A/N: I've already put in a disclaimer in the first chapter. That's enough.

'It's cold,' Mari thought. 'Why's it so cold? And dark. Is this death?' Mari lay contorted on the smooth, cold surface beneath her. 'It's scary here. Where is everyone?' More than anything, she wanted the old man with her then. He would have comforted her and let her know that everything would be alright. Then, a pale light illuminated the darkness. Mari looked up. It was the moon, the same moon she had seen before she fell, shrouded mysteriously in the clouds as it had been. It shone through the darkness that had now become a starless night sky. Something wasn't right about this place. She smelt heavy smoke. The darkness gave way to reveal the dim glow of burning fires hundreds of feet below her. She found herself atop a huge tower nestled in the valley of a mountain range. She could feel the smoke and fire from the pits below burning her throat and choking her. She let out a hacking cough and clamped a hand over her mouth.

"So, the wench has finally awoken."

Mari shot up, ignoring the dizziness as the blood rushed from her head. She saw two elderly men, one dressed in white with a black stick. He was very intimidating as he glowered down at Mari. As she looked to the other, she felt tears well up in her eyes. He lay facedown on the floor in tattered grey robes with blood running down his forehead. 'It can't be,' she thought. It was the old man. The first to show her kindness, her teacher, her guardian, her father. Who died. The grieving renewed as two tears fell.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" The man in white bored holes through Mari with his glare. All she could do was tremble.

"Answer me and answer me swiftly before I decide that you are not worth the effort!" Mari's eyes widened in fear. She was frozen until the man in white kicked at her backpack and guitar that lay about two feet behind him. (A/N: Yes, both bags survived the fall and made it to ME with her.) With a small cry, she jumped up, dove for her bags, and hugged them possessively to her chest. The man in white pointed the black stick at her, and her hands flew to her neck and started to choke the life out of her.

"This is the last time I shall ask. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Mari could utter no words to keep her own hands from strangling her. She felt her last inch of life as it began to escape.

"Saruman, that's enough!!" screamed the old man in grey. "You will learn nothing from her if she is dead! She is obviously as confused as anyone, release her and you may yet have your answers!!"

Saruman's eyes shifted to the man in grey and back to the dying girl before him. He lifted away his staff, and Mari fell to the floor, heaving and choking on the very air she needed.

"Very well, Gandalf. I will give her two days. In two days time, you will have her tell her name and purpose, or I will not be so merciful next time." With that, Saruman descended back into his tower, leaving the disheveled girl on the floor. Gandalf crawled over to Mari, and gently grasped her shoulders. He helped her into a sitting position.

"Are you alright, child?" Gandalf asked with a deep concern in his eyes. "You're not too terribly hurt, I hope." Mari's eyes came back into focus, and she looked up at Gandalf. Unbidden, tears came pouring down her cheeks. She collapsed, sobbing into his chest.