"Middle where?" Xander asked stunned.

"Middle Earth," repeated Aragorn. "My home."

Xander staggered around. What were they doing here? He wanted to be back in Sunnydale. Right at that moment he had a hankering for some donuts and a nice hot coffee. It didn't look like this place had a Dunkin' Donuts anywhere close by and he wished those birds would just shut up. Faith was enjoying herself. She was running around the trees, stopping to pick flowers every so often and loving this. That was freaking Xander right out. She should be kicking and screaming about being here, demanding to go home to kick some Vampire arse. Was this some weird reality, and was that a good twin Faith? All the thoughts swirling around in his head were beginning to hurt. His legs gave out beneath his body and he fell back onto the ground.

Aragorn left Xander and made his way over to the sleeping ones. He gently stroked the hair of the smallest one. Must be his child, Xander thought. That was shown as wrong as the 'child' opened his eyes and slowly sat up. It was a man, probably not much older than Xander was himself, but a lot smaller.

"The ring," he yawned. "We have to get it back."

"Its back Frodo," Aragorn said gently. "Its back in our possession. The quest can continue."

Frodo sighed with relief. He hadn't let Gandalf down after all. Now they could find Merry and Pippan and rescue them before they destroyed the ring. He sat up feeling still rather groggy. Sam was sleeping beside him. Frodo smiled as he watched his friend sleep. Always loyal, always there for him. On his other side was a man he didn't know. He was wearing the strangest clothing too. He was about to ask Aragorn about him when he heard singing. He saw a woman, dark and beautiful, dancing around the clearing with flowers in her hair. He was about to ask Aragorn about her when he saw it. She had the ring, his ring, on her finger.



Galadriel went back to the where the others were gathered. They all believed Aragorn. They believed this woman was their 'Saviour', but she harboured doubts. She'd seen into Faith's soul, and had seen her true nature. It was dark and something lurked there she couldn't quite see. She doubted Faith even knew it was there. The ring had chosen her though, and there had to be a reason for it. Galadriel sat silently with her thoughts. She knew Frodo would never let the ring out of his sight, and that Aragorn would die protecting it if necessary. The boy who had returned with them instead of Legolas puzzled her. He was not a warrior, not anything really, yet he was here, in Middle Earth. She had seen the same loyalty and strength in him that Aragorn had. His soul was pure and it shone inside him. He was destined for greatness, but she also saw something else. A shadow. Galadriel didn't know what it meant, and maybe it was really nothing, so she let it slip from her mind and she turned her attention back to the gathered Elves. She held up her hands and the talking ceased.

"They shall be leaving us and continuing on their journey," she said.

Several of the Elves jumped up to their feet, voices raised, protesting the departure of the 'Saviour'. She should stay with them. It was the only way to be safe from whatever was coming. She came back to the Elves, not to Middle Earth. Her first priority should be to them.

Galadriel let them have their say. She knew the ring brought them back to Frodo, not to the Elves. It still had a connection with the little Hobbit. For now it was in safe hands. But the longer they stayed with them, the more the danger increased for all living in the woods. She could see that.

"If this woman, Faith, is really the Saviour of Middle Earth, then it really doesn't matter where she stays," she said at last. "She has been brought here to save all Middle Earth, not just our kind. The battle she must face must not be fought here. It must be fought for all Middle Earth, out in Middle Earth, not just our corner. They depart soon."

She turned and left them to their debate. Something was coming. She could feel it in the wind. Soon. Soon the 'Saviour' would be called upon.



"We should move on," Aragorn said at last as finally Gimli awoke. "We still have a ring to destroy and now friends to rescue."

Gimli yawned and rubbed his eyes. He too was startled by the presence of Faith and Xander. The ring on Faith's finger also didn't escape his notice. He shot Aragorn a questioning look.

"Later," he replied. "I shall explain all later. But now, we must move on. The sun is moving higher and it is a good day to travel."

"Um, hello," Xander said at last. "Travel? Travel where? Back home I hope."

They all turned to look at him.

"There'll be no going home for you," Aragorn said as he shook Sam awake. "No coming back for Legolas either. Not until the ring is destroyed and the evil is vanquished."

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