Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. If you see any characters or any of that stuff that you don't recognize, it's mine. The rest belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ali hurried through the hallways at a rapid pace, looking for Gandalf. She couldn't believe that he was alive. Ali wondered how he was alive when she saw with her own eyes that Gandalf fell to his death.

"Are you looking for me, Miss Ali?" a voice said behind her. Ali smiled and turned around to look up at Gandalf. She would've recognized his voice from anywhere.

"Yes, I was. How did you know?" Ali asked.

"I happened to run into Mr. Peregrin Took and he told me you had set off to look for me," Gandalf explained.

Ali nodded. "I see. But—Gandalf, I thought you were dead. And—you've changed."

"Yes, I have changed. I am Saruman as he should've been. I'm no longer Gandalf the Grey. I am Gandalf the White now," Gandalf said.

Ali shook her head. "You still seem the same to me no how."

"No matter. We must have a talk, for we have a lot of things to catch up on," Gandalf stated.

Ali nodded and the two began to walk. She told Gandalf everything that had happened since Gandalf left and in turn Gandalf told Ali what happened to him after he fell. As Ali listened, she couldn't believe everything that had happened. It seemed only yesterday that this had all happened.

"I reckon that's everything that has happened between then and now," Gandalf said.

"I think so. But I don't know what to do now. I feel like I'm unneeded now. I had something to do when I was with Frodo and Sam, but now I was dragged here and it seems I'm just moping around here knowing that all my friends are out there and could need my help at any time," Ali said, sighing dejectedly.

"You are not unneeded, Ali. You have your purpose in all of this. But yet, if you really feel like that, you could always go back home. Nobody's stopping you, you know that?" Gandalf said.

"Yes, I know. Lady Galadriel told me if I wanted it bad enough and willed it, I could go back to where I came from. But I can't bring myself to go back just yet. I have to be here to help support my friends," Ali exclaimed.

"Then you shall remain here. You'll have a purpose before the end, I'm sure," Gandalf said, smiling down at Ali. Ali smiled back. "But I've got some business to tend to, if you'll excuse me, Ali," Gandalf stated and left Ali to watch him disappear into the darkness.

Ali turned and returned to her bedroom. She had nothing else to do. The hours passed by, but Ali paid no heed. As she laid there, Ali heard screams and yells. Ali wondered what was happening. Suddenly Pippin burst into her room and Ali sat up from her bed and looked at him. He seemed exhausted, but he seemed full of fear, as well.

"We're being attacked!" Pippin cried out. "And Denethor's trying to kill Faramir! He came back, but he's badly wounded!"

Ali quickly stood up. "Did you find Gandalf? Did he do anything about it?"

Pippin nodded. "We saved Faramir, but Denethor died. He had killed himself."

"Then we must go fight!" Ali cried, rushing towards the door, grabbing her sword as she went, but Pippin stopped her.

"What? Why are you stopping me?" Ali demanded.

"I don't want you to fight. You'll get hurt. Or worse, get killed. I came here to make sure you didn't go out there," Pippin said, still trying to catch his breath.

"I will not, and I mean will NOT, be kept here like a broken animal who has no will to live or defend himself. I'm not going to let the Enemy kill me so easily!" Ali all but shouted fiercely.

"I will not let you go!" Pippin said, just as fiercely.

May It Be By Enya (Lord of the Rings theme song)

May it be

An evening star

Shines down

Upon you

May it be

When darkness falls

Your heart

Will be true

You walk along a road

Oh how far you are from home

Mornië utúlië [Quenya: 'Darkness has come']

Believe and you

Will find your way

Mornië alantië [Quenya: 'Darkness has fallen']

A promise lives

Within you now

May it be

The shadow's call Will fly away

May it be

A journey on

To light the day

When the night is all gone

You may rise

To find the sun

Mornië utúlië [Quenya: 'Darkness has come']

Believe and you

Will find your way

Mornië alantië [Quenya: 'Darkness has fallen']

A promise lives

Within you now

A promise lives

Within you now...

Ali sighed. "I'm really sorry, Pippin, but I must do this." As Ali said this, she shoved Pippin really hard against the wall and rushed out the room and outside, toward the fighting. She was determined to go out and fight. Ali wouldn't abandon her friends to fight by themselves, even if they were thousands of miles away.

As Ali came out into the open, Ali looked around her in shock. The whole of Gondor was under siege; everybody was fighting for their life. Ali pulled her sword out of her sheath and started to fight. She no longer cared if it made her sick to slay another, but Ali did with all her might to every Orc and Uruk Hai that came past her.

"Ali!" Ali heard Pippin's voice call out and Ali turned to look at him.

"I'm fighting whether you want me to or not!" she said when Pippin came close enough to hear.

"I know, I know!" Pippin said. "Watch out! Ali, watch out!"

Ali turned to look where Pippin was pointing and saw a fist of an Uruk Hai come straight to her face. Ali ducked, but caught the full force of the punch in her shoulder. Ali cried out and fell to her knees.

"Come on, Ali," a small voice in her head echoed. "Get up, or you'll surely die. You can't give up now."

Ali set her face and staggered to her feet. The Uruk Hai mocked at her as Ali stared at him determinedly through watering eyes. Ali lifted up her sword painfully.

"For the Shire and for my own home far, far away!" she cried and sunk the sword into the Uruk Hai's leg.

The Uruk Hai let out a roar and punched Ali again. Ali finally sank back to the ground and quickly became unconscious.

A/n: There, there's chapter twenty-five. I hoped you all liked it. I've got to make one note. I made a note at the very end of the last author's note in the last chapter after I made all my comments to all you reviewers out there, but you must not have noticed it. I'll say it again so you alls won't have to go back a chapter to read it. I'm thinking of doing a sequel to this story if I can manage it and everything. But I'm not completely sure on that one. If you all like or have any suggestions, you can review or send me an email, you know where everything exists. Innywho, hoped you guys like the story so far and I'm sorry that this story's almost done and over with, I enjoyed writing it. If it weren't for you readers and reviewers, this story would most like not have gotten past chapter ten if that. So thank you all!

Sunni07- Thanks for the reviews! Yesh, poor them, but who knows what might happen with my story? Laugh out loud. I never really liked Boromir, either. He's ok, but the world's best in the story. And yes, they are an adorable couple. Hope you continue to read the story!

Princess of the Dark- Thanks for the review! Yup, you got that one right! You keep reviewing and I'll keep updating!

Melissa Ocean- Thanks for the review! Yes, of course I've seen the Extended Edition DVD! I own it! Yup, I've gotten some romance into the story, finally. Hehe. Thanks for the suggestion, but they're still in the beginning of 2003! Laughing out loud. Anyways, adios for now!

Foreverd0gfan- Thanks much for reviewing! I'm glad you love it and I hope you keep reading it, thought it's almost over with now. *Sniff, cry*

Kage Miko- Thanks much! I don't like dances that much, either, but this isn't my school's dance. It's a youth group that I'm about to join's dance. My friend who's in it says it's really fun, so who knows! Yes, Pip's a sweetheart, not doubt about that one ^^.

Nethrahen- Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like it, again, and I'll keep it up ^^. Adios.

Brilover- Thanks for the review! You like telling authors what they should do in their stories? No offense or anything, I appreciate the advice, I was just asking. Good ideas, but I don't think Ali's going back with Frodo and Sam. Thanks again for the review and I hope you keep reading to the end!