One day in the middle of January, I had a disturbing dream: I dreamt that Mithrandir stood on a bridge above an abyss, and he was saying, 'You cannot pass!' He was fighting a monster, a Balrog of Morgoth. The Balrog fell into the abyss, but a tentacle whipped around and grabbed Mithrandir at the last moment. Mithrandir only had time to gasp, 'Fly, you fools!' before falling into the abyss.

            I woke, pondering the significance of the dream. The next evening, I thought I saw a fire. While heading toward the light, I came across Legolas.

            'Teruwyn!' he said, surprised. 'What are you doing way down here?'

            'Keeping an eye on you, what else?' I replied, though this was not entirely true. 'Where is Mithrandir?'

            I looked into his eyes, and saw grief mirrored there. 'He fell to his death in Moria.'

            Bowing my head, I asked, 'Was he fighting a Balrog? Guarding the bridge of Khazad-dûm? Tell me his last words were not, "Fly, you fools!"'

            'They were. How did you learn this?'

            ''Twas a dream. A vision. It came upon me in my sleep, two nights past. Aye, a vision, such as one would encounter in a feverish nightmare, and, upon waking, one would seek comfort, assurance that it was but a dream. But we live in such nightmare times that I receive, not assurance that it was but a dream, nor even ridicule for believing the vision, but confirmation of its truth. Alas! Alas for Mithrandir!'

            'Two nights past. Yes, that would be right. It was not a vision of the future, then, for Mithrandir's fall was two days ago.'

            I had come to a decision without being aware that I was making one. I would follow the Fellowship, staying out of sight. Someone had to keep an eye on them. And, well, it was an excuse to be near Legolas…

            So, in other words, I wasn't thinking straight.

            I followed them all the way to Lothlórien before I regained my senses. I decided to travel around Lothlórien, but I would check on them when they exited the wood.

            'Twas a hard decision to make, for I greatly desired to visit the Golden Wood. But I could not stay near the Ringbearer. My job was to draw the Dark Lord's attention away from the true bearer of the One Ring.