Happy new year to all! So after staying up until five in the morning two nights in a row…I'm a little discombobulated. But it's okay. Because I own the cookies. Not anything recognizable as JJR's. Please please please review. Even if it's to flame. Oh…and I have a sword! A real one, thanks to Mona, the greatest firebrand sister ever!

Story note: anything between means that it's speaking between minds.

Valnarae Galadriel's voice infiltrated Brittany's mind. I knew your time here was not finished. We have much to discuss.

AAAAAAAAAAH! IT'S THE YERRKS! THEY'RE INVADING MY BRAIN! Oh, hello milady Galadriel.

Please meet me in the East Gardens, with your companion as well.

"You know, your face could get stuck that way," Marina remarked idly at the scrunched up, concentrated expression on Brit's features. The two laughed lightly and Brittany relayed the message as they meandered to another part of the gardens. They finally reached a clearing and saw the Lady with her back towards them. Marina was openmouthed in amazement—though her beauty was incredible, it was the power radiating from Galadriel that truly held people awestruck. She turned and spoke in a voice that called to mind a viscous liquid—smooth, and deliberately flowing.

"Welcome home child." The two young women dropped into ungainly curtsies.

"As you know, the war of the ring is upon us. Though this war—led by nine companions against the largest evil force in arda—seems hopeless, we have a hope of victory. A prophecy that was recognized nearly fifty years ago when a girl from a future time came to us, and present us the ability to see what the outcome shall be. This insight came coupled with a price, for the bearer of news would only be with us for a short time, and only return with her three sisters in time of great need. We have reason to assume the prophecy is fulfilled, and the bearers of the ancient powers are near. The powers were in the form of the four elements—yes, I know you know this already Brittany. So now it remains to harness and use your power, and determine your role in the future of Middle Earth," she finished with an air of mystique.

Marina's eyed were slightly glazed over, 'what did she just tell us? Hm…something about power. Dude! I have power!' she thought.

Galadriel took Brittany aside and talked to her more about the prophecy, what Elrond had told her about the future, had her test the element, and then told her to study both Quenyan and history—some mumbo-jumbo about learning from the past. And that they'd be having some chats later. Brittany wandered off in the direction of the kitchens, claiming she needed sustenance before tackling an immortal history.

The Lady of the Wood turned to Marina, "I sense that perhaps you are not as carefree as you seem."

"Perhaps," she allowed.

"You have a deep connection to your friends, that is apparent. You also have a tie to the earth, and…."she trailed off, looking vacantly outward, "it would almost rival an elf's…" she came too and briskly clapped her hands, " I will have someone show you the way to the library, where we have several books on native herbs and uses, which I encourage you to look at before tomorrow. I think you have an aptitude for growth, but we shall determine that soon enough." Marina took this as her cue to leave and walked off with a subdued look on her face.

Brittany had walked off in the direction of what she hoped were the kitchens, or the library, she didn't care which, but instead she wandered farther into the gardens, following various paths as they snaked through out the foliage. She didn't mind the walk, and took to humming as she continued meandering through the near-forest. She turned a corner and found she was not the only one in the remote reaches of the gardens. There was a man sitting on a sunlight bench, concentrating deeply upon the book in his hands. He was dressed as most male elves, in a subtle finery, but on his feet were a pair of well worn traveling boots. There was something familiar about him, the shaggy brown hair and self assured demeanor. He turned, feeling her gaze upon him and she was met with a pair of intense blue eyes. "Estel…" Brittany let the name roll off her lips and be snatched by the breeze. And then she found herself laughing, running, and being swept into a bone crushing embrace. The two stared at each other in shock and not a word was spoken during their reunion. Her last coherent thought was, 'maybe fairytales do come true…'