Gandalf, Eomer, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Theoden and I all ride through the forest looking warily around. Suddenly distant laughter is heard. I glance forward to see Isengard in ruins and smile. "Ahaha!" Pippin call out as he salutes us with his mug and Merry Stands. "Welcome, my lords and lady to Isengard!" 

"You young rascals. A merry hunt you've led us on and now we find you feasting and ... and smoking!" Gimli says as he chastises the hobbits. 

Pippin slurs as he say, "We are sitting on a field of victory enjoying a few well earned comforts, The salted pork is particularly good." I can practically see the drop drip down from Gimli's mouth as he says, " Salted pork..."

"Hobbits!" My father cries out and Merry smiles as he says, "We're under orders from Treebeard who's taken over management of Isengard." 

I smile as I say, "If you've had enough shall we be off?" 

Merry's eye find me and huge smile fills his face as he calls out my name and grabbing his coat jumps down and runs over to me. When he nears Fili he stares at him for a moment before he says, "Is he safe?" I chuckle as I climb down and wrap my arms around the little hobbit and say, "I have missed you my friend." He hugs me back as Pippin runs up to us. "Shall we then?" I hear Gandalf say and I roll my eyes as I say, "Come along," I lift them up onto Fili's back before lifting myself up behind them.

We ride to Orthanc with the Hobbits on board with us. "oooom, young master Gandalf, I'm glad you've come. Wood and water, stock and stone I can master, but there is a Wizard to manage here locked in his tower." 

Aragorn looks up at the tower as he calls out, "Show yourself." 

"Be careful. Even in defeat, Saruman is dangerous." Gandalf says and I let out a sigh. 

"Well then let's just have his head and be done with it." Gimli says growing impatient. 

"No, we need him alive. We need him to talk."

"You have fought many wars and slain many men Theoden King and made peace afterwards. Can we not take counsel together as we once did, my old friend? Can we not have peace you and I?" Saruman says and I grit my teeth. 

"We shall have peace.... We shall have peace when you answer for the burning of the Westfold and the children that lie dead there! We shall have peace when the lives of the soldiers whose bodies were hewn even as they lay dead against the gates of the Hornburg... are avenged! When you hang from a gibbet for the sport of your own crows... we shall have peace!"

"Gibbets and crows! Dotard! What do you want Gandalf Grahame? Let me guess... the key of Orthanc? Or perhaps the keys of Barad Dûr itself? Along with the crowns of the seven Kings and the rods of the Five Wizards!" Saruman says as he turns his attention to Gandalf. 

"Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them Saruman. You were deep in the enemy's counsel." 

"So you have come here for information. I have some for you." Saruman holds up the palantir and looks into it as he continues, "Something festers in the heart of Middle Earth. Something that you have failed to see. But the great eye has seen it! Even now he presses his advantage. His attack will come soon. You are all going to die! But you know this don't you Gandalf? You cannot think that this Ranger will ever sit upon the throne of Gondor. This exile, crept from the shadows will never be crowned King. Gandalf does not hesitate to sacrifice those who are closest to him... those he professes to love! Tell me, what words of comfort did you give the Halfling before you sent him to his doom? The path that you have set him on can only lead to death."

"I've heard enough! Shoot him! Stick an arrow in his gob!" Gimli says clearly have reached his limit causing Legolas to reach for an arrow. Saruman's eyes find me and I instantly feel a shiver run down my back as he says, "And what of the Elven Princess, the halfbreed. She will follow in her father Sauron's footsteps. It is inevitable."

 I feel everyone's eyes turn to me and I grit my teeth as I yell out, "Jesus Christ how many times do I have to say it, Sauron is not my father; Gandalf is!" I hear my father clear his throat and my eyes widen as I say, "Oops," 

"Come down Saruman and your life will be spared!" Gandalf says and grumbling under my breath say, "Not after I get ahold of him."

"Save your pity and your mercy. I have no use for it!" Saruman says as he directs a bolt of fire at Gandalf which he survives with no ill effects. 

"Saruman..... your staff is broken!" Gandalf says and Saruman's staff bursts asunder! Grima Wormtongue appears behind Saruman causing Theoden to say, "Grima! You need not follow him! You were not always as you are now. You were once a man of Rohan. Come down." Grima looks like he going to come down. 

"A man of Rohan? What is the house of Rohan but a thatched barn where brigands drink in the reek and their brats roll on the floor with the dogs? The victory at Helms Deep does not belong to you Theoden Horse Master. You are a lesser son of greater sires!" Saruman says and my jaw drops at the insult.

