Chapter 17

Elizabeth moaned as she began to awaken from her slumber. Finally giving in to the warmth of the new day, Elizabeth opened her eyes and blinked. Her room was remarkably quiet.

"Good morning Elizabeth." a voice said suddenly, causing Elizabeth to jump. She sat bolt upright and saw Gandalf standing across the room, watching her. Standing next to him, was Haldir.

She didn't respond to Gandalf's greeting. Elizabeth simply got off the bed, walked over to Gandalf and hugged one of his legs. Gandalf unfolded his arms and smiling down at her, held her head close to him. Elizabeth pulled away fro Gandalf and did the same with Haldir.

"Feeling better now?" Haldir asked. Elizabeth looked up at Haldir and nodded without using her voice. He frowned slightly, than mixed it with a small smile.

"Has my dear little Elizabeth gone mute?" Haldir asked, kneeling down before her. "Because if she has, than she will not have anything to say when I…tickle her!"

With those last two words, Haldir lunged at Elizabeth just enough to get her to let out a laugh/scream and run away. But because of his superior height and strength, Haldir caught Elizabeth and tickled her a bit just until she spoke.

Meanwhile, Gandalf just stood, leaning against the wall, laughing at the two in their play.

"No, stop it Haldir, that tickles!! Gandalf, tell him to stop it right now!!"

"Ah, so she speaks." Haldir answered, ending his tickling spree.

He stepped away from Elizabeth and offered her his hand to help her to her feet. Elizabeth took Haldir's offered hand gratefully and pulled herself up to her normal height—about up to the middle of Haldir or Gandalf's thigh.

After balancing herself on two feet, Elizabeth went to the comfy armchair and sat down, hugging her knees and watching the two men with excited eyes.

"You're gonna say something." Elizabeth predicted.

"I am," Haldir agreed. "The Galadhrim are leaving in one week. We march for Helm's Deep."

Elizabeth smiled brightly. "Can I come too?!"

Gandalf chuckled softly. "Of course you are coming with us, Elizabeth. We would not miss a chance to reunite you with your friends."

Elizabeth gave a toothy grin. "Yippee!"

She leapt out of her comfy chair and did a little happy dance around the room, earning the amused laughs of Haldir and Gandalf. Once she stopped, Haldir grew serious once more.

"There will be a battle."

"A battle?" Elizabeth asked, her happy face suddenly disappearing.

"Yes," Haldir answered. "A great battle. You have the choice whether or not to participate in it. If you decide to wait with the other women and children in the caves, than we shall judge you any differently."

"Perhaps this is a bit much for her," Gandalf said. "She has a lesson to prepare for. Why not let her choose on the way?"

"Very well," Haldir said. "But choose before we arrive—please."

And with that said, Haldir bowed his head and walked quickly out of Elizabeth's room.

"He's gotta train all those other elves, doesn't he?" Elizabeth asked quietly. "That's why he walked away so fast."

"How perceptive of you," Gandalf said. He took a few steps towards the door. "Prepare yourself for Lady Galadriel's lesson. You do not want to miss what she has to teach."

The short week that Elizabeth, Haldir, Gandalf and the Galadhrim had before they left went by swiftly and before she knew it, Gandalf was waking her the morning they were to leave.

"Come now Elizabeth, wake up, you do not want to keep Haldir and the Galadhrim waiting. You may sleep during the ride to Helm's Deep." Gandalf said.

Elizabeth moaned. "I don't wanna get up, Gandawf. Five more minutes."

Gandalf sighed. He promptly scooped up Elizabeth, grabbed her pack and carried her out the door, staff in hand. He had not the time to fool around with hertrouble with waking upin the morning.

Gandalf held Elizabeth in his arms while Haldir assisted him in attaching Elizabeth's pack to one of the horses. Gandalf then mounted and placed a sleeping Elizabeth before him on his horse.

Elizabeth woke just as Celeborn and Galadriel were bidding them goodbye and she had time enough to hear Galadriel's words in her mind.

'Remember your training.'

Elizabeth nodded sincerely and settled herself in front of Gandalf on his horse. As the many elvish horses plus the one Mearas horse walked slowly away from Lothlorien, Elizabeth looked around Gandalf's arms for one last look.

Somehow, deep inside her, she knew that she would never see Lothlorien again—never again in her life. She sighed softly to herself. She would miss Lothlorien and its people. Something told Elizabeth that she would see Galadriel and Celeborn once more, though. And something told Elizabeth, that the biggest event of her life was just beginning.

((again, I thank all my reviewers who have reviewed as much as possible up until now. I hope that you all keep reading and enjoying this story as well as reviewing each chapter. I have decided to keep this as one big story, because if I divide it into three different parts, one of the stories will be too short and the sequel wouldn't make sense.

wishing star: hope you read this. my editor told me that you enjoyed this story.

TTY L8R all!!!))