The Forsaken

Disclaimer: (In the spirit of Crimson Starlight)

Jan: *pouting*

Erin: What's with her?

Shana: *rolls eyes* I made her choose.

Erin: Choose?

Shana: Between Haldir and Legolas. Now she's living with millennia of what ifs.

Erin: Oh. *suddenly confused* Wait a minute…

Shana: Crux is a different timeline/universe. Twisted and Forsaken are same universe, different timelines.

Erin: Ah. I think.

Jan: Shanastay owns nothing and no one, thank the Valar!

Chapter 6: Face-Off

Shar and Elena headed downstairs to Elena’s condo. The two women quickly set up shop in front of Elena’s bank of computers. Shar signed on to the one while Elena slid back and forth in her rolling chair between two others. Elena loaded the “Overlord” program, directing one computer to search English-language news sources, the other she had searching other languages.

Once Elena had both units running she sat back in her chair, considering the tense form of her friend, fingernails clicking away on the keyboard. She hadn’t been surprised by Shar’s reaction to Haldir’s conversation with Janessa. There was no love lost between the women. Elena had been the unfortunate witness to the women’s first and only meeting.

*********

Elena remembers…

Elena and Daniel had been over at Shar’s watching a football game (ok so it was more like the males were watching the game while the women chattered about something else) when the phone had rung, identifying someone at the gate.

Haldir had answered it and buzzed them up, looking unusually excited, standing by the door. Shar had simply quirked an eyebrow, focusing back on her friend. It wasn’t until Shar heard Haldir’s greeting that she turned around.

“Mae Govannen, Legolas.”

Shar shot out of her seat to stand next to Haldir, conveying her own greeting to the Prince. Once pleasantries had been exchanged another figure stepped up behind the slender archer.

Elena could see both Haldir and Shar stiffen visibly. Who is that? Her question was answered as Haldir politely greeted the woman.

“Hello, Janessa.”

Janessa? Uh oh.

Elena watched as Shar drew the woman into the flat. Haldir turned and looked at Daniel, raising both brows. Daniel recognized the invitation and rose, squeezing Elena’s leg before following the two elves out of the unit. Why do I have a feeling this has something to do with cars?

Elena took the remote and turned off the TV, standing as Shar introduced her to the striking redhead. She found she was about the same height as Janessa, Shar’s tall boots the only thing bringing her close to the other two women’s level. Elena viewed the woman with veiled suspicion, having heard from Shar what had happened between the true redhead and Haldir.

Janessa was wearing a sweater halter-top and flared low-rise jeans that exposed most of her back and a swath of her stomach. Elena stifled a gasp as the woman turned around, the tattoos on her back visible. Shar gaped as well when Janessa turned away, exposing her back to the shorter woman’s gaze, fixing on the artwork exposed to their eyes.

Janessa whirled, eyes flickering back and forth between the two women. “What? What is it?”

Elena thought fast on her feet, recovering before Shar, quickly covering the source of their shock. “I have a GREAT idea and I bet Shar knows just what I’m thinking…”

That gave Shar the needed moment to rebound, covering herself well. She crossed her arms over her chest as she spoke. “Oh yeah. Please, do elaborate on the scheme I just know you have devised. Why do I have a feeling it has something to do with the males, the elves in particular?”

Janessa narrowed her eyes, gazing at Elena suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

Grinning widely, the other two women answered simultaneously, “Praaaaank!”

*********

Meanwhile, out in the parking lot…

For an elf that claimed to want to avoid attention and whose mate demanded it, Legolas had an incongruent love of flashy cars. The Prince’s most recent acquisition was a 1976 Corvette Stingray painted an eye-catching candy-apple red.

The three males currently had their heads pressed together, Legolas in the middle, bent over the engine as the Prince pointed out various modifications he had made to the original specs. The occasional question and appreciative grunt could be heard emanating from the group.

******

Across the way, by the condo security gate…

Almost as if they had choreographed it, the three women simultaneously rolled their eyes and sighed loudly, commenting, “Males,” under their breath.