"Grima.... Come down! Be free of him!" Theoden yells out again. 

"Free? He will never be free!" 

"No!" Grima yells out and Saruman turns around to says, "Get down cur!" As he slaps him to the ground. 

"Saruman! You were deep in the enemy's counsel. Tell us what you know!" Gandalf says drawing Saruman's attention back to him. Grima pulls a knife out behind Saruman. "You withdraw your guard and I will tell you where your doom will be decided. I will not be held prisoner here!" Saruman says Grima rises up behind him and attacks him with the knife, stabbing him twice in the back. Legolas aims an arrow at Grima who falls shot in the heart. Saruman falls from the tower and is impaled on a great wheel below.

I stare at him as Gandalf says, "Send word to all our allies and to every corner of Middle Earth that still stands free. The enemy moves against us. We need to know where he will strike." The water wheel turns and Saruman disappears beneath the water head first. The Palantir drops from his hand into the water. 

"The filth of Saruman is washing away. Trees will come back to live here." Treebeard says but I can't help but stare at Saruman. What did he know about me? Pippin sees the Palantir and dismounts from Fili's back. 

"Pippin!" Aragorn cries out as he runs past him and towards the Palantir. Pippin looks into the Palantir and it holds his gaze for a minute.

"Bless my bark!" Treebeard exclaims as he stares down at Pippin. 

"Peregrin Took. I'll take that my lad! Quickly now!" Gandalf says as Pippin hands the Palantir to him and he wraps it up. Pippin looks sheepish at Gandalf and watches him intently as he turns away. 

We turn and quickly ride towards Edoras. As we reach the city I look up to see Eowyn standing on the parapet of the great hall waiting for us. When we reach the city Theoden calls out, "Tonight we feast." I climb off Fili's back and turning back help Pippin and Merry off as well. Eowyn walks up behind me and says, "My Lady, will you be joining us for the feast?"

I glance at the rest of my companions and am about to decline when my father says, "Of course she will be." I sigh inwardly as I nod to her. She smiles as she says, "Then perhaps I could help you prepare?" I turn to Fili and am about to say something when he spots a familiar group of children and runs off to play with them. I smile as I turn back to her and say, "Sure," I follow her to what I guessed was her room and fidget while she digs through a trunk full of dresses. "Aha!" She exclaims as she pulls out a green and white gown. The green was of a velvety fabric as the white shined like silk.

"It's beautiful!" I say as I run my finger across its soft fabric. 

"Then it would please me if you were to wear this to the feast tonight." She says and I feel my face flush as I say, "I couldn't, it's too beautiful." 

Her smile brightens as she says, "You must, it is my gift to you." 

I gaze down at the beautiful fabric and smile as I say, "Thank you Eowyn." 

"You are very welcome, now if you'll allow me; I'd like to prepare your hair." I stare at her in shock as I say, "My hair?" she smiles as she says, "Yes, now off with you. I have had a bath prepared for you." I smile as I let her lead me to a room with a bath and after my bath I quickly put the dress she gave me on and let a group of women tailor it to my form.

Then when they are done Eowyn leads me to a chair where she intricately braids my bangs out of my face. After a few moments she smiles as she says, "Done!" She hands me a little handheld mirror and I stare at myself in shock. My skin shined like a diamond against the candlelight. I reach up and touching my hair smile at its softness. 

"This is unbelievable!" I cry out as I jump to my feet and wrap my arms around her. "Thank you so much!" She smiles as she says, "It is all I could do after your help in saving our people." I look at her pale cream dress and smile as I say, "Eowyn you look beautiful."

She chuckles as she says, "If only I was half as beautiful as you." 

Before I have a chance to argue there is a knock on the door and her smile brightens as she says, "It is time, come we must not be late for the feast." I start to argue but am quickly pulled from her room and lead to the dining hall where I see a giant crowd of men waiting patiently. "I must leave you now, but enjoy the feast." She says and as she walks away from her I reach after her only to pull my arms back to my sides and bite my lip.I look around at the men staring at me and I clear my throat as I instantly try to find my father. 

Suddenly the room goes quiet as Eowyn offers a goblet of wine to Theoden as she kneels in front of him. After she retires behind him. Theoden offers the goblet in toast to the people of Rohan, "Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country." He offers up the goblet. "Hail the victorious dead" I watch as the people raise their glasses and say, "Hail!" I look over right as Aragorn hesitates and thinks of them before he drinks. People start to feast at long tables as I once again look for my father.

