I galloped down into the valley, among the Rohirrim, the mustered riders of Rohan. The river had flooded through Isengard, as the Lady had predicted. I pushed Frenhol a little further. I rounded a large piece of the wall, and almost ran over a pair of hobbits, only being able to tell by their reddish and brown heads of hair.

" Where is Gandalf? And the others?" I asked. Pippin nearly squealed he was so happy and surprised to see me. Merry pointed to the tower of Orthanc.

" Thank you," I said, then trotted away. Soon, I came to where a group of guards were sitting high on some rocks.

" Halt, maiden, what is it that you come for?" one asked. I stared at him for a moment, and he let me pass. It was as if he had read my very thoughts.

All was still, and an echo resounded from up the stairs as I climbed. Saruman, it seemed, was actually talking with Gandalf and the others. I wondered if Legolas was among them.

" You have no color now, and I cast you from the order and from the council," I heard Gandalf said. I climbed the last steps around a sharp corner and almost ran into Legolas. He turned, and smiled.

" Your staff is broken, Saruman," Gandalf said. With that, a great cracking sound issued from the staff of Saruman. It split in two. Just then, a great orb, black all except for it's center, (which seemed to glow reddish), fell from above, towards King Theoden. It missed considerably, and rolled towards my feet. I grabbed it, and passed it to Gandalf, who wrapped it loosely in a rag. Saruman turned on his heels and shut the door to Orthanc with a loud Bang. King Theoden and Eomer climbed back down the stairs.

" Good day, Lady Seraniel," Gandalf said.

" Good day," I said. Gimli raised an eyebrow, and said, " Where have you been?"

" I have dwelt in Lorien for a few days, and with me I bring word from the Lady. To Aragorn, she says, ' Let the heart rejoice where it hast wasted time. But wasted time means everything, and busying yourself with battle is nothing but a time consumer.'" It was if the Lady were standing right next to me, whispering what to say right in my ear.

" And to Legolas, she says, ' Man can hunt, and Orc can burn, but let not the power of your heart fail, until the very fires of Hell seize you.' To Gimli, she sends only a warning, ' Beware of the fall of your axe, for if it were to pierce the heart of a tree, think of it as piercing the heart of Lady Galadriel.'" The three stood in wonder. After a few more moments of meditation, Legolas took my arm, and we led the procession back down the stairs. Frenhol was standing contentedly nearby, as I sat with him on a large smooth rock. From below, you could only tell if someone was on top of it if they spoke loudly. I situated myself and tied back my hair, to keep it from sticking uncomfortably to my neck, in the heat. Legolas leaned over to me, and took my hands in his. He looked into my eyes, and pulled me closer to him. I slid smoothly across the black stone.

Legolas:

I had worried much for her being, and now that I had her in my arms, I could only kiss Seraniel's soft lips. She seemed as beautiful as ever, but she also seemed oddly happier, if possible. Warmth returned to her, but she seemed at rare, odd moments to also recapture the same coldness that possessed her previously. But in that moment, she was mine, and all I could do was kiss her. Kiss her lips, her neck, her delicate, curved shoulders, kiss her fingers, softened by the crushed petals of the elanor.

" Legolas," she said, touching my lips to hush me. Below us, Gandalf, the two hobbits, Aragorn, and Gimli were talking. A loud splash echoed against the stone.

" Give me that," Gandalf said to whomever picked up whatever fell in the water. Pippin whispered something to Merry. We laughed when they became silent, and discovered we had been listening.



Night came, and with it a tiredness so eager to engulf me, I laid down, next to Seraniel, wrapping her in my arms, and slept. She smelled so sweet, and her hair was so soft, I couldn't help but wishing I could stay like that forever. Seraniel seemed so pure, untouched by the devilry of Sauron, the greed of men, and the betrayal of those surrounding her. I'd protect her from all that, so that she'd never have to witness any of it. When the time comes that we should both pass to the Undying Lands, I'll take her, free of imperfection, and willingly and fully loving me. Yes, I will be her one, the one she holds as cause for her life.

It was in the early hours of the night, when I was almost fully restored of my energy, when Seraniel moved from my arms. She ran, over a small hill, but beyond my sight.

" What is it?"

" Pippin hast looked into the palantir," she said as I walked up next to her. I slipped my hand around her side, and pulled her closer to me. She was silent as Gandalf questioned Pippin in the presence of us, Aragorn, Gimli, Merry, and King Theoden.

" A fool, indeed, but an honest fool, still," Gandalf said. Seraniel seemed to remain in deep thought as he explained to Theoden that Gondor was where Sauron was going to strike the hardest, and with the most power. Now that Pippin had drawn the Dark Lord's attention towards himself, he had to suffer the consequences of his foolishness.

" We, as in Pippin and I, will leave for Minis Tirith. I advise you, Theoden, to follow with all those that you can muster. Minis Tirith cannot fall," Gandalf said. Seraniel swallowed loudly, then stepped forward.

" Let me go," she said. Gandalf gave her a puzzled look.

" But why? What does Minis Tirith need of you?"

" I have seen it Gandalf, the fall, and only if I am present is there a chance to change that." Gandalf, reasoning back and forth in his mind for a moment, finally said, " Very well." Seraniel gave a small smile, and walked off to the darkness of where we had slept. I followed, grabbed her by the arm after passing around a bush.

" Why are you really going?"

" Because I must. It's not like I want to go," she said.

" Then come with me. I'm going with King Theoden. When the fires are lit, we will come to Minis Tirith," I said. I pulled her up to me, and embraced her.

" Already there is trouble in Gondor. Osgiliath has fallen. I saw it in my dream... or nightmare," Seraniel said. " If I leave any later, there will be no hope for preventing the death of..."

" Who? Tell me what you saw!" I said. Seraniel's voice had trailed off. She shook her head, but reached a hand up to my cheek. I enclosed her hand in mine. A tear fell from her right cheek, onto the green cloak she was wearing.

" I must go," she said, pulling away from me. She climbed onto the saddle, and pulled her hood over her hair, which was flying freely behind her.

" Farewell," I said, as she rode away. She turned back to look at me, then rode on swiftly. Gimli came to stand at my side.

" Come, Aragorn must speak," he said. I reluctantly followed, wishing to watch Seraniel until she was out of sight.