A/N: I know, I know. It's been forever and I'm sure you hate (or have forgotten) me by now and honestly I wouldn't blame you. 2016 was quite a tumultuous year, both personally and for the world at large, and it didn't leave me much time or energy to write. In between all of the insane politics, celebrity deaths, and my failing health (8 trips to the ER in 8 months so you could say I had at least a few legit reasons for skipping on the fic writing) this past year has just not been very conductive to getting this damn chapter out. But whatever, it's here now and that's all that matters. It looks like things are finally getting more stable (at least my health and finances) though so hopefully that means more chapters are on the way in a more timely manner. Fingers crossed.

History Will Be Kind To Me

From Lands Beyond

"There are no secrets that time does not reveal." - Jean Racine

09. Do You Believe in Magic?

Lothlórien, 2999 of the Third Age

She had been putting it off ever since they had got back.

She had to talk to Galadriel.

It wasn't as if she didn't think this moment would come, it's just before there had been a bit of a language barrier. And then she had been busy with that whole pregnancy thing. And then babies. And stuff.

And, you know, Galadriel was kinda scary.

And so, this was how Alice found herself in Galadriel's Garden, simultaneously attempting to hunt down the Lady in question...as well as avoid her completely. It was like a strange game she was playing with herself. She would ask random passerbyers where Galadriel was...only to walk in the complete opposite direction of where they pointed. Eventually she would actually gather the courage to go after the elleth but the moment she would catch sight of her Alice would suddenly feel her stomach churn and then she couldn't flee fast enough (like the coward she was). Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you looked at it) for Alice though, Galadriel took the decision from her and found her instead.

"I was wondering when you would speak to me."

Alice nearly jumped out of her skin. She spun around to face the elleth behind her only to nearly lose her footing and topple over.

Smooth.

"Jesus!" She exclaimed in English and then, in Sindarin, "Galadriel! I mean, Lady Galadriel...I mean...ummm...well…" Her heart was beating a mile a minute and Alice found herself at a loss for words. Galadriel smiled at her though and laid a pale hand on her arm. Immediately she felt the anxiousness leech out of her as if she were slipping into a hot bath.

"Forgive me," the elleth said sweetly, as if she could ever do anything needing forgiving. "Now, you wished to speak with me did you not?"

Alice felt herself at a loss. Galadriel was giving her an opening and yet she had no idea where to even begin. Hi, I'm actually from the future/another world and I know exactly what's going to happen soon because I watched it in a movie once? Yeah, that was sure to go over well. Because, you know, the last time she had met with the Lady had gone so well...a thought niggled at the back of her mind like a worm trying to burrow its way through her skull...and then struck her like a bolt of lightning.

Oh.

Oh.

"You know...don't you?" She said it almost accusingly.

"I do," The Lady confirmed. "Though I cannot say I understand it."

Of course. She had known everything from the start. Ever since that first day when she had come to pick through Alice's mind.

"I saw many things in your mind. Strange things. Familiar things. I think it time you explained them."

"That's..." she began hesitantly. "...fair." Alice's eyes avoided Galadriel's as she mumbled hurriedly, "I...wasn'tborninMiddleEarth."

She thought she heard a smile in the elleth's voice as she replied, "Nor was I."

Alice frowned as she glanced back up. That couldn't be right. "I...don't understand."

"We have much in common, you and I," Galadriel continued wryly. "Both banished from far away lands, forced to build a life and a family in a strange new place, both gifted with foreknowledge, with magic..."

"Magic?" Alice couldn't help but scoff. "I think I would've known if I was magic."

"Oh, but there is magic in you dear child, though I know you do not see it," her hands drifted through the air around Alice's head as if feeling for invisible strings. "Eru's touch is upon you. I saw it when you came through my wood."

"God did this?" Alice sputtered. "But why?!"

"Who can say what the whims of the Creator are? Perhaps He brought you to share what you know? Or perhaps He is just fond of you? I suppose it does not truly matter. You are here." She said this last part as if to say, what can you do?

Alice fought the urge to scream and instead said, "Okay, let's say He brought me all this way to warn you about the things to come...will you listen?"

"If Eru has sent me a messenger, than I would be a fool not to listen to her," Galadriel reasoned.

Alice heaved a sigh. "Where do I even begin?"

The Lady smiled. "Where we all do, at the beginning."


Strangely, Galadriel took the news of Alice's odd origins and her knowledge of Middle Earth's dark future in stride.

"It seems there is much to be done."

Alice felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders.

"What will you do?"

"You say the ring is with a halfling across the mountains yes?"

Alice nodded.

"Then we must send for Mithrandir."


A/N: Short chapter, I know, but you wouldn't believe the trouble I've had with it. I feel like this chapter fought me at every turn. Galadriel is just not an easy character to write yo. :/ Much longer chapter next time though, pinky promise. Also more Celírion (which I'm sure some of you will be thrilled with).

Chapter Timeframe: July 9, 2999 T.A. - July 28, 2999 T.A.

Today in "Middle Earthean History, Culture, and Geography Notes AKA Stuff I Feel Like Talking About":

- Just so we're clear, Alice being 'magical' doesn't mean she is magical. She isn't suddenly going to be throwing fireballs anytime soon. It's just a mark of Eru's involvement in her appearing in Middle Earth by...well, you know, magic. It's also the only reason Galadriel let her into Lothlórien in the first place. Alice has much to thank (and condemn) Eru for. On one hand, if He hadn't left his mark upon her she probably would've still been wandering around all alone in the wilderness (or, more likely, dead), but on the other hand if he hadn't mysteriously taken an interest in her she'd still be safe back in Munich or Boston. Then again...we wouldn't have a story sooo...thanks Eru?

- Galadriel, like Alice, was not born in Middle Earth but in Aman (which, like Boston, is 'across the sea').