Ok, lads, I've been working up to this chapter for a while now. SUPER scared to post it, but I decided I can't just leave you hanging. Please enjoy it! And please tell me what you think, because I think I might have a heart attack the second I post it, and I wanna make sure you lads don't hate it! In fact, I want you lads to love it, but, you know, don't we all?

This chappie's my baby, so be nice. Please! ( I think my blood pressure's rising. I'll just get on with it.)

Guest: Aisley would have had her seventeenth birthday while in Lothlόrien. She'd turned sixteen a few months before this all started, if that gives you any time frame for how long she's been there. Both she and Éowyn are in that age range where you can't tell whether they're seventeen or twenty three, so Aisley assumed Éowyn was close to her age. She could tell she was older, but not how much.

Gigigue: I'm glad you like Ambassador Aisley (doesn't that sound like a superhero name?) I debated on giving her this huge name, like a lot of royals have, you know? Like Princess Angelina Contessa Louisa Franchesca Banana Fanna Bobesca the third (But you could call her Dot. Lol) But I decided just plain Princess Aisley Elizabeth, Lady of the Golden Woods suited her better. Let me know what you think of this chapter, because I'm really scared! As in, I wrote it about a week ago and am just now getting up the nerves to post it. Please love it! Lol

Mariposa of Espana: Yay, an awesome thing has happened! I updated! (Well, THAT didn't sound narcissistic at all…) Cute review though, you made me laugh! Gracias!

Memo bonafide: Wow, you read all thirteen chapters at once? That's a lot to get through! Glad to know you read my profile- sorry if it's a little bare bones. I never know what to put on it… And don't worry about your English- I understood you perfectly! Props- English is a hard language to learn! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!

That's it guys. Here goes everything! Posting in three…two…one…

Happy reading.

-E

"King Théoden, I beg you to reconsider!" Aisley cried. She'd been counselling with the King day after day for weeks and getting nowhere fast. The only improvements she was making at all were in Éowyn's studies. She'd gone to the cellar to speak with Éomer a few times, and succeeded in only lifting his spirits. He had no idea how to save Rohan either, but was grateful for the aide. Théodred was ushered quickly into the halls earlier that week on his deathbed, and Éowyn had come to her begging her to use her Elvish magic to save her cousin. Only problem? That 'Elvish magic' could reduce fever, pain, coughing, allergies, and upper respiratory problems, but could do nothing for sword wounds. Theodred was slain at the first battle of the Fords of Isen, and there was nothing Aisley could do about it. She gave him ibuprofen to ease the pain of his passing, and Theodred became Theodead.

Ok, that joke was in bad taste.

Théoden didn't even seem concerned for the sake of his son, and Aisley was convinced it was due to Wormtongues whisperings, so she doubled her efforts to break through to the King, speaking to him every chance she had.

The doors to the hall opened, but Aisley did not turn, assuming it was Lady Éowyn.

"Reconsider what?" Gríma asked, glaring openly at Aisley.

"The fact that your people are being killed! I understand fully, Théoden King, that you yourself are not physically capable of leading your forces, but something must be done! You cannot allow Saruman to probe your boundaries any longer! Have you not heard, King Théoden, of the attacks on your villages? The Easterlings are openly assaulting your people, and yet you do nothing!"

"What can we do, Your Majesty?" Gríma snapped. "Send our Liege to his death?"

"No!" Aisley cried angrily. "Have you not been listening to the council I provide your King? I know you have, for you whisper poison against me the second I turn my back! It is only by the grace of Lady Éowyn that I am still allowed in Théoden King's presence! You have options, Wormtongue. Lothlόrien will provide aide, if I should request it. You must increase patrols on the border. Send guards to protect your outer villages."

"We have no guards to spare." Gríma shook his head, and Aisley's temper about boiled over.

"Because the Third Marshall of the Riddermark lies locked up in your cellar on your command, Wormtongue! Not the Kings, yours! I have offered you aide, I have tended to your King, I have given you council and advice, and yet you openly ignore me. Why is this? Do you want your King's people to die? Surely you remember that Théoden, and not you, is King of these lands."

"Yes, last I checked Théoden was King. Not Aisley Elizabeth."

