It was strange how easy it was to get up at dawn, after one was used to going to sleep on time. I had discovered that dawn was a very pretty time of day, when the dew was still wet, and the rays of sun were just beginning to touch the earth. Not to mention the peace and quiet of the countryside. It had become almost second nature for me to get up, and silently dress, without waking Andrea.

I glanced at her, still asleep on her bed. I was so glad to have her back, especially since I figured we were stuck here, at least for now. She'd been at an inn, in a small town, not too far from where I parted with the fellowship. I remembered walking in to the stuffy inn, after a long day of riding, and glancing around only to see her. Andrea had been huddled in the corner, by the window. I'd immediately made my way over to her. When she spotted movement out of the corner of her eye, she turned and a sudden happiness had lit up her face. We'd hugged, of course, but hadn't made a big deal of it, like so many characters in cliché movies. I brought her with me, to find a place to live, while we tried to figure out how to get home. A thought struck me, and I realized that Andrea had never told me what had happened to her, once we'd been separated by the portal-thing. I shrugged and left the room.

I walked outside and breathed in the still night chilled air from last night. It was the perfect time to do some hunting. Grabbing my newly purchased bow and a handful of arrows, I made my way over to the little woods near the farm house. In a matter of time, I'd caught two rabbits, and what I thought to be a pheasant, but since I really wasn't a bird expert, it was only a guess. I thought about heading back to the house, when I heard someone clear their throat behind me. I turned, trying and failing to ready my bow as I did so, and saw someone I had not expected.

"Hello, Jemma." Strider greeted me.

"Hello," I replied back, "Goodness! Did you have to scare me so badly? I think I nearly had a heart attack."

"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Ok, I assume there's a reason you're here, and not off helping Frodo get the ring to Mordor?"

"Yes. The reason being, I would like to ask for your help in a battle."

"I can't."

"And why not?"

"I..well I found my sister, and I refuse to leave her alone again, or take her into the battlefield. She doesn't belong in a place like that. And neither do I , come to think of it."

"I think you're quite handy with the bow, a new skill?" He asked, raising his eyebrows, "But nonetheless, I've seen your handiness in a tight situation, and I know you'd be helpful in this. Surely, we can have your sister stay at the camp?"

I studied him, and noticed something different. He seemed cleaner, and his clothes were less ragged. Has he already returned to the throne? I pondered, which didn't make sense. I hadn't thought we had been here that long, of course with Andrea and I popping into their world like this, the timeline was surely to be a little bumpy.

"I'm not sure. Why don't you come back to our little house, and we can discuss it?"

He nodded, and picked up the rabbits, which I'd dropped when I turned to see him, and said, "Lead the way."

When we returned to the house, I saw that Andrea was already at work in her little garden, tending to the small sprouts. Her back was turned to us, and I heard her soft voice singing a song she'd written.

"Andrea! I'm back! And I brought...a friend with me." I called to her, playing a smile on my lips when she turned and waved at us.

"Do you want to get a fire going? We might as well cook some of this meat, since we have a guest, and since I'm sure neither of us has eaten yet."

"Of course!" Andrea called happily, and went inside.

"Mind helping me clean these? It'll be faster that way."

"Sure." Strider responded.

I set my bow and arrows near the door of the house, and then the pheasant on a small wooden table I'd bartered for the last time we were in town.

"So, I haven't exactly told her everything that went on, when I was with you guys." I started.

"Well, what does she know?"

"She knows I traveled with a group of guys for a while, before running into Brandon. Saying goodbye to you guys, and finding her at an inn." I summed up.

"I see." Strider acknowledged, "But it might be important to tell her that we were of noble intent when you traveled with us."

"Yes." I told him, a smile breaking on my lips.

We finished skinning the rabbits and pheasant and brought in the meat for Andrea to start cooking, and strapped the furs to the 'tanning' rack I'd made. Sure, it wasn't exactly a tanning rack, but it did the job, and provided some good, usable furs for clothes and things.

I held the door open, and gestured for Strider to enter our little abode. He stepped in, taking in the bedroom door at the far end, a kitchen, and another area where there were chairs gathered around a cold fire pit. The fire in the kitchen was crackling happily below a pot of nearly boiling water. Andrea stood above the pot, adding little bits of vegetables to the water, preparing to make stew.

"Please, make yourself at home." I told him, gesturing to the chairs in the living room, and also to the few chairs around a small table between the kitchen and living room.

He sat down, and looked to me.

"As I said, I need your help."

"What do you need her help with?" Andrea asked, looking at our guest.

"He wants help with a battle. I told him I couldn't." I told her quietly.

"Jemma! I'm surprised at you! Since when are you not in a helpful mood? Of course she'll help! And I will too." Andrea told Strider, who grinned.

"And you were worried about your sister, I like her. She's got a good fighting spirit." Strider gave me a smile. Great, now that Andrea had agreed to help, I didn't see a good way of getting out of this without agreeing. I sighed.

"I suppose we could help out a little, but Andrea, you have to stay at the camp."

"But…."

"No questions about it. I will not have you endangering your life. Imagine what our parents would say, if they found out you'd been hurt, or killed. No, I won't have any of that."

"You're no fun anymore." Andrea muttered.

"Well, since you've agreed to help, we need to leave as soon as possible."

"Why? Is it because the battle's about to begin?"

"Worse. The battle has already started, and I'm afraid the tables of chance are turning."