Disclaimer: Not mine.
TriGemini: Changes the story? Nah. I never planned for Diana to leave Lorien with the Fellowship. Guess you'll just have to wait and see.:)
Vipera berus: Glad you liked it. Ha, I'll keep writing as long as you keep boosting.:)
Silvermane1: She had to stay behind. There was no reason for her to continue on with the Fellowship so the logical thing was for her to stay with her brothers. But don't worry this story's just getting started.
"You wished to see me, Lady Galadriel?"
Galadriel smiles and motions for her to sit with her on a bench in the center of her private garden. "As you know, our guests are to leave today. Celeborn and I have decided to gift each of them a cloak of the Galadrim. I would like for you to present one of these gifts to a member of the Fellowship."
Diana smiles. "It would be a great honor. Thank you, Lady Galadriel."
"You're welcome, Aranel. Now go," Galadriel smiles. "It's almost time for your friends to depart and Orophin is waiting to escort you to the river."
Diana falls into line with the other seven Elves as they walk to the clearing where the Fellowship is waiting. They stop and turn to face them. As one they step forward and drape the cloaks around the shoulders of a traveler as Celeborn addresses the group.
Diana thinks about poking Legolas with the pin as she fastens his cloak with the Leaf of Lorien and he smirks at her as if he knows what she's thinking. However, both know better than to do or say anything during the ceremony.
After they are presented the cloaks Galadriel gives them each another gift and speaks to them individually. Diana waits patiently for her chance to say her goodbyes.
Finally they spread out into different directions and Diana approaches Frodo. "How are you doing, Frodo?"
"I'm fine."
Diana smiles sadly at the brave little Hobbit and sits down next to him. "You have a hard journey in front of you, Frodo. I know you're worried but you are stronger than you think. Galadriel told you that even the smallest person can change the world and it's true. In my world, many great things, things that changed our world for the better, were done by people that were considered small and unimportant. Just remember, Frodo, no one is truly unimportant because everyone has a purpose."
Frodo looks up at her, hope in his eyes for the first time in a while. "Do you truly think that I can destroy the ring?"
"Yes, I do. Have faith in yourself, Frodo. You can do anything you set your mind too," Diana smiles.
"Thank you." Frodo hugs her.
"I'm going to miss you. Take care of yourself, alright?" She pulls back and looks at him and he nods.
"Good. Now I need to find Sam and our little trouble makers and say my goodbyes to them."
Diana finds Sam wandering not far from Frodo and grins. "Always Frodo's little protector."
"I wish you were coming with us, Miss Diana" Sam says when he sees her.
"I know Sam. Hopefully our paths will cross again." She kneels down and hugs him. "You take care of Frodo for me. Stay with him no matter what happens because he'll need your strength and your friendship more than ever from here on out."
Sam pulls back and looks at her questioningly. "I don't intend on leaving him."
"I know you don't, Sam. You'll understand what I mean later," Diana smiles. "Goodbye, Sam and don't forget to take care of yourself too."
"Goodbye, Miss Diana." Diana watches him nervously climb into one of the boats. She laughs when it rocks and he grabs ahold of the sides for dear life.
She turns to find Boromir and Gimli behind her. "Adar dithen (Little father), I will miss you." She hugs Gimli.
"And I you," he says in her ear. "You tell those brothers of your's to take good care of you or they will answer to me."
"I will do that," Diana says in amusemnet and then turns to Boromir.
She hugs him tightly, knowing that she will never see him again, and tries to control her emotions. "Do not worry. The White City will be restored to it's former glory. Your people will be proud of you."
Boromir pulls away from her and wipes a tear off her cheek. "I will take that thought with me. Thank you."
Diana kisses him on the cheek and hugs him one last time before turning to look for Aragorn.
Aragorn is talking with Lord Celeborn so she looks for Merry and Pippin instead and finds them already in one of the boats. She says her goodbyes to them and tells them to stay out of trouble, knowing that is asking the impossible from them.
When Aragorn is finished talking with Celeborn he walks over to her. "I hope that we will meet again one day."
"I hope so too." Diana smiles up at him. "You have helped me a lot and now I have some advice for you. Embrace who you are. Do not be afraid of it because I know in my heart that you will make a great King."
He nods and then looks up at her with sadness in his eyes. "I haven't asked for you to share your knowledge of what will happen but I must ask. Do you know what is to become of Arwen?"
"Yes, but I can't tell you what her choice is, Aragorn. I will tell you this, though. It is a saying from the world I came from and it will do you good to remember it." She reaches up and touches the pendant at his throat. "True love conquers all."
Aragorn smiles and covers her hand with his. "I will remember it, little sister. I will miss you."
"Be careful," she tells him. He gives her a quick hug and then looks at her for a minute before turning toward the boats.
"Do I get a chance to say goodbye? Or are you not talking to me again?"
Diana turns to find Legolas leaning against a tree. She rolls her eyes at him and he smiles as he steps toward her.
"I knew I should have poked you with that pin."
Legolas laughs. "Somehow I knew that was what you were thinking earlier."
"Legolas, I want to thank you for what you said that day by the stream. It helped me accept everything a little easier."
"I'm glad that I was able to help. Goodbye, Aranel." He touches his chest above his heart and bows his head in the traditional Elven farewell and then turns to leave.
"Legolas." Diana grabs his arm to stop him and he turns back around.
She steps forward and hugs him. "Take care of them for me."
Legolas kisses her on the forehead. "I will keep them safe."
She looks up at him. "Keep youself safe while your at it."