"I have not given you permission to drop my title, Wormtongue. You are out of line. I come to offer my kingdoms aide, to save you and your people, and this is how you receive me? One would think you wanted Saruman to win against your King!"

"That is because he does, Aisley." A voice called from behind her, and Aisley turned to see four very familiar people.

"Gandalf!" She cried. "You're alive! When did that happen? And what's with the costume change?"

"I am now Gandalf the White." Gandalf replied, and Aisley giggled to herself.

"So you really did level up, huh? ARAGORN!" She cried, seeing the man standing behind Gandalf and running to him, flinging her arms around his neck.

"It is good to see you, little one. Or is it Your Highness now?"

"You are a friend. Call me what you will." Aisley laughed. "I'm so glad to have back-up now!" She moved on, hugging Gimli tight. "Are you well?"

"Well as can be lassie." Gimli replied. "You need back-up then?"

"Oh, yes, I'm afraid my words alone are not getting through." Aisley shook her head sadly, hugging Legolas. "What, no bow to the face, Elf boy?"

"They have taken my weaponry, as I am sure they have taken yours." Legolas replied, and Aisley rolled her eyes.

"It was a joke, Mr Spock. Honestly! Hang on… where's Borimir and the four little ones?" Aragorn clasped a hand on her shoulder, bringing her to his side.

"We will discuss it when Gandalf is done." He stated, and Aisley nodded.

"I don't know if he'll get through to Théoden King any more than I could." She sighed. "I've been here a fortnight at least, and everyday it's the same thing, the same argument. They cannot provide me with a reason not to put up defences, not to call for aide, and yet they still do not!"

"Have faith, little one." Aragorn reassured her. "Gandalf can work many wonders where the powers of Men fail."

"I'm not a lad." Aisley grumbled, and Aragorn looked at her, confused. She shrugged innocently.

While they were busy conversing, apparently Gandalf said some mad controversial stuff, because suddenly guards were charging them all. Aisley let out a squeak, mostly because she stunk at hand to hand combat, and threw up her hands in an x block. She quickly lost Aragorn in the chaos, but someone grabbed her shoulder, and she followed, getting away from the fight. She turned to find herself slammed up against the corridor wall by none other than Gríma Wormtongue himself.

"If you're going to kill me, I suggest you do it quickly." Aisley declared nonchalantly. "The others will be noticing my absence fairly soon."

"Oh, I don't plan on killing you." Gríma replied creepily, and Aisley shuddered as she got his meaning. "It's not every day one has an Elf, and a Princess no less."

"Forget this!" Aisley cried, struggling. She had a dagger tucked in her boot- if she could only just reach it… "I try to be diplomatic, I try to be polite, and I try not to knock your block clean off…" She grumbled. She secured her grip around the hilt of her dagger, bringing it up to clock Wormtongue in the head with it. Unfortunately he saw through her plan and grabbed her wrist, twisting it painfully until she was forced to drop the dagger.

"It is best not to meddle around in affairs that you don't understand, She-Elf." Gríma spat, and Aisley grunted, trying to twist her arm along with her wrist to lessen the pain.

"Oh, I understand what's going on here perfectly, all right." She hissed. "All my efforts were for naught because you were under Saruman's thumb the whole while."

"The affairs of Rohan do not concern Lothlόrien." Gríma snapped, shoving her still farther backwards.

"The affairs of the Free People, however, do." Aisley shot back venomously. "Get your hands off of me, you foul cretin!"

"You should have stayed in the Golden Woods. You ought not to have come here, to have influenced my King."

"To open his eyes to the treachery that is you? I did the right thing in coming here, and if this be my gruesome demise, so be it. I have protected my people, and the Free People. I have done right by all but Mordor. I harbour no regrets." She declared proudly, and Gríma brought up the dagger she had dropped, licking the blade.

"So be it." He whispered greasily, and Aisley tensed, ready to fight for her life.

"What is going on here?" A voice called, and both attacker and victim jumped.

Legolas.

"The Elf Prince." Gríma snarled, turning from Aisley. "Coming to save his darling Princess."

Legolas raised an eyebrow, and Aisley burst out laughing, in that gross, snorty, this-is-the-most-ridiculous-thing-I've-ever-heard kind of laugh.

