My Only Hope Chapter 11: When Stars Are Not Stars At All, a lord of the rings fanfic

Summary: Two girls whose lives had always been tough suddenly changed for the better after being dropped into Middle Earth. But will it stay that way after some rather shocking news?

Disclaimer: I do not own anything LOTR related. I only own Rin, her family and Steph, well actually Steph owns herself or so she thinks…. but you get the point.

Thx again to my beta Little Leaf. She rules!

AND i would just like to say thank you to those who have reviewed my story, it means alot to me. And those who read it and dont review...COME ON! DO IT PLEASE! IM TRYING TO GET INPUT HERE!

I've also put this chapter in narrative POV again because it would have been to difficult to put it in Rins POV, You'll see why…

Chapter 11

When not all is what you see and stars are not stars at all….

Rin wandered through the palace corridors. She wasn't really all that tired; not that anyone could blame her, she had just slept for three days straight.

She walked along the stretch of corridor leading from Eomer's room. She hoped she had handled it well, though he was sleeping. She hoped she would have enough courage to do the same when he was awake.

Rin didn't know how to handle what had transpired between them. One minute they were friends, laughing, discussing stupid things and the next they were kissing in the gardens.

It was definitely a cause for confusion, but she was frightened, she didn't even know how she felt about Eomer. Was he meant to be her friend or was he meant to be more? She knew he would never hurt her just like she knew Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli would not either.

They had become her new family. She loved them all. But Eomer had always been different; from the moment they met she had felt something towards him. A constant comfort that would normally be fear when it came to most men, but she now knew Eomer was not like most men.

Rin casually walked into the dining hall half expecting it to be empty, imagine her shock when she saw an older man clad in white standing on the balcony smoking a pipe.

"Kind sir, might I ask to why you are up at such an indecent hour?" she asked quietly.

He turned to Rin and smiled at her. "I could also ask you the same thing, but such a question would be wasted for I already know the answer."

Rin started at him shocked. "How…" she started but was cut off when Avath ran into the room jumping into her arms.

"I see your friend has finally found you, when you left earlier this evening he proceeded to follow Eomer around everywhere right up until the Horselord retired for the evening, Eomer did not seem too impressed by that."

Rin laughed. "I'm sure he wasn't, Avath will only follow myself and Eomer. It is a matter of trust and comfort I suppose."

The man looked at her strangely. "Child do you not know of this species of panther?" he questioned.

She shook her head. "This is a rare kind, he is a Tylpeaelen Panther. They have great power that is only unleashed when their master is in danger or threatened. Avath chose you not because of trust or comfort but because of your soul my dear. They choose their masters by their raw and untainted souls. Only through your soul can they see if you are truly pure and compatible with one another. Eomer and yourself must have similar souls indeed if Avath has taken such a liking to him."

He approached her. "The only thing that has to do with trust is your relationship with Eomer. Rin you must learn to trust or you will never be truly happy."

Rin was not sure of what to say, she just cuddled Avath closer to her. "I think will go back to my room now." she spoke softly and then proceeded to leave.

"Remember my words Geilrín." he called to her. Rin stopped dead in her tracks, nearly dropping Avath.

"What did you call me?" she asked in disbelief.

Only one person had ever called her that, she never knew what it meant or why she was called that but she new that the person who had spoken such to her was the voice she had heard as a child, the voice that had gotten her through all the painful beatings.

Rin eyed him curiously. "Who are you? How did you come upon knowing something only I should know."

He smiled and took her hand. "It does not surprise me that you do not remember my voice for you were still young when I last spoke to you."

"No, I know your voice, I think... I have never forgotten it. You kept me safe after the blackness came." She said cautiously as the memory came back to her.

He smiled and nodded. "I am Gandalf the White. And I have protected you from the day of your birth little Geilrín Inthenin Aurél."

Rin started at Gandalf in shock. Why did that name seem so familiar? "What is it you keep calling me?"

