Chapter Eight

Everyone began to run towards the exit. Three orcs were waiting for them at the doorway, but after Aragorn slew the leader, the others fled. Piper began to feel a pain in her chest and then she realized she was crying.

They ran for about an hour and then Aragorn let everyone halt. As soon as everyone had stopped and sat down, grief began to over take them. Everyone except Aragorn and the Charmed Ones collapsed in sobs. The Charmed Ones had not known Gandalf very well so they had no reason to cry, though Piper was close, because she had always been the sensitive one. Aragorn heart was being torn apart inside of him. He had known Gandalf for sixty-two years and Gandalf had been the only father he had ever known, since he didn't remember his own father. His father had died when he was only two. And now Gandalf was gone, all thanks to the three sisters.

'Piper', Aragorn asked with an effort. 'Can I talk to you for a minute?'

Piper glanced at Aragorn. The warmth that had been there three hours ago was completely gone. Instead, there was pain and anger. Piper swallowed.

'OK'

Piper walked over and followed Aragorn around a bush into a clump of trees. Aragorn turned around, grabbed Piper by her shoulders and slammed her against a tree.

'Why did you let him die?' Aragorn roared. 'Why?'

' W-What?'

'You could have cast a spell to destroy that balrog or at least gotten Gandalf out of there. But no, you did nothing. NOTHING!'

Aragorn hit the tree right beside Pipers head again and again until he collapsed in sobs. He fell to the ground and cried. Piper knelt beside him and put her arms around him. He pushed her away and continued to cry.

'Why did I lose him', asked Aragorn when he had regained control of himself.

'I don't know Aragorn', said Piper quietly. 'Maybe it was just meant to be.'

When Aragorn had stopped crying, he and Piper rejoined the Company and they continued on their way. Aragorn informed them that they were going to Lothlorien, the realm of Lord Celeborn and of Galadriel, the Lady of Light. Boromir and Gimli were not pleased with this idea.

'They say that she's elf witch, with terrible power', whispered Gimli to Paige as they walked along. 'It's said she cast a spell upon you as soon as you set your eyes on her.'

'I do not believe these stories', answered Aragorn gruffly. 'And we're going whether you like it or not'

Nobody argued with him.

For the rest of the day they traveled and at dusk they reached the borders. They traveled about a mile into the trees and then halted.

'I will climb up', said Legolas. 'And see where we could possibly sleep.'

'Last time I climbed a tree, I fell and broke my wrist', said Phoebe eyeing the tree uncertainly.

Legolas shrugged, jumped up and grabbed a tree branch. As he swung there and voice came from somewhere up above.

'Daro'

Legolas fell to the ground.

'Do not move nor speak.' He whispered. 'The elves of this realm say we breath so loud they could shoot us in the dark.'

The voice laughed and spoke again to Legolas. Legolas responded and then turned to Frodo.

'They have requested our presence in the trees. The rest of you must stay here.'

A rope fell down the trunk of the tree and Legolas began to climb. Frodo followed him slowly and Sam came last. They waited about twenty minutes and then Legolas came back down. Legolas looked much calmer.

'The hobbits and the girls must climb up this tree. The rest of us must climb up that tree over there. I will say goodnight now.'

Everyone gathered their things and climbed up their trees. Eventually they all made it to the top. When the head elf saw Piper, Phoebe and Paige he drew in a deep breath. He called over to Legolas, who was in the other tree, in his own tongue and both Legolas and Aragorn responded. His eyes narrowed but he said no more. Instead he turned to the girls.

'I do not know your names', he said slowly. 'And I sense a power unknown to me here, but since both Aragorn and Legolas trust you, I will tell you my name so maybe we can become friends. My name is Haldir and I serve the Lady Galadriel.

'Gimli said that the Lady was an elf witch', said Paige without thinking.

'Do not speak of such evil!' Haldir hissed. 'The Lady is on the side of Light and fights the Dark Lord. Whatever stories you have heard of the Lady are all false. Now I suggest you get some rest. We have a long march ahead of us tomorrow.'

For the next two days they walked across the woods into the Ladies realm. Haldir led them to a great tree and began to lead them up the stairs that surrounded it. They took many breaks on the way up and at the end of the day they reached the top. They all filed into a great chamber and sat down. The sisters sat together near the entrance. Piper looked up and saw a lady clothed in white slowly climbing down the stairs along with a man also clothed in white. They stood before the Company.

