~Sorry about not updating for a while, things have been busy busy busy here. So here's a short update, but I have more coming soon! I want to thank my three loyal reviewers, Blahblah, MaverickGirl, and Aislin. You three always manage to bring me a smile :o)

Disclaimer: Same old, same old.

The scene with Galadriel left Shantel stunned as she stumbled back off to bed. After sinking to her knee's and then looking up, Galadriel was gone. There was a question she was going to ask, but what ever it was flew her mind with the astonishment of what she had learned. Destroy the ring and she will most likely never get home. Do not destroy the ring, destroy Middle Earth in the process and get sent home or be tortured. At her bed she looked down at it and sighed. There was no way she was going to sleep now and she didn't want to disturb the others. Turning to leave Shantel stifled a shriek crashing into some one's chest. Reflexively they grabbed her arms to steady her, and Shantel looked up into the face that made her gasp. Scott? What was he doing her, didn't she just see him? Shaking her head Shantel closed her eyes and opened them up again.

"My lady are you alright?" Shantel looked up into the face of Haldir and sighed with relief. Relief that she wasn't crazy, and that she wasn't seeing things. And disappointed that it was all an illusion.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Shantel said quietly as she stepped back. "For a moment you looked like some one else and shocked me, that's all." Haldir nodded and gestured to the sleeping area.

"Why are you not asleep?"

"I woke up and found Galadriel, down that way," Shantel pointed. "And then…"

"Did you look into the mirror?"

"The mirror?" Shantel paused confused for a second then nodded. "Oh yes, and I saw…" Shantel faltered.

"What you saw was for you alone," Haldir said. "You can share it if you wish, but you don't have to." Shantel looked to him thinking he was being very nice.

"What's going on?" Shantel asked.

"Pardon?" Haldir asked.

"The last encounter with you I remember trading insults and was trading insults, and you not laughing at my corny jokes," Shantel said.

"Last I remember I thought we had kindled a truce on the stair," Haldir said. "Remember I let you hold my arm the way down?" Shantel looked down a little embarrassed. She had forgotten about that.

"I'm sorry yes I remember," Shantel said. "Just, I'm stressed, don't know what to do." Shantel put her hands on her head. "I feel like I'm going to explode!"

"Shantel," Haldir gently took her hands from Shantel's head. "How about I get some one to draw you a warm bath, get you some clean clothes, and some food." Shantel sighed and nodded.

"That sounds really good right now," Shantel said.

"I'll be back," Haldir said and stepped away. Shantel sat down at the tree roots and looked at the ground. Finding a stick on the ground Shantel picked it up and started tracing random patterns on the ground. Not really looking Shantel jumped when a hand touched her shoulder.

"Are you feeling alright?" Haldir asked. Shantel looked up then down at her drawing. It was a crude drawing of a hand, holding something round. Standing, Shantel purposely walked over it, smearing it and turned looking at Haldir.

"Just trying to figure things out," Shantel said. As Haldir turned, Shantel fell in step next to him. "Galadriel told me that she doesn't have the power to send me home." Haldir looked to Shantel but didn't say anything.

"The only way for me to get home is," Shantel sighed. "Is through Sauron. So I'm never going to get home, because I can't let Middle Earth get destroyed."

"And there's also the fact that we wouldn't let you," Haldir said. Shantel laughed slightly.

"No I wouldn't expect any of you would," Shantel said.

"Here's where you can have your bath," Haldir pointed up some stairs to a nearby door. "I'll have some one bring you clean clothes." As he turned to leave Shantel spoke to him.

"What you're not going to stay and scrub my back?" Haldir paused in mid-step nearly stumbling on his own feet. When he turned and saw laughter in Shantel's eyes, he knew she was joking.

"But if I did that," Haldir turned putting a hand on his chest. "Then you would have to run around here naked." Shantel pretended to think.

"Hmm," Shantel said. "Sounds exciting." Seeing Haldir's mouth drop Shantel laughed and turned going up the stairs. "I'm just kidding." She shouted the ran inside the door. Haldir simply shook his head as he walked away.

