Isengard was far from Mirkwood so Erin decided to stop at Lothlórien for obvious reasons. She hurried the best she could but the trail was long and it took her many days to simply reach the outskirts. When she finally arrived at the forest, she stopped to take in the beauty around her. The mallorns were practically gone but a few could be seen here and there. She continued to walk through the forest listening on hopes that she was closer to the heart of Lothlórien . Nothing could be heard from the distance and it didn't surprise her either. You don't go listening for elves. You most likely will never hear them. They are the ones who listen for you.

Some leaves rustled from the trees above Erin. Looking around, she didn't see anyone. Looking up she saw Haldir jump from one of the trees with his arrow poised and ready to shoot at any given moment. Erin was surprised and was taken aback. Haldir stared for only a few seconds but after realizing whom he was facing, Haldir lowered his bow.

"Elendil?" he asked with a smile breaking from his face. Erin ran to him and embraced Haldir. It felt good to be in his arms again. She had missed him terribly and did not want to be parted from him again.

"I have wished you would return," Haldir said to her as he stroked her face, "It's been lonely without you."

"Are you just saying that?" Erin asked playfully, "It appeared as though you were ready to kill me only a few minutes ago?" Holding her hands, Haldir looked back at Erin.

"Many enemies have been crossing our borders since you left. It is no longer safe here."

"No longer safe?" Erin questioned, "Are orcs annoying you again?"

"Not only orcs but other evils are haunting our borders," Haldir continued but stopped changing the subject, "I am astonished you made it here unscathed. Nothing disturbed your journey back?"

"Nothing worth noting," Erin said, "But what evils are arising?"

Haldir hushed her and looked back into the distance. He obviously had heard something for his eyes were searching the forest back and forth. He drew his arrow again and listened carefully. Suddenly, his eyes became wide. He shot a look back at Erin and yelled at her.

"Run, Elendil! Run to Lady Galadriel and call for aid!"

"What's out there?" Erin questioned as she turned her back, "What's coming?"

"RUN ELENDIL!" Haldir begged, "RUN FOR SAFETY!"

Erin obeyed and began to run back. She climbed up one of the trees and looked over the borders seeing dozens of orcs were running towards Haldir. Judging by the amount of them, Erin knew Haldir would never survive even if aid arrived. They would never make it in time. No spell would defeat the attacking orcs but one could defend Haldir. Racing back to Haldir, Erin extended her arm and spoke the one word that would save Haldir,

"DARTHA!"

Her spell brought defense to Haldir and she joined him in the fight. Her swordsmanship had greatly improved and she was no longer concerned about death hanging over her head. Her only concern was Haldir and his survival.

This courage was just enough to slaughter the enemy orcs until other elves arrived. The orcs were easily defeated and the elves suffered no deaths. Leaving the battle, Erin and Haldir soon returned to Caras Galadon, the heart of Lothlórien. They spoke nothing to each other and remained silent until they were finally alone. Erin turned to go to her room hoping to avoid any conflict but Haldir caught her arm and spun her around.

"Why did you not listen to me?" He demanded, "Why did you not go for aid?"

There was fury in his face and Erin easily saw it. He was upset that she had returned to help him and not gone for help as he had asked of her. She pulled her arm away and shot a look of rage towards him. "What was he talking about?" she thought, "She had just saved his life and he would not thank her? His only response was, why didn't you obey? Who did he think she was? His slave? Well, that wouldn't last long."

"Aid would not have arrived to help you in time if I'd left," Erin practically shouted back, "Would you have preferred I had let you die? Next time there's a battle, I'll be sure to leave you with dozens of orcs. If you die, don't blame me!"

"I told you to go for help and it was a blessing that support arrived without us calling for it. I was protecting you from harm but you only put yourself in danger again. That was foolish of you."

"NO!" Erin finally yelled, "IT WAS NOT FOOLISH. IT WASN'T THOUGHLESS, UNWISE, OR IDIOTIC. MAYBE TO YOU IT WAS, BUT IT WASN'T FOR ME!" Haldir was taken aback by her anger. Erin saw this and tried to calm down. Taking a deep breath, she tried again, "I didn't listen to you because I saw you were in grave danger. I came back to save you. I came to save you not because I was proud with the thought I could defeat the orcs. I knew I couldn't. Besides you are right, it was a blessing that help arrived. But my point is, if you had been harmed in any way, I would never be able to forgive myself."

