Hello, everybody! Sorry for such an awful delay, but my university started and I'm afraid I'll update once in a week or so, at least for these three weeks, as I'm taking accelerated course of medicine. Anyway, I'll try my best. So…here we go. Hope you enjoy!

Please review! It's so important to know your opinion about all these stuff!

Chapter 5 "All that mattered"

Aurelia was sitting on the ground exhausted, the mystical woman and a fair-haired man standing beside her. The black-haired man went to call for "Gandalf" as he said, though Aurelia have no idea of who he was. All she could see was a bright fire not far away and all she wanted was to eat and have a long-long never-ending sleep. Her head was spinning from all that had happened today and she was angry and tired and her feelings were impossibly hurt, so it wasn't her best mood.

Meanwhile, Strider returned to the camp and without any explanation to anyone went straight to Gandalf. They exchanged several phrases in hushed voices, so that the others couldn't hear them and together set off in the direction Strider had come from. Aragorn gave Gandalf a brief account of the events as they walked, during which the wizard only shook his head. After he heard it all Gandalf very much wished to see those "strange insolent women with the luck of common sense" as Strider put it.

Aurelia noticed a black-haired man return with another much older one. He had grey hair and a beard and against her will she felt a strange respect to that man. He reminded her of Milmand, whom he trusted her life and who had been respected by all people in her country. So, out of tradition and because she considered it to be right, Aurelia stood up to greet him with a solemn face. The black-haired woman didn't even turn a hair.

Gandalf neared the strangers and sized them attentively, before he spoke:

"Ladies, I am Gandalf the Grey and you should be afraid of nothing," the black haired woman winced. "I have already heard Strider's version of the encounter you had and now if you don't mind I'd like to listen to yours," he look intently at Aurelia, sensing her doubt. She shifted under his gaze, but at the same time was amazed at how comforting his look was. She had a strange urge to trust him and tell him everything. Who knows, maybe he could help or give advise or something?

"We owe you nothing, so why do you think we should explain you anything?" The black haired woman challenged. Gandalf opened his mouth to answer, but Aurelia forestalled:

"I'm ready to tell you everything, but only in privet," she looked meaningfully at two men, who listen to their talk attentively.

"Don't you dare!" The black-haired women hissed. Aurelia turned to look her in the face.

"I have already decided everything myself, thank you, and besides it's my own business, whom to trust or not, miss," Aurelia replied proudly, a pattern of royalty.

Gandalf half-smiled and turned to Aragorn and Boromir:

"Well, gentlemen, I think I'm able to settle an affair myself."

"Are you sure?" Strider asked doubtfully.

"Yes, absolutely, » Gandalf waited until two of them disappear in the forest and smiled reassuringly to Aurelia: "You can start, lady. I'm all ears."

"Well, I'm Princess Aurelia, daughter of King Deimon, lord of Audox. I've come here from far away for a mission. If you would be so kind as to listen to me, I'll fill you in everything that has happened to me."

And Aurelia told him everything from the very beginning till their race with the women and meeting with the men. Gandalf listen without interrupting and his eyes sparkled only once, when she mentioned the Scepter of Fate. Though Aurelia didn't notice it at all, her companion did.

"Well, your story is really …interesting, my Princess," Gandalf began slowly, "and knowing Milmand, oh yes, I know him quiet well, so knowing Milmand I can suppose he did hi best, but I don't think the risk you took was justified… You can join our group until we will reach the first city on our way."

" But… I need to fulfill my quest! It is so important for my father and… Milman told that I would know the "truth", if I came this way till the end!" Aurelia objected heatedly.

"But, my lady…"

"Listen to me now," the black haired woman, who kept silence through their talk, interrupted. "Why are you so sure we need your help after all? You appear out of nowhere and now claim to be our "protectors", but have you even asked if we need one? How can I be sure you are not a Sauron's spy, for instance? What's more," she now stepped close to him trying to intimidate, as they were almost of the same height, "I can tell you now much more of the Scepter than you speak, I think you are well informed about what powers it contains. So, naturally, I'm waiting for you to enlighten us."

Gandalf searched for something, anything, in her eyes, but they were just expressionless, stony-green, containing no emotions. He sighed.

"Yes, I do know what the scepter of Fate is. And believe me if it falls into the wrong hands a disaster could happen."

"What exact powers does it have?" The black-haired woman narrowed her eyes.

"The story is old, my lady," he answered cautiously, but her face told him she will be satisfied only with the full answer. "Such a great stubbornness and will," he thought remembering Strider for a moment. Was he supposed to tell them a dangerous truth they are eager to know? To tell the truth he was alarmed about that girl, she had this mystical air of suspicion about herself. He sighed again, knowing they will have to go with the Fellowship if he tells them. "It all took place ages ago, before the Great Battle. When Sauron's power over this world was great, several rings of power were made, but the one that was made by his very hand was the mighty one…"

"The Ring of Absolute Power. The One Ring," the woman whispered. Gandalf frowned at her strange reaction.

"Yes. But he thought it very complacently to have all the power in one thing. Then he cast the Scepter of Fate. It didn't have the actual power, but the Scepter meet the Ring, the one who had them both, would have an absolute power over all living in the world," Gandalf finished gravely.

"But the One Ring was lost long ago. There are few chances someone fined it. Right?" The women said too nonchalantly.

"Yes, but still…"

"That's one more reason why we should return it!" Aurelia exclaimed.

"Don't you understand, ladies? Now, when Saruman is Sauron's spy whole Isengard is a big enemy's camp. It's swarm with orcs and Uruk-Hais!"

"Look, we don't interfere in your business and you don't in ours. But somehow you still are trying to thrust us your help. So if you desire to help so much, do take in consideration our plans. We are going to Isengard. That's it!" The women declared abruptly. Aurelia smiled to herself. She admired the way her companion could persuade people. The silence fell between them, before Gandalf came to a definite decision.

"Well, from our part it would be an unforgivable mistake to leave you here alone as it's the same as condemn you to death itself. So, I suppose we can walk half of the way together."

"That's great!" Aurelia was happy she would be save eventually, her adventurous nature waking up inside her once again. "I mean… I want you to do me a favor…"

"What is it, my Princess?"

"Um…well…can you…just be so kind…as to keep this our little conversation in… um…secret. In other words, can I ask you not to tell a living soul anything you heard today? And call me just Aurelia as I don't want anyone to know who in truth I am?" She looked at Gandalf pleadingly.

His face was unreadable for a moment, but then a small smile appeared:

"Why, sure…Aurelia."