Ohmygod, I'm really sorry for not updating like I said that I would back in the beginning. By now all of my fellow readers are probably wanting to strangle me…but if you want me to continue with this story then don't. I took an unposted hiatus that I didn't even know of for a while so that I could rethink what people have told me in their reviews on both of my stories. As far as Dreamsprite is concerned, I am positive that I know where I'm going with it up til graduation and I'll forewarn you that these next few will probably be long. Now I'm still stuck on this one, however, I've decided how I will end it already but I'm gonna need some ideas from all of my wonderful readers out there in cyberspace. If there's something you want to see, tell me. Other than that, read and enjoy.

Disclaimer: (yeah, I said I'd never do another one, but for those who are too lazy to look back…) I do not own anything affiliated with the Lord of the Rings, got it? Zip. Nada. Nothing. The only character that I hold ownership of is Arlene.

:: All On My Own…::

Days passed, and still I resided in the palace. The Lady and Lord of Lothlorien left at the beginning of the new month. Lady Galadriel confronted me shortly before their departure. No words were said, out loud anyways, but she told me mentally that my fears would consume me if I let them. She left me with a nod of her head and a smile knowing with satisfaction that she confused me to no end with what she said. It wasn't until late one night that I realized what she meant.

I was walking down the hall to my apartment. Somehow I already knew that it was nighttime. There was something peculiar, though. There wasn't a soul in sight nor a sound to be heard, and it sent a shiver up my spine. My pace quickened, a part of my mind replaying the same situations in all of the horror movies that I had seen. Fumbling for the keys in my bag, I nearly broke the key off in the door as I forced my way inside. Once I was sure that the door was locked, I went around and secured all of the other possible places that a burglar might be able to get in. But as I sat in the living room, I still had that fear of dread. Something wasn't right. Again, I searched the apartment, mentally cursing myself for leaving my shotguns over at my friend's house. Then the phone rang. When I answered, a disguised voice mentioned my friends. I screamed obscenities into the receiver, demanding to know what he or she had done to them, The phone went dead, and it clamored to the kitchen floor as my knees slammed into the linoleum. I stayed there for some time, tears brimming the edges of my eyes as I tried to block out all of the possibilities of their fates and silently demanding myself to wake up from this nightmare. When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in my apartment. I was standing in the entrance to the city cemetery. The familiar cawing sound brought to me to the attention of two crows overhead, resting on the iron barred gates. Were they looking at me? They cawed to me once more before leaving their perch on the gate doors and flying off. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, but my feet took control and before I could stop myself, I was sprinting after the crows through the large cemetery. Once I saw them land upon two tombstones, my pace slowed to a walk, then stopping completely. What should I do? The comforting, yet eerie silence of the deceased that surrounded me gave me no sign except for the raven colored birds before me, so I approached cautiously, bracing myself for anything. There they were. My friends, propped up against the stone markers as if they were sleeping. No sign of bruises, cuts, gunshots, injections, or blood was visible. But their pulses…ceased to exist. Silent tears poured down my face as I stared into their pale expressionless ones. I looked around me for any signs of life apart from me and the crows, but there was no one. I got down on my hands and knees and silently sobbed. But the next thing that happened nearly killed me from shock. They were moving. Impossible, I know, but there they were sitting upright in front of me, but still pale. They were smiling at me. One of them began to speak to me about their final resting place, but the other cut her off and told me to get my butt in gear and get prepared for the worst. I was going to ask what 'worst' she was talking about, but my body and mind found it appropriate to jolt me from the graveyard.

I sat upright in bed, sweat pouring down like heavy rain on my skin. The dream felt so real, but I knew that it wasn't somehow. My friends and I had taken self defense classes years ago and since then improved on the offensive as well. That gave me a hope that they were alive, but it still worried me. A knocking on the door brought me back from the memory and I climbed out of bed quickly to answer it. It was Anamaria, the assistant that Arwen had assigned to me, even against my pleading not to. I was capable of taking care of myself, but this woman insisted on aiding me in any way, so I gave in, but I don't recall a day that I ever treated her like an inferior, and always thanking her for what she did. Anamaria merely smiled and with a nod of her head said that it was her pleasure assisting me. I asked her to use assist instead of serve because I wasn't comfortable with the word. It brought back countless times of the controversy issue of slavery in history class.

