I do not own LOTR movies and books. Only the OC's are mine. Sorry for any grammar mistakes. R and R!

Bold: black speech.

Italic: thoughts, past events or distant conversation


Slowly, Ethelred opened her eyes; she felt sore and tired. Looking around, she saw Gandalf sitting in a corner with Aragorn and King Théoden was surprisingly there as well.

The girl sat with a groan and the men rushed to her: '' How do you feel?'' the wizard asked.

She rubbed her forehead and her hand moved to her ears; still long and pointy: '' I'm alright… Guess it didn't work eh? '' she said flatly.

The pair slowly shook their heads with an aggravated air. The girl turned to the King: '' My Lord…why are you here?''

'' Half the castle could hear your…roars, but none dared come in here and I was curious.'' He explained uneasily.

Her shoulders sagged; all of this for nothing. She had searched, asked, demanded, waited… and finally found the wizard; only to discover that she would not be fully human again. She slowly rose and put her tunic and cloak back on under the men's stares and walked to the door.

'' Thanks Gandalf for trying and you too m'lord Aragorn. '' She lightly bowed; ''My King.'' She whispered and went outside.

Xxxxxx

The teenager sat at the table's edge, emptying in one shot the big mug of beer she had been working on. She was stuck that way… she would probably never return home and be with her people. Humans will always look at her with fear and disgust for the rest of her life.

'' Don't look so grim, lass.''

She did not even turn her head to see Gimli approaching and sitting beside her.

'' Master dwarf…you're not the one who will look like a monster for the rest of your life.'' She said, grabbing the nearest drink lying around.

'' You don't look like these orcs…you don't look like a monster at all: I'm sure if you go back home, you'll be fine.'' He tried to comfort her with a few taps on her back.

'' I already told you… I tried that and my mother cried at the sight of me. She screamed and told me to never come back.'' She mumbled from under her hood.

'' I remember: that was your mom's reaction. You have a father…and brothers you said; you need to speak to them.''

She gulped down a few mouthful of alcohol: '' Yeah? What if they reject me too? I don't want to see their horrified faces, I don't want to hear their harsh words!''

The dwarf shook his head: '' It is a possibility… but if you don't go to them you'll never know. You can't give up because you're afraid they won't react well. You can't give up because you're afraid to be hurt.''

Gimli was probably right…not that she will listen to him, but it made her think on it. Only her mother had seen her after her…transformation. Furthermore, her and her mother never went along…perhaps it would go better with her father and brothers?

Unconsciously, her eyes sought her father, who was sitting and conversing on the other side of the mess hall. The girl frowned; the man looked serious and was obviously having an argument with one of his fellows. The other rider pushed him violently and her father recoiled.

Ethelred rose and began to walk over there, ignoring Gimli who was calling her, confused by what was happening. She watched her dad answer in the same way, but her eyes traveled on her right: another man was sneaking on him from behind, a dagger in his hand.

Quickly, she moved to stand between them and grabbed the arm holding the weapon, surprising everyone around: '' You touch one hair of his head and I kill you.'' She growled lowly.

Her father turned around, astonished; his eyes widened even more when he saw the other man holding a dagger. He probably never thought a fellow rider would want to seriously injure him. Ethelred clenched the man's wrist so hard he whimpered and let the blade fall.

She turned to her father, suddenly angry: '' Don't be so careless with your life; anyone could have gotten you from behind! You have a family waiting for you, damn it!'' she said harshly.

Everyone had stopped around, watching them curiously. Time stood still and the girl finally pushed her way out of the circle of men surrounding them.

Xxxxxx

The girl stood on the balcony breathing to night's fresh air to cool down. She was pacing rapidly, growling and huffing like an angry bear; she could not help it… Fighting, blood and hunting… was making her wild; she felt ready to burst with her unspent energy. Plus, she still wanted to attack these men for trying to harm her father. Gimli had followed her and was trying to calm her down, patting her back.

'' Breath; breathing is the key! '' He said hurriedly, probably nervous at the sight of her state.

'' It doesn't work that way, Dwarf! It is not so easily done! '' She growled.

She knew he was right though and she breathed in deeply, leaning on the rampart.

''There, there… how are you feeling now?''

'' better…thank you.'' She grumbled.

'' You know this man? The one you protected, I mean.''

She was about to answer when to door leading to the balcony burst open: '' Why did you interfere woman?! It was none of your businesses!''

Her father came shouting toward her and she twirled around, roaring loudly in response to his aggressive behavior. It shut him up and Gimli attempted to calm him: '' Rider, she only tried to protect you; she had seen the man coming with a dagger toward you…''

'' You were watching me? What for?'' he asked incredulously.

She turned to Gimli: '' Master Dwarf…I will ask you to leave, please.''

He slowly nodded and went inside while she and he rider observed each other.

'' Baldred…'' she trailed off.

The man took a step back: '' How do you know my name?''

The girl sighed and thought of what Gimli told her as she removed her hood and looked at her father.

