Disclaimer: I shall say it again: I don't own any part of the Lord of the Rings. This is just my creativity speaking. Please don't sue!

I know it's weird to write 3 chapters in one day. It doesn't leave time for your thoughts. But it's hard to stop when you need to let it out. I hope you can still enjoy it! Yes, it's another explaining chapter, but it still has a purpose!

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Chapter 3 Recap:

'I can't do this,' she thought. 'I can't just stay in a bed in a place I know nothing about.' She sat up, and the pain was less this time. She had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn't just spiced herbs that was put in her tea. She walked up to the dresser, her steps somewhat off balance, and tried to find some clothes beside the nightgown she was wearing.

"If it truly feels so wrong to be here, maybe somewhere else would be better."

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Abigail took some time searching through the small dresser, but with so many layers and options, it was hard for her to decide what was entirely for men and what was for women. She pulled out a few dresses, but if she was seriously planning on going away, that didn't seem very practical. In the end, the best she found was a cream colored top, and brown leggings. Honestly, she couldn't really tell if the top was a long shirt, or a short dress. It reached about her knees, but she figured it would work. She also found a spare belt in the last drawer, helping to fit the loose shirt to her body.

With a short paused, she glanced down at her bare feet. 'Where would one keep shoes in here…' she thought, before her eye landed on the thin closet in the other corner. In moments, she found a pair of what seemed to be flexible but sturdy flats. They pinched her toes slightly, but with any luck they would stretch.

She meant to only glance in the mirror, but she soon paused fully again once she spotted her reflection in the mirror. She looked fairly ridiculous. Then again, everything was ridiculous right now. She was stealing clothes, because she had no memories of this strange place, and had left herself with the option of running away…and her hair was a complete mess of tangles.

She quickly grasped the brush that was on her nightstand. 'The clothes are better then a nightgown at least,' was all she thought, running the bristles through her hair a few times.

Feeling as ready as she was ever going to be, she moved quietly towards the door. A small voice in the back of her head was telling her maybe this was a bad idea. After all, these "elves" didn't seem like bad people in any way, and what was she really going to do on her own? Even if she conceded to the fact she was thinking straight, though, it made no true difference. She was confused, wary, and quite frankly scared. If she didn't feel comfortable here, there was still a chance she would feel better someone else. Determined to follow through with her will, she cautiously stuck her head out the door, and then jumped backed in.

"I'm in a tree," she whispered. Admittedly, Abigail had come to that conclusion when she first looked out the window, but she hadn't realized just how high up she was still. Surprisingly, her nerves didn't feel any worse with this fact though. "I supposed I like trees," she muttered to herself. Poking her head out again, she scanned the area quickly, noting that very few people, or rather elves, where around this section of bridges. With a glance more towards the ground, though, she noticed some unguarded horses. Maybe she could take one.

'No,' she shook her head, almost as quickly as the thought came. Taking some left behind clothes in a room was one thing, stealing something like a horse was just plain criminal. Especially since they hadn't done anything against her. At least nothing she could remember. That was maybe the idea that was actually scaring her. The nurse from earlier, and Haldir, had seemed very kind and sincere. Without any memory to support what they said, though, it was impossible to say who she could trust here.

She walked around for about 5 minutes, avoiding elves the best she could. She made sure her ears were always hidden as a precaution, though if anyone had really noticed her, she was certain it was obvious she didn't belong. Another five minutes of winding around stairs and bridges and she was hopelessly lost, even after she had made it to the ground.

Abigail quickly came to terms that her rebellion was going to be short lived. 'This is insane. There is no way I would survive in the wild,' she thought, embarrassment flushing her cheeks. She was weak on so many levels right now. Was this how pathetic she normally was? She sincerely hoped now. To add to her shame, her stomached growled quietly a moment later. 'And I'm already hungry.' She wasn't sure if she wanted to scream, or punch something or laugh or maybe do all three.

Perhaps trusting her new caretakers was the only choice she was left with after all. With a heavy sigh, the young girl turned around and tried the find the general direction she came from.

