Ch 3
Maggie looked at the meeting which was going on. Saruman was there as well as Galadriel. Maggie was in awe of the elvish witch who turned her eyes so she was watching her.
"Margaret has arrived." She said as Saruman's eyes fell on her. Maggie kept herself from telling the others Saruman would betray them and forced a smile.
"Lady Hingston, this is Saruman the white and Galadriel of Lorien." Maggie curtsied a bit as Galadriel approached her.
"Elrond, you are right. She is not from Middle Earth. Margaret you have a power that I have never seen in a woman." Maggie's cheeks flushed at the comment.
"I never thought I would meet any of you. I have read about you in my books but-"
"Books?" Saruman asked.
"Yes, in my world there are books written about Middle Earth."
"Yes, a book about this journey." Galadriel said with a small smile on her lips.
"I need to return to Orthanc." Saruman said as he stood. "Gandalf you know I do not condone your involvement with the dwarves but there is nothing I can do to stop you." With that the white wizard disappeared.
"I wish to have a few moments alone with Margaret." Galadriel said as Gandalf and Elrond left the two. "Margaret you know too much to be allowed on this journey." Maggie hung her head.
"But- I can help."
"Margaret, we can not change what has been fated."
"Lady Galadriel, what if it is wrong? What if I was brought here to change something?" Galadriel smiled and took Maggie's hand.
"You have known great heartache in your homeland. The man you wished to spend your life with pushed you away." Maggie nodded. "You are brave and I do not know why or how you have been brought to Middle Earth but Thorin Oakenshield will not want you in his company."
"I can change his mind."
"Margaret, you have great power and it may be difficult for you to control it. Your powers are tied to your emotions. Today when you were frightened you were able to shield yourself from the orcs and wargs." Galadriel paused if seeing a vision. "I see that you have already made your choice, you will be part of the company. Margaret, this is a dangerous mission and I fear what could happen to you. Your presence in the company will change the outcome. If you survive I see someone who will heal your heart." Maggie watched as Galadriel began to circle the area. "Margaret, if you allow me I would like to spend some time with you and see how you can control your abilities." Maggie smiled.
"Yes, I would like that."
"Gandalf has to see to something so the time will be for us. You will be able to go with Gandalf when he rejoins the dwarves. Get some sleep, Margaret." Galadriel said as two she-elves came to lead them to their rooms.
Maggie spent the following two days testing out her powers with Galadriel's guidance. Elrond looked on impressed with Maggie's showing even though he worried about allowing her to go with the dwarves. When Gandalf returned he had a brief conversation with Galadriel and Elrond who both looked distressed.
"We are going to meet the dwarves and Bilbo in the mountains. I fear they have gotten into some trouble with the goblins so I will leave you on the outside of the mountain at the exit to wait for us." Maggie was going to protest but Gandalf's expression warned her not to argue. The she-elf who was in charge of her chambers packed some clothes for Maggie mostly leggings and tunics that the warriors wore. Maggie's hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she had an elven sword on her hip.
"You look like a eleven warrior." Galadriel said with a smile leaning forward and kissing Maggie's forehead. "Be safe and if you need me I will come." She said as Elrond gave her a small smile. Maggie followed Gandalf to the edge of Rivendell where he transported her to the side of the mountain.
"If we are not here by nightfall you need to get out of here." He said before disappearing. Maggie sat down on a log before kicking a rock.
"I could have helped." She muttered.
Maggie was bored looking around and used her powers to turn a large stick into a bow and some small sticks into arrows. Lastly with a small flick of her wrist she created a bullseye on a tree and began to teach herself how to use the bow and arrows. Her first few attempts were pitiful but with some practice she was getting on the outside of the bullseye. It was well past midday and she was getting restless. Finally she heard the sound of running feet and gathered up her arrows and created a quiver and slung it on her back with the bow. The dwarves almost ran her over and Thorin spotted her and glared.
"What is she doing here, Gandalf?"
"It was my choice to come along. I can help." Maggie said as some of the dwarves began to mutter. "You can think having me here is bad luck or whatnot but I can help, I taught myself to use a bow and arrow and Lord Elrond thinks I will do fairly well with a sword." Gandalf looked at Maggie who seemed to be the one person in the group besides himself who would stand up to Thorin. "Plus, you are a dwarf king but I am a woman so technically speaking the choice is my own. I am not bound to follow your word." Thorin's face reddened and Maggie crossed her arms over her chest.
"You will not continue on with us, that is what I have to say. Where is the hobbit?" The groups attention was focused on him for a moment as Thorin and Maggie glared at each other. "Now I know you are not from Middle Earth because even a woman would not speak to any man like that."
"Where I'm from I can speak to whomever I want, however I want! Where I am from there is no rule or custom anymore that ranks men over women." Gandalf decided to finally intervene.
"Why don't we get off the mountain before any more decisions are made?" Just as Bilbo appeared a group of wargs and orcs were spotted and Maggie drew the bow and arrows.
"Leave this to us, lassie." Balin said as Maggie scowled.
"We'll see about that." She muttered letting an arrow go and it hit a warg in the shoulder. She drew a second and hit the orc who was riding the warg.
"Good shot there." Balin said as Maggie put the bow away and felt her magic coarse through her body as she channeled her anger that Thorin started. Maggie started throwing balls of energy at the orcs sending them flying off the wargs and then she's hit the wargs knocking them into trees.
"To the trees!" Gandalf yelled. Maggie frowned a bit as one of the dwarves began to push her up the tree.
"Ladies first!" Came Fili's voice as she started to climb higher. Kili and Fili were right behind her.
"Your decent with a bow, how long have you been using one?" Kili asked.
"Just learned today."
"Natural talent then." Fili said giving her a small smirk. Gandalf started throwing fire pinecones and Maggie started some of her own having a good aim since she was a softball player.