Next chapter! I'm almost finished writing this second book... And y'all are going to hate me by the time it's over... ignore me, I'm in a terribly sad mood. Anyways, here's the chapter you all have been siting for, so cheerio! Ciao! Enjoy! Thank for all of the faves and follows and reviews!

I own nada but Eruanna and her flute and other small possessions. *hides in Mithril box to escape Glorfindel* That is, I think I do!

Chapter 20

"Eruanna? Are you sure you do not have need for anything?" Glorfindel asked worriedly for the who-knows-which-number of time. Eruanna sighed and nodded patiently for what was surely the fiftieth time within the past hour.

She was waiting for Gandalf to arrive to pick her up so that they could leave to wherever they were supposed to go sitting patiently in the talan as Glorfindel worried for her. She almost wished Gandalf would hurry up. Glorfindel wasn't helping things at all.

She had on a simple traveling tunic spun with blue wool and a pair of white leggings, and a simple Lothlòrien cloak that was clasped with the familiar leaf clasp. She had tucked into her tunic the sigil e-hered and also in a small pocket were her whips that she kept with her.

There was a sudden knock on the door, and Glorfindel opened it to see Mithrandir standing in the doorway with a small smile on his face. Eruanna came forwards with a smile and reached up, causing the wizard to chuckle as he stopped down and picked her up.

"Are we ready to leave, little Díllothel?" He asked with a smile, and she nodded happily. Glorfindel took her into his arms one last time, holding her to himself tightly.

"Be safe, seler. Don't forget you promised to come back to me- and take care of Asfaloth for me will you?" He reminded her, voice muffled in her hair. She reached up and kissed his cheek with a nod.

*I promise, Muindor nîn.* She said gravely, and he nodded once more before reluctantly handing her back to Mithrandir, who smiled reassuringly.

"Do not worry, Glorfindel. All will be as it should be." He said, and Glorfindel gave him a thin smile.

"It is said never to take advice from the elves, for they will say both 'yes' and 'no'; but it is also said to never take a wizard's word at face value, for there is always a deeper meaning." Glorfindel replied dryly, and Gandalf raised an eyebrow.

"Is that so? Well then, you will have to determine that your yourself." Was his only enigmatic reply before turning and heading back down the stairs, Eruanna grasping his hand as she walked next to him. She turned and gave Glorfindel one last wave before they disappeared, leaving him to drown his worries in a flask of Dorwinion.

"So, Eruanna, tell me more about yourself and your doings." Mithrandir said with a smile as they walked together. The Istar had on white robes, pure white and embroidered carefully. A white cloak covered his white robes, and a silver clasp carefully wrought pinned the cloak together in the front. The top half of his white hair was carefully tied up, and in his other hand that wasn't holding hers he held a white staff.

So she began to tell him from the very beginning, smiling and gesturing at times. Mithrandir laughed heartily as she told him about Haldir and how he acted around her. She giggled as well, smiling fondly at the thought of the elven warrior.

She smiled as they arrived at the outskirts of the city, looking back briefly to see the gates closed behind them. She didn't look back again. Then she moved forwards, and as they passed Cirith Amroth she tugged on the wizard's hand, causing him to paused.

She led him over to the glade and reached forwards, placing a hand on the tree bark for a moment, feeling the life pulse through it. The silver bark was warm and pulsing, and she smiled to feel it. The tree branches stirred and one reached down, placing a final golden flower in her hair. She waved in thanks and then tugged Mithrandir away, who was smiling slightly.

He placed a hand on the flower on her head, and then breathed on it. She looked up at him curiously, and he winked. "Maybe it'll last for a few more days than normal." He shrugged, and Eruanna gave him a raised eyebrow and amused smile.

Then they made their way to the southern borders once more. When they finally arrived, it was to come upon the empty plains and blowing breeze. Eruanna looked around, and then up at Mithrandir, who smiled down at her before raising his fingers to his lips and whistling clear and strong.

She strained her elven eyes as far as she could, and in a few moment she could see two white spots moving towards them, rapidly getting closer and larger. She clapped her hands to see Asfaloth as one of them, though she didn't recognize the other one.

Gandalf smiled as they ran up, placing hand on the noses of one of them. "This is Shadowfax, King of the Mereas, and he has been my friend throughout much." He patted the horse's nose. "My friend, I ask that you would bear me again." He smiled.

