The Probability Factor

Chapter Twenty Three- Home Again, Home Again

(Dialogue in italics is spoken Sindarin)

The week passed quickly, and before I knew it, we had said our goodbyes and were all waiting out in the courtyard under the cold evening sky. Glorfindel looked like he was going to explode from the excitement, while Haldir just looked concerned. I knew he was worried about the trip back, but I was so happy to be going home, I couldn’t be bothered to echo his sentiment. Roxy was dancing around our ankles, knowing something big was up, but unsure as to exactly what. Lord Celeborn and the twins stood near us, looking both concerned and sad.

“You will all be missed very much,” Celeborn said with gravity.

“I will miss you on patrol, my friend. It will be lonely without you,” one of the twins spoke up. I thought it may’ve been Elladan.

“I am on patrol with you, fool. What are you talking about? Lonely, pah,” Elrohir scoffed.

Glorfindel smiled, “I will miss both of you too.”

The twins grinned back at him and then looked over at Haldir. “We will miss your skills with the bow as well, my friend,” Elrohir told him sincerely.

Before Haldir could respond in kind, a portal opened up a few feet from our position. Haldir and I picked up our bags and I took Roxy’s leash. Glorfindel shook the twins’ hands, and nodded to Celeborn.

“I will see you and the Lady in a few decades, my friend. Then we will drink fine wine and be merry,” he told Celeborn.

Waving to Celeborn and the twins, I was the first to step through the portal, with Roxy and my bags. I nearly fell out of the portal on the other end, but remembering the tumble I took the first time I went through, I managed to catch myself. It was dark on Howe Street, with the street lights flickering gently against the blackened sky, and I was never so happy to see Vancouver again as I was at that moment in my life. I moved out of the way, watching the street carefully. Not a soul was anywhere near our position, which relieved me as I couldn’t explain a lick of this if I tried. Glorfindel joined me on the street as he gracefully stepped out of the portal. I gently moved him out of the way, as a bus trundled down Hastings, past our little scene without so much as a by-your-leave. I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw Haldir step through the portal. Glorfindel was too busy to notice Haldir’s arrival, as he was looking everywhere but the passage between our worlds. The portal closed up after Haldir passed through and the light wind that was kicking around the opening disappeared with it.

Glorfindel shifted his pack and looked at me, “Where are we going to go now?”

“To get the keys to our place from my friend Alistair, and then back to the apartment,” I answered, as I picked up the bag by my feet and turned to walk up Howe Street.

It took about twenty minutes, but finally I was at Alistair’s building and pressing the buttons for his place. The call was answered on the third ring and a groggy voice asked who was there.

“Alistair? It’s me, Susan,” I shouted into the tiny box.

A muffled grunt and suddenly the voice became clearer. “Susan? Susan? Is that really you?”

“Alistair? Are you going to let us up, or are we going to freeze our butts off out here all night?” I retorted.

I heard a muffled curse and then the buzzer went off. I opened the door and Haldir helped me get through with my huge bags. Glorfindel was still staring at the call box when Haldir yanked him through the door.

“Trust me, my friend. You are in for many more surprises. Try not to panic when we go up in the elevator,” Haldir cautioned.

“Ely-vay-tor?” Glorfindel tried the word out carefully on his tongue.

“Elevator,” I reassured him. “Do not worry. You will be fine.”

“I wish I had known that the first time I went on that thing,” Haldir muttered under his breath.

I smiled as Glorfindel gave Haldir a quizzical look. The trip on the elevator went better than expected. Glorfindel just clutched our arms as Roxy barked helpfully at his feet. The door to Alistair’s place was open and an anxious Alistair looked out. I practically ran into his arms, except my baggage slowed me down quite a bit.

“Oh my god!” Alistair squealed, “It’s really you!”

I hugged him and look into the apartment. Steve was standing in the living room, looking dishevelled and confused.

“Sorry to bug you so late,” I apologized. I looked at the clock hanging in the hallway. It was after 1am, and I knew I was interrupting their sleep. “What day is it?” I whispered to Alistair.

“Tuesday,” he whispered back. “You’ve been gone a month.” He looked at Haldir and nodded, “Hey Hal.”

Haldir scowled at the nickname that Alistair had given him. “I had forgotten about that.”

