AN: Just a reminder, Eru and Ilúvatar are two names for the same person: Eru Ilúvatar, The One All-Father.

"Something has me puzzled," Katie confessed to Erestor, as they sat at their ease in the library. "Every time I come to Middle-earth, there is a specific purpose that my presence fulfills. The first time, it was to save Estel. The second, it was to drown the bandits. So what is it this time? Or am I barking up entirely the wrong tree?"

Erestor chuckled at the figure of speech. "I think you are indeed 'barking up the wrong tree'," he said carefully, his eyes dancing. "Remember, you did not return home immediately after you drowned the bandits."

"No; I stayed long enough to see Grandma sort of exorcize Lossefalme," Katie agreed.

"Why do you think Eru Ilúvatar wanted you to stay to see that?" Erestor asked.

"So that I could be in our 'little study group' and so I could learn to believe in him," Katie answered immediately.

Erestor nodded. "Now, remember back to when Estel, Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir traveled to your time," he said. "Why did Eru send them?"

"So they could save Grandma."

"And why was it important that they save your grandmother? Beyond the fact that she would have been sorely missed by those that loved her. She had another purpose to fulfill in this world before she left it. What was it?"

"To come to Middle-earth and discuss the Athrabeth, so that I could believe in Ilúvatar, and Lossefalme could be free from Dorlarth's spirit, and you guys could have a more sure Hope."

"So at the time, when Estel and the rest healed your grandmother and then returned to Middle-earth, did you know that? Did you know the full reason why they had been sent to heal her?"

"Of course not! It hadn't happened yet. I just figured Ilúvatar knew I'd miss my grandma, and sent them to save her." She paused in thought. "But then, when I saved Estel, Elrond said I had to save him because he had a purpose to fulfill yet in life. So when they saved Grandma, it was also because she had a purpose to fulfill yet. Eru was working the whole time so that his plans would be carried out!"

"Exactly," Erestor agreed, leaning back in his chair. "Sometimes we do not know why things happen to us, but we know that if we are doing what we know is right, we are somehow fulfilling Eru's intricate plans."

"What's the purpose of his plans, though?" Katie asked. "It seems like there are so many of them, so intricately linked!..."

"All of the plans of Ilúvatar have one purpose," Erestor answered: "To ultimately bring us to the greatest joy. Ilúvatar is gracious to his children; he gives us gifts above and beyond what we could ever think to ask for. He truly does know best!"

Frowning as she thought, Katie finally added, "I've fulfilled a couple of purposes already, I think. I told King Thranduil where I'd seen some wargs, and I was there—" She stopped for a moment, then continued doggedly, "I was there to comfort Lalorn when he died, and to take his dying words to his family. So I've done some good here already!"

Erestor nodded seriously. "Yes, you have. Neither of those duties were light, the latter least so. And from what I know of your time in Mirkwood, you were saved twice from mortal danger, when things could have gone otherwise. You have many things to do yet in this world."

000

They stayed up talking quite late. Finally, Katie yawned and said she must go to bed.

At the door, she turned around again. "Oh, I meant to ask you something."

"Yes?"

Katie paused, trying to decide how to word it. "Is it possible Dorlarth's spirit could still be haunting that secret flower place? Could he still deceive someone who goes there?"

"No; have no fear of that. When a houseless fëa refuses the summons of Mandos, it is quite difficult for it to refrain from joining the Shadow. And once it had had its power broken by Vivian, it is quite certain in Lord Elrond's mind that Dorlarth's spirit fled to the Shadow and haunts Rivendell no more. Never fear! Lithorniel is quite safe."

Katie turned her head and narrowed her eyes. "How did you know Lithorniel had found the place?"

"She fills the House of Elrond with brilliant flowers through every season of the year!" Erestor replied. "Where else could she have found them? We all know she must have found the location. But none of the rest of us know where it is—except for Glawar, I would think," Erestor answered with a twinkle in his eye. "No, that little dell is once again a place of solitude and beauty and peace. It is quite safe."

000

A week later, Katie was walking along one of the balconies that overhung the valley, when she came across Frodo and Bilbo. She greeted them and moved to continue on, when Bilbo cried out, "Come join us!"

Katie took a seat facing them, and the three of them chatted idly for awhile, their conversation eventually turning to the company which would accompany Frodo on his mission to dispose of the Ring.

"I honestly did not intend to volunteer to be the Ringbearer," Frodo admitted quietly. "The task, I think, should have been left to one of the Elves or the Dúnedain—someone more qualified to fulfill this task than I!"

Bilbo was silent, and Katie regarded Frodo steadily. "You were meant to carry the Ring," she finally concluded, thinking of her own conversation with Erestor. "The decision was not of your will, but of the will of Another. You are purposed to carry out this task. So take hope! The One who inspired you to volunteer for the quest knows what he's doing. He never chooses wrongly."

The two hobbits were regarding her with astonishment. Finally, Bilbo laughed. "You should listen to this one, m'boy!" he said, patting Frodo's shoulder. "She may be young, but she's been talking with Elves; she has an Elvish light in her eyes. Young she may be, but wise!" He stood and bowed to Katie, who nodded solemnly back, although a laugh sat in the back of her throat.

