Chapter Text
Crystal stood before the full length mirror, and surveyed her image. Her grey blue eyes were outlined in kohl, and her lashes were long and full after the careful application of layers of mascara. Her skin was naturally beautiful and needed neither concealer nor blush. On the spur of the moment, she decided to apply a little of the deep wine stain lipstick she wore on occasion. Her deep gold locks were naturally wavy, but this evening had been tamed to a sleek and shining cascade that reached a few inches past her breasts by use of a flat iron. Next she had braided a section of her hair at her temples and connected the two sides in the back in a single long braid down the back of her head. She must remember to put on the cute little elven ear tips she had procured for this evening.
Her long gown was cream colored with gold embroidery along the bodice.
She turned from front to side to view her image. She sucked in her waist and looked at herself critically. Yes, she thought, I could almost pass for an elf in this get-up. But with the ears and the beautiful lightweight satin lined crushed velvet cloak she had splurged on, in a rosy lilac color, she would look almost regal. She smiled at the thought of what the boys would think when they saw her.
She wasn't wearing any jewelry but she would carry a small evening bag that could carry her phone. She checked the time and realized she had less than two hours before she needed to pick up the boys from comic con.
Her son Matt and his two best friends had taken her up on her offer to pick them up after comic con and be their designated driver so they could imbibe. She had bought a couple tickets so she could bring a friend and enjoy the sights for a couple hours before driving the boys home at the end of the evening.
She checked the time. After walking swiftly to the kitchen, her high heels making a pleasant clicking sound over the tile, she surveyed the meal she had half prepared. If she told the boys she was making a pan of lasagne, there was almost no doubt she could convince them all to come home for a nice home cooked meal. The bread was freshly baked and cooling on a rack on the counter. A salad had already been tossed and set in the refrigerator. A bottle of wine was sitting in the decanter, breathing and would be ready by the time they all returned home. The lasagne had already been assembled, and she would bake it fresh as soon as they arrived. She was literally crossing her fingers they would come home with her so there would be no need for her to eat a solitary meal.
She went to the hall closet and swung the gorgeous velvet cloak around herself, and then blew herself a kiss in the mirror, for luck. Exiting her apartment, she locked the door and went out to her car.
After entering the interstate, she realized she needed to gas up. Like pronto. Sighing, she looked for an opening in the traffic to make her way over to the right lanes. After a while she was able to take an exit.
She drove for a while, looking for a gas station. Nothing appeared, and in fact it looked like she was driving along a small road with little traffic, and even less buildings and amenities. The sun had just gone below the horizon, leaving her in a dark swath of shadow. After about five more minutes her fingers were clenching the steering wheel. She was on empty. With a huge sigh of relief, she saw a gas station and pulled in. It was dimly lit, and there didn't appear to be anyone around. She turned off the engine and exited. After putting her card in she began gassing up.
From the shadows a man appeared. He held out his hands to his sides to seem less threatening, she supposed, and walked near her car. In his hands he held a gas container.
“Hi.” he said. “Listen, I'm sorry to bother you, but ah... my car ran out of gas, and I don't have any cash on me. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind helping me out?” he rushed on. “The car is about a mile away, that way,” he said pointing. “and if you wouldn't mind like spotting me a gallon of gas, I could make it home easy, with no problems.” He smiled.
“Sure.”
She reached for the empty container and filled it with gas, since her tank was now full, and handed it to the stranger with a small smile.
“Hey lady, thanks a lot!” the man said.
“No problem” she responded. “I'm glad I could help.”
“So... I was supposed to be home an hour ago to watch my little brother. I'm really late. But you know, only because I had to walk so far to this station.” He looked at her entreatingly. “If you have the time, could you give me a ride to my car?”
Her skin prickled. She felt ill at ease. Still, he seemed earnest, and he didn't look scary.
She nodded at him, and unlocked the door and they got in. Following his directions she pointed her car in the direction she had been driving before pulling in to the gas station. In less than a minute she saw what she presumed was his car on the side of the road.
“This is it, thanks a lot” he said as she pulled over just behind his car.
Once she had her car in park, he lunged at her and gripped her wrists fast in one hand. His other held a knife to her stomach. It happened so swiftly she had just time to inhale a shaky breath before he spoke.
“Easy, lady. Stay quiet and this will be over in just a minute. I'm going to let your hands go and you're going to get out. Any screams and any attempts to run away, and you'll regret it. Do you understand?”
