A/N: Sorry this chapter has taken so long, but I'm having trouble making people cooperate. **sigh** Hopefully everything goes well, and I hope to wrap up this story soon. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, and as always, constructive criticism is adored.

Chapter 33: Trouble With Galareal

Aria tripped for the tenth time, and it was only a timely intervention from Galareal that kept her from landing face first in the marshes. As the Elf helped her recover her balance, Aria gave him a grateful smile.
"I'm glad one of us isn't soaked in marsh slime," she said, eyeing the relatively clean Elf.
"It is not my fault I have good balance," he retorted with mock indignance.
"And you're humble about it too," Aria giggled, stumbling after Gollum and the Hobbits. Ahead of them, Sam was keeping an eye on Frodo.
"I'm glad they're keeping in good spirits," Sam muttered. "Though I don't see how you can be cheerful in this horrid place."
"Practice," Aria answered, slipping along behind him. Sam rolled his eyes and didn't reply.
They carried on until Aria had lost track of time. Whenever a hint of the sun pierced the mists, Gollum would call a halt until the sun had set and darkness returned. It was on one of these nights, fighting through the reeking fens, that Aria saw lights. At first they were just wisps, hints of flame through the fog. But then more appeared, and more, until it seemed that they were surrounded by an unseen army carrying torches and candles. Sam was as nervous as she, glancing about uncertainly, but Frodo and Gollum spoke no word, ignoring the lights. She stumbled again, and when Galareal steadied her she could tell that he was tense, but he gave no outward sign. Suddenly Sam tripped and fell, his face coming horribly close to the marsh. He leapt to his feet with a cry, shaking as he stared in disgust at the water.
"There are dead things, dead faces in the water!" he squeaked in horror.
"The Dead Marshes, yes, yes: that is their name," Gollum cackled. "You should not look in when the candles are lit."
Despite the warning, Aria felt her gaze drift towards the marsh. At first she saw nothing but the lights, then the marsh stilled and became as a scum-covered mirror; and she saw the faces, fierce faces of Orcs, and noble faces of Elves and Men. She wanted to look away, but she could not; it was as if the faces were calling to her, drawing her towards the swamp. Like one in a trance, she took a step towards the marsh.
"Aria!" Galareal and Sam grabbed her and pulled her back. "Lady Aria, what's wrong?" Sam asked, eyeing her with concern.
"I, I don't know," Aria said, shaking slightly. "It was like I was being drawn, like I had no choice..."
"Not good, not good," Gollum hissed. "Must get master and Lady 'way from tricksy lights. Come, come, must go!"
Gollum continued on and the others stumbled in his wake as best they could. Galareal watched Aria closely, as Sam did with Frodo. Aria had never done so much traveling in her life, and she did not know how much longer she could go on. Her feet stumbled on, barely keeping her up. When she fell for the third time in less than a minute, Galareal stepped forward and picked her up.
"What are you doing?" Aria asked, surprised.
"For as many times as I have to catch you, I might as well carry you," Galareal grunted.
Aria was about to reply when she thought better of it. They continued on for some time, and Aria took advantage of being carried by taking a nap. When she awoke, they were nearly out of the marsh and the ground beneath them was firmer then it had been for days. Aria was happy until she noticed her companions' uneasy silence.
"What's wrong?" she whispered.
"I am not sure," Galareal said softly. He set her down and reached for his bow. It was then that they all saw it; a black shadow loosed from Mordor, a vast shape winged and ominous. It flew across the moon, a cry of death shrilling through the air. The shadow of horror flew westward, then wheeled and returned, passing lower and right above them, sweeping the fen-mist with its ghastly wings. And then it was gone, flying back to Mordor with the speed of the wrath of Sauron; and behind it the naked waste lay dappled in fitful moonlight.
Aria cowered on the ground, fear and shock causing her to shake harder than ever. She had never encountered a Ringwraith before, and she hoped she never would again. The hobbits and Galareal had risen to their feet, but Gollum still lay on the ground, his long flat hands attempting to cover his head. No matter what the others said he would not get up, refusing to move until the moon had sunk.
"I don't blame him," Aria muttered, wrapping her arms about her knees and tucking them under her chin. "I hope I never see, or hear, another Wraith as long as I live."