Janessa stood back as she watched the other two women walk over to the males, insinuating themselves between so they bracketed the Prince.

Shar had placed herself so she was wedged between Haldir and Legolas. The males paid them no mind until Elena piped up, pointing at something and asking a question as she drew her hair behind one suddenly pointed ear.

Legolas began to answer her as his mind suddenly registered the fact that Elena wasn’t an elf and therefore shouldn’t have pointed ears. His words cut short, he stared until his gaze was drawn away toward Shar repeating Elena’s question, pushing her hair back behind HER pointed ears.

Both Haldir and Legolas gasped, taking steps back as Daniel suddenly doubled over laughing, leaning on the car for support. The addition of Janessa’s snicker from across the way had the elves eyes widening further, not comprehending the joke just yet.

Haldir looked closer, ignoring the laughter around him and Shar’s completely innocent expression. He looked from Shar’s ears to Legolas’ and back, comparing them for a moment before realization struck. As soon as comprehension crossed his face Shar pulled him down for a lingering kiss that left him breathless for a moment.

When she finally released him the Marchwarden looked at his friend who was still regarding everyone, consternation clear on the Prince’s face. “They’re wearing prosthetic Vulcan ears,” he commented wryly, refusing to release Shar from his grasp just yet. At Legolas’ still furrowed brow he continued, “Star Trek? Remember?”

Haldir rolled his eyes as his long-time friend finally ‘got it’ his face darkening in annoyance. The Prince threw a glare at Janessa who simply shrugged her shoulders. Daniel finally got his laughter under control, leaning against Elena who had dissolved into giggles herself. Legolas just seemed thoroughly disgusted at the whole display.

Haldir placed a kiss on Shar’s forehead, pulling her Vulcan ears off at the same time. “I like your own ears better,” he murmured, running his fingers along their curve, watching her eyes close and she shuddered. Again, he delighted in the fact that his mate’s ears were almost as sensitive to touch as his own before relinquishing his hold on her.

The joke over, Elena gave Daniel a quick hug and a kiss and with Shar headed back up to the condo, Janessa in the lead. Elena picked up on Legolas’ mate shaking her head, having been unwilling to participate in the innocent prank. The brunette had also noticed the scowl that had crossed the woman’s face as Shar kissed Haldir. Janessa had seemed inordinately annoyed at the patently affectionate display. Elena smirked inwardly. I wonder how she feels knowing she’s truly been replaced.

The three males turned back to the car as the women retreated back to the condo.

*******

Back up in Shar’s condo’s kitchen…

Janessa leaned against the wall as Shar and Elena bustled around the kitchen, preparing snacks and a make-your-own sandwich set-up. She occasionally moved out of the way as Shar or Elena moved past her to the dining room table to add something to the buffet they were creating.

Elena kept up a quiet chatter with Shar as they worked, trying to draw Janessa into the conversation periodically, only to receive short, clipped answers. The brunette observed the woman watching Shar from hooded eyes. The hostility in the redhead’s eyes was only thinly veiled. Shar was doing an admirable job ignoring it. Elena knew that it was only for Hal that the short woman would swallow her pride in such a way.

What is your problem? What happened with Haldir was millennia ago. What is it you are still holding on to? Do you not wish to see him happy? You have been with Legolas all this time. You nearly destroyed their friendship. Perhaps you wish you HAD ended the friendship, or no, perhaps you wonder if you chose the right elf…

Elena stopped dead in her tracks at that last thought, regarding the woman who had her back turned to her in a new light. That’s it. All this time you’ve been wondering, “What if?” and it’s been eating at you. Seeing Haldir so clearly happy must twist in your gut. You can’t keep the thought that that could have been you out of your head. Elena truly felt pity for the woman who had clearly spent an eternity living with unconscious regret. She’s not even aware of it.

