DISCLAIMER:

Celiya: You know, whenever I'm going up against a boss or mini boss, my hearts pounds like the beating of a war drum, and once I have won it still keeps beating fast. I usually say to myself, "Ha I have beaten you, you foolish monster! Ah hahaha!" But then I have to catch my breath again after laughing…

Telphanra: Stare Anyway, we don't own LOTR…

Cel (In background): Die monster, die! couple whacks later… Yes victory is mine! Loooser! heart beats crazily Oh…my heart.

"Soo, Aragorn, what's for dinner?" Robin (now known as Telphanra) asked brightly.

It had been about three days since Gandalf and Aragorn's surprise discovery of Gwen and Robin in Fangorn. At first, the girl's awe at meeting people they knew were important (although they couldn't really recall where they had heard of them) had kept them quiet and respectful. However, this began to wear off as soon as they realized that no one was taking anyone else very seriously.

"If you say rabbit one more time Strider, I swear I'll hit you over the head with that sword of yours!" Gwen (a.k.a Celiya) threatened, brandishing her fist.

"What? How did you know that name?" The temporary cook replied testily, glad he had an excuse to avoid answering Celiya's question.

The girl took the verbal bait and began to explain,

"Well you remember when Telphanra was yelling at me about saying all of your-"

Telphanra felt a powerful urge to subdue her friend, and obeyed it.

"Hey Cel it's not nice to swear!" She said quickly, adding a small punch on the arm to make sure she got her point across.

Celiya quickly understood her friend's distress, but she felt that the violence had been uncalled for.

"Curse you Tel!" She cried and punched the other girl back. (A/N-Cel: cursing is better than swearing)

A furious swatting match ensued and the bewildered Ranger tuned away, muttering

"Sorry I asked.."

Gandalf, who had been watching the girls in faint alarm, intervened.

"Excuse the interruption.." he said, adding in a mutter "Not that you seemed particularly busy…I have a question to ask you ladies, exactly how old are you?"

Tel, pausing mid-swat, answered

"We're both fifteen."

Celiya added her own thoughts,

"Well, even though I am fifteen, I don't think that I look like it. Some people have said I look sixteen, but I don't really mind. I seem to have a personality range of anywhere from twelve to twenty. But hey, who's counting?"

She said with a shrug. As these words left her mouth, it occurred to her that she had no idea where they had come from. Her state of puzzled realization was interrupted by Telphanra's latest comment,

"I believe you have been know to act more like a four year old."

Celiya's response was just as quick as her companion's,

"Hey I was probably improvising that time, you idiot!"

"Improvising? What does that have to do with anything?" Telphanra replied with another small punch.

"HEY!!" Cel cried with a swing at Telphanra.

This continued for several seconds, but as Tel took another swing at her opponent, Cel ducked. Telphanra's mini-punch came straight towards Aragorn, who blocked it clumsily.

Both ended up on the ground.

Gandalf attempted to hide his smile under an irritated expression.

"Do not make me come back there!" He said with a threatening wave of his staff.

The rather irked Ranger felt the need to defend himself,

"Hey! She started it!"

"I do not care who started it, I will finish it!" Gandalf replied sharply.

Aragorn and Telphanra stood up cautiously and began to back away. Celiya, who was facing them, took this as a sign that she had won, and grinned as she turned and stepped heavily on the edge of the wizard's long gray cloak.

This caused them both to trip, first over the cloak, then each other.

Aragorn and Telphanra winced in unison as both hit the ground.

Celiya was the first to recover.

"Owww! If that was another tree, I'm really going to be mad. Nothing else could be that knobby!" She groaned as she lay there, dazed.

Gandalf, who had risen from behind her, gave an affronted "Ahem."

Celiya slowly rotated her face upward. Instead of the sky, or the bare canopy of the suspected tree, she found herself looking at a very tall, very stern Istar.

"Oh my gosh! I am so sorry about that, Master Gandalf…I didn't know you were there! I'm really, really, really sorry!" She babbled anxiously.

Aragorn whispered to Telphanra,

"I'm betting on Gandalf, she's a goner.."

Telphanra whispered back,

"Well I'm betting on Cel, you haven't seen what she can do yet. I'll even stake my share of dinner on her!"

Aragorn was beginning to enjoy this. Perhaps he could find a way to avoid complaints about the dinner menu out of this little disaster.

"Fine. And if Gandalf wins, you also have to cook it."

Tel replied, "If he DOES win, which I doubt, I might make you regret this." She paused for a moment before adding,

"It's a deal."

They shook hands and shifted their attention the still apologizing Celiya.

Gandalf sighed, and before the girl could let out another 'sorry', he spoke.

"Miss Celiya, please watch where you are going in the future." He said crossly.

Celiya, still eager to defend herself, protested.

"I was! Except I was watching in front of me, not behind me, if you didn't notice."

Gandalf was equally eager to make his own point.

"Regardless of the details, you have managed to send everyone here to the ground!"

The girl now assumed a deeply offended expression, but refused to surrender.

"Hey, Tel missed me and fell into Aragorn. Technically, I had nothing to do with it! I said I was sorry, jeez! I always thought that you were the nicest one, out of all the Istari, but now you've proved me wrong!"

Gandalf was both flattered and a little taken aback, he paused before answering.

"Yes…you're right, I apologize. I should not have lost my temper…I beg your pardon."

Celiya smiled. To those unaccustomed to the complicated workings of her inner mind, she merely seemed pleased. However, Telphanra recognized it as a smile of triumph. (A/N-Cel: Cackles Wah hahahahaha! Tel backs away)

"You are pardoned." Cel said sweetly. "I shouldn't have yelled at you either, I should respect my elders more." She turned and walked away with a faint smirk.

Telphanra shared her friend's smile, and turned to Aragorn.

"Ha! What did I tell you? Looks like you still have dinner duty."

Aragorn was still trying to overcome his astonishment, had a girl, an odd one at that, just outwitted Gandalf the Gray?

Telphanra noticed the forlorn and miserable expression on the dúnadan's face, and couldn't help feeling just a bit sorry for him. Cooking duty was no picnic when it involved skinning small animals, and she had also won his share. After tonight, it might be awhile before they caught or found more food.

"Hey, why don't you keep your dinner and I'll cook. I mean, you didn't really have to bring us along…I have to do something to make it up to you."

Gandalf, who had walked up next to Aragorn, beamed.

"I'm sure Aragorn would appreciate that."

Several hours and one slightly crispy rabbit later, Celiya and Telphanra dozed peacefully by the fire as Aragorn and Gandalf discussed their plan of action.

Aragorn whispered cautiously

"Gandalf, what are we doing with these two girls, I still don't understand."

Gandalf replied softly,

"I feel that they will become important in the future. Besides, that book that Telphanra has is very intriguing… It would also be wise for Galadriel take a look at them, she'll know what to do."

FLASHBACK: Earlier that evening

Telphanra skimmed over the note that had fallen out of her book for the fifth time that hour. Celiya read nervously over her shoulder…

A/N- Tel: The significance and content of the note will be revealed in later chapters…SUSPENSE!