First and foremost, thank you to those of you who waited for this chapter. It's been a long, long time since I've had a second to sit and write, much less the inspiration. Part of my problem was indecision. As all of you know, there's a whole bunch of stuff going on in my personal life and with that crap going on, it was difficult for me to concentrate on this story. Additionally, I was torn on the direction I wanted to take Danielle in. For those of you who have read the books or seen the movies, once they leave Lothlorien, it isn't long before they encounter the Uruk-Hai. Therein lay my conundrum! What direction shall this story take from there? Will Danielle continue with the Fellowship at all? Will the Uruk-Hai take her, or will she remain unharmed and with Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas?

I had so many possibilities that I couldn't figure out which one I liked the most. So, I finally made my decision on how this part of the story will play out after nearly 3 years of writer's block, changing jobs and personal stuff, including the growing of the tumor (yes, it has grown, it has its own blood supply and it hasn't been removed yet).

Enjoy!

0o0o0o0o0

Four weeks. It was strange how time passed in the Golden Wood. Danielle felt like she'd been there all her life and yet it wasn't long enough at all. They'd rested, restocked their supplies and after the last meeting she'd had with Galadriel, it was determined that she would continue with the Fellowship. Not like she'd really had much of a choice. She'd been informed that her place was now with the Fellowship and no amount of protesting, since she had no idea how to defend herself, had availed her. Galadriel was determined that Danielle had a future outside of Lothlorien. A future. Yeah, right. Bullshittery was afoot.

An unladylike snort erupted from her as she examined the repaired and new clothes she'd been given. It made her heartache to see the remains of the bras she'd had left be patched within an inch of their lives when they could be and the other fragments tossed. Her jeans, which had been far too loose for her to wear normally had been altered as best as the seamstress could with the denser fabric and foreign style and now fit her almost perfectly. The tears and holes had been sewn shut or patched with a dark fabric that was nearly the same exact color as the original of the jeans.

Danielle folded those up and put them into her pack. She turned to the new clothes that had been made for her. They complimented her curves well and she blushed a little as she remembered putting them on the first time and seeing just how much her body had changed since she'd become lost in this world. Her waist was more defined than the pear shape she'd had before. It astounded her that she had no stretch marks on her body. Her arms, after working with Legolas on archery, were becoming stronger and more muscular. Aragorn had convinced her to start running with him for a little bit every day before they all would bed down for the evening, so her legs were becoming firmer.

She was entirely aware of how unnaturally fast her body was slimming down and strengthening. She put it down to what Galadriel had told her: her body was attempting to prepare for immortality that would never come. She was certain that any day now she'd begin to weaken and Danielle could only pray that it could be stopped by going home. Danielle froze at the thought. Home.

HOME.

Her chest suddenly felt like a thousand pounds were sitting directly on her chest and her lungs. Her mom and dad must be going insane with worry. She'd been gone for weeks. Her parents were supposed to meet her for camping and the fact that she'd been washed away wasn't likely to have been missed by anyone looking for her. What really disturbed Danielle is that she hadn't really thought about home since she'd woken up here. A few passing thoughts had come to her but for the most part… nothing. She hadn't really felt a whole lot about home. It was like her feelings were diminished or as they belonged to someone else.

And the dreams and nightmares that had plagued her over the last few weeks were starting to have a strange effect on her. Whenever she woke, she wasn't sure if she was Mírel or Danielle… or someone else entirely. Her dreams had shifted so that she was no longer just one stranger, but a different one each night. Time in those dreams passed far more quickly than the Mírel dreams like she was living entire lifetimes in just a few nights. So far, she'd dreamed of being someone named Graciella Dominguez, a seamstress in Spain. In those particular dreams, she'd lived to be about 20 years old before she had been killed by the butcher's boy for spurning his advances. Then she'd been Annie Lockland, daughter of the smithy in a small village in England. She'd died of the Black Plague at age 12.

