<I don't think the Ungoliant they face is anywhere near at the power of the Ungoliant that ate the fucking Trees.  Or - who knows, really.  I just know Ungoliant does still lurk somewhere along the hobbits' path through Mordor, probably in an annoyingly otherwise-impassable way because that's just what Mordor is like, and they do get past her without taking a lasting injury that I know about ->  Except that she does recall Samwise Gamgee abandoning his pots and pans, and a lot of Frodo's resilience against Sauron was surely affected by morale - <There was something about stairs?  Maybe?  But I disgress.  And I think I might tell a lie, when it comes to what constitutes injury - for in this matter, injury to the heart is fell enough, with what is all but a piece of Sauron's soul wearing at Frodo the whole damn time - and I do think they sacrifice many things that would make especially hobbits heartsore for their lack, to push onwards in Mordor.  Whatever could be done that would not draw Sauron's eye, there...  It might help.  Though perhaps - well, the Council of Elrond is coming soon, surely, and many who will be there are surely clever enough to find things I would not think I know, so maybe - but then, memory does fade, if hardly on so short a scale as days ->

<...Damn, do I wish I had a map.  Not that it would be - overly helpful alone especially considering the translation issues...  I'd probably have to pull one into being from the primordium, to actually - reverse-engineer something like a timeline from the journeys - but I am hardly Eru Illuvatar to be able to constrain the infinite possibilities of what is Not and yet could be so finely, so that's hardly a viable plan even if I could materialize the entire Legendarium.

<And - I think one of those battles is where the Witch King gets fatally stabbed, or that at least you've put me onto something, because now that I'm thinking of it, Rohan rings a bell...  It's - the Rohirrim?  Maybe?  I think it's one of the Riders who is the woman who fulfills Glorfindel's prophecy.>  There are definitely some associations with cavalry.

<Also, "The beacon is lit, Gondor calls for aid!"?>

<...I think that line is from Helm's Deep, but I haven't seen the movies.  The amount that I know I do not know but could have known...  It's quite frustrating.>

<...Lorien is a place name I recognize; I...>

<I know nothing more than 'it's familiar'.  I don't think there's - but there could be - but, no, wouldn't that have been - no, the speculation's useless.>

<...For that matter, I could swear I recognize Osgiliath as well, but I definitely don't know anything about anything that might happen there.  What I wouldn't give for an Internet connection...>

<...I should probably actually think about that one, if I have to do multiverse shit anyway.  Won't be remotely fast nor easy, though.  I've nothing to anchor it with, not even - well, that's private.>

 <Gondor calls for aid from Rohan?  There is no surprise there.  I hope Rohan will be in a situation to answer...  Elrond has good maps at Rivendell; the best between Gondor and Mithlond.>

<And do not be frustrated.>  He squeezes her hand.  <What I could have done just this year, had I known earlier that Saruman was a traitor ->  He shakes his head. <But I did the best I knew at the time, and I must not fault myself.>

He turns to the Rangers (while still echoing the meaning of his words in osanwe to Alicia).

"This is better news than any of us hoped.  She is from another world, outside all of Arda, but she has read - something like a book written with Foresight of what has recently happened here, and what will happen.  She knew who I was, and what Frodo carries, and some of the threats we would have faced."

Halbarad's arms on the reins around Alicia tighten momentarily with shock.  "How!?  And will she help - though she's just a child?"

"She knows not how.  I know not either... but I am ready to trust it.  And she is happy to help, though 'how' will have to be decided...  Unfortunately, she did not know it was Foresight at the time, so she did not read as much as she now wishes she had."

Halbarad sighs a long slow sigh.

"I suppose that settles whether there's anyone in all Middle-Earth who can speak her language.  And Rivendell is exactly the right place to take her.  But I wish there were other children there...  Is there anything we should do right now?"

(Gandalf translates by osanwe, adding that if he remembers correctly Halbarad has several children of his own.)

...Alas that Halbarad comes from a place of such kindness with those concerns, for she must turn them away for duty.

<There is little that can be done but our best, Halbarad - but this I must tell you; I cannot spare the time for yet more childhood with what has fallen to my shoulders, for all that I appreciate that you would care.  ...Besides, I'm older than I look -> A statement truer than anyone would know, except perhaps Gandalf - or Mithrandir?  ...She should probably ask him about that, actually - <, though I'm sure I know exactly how that sounds.  Still, it is true.>

<...I have been remiss in not asking - what name would [you-Gandalf] prefer I use?>

<Ah, thank you - I have been both "Gandalf" and "Mithrandir" for many long years, and I am just as fine with either.  One day, if all goes well, I may be "Olorin" again... but that day has not yet come.>

He translates the earlier part of her response to Halbarad.  He considers adding that what he's seen in her spirit makes him agree it's true, but - at least for now, until he's asked Alicia herself and perhaps Elrond - he decides not to disclose it.

Halbarad sighs.  "Alas for the war.  Valar grant that it end soon."

(Adrahil nods.)

After a minute, he adds, "If Alicia has read Foresight... then she knows who's in Rivendell?" 

<Some.  Surely not every citizen, but if you mean the notable figures...  Perhaps most, albeit not all by the names they'd actually use, because Tolkien decided to Anglicize most of the names of men and hobbits - ...and also the dwarves, in part, because some of their names as written were English words, albeit possibly simply transliterated ones instead of Tolkien playing some bizarre cultural-phonemic game of telephone - er - whoops, idioms - passing notes through half a dozen intermediary stages until what was put in is almost unrecognizable as what came out - but the Sindarin is the same.

