Corrina: I am so glad that you like this. And to be honest I have no idea how I'm going to get her back home. Maybe I'll figure something out as I go or poor Shantel will be stuck until I think of something. And Gimli is one of my favs, he's such a character J They help with many stories I believe. Dwarves are cute and make awesome friends (I think at least)

Mellon: Thanks, here's another update.

Aislin: Well I thought I spy would be fun, until I realized what the color of everything was around them, lol! Gray! I know Gimli hugging back was a little out of character but I can't help it. Gimli is such an awesome character ( Legolas too ::sighs:: ) Okay they're all great characters. And it was Boromir but oh well, if it's not spelling errors it's another thing. J

Elen: Thanks so much. Feel free to drop in any other compliments that you think of I never tire of hearing them.

MaverickGirl: Thanks I'm glad to see that you understand about the reviews. Here's another update.

Blahblah: I know but the passing of Gandalf is very sad to me, I cried when he fell when I saw the movie. He's one of my original favs from the hobbit L But no worries here's another update J!

Disclaimer: Since Gandalf died can I have him? No? Dang, well I tried. Don't own the other originals either, I think by now we should all know who is and isn't mine.

The run from the caves to near by trees was all a blur to Shantel. As they crossed a narrow stream was when she started to tale note of their surroundings. Trees some sparse and some thick were closing around them.

"Stay close Shantel and young hobbits," Gimli said. " They say that a great sorceress lives in these woods. An elf witch of terrible power. All who look upon her, fall under her spell and are never seen again."

"Okay Gimli you sure know how to set a person on edge," Shantel said now looking around feeling paranoid.

"Mr. Frodo?" Shantel looks back at Frodo and Sam seeing Frodo look around. Seems Gimli has put him on edge too

"Well, here's one dwarf she won't ensnare so easily," Gimli boasted. "I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox." Everyone stopped as arrows appeared from nowhere pointing at everyone. "Oh!"

Shantel on reflex put her hands up. "You jinxed us."

"The dwarf breathed so loud we could have shot him in the dark." An elf stepped out from behind the archers. Gimli growled and Shantel glared at him. "Come with us."

"We mean you no harm," Aragorn said. "We will gladly follow with out arrows threatening us." Haldir narrows his eyes, then signals to lower the arrows.

"You may call me Haldir," The elf introduced. "Let me know if we go too fast for any to keep up." Looks at dwarf while he says this. "Other introductions can be made later."

The fellowship follows Haldir and the elves to what they call a flet. Standing on one Haldir is talking to Legolas and Aragorn in elvish

"Welcome Legolas, son of Thranduil," Haldir put his hand over his heart.

"Our Fellowship stands in your debt," Legolas returned.

"Ah, Aragorn of the Dunedian," Haldir turned to Aragorn. "You are known to us."

So much for the legendary courtesy of the elves!" Gimli made a few by him jump. "Speak words we can all understand!" Shantel agreed with this. She had stopped her Sindaran lessons when they left Rivendell. Maybe if she mentioned something to Aragorn he'd start helping her.

"We have not had dealings with the dwarves since the dark days, Haldir gave Gimli a smoldering look.

"And you know what this dwarf says to that?" Gimli starts speaking rudely in dwarvish.

"That was not so courteous, Aragorn looked sternly to Gimli. Shantel's eyes widened. He understood that? Haldir looks over each party member stopping at Frodo.

"You bring great evil with you, Haldir turned to Aragorn. "You can go no further!" Aragorn and Haldir start arguing in whispered elvish. The rest of the party is scattered around the flet. Boromir sits by Frodo while Shantel leans on a tree close to where Haldir and Aragorn are arguing. Haldir keeps stopping and looking at her. Shantel throws hands in the air

"Fine! If you just wanted some space you could have said so. It's not like I can understand what you're saying, you're speaking too fast for me to keep up." Shantel stalks over to where Gimli is sitting. "Can I sit with you?" Gimli nods. "Ignore him, sounds like he fell from a tree one day and still hasn't gotten a chance to get the stick out of his butt that rammed in on the way down." Shantel whispered to Gimli. Gimli chuckles getting the glances of a few elves close by.

"Careful lass, elves do have good hearing now, Gimli warned quietly.

"Oops, I forgot, dang it, oh well," Shantel shrugged. Right now she didn't think that Haldir would even hear her.

"Get some rest tonight," Shantel jumped as Haldir said this behind her. "Tomorrow we will blindfold the dwarf and lead you into the Realm."

"Why must I be blindfolded?" Gimli stands up while saying this. "I refuse to be taken in as a prisoner."

"Then you do not enter," Haldir said simply.

"Dwarfs and their stiff necks!" Legolas mutters then sees Shantel look at him surprised. He looked away avoiding her eyes.