'I think if I cut through this way…' she began, pushing her way through a hedge, and then froze instantly. To her astonishment, she had walked into one of the most beautiful gardens she had ever seen. Or at least, she assumed it would have been. There was a somewhat clear path drawn through a variety of flowers and rock formations, but in some places the path took your gaze up a hill or around a tree. Even on the warm day, a thinly veiled mist settle in certain patches, and somewhere she could her water running, smoothly and quietly. Abigail didn't dare breath, for she feared it would crumble whatever perfect trance had fallen over this place. It was so quiet, and it made her feel more like at outsider than before. But still, there was something so welcoming; so peaceful. She walked as gently as possible towards a small stone bench before sitting down.

"Wow," was all she could say, her voice somewhat unintentionally coming out in a whisper

She watched as a small pale butterfly landed on what looked to her like a yellow rose, carefully avoiding the thorns of the stem. Any other time she might have thought it cliché, but in this garden it just didn't matter. For the briefest moment everything appeared to slow down, and for the first time today she felt tranquil. As soon as it came it passed. Time sped up, and she had the sudden sensation that she was around. Abigail turned around, only to face another surprise. It was an older woman, who had an instinctively graceful and noble air about her. She had long, golden hair that curled slightly, and was wearing a flowing white dress. For a minute, Abigail lost her voice all over again, before suddenly bursting out,

"Are you…glowing?" The tranquility from before was quickly replaced with more embarrassment. It was an extremely childish question but she still couldn't help but ask it.

Thankfully, instead of confused or even offended by her words, she was merely amused and the golden woman gave a small musical laugh. "No child, it is only the sun, still clinging to the morning dew of the flowers. It helps with my illusion of grandeur perhaps, but an illusion all the same," she replied, the faintest teasing quality to her tone.

Abigail paused for a moment, lost in thought. Somehow, she could have sworn she heard that voice before. Like a distant memory, though still unlikely since she had lost all of them

"Who, are you?" she said, finding a more sensible question this time.

The elf turned away, to pick up a broken flower that had fallen to the ground. She pinched it carefully between her fingers. "I am Lady Galadriel," she said simply, though the warmth form before was not gone.

Abigail quietly studied her, before reaching a conclusion. "You are…THE Lady, aren't you? The one Haldir mentioned"

Galadriel just nodded, and Abigail did her best not to drop her jaw. She clenched the side of her tunic nervously, feeling the heat rise on her face. "I am so sorry, I did not mean to intrude. I was lost, you see…"

Galadriel stopped in gently with only a graceful flick of the wrist. "No need to explain, dear one. I know everything."

Abigail was inclined to believe that, while she spoke casually, she could have easily meant that last part quiet literally. "You do?" she spoke up again.

"Yes." She gave another chuckle. "And I am almost sad to have stopped you, for I would have been quite curious to see what others thought of that unique outfit."

Abigail blushed again, shifting her left slightly.. "I really didn't know."

Galadriel suddenly took a few long strides towards her, the flow of her movements easily compared to that of a dancer. She placed her hand carefully under her chin. For a moment she thought she might flinch at the touch, but instead she found the gesture more comforting than anything.

"Let me have a good look at you, young Abigail," Galadriel said warmly, a small smile on her face.

"How did you…" she began to ask, knowing she had never personally told the lady her name.

A golden eyebrow quirked slightly. "I told you. I know everything."

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Meanwhile, a certain elf captain was still searching for his queen. Haldir had found himself already delayed a few times but members of the guard who had various questions about patrols or events coming up. It was not in his nature to ignore them, so he had answered as swiftly as possible, though his anxious thoughts about his conversation with Abigail had not subsided.

Even when he had reached the area the lady was last seen, he did not seem to be having much luck. 'I fear her garden expands more quickly than I have time to learn the route' he thought to himself. He was able stopped walking minutes later, though, when her heard voices. One was Galadriel's, of that he was certain, and the other one was…Abigail?

'Why is she out of her room?' was the first question that flashed through his mind. 'And how did she get here?' was the one that quickly followed.

However, a part of Haldir that any conversation with Galadriel was one worth finished. If they were talking, he had no desire to interrupt, as long as they were both well. For now, he just waited patiently and listened.

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"Why did you attempt to leave?" Galadriel asked, at this point sitting on the stone bench where Abigail had been before. Amazingly, her tall stature only put her gaze only slightly lower that Abigail's, even when not standing.

The young girl in question had visible relaxed her stance, though bit her lip slightly, trying to find the best and most polite way to answer. "It felt strange."

