THE LAST SEER

By: The Carefree Quill

Summary: A girl with unusual visions of another world suddenly finds herself thrown into it.  It is basically the Fellowship through the eyes of Miranda.  An Adventure/Friendship fiction.

Disclaimer: All characters (Except Miranda) are owned by JRR Tolkien and New Line Cinema.  No infringement intended.

**Teacher**

It was a foggy San Francisco morning and Miranda held the suitcase that contained everything she owned in the world.  She reached up to sweep a wayward lock of deep auburn hair from her face and blinked back the tears that threatened to drown her cool green eyes.  She stood in the driveway and stared up at the Victorian home.  Its gingerbread paint scheme was beginning to flake showing signs of age and neglect.  Miranda looked up at the bay window.  A young boy with tears in his eyes waved to her and then disappeared. 

"Poor Kevin," Miranda said.  "I will miss him."

Mrs. Carver ignored the comment and just opened the trunk to put Miranda's suitcase inside. 

"Get in, Randi," Mrs. Carver said.

"I don't want to go," Miranda said quietly.

"We have no choice, Randi," Mrs. Carver said sadly as she sat behind the wheel.  "You are a ward of the state, and we are no longer your guardians."

"Did I do something wrong?" Miranda asked, nearly choking on the lump in her throat.

"No, you did something right," Mrs. Carver said brightly.  "You've earned a scholarship at the premier boarding school in the state, which just happens to be right here in the city."  It had been Mr. Carver who had done something wrong.

"But I won't have a family anymore," Miranda said dejectedly. Even a slightly dysfunctional family was better than no family at all.

"Neither will I," Mrs. Carver said quietly.  Her husband's drinking and violence had destroyed her home and her foster care license was revoked.  She was divorcing him, but the damage had been done.

All the children were being placed in other homes, but Miranda was fourteen, and the boarding school had wanted her.  It was a catholic facility, and they were required by their order to invest in at least two charity cases per year, and if that charity case just happened to be a straight 'A' student, so much the better.

They rode in silence the rest of the drive to the school.  It was located on a lovely estate near Twin Peaks.  It was secluded and surrounded by a thick wooded area with a charming pond near the south end of the property.  It was also surrounded by a ten foot rod iron fence with a gate.  The main building itself was an ancient granite structure with some sort of illustrious history.  It was gray and foreboding and Miranda thought it looked like a prison.  She was going to be a prisoner of the St. Mary's penguins.  It was the end of her family, the end of her childhood and the end of her freedom. 

*****

Miranda sat in an uncomfortable wood chair in the office of Mother Superior, the head Mistress of the school.  Reverend Mother Mary James was an older woman, perhaps in her sixties, with a face creased in wrinkles that seemed to reflect a face of constant frowns and glares.  Miranda sat very still, trying to keep good posture, and waited for the nun to speak.  She was being judged. It was obvious from the smug look on the nun's face as she looked her over.

"An orphan," she said bluntly.  Her tone denoted a great deal of distaste, and an expectance of constant trouble.

"Yes, Ma'am," Miranda said quietly.

"I am Mother Superior here and you will address me as such, or Reverend Mother.  The nuns here will be addressed as Sister," Mother Superior corrected.

"Yes, Mother Superior, I am sorry," Miranda said apologetically.  She wasn't catholic and resented being placed here, but she didn't want to tick off the principal on the first day.

"You'll get no special consideration here," Mother Superior said firmly.  "You will be expected to follow the rules the same as everyone else.  I will tolerate nothing but the most obedient of students in this school.  Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Mother Superior," Miranda said quietly.  She stared at the floor.  She wasn't in prison, she was in hell…

"You will go with Sister Mary Stewart to be measured for your uniforms.  Then she will show you to your quarters," Mother Superior said flippantly as she waved her off.

Perfect.  She'd take a slap across the face from a plastered Mr. Carver any day over this dismissive indifference.  At least he felt bad when he sobered up enough to see the bruise.

*****

Miranda had been at the school for a week when she discovered they still believed in corporal punishment.  One of the other girls had been caught trying to steal the answers to a math test.  She had been calmly led away to Mother Superior's office, and the horrifying sound of a wooden pointer slicing through the air and hitting flesh was heard for twenty minutes.  Miranda was horrified.  The girl had been confined to her room for a week.  Miranda noticed that it was the first day she had ever seen Mother Superior with a smile on her face.  Miranda thought she was going to be sick.

