Chapter 6

Freaky Galadriel

Disclaimer: I do not own LOTR, or Harry Potter, or Protector of the Small. I DO own Itarilde and Emily, my little inventions that shall haunt me for years to come.

In the middle of the night, Itarilde was suddenly awake. She wasn't sure why, but her instincts told her something was happening. She woke Emily up and the 2 of them walked to where a great light was forming. Galadriel was there, along with Frodo and Sam. She instructed Frodo to look into a mirror which she had filled with water. A few minutes later, he drew back, apparently startled.

"I know what you saw," Galadriel told him, "for it is also in my mind. The mirror holds strange things, things that were, things that are, and things that have not yet come to pass. You saw a white wizard, traveling down a weathered road. You saw Bilbo, back in the Shire. You saw many things of your past, and a sea, with a ship bearing torn sails. You saw also the White City and Tree of Gondor, and you saw him."

"Who's he?" asked Itarilde.

Frodo and Sam jumped. They hadn't noticed Itarilde and Emily, nor heard their approach. Galadriel looked grim, unlike her usual, smiling, self.

"He saw Sauron, creator of the One Ring."

Emily frowned. "So then something is going to happen to Gondor isn't it?"

"I can't tell you that." Said Galadriel. "You will find out."

Frodo looked frightened and desperate, desperate to get away from the evil of the Ring. He knew he would meet the same end as all the others who had carried this burden, willfully or not.

"I-I'll give the Ring to you." He said to Galadriel. "It will be safe here."

Galadriel smiled. "I am greatly tempted. At last, it would come to me. That you would give me the Ring. And in place of the dark lord you would have a queen. I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the morning and night. Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!"

With every word she seemed to grow taller and brighter, and in her eyes suddenly a wild fire was raging. The Emilys looked at each other and wondered if the Lady of the Wood was truly on their side. From the looks of things, she certainly seemed ready to seize the Ring.

Then, before their eyes, she seemed to shrink back to her normal size, and the fire in her eyes was doused.

What on earth was that all about? Wondered Itarilde.

"I pass the test." Galadriel said quietly. "I will diminish, and go into the west, and remain Galadriel."

She walked away before anyone could question her about what had just happened, leaving 2 hobbits and 2 girls to ponder it late into the night.

At dawn Celeborn woke them. "You must leave in a few hours." He said.

Everyone was rather startled. They had expected to stay in Lothlorien for at least a few more days. Immediately they had to start packing.

The Fellowship was given 5 elven paddle boats. In each boat was a coil of rope, and many elves were packing supplies into it. Among these were dozens of packages of strange-looking bread. Kel held one up and sniffed it. Just the scent of it sent ripples of warmth flowing through her body and her weariness of travel vanished.

"What is this?" she asked, putting the package down.

Legolas smiled. "It's called lembas, elvish waybread. One bite is enough to fill a grown man's stomach, and one whole wafer will last you through the day."

Neal whistled. "Wow, if we could get this kind of bread to Corus, they'd have no trouble gathering food rations to bring to war."

About an hour later, Galadriel and Celeborn stood before the Company. They presented each with an elven cloak. It had a beautiful leaf-shaped brooch at the top, and an enchantment woven into them, so that in the dark they would appear grey, among trees they were green, brown at night, and silver under the stars.

Celeborn looked at them approvingly. "Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people."

Then Galadriel presented each member of the Fellowship with individual gifts. To Merry and Pippin she gave beautiful silver elven belts. To Aragorn she gave a sheath with a pattern of golden flowers and leaves. To Legolas she gave a bow and quiver. She presented Boromir, Kel, and Neal with belts of gold, and Harry with a small glass ball, about the size of half his fist. She looked at him strangely before moving on to Sam, to whom she gave a small wooden box, containing earth of her orchard. She went over to the Emilys and looked them in the eye. Because they looked so much alike, they were given identical brooches in the form of elanor, the golden flower in Lorien. And finally, she turned to Frodo.

"I give you the light of Earendil's star." She said, presenting him with a crystal phial. "May it be a light for you, when all other lights go out."

The she asked Gimli, "And you, master dwarf? I have prepared nothing special for you. What do you desire?"

Gimli blushed a scarlet colour. "Nothing, my Lady. That is-if I could-have a single strand of hair from your golden head."

Galadriel looked startled, but cut 3 strands of hair gave them to Gimli, saying, "Treasure these, master dwarf, and remember Galadriel."

Gimli blushed even deeper, if it was possible. "Oh, I will, my Lady! They will forever be found close to my heart, as my feelings for you are!"

Itarilde pressed her lips together, shaking in silent laughter, and desperately trying to hide it. Emily was having the same trouble. They waited until they were in the boats, then burst out laughing, unable to contain themselves anymore.

Aragorn, steering their boat, jumped. "What?!?!" he fairly shouted, taken unaware by their incessant and sudden laughter. "If this is about what happened last night. . ."

"No." gasped Itarilde.

"Then what is it?"

Itarilde smirked. "Has Gimli always flirted in that manner, or was it just the astounding beauty of Lady Galadriel that pushed him over the edge?"

"If I didn't know better," said Emily, "I'd say that Gimli has a major crush on Galadriel."

"Just watch," Itarilde informed Aragorn, "in a few years, when this is all over, Celeborn will die a mysterious and inexplicable death, and Galadriel will be forced to remarry-to Gimli. Against her will, of course, but compelled by his-shall I say-hypnotic powers. And somehow, just somehow, Gimli will know all the details of her late husband's death." The 2 burst into giggles again.

Good thing they can still find their sense of humor. Aragorn thought. He had a feeling that in a little while things would be very different. War was approaching.

A/N: Did you like it? Please review!!!