rode towards it at a canter and for a moment all was white and then I found myself staring at the brown brick building I had dreamt about and lo! There was the girl. It was Jennifer, the very Jennifer you have known all her days. I called to her and after some persuasion she lowered herself out of the window and we returned the way I had come."
"Whatever possessed you to go with him?" Grandma Sue asked, looking at Lothril.
She shrugged. "I cannot really say. He certainly didn't seem like any human man I had ever seen, and his voice was familiar because I had a few dreams with him in them. And to be fair, about halfway out of the window I wondered what in the world I was doing and figured he was either telling the truth or I was having the mother of all hallucinations. But in the end, I just knew I should."
Grandma Sue clicked her tongue. "That's just foolishness."
"No more so than 'just knowing' who you are supposed to marry. How many times have I heard you say that you just knew Grandpa Richard was the one for you? And you were only sixteen when you figured that out," Lothril retorted.
"Okay, okay, I'll give you that one. Keep going, elf boy," Grandma Sue said, some of the sharpness disappearing from her voice.
Legolas smiled at the word boy. How long at it been since that word had been applicable? "I took her back to my father's realm and there she was made welcome. The morning after she arrived she awoke and it seemed her ears had become pointed in the night. We were both confused as to how this could come about and it was decided that Rivendell would be the best place to start finding answers, and so after a week we departed thence.
"When we arrived we were greeted by Lord Elrond and explained everything to him. He had as well been given a dream about Jennifer's arrival and so began to examine her. It was discovered that she had both elven and maia blood in her veins."
"What's maia?" Mrs. Miller asked.
"Think Gandalf," Lothril answered.
"I thought he was a wizard."
"He is. Wizard is more like his occupation. Maia is what he is."
"I see."
Legolas continued, "Lord Elrond and myself began tutoring her in elvish and in our manners and customs until the time of the Fellowship's departure from Imladris. She was convinced, and in time we all were, that she was brought to Middle-earth to go to Minas Tirith and then Mordor, and so she came with us. Upon our arriving at Caras Galadhon in Lothlórien, she fell, as if with a fainting spell brought on by a great fever. She was tended three nights and three days, and on the third day it seemed that she died, for no breath was found in her and none could hear her heart beat. I had stayed with her those long days and nights and mourned bitterly her passing, and had word sent to the others so they could come and say good bye to her in their fashion before we prepared her for burial. But just as the others arrived, I felt warmth return to her, and I could feel her pulse once more and before I could fully comprehend what I was seeing and feeling, she opened her eyes and spoke to me. I was overjoyed for I thought she had died! She explained to us that her spirit had departed her and been sent to Valinor, and there she had learned many things and been told many things that hitherto had been unknown to anyone in Middle-earth or in this world.
"It seems long ago, some elves and maiar were taken captive by Morgoth – a foe greater than Sauron, to whom Sauron was but a servant, who knew that soon the Valar would come and try to destroy him and so he sought a means of escape. In so doing he created a rift between our world and this, but not knowing what would await him there, nor if there was any chance of return, he instead sent through captives to see if the way was safe. But before he could learn of his success or failure, the Valar descended upon him and bound him and threw him into the outer darkness, where he has remained. It seems that Lothril is a descendent of those captives, who lived here and died, unable to find their way back until their spirits were freed from their bodies. Only then were they able to hear the song of the Valar and wend their way back to the Halls of Mandos. Lothril had heard that song since she was a child and ever dreamed of finding the land to which she truly belonged, and so it was that she, and none of her kin, was permitted to return to the land of her forebears. But it seems that after that rift was created by Morgoth, two more were created, and recently. Through those tears, a young women from this world was drawn into Middle-earth and from Middle-earth some orcs and goblins escaped into this world. The Valar have seen to returning the lady to her proper place and time, but it is Lothril's job and mine to hunt down the orcs and slay them. That is why we are here, and that is why we were so eager to accept your invitation. We have reason to believe that they have come to this place and traveled north. There have been troubling things in your news that would point to the work of a band of orcs or goblins over a pack of wolves or wild dogs."
