When Stella awoke she found herself lying on the softest cloud she could ever imagine. Letting out a soft groan, she stretched her back. It felt as if she had been sleeping for centuries. It took her a moment to remember what had happened. Stella still hadn't opened her eyes; she desperately hoped that it was all a dream. However after only several moments of thinking this she realized that she was lying to herself, she didn't want this all to be a dream because then she would never have met her friends, she had known them all for only a short time but already she felt as if she was closer to them that she was to anyone back home. But there was real danger here, it seemed as if this world was on the brink of war.

Stella had to suppress a chuckle at that thought. 'Soldiers, I must have a thing for Soldiers! I can so easily trade in one war for another!' Of course this war was much easier for Stella to accept it was made clear in Moria, they were all fighting pure evil, the devil himself made an appearance. The war at home was different, no one was fighting evil, they all fought because the pig-heads in power couldn't deal with a different opinion.

"Brandon" she murmured.

She desperately wished he were here maybe then he could see the issue wasn't fighting; the issue was the reason behind the fighting. As she remembered all of the fights and arguments they had gotten into she couldn't help but think of another name.

"Aragorn" she murmured only a hair louder.

She was so confused by their relationship, she cared for him a lot and she knew that he cared for her and they had kissed a few times, but they had never discussed what it all meant. Were they dating? Was that called something else here? Maybe Aragorn didn't need clarification on that they were but she still did.

As she thought about what type of conversation they needed to have she heard the door open. Stella knew it was time to open her eyes, face the world she was living in.

'Please not home, please not home, please not home' she silently chanted as she opened her eyes. She saw the most beautiful woman Stella had ever seen. She felt her mouth drop and her eyes went wide. The woman's hair was the palest blonde Stella had ever seen, almost as if it were devoid of colour all together, and her ice blue eyes pierced Stella's green ones. Despite the woman's otherworldly beauty Stella still felt as though she was in trouble with her.

"Do not be alarmed, you may call me Galadriel." She spoke softly and a smile graced her lips though it did not quite meet her eyes.

"Stella," She managed to stutter out. "Could you please tell me where I am, and where my friends are? How long was I out? I swear I feel as though I have slept for a century. Last thing I can remember is falling asleep? Oh God, Gandalf! Is he really gone?" she took a large breath and started in again "the last thing I told him was that her was a bully and I insulted his hat! I am such a horrid person. Where is Aragorn? I really need to see him!"

Stella looked at the beautiful woman expectantly. Galadriel looked amused and let out a small laugh.

"Your friends are fine, they are resting. You are currently residing in the forest of Lothlórien. You have been unconscious for nearly five days, and in those five days Aragorn had only left your side once, he will be here shortly. I will leave the story of Gandalf's fall to him. You are not of this world however I can see that you perhaps have found your purpose on this quest."

Stella snorted in an incredibly unladylike fashion.

"Yeah my place, so far I have learned that I can be the biggest burden and make men carry me around places due to my inability to walk a straight line! I'm sorry if that is my place I had better learn how to cook because I am going to make a fabulous trophy wife one day." The sarcasm and bitterness was clear in her voice, she really hated the idea of being so dependent on someone else; it was what her father had drilled into her head since she was thirteen.

Galadriel merely smiled "I believe there is more for you that some mans trophy, you only need to prove that to yourself."

It was then that Aragorn came rushing in.

"My Lady, I heard she had awoken I came as soon as possible." He looked down at Stella.

A smile spread across his face though he hesitated to approach her. Stella smiled though when she saw his hesitation her smile faltered.

"I will allow the two of you a chance to discuss the past." Galadriel gave an encouraging smile to Stella as she apparently floated across the room to the door.

Stella turned to face Aragorn with a smile on her face once again. She opened her arms looking for a hug or some sign that everything was going to be okay. When he did not immediately respond to her gesture her smile disappeared.

"Is something wrong?" she asked "I heard you were with me the entire time I was out, that must not have been very exciting for you. Watching me sleep."

"You weren't sleeping, your whole body shut down, I carried you here and the first words out of your lips were his name." Aragorn looked upset but he refused to break eye contact.

Stella barely suppressed a laugh; instead it came out like a snort.

"Is that what you are so upset about? Yes, I said Brandon's name, I wish that he was here and able to understand why I was so opposed to his actions. I want him to understand honour and duty without senseless violence. Did you leave right after I spoke his name?" Stella already knew the answer, of course he did.

He nodded looking down.

"After five days worrying about you, not sleeping for fear that if I left you would leave this world; and then I hear you say his name." he whispered his blue eyes boring into her own.

"Then you didn't hear what I said next?" She watched him shake his head, "I said your name, it was the name I woke up to, and you were the man I looked for first. Brandon is my past, and I am not willing to forget my past, but you, this world, are my future." She spoke the words with pride.

Aragorn nodded.

"I am sorry I did not stay with you." He spoke so softly Stella almost missed it.

"That's okay, all will be forgiven if you give me a hug!" Stella beamed at him, opening her arms once more.

This time Aragorn embraced her like it was going out of style. When they parted his hand reached for hers and their fingers intertwined.

