Disclaimer: neither the characters from Lord Of The Rings (LOTR), nor Neo Genesis Evangelion (NGE) are mine. I jus borrowed them from the movie and the tv series respectively. And yes, I borrowed the title for this chapter from the movie 'The Sound Of Music'. Bite me! Though I doubt u ken, over the computer. Hehehe. CHAPTER 3: THE SOUND OF MUSIC The fellowship reached the Enchanted Woods slightly before nightfall. There they entered the realm of the Lady of the Woods sore, exhausted and full of grief. Nevertheless, the grimness of the situation was lightened somewhat by the entry of four new characters into the storyline, namely Shinji Ikari, Touji Suzuhara, Asuka Langly and Rei Ayanami. And although the very presence of the Evangelion pilots was due to a freak accident, the Fellowship was quickly getting accustomed to their new companions. Shinji and Frodo had hit off immediately. It seriously must have had something to do with having a huge responsibility thrust upon them by the entire universe while Fate snickers away in a corner and Lady Luck slides away looking SuSpiCioUsly nonchalant. After all, they both had so much in common, didn't they? Both of them carried the future of the universe on their delicate shoulders, and despite their tender age, both held it personally as a moral obligation to bear that unspeakable burden. Hey, as they say, misery loves company. Initially, Sam found himself extremely jealous of Ikari Junior and subconsciously schemed in his head many interesting ways to get rid of the said threat. Not that Sam was gay. None of them were gay for that matter. All of them were perfectly straight, except of course, Asuka and Ayanami, both of who were deliciously curvy. (HmmmÉ come to think of it, Legolas is almost curvy too, although for the life of me I cant tell why. But I digressÉ) Sam was Frodo's best friend in the world, and it pained him that the title of 'Best Friend' was gradually being taken over by someone else. Nevertheless, being the loving, generous hobbit he was, complete with a heart of pure gold (bless him), he eventually came to terms with the new standing. After all, he always had Marry and Pippin for company, right? Touji, being Touji, had fit right in. friendly and easygoing, though wise beyond his years, he found a friend in both Aragorn and Boromir. However, Aragorn was always slightly distant. It was almost as if his body was physically there (and damn good body it was too), yet his soul was not entirely present. Sometimes a faraway look would come to his eyes, and at times like this, Touji wished he knew him better. Needless to say, Boromir made better company. Daft as a feather as and when they wanted to be, they'd laugh and chatter, quarrel and fight, and then laugh and chatter all over again. Touji's insatiable sense of humor (and comic timing) also put him in league with Marry and Pippin, the pranksters of the hobbits, and together, they unleashed merry hell upon all the others. That is, until Aragorn took them by their collars and threatened to box both their ears. (Gandalf was temporarily unavailable, see.) And although Marry and Pippin gagged in fright, Touji merely raised an eyebrow, which naturally landed him in Gimli's good books. The li'll bugger liked anybody who showed some spunk. All in all, Touji was very comfortable in the Fellowship. Very comfortable indeed. Asuka on the other hand, did not blend in very well at all. After being sexually ignored by all of the guys and harassed by a million and one different species of woodland bugs, she was sullen and sulky. And in a very foul mood. Heck, who wouldn't be?!? But unfortunately for her, that is not the best way to make friends. Poor Asuka. (Author, chuckling in delight: hehehe) Now of all the members of the new coalition, the are only two who still have not had mention here are Legolas and Ayanami. It was amazing, really. Even if you were to line up and carefully inspect every single member of every single life form of every single species of every single ecosystem of every single planet of every single solar system of every single universe ofÉyou get the pictureÉyou would never find two beings so alike. (Except maybe goldfish. Goldfish are perfectly homogeneous.) Not thoroughly emotionless or unfeeling though emotionally detached and distant by nature, these two were the loners of the group. It was unbelievable really. No matter how much the others tried, nobody could break through to them. It was almost like they had an AT Field (quote: personal