Disclaimer: Belongs to Tolkien not me.
TriGemini: Haldir understood why she wanted to go from the beginning. He just didn't like it...at all. :)
Vipera berus: Wow! Again with the ego boost. hehe. My head is twice it's normal size now. :)
Silvermane1: Goodbyes always are. But things will get better.
GinnyPotter4eva: Wow! What can I say to that? Thank You! And yes I'm inspired so here's your update...:D
fanfictionworm: Thank you.
dizzy izzy: Thank you! And yes, an alter would freak me out just a little...well OK a lot.
A/N: Hey everyone, I have an Orlando Bloom fanfiction/art website that I've been playing with. It's nothing spectacular or anything but if you have any Orlando (or character) stories/poems/art work I would love to host it. I have the link posted on my profile page. Be warned though, so far I don't have anything posted. That's why I need you guys and please spread the word.
Diana and Gandalf reach Fangorn Forest and dismount. "When are we to meet Merry and Pippin?"
"The Rohirrim will attack the orcs during the night and the Hobbits will escape sometime in the night. Sorry that I can't be any more specific than that."
"That will do. Come, we have some time to rest." Diana grabs her bag and follows Gandalf into the forest.
Diana looks around nervously as they walk through the trees. She can tell that this forest is thousands of years old and she can almost sense that they are angry. "Gandalf?" She speeds up to catch him. "It's almost as if the trees are talking to each other and they seem angry. Should I be worried?"
"You have nothing to fear from the trees." Gandalf looks around and then sits on a rock. "We will rest here until it is time."
Diana sits on the ground and leans up against the rock. She starts to dose off but movement catches her attention. She slowly looks up to find a pair of eyes looking down at her. "Gandalf." She slowly scoots around the rock, putting it between her and the thing with eyes. "Do trees have eyes?"
"Don't be silly." Gandalf chuckles. "That is no tree. He is an Ent." Gandalf turns and greets the Ent.
"Treebeard" she whispers to herself. Diana stands up and slowly makes her way to Gandalf's side, not taking her eyes off of Treebeard.
Treebeard's attention turns to her. "Welcome Aranel. It is an honor to have the Gilhen in Fangorn forest."
"And it is a pleasure to meet you, Treebeard." She then turns to Gandalf in confusion. "Gilhen? Why did he call me Star Child?"
Gandalf sighs and looks at her. "Why do you think you were brought back from death?"
Diana shakes her head. "I don't know."
"Very few know of who you truly are, not even your brothers. We hoped that it would not come to this." Gandalf again sighs and sits down. "As you know Sauron's life force is connected to the ring and if he finds it Middle Earth will plunge into darkness. No one will be able to stop it."
Diana nods and he continues. "No one except for one. Only the Star Child will be able to defeat Sauron if he regains the One Ring. If Frodo fails, you are the only hope for us."
Diana slides to the ground in shock. "But how? I don't have any powers. I'm not like you or Galadriel."
"No, indeed you are not. You are much greater. You have the ability to move things with your mind instead of relying on spell as we do..."
Two hours later Diana sits silently next to Gandalf trying to take in everything Gandalf has told her. Treebeard had left sometime before.'This just keeps getting better and better. I could accept being an Elf but this? Stupid Gandalf. What does he know? If I had powers I'd take his staff and wack him with it.'
"The orcs are at the edge of the Forest. Come, it is almost time. Owe. Aranel!"
Diana looks up at Gandalf and she falls off the rock in shock. "Holy crap!"
Gandalf's staff is hovering over him and he is rubbing his head as he glares at her. "Would you be so kind as to return my staff?"
Diana catches a glint of amusement in his eyes and giggles. "Sorry Gandalf, I didn't actually mean to do that. I was just blowing off a bit of steam."
When he has his staff again he turns and starts for the edge of the forest. "Keep you head covered. Now that you've used your powers you have been blessed by the Valar." He chuckles when she feels her face looking for some type of mark. "You won't find anything there, child. I was refering to your eyes. They are now a bright blue. The color of the sky. Very beautiful but they will draw attention."
Diana covers her head and follows after him as he continues talking. "But be warned. The intensity of the Gilhen's eyes is so powerful that no one can endure looking into them."
Diana watches in amusement as Treebeard unceremoniously dumps Merry and Pippin at Gandalf's feet. Their eyes travel up his white robes to his face. They both gasp in shock at the Wizard standing before them.
"Gandalf? Is it really you?" Merry asks.
"Indeed it is, Master Meriadoc." Gandalf grins at the Hobbits as they pick themselves up off the ground.
Pippin looks at him in awe. "But you're White."
"That I am. A story for another time though, I'm afraid."
"Trust me, it's a long story, too." Diana steps out of hiding and smiles at the confused looks from Merry and Pippin. "What, it's only been a couple of weeks and you've already forgotten me?" Diana lowers her hood. "I'm hurt," she teases.
She laughs when they both latch onto her in a hug, almost knocking her over. Pippin looks up at her and instantly his eyes lower from hers. "What happened to your eyes?"
"I've never seen eyes of that color of blue before," Merry adds.
Diana sighs, "Another long story. Let's ust say it's another one of my 'adjustments' since coming to Middle Earth and leave it at that for now."
Diana tends to the cut on Merry's head while Gandalf talks with Treebeard. "I'm glad I got to see you two again. Lorien was way to quiet since you guys left. So how was everyone last time you saw them?"
They look at each other and then up at Diana with sadness in their eyes. "Boromir was killed while trying to protect us. We don't know about the others." Merry tells her.
