Thanks for the reviews. I think I'm getting a big head! (Kim, have you posted on ff? I'd love to read your writings.) Except I want more. Did we all see Two Towers? Sigh.....loved it so much. Once I got over the character-massacre and murder of my beautiful Haldir. But lovely.



Sigh..... Wish I could film this....Know the scene where Legolas says "Would you like me to describe it to you, or shall I fetch a box" to Gimli? Not to turn into some blathering teeny-bopper, but his eyes were incredible. Quite inspiring for the writing bit. Anyone out there understanding me?



Chapter 13



The Great Hall of Rivendell consisted of several levels built into a cliff overlooking the river. The lowest level, constructed entirely of a dark, hard stone, held a hall where evening meals were held. The upper levels were of a softer sandstone with paintings of Elvish history and legend covering the walls in most places. These upper levels looked out over the lower ones, and minstrels were setting up delicate stringed instruments as Miranda ran into the Hall. She stopped abruptly just before colliding into Aragorn, who stood with Lord Elrond near the entrance. They did a sort of half dance to maintain footing. Miranda's heart beat uncomfortably swiftly. Both men eyed her curiously, but ignored her strange behavior.

"Good evening," said Elrond, bowing. Miranda gave him the best smile she could manage and found herself doing a sort of curtsey and head bob.

"Is the lady Arwen not yet here?" she asked for lack of conversation. Aragorn shook his head.

"She has journeyed to the east, to Lorien, to be with her mother's people before the wedding. It is custom," he said.

"Ahhh." Miranda nodded her head and tried to think of something to say. Lord Elrond was eyeing her warily and Aragorn seemed hard-put not to laugh.

" It may yet be some time ere the others arrive. Shall I show you the Hall, Lady?" asked Elrond. Miranda nodded and took the proffered arm. Together they mounted the high stairway and paused before each painting, Elrond offering a brief version of the tale told in each. Aragorn followed, seeing the places of his youth in a different light.

"And this place is called..." Miranda's ears rang with the odd Elven names and began tuning out the regal Elf's lecture. She stared at the painting before them: a forest scene, with high, dismal-looking mountains in the distance. Something in the upper corner caught her attention and she moved in toward the painting. It was a ring of stones, each one taller than the tallest Man and as broad as his arm-span. They stood precariously upon a cliff's edge, yet seemed in no danger of falling. As she stared at them, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she began to feel faint.

"The stones!" Her voice was breathless and as she moved to touch them, a loud ringing started in her ears and the painting began to blur. Screams and whispers and the sound of rushing wind overcame her and she stumbled into Elrond, who caught her in shock. A brief cry issued from her lips as he gently knelt with her to the ground.

"The stones!" This time her voice was clearer and she pushed at Elrond, trying to get back to the painting. "That's where it happened!"

"Of what do you speak, Lady?" Aragorn and Elrond exchanged looks of confusion and suspicion. Legolas came bursting into the hall as she answered:

"Where I came through! The wedding- and that man- and the screams!" She shuddered and shook her head. "It happened so quickly, I didn't understand! And then there was a valley and rushing wind and it hurt! And I was falling and things kept grabbing me and it hurt and I-" she looked up, "I remember!" As she broke off to take a breath, Lord Elrond held up his free hand.

"You are obviously quite distressed. Please, save your breath for now and we shall talk this through." He helped her to her feet, a frown on his features.

The four returned to the main level, though Miranda's eyes shifted back to the painting often, as though assuring herself it was there. Her eyes were wild and she seemed unable to sit still. Her foot tapped incessantly and her head bobbed back and forth. Though this behavior was strange and remarkable to the Man and Elves, they could not see into her mind. The inside of Miranda's head whirled as forgotten information and memories tumbled through it, as though someone stood above her with a bucket and was dumping them atop her.

"Lady? Can you hear me?" Lord Elrond's voice seemed tinny and far away. She felt suffocated and jumpy, all muscles tensed as though expecting a blow.

