PART ONE: ANACHRONISM

Chapter XIV: Tree Climbing For Experts

Aragorn led the way down the rough mountain slopes and across the grasslands. We alternated between walking and running for a couple hours before Aragorn acknowledged that the Fellowship needed a rest for both bodies and hearts. We collapsed onto the ground, breathing deeply and trying to keep the memories of Gandalf at bay. The borders of Lórien still a little ways off, but we could see the outlines of the rich green trees that grew closely together.

"I've been to Lórien before," I said, pushing away the image of fire and shadow that flickered through my mind.

"Have you?" asked Boromir.

"I Skipped there once. When I was sixteen, I think. That's where I met Elladan and Elrohir for the first time."

"I do not trust Lórien," grumbled Gimli. "They say a powerful sorceress lives in those woods."

Aragorn, who refused to take a seat during the rest break, looked down at Gimli and said, "Words spoken only by those who cannot comprehend what wonders lay in the secret places of the earth."

Gimli scoffed but said no more on the matter.

"Elves live there?" asked Sam.

"Yes," said Legolas. "I have long desired to look upon Lothlórien. If only I could do so under happier circumstances."

"You just had to bring that up," I muttered as an atmosphere of gloom was cast once again over us.

The thin sun went behind a cloud as we remained seated on the grass. I watched as the dark feelings ate away at the Fellowship. There was no way I could understand exactly how everyone else was feeling. I wasn't as close to Gandalf as they were. But at the same time, there was no way they could understand the emotions that ran through me. I was afraid, because unlike the rest of the Fellowship, I would have to see Gandalf again. At some point during my Skippings, I would most likely return to the Company and Gandalf would be there. I would have to look at him and talk with him and journey with him… And I would have to do so knowing how Gandalf would die, knowing that one day he would face the balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm and he would fall into fire and shadow...

"We must press on," said Aragorn.

I was yanked out of my thoughts, and I looked up at Aragorn's grim face. I no doubt that he was grieving just as much if not more than the rest of us. The only one who might rival Aragorn's friendship with Gandalf was Frodo. However, unlike Frodo, Aragorn refused to let grief wear him down. He had stepped into the role of leader, and he was doing his best to live up to Gandalf's legacy. He surveyed the downtrodden Fellowship and said, "We have almost reached the borders of the woods."

Slowly, with Aragorn's encouragement, the Fellowship resurfaced from their thoughts and memories. They pulled themselves back together in whatever way they could and then prepared to continue the journey.

We covered the remainder of the distance to Lórien pretty quickly—or at least, it was quick in my memories. About halfway there, my muscles refused to run anymore, and Boromir ended up carrying me the rest of the way. He gave not a word a protest, but I'm sure he cursed me out a thousand times in his head until we reached the border of Lórien and I walked on my own two feet again.

I remember entering the forest and feeling very, for lack of a better word, heavy. Even though I had been to Lórien before, the tall, golden trees and smiling brothers of my memories seemed as if they'd come from a completely different place. The branches of the trees seemed to close in around me, weaving together to form a sort of cage.

Yeah, see, I just don't think I'm a tree person. When I looked around, I saw that with each step deeper into Lórien, Legolas seemed to walk a little lighter, while Gimli grew more wary and kept looking around suspiciously as if he expected an elf to jump out of the trees and shoot him. Boromir shifted nervously, and while I couldn't tell from his solemn expression if he liked or disliked the forest, I knew he was uncomfortable. Aragorn, on the other hand, moved through the trees with a sort of familiarity. The hobbits seemed entirely in awe of the vast forest. Their eyes were wide as they looked around, taking in the smooth tree trunks and canopy of pale leaves.

"Time does not pass here," said Boromir softly.

"It's kind of creepy," I said.

Looking over his shoulder, Legolas gawked at me. "You dare to call Lothlórien creepy?"

"I agree with the Beard Defiler," said Gimli. "There is something that does not sit right here. It is probably the elves. They use witchcraft to move about in secret."

