A/N: Well, here it is, the fourth chapter of Woodland Shadows. I was hoping to get more reviews on Chapter 3, but oh well. If you like this story, please read and review my other stories. Thank you.

Disclaimer: Anything from the book isn't mine, and I wouldn't want it to be...well except maybe Legolas. ;)

Colleen followed Legolas to where his father was sitting, uncomfortably aware of how the Elves were staring at her. When they reached him, Thranduil said gravely "You did not inform me that you could do magic."

"B-but I can't!" she stammered. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before!" "The music we heard was quite definitely magical in origin," said Thranduil. "And the evidence indicates that it came from you."

Colleen was thoroughly bewildered. Magic? Her? Impossible! "Perhaps your coming to Middle-Earth let you manifest powers that you do not have in your own world," suggested Legolas. "No! I'm positive I'm not magical!"

"Then perhaps one of the artifacts you carry acts as a talisman," offered Thranduil. "It cannot be your clothes, for we supplied them, and they have no special virtue, save especial warmth at need. Therefore it must be something you brought from your own world."

Colleen highly doubted this, however at his prompting, she took out the leather pouch, and gave each of its contents to the Elven-King. He looked at them solemnly. After examining her watch, key, I.D., and money carefully, he said "I see no magic in these things. It must be you yourself."

Colleen felt around the pouch desperately. She just couldn't be magic! Her hand landed on something smooth, and she remembered the mysterious colour-changing stone. "Wait! What about this?" she asked, drawing it out.

Colleen didn't know what type of a reaction she had expected, but it certainly wasn't the one she got. Legolas' eyes bugged out and his mouth fell open. She stared at him, caught between confusion and amusement. She had never seen him look so undignified! Thranduil himself looked hardly less astonished. "Let me see that, please!" he said sharply, and took it from her almost reverently. He turned it over and over in his hands, studying it closely.

Legolas had recovered himself somewhat. "Is- is that what I think it is?" he asked his father. Thranduil nodded slowly. Legolas gasped and turned to Colleen. "Where did you get that?" he asked her.

Colleen was completely confused at this point. "What? It's just a weird stone that I found by a stream." She hesitated. "Isn't it?"

Legolas murmured something that sounded like "utúvie Fëamir."

"What?"

"You have found the Soul-Stone," he breathed.

"What's that?"

Thranduil sighed. "Since you do not know our history this will take some explaining." Colleen bristled. "I know your history!" She paused. "Well, some of it. I just never heard of any Soul-Stone."

"Follow me." Colleen and Legolas followed the Elf-Lord to a small paneled chamber. Thranduil beckoned them to sit, and then began his tale.

"Long ago," he said in a soft, respectful tone, "At the request of Ilúvatar, the Great Smith, Aulë forged a mighty Stone." At the mention of Ilúvatar Colleen gasped, but Legolas shushed her. "Each of the Valar put some of their power into the Stone." Thranduil continued, ignoring the interruption. "Manwë gave it power over the Air, Ulmo power over the Water, and so forth. This Stone was given to the Elves, and it was their fairest treasure, for it had great powers of healing. They brought it with them into Middle-Earth," he paused for a moment. "But it was lost, many ages ago, ere Men came to dwell here. Now," he paused again. "Now it has been found again."

"By me," Colleen gasped. "But why me? I'm no one special! And why did it make that music earlier?"

Legolas explained. "If the Stone is taken by one who does not know what he holds, it cannot be used to heal, as was its purpose. Instead it reflects the bearer's soul." He paused a moment and smiled. "You have a lovely soul." Colleen felt herself blushing.

Thranduil asked, "Where exactly did you find the Stone?"

"Oh, I followed a stream away from your Halls and I saw it sparkling on the ground. Here, I'll show you." She led the two Elves out into the night, and searched for the little brook where she had found the Stone. But she couldn't find it.

"I don't understand. I know it was around here somewhere!" she said. Thranduil put a hand on her shoulder. "I do not think you will find it again."

"What?"

"This is the West side of our Halls. The River flows North of them."

"Are you saying that there wasn't any stream?"

"I don't doubt that there was a stream," said Legolas. "But it is no longer here."

"Huh?" She couldn't think oh anything more intelligent to say.

"When my son brought you to me, I did not doubt that you had been called here for a Purpose," said Thranduil. "And so you were. You were called here to find the Stone for us. For reasons I do not entirely understand, only you could find the stream by which the Stone lay."

"Called here?" Colleen asked. "Well. maybe. I do remember feeling weird, so I went for a run, and ended up here. But," she paused as a thought struck her. "But if I've done what I came to do, that means my time here is almost over!" "Thranduil nodded.

Colleen started to cry. "But I don't want to leave!" Legolas hugged her. "You have to leave," he said gently. "You don't belong here."

He led her back to her room. "I think you have at least tonight to stay," he said. "Goodnight." Colleen lay staring at the ceiling for a long time, but finally fell asleep.

The next morning she stood with Legolas and Thranduil outside the Halls of the Elves. "I have made something for you," said Legolas. "As a farewell gift." He handed her a necklace. "It is only a token, for you gave us back the Soul-Stone, but it is something by which you can remember us."

"I don't think I can ever forget you," she said. She looked at the necklace. It was a plain silver chain on which hung a silver leaf. On the leaf, an inscription was engraved:

colleen o taur-bu-fuin

"What does it say?" she asked Legolas. "Colleen of Mirkwood," he replied.

"Oh, thank you!" she cried, hugging him. He put it around her neck. Then there was a flash of light, which obscured the Elves, the forest, and everything else.

The light subsided a little, but it remained bright. She opened her eyes- when had she closed them? -to find herself lying on the grass in the park with the sun shining on her face.

She looked at herself. She was wearing her jeans and T-shirt. "Why, you silly thing!" she chided herself. "You fell asleep!" She paused. Of course she fell asleep! She fell asleep for a few hours because she had tired herself out by running around, and it was the same day she had gone to the park in the first place. "It was all just a stupid dream!" she said bitterly, getting up. As she shifted her weight she felt something bump against her chest. Surprised, she reached under her shirt and drew out a necklace. On it were what she recognized as Elvish characters. She stared at it for a moment in shock, then smiled, tucked it inside her shirt, and headed for home.

Ende