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An Undying World
Chapter Three: I Want to go Home (Amin Sinsrin a'alu Eska)
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Dr. Johnson sighed as he closed the door, leaving Legolas' room after a long argument with the elf. "It's no use," he told the nurse, "He's delusional. He seems to think that he's a 5000 year old elf prince, and he keeps ranting on about wars and rings."
"Were you able to get any logical information out of him?" The nurse asked.
"Well, he says his name is Legolas, which even now I'm beginning to doubt. But that's all we've got." He sighed, shaking his head, "I suppose we should try to find out if he does have any family. He said something about an old man named Gandalf, and for some reason that sounded familiar."
"Shall I see if anyone by that name has come in recently?" The nurse asked, already starting to type his name into the hospital data base. The doctor nodded, "Here we go," The nurse proclaimed in triumph, "Gandalf Grey, he came in here a long while ago, doesn't say why, and he doesn't give an address, but he did give a phone number. I'll try to contact him, shall I?"
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Legolas sat on his bed in a 5000-year-old-elf-prince pout. How could that human be so ignorant? Had Middle-earth really changed this much, that no one remembered one of the most significant events in its history? It did seem possible, however unlikely it was.
The doctor silently opened the door to look in on his patient. He was surprised to see the elf up, and planed to leave without being noticed.
Then Legolas spoke, "Don't leave, I have some questions for you."
He blinked, surprised. Legolas had heard him, but he hadn't even heard himself. He went in anyway and stood in front of the lovely elf, "All right, shoot."
Legolas stood gracefully and strode over to the window, "I know that it has been at least 2000 years and that certain developments may have changed Middle-earth. And I know that there is probably a good reason that you don't know of the Great Years," He paused, looking at the doctor his sapphire eyes locking with the coffee brown of the doctors, "But I also know that it did happen! Nine of us set out, eight of us returned, and only two remain of the Fellowship of the Ring."
"Two? A moment ago you said everyone you knew was dead."
"Gandalf is not dead, he cannot die. For he is a wizard, and has lived
since the dawn of time," He looked down, "However, I have not heard from
him in over a thousand years."
Smiling, Dr. Johnson lay a comforting hand on Legolas' shoulder, surprised to find the elf taller than him. "I think you are in luck, Legolas. It seems that we have heard from your friend, though it was quite a while ago I admit."
The prince blinked, he'd suspected that Gandalf had returned to Middle-earth, "So he did come back," the elf muttered, more to himself than to the doctor.
"We've taken the liberty of contacting him for you. Seeing as he's the closest thing to a relative you've named," The doctor smiled.
Legolas smiled back, "Thank you."
~~~~~~~~~~~
"Legolas you stupid elf."
"What'd I do--" He turned and, seeing who the speaker was, a smile lit up his fair face, "Gandalf!"
Gandalf (dressed more or less normally for an old man living in the 21st century) however, did not smile back, "You came back that's what you did! And for no particular reason I might add!"
For a moment Legolas could do nothing but stare, slack jawed in confusion and shock. Then he looked down at the ground, ashamed and hurt, "But Gandalf... You came back," He muttered.
"Yes, yet I was not found half dead on the beach. And I did not go yelling at doctors telling them I was a wizard."
"How was I supposed to know they'd all forgotten," Legolas countered, though still inspecting the floor.
The wizard thought on this for a moment, but not being able to come up with a smart-arse come back said, "Forget it," he placed the duffle bag he carried on the foot of Legolas' bed and unzipped it. The wizard pulled out some clothes and handed them to the elven prince," Put these on, we don't want you to look out of place."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Gandalf checked Legolas out of the hospital under the guise of the prince's grandfather. Legolas, now wearing a pair of jeans that were slightly too big for him, a green T-shirt and his old boots (seeing as no one knew his shoe size), and carrying the duffle bag, watched curiously as Gandalf filled out release form after release form. He dutifully answered questions when they were asked, but was otherwise silent.
Half an hour later elf and wizard finally left the hospital. Gandalf lead the way to the train, bought Legolas a ticket and explained to him what it was. The entire train ride home the prince stared out the window, enthralled as to how much the world had changed in his absence.
Finally arriving at Gandalf's train station the two walked the last few blocks to the wizards semi. As they approached they saw a familiar figure sitting on the doorstep.
"You locked me out again Gandalf," He said.
The elf's eyes widened in shock, "Aragorn?"
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To be continued...