**In the Woods**
The fellowship caught up with Miranda, and she wordlessly joined them as they pressed onward to their new destination. She was thankful that no one felt like talking. Legolas had given her a sympathetic look, but refrained form broaching the subject of her dreams.
Oh, how she hated these dreams! She thought of her talk with Gandalf that last evening in Rivendell…
"Gandalf, it is about time you told me who I am," Miranda said. "Who are my parents?" Miranda asked.
"They are long gone from this life, and the time for the telling of that story will come, but it will not be today," Gandalf said firmly. "Rest assured that you do belong here."
"Gandalf…?" Miranda started to ask.
"No, child," Gandalf answered her unfinished question. He would not mind claiming her as his daughter, but he was just a guardian.
It was too late now to get the truth. Gandalf would tell no more stories, and Miranda would never know who she was or why she dreamed. Gandalf said she came from Middle Earth, but she felt like an alien. Without a family to claim, she was lost. There was no title for her. Heritage was so important here.
Aragorn was the son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor, etc. Gimli was the son of Gloin, a well respected dwarf. Legolas was a prince, the son of the ruler of Mirkwood. The Hobbits all had well established family trees that went back generations. Just ask Pippin who his third cousin once removed on his mother's side was. He could tell you. But Miranda was a blank, no family here and no family back in San Francisco. She was an orphan in two worlds, and that was just unfair. Maybe if she lived through this quest, she could ask Lord Elrond for the truth. She had a feeling he knew.
The company pressed on toward the forest of Lothlorien. Gimli was not happy about the destination.
"They say there is a great sorceress who lives in these woods. An elven witch of terrible power," Gimli said. "All who look upon her fall under her spell, and are never seen again." Gimli trudged on with Frodo and Sam, complaining about the wood. "This is one dwarf she will not ensnare so easily…I have the eyes of an elk and the ears of a fox…ooh!"
Suddenly they were surrounded by elves with their bows aimed at them. Their leader stepped forward and spoke to Aragorn.
"The dwarf breathes so loudly, we could have shot him in the dark," he said with a smirk.
"Haldir of Lorien, we seek your protection," Aragorn said to Haldir.
"Aragorn, these woods are perilous," Gimli said as he stared at several arrows pointing at him. "We should go back."
"You have entered the realm of the Lady of the wood," Haldir said with authority. "You cannot go back. Come, she is waiting."
Frodo seemed to draw a lot of distasteful looks and Miranda was never so glad to just blend into the group as she was right now. Haldir and his men led them deep into the forest to where the trees were as big as giant redwoods. The elves built their city in the trees, and there were great winding staircases that hugged the trunks all the way up into the canopy. It was late by the time they came to the court of the infamous lady of Gimli's stories. There seemed to be some other worldly light to the intricate architecture of their dwellings. The place just seemed to glow. Haldir had told them they were to meet Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel, who were the rulers of this beautiful forest.
The fellowship stood on a platform high in the trees, and two regal elves descended a flight of stairs to greet them. Lord Celeborn wore grey and white robes, and reminded her of Lord Elrond in the way he carried himself, though he had blonde hair. His face seemed timeless, neither old nor young, but very wise. Lady Galadriel seemed to glow in her white gown, and she was nothing short of gorgeous. She had long wavy blonde hair that hung past her waist. Her eyes were kind, yet very discerning, and she seemed to look right into your thoughts. Miranda felt very uncomfortable for those brief moments she received the full force of the Lady's gaze.
"Nine there are here, but ten there were set out from Rivendell," Lord Celeborn said. "Tell me, where is Gandalf for I greatly wish to speak to him."
No one had the heart to say what had happened. Miranda's face went ashen at the harsh memory of his loss. But Galadriel already knew.
"He has fallen into shadow," Galadriel said. "The quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all." She paused here to regard each member of the fellowship for a moment. It seemed to Miranda that she was judging each one in turn.
When she finally looked at Miranda, she understood when she heard the Lady's voice in her head. "You need not continue on this quest, Miranda. Gandalf is fallen; there is nothing left for you here. If you wish, I can send you back to the safety of your school…" Oh, no you don't Lady! I'm staying right here! Miranda thought.
Galadriel smiled and then continued. "Yet hope remains while the company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil."
The fellowship was led to a group of tents at the base of the great tree to rest, but Miranda was taken aside by Galadriel.
"You carry a burden of guilt, Miranda," Galadriel said. "It does not belong to you."
"I was angry with Gandalf," Miranda said sadly. "I barely spoke to him for days, and now he is gone."
"Gandalf knew you loved him, and he loved you," Galadriel said. "Do not worry over one quarrel simply because it was your parting words."
"There is more, though I believe you may already know it," Miranda said.
"Your sight would not have prevented what happened, Miranda," Galadriel said.
"Please, do you know why I have these dreams? Do you know who I am?" Miranda asked.
"That is a story Gandalf should have told you," Galadriel said with a sigh.