Instead of him I find Legolas and Gimli standing next to Eomer and taking a deep breath walk over to them. When I reach them I hear Eomer say, "No pauses, no spills."

 "And no regurgitation!" Gimli says as he lifts the tankard to his mouth. 

"So... it's a drinking game?" Legolas says and the Rohirrim agree. 

"Last one standing wins heh heh heh!" Gimli says as he drinks his tankard in one go. Throughout the hall I hear men shout out, "Lets drink to Victory! To Victory!" I watch as once again Gimli finishes his drink in one go. Legolas begins to drink from his tankard.

I sigh as I look around to see Eowyn with a goblet in her hand smiling and approaching Aragorn who approaches her and takes the offered goblet. He takes the goblet and drinks. She smiles at him and he looks intensely at her. With a little smile he walks away. I sigh as I turn back to Gimli drinking another tankard of ale and across to Legolas also downing another tankard. Gimli farts as he laughs. "Here, here." Gimli takes another tankard as he continues saying, "Raaar it's the dwarves that go swimming with little, hairy women haha!" 

"I feel something." Legolas says as he looks at his fingers and Eomer raises an eyebrow. "A slight tingle in my fingers, I think it's affecting me." He continues his face filling with concern.

"Heh heh heh (slurring his words) what did I say? He can't hold his liquor." Gimli says as his eyes are crossed and he sits quiet for a moment, then keels over backwards off his stool. Legolas watches him fall, raises his eyebrows and looks over at Eomer as he says, "Game over!" 

Turning I once again start to look for my father when I hear Merry and Pippin singing, "Oh you can search far and wide, You can drink the whole town dry, (they dance on the table kicking their feet against each other) But you'll never find a beer so brown, But you'll never find a beer so brown, As the one we drink in our hometown, As the one we drink in our hometown. (they stamp on the table) You can drink your fancy ales, You can drink them by the flagon, But the only brew for the brave and true," They pause for a moment and I follow Pippin's eyes to see him look at Gandalf.

"Pippin!" Merry calls out and Pippin turns back to Merry and continues with the song. "Comes from the Green Dragon!" The room fills with laughter and applause. I start to make my way to my father when all the sudden I hear Merry say, "_____!" I turn toward them with shock in my eyes as I say, "Yes?" 

"Sing us a song?" Merry says and I shake my head as I say, "Oh no I couldn't," 

"Oh come on _______, don't be shy!" Pippin calls out and shaking my head start to pull away when the men around me start pulling me forward to the table where Pippin and Merry stood waiting.

"Please, I don't want too!" I say once I reach them but they are all too drunk to listen to me. I groan out in annoyance as I look around at all the happy men and I close my eyes as I try to think of a song that wouldn't throw them into either confusion or sadness. "I'm afraid I don't know of any songs fit for the halls of King Theoden and his Riders."

"I am sure you know of one that is suitable." I hear my father say and I smile as I reach down and taking Merry's hands say, "Hold onto my waist and place your feet on mine." He tilts his head but does so. I smile as I start to sing out:

I know you,

I walked with you once upon a dream

I know you,

The gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam

And I know it's true

That visions are seldom all they seem

But if i know you

I know what you'll do

You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.

As I sing the words over and over again Merry smiles and I dance around with him following along. I glance up to see the men staring at me longingly and I stop suddenly and give Merry a quick bow. I turn to Eomer who is now standing a few feet away and as I start over I take his hands in mine and lead him in a waltz. He smiles at me as he quickly picks up the dance and starts to twirl me around the room as I hear the men now sing out the lyrics.

I laugh as they sing out behind me while banging the rhythm out against the tables. Suddenly one of the other soldiers appears and tapping Eomer on the shoulder asks for a chance to dance with me. Eomer nods and giving me a smile and a quick bow walks away. I turn to the soldier and smile as he places his hands on my waist and we start dancing. This happened for a few more turns before I see a familiar hand touch the soldier's shoulder and I turn to see Legolas.

"May I?" I hear him ask and the soldier nods to him before turning to me and saying, "Thank you my lady." I nod giving him a pleasant smile before I feel one of Legolas's hands find my waist while the other grasps my hand. I stare at him fear filling my body; but it suddenly fades as he gives me a reassuring smile and starts leading me in a waltz as I once again sing out:

I know you,

I walked with you once upon a dream

I know you,

The gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam

And I know its true

That visions are seldom all they seem

But if i know you

I know what you'll do

You'll love me at once, the way you did once upon a dream.