"What a strange woman. I wonder what color dress she would like to wear?"

Inside Shantel leaned against the door as she looked around. There was a short hallway that leaded to a bigger room that was separated by several doors. Pausing, Shantel wasn't sure what to do until she saw an elven maid step out from a door and beckon to her.

"Hello my name is Alassea," She greeted. "Haldir has told me that you require a bath and if I do say so myself, he was right." Smiling Shantel rolled her eyes as she followed Alassea. Required, I thought it was for me to relax. Stepping inside the second door, Shantel found a tub that was sunk into the floor, filled with steaming water, while the scent of lavender, along with other drifted up to her.

"I'll be out here if you need me," Alassea said then stepped out. Shantel smiled at her then turned back to the water. She was tempted to jump in clothes and all but restrained herself long enough to strip down and put one foot in. That's when Shantel paused realizing she forgot to take off her socks. Pulling the now wet and clingy material, Shantel tossed it aside where it landed with a wet slap, the other soon following soundlessly. She sighed and sank under the water, staying there for a moment until she felt the need for air. Pushing up with her feet, Shantel took a breath and looked around.

"Air is good," Shantel said. The room seemed to glimmer, with glossy white curtains that seemed to sparkle and elvish designs decorated the room. It would feel like Ireland, Shantel thought. Assuming she had been to Ireland that is, which she hasn't. A bottle came into Shantel's vision and she picked it up, smelling it's contents. It was a soft flowery scent.

"Like herbal essences," Shantel laughed, and used it to wash her hair. A few times she got the urge to imitate the commercial but refrained from the embarrassing thought that some one might run in thinking some thing was wrong. Slowly Shantel rinsed her hair when she heard a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Shantel called.

"Only I," Alassea cracked the door open. "I brought you garments and a cloth to dry off with."

"Okay bring them in," Shantel said sliding under the bubbles a bit. "I'll be out in a minute." Alassea smiled at Shantel and put the clothes down on a chair and left the room. A few more minutes passed and Shantel decided she really needed to get out since the water was starting to cool off. Climbing out Shantel dried off then pulled the clothes towards her and paused. It was a dress, rose colored, and it shimmered as Shantel moved and blinked making sure she was seeing it right.

"No he didn't," Shantel shut her eyes then opened them again. The dress was still there. "He did, man." Shantel put the dress down and was going to put back on the dirty clothes when she found that they were gone. Alassea must have grabbed them on the way out, including her bra and underwear. Looking down on the chair, Shantel found a pair of sheer underwear and a small shirt of the same sheer material that tied up the front. It took Shantel a few minutes and she accidentally pinched her self a few times but she got the sheer shirt on and slipped on the underwear. Pulling the dress over her head, there was a sash she tied, and a few buttons in back she couldn't reach.

"Alassea I need some help please," Shantel cried trying to reach the buttons. Alassea came in and smiled at Shantel's awkward position. Going over, she had to untie the sash and buttoned a row of small buttons down Shantel's back. Then she redid the slash and turned Shantel to look at her.

"Sit and I'll brush your hair," Alassea said. Shantel complied and a few minutes later she was leaving what she called the bath house in search of food. When Alassea was just finishing her hair, her stomach loudly grumbled making both girls laugh. Outside Shantel paused to see where she was.

"Do you need direction?" Shantel turned to see one of the elves that had accompanied them in with Haldir.

"Yes, uh…" Shantel paused. She was terrible at remembering names.

"Rumil," He answered and offered an arm. "Come, I will show you the way." Shantel smiled and took his arm and he lead her up a tree to where many tables were set for breakfast. Seeing the fellowship, Shantel thanked Rumil and went over sitting down with them.

"Hi guys," Shantel said as she sat. They all turned and their mouths dropped. Even Boromir, who looked ready to fall asleep on his feet, looked more awake. "What?" Shantel looked around confused.

"You look quite lovely," Boromir said. Shantel smiled and ducked her head feeling suddenly shy. Then she lifted her head and looked at the group.

"It's amazing what a bath will do," Shantel smiled. "We should make portable shower heads then you wouldn't all be so stunned."

