A New Place, A New Love
Author's Note: I am so sorry for the late update! I have been having some major computer issues over the past couple months, and hopefully they are fixed for the time being. Thank you for all of your reviews and feedback, and if any of you have any ideas that you want to share, please do either in the comments or you can pm me. I hope you like it, and please review!
Also, the italics are to express a past seen with Gandalf.
Enjoy
Disclaimer: I still do not own any of these characters
Chapter 3
As the sun rose in the sky and in through the windows, Minerva woke to the first rays on sunlight touching her cheek. She slowly opened her eyes and began to stretch, and the pain in her back and neck only served to remind her that she had fallen asleep on the window sill. Scanning the room, she saw Merry and Pippin had somehow managed to end up hugging each other, Sam was how hanging precariously off one side of the bed, and Frodo seem to be sleeping peacefully in between them. A small smile graced her face as she thought back to her Gryffindors after a night of celebration or even a night in the common room trying to cram for one of Severus' exams.
"They are quite amusing when the snoring isn't too obnoxious, aren't they?" Strider spoke from a forgotten corner of the room.
Quickly remembering their recent acquaintance, Minerva took a breath to calm her pounding heart. Turning towards Strider she nodded in agreement, but she couldn't but stare at him. In the light of the morning, it was hard to think this man could harm them with his calm and friendly appearance. Maybe it was just the hood and the dark night. Or maybe it was the sword and the fact that I saw him only as a threat like the other men in that vile pub. Realizing that she was staring off into space, Minerva turned back to the four sleeping hobbits deciding to wake them soon.
"If we are to meet Gandalf soon, we should probably wake them and get ready," Minerva said as she walked towards the beds. Just as she was about to wake Sam, a hand on her shoulder stopped her.
"Gandalf will not be meeting us here. He would have been here by now if he were. I will be taking you through the forest to a new meeting place," Strider finished as he turned to Merry and Pippin to wake them.
Gandalf is not going to meet us here? What happened to him? Minerva woke both Sam and Frodo and then excused herself to the restroom in order to freshen up. As she walked down the hallway to the restroom, she was plagued by thoughts of another meeting that had not happened. She was supposed to have meet Albus Dumbledore in his office after he returned from his outing. Had she known it was with Harry and that he was hunting dark magic on his own, she would have done something.
I would have stopped him, or at least gone with him. He never told me anything about this plan or his discoveries, and if he had, maybe he would have called me instead of Severus and then he would still be alive. And Severus…Oh, Severus! I should have protected him more from James and Sirius, and maybe he would have never gone to the other side. Then the Potters would be alive, and maybe others as well. So many "maybes" and mistakes.
By the time Minerva had finished thinking about the past, she was already on her way back to the bedroom. She was about to reach for the door handle when the door opened and four fairly energetic hobbits emerged ready to go. Strider emerged next with her cloak in hand and his bags in the other. Nodding in appreciation, Minerva accepted the cloak and turned to follow the hobbits down to the lobby of the inn.
A few hours later, Strider was leading the group towards the forest with a horse at his side carrying what little supplies they had.
"Where exactly are we going, Strider?" Sam asked after whispering to Frodo his concerns.
"Rivendell…to the house of Elrond," Strider replies as they continue into the forest.
"We are going to see the Elves?!" Sam smiled as he jumped up and down a few times.
Striders only response was a small laugh as he climbed over a large rock. Minerva was amused as well, but she only wondered what the elves here looked like. She had a feeling that they were not the same as the house elves she was used to. As she continues her thoughts of the home that she left behind, Minerva notices that the hobbits have stopped moving and seem to be unpacking.
"What are you doing, exactly? We cannot stop until night fall," Strider says as he begins to help the hobbits pack up their knapsacks.
"But when are we going to eat? You know, Second Breakfast? Elvenses? Luncheon? Afternoon Tea? Dinner…." Merry asked as his jaw dropped in disbelief.
"I don't think he knows about them Merry," Pippin sighed looking at the ground.
Minerva had to hold back a laugh at how much these hobbits reminded her of the male teenagers at Hogwarts. They were just like the young children that she got to teach every day, but they reminded her more of a certain Golden Trio. Minerva had to stop a tear from trickling down her cheek before anyone noticed, but she did not notice Strider's concerned glance.
Meanwhile….
Gandalf woke to the black sky and no remnants of a comforting light, atop of a tower that had held him hostage only hours ago.
He had arrived at Saruman's tower, the Orthanc, and took a deep breath. He had to warn Saruman of what he had uncovered about Bilbo and the ring. Climbing the stairs to reach the ante-chamber where Saruman was sure to be found, Gandalf hoped that Frodo, Sam, and Minerva were alright. He could sense the power within Minerva and wondered if everyone in her world held that much power.
By the time Gandalf had thought about his new companions and what he had to explain to Saruman, the man in question was right in front of him staring out one of the tower windows.
"There is smoke coming from the mountain of doom, the darkness is spreading over the land, and Gandalf the Grey is here to listen to any advice I might have to offer," Saruman spoke from his spot in front of the window.
Later, as the two wizards walk amongst the trees of Isengard, Gandalf told Saruman of the misfortune that their world was about to fall into.
"Are you sure of all of this?" Saruman asked.
"Absolutely," Gandalf replied with urgency.
"The ring of power has been in the Shire this whole time, and your love for the hobbits has prohibited you from realizing it was there all along."
"We have time to counter Sauron, but only if we act now."
They now rested in a cluttered room high up in the tower, where Gandalf and Saruman began to talk about the rising Sauron.
"The nine have already been released and have headed towards the Shire, and there is no way that your hobbit can protect that ring from its rightful owner," Saruman turned to look at Gandalf and continued, "We cannot fight against the power of Mordor, so we must join with Sauron. There is no victory to be had in this battle."
"Since when is madness your idea of wisdom," Gandalf scoffed.
Just then, Gandalf flew towards the opposite wall and hits it with an audible THUD! Suspended in mid-air, Gandalf fights to get free using his staff as a weapon against an approaching Saruman. Finally breaking free, Gandalf and Saruman begin to battle for control, but the madness reflecting in Saruman's eyes was the last thing Gandalf saw as he hits the floor.
Gandalf now looks at the sheer drop around him and looks hopelessly as the trees of Isengard are hacked down by Orcs. He could only hope that Minerva, Frodo, and Sam were safe in the hands of his friend, Aragorn.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading! Please review