"I would thank you to take your hands off my sister." He declared evenly, and Gríma looked at the Elf, amazed. Aisley took that moment to kick him where the sun don't shine, and then once he dropped to his knees, elbow him hard in the back of the head. That put him down on the floor, and one swift kick put him out like a light.

"Something's rotten in the state of Denmark." Aisley joked, re-joining the Elf Boy. "Thanks for that, bro-sky."

"I have come to the conclusion that I will never understand a word that comes out of your mouth." Legolas declared, tipping his head to the side.

"It happens. Just go with it. So, you're my brother, now, huh? Is it one of those royal things where everyone pretends they're related even if they're not? Since you're a Prince and I'm a Princess and all that?"

"No. We are not legally related. I merely intended that you are akin to the younger sister of the Company, as well as I assumed it would give me leverage against Wormtongue."

"Good. Because you're old. Like, reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaalll lly old." Aisley crinkled her nose. "I don't want to be related to an old dude."

"I beg your pardon?" Legolas asked evenly, shoving the younger girl lightly. She pushed him back, sticking her tongue out. "I am considered young for an Elf. Moving on, Gríma did not harm you, did he? Are you alright?"

"Huh? Course." Aisley replied as the entered the throne room, scanning the disarray. "Wormtongue's a snake, but nothing I can't handle."

"You didn't look like you were handling it." Legolas pointed out.

"I was doing just fine!" Aisley cried defensively. At his raised eyebrow and pointed glance, she sighed. "So my hand to hand is a little lacking. But give me a sword and I could have trussed him up six ways to Sunday!"

Legolas continued to stare at her, and she sighed loudly.

"Fine. I needed your help, oh brother of mine. I hate you." He chuckled at her antics, mussing her hair and stalking off to re-join the Company. She swatted at his hand, fixing her hair and glaring at him, all the while muttering curses under her breath enough to make Lady Galadriel turn pink.

"The, er, traitor in question is lying all trussed up in that hallway down there." Aisley called to the Company, pointing. "I suggest locking him up while we decide what to do with him." She stood at Aragorn's side, subconsciously placing him between her and the corridor that held the unconscious Wormtongue. Aragorn, not knowing what had happened, placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, looking confusedly towards the corridor.

"Are you well, little one?" He asked, and Aisley nodded with a shrug.

"Fine. Speaking of little ones, where are the smallest members of our party? And Boromir, for that matter?" She asked, and Aragorn exchanged a look with Gimli. "What? What does that look mean?" She asked, starting to panic. "I haven't seen you lads in months; you better get me filled in right now. What's going on and where are the others?"

"Aisley." Aragorn sighed, pursing his lips. "The little ones are fine. Sam and his friend Mr Underhill are pursuing their quest without us to slow them down. Did you truly think a company of nine could embark on a mission of stealth?" Aisley sighed with relief. She was getting worked up over nothing.

"And the others?"

"Masters Brandybuck and Took are in safe hands, deep in Fangorn. They are with friends."

"More like creepy trees." Gimli grunted, and Aisley giggled. "But he's right, lassie, they're safe."

"Oh, good. And Boromir, he went with Sam, didn't he? To protect them? Surely they didn't go alone."

"Aisley, I am sorry." Aragorn sighed. "Boromir did not make the journey. He was struck down near the Falls of Rauros and set adrift down the Anduín, defending our little friends. He died a hero." Aisley squeezed her eyes shut slowly, exhaling softly.

"He promised me." She whispered so quietly the Company had to lean forward to hear. "He promised me he'd come back alive. You all did." Gimli touched her elbow, an unexpected, yet not unwelcome, gesture of affection.

"He is in a better place now, lassie." The dwarf grunted. "Feasting and doing battle for all of eternity. Far better than the battle here, where all is grim."

As much as Aisley didn't want to cry in front of all these strong warriors, as much as she wanted to prove her worth, she couldn't help it. She broke down sobbing, and Aragorn pulled her closer, allowing her to cry on him.

"He was a good person." Aisley hiccupped. "He didn't deserve to die."

"Do any of us?" Legolas asked quietly, and they bowed their heads in respect.

"May the Good Lord have mercy on his soul." Aisley murmured. "God bless him and keep him."

"May the Halls of the Mandos keep him long." Legolas added.