Gandalf puffed a bit at his pipe. "Why, that is your name! It is Elvish, although you are not. It was given to you by your real parents many years ago, before you were transported to Earth." He spoke as though she should have known the answer already, though she certainly didn't.

Rin stayed silent, her name was Geilrín Inthenin Aurél? She could barely pronounce that! She decided to stay with Rin, maybe later she would go by Geilrín but not now, right now she was Rin. But none of this made sense all the same.

"Your are confused and frightened. There is no need for you to be. I will not harm you." He said, his voice soft and calming. She then recognized it for certain.

"Gandalf… I remember. After I would get beaten I would go into a trance and your voice filled my mind. Calming me, talking to me, telling me it will be all right and that one-day you would come for me and bring me back to where I belonged." She said as tears filled her eyes.

"It was you who brought me here ,wasn't it Gandalf? You were my star." She said holding back tears.

He nodded. "You were never meant for that life, in that world. You belong here and as each day passes I see I have made the right choice in bringing you back. You have fit in nicely. Aragorn, Legolas, Eomer and Gimli care deeply for you. Just as I knew they would."

Rin smiled and as interesting and shocking as this all was, she was exhausted, she hugged Avath closer and stifled a yawn.

"I think it is time for you to rest now. Go now and sleep peacefully we shall continue our discussion further on another day." Gandalf said as he patted Avath on the head.

Rin smiled and nodded then turned to leave. She stopped and walked quickly back and enveloped the wizard in a hug.

"Thank you Gandalf." She said with utmost sincerity.

"You are very welcome child." He said as he returned the hug.

She walked down the same corridor she had before, still cuddling Avath. She suddenly felt the urge to sing and so she complied with the urge and sang a song she had heard and loved back on Earth….

Bet you thought my world was over
Bet you thought I'd crash and burn
You thought I'd never
Pick myself up off the floor
But baby you were wrong
Just like before

I used to breathe you
I used to need you
I used to hang on every word that you say
It used to please you
To try to make me someone else
And I thank you from my heart for your help
Cause you made me find myself

I used to think if I surrendered
I'd be the perfect one for you
But I swear I can't remember
A single day of happiness with you

No I'm not going back in time
And there's a price for being strong
But I can live with who I am

You made me find my dreams
You made me find my love
You made me find myself
Thank you, Thank you

Rin found this song comforting and continued to hum it while she walked. She came to Eomer's door for the second time that night and sighed. Rin knocked lightly on Eomer's door and waited. When she received no answer she opened it and tip toed in.

Rin entered the room to find Eomer sitting up in bed staring at her, with nothing but a loose shirt and leggings on. He held his hand out to her beckoning her to come to him so she set down Avath and moved toward him.

"Did my horrible singing awaken you?" she asked half laughing and hoping the answer was no.

"You sang beautifully, but no that was not what awoke me. I have been awake for some time. In fact I have never been asleep." He admitted.

Her eyes went wide. "Then you…" she began but he put a finger to her lips.

"I heard ever word you said the last time you came into my room. I was never angry with you, merely embarrassed and confused. But now is not the time to discuss this. We shall put it in the past." Rin nodded and stared at Eomer happily, he could still see though, the doubt in her mind. "Rin, friends we were and we are still now and if it's what you wish, friends we will be until my last breath of mortality leaves me." He spoke softly and pulled her towards him, lifting the covers.

Rin climbed in beside him and rested her head on his chest. She felt Avath jump in the bed and lay at her feet. She smiled as she yawned and moved in closer to Eomer. "Goodnight, Eomer." Rin whispered quietly.

"Rest well Pen dithen." He replied and kissed her forehead. (little one)

"I always do when I'm with you." She giggled lightly as a heavenly fog veiled her mind.

She belonged here, right here. She had no doubt in her mind of that now.

A/N: Song is : Make Me Find Myself by Leanne Rimes incase you all wanted to know. LoL