"Lady? Miranda?" His face swam before her own and mixed with images of rooms, automobiles, faces, bottles, paintings, computer screens. The voices were receding and forth-coming without rhythm. The lights were too bright, they were blinding! She needed space, she needed to get out, she needed-

"Shhhhh," A soft voice was saying near her ear. Arms enveloped her and though she struggled briefly, they held firm. He was speaking a language unknown to her, but the words were unimportant. It was the soothing tone and rhythmic syllables that began to soak into her too-saturated mind. As though a wall were erected in her head, the images and sounds began to fade, leading only a single thought:

"I remember." Legolas down at her, a frown marring his brow.

"Can you tell us?" he said, though made no move to release her. She seemed unaware of where she was, but felt safe and secure. She moved her head back so she could look at him.

"I was at a wedding and-" she stumbled over the memory of the rude man and decided to exclude it. "There were stones, large ones, in a sort of circle. I was crying and I didn't notice. Then I guess I touched one and- and..." She shook her head, thinking of the screams and felt trapped again. She pushed away from Legolas and took a deep breath.

"There was screaming and I felt as though the wind was ripping me apart and then it was over. I opened my eyes and I saw trees. Then I-" she bit her lip, remembering. "I think I fell, I remember it felt like things were tearing at my clothing and skin. And then.....everything went black. Then you appeared." She looked up at Aragorn, whose face was impassive.

"You were at a wedding? Held at the foot of the mountain? A wedding which you left and then proceeded up this mountain?" Aragorn's voice was no longer friendly, but cold and filled with disbelief.

"No!" Miranda shook her head in frustration. "There was no mountain! Only a little hill!"

"But you can see from the painting, my lady, and remember from your fall, that the stone circle is indeed atop a low mountain." Lord Elrond's face was drawn and he looked even more stern than usual.

"But I didn't- I'm not-" She sighed. "I'm not from this world. I think I....I think somehow I came through the stones. From my world.....to this one." She bit her lip and looked at the circle of faces, knowing her story to sound ridiculous and unbelievable. Aragorn and Elrond stood expressionless, arms folded in an identical fashion across their chests. Legolas stood still, frowning. Did he, at least, believe her? Just then, a loud laugh and the patter of feet filled the hall as the six Hobbits and Gimli entered. Rosie's mouth hung open as she gaped at the Elvish elegance, while Merry and Pippin engaged in an argument of sorts. Bilbo leaned heavily on Sam and Frodo, but chattered away contentedly. They eyed the other group curiously, wondering why the three males were crowded around a distressed-looking Miranda.

"What's goin on?" Pippin asked, clutching something to his chest. Aragorn and Elrond exchanged looks and Elrond nodded slightly.

"It seems Miranda has regained her memory. Or so she claims," said Aragorn.

"'Or so she claims?'" said Sam, indignantly. "And have we suddenly reason to doubt her word?" The rest looked from Aragorn to Elrond and finally to Miranda.

"Miss?" said Sam, uncertainly. Miranda's frustration was slowly turning to anger.

"My Lord, I fully realize this sounds absurd, but I swear upon my life what I say is truth. I was born in a land called England. No such place as Rivendell exists in my world. We have no Elves or Hobbits or Dwarfs. Somehow, when I touched the stone it- it transported me here. I- I don't understand it myself!"

Legolas looked doubtful, but he knelt beside her and drew her hand into his own.

"Lady, I have no wish to label your story false, but how could such a thing be true? Is it not possible that you merely dreamed this in a fever dream?"

**Bloody hell. I thought YOU of all people would support me,** she thought.

"I know reality from dream, Legolas. Remember the clothing you found me in? Had you ever seen such garments?" She asked, desperation evident in her voice.

"Oi!" Pippin's voice broke the group surrounding Miranda. "Remember this strange lot?" he said, dumping her leather bag on the table. Everyone eyed it curiously as Miranda's hand reached slowly out for it. Her shoulder bag! Eagerly, she up-ended it on the wooden table.