"Then let us all be blindfolded as to not single Gimli out," Aragorn said. "Even Legolas." Shantel had to cover her mouth to not giggle at Legolas scowl then lost all humor seeing a cloth being carried in her direction.

"I will hold you accountable for all stubbed toes and trips," Gimli said. Shantel nodded.

"You'll have to claim for the path is straight and smooth, Haldir said. "In the morning, after climbing down everyone was blindfolded and slowly started off, with Haldir in the lead and the other elves behind. Shantel reached a hand out and found an arm.

"Who am I touching?" Shantel asked.

"It is I, Shantel," Boromir replied.

"Can I hold your arm as we walk, please?" Shantel asked. Boromir nodded then realized she could not see him.

"You may," Boromir agreed. Shantel looped her arm though his and slowly grew more confident in their steps. In the evening when they rested they were not permitted to take off their blind folds or in the morning when they rose.

"How am I suppose to go to the bathroom?" Shantel complained.

"I will have someone accompany you," Haldir said.

"No way, this is a woman's thing no way am I going to have an elf follow me to pee only to lead me back," Shantel protested. "It's embarrassing."

"I assure you that you have the most privacy," Haldir said. "He will leave you to your privacy, only call when you are done, and then you will be returned to us."

Shantel sighed feeling that she wasn't going to win. "Okay, okay, who is going to take me?"

"Rumil" Haldir said. Shantel felt a touch on her arm and let him lead her off. He let Shantel know when he was leaving and she finished her duty feeling very odd doing it blindfolded, then called when she finished. With her eyes covered, she was hearing things better and thought she heard a chuckle.

"Are you laughing at me?" Shantel asked smiling thinking of silly she must look. "What'd I do? Button my breeches wrong?"

"Actually yes you did." Rumil laughed quietly.

"Hey it's not that funny." Although Shantel was smiling herself. "It's not like I can see what I was doing. You're in front of me right?"

"Right." Rumil agreed.

"Okay hold on." Shantel turned around and undid the buttons slowly fixing them until she was sure they were now straight and then turned around. "How about now?"

"Better and I'm more to your right," Rumil said then touched Shantel's arm and leaded her back to the group. The rest of the day the party is walking through the forest led by Haldir and his elves. They stop as the tree's clear revealing beautiful golden tree's ahead. Haldir has the blindfolds removed.

"Caras Galadhon," Haldir said with reverence. "The heart of Elvendom on Earth. Realm of Lord Celeborn and lady Galadriel, Lady of Light."

Stepping into the cluster of trees, lights were attached to every tree, shining of gold, and stairs were wound around each tree leading up. As night falls, the golden light changes to resemble starlight. The party is lead by Haldir up to a landing, much like a porch before a set of doors. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel step down stairs from the door.

"The enemy knows you have entered here, Lord Celeborn said. "What hope you had in secrecy is now gone. Nine there are here, yet ten there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me where is Gandalf for I much desire to speak with him. I can no longer see him from afar."

Lady Galadriel looks over the party. "Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of this land. He has fallen into shadow." Lord Celeborn looks to his Lady in surprise.

"He was taken by both Shadow and Flame," Legolas said. "A Balrog of Morgoth. For we went needlessly into the net of Moria."

"Needless were none of the deeds of Gandalf in life." Lady Galadriel's voice seemed to echo slightly when she spoke. "We do not yet know his full purpose. Do not let the great emptiness of Khazad-dum fill your heart, Gimli, son of Gloin, for the world has grown full of peril… And in all lands love is now mingled with grief." She looks to Boromir until he looks away weeping.

"What now becomes of this Fellowship? With out Gandalf, hope is lost," Lord Celeborn asked.

"The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains, while company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace." Lady Galadriel finished this while looking at Frodo.

"Haldir please show our friends a flet in which they may rest." Lord Celeborn said.

My Lady, if you'll beg my pardon," Pippin begged. "Would it be possible to sleep on the ground?" Other hobbits nod in agreement.

"Of course, Haldir show them an area where they may rest," Galadriel looked to Shantel. "And Shantel, come with me." Haldir leads the company away while Shantel follows Galadriel up the steps with Celeborn.

"I know why you have come, yet what I see in your heart troubles me," Galadriel said as she sat down at some chairs she walked up to. They glittered while like many other things around.

"I don't understand," Shantel shook her head.

"You do not want to return home until Frodo completes his mission. Only then do you feel would the time be right for you to return." Shantel nods at Galadriel's words. "But you worry about what kind of home you will be coming home to. How different things will be, how you will explain your absence, all of which you do not know." Shantel nods again.

"But how do you know all this when all I've been doing is sitting here nodding my head?" Shantel asked.

