(A/N): HEY! I'm back! Hope you liked the last chapter.

MAJOR SIDE NOTE: Guess what. I finally finished the LOTR trilogy last night(took me two years b/c I go back a re-read and analyze parts I like and then I cant read it during school cuz that's all I will want to do, but I finally did red it during school season and finished it. Yay!). Dear me! It's so sad! I didn't want them to leave, and I didn't want the Fellowship to break, and I didn't want Gandalf and Frodo to go bye-bye! I hate goodbyes, they're always so sad…and…and…anyways. I'm done.

Back On Track…Okay, my mind knows where it's going w/ the story, it just need some gas to get it to those places. So if any one has any ideas, bring 'em on! And if I like yer idea and use it, I'll give you credit. Also, if anyone has any ideas for songs to sing in her, offer those suggestions too. Right now all I can think of is Beatles songs, I dunno why. I usually have a song for everything. Oh well, usually when I find myself in trouble I Let It Be.

*Buh-dum ching!* yeah, that was bad. Slap me.

Notes: YES! I have a groupie now!! I'm so excited!!!

 Bex: thank you for pointing that out to be about using stuff like, "Okay" etc... W/ elves. I didn't even realize it.

Me: yer fine, I used to sign in as "me" all the time.

Allie: thank you!!

Lindriel, Silent Echoes, Danceingfae, Spunk-Hyper-Girl, Cassie-bear01, Bex, Me, scichan hirameki, skylark, mAgIcHaRm, Allie,and Piama…Thank you all very much for your reviews! I love you all! You all rock!

*Also, you all get to VOTE at the end of this chapter. Yahoo! You do have a voice!

So, here's the next chapter (WARNING: no where near my best.)

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"Now my dear," Gandalf said pleasantly. "Are you ready for a tour?"

Bella smiled and nodded her head. She quickly got herself up out of the chair and followed him out the dinning room.

Gandalf led her through winding hallways until they finally reached the end of a way leading into a magnificent garden. A huge waterfall flowed to their left and the stream rolled gently in front of them. A little to their right a charming wooden bridge led over the water into the larger part of the garden; green ivy wrapped around the railings of it. Large trees full of fruits and flowers grew everywhere and the sun shone brilliantly through the leaves casting dancing shadows everywhere. Flowers that Bella had never even seen before bloomed in abundance along the pathways. The sun shining above seemed to enthrone the entire garden with a golden glow, and everything become warm a cheery. Bella took in a deep breath. The air was calm and soothing, and smelled like summer. Her surroundings eased her worried mind and she let herself relax.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" said Gandalf.

"It's breathtaking," Bella replied, her eyes darting from one beautiful sight to the next.

Gandalf smiled, "I thought you would like it my dear. If you don't mind, would you like to begin our tour of the garden?"

Bella smiled, and they crossed over the wooden bridge to the other side and took a well-beaten trial that led to the left under a canopy of tree limbs. They walked in silence for a few moments and then Gandalf spoke up.

"Now, I understand that you must not come from this world, as we have established." Bella rolled her eyes, 'No, really?' she thought. Gandalf didn't notice and kept on talking. "I assume that you would very much like to return to your world, but in order to do so, I need to know much more information concerning where you come from. I also would like to know a bit more about you."

Bella was silent for a moment and she stopped walking. Her head fought with her heart. 'We can't trust him,' her brain said. 'But I feel that he is purely harmless,' replied her heart. 'They always seem harmless, right up until they kill you,' argued her brain. 'Don't be ridiculous. I always feel jumpy when I'm around untrustworthy people. I feel for sure that he is fine,' her heart answered. Finally Bella made up her mind once and for all that if these people were going to hurt her, they would've done it a long time ago.

"Sure," she said finally. "What would you like to know?"

"Tell me about the world you come from. Is it similar to ours in any way?" Gandalf asked.

"Well," Bella began. "This is kinda tough. There's so many things to talk about. Well first of all its round. I'm assuming yours is too." Gandalf nodded. "And well, it's really big. There are many countries and continents and we have a lot of oceans. I live in a country called America, it's the most powerful country in the world, go us! America has 50 states; I live in Nevada, about forty minutes from Las Vegas." Bella stopped and looked questioningly at Gandalf.

"Go on," Gandalf said. "What about the state of your world. What races succeed there?"

"Well, for one thing, it's not as clean and as fresh as this place. My world is polluted beyond belief. Cars, trains, factories, thoughtless people; they're all trashing it. We have this thing called global warming. It's crazy, I read, in Time magazine a couple months ago, that if things keep going as bad as they are now, in the next fifty years, Indiana will be a coast line.*" Bella stopped. "Oh, I forgot, you don't know where Indiana is." Bella crouched down and drew a rough figure of the United States in the dirt with her finger.

"See now here is Indiana," Bella pointed out. "And since all the ice is melting on our planet, the water down here in Florida, will cover all of this land and coast line with Indiana. It's completely insane."

"What do you mean by the ice melting? How is this?" asked Gandalf.

"All of the pollution caused by cars and such are hurting the ozone layer and…"

"Ozone layer?" Gandalf interrupted.

"Yeah, the thing that protects a planet from shriveling up and burning. Anyways, pollution is causing holes in the ozone layer, and the suns rays come through more and it's heating up the earth." Bella explained. "But don't get me wrong. Earth has to be one of the most beautiful places that exist. I've been to Italy, a country across the ocean, and it's heavenly. I can tell you more later; I could go on forever about it."

