Title: LOTR The Beginning

Chapter 4: Hobbit

Pairing: Gandalf/Galadriel

Genre: Ship/Romance/AU

Rating: Pg-13

Warning: Language, Threat of death (no character death)

Spoiler Alert: LOTR and the Hobbit (books, maps and movies)

Summary: Gandalf saves Galadriel's life after she fled Eregion by way of Moria to get to Lorien in the Second Age after the Rings of Power were created. Gandalf and Galadriel are in Rivendell.

A/N: This is not a Canon-Fanfiction. You were warned that this is Alternate Universe. I so enjoy them as a caring couple and that now Gandalf is not alone.

The Third Age

Gandalf walked with Lord Elrond up a flight of steps trying to make Elrond understand that the dwarfs felt a strong need to reclaim their homeland.

Elrond countered. "It is not me you must answer to." He looked forward almost smiling while knowing that Gandalf has always been very respectful of Lady Galadriel a member of the White Council and Elrond's kin.

Gandalf turned as well to see a resplendent figure bathed in moonlight. His jaw fell open at the sight of her golden flowing hair and the impact of her presence being so close to him.

Galadriel knew he had walked up behind her. She had not seen him in around six months and was excited for the opportunity to be close to him again. She mused as she turned that her dress was wrapping around her in the same way the white slip had wrapped around her body when she was partially out of the water in her garden. She touched his mind lightly sensing that he was well aware of it and knew she did it on purpose.

"Lady Galadriel." She heard Gandalf's words that were spoken with the same reverence and awe she remembered from when they first met. She never tired of seeing the impact her beauty had upon him especially knowing that he had lived in Valinor with the gods. So with all the splendor he had seen in his god like life, she knew where she had heard his mind on other occasions that he found her to be the most enchanting thing in existence. She considered it the highest of flattery when a god found you to be perfection even if he was a lower god.

"Mithrandir." She peered back at him thinking there was nothing lesser about him even if he was stuck in the guise of an old man. She could still see in his eyes the young man she had spent many a day and night with since they found each other again. She knew the truth and the desires of his heart. He wanted to help and not harm, but above most other things he hoped if he completed his task well that the both of them might have a future.

And she saw that on his face even now. "It has been a long time." She let the edge of a smirk show to point out to him it had been over six months since they saw one another. It was the longest amount of time they had spent away from one another since their first stroll in the garden.

Gandalf bowed to her keeping his eyes on her with an acknowledgement. He changed the words he would have liked to say because of their location and audience. "Age may have changed me, but not so the Lady of Lorien." He was thrilled with arranging it so that he could pay her a compliment and smiled at her knowing she would get the message that he found her to be as lovely now as he did when they were younger.

Galadriel felt the impact of his words and remembered their interactions over the ages. She gave in and let the joy at his words show on her face and for a moment didn't care that Elrond was watching. Many men had paid her compliments over the ages, but this was the only man that mattered to her.

Having seen in each other's minds allowed them to fully experience this moment and exchange in a way that even the union of their bodies could not produce. Love. Acceptance. Joy. Unity. It was their own special secret.

"I had no idea Lord Elrond had sent for you." She watched Gandalf indicate Elrond as if Elrond had told on him.

"He didn't." She saw the flicker on Gandalf's face and knew he was aware of who sent for her and why. To convene the White Council to stop Gandalf in his quest. "I did."

Galadriel watched as Gandalf closed his mind more tightly and turned with a fake smile to his superior. "Saruman."

Saruman stared. "You've been busy of late my friend."

They convened the council on a terrace where Gandalf sat trying to conjure patience for dealing with Saruman who always trivialized the smaller details that Gandalf focused on. He attempted to talk with Saruman.

"The dragon has long been on your mind." Galadriel remembered during the last couple of years that there were traces of thoughts about the dragon in his mind when they were together.

He turned to her knowing that was what she was thinking. "That is true my Lady."

She paced and listened to Gandalf wishing that he was the head of the council because they were approaching perilous times and his attention to even the smallest detail could turn the tide. She contemplated his words as he tried to convince the other men that his course of action was correct.

"Let him speak." She was aggravated with both men for trivializing the importance of Gandalf's words. She could overlook Elrond to some degree because he was thinking of the safety of his people, but she knew this was Saruman's purpose in Middle Earth. She was starting to question his motives because he was not fully listening to Gandalf.

She noted that Elrond recognized the seriousness of her tone and moved away from Saruman toward Gandalf letting his standing position show her that he was on her side even if he did not agree.

Galadriel continued to pace knowing that Gandalf's words about there being a hidden malevolent power were true. She had felt it in the earth herself.

She stopped behind Gandalf and started softly pressing at his mind, which was something he had told her more recently that she could do without causing any problems. She spoke to his mind only. "You carry something." She turned her face to him. "It came to you from Radagast. He found it in Angmar."

