A song
played on a solo saxophone
A crazy
sound, a lonely sound
A cry that
tells us love goes on and on
Played on a
solo saxophone
It’s
telling me to hold you tight
And dance
like it’s the last night of the world
-
Miss Saigon
Gandalf had indeed remembered a spell that
would transport the Fellowship back to Middle Earth, although he could not be
exactly certain of where in Middle Earth they might turn up. His argument against anyone’s complaints was
that the Valar would not likely place them far off-course without reason. Merry thought that maybe, if they could
leave The One Ring behind, then all of their problems would be solved. But Gandalf shook his grey head gravely… if
he could stumble into Jason and Katie’s world… so could Sauron. The quest still stood and the Ring had to be
destroyed… not simply abandoned and hidden.
At Jason’s insistence that he remain with the
company, Aragorn expressed reluctance.
“We are on a very dangerous mission, Jaycen.” He said grimly. “Why should you risk your life?”
“Tell me this… why should you?” Jason
replied.
“Middle Earth is our home and the memory of
the Dark Years has only just dispersed into mere echoes.” Aragorn explained.
“Then it’s a worthy cause. Why shouldn’t I want to help?” Jason
inquired seriously.
“You are not from Middle Earth, Jaycen… why
would you want to risk your life to save it?” Boromir asked in a quiet voice.
“Look, I really don’t expect any of you guys
to understand. I’ve never felt like I
belong here. Only when I’m onstage,
living in someone else’s skin do I feel any peace. With you, I have a purpose.
My heart tells me that Middle Earth is my… my real home… if you will.”
Jason sighed.
Katie looked down. “Jay… I still don’t like this.”
Jason knelt and took her hands, his gaze
candid. “I know, cuz… believe me. But it’s just something I have to do. Try to understand.”
She paused before nodding. “All right, Jay… your heart’s never steered
you wrong before. I don’t see why it
should start now. I just hope you don’t
regret it.”
He smiled.
“I won’t… I know it.”
“It is final then.” Gandalf nodded, a knowing
glint in his eyes. “Jaycen will join
the Fellowship permanently. He has
proven his mettle before and will be of great help I think.”
Frodo smiled.
“I am glad. You are a good
friend, Jaycen.”
“Please, please.” Jason laughed. “You’ll make me blush! Then Baz won’t leave me alone for the rest
of the night.”
“Baz won’t leave you alone no matter what
color you are.” Katie reminded him before standing. “We need to get ready, cuz.
You wanna do the food, Jay? And
I’ll set up the sound system and prepare to deejay this whole affair?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Hey… how are we explaining the interspecies
aspects of this party to your friends?
I doubt they’re expecting dwarves, elves, and hobbits to greet them.”
“You know Baz and the gang, they’ll take
whatever comes flying at them. If
anyone asks, just say I met them on some movie set.” Jason shrugged.
“Oh really now? And which movie might that be?”
“The Lord of the Rings of course.”
“Hooboy… this is going to be interesting.”
Luckily, true to his word, none of Jason’s
friends seemed overly surprised by the presence of the somewhat shorter members
of the group. Baz, as expected, flirted
with everyone, male and female alike.
Katie kept things going as the unofficial deejay and when the CD player
didn’t need her attention, she was teaching everyone how to dance. Frodo and Pippin in particular took to it,
looking like to very small Backstreet Boys, as Helene pointed out to them
teasingly. Legolas had a time of it,
trying to fend off a slightly buzzed and very amorous Jackie… luckily Jason
rescued him, setting her attentions on Jeff instead.
Baz seized Katie’s hand, whirling her into his
arms with his most charming grin on.
“Teach me to dance, sweets?”
Katie blushed and laughed. “You look like you already know how to
dance, Baz.”
“I do.
But I need a partner, don’t I?” he feigned innocence.
“Oh, all right. If I must.” Katie sighed with
a wink. Out of the corner of her eye,
she saw Legolas rise from his seat, watching her with Baz in a distinctly
envious manner. Her heart leapt into
her throat… was he acting… jealous?
Her view of him was stolen as Baz spun her out
from him quickly and pulled her back so that he could take her into a deep
backwards dip. “You know Dirty
Dancing right?”
“I… know the movie, yes.”
“Think you can pull off the climax?”
She coughed delicately. “Except for the lift at the end, yes.”
“Cool… shall we?”
Without waiting for her reply, he pulled her
back up and began dancing the mambo with her.
