Hi everybody! First of all, I wish to apologize for the delay: i would have updated sooner, but my computer has been driving me mad, so i had to wait until it was fixed.

Shadow: blushes Thank you! That's very kind of you. Your nick is very cool, by the way.

Sweetlittlecherry: glad to hear that! And don't worry, I definitely will – if my computer lets me, that's it... glares at her monitor

Fredthebaker: wow, glad to hear that, especially because i had a lot of doubts concerning the first chapter(s).

Elrohir lover: blushes crimson Oops...sorry.

Catgirl1989: As fast as this points accusingly at her computer will let me.

Kerla: Thank you for telling me. I re-posted the chapter several times, but nothing changed. Then my computer decided to go on strike. I've just got it back, so as I post this I will check again, both for this and the last chapter.

Neosun 7: Tks a lot ! : )

Tinkerbell33: Of course they do look alike: they share the same hairdresser... Just kidding. Anyway, since Victoria was in love with Draco and she's a Slytherin herself, I'd take it as a compliment.

Olwyen: I'll do my best, but it doesn't entirely depend on me – i have to stick to the original Italian version, because changing things would be too complicated.

Alassea2: Thanks a lot, Alassea. It's always good to hear from you.

Chronicles Bailey: I'm glad to hear that. BTW, there's a new cliffhger just for you... smiles evilly I swear I just couldn't help it, though I don't think it's really a cliffhanger. I , come on, it's pretty obvious!

And now...

CHAPTER XVIII: CONFRONTATIONS – PART TWO

About one hour before dawn, an almost inhuman scream shattered the peace of the Woods of Lothlorien and awoke brusquely the Fellowship. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli automatically reached for their weapons, moved by their warrior instinct. Merry and Pippin got to their feet, crashed against each other and ended up tangled into their own blankets while Sam immediately turned to his master. Frodo threw his eyes wide open, his heart hammering in his chest. In less than a second he was wide awake and turned onto his side, trying to wriggle out of the blanket and get near Victoria, who had let out that scream.

Suddenly, the girl opened her eyes. As soon as she focused on the Hobbit's face in front of her, she threw herself backwards, as if she wanted to escape from him.

What's wrong, Vivi? he murmured soothingly.

The girl just stared at him with her eyes wide open and then got to her feet, leaving the tent in a hurry. There was only one clear thought in her head: get away from there as fast as she could.

Legolas came in her way, grabbing her by the shoulders. What happened, Vicky?

She turned her head not to look at him and her eyes fell on Boromir's peaceful face. The Man was still sleeping under the potion's effects and his slumber was so deep that he hadn't heard anything. Victoria let out a choked cry and pushed the Elf away, running in the woods.

What's the matter with her? Merry asked out loud.

Frodo swallowed hard. Did you see how she looked at me? he whispered. It was as if…as if she feared me, I…I don't understand…

Sam laid a hand on his shoulder. No, no, Mister Frodo. I'm sure that you don't have anything to do with that,

Bah! Gimli muttered. That girl has three or four screws loose, that's for sure. What a way to wake us up! He turned to the four Hobbits. Go back to sleep, lads. The only thing we can do is wait for her to calm down on her own.

But… Frodo tried to object.

Master Gimli is right, Mister Frodo… Sam spoke up. …we must take full advantage of our last day here. He gently pushed the three young cousins toward the tent. But Frodo kept on tuning back, glancing at the point were Victoria had disappeared.

What do you think about this?Aragorn asked in a low voice.

Legolas kept on staring at the woods. I know not…I don't understand what happened to her…He turned to the Ranger. We should not leave her alone

Aragorn sighed. Boromir would know what to do, but he won't wake up until the effects of the potion has wore off…

Legolas did not answer and kept on watching him.

The other gazed at the Man of Minas Tirith, then at the forest. It is better if I follow her…You stay here. If we don't come back before Boromir wakes up, do not let him come to look for us,

All right.

The Ranger started walking in the woods, followed by Legolas and Gimli's gazes. So, he's going to look for her? The Elf nodded. Bah. I hope that he will come back completely whole.

Aragorn walked for a long time until he couldn't see the camp or hear his friends anymore. He was straining his ears, trying to capture every sound. He found another broken branch: Victoria must have passed that way. Suddenly he stopped, almost holding his breath, for a small noise had reached his ears. Somebody was crying, trying to choke down her sobs. Following the faint sound track, he finally found whom he had been looking for. Victoria sat on a huge tree root, leaning forward, her face hidden behind her hands and her dark hair. He took a few steps toward her before speaking. Victoria… he whispered.

Slowly, the girl straightened her back and raised her face. The Ranger could barely suppress a start. He had never seen her in that state, so desperate and upset…Surely, she must have looked more or less like that to the teacher that entered the Slytherin Common Room on May 1st and found her huddled in a corner, surrounded by her Housemates' bodies.

