Chapter Eighteen

As they crossed the plains of Rohan, Éomer, the head guardsman of Edoras, and his company met them. "Halt!" Éomer called when he saw them, and his mounted guards surrounded the small group. "Tell me, what business do a woman, a man, an Elf and a Dwarf have in Rohan?"

"We are hunting a band of Orc that have taken two of our companions," Aragorn said, while he tried to catch his breath. "We've followed them from Emyn Muil."

"We came across a band of Orc last night, all were slaughtered," Éomer answered.

"What about the Hobbits," Gimli asked urgently. "Did you see any Hobbits with them?"

"They are small," Aragorn said. "They would seem like children to you."

"I'm sorry," Éomer said sadly. "We left none among them alive." Could Haehithien have been wrong, Legolas thought, but remained silent. "Haelif, Saeado," he called and a bay stallion and white mare trotted forward. Éomer pointed to the bay, and said, "This is Haelif, and she is Saeado. I hope that they will carry you to a brighter future than that of their former masters." With that, Éomer turned and his army followed close behind as they continued across the plain toward Edoras, the chief city of Rohan.

Aragorn and the others camped at the edge of Fangorn, using firewood they'd gathered near Rohan, so they wouldn't disturb the trees or upset the forest that Legolas sensed was watching and listening to them, after finding the carcasses of the Orc that Éomer had told them of. Haehithien fell asleep quickly from the exhaustion of the past four days without rest. Gimli took first watch while Aragorn lay down to sleep. Legolas however, was wide-awake now, since being back in a forest, though he too, lay down, next to Haehithien.

The next morning while Haehithien slept, Gandalf appeared, clothed in long, white remnants. Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn thought Saruman had come for them himself after Gimli told them he thought he'd seen the evil wizard during the night while on watch.

They realized they were attacking a friend only when their blows of self-defense were blocked and there was no retaliation. Legolas couldn't believe that he'd forgotten the tales of the Istar. If one turned from the path he was given, he lost his place in the order, and then another would take his place.

Gandalf joined them at their camp while Haehithien slept. "Do not worry about Merry and Pippin," he said calmly. "They passed this way and are now being looked after. They will be fine. You should be more concerned about her," Gandalf said, and nodded toward Haehithien. Aragorn nodded, and realized that she hadn't slept so much since she was unconscious in Rivendell. Discovering that his break neck pace wasn't helping her, he decided to camp another night.

"Legolas," Gandalf said, and drew his friend's attention from Haehithien. "I need to speak with you, please come with me."

Legolas nodded. "Aragorn," he said and Aragorn looked up curiously. "I'm going for a walk with Gandalf, let Haehithien know if she wakes up." Aragorn nodded and watched as Gandalf and Legolas walked into Fangorn.

They walked on in silence until they came to a small clearing with a fallen log in the center. "I wished to speak to you about Haehithien," Gandalf said solemnly as he walked over and sat down on the log.

"What about her?" Legolas asked curiously, as he leaned against the log next to Gandalf, with his feet out in front of him, and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Legolas," Gandalf said quietly. "You know what happened to me when I was battling the Balrog? After the battle, Manwë bore me back to find you. Before he did however, Ilúvatar summoned me. It was he who promoted me in the order of the Istar. While he was speaking with me, he answered some of my questions about the Lady. He gave me the knowledge that she seeks. Sadly my friend, it is not good."

Sadness and pity balled, and formed a knot in the pit of Legolas' stomach. "Will you tell her?" he asked quietly. "Is she ready to know?"

Gandalf shook his head. "It isn't Haehithien who must know," the wizard answered, the twinkle gone from his eyes. "It's you."

"Me?" Legolas asked, and Gandalf saw that he was clearly puzzled. "Why me?"

"That's a complicated question to answer," Gandalf said with a sigh. "To put it simply," he sighed again, and looked at his friend sadly. "We don't exist in her world."