Eruanna reached up to Asfaloth, arms outstretched, and the white horse pranced for a moment before lowering his nose into her arms as she kissed his nose. He snorted into her face gently, and Shadowfax whinnied almost questioningly. Asfaloth looked up and whinnied back in seeming answer before turning back to Eruanna and kneeling in front of her as she climbed onto his back.

Gandalf smiled. "Indeed, Shadowfax my friend, this is the mistress of your Amanian friend Asfaloth." He said to the great horse, who turned to the now-standing Asfaloth and sniffed curiously at the elfling, who reached out a hand slowly, placing it softly on the pink nose that trembled under her touch. Then he stepped closer and snuffled her hair before being seemingly satisfied and turning back to Mithrandir after nudging her gently.

Mithrandir mounted and then turned to Eruanna, who was clinging like a burr to Asfaloth's mane. "She needs your help to stay mounted, Asfaloth, mellon nîn." He said, and the horse bobbed his head up and down in understanding. "We must go to Fangorn forest." He declared, and then goaded Shadowfax off to a gallop, Asfaloth springing after them. Shadowfax went at a pace that was amiable for Asfaloth but still far faster than any normal horse could go.

Eruanna peeked up over Asfaloth's ears, knowing that the horse would make sure that she wouldn't fall off. Gandalf drew up beside her, and began to speak to her to pass the time.

"Tell me, Eruanna, what happened while you were in Lothlòrien?" He asked, and Eruanna blinked before first opening her mouth and then closing it with a frown.

She wanted to tell Mithrandir about the sigil e-hered so badly, knowing that perhaps he could put her at rest and maybe tell her more, but at the some time she wondered if that was wise. Then she reached inside herself.

*You called?* Her conscience answered.

*Any advice?* She asked.

*Well, my words to you would be that you have a choice: either you keep it to yourself, or either you share it with one who would carry the secret with him to the end of time.* Was the answer. She hesitated, and then decided to take the plunge. After all, Gandalf would at least be a listening ear at the least, something that she needed desperately at the moment.

So she began to tell him all, from the beginning to when Ciaran left, even adding her gift to the man before telling of their arrival in Lothlòrien and her dreams of Beör and the maze and resulting dream. After she had finished, she wordlessly handed the wizard the sigil e-hered, and he took it with an expression of surprise on his face as he studied it.

After a moment of studying it, he gave it back to her as she tucked it back away safely. Then he sighed. "I cannot tell you anything about the knife itself, Eruanna, nor about the chest or guild, but I can tell you the same thing that I told Frodo: if you were not meant to have it it would not have come to you. We can never see the end of things, but we can draw conclusions to a plausible end. Frodo was meant to destroy the ring. Whether or not he succeeds is the question. You were meant to have the knife. Whether or not you will use it or find the chest is the question. I would suggest that you keep it and not worry about it until the time comes to 'cross that bridge' as the Teleri like to say. Tomorrow will take care of itself." He advised, and she nodded, feeling relieved.

*Lle hannon, Mithrandir.* She said with a grateful smile, and he returned a smile.

"Do you plan to tell Glorfindel?" He asked, giving her a piercing look. She gave him a thin smile in reply.

*Yes. One day, in the future after I have been a member of the guild for several years. I can only pray that he will understand that I didn't tell him for the simple reason of protocol.* She said frankly, and Gandalf nodded, satisfied with her reply.

*I just remembered Mithrandir. Lord Eärendil called me 'Fin'ilmë.' Why did he call me that? My name is Eruanna.* She suddenly said, confusion in her voice.

Gandalf shot her an indecipherable look. "Perhaps Eruanna is your mother-name, my dear, and Fin'ilmë an epessë of your father-name." He replied. She mused over it for a moment, and then nodded slowly. She thought about it silence for a moment, and then her thoughts wandered elsewhere.

*Why are we going to Fangorn?* She queried, and in reply he nodded.

"Ah. As for that- I sense that that is the place we must meet the fellowship." He replied. "And also, there is where your part is to be played, though what it is I can only guess at. After all, it is a forest." He smiled at her broadly as she first stared and then burst into hysterical laughter.