Aragorn sat down by her side, trying to console her a little. Calm down, Vicky…Everything is all right. He had to wait for a long time before she could speak. Do you wish to tell me what happened?
I killed him… she murmured, shaking. It was me, I killed him…I promised to help him and then…

Who are you talking about? Who did you kill? He interrupted her.

Boromir, Victoria answered.

Aragorn frowned. Boromir is sleeping at the camp, Victoria. You did not kill him, it's impossible…

Yes, I did! She cut him off. In my dream…

He let out a sigh. Victoria, that was just a dream. It doesn't mean anything,

It wasn't just a dream! she replied. It was so…real. I-I've had a dream like that before.

The Ranger hesitated. Do you think you can tell me what happened exactly?

The girl closed her eyes for a moment, then she opened them again and started speaking. I was…I was walking in a wood here, in Middle Earth, and then…I heard voices. They were Boromir and Frodo, but I couldn't…couldn't understand what they were saying. Then I heard t-the sound of swords clashing. I…I started running toward that noise and I saw Boromir fighting against a person who wore a gray cloak and had his back turned on me… She took a deep breath. I couldn't move, it was as if I had been hypnotized…The battle went on and then…and then… Her voice died out, her hands clenching. I saw Boromir…being stabbed at his chest…t-the sword ran through him…I saw his blood running out of the wound, soaking his clothes…I saw his eyes as he died, I saw him dropping on the ground!

Ssh, Aragorn whispered, laying a hand on her trembling shoulder. It's all right,

Victoria swallowed hard. I wanted to shout, I wanted to throw myself at the person in the gray cloak but I couldn't…And then Gray Cloak slowly turned toward me and…and I thought that he was going to attack me, but then lowered his hood…and it was me! I was looking at my own face! I felt a sort of dizziness…when I pulled myself together, I was standing in front of my father's body, wearing a gray cloak, clutching in my hand my sword covered with blood and there was blood on my clothes, on my hands, on my face…And I could feel Frodo's eyes on my back, I didn't see him but I know he was there, he was behind me…then I threw my sword on the ground and I started screaming… she bowed her head. …and then I think I woke up. New tears started running down her cheeks. It was her, she murmured in a broken voice. I know it was her, I could bet my life on it…That damned harpy!

Who are you talking about? Aragorn asked again.

Galadriel! she replied furiously. That filthy toad!

How can you be sure that it was her, the one who gave you that nightmare? he sighed patiently.

How can you be sure that it wasn't her? Victoria said, looking at him in the eyes. Aragorn looked away. I just wonder… she murmured. …what the Hell do you have against us Men!

I am a Man, Vicky, and…

She turned to look at him. You are?

In that moment, he understood. You heard my argument with Boromir,

Yeah, I did. And if you wish to know my opinion, I say that he's damn right about you,

Isildur's Heir sighed, not looking at her. It's not easy, Victoria…You know what happened to my ancestor, you know what weakness flows in my blood… he shook his head. After the things you told us about your world, the scarce trust I had in myself and that Mankind has notably lessened.

The girl frowned, not quite understanding. Did I hear well, you really said "scarce trust in yourself"?

You look surprised… he noted.

Well…I am. But there's a thing I wish to ask you: what makes you think that my Earth is Middle Earth's future?

Now it was his turn to be astonished: You think that it's not so?

I don't think it, I'm absolutely sure that it won't be so, she looked around. This world is similar to mine, I admit it, but it's not exactly the same.

Men are the same, he said.

No, they aren't, Victoria shot back.

Oh, please, Victoria! he cried out, irritated. Look at yourself. If it wasn't for the strange clothes you wear, no one could realize that you are not from this world,

You're wrong, she answered, firm and resolute. Changing my clothes wouldn't be enough. There still would be the way I talk, the way I behave, the way I think…and a thousand other details, but this ain't the point. She took a deep breath and laid a hand on his arm. Listen, Billy Yank, maybe I don't know how to read in Elvish or use a bow or follow a track, but there is something I know. I know Men, especially those who live in my world. From what I saw, I can grant you that the Men of this world are not and will never be like them.

Finally, Aragorn met her gaze. Are you sure?

As sure as I know how to breathe, she answered.

They sat silently side by side for a few moments.

You love Boromir very much, don't you?

The girl nodded. He's my father. Oh, I know that we aren't really related, but I don't care. I mean, my real father was barely aware of my existence, while with Boromir…I feel him so close to me, I do love him and I don't wanna lose him, she turned to him. Did I make myself at least a little bit more clear?

Perfectly. Yes, he knew what Victoria felt for the warrior of Minas Tirith. He hadn't forgotten the bond he shared with Elrond, who had raised him like a child of his own when his father Arathorn had died.

Good. So you'll understand that I don't give a damn about what you may tell me. I won't let him fight alone.

