"Back," Gandalf shouted and stood. She shoved the crystal top of his shaft into her stomach and light erupted through her vision blinding her. As the light faded darkness took over and pain filed every nerve. "Hurry, bind her wounds. I have bought her a day at most. Hurry we must move."

What had felt like hours had only lasted a minute at most. Boromir, being the largest, bundled his cloak around her and lifted carried her as they ran. Each step felt as if something was tearing at her wounds. Her skin felt thin and frail. Shadows passed over here eyelids as one movement blurred into the next until finally cold fresh air hit her face shocking her awake. Her body had felt like a block of ice, her arms and legs numb.

Her left eye cracked open, her right sealed shut with dried blood, and dense trees blocked the sky passing quickly above her. She could hear hurried conversations but was unable to decipher what was being said.

Her head flopped limply on the end of her neck as she managed to turn it, "We will take the child but the rest must follow." The voices were melodious and sweet. A faint singing filled her ears and made the pain lessen as a smile touched her lips.

"It's ok Ada, I will be ok. She says to be at peace she will do all in her power." Aubrey rasped out. The others jumped and her fathers deep eyes filled her mind. "I promise to be fine," Aubrey forced the whisper between her cracked lips.

Her father visibly choked on his tears as he reached for her but stopped afraid to touch her. The tears quickly disappeared from his eyes and she was met with a puzzling coldness.

Her head bobbled as she was passed from one set of arms to another, her body numb to the pain.

When she next became aware her body felt baked, hot and dry as if left sitting in the sun. Her breaths came quick as her heart jumped and fluttered in her chest.

"Wake child, you are reaching the crisis and if you are to live you must wake." A woman of such cold beauty it would freeze ice, held her in her lap. She rocked Aubrey back and forth singing as she periodically poured a draught into her try mouth and replaced the cool cloths on her neck, wrists and head.

After several days Aubrey fell into a peaceful sleep as the infection left her body. When she next awoke it was wonderfully quiet. Early afternoon light filtered in through the white fabric overhead. Aubrey smiled and let out a relaxed breath, she felt whole. Turning her head, she saw several cots on the floor next to her bed. Two of the cots were occupied by sleeping in habitants.

Aubrey slowly pushed herself up into a sit. She was dressed in a sleeveless warm yellow night gown dotted with little purple star flowers. Her leg! Aubrey hastily threw back the covers to reveal two working legs.

Pulling up the hem of the nightgown her finger traced the angry pink scar of new skin along the top to the inside of her thigh. Then hastily pulling down the shoulder of her night gown she saw that her shoulder was dotted with pale pink jagged scars from the bite.

Slowly swinging her legs over the edge she slowly stood. Her legs felt shaky, as if they had not been used for an extensive period of time. She slowly hobbled over to the cots and crouched down in front of her uncle. He looked older, tired, strained. Smirking she reached out and pinched his nose.

He startled awake and stared up at her, "Aubrey," whispered as if unable to believe that she was leaning over him. He sat up slowly and cupped face in his hands as tears silently down his cheeks and into is beard. "Oh child you will be the death of me," she pulled her onto his lap, tucking her head under his chin and just led her as his shoulder shook.

Someone tugged at her braid and she looked up. "Hey there kid," Aubrey stood and embraced Boromir. "Please don't do that again. Your father , well, your father would not…" his voice trailed off.

"Where is he? I have to let him know I'm ok," Aubrey looked between the two men. They both stood several inches over her and were broad shouldered from battle built muscles. She watched as they exchanged a look. Aragorn turned away from them and to the wardrobe. Aubrey watched puzzled as he selected several items and laid them out on the bed for her.

"Where is he?" she asked again, unnerved by their silence.

"You must be hungry, we will wait outside while you dress. Gimli was left in charge of the hobbits so we will be lucky if there is any food left." As her uncle and Boromir opened the door to leave her the beautiful woman who was singing entered. She silently nodded to the men as the lowered their heads and left, quietly closing the door.

"It is good to see you awake little one," she murmured as she walked over and separated the clothes on the bed from the under things. She walked over and motioned for Aubrey to raise her arms, and then pulled the night gown over her head. Aubrey crossed her arms over her chest and turned her back as the elf woman wrapped light corset around her and began to lace it.

"Your father was greatly distressed by the loss of you and one of his old friends," puzzled by what she said Aubrey turned.

"I'm fine," she looked questioningly at the woman.

"You died in the mines, Gandalf froze your body as it was. He briefly stopped the time around you, stopped you from bleeding and forced your wounds closed. A forced healing as he inflicted on you has its own price. He paid it before leaving that mine. He gave his life to the balrog in exchange for yours. When he died you came back to life. Such magic is ancient and is powered by the strongest force and mystery. Your father has had difficulty processing this. He loves you to a depth only another parent can know. He needs time to mourn and come to terms with your near loss. He is still new to being a parent, be patient. Up," Aubrey lifted her arms and she pulled the shift down over her head followed by the pale green dress. Thoughts whirled through her head in a torrent of emotion. She had died, Gandalf had saved her. Did this change him coming back? Was he truly dead now? This couldn't be. Had her coming back destroyed Gandalf's rebirth as the white wizard? Aubrey felt sick, she reached out and stumbled to take a seat. The elf woman stared at her knowingly.

