Hello my dear reviewers:

I'm so sorry that I haven't update in such a long time but lately life has simply been too hectic for me. I'm estatic that I've received so many reviews. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support. I have to confess I reread you guys' review for many times because they are the encouragements that spur me on to write more. However, I am also exceedingly sorry for those of you who thinks my story is only a pathetic attempt at fanfiction with a marysue. My characters and situations are usually based on real events and people. Authors mostly write about things that they had experienced before or things they wish to experience in the future. I admit that my stories are a bit fairytale-ish but I made them that way on purpose. The real world is a cruel place and while my stories are inadequate, they are a tribute to those great authors and filmakers who made a fantastic world for us to escape to when reality seem to be just too much to bear. Anyways enough of my rambling, I am actually happy that I've received a negative review; it is an important part in the growth of my writing. So once again, thank you all for the support and I hope my story will take you into a beautiful world as it does to me.

Your Grateful Author,

Km

Chapter 6

Where am I? was Skyler's first thought. Darkness, blacker than sin, surrounded her however a wreath of warmth caressed her skin like a caring parent.

Young human, a mistake was made, and it is now corrected. You had been sent to Middle-earth too early. The time in which you've landed was wrong hence you were taken out of it. The voice deep and soothing, full of fire but power, echoed around her.

What? You sent orcs after Celebrian just because of me? And what do you mean wrong time! Skyler screamed.

Silence! I did not sent orcs after you, it is not in my power to do so, I merely took the advantage of your death from that and lift you to…what you would called in your world, purgatory.

Purgatory? Skyler asked frantically.

Yes, the place you must rest before you move on, if you're human.

And who are you? Skyler questioned as she struggled to move; she couldn't.

Is name important? I am the creator of this world, of this space. All Valar are my children. I am the world.

And you made a mistake? Skyler scorned.

Do not talk of things you do not understand. You were not of my world hence I do not control you. You were the first transplant from Earth, if there's ever a second one it will be successful.

If Skyler could see the person she would probably glared at him, You are going to kidnap another one? Are you insane? And what about Celebrian? Did you kill her?

It is not time to tell you of Celebrian.

What? You killed her didn't your! Skyler shrieked hysterically, she felt like slapping herself, she shouldn't have left Celebrian alone.

Enough questions! Her fate does not concern you. You shall sleep until the time is right for you to return. The Sisters were not happy correcting the fabric of time. I shall not damage the world anymore by bypassing time again.

What…

Sleep. The voice commanded and before Skyler could argue anymore she was asleep.

The next thing Skyler knew was that it was very cold. She opened her eyes and noticed she was under a green canopy of trees. She slowly sat up and that was when she noticed she was butt naked.

"Damn it!" Skyler cursed then she noticed there were no wounds on her body. And of course that was when the orc attack came full force back into her mind. The image of Celebrian being tortured by the orcs and her eyes staring at her emerged from her mind. Two trails of tears flowed down her cheeks and soon she was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Get dressed child, you have much to do." An elderly voice said.

Skyler's head snapped up and looked around, but she could see no one except for a set of black clothes on the ground and a pair of boots. Trembling Skyler pulled on the clothes and the boots. After she finished donning on the black cloak she said, "Alright who are you?"

An old man in grey appeared from the forest holding a sword, a crossbow, and a quiver full of arrows.

"My name is Mithrandir, I am the Grey Wizard." He said kindly as he handed her the weapons. After Skyler accepted the weapons his hand produced two more daggers, Skyler glanced at him questioningly.

"Don't worry, you will learn to use these soon." Skyler nodded and slid those into the sides of her boots.

"Why did you save me?" she asked after she finished.

"I didn't save you, I am just a messenger, an errand runner if you will."

"What about these weapons? And the crossbow, it's…modern…..."

"I am a wizard, and a wizard has his ways of …having things if you will. Enough question then, you are in the center of Fangorn no creature ever ventures here without the consent of Ents. They may wander around the edge, but it is relatively impossible to come in to the meeting place of the Ents."

"Then how did you come in?"

Mithrandir smiled, "They knew I came to bring their Guardian her weapons."

Skyler stared at him coolly, "guardian? I've never said I would be. Besides why would you need a guardian if Fangorn is impenetrable?"

"It is, but once all the trees are gone it wouldn't be."

"Some one is cutting the trees?"

"The orcs are growing bolder everyday, evil is growing."

"Still, I will not be the Guardian, it is a task too grand for me."

"Ah but you will. It is the only thing that will make you stronger, and that is what you wish, is it not? The task will grow on you." Mithrandir said wisely.

Skyler betrayed nothing on her face but five minutes later she nodded, "Fine, I will be the Guardian of Fangorn if that's what you wish."

"Very well then, but there are a few things you should know. I will introduce you to Treebeard soon, the Ents are the only ones you should trust around here. Times are different now, tis been five hundred years since you've walked on Middle-earth." If Skyler felt any shock of being away that long she did not show it, instead her eyes stared fixedly at the wizard.

"And how do I know I can trust you?"

"You don't." Mithrandir said smiling.

Skyler nodded, "Good answer." Then she heard a loud thump coming their way.

Mithrandir laughed, "Ah yes, and Treebeard is here."

Just as he said that a large tree appeared in the clearing, Skyler raised her eyebrows but she bowed anyways.

"Greetings, I am the Guardian."

The tree or Ent nodded, "And I am Treebeard, it is a pleasure young seedling." He boomed.

Mithrandir said, "Well then, I shall leave you two for now. Guardian, if that's what you wish to call yourself," Skyler nodded, "Treebeard will teach you everything you need to know. Be careful." With that Mithrandir left and from that day onwards Skyler Evans became the Guardian of Fangorn. Perhaps it was her guilt over Celebrian's death or perhaps it was a fear of facing reality, but Skyler became dead to the Guardian inside Fangorn. There was no more Skyler, she spent all her energy protecting Fangorn and becoming stronger. It was not an obsession, no, it was more like a desperation, a chance to prove to herself that she was still worth something, that she can still do something, and that she was not a weak human. Many times alone in the forest she thought the guilt would consume her but she held on. She lived on because deep in the recess of her mind hidden away from the surface was a small reminder, a small hope in the form of a certain elf in Lothlorien.