Sorry I'm kind of late for posting! I had another busy weekend and a bit of a writer's block. So, without further ado, here's the chapter.

Disclaimer: Never have, never will own Lord of the Rings.

Chapter 33 Recap:

'Cause I'm praying

Holding on to

A lifeline and a vision of you

So I'll keep praying

I'll keep holding on to

The faith I have, will bring me back to you

Bring me back to you…

(Technically that's where the chapter ended. Not much of a recap though)

Chapter 34:

Legolas walked slowly over the roots of Fangorn Forest. The only sound was the steady creaking of the old trees. Something caught his attention out of the corner of his eyes.

"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" he said hurriedly, and dashed over to his friends side.

"Man cenich?" Aragorn asked, trying to follow the elfs gaze.

"The white wizard approaches," said Legolas, like it was a challenge.

Aragorn sighed. "Do not let him speak. He will put a spell on us," he warned.

The other two nodded in agreement. Aragorn gave the signal, and they turned around to attack.

Legolas shot an arrow while Gimli threw a small axe; both were deflected by a blinding figure.

Aragorn's sword glowed a bright orange and burned his hands so he quickly dropped it.

The three shielded their eyes from the white light that was illuminating what seemed to be half the forest.

"You are tracking the footsteps of two young hobbits. They passed this way, day before yesterday. They met someone they did not expect. Does that comfort you?"

The voice was strange. It sounded like a blend of many tones and pitches, but they were fairly sure the figure was a man.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Aragorn demanded.

The light dimmed and the figure slowly removed his hands that were covering his face. Without any doubt, it was Gandalf.

"It cannot be," said Aragorn, both pleased and amazed at this surprise.

"Forgive us," said Legolas, dropping to one knee. Gimli did the same.

"You fell..." Aragorn started, not understanding.

Gandalf nodded. "Through fire, and water. On the lowest dungeon, on the highest peak I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth.

Until at last I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside." The old wizards eyes strained at the memory. "Darkness took me and I strayed out of thought and time. The stars field of end, and everyday was as long as a life age on the earth," he continued in a dreamy voice. His attention snapped back to the group in front of him.

"But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."

"Gandalf!" Gimli said happily, finally finding his voice.

"Gandalf? Yes, I was called Gandalf the Grey. But he is still lost to you. I am Gandalf the white, and I come now at the turn of the tide."

He stepped off the forest platform and looked sharply at all of them. His face saddened suddenly.

"What is it?" Aragorn asked, concerned.

"I had hoped you would bring young Abigail with you," he explained quietly.

The shocked look came back on their faces.

"B-but she was with the hobbits! There was evidence-"

"Was being the key term," Gandalf interrupted shaking his head. He started to repeat what Merry and Pippin had told him two days ago.

OoOo Flashback OoOo

"Oh Gandalf, it's so good to see you," Pippin said while the hobbits hugged his robs.

"You had us down-right worried for a while," agreed Pippin.

"I am glad to see you as well," the wizard smiled kindly. "Now you have told me Frodo and Sam went off, Boromir is regrettably dead and that you have a hunch Aragorn is following you. Are the other three with our Strider?"

"Our best guess would be that Legolas are Gimli are with him," started Merry.

"But it's anyone's guess as to where Abby is," finished Pippin in a low voice.

"What?"

The hobbits hung their head with hair covering their eyes.

"She shoved us in the forest. Started babbling about how we had to go on without her," Pippin tried to explain.

"We we're going to wait, we really were! But then the orc attacked us and we ran without thinking. We're sorry," said Merry, shame clearly detected in his voice.

Gandalf leaned slightly against his staff. "And I was hoping to speak with here," he mumbled to himself and then cleared his throat.

"Never fret, my friends. You made a smart choice. Abigail is the one who left you alone, for whatever the reason. I am sure she can find and make her way."

The hobbits perked up a little and nodded their heads.

"Now, I want you to stay with Treebeard. I will sleep better knowing you are safe in his care."

"Gandalf, we want to stay with you!" Pippin protested.

"No, no you shall stay here," Gandalf gently objected. "I may be off sleeping, but you have some waking up to do."

The two looked confused, but Merry still managed a smirk.

"Some things never change. You still speak in riddles," he said.

Gandalf gave a little chuckle. "I will see you all soon enough, farewell," he replied, and took his separate path.

OoOo End Flashback OoOo

"You cannot be serious! We came this close to finally be reunited, and now she is lost again. Maybe even dead!" Aragorn shouted, angrily sheathing his sword.

Gandalf raised an eyebrow at the rangers' outburst. "Do you really believe she is dead, Aragorn?"