<I swear there were notes about that particular process that I'd read of, come to think, but damn if I recall the slightest details.>

Enough connotations come through Alicia's wordless osanwe that Gandalf actually has some idea what a telephone is.  He raises his bushy eyebrows in amazement.

<Ah... it's clear you know Frodo and Sam the hobbits; unfortunately they do not have enough osanwe to talk with you yet...  Elrond Half-Elven is master of the house, and a great healer.  Aragorn is Chieftain of the Rangers and rightful king of Arnor and Gondor; he plans to join the Quest.  I am sure Halbarad plans to present you to Aragorn, and I would introduce you to Elrond as well if you can give any help to Frodo.>

<I believe it would be worth the trying, to do.>

...Dear gods she is going to be part of the Fellowship of the Ring.

<...Though, come to think of it, as I am not trained for a Light-healer, and from how the metaphysics of the forces I wield shakes out, perhaps what I should be doing is introducing Light-work to Sam.  He's[he-has] the personality for it, I think.  >

<...but then the Eye.  Damn and blast Sauron...  ...but then, could I...>

Her thoughts trail off into a maelstrom of proto-ideas.

Gandalf smiles at the thought of Sam as a healer.  By Elven standards, he would be well suited for it if he had the strength of song-magic.

A lot of hobbits would be, in fact.  That's one thing he's always liked about them.  But Sam even more than most.

As they go down a steep zig-zagging path into a mist-covered valley below (with snow-capped mountains in the distance), they can hear the singing of Elves - songs with a hint of sorrow in them, this time, unlike the merry songs Bilbo had heard long ago, but still songs that feel more encouraging than despairing.

The air grows warmer as they descend into the forested valley, but not just warmer but almost tangibly more comfortable around them.  Halbarad and Adrahil straighten up more, with resolute smiles.

And then, they approach a narrow stone bridge over a small stream - and behind it, a lithely-built sprawling spacious house (with smaller outbuildings all around it) that is built with artistry as if it's trying to be a part of the rocks and forest around it.

An Elf, Erestor, is waiting on the bridge to greet them - he's seen their horses descending into the valley, and came out to see what brought them back so soon.  "Mae govannen!" he says in Sindarin.  "Hail and well-met!"

He holds out his hand to take Adrahil's bridle, but isn't surprised at all when Adrahil shakes his head.

"A child?  A human child?" he says, peering at Alicia curiously.  "Is she a new Dunedain to be fostered here?  What brought her into the wilds?"

Gandalf translates for Alicia, and answers, "No, from much farther off than that.  And she has heard what seems to be some important Foresight...  We must tell Elrond.  And Aragorn."

...It's a beautiful place, and she is not ashamed to admire it, nor the magic in the air.

She nods, at what Gandalf says.

Elrond is singing magic next to Frodo's bed when he hears (by osanwe) that Gandalf has returned.

He sings back the darkness again, warmth spreading up Frodo's arm from the hand he's holding, but still without any more clue as to the darkness's origin.  He glances at the obvious culprit - the One Ring itself, chained around Frodo's neck in a way that leaves him wondering whether Frodo has chained up the Ring or the other way around - but once again he decides that, no, there needs to be some other cause for the darkness in Frodo.  He saw Isildur, after all, with the Ring chained around his neck.  He saw Bilbo, with the Ring in his pocket.  There was not yet such darkness in either of them.

And then he hears Gandalf himself telling him to come down to the Outer Aspen Hall at once if he can.

He nudges Sam, who's half-asleep on the chair watching his master, and tells him what's happened.  Sam nods, of course; and stays, of course.

The Outer Aspen Hall is one of the rooms more reminiscent of Doriath, as some of the Elves will tell you from personal experience.  Elrond has long since made his peace with how he himself is not one of them.  But he does appreciate how the treelike walls and green veined roof of the room (some of the wood still live) look like you are in a forest.

He enters, by himself, and gives a brief nod to the two Dunedain and a deeper nod to Gandalf.  They've brought back a human child with them - a girl-child, who doesn't look like a Dunedain, who is looking much more composed and mature than Aragorn usually did at that age.

"Hail and well-met," he says, in Westron for the girl's sake since she probably doesn't speak Sindarin.  "What brings you back so soon?"

Gandalf smiles to his old friend (and echoes in osanwe to Alicia.)

"Alicia has come here from outside Arda, it seems.  For certain, she does not speak any language that we know; I have been forced to speak with her in wordless osanwe.  And she has read a strange book with what might be called Foresight about us, including ..." (he glances at Halbarad and Adrahil, who don't know his origins) "... some of my ancient deeds that few now know.  And she wishes to help.  But she can tell you more herself."

Elrond isn't a demonstrative person.  He raises his eyebrows in surprise.

He steps forward and takes Alicia's hand for osanwe, if she'll let him, and says again, <Hail and well-met; I am Elrond, if you know my name?>

<As it happens, I do recognize it, yes.  You are a figure of some import in the events to come, if I have what fragmentary pieces of the timeline I do know lined up right.>

<I am also told that you are the one to speak with should I hope that I might have applicable skills in the treatment of what besets Frodo?>