That is when she formulated her plan.  She would become a model student, quiet, submissive and invisible.  She was already the soft spoken type, not quite mousy, but definitely not very chatty.  She had been fortunate enough to be placed in one of the few single rooms, and she used it as a haven.  She rarely was seen anywhere on the grounds other than during class or meal times.

 The plan kept her out of trouble, but it was slowly driving her crazy.  Cabin fever, that's what it was.  The walls were closing in.  She had a hard time even sleeping any more, and one sleepless night she decided to risk breaking curfew.

The moon was full, and from her third story window she could see the pond, smooth as glass, reflecting the moonlight and beckoning to her.  It was two in the morning, and Miranda figured she could get out without being caught.  She just had to go out there, she needed to be outside.  She threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, grabbed her jacket and picked up her shoes. 

Miranda lightly padded down the hall, and crept down the back stairs.  The kitchen had a window that was usually open, and she carefully climbed out that way.  She stood against the building for a moment, gathering her courage to make the walk across the well manicured formal English garden.  The woods were just beyond it, and the pond was only a little further.  She slipped her shoes on and calmly walked down the path, keeping close to the hedges for the minimal cover it provided.  When she reached the trees, she paused and looked back.  The school seemed even more ugly and frightening at night. 

She turned back to the woods and followed the path to the pond.  She came into the clearing and saw the still water before her, and sighed heavily.  It was so quiet and peaceful.  She walked over to a large rock that sat half in water, and half on shore.  She took off her shoes, sat on the rock, and let her feet dangle in the cool water.  She smiled and closed her eyes.  It was so quiet, so peaceful, so…

"Hello there," a male voice said. 

Miranda's eyes flew open and she jumped off the rock and turned to face the owner of that voice.  He was an old man with a long beard and long hair.  He wore some kind of medieval looking robe and was holding a tall staff and a pointy hat.

"Who…who are you?" Miranda asked.

"My name is Gandalf," he said.  "You seem sad; I thought you might like a friend to talk to."

"Where did you come from?  The gate is always locked," Miranda asked in confusion.

"I didn't come through the gate, child, I came through the pond," he said.

"Excuse me?" Miranda asked.

"I am a wizard, Miranda," Gandalf began.  "I have come a long way to visit you."

"Why would you visit me?" Miranda asked.

"I made someone a promise to look after you," Gandalf said.  "You didn't need me around before, but now, I think it is time you had a proper teacher."

"You know who I am?" Miranda asked.  "Please, tell me who I am."

"You are not ready for such stories, Miranda," Gandalf said sadly.  "When the time is right, I will tell you everything I know."

Miranda didn't like that answer, but decided not to push the issue right now.  "How do you travel through a pond?  And where did you come from?" Miranda asked.

"My home is Middle Earth, a long journey through time from here," Gandalf said.  "When the moon is full, I can visit you here for a short time."

 "You say you are a teacher, what will you teach me?" Miranda asked suspiciously. "Magic?"

"Teaching will come later," Gandalf said.  "Let us start with becoming friends.  Tell me about yourself."

Miranda thought this whole encounter was weird.  She could just be dreaming, which would explain it.  No, she was awake, and he was here, sitting on the bank of the pond with her, asking her about her life.  She didn't know why, but she trusted him.  Despite the insanity of believing such a ridiculous story, she took him at his word.  It was something in his eyes.  They were the eyes of someone who was very wise, and there was a kindness there.  They sat talking for nearly two hours before he rose to leave. 

"The moon is setting, I must leave you," Gandalf said.  "I should like to visit you again next moon, will you meet me?"

Miranda pondered that question a moment.  Her talk with Gandalf had been the most pleasant two hours she'd had in a very long time.  "Yes, Gandalf, I will be here," she said.

"Good, Miranda," Gandalf said.  "I look forward to it."

Gandalf put on his hat, and took his staff in both hands.  He stepped over to the water and said something in a strange language.  A thick mist gathered over the water, and seemed to envelope him.  When the mist disappeared, Miranda was alone again.  She looked at her watch, four thirty.  Great, she had to sneak back in.