Author's Chapter Notes:

Alternative Title: Big Surprises

It was midmorning when I heard Gwaihir screech high above the great tree. The king of the eagles had brought Gandalf back from the peak of Zirakzigil. I grabbed my bottle of athelas and climbed up to the great hall.

The three guards from the bottom of the ladder raced past me. When I reached the talan Gandalf was unconscious and lying on a settee covered in a down blanket. He was surrounded by Elves and I had to push my way through to him. His skin was gray and his lips were blue. I touched his skin, it was ice-cold. He was shivering.

"My Lady," I turned Galadriel and said, "Mithrandir should be taken to the spring, but we can't shock his system, can you cool it and let it warm him slowly?" She nodded.

Celeborn looked at me shocked, "But he is a Maia, he cannot be injured."

"My Lord, I beg your pardon, but he is in a real body and it's nearly frozen. He needs to be warmed quickly but carefully," I replied.

Celeborn nodded to the Elven guards and they picked up Gandalf and carried him down the ladder still wrapped in the blanket. I followed them to the spring and they lowered him to the ledge slowly. They stood on either side of him and held his body upright. I noticed there was no steam rising from the surface of the water.

I opened my bottle of athelas and poured half of it into the spring. The soothing scent permeated the garden. I waded in; it was a little chilly to me, but it probably felt plenty warm to Gandalf. I called for a pitcher and when an Elf handed it to me I filled it and tilted Gandalf's head back, pouring the water over his head and shoulders. He stopped shivering and the color returned to his lips quickly; he opened his eyes.

"Mithrandir, it's me, Elaura. You're in Lothlórien. Gwaihir brought you. You're safe." The city was bursting with joyous music celebrating the return of Gandalf from the dead, but I was terribly worried.

He smiled blankly but did not speak. The water slowly warmed as I poured a few more pitchers over him and he eventually regained full consciousness. One of the Elves brought a white robe to Galadriel and as the two Elves helped Gandalf step out of the water she wrapped him in it, pulling up the hood over his head. I followed him out of the spring.

She led him back to the ladder and climbed up ahead of him; the two Elves climbed behind him half steadying him and half carrying him up the ladder. I followed them and stopped at my room to change into my gold dress and put away the athelas and then I continued up to the great hall.

When I arrived, Gandalf was sitting up on the settee drinking a cup of tea; he was covered in the down blanket. He smiled sweetly at me when I entered; it reminded me of the kind of wondrous smile my dad used to wear when his brain tumor had finally taken his cares away.

"Vandë omentaina! [Q. Well met!]" he said to me.

I recognized that he was speaking in Quenya though I didn't understand it. I replied in the only Quenyan phrase I knew, "Umin hanya [Q. I do not understand]." His brain needs time to reboot.

"Westu hál!" Gandalf tried again, grinning.

I recognized this to be a Rohirric greeting. I shook my head and held up my hand, "Heniach nín? [S. Do you understand me?]" I asked him.

He nodded happily, "Henion. Man le? [S. I understand. Who are you?]" he asked.

"Elaura i eneth nín [S. My name is Elaura]," I replied. I was astonished at how silent the Elves were. They just stood by while we had our conversation. I looked at Galadriel.

"He will not speak with us and his mind is closed to me," she said.

"Man eneth nín? [S. What is my name?]" Gandalf asked me, grinning.

I stepped up to him, knelt and took his hand, it was warm. "Mithrandir i eneth lín [S. Your name is Mithrandir]," I replied with a smile.

"Iston le? [S. Do I know you?]" he asked with childlike eagerness.

I smiled and nodded. I tried the Common Speech, "Mithrandir, you are in Lothlórien. Do you know where that is?"

He tilted his head and didn't seem to understand at first and then he smiled a little broader, "Yes, yes I do."

I motioned towards Galadriel and Celeborn. "Do you recognize these Elves? They have been your friends for a very, very long time."

He looked at them for several moments and suddenly the light of recognition flickered in his eyes. "Ah, yes. Galadriel, Celeborn. It is good to see you again."

The Lord and Lady relaxed and smiled broadly. Galadriel stepped forward and I shifted to move out of her way. Gandalf held my hand a little tighter and frowned slightly, "Do not leave me."

I was stunned, "I won't leave you, Mithrandir. I promise." Chairs were brought forward for Galadriel, Celeborn, and me and we sat next to Gandalf. I held his hand as he drank his tea and sorted out what had happened with Galadriel and Celeborn.