"Your Majesty?" A small voice spoke up, and Aisley lifted her head from Aragorn's chest to find Éowyn surveying her, carrying two blades. "Perhaps now is not the best time."

"No." Aisley declared, pulling away from Aragorn. "Now is the perfect time. I really need to beat the crap out of something."

Éowyn swallowed loudly, but bravely kept her stance, offering the younger girl her blade as she stalked from the hall.

"Good." Aisley cried, her voice rough with unshed tears. "Move your feet. Quicker! Lady Éowyn, you are a woman. You have the advantage of speed and small stature, of dexterity and agility. Use it to your advantage!"

"I…cannot." Éowyn sighed, collapsing. Aisley was being particularly brutal today.

"Tell me, Lady Éowyn, what was it you said you feared most?" Aisley asked, practicing her swordplay on an invisible target. Éowyn was glad they were not currently sparring- despite her opponent being invisible; it was plain to see that Her Majesty was thrashing it brutally.

"A cage, Princess." Éowyn replied. "I fear a cage."

"And rightly so." Aisley nodded, viciously murdering an invisible orc. "And tell me, Lady, how do you intend to avoid said cage?"

"By cutting through the bars." Éowyn replied, watching her mentor with fear.

"And tell me, Lady Éowyn, how do you intend to do that if you will not pick up your sword?" Aisley concluded, turning to face her.

"Can we not train another day, when your emotions are more… balanced?" Éowyn asked cautiously, wary of where Aisley was pointing her sword.

"In the midst of battle, your opponents are not going to be emotionally balanced." Aisley declared. "I have suffered the loss of a dear friend, but that does not affect you. You need to be able to defend your Kingdom, defend your people regardless. War does not end because of one man's death."

"I understand that, Your Highness, but I fear for your state of mind." Éowyn stated warily.

"You are an incredibly strong woman, Lady Éowyn." Aisley stated suddenly, throwing the older girl off balance. "And I owe it to you to train you to the best of my abilities, regardless of my mental state. Dealing with Wormtongue day after day, seeing what Rohan has come to and yet still persevering for the sake of your people. You are a Shieldmaiden of Rohan, never succumbing to your allotted position in life. I have agreed to train you because I believe women should fight, because I believe you should fight. There is no one in this court I would rather train to defend Rohan than you, but you have to be willing to do the work. Are you willing?"

"I am." Éowyn declared, fire in her eyes. For the next several hours, the two women trained, sometimes with each other, and sometimes against. Members of the Company stopped by to help- Gimli was taken completely by surprise when he attempted to go easy on Aisley and ended up flat on his back. The next round he put up much more of a fight, defeating the young princess with difficulty.

"Keep holding it!" Aisley demanded, holding her own sword out one handed- a task that had once been as difficult for her as it was for Éowyn now. "You're drooping. Do not let her fall."

"You hold it as if it is light as a feather!" Éowyn gasped, and Aisley nodded.

"In time, you will as well. Don't drop her! How are you supposed to spear your enemies with your blade pointing at the ground?" A dark chuckle alerted her to the presence of another in the room.

"I see Master Cevon trained you well." Legolas declared. "If I may observe the training tactics of the marchwarden of Lothlόrien?"

"By all means." Aisley waved. "But if you stay here, you have to help."

Which is how Legolas ended up sparring with Lady Éowyn.

"Watch his hands, Lady Éowyn! Watch his hands, feet, and dominant shoulder, but do not watch his blade! The sword tip is small and easy to lose. Judge his blow by where his shoulder is." Aisley corrected, circling the sparring pair. "Legolas, could you please move slower? Not everyone has the reactions of Elves. Lady Éowyn, concentrate on parrying first and foremost! As a wise man once told me, you cannot hit a target if you are dead."

"Wasn't that Aragorn who said that?" Legolas asked, turning to Aisley. Lady Éowyn took advantage of his distraction to strike with the flat of her blade. He stepped back, off guard, but quickly retaliated.

"Yes, it was. Nice work Lady Éowyn, way to take advantage of an opening. Legolas, keep your eyes on your opponent at all times. You should know that." She scolded, and he glared at her. "Éowyn! You left your back open!" Aisley shrieked, and Legolas graciously did not strike. "Never turn your back to your opponent. They will scarcely show you the mercy Legolas has."

