Vanáezae awoke the next morning next to the now dead fire. She sat up and looked around. It was almost dawn and it looked like it might rain. Standing she looked closely at the clouds. Something wasn't right, she could feel it. Something is going to happen soon. Vanáezae shook her head and went to wake up the rest of the company. But someone was missing. Gandalf. He was gone and his horse too. He's not supposed to leave until later when they got to the trolls. Her thoughts started screaming 'wrong!'

"Where's Gandalf?" She asked aloud.

"He went to see something," Balin answered. "He said to tell you to follow the trail back three miles. Something about a new arrival?" Balin trailed off as if to ask what it meant.

Vanáezae stilled and she stopped packing her things. Of course, that was it! A person she knew what supposed to come with her through all of this! How could she have forgotten?

"Are you okay?"

She jumped at the voice. Vanáezae looked behind her and saw Kili.

"I have to go," Vanáezae hurriedly said, shoving the remaining items into her bag and putting it on her horse.

"Where are you going?" Thorin demanded, walking up to the pair.

By now, all of the company had their eyes on Vanáezae. Why wouldn't they? She was packing her stuff so fast it made Bombur dizzy.

"Gandalf needs me," she answered, tightening her saddle straps. "I'll be back soon. If we're not back before dawn, leave without us. We'll catch up."

Thorin grunted and went back to what he was doing.

"Be careful Vanáezae," Kili said.

"I will be," she assured, riding into the forest.

Vanáezae rode as fast as she could. Some low tree branches smacked her face leaving scratches. She rode so fast she almost ran into Gandalf on his horse. Vanáezae had to veer left and avoid the collision, almost making her horse fall over in the process. Slowing down to a trot, she turned her horse around and went up to Gandalf.

"There you are," Gandalf sighed, as Vanáezae rode up next to him.

"What is it? What happened?" She asked worriedly.

Gandalf moved his cloak back to reveal a woman. Probably no more than 17. Vanáezae gasped, at a loss for words. Who was she?

"Lady Galadriel alerted me of her. My Lady said that she might be from your world," Gandalf said, turning the unconscious woman towards Vanáezae.

Looking closer she seemed to be wearing clothes from Earth. She had tanned skin and long golden brown hair. But one thing stood out. Her ears were pointed. She was an elf!

"Gandalf. Look, her ears," Vanáezae pointed.

Gandalf nodded, "I know. She is an elf. How? I have no idea. But we must be going. Thorin will have left by now. Here, take her."

He passed her the woman and Vanáezae wrapped the unconscious woman in her black cloak. Thunder sounded above them. The woman was already unconscious, she didn't need a cold when she woke up as well. Gandalf nudged his horse forward and Vanáezae followed after him, keeping a tight hold of the woman. The three would surely catch up to the others soon.

They caught up alright, but not before it started raining. It was straight out pouring when they found them. It took Vanáezae's horse a little bit longer to catch up with the extra weight. But not too long. When Vanáezae rode up to them all heads turned towards her and the unconscious woman in her arms.

"Who is that?" Bofur asked.

"She, is the reason I left so quickly," Vanáezae explained.

Most of the dwarves nodded and continued to mind their own business in the pouring rain. For a long while, everyone was drenched, her the most, and was in a crabby mood.

"Here mister Gandalf! Can't you do something about thus deluge?" Dori yelled up to Gandalf.

"It is raining master dwarf. And it will continue to rain until the rain is done," Gandalf replied. "If you wish to change the weather of the world you should find yourself another wizard."

"Are there any?" Bilbo asked. Bilbo didn't have a cloak either. At least Vanáezae wouldn't be the only one to suffer.

"What?" Gandalf asked.

"Other wizards."

"There are five us us. The greatest of our order is Saruman, the White. Then there are the two blue wizards. You know I've quite forgotten their names-"

"Alatar and Pallando," Vanáezae called to Gandalf.

"Ah, yes. Thank you Vanáezae," Gandalf nodded.

"And who is the fifth?" Bilbo asked.

"Well that would be Radagast, the Brown."

"Is he a great wizard? Or is he more like you?"

Vanáezae gave a snicker. Even though he didn't mean any offence, it was funny. Gandalf looked shocked that Bilbo said that but he quickly recovered.

"I think he is a very great wizard. In his own way. He keeps a watchful eye over the vast forest lands to the East. And a good thing too. For always evil will look to find a foothold in this world."

The rain had stopped and the company arrived at an old farm house. It was destroyed and it looked like it might have been burning at one time. Vanáezae dismounted from the horse, taking the woman with her. Walking towards a log, she set her against it. The woman squirmed a little, but became still. Vanáezae sighed. Whatever happened to the woman, she is going to wake with a bad headache.

"Gandalf!" Vanáezae called behind her. She heard footsteps and a shadow came over her.

"Yes Vanáezae?" Gandalf asked.

"Do you think you can wake her?"

"I'll try. Then you can try to wake her with your powers. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

Gandalf bent down and placed his palm on her forehead. He muttered words in some language for a couple moments. The woman goaned and moved around. Gandalf opened his eyes and took his palm off of her.

"Vanáezae. Use your telepathy to see if you can wake her," he said.

Gandalf stood up and walk towards the farm house, obviously wanting to inspect it. Vanáezae sighed again. She closed her eyes and placed her hand along the woman's temple, concentrating on the woman's mind. Each person has a barrier in their mind. One must get past that to read another's thoughts and talk to them. Most people won't even know that you're in their mind. That is, until you talk to them.