"So this car of yours, it is a bad thing?" asked Gandalf.

"Yes, and no," Bella replied. "They get you to your destination a lot faster than walking or using a horse. Most cars are capable of going 120 m/hr, but most people don't go near that fast. The only reason they are bad is because there are so many of them," Bella paused. "Will I be able to go see my car sometime soon? I would like to have my things back."

"I am sure that that can be arranged," replied Gandalf. "We could use you to explain the contents of it. Now, what of the inhabitants of your world? I know there are not Elves in existence there, but what of Hobbits, and foul things such as Orcs and trolls?"

"Hobbits and Orcs?" said Bella confused. "We don't have any of those. All's we have is people. We have different races of people, like white, Native American, black, Asian, and Latino. But that just deals with skin color, language and their heritage. I've heard of trolls but they're also make-believe where I come from. I've never heard of Orcs and Hobbits, what are they?"

"Orcs are cruel, monstrous creatures. They are foul and murderous. They used to be Elves until a long time ago, they were bent and mutilated until they came to their present state, **" replied Gandalf. "Hobbits, on the other hand, are quite different. They're a very humble folk, quite pleasant. They're mortal, but usually live longer than the race of man. They're not very tall, to a stranger's eye they look like mere children."

"Oh, well we have those, 'cept we call them midgets, and it's a genetic disorder, not a species," said Bella. "I'd like to see them."

"Perhaps you will someday," said Gandalf thoughtfully. They walked along in the garden for a few moments in silence. "I find all the information you have told me very helpful, and interesting none the least. But, I still do not know more about you personally. What of your life, your family, and the career you mentioned this morning?"

"Well, I'm really not that interesting," said Bella shrugging.

Gandalf laughed, "My dear you are far from uninteresting. You have to be one of the most curious beings I have met in many years. I could learn a lot from you."

Bella smiled. "Alright, if you really wanna know about me I'll tell ya, but trust me, I'm normal, nothing special," Bella fell quiet and then spoke again. "Well, I lived in the same state all my life. I went to the same school all my life, went to the same High School as all my friends, and I went to the same college…"

"High School and college? What are these places?" asked Gandalf.

"They're places you go to learn. Don't you have those here?" Gandalf shook his head and Bella stared at him in disbelief. "That's crazy. You don't teach your children here?"

"Children learn the trade of their parents. Parents teach their children survivor skills and knowledge," said Gandalf.

"You mean they don't learn math, or science, or English?" said Bella.

"They have no need for these things," replied Gandalf.

"But how are they going to get a job when they're older?"

"They take on the job of their parents," said Gandalf.

"That's insane. I'd hate to take on the job of my parents. My father owns his own Italian restaurant- very dull work. My mother helps out with the business. I screwed up what I wanted to be. I tried to take the easy way out – It didn't work. I started living in a rundown shack, and I worked all night long, and didn't make a lot of money," Bella stopped talking and sighed. "I finally got tired of it, I was going to start my life over again and become a singer, but then – but then I ended up here," Bella's shoulders slumped and she sat down on a bench that was on the side of the path. She could feel the cool marble through her dress, and the sunlight shined warm on her back. Gandalf sat down beside her.

"Do not get upset my dear," said Gandalf comfortingly. "All things happen for a reason*. Maybe you were not meant to go on with the life you were leading. At any rate, you can start a new life here, as long as you remain. You shall always be welcome. Also, do not give up your dream just because you are no longer I familiar settings. I desire very much to hear you sing, a song from your world."

"Oh no, I couldn't, I mean, you wouldn't want to," Bella said blushing. She usually was never shy about her voice, but Gandalf was truly interested in her voice. When most people asked her to sing they never really paid much attention.

"Come on my dear, there is no need to be shy."

"Alright, I guess. Let me think of a song," Bella searched her brain for a song, and then she remembered her favorite. She took a deep breath and began to sing.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

Someday I'll wake and rub my eyes

And in that land beyond the skies you'll find me

I'll be a laughing daffodil

And leave the silly cares that fill my mind

Be-hind, me

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

Her smoky voice let out the last note sweetly and she closed her eyes; it felt good to sing again, it made her feel free. She opened her eyes and looked expectantly at Gandalf.

Gandalf smiled, "That was beautiful my dear- A lovely voice and a very lovely song. Come; let me show you the rest of the garden."

Bella let Gandalf help her to her feet and for the rest of the afternoon Gandalf pointed out flowers and trees that were strange to Bella and explained them to her, pointing out their qualities and beauty.

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(A/N): okay, I know that wasn't my best. Please don't stop reading though! Sorry this took soooooo long to post and for lack of quality. But my teachers decided it would be fun to give a huge shit load of homework this week, and plus I had final tryouts for our second semester play. We're doin' Jesus Christ Superstar, and we don't have enough guys w/ decent voices, so three parts are gonna be changed to girls: Judas, Pilot, and Simon. And I'm gonna get one of those (wahoo! I'm gonna be a guy!). I wanna be Simon or Judas *fingers cross*. Pray for me! I find out Monday morning. Ack, such a long wait! I'm gonna piss my pants or something (not really). Anyways, I'm going.

* Yes, that global warming thing, I did read for a fact, but I cant remember where I read it.

* And is that how the Orcs were formed? I think that's right. I'm not sure.

PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!

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