Grandma Sue said nothing for a moment. "That would explain the strange goings on with the dogs around town lately. Everyone's been complaining that their dogs are growling and barking all night. And a few rather mangled deer have been found. The DNR* keeps saying it's a pack of coyotes, but – in all my born days I've seen coyotes maul something so badly. And that would also explain my dream."
"Your dream?" Lothril asked.
"Yeah, a couple weeks ago I had a dream that, well, suffice it to say, it's why I wanted you to come. But this still doesn't explain where my grandson is nor why the Valars or whatever sent you and not somebody else," she said, eyeing Legolas in the mirror.
"To be perfectly honest, I don't know where Avery is," Lothril said. "But the letter I received from the Valar upon my return said he will appear the moment we leave, so perhaps he is with them. In any event though, I think he is quite safe."
"And why was Face here, sent and not someone else?" Grandma Sue asked, arching a brow with a grin teasing the edge of her mouth.
"Because we are betrothed," Legolas answered. "Or so I assume. We had no idea I would be the help sent with her until I appeared here with her."
She nodded. "Do your parents know?"
"Yes, they and my siblings know about everything, but nobody else does," Lothril said.
"Well, I won't say anything. So, what do you need me to do?" asked Grandma Sue.
"Mostly we just need you to pretend we're you're grandkids and let us go out hunting for orcs," Lothril said.
She nodded. "I can do that."
They drove for a few miles in silence, Grandma Sue absorbed in her own thoughts, Legolas and Lothril quietly looking out the windows, wondering what the coming days would bring. It wasn't long before the suburban landscape gave way to thick woods and small towns and soon the exits were few and far between as the compass on the dash kept pointing north. After a while, Grandma Sue started asking questions about Middle-earth and what it was like and what life was like there and what kinds of foods they have, then she started asking questions about elves and then orcs, which all seemed to be driving at something.
"What was your dream about?" Lothril asked suddenly.
"Well…" she trailed off then said, "This'll probably sound silly, but I kept dreaming it was night and these ugly, snarling creatures with claws and fangs were traipsing through my yard and scratching at the doors and windows trying to get in and I thought they were gonna do it and kill me, but then they were chased off when these tall beautiful people with swords showed up. They almost seemed to glow in the moonlight. And then suddenly in the house were, well, you two, and I suddenly felt a lot safer and I knew they wouldn't be back and then I'd wake up. I had this dream a couple times. I figured with all the weird goings on around me, I might be better off having a couple extra people around. I mean, I've got neighbors, but they're a ways off and if something happened, they wouldn't know unless they decided to pop over just then."
"That doesn't sound silly at all," Lothril said. "That actually sounds pretty typical for the last year or so of my life."
"Really?" Grandma Sue asked, sounding quite surprised.
"It's been a strange year," Lothril answered.
A little shy of four hours later, they took an exit which led them through a small little town whose population was currently increased thanks to the influx of vacationers spending time at their cottages. Her little town was about half an hour to forty-five minutes away from several larger towns that attracted a good deal more tourists. Her town was mostly year round residents with a couple small cottage neighborhoods and camp grounds and that was all. It's biggest draw was a very nice smaller lake (compared to the Great Lake just to the west) and proximity to the state park through which one could get to Lake Michigan. They drove through the little town which seemed, oddly enough, a more familiar layout to Legolas than Lothril's hometown had been. Once out of town they followed the main road for maybe a mile then took a left down a shady stretch of road that had mailboxes and signs with the family name or the cottage name either nailed on a tree by the road or by the mailbox, depending if there was only one house down the drive or multiple. After another mile or so of this, she took a right onto a well maintained dirt road and in about half a mile she slowed down and turned onto a paved driveway that went right up to a dusty blue farmhouse with white shutters and trim. It had a big porch that wrapped around the front and partway down the side and on it were some wicker chairs and a wooden porch swing. Planted out front were a variety of flowers and shrubs and a couple mature silver birch trees and a few pines.