His eyes widened and his mouth opened slightly, but before he could say anything she began to babble: '' I-I know…I look like a monster, but it's me. Stuff happened and-''

He narrowed his eyes as if he couldn't believe what they were showing him: ''Ethelred?''

She rubbed the back of her neck, embarrassed and nervous: '' Yeah…it's been a while eh?'' She said, trying to be casual about it and preparing herself for his reactions to come.

Baldred stepped toward her: '' My child… ''

She found it took him time to comprehend everything; he seemed to be in shock or something: '' Yes; your fourth one.'' She joked lamely.

The girl didn't have time to register anything that he was on her, hugging the life out off her: '' My daughter… I-I, they told me you were-re de-dead, that-at they took you-ou.'' He sobbed loudly in her hair.

After a moment, she embraced him back. The man released her and grabbed her face, inspecting her body: '' you've grown so much…you're not a child anymore…What-what happened to you? '' he said brokenly.

'' Hell happened to me… Why did you think I was dead?''

He wiped his cheeks: '' Your mother told me you were.''

It did not surprise her. There was a silent pause and he abruptly broke down again, letting himself fall on his knees.

'' I did not even look for you! '' He confessed as he hid his face in his hands while his shoulders shook.

She placed a hand in his back: '' Dad…'' It felt good to call him like that. ''…It's not your fault; you couldn't have done anything anyway.'' She said with a tight throat.

The situation was about to make her cry; she remembered how close they were to each other… even though she was a girl, he taught her many things; how to use a bow, an axe to split the wood, to ride… Baldred had dragged her everywhere with him around the village, to her mother's despair. Of all his children, she was the one who looked the most like him…

'' I-I missed you Dad… I thought a lot about you all when I was…when I was gone.''

He finally glanced back at her and rose to his feet to pull her against him again. She let him; the sensation of being held by someone so dear to her was welcomed. The man grabbed her shoulders and took her in at arm length: '' Tell me….tell me what's happened Ethelred.''

She shook her head: '' It's the past, Father; it is not a good memory or one I wish to share with you.'' She gently said.

Xxxxxx

'' My brother…do you even know where we are heading? '' Lughorn asked from his warg.

They had been travelling in the forest and through the plains for a few days now and they were currently in the woods. Mauthak had taken 45 of his best warriors with him and a few orcs; they left about over 150 Uruk-hai, human females, orcs and goblins behind in Dol Guldur.

'' I do know and I know it's dangerous, but the scouts told me she was with the horse lords king. '' he grunted.

'' Are you planning on taking the city or what? We're barely 60!''

He shook his head: '' There is a war going on brother; the Riders won't stay for long in the town. Then I'll go get her.''

Lughorn twisted on his mount: '' What if she follows them, hum? ''

The Pizdûr gave him a flat look: '' If you do not wish to come, go back to Dol Guldur.'' He growled sharply at his negative attitude. ''.. .And no; she won't follow them. The Kalsak hates fighting and war. She will do anything to avoid it. ''

His second hummed and they remained silent for a moment until he asked: '' Why do you think she left? Besides the obvious I mean.''

Mauthak shrugged: '' She hated that place. ''

'' Do you think she had a feeling about what was about to happen to Isengard?''

'' Nah. She would have warned someone; her heart is too soft to abandon people to this fate. No…In the beginning, I thought she had escaped because…because she was carrying my child. '' He confessed.

Lughorn straightened on his warg: '' you think Vogalurz is pregnant!?''

'' No! I've said 'I thought'. Ugnag would have mentioned it to me…a six or seven months pregnancy can't be hidden…and they fought together.'' He explained.

His second's mount snorted and he patted his neck: '' You truly believe the female would have left in that state? The Kalsak is young, but not one to act impulsively; she always thinks about her next move. She plans.''

'' Yeah… I know you're right, but planning like she does, she would not want a child in that awful place that was Isengard… And she's never had fate in me: she never believed, not once, that I hated that place too and that I wanted out. With her. ''

Lughorn gave him a bored, unsurprised look: '' Well, you're to blame for that: you weren't exactly the perfect companion…'' he trailed off.

Mauthak snorted: '' That female didn't give me a chance or a choice; she was pigheaded and unruly. How was I supposed to keep her in line? How was I supposed to keep us discreet under the Wizard stare? Others always questioned me about her… They thought I was going soft. ''

'' I like Vogalurz; she is different.'' He protested, trying to defend her.

'' No shit you like her; you tried to mate with her.'' He said bitterly.

'' …And she clawed my face that time… and you beated me for it! I just…misunderstood her! She was sending mixed signals!''

Mauthak reached to his left to punch his second's shoulder. '' Every single female walking this country is sending you mixed signals then! ''

Lughorn burst out in laughs: '' They can't resist me! By the way, can we bring a few more with us? Maybe we could stop by a village or two, you know… '' he trailed off.

The leader shook his head: '' Is this all you think about? We will see…I don't want to fight with Men.''

'' Pfft! Say the male who's actually travelling miles to get one female! And you know we need them; we're too many males…and you're planning on rebuilding our clan, our race…''

'' You're right… but we need to consult others: it's not a decision that must be taken by us two.''