Something else hit Elena at that moment. During the entire prank Hal never looked over at Janessa. He didn’t even look around to see if she was anywhere nearby. She cringed inwardly. That had to hurt.

Elena watched Janessa stiffen perceptibly as Shar pulled off her sweatshirt, the tattoos on the short redhead’s back now visible. The taller redhead audibly sucked in a breath, taking a step toward Shar. “How?”

Now wearing only a bra-top tank, Shar turned around at the word, a frown creasing her face. “What?” Her eyes widened suddenly as she realized what the removal of her sweatshirt had revealed to Janessa.

Elena watched silently as the two women regarded each other with open suspicion. Janessa spoke first. “How is it you have the same tattoos as I? This is more than a disturbing coincidence.”

Shar quietly asked, “Where did you get the dolphin?”

“Texas. A Different Drummer.”

“The Asian ‘Survivor’?”

“Skin Thieves. Missouri.”

Shar’s face was unreadable as she spoke slowly. “You were stationed at both Sheppard and Whitman Air Force Bases.” It wasn’t a question.

A condescending smirk began to grow on Janessa’s face. “Interesting coincidences. I’d wager there are many more. It would seem we are very much alike in many ways.”

The hair on the back of Elena’s neck prickled as the brunette swore the temperature in the room rose with the tension. Not good. This is NOT GOOD!

Janessa snorted, watching Shar bristle visibly, “So Haldir finally gave his heart to none other than my clone.”

Shar’s hackles were up. “I am no one’s clone! Just because there are a number of similarities between us do NOT make us the same.”

“Think what you may, but it does not change the fact that Haldir is clearly still in love with me. He fools himself by being with someone who is very much like me that he can pretend you ARE me.” She shrugged, “You are simply a substitute.”

Awww FUCK! Elena had seen where this was heading as soon as Janessa had smiled like that. The brunette had quietly placed herself behind her friend and caught Shar by the upper arms as the smaller red-head now launched herself at the taller one, crying out, “LIAR!”

************

Meanwhile, outside…

Haldir’s head snapped up so sharply he almost cracked it on the Corvette’s open hood. The former Marchwarden turned sharply toward the condominium complex, eyes narrowing before he took off sprinting for his unit.

Bare seconds later Daniel watched a similar look cross Legolas’ face and the Prince take off as well, the human hot on the two elves’ heels.

**********

Back upstairs in the kitchen…

The snarl that emitted from Shar’s lips reverberated about the kitchen, causing Janessa to take a step back. Elena still held her friend back as she spat, “Take it back bitch! His love for me is true! I picked up the pieces you left behind.”

At Janessa’s surprised look a cruel smirk creased Shar’s lips, “Oh, don’t look surprised. Haldir told me ALL ABOUT you. While he did not mention the tats, those are of little importance. I know what you DID.”

Janessa’s eyes widened, fear flickering there for a moment before being firmly tamped down. Shar continued her tirade, “Oh yes. I know all about you. I have been trying to be civil at the very least, but clearly YOU are incapable of something as simple as that. GET OUT!!! You are NOT welcome here!”

For a moment Janessa looked like she would reach out and slap Shar, but thought better of it. “Fine,” the redhead sneered, turning on her heel and heading for the door.

The door burst open just as Janessa reached it, spilling two highly agitated elves and one concerned man into the entryway. Haldir swept past the woman, not sparing her a single glance as he made his way to Shar’s side.

Elena released her friend as soon as she saw Hal, the woman falling into her mate’s arms. Haldir wrapped his arms around her as Shar buried her face in the Marchwarden’s chest, her body trembling within his embrace with restrained fury. Haldir brought his lips to her ear, murmuring softly, rubbing her back with one hand.

Janessa watched the interaction between Haldir and Shar, disgust clear on her face. Legolas strode forward, placing a hand on Jan’s shoulder. She shrugged off his touch, turning away and pushing past him to get to the door. The Prince watched her stalk out the door, confusion marring his features. He looked back to where Haldir was whispering to Shar, the woman clearly distressed.