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"So Thranduil became king of Mirkwood after the Sunstars left?"
The small group of travelers was sheltered in a small hole for the day, but Aria could not sleep. Galareal was keeping her company, and their talk had turned to the Sunstars. Being from Mirkwood, Galareal knew much of their history, and was happy to tell Aria.
"Yes, the last king of the Sunstars, his name was Morntaur*, was friends with Thranduil and appointed him to succeed him," Galareal explained.
"This is the most complicated story I ever heard," Aria said with a shake of her head. "Why did the Sunstars leave again?"
"Because if they hadn't Sauron would have killed them all."
"But the king didn't leave."
"No, he stayed."
"Why?"
"Because he had to."
"Why did he have to?"
Galareal sighed. "Because it was his fate."
"It was his fate to stay in Middle-Earth?"
"No, it was his fate to- never mind."
"What? What was his fate?"
"I will tell you some other time. This is not the place for it."
Aria pouted, but she saw she would get nothing else out of him. With a sigh, she lay back with her head on her pack. "Nasty place, I can't wait till we're out of here," she mumbled, glancing around at the ash choked country.
"You were the one who suggested we follow the hobbits," Galareal said with a pointed glance.
"Yea, I know, I know," Aria sighed. "But all the same, I can't wait to be out of here."

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"Great, it's shut, what now?"
Frodo sighed and ignored Sam. They were within sight of the Black Gate, but it was shut. On top of that, it was being guarded by hundreds of Orcs and other... things. "I am commanded to go to Mordor, and this is the only way I know," Frodo sighed at last. "I guess I shall have to go in this way."
"Frodo, may I point out a small problem?" Aria asked with a sweet grin. "The Gate is shut! If you try to get in this way, they will capture you, take the Ring, and Middle-Earth is doomed. This way is clearly out."
"But how will I get in?" Frodo asked miserably.
"Follow the road west of Ephel Dúath and you'll come to a crossing in a circle of dark trees; take the road to the left. At once it begins to climb, and when it turns around a black rock, you will see the tower of Minas Ithil. It is inhabited by the creatures of Sauron, but you have to pass it. Follow the old road to a pass at the top, and that leads down to the plain of Gorgoroth."
Everyone, especially Gollum, looked at Aria, amazed. "How do you know this?" Frodo asked.
Aria shifted her feet uncomfortably. "I studied my geography?"
"You can't know!" Gollum shrieked. "I found it, I did, I found the pass!"
"Then you will have no problem leading us there," Aria said swiftly.
Gollum looked at her, shocked. "What? Me lead you to the path? Take you to Mordor?"
"You said you would help us, and third time pays for all," Frodo said, catching on to Aria's plan. Gollum whined and squirmed, but at last he admitted to knowing the way and agreed to take them. They settled down in the shadow of a rock and waited for nightfall.
"That was very smooth what you did today," Frodo said, sitting next to Aria.
"Oh he would have admitted to it soon anyway," she said with a shrug.
"Whatever you say," Frodo said, a small smile playing about his lips.
Aria smiled back, her cheeks feeling slightly warm. "Come, we should get some rest," Frodo said, settling down. Aria nodded and curled up, falling fast asleep.