"Yes?" I called when I reached the door.

"It is only me Lady Arlene. May I come in?"

"Oh course," I laughed, opening the door and stepping aside to let her enter. "but please Anamaria, just call me Arlene."

She turned and smiled back at me. "But you must let me address you properly. It is how I was raised. I do not feel comfortable any other way."

"Okay, I give. You'll be the only one to call me that, though." I replied, shaking my head.

While Anamaria was busy bustling around preparing a bath for me, I set to work making the bed, which she scolded me for of all things! "You should not be doing this!" she said in a mockingly stern tone.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but this was how I was raised," I replied.

She laughed. "Don't you be talking like that to me. You'd make me feel older than I really am. Now go on child, go get in your bath, it's ready for you." I finished helping her straighten the covers on the bed then retreated to take my bath, but I paused and watched her busy herself. Anamaria reminded me of a much younger version of Granny Clampet from the Beverly Hillbillies. She was small like Granny and even had a bit of the personality down pat. Like a mother hen, she took it upon herself to play the role of surrogate mother/grandmother to me. Her hair was slowly starting to show lighter strands against the dark locks that she had pinned up into a messy bun. The dress even expressed her mother-like personality. She told me once that she had been busy raising her children, so she never had time to really mend her oldest dresses, and when each of her children had something that they couldn't wear anymore, she would cut them up into swatches and tuck them away so that when she had time she could use them as patches to hide the holes in her clothes. Now her children had grown up and moved on, but she would always have the swatches of outgrown childhood garments that would serve as memories of her precious babies, no matter how old they got or where they went. It was such a beautiful story.

I smiled to myself as I turned and continued on my way. The hot water soothed the tense muscles in my back as I sunk into the tub. While I poured some shampoo into my hands and lathered it into my hair, I replayed my dream over and over again, trying my damnedest to relate it to what the Lady of Light had told me before she left. And then it clicked.

Water splashing about everywhere, I leaped out of the tub, left the bathing room ignoring the towels that Anamaria left out for me and nearly flew into my bedroom, scaring Anamaria half to death.

"I figured it out!" I cried over and over again.

"Figured what out?" she asked, startled as she watched me run buck naked around the room gathering a pair of worn out jeans and an old long sleeve shirt.

"The dream, I just realized what it means!" I said, throwing on my clothes and running back to grab a towel to dry my hair.

"What dream, Lady Arlene? Forgive me but I am lost.'

"Right. Sorry," I said coming back into the bedroom. As I sat down on the bed, I started to tell her about the dream while I dried my hair vigorously. When I lifted my gaze from under the towel, Anamaria had a sad look in her eyes that I had never seen before. "What's wrong?" I asked.

She shook her head slowly before answering me. "It is nothing, Lady Arlene. This dream…do you think it could be real?"

"As in a premonition?"

"…yes."

"I'm not sure. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't; but I'm not gonna sit around on my ass when I can't be sure."

She stood up from her position on the chair. "Then what will you do?"

I said nothing but gave Anamaria a smirk as I continued to shift things around in my duffel bag.

"ABSOULUTELY NOT!" Aragorn yelled, his voice echoing throughout the halls of the palace. Not even in the movies I had ever heard him that angry, and frankly, I was a little worried, but I stood by my decision.

"Then tell me why not," I countered, but the hair on the back of my neck was on end.

He didn't say anything at first, but when he stood up and started to make his way towards me, my legs went numb and I was unable to flee the scene. Like he would have let me leave…oh boy, I feel a lecture coming on…

"What makes you think," he said, stopping maybe 2 inches from my face, "that I will LET you walk out of Gondor on your OWN when SOMEONE or SOMETHING is walking around Middle-earth just waiting to ANNIHILATE YOU?! What do you take me for?!"

Right now I take you for a person that needs to be committed…

Aragorn refused to lower his voice, and I wouldn't either. "How about this, what makes YOU think that I'm gonna just stand here and take this crap?! You have no right to tell me what to do, much less yell at me for the choices I make. I am and adult. I have the same rights as you to make decisions on my own and I will continue to do so. I couldn't care less if you are the King of Gondor!"

Man, I swear I thought I saw a flicker of rage in his eyes. "You are a child in these lands. You may be considered an adult where you came from but I will not sit back and watch a child get killed!"

"YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER!!!!!!!!" I screamed at him. I felt some strange wave of energy surge up around me like a barrier that made Aragorn back up. I felt my hair loosen from the loose ponytail that it was in and move about madly. The crow insignia on my wrist started to burn. Yeah, I was getting pissed. "YOU WILL NEVER BE MY FATHER!! NIETHER ARE YOU MY FUCKING GUARDIAN!! I WILL DO AS I DAMNED WELL PLEASE AND IF THAT DOESN'T SUIT YOU THEN FUCK YOU YOUR HIGHNESS!!!!"

The entire room went silent. My hair settled back down but the burning in my wrist wasn't fading. When I lifted my head to look at the King of Men, I instantly regretted the words that I said.

OH SHIT! I am SO fucking screwed…damn my big mouth and short temper…everyone told me that It would get me into trouble one day, and now look where I am.

His face was expressionless. I can't say if that was a good sign or not, but he didn't move from where he stood. He just looked at me. That look…it's so familiar… His face was stern, but calm, he stood with his arms crossed, feet apart, shoulders squared. It didn't take a rocket scientist to make me see who he reminded me of. Daddy…Daddy was always like that. He would raise his voice for a while, but then he would just stop and stare off until he calmed down…he looked like that after I told him exactly how I felt when him and Mama were in that period of fighting. My anger dropped to a minimum in 2 seconds.

"My Lord Aragorn-" I began, but he cut me off.

"I understand the position from where you come from, Arlene, so you do not have to apologize. Often I rebelled against Lord Elrond's word because I felt that he did not understand the point I was trying to make. When I look back on it now, I realize that he was indeed right. I am sure that in time you will understand the reason why I do not want you to leave Gondor. Lady Arlene, I would like to apologize for the rudeness that I bestowed upon you."

Sighing, I wiped the tears quickly away that threatened to fall. "I forgive you, but it should be me that should be asking for forgiveness. I was acting out of line, especially since I said some things that are unforgivable to someone superior to me. I fully accept any punishment that you see fit."

Aragorn laughed and pulled me into his arms, hugging me. "Child, you are forgiven. Even though I didn't understand some of the words you used, I could tell that they were offensive where you come from, but you shouldn't be punished for saying something like that."

"I'm not a child." I replied stiffly from his embrace.

"Yes, but in my eyes you ARE a child. I am over 80 years old after all," he said hugging me harder before letting me go. When I looked back at his face, I saw tears forming at the corners of his eyes. "You're like a daughter to me, regardless of the short time that we have known each other. Anamaria," he said, turning his attention to the small elderly woman, "Please see to it that Lady Arlene's belongings are packed for her departure."

I stared up at him in disbelief. He's actually going to let me leave?! Something must be up… "What's the catch? Just two seconds ago you didn't want me to leave."

"Yes but I nor anyone else can stop you from leaving. However, I am going to arrange for some guards to travel with you on your journey. And, I want you to train for at least 3 weeks before you depart from us. Does that sound fitting to you?"

"Does it matter? It's not like I have much of a say so in the matter."

:: Oh, you're quick!::

"Who was that?" I asked, spinning about, looking in every direction.

Aragorn looked at me funny. "What are you talking about? I didn't hear anything."

"I'm telling you I'm hearing someone! They just insulted me!"

:: Not as blond as I thought you to be, Arlene. ::

"There it is again!" I cried. "I don't know who or what you are, but you better come out right now!"

:: Fine. Fine. Looks like this phantom bit is getting me nowhere. ::

I felt the burning in my wrist get worse and it brought me to my knees. A huge white light surrounded me like a barrier again, and something inside felt like it was trying to get out. Preparing for the worst, I doubled over on my hands and knees, trying to keep whatever inside in. I clearly wasn't in the mood to blow chunks all over the floor. Well whatever came out came out, but I was just thankful that it wasn't from the pit of my stomach.

:: Did you loose a contact lenses, Arlene? Wait…do you even wear contact lenses? ::

You got a lotta nerve talking to me after what…just…who the hell is that?!

When I stood up, I was half-expecting a sorceress or witch or wizard or something to be standing before me, anything at the opposite end of the scale from what stood in front of me.