"I know about Boromir," she says as a tear slips down her cheek. "But don't worry, the others are fine. Frodo and Sam are on their way to Mordor and the other three are tracking you as we speak."
"Really?" Pippin smiles. "I can't wait to see them."
Gandalf comes over to them. "I'm afraid that won't be possible my dear Hobbit. For your path lies with Treebeard for the time being. Say your goodbyes quickly. Treebeard's waiting for you."
After Treebeard leaves with the Hobbits, Diana turns to Gandalf. "So what now?"
Gandalf sits down and pulls out his pipe. "Now we wait."
"Oh fun," Diana says and rolls her eyes. Gandalf gives her a sideways glance and chuckles before taking a puff of his pipe.
That next afternoon Gandalf sends Diana to keep watch for Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. She suspects it's because she was getting on his nerves. Of course, 'Ninety-nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall' and 'The Song that Never Ends' does tend to annoy people.
Diana hears horses approaching and pulls her cloak around herself and hides behind a tree. She's a good distance away but she doesn't want to risk being spotted and the cloak will blend in with her surroundings.
She watches them silently but when Aragorn kicks the helmet something clicks in her mind. Berating herself in her mind for not thinking about it earlier she slips further back into the forest. When she's a good distance away from the risk of being detected she races back to where Gandalf is waiting.
"Gandalf!"
"What is it?" He looks up at the excited elleth expectantly.
"I know why things didn't seem right to me. It's like the movie instead of the book." she says excitedly.
At Gandalf's confused expression she quickly tries to explain what a movie is and after he gets the basic idea, she continues. "And in the movie it was Arwen that found Frodo, the wolves didn't attack the Fellowship on the way to Moria, and... Oh No!" She clasps her hand over her mouth and shakes her head in denial at the next realization.
"What's wrong, child? What will happen?" Gandalf asks worriedly.
"Haldir. In the movie my brother dies." Diana looks up at Gandalf with tears in her eyes. "I can't let that happen, Gandalf. I won't let that happen."
"I won't stop you." Gandalf puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Come, let's have a little fun until it's time to meet our friends."
They silently make their way to the edge of the forest and wait until Legolas and Aragorn fall asleep leaving Gimli on watch. Gandalf looks at Diana and she smiles at the twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
Gandalf silently slips closer to their camp as Diana makes her way to their horses. Gimli spots Gandalf and wakes the others but when Aragorn speaks to him he slips back into the woods. While Gandalf had them distracted she released the horses and chased them toward where Shadowfax and Gelmir were waiting.
Safely back in the forest Diana and Gandalf watch in amusement as they grumble about the 'old man' and the horses before finally laying back down. Then the two make their way back to their own camp to rest for the night.
The next morning Diana watches as Gandalf approaches Legolas Aragorn and Gimli. She knows thy realize he's there when they begin whispering to each other and readying their weapons.
Just as he appears in a blinding white light they turn and attack. He knocks away their weapons and steps onto the rock he and Diana had sat upon the night before.
He disguises his voice as Saruman's. "You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits."
"Where are they?" Aragorn questions as he shields his eyes from the light.
"They passed this way the day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?" Gandalf's voice slowly fades from Saruman's back to his.
Aragorn takes a step forward. "Who are you? Show yourself!"
Gandalf steps forward as the light disappears to reveal who he is. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli all look at him in shock and disbelief.
Legolas kneels on one knee. "Forgive me. I mistook you for Saruman." Gimli follows his lead but Aragorn is to shocked to move.
"I am Saruman. Or rather, Saruman as he should have been."
"You fell," Aragorn says still in disbelief.
"Through fire..."
Diana rolls her eyes as Gandalf starts to tell them what happened. 'Here we go again with the story. Can we say drama queen.' She sighs and waits for him to finish.
"Gandalf." Aragorn steps forward.
"Gandalf? Yes. That was what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name," he teases them. "I am Gandalf the White. And I come back to you now at the turn of the tide."
Diana follows them silently as they start out of the forest as Gandalf tells them that we're headed to Edoras and about the Ents.
"...In fact, they are far safer than you are about to be," Gandalf calls to Gimli over his shoulder.
Gimli stops and grumbles, "This new Gandalf's more grumpy than the old one."
Diana quietly slips behind him. "You got that right."
Gimli spins around in surprise.
"Hello, Adar dithen." Diana laughs when he looks up at her, speechless. "Come on. The others are waiting for us."
"Ah. I was wondering where you'd went off to," Gandalf smiles when Diana follows Gimli out of the forest.
Aragorn looks up and grins. "I thought you weren't coming."
"I decided that I couldn't let you guys have all the fun." She smiles and hugs him before turning to Legolas when he puts a hand on her shoulder.
"You shouldn't have come here. It's to dangerous," he says harshly.
Diana glares at him. "It's no more dangerous than when you were trying to kill me every chance you got last time we traveled together." She shrugs off his hand and pulls her hood up. After swinging up onto Gelmir's back she looks down at him. "If I can put up with your bullshit then I doubt I'll have any problem dealing with whatever Saruman and Sauron can dish out."
He shakes his head angrily and mounts his horse before pulling Gimli up behind him.
"Do not fret Legolas. The Gilhen can take care of herself," Gandalf calls as he mounts Shadowfax.
Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli all turn to look at her questioningly and she sighs. 'Damn Wizard.' "I'll explain later."
Diana turns Gelmir and follows Gandalf. The other three look at each other and Aragorn shrugs. They nudge their horses forward and race to catch up with their companions.