Aragorn sighed. "Dwarves must put more effort into keeping an open mind."

"So must elves," said Gimli. "My father still has not forgotten his unjust imprisonment at the hand of the Mirkwood elves."

"Could perhaps both dwarves and elves do with keeping more open minds?" suggested Sam.

Legolas completely ignored the hobbit and said, "Your father was not mistreated."

"As much as I enjoy watching elves and dwarves bicker," I said. "It might be better to speak a little more quietly…"

"You enjoy watching elves and dwarves bicker?" asked Merry.

"Oh yeah." I glanced about the trees nervously before continuing, "It's really amusing. Try standing in a room with Thorin and Elrond together. It's like majestic versus grand."

Aragorn laughed softly. "Elrond is very grand."

I had momentarily forgotten that Elrond had raised Aragorn. However, it seemed Aragorn didn't have any problem with me teasing his foster father, so I said, "He even manages to make his delicate tiara seem grand and intimidating. I was quite impressed."

Aragorn smiled. "Arwen has a similar diadem, and it possesses on a different air upon her brow."

"A matching set?" I asked eagerly. "I didn't know Elrond was that kind of dad."

"Perhaps Celebrían gifted them," suggested Legolas.

I was so distracted by the conversation that I almost walked into an arrowhead. I stepped backwards, blinking rapidly and gawking at the sharp point of the metal. I bumped into Boromir, and he reached out a hand to steady me, never taking his eyes from the group of elves that encircled us, their bows drawn.

"Uh, hi," I said, hands already raised in surrender. "We're just, um, passing through."

The elves shared something with one another in Sindarin. A couple of them laughed, and I had the sneaking suspicious that they were talking about Elrond and Arwen's matching tiaras. But their laughter was cut short when the commander of their group said something sharp in Sindarin. Their commander was, of course, tall and fair with a pretty-boy disposition (the curse of being an elf).

"We recognize amongst you an elf of our northern kin," said the commander. "Speak now, and tell us your purpose in entering Lothlórien."

"We are not at leisure to give away our business so freely," said Aragorn. "But I can tell you this. We departed from Rivendell and have passed through Moria. We are weary, and we seek shelter under the trees of Lórien."

The commander frowned. "And who might these travelers be?"

"I am Aragorn son of Arathorn. This is Legolas, a prince of Mirkwood, Gimli son of Glóin, and Boromir of Gondor. With us are four hobbits: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took." Aragorn paused. "And this…this is Ana."

"Ana Stonbit," I said, as I felt I deserved to have a last name as well. "I'm not really part of the group. I just kind of show up and help out from time to time."

"'Help out'?" muttered Gimli in disbelief.

A couple of the elves eyed me curiously. I definitely wasn't attractive enough to tempt an elf, but I didn't think I was funny-looking enough to warrant such blatant staring.

"Aragorn?" said the commander. "I have heard of you. The lost king of Gondor and an elf-friend." He nodded once. "I am Haldir, the marchwarden who guards the northern borders of this forest. These are my brothers, Rúmil and Orophin." He gestured to the two elves beside him. Both of them were blond and possessed pretty-boy traits. "You are fortunate, Aragorn son of Arathorn. I have heard whispers of your quest."

"Then, can you help us?" asked Aragorn. "We fear we may be pursued by goblins from Moria."

Haldir nodded. "Come this way."

Leaving behind the rest of the elven guards, Haldir and his brothers led us deeper into the forest. I don't know how long we walked or how far—time really has no meaning in Lórien. Eventually, Haldir came to a stop beside a pale tree trunk that was thicker than a car. I tipped my head back and saw that the trunk extended high into the forest to the point where the branches grew so thick that I couldn't see what lay above them. My stomach churned as I realized this tree was even taller than my apartment building.

Rúmil scampered up the tree with incredible grace, closely followed by Orophin. Haldir turned to us and said, "Our home rests at the top."

"Up there?" wondered Sam aloud.

"If you expect me to climb that, you do not know dwarves very well," said Gimli.