“Y yes.”
“OK. Nice and slow. Open your door and get out.”
Crystal reached for the handle and opened it. Her legs felt rubbery but she managed to stand just outside the car door. The man smoothly followed her out, keeping the knife pressed against her.
In the beam of the headlights she saw two men sit up and exit the car in front of her. Her heart sank.
“Chris, what kinda treat did you bring us?” one called out.
The two came closer and now all three men were looking at her.
“I gave you gas, and brought you here,” she gasped. “Please just let me go now!”
“Let you go? That's rich. Lady, we're going to get a whole lot more outta you than gas.” said a large and hairy man. His clothing looked as if he had spilled more than he had eaten at his last meal, and then promptly gone out and rolled in the dirt. He smirked at her.
“Take her over there, past the ditch into that small thicket of trees. Wait for me. I'm going to check out her car, and see what kind of goodies she is willing to donate to us.”
“I have a little bit of money in the purse under my seat.” she told him over her shoulder as she was being taken away. The man who she had given gas to, Chris, as he had been identified by the big hairy guy and the other man dragged her through the ditch and into trees. She felt so scared that she was becoming nauseous.
“Please just let me go,” she begged. I swear you can have the money in my purse and I won't tell anyone ever! Just let me go.”
“She's getting mouthy.” the man on her left said. “Keep her still Chris.” He pulled out a handkerchief and gagged her with it. “She's a cute little thing.” he added. He opened her cloak and ran a finger along the top of her bodice. She wrenched to the side in outrage. “Hold still. We're in charge. You're gonna take whatever we say you're gonna take. Now. Be a good girl.” This time his hand encircled a breast and kneaded. She gasped when he pinched her nipple hard. Tears began to seep out her eyes and she told herself to focus on getting her breathing under control. Now was not the time to panic, but to try to find a way out of this despicable situation.
The fat hairy man joined them. He was holding up a fifty dollar bill.
“This is it? That's all you got lady? This isn't even worth our time!” He seemed angry. “Chris, I thought you said you knew how to pick 'em?
“Look at her man! Her car's nice, she looks like she's on her way to the opera or some shit. She should have money.”
“That all you got lady?” the fat man inquired.
She nodded.
The man who had pinched her breast suddenly pulled her into him and ground his pelvis against her while groping her buttocks. She tried to get away, but he held her tight. “She might not have any more money, but she's got a whole lot more to offer me.” he laughed.
The others laughed too and Crystal despaired. How was she going to get out of this situation? She quickly pulled the gag out of her mouth and screamed as loud as she could.
They laughed at her. “Out here in the middle of nowhere? Nobody's going to hear you scream.”
She was sobbing as they placed her on the ground. The big hairy man was on his knees between hers, and fumbling at his zipper, when suddenly he stopped. He looked past her head, and into the trees.
A powerful voice called out.
“Unhand the maiden, you seed of darkness, or I shall feed your livers to an Orc myself.”
When Crystal felt her hands loosed, she jumped to her feet. She looked in the direction of the voice, and saw a huge man striding to them. He was wearing armor. The fading light glinted off it. In his hand was a massive sword. His stride was swift and in no time he had put himself between her and her assailants. The big guy got up on his feet and made as if to protest.
“Do you dare to defy me?” asked the warrior. His sword tip gently danced and the hairy man's shirt was split. Now the tip of the sword was pressed to his breastbone.
He raised his arms and replied “We don't want no trouble. We'll just be on our way if you let us.”
The warrior stared coldly into his eyes for a moment before nodding assent. The three fled to their car and soon the only thing left of them was the fading taillights of their speeding car.
Crystal sank to her knees as the effects of adrenaline hit. She was trembling and inhaling rapidly. Her heart beat rapidly, and she was conscious again of feeling nausea. She forced herself to take deep slow breaths.
She felt a hand cup the top of her head. Then he knelt before her and his hand reached out to lift her chin. His luminous eyes sought her gaze. His expression was kind and a little sad.
“My lady, are you hurt?”
“No. No, I'm fine, I'm just a little freaked out. You saved me!” She reached for him and he held her in his embrace. The cold metal of his breastplate under her cheek made her realize the incongruity of her situation. “I've just been saved from the most horrifying event of my life, by no less than a knight in shining armor.” she said under her breath and began to laugh. He looked at her inquisitively as she began to shake with mirth.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to laugh, but. This. Whatever. Is just too wow- I think I may still be in shock.”