I sat quietly as Gandalf recounted his battle with the Balrog in Moria, his death, and his awakening on the peak of the mountain. Then Celeborn told him what had happened to the Fellowship since his fall. He told him also about their departure the day before. Gandalf didn't quite seem to grasp everything; it was almost as if Celeborn was reading him a story about people he didn't know.

Gandalf's stomach rumbled and he chuckled merrily. "I believe I am hungry. You wouldn't have a bite to eat for an old man would you?"

Galadriel spoke to one of her maids and a table and trays of clear broth and honey cakes were brought over to the settee. Gandalf put his cup and saucer on the table and picked up a sweet cake and bit into it; the crumbs fell into his beard.

"Wouldn't you like some broth, Mithrandir?" I asked, picking up the soup bowl.

"Ah yes, mustn't eat dessert before dinner. Thank you, my dear." He put down the cake and picked up the spoon. I held the bowl in front of him with my right hand because he would not let go of my left one, even to eat.

Galadriel spread a linen napkin over his beard. He slurped several spoonfuls of broth and as he ate his mind seemed to become clearer and clearer. Eventually he squeezed my hand and winked at me and let it go.

He took the bowl from me and I relaxed in the chair. He was finally back. I thought it was strange that I'd been so worried about him; I should've known he'd be okay. Maybe I'm just having a flashback to when my dad was sick; we were always on pins and needles then.

Gandalf looked at me with a sly grin. "Or perhaps you have always been an integral part of this story, my dear. Your Professor Tolkien may have left you out of the telling for a reason."

I was startled, both by the fact that he had read my thoughts so clearly and by the idea that the things I was doing made a difference. "But that would change everything, Mithrandir. That would mean there are things I have to do to make the ending turn out right."

"So it would seem, my dear. I did more than just sleep when I passed beyond the vale."

"But, I thought I was just an observer; I thought I was supposed to stay out of the way."

Galadriel looked at me, "Do you not see that what you have done has already changed things? Perhaps Mithrandir would have recovered without your presence, but it surely would have taken longer. Perhaps Gimli and Legolas would have become friends without you to bring them together, but that might have taken longer as well; perhaps it would not have happened at all had you not opened their hearts to friendship for your sake."

"What do you think might have happened if someone else had been watching over Frodo that first night when the ring fell out of his hand?" Gandalf raised his eyebrows as he asked this question.

"Oh my God! I thought I wasn't supposed to be here," I sat back in the chair and rubbed my face. I felt like I'd just been hit with a ton of bricks. "What if I've messed up? What if I was supposed to go with the Fellowship?"

"Relax, my dear. You have done everything right so far. You stayed because your heart told you to stay. You will go forth when your heart tells you to do so," Gandalf said in a soothing tone.

"This is a little too much for me. Do you mind terribly if I go for a walk? I need to think," I said.

"Go, my dear. I feel I need to rest, myself," Gandalf replied as he ate the rest of the cake he'd started.

I stood and left the talan. I'd intended to go up the ladder, but at the last minute I decided to go down. I remembered a beautiful waterfall by the Lady's orchard and thought the sound of the water would help to clear my mind. I wandered the paths to the grove; even though it was Winter the trees were laden with fruit.

There were all kinds of fruits: apples, pears, cherries, peaches, and several I had never seen before. I walked over to the waterfall and sat under a rather short, stout mallorn that grew by its banks. I leaned up against it and listened to the water. A song from one of Tolkien's books came to my mind and I found myself reciting it:

When Spring unfolds the beechen leaf, and sap is in the bough;
When light is on the wild-wood stream, and wind is on the brow;
When stride is long, and breath is deep, and keen the mountain-air,
Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is fair! When Spring is come to garth and field, and corn is in the blade;
When blossom like a shining snow is on the orchard laid;
When shower and Sun upon the Earth with fragrance fill the air,
I'll linger here, and will not come, because my land is fair. When Summer lies upon the world, and in a noon of gold
Beneath the roof of sleeping leaves the dreams of trees unfold;
When woodland halls are green and cool, and wind is in the West,
Come back to me! Come back to me, and say my land is best! When Summer warms the hanging fruit and burns the berry brown;
When straw is gold, and ear is white, and harvest comes to town;
When honey spills, and apple swells, though wind be in the West,
I'll linger here beneath the Sun, because my land is best! When Winter comes, the winter wild that hill and wood shall slay;
When trees shall fall and starless night devour the sunless day;
When wind is in the deadly East, then in the bitter rain
I'll look for thee, and call to thee; I'll come to thee again! When Winter comes, and singing ends; when darkness falls at last;
When broken is the barren bough, and light and labour past;
I'll look for thee, and wait for thee, until we meet again:
Together we will take the road beneath the bitter rain!