"You are Galadriel aren't you?"

The woman chuckled, 'That I am and have been for a very long time, there. All dressed. You have grown very thin. You have been asleep for nearly two weeks, its time to get some food past those lips. Come, the others are anxious." Aubrey hesitated, "Do not let such dark thoughts trouble you. Gandalf's fate was in place long before your birth. Perhaps his great sacrifice in love is what allowed for his transformation. Come."

Galadriel led her down the tree, the grass was cool and thick as it tickled the bottom of her feet. She followed her to a clearing that was set with several buffet style tables. The hobbits were frowned around them. Her uncle, Boromir and Gimli stood off to the side with her father. His eyes met hers as they entered. Galadriel took her hand, "I'm glad to see you are all enjoying yourselves."

Her father's face shut down and went blank, "Excuse me," he murmured. Aubrey felt as if she had swallowed a lump of ice as he looked at her with that blank expression and then turned his back and left, leaving her in the clearing. He had looked at her as if she was nothing more than a stranger.

Galadriels arm wrapped around her shoulder as she pulled her against her in a motherly embrace.

The hobbits abandoned their food and Aubrey plastered a smile on her face, pushing away the hurt, and fell to her knees as they surrounded her.

The next few days were spent with everyone forcing food into her every chance they got. She sat at a ? table, her head resting on her arms as she watched Sam and Frodo match off against each other in a game of very intense chess.

The others were pouring over a map, choosing their next move.

"Do you think we could pack a small jar of honey? The healer mentioned it makes a great antiseptic and seals small cuts well." Aubrey asked as Sam captured Frodo's rook.

The men grew silent and she looked up.

Her father was the first to break, "There will not be a we. An us but not we."

"I don't understand," but she did. She had feared they would decide this.

"When we leave the day after tomorrow you will be remaining here. Do not argue this was a unanimous decision."

"You cant do that! It's not fair! I'm a better fighter than the hobbits, why am I being left behind?" she looked around the group but no one would meet her eye.

"Because you are a child. It was a mistake, my mistake, to allow you to come in the first place. And you got hurt, you almost died. You will stay here."

"You can't do that. He can't do that!" She looked around at the other for an ally, but no one would meet her gaze. "Are you serious? You can't do this, we are a team."

"No, we are a team. You are a child, my child. It is my decision and there is no argument."

Aubrey stood and glared at the others, "I got hurt once, once! And yes I almost dies but I'm alive, Im fine now. You don't know what will happen and it was not your fault."

"Exactly, I do not know what will happen! You are not leaving this city and there will be no more discussion on the matter. Now sit down and be quiet or go sulk somewhere else, we are busy." Aubrey glared at the man she called father. She did no know what happened in his head in the mine but before the mine he would never have spoken to her in such a way.

"I hate you, I wish you were mom!" Aubrey screamed and ran out of the clearing.

Aubrey sat in her room and didn't move, she couldn't believe they were leaving this morning without her. Someone knocked on her door, she didn't respond. Boromir walked in uninvited and took a seat next to her on the bed.

"My brother and I lost our mother when we were little. Death does strange things to people around them. Some, like my father and yours, shut everything out. They are afraid to feel anything because they are afraid of the pain. This doesn't make them bad it makes them human, well some human. Here," he held out a carved tree. The branches were delicate and ended in sharp points. It looked like the tree on the door to Moria with the stars.

"This is the white tree of Gondor, it rests in the heart of the city just outside where I grew up. You remind me of me so much, head strong, fearless to a flaw. You need time to heal from your injuries, even the greatest warrior must acknowledge when he or she needs to stay behind."

"I miss my mom. She was brave and strong and she was a really good mom. She never missed a school event or a holiday or my birthday. She should be here, not me. Ada's right, I'm a just a kid. I'm not strong enough or fast enough, I panicked in the mine. That was why I didn't see the ax, I panicked. Boromir, this may not make sense to you now, but when you see uruk-hai with a white hand over its face and a large black bow, promise me to run. They will be fine, but if you don't run you won't be. You will be strong enough to let Frodo go, I know you will. I think you are stronger than even you believe." A tear ran down her cheek, he looked out for her, always has from the beginning. She couldn't bear to see him die. Boromir stared at her. She could feel the thoughts whirling behind his head in confusion. He stared down at her intently. She could feel him wanting to ask more.

Her uncle walked in, "It's time to go."

Aubrey leaned over and kissed Boromir on the cheek before pulling him into a hug, "I will see you later, you can show me all of your favorite places in Minas Tirith."

Aubrey gave her uncle a hug and kiss on the cheek, "I promise to behave myself, Saruman is no longer white. When the new white wizard arrives trust him."

Aragorn gave her a strange look, "You know much more than you are telling. Practice your sword work, we will see you later.

Aubrey said her good byes to everyone as they waited on the banks of the river. Celeborn rested his hands on her shoulders as she stood with the elves and watched them depart.