Come to Life

Chapter XVI

"Why the hell is there an elk in the middle of the road?!" Samzin complained.

"That's not just an elk," Legolas commented, staring at it, "that's an elk from the Woodland Realm. We must be close to the portal."

"If by close you mean fifty miles, sure," Parker said rudely. "Because the mountains are fifty miles away."

"For an elk from the Woodland Realm that is a mere distance," Legolas replied evenly. "We need to follow it."

Parker put the car into drive and slowly creeped after the elk which started to move forward down the road.

"Almost home," Legolas breathed. A smile lit his face and then faded just as soon as it came. "I'm going to miss you guys," he admitted honestly.

"Even me?" Christian asked. He smirked and added, "I'm quite unforgettable."

"Even you," Legolas laughed. His hand ghosted over mine and he said, under his breath, "you could come with me, you know."

I stared at him, shocked. "How?"

"We... My father could make you an elf. And we could spend the rest of life together," Legolas explained.

"But you have Tauriel," I reminded him, naming the female elf Legolas is enamored with in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.'

"I don't have Tauriel," Legolas corrected. "My father thinks she is beneath me."

"That's what she said," Parker joked from the front seat. He smiled quickly and then kept on concentrating on the elk that had now started to walk at a brisker pace.

"Parker!" The whole car yelled.

"Not appropriate," Liv said, disgusted. She wrinkled her nose and repeated herself, "that was not appropriate at all."

"I agree," Samzin added. He then popped open another soda and made a show of drinking it in front of Parker in one long gulp. "I need to pee again."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Parker had pulled the car over and made Samzin go into the woods to relieve himself quickly. The moment he came back, Parker slammed his foot on the pedal causing our stomachs and the car to lurch forward.

"Ten more miles," Legolas announced. He was positively glowing now.

I sighed; I was going to miss him. After all, we shared some pretty great moments together. My hand searched around and when it found his, I held on tight. I heard his slight intake of breath but then his hand gently squeezed mine as if to say, "it's okay."

"This is the place!" Legolas announced excitedly, a few minutes later. We had neared the bottom of a mountain and the bottom of it was covered in tall pine trees.

"I thought you said finding this would be dangerous!" Christian accused Legolas. "This was easy as shit."

"It's near the portal that's dangerous," Legolas said solemnly. With that, Christian shut up and 'hmph'd.'

We all got out of the van and saw the people from the black van get out too. They looked in better shape, all clean and not grumpy. How, I don't know.

"Be on your guard," Legolas warned. He withdrew his sword and it gleamed faintly in the dim light.

Without warning, something flew out of the woods and at Legolas. He flicked his wrist, stabbed it, and the thing gave a bloodcurdling shriek and then stopped moving. We all peered at it and then grimaced.

"It was an Orc, wasn't it?" I asked curiously.

Before Legolas could answer more came charging at us from the woods.

"Die!" Christian screamed. He ran at them with a heavy looking stick he had found lying around.

"Shit!" Samzin exclaimed. He ran to the car and got his baseball bat and then chased after Christian.

Together, they knocked out about five out of ten orcs. Legolas looked at them appraisingly and then finished off the remaining three with unequaled grace and skill.

"That should be it," Legolas said. He was cut off when a stray Orc came and hit him across the back of his head with a small shield. It apparently had no effect because Legolas merely turned around and ran his sword through the orcs stomach. Pulling the sword out, he wiped it on the tunic of the Orc and then sheathed it. He jogged back to the van to pick up his bag of stuff. When he returned, his face was solemn and somewhat sad.

"This is where I leave you," he told us, motioning towards two equal-looking trees that stand parallel to each other. "Katherine," he added softly. "Have you made up your mind?"

"Made up your mind about what?" Parker asked. He paused and then said, "oh, that."

"I don't know what to do!" I exclaimed helplessly. I looked beseechingly at Parker.

"Whatever you think is right," Parker replied quietly. "I'll support whichever decision you make."

Everyone else besides Legolas nodded and took a step forward. They put their hands on my shoulder and said, "we'll respect whatever choice you make."

My eyes got a little teary and I mumbled, voice cracking a bit, "I- I- I don't know."

"Choose," Legolas whispered. His face was full of emotion. Pain, hope, love, anger, sorrow, and many more that seemed too complex for a single word.

I broke away from the group and stood with my back facing everyone. After a few minutes which seemed like eternity, I turned around to face everyone.

"I'm sorry. But I choose..."