Those dreams were not nearly as powerful as the dreams of being Mírel, where it felt like she was reliving decades with no rest. She was exhausted with each dream she had. Her only reprieve was when she had no dreams at all.

Danielle shook her head. She'd lost herself in her thoughts again. Glancing in the mirror, she was satisfied with her current look and grateful for the matching spare outfit she'd just packed away. Danielle was wearing a pale green undershirt of sorts made of a thin, soft material that she suspected had been made especially for her. It could be laced up from just below her breasts to the modest cut just below her collarbones. Which, she would not hesitate to say, she was ecstatic she even had collarbones to show. It was another physical testament to the weight she'd lost. There were also laces on the sides of the shirt that allowed her to tighten the shirt to fit her very well, if she so desired, with a layer of fabric just underneath the laces to keep her modesty should she be caught without the darker green tunic that she wore over it. That was embroidered with golden and silver leaves along the hem, collar, and closures at the front.

The leggings she wore were soft, supple and she suspected it was made from some kind of animal hide but she didn't care if it was. It was sublime on her calves and thighs and fit her perfectly, no matter how she moved. She was even more moved by the fact that they had made her shoes. Not just one pair, mind you. They had made her a pair of boots that hugged her feet and her calves in the most pleasant way and were most definitely made of leather.

The other pair they had made her were a pair of slippers that matched the soft pink dress they'd given her for last night's festivities. Not exactly a feast, but a formal gathering where the Fellowship, plus Danielle, gave thanks to their hosts for their kindness and assistance and their hosts provided food and drink enough that even Gimli was swaying a little by the time he stomped off to snore into his blankets.

Danielle fingered the delicate embroidery that lined the dress she'd worn. The dark red thread gleamed and was stitched into the shapes of flowers that she didn't know the names of with dark green thread acting as a vine linking each flower and lighter green thread shaped as leaves winding with the vines. The dress's neckline had dipped to cover just above the cleft of her breasts and sat just barely on her shoulders. The gauzy material of the sleeves top layer was an even lighter pink than the soft pink of the second layer. The sleeves themselves were completely open from shoulder to end, so the sleeves did not actually close over her arms unless she used the delicate hook and eye at the elbows to close them, which she thought was an interesting and helpful addition.

The dress was very similar to what the elven ladies she'd seen around Lothlorien wearing, the biggest difference being that the dress was cut to fit her obviously larger frame. The look was completed by a dark red belt that wrapped around her waist and the cloth was secured in place by a pin of sorts that acted as a belt loop and hid where the cloth was looped upwards and through the belt loop a second time to flow down towards her feet. It was a more feminine version of the kind of belts that Legolas, Boromir, and Aragorn all wore and not nearly as useful; it certainly wouldn't hold a sword upon her hip as theirs would.

Danielle sighed as she gently rolled up the dress and packed it away with the slippers. Last night, when she had attended the gathering, she'd felt wave after wave of déjà vu hitting her. And furthermore, she was certain that she'd gotten strange looks from Boromir, Legolas, Haldir, and his brothers. The look in the Lothlorien wardens' eyes had been hard to understand. It was like they were seeing a ghost. They kept looking at her as though they expected something and were disappointed when it didn't happen. The look Boromir had given was more like hunger and it left her feeling a bit disturbed. For the first time since meeting the Gondorian, she felt almost dirty just by his stare. It was just… wrong.

The way Legolas had looked at her had caused a flutter deep in her belly, though. His eyes had widened and then filled with an intensity that she had never noticed before. How long had that been there? Her heart had pounded and she'd blushed to know he could probably hear it. Being seated between Legolas and Aragorn was a relief when they sat down for the meal. It was here, for the first time in the last month, that Danielle finally saw Frodo crack even a hint of a smile when Merry and Pippin started some kind of shenanigan involving the Elvish wine and a game where they ran around the table attempting to steal sweets off of the plates of those who weren't paying attention. Thankfully, they made a point to avoid Galadriel and Celeborn's plates.