space, sacred territory of the soul that nobody should invade) so strong that you can actually see it. And that is perfectly fine, except for the fact that it becomes virtually impossible for the individual himself to break out. * ** * * * * Darkness had descended upon the Woods as one by one, the members of the Coalition began to welcome sleep. And safe with the promise of protection by the Lady herself, sleep was indeed a welcome thing. One by one, they drowsed off, lulled to sleep by the songs of the elves. But Sleep did not come for two people. Against all logic, for the night was indeed a warm one, Asuka had insisted on building a campfire. And when Asuka wanted something, she damn well got it. After all, nobody wanted to challenge the Devil herself, did they? DID THEY?!? As the rest of the Coalition settled down for the night, Ayanami was left curled up alone by the fire. As she sits there staring blankly into space, a glassy look crosses her face. Or rather, a glassy look passes through, finds no other suitable campsite and sets up tent there for the night. Suddenly, she tenses and a ragged sigh escapes her lips as her body convulsed violently. Eventually, however, it passed and Ayanami shuddered at the memory. She squeezed her eyes shut and hugged her legs even closer to herself, and for a fleeting moment, looks no more than a child. A frightened, lonely child. And then it was over and the glassy look that had momentarily evacuated to higher grounds returned. * * * * * * * * On the other side of the elfish town/city/suburbs/village (I dunno what to call it. take your pick. Okay, lets just settle for 'residence') On the other side of the elfish residence, Legolas stares out into space. All around him, he could hear his people singing for Gandalf. As he listened, the strain of music entwined itself round him and etched itself in his memory, engulfing his consciousness. Slowly but surely, he could feel the Song overpowering him. Taking over his body. A chill swept through his body, starting from the core of his soul and running like electricity from his heart right down to his fingertips. The Song had entered him. It had entranced his mind and engulfed his spirit. Slowly, it became him. Dream-like, It spread his arms out in prayer and lifted his head to the heavens. It closed his eyes and drew the air into his lungs, ready to burst into chorus. But the notes never came. The Song had overpowered him against his will, and the will of an elf is a force to be reckoned with. In a desperate bid for freedom, his consciousness had burst through the fog that had clouded his brain. Gasping for air at the sheer extremity of his exertions, he flailed wildly for the nearest railing and gripped it tight. After awhile, he looked up. Looked around through unseeing eyes till his vision rested on a pale orange glow, still visible through mists in his head. Fire. That's what he heeded. Fire. And warmth. And the comfort that comes in sitting by a steady red glow. Fire. Drawing himself together with sheer force of will, Legolas took up his trademark poise and made his way towards the flame. * * * * * * * Misato awoke the next morning with a splitting headache and no memory at all of the previous night. "Oooohhh. HeadacheÉ NeedÉalcohol. Not enough beeerrrrrÉÉ"she croaked as she reached for a can of YEBITSU (her breakfast) while the cheerful morning jingle played happily in the background. "AAIIIYYIIEEEE!!!! My god this beer is GOOODD!!! OoooOOOOHHH!!! Life simply cannot get any better than this!!!" she squealed happily as she looked around. The realization hit her like a rock. "OOO000oohhhhh" she groaned unhappily and stared glumly at the two empty seats at the table. "I seriously need to get more drunk." * * * * * * * * "Well you certainly look a bit tipsy today" Ritsuko remarked teasingly "Shuzzup Ritzzz..Rizzu..ko. I'maÉI'm. ThingieÉthingieÉheazzake.." "Oh really? Headache or hangover? Or are you just simply dead drunk?" Ritsuko smiled. "Dear, dear, what HAVE we been doing with ourselves?" she shook her head as she stared at her old friend. "Shuzzzzupp." "HEY, looks like SOMEBODY is in a good mood today!" Kaji laughed as he waltzed past the two women. "SHUTTUP KAJI OR I'LL KILL YOU!" Misato screamed, suddenly very sober, and waved a fist threateningly at him. But Kaji merely chuckled and promptly sauntered away. "Ya stupid sonnovva bitch youÉ"she fumed as Ritsuko yawned. She'd seen their antics long enough to know. After awhile it was so predictable. "So, are you