Lady Galadriel smiles. "I have the power to see inside of all who look onto my eyes, and if I wish it speak to their mind. Many mortals can not stand that power being too much for them." Shantel knitted her eyebrows together in confusion. "Do not worry so about this now, for I will only confuse you. Come Haldir has returned and he will accompany you down to your friends." Haldir steps in.

"Three guesses what you get to do." Haldir looks to the Lady as Shantel walks to him. The Lady only nods, which Haldir returns and turns abruptly to walk off. Shantel looked to the Lady once more then realized that Haldir was leaving with out her and jogs to catch up. "Haldir please wait up stairs and I do not get a long very well."

"What do you mean?" Haldir kept walking.

"Well going up sometimes I'll trip and stumble looking really silly but since that didn't happen, I'm expecting it to happen on the way down and was wondering if I could hold onto your arm for balance, just to steady myself…"

"Or bring me down with you?" Haldir finished.

"Well I was thinking more cushion my fall," Shantel joked and waited to see if Haldir laughs. "Okay never mind, remind me not to joke with you on anything."

"I seldom joke on anything, especially with Mortals I do not know," Haldir shrugged.

"How many can you meet in here, you barely let us in."

"The few in your group are the first I have seen in a long while." Haldir said. "And why do you joke and be merry when Gandalf has fallen?" Shantel stops feeling her face turn pale. Haldir stopped turning to look at her.

"I meant no disrespect to Gandalf's memory." Shantel said slowly, gripping her hands together. "But you did not see how I went berserk when he fell, his fingers brushed mine, if I was only a little closer…" Shantel stops her throat choking her up. Haldir walks back up to her, his face softening.

"Shantel, is it?" Shantel nods. "I am sorry, I am merely judging you with out knowing you. Do you need a moment before we go on?" They were about mid-way down the stairs. Shantel nods and sits down, rubbing her eyes with her hands trying not to cry.

"Things are so strange to me here." Shantel said behind her hands.

"How so?" Haldir asked.

"Well, the only reason I was put on the quest really was to get here and see if Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn could have some power to send me back home." Shantel said.

"Would it not be easier to travel by horse?" Shantel had to laugh.

"No horse would be able to take me home, I'm not from this world." Shantel said. "Somehow I ended up here, a fairy tell, a story back home, written and is now being made into movies. That's," Shantel sighs. "That's the simple way to put it.

"Okay, shall we go, I think I should be presentable now." Haldir stands up and offers Shantel a hand. She smiles and takes it stumbling on the stair. "See what I mean, and besides you're an elf with all this great balance and stuff so I shouldn't be able to pull you down." Haldir smiled a little as he let Shantel hold on his arm. Below the party was found under the roots of trees with cloth set over them to act as tents. Gimli was settled down asleep while the hobbits, Sam mostly prepared their beds. Haldir leaves Shantel and she looks to the company before looking around. Singing in elvish had started, very beautiful sounding.

"A lament to Gandalf." Shantel jumped not hearing Legolas come up from behind her.

"What do they say about him?" Merry asked.

"I do not have the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near." Shantel watched Legolas turn to look at Merry as he said this and put a hand on her heart, knowing what he meant. Legolas turned and saw Shantel's hand over her heart.

"Are you alright?" Legolas asked concerned.

"As can be expected." Shantel said. "You know, I think that if I was only a little closer I could have saved him, I could have grabbed his hand and…"

"You would have been pulled under with him." Shantel looked up sharply "I saw the whip wrap around his ankle, you do not have the strength to hold him and the weight of the Balrog."

"I could have tried." Shantel argued.

"And Gandalf would be scolding you for dieing a fools death." Legolas argued back. Shantel winced but shook her head, with a small smile.

"I believe that." Then Shantel laughed a little. "I believe that." Both turn as Sam sings about Gandalf's fireworks.

"The finest rockets ever seen

They burst in stars of blue and green

Or, after thunder, silver showers…

Came falling like a rain of flowers.

Oh that doesn't do them justice by a long road." Shantel smiles at Sam and turns looking around again. Seeing Aragorn get up Shantel turns to Legolas.

"I'll be back, I want to speak with Aragorn." Legolas nods and Shantel jogs to catch up. She sees him walking up to Boromir and slows as they are talking, not wanting to interrupt them.

"…No rest here," Boromir was talking. "I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me "Even now there is hope left." But I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope." As Aragorn goes to sit by Boromir Shantel slides back further behind the tree so that she is not seen. She felt guilty for eavesdropping but didn't want to embarrass Boromir by jumping out. Maybe she should leave and come back later.

"My father is a noble man, but his rule is failing, and our people loose faith. He looks to me to set things right, and I would do it. I would see the glory of Gondor restored." Shantel stepped away and ran back to the camp where the hobbits have made out the beds. Sam showed one he made for her and she sank in weary and fell asleep.