"He meant to eventually," Miranda said in defense of Gandalf. "I think he thought the truth might be too much for me."
"And truthfully, the story is very sad, your parents are dead, and have been since you were a baby," Galadriel admitted. "Your mother was a kind hearted peasant maid from a small village far from here."
"And what about my father?" Miranda said.
"He was a gifted seer, greatly advanced in years," Galadriel said. "Israfel was his name and he was killed by the enemy before you were born."
"Why?" Miranda asked, greatly disturbed by the story.
"His gift of sight was a threat to Mordor," Galadriel said. "What power the Dark Lord does not control, he destroys."
"So how did I end up in San Francisco?" Miranda asked.
"Gandalf intervened when he discovered a Nazgul trying to kill an expectant mother on the road. He could not save her, but he did save you," Galadriel said. "He thought it wise to place you out of the reach of Mordor."
Miranda sat quietly to ponder what Galadriel had told her. "Gandalf was wrong," Miranda said sadly. Gandalf had saved her life, and she never knew. She never got the chance to thank him. "He should have told me."
Galadriel smiled at her. "You have been in the constant company of men for a very long time. Go with Elia. She will take you to a place where you can bathe. She will give you some fresh clothes while we have these cleaned and mended."
"Thank you, Lady Galadriel for sharing the story with me," Miranda said.
"Go, child, and take your rest," Galadriel said.
*****
Aragorn and Boromir were talking by the base of a great tree. Frodo and Sam were reminiscing about their fond memories of Gandalf. There was a sad song being sung off in the distance, and Merry asked Legolas about it.
"What are they singing?" Merry asked.
"A lament for Gandalf," Legolas said sadly.
"What do they say about him?" Pippin asked. Only Legolas and Aragorn could understand the elvish language.
"I have not the heart to tell you," Legolas said sadly. "For me the grief is still too new."
The group made themselves comfortable, enjoying the quiet murmur of the stream and the music of the elves when Aragorn looked around curiously.
"Where is Miranda?" he asked.
"She went with Lady Galadriel," Frodo said.
"She's been gone for a while," Merry said.
It was about that time that Miranda finally rejoined the group. She walked toward them and Boromir was the first to see her. His eyes were huge as he took in the sight of her. She had let her hair down out of the braid she always wore and it hung in wavy curls around her shoulders. She wore a soft green gown that complimented her eyes. In short, she looked like a woman and not a scruffy girl.
"Uh…here she comes," Boromir said.
"Well, now," Sam said as he glanced at the stunned look on Legolas' face. "There's an eye opener."
"You look so different," Pippin said bluntly.
Miranda blushed. "Elia said it would do me good to wear a dress again," she said softly as she shyly walked past them staring at the grass. "As they say where I'm from, 'I guess I clean up good.'"
"I don't know what the fuss is about," Gimli said. "She was just as pretty in her travel clothes."
Miranda's blush darkened. She grabbed her luggage and headed to a smaller tent away from the main group for a little more privacy. The sudden attention was unnerving, and she needed a little solitude to deal with the events of the day. It was the first time since they left Rivendell that Aragorn couldn't say the woods weren't safe. Boromir followed her and sat down to talk.
"How old are you, Miranda?" Boromir asked.
"Eighteen," she said. "Why?"
"You act much older than your years, but you are shy. I think you do not realize that you are very pretty," Boromir said. He looked at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Elia was right; the dress was a good idea."
"You are embarrassing me, Boromir," Miranda said.
"Nay, you needed to hear it," he said with a smile. He got up to leave, but paused to look at her again. "The dress was a very good idea," he said and walked away.
Legolas hadn't said a word, but Miranda noticed he had glanced over at her more than once. She sighed as she settled down in her blanket to go to sleep. It was just a dress! Men are so funny.
*****
The clash of swords continued and she felt useless when her arrows were finally all spent. She drew her sword and did the best she could.
She was swinging a sword at the biggest Orc she had ever seen. They were everywhere and she had no choice but to run. They were searching for something, and lost interest in her as they headed in the other direction.
"Find the Halflings!" one of the Orcs shouted.
There was the deep sorrowful sound of a horn echoing… and a boat adrift on a lake, headed over the falls.
Miranda jerked awake. She felt a knot in the pit of her stomach and slowly sat up. Would she never have a nice dream? She sighed and pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them.
"Even in this peaceful place your dreams rob you of your rest," Legolas said as he handed her a goblet of water.
"What about you, Legolas?" she asked. "Every time I wake up, no matter what the hour, you are awake."
Legolas smiled. "I am an elf, and we do not need much sleep."
"You are interesting people, you elves," Miranda said.
"What do you find interesting?" Legolas asked.
"It seems like there is nothing you are not good at," she said. "That is most unnatural."
"It only seems that way," Legolas said as he stood to leave. "Go back to sleep, Miranda. It is not often you will have a chance to rest in a place this peaceful."
"All right," she said as she lay back down. "Thanks for the water."