Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of the Rings or Ranger's Apprentice

"Are we almost there?"

Even I had gotten tired of Will asking that question. I mean, we get there when we get there. I have to admit I would have probably asked the same question if I hadn't changed so much when I was transported here, but it was still slightly annoying. I was not surprised when Halt didn't answer, neither, it seems, was Will, despite the fact that he had asked in the first place. We continued on in silence for awhile, until I began to smell the fresh salty tang of the sea. Will grew a puzzled expression, then turned to me and murmured, as if not to disturb Halt, "What's that smell?"

Halt beat me to the answer, surprising Will, "Finally a good question. It's salt. We're near the sea."

I grinned, tilting my head up and closing my eyes to feel the breeze on my face and listen to the silence. Except it wasn't there. There was a rider following us. I could hear an extra set of hoof-beats despite the fact they matched our own rhythm perfectly. "Halt? We have company," I listened for a moment longer, "Sounds like a Ranger though."

Halt nodded, "On three change gaits. Ready? One... Tow... Three."

As one we all gently nudged our horses in their shoulders with our toes. It was one of many signals that Ranger horses learned. There was a moment when the hoofbeats of the horse behind us were clearly audible, before they to changed gaits. I grinned, only a ranger horse could do that.

"Only a Ranger horse could do that. You two know the plan," He turned his sharp gaze at Will, "Remember, a target that's not too close. For goodness' sake the last thing we need is for you to put an arrow through him.

Legolas kissed me gently before pulling me close again, running his fingers tenderly through my hair. I sighed and rubbed his back reassuringly, disturbed by the way he had very nearly just fallen apart. I was unused to seeing him show that much emotion. He was always the strong one, the steady one, the unfazed one. It made me realize just how much I meant to him, how much he loved me. I smiled softly into his shoulder and closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of love radiating off of him.

I relaxed and let my mind drift, playing over all the memories that had been coming back over the past months. I knew there was a lot I had yet to remember, but it felt amazing to know that I would remember, through what memories I smiled at the things Will and I got up to that first year. I had a feeling that there was something huge coming in the train of my memories, just as there was in our quest.

I remembered all the way up the ruins. My memories stop after Halt and I readied the bonfire for the Kalkara I sighed, resigned to the fact that my memories would return slowly, but at least they would.

We stood silently side by side in the shadows of the wall, both of us with bows ready at our sides. We were waiting. The day was beginning to fade and shadows creep throughout the ruins, the Kalkara were out there somewhere, preparing their ambush…

"Halt?" My whisper was faint, barely a breath, "Why did you choose me to accompany you?"

He did not answer for a moment, scanning our surroundings warily, "If any have the chance of defeating the Kalkara with a sword, it is you. Gilan has no more to teach you, and you have a mind even craftier than most Rangers," here he glanced at me, "You also have a will stronger than any I have ever seen. If there is a chance of anyone resisting the Kalkara's gaze it is you."

I was surprised, but did not comment, only paused to think and soak in what he had said. I was not so sure about any of what he had said, but I also knew that Halt was very astute and would not say such things unless he very firmly believed them. I had no more time for wondering however, for it was then that the Kalkara were upon us. Dusk had fallen, and out they charged from the trees, screaming their challenge to the skies. Halt reacted swiftly, lighting his fire arrow in the torch behind us even as I began to fire a rapid volley of arrows into the chest of the advancing Kalkara, placing them as close together as I could in an attempt to force a way through its thick, matted hair. The bonfire whooshed up before I'd released more than four arrows, surprising the Kalkara and making them stumble back screaming angrily.

Our respite didn't last for long, soon both beasts were again advancing, more angry and determined then ever. Halt joined me in attempting to take down the first Kalkara, as it came closer and closer without faltering, I began to worry that the we would not have time to retreat into the ruins before the second one reached us. It was close. The first one faltered when they were no more than ten meters from us. I quickly dropped my bow, turning and leaping up to grab a handhold high up on the rough wall. I glanced over at Halt, only to see the second beast land behind him and I cried out as it lashed out at him, knocking his bow away, but otherwise appearing to miss completely. I sighed with relief, scrambling to the top of the wall. Glancing back, I saw the beast preparing to jump and grabbed Halt, running down a crumbling staircase and dragging him after me. I thought it strange that he should need encouragement, but was too busy worrying about where we would hide to pause and consider the meaning of it. Suddenly he dragged me back and into a slight alcove in the wall, motioning for silence, he sank to the ground. That is when I noticed that the Kalkara had not missed as I thought. There was a gaping wound across Halt's thigh where the claws of the beast had caught him. I grimaced and fumbled with the pouch I always carried on my belt, pulling out a bandage and quickly wrapping his leg as tightly as I safely could to try and stop the bleeding.

Moments later Halt stood up shakily, refusing my proffered hand and peering cautiously from our hiding place. He motioned me forward and we began to make our way carefully through the ruins, listening for any sound of the Kalkara. Both of us could hear it moving back and forth behind us, thoroughly searching the debris for any trace of us. Soon we came upon an A-like formation of rock with a depression we could just fit in at the base. We hid there as the Kalkara came closer and closer, knowing that eventually it would find us, and I really didn't stand a chance with only my sword.