"Look!" she said, holding up her Discman. "Have you such things in Middle-Earth?" She pushed the player into Legolas's hands and grabbed her wallet with relief. Flipping it open to the photos in the back, she shoved them at Aragorn and Elrond.

"Have you seen photos before? Look at the `plastic`," she said. "It doesn't even exist here!" She ripped her VISA out and waved it under Elrond's nose. He took it gingerly, amazement on his face as he examined it, and the photos. Aragorn flipped slowly through the photos, as Legolas watched over his arm: Miranda and Maggie in her flat on move-in day; Miranda and Rachel in Saalbach on skis, grinning wildly; Miranda and Dave on their wedding day, both looking impossibly happy.

An odd sound made everyone look at Pippin, whose face had paled. In his hand he held Miranda's mobile, though he had no clue what purpose it served. Everyone reacted at once. Legolas's hand went to the knife strapped at his thigh.

"Some strange bird?" said Aragorn, moving toward Pippin.

"My mobile!" said Miranda, grabbing at it. Eyes wide with excitement, she tried to click it on when it made the sound again. Could it still be working? She hit 'call', but nothing happened.

`The battery,` she whispered sadly. The battery had finally run out and the phone beeped to tell her that. Sighing, she placed it back on the table, where Pippin again swiped it when no one was looking. Remaining in the bag were five tampons (THANK GOD!!), her diaphragm, a bottle of aspirin, a can of mace (this she carefully left in the bag) and the clothing she had taken to the wedding to change into.

"Oh, and this!" This was a novel, her favorite: The Once and Future King. This she silently handed to Elrond. His impassive face remained still as he flipped through the book, noting the strange writing and perfect lettering.

"Now do you believe me?" she asked.

"I-I do not know what to think," Elrond stared at her intently.

"Lady, when we first found you, you mentioned the Shire," Aragorn said. His eyes were narrowed. "If you are not from Middle-Earth, how could you have known about the Shire?"

Miranda looked dumbfounded.

**What on earth could I have said about the Shire? I didn't even-** Suddenly the memory dawned and she giggled. If it was slightly hysterical, perhaps given the circumstances, that could be forgiven.

"I didn't say 'Shire' I said the name of my home town! I just realized how similar they sound. `Hertfordshire` is a tiny village in England, where I was born." Sam and Frodo smiled at each other in relief. They hadn't wanted to believe that Miranda was some spy. Even Legolas looked relieved and found this a plausible explanation.

"All of these...gadgets would make it seem that you do speak truth, yet how could such a thing be? Were it possible to travel between worlds, why have we not heard of such things before?" Elrond's eyebrows were so tightly drawn together, it looked painful. Miranda shrugged helplessly when a throat cleared behind her.

"Master Elrond, it is not entirely unheard of," said Gimli, haltingly. Elrond turned in surprise.

"Gimli, son of Gloin, explain your meaning!"

"When I was but a young lad, beardless even, my great uncle told a story of a human maiden who appeared suddenly at the gate to his mines one day. She was dirty and disoriented and spoke no languages they knew. Eventually they worked it out that she had come from the stones.

I have heard similar stories, though I always believed them legend. It is always human women who appear suddenly in Middle-earth from some unknown place. Could it be that these stories are true?" Gimli looked at Miranda in wonder.

"And what happened to these maidens?" asked Aragorn. Gimli sniffed.

"Some were able to return by the way they came. But legend says that they have only one chance each year to return, or so claimed my father's brother. Others could not make it through at the right time and were doomed to remain." Miranda looked at Gimli, mouth agape.

"One chance to return? When? What chance?"

"The gateway is only open on the date they first arrived."

"But-I don't remember what day it was!"

"The midday of June, Lady. I remember," said Frodo softly.

"And what is today?" Miranda asked, in a panic.

"The first of June."

The room became silent as all thought of what the future would bring.