He gave her a little half smile and caressed her hair. Then he took her hands and raised her to her feet.
“I wish to offer you hospitality little one, but I fear I've lost my way.
“You're lost?” she asked.
He didn't look like he wanted to admit it, but he finally nodded yes.
“Well, you can come with me. It's pretty obvious you were on your way to comic con too, what with your get-up. I'll let you use my phone. Right now I need to hurry up, I definitely don't want my son to worry.”
She grabbed his hand and stepped toward where her car was waiting, but he was immovable.
“I fail to understand all that you just said my Lady. Do you wish me to accompany you?”
“You are lost, right? Come with me. I will help you.”
He looked back the way he had come.
“Nothing about this place looks right. The earth feels different. The air is... sick. The trees are not the same. No, we are not in my forest, and I am at a loss as to how I have come here. I will come with you.”
“OK.” she said, and this time when she tugged his hand he came with her.
Crystal was relieved to find her evening bag on the front seat of her car. In it were her cellphone, her I.D., and two comic con tickets. She looked at her knight, and thought it was a stroke of luck after all that her friend couldn't come with her as they had originally planned.
She gathered everything back into her evening bag and checked her reflection in the mirror. Her eye make-up was slightly smudged because of her tears, but that was an easy fix. She grabbed a tissue out of the glove box and fixed it.
She noticed her knight hadn't gotten in the car yet. She hopped out and came over to where he was standing.
He was so tall. Well over six feet. Maybe closer to seven! She opened the door and adjusted the passenger seat to be more accommodating for him.
“Well, have a seat, and we can be on our way.”
“You want me to enter this...”
“You don't like my car? I adjusted the seat, so you should be able to fit.”
He looked at her with a doubtful expression, but sat down anyway. He did fit. Barely.
She shut the door and got in the driver's seat. After she started up the engine and put it in drive, she heard him take a breath sharply. He sat rigidly even when she asked him to fasten his seat-belt. After everything she had just been through, she really didn't want to have to worry about his seat belt, but since they were going to be taking the freeway, she had to insist. She stopped the car and reached across him for the belt and clicked it in place. She smiled at him and continued on.
Forty five minutes later, they were at comic-con. After parking and exiting the car, she finally got a good look at her knight.
He was ridiculously beautiful. His long pale hair hung down his back almost to his waist. He had sheathed his sword and taken her arm and held it clasped firmly to his side.
My lady, we are here for...?”
“Oh, I need to pick up my son and his friends. Plus I have tickets enough for both of us so we can see the sights. Before I forget, can you tell me your name?”
“I am Thranduil.”
“Oh! Of course you are!” She beamed at him, noticing his pointed ears for the first time, and the elegant circlet over his brow. “I've got to tell you Thranduil, you may be even more gorgeous than Lee Pace, although the likeness is amazing!”
She missed the look of confusion he sent her way, as she pulled out her cell phone.
“Matt,” she texted. “I'm finally here, and I'm with Thranduil ;)”
A few moments later she got a text back from him.
“Great Mom, see you soon.”
“OK, I'm ready. Here's your ticket Thranduil.”
Once they made their way inside, they caused a minor stir, as many fan girls thought they were seeing Lee Pace.
“Oh look, it's the Elven King and his Queen.” somebody said. Crystal winked at Thranduil. He gripped her hand tighter as they moved through the crowd.
After a few minutes of wandering, Thranduil stopped her.
“We should leave.”
“Already?”
“Yes.”
“Didn't you want to come to comic con? Do you have friends here?”
“My Lady, I regret to tell you that many of the things you say have no meaning to me. I don't know what is a comic con. I don't want to be here unless being here has meaning for you. I believe you are meeting your son here? As for my friends, I am afraid they are back where I come from, wherever that is. I am still lost, unfortunately,”
“Oh.” Crystal looked at him, her brow furrowed in puzzlement. “Here is my phone, call your people.”
He took the small phone in his gauntlet covered hands, and stared at it. He handed it back to her with a sigh.
“I am not certain what you intended me to do with that... phone.” He turned her until she was facing him and he held her hands in his.
“My Lady. The things I have seen from the moment I first met you and the feelings I have perceived about this land... I fear very much that I am no longer in Middle Earth.”
She stared at him, with jaw dropped.