coming to the D&D tonight?" "I dunno. It feels wrong, you know. Us enjoying ourselves while the ChildrenÉ."Misato trailed off. "Maybe so, but I think we all need a good break. It's been too much. And there'll be lots of beeerrrrrÉ."she sang tantalizingly. "BEERÉ." Misato crooned, already in the depths of Alcoholand * * * * * * ** Legolas and Ayanami sat together at the campsite as an uneasy silence reigned. He had never expected to be in her presence, especially not alone. He never even noticed her across the fire until he had warmed himself a good five minutes. "AyanamiÉAyanamiÉAyanami. You're the pilot, aren't you? The First Children?" "Yes." "How did you know?" "Elf magic." "It resembles an inter-dimensional portal." "Oh" "So that's how you recognized Nessie." "Yes." Legolas bit his lower lip sheepishly. Asuka's eyes flip open. "ANATA BAKA! YOU ELVES USE YOUR ANCIENT HERITAGE TO WATCH FUTURISTIC JAPANESE ANIMAE AND THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL?!? MAN< YOU GUYS ARE SAD!" AUTHOR: shut up Asuka. And go back to sleep. It's not your scene yet so butt out, there's a good bitch. Asuka: (pouting) but its never my scene! And you keep telling me to shut up! You even screwed up my grand entrance into your lousy fic and you told me to shut up! It's not fair! (Screams and stamps foot in exasperation) AUTHOR: Oh of all theÉ Asuka: But its TRUE! I swear you've got something against me! And you never even gave me a chance! AUTHOR: true, true. Okay then. Just to prove I'm human and NOT OF DEAMONIC ANCESTORY(hint hint), you'll have your scene. But now you've got to go back to sleepnow cos I need to get these two talking. That is, if you can call it talking. I mean it's hardly been the most stimulating conversation so far, hasn't it. Asuka: Humph. It's as good as it gets with these two! AUTHOR: (eyeballing her) AsukaaaÉÉÉ.. Asuka: SHEESH! Okay, okay, you win! I'M ASLEEP ALREADY! See- snore snore snoooorreeee!!! HAPPY NOW?!? * * * * * * * "May I?" Misato looked up from her hundred and fifty second glass of something or other (she didn't care, so long as it was good. And she was too drunk to notice much anyway) to see Kaji's outstretched hand. Beside her, Ritsuko nudged her disapprovingly. "Are you sure about him? Some people in this room would say you've just had too much to drink." "Shuddup Ritsuko. 's my life gurrrlllÉ"she grumbled as she peered drunkenly into her glass. Ritsuko and Kaji exchange a sideways glance. Then, grimacing, he swept the glass from her hand and in one fluid motion, emptied the remaining contents into a nearby potted plant. For the hundred and twenty seventh time that night. Because Misato was quite a bit of an alcoholic, (did I say a bit? Oh, what the heck. D&D! Free flow, remember), Kaji could be EXTREMELY persistent if he wanted to. "Awww, Kaji! I haven't finished that yet! Go get me another one," she sulked. Eyes twinkling, he fetched her another glass, waved it teasingly under her nose, and promptly dunked it into the said plant. Then, he grabs her roughly by the wrists and spins her around. "Come. I'm tired of games. Lets dance" he hisses into her ear, but Misato just smiles coyly. "Make me" * * * * * * * * Incidentally, of all the plants in the ballroom, there was ONE that grew bigger and healthier than all its counterparts for months after the D&D. but that was not the only odd incident in the hotel. As the janitor was cleaning up that very night, he could have sworn he heard a wobbly (and very green) voice warble to the tune of 'God Save The Queen'. However, when he followed the voice all the way to the back of the ballroom, he was shocked to discover that despite the song getting louder as he approached, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOBODY THERE TO SING IT! Unfortunately for him, he didn't think of looking down. If he did look down however, he would have witnessed an incredibly rare phenomenon. Thus, he surmised, (but wrongly, mind you.) that the ballroom was haunted by a particularly patriotic British ghost and ran out screaming his lungs out. He tended in his resignation the very next day and moved far, far away in the most remote village in a village in the Indonesian Islands, where he bought a farmhouse and raised chickens for a living. But as this has ABSOLUTELY NO RELEVENCE to the storyline WHATSOEVER, you are just wasting your time reading about him. But just in case anybody is interested, his name was Spock Dickens. AUTHOR: hehehehe * * * * * Ê* * * In the pale firelight, Frodo