**************

Sam sat with Frodo on a high bench near their rooms. As they watched, Pippin pushed Rose in a swing and Merry lay on the grass at their feet, smoking his pipe. Though the scene appeared idyllic, Sam's heart was heavy.

"She is leaving on the morrow then?" said Sam, watching the sky.

"Aye, Legolas has agreed to accompany her to the stone circle. He can travel the swiftest and will get her there in time." Frodo sipped at a goblet, though its contents seemed tasteless to him.

"I cannot believe she will soon leave us. It seems as though she's always been there, if you take my meaning."

"Bag End will be much too quiet, I am afraid," said Frodo. He sighed.

"But she remembers her life now, Sam. She must return to her own people." Sam nodded, unhappily.





*********



Miranda sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the photo on her lap. She traced her finger over her own smiling face.

**Were we really ever that happy?** she thought, wistfully. A soft tap at the door brought her out of her reverie.

"Yes?" The door opened and Legolas entered, his step silent and lithe. Miranda's heart beat faster and she unconsciously smoothed her hair and smiled at him.

"Would you....erm....would you like to sit?" Though she thought he would take the chair across from her, instead he sat next to her on the bed.

**Not even a dent.** Her attention was caught by random details.. The bed did not dip at all.

"Master Elrond and Aragorn have spoken. It was agreed that I might accompany you to the circle. The way is not long, but there are still treacherous beings about. Also, you do not know the way. I-We felt you would feel less unease when with someone you know, and I am the swiftest rider among us. We shall leave at dusk tonight, if it please you. That will allow us enough time to reach the stones and I will return in time for the wedding." He looked down at her. Miranda nodded, still gazing at the picture in front of her.

"May I?"

She nodded again and he took the photo, examining it in detail.

"Who is this?" He pointed at the man, wondering why this stranger whom he'd never seen provoked feelings of jealousy within him. Their pose, with the man's arms around Miranda indicated an intimacy Legolas did not like.

"That's David. He's- was my husband." Had he been human, Legolas would have started with shock, but being Elvish, he merely blinked. Strong dislike boiled within him and he stared at the man's face, a face full of deceit and low-breeding, Legolas thought.

"Was? He is dead, then?"

"N-" Miranda started to say no, then realized how difficult it might prove to explain what divorce was. And in a way, Dave, the man she thought she knew, the man she fell in love with, was dead.

"Yes," she said. "Almost two years ago." He nodded and felt some of the irrational hatred dissipate. There was another photo underneath. This one featured Miranda and a dark-haired woman smiling. He noticed how happy Miranda looked. Her head was thrown back and she appeared to be laughing. Her cheeks were red, and the snow surrounding them was indicative of cold.

"What are those strange contraptions on your feet?" Legolas asked. The melancholic look faded from her face and she grinned.

"Skis. Don't you have skiing here?" He shook his head.

"Ah. Well, they are long pieces of wood that are very smooth and your feet are bound to them with this boot-thing. Then you sort of slide down a mountain on snow. It's fun, what with the wind and the speed. Exhilarating, I suppose you might say."

"You look very happy in these paintings. I am glad. I want you to be happy." Legolas's tone was odd and Miranda looked up sharply. She was about to question him when a knock sounded at the door and it swung open.

"Ah. So that's where you have been hiding. Come, you two, it is time to eat!" Gimli patted his round stomach in obvious anticipation. Glad of the distraction, Miranda stood and heard Merry and Pippin right outside the door.

"Well, I'll see you later, then." Gimli watched her go, then turned to Legolas, who remained sitting on the bed, staring at the 'paintings.' His stern brown-eyes softened as he looked at his friend. Though the Elf's face remained stolid, Gimli recognized his listless posture and was saddened.

"Legolas," he said gently, "I will gladly come along if you wish." Legolas need no reference, for he knew his friend well.

"No, Gimli. I think it best if I go alone. And though your offer is quite selfless (truly an astonishing thing for a Dwarf), I do not think you would enjoy several weeks on horseback without pause nor respite." Legolas had recovered from his strange feelings and was up to teasing his friend.