Danielle didn't know what it was about the last night but something had changed between her and Legolas. That first look he gave her when she came down the stairs in that dress, the way he treated her like a proper lady on the way to the meal and the twinkle in his eye throughout the evening seemed to have been reserved for her… She was left with a delicious feeling of excitement mixed with nerves that she was reliving even as she thought about it.

She had to shake her head and remind herself that this wasn't the time to think of such things. She was never good at subtlety or reading other people when it came to romance. After her last relationship, she was excellent at seeing violence bubbling up in someone but romantic feelings? She'd have better luck winning the Powerball Lottery. It also didn't help that Danielle was awkward as fuck when it came to romance.

Another sigh escaped Danielle and she closed the pack once more. She shouldered the pack and headed out to meet the Fellowship. She was greeted by two excited hobbits who pulled her to where they were 'helping' to fill up one of the three boats that had been gifted to them by their hosts. She spotted a few hastily hidden leaves that had been folded over the bread they'd been loading. She raised an eyebrow at Pippin and he quickly nudged those leaves into the water with an innocent look on his face.

"Really?" was the only thing she asked. Pippen had the grace to blush a little before a small belch released from his lips.

"Danielle? Do you need assistance with your pack?" she jumped in surprise at the sound of Boromir's voice and turned quickly. He still had a glimmer of that hungry look from the night before, though it wasn't nearly as bad now. She smiled and shook her head.

"No, but thank you Boromir. I appreciate it. It's not too heavy for me to carry. I promise."

"Very well. Have you decided whom you will ride with in the boats? I'd be honored to have you ride with me."

"She will be riding with Gimli and Legolas, Boromir. I need you with Merry and Pippin," Aragorn announced as he came forward with another few packages of leaf-wrapped food and loaded into the boat Merry and Pippin were already seated in. The young woman didn't miss the flash of irritation on the Gondorian's face before he smoothed his expression to a small smile of acceptance and nodded. He glanced at her with a warmer, tighter version of that smile before he grabbed more packages from the pile that was meant for his boat and began to pile them in.

Once the boats were loaded, it was a surprise to Danielle that they didn't immediately attempt to leave. Instead, they were directed to await the arrival of the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn in a single file line. It didn't take long but the brunette was fidgeting the whole time with the handle of the knife at her left hip. It was the same knife that Aragorn had taken from her pack the first time they'd found her. A longer blade sat on her right hip, a short sword that she was still receiving training on. She barely noticed the cloak that was wrapped around her shoulders.

She was staring off into space, lost in her own thoughts for so long that she didn't notice until Galadriel was right in front of her with an amused smile on her face. A blush furiously bloomed from the top of her shirt to the roots of her hair as she realized that the Lady must have been standing there for at least a minute. Possibly two. The Lady of Light's expression sobered somewhat as she gazed upon the woman.

"Danielle, I know that you have many questions yet. Those answers will come in time. Until then, I give you these gifts: the cloak you wear is of our people and will keep you safe from unfriendly eyes. And this," she said as she turned to the elleth next to her and pulled back a cloth to reveal a small but elegant blade sheathed in silver, "will aid you in your defense. As will this, once you have learned more of its use."

At that moment, Galadriel pulled out a bow, smaller, thinner and seemingly more feminine than the one she saw Legolas now had, and a matching quiver filled with arrows. She handed the two over to her and Danielle's jaw dropped slightly. The blade was still lightly grasped in her left hand and she was stunned to realize the delicate designs on the bow and quiver matched the blade she held. Even the small jewels that decorated the hilt had matching designs on the quiver; as if the dagger had somehow been made to attach to it. She grasped the quiver's strap and carefully hung it over her shoulder temporarily and then grasped the bow in her right hand.

She looked at the Lady of the Golden Wood with her mouth still hanging open. Legolas had started teaching her the bow but she was nowhere near proficient. She'd be lucky if she got the arrow in the same vicinity of the target she aimed for. There was a gleam of something in Galadriel's expression that said she seemed to be looking for something in her, just like Haldir and his brothers had the night before during the meal. It was a curiosity, an expectation that she wasn't sure how to fulfill. It was unnerving and caused a sharp pain to flair in her head that disappeared just as quickly as it appeared.

