Chapter 15

They took their seats on a blanket that had been spread out on the floor. Elizabeth sat cross legged and the same was with Galadriel.

"Close your eyes and just breathe." Galadriel commanded. She closed her own eyes and used her thought speak in Elizabeth's mind. 'Concentrate on my voice. Do not be afraid, for you have this talent also.'

Elizabeth relaxed and concentrated once Galadriel's voice silenced in her mind.

'Like this?' she asked with her mind.

'Exactly. Now try, if you can, to see the Fellowship.'

Elizabeth concentrated and eventually it came before her. She saw as if her eyes were open, but they were not.

Aragorn was paddling down the river with Boromir and Legolas.

'They're ok!' Elizabeth announced.

'Good job. Now try to see Elrond.'

Elizabeth again closed her eyes and concentrated. 'He's uncertain. He wants his daughter to go to the harbor, but he knows she does not want to go. He worries.'

'Tell him that you send him hope,' Galadriel instructed.

'I send you hope.' Elizabeth thought spoke. 'How do I know if he heard?'

'Worry not, he heard.' Galadriel assured. 'Now concentrate on my voice and try to see something else…'

Celeborn approached his and Galadriel's private rooms and noticed Haldir waiting outside.

"Are they not finished?" Celeborn asked.

"I know not." Haldir answered. "I dare not interrupt."

Celeborn sighed and was about to knock when the door opened and Elizabeth emerged looking solemn and serious.

"Galadriel wants to talk to you." Elizabeth said to Celeborn, who nodded and entered, closing the door behind him. Elizabeth looked to Haldir once the door had closed. "Are you gonna teach me to use a sword?"

Haldir nodded curtly and motioned for Elizabeth to follow him to the area where he trained his students. Luckily, all the weapons that Elizabeth had been given were in the training area. The sword from Elrond and the bow and quiver from Legolas was there.

Haldir started off showing Elizabeth how to properly hold a bow and a sword. After that was perfected, he taught Elizabeth how to shoot properly, which Elizabeth wasn't very good at. Haldir wrapped up the lesson by showing telling Elizabeth how to conserve her energy during battle.

Once finished, Elizabeth lay down on the grass under a tree and sighed.

"I'm tired Haldir. That doesn't mean a meanie-head orc will hurt me does it?" she asked, looking up at the tree.

She felt Haldir lay down on the grass next to her. "Considering that there are no orcs in this area, no."

Elizabeth let out a sigh. "That's good."

There was a peaceful silence as the two relaxed under the tree.

"I wonder if mummy and daddy miss me." She thought out loud.

"I'm sure they do." Haldir answered.

"No, I don't think so. They probably think I wandered into the forest and they called the police to search for me. They'll never figure out which forest I'm really in." Elizabeth said softly.

Haldir seemed to think about her words for a moment before speaking.

"You will see them again."

Elizabeth frowned lightly as she skimmed through Haldir's mind. "I know you only said that to make me feel better."

"No." Haldir replied. "I didn't. I said that because I truly believe you will see your family again."

"Galadriel says we're supposed to listen to what our heart tells us in these situations." Elizabeth stated.

"What does your heart tell you?" Haldir asked, not quite sure what to expect. Elizabeth turned her head to face him and smiled weakly.

"It tells me that I'm going to be here for a very long time. It tells me that I'm never going home." She admitted. She pushed herself up into a sitting position with her arms resting on her knees.

"I'm sorry. I also lost my parents at a young age." Haldir said softly.

"Ya, but you weren't transported into a whole different place." Elizabeth countered, slightly angry. "At least you still had someone who loved you."

Haldir looked at Elizabeth sadly. "You are not unloved, Elizabeth."

"Oh ya?" Elizabeth asked. "Name ten people who love me."

"Aragorn, Legolas, the hobbits, Lord Elrond, Lord Glorfindel, and Gandalf." Haldir answered.

Elizabeth shook her head. "Nuh-uh. First of all, you can't sure about any of them because they haven't gone and announced it world wide. Besides, they're all just my friends; they don't love me. Second of all, Gandalf's dead and he isn't coming back. Third of all, the only reason Sam is friendly to me is because he feels it's his duty and Gandalf told him to keep an eye on me. Last of all, that was only nine people."

Haldir smiled. "The last person was me."

Elizabeth stared, shocked at Haldir, and at a loss for words.

"You can't love me."

Haldir raised an eyebrow.