"Elvellon indeed, but more!" Bilbo declared. "If a Hobbit may act in a ceremony of the Elder Race—Estel-oneth I name you, Hope-Giver. May you continue to give good council and good hope to all your interlocutors!"

000

Legolas sought Katie out one afternoon. A chilly breeze was blowing that day, and most of the population of Rivendell had holed up in warmer, cozier places than the gardens.

He found her at last in her own room, reading poetry before the fire. She had curled up in the chair, tucking her feet beneath her to keep them warm. When he tapped on the door, she looked up.

"Oh, come on in!" Katie exclaimed, setting the book aside. "What's up?"

Legolas grinned at her language. It never ceased to amuse him. "The ceiling," he answered, though he knew exactly what she meant.

She grinned back. "Dimwit."

"Silly child," he replied, taking a seat.

Apparently having run out of insulting appellations, Katie stuck her tongue out at him instead.

"You are merely proving my point," he said, laughing at her. "How are you going on?" he added, changing the subject.

"Fine," Katie replied cheerfully. "Although, as you can see, Erestor has been assigning me homework."

"He seems impressed with your advancements in speaking Sindarin," Legolas commented. He had passed by the library the day before to hear Katie and Erestor holding a relatively fluent conversation in Elvish.

"Yep. Of course, I didn't learn it all by hard work and study; I learned it from speaking it to the elves in Mirkwood so much!"

Legolas nodded. "You were sent to us for a purpose, I deem!" he joked.

But Katie, though she smiled, agreed completely seriously. "Yes, I was. I'm beginning to think that everything happens for a purpose."

Legolas looked at her carefully. "Do you really believe so?" he asked quietly. "I have asked myself if that is true ever since the Council."

Katie waited in silence for him to explain himself, which he did after a pause, looking thoughtfully into the fire.

"Before we left, Taurion said something about me being drawn into a wider scheme than I thought at the time. I am still not sure what he meant. But I cannot help but feel that there is a greater purpose to my life than I ever thought." He turned suddenly to look at Katie again. "Do you remember when you first came to Rivendell? Lord Elrond said you had to save the life of one of us—Estel, Elladan, Elrohir, or myself, because 'One or more of these four must live long enough to fulfill their purpose on Middle Earth in the battle against the darkness'. You saved Estel, and I am certain he will be important in this coming conflict. But mightn't that mean that I have a part to play, as well?" Katie said nothing, waiting to hear what her friend was driving at.

Finally, he answered her unspoken question. "Lord Elrond would like for each of the races to be represented in the fellowship that accompanies the Ringbearer. He would like one elf to join them. As far as I know, no one has yet come forward to volunteer. There are many who are as well-qualified, or better, than I for the place, but I think my heart is calling to me in this; I think I should volunteer." He stopped. "What do you think?" he asked.

Katie's expression never changed. "I think you know the answer already, without my helping you," she answered ambiguously.

Legolas smiled. "You are as mysterious as Mithrandir, do you know that?" Katie smiled back. "But you are right. I know already, without you giving me your opinion. I will present myself to Lord Elrond."

He stood and walked toward the door, then paused and turned back to her. "But you are also wrong, mellon-nín. I did indeed need your help. Because, had you never come to Middle-earth, and Lord Elrond had not made that prophecy, I think I would never have considered this step. So, thank you." He slipped out the door before Katie could answer.

TBC

AN: Yeah, I can see the wheels turning in all your heads, now… lol So: Who would you like to see Katie interact with in the next chapter or two? Do tell! Because she's interacting with a lot of people, but I can't write about all of them!

ElvenRyder: Well, your name's at the top of the list this time!

Princess Siara: There are some hints, but you may not be able to see them until after you know the truth… I hope to get to reading some more of Darkening Days at some point, but I'm a bit swamped at the moment!

Tara: Yeah, my old high school used to play for the "Little Brown Jug". —Which was actually a large, gray jug, strangely enough…

IwishChan: I adore poetry. I've got this book called Immortal Poems of the English Language, which is freaking awesome. And the poem about Dorwinion made me think of the Rubaiyat, which is all about, "We're all gonna die. …So let's have another drink!" Frodo calls Bilbo his uncle as a term of endearment, but they're technically cousins of some description.

Madd Hatter: I find that distinctly disturbing.

surf all day and do the hula: I have no official position on the romance thing, but most of my readers appear to think there's a romance coming at some point… :)

theycallmemary: Actually, it's only been a couple of weeks since the twins left, and it's two months from the Council to the time the Fellowship actually leaves. So no, we've got a bit of time to go, yet. And as for what Katie's up to during the War, you'll just have to wait and see.

FallenTruth: Well actually, I put little hints in my replies to other people's reviews, so it might actually help to read them, so you can put stuff together! As you see with Erestor's little conversation with Katie, there's absolutely nothing sinister about the flower spot anymore, but that doesn't mean it mightn't be significant later. I love long random reviews! Especially when they've got everybody's theories in 'em. So much fun to read!

Laer4572: Oh, I wasn't upset. I agree, it's hard to gauge people's reactions over the internet. Much easier in person or over the phone.

Darkened Dreams: What's the play this year?

Saltwater: lol I got such a kick out of reading your reviews! It's great hearing everybody's theories on Katie's romance (or lack thereof).

Thanks also to Fk306 and Doredhiel!

That's it for this time! Please review! Reviews work as pick-me-up between classes!