I paused for a moment, unsure of the next stanza. I knew it was only two lines; I went over it in my mind, trying to remember, but then I heard a very deep sound that at first I thought was a rumbling in the ground. Soon I could discern a melody and then, to my amazement, words:

Together we will take the road that leads into the West,
And far away will find a land where both our hearts may rest.

"Huum-huum. Who sings the song of the Ent and Entwife? It has been many ages since I heard it, huum-hoom."

I looked up at the small mallorn, there were eyes staring back at me. I jumped and stood in front of it, my mouth gaping wide.

"Catching flies, huum-huum? You are not an Elf. What are you doing in my orchard, huum?"

The tree's voice and manner were not altogether genderless. I went over the song in my head and realized this mallorn must be one of the long-lost Entwives. I curtsied to her and introduced myself, "I am Elaura; the Lady Galadriel has given me permission to walk here. Are you an Entwife?"

"I am, huum-ruum. Galadriel often comes-huums to visit me. She is a sweet and kind young elleth. She plays her harp and sings for the trees, huum-hoom."

I marveled at this creature who was so old she thought of Galadriel as a mere child. "How long have you been here? The Ents miss you, you know."

"Do they now? Haruum. I have been here since before the Elves came. This is my orchard. I like the Elves, they bring seeds and help my gardens to grow in an orderly fashion, hoon-roon. How do you know of the Ents, huum-ruum?"

"May I sit and tell you my story? It is long, by my standards."

"I would like that, room-hoom. Don't be too hasty now, tell me everything, room-huum."

I saw no harm in telling her everything, so I started my tale before I left Okinawa. I left out the more complicated bits about computers and the future, but I did tell her about the story and that I'd read it before I came to Middle Earth. She was particularly interested in Fangorn and the Ents marching to war.

"That is one of the reasons we left, huum-ruum. You literally have to light a fire under the very roots of an Ent to get him off his lazy stem to do something. They don't even see the seasons change under their very branches, despite what the Elven songs may say, hoom-doom. I would not have waited until half my orchard had been destroyed by those nasty burárum [Entish for orcs] before I would have put my roots down their throats." She shook her branches.

I grinned. I liked her very much. "Are there more Entwives?"

"Huum, I had a sister; she tended the orchard in Cerin Amroth before the Elves moved their capital city to Caras Galadhon. She came to visit me before she left this forest. She said she was going to follow the other Entwives West. You would probably find Entwives wherever the Elves have settled, ruum-huum; they keep such lovely gardens."

I thought about Rivendell and tried to remember if I'd seen any trees that looked different from the rest. I recalled one particularly stout pear tree in Erestor's garden and thought perhaps it may have been an Entwife. "Are there any Entwives in Mirkwood?"

"No, I believe they all left when the crawling things began to multiply. Their webs tickled so and they hung their dying meat in our branches. It was wholly disgusting. There may be one left, inside the palace grounds, but I haven't heard from her in many ages."

"Do you think you'll ever be reunited with the Ents?"

"To tell you the truth, duum-ruum, they were supposed to follow us West. I'm quite sure they fell asleep and forgot. It has been so long they probably don't even remember what we look like."

"Will you ever go and fetch them?"

"Yes, of course. We are just playing hard to get. Galadriel tells me the Elves are leaving Laurelindórnan soon; I have half a mind to go East and rout the lazy sprouts out of their comfy soil. But perhaps I will go West instead and give them a few thousand more years to get really lonely, room-doom."

"Maybe this war will get them moving. They will be awakened and they will go on the march. This might be just the motivation Fangorn needs to remember where you all went."

"Perhaps, but the Ents are slow to ire and quick to settle down again, huum-ruum."

"You could go back and help them replant Isengard."

"Now that is an excellent idea! I do so love a blank canvas, ruum-duum. If I leave it up to Fangorn, he will grow his forest haphazardly, with no order and no flowers or fruit trees. You must come visit me there!"

"I most certainly will. If there is anything I can do for you, just ask and I'll take care of it."

"The only thing I ask is that when you come to visit me, bring seeds, huum-ruum. As many different kinds as you can find. Flowers, fruit, vines, grains; as much as you can carry."

"I will," I said and curtsied. "It has been a wonderful pleasure meeting you."