"I do not believe it is you who control my emotions. Besides, my love for you is that of a brother's love for his sister. I feel protectiveness for you like I've never felt before." Haldir explained.

Elizabeth opened her mouth to say something but didn't.

"I…I-I have to go." She said suddenly, as if she had realized her words for the first time. Elizabeth stood and began to walk away, towards her talan. Haldir stood up to stop her, but thought better of it.

Elizabeth awoke the same time the next morning and attended her lesson with Galadriel. Her lesson with Haldir was awkward as Haldir instructed her, saying nothing of the previous day. Just as Elizabeth's lesson with Haldir was coming to an end, a servant of Galadriel came into the training clearing.

Haldir looked expectantly to the servant. "Yes?"

"My apologies for interrupting, my lord. But the Lady instructed me to tell the Lady Elizabeth that Lord Glorfindel of Rivendell's gift for her arrived just recently." The servant acknowledged.

"Deliver it to my room. I'll look at it later." Elizabeth said vacantly. The servant was hesitant.

"The Lady says you must see it now, Lady Elizabeth." The servant explained. Elizabeth sighed and put her sword back.

"Fine." She agreed exasperatedly. The servant bowed and turned on his heels to lead Elizabeth to Galadriel.

The servant bowed to Elizabeth as he showed her the room that Galadriel waited in. It was strange to Elizabeth that Glorfindel's gift was sent to a healing room.

But the moment Elizabeth entered; her eyes grew wide as saucers.

"It can't be." She whispered. The wizard she stared at smiled kindly, but weakly at her. Elizabeth rushed forward and hugged Glorfindel's gift. "You died. Dead people don't live…unless they're not dead."

Gandalf smiled. "Who said anything about dying?"

Elizabeth buried her face in the gift's shoulder.

"So you didn't…?" Elizabeth asked. Gandalf shook his head and Elizabeth hugged him even tighter. "I never thought I'd see you again. How did you ever survive?"

Gandalf looked hesitant to answer as he looked Elizabeth in the eyes and suddenly diverted his gaze elsewhere.

"It is a long story, my dear." He said simply, trying to avoid the answer.

"I think we have enough time." Elizabeth answered earnestly, her eyes glistening. Gandalf frowned lightly at her and smiled after a moment of studying her.

"You looked into the mirror." He stated. "It changed the little girl I once knew."

Elizabeth frowned lightly. "Whatcha talkin' about? I'm still me!"

Gandalf smiled. "Of course you are dear. What have you been up to?"

Elizabeth pouted at the wizard as she read his thoughts. Surprisingly, the wizard had not put up his mind barriers. He allowed Elizabeth to search him easily. "You're trying to change the subject, aren't you?"

Gandalf became serious and looked hesitant, but gave in. "I will not tell you, because I cannot. It would be too difficult to describe my actions. I must show you."

Elizabeth nodded and Gandalf put his hands on either side of her head. But just as the wizard was about to lay his hands on her, she flinched and took a step away.

"It won't hurt, will it?" she asked cautiously.

Gandalf shook his head. "No my dear, it will not. Now just relax."

In Elizabeth's mind there was a bright flash of light and she delved into the memory of Gandalf.

(Gandalf's memory)

'You cannot pass!' That would be Gandalf.

'Gandalf!' That was Frodo.

'I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor.' Gandalf said. He gave a cry and there was a pause as the Balrog advanced.

'Go back to the Shadow!' the wizard cried. 'The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udun!'

The Balrog lashed his whip, but Gandalf stood his ground. He brought his staff and sword together.

'You shall not pass!' he cried and stomped his staff on the ground.

Nothing seemed to happen and the Balrog advanced onto the bridge. But the moment the hideous creature laid a foot on the bridge, it collapsed and sent the Balrog hurtling down the seemingly never ending pit. For a few moments, it looked as if Gandalf had won.

But then, out of the blue came the Balrog's whip once again and it caught Gandalf's retreating foot by the ankle and pulled him off the edged of the broken bridge. He held on at the edge and Frodo and Elizabeth's cries of anguish could be heard.

The grey wizard struggled for a moment then stopped.

"Fly, you fools." And then he let go.

Gandalf fell down the abyss farther and farther away from the Fellowship and somehow, he managed to find his sword again. He grabbed the weapon by its hilt and headed head first towards the Balrog and struck it countless times.