Fortunately, Katie was quick to follow his lead… her old dance classes
coming back to her easily. She kept
herself separate from her partner however, somehow mindful of causing Legolas
any undue resentment, occupying her mind more with keeping her frame locked
than with the handsome Baz. She
couldn’t decide whether to be disappointed of thankful when the dance ended and
Baz kissed her hand before slipping off to flirt with Helene.
It was late into the night when a warm,
slender hand sought hers as she watched some of the other slow-dance. She turned around to find Legolas’ stormy
grey eyes meeting hers in a beseeching manner as he gently pulled her off to
the side and out onto the deserted porch.
“Is something wrong, Legolas?” she asked,
concerned by the seriousness of her countenance.
“Not exactly.
I did not mean to startle you, Kate.
I only wished to speak with you privately.” He shook his head, gesturing
for her to sit on the porch swing.
She sat with as much grace as she could
muster. “That’s all right. You didn’t startle me too badly. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Gandalf says… we are to leave on the
morrow. I thought I might not have a
chance to…” he drifted off, shifting uncomfortably.
“Say goodbye to me?” she finished for him in a
soft voice.
He nodded.
“I do not wish to say farewell.
I have grown rather fond of you… too fond.”
“You and me both.” She agreed. “It just… it would never have worked… would
it?”
He shook his head sorrowfully. “No.
I do not think it would have.
And my heart feels heavy for it.”
He sighed, taking her hands within his in a
graceful, tender touch. “And yet… would
it be so dreadful a thing to imagine, for this last night… that things are not
just as they are?”
She swallowed. “What are you suggesting, Legolas?”
“Nothing that you would not wish, Kate. If you would rather we go our separate ways
sooner rather than later, then it shall be so.
But might I ask one favor from you first?” he asked, his voice no more
than a breath.
“Ask.” Was all she could say in reply.
“Dance with me… as the others are dancing…
this fluid embrace that sways with the music.” He rose, her hands still in his,
lightly pulling her up with him.
She swallowed and nodded, letting the elf take
her into his arms and gradually begin to rock from side to side with the gentle
song that wafted outside. At first, she
remained perfectly still, not daring to let her hands do anything more than
rest where he placed them. But
gradually, she grew braver, letting one hand drift to the back of his neck,
toying with the long blonde locks at the nape.
Her other hand slid to rest over his heart, cherishing the steady beat underneath. For his part, he did not try any of the
tricks she might have expected from Baz or any other fellow. The hand that rested on the small of her
back was warm and oddly protective, the other caressed over her hair in a light
sweep, his thumb brushing her cheek… their eyes never breaking contact, ocean
blue on sky grey.
The song changed, although neither of them
truly noticed…all they knew was that the only reason eye contact was broken was
so that Kate could lay her head over Legolas’ heart, pressing herself closer to
him. She could heart his heart beat
jump, could feel his quiet gasp of surprise and her cheeks flushed. But she didn’t pull back… they were
pretending after all.
“Katrina…” he whispered, the sound of her name
being caressed by his voice sending a mild shiver up her spine.
“Hmm?” she sighed by way of reply, unwilling
to let go of the elf just yet.
He chuckled gently. “Nothing… I only wanted to… say your name.”
They stayed as they were, wrapped in each
other’s arms, warm against one another in the cool night air. Kate could hear the music slowly cease and
their guests bid Jason and the others goodnight. The house grew quiet, filled only with the small sounds of
everyone cleaning up and heading off to bed.
Still, she and Legolas remained on the dimly lit porch, sitting back on
the swing when their feet grew tired… still embracing each other.
“It’s late…” she whispered against his neck
only when her back began to ache with weariness. “We should… go to bed.
You will need your rest if you are to return to-“
He cut her off, one slender finger pressed to
her lips. “Ai… no. We will have no mention of tomorrow,
remember? There is only tonight.”
“Legolas…” she sighed, wishing with all of her
might that she could, just this once, do what she really wanted to without
worrying over her many responsibilities.
Why couldn’t any of her responsibilities be about her own happiness?
“Hush…I know.” He whispered. “Your heart is careworn… as is mine. Let me comfort you. Take your rest in my arms… please, Katrina?”
She
could form no reply… only nod her head next to his chest as Legolas stretched
out across the porch swing, cradling her body against his own. The air around then was warm with summer,
but it was the warmth of affection that made Kate’s cheeks glow in the
starlight, even as she slowly drifted off to sleep… kept within an Elvish
embrace.