"I'll find a way home. I swear I will. And I will not leave you Al. I'll find a way to get you back." He pushed through the trees and went after the three hunters. He had a long way to go, and a lonely road. So far from home.

Ed was right behind the ranger. The group had paused for a moment, allowing the man to find the trail once more. They had been on the move for three long days and hardly stopped for anything more then pissing and quick drinks of water before they were off again. Ed knew finding the Hobbit's was important, but if the hunter's were dead when they reached them, it would be of no help.

Aragorn was lying with his eyes closed and ear pressed to the ground, listening for the sound of footsteps. "Their pace has quickened," he said quietly. "They must have caught our scent. Hurry!" He rose quickly, running towards the horizon. Ed moved swiftly after, his automail clanking with each step. Legolas was close behind.

"Come on, Gimli!" He looked back at Gimli and then ran after the other two.

Gimli jerked his head up and paused in his steps and huffs. "Three days' and nights' pursuit. No food. No rest. And no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell." He kept running after his companions.

The Four Hunters ran swiftly across rocks and plains, with Aragorn in the lead, followed closely by Ed, then by Legolas and Gimli. From time to time, Legolas would look back to make sure that Gimli was keeping up. After the sun had set, they stopped once more for a short rest, as they hoped the Orcs had done so as well. Ed had talked Aragorn into it, mentioning that no one would survive without a little sleep- even him.

The next day went by as the others had- in a blur. Ed was up early and tried to walk, but found his knee joint jammed. Cursing, he tried to fix it. After a few jerks, it moved again. This was bad, for if it jammed any more he may not be able to walk.

After a few miles, around mid-day, Aragorn bent down to pick up an Elven brooch from the ground. Legolas and Ed both moved past him.

"Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall."

Legolas stopped and turned back. Ed kept going to the edge of the rock face. "They may yet be alive."

"Less than a day ahead of us. Come!" Aragorn ran up and past Ed.

A mere broach can lead the way. Kind of like a simple screw, if I think about. The alchemist pondered this as he followed.

The trackers came over a hill and paused as they gazed across the plains below.

"Where are we? Besides the middle of nowhere," asked Ed. He removed his gloves and shoved them in his pocket. His fingers flexed, the gears in the right hand creaking slightly. Cringing, he reached into his pocket and checked for the familiar oil kept there. He would add some when they stopped.

"Rohan. Home of the horse-lords," said Aragorn. He looked uneasy as he examined the yellowed grass. "There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us." He turned to look at close friend. "Legolas, what do your Elf-eyes see?"

The Elf stared deeply into the horizon. "The Uruks turn northeast… they're taking the Hobbits to Isengard!" He turned to Aragorn in surprise.

"Saruman. That dog, he wants the Ring."

"Saruman? Who's he?" asked Ed.

"An evil wizard, using dark magic to usher these abominations to him. He is on a quest for power," said Aragorn. "Come, we must follow, for as long as possible. We cannot lose them."

Aragorn, Legolas, Edward, and Gimli continued in hot pursuit of the demons of Middle Earth.

"Keep breathing! That's the key! Breathe! Ho!" grunted Gimli occasionally, keeping up Ed's smirking demeanor.

"They've run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them," observed Legolas, who ran beside Ed and behind Aragorn.

The next day, they had come across the inner reaches of Rohan. Aragorn stopped the quartet and bent closely to the ground to examine tracks. In the distance, the trackers heard the sound of horses coming. At a silent signal, Aragorn and the company hid behind some boulders. Suddenly, over the hill, a large group of horsemen appeared, galloping quickly with their banners flying high in the non-existent breeze. Aragorn comes out of hiding as they pass, followed by Ed, Legolas and Gimli.

"Riders of Rohan, what news from the Mark?" the man called powerfully to the departing troops.

At a signal from their leader, the riders made a quick turn and headed back toward them, surrounding them in ever-tightening circles. As they stopped, they pointed their long spears menacingly at them. The one in front rode forward. Ed quickly hid his gloveless hands.

"What business does an Elf, men and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!" he barked heavily in a European accent. He turned sharply to Ed. "Raise your hands, child!" Ed did so, and watched the awe pass the rider's eyes at the automail.

