And
I know it’s only in my mind
That
I’m talking to myself and not to him
And
although I know that he is blind
Still
I say, there’s a way for us
-Les
Miserables
The next few days were like the whirlwind
summers Katie remembered from her childhood; nothing but sun and surf, games
and loud music, her new friends… and the possibility of a summer romance. Michael had not so much as e-mailed her since
she left, so she felt no guilt over her sudden urge to dally with a certain
blonde-haired elf. The attraction was
purely out of the blue; she normally preferred her men dark, muscular,
and…well… human. Legolas was the
original sun child, and bore a physique more akin to a ballet dancer’s than to
a weight-lifter’s. It was a welcome
change.
To his credit, the sun and ocean air seemed to
lift Legolas’ naturally high spirits.
Although he was still more dignified and contained than his compatriots,
he was quick to laugh or smile. He
delighted everyone by singing them Elvish sings once more as sat around nightly
campfires on the beach or lounged on the porch in the morning with cups of
coffee.
No one wanted it to end… and, true to his
usual spontaneity, Jason suggested to Katie that they take an extra week. For once in her life, Katie did not argue
with her cousin’s impulse. She would
hold onto this vacation for as long as she could. Besides, Gandalf had not yet made any announcement regarding his
progress in getting them back to Middle Earth…and she was not going to let
Jason take them back to New York City.
That would be just asking for trouble.
In the spirit of things, Kate also agreed to
hosting a party. Jason had unearthed a
few old friends from acting school who were in town and Katie could only shake
her head at him indulgently as he went crazy in the grocery store.
“This is going to be a great party!” he
exclaimed throwing a large bag of potato chips into the cart. “Not only is it you and me… the two coolest
people this side of the Grand Canyon… but we’ve got our newest and greatest
buds with us! Baz will be there… so
will Grant… Helene, Jackie,
Jennifer, Jeff...“
Kate laughed.
“The old college gang returns… sure this won’t be too scary for the
Middle Earthlings? And you may have to
keep Baz away from the boys… you know what a flirt he is.”
“Yeah, yeah… it’s all cool. After battle with the Nazgul, a simple party
should be a cakewalk for them… but I’ve given them sufficient warnings.” Jason
nodded merrily.
They finished the extensive food shopping and
then headed back to the house, Jason’s enthusiasm infectious to the point of
even exciting Katie. This would be fun,
she decided. She might be able to talk
Legolas into a dance or two… maybe even snatch him away for a minute or
two.
Her initial attraction to the fair-haired elf
had only grown since their first day in the ocean… now she sought him out
whenever possible. He didn’t seem to
mind that insistence either, for he talked with her easily, almost all trace of
any Elvish condescension vanishing. He
was unlike anyone she had ever met. He
was beautiful beyond normal appeal, almost ethereal… but quite plainly male in
this splendor. But his childlike
delight in the ocean waves and salt-laden air added an element of earthliness
to him when he might have seemed too angelic to be real. Hs light-heartedness, when he chose to let
it shine free, was contagious… prompting even the stern-faced Gimli and the
world-weary Aragorn to laughter. She
had been shocked into admiring silence when Legolas gave in to Jason’s jibing
and sang for her. His clear voice was
like nothing she’d ever heard… crystal in clarity and lilting in tone, it
wavered perfectly with every nuance.
Normally such vibrato irked her… but the skill with which Legolas sang
made it less a warble and more like the quaver of a finely-made string
instrument.
She was falling… and hard. Her mind warned her against it, reminding
her that the handsome elf would eventually return to his own world and leave
her behind. No matter what Jason
suggested, she couldn’t just up and disappear.
The real world just didn’t work like that.
As she and Jason walked up the sidewalk to the
house, they both noticed the entire Fellowship gathered on the porch, all
attention on Gandalf. Their expression
ranged from begrudging relief to vague disappointment. Legolas in particular looked downcast.
Jason slowed his step and Katie followed
suit. “What? What is it?” she asked quietly.
“He’s figured it out…” Jason sighed. “He knows how to get us back.”
“Isn’t that… a good thing?” she swallowed
against the sudden threat of tears.
“Yeah… but not if you’re in love.” He replied
in a soft voice.
“I thought you were going back with them.”
“I am… but, Katie… what about you?”
“What about me?” she repeated. “I can’t just abandon everything here. What about my job? What about my apartment?
What about… um… Michael?”
“Michael?
You haven’t so much as mentioned him since we got here… you don’t owe
him anything. And need I remind you
that you don’t even like your job?”
“Jay…I can’t.
Think about what your saying.
Their world is at a terrifying point.
If their quest fails then it’s the end of life as they know it. I’m not sure I want to take a chance with
them.” She sighed.
“But what about Legolas?” Jason insisted.
“What about Legolas?”
“Is there an echo in here? Katie… you care about him and don’t try to
tell me you don’t… and he cares about you.” He asserted.
Katie sighed again. “Jason… I won’t deny that I have a slight crush on him… but that
doesn’t mean I should drop everything and follow him to Mordor. He’s immortal for God’s sake! What would he want with a little mortal girl
who can only give him fifty years at most?”
“Aragorn and Arwen-“ he began.
“Are a special case, Jason… I’m not that
lucky. Not that I would allow him to
give up his immortality for me, even if he offered.” Katie interrupted. “No, Jason.
This is no fairy tale. If it
were, I would come with you, help defeat this Dark Lord, and live happily ever
after. But, things being as they are, I
can only dream about such things and live my mundane little life as it is.”
It was Jason’s turn to sigh. “Katie…I don’t agree with you… but if that’s
your decision, I can’t turn you from it, can I?”
“No,
Jason…you can’t.”