Of Futures Past (Legolas)

1

The blonde beauty, forest green eyes flashing, was shaking her head at her mentor, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Why should I not come with you?" Alana, a lady of half-elven, half-Istari blood, asked, raising an eyebrow at the old wizard.

"Alana, have you seen the future of this action?" Gandalf asked in reply.

Alana, gifted with foresight and not used to her abilities being tampered with, huffed frustratedly. "No, it is hidden from me."

Gandalf smiled cryptically. "There you have your reason. You will accompany Frodo and Samwise Gamgee to the Prancing Pony and await my arrival."

Alana scowled. "Very well. I am not happy to be told what to do, but Frodo is in need of protection. When we meet again, I expect every detail of your meeting with Saruman."

Gandalf's eyes twinkled and Alana internally knew he was laughing at her frustration, as he often was. This did not bother her, though, for she was fond of the wizard and took great pride in being his student over all else.

"Good luck, then, Gandalf. I will see you at the Prancing Pony then."

"Same to you, my dear Alana." 

With that, the two parted ways, Gandalf heading towards Isenguard, while Alana turned towards the Shire.

Within a week of walking, then another week of riding when she retrieved her horse from Rivendell, she arrived at the Shire, knocking impatiently on the door of Bag End. Much to her surprise, instead of being greeted by Frodo, she instead was met with the unpleasant face of Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. 

"Where's Frodo?" Alana asked as politely as she could, though a strange anxiety fell on her chest. She saw brief flashes of Nazgul chasing after four hobbits.

"He's sold us Bag End, and has just gone off this morning to live in Crickhollow a few miles north of Bucklebury." Lobelia said proudly, opening the door wider so that Alana could see the inside of the beautiful hobbit hole.

Alana didn't bat an eye at this show of her wealth, being both a wizard's daughter and a princess of Lothlorien, and instead gave a curt thank you, before mounting her horse and hurrying towards Frodo's new home.

As Alana passed on a forest road, she got another vision, leading her into the woods by the edge of a farm. She kissed her horse, Melian, on the nose and sent her on her way, knowing the hobbits were to travel on foot.

Waiting some time, only a good half-hour, the four hobbits from her earlier vision came tumbling out of the farm and onto the road where Alana was patiently waiting, sharpening one of her daggers.

"It's good to see you again, Frodo. I was quite worried when you weren't home." Alana grinned, despite the unpleasant reasons for their meeting.

Frodo smiled in relief and hugged the woman gladly, followed by Sam, while the other two hobbits stared in awe at the beautiful elf-woman with rich golden hair and forest-green eyes.

"Who is she Frodo? I didn't know you knew an elf!" One of them exclaimed.

"I am Alana, Gandalf's apprentice. And you two are?" Alana chuckled at the mischievous-looking hobbits, feeling some of the unease in her heart waver, though her mind was focused on Frodo who was staring down the road forlornly.

"Meriadoc Brandybuck, at your service. You can call me Merry, though." The one who'd spoken before said, while giving a playful bow.

"I'm Peregrin Took, my lady. Call me Pippin." The second hobbit reached for her hand and kissed it, causing Alana to laugh out loud.

"What a pair of gentlemen."

"Thank you, my lady."

"Alana is fine, friends. We shall be journeying together for many days, so titles are quite unnecessary."

"You're coming with us then?" Pippin asked. 

"Of course, my dear hobbits. I can't let you travel alone with no protection, can I?"

As Alana said this, a sudden stroke of discomfort fell over her and just as she had a vision of a Black Rider on the road, Frodo yelled out, "Get off the road!"

Alana quickly crawled into a large tree well with the four hobbits, sitting beside Frodo. Soon, her vision came to life as the slow clop of hooves sounded above their hiding place. The loud breath of the Nazgul made Alana squirm uncomfortably and when she managed to clear her head, she looked over to see Frodo pulling out the Ring on a chain, about to put it on his finger. Desperately, she reached over and wrapped her hand around the ring while Sam got Frodo's attention.

In hindsight, Alana knew that was very unwise, for the Ring might have corrupted her, but all she could think about was the burning sensation on her hand and its spreading pain. Soon after she grabbed the Ring, The Nazgul left and Alana let go, holding back a whimper at the blistering, burnt flesh of her hand. 

"Let's go, we must hurry." Alana said, standing from the tree well and following the hobbits through the forest towards the ferry.

Though she was the most swift-footed of them, being half-elf and having much longer legs, she stayed at the back of the group, only faltering when she heard the screams of the Nazgul, clutching her head in agony.

"Alana!" Frodo yelled.

"Go, Frodo! I am fine." Alana replied, regaining her footing, though her pain was evident in her expression.

They continued running, but soon the horses of the Nazgul could be heard and Alana urged Frodo to run faster, but he was already having trouble keeping up.

As they neared the ferry, the Nazgul had almost reached them, and in a fit of desperation, Alana turned and threw up a barrier stopping the Nazgul temporarily. Unfortunately, Alana not being a full wizard, she had much less power than Gandalf, and could only hold up a barrier against a foe as powerful as this for a few moments. 

Those few moments happened to be all Frodo needed to jump onto the ferry, and upon hearing the hobbits yells of her name, she dropped the barrier and sprinted as fast as she could, grateful for her elven abilities that allowed her to jump the many feet between the dock and the ferry.

Drained both from the injury from the Ring, that throbbed painfully now that her adrenaline was fading, and the exhaustion of putting up a barrier against a Nazgul, Alana felt herself struggling to stay upright and keep her eyes open.

"It is alright, Alana. You may rest now. We will wake you when we reach the shore." Frodo said, echoed by the other three hobbits. 

Making eye contact with all four of them and seeing only determination, Alana acquiesced and let her body fall limp against the barge, her burnt hand resting in the water.

The soothing rocking of the ferry allowed Alana to get some rest, readily preparing herself for the excessive use of her powers that would likely occur during this journey.