"Or hobbits," said Sam.

I couldn't see the house anywhere amongst the tree branches. "Yeah. This is like tree climbing for experts. I can already see how this is going to end. I'm going to get about halfway up the tree, with a lot of help from Boromir, and then I'm going to slip and fall and go splat on the ground."

"You will not splat," said Boromir. "You will Skip to another place."

He was probably right, of course. But I couldn't help wondering if this would be the one time the Skip didn't work. Already I could feel the air rushing about me as I plummeted downward.

"Ana understands the hobbit predicament very well," said Merry. "Is there not a place on the ground we can stay?"

"Not unless you wish to be found by orcs," said Haldir. "Here, Frodo shall go first and I shall go behind him to help him climb the tree. Then Merry shall go with Aragorn to help him. Legolas will help Pippin. Boromir will help Sam." Haldir paused. "I am sure Ana and Master Gimli can find the strength to climb the tree on their own."

Gimli muttered something in Khuzdul that I'm sure was not very nice.

"How about this," said Aragorn. "Legolas shall help Gimli, Haldir shall help both Merry and Pippin, Boromir shall help Ana, and I shall help both Frodo and Sam."

"I will not be helped by an elf," grumbled Gimli.

"Very well then," said Aragorn, his voice tight as he reached the end of his patience. "I will help you up the tree, and Legolas shall help Frodo and Sam."

"Ah, dwarves," I said, "their stubbornness is so dear to my heart." I turned to Boromir. "You'd better not let me go splat."

"I make no promises," said Boromir with a wicked grin. "I still remember all those times you gave me insult when drinking."

"I don't like this arrangement!"

But it was too late. Frodo, Sam, and Legolas had already begun climbing the tree, and Merry, Pippin, and Haldir were about to begin. I was stuck with Boromir. I could only hope he was joking about letting me fall to my (possible) death.

The journey up the tree went pretty much how we expected. The hobbits were not bad at climbing; however, some of the gaps between branches were so large that Legolas and Haldir would have to lift the hobbits so that they could grab onto the next branch. Gimli grumbled the whole way up the tree, but he refused to accept help from Aragorn despite the fuss he'd made earlier. Boromir and I brought up the rear, and well, let's just say this was not one of my finer moments in life.

"There is a branch just above your head," said Boromir. "Just reach out and grab it."

"I'm going to fall!" I wailed.

"You are lying down on a branch. You will not fall."

"I am going to slip and fall!" Memories of the air rushing about me as the pavement came ever closer filled my mind, and I wrenched my eyes shut.

"I am right here beneath you. If you fall, I will catch you."

I closed my eyes and tried to think happy thoughts—like coffee and dwarves and solid ground.

"Why does she travel with you?" asked Haldir from somewhere further up the tree. "She seems more likely to cause your deaths than prevent it."

"We do not have a choice with her," said Legolas. "She comes and goes at unpredictable times."

I'm not actually sure when my acrophobia started, but I think it had something to do with the fact that I would throw myself off buildings on a regular basis. I knew what it felt like to plummet towards the ground, the concrete coming closer and closer, only to be snatched away mid-descent. I was convinced that one of these times the Skip wasn't going to work. My death would be explained away as suicide, and my parents would spend the rest of their lives wondering what they could have done to help me.

"The branch, grab the branch," said Boromir.

I opened one eye to see that he was pointing helplessly at the branch just above me. It wasn't an easy reach for me, though if I stood, I could probably grab hold of it. Still, the thought of standing on the smooth tree branch was enough to make my head spin.

I glanced down at Boromir and helplessly shook my head. "Maybe I should just stay here until the Skip takes me away."

Boromir released a long, exhausted sigh. "We will try a different way."

He climbed up the tree until he came to rest on the same branch as me. The branch trembled under his added weight. I yelped and tightened my grip on the branch.

"Get on," said Boromir as he turned and sat down so that I had easy access to his broad back. "I will carry you up."

"I don't want to."

