A tall elderly man dressed in white robes slowly approached Merry and Pippin and me. The man was carrying a large staff in his right hand.

A bright white light illuminated behind him. "Who are you? What do you want with us?" I demanded.

The old man raised his hand. "Do you not remember who I am?"

"No."

The man took one more step. His face became more visible. He looked familiar. His voice sounded familiar.

"G-G-Gandalf?" stuttered Pippin. "You're alive?"

"Yes. I am, young Peregrin."

"B-But, how, Gandalf? We thought you were dead. When we were in Moria, you fell!"

"From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth. Darkness took me. And I strayed out of thought and time. But, it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I was once known as Gandalf the Grey. Now, I return to you as Gandalf the White."

"How did you manage to find us?" asked Merry, in bewilderment.

"Never underestimate the powers of a wizard, young Meriadoc. We are smarter and wiser than we look."

"Why are you here, Gandalf?" I asked him, curiously.

"I have some important matters that must be discussed. Most of them concern you, my dear, Brianna."

I turned around and looked at Merry and Pippin with a worried expression on my face. Then, I fixed my gaze back on Gandalf.

"What about me? What happened?"

"You were taken hostage by a band of Uruk-Hai, am I correct?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"An Uruk-Hai, by the name of Uglúk, told Saruman that he saw a young human girl alongside two halflings. Saruman warned Uglúk that you were the child of the halfling that bears the Ring of Power. So, Saruman has sent all of his spies after you. They are coming for you, Brianna. You must be very careful."

I felt like my life was in danger. "What am I going to do?" I snivelled. "I can't outrun them. I'm too small and too vulnerable! There's no way that I...."

"What is that on your finger?" Gandalf interrupted.

"What ring?" I asked. I glanced down at my left hand and saw the ring that Galadriel had given me. "Oh, It was a gift from Galadriel."

"Nenya? She offered it to you freely?"

I nodded my head in agreement. "She also gave me this." I pulled out a silver elvish crown with many diamonds engraved into it.

"Galadriel is heading towards the White Towers in the East." Gandalf mumbled under his breath.

"To the Grey Havens. To Valinor. Her days in Middle-Earth are over. You are lucky to bear such gifts."

"I don't understand. What is so special about her ring?" inquired Merry. "Isn't it just an ordinary ring?"

Gandalf shook his head. "No, Merry. It is not like other rings. In the early days of Middle-Earth, during the Second Age, magical Rings were forged for all races. Three Rings were given to the Elves. These Rings were forged by the Elven-Smiths of Eregion, led by Celebrimbor.

The names of these elven Rings are: Narya, the Ring of Fire, Nenya, the Ring of Water, and Vilya, the Ring of Air. Nenya is also known as the White Ring or the Ring of Adamant, made from pure Mithril. Anyone who bears this Ring will be protected and concealed from all evil."

"So, this Ring will protect me?" I felt as if a great weight had been lifted off. I chuckled quietly to myself. "Wow. I am lucky." I took the elven crown that I held in my hands and placed it around my forehead.

Merry and Pippin were awe-struck by me. "You look...." said Pippin.

"Elvish." Merry continued Pippin's sentence.

"Oh...Thank you." I grinned.

Gandalf placed his hand on my shoulder. "Do you still have it?"

"Have what?"

"Remember the vial I gave to you?"

"The one that lets me see into the future? I have it in my coat pocket."

"Did you use it?"

"Not yet."

"If you ever decide to use it, you will have to be extra careful. The side effects can be dangerous. Do not drink it all at once." There was a grim expression of Gandalf's wrinkled face. "Do you understand?"

I shoved my hand into my coat pocket and clutched onto the vial. "Yes, Gandalf."

"That's a good dear. Now that I have shared my news with you, it is time for me to part with you."

"Where are you going to go?"asked Pippin, anxiously.

"I am going to search for Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye."

There was a giant flash of light and Gandalf disappeared right in front of me.

"What do we do now?" I askedMerry and Pippin.

"I think we should go and look for Treebeard." replied Merry.