The first sign of help arriving was the distant drumming of hooves steadily growing louder and louder. The second was the Kalkara hunting us suddenly rose to its hind legs again, revealing itself to us, as it listened to the hoof beats as well. Suddenly the night was pierced by the challenge of the first Kalkara, who had evidently not died yet. There was a sudden increase in the rhythm of the hoof beats, then a terrible scream followed by a great whoosh as the fire rose into the sky. A smiled grimly, no doubt Will had arrived with Rodney and the Baron Arald, and the knights had just pushed the first beast into the fire. I was quickly brought back to more serious thoughts when I noticed the beast who had been hunting us turn to the wall, stealthily making its way towards our unsuspecting friends. I jumped up silently, gesturing for Halt to stay, and took off through the rubble, staying as much out of sight of the Kalkara as possible. Even distracted as it was, getting detected now was not an option, it could get us all killed. My goal was to reach the wall either just before or at the same time as the beast, a little after would work too, but would not be preferable by any account.

I almost screamed when I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning to find Halt there with a grim look on his face that said something to the effect of 'I am not staying behind while you risk your life'. I shrugged, not having time to argue, and ran on, now with Halt in tow. We had been seen though, the Kalkara was now loping back to cut us off though. We froze, and I glanced at Halt, my hand flying to the hilt of my sword, but he wasn't looking. He was staring intently at the Kalkara, his throwing knife already in his hand. I looked at him incredulously, almost forgetting that the beast was still loping towards us, What was he planning on doing with that puny knife? Suddenly he closed his eyes and drew back his hand, throwing the knife as smoothly and perfectly as I'd ever seen, everything seemed to slow as I followed the trajectory of the shining steel as it sailed end-over-end to find its mark in one of the bright, glowing red eyes of the beast. I was stunned, a throw like that should be impossible... even with his eye open it would have been difficult... and then I realized, I had just looked the Kalkara in the eye and felt nothing. How? How on earth? I was jerked out of my state of shock by the Kalkara's shrill scream of pain, and Halt grabbing my arm to drag me to the wall and up the stairs. I could hear the Kalkara behind us recover and come loping swiftly after, no longer worrying about stealth. I glanced back as we reached the top, seeing the beast had almost reached the stairs.

"Halt, Kari, jump!"

Will's voice was unmistakable, and filled with panic. Halt and I glanced back again, only to find the Kalkara beginning to loom behind us. I grabbed Halt's arm and jumped, both of us rolling as we hit the ground. Halt had trouble getting up, so I scooped him up and carried him until I heard the Kalkara hit the ground behind us. I set him down and whirled as I drew my sword, dodging a swipe of the beast's paw just in time. I took a step back and met the beast's eyes defiantly, "Meet the Traveler, spawn of Hellfire! Your gaze holds no power over me!" The beast looked confused, so I pushed the advantage, I darted forward and attempted to drive my sword into its stomach. Key word; tried. Its fur was the most solid armor I could ever imagine, it didn't even seem to weaken at the thrust that carried all my strength, body weight, and momentum behind it. My surprise was almost my downfall, the beast took another swipe at me. It was lucky I was so close, the blow really had no power behind it. It still left me reeling and bleeding, with massive claw-marks across my side, but I managed to recover, ducking under another strike and then leaping up in a last-ditch attempt to reach its face. What I didn't remember to account for was the Kalkara's other arm, which came out of nowhere to knock me away. I felt weightless for a moment, before and blinding flash of pain and...

I woke with a gasp, tearing away from Legolas and curling into a ball, clutching my side as the pain faded to nothing. I looked up to find everyone staring at me, the Hobbits with wide, frightened eyes, and the rest with varying expressions of concern. I smiled, embarrassed, and looked down, "Sorry, just..." I shrugged, "Memories," I glanced up at Boromir, grinning wryly, "First real fight you know. Never really goes away..." I trailed off, glancing down again. I certainly wasn't expecting him to answer.

"No, it never does. Though mine no longer plagues my dreams so often. Tell me Traveler, what was your first battle?"

I grimaced, "I lost. Well we didn't, Will ended up taking care of the creature, but not until it had either wounded or incapacitated the others of us. You'd think the two best knights, the best Ranger and the Traveler would be able to take down the damned beast, but no, the Ranger's apprentice is the one who managed to take it down in the end. The least I could have done was keep them from being so injured, but no. All I did was get myself thrown into a freaking wall," I beat the ground with my fist in frustration, still displeased with myself over my defeat so many years ago.

"There is no shame in that love," I turned to Legolas in surprise, "You were willing to sacrifice your own safety to help them, and I daresay you did if I understood correctly, none of your friends died, did they? You did well."

I was saved from having to respond by Gandalf, who suddenly stood, "Ah, it is this way!"

"He's remembered!" Merry cried as he leaped to his feet.

"No Master Meriadoc, the air does not smell so foul down here. When in doubt, always follow your nose." With that he turned, setting off down the tunnel on the far right. I sighed and stood, following Aragorn into the passage. The sense of foreboding growing stronger the deeper we descended into the dark.

Sorry this is so late guys, hope you like it. I added a bit more Ranger's Apprentice to this one, the next will be more, if not all, LoTR. Reviews are great! Constructive criticism is appreciated :)

~Kari