"Sorry, my lady." Éowyn gasped, breathless, parrying Legolas' many blows.

"Yo, Elf Boy! You're speeding up again. Don't kill my protégé, would ya?" Aisley frowned, surveying the pair. "Lady Éowyn, you're cornering yourself. Know your surroundings as well as your opponent. Watch your grip. You need only three fingers gripping the hilt. Take five, Lady." She added as she noted Éowyn tiring out. "Get some water."

"You have much improved since the last time we met." Legolas noted, and Aisley knew he was remembering the time she accidently shot Gandalf's hat. Or the time she cut herself with her own blade. Or all the times she struggled even to unsheathe her blade. Or her numerous defeats at the hands of Aragorn and Boromir.

Boromir. God, really? Why him? Why not just smite the evil guys and be done with it?

"Yeah, months upon months of endless training tends to do that to you." Aisley declared hollowly, attacking a wooden post in her training area with fervour.

"There are times I think you very different from the child you were, and times you seem exactly the same."

"Thank you Captain Obvious." Aisley rolled her eyes. "I can't be the same. How can I, huh?" She whirled on the Elf, blade in the air, and he held up his hands, backing away slowly. "I've killed people. That may be no big here in your world, but where I come from, people go to jail for things like that. It's wrong. And I've killed, what, five? Six? Oh, God, I'm a serial killer!"

"We all do things we would rather not in desperate times."

"Easy for you to say, Mr Spock. You were raised in this world, you don't get it. You're emotionless. But this? It sucks. Yeah, I didn't have to easy a life back in Belfast, but it wasn't like this! I didn't have to fight for my life, or worry about politics, or even worry about if there was food on the table! We have our own problems, yeah, but nothing like here! This place is just… screwed up. And now I got turned into this Xena Warrior Princess lady that's so not me, and Boromir's dead, and he's only one of the most noble people on the face of the planet, and what if that didn't even happen in the books? What if I messed up the whole time stream by being here and it's my fault he's dead? What if there isn't a happy ending to this story and it's all my fault?" Legolas surveyed her cautiously, drawing his two blades.

"I believe, my sister, that you need to…'blow off some steam'." He declared, raising his blades, and Aisley smiled gratefully, raising her own.

"Come at me, bro." She stated, and so it begun.

They were fairly evenly matched, both being trained in the Elvish style. She had the advantage of Master Cevon's brutal tactics, and the training of the marchwardens, and he had the advantage of experience and age. Surprisingly, Aisley managed to keep up with his rapid pace, and even managed to sneak in a few hits past his heightened Elvish senses. That threw him off guard, but he returned the attack quickly, wondering at how easily she deflected. For a woman without heightened senses, she sure fought like an Elf.

The two began drawing a crowd. Éowyn returned from her break, staring in awe at her mentor and sparring partner. She hoped to one day be as good as the pair. Gimli, searching for the Elf Prince, ended up at her side. He stared in grudging respect for the Elf- he may be a pansy Elf, but he put up a good fight against the lass. Aragorn, tiring of Gandalf and Théoden King's debate on what to do with Wormtongue, went searching for Aisley to make sure she was alright. He stopped, in awe, hardly believing that the warrior woman in front of him who could keep up with Legolas was once a lost little girl that he had to cut down from their own trap.

"Dang it!" She yelled, as he landed a hit on her side, drawing blood. She powered through, retaliating with equal brutality. Legolas was surprised- he'd expected her to give in the second he landed a hit.

"Master Cevon taught you well." He declared, blocking one of her attacks, stunned by the strength of her assault.

"Master Cevon beat the crap out of me until I learned to take a hit." She shot back, seeing an opening. She sprung forward, clubbing him with the hilt of her blade, stepping behind him and holding the blade to his throat so that he only had two options- Cut his neck or barrel backwards straight through her. He tested the strength of her stance- she was solid as a mountain. There was no moving her.

"Do you yield?" She asked, and Legolas nodded.

"Yes. You fight well, Aisley."

"Hecks yeah I do!" Aisley grinned, letting him up. "Thanks for that. I just really needed to beat the crap out of something or someone."

"Understandable. This is a difficult time for you. It is rare that I meet my match. This was a very enjoyable fight. Mind you, the blades are not my first weapon."