"What do you mean we don't exist?" Legolas asked, more confused than ever. "I can see and touch her, feel her warmth."

This was going to be harder than Gandalf thought. He rose and paced a moment, then paused and shook his head with a sigh. "Legolas, what you see now are her memories. Memories from a book she's read. We are characters from that book. You see her, feel her, and love her, because she wants you to. We are also characters in what is called a movie. As I understand it, a movie is like a dream or vision which one can see while awake. These visions tell a story. Yet, there is something different."

Legolas looked hurt and confused. Swallowing dryly he asked, "What's different?"

"Right now, we only exist in her mind," Gandalf said. "Yet we are real, for we exist in a place that she wishes, but doesn't know exists. Some time ago, at least in her world's time, Ilúvatar wished the story of our world to be shared with hers, in this way, it was hoped that what happened in Middle Earth wouldn't happen elsewhere. He sent for a scribe, and a man named Tolkien was brought to Middle Earth. I, or rather the real Gandalf was sent to speak with him to tell him the tale of the ring, yet, he was told Tolkien could not use our real names or the places of Middle Earth. They must be changed, for the people of his world were not to know of us."

"Then why share the story with them?" Legolas asked.

"I suppose Ilúvatar felt the story needed to be told to them," Gandalf said quietly. "Through the real Gandalf, Tolkien learned he was to write it as a history so that even though the people of his world wouldn't know we truly existed, we would be viewed as an ancient culture of their world. Tolkien invented names and places for everything in the tale as he wrote it, yet when he went back to his own world to share it, something went wrong. Even though he wrote it as a history, the tale was so grand that everyone in his world passed it off as what they called 'fantasy' or a made up story."

"Some how," Legolas said quietly. "That doesn't surprise me. But, you said this man made up names for us in his tale," he paused and saw Gandalf nod. "How then, if I assume correctly that Legolas is my real name, does she know it?"

Gandalf sighed and shook his head. "That I do not know for sure, though I expect that when she read the man's tale, then saw this movie, she fell in love with you, not the version of you he portrayed in the tale. I believe she saw through the tale to the real you, beyond his description of your physical appearance and the beauty known to be of the Elven people, she saw your kindness and your gentle soul. I believe it joined her to you, the real Legolas."

Legolas swallowed hard. "Gandalf, what you say, it so hard to believe. You saw this man was really in Middle Earth."

"Yes," the wizard said. "That is true."

"Then," Legolas started, then swallowed dryly. "Were you the only one who met with him?"

"No," he answered. "I was not. We all did, except Boromir, that is."

"How can this be?" Legolas asked. "I don't remember meeting him."

"Well," Gandalf said. "You didn't."

"If I didn't meet him," Legolas said, then paused. "How did he know of me?" Legolas asked, puzzled by all this information. It seemed so impossible that part of him couldn't believe it, and yet, another part of him knew that Gandalf spoke the truth. Still, something didn't add up.

"You were unable to meet with him because of your father," Gandalf answered. "Ilúvatar sent for someone to take your place. His name was Orlando Bloom, it just so happens that after a time, the man's tale was named 'the story of the century' and they made a movie from his book, this of course was after he passed from the circles of his world. Orlando is the one who portrayed you in the movie. It was in this way that you became linked to this man as well."

"Alright, now I'm confused," said Legolas. "You say that this man, Tolkien was it," he asked, and Gandalf nodded. "You say that Tolkien had passed from his world when they made this movie." Gandalf nodded once more. "Am I correct in assuming that this Orlando is a mortal?"

"Yes," Gandalf said. "That's correct."

"Then how is it that he could meet this Tolkien if the man had already passed from their world?" Legolas asked curiously.