"Um, thanks but… I don't know if I deserve this bow and arrow. I can barely shoot. I mean, they're absolutely beautiful! And I know that everything you're giving us is going to help us on this journey… quest… thing," Danielle stammered out, unsure of what else she should say. She was confused about these gifts. She had gotten the short sword as a gift from Haldir, strangely enough. It looked like it matched the bow, quiver, and dagger perfectly. It was like they were crafted for her specifically but from what Gimli had said, these things can take a little longer than a month to craft and if they're coordinated…?

"Worry not, Danielle. I have no doubt that these tools will serve you well. You have excellent instructors to teach you in their use."

Danielle nodded awkwardly and didn't speak further. She was lost in her thoughts once again while the Hobbits received gifts from Galadriel and remained lost in those thoughts as Legolas gently ushered her to their boat. She had the strangest feeling that these items had belonged to someone specific and she might not have been the brightest bulb in the package at times but she was able to figure out that whoever they belonged to was either done with fighting… or done with life.

0o0o0o0

They'd been floating down the river nearly the whole day before it was decided they needed to rest for the night. Twilight was upon them before they pulled the boats to the shore and sticks were gathered for them to start a small fire to cook the sausages and tomatoes that Sam was unpacking. Three boats were lined up and pieces of branches that had dropped with leaves still on them and whatever else they could find to disguise them were draped over the top.

The nine of them were silent for the most part through the meal. Small conversations popped up here and there. When it came time for them to rest, eight bedrolls were pulled out and Boromir took the first watch. Danielle was near the embers of the fire, so she was kept warm in the chill air. The Hobbits were sleeping around her. She was a furnace when she slept, so they liked to curl up around her to get additional warmth.

She was gently shaken from her sleep and looked around blearily to find the source of her disturbed sleep. Danielle blinked in confusion at Boromir. He pressed his finger to his lips and gestured for her to get up. Not entirely awake, she got up and tried not to stumble after him. What woke her up immediately was when he pressed her against a tree not far from where the boats were and his lips were on hers. She was so stunned, she didn't know how to respond before he stepped away with a gasp.

"I'm sorry!" he whispered. He had taken several steps back and looked as shocked as she felt. "I do not know what came over me. I hope you will forgive me."

"I-it's all right. I was just… not expecting that," she stammered, her mind racing. "What was it that you woke me for?"

"I apologize again. I… I don't know that you heard us earlier but we had decided that tonight you would take part in the watch. I was waking you for your turn."

"Oh. Okay, yeah. I can take my turn. Just give me a minute to grab a weapon and I can do it," she responded with a tired nod. Except for the unwanted kiss, she was grateful to be woken up. With energy she didn't really feel, she walked back to her pallet and grabbed her short sword and the dagger. When she came back to the spot that Boromir indicated he'd taken watch from, he bowed stiffly and didn't look her in the eye before another apology came out and he went to settle down for the evening.

As she listened to the soft sounds of birds rustling in the trees, the water babbling not too far from where she sat, Danielle reflected on the dream that she'd been woken from. She wasn't dreaming of being Mírel again. Tonight she had dreamed of being Antoinette Beauchamp, a girl that worked on a farm in France. Danielle had no frame of reference for the exact date but she suspected it was in the 10th century based on clothes and the fact that the French she spoke in that dream wasn't modern by any means. The dream was interrupted just at the point where she was about to die at the age of 7 from terrible pain in her side. She thought she might have been dying of a ruptured appendix.

Even awake, she still felt the pain in her side. That was the first time that had happened. She rubbed her side absently and wondered if she was still Danielle anymore or if she even really knew her own name anymore. Rather than wake up the next person for the watch, she remained awake and troubled until dawn broke and it was time for them all to wake up.