DISCLAIMER: See first chapter.

AN: Okay. Here ya go. Chapter 2.

Chapter 2

When Usagi stepped forward she realized a few things: 1) These weren't children but small men, and, 2) One of the "small men" and the taller man weren't around. She drew a deep breath and took another several steps. Her footsteps were so soft the small ones did not know she was there in the shadows until she spoke. "My name is Serenity. May I help you?" She didn't quite know why she introduced herself with her princess name, except that that was who she truly was.

The two hobbits looked up shocked at the silver cloaked figure, who they thought to be female by her voice. She was not tall, at least by the height standards of Men. There were two rounded lumps on her head under her cloak. They could not see her face.

The hobbits momentarily forgot about her question in their shock, and when they remembered, they didn't know what to reply. "Uhh . . . um . . . er," Pippin stumbled over words. Merry suddenly said loudly, "Strider!"

In a moment the tall man, whom Serenity assumed was Strider, returned, accompanied by a tall, slender, beautiful woman with dark hair. The last little man stumbled out of the forest from another direction. They all abruptly stopped when they noticed her. Serenity's eyes locked with the other woman's, only now she wasn't sure the woman was human. She had pointed ears and a special quality seemed to be sewn into her soul that shone in her eyes. Serenity knew part of what that quality was.

"You are immortal," she said, a mix between a statement and a question. The woman hesitated just a moment before saying, "Yes. I am an Elf. Who are you?"

Serenity faintly smiled and removed the hood. At her sudden movement, Strider's hand quickly went to the hilt of his sword, but he did not touch it, yet. When her hood was off, Serenity's golden hair cascaded down her back, still in its classic "meatballs".

Strider raised the hand holding the torch, which he had forgotten about until now, toward her. Its light illuminated her face.

"My name is Serenity."

Aragorn was shocked. She had beautiful blonde locks and deep, emotional eyes, which now glowed with mild fear, but not for herself. For Frodo. He was confused. How could he tell that much just by looking in her eyes? And what was that glowing shape on her forehead? Then Aragorn's eyes locked upon something quite unexpected . . .

Arwen thought the girl's hairstyle odd, and her eyes even more unusual, for she saw in them what Aragorn did. Fear and worry for the injured hobbit, Frodo. She scanned the rest of the girl. Her body was still covered by the silver cloak, her lips were held in a faint smile, and a shimmering crescent moon shone on her forehead. How odd. And then she noticed . . .

"You have Elven ears," Arwen stated with slight surprise.

The girl's hands shot up to her ears, throwing the cloak open. The hobbits looked amazedly at her sparkling silver gown. Aragorn was confused at the girl's bewildered and surprised reaction.

But Arwen wasn't looking at the girl. She had heard something. She listened carefully for another moment and heard a different sound from the same direction.

Whispering.

This time Aragorn heard it, too. Apparently, so did Serenity. She whirled around, a nervous glint in her eyes.

Serenity was afraid for Chibi-Usa. Who was whispering? She had left her future daughter alone, so unless she was talking to herself . . .

Someone else was there.

She could feel it.

She heard a whisper, clearly: "Uh-oh." Cautiously, but still quickly, she stepped toward the edge of the stone structure.

Aragorn was still very worried about Frodo, but he had to deal with this first, and quickly. Sure, the girl was strange, and he had many questions for her, but . . .

There it was, again. The sound of whispers. The girl, Serenity, had begun to walk towards it, and now so had Arwen. He took a step towards the source, and another, and another. Serenity was ahead of Arwen by several steps and was right at the edge of a stone corner. She turned around the corner, and gasped.

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