"We cannot leave you here," said Boromir. "You will be spotted by the goblins of Moria."

"Goblins?" My voice trembled on the word.

"They will follow us into Lórien. If you remain on this branch, they will spot you and try to make you fall…" He trailed off, letting my imagination take over.

"Fine," I said before adding, "Sorry I'm such a bother."

"I have grown accustomed to it."

Trembling, I inched into a sitting position and then wrapped my arms around Boromir's neck. He picked me up, positioned me properly on his back, and began climbing the tree at a much, much quicker pace. Of course, every time he so much as wobbled, I shrieked something about "splattered corpses", but for the most part, the rest of the journey up the tree was uneventful.

Boromir and I were the last ones to reach the elven treehouses (that's really what they were, though the elves call them flets). The flets were basically connected wooden platforms built around the trunks of the trees. The flets didn't have walls or even rails, because according to Legolas, for the elves, those things were not necessary. Well, they may not have been necessary for elves, but for Gimli and me—oh man, was it scary.

When I first stood upright on the wooden platform, I hadn't been able to move a step. I could only watch as Haldir led the rest of the Fellowship across the connected flets. The backs of Aragorn and Legolas kept getting further and further away. Finally, Boromir placed a hand on my shoulder and carefully guided me forward. "Keep walking. I will not let you fall."

"Don't look down," I muttered to myself.

In front of me, Gimli stiffened.

"What is it?" I asked. "What did you see?"

"I looked down," whispered Gimli.

"Is it far?" I asked.

Gimli nodded. "Very far."

I glanced down and almost fainted.

"Who was it that said not to look down?" asked Boromir in exasperation.

I like to think this was a bonding experience for Gimli and me. Every time we came to one of the walkways connecting one treehouse to another, we both shuddered and had to give one another words of encouragement before crossing. Gimli always went first, testing the wooden boards and promising me that it was safe to walk on. Boromir followed us, giving us a little nudge whenever we came near to chickening out.

The Fellowship continued along the flets for some time until we reached a wide flet that spanned two trees, located deep within the boundaries of Lothlórien, where Haldir's brothers were waiting. Orophin and Rúmil conversed in Sindarin, but they stopped talking when we arrived and turned their wary gazes on us.

"What delayed you?" asked Rúmil.

Haldir glanced over his shoulder at me. "We had some problems when it came to climbing trees."

"The dwarf?" asked Rúmil.

"Surprisingly, no. The short one beside the dwarf."

I smiled at waved at the elves. "My name's Ana, in case you forgot."

The elves ignored me, and Haldir announced that we would spend the night in that treehouse. Eventually, the Fellowship settled down. Aragorn and Legolas had a long conversation with the elves, while the rest of us sat on the wooden floor, as far from the edges of the flet as we could manage. Frodo tried to listen to parts of the elves' conversation, and I think he got the gist of it, but the rest of us were clueless. Besides the sound of Sindarin and the occasional rustling of leaves, no one made a sound. Of course, along with the silence came the ever-creeping memories of an endless chasm.

"I don't think I'm an elf kind of girl," I said a little louder than necessary.

"Of course not," scoffed Boromir. "You are human."

"That's not what I meant," I said. "Some people are like, 'Oh my God! It's an elf! He's so hot! I want to be an elf too!'" I waved my hands about in some weird imitation of a rabid fan. "But me? I'm friends with a couple elves, sure. But honestly, elves are overrated. I like majesty. Elves don't have majesty. They're snobbish and graceful, but they're not majestic."

"You party enough to be an elf," said Pippin.

"She parties like a dwarf," said Gimli proudly. (We had really bonded during our journey across the flets.)

Boromir nodded. "We have already established that Ana is a dwarfish woman."

"I think," said Sam suddenly. "I am a hobbitish hobbit. While elves are wonderous, I do not think I get along with them in the way Master Frodo does. I am not a dwarf for certain, and I do not think I am a man."

"You are a hobbitish hobbit," I said, nodding.

"What am I?" wondered Pippin.

"You and Merry are manish hobbits."