"I will. Namaarie (farewell), Aranel," he laughs and gently squeezes her shoulders in reasurance before releasing her.
"Namaarie, Legolas," she says as he once again starts for the boats.
Diana sighs sadly and turns to go back to her talan when Galadriel's voice stops her. "Come join me at the river's edge."
Diana is surpised at this because it is tradition that only the Lady of the Wood is to give the final farewell to those who are leaving.
"Thank you, Lady Galadriel" Diana gives her a grateful smile as she joins Galadriel at the river.
It has been quiet since the Fellowship left the day before. Enelya is busy with her chores and all three of her brothers are back out on patrols, so Diana wanders around the city in boredom. She hears a comotion at the edge of the city and she goes to investigate.
By the time she gets there all she finds is Rumil at the bottom of the stairs that leads to the platform where the Fellowship was taken when they first arrived.
"What's going on?"
Rumil looks at her and she sees the surprise and relief in his eyes. "Gandalf's alive and well. He is with Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn as we speak."
Diana's eyes light up with happiness. "Gandalf's here? Oh thank God he's alright." She hugs her brother as she laughs in relief.
"Indeed I am. And I must say that it is good to see that you are well, Aranel." He smiles kindly down at her.
"Gandalf!" Diana runs to him and hugs him.
"Tell me. How was Frodo fairing when you last saw him?"
Diana spends the rest of the day with him telling him about the Fellowship and listening to his tale of after they were separated.
My dear, I must ask you if there is something about what you know that is troubling you? I get the feeling that you feel something isn't right."
Diana looks at him thoughtfully for a minute. "I'm not sure. Would you tell me everything that has happened since Frodo left the Shire?"
She listens intently as he tells her of Frodo's journey to Rivendell and then of the Fellowship up until they found her.
"I was right something is wrong. Arwen wasn't supposed to find Frodo. It was Lord Glorfindel. And on the day we reached the West-gate we should have been attacked by wolves early that morning."
"I must ask that you come with me. For I fear your knowledge will be needed in the days to come. Understand that I do not ask for will happen but what has changed."
Not wanting to be involved with what is to happen but understanding the importance of her going, Diana agrees. 'Now, just to tell my brothers. I fear that it will be harder to tell them where I'm going than it will be to take on a hundred orcs.'
"You're what!" Orophin yells.
"I forbid it." Haldir glares at Diana, daring her to defy him.
Diana glares back at him. "While I am your sister, I am also old enough to make my own decisions, Haldir. I will not stand by and let my friends die while I do nothing when I have the ability to stop it."
"And I will not let my sister die a second time!" he roars and then lowers his voice to barely above a whisper. "My heart couldn't take it."
"Neither could mine." Rumil looks at her with pain filled eyes.
"I will be fine." Diana tries to reassure her brothers.
Galadriel appears in the doorway. "I understand why you do not want her to go as does she. It is the same reason she doesn't like it when you go on patrols but she must do this."
Diana tries to hide her smile when it is Haldir who glares at Galadriel with the "butt out" look instead of her this time. Because for once she's glad that Galadriel is involved.
"Her friends will protect her, even with their own lives. And Gandalf will make sure that she does not get in harms way." Galadriel smiles at Haldir with a 'I know what you're thinking because it's the same glare I get from your sister' look.
Haldir quickly glances at Diana before walking out the door. Diana sighs and lowers her head to hide the tear that slips from her eye.
"Do not worry, little one." Galadriel lifts her head up so that she's looking into her eyes. "He is just afraid for you. Give him time." Diana nods and Galadriel leaves.
Haldir doesn't return by the time she goes to bed that night but after she falls asleep he appears in her doorway. He stays in her room the rest of the night watching her sleep and lost deep in thought. As the sun starts to rise he silently slips out of her room and leaves to take a walk in the cool morning air.
That morning Orophin and Rumil help her pack the provisions she will need and then she goes in search for Haldir. After searching most of the morning she dejectedly walks to the stables where Rumil and Orophin said they would meet her. However, instead of finding them she finds Haldir waiting for her with a beautiful solid black stallion.
"This is Gelmir. It means Shadow warrior. He has carried me loyally through battle and saved my life many times." Haldir turns his attention from the horse and looks at her. "I would trust no other mount with you."
"I wish you could understand why I'm doing this," she says quietly.
He smiles softly and reaches out to cup her cheek in his hand. "I do. Though it doesn't make it any easier for me to let my baby sister go."
Diana falls into his arms and he kisses her forehead as he hugs her tightly. "Amin mela lle, muinthel. Cormamin niuve tenna' ta elea lle au'. (I love you, sister. My heart shall weep until it sees thee again.)"
She looks up at him with tears in her eyes. "Ar' amin mela lle, muindor. (And I love you, brother.)"
Haldir leads her to where everyone is waiting. She says her goodbyes to Enelya, Orophin and Rumil whiles Gandalf waits patiently atop Shadowfax, and then Haldir helps her mount Gelmir.
Galadriel gives her a bow and a quiver of arrows. "May these protect you well. Namaarie, Aranel."
"I myself have used this sword in battle." Celeborn says handing her the sword. "I hope that you do not have to use it, but it will protect you well if you must. Be careful and return safely to us."
"Thank you my Lord, Lady." Diana nods and then pulls the hood of her cloak over her head to hide her tears before following Gandalf down the path. She turns and looks at her brothers one last time before urging Gelmir into a gallop behind Shadowfax, not noticing there are tears in their eyes as well.