By then, because of the speed of the horses, they had arrived at the borders of Fangorn forest. The horses stopped, both panting but not yet lathered. Eruanna took one look at the dark trees of the forest and realized what Gandalf meant when he said, "after all, it is a forest." She was the Díllothel of the trees, and she was known to the forests across of Arda. Perhaps this forest, too, had heard of her from their kin in Dol Guldur and Mirkwood.

Gandalf dismounted and Eruanna patted Asfaloth's mane, causing the faithful steed to kneel and allow her to dismount. She clambered down and then moved to his head, throwing her arms around his neck in gratitude. He snuffled her hair in reply and then scrambled to his feet.

"Our thanks, Shadowfax, Asfaloth, for bearing us thus far. Go now and be free for a while- though I perhaps shall have need of your help soon enough." Gandalf said with a bow, and with a neigh both horses sped away across the plains once more. Then Mithrandir turned to the forest once more, Eruanna's small hand clasped in his large once.

"Well. Come, Eruanna. Time for us to see who we can find in this forest." He said, striding beneath the canopy of dark branches unconcernedly.

*Who?* She asked, confused.

"Yes, who indeed! For tell me, have you heard of the rhyme of old?

Ere iron was found or tree was hewn,

When young was the mountain under moon;

Ere ring was made, or thought was woe,

It walked the forest long ago." He asked, and Eruanna nodded.

*Yes. Erestor taught it to me once. But I know not what is the answer." She said. Gandalf chuckled.

"Then you shall find out, my dear, for if these trees have heard of you, then by default so has this being as well." Was all that he would say, and Eruanna decided not to press but instead study the forest around her, knowing that she would get no more answers.

The forest was clearly dark, though not necessarily by devices of the enemy. Rather, it was angry at the enemy, and clearly untrusting of any who wandered underneath its canopy. But in any case, they let the white wizard pass and the elf that braved their domain of slow, simmering fury.

The further they went in, the more Eruanna could feel the anger and age of the forest grow, and she was feeling anxious to know whether these trees knew or accepted her. She knew as well as any other elf that they had started it, waking up the trees and teaching them to speak. She swallowed nervously as the branches creaked in nonexistent wind and groaning and muttering reached her sensitive ears.

Mithrandir pressed on, obviously unconcerned and with a destination in mind. Finally, however, he stopped. She blinked, looking around. They were in a clearing upon which a knell and upon which a tree stood, old and twisted with moss hanging from its branches.

"Here. Here is where you must ask of the trees, Eruanna. Do not fear. They shall tolerate your presence if only for mine. And I shall have to ask you to ask the trees something for me as well." He said with a smile, and she nodded.

Then she moved towards the tree warily, standing in front of it and staring at it. Suddenly, she pushed her cloak aside to reveal the sigil e-hered that was buckled to her waist with a belt of gold thread and leather. She pulled out the knife and held it to her palm, making a sure and swift cut. Gandalf's face became unreadable as Eruanna held out her bleeding palm over the roots of the tree as an offering of good-will.

She wiped the knife carefully on the grass and put it back into her belt, placing her slit palm on the bark of the tree, brushing her consciousness against the tree's in a request to speak wit it. For a moment, there was no response as the bright crimson seeped into the ground and reached the roots of the ancient tree.

Then the tree stirred. Its branches moved slightly, creaking loudly as though it were cracking stiff joints. Its consciousness, long buried in sleep, came up to awareness as it drank of the blood of a Noldo Elf. Then it brushed against her questioning probe and accepted her presence.

*What would you wish of me, Elf?* It asked her in raspy tones.

*I ask for an audience with you. I am Díllothel of Lothlòrien and Mirkwood, the one who awoke your kin in Dol Guldur with the price of my blood.* She replied boldly, but with respect in her request.

The tree's branches stirred as it seemed to think for a moment. Then the trees around them began to stir as well. After a few minutes, the tree replied.

*I have asked the others who have been awake longer than I, and they have confirmed your claim. For the sake of my kin's acceptance of you and for your offering, I welcome you to this forest.* It finally replied with grudging acceptance.

*I thank you, creation of the beloved lady Yavanna. My friend would have a question to ask of you.* She said with a bow, motioning to Gandalf.

*Then bid him ask, for he is known to us.* Was the curt reply.