Vanáezae easily got through the barrier and into the woman's mind. A weightless feeling enveloped her own conscious. It felt like floating through space. Images swept passed her but she ignored them. She didn't want to see memories. That is an invasion of privacy.

Instead she concentrated on the light in the background. Tentatively she reached towards it and began to pull it forwards, as if picking up a sleeping animal. The golden light slowly followed suit and began waking. Vanáezae then began to retreat from the other woman's mind, feeling her body move slightly under her hand.

The link was cut off and Vanáezae's mind went back to her own. She opened her eyes and looked down at the woman. She was stirring, so Vanáezae took a small step backwards. The woman opened her eyes and gasped. She sat straight up, gasping for air. Vanáezae smiled, she'd be fine.

"Welcome to the world of the living," Vanáezae joked.

The woman snapped her gaze unto Vanáezae. Anyone could tell that the woman was freaked out. She looked around too quickly to even notice the dwarves and everything else. She noticed the landscape though.

"Where am I?" She asked.

Vanáezae gave a confused look. "Don't you know?"

The woman shook her head looked around again, gasping when she saw the dwarves. Gandalf came over to the two and looked at the woman. The woman could only gape at the approaching wizard.

"Close your mouth or you will catch flies," Vanáezae said. The woman snapped her mouth shut.

"So, what is your name?" Gandalf asked.

The woman stayed quiet and stared at Gandalf. Vanáezae figured that the woman was still in shock and gave Gandalf a pointed look, obviously telling him to leave. Gandalf must've taken the hint and left back towards the company.

Silence passed between the two. "Where am I?" The woman asked again.

"Middle-Earth," Vanáezae answered simply.

The woman stared at Vanáezae as if she had grown a second head. "No. That's impossible. Middle-Earth is just a story, written by J.R.R. Tolkien."

"Well obviously not. You've noticed the dwarves by now, and Gandalf."

"And this isn't some...some LARPing thing?" The woman looked frightened.

"No."

The woman stayed silent before sighing. "Who are you?" She asked.

"My name is Vanáezae," the shape shifter answered. "Do you know how you got here?"

The woman shook her head. "No."

"What is your name?"

The woman hesitated. "Vanadessë."

Vanáezae could easily sense that 'Vanadessë' didn't want to tell her real name, and she was fine with that. Vanáezae looked closer at her. "So you don't remember showing up? Landing in the mud? Or even the ride here?"

She shook her head at each one of the questions. Vanáezae, to say the least, was shocked. Did she hit her head or something?

"I see. Well, there is a stream nearby, and you should wash up," said Vanáezae, gesturing to the woman's torn and muddy clothes. Vanadessë nodded. "Because no offence, you need a bath."

Vanáezae stood and offered her hand to the elf below her. Vanadessë took her hand and Vanáezae pulled her onto her feat. A little ways away Vanáezae could hear the stream.

"Come on," she said, walking her to the stream.

When the two got there Vanáezae told her to look at her reflection. Vanadessë did a once over and gasped.

"What the hell?" She yelled. "I'm an elf! And I'm...covered in mud," Vanadessë said, looking at herself.

"I'll leave you to take a bath. When you're done, yell out 'mellon,' and I'll bring you some clothes," Vanáezae instructed. "You look about my size and at least they're clean. Besides, you'll look like a real elf."

Vanadessë nodded and Vanáezae left her. After an hour of waiting at camp, Vanáezae heard her yell 'mellon.' So she went back to the stream and left her clothes next to a nearby tree.

"The clothes are over here," she called, walking away so Vanadessë could dress. She heard her walk over.

"Can we go?" Vanadessë asked.

Vanáezae nodded and lead her back to camp. Just before the two left the treeline, Vanáezae stopped. "Before you go out there, I have to warn you. The dwarves aren't very fond of elves."

"I know," she said.

"So they may try to ward you off."

"I guess they'll just have to deal with it then," Vanadessë grinned.

Vanáezae laughed, walking forwards. Vanadessë followed and suddenly all eyes were on the two elves.

"Who is this elf?" Thorin spat, gesturing to Vanadessë.

"This elf, is my friend," Vanáezae growled back. "And she is the one Gandalf found earlier."

"My name is Vanadessë Nenaranel," Vanadessë introduced herself, interrupting the two.

"Why are you here?" Thorin asked Vanadessë.

"Well for one, she was unconscious. Two, I wasn't going to leave her there. And again, she's my friend," Vanáezae cut in.

Just then, Fili and Kili burst through the trees. "Bilbo has been captured by trolls!" They yelled.

Vanadessë and Vanáezae looked at each other. The company grabbed their weapons and ran through the trees, two elves staying behind.

"Go find Gandalf," Vanáezae ordered, turning to her friend.

"Why? He'll just come later anyway!"

"Well maybe you should go get him just in case," Vanáezae said, walking towards her horse. Vanadessë followed close behind. "Get on," Vanáezae instructed. Vanadessë nodded and hopped on. "Do you know the way to Rivindell?" Vanadessë nodded again. "Ride there. Gandalf should be on his way back and you might run into him. If not, continue on your way and find Rivindell. Tell Lord Elrond that you're a friend of mine and he'll understand. Now go."

Vanáezae slapped the horses rear end and it sped off, Vanadessë gripping the reigns. Vanáezae turned around and sped off towards the trolls. Transforming into her wolf form along the way. Time to deal with some trolls.

*******

Edited!