"Oh just accept your defeat like a man! Lady Éowyn, are you ready?" Aisley laughed, returning to the centre of the room. "Slowly now. Precision is more important than speed. We'll pick up the pace later. Now, watch my shoulder. Good! Don't watch my eyes. I'm not going to tell you where I'm striking. Well done!" She trained side by side with Éowyn for about another hour while the Company watched on. Finally, she caught Legolas' eye.

"Can you work with Lady Éowyn on her grip? I need to speak with Aragorn."

"Of course." He replied, and Aisley handed him her blade, moving to Aragorn's side.

"I don't want to find a single scratch on that blade, you hear me Elf Boy?" She called.

"Noted."

"Aragorn, may I have a word with you?" Aisley asked, and the older man nodded, following her into the hall.

"I want you to know that I have never been more proud of you, watching you hold your own against Legolas." Aragorn declared, before noting the anxiety on Aisley's face.

"What is wrong, little one?" he asked, and Aisley bit her lip, trying to decide whether this was the right thing.

"We might want to go somewhere you can sit down." She finally stated. He nodded, his forehead creasing in worry, and followed her to the study chamber where he perched on the sofa. She paced in front of him, hands on her head, and he waited patiently for her to speak.

"If you and Arwen have a child, it will be half Elf, right?"

"A quarter, technically. Arwen is only half Elf herself. But it does not quite work so black and white as that. What is this about?" Aisley took a deep breath.

"Lady Galadriel allowed me to look in her mirror the eve I left for Rohan." She began, and Aragorn raised his eyebrows at the honour bestowed upon the young girl. "She had been asking that I do so from the first day I arrived, and I finally accepted on my final day. Some of the things I saw… concern you. I hesitated to speak up, as you can imagine after hearing this, but I feel that it is your right to know.

I saw your future, Aragorn. You were walking in the woods with a woman by your side, a woman with ebony hair. The woman, Arwen I assume, has a new born child in her arms, and a young boy trots by your side. Your son, Eldarion." Aisley added, and Aragorn smiled. He had a son! "Eldarion cries out something, and Arwen sets the child down in the branches of a nearby tree in order to tend to her elder child." Aisley shut her eyes, allowing the scene to play out in front of her once again.

"Both you and Arwen will turn to your eldest child, and that instant will change your younger child's life forever. Two worlds will collide, and a young couple will stumble upon a child sitting unattended in a tree. They will take the child back to safety, unknowingly bringing it farther from its parents. By the time the two worlds once again separate, your child will be firmly in the grasp of the wrong world. It will be taken to an orphanage when the hunt for its parents proves unsuccessful. It will be adopted by a well-meaning couple before it can remember the loss it has suffered, and will live a good life. Well, mostly. It's adopted father will be murdered before the adoption papers are filled out for only 20 euro." Aragorn's head shot up as the last phrase resonated with him.

Killed for only 20 euro. Despicable.

Aisley tucked her ginger hair behind her ears, revealing them for the first time. Her pointed ears.

"I always thought it was a birth defect." She whispered, gauging his reaction.

"I'm your father." He breathed, standing from the sofa and wrapping his arms around her.

"Yeah, I think so." Aisley nodded, hugging him back. "Well, you will be. I haven't actually been born yet."

"How did I not see it before?" Aragorn asked, half laughing, partly in shock. "You have the Evenstar, my Evenstar. You have Arwen's nose, and my eyes. You show up out of nowhere, fluent in Sidarin, and I just take you in? I had to have felt some connection to you then, had to have known… Of course it was easy for you to learn Sindarin, you would have grown up around it not that you'd remember. It all makes sense now. I had to have-"

"Aragorn, you're rambling." Aisley interrupted, and he looked down at her.

"So I am." He declared with a nod. "Aisley, I'm your father."

Luke, I am your father! Dun Dun DUUUUUUUNNNNN! Sorry, couldn't resist it… Anyone notice the massive amounts of Hamlet references I've made in Rohan? Just noticed it myself, and I'm kind of curious. What does that say about my subconscious? Any rate, hope you lads enjoyed it, and I reckon I'll see you next time! Or write you, since I can't see you. Not that I'd be writing you specifically, unless you wrote me first, in which case I suppose I would be writing you, but… whatever. You get the point.

-E