"You felt un-welcomed?" she prodded gently, her pale eyes observing her with interest.

"No!" she protested quickly. "The elves I spoke to were very kind to me, and I'm very grateful that you healed me but…I just felt out of place," she trailed off more quietly. "It's already clear that me being here doesn't really make sense. And even with your kindness, it's hard to truly trust anybody Nothing was familiar," she explained, almost apologetically. Face to face with the lady of this land, the last she wanted to do was sound ungrateful, but she knew the truth was needed as well.

"But you have nowhere to go?" the elven queen clarified once more.

"No," Abigail replied, her shoulder slouching dejectedly. "I hardly have an idea where I am now."

Silently the lady stood, placing a reassuring hang on the young girl's shoulder. "Do you have an opinion, Captain Haldir?" Galadriel called out, the question mostly serious, though there was a bit of mirth in her face.

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Haldir automatically gave a bow of his head and sighed silently, stepping out from around the corner. There was no sense in trying to hide, though he felt reassured that the lady knew part of his intentions already as she waited for him to speak.

"If I may, my lady, she cannot just go back to the race of men. She now has no knowledge of customs, traditions or anything. She is not prepared," he began simply. "And if I may speak plainly as well, while I do not think ill on all mortals, she could very easily be…taken advantage of in this situation," he added, his pale grey eyes matching Galadriel's gaze briefly, hoping to convey his message delicately.

Galadriel nodded. "It may be a more unlikely than likely fear, but it is something to be noted all the same," she agreed, with a thoughtful frown. "What would you suggest?" she asked, the question directed at him though her gaze fell on Abigail.

It didn't take long for his eyes to land on her as well. Haldir could barely even say he was a true acquaintance of the child but…he felt sympathy for her all the same. "Is it…possible, that she would be welcomed to stay here?" he offered.

Even if it was only one suggestion, Abigail felt her heart race at the idea. Indeed this was nice enough place, but she was even more foreign here than in the "world of men". How was she going to survive any better?

"We could keep her safe, of that there is no doubt," Galadriel said calmly. "But in truth, who would be the one to watch over him."

Then she spoke only to him, her voice casting out softly in his mind.

"She is in a fragile state, mind and body. I hear her fear, and she is worried about acceptance as much as she is about recovering her strength. Who is willing to accept such a challenge?"

'"I am," Haldir said, almost without thinking. There was the barest of moments when he considered taking it back, but just as quickly he felt no regret in saying it. The small connection he had with Abigail was beyond simply responsibility for the being the one to save her. Looking at her now, she was clearly unsure, but she had still had the determination, even briefly, to make it out of that room on her home. There was a unique potential within her, and he knew he could care for the girl. Strange as it seems, he would see her raised properly with a good guidance. He believed he could be such a mentor.

"What?" Abigail said, interrupting his thoughts, and feeling like she had somehow missed a part of the conversation.

"I will leave you for a moment." Galadriel send, a light smile hiding the true satisfaction she was feeling at the moment, and she left for a different part of the garden.

Abigail turned to face the elf captain, confusion but more so curiousity in her expression. "You are…what, sir Haldir?"

Haldir rubbed his temples for a moment. He had instinctively agreed to the proposal, but how could he explain this without sounding insane to a young girl who knew nothing about him?

"You will need a place to stay, if only for a week or so," he started simply

Abigail nodded.

"I could…that is to say, I am willing to…take you in," he finished. He wished he could make it sound for elegant or less forward or something, but only the simply truth had come to mind.

Her posture seemed more rigid for a moment, if only out of surprise, but interestingly enough she had actually kept her visible emotions neutral for the moment. "You would…let me stay with you?" she repeated carefully.

"Yes." He continued. "At least until you have regained your health to satisfaction, and perhaps have learned something about life in Middle Earth, if you memory still fails to return," he offered fully.

Abigail kept nodding, trying to understand what he was really suggesting. "What if we cannot find a normal home, or family for me after weeks have passed? What if I'm not…good enough?" she continued, doubt creeping into her town.

There was a pause of silence.

'How far am I willing to take this?' he thought. He took another long look into her dark blue eyes. Oddly enough, he found pleading. Perhaps she thought well of the idea.

"You would keep staying with me," he stated. "As a ward of some sort."