"Are you leaving so soon, hoon-roon?"

It was well after midnight and I understood then that a week would have been soon to an Entwife. "I will return, I promise. I expect to be in Fangorn Forest next year and I will bring lots and lots of seeds for your gardens and orchards."

"Thank you for stopping to chat with me. I will see you then, huum-hem." I walked slowly back to the great tree. The Elves were still singing joyously of Gandalf's return. The air was sweet and crisp and the wind in the high canopy added rhythm to the Elven song. The mellyrn were full of silver lamps again. When I got to the fountain I paused and looked at where the Fellowship's tent had been. There was nothing to mark it save a few patches of bent grass where the poles, cots, chairs, and tables had been. I sighed and climbed the ladder.

When I got to my room I changed into my soft blue pjs and crawled into bed. I had completely forgotten the troubles that had sent me on my walk and they flooded back to me as I lay in the dark. "What am I going to do now? At least before I knew that if I just stayed in the background things would turn out okay, now I can't even do that. If I do the wrong thing, I could screw things up and if I don't do the right thing I could screw things up." I chuckled, "I guess now I'm in the same boat as everyone else."

I fell asleep and dreamed of my mother. She came to me as a young woman; her long red hair was braided in two braids and she was wearing an early seventies-style mini-dress in wide vertical stripes of orange, yellow and brown. She couldn't have been older than 25.

"Laurie! Look at you! My, how you've grown!" she said.

"Hi Mom, what are you doing here? What's with that dress?"

"It's your dream Sweetie, the invitation said 'come as you are'," she replied.

"Well, since you're here, I really need your advice. I'm afraid I'm going to really mess up bad."

"It can't be that bad, honey."

"Do you remember when I had that semester project in sixth grade that I didn't do and you talked the teacher into giving me one more weekend to finish it or she was going to fail me and I was going to be held back?"

"Yes, it was silly of you to put it off, but it was a dumb project anyway. I hated having to make you do it, you cried for hours."

"Well, this is worse. I'm afraid to do anything and I'm afraid to do nothing."

My mother smiled then; it was the same smile that always made my world brighter, the one that told me she was always on my side. "Sweetie, the very worst thing you can do is nothing. You've always been able to do anything you set your mind to, no matter how hard it looked."

"But you were always there for me, Mom. Now I'm alone and I'm scared and you're not here."

"But I AM here, Laurie. I'm right here. I'm always with you; you're my baby girl, I would never leave you." She held her arms out to me and hugged me, "I'm so proud of you." I started to cry.

"I've always been proud that you're my mom. None of my friends' moms ever compared. They were always telling me how they wished their moms were like you and I was always glad you were mine. I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Laurie. Now, chin up. Go out there and save the world. That young man of yours is something else, too. Hold on to him."

I laughed through my tears, "He's not exactly young or a man, Mom."

"Maybe not, but he sure reminds me of your father and your brother and Ray. He's got all of their best qualities."

"Well, you taught me what to look for, Mom."

She grinned and held me at arm's length, "You were right, Sweetie, I would wring your neck if you left him to come home."

"Mom, the only thing I'd regret about staying here is that you'll never get to see your grandchildren. I've always wanted you to hold my children. I know they would love you and you'd be their favorite."

"I'll always be here, Honey. When you have them, bring them to me here and we'll play, I promise."

"Thanks Mom. I really needed to talk to you. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too, Laurie. It's time to wake up now and go face your fears. We're all behind you."

She kissed me and I woke. The dawn came streaming in through the leaves of my ceiling and I felt the tears drying on my face. "I love you Mom," I whispered and got up to face my destiny.

I cleaned up and packed up. I folded the gold dress and the grey-green one and the matching shoes and put them in my pack along with my pjs. I brushed my hair and pulled it back with the leather oval and dressed in my leathers. I put on my glove and hook, my belt and my harness and climbed up the ladder to the great hall.

Gandalf was waiting for me; he looked strong and tall in his white robes. "Did you sleep well, my dear?"

"Yes, I had a long talk with my mother and I'm ready to go."

"I have spoken with Galadriel and Celeborn, they will escort us to the southern borders of Lórien, then we will cross the Field of Celebrant on foot to the River Limlight and then on to Fangorn."

"I'm ready, Mithrandir."

He smiled, "Then let us begin."

End of Chapter 37.

End of Book One.

Chapter End Notes:

* "Elvish Song of the Ent and the Entwife" J.R.R. Tolkien The Two Towers