"Will you tell me about what happened? It is all so blurry. Gandalf? Is he really gone, did the devil truly take him?" She looked at Aragorn with pleading eyes, hoping that he would tell her she was crazy and that the old wizard was waiting outside, instead his gaze was sombre.

Slowly he nodded his head. Stella broke down.

"The last thing I did was insult him, I never had a chance to apologise." Her voice trembled.

"Gandalf would not have wanted you to be upset by words spoken in the heat of the moment. He understood that you cared for him." Aragorn comforted her.

Stella was never one to mourn loss publicly and she wanted a change of subject, though she promised herself that some how she would honour his passing. Aragorn sensed that she did not want to talk about Gandalf's fall and attempted to change the conversation.

"You were whispering something in my ear as we made our way across the bridge of Kazad-dum, what was it? Do you remember?" He questioned.

Stella nodded.

"It is one of the things burnt into my brain, as clear as day. It was a prayer." She stated blankly showing little emotion.

"Of what religion? I have never heard it before?"

"The prayers were Catholic, I went to several years of Sunday school thanks to my father and I may not be the most devout woman ever but I know enough to recite a Hail Mary or two" Her tone had tuned bitter at the memory of Sunday school.

"It seemed appropriate at the time, I never knew I believed in God until I was sure my hour of death was upon me. Even so I have committed so many sins, I doubt I am on the stairway to heaven." Stella commented, "That doesn't mean a small prayer could hurt, I spoke one fore every member of the group. Just in case!" She smiled at him.

"Why?" he questioned, looking truly lost.

"Because you are my friends, I care about all you. And besides prayers are easy to dispense, the true task is to believe in them." She smiled at him that was one thing her father had told her that she didn't resent.

"Are all of the prayers the same? For each one of us?" He asked; he looked so serious.

Stella made a small noise.

"With all of your interest are you sure you aren't going to join the priesthood?" She joked. "Yes, all of my prayers were different for each of you. Would you like to hear yours?"

He nodded.

"God of power and mercy, maker and love of peace, to know you is to live, and to serve you is to reign. Through the intercession of St. Michael, the archangel, be his protection in battle against all evil. Help him to overcome war and violence and to establish your law of love and justice. Grant this through Christ our Lord." Stella stared at him as the prayer came to an end.

"It is usually one that is said on the eve of battle, but I thought it seemed appropriate given your status." She looked at him expectantly, as he averted his eyes suddenly becoming very interested in the mounds of pillows she was perched against.

"I will not reign, not for your God or anyone else." He stated, still refusing to meet her eyes.

"It does not make any sense to ignore what lies before you. You would make a good king. I have said this before and I meant it then and now, you are stronger than your past." She smiled at him.

He reluctantly looked up at her.

"Besides as much as Boromir talks about not needing, or wanting, a king you can see how much he respects you. You are needed."

"Thank you, for your kind words." He looked at her with true happiness in his eyes.

"That wasn't me being kind" she smiled moving towards him "this is me being kind."

She pressed her lips to his, he immediately responded by wrapping his hands around her waist gently massaging the muscles he found there. She pressed herself into him securing her to him by entangling her hands in his hair, pressing him closer to her. She slowly released his hair from one of her hands moving it down over his shoulder before bringing it up to place on his chest.

She didn't want the kiss to end but knew if they kept this up they would never end up talking about the important things. Reluctantly she pushed away from him flopping back on the pillows.

"Now, we need to have a little chat. First off what are we doing? And second where is my knapsack?"

Aragorn looked amused but quickly moved away to collect her things when he came back she gratefully took her bag and pulled out her pack of cigarettes along with her lighter. While her habit of smoking had greatly diminished since beginning this trip she still preferred something to do with her hands when she got anxious. Lighting a cigarette, one of her last four, and taking a long drag she looked at Aragorn expectantly.

"I care for you, I believe that you are a fascinating person. You are kind and gentle, fiercely loyal, and above all else hopeful. I appreciate these qualities and I want to know more about you. I can offer you very little but I want to give you the assurance that I will always protect you." He finished.

Stella was close to tears.

"All I wanted to know is if we were dating. You made that sound so beautiful. I will always want you to protect me you are good man. I have nothing to offer you in return, except my heart." Stella whispered almost in awe by her own words.

'I didn't really just say that, oh my goodness that was cheesy. And what if he doesn't feel the same.' She panicked, waiting for an answer.

"I mean, what I mean is, well, I think, you know what lets just forget I said that." She became flustered, she didn't want to take her words back. She meant them with all of her heart but she hated feeling so vulnerable.

"No, no, you can not take it back now. I have already heard it, and I feel we are in the same situation. I love you Stella, I just can not seem to understand how you have found it in your heart to love me too."

Stella smirked.

"I know it was a challenge getting over you smell!" she joked, laughing. "I love you Aragorn because you are a good man."

She smiled as she leaned in to lightly place a chaste kiss on his cheek.

"I used to only ever be happy when I was with Will and Brandon, but now I have found that I can be happy again, I believe I understand now what Galadriel was speaking about, I belong here." She smiled up at him.