Shantel awoke with a start and looked around until she remembered where she was. She sighed thinking she was doing that a lot these days. Looking over she noticed that Frodo was missing. When a few minutes passed and he didn't return, Shantel got up and edged out to look for him. Walking randomly voices were soon heard and she followed them, coming to a doorway arch. Galadriel stood on the opposite side, and looking further Frodo was there too. Galadriel looked over to Shantel then back to Frodo.

"Stay where you are," Shantel heard in her mind. She grabbed her head then looked over again, watching. Hey just stood there staring at each other, then Shantel shook her head. She must be speaking to Frodo in his mind, Shantel thought. Shantel covered her mouth as Frodo opened his hand and held the ring out to Galadriel like an offering.

"You offer it to me freely," Galadriel finally spoke. "I do not deny that my heart had greatly desired this." She stepped to Frodo with a hand out reached.

"Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn." Shantel shrank back as Galadriel raised her arms and the wind started to blow. "Treacherous as the sea. Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me and despair." Slowly the wind calmed and Galadriel took a step back breathing deep. Dang and she didn't even have to touch it, Shantel thought. If Galadriel didn't know Shantel was there or told her to stay Shantel would have ran, she was still thinking of running away.

"I passed the test," Galadriel spoke. "I will diminish and go into the west and remain Galadriel."
"I cannot do this alone," Frodo spoke.

"You are the Ring-bearer, Frodo." Galadriel turned her attention back to Frodo. "To bear a ring of power is to be alone." Galadriel raised her hand showing her ring. "This is Nenya, the ring of Adamant, and I am it's keeper. This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will."

"Then I know what I must do," Frodo said. "It's just… I'm afraid to do it."

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future," Galadriel said. Frodo closed his hand then looked up to Galadriel.

"What is to happen to Shantel?" Frodo asked.

"We will wait and see," Galadriel said and looked to where Shantel was standing. "You can come out now," She whispered in Shantel's head. Shantel stepped out and Frodo turned to see her. He looked back and forth and bid them goodnight before hastily leaving.

"Will you look into the mirror?" Galadriel asked once Frodo had left.

"Is that what you asked Frodo?" Shantel replied. Galadriel nodded. "And did he look?" No response. "Fine, I'll look." Galadriel pointed to where Shantel was to look and saw her reflection. Slowly it changed and she saw Scott laying in bed, reading the Lord of the Rings book. Frowning in confusion Shantel tilted her head. Scott didn't read fantasy, what was he doing? The next move completely surprised her. Scot jumped out of the bed like he had been shot and toppled about on the floor until he was standing upright looking around.

"Shantel!" Scott shouted. "You're in the books can you hear me?" Shantel covered her mouth trying not to cry.

"Yes I hear you," She said softly. Scoot picked up the book when he didn't hear anything and smiled.

"I'm reading what you said, and it's describing every detail in here," Scott said. "How your hair is all tangled, there's dirt on your cheeks and nose, I wish I could see you, you sound like you look so cute right now."

"I can see you," Shantel said careful not to touch the water as she reached out. "I miss you."

"I miss you too," Scott then took a breath then wiped his eyes. "I don't think Galadriel has told you about sending you home yet has she?" Shantel looked up at Galadriel.

"I'll speak to you of that in a moment," Galadriel said. "You do not have much time."

"Scott, know that I'll do anything to get home to you," Shantel said. "Are things okay?"

"I'm taking care of things and telling people that you're off visiting other relatives," Scott answered. "Your parents are concerned about why you haven't called."

"Write them a letter from me, saying that where ever I'm at the phones are not working and I'll call as soon as I can," Shantel said. It was partial truth, except there were no phones to work in middle earth. "Keep sending them letters too, just say they come to out address." Scott nodded.

"There's one more thing I have to tell you," Scott said, the image wavered.

"Hurry hon, I think this won't last much longer."

"I read… home… Saruman…love you," The image kept distorting not letting Shantel catch all of what Scott said.

"It's ending!" Shantel looked up to Galadriel to see if she could make it last longer, she only shook her head." I love you, honey!" The image was gone. "Can you make it come back? Please?" Galadriel sadly shook her head.

"That is the extent of my power, for I cannot send you back to your world," Galadriel said. Shantel wiped tears off her cheeks and sank to her knee's.

"Then how am I suppose to get home?" Shantel whispered. "I don't suppose that you have a pair of Ruby red slippers I can borrow?" Galadriel paused looking into Shantel's eyes then softly laughed.

"No I do not," Galadriel said. "Saruman is the one who brought you here but he cannot send you back. He used the power of Sauron the Dark Lord and he is who you help Frodo defeat by destroying the ring." Shantel sat there staring off blankly. She didn't know what to do.