"This is a lovely home," Legolas said as the truck came to a stop beside the side door.
"Thank you. Richard and I did a lot of work on it after we moved in, and I think we got it about perfect," she said.
They grabbed their things out of the back of the truck and Sue led them inside through the kitchen which was large, clean, and cozy looking. She led then upstairs and showed them each to their rooms and told them to get settled in and if they didn't mind, she'd just as soon get a pizza as make something after all that driving. They told her that was perfectly fine and that neither of them had a preference for toppings. She left them to settle in to their respective rooms as she went downstairs and ordered a pizza.
Lothril hung her elvish clothes up in the closet and put her normal clothes in the dresser and arranged her weapons neatly against the wall by the bed so they were out of the way but easy to grab come morning. She looked out the bedroom window into the backyard. It was dotted with a number of mature trees and backed right up to state land with only a thin wire fence and the odd "NO TRESSPASSING" sign marking the property line about ten feet into the trees. It was some years ago when her dad had shown her on a state park map where Grandma Sue's house was, and as she recalled, the only things near her property were hiking and snowmobile trails.
She felt Legolas behind her and turned around to see him standing in her bedroom door.
"I was just wondering if we should start our search out there," she said, pointing to the forest.
"I would have to see exactly where we are on a map. You said this place is close and the names on the road signs seemed familiar from what your mother has helped me find in the news," he answered.
She nodded. "We can ask Grandma Sue tonight what she's heard and then make up our minds."
"That seems sensible. I may have missed a more recent attack. I have not checked in a few days."
"That and she said the dogs around town have been on edge and barking a lot. Maybe we can figure out something from that. Like if dogs on one end of town are, or just her neighbors or what have you."
He gave a nod then asked, "Are you settled?"
"I am."
"Then let us go downstairs and ask her."
They headed downstairs and found Grandma Sue in the kitchen getting out plates and cups and making herself some herbal tea. "Hey guys," she said as they sat down at the kitchen counter, "are you all settled in?"
"Yes we are," Lothril answered.
"Good," she said with a smile as she turned to the stove and pulled off the kettle. "You look like you've got a question."
"I do," Lothril replied, "You said the dogs around town have been barking all night – is it all over town?"
Grandma Sue frowned a little as she thought. "Hmm… Well, at church I heard Gladys and Rachel talking about their dogs barking, and then Sarah and Keith chimed in that their cats were always sitting in the windows all night looking on edge and hissing every so often. All of them live more or less on this side of town, and when they asked Doug, who lives in town closer to the church, if his dogs were barking all night too, he said no."
"Well that's something," Lothril said thoughtfully. "How close are all those people to you?"
"The Cravits, the Hortons, and the Randalls are all within a quarter mile of me. In fact, Sarah and Keith are my nearest neighbors to the south there. I suppose I could always ask my other neighbors if they've noticed anything. They don't have a dog, but they always seem to have their ears to the ground with these sorts of things." She looked at the clock on the stove and said, "If you like, I might call in a couple of hours. I'd hate to interrupt them if they're having dinner."
"Tonight or tomorrow," Lothril said. "I think we may have enough to begin a search of some kind tomorrow anyway, but the more clues we can get, the better."
The pizza showed up a few minutes later and they talked a little as they ate about any other strange goings on around town that might be related and after dinner Grandma Sue pulled out a couple maps she had and helped them plot out things more specifically. One was a county map and one was a tourist map of the town and the immediate surrounding area. This proved to be quite helpful because both of them could now see everything laid out with some idea of a timeline as well. After a while the conversation drifted on and they began talking about other things and the next thing anyone knew, it was ten o'clock and everyone decided to go to bed, as the morning promised to be an early one.
Author's note: *DNR – Department of Natural Resources. In the state of Michigan they are in charge of managing wilderness and wildlife, hunting seasons, hunting and fishing licenses, bag limits, etc.