Eruanna nodded to the wizard, who straightened and began to speak. "I would ask with all respect that you call master Treebeard for me, for I have business with him." Mithrandir said gravely.

*Tell him that his request shall be granted.* The tree ordered, and Eruanna obediently related the answer to the wizard, who nodded at her with a smile of thanks. She returned a smile strained from mingled nervousness and relief. After a moment the tree spoke once more.

*He is coming, for he also has business with the white wizard. Should you need to ask something of the forest, go to the other trees now, for I am weary and I would take my rest.* The tree said, and then the connection broke. Eruanna blinked at the tree, and then stepped away, feeling torn between being amused and mildly frustrated.

Gandalf chuckled as though he sensed her feelings. "Do not hold it against the tree, Eruanna, for it is indeed old and unconcerned for cares of this world outside its borders. You had to have the acceptance of that tree or else your being here would be for naught." He said, and she nodded in understanding just as there was a noise of loud feet booming through the forest.

"Ah. Here comes Treebeard, also known as Fangorn, for whom this forest was named." Gandalf said in satisfaction, and even as he spoke the source of the stomping came into focus. Eruanna stared, consciously making an effort not to allow her mouth to fall open.

There was a large tree-like being coming into view, tall and strong- and holding two hobbits in his large hands!? Is she could have spoken, she would have squeaked in utter shock. Treebeard came up and then dropped the two hobbits in front of Gandalf, who raised an eyebrow as they looked up at him.

"I would like to know, Meriadoc, Peregrin, how exactly you have gotten into this mess." His voice was exasperated, and the resigned tone in it made Eruanna suddenly sit down, laughing until tears streamed down her cheeks. The two hobbits stared at them both, dumbfounded.

"Gandalf!?" Merry exclaimed.

"You're- you're alive!?" Pippin cried. Then they scrambled to their feet and hugged the wizard, who threw back his head and laughed loud and long, hugging them back. Eruanna staggered to her feet, leaning against the tree for support.

"So I take it that you know these two little orcs, Gandalf?" The tree-thing rumbled slowly. No, Ent, she corrected herself. Yes, it was an Ent, as Erestor had taught her as well. Her Atar had taught her that before, too.

"They are no orcs, Treebeard! They are hobbits, my old friend, and indeed they were once my companions." Gandalf replied.

"Very well, then. What business brings you to my forest, Gandalf?" Treebeard asked, not unkindly.

"I came to ask you if you knew of this little one, Fangorn." Gandalf called back up to the Ent, and Eruanna came forwards, nodding to the hobbits who bowed to her, and then bowing to Treebeard, who bent down to study her.

She found herself looking into a pair of most green eyes, and then promptly fell into them, fascinated. They were deep, like the depths of lord Ulmo's realm, and they studied her with slow and new thoughtfulness, like unto what she thought perhaps a new shoot would regard the world. They were old and wise, but they studied her as carefully as though they were seeing her for the first time.

They swirled with thought deep and comprehending, and she could see both the age of trees and the youth of new shoots in them, and below that was an undercurrent of tender care that touched her. These were the eyes of a shepherd, surely. A tree-herder, with the patience to coax a shy young shoot out of hiding and yet the strength to break the stones of the earth to make way for the roots of a tree in his charge.

Then the Ent broke the gaze and bowed to her. "A daughter of Kementári, bless my bark! The light of our lady shines in her eyes, and they see things that most do not. Is this not the child that the forest speaks of, by the name of Díllothel?" He asked with great deliberation, and Eruanna listened patiently, curtsying in reply.

"Hoom, hum. Good, good. It is a good name, not so hasty and speaking much and yet little. What would you ask of me?" He asked again, and Gandalf spoke up.

"I would ask you keep her in your care, Treebeard, for she must stay here to do something for me." He replied, and the ancient Ent thought for a moment before answering.

"Do not think me rude for my silence, but I must not be hasty. But it shall be done, as you wish. And what will you do with these- hoom- hobbits?" Treebeard finally said.

"Also keep them with you, for they have a tale to tell you." Gandalf replied promptly.

"Hoom- very well! Come along, master hobbits, lady elf. I shall take you to my home, and I shall hear your story." He said, beckoning.