"Well," Gandalf said. "I asked Ilúvatar the very same thing when I didn't understand it myself. It seems that there is quite a difference in time between our worlds. Tolkien had not been away from Middle Earth three thousand of our years, and upon his return, we learned that the book he had written was in its third 'printing'. He had come back to thank us for the tale and to inform us that the people of his world didn't believe it to be true. After he left, we saw him twice more. After he left the fourth time, we never saw him again and figured that he'd passed on. Yet, you asked how he knew of you. As I said, there is quite a difference in time between our worlds, and this still confuses me as well, so I will explain it as best as I can," the wizard said, and Legolas nodded. "The way I understand it, the difference in time is so great, that when Tolkien was in Middle Earth in the process of writing the tale, it was already finished in his world, and they were in the process of creating the movie, and it was during the creation of the movie, that Orlando was brought to Middle Earth since you couldn't be in Rivendell when Tolkien was there. In essence, he became you as well. I myself still don't understand the time difference. It's one of Ilúvatar's many mysteries."

"Gandalf, that still doesn't explain why she is here, in this dream, if that's what it is, or the fact that she has no memory of her life," Legolas said matter-of-factly.

"No," the wizard said quietly. "It does not. Apparently, the young woman has suffered a great tragedy in her life. She's currently in a place of healing for her mind. I've discovered that when she lost consciousness here, she's awake in her own world, which is a good thing."

"How is that good?" Legolas asked in bewilderment.

"You see," Gandalf answered. "The longer she is conscious here, the longer she is unconscious in her world, the weaker she becomes."

"So," Legolas said, and paused in thought for a moment. "She knew what would happen to us because it was in this book she read as well as this movie she saw." Gandalf nodded. "Do you know what this tragedy she suffered was?" Legolas asked quietly.

Gandalf nodded. "Sadly, my friend," he said. "I do. She had a mate and young child in her world, and lost them both in an accident."

Legolas sunk to the ground in shock, putting his head in his hands. "Oh, no!" he cried, as anguish filled his heart. "She doesn't know? Doesn't remember anything?"

Gandalf shook his head when Legolas looked up. "That she doesn't, my friend. Apparently, she doesn't remember her name in her world either, and though she has been called by it many times, she has chosen the name you gave her."

"Well," Legolas asked curiously. "What is her name?"

"In her world, she is called Teresa Thompson," Gandalf answered.

Legolas chuckled softly under his breath. "I believe I would choose the name I gave her as well, if I were her," he said, and smiled.

"Nonetheless," Gandalf said. "She doesn't remember her family or friends. In fact, the only thing she does remember is Orlando Bloom," the wizard said sadly. "Her healer wishes to send her from where she is in her world to be with him, for the healer feels it wouldn't be good for her to remember the tragedy suddenly, which could happen if she stays with her family."

"So why doesn't this healer send her there?" Legolas asked curiously.

"Well, there are two reasons," Gandalf said. "First, Orlando works in movies for his living, just as many men in Middle Earth work to support themselves. His work however offers very little time to himself. He may not have time to help her, but I believe you can help her there."

"Help her?" Legolas asked looking up at the wizard as he walked back to the log and sat down once more. "Gandalf, you know I would, but with everything you've said, it seems impossible, how can I help her. You also said there were two reasons, what is the second?"

"You can help her, my friend. You can help her because you are also linked to Orlando. However, you must understand that the second reason her healer cannot send her is us as we are now," Gandalf said quietly. "We, or more directly, you, are what is keeping her here. If she is here too often, the healer will not release her from his care."

"Me?" Legolas asked. "How am I keeping her here?"

"She did not lie to you in Rivendell," Gandalf said quietly. "She has found solace in your company. That, my friend, is what keeps her here. She doesn't want to remember."

"I can't say that I blame her," Legolas said softly. "I wouldn't want to remember either."

"I believe you can help her though," Gandalf said. "Nonetheless, I don't believe you will want to."

"What can I do?" Legolas asked. "I'll do anything to help her. I love her."

"Ah, yes," Gandalf said. "But I don't think you'll want to if it means letting her go."