Boromir laughed at the shocked expressions on Merry and Pippin's faces. "They are indeed. By the end of this adventure, you two will have grown another foot and learned how to ride horses."

"I think not!" cried Pippin indignantly. "I like being a hobbit."

"Boromir is a dwarfish man then," said Merry.

"Nah." I frowned at Boromir, thinking it over, and then decided, "Boromir is a manish man…and Gimli is a dwarfish dwarf."

"Aragorn is an elfish man," said Sam eagerly. "And Frodo is also an elfish hobbit."

We all looked at Aragorn and Frodo, who were both absorbed in listening to Haldir speak in Sindarin. Legolas was there as well, nodding along with whatever Haldir was saying.

"Legolas?" wondered Pippin.

"He is an orcish elf," said Gimli.

I shook my head. "He's pretty elfish. Though, you could think that being elfish is an insult if you want."

"Are you attempting to insult me?" asked Legolas, interrupting his conversation with Haldir and the others.

"A little," I admitted. "It depends what you consider an insult."

"We are trying to establish what peoples we most resemble," said Boromir. "Ana claims you are an elfish elf."

"I do not see the insult," said Legolas, frowning. "I am an elf."

"That is the insult," muttered Gimli.

Haldir stiffened, while Rúmil translated what was being said for Orophin.

"I should think," said Haldir. "That being a dwarf is the greatest insult of all."

"Hey!" I cried. "Dwarves are majestic."

"Dwarves? Majestic?" Rúmil paused in his translating to scoff at me. "Clearly, you have not spent much time around dwarves."

"Clearly, you have not met Thorin Oakenshield."

After Rúmil translated this, Orophin snorted and said something back in Sindarin, which caused both Rúmil and Haldir to laugh.

"What?" I asked, looking between the three of them.

Despite understanding Sindarin, Legolas and Aragorn seemed just as confused as I did. Merry asked Frodo what had been said, and Frodo explained that he only understood "to not know".

"Thorin Oakenshield was a King Under the Mountain who could not look past his own gold," said Legolas at last. Even though his words were harsh, there was no sting in his tone.

However, that set me on edge. Everything from Legolas's tone to his use of past tense caused my chest to tightened. I gasped out the words, "Don't say anything else."

Legolas blinked, while the rest of the Fellowship looked at me with puzzled expressions.

"I don't want to know," I said. "Don't tell me." There might have been pity in Gimli's face, but I closed my eyes so I couldn't see it. "I don't want to know."

When I opened my eyes a moment later, none of the Fellowship was looking at me. The hobbits had hurriedly occupied themselves with talking about the Shire, while Boromir explained Gondor fighting styles to Gimli. Aragorn resumed talking to the Lórien elves in Sindarin.

Only Legolas was still watching me, his expression a hard mask. "You travel to the time of Thorin and Company."

It wasn't a question, but I nodded anyway.

"You said you were look—"

Legolas never got to finish what he was going to say, because Orophin gestured for silence with a wave of his hand. The Fellowship ceased their conversations as Orophin, Rúmil, Haldir, and Aragorn gazed down at the forest floor. Legolas and I both moved towards the edge of the flet, but I stopped before I could see the ground, realizing that I'd rather not know how far it was to fall. Instead, I had Merry explain what he saw to me. Just as Boromir had predicted, a party of goblins had entered Lórien.

"They are hunting you," said Haldir.

"They will not go much further," said Rúmil, picking up his bow.

The three Lórien elves quickly left the flet. Through the branches of the trees, I saw that they were joined by ten other elves in armor. As the elves descended from the flets, Gimli and I both refused to look down, so Legolas had to narrate what was going on to us. With their arrows, the elves quickly eliminated the hunting party of goblins; however, the goblins were soon replaced by a second group from Moria, this one made up of orcs. The elves swiftly shot these intruders as well from the advantage of the trees.

"As much as elves annoy me sometimes," I said, "I have to admit they are very effective at orc hunting."

Gimli nodded in agreement.