"Give me your name, Horsemaster, and I shall give you mine," demanded Gimli calmly.

Éomer hands his staff to another rider, and gets off his horse. Aragorn puts a hand on Gimli's shoulder. Ed backed up and brought his hands closer together over his head, ready for an attack.

"I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground," said the man.

Legolas, in a lightning fast move, drew an arrow and pointed an arrow at the Rohan man. "You would die before your stroke fell!" he declared. Ed clapped, but froze before he could do anything due to the spears being brought down upon them. After a tense minute, Aragorn broke it by pushing down Legolas' arm.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Glóin, Legolas of the Woodland realm and..." He paused at introducing Ed.

"Edward Elric. The Full Metal," he stated bluntly.

Aragorn nodded in agreement. "We are friends of Rohan and of Théoden, your king."

"Théoden no longer recognizes friend from foe," the leader said, removing his helmet. "Not even his own kin. I am Éomer, son of Éomund of the Riddermark." The men withdrew their spears and Ed breathed once more. "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets." At this he closely examined the alchemist. He stiffened under the stare, but stayed tough.

Aragorn stepped in front of him. "We are no spies. We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They've taken two of our friends captive."

"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

Gimli looked as though someone had attacked him. "But there were two hobbits. Did you see two hobbits with them?"

"They would be small – only children to your eyes," explained Aragorn.

"We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them." Éomer pointed to a smoking pile in the distance. Ed grimaced slightly, and Aragorn's face fell.

"Dead?" exclaimed the dwarf quietly, bowing his head in shock. Legolas puts a hand on Gimli's shoulder in grief.

"I am sorry."

After the deafening silence in mourning, Éomer turned and whistles.

"Hasufel! Arod!" Two horses were led forward and stopped by their master. "May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell." Éomer puts on his helmet and gets back on his horse. He turned back to the wanderers. "Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope, it has forsaken these lands. We ride north!"

Ed, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli looked on as the Riders went off.

"Looks as though we have to try to find them," said Aragorn, mounting the horse. Legolas saddled onto the other and pulled Gimli up behind him. Aragorn reached down for Ed and the alchemist reached out with his hand. "Your fingers are so cold, Edward."

Ed glanced at the hand in question. It was the right one, the automail. "Must you bring it up?"

The Ranger laughed and pulled him up behind him. The four rode to the rotting carcasses across the plain.

The Hunters rode towards the burning carcasses, no one speaking. When they reached the pile, the stench nearly knocked Ed backwards as he dismounted. Gimli began to shift through the smoldering pile, and pulled out a charred belt and dagger sheath.

"No."

"It's one of their wee belts," murmured the dwarf.

Legolasbowed his head and closed his eyes in prayer. "Hiro hyn hîdh… ab 'wanath... (May they find peace in death)"

Aragorn kicked a helmet and yelled at the top of his lungs in anguish. "AAARRGGHH!" He fell to his knees.

"We failed them," said the dwarf. "So small, so helpless. We should have never let them come."

"Al… you were one in the same. Taken too soon," whispered Ed, clenching his right fist in anger. Too much death surrounded this quest. And more was still to come- he could feel it inside.

Aragorn glanced sadly to his side. Some tracks catch his attention, and he leaned closer to touch it.

"A hobbit lay here, and the other," he said. He then paused, a look of deep though crossing his face. "They-they crawled." Aragorn began to follow the tracks, the others not far behind. "Their hands were bound… the bonds were cut." He ran swiftly, following tracks invisible to Ed. "They ran over here… they were followed." He moved swifter, gaining on the story of the last night. "The tracks lead away from the battle..." He stopped at the tree line Ed had not noticed prior. It was odd, a forest in the middle of a plain. "The Hobbit's fled into Fangorn Forest."

The four looked into the darkness, three with fear in their eyes and one with confusion.

"Fangorn," whispered Gimli. "What madness drove them in there?"

"Is it a bad thing? Merry and Pippin are safe now, right?" Ed could not see anything wrong with saving your ass and hiding someplace where you could escape.

"If they are still alive and the trees have not killed them," said Aragorn.

"Trees? You're kidding, right? Trees?"