Chapter 48

It was still early when Rory awoke, the sounds of the few city birds hailing the day wakening her. Jessryn still slept, his arm thrown over Rory, seemingly completely at ease. Carefully, Rory tried to edge off without waking Jessryn to make a cuppa.

His warrior's instincts however, woke him the instant she moved. Jessryn sat bolt upright his hands reaching for a weapon until he remembered where he was. 'Sorry Rory, I got quite a fright!'

'So did I,' answered Rory, her heart pounding. She put the kettle on and soon both she and Jessryn were sipping hot tea. Then there was the knock which indicated their breakfast tray was ready, and Rory went to the door and fetched it. About an hour later, showered and stuffed full of bacon, eggs, tea and toast, Rory and Jessryn were on the streets. As yesterday, Jessryn seemed quite out his depth, unsure and almost afraid of cars, traffic lights and the modern stores they entered. He did, however, appreciate the range of weapons, camping gear and clothing they were offered at shops once they'd seen the black market dealers who could, would and did exchange most of their gems for American dollars. Rory and Jessryn kept some stones in case they were needed later.

As night fell, they were on their way back to their lodgings, Jessryn exclaiming in wonder as the city's street lights came on automatically at dusk. 'What an excellent idea!' he enthused. 'I wonder if it would be possible to make some kind of light do this in Gondor, when Aragorn is King.'

'You seem very sure the Ring quest will succeed,' replied Rory, as she undid their room door with her key.

'They will, Sparrow, for anything else is unthinkable,' he said, grimly.

Rory nodded. 'But our task is to find Elrond, and take him back to Middle-earth only,' she reminded the man beside her.

'Can we not enjoy ourselves as we complete this task?' he inquired, his arm circling Rory's shoulders as they looked over the bundles of things they had purchased that day.

'I guess so, what did you have in mind?'

'Let us eat in the restaurant again tonight, but let us make it special, and wear nicer clothes and relax more.'

Rory blinked, amazed. This was the last thing she expected! 'I suppose we can, but we better hurry if we're going to buy clothes. The stores will shut!' She looked hard at Jessryn, 'you just need a new shirt, your jeans and runners are ok. I can manage with a new shirt too, something cleaner and brighter than what I'm wearing.'

To her surprise, Jessryn shook his head, blond hair flying. 'I think you should have a pretty dress, like many of the other ladies. Perhaps, blue,' he suggested.

Rory kicked the ground, 'I don't wear dresses.'

'Tonight you will, to please me, and to look pretty,' Jessryn said confidently.

And that's how Rory came to be sitting in a restaurant, eating the local delicacy, wild antelope meat with some delicious vegetables, in a blue dress, next to very handsome blond guy in jeans and soft green shirt he said was one of the Mirkwood colours. Rory reflected she'd never been on a date before, if indeed this was what this was. Whatever, it was rather nice to be sitting quietly, sipping wine and gazing at Jessryn. Then blushing when she discovered herself thinking how very pleasant waking next to him had been!

Later in the room, Jessryn pulled Rory close to him. 'See, you look lovely in a dress, Sparrow.' His strong hands held her face up and he stepped closer to Rory, bending to kiss her. For an instant, she almost panicked, and then Jessryn's warm lips were on hers, and Rory discovered her first real kiss was highly enjoyable!

Meanwhile, out in the bush land, Kate and Elrond had spent a restless, worried night. They could see from the lights of vehicles out looking for them that staying put was very foolish, for sooner or later their tracks would be found, and enemies invade their position in numbers to great for Elrond to deal with. Dawn saw a difficult decision made, to move down out of their high rock hideaway and head off into the Kalahari Desert. Nearly certain to be a suicidal move, but staying where they were certainly was. Fully aware they were likely to be dead in a day or two, Kate and Elrond used the early dawn light to make their preparations.