Elena came up next to Legolas, placing her hand lightly on his forearm. The elf looked down at the woman, silently asking for an explanation. Elena simply shook her head and quietly advised, “Perhaps you should leave.”

Legolas looked back to Haldir who had turned his head to look back at his friend. The Marchwarden sighed audibly, “That would probably be for the best. I will contact you later.”

The Prince gave a curt nod. “I will have a ‘chat’ with Janessa in the meantime.”

Legolas’ eyes met Shar’s as she peeked around Haldir’s shoulder. Ever the proper hostess she smiled weakly, “It was good to see you Legolas.”

Ashamed at his mate’s clearly inappropriate behavior Legolas dropped her gaze, murmuring a quiet apology before leaving the condo, closing the door silently behind him.

Haldir’s focus had returned to Shar as he felt Elena’s hand on his shoulder. He looked up again into concerned hazel eyes.

“Let me know if either of you need anything. You know where we’ll be.”

The former Marchwarden nodded his thanks before sweeping Shar into his arms and heading toward their bedroom.

Daniel had watched the entire exchange in silence and accompanied Elena out of their friends’ abode back to their own. Once there he related to what he had witnessed outside, seeking an explanation. Elena gave him the simplified version of the description Shar had given her of the nature of elvish life-bonds and the mates’ ability to sense distress in each other. Elena curled up in Daniel’s embrace, hoping her friends would be all right.

*************

Back in the present…

Elena pulled herself from her revere as she heard Shar curse at the computer in frustration. “No luck?”

“No,” Shar answered, “and I’ve tried everyone but Maren.” She sighed, “I really don’t want to IM her. I don’t want to find out that she blocked me. All this drama over a stupid review.”

Elena held back a snicker. “Well, if you’ve exhausted all other outlets, you really don’t have much choice. You already got Annanel, Tia, and Lori?”

Shar nodded in the affirmative as Elena’s door suddenly swung open with a bang, causing the brunette to cringe.

“Howdy y’all! Whassssaaaa???” Sam practically shouted, the overly energetic 13-year-old’s voice booming in the crowded room.

Shar sighed again, smiling weakly. “Nada mucho, chica. Just trying to hunt up some info on a friend.”

The young girl flipped her waist-length brown hair over her shoulder, asking, “Any way I can help?”

Shar actually thought for a moment and shrugged, “I don’t think so girl. We pretty much have all the bases covered.” She looked to Elena who nodded affirmatively.

Sam’s brow creased. “Does this have anything to do with that dark-haired bum I saw at your door last night?”

Shar inhaled sharply, catching Sam’s attention.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” Sam asked triumphantly.

Shar shook her head sadly. “Sam, that was no bum. That was a dear friend of mine and Hal’s who apparently has recently been through some hard times.”

Sam looked appropriately chagrined. “Is he gonna be ok?”

“We certainly hope so. When he’s feeling better I’ll be sure to introduce you.”

The young girl practically hopped up and down with glee. “Is he another elf like Hal?”

Both Shar and Elena were struck dumb at the apparently innocent question. When she finally found her voice Elena managed to croak out, “Another what?”

Sam gave both women a “do I really look that stupid to you?” look before answering, “An elf. You know, pointy ears? Like Hal.”

Shar found her voice at that moment, “Sam, honey, who told you Hal was an *ahem* elf?”

Sam gave her another “DUH!” look. “No one told me. Haven’t you guys ever read Tolkein?”

Shar waved dismissively, “Never mind how you know Sam. Have you told anyone else?”

Sam fixed her with yet another “I am NOT that stupid” look. “Hello? Do give me SOME credit here. Of course I haven’t told anyone. Don’t need the whole world knowing that elves really exist among us now do we. Though I gotta say the ‘body modification’ explanation is a truly inspired one.”

Elena and Shar laughed in relief at the narrowly averted crisis. Their mirth didn’t last long as Elena’s cell phone began ringing incessantly with Shar’s number on the caller ID.

*******

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