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Aria awoke to find that she was in a different place. At first it was hard to tell in the bleak land, but she saw that the mountains were farther away and the rocks that hid them were not the ones she had fallen asleep under.
"About time you woke up," Frodo said with his half-smile.
"Where am I? What happened?" Aria asked with a yawn.
"You would not wake up when it was time to go, so Galareal carried you," the Hobbit replied. Aria sat up and rubbed her hands in her eyes.
"I think I have found a good way to travel," she said, winking at Galareal.
"Tell that to my arms," the Elf snorted.
"Enough rest, must go on," Gollum said, growling with impatience. "We must cover more ground, yes, we must."
With a groan they rose and followed him until they had walked as far as they could. The sky began to lighten, and with the help of the rising sun they saw that the land around them had changed already. Clumps of pine-trees could be seen, as well as shrubs and other tall dark trees.
"Ah, a much better change," Aria said, breathing in the semi-fresh air.
"Yes, much better," Frodo agreed, "but not completely out of danger. We had best find some place we can lie low for the day."
The others agreed, and soon they were nestled in a patch of soft heather. All except for Galareal, who had assured them he was more at home in a pine tree. They slept for many hours, but at the first sign of coming night they had to set out once more. They now traveled along the road, despite the danger, but they heard no sign of walker or rider through the night.
Day rose to reveal a wild land filled with fir and cedar and many sweet-smelling herbs and shrubs. Here the first touches of Spring could be seen in the small flowers opening in the turf, and the green fingers of the larches. They had come to Ithilien, the garden of Gondor, which, though desolate, kept still a disheveled dryad loveliness.
Turning their back on the road, the travelers went downhill and came at last to a small clear lake in a shallow dell: it lay in the broken ruins of an ancient stone basin, the carven rim of which was almost wholly covered with mosses and rose-brambles. Water-lily leaves floated on its dark, rippling surface; but it was deep and fresh, and spilled ever softly out over a stony lip at the far end.
When they had all had a drink, they went up a bit until they found a brown bed of last year's fern. Beyond it was a thicket of dark-leaved bay-trees climbing up a steep bank that was crowned with old cedars. The hobbits and Gollum settled down in the fern, but Galareal walked around looking at the cedars.
"Going to sleep in a tree again?" Aria asked, coming to stand next to him.
"Why not? Trees happen to be very comfortable," he said defensively.
"Oh really," Aria said dryly, crossing her arms. "How can lying on a branch be more comfortable than a nice bed of fern?"
"I will show you," Galareal said with a grin. Leaping onto one of the lower branches of a cedar, he stretched down his hand. "Give me your hand, I can pull you up."
Aria stared at him. "What?"
"You said you do not know how a tree can be more comfortable than fern, so I will show," he answered calmly. "Now give me your hand."
With a sigh, Aria allowed herself to be hoisted into the tree. With Galareal's help she climbed halfway up the tree. "Um, I don't think the branches past here are good for sleeping," Aria said, glancing at the thinning branches.
"Whatever you say," Galareal said with a shrug. Hopping onto a branch next to her, he stretched out with his hands behind his head. "Well? Go ahead, get comfortable."
Aria gave him a cold look. "If I lay down on this branch and fall asleep, I will fall off."
"No you won't," Galareal laughed. "And besides, I won't let you. Now, try to rest."
Aria slowly pulled her feet up onto the branch and rested her back against the trunk. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep as gentle winds rocked the tree. At last she gave a discouraged sigh. "I don't think it's working," she told Galareal. "I just can't relax."
Galareal glanced up from where he sat on a branch beside, and slightly below, her. "And why not?"
"Because I am sure I will fall off!"
"I already told you, I won't let you fall."
"But you're not even up here!"
Before she could say anything else, Galareal leapt nimbly onto her branch. "Now I am up here, so can you rest now?"
Aria gave him a cold look. "No, I still feel like I'm going to slip right off the branch."
Galareal watched her quietly for a moment, then picked her up, sat down where she had been, and put her on his lap. "There, now you cannot fall off the branch," he said cheekily.
Aria looked at him, too surprised to answer. "Can you get some rest now?" Galareal asked quietly.
Aria nodded and leaned back against him, glad he could not see her face. Oh dear, this isn't good, she thought, her heart beating faster than it should have. I like Frodo, not Galareal... right? Oh dear... Aria closed her eyes, trying to shut out the questions running around her head. She let her head rest against Galareal's shoulder, trying to ignore his strong arms about her waist. At least I know he won't let me fall, she thought desperately. But no matter what she did, she could not hide the truth. Oh dear, I like Galareal... I like him more than I like Frodo. I guess I've known that for awhile, I was just afraid to admit it... with good reason. Oh dear, this isn't good... why? Why is there something wrong with me liking Galareal? Oh bother, I'm going to give myself a headache... Forcing all thoughts from her mind, Aria managed to fall asleep.
Galareal glanced at her as she slept, and his heart silently skipped a single beat. Galareal frowned. That is odd... I don't like Aria. I mean, I like her as a friend, but nothing more. Shrugging it off, the Elf drifted off to sleep.

*Morntaur means 'black forest' in Sindarin

End Chapter 33

**sigh** I tried to stop them, but I couldn't! Curse handsome Elves! Coincidently, this completely changes Aria's character. She is no longer Aria from any story you have read, she has become a character of her own. In the rewrite her name will be Arien, incase anyone felt like knowing. Please Reivew!