You're setting him on a pedestal, he accused her.

Not at all! she got to her feet. I was…I am a Slytherin, Billy Yank. The most imperfect House of Hogwarts, the one who lost more boys and girls to the Dark Side than any other…But because of this, we were the most human House. She shook her head. They used to say that Slytherins had no heart but, if it had been so, how could you explain the fact that we have often forgiven and offered a second chance?

You didn't forgive the Gryffindors or the other Houses, he remarked.

And can you blame me? she asked, her face blank.

He lowered his gaze. No.

The girl sighed. My religion recommends forgiveness…But what they have done to me, what they have done to us is not forgivable,

And surrendering to the Ring is?

Look who's talking! You are afraid you won't be able to resist it! She gazed at him angrily. I don't think you understand the power of the Ring,

Why, you can?

Yeah, I can, for I know Evil and I often found myself within it. She took a deep breath. Do you know what a Dementor is?

No, I've never head of it.

Victoria folded her arms against her chest. It's a creature of my world, somehow similar to a Nazgul…Dementors take away all your good memories, leaving you alone with your regrets and your worst experiences. And if you allow them to do so, they'll nourish themselves off of you so much that you'll become like them.

Aragorn understood. Just like the Ring of Power…

Exactly, she nodded. It's not you who surrender to the Ring, It comes into your head like an Imperius Curse. You can try to resist it, but how long? How long before you lose every hope? Aragorn was silent and Victoria added, That's what I wanna avoid, that Boromir loses every hope. He hasn't much to cling to.

What if he will fall nonetheless?

Victoria drew herself up to her full height, a flame of firmness shining in her eyes. If he falls, I'll be there to help him rise again and I'll always be the last person on Earth who will rebuke him or remind him his fall. In the Bible there's written that there will be more joy in Heaven for a lost soul that has been found than for ninety-nine that were never lost. She closed her eyes for a moment. Remember my friend Adrian?

The boy who became a Death Eater?

That's him. Have I ever told you of the letter he wrote me? I can still remember it. He said that he didn't know how he could have gotten himself into that mess, that he just wanted to find a place were he wouldn't have been treated with suspicion because he was a Slytherin and a proud one too… she rubbed a hand over her eyes. He has always been one that first acts and then thinks. He wrote me that at Draco's funeral he had felt ashamed as a thief because he hadn't been able to save his own soul as Draco had. He had realized his mistake and desperately wanted to come back to the light, but he was afraid. He asked me to forgive him and pray for him. She turned to Isildur's heir. And I did both.

Are you planning to do the same with Boromir? he asked.

Another sigh. I've already said it once, but let me repeat it again, Billy Yank: whatever happens, I'll stay with him.

Aragorn got to his feet. As you wish. But now it's time for us to go. The others must be worried.

Victoria hesitated for a moment, then followed him. They walked silently, Duke – who had followed his mistress as usual – flying above them, until the clearing was in sight.

Listen, Billy Yank, Victoria murmured. I'd appreciate it if you kept your mouth shut about my nightmare. Can I count on it or I have to modify your memory to make you forget everything?

You have my word that I won't tell anyone, he reassured her.

Victoria nodded, Good. With a couple of strides, she came out of the wood and into the clearing.

Torey! Boromir cried out immediately, greeting her. In a second, the girl was in his arms, her face buried against his shoulder. What happened, réi neién? A.N. my child (female child) in Gondorian dialect. he murmured, caressing her hair. Where have you been? They told me you have had a nightmare…

Galadriel… she whispered.

Ah, he remarked, his face darkening as he held her closer without even realizing it. Then he saw Isildur's heir, who stood back at the edge of the wood. Their gazes met. Boromir's eyes were full of anger, almost as if he was blaming him for what the Elvish queen had done. Aragorn was impassive, yet, somehow the other Man felt the mistrust he was trying to conceal. Maybe it had often been there, but previously it had been well disguised, at least. Now it was too late, in every possible sense. The words of the previous evening, both said and unsaid ones, weighed between them.

Boromir turned to his daughter. You should take some rest, dilàrlis. As you know, we'll be leaving tomorrow and you look tired. dilàrlis: little star. Gondorian dialect.

Victoria nodded, barely suppressing a yawn. It was true, the nightmare and what had happened later had sucked away all her energy. She allowed herself to be gently guided under the tent.

Her father helped her to lie down and tucked her in. Here, he said as he handed her a small bottle that contained a dark blue liquid. She recognized it immediately. Take a sip of your potion, it will help your sleep,

Victoria sat up and drank a little, then she gave the bottle back with a smile. Thanks…

Thanks to you. Now lay down and sleep.

She barely nodded as she followed his orders. The last thing she saw was her father sitting by her side. She felt his hand gently caressing her own face, then she fell into a deep slumber.

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