Ach! I hope you all are enjoying your breaks I have the bloody flu! But I'm getting better, honest. So anyway, thank you so much to everyone, your reviews made me smile : )

Disclaimer: I don't *cough* own *twitch* any *choke* of this *dies dramatically*.

The Beginning of the End

"There isn't much we can do now; we need to gather forces." Legolas looked up into the faces of about twenty slaves grouped around him during supper. The faces were dirty and ragged, but alive with hope. Though none of them remembered The Time Before, Sam's tales of sunshine and open fields had convinced many that this slavery was not meant to be their fate. Others simply shook their heads, said they weren't looking for trouble, and moved on to another group. The slaves often gathered in large masses to talk, so the Orc guards did not give the conspirators a second glance. The noise was too loud for anyone to hear anything unless they were inches from the speaker.

"I have reason to believe that some of my friends are still alive, but are not in slavery. We would be golden if they were able to make it here. It is a gamble, but if we convince enough others, we could have a chance."

"A chance? I want a little more to be certain of before I go throwing in my lot with you three; an elf, a dwarf, and a hobbit. Ha! Some army that is. How do we know you are not just making this up?" A young girl stared into the face of the elf, and he was taken aback by the ferocity of her gaze. Her eyes were a light hazel, a color not often seen in Middle Earth. Blue eyes was the most common, though green were plentiful as well. Her hair was raven black, straight and without nonsense, just like her face.

"It's true, I would love a chance to kill all of the Orcs in this world. They killed my entire family on the march. But what if we fail? Our attempt will make it all the worse for the slaves who come after us." She sat, waiting for an answer. Finally, another voice piped in as Legolas seemed unable to. Everyone turned to see Gimli with a rebellious fire alight in his eyes.

"We don't know if it will work, we cannot be sure of success. But nothing great was ever achieved without a great risk being taken. And I, for one, believe that the risk is worth the taking when the outcome could be such an end to this domain of darkness and shadow. We could be free." An awed silence fell over the group while the dwarf spoke. His small speech was humble yet motivating, and as the bell signaling the end of the meal rung, the group broke up in silence. The girl who had spoken out stood up with the rest, but approached Legolas alone.

"Your friend has convinced me. Count me in." She turned on her heel and was about to disappear in to the crowd when a hand grasped the hem of her sleeve.

"What is your name?" the elf stood expectantly, waiting for her reply. She let a small smile slip as she answered him.

"Selene."

**********

Leaves passed overhead, and spots of light filtering down through the canopy blurred Eowyn's vision. She moaned as she moved for the first time in hours. The litter she was positioned in was being dragged by Gandalf and Aragorn as Pippin hovered around worriedly, not sure of what to do. She took all of this in despite the pain shooting up her torso at every rock and root she was dragged over. Finally Gandalf called a halt for a rest. The party collapsed with weariness, and they all felt they could not travel another step. He had been carrying a long white stick since their last camp, and now he bent over it in total concentration as he whittled it with a sharp dagger. Aragorn slumped against a tree while Pippin sat down next to Gandalf and looked curiously at the long stick.

"What are you doing with that?"

"Patience, learn patience Peregrin. You certainly lack it." The wizard removed a small white stone from his pack and held it between two withered old hands. It was as smooth as the surface of water, and flecked with small silver bits.

"Recognize it?" his kind smile faded. "If it weren't for your fall back there, I would never have found it." Suddenly, Eowyn realized that the piece of rock Gandalf was holding had come from the group of boulders she had fallen on.

"What's so important about it?" Pippin earned a silent reply as Gandalf stared at the stone while turning it over in his hands. A long while passed, but Pippin managed to keep silent as he was too busy staring at the stone in wonder. It had begun to become opaque instead of solid, and now it was as clear as glass. Eowyn's eyes widened at the sight of this wonder. Without warning, light burst from every inch of the orb's surface. The blinding white caused Ewoyn to cover her eyes and Pippin to gasp and fall over backwards. Ewoyn opened her eyes again when she sensed the light retreating.

"Ah. I had not even hoped for such luck. The magic here is still strong." He laughed for the first time in a year as he tossed the ball of light up, caught it, and then fixed it to the top of the stick he had been working on so diligently. Aragorn stood up.

"Now that the old man has a new walking stick, we should move on." Aragorn's voice was laced with humor, and for the first time, Ewoyn saw him smile. Another piece of the puzzle slid into place in her mind.

"You carried a staff much like this one once. I remember now. You were a wizard, Gandalf The White! And you, Pippin, you were friends with Merry, whom I rode into battle with at Minas Tirith! And the place that we are going Rivendelis home to the elves, oh I remember!" She tried to sit up in her excitement, but the pain once again wrapped around her and threatened to cause her to faint.

"Well done. You have a good intellect and a quick mind. Well done indeed." Gandalf beamed at her, and she felt as if she had gained a grandfather. But Aragorn was impatient to be off again, and the moment was soon forgotten as they continued on their journey.

Many hours later, the group of travelers reached what seemed like a clean route through the forest. They turned off their route through the trees onto the old yet still functional path. Pippin stopped suddenly and held up a hand.

"Can you hear it?" he almost whispered. Turning to the other, his face split into a wide grin as he shouted, "running water! A waterfall! We've reached Rivendel!" Scrambling forward, he passed out of sight ahead. Aragorn and Gandalf seemed rejuvenated with a new energy as they quickened their pace and sped on. Suddenly, they broke free of the forest in a flurry of leaves. They stood there for a second, stunned at the abrupt change. But then they realized where they were, and ran towards the nearby bride, shouting and laughing as they hadn't done in years. Eowyn looked up at the great city of the elves and fell back onto her blankets. Things can only get better from here.

Aragorn and Gandalf finally caught up with Pippin who was standing by two large gates. He pushed them open and received a loud complaint form the rusted hinges. Gandalf's face once again wrinkled with a worried frown.

"They would never let their city fall into disrepair."

"These are hard times my friend, hard even for the elves."

"Indeed, hard times even for the elves." Lord Elrond stepped forward from behind a crumbling statue. A strangled cry errupted in Pippin's throat as he saw who stood behind the elf.

"Bilbo!"

Well, you haven't gotten a happy ending in a while, so there you go. But many questions are still left unanswered ; ) I am so evil, aren't I ? And do enjoy your winter break. Try not to get sick, because believe me, its not fun.