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Yay! Reviews!

Amy- yeah, I know a kiss woulda been more dramatic, but I already had the chapter/ draft written when I got your review! Besides, I may have other plans/drafts for future chapters ;) Your suggestions are great, I was a bit creeped out at first…I thought you might be a mind reader or something… your reviews are fairly accurate to what I have written in drafts for future chapters! But I'm not saying how accurate…. But I also suppose that I've been setting stuff up for a while now and it readers must be able to guess what's going to happen… but you never know- I might go in the complete opposite direction! Thanks for the reviews! :) :)

Everyone PLEASE review! I love feedback!

Ummm…..what else am I supposed to say in the author's note?

…

Oh, yeah.

Disclaimer: For what feels like the millionth time…I DO NOT OWN LOTR!

Chapter 25- More than a Memory

Hayley stood beside Merry and Pippin, the water soaking her clothes. The battle had been tiring but she felt content in standing next to her friends. Although her feats in the battle had been minor, Hayley couldn't help but feel different. A sad sigh fell from her lips. She wondered where Frodo was, her heart began to feel heavy… she missed him. She followed her Pippin's gaze upward to look at Saruman.

"He doesn't look too happy, does he?" Merry said in observation.

"Not too happy at all, Merry." Said Pippin.

Hayley nodded in agreement.

"Still, I suppose the view would be quite nice from up there." Said Merry.

"Oh, yes. It's a quality establishment. I hear the staff are very good."

Hayley grinned and continued to watch the wizard and his companion from afar. She could feel their devastation. Her eyes were locked on them. She attempted to look away from but she couldn't bring herself to change the direction of her gaze.

"The world's back to normal, that's all." Hayley heard Merry say as she pulled out of her trance. He was talking about Pippin's height.

"No, it isn't." Said Pippin. "I'm starving."

Hayley giggled. "Me too, Pip."

"Good luck trying to find something decent around here. Probably only dead rats and mouldy bread." Merry huffed.

Hayley splashed her hand in the water before gliding her eyes over their surroundings. Her gaze caught on it at the same time as Pippin's. An apple. She, Merry and Pippin began to follow the trail of food. The three of them laughed happily when they came to the storeroom.

"Saruman's storeroom!" Merry exclaimed.

"I don't believe it!" Pippin gasped.

"It can't be!" Merry exclaimed.

"What?" Hayley's eyes searched frantically around the room. Her gaze fell on the two barrels. Merry and Pippin quickly opened one. Hayley rolled her eyes.

"It is!" Shouted Pippin.

"Longbottom leaf!" Merry exhaled.

Hayley cringed, her aunt smoked. She'd never really cared for it herself…

Pippin shoved a barrel at Merry. "There's enough for all three of us!" He said excitedly.

"ahh…no I'm good. You two have fun with it." Hayley smiled.

"Ok!" Merry and Pippin shouted together.

"Have you ever tried Longbottom Leaf, Hayley?" Pippin asked curiously.

"Ahh…no." Hayley shrugged.

"You have to try it!" Merry exclaimed.

Hayley rolled her eyes. What would she do without her hobbits?

Hayley's eyes widened to look into the distance. She abruptly stopped laughing and she watched the figures approaching. Her breath caught in the back of her throat; Vanessa.

"Is that?...no… It couldn't be!" She said in a shocked tone.

"What?" Pippin asked happily, looking off into the distance. "I think it is!"

The three hobbits began to laugh merrily again.

The sound of horses rung in her ears as Hayley turned around, grinning broadly.

"Ahaha!" Merry saluted the many people with his mug. He clumsily pushed himself to his feet.

"Welcome, my lords…and lady…to Isengard!" He cackled.

"You young rascals. A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and … and smoking!" Gimli said wide-eyed.

Vanessa raised an eyebrow at Hayley.

"I swear! I didn't!" Hayley yelped "No smoking for this girl…maybe just a little….but NEVER again!"

Merry and Pippin began laughing at the memory. "That was quite funny actually." Merry chuckled. "But that story is for another time…"

"We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well-earned comforts." Pippin slurred as he shoved a sandwich into his mouth. "The salted pork is particularly good."

"Salted Pork!" The dwarf grumbled.

"Hobbits!" said Gandalf.

Hayley's head pounded as she rode with Vanessa.

"Do you know how to control this thing?" She whispered in joke.

"Yes." Vanessa whispered back. "Just not very well."

Hayley laughed quietly and silence fell between them.

"I've missed you." Hayley said softly.

"As I have missed you." Vanessa smiled.

Hayley's mind wandered, Vanessa was acting differently. She was too quiet. Hayley's eyes drifted to her friend's long, dark curls.

"You're wearing your hair out" Hayley observed.

Vanessa smiled meekly but did not reply.

"Doesn't it get tangled? I mean, my hair is WAY shorter than yours and it ALWAYS gets tangled."

"It is fine." Vanessa snapped before calming herself. "Is it okay to try something different?"

At that moment, Legolas (Who was riding in front of them) peered over his shoulder and raised his eyebrow at Vanessa. Hayley would normally have questioned that, but she felt like she shouldn't push Vanessa further. She respected Vanessa's privacy…that was new. Hayley shrugged it off.

The fire flickered in front of Hayley's eyes. They had made camp for the night. The image of Saruman falling was still burned into the back of her mind. She had held back a scream when she had seen it. Hayley felt frightened; she had felt the wizard's pain.

Hayley watched Vanessa. Her friend was sitting with Legolas, talking in soft tones. Hayley noticed Vanessa's unusual behaviour; she kept lifting her hand up and adjusting the hair on the left side of her face. Hayley closed her eyes in thought; a lot had changed since they had arrived in Middle Earth. Although Hayley missed her old life, she couldn't help but feel that she belonged in this new adventure…next to Frodo, Merry and Pippin…even Sam.

Hayley was ripped from her thoughts when she felt Vanessa sit down beside her. She flicked her eyes open and searched her friend's eyes.

"Are you okay?" She whispered.

Vanessa looked up at her, listening to the low sounds of Gimli's snoring in the background.

"I believe so." Vanessa said in sadness. "I… feel so different."

"Oh come on Ness, you're the smartest person I know! If anyone can get through…well, all of this, it's you."

Vanessa looked to her friend, her eyes full of sorrow.

"I don't know, Hayley. Ever since we arrived here… I've just felt so small."

Hayley grinned. "Still a genius, though."

Vanessa giggled softly and a deafening silence surrounded them.

Vanessa's eyes drifted away from Hayley's face. Hayley followed her friend's gaze to the elf who was sitting quietly a few metres away, looking up at the stars dreamily. Hayley tilted her head to the side.

"You're in love with him." She breathed.

Vanessa quickly looked back to Hayley. "No! Of course not. He's just a dear friend."

Hayley huffed. "You know you can't lie to me, Ness."

"It matters not how I feel. We will be leaving soon…and then I can be a doctor and you can be a teacher… and everything will be alright."

Hayley searched Vanessa's eyes. "Ness…" She began. "We both know that I'm too immature to be a teacher, it was the profession my Aunt suggested…It never really appealed to me. And you know what, Ness, if I was given the chance… I don't think I'd really want to go back."

Vanessa turned to her and gave her a sorrowful nod before looking back at Legolas.

"What are you going to do?" Hayley asked her, nervously.

"About what?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow.

"About him." Hayley gestured her head toward Legolas.

"Nothing, Hayley. Middle Earth will be no more than a memory when we leave it."

Hayley looked back to the fire, she had a feeling it wouldn't be.