"Hmph. In that you are right, Elf. But as for selfless offers, no one has been more selfless than I during our travels. Constantly having to find pools for you to bathe in and that singing! O how my axe called for Elf blood!" They smiled at one another and went down to eat.



************



As the sun sank in the sky, Legolas stood near the entrance of Imladris with two steeds, waiting for Miranda to finish her farewells. He was reminded painfully of the last time he had stood in this place and heard farewells. He hoped no tragedies would fall on this journey as had plagued the previous. Miranda appeared before him then, and he helped her onto her horse, then mounted Arod. Without looking back, she guided the animal though the gates and out of sight. He followed, curious at the slump of her shoulders and the way in which she had not looked back. Her hood was drawn up though, and he could not see her face. As they climbed the hill outside of the city, he moved in front and picked up the pace. They would go only a few miles tonight, but he wanted to cover as much ground as possible

Miranda was miserable. Her heart felt heavy and she sat numbly, trying not to think of her last day with the Hobbits. There would be time to mourn later. For now, she would be numb and just drift. She clutched her cloak round tighter and gripped the reins in white-knuckled fists. Illogically, 'Here We Go, Into the Wild Blue Yonder' was playing over and over again in her head and it clashed horridly with her sorrow. She concentrated on the hoof beats and slowly, everything else faded out.



**********

Sam clutched Rosie tighter to him and she snuggled her head deeper into his shoulder. His eyes were wide open and sleep would not come. She had been gone for little over 36 hours, but, it seemed like weeks already. Merry had sat glumly and stared at the river for a day, and Pippin had swung slowly, watching the Elves. It was Frodo, though, who had come to see Sam, who understood how much he would miss Miranda. He thought of her farewell, but something was nagging at the corner of his mind. The sun would be up soon. Another day would dawn and there would be good food, relaxation and songs. But something wasn't right. As he thought of Miranda and Legolas riding out through the gates, he shifted his foot. Maggie had fallen asleep on it and it had-

Sam sat bolt upright in bed, causing Rose to mutter angrily. He stared down at the end of the bed.

**Maggie! She forgot Maggie!** The dog had been caught eating the rabbit intended for dinner and been locked in Sam's room, as Miranda's had no door. In the excitement over her memory coming back, no one had thought of the dog. Sam had fed her without noticing, it had been so commonplace over the past year.

Now he crept out of bed and over to the narrow cot in the corner where Frodo snored lightly.

"Mr. Frodo!" Sam whispered, shaking his master. "Mr. Frodo!" he said, a little louder.

"What, Sam? What is it?" Frodo's peered at him beerily. A pale gold shaft of sunlight appeared over the mountain just then and Frodo caught sight of Sam's face.

"Sam, why're you crying?" he said, cradling Sam's cheeks.

"Maggie! We forgot all about Maggie!" Sam pointed to where Maggie was sprawled, sound asleep. "Oh, Mr. Frodo, you know how she loves that dog! She can't go back without her! Who will take care of her?" Frodo wasn't sure if Sam meant Miranda or Maggie, but one thing was certain. He was not going to be getting any more sleep today.

By noon, it was decided. Sam, Frodo, Merry and Pippin would take Maggie to the stone circle and hopefully, they would come in time. Rose had not been pleased, but one look into her beloved's eyes and she could not say no. Sam's soft-heartedness was one of the main reasons she loved him so, and she could not deny him this. She made sure the other Hobbits went along, though, to safeguard him and had a short chat with Meriadoc before they left. Though he was a Brandybuck and therefore a bit strange, he was good and noble and had saved the Shire. She trusted him and informed him in no uncertain terms what would happen to the chance of his having children, should he not bring Sam back safe and alive and in one piece.

By dusk, the four were on ponies and out the gate. Maggie trotted along side, happily unaware of the events that were about to unfold.