Alistair giggled and then caught sight of Glorfindel. His mouth dropped open and he grabbed my arm. “Who is Gorgeous over there?” he stage whispered. Steve gave him a dirty look.

“Never you mind,” I snapped, “He’s not for your indulgence.”

“Susan, your friend is looking at me as though I were his next meal.” Glorfindel told me with slight anxiety.

“Alistair, stop it. You’re making him uncomfortable. Glorfindel, he will not hurt you. Just ignore him.” I advised them.

Haldir just grinned and putting down his bags, he walked up to Steve. “Steve, it is good to see you again. I trust all is well with you?”

“Yes, Haldir. I hope your visit with your family went well? You were gone quite some time,” Steve answered graciously.

“They are very well, thank you. I am glad to be home though,” Haldir told him sincerely.

“Keys?” I asked Alistair.

“Sorry,” he pulled my keychain off his hall table and handed them to me. “I’ve watered the plants, your mail is on the kitchen table and if I’d known you were coming home tonight, I would’ve had food sitting in your fridge. Alas…”

“Thank you, Alistair. You’ve been great. I’m sure you want to hit the pit, so I’ll get out of your hair and I’ll call you in the morning, okay?” I patted his hand.

“Oh c’mere you silly git,” Alistair swept me up into a bear hug. “I’ve missed you like crazy. Call me the minute you get up.”

Haldir took Roxy’s leash and with keys in hand, we left Alistair and Steve to their own devices. It was another five minute walk to get back to our apartment, and I was thrilled when I stepped across the threshold and back into my cozy abode. Turning on the hall lights and the living room lights, I dropped my bags by the bedroom hallway entrance.

“Come in, Glorfindel. I will make you up a bed on the couch. It should only be a temporary solution, as I will need to look for a larger apartment for all of us.” I explained.

“The floor will be fine,” Glorfindel assured me.

“Do not be ridiculous. You will have the couch until I can obtain a bed for you,” I told him.

Quickly I made up the couch as a bed and before another word could be said, I ran into the bathroom. There it sat, in all its glory. The object I had missed deeply since I left Earth. My toilet. I ran my hand reverently over the top and grabbed the handle. Haldir came to stand by the door and watched as I raised the lid. I smiled at him, and looking down into the clear water, I flushed. My heart twittered as the water swirled down the bowl and into the pipes below. The sound was music to my ears. I waited for the water to rise, and readied myself for more joy.

“You missed that a little too much,” he told me archly.

I smirked at him, “Not enough.”

He knew all about my toilet trauma, and I knew he was just humouring me as I flushed the toilet a second time. Triumphant, I stood up and shut the lid.

“That was fabulous,” I announced.

“You are really odd,” he pronounced.

“And you married me despite this,” I grinned.

“I am a fool,” he pulled me into a hug.

I nodded sagely as I rubbed my face into his jersey. “C’mon. Let’s get you into your pj’s. It’s late and I’d like to get some stuff done later today,” I dragged him out of the bathroom and down the hall into the bedroom.

Rummaging through the bureau, I found his bottoms and tossed them to him. I pulled out my jammies and quickly stripped out of my old clothing, and got into my cozy flannels. They weren’t Haldir’s favourites, but they kept me from freezing on cold winter nights. I felt like I had been cold forever, living in Imladris, but I was determined to get warm again. After I was dressed, I grabbed my terrycloth robe and trotted down the hall to check on Glorfindel.

“Do you need anything, Glorfindel?” I called, not daring to peek around the corner in case he was indecent.

“I am fine, Susan. Come here, please,” he called. I came around the corner and saw he was under the covers on the couch. “Thank you for taking me in, Susan. I am looking forward to seeing more of your world and seeing how people live here.”

“I know I will enjoy showing my world to you, and I know Haldir will enjoy showing you his discoveries as well,” I smiled.

Turning off all the lights, I went back to the bedroom, leaving Roxy, who chose to sleep by Glorfindel’s feet. I crawled into my slightly stale bed with Haldir and turned off the bedside lamp. In the darkness I felt Haldir shift and turn into my side as I curled up beside him. I was home and back on familiar territory. I knew that the next decades would go well as I had my husband back, our best friend, our other friends and my family to support us.