A/N: Again {stuff} is what people see in the mirror.



THE UNDERSTANDING

The next morning Galadriel (who was back to her usual self) came and called Harry, Ron, and Hermione to come look in her mirror. She showed them to the grove and bid them look in the water. They peered into it and wondered at what they saw. {Galadriel's face. The Fellowship waving behind them as they left (Harry noticed that they were not in their number). The three of them riding across a plain on white horses with the Lady Galadriel and her Lord Celeborn with them. Ron and Harry poring over books in a treetop talan with the elf Haldir.}

"What do they mean?" asked Ron.

"They mean that you will be needed away from your friends. You will be needed here in Lothlorien. These are dangerous times. Not everything is as it seems. One of you must be the key to seeing things clearly. I'm afraid you must stay here."

"That's alright. I didn't really want to go to Mordor anyway," said Hermione, "Thank you for letting us look in your mirror. Should we send someone else to see you?"

"Yes. Please send Lyra Silvertongue and William Parry."

"Okay. They'll be right here."

While the Lady waited she refilled her mirror and emptied the old onto a rose bush twining around a column in the corner. "You sent for us?" asked a voice from behind her.

"Ah yes. Would you like to look in the mirror?"

"Yes please. Will it be like my Alethiometer?"

"I am not sure," said the Lady, "The mirror shows many things."

Lyra and Will P. stepped forward and stood around the stone basin. Symbols flickered over the surface, thirty-six in all, each carefully painted. "Like the Alethiometer!" gasped Lyra. Then there was more. {Many orcs running in a long train towards a tall tower. Huge trees moving across the plain. The tower they had seen before surrounded by water. A tall man in all white and a smaller, cowering figure standing beside him.}

Will P. looked up, confused. "What is it all?"

"I think it is a premonition of the adventures you are to have. That is all I can tell you. Please tell William Stanton and Bran Davies ap Arthur that I wish to see them now."

Will S. walked into the grove with Bran behind him. "You wanted to see us Lady?" asked Will S. dropping a half bow.

"Yes. Would you like to look into my mirror?"

"Bran?" asked Will S. When the white haired boy nodded Will S. turned to Galadriel, "Alright then. We'll look."

They stood by the basin and watched the water patiently. It grew dark and a face formed, glaring out at them. The person there had chestnut hair and fierce blue eyes. "Rider!" hissed Will S.

"Look again," prompted the Lady.

In the basin more things were coming up. {Merriman's craggy face watched them and words formed in silver around him. 'Good luck Old One.' Arthur's face was next and more words formed, 'Good luck my son.' Many men on horseback were riding across a plain towards them. A fortress in the rain. The sound of battle.} They all ran together one after another until the mirror darkened again. It would not show anymore. Will S. didn't need to ask what it meant. He knew. There was pain in their future. Worse than they had faced before and they needed to be ready for it. The two of them thanked the Lady and walked back to the Fellowship's quarters. There was much to think about.



The next day the Company gathered to say good bye to Galadriel and Harry and Co. They all carried packs with lembas and many other things inside them including cloaks and cool brooch things. As they were about to leave Galadriel gave each of them a gift. To Aragorn a sheath for his sword and a broach fit for a king. To Boromir a gold belt and to Gimli a lock of her hair. To Merry and Pippin she gave silver belts. To Sam she had a box of earth and a mallorn seed. To Legolas she gave a new bow and new arrows and to Frodo she gave a vial of light. She gave Will P. a sheath for the Subtle Knife and he accepted it graciously even though he knew the knife would cut it to shreds. To Lyra she gave a case for the Alethiometer (lined with black velvet of course). Will S. was given a short sword. "It may come in handy," she whispered in his ear as she gave it to him. Bran's gift was a small golden harp with a shoulder strap so he could carry it around. Both Bran and Will S. looked at the harp in surprise. It looked like the one they had earned from the High Magic that fateful Halloween. Will examined the harp carefully. "Beech wood," he said fingering the small frame.

"And an owl," said Bran softly, touching the front. Everyone watched their exchange closely but no one could make anything of it.



"Go well," said the Lady as they left, "You carry the fate of us all."



The current carried them swiftly down the river toward northern Gondor. After a day or two they came to the Argonath and beyond that was the Falls of Rauros and Amon Hen. The company stopped to rest and recover their strength before they left to go to Mordor.

While they waited Aragorn devised a plan to get into Mordor. Drawing a map in the soft soil he pointed out their road. "We will cross the lake at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north."

"Oh yes?" said Gimli, "Just a simple task of navigating our way through Emyn Muil? And after that it gets even better. Festering, stinking marshlands as far as the eye can see!"

"That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength Master Dwarf."

Gimli muttered angrily and turned back to his meal. Merry came back into the camp, a bundle of firewood in his arms, and asked, "Where's Frodo?"

Everyone looked around shocked and then Will S. noticed that Boromir was also gone. "Oh no," he said softly.



Frodo walked slowly through the woods, thinking. Boromir came up behind him and said, "None of us should wander alone. You least of all. So much depends on you." Frodo said nothing. "You suffer. I see it day by day. Are you sure you do not suffer needlessly? They're all scared Frodo, but to let that fear drive us to destroy what little hope we have; can't you see, it is folly?"

"I know what you would say and it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart."

"Warning? Against what? I mean you no harm. I ask only for the strength to defend my people." Frodo stumbled back and Boromir lunged at him. "It is only yours by unhappy chance! It could have been mine! It should be mine! Give it to me!"

Frodo ran backwards again and slipped the Ring on his finger as he did so.

"I see your mind! You will take the ring to Sauron! You will betray us! You go to your death and the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you, and all the Halflings!" Boromir cried. He stumbled in his haste and then the madness passed. "Frodo? Frodo I'm sorry! Frodo come back!"

Frodo couldn't hear Boromir though as he was already far away at the top of the hill. He collapsed against a pillar of stone and pulled the Ring off his finger. He stood suddenly when he heard footsteps. Aragorn appeared around the corner closely followed by Will S. and Bran.

"It has taken Boromir," said Frodo, distraught.

"Where is the Ring?" asked Aragorn in a voice that was not his own.

Frodo stumbled back, "Get away!"

"I swore to protect you Frodo."

"Can you protect me from yourself? Would you destroy it?"

Will S. and Bran watched on, ready to spring to Frodo's defense if the need should arise but their fears weren't grounded. Aragorn reached out and closed Frodo's hand around the Ring. "I would have gone with you to the end," he whispered.

"I know," said Frodo, "Watch after the others. Especially Sam; he will not understand. And Lyra and Will P.; they are so young."

Aragorn nodded and then stood up suddenly. "Go Frodo. Run." When Frodo didn't move he said more forcefully, "Run!" Then Frodo heard the sound of orcs and did as he was told. Aragorn, Will S., and Bran all turned to face the orcs coming at them.

A/N: MWHAHAHAHA! A cliffhanger. I haven't done one yet so I thought it would be fun. And besides, I like annoying people.