stirred. The haunting tone that had previously filled the air now took on a life of its own- it was the call of the Lady, no less, and as the Song pulsed through his veins, he felt himself inexplicably drawn towards her presence. But unlike Legolas, Frodo had neither the will of an Elf nor the experience of age. Hypnotized, he opened his eyes. * * * * * * * * Asuka goes back to sleep, and for a long time, all is quiet. Eventually, Legolas's curiosity gets the better of him. "Is it true then?" "You know. That you'reÉ different?" Ayanami stared unblinkingly into his pale blue eyes. "That you have no emotions?" Ayanami never even flinched. Not for a second. Not a whole minute. Not for five minutes. Instead, they just sat there staring into each other's eyes. Both not quite empty, yet not thoroughly nonchalant. It was the stare of a being not used to feeling any thing at all. Then unexpectedly, she drops her eyes and sighs. Her foot tentatively reaches out and nudges a stray bit of wood back into the campfire. Then she looks up and watches him intently. And Legolas nods silently, his lips drawn in a thin, straight line. They understand each other. * * * * * * * Back at the glitzy Ritz Hotel, the band strikes up a new number. It is a jazzy song, one that was hauntingly familiarÉ <'Fly me to the moon'> Kaji led a giggling Misato out onto the dance floor. <'And let me play among the stars'> <'Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and mars.'> She nestles up to him. So close, so cozy like a little baby kitten as he wraps his strong arms protectively around her. He is taller than her. Much taller. So much so that despite her high heels, her head fits snugly under his chin. <'In other words, hold my hand.'> He buries his head deep in her hair and presses her close to his body, slowly drawing in her soft scent. <'In other words, darling kiss me.'> <'Fill my heart with song and let me sing forevermore.'> The rest of the world faded from their view. The band. The people, the lights, till all that was left was the Song. <'You are all I long for'> "Misato-san" he whispers as he draws her closer still. <'All I worship and adore'> She pulls back. "No. Kaji. Kaji-san. IÉiÉ" But he presses a finger to her lips, cutting her off in mid-sentence. "SShhhÉ it's okay, baby. Its okay." he whispers back soothingly, kissing her on the forehead. <'In other words, please be true'> <'In other words, I love you.'> * * * * * * * (AUTHOR):" AWWWWwwwwwÉÉ. Now ain't that sweet! So kawaiiii!" She croons and clasps her hands as the lovers, well, quite frankly, behaved the way lovers do. (As to exactly what they did, I think I'll rather leave that to your imagination. No doubt you've got a pretty vivid one. It'll probably be better than if I were to pen it downÉ) Suddenly a bright idea hatched in her head. Smiling gleefully, the author settled back in front of her keyboard. She had some serious typing to do. * * * * * * * * Sitting there by the firelight, watching Ayanami pile wood onto the dying flames, something stirred in Legolas Greenleaf. Maybe it was the Song. He stood up, hesitantly at first, then strode purposefully, one, two, three, four steps till he is standing right over her. He grabs her wrists and pulls her to her feet. Firmly, yet gently. There is a warmth to it. And then he kisses her, just like that, as both the author and the pre-reader swoon in delight. But Ayanami draws back, shocked. She struggles to pull her wrists free. Ashamed, he releases his grip and let his arms fall limply to his side. Maybe it was just the Song. It must be. It has to be. Yet he lifts her chin up and looks into her eyes. Those big, red eyes. And this time she does not resist. With a small sigh of pleasure, she closes her eyes. They kiss deeply, each drawing the other closer and closer as the Song envelops their senses. But what Song? Maybe, just maybe, it was in them all along. END OF CHAPTER THREE. And there you have it! Their 1st kiss (YAYYYYYY!!!!) god, it seemed like an impossible task, but somehow, it worked! Exactly HOW convincing it was, is a different matter altogether, and purely up to the reader to decide. (ie: YOU! And yes, I'd really really really appreciate it if you'd write in and give comments. Email me at legolas-n-ayanami@evangelion.com And for all of you who did write in, thanx a bunch. PS: for all the LOTR fans who don't know NGE, 'fly me to the moon' is actually the evangelion theme song. You know, they play it as they roll the credits at the end of each episode.