As I reach the end of the song I find myself transfixed on his. His icy orbs were cloudy, mixed with intoxication and longing. The men around me start applauding and cheering and I quickly pull myself out of Legolas's arms and looking around force a smile and giving a quick nod walk out of the hall and out into the cool night air. What was I thinking? I look up into the night sky and breathe in and out as I try to calm my now racing heart. "Dammit!" I cry out as I walk back and forth along the top of the stairs.

Why had he danced with me? Why had he even looked at me that way? Wasn't he angry with me about my lie? I stop walking and looking out over the plains wrap my arms around myself as I say to myself, "I am so confused." I hear footsteps behind me and I turn to see my father walking toward me. 

"Are you alright my child?" He asks as he stands beside me. 

"I don't know anymore," He gives me a confused look and I sigh as I say, "I may have let it slip to Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli that I know the future; and that even though I knew it I couldn't save Boromir nor Haldir." He stares at me for a moment not sure what to say before he clears his throat and follows my gaze out over the valley.

I look at him for a moment before I turn back to moonlit valley and sigh as I say, "I know everyone's fate cept my own. How can I go on knowing that?" 

"Knowing one's fate and changing it are two separate matters my dear. You cannot change ones fate." 

"Then is Saruman right? Am I fated to follow in Sauron's footsteps? I mean I know he's not my father but somehow I am connected to him." 

"I said you cannot change someone else's fate; but perhaps you can change your own." I stare at him for a moment before he gives me a quick smile and walks back inside.

I turn back to face the valley and taking a deep breath say to myself, "Change my fate. Okay, now how the hell do I do that?" 

A few minutes pass before once again I hear a noise behind me and turn to see Legolas walking out toward me. I feel my body straighten as my heart starts to race. "Can I help you?" I ask as I fold my arms over my chest. 

"Peditham hi sui vellyn?" He says and I sigh as I reply, "Ú-iston," He walks up to me and putting his hand on my shoulder says, "An ngell nîn," I quickly pull out of his embrace as I reply, "Fine, what do you wanna talk about?"

His hand lingers for a moment before he pulls it back to his side his fist clenched. "Why did you not mention that Gandalf was your father?" 

I roll my eyes as I say, "And why should I have had too? It's not like it's any of your business anyway." 

His eyes narrow as he says, "You are mad at me, Why?" 

My mouth gapes in anger as I say, "Well let's just name the reasons shall we? For starters instead of talking to me about it you believed the lie that Sauron was my father; Or perhaps that every time I try to talk to you, you ignore me yet I'm supposed to answer when you call no I don't think so."

He gulps down a breath of air as he says, "Amin hiraetha, _____." 

"Sorry, you're sorry!" I yell out my anger getting the better of me. "What is going on with you? One minute you're as cold as ice the next you're a raging fire, I swear you're giving me whiplash. What do you want from me?" His icy eyes search mine as he thinks of what to say. I start to turn away again when he grabs my elbow holding me in place. "Melamin," My body freezes at the sudden endearment.

Slowly I turn back to see his eyes full of sadness and longing. "What?" I say my eyes staring deep into his. 

"I was wrong to treat you the way I did. I should have talked to you before passing judgment." 

I smirk as I say, "It's just your father in you." He smiles as he reaches up and gently starts running his fingers along my jawline. I gulp down a breath of air as his lips start to near my own; but before they touch I push away from him and say, "I can't do this. I can't be what you want me to be." 

He stares at me confused before he asks, "Mankoi?"

I sigh as I walk out of his grasp and back to the edge of the balcony, "Because I don't know what is to become of me. I may not be Sauron's daughter but he did something to me when I was very young and because of that he has some weird connection to me." He starts to walk over to me but I hold my hands up as I say, "Please don't, I don't want you to end up like your father." 

"What do you mean?"

 I sigh as I say, "Legolas I know your future, and I am not in it." He stares wide eyed at me and he opens his mouth to say something but just shakes his head and turns around. I grit my teeth as I watch him walk back toward the Great Hall. Right before he reaches the door he turns around and says, "Quel kaima mela en' coiamin,"

My heart clenches as he walks back inside. I didn't want him to go but I couldn't get his hopes up just in case I was to fall in the upcoming battle; or if I was to end up becoming just another pawn in Sauron's evil plot. I look back toward Fili and smile slightly as I walk over to him and giving him a quick pat curl up beside him and quickly fall asleep.