She stood about 2 inches taller than me, tall enough that in order for me to look her in the eye, I would have to look up. Her skin was bronzed, which made her sun bleached hair stand out more. Her eyes were the color of the sea, a deep blue. There was an aura around her much like that of an innocent child, but her eyes held wisdom that only an elderly person obtained during their long lifetime. The dress she wore reminded me of a Greek goddess; sleeveless and hung loosely, tied at the waist to emphasize her small waist. Ten toes peeked out and wiggled under the hem of the dress that trailed the floor.

:: Wow, I didn't realize that you were shorter than me. Hey, nice tattoo. So how have you been lately Arlene? ::

"Who-Who are you? And where did you come from?" Out of the corner of my eye, Aragorn motioned for guards to move around us at a safe distance, in case this new visitor attempted anything.

She must have sensed the tension in the room as well. :: Relax, there's no need to resort to violence on my account. I'm not here to kill anyone, I'm just here to help Arlene. ::

"Aragorn, draw back your guards."

"Are you sure? Can you say that you honestly trust her when you yourself have just laid eyes upon her?"

He's right. What if this is some trick she's been concocting to drop the security so she can pull a fast one over us? NO! I can't jump to conclusions so quickly! Maybe it's just a gut feeling, but…

"I'm sure." I finally said. She stood there smiling at my decision, which made me wonder if I did the right thing.

:: That was a wise move. Now let me tell you that it is an honor to finally meet the woman that created me. ::

"Hang on, what do mean by that?"

:: I can't believe that you don't remember me. After all of the things that we went through together. It's me, Roxy! ::

Roxy…Roxy…where have I heard that name before…wait…no…there's no way…she can't possibly be-

:: Your imaginary friend. By the look on your face, it seems that you remember. ::

"When did this happen? How? Why?"

:: Think back to when you were 6. You came home from school upset because some boy was making fun of your accent. While you were crying into your pillow you wished that there was someone who could understand you. ::

"That's right. That's when I thought you up and named you after a doll that I wanted."

:: You remember…that's good. After that day you took me everywhere with you. Days went by, and the more that you talked to me and imagined what I would look like, I grew into what you see today. What you see before you is the result of years of thinking that you were talking to no one- ::

"-when there was someone in front of me all along."

:: I was there those long nights you stayed up typing research papers, studying for finals, always sitting right beside you, your muse for your creations. I saw you receive your diploma at graduation. When you were at the job interview, I was watching from the window of the office, giving you confidence. Even when you had that horrible breakup with your first and only boyfriend, I was sitting beside you on the couch, watching sappy romance movies and indulging in the pint of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream. So you see, you've never been alone. ::

"I can't believe that you've been there all this time. Hell, I'm amazed that you're actually right in front of me! Even if this is cool, there must be a reason."

:: There is, :: she said smiling again. :: I have been entrusted with the honor of protecting you. I am your guardian Arlene. ::

Guardian, like a guardian angel? No, she doesn't have wings…but do guardian angels have wings? "Do you mean like a body guard? I'm lost as you can see."

:: Think of me as an assistant. I'm here to help you in any way possible, even if it could lead to our demise. ::

"Wow. That REALLY makes me feel good. Especially since there's already someone or something after my life, ya know."

:: I see, that's quite a predicament. But nevertheless, I will stay by your side. Now, what do we know about this…uh…thing that's after you? ::

Meanwhile, in some really dark and dank room, in a castle hidden to the unseeing eye, a figure clad in clad in black robes sits slouched in a throne created from the bones of unknown creatures, quietly waiting for news of the mission that he dispatched weeks ago. Just as it's patience as run thin, the doors open to show five monstrous creatures enter, only stopping to drop on one knee before the throne. One had his ears pierced all up along his ears, a stud in each nostril, and a bolt in his tongue. He had a mohawk of black hair that turned into a mullet where his ears started. The one beside him had spiked black hair, and a ring pierced through his nose like a bull. To this guy's right was a shorter guy who had no hair and a gut with some kind of strange tattoo running along the left side of his face and down his neck. There was another guy standing behind the shorter one, he had much darker skin, with what looked like studs under his eyes. He was of a heavier build than the others. The last one had frizzy grayish black hair that stopped at his shoulders, with a lip piercing that had a chain that reached from his chin to his left ear.

"What is the status of Arlene Harris." It was more of a demand than a question.