After a few strikes, the Balrog managed to kick Gandalf aside, but the wizard recovered immediately and reentered the battle with the Balrog.

The Balrog kept bumping into the side of the abyss and that seemed to help Gandalf a bit in weakening the beast. And then, all of a sudden, the abyss ended and the Balrog and Gandalf fell further and further towards a huge lake of water.

But when they hit the water, they did not sink. They suddenly disappeared only to reappear on the top of a snowy mountain where they continued their fight.

Gandalf lifted his sword into the sky and lightening seemed to power it up. Then the wizard thrust it into the abdomen of the Balrog and the beast fell over the side of the mountain to its death.

But as it took its fall it brought Gandalf down to one ledge and left him there as it continued to fall to its death. Gandalf crawled using only his arms in the snow and finally turned onto his backside and was taken by darkness.

And then, Gandalf was flying with stars overhead. He flew and flew until finally he came back to life. Only this time, his beard was white and so were his clothes.

(End Gandalf's Memory)

Elizabeth was silent for awhile, staring at her feet while Gandalf studied her. She looked back to her dear friend.

"Oh, Gandalf," she cried, hugging him suddenly.

Gandalf embraced her and then frowned slightly.

"Gandalf?" he asked, but then his frown disappeared. "Yes. That was what they used to call me."

Elizabeth pulled away and nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.

"Gandalf the Grey," Gandalf continued. "That was my name."

Elizabeth smiled and sniffled slightly.

"I am Gandalf the White."

Elizabeth's smile widened even more if possible and she embraced Gandalf with delight. He embraced Elizabeth just as eagerly. From the doorway, Haldir watched the scene. Why couldn't Elizabeth accept his love as she did Gandalf's?

Elizabeth and Haldir continued to ignore each other throughout the day as Gandalf spent his time with Elizabeth. Elizabeth watched Gandalf as he brushed the Mearas that was very good friends with Gandalf.

"I thought you and Haldir would have gotten along," Gandalf remarked vacantly as he busied himself with Shadowfax.

"Well we did." Elizabeth answered stiffly.

"Until…?"

"Until he went and lied to me."

"Oh?" Gandalf asked, suddenly interested. He returned to brushing the horse's white mane. "And what was it that he lied to you about?"

"He said he loved me. And I know he was lying, 'cause I'm not old enough to be loved by anyone 'cept mummy an' daddy."

Gandalf stopped brushing Shadowfax and turned his gaze on Elizabeth.

"That is not true, Elizabeth. I love you as I would my own child." Gandalf asked. "Now why would Haldir lie to you about love?"

"I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"

Gandalf sighed. "What were his exact words?"

"I don't remember." Elizabeth said. "All I can remember is him saying that he loved me like a sister or something like that. And then some more stuff about portactives or something."

"It's protection, dear. Whatever wrong you see in Haldir's intentions, you are mistaken. Haldir is a very practical elf who is hard to bond with if you are a member of the opposite gender. His loving you as a sister shows that he wants to protect you in a way that no one else can." Gandalf said.

"But you can do that, right?" Elizabeth asked.

"I may not always be around to save you Elizabeth. There must be others that you can trust to help you or you may find yourself all alone." Gandalf said.

"But I thought I was going with you." Elizabeth said.

"You misunderstand me, Elizabeth. I cannot watch you every waking moment of the day. You must make new friends and except new things.

"I was right, though, right? Haldir's not s'posed to love me?" Elizabeth asked.

"Elizabeth," Gandalf sighed, putting down the horse's brush and laying his hands on Elizabeth's shoulders. "You have been here long enough to realize that nothing here is the same as your home. Love is different from the way you knew it. Hatred is different from the way you knew it. Nothing is the same here."

"But what am I gonna do? I don't want Haldir to be mad at me forever. But I don't wanna say 'sorry' either." Elizabeth complained.

"Just apologize to him." Gandalf said vacantly. "Tell him what you told me."

"Oh thanks a lot." Elizabeth replied sarcastically. Gandalf had just suggested the exact opposite of what she wanted to do.

"Speaking of Haldir, isn't it time for your lesson with him?" Gandalf asked.

"Lady Galadriel said I was 'relieved of my lessons' today."

"Galadriel said that, yes. But Haldir did not. He is expecting you." Gandalf insisted.

"Fine." Elizabeth agreed exasperatedly and walked out of the stables and towards the training fields.

((ok...so obviously, Elizabeth is uncomfortable with Haldir's love....ok then))