Tears were beginning to swell up in her eyes for the first time she could remember. Despite it, Erin went on, "During my entire journey with Aragorn, you were the only person I could think about. I thought about how much you meant to me and how special you are. Aragorn mentioned that times were changing and that I could loose anything that was important to me. That's you, Haldir! You are important to me and I don't know how I would live without you. I could never bear the burden if you had ever left me in this world. Perhaps I am sounding greedy, but it's the truth. It would be hard enough if I had lost you but it would be even worse if it had been due to my own inaction." By now, Erin could not continue on. She couldn't hold back the tears that she had been fighting against. This was one battle she found herself losing to. She fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands.

Comfort quickly came as Haldir held Erin in his arms. She wept bitterly for what seemed like hours. During the entire time, Haldir never let her go.

"I love you, Elendil," Haldir said, "I'll never leave you."

Erin pulled away from the embrace and looked into Haldir's eyes; never had they looked so caring until now. "Haldir..." she said softly, "I love you...I love you."

Erin closed her eyes and rested her face against his chest. Haldir pulled Erin back up onto her feet and held her, stroking her hair. He walked Erin back to her room and left her at the door. He turned to leave but stopped at the sound of Erin's voice.

"Don't go," she pleaded with him, "Stay."

Haldir was stunned at what she had said and also what she meant. He glanced back at her seeing her eyes longing for him to stay. He walked back to her and held her again for the last time that night. He turned again to go but stopped, turned, and kissed her goodnight.

Erin remained in Lothlórien for only a few days. She felt better about the encounter with Haldir and recovered from her "emotional breakdown". She quickly returned to Isengard, proud of her accomplishments with her magic and eager to learn more. Riding up to the tower, she smiled and was glad to return. Surprisingly, Saruman met her at the entrance of Orthanc and bided her to come inside. This was not the Saruman Erin remembered. This one was...well...nicer. Erin ignored it thinking back to the advice Aragorn had given her; times were changing.

"I am delighted for your swift return, Elendil," Saruman said to her as she entered the tower.

"I have come to realize the value of what you have taught me, Lord Saruman," Erin addressed him, "It was thoughtless of me to not undertake your teachings seriously and I hope you will allow me to return as your student."

"Student?" Saruman questioned, "There is no reason for you to carry that name anymore. For I have taught you all you need to know."

"My Lord?" Erin questioned. She knew there was much she still did not know. Why was Saruman saying she knew all she needed to know? Know for what?

"There is much to clarify," the wizard said, "And you must be weary from your long journey. Rest and we may discuss more later."

"Yes, My Lord," Erin obeyed as she returned to her old chamber. She was not about to tell him about her stop with Haldir and that she was not tired. No, that would be unwise. Something was amiss and Erin was determined to figure out what it was. That July of 3018 was when Aragorn's prediction would come true.

The next morning, Erin arose and dressed to meet Saruman. He was not a difficult person to find and she found him in his study reading from old books.

"My Lord," she addressed him to make her presence known.

"Come," Saruman beckoned and pointed to a chair across from him, "Please sit." Erin sat at the chair he pointed out and Erin looked at him straight in the face. Something was different about him. Yes, one change was in the color of his beard and hair. All her life, she had seen his beard and hair white. Recently, it was turning black. Black? But white was noble and good. Black was...the opposite. Hopefully, Saruman did not realize that Erin noticed this change. Whether he did or not, Saruman continued, "Do you know why Gandalf wanted the creature Gollum found?"

This was an easy question for Erin and an unimportant one, "Yes, my Lord. Gandalf wanted Gollum found because he could possibly be a threat to Middle Earth."

"Yes, a threat," Saruman repeated rising from his chair. He began to pace and finally asked, "Tell me, what kind of threat did Gollum possess?"

"I never asked," Erin said truthfully, "I assumed since Gandalf assured it was the correct course of action, I found it unimportant to ask."

"But were you not even curious?" Saruman pressured Erin, "Did you ever wonder what type of powers this creature had available that could destroy the world?"

"I believe I know," Erin answered again. This time she was lieing to Saruman and made up the first thing that she could think of. If she even guessed the correct answer, Erin believed it could bring bad news for her. "I believe Gollum had powers from the world I came from," she lied, "Both you and I know that I am not from this world yet we have no idea where or what it is?"

"That is were you are wrong," Saruman stated plainly, "Gollum is not of another world and we know the answers all your questions about it; yet the answers have a price."

The words of Saruman were making Erin very uncomfortable. She realized whatever he was speaking of was dangerous and the subject had to be approach safely, "My Lord," Erin asked, "Who is 'we'?"