The man sighed and calmed himself down. "No, but when I see her again I'll kill her myself."

Gimli snorted, "Oh I have my doubts about that, laddie."

"Abigail was always trying to win against the odds. She won't stop now," Legolas reasoned.

"My similar thoughts," said Gandalf. "But for you three…one stage of your journey is over and another begins. War had come to Rohan. We must ride to Edoras with all speed."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Abigail had spent yet another hour lost in the forest, though she preferred the term 'exploring the forest'.

"After all the years of mapping skills, you think I could find my way of some dark, godforsaken-" the trees groaned impatiently, "uh, I mean quite charming forest," she said.

She stopped to braid her wild hair, but failed miserably, and ended up settling for a simple ponytail.

"Okay," she took a deep breath. "Whatever deity is up there, listen up please!" she shouted randomly.

"I know I'm not one of your kind, and not even a very deserving person overall. But there is still more I can do to help, I know it!"

She paused, not even knowing what she was expecting.

"Um-but if you could give me a little help here, it would be much appreciated."

Still silence.

Abigail sighed and shook her head. "I must be going crazy."

Suddenly, she heard a soft whinny off to her left.

"I really am nuts," she muttered.

She followed the sound, and was shocked when she stepped out of the forest into a golden pastured.

'Oh sure, I can't find my way out for days, but then I take two steps and I'm free,' she thought as she rolled her eyes. 'But who's complaining?'

Then, to top it all off, a beautiful black stallion came galloping up towards her.

She smiled broadly. "This is amazing."

The wind whipped around her, blowing back her dark hair and skirt.

The horse came up and started to nibble on a loose strand of her dark hair.

"Hello to you too," she cooed, gently rubbing his nose. She looked up and noticed he had white star on his forehead.

"Bold colors, and strong too," she said, observing the horse as a whole.

The horse replied by pushing her in the back playfully.

She laughed. "But you need a name," she scratched her chin. "I know… Veryohtar," she whispered.

The horse shook its mane, as if to say 'whatever'.

"It means bold warrior, I thought it was fitting."

The horse neighed softly.

She looked around. "Stay right there, okay Veryotar?"

There was a tree nearby, with some low branches. She climbed about two-thirds of the way up the trunk and looked for familiar landmarks. Directly west were the Misty Mountains. A little to the Southeast was River Entwash.

"Let's see, that puts me about halfway between Edoras and Isengard." She smiled slightly to herself. "In other words, I could be on a straight path to Helms Deeps."

She scurried down the tree and was relieved to find that Veryotar was stilled there.

"What do you say, boy? Want to take me on a little trip?"

To her pleasure, the stallion neighed enthusiastically and bobbed its head.

"Good, though it's been a while since I've ridden bare-back."

She swung her leg over and positioned herself on Veryotar, placing a steady hand on his neck.

"Thanks," she said, looking up at the sky. "Maybe it's time something good happens."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Yeah…again I'm sorry I'm late, and that this chapter is a bit shorter as well. But I have a long weekend because of President's day, so if I concentrate I plan to post two chapters.

Thanks to Reviewers:

ArwenEvenstar83: Overall, I won't focus on Frodo and Sam's journey, but I realized it might be helpful if Frodo was a little suspicious. I like Namian and Giedd too, but I'm worried all my made up characters are too alike. I'll have to think of more different personalities. Thank you!

Narnian Sprite: Ooh, but curiosity killed the cat. Jk, good thing you aren't a cat. Thanks for happy thoughts!

writin4fun15: I've been good responses to the whole hobbits paragraph, but as said before I won't be talking about them too much. I guess that could change though, if people really wanted. I have a few other stories in mind (2 being LOTR), but I won't seriously start another story until "PotP" is completed. Sometime soon I will have previews, I think. Thanks!

Samantha-Girl Scout: I guess, but I promise Abby is going to die or something anytime soon, so you can't hate me that much. Oh, and Izzy thanks you for the cookies, I only wish she would share them with me. Thanks for reviewing!

KillerRubberDuckiesR-J: Hmm, I don't suppose it will hurt to tell you they find her before the battle, but I still have my own little orginal plan up my sleeve. The battle will be hard, because it's the biggest fight scene, so I hope I can do it justice. Thank you!

Nightskylover: It was fun to write that little passage with Frodo and Sam, but it's hard to do 'Gollum speak' with all the first person. I would have never of thought of it without you, though, so I have to give you credit. Thanks!

Because of a wonderful creation called "stats", I know more than 7 people are reading story. So if you all could take 30 seconds to say something that would be really, really great.

Happy Valentines Day!

-MysticNight9