Abigail let the idea swirl around in her head, as if she was sampling a new flavor in her mouth. She felt, for an unknown reason, she could trust this elf. Perhaps it was the soothing present of the garden, or the fact that the talk with lady Galadriel had calmed her down somewhat. Still, she found no true discomfort with what he was suggestion, even if she was a little nervous.

"You make a most generous offer, my lord," she finally said, trying to copy the style of how he and Galadriel spoke. It was one small step she could take to fitting in. "And I am already in debt to you for saving my life. I have to ask…why do so much?"

He merely gave a small smile. "I sense something about you. Maybe intuition is telling me you have the potential to live easily among the elves, or maybe I sympathize only with a cry for a safe place; a home with reassurance. Whatever the cause, I do not wish to turn you away into an unfamiliar world. I can teach you many things, and I promise I will treat you well."

Abigail felt like crying again, but this time for joy. She would admit that hearing those words, she did feel safe in the presence of this kind, wise elf. It didn't have to make complete sense. Nothing about this day was going to make sense, and she was finally okay with it.

"I would like to stay with you very much, Captain Haldir." It was her turn to smile. "It would be an honor.

"Very well," the lady said, stepping out of the shadows of the tree.

Abigail almost jumped, forgetting the Galadriel had never really went away in the first place. "That's it?" Abigail asked. "No papers or something."

Galadriel shook her head. "As far as we are concerned, consent of the guardian and complete awareness of the situation from both parties is all that matter." She gave another small but radiant smile. "Willingly choosing to raise a child should not be made into a difficult ordeal."

"Abigail, find the room you were in. And do not hesitate to ask for help this time," he said with a knowing smile. "Everything left in that room that you think it useful is yours to take. They are all merely spares. I will meet you there short, but I would like to speak to Lady Galadriel alone, for a moment," he explained with a nod.

"Yes, sir," she said, a little unsure of what to call him, but the smile was still clear on her face as she followed a path out.

Haldir turned to Galadriel.

"My lady, you make no protest? Do you know already know it would lead to this?" He knew he visions weren't always clear, but sometimes she did have a way of seeing how exactly events would unfold.

Galadriel shook her head. "All I know is that the two of you share a bond, somehow. Perhaps it was destiny for you to save her. However, If you do not believe in destiny, then all I see is you eyes lighting up at the thought of her, and her heart being lifted by your kindness."

Haldir contemplated her words. "I do feel that I understand her…and that in time she will be able to understand me just as well, no matter how different we are now."

"Then that is the only answer anyone needs right now," she assured him, turning to walk away

"And the future?" he could not help but ask.

She looked back, thoughtful for a moment, before she gave a small shake of her head. "It can be dealt with when it comes."

He nodded, taking it as his cue to leave, but one more thought stopped in. "Can I ask one more thing, my Lady?" When she said nothing, he continued. "When we were taking that watch, the day we found her, we first noticed her presence when she cried for help. But I don not believe it was not out loud, for there was no echo in the woods. I…I am starting to think it was in our heads. The same feeling we get when you speak to us silently."

Galadriel remained quiet, her back towards the captain this time.

"Does this make any sense?"

She continued to face away, but he saw the small shrug of her shoulders. "I know what you are saying, but I can not explain it. If Abigail does not know, I do not know."

Admittedly, he was slightly crestfallen at that answer, but he hid it well. "Maybe it was nothing after all," he commented casually.

"If all the mystery's of these woods were solved in one day, your life would be dull, Captain," she reminded him, a lighter note to her tone now.

He laughed. "Indeed my Lady. For once, I will wait for time to happen." He gave polite bow. "Good-day, fair lady."

She looked behind her ever so slightly. "Good-day, generous captain."

And with that, Haldir left to go catch up to his new ward.

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It will now be a while before the next chapter, because I'm still deciding how much detail to put into her life. The story is going to be long enough already, though, so I might just fast-forward about 7 years to the Fellowship stuff. Stop me if that's a bad idea! Until later.

2011 Notes: Phew, these updates are adding about two pages to my chapters. I still think it's for the best, though. Especially in these early chapters, it was my first time really writing long scenes, and looking at it now it seems like such a mess lol.

Hello to any new readers, and if you're old readers and remember what these chapters were like before, tell me if they're any better!

Until the next revision!

-MN9