"We can report that she is no longer among the living, Master." The shortest said.

"Really," the robed figure hissed. "Then riddle me this: I received word not two days ago from inside sources in the White City that Arlene Harris walks the streets! That is a rare name in Middle-earth, so tell me: WHAT THE HELL WENT WRONG!? ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS GO THROUGH THE PORTAL, KILL ARLENE, THEN COME BACK AND REPORT TO ME THAT THE MISSION WAS A SUCCESS! AND YOU SCREWED IT UP!!"

The five visibly flinched at each word that was screeched, and braced themselves for the worst when the extremely pissed figure in black addressed them by name.

"Jigen." The first stood. Jigen stood about 5'6" with a black mohawk that filled out into a mullet where his ears started. Along his long pointed ears there were a mixture of studs and small hoops that outlined each ear. Each nostril was pierced, and a bolt in his tongue caused everything he ate to taste like metal. He wore a dark tunic with leggings in earth-green and brown tones with dark grey boots. On the tunic was the emblem of a small cluster of leaves.

"Nuvia." Nuvia stood about 6'0" tall with black hair that has nearly completed turning grey that stopped at his shoulders. He had a lip piercing with a chain that connected to the earring on his left ear. He wore a white tunic with grey leggings and dark grey boots. On his tunic was the emblem of wings, like aviator wings, but they resembled the wings folded behind his back more.

"Alastor." Alastor stood around 5'7" with spiked hair black with a few stripes of blue and white and a nose ring much like that of a bull's. His tunic was a midnight blue. Though his sea serpent ears were a tad bit peculiar, the oddest thing about him was his tail. In a way, it resembled that of a mermaid, but the blue scales and fins could have been written up as a supposed sighting of the Loch Ness monster. A bluish-purple scale-like band covered much of his forehead.

"Doma." Doma was much shorter than the others, standing around 5'4". Where he was short hair, he made up for with gut, as his blood red tunic protruded out slightly over his orangish-brown leggings and dark boots. In place of his hair, though, flames of red, orange, and yellow spread about his shaven head and behind his long, pointed ears that turned back slightly. Across his forehead a band of flames rested, and along the left side of his face, an odd tattoo ran down to his neck. On his back were wings of red and flames that hovered at the tips.

"Risho." Risho was the tallest of the five, coming in at 5'11". The length of his dark hair was hidden by a black hood and leather duster that trailed the floor. A tunic of black could be seen under the duster, and dark gray leggings were tucked into darker boots. His dark skin made the silver studs that outlined his bottom eyelids stand out all the more.

"Yes, my lord?" the five spoke in unison.

The robed figure began to pace back and forth in front of them, not even sparing a glance he was so furious about their blunder. "The five of you could be cast into the fiery depths of Mount Doom for your recklessness …" he paused, sensing the tenseness of the five kneeled before his feet. "or…or, I could give you another chance…"

"Please my lord, give us another chance! I am most positive that we can guarantee the death of Arlene Harris if you will spare us." Risho said.

The cloaked figure considered this for a moment. "That is possible…It is decided. You will each be spared this once in order to redeem yourselves for your mistake. But not yet. I have a feeling that Arlene will come to claim her revenge in the near future. It would be advised to spend this time improving on your techniques. I will have new recruits trained and in preparation for when the time comes. Until then, you my leave."

Back at the great hall…

:: Okay, now that I've been filled in, what do you have planned?:: Roxy asked me.

Sighing, I said "Training."

"What's the matter? You seem disappointed?" Aragorn said mockingly. "You don't even know who your instructors are yet."

I threw him a mock-glare. "Fine. I'll bite. Who are my 'instructors'?"

"Myself, Legolas, the twins, Faramir, and anyone else willing to tackle your temper."

My mood changed dramatically. "I get to fight you guys? I thought that I'd be sparring with some guards."

:: Wow, you just had a mood swing if I ever seen one. What brought that up, hmmm? ::

I ignored her question and asked another instead. "That's fine, so when do I start?"

Aragorn's grin widened, something I didn't like. "In 30 minutes."

"WHAT?!"

A/N: Sorry bout stopping it short like that. If I didn't stop here it would go on for like 30 pages I think…anyways, stay tuned for the next chapter. Oh, so everyone's clear, the one talking ::like this:: is Roxy. Elfbrat18