'The Lord Celeborn and the Lady Galadriel', Haldir announced.

'I heard of only nine setting out from Rivendell, Gandalf included in the count', said Lord Celeborn looking around. 'But now I see eleven here in front of me, and Gandalf is not present.'

He laid his eyes on the Charmed Ones.

'Who are you three? And where is Gandalf?'

The Lady had been staring at Aragorn while Celeborn spoke but now she spoke.

Galadriel: Gandalf the Grey has fallen into Shadow. And you three...

She turned her eyes on the three and drew in a quick breath.

'You three... you three are...'

'My Lady', Aragorn interrupted. 'If you please we would like some shelter and a place to sleep. If you wish, we can give you all your answers you desire some other time. But we are weary with the sorrow of Gandalf's death. Let us rest, please.'

The Lady stared at him for a moment then nodded.

'Yes, let us not speak of these things until the time is right. Go now and rest. Tonight you will sleep under our protection. Relax, and let the process of the pain and grief of death come. The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Even the pain in ones heart can bring this Quest to its knees and let the Dark Lord rule Middle Earth. Rest. We will meet again when the time is right.' She bowed. 'Goodnight.'

By the time everyone had descended the steps and made it to the clearing they were all going to be sleeping in, they were all dragging their feet and fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

For the next month they all rested and let Gandalf's death pass over them. One night the three girls were sitting together talking about what was going to happen when they left Lorien when they saw Galadriel approached them. She beckoned to them and without a word walked away. The girls glanced at each other then followed. She led them across a clearing, through a garden, and down some steps. Galadriel grabbed a pitcher as she passed a low stone shelf and filled it with water from a pool that was fed by a small waterfall. She then turned and walked up to a metal basin that was supported by a short stone pillar and poured the water into it until it was two-thirds of the way full, She set the pitcher down on the ground.

'I know you three are witches.' she said gravely. 'The most powerful of your world.'

She paused, looking every girl in the eye with her blue eyes.

'What I do not know, is why I should trust you. Yes, Aragorn and Legolas trust you full heartily, even though Aragorn also knows that you are witches. But you have not shown me any evidence at all that you can be trusted. I have a way to find this out.'

Galadriel bent down and picked up the pitcher and then picked up a bowl that had been hidden behind the pillar. She poured some water into the bowl and placed the now empty pitcher on the ground.

'If you touch this water, and it remains pure, you are on the side of light. Should it turn black, you are an enemy of mine and should therefor be thrown out of Middle Earth. If you refuse to do this, you must leave Lorin.'

Piper glanced at her sisters and then walked forward. She put out a tentative hand and touched the water. The water, if at all possible, became clearer and glowed. Galadriel bowed.

'Forgive me Piper Halliwell. But in these dark days I have no chose but to challenge anyone who may be a threat.'

'I understand.' said Piper. 'Must my sisters be tested also?'

Galadriel shook her head.

'No. If one of you is pure, then all of you are pure. Now I have a question for you. Will you look into the Mirror?'

'I will because I know of what you speak, but can you tell me what I will see?'

'No, but if the Mirror is allowed to work on it's own, it may show many things. Things that were, things that are, and some things that have not yet come to pass. Do not touch the water.'

Piper stepped forward and looked down into the basin. The water reflected her face for a moment and then disappeared.

She saw her and her sisters talking in the hallway of their home right before the demon that had sent them to Middle Earth had broken in. The image shifted and she saw Leo either talking or yelling at that same demon in the attic. The image shifted one last time and she saw Leo again but this time, he was covered in ashes and he was crying. Piper looked up at Galadriel.

'That last one, what happened there?'

'It's what will come to pass if you should do everything as you are supposed to', answered Galadriel gravely.

Piper stared at the ground, confused. She didn't want Leo to be in as much pain as he looked like he was. She needed time to think.

'Go get some rest.' said Galadriel quietly. 'All of you. I will see you all again tomorrow to decide what course of action you all will be taking. Goodnight, and may the heavens bless you.

The girls walked back up the stairs and back to the clearing they slept in. Everyone else was asleep.

'Piper, what did you see', whispered Phoebe.

Piper just shook her head and laid down on her pillows and blankets. The grove was quiet but her mind was buzzing. She had never wanted to see Leo in that much pain. Ever.

Something told her that whatever had happened to make Leo cry was going to happen no matter what she did.