Gandalf bent down to speak quietly with Merry and Pippin. "Listen to me. You must try to rouse Treebeard so that he may rise the Ents against Saruman in Isengard. I am depending on you to do this, for lady Eruanna has another purpose." He said, and the hobbits nodded frantically in reply. Gandalf squeezed their shoulders and then stood, moving to Eruanna.

"Eruanna. I must leave, now, for I sense I am needed elsewhere. You know by now what you must do." It was not a question, but she nodded anyway. "Good. Wait for my message." He said, and she nodded once more. Then he stood and bowed to Treebeard before striding away.

Then she walked to Treebeard, who picked her up with gentle fingers and set her down on one of his shoulder branches, where Merry and Pipping already sat, talking excitedly about Gandalf's return.

They turned to her. "When did he get back!? How!?" Pippin asked, and Merry pushed him.

"She can't speak, remember?" He hissed, and Pippin immediately looked abashed, but Eruanna shook her head and motioned with two fingers.

"Two days ago?" Merry, the ever more sensible one, asked, and she nodded. Then she motioned upwards, miming a descending motion.

"So he was sent down... 'To finish his task,' as I'm sure he would say." Merry finished, and she nodded, pleased that she had gotten her point across.

"So, master hobbits, tell me, what is your story that you have to tell?" Treebeard rumbled, striding through the forest with great steps that were slow but covered much space in each step.

Merry and Pippin exchanged looks, glanced to Eruanna, and then began to tell their story. Eruanna listened with one ear, the rest of her mind focused on the task in front of her. She knew now why she was meant to come here. Gandalf had been right, she had a purpose here, and she knew what it was.

As Treebeard began to speak of the Entish trees and the Treeish Ents and the Huorns, she immediately focused on the Huorns. They were her task. She needed to rouse the forest against the orcs that would surely come, one way or another.

Her story was already known among the trees of the forest, and now that she was here the story would spread to the Huorns as well. She was under Treebeard's protection; therefore they would tolerate her; and if they knew her story, they would see her as a friend and protector of the trees as well, waking them up so that they could fend for themselves.

All she needed to do was secure an alliance and keep the forest on guard for orcs. Then she would wait for Gandalf's message, for she had no doubt that he had a plan in which the Huorns featured predominately, and he was depending on her to be able to call upon them for help.

She would not fail him.

So wrapped up in thought had she been that she had missed everything, even the fact that they were now in Treebeard's home until he spoke.

"... Curse him, root and branch! Many of those creatures were friends, creatures I had known from nut and acorn; many of them had voices of their own that are now lost forever. And there are wastes of stump and bramble where once there were singing groves. I have been idle. I have let things slip. It must stop!"

She came to, to see Treebeard raise himself and pound the table, shaking it underneath her. "I will stop it! And you will come with me. You will be helping your own friends that way, too; for is Saruman is not checked than Rohan and Gondor will have an enemy behind as well as in front. Our roads go together- to Isengard!" He said.

"We will come with you. We will do that we can." Merry answered.

"Yes! I should like to see the White Hand overthrown. I should like to be there, even if I could not be of use." Pippin added.

"Good! Good! But I have been hasty. I have become too hot. It is easier to say stop than to do it. I must not be hasty." And so saying he rose himself and went out into the rain that Eruanna had not noticed was falling, and she returned to her thought.

When she finally came to once more it was dark out, and she turned to see Merry and Pippin asleep, curled up together. Treebeard was outside, asleep on his feet. She sighed, lying down herself and drawing her cloak over her shoulders. It was the first in a long time since she had slept without Glorfindel, but that was not what bothered her so much as the fact that she had no idea how to start tomorrow.

But then, maybe she should just let things play out as they would. After all, as Gandalf said, 'tomorrow will take care of itself.' Yes, she would wait until tomorrow, for surely the sunlight for which her former house was named would bring her the answers she needed.

Her last coherent thought before falling asleep was to send a quick prayer to the Valar that she would know what to do.

LOTRLOTRLOTR

"And she shall." Yavanna pointed out in satisfaction. "Well now! I told you everything would be alright, Vairë." She added.

"Yes. I know." Vairë sighed.

"How much longer?" Oromë asked no one in particular.

"I'd say about four days or so, depending on how long Entmoot takes." Manwë replied absently.

"Good. The sooner this war is over the better." Tulkas muttered. And they could not help but agree with that.