Disclaimer Hobbits and the rest of Middle-earth belong to JRR Tolkien.

"And with that word she held them with her eyes, and in silence looked searchingly at each of them in turn. None save Legolas and Aragorn could long endure her glance." - Lothlórien, FOTR, By JRR Tolkien.

A/N: Mind-to-mind conversation, or mere thoughts, are in italics

The Lady's Offer
By Pippinfan

The Lady Galadriel gazed hard at Legolas, Gimli, then Frodo, Sam, and now Merry. Pippin's heart quickened knowing that he was next in line. What was going on between the silent stares? As the Lady looked into their eyes, each member of the Fellowship seemed momentarily transfixed, as if under a spell. Pippin could see it in their eyes. When released from her gaze, his fellow hobbits each had various expressions on their face. Poor Frodo appeared to have had a heavier weight placed upon his already burdened shoulders. Sam blushed redder than an August sunset. When Galadriel held Merry's eyes, his cousin looked as if he were weighing the odds of a most serious decision, then his countenance visibly relaxed as she unbound him from her piercing gaze. Pippin braced himself for whatever awaited him.

As Galadriel fixed her gaze on the young hobbit, Pippin found himself instantly lost in pools of blue. Any awareness he had of the others was gone. It was just he and the Lady facing one another. Pippin heard the Lady speak to him without moving her lips.

"What choice shall I offer you, Peregrin Took of the Shire?"

"My La--" Pippin started, then stopped; his own voice sounding loud and uncouth to his hearing.

Pippin didn't quite understand what the Lady meant. Choice?

Without hesitation she answered, "Yes, I will set before you a choice. You must choose which road you will travel."

She could hear his thoughts! Pippin realized that his innermost thoughts were laid open to her--his mind as bare as he was on the day he was born. There were no secrets. Pippin fought the urge to cover himself though he knew he was still wearing clothes. "Travel? To where?" he asked in like manner.

The Lady clarified her previous question. "If given the opportunity, would you turn away from the Quest and return to your homeland?"

Pippin sighed in despair, still held in her gaze. How he missed the Shire! Pippin answered simply, "No, my Lady."

Galadriel took her question yet further. "Would you, turn aside from the Quest if it meant that Gandalf would be brought back to life?"

Gandalf/i Pippin's eyes welled with tears as his heart once again filled with terrible grief.

Galadriel was pleased with the young Took's revealing cry. She spoke softly,

Pippin sighed heavily as he mulled over his trek through the dark mountain with the old wizard--and quite forgot that the Lady could "hear" his deliberations.

It all started with the pebble he threw into the bottomless well then ended with Gandalf plunging to his death as he fought to protect the Fellowship. With his folly in mind, Pippin wondered why he hadn't been sent back to Rivendell--or the Shire before now. She had to know! The Lady must know that what happened in Moria was his fault--why else would she give him the opportunity to go home? Gandalf--alive! After a moment, his bright green eyes shone with excitement at the prospect of seeing the beloved wizard living again--leading the Company forward. The young lad imagined victory with Gandalf was as certain as tomorrow's sunrise, feeling quite sure that the rest of his companions felt the same way. Pippin would give anything to bring Gandalf back again! He would jump at the chance to be able to rectify his wrong in being so careless. But going back to the Shire would mean…

Pippin felt a lump of emotions rising in his throat. Indeed, there was a choice to be made.

"No, my Lady," he finally answered. "That would mean I'd have to abandon Frodo--my kinsman and friend." Tears sprang from his eyes as he went on, forsaking his one and only chance to bring Gandalf back to life. "I will not leave my cousin alone as he walks towards Mordor--I will follow him to the ends of Middle-earth. I've said once before that--"

Galadriel interrupted him, "I know what it is that you told Elrond." Then she smiled, "and it delights me to know that Frodo has valiant young friends to help him on his journey. Go in peace, Peregrin Took of the Shire."

Pippin blinked his eyes a few times, gradually growing aware again of his surroundings on the flet. The entire Fellowship remained standing before the Lord and Lady in exactly the same place they stood moments before he fell under her gaze. Wiping his eyes, Pippin breathed a sigh of relief.

Merry exchanged a knowing look with young cousin, nodding his satisfaction to Pippin. He, too, rejected the Lady's offer. They both had passed the test.

The End