Gandalf responded with his mind. "Yes."

Fear crept over her body as she stood behind Gandalf with Elrond to his side leaving Saruman alone on his side of the table. She whispered back into his mind. "Show me."

Gandalf placed the wrapped blade on the table and listened to everyone talk about it then responded to a question by Saruman.

Galadriel felt the spelled moth that resided now with Gandalf's things. It was moving away from Rivendell. She used her abilities to watch them moving. She spoke to Gandalf without vocal words. "They are leaving."

"Yes." Gandalf's response in his mind did not waver as he turned to face her.

"You knew." Galadriel accused then let her eyes go to him. She didn't care that he turned so blatantly toward her and she to him because Saruman was so busy listening to the sound of his own voice that she knew he would not notice. As for Elrond, she knew that he was aware that they plot together sometimes concerning the guardianship of Middle Earth. She knew later he would ask what type of plan they had concocted.

She watched as Gandalf tipped his head in response letting it be known that he knew before even walking up the steps that they were there and that the men were going to try to stop him. He had already planned for the group to leave while they talked it over.

Galadriel tried to hold back a twitch of a smile and flutter of eyelids that tried to break out in a triumphant smile on her face. She very minutely nodded back to him knowing that they would let Saruman bluster for a while, so the group could fully leave. "Why not just tell me?"

Gandalf sat back listing to the endless droning from the man across the table. "Because I know how you like riddles. This way was more interesting."

She turned away from the group and looked out over the waterfalls because she could not contain the smile any longer.

After the Partial White Council Meeting

As the group moved farther away from Rivendell, Galadriel and Gandalf remained standing on the terrace.

He listened to Galadriel's concern about the Morgul blade and a darkness that was hidden. He contained himself when she spoke a warning. He wanted to stay and dwell in her electrifyingly hypnotic eyes that spoke of love and belonging, but knew he needed to leave. He wanted to speak, but knew if he tried to voice a farewell that he would reach for her.

Gandalf felt the loss of being so close to her only to have to leave her again, but because someone could be watching he forced himself to turn and walk down the steps without even a farewell. As he stepped off onto the floor, he remembered that she said one day she would have a white wizard's robe made for him and have long strands of her hair woven into the area above his heart. He couldn't picture himself wearing white to match her, so he let it go.

Her voice stopped him. "Mithrandir, why the Halfling?"

"I don't know." He let himself move to glance back at her. But a glance was all he could spare or he knew he would go to her. "Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I've found." He turned completely away from her engrossed in the feeling that he wanted to express. "I have found it is the small things…every day deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love."

He said the last word louder directing that at her as a way of telling her that he still deeply loved her even though he could not say it out loud outside her garden. "Why Bilbo Baggins?" He peered off into the distance and spoke the truth to her. "Perhaps it is because I'm afraid and he gives me courage."

Gandalf held his hands together as he spoke then when he was done he closed his eyes. The weight of his responsibility pressed on him. If he faltered in guiding those around him to the correct paths, their fates would be sealed and he knew it would be because he had failed them. Since the majority of his powers were stripped from him when he was sent to Middle Earth, he knew that there were more powerful things than him roaming the realm he now dwelt.

The softest of butterfly wings brushed his hands and he opened his eyes to see her standing before him. He never would have suspected that she would take his hands in hers and offer him simple comfort while they were here.

"Do not be afraid Mithrandir." She lifted a delicate yet strong hand and removed a piece of hair from his face as he had for her back in the garden. He knew she was reminding him of their bond. "You are not alone." And her words and action gave him hope. It spread from her hand that still held his till it consumed his entire body.

"If you should ever need my help, I will come." Her soft words warmed his heart and reminded him of how he had come to her aid when the birds attacked her and then how she aided him with healing.

He focused down where he felt her hands sliding away. He remembered before in the garden how he had told her that he felt the loss of her even before he left and how she looked into the future and told him that they would see each other again. Her holding his hands like this was a confirmation that they would see each other again.

Her final words echoed in his mind over and over again taking up root in his heart and he knew he would dream of them many times till he saw her glorious face again.

Gandalf was so focused on the contact of her hand that when her fingers slid away, his instinctively flexed out toward her. He looked up seeing that she was gone and he wondered if she had ever really been there at all or if she had used her powers to project herself there for the meeting.

He relaxed his hands and nodded. "Until next we meet."

He heard a faint lilt of her voice in his mind and knew he would never truly be alone. He felt amusement at the trick that she had played on him like she was a child again playing with her toy ships.

And it comforted him as he collected his things to leave.

A/N: I think I watched those two scenes at least two dozen times before and while I wrote this. I have to say I loved reading into these scenes. I'm working on the chapter for the last Hobbit movie. What do you think?

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