"Well it's not often that females grace us with their presence on adventures," Aragorn said.

"More like you tell them to stay home," Shantel said lightly, then winced as Aragorn did. "I didn't mean anything by that," Shantel stumbled verbally.

"It's alright, I know," Aragorn said.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll do the happy snoopy dance for you," Shantel said. Everyone just gave her a weird look.

"Please do Shantel," Sam recovered first.

"Yes, dancing is wonderful," Merry joined in.

"Oh I forgot you don't know who snoopy is," Shantel smiled. At least they can't compare you to him, she thought. "After breakfast, okay?" They all nodded and started to eat. Shantel's thought's went back to the previous night. After, showing the snoopy dance, Shantel smiled at that thought, she would go somewhere alone and say her goodbyes to Scott. At this moment in time she was sure that she would not be going home.

~*~

That short meeting with Shantel had Scott up for the rest of the night. He knew she didn't get the last part of the message he said to her, about Galadriel not being able to send her home, but read that Galadriel told her that. After that the book stopped. Nick had come over in the morning and Scott told him all about the night before. Reading it himself, Nick was amazed then laughed as Scott told him he literally flipped out of the bed.

"There's more," Nick said smiling as he read about the breakfast. Slowly as Nick's eyes scanned the word he paused then handed the book over. "I think this part is for you." Scott took the book and started to read. He went over the bath and the breakfast, but the next part, Scott didn't know how she did it, but there was a letter in there from Shantel.

My Dearest Scott,

This has to be the hardest letter I have ever wrote. It seems at this point the only way to get home would be to have Saruman do it, yet I believe he'd only laugh and then kill me. And that would mean giving him the one ring and I can't do that to the elves, the hobbits and men, because they have helped me. I can't let Saruman destroy them.

So from this point on, I'm going to do what I can to help Frodo, and try not to get killed on the way. I know that isn't cheerful news but I don't know what else to do right now. I can't stay here in Lothlorien, I'd loose my mind worrying over Frodo and the rest. So now I sigh, I don't know if you'll get this, but I want you to know, I love you with all my heart and will always keep you in mine.

~Shantel~

Scott put the book down and pinched the bridge of his nose. Nick knew he was trying not to cry in front of him, but he didn't want to leave Scott alone at this time either. No words would do anything right now, so Nick only put a hand on his friend's shoulder to let him know he was there.

~*~

The next few days at Lothlorien went too fast for Shantel. She was enjoying the peace and enjoyed getting to know that Haldir was as stuck up as he made himself appear. One thing she did notice was Boromir walking off alone very often, with black circles under his eyes. She followed him one day and found him sitting at a tree, by one of the shimmering lakes.

"Boromir?" Shantel said as she walked up. He looked up startled but relaxed when he saw her. "What troubles you?" She was also dropping most of the slang from her world, seeing as how it wasn't used here at all.

"I keep hearing, the Lady in my head," Boromir said. "I feel her looking inside, invading my thoughts. I can find no peace here." Shantel went over and put an arm around Boromir's shoulders. This was something she never could was done if he was standing.

"No privacy, how did you think I felt when I had to have an elf walk with me to pee," Shantel stated. Boromir looked at Shantel then let out a small laugh.

"It is a small comfort to have you around," Boromir said.

"I'd thought with my size, I'd be a big comfort," Shantel joked. Boromir raised an eyebrow at her and looked her in the face.

"Have you not seen you're reflection lately?" Boromir asked.

"If you're commenting on my looks, I'm telling you it's a bath and baby fat," Shantel stated.

"You have very little baby fat Shantel," Boromir said putting a hand on her arm. "You seemed to have lost most of it on the journey here. Did you not notice your clothes getting looser?"

"I thought they were simply stretching out," Shantel said quietly now getting serious. Boromir stood up and walked Shantel over to the water.

"Look at your self," Boromir instructed, as Shantel studied her reflection.

"I have cheek bones!" Shantel smiled at Boromir, he smiled back. This wasn't the only reason she was smiling, it was also because she seemed to have taken Boromir's mind off of his privacy dilemma.