Ok so I should be doing research but to save myself from falling asleep in the middle of the day out of boredom here is a new chapter. :-) My reviewers, you are all amazing. We are nearing the end of our tale and I am at once happy and saddened. But that is at least 4-7 days away. ;-) For now sit back and enoy. Oh and once again my editing was just a brief run through. Hope there aren't too many errors.

***

Charging horses met resistance in the form of Olophants and other bits of nastiness whose names Reiyna couldn't recall in that moment. She felt the mare beneath her dig her back hooves deep into the earth then heave as they leapt over a fallen comrade. Members of the Rohirrim surrounded her and Kasi on all sides, no doubt Theodred's work. His father wouldn't have thought of it. Still, she had her own agenda and it didn't include being babysat. Her eyes scanned the field before her critically. She and her friend had discussed their plan last night. As oppressive a personality as Theoden could be he deserved better than to die this day. A shout from Kasi caught her attention. The other woman was pointing to the right. Reiyna saw him now, the Witch King. What a nasty piece of work he was said to be.

Clouds began rolling overhead ominously as she called them to her bidding. Kasi would have to help guide her mare as she focused on the skies. Their entourage was falling away into smaller battles between individuals. Several times they too were caught up in skirmishes, fighting and guarding each other's backs.

***

Kasi pulled her sword sharply from the body of her latest foe as the earth around began to tremor. An olophant was headed straight towards them.

"Reiyna!" Her cry drew a quick glance from the other woman and both kicked their mounts into a flurry of legs. Those determined to follow them and continue the battle were swept away by the tusks of the great beast or lost under its feet. Kasi noticed Gimli nearby riding solo. She dared a glance back at the Olophant who'd nearly made them into pancakes and sure enough Legolas was scaling the creature like it was a rock climb. It seemed the cavalry had arrived. One had to admire his agility. Reiyna was moving ahead and Kasi saw why. Theodred rode beside his father, headed towards the Witch King who cut down foes left and right. Kasi clucked and urged her gelding ahead so she could clear the path for her friend. After all it was Reiyna who'd be facing the big bad. All Kasi could do was hope there was enough left of her friend afterward to heal.

***

Reiyna abandoned the saddle and moved fluidly into a tumble across the turf of the plain. The royals of Rohan had beaten her to their shared target, and it was Theoden who attacked first with a cry. She rose to see this and cursed. She didn't have much time for what she planned. The clouds overhead cackled and she reached out a hand as lightning speared downward toward the earth. Electricity coursed through her veins, setting her eyes to glowing and making her hair fly about in a halo of black. Theoden was digging himself into deeper trouble though Theodred had distracted the Witch king momentarily. Yet as the son was distracted by lackeys, the father was once more the object of focus for the evil mage. Reiyna was less than six feet from the witch at this point and sent lightning flying from her palm like a whip. It caught the evil doer around the neck. She tugged back on her end of the line and the witch fell grasping at the restraint that was causing him such pain.

Yet Reiyna was unprepared by how quickly the witch went from attacking her weapon to attacking her. His hand flew out toward her with a spell and there was no time to avoid it. The magic hit her with enough force to knock her flat on her back. She couldn't move or even scream as pain engulfed. It was almost as bad as being back in the "tender" care of the orcs at Isengard. Someone was screaming but she couldn't focus. Figures moved around her and she realized it was Theodred and Kasi who crouched beside her.

"Hold still Reiyna, just hold very still." Kasi pleaded and then went silent. Theodred moved out of her line of sight but she could guess he was defending them as best he could. The pain, she couldn't breathe everything hurt. It felt like years but perhaps it was mere minutes. All Reiyna knew was that the sounds of battle had ceased and only her ragged breathing rang in her ears. There were more faces now crowded around and she wished she could tell them all not to stare but she didn't have the energy.

***

Kasi was weeping inside. Ever bone in Reiyna's body had been shattered and she was slowly suffocating. Her ribs and skull were what Kasi was aiming to heal first but she couldn't focus and the wounds were so severe she worried she wouldn't have enough energy. A hand came to rest on her shoulder and calm settled over her. Another hand rested on her other side and suddenly a vast deal of energy was at her disposal. With Legolas and Aragorn's aid she was able to mend the worst wounds and stabilize the others. She didn't even attempt to rise as she came back to herself.

"Will she live?" That was Theoden.

"We have to get her to a place where she can rest and I can continue. We've bought her time but nothing is certain." Her own voice was unrecognizable, a hoarse whisper.

"Then it will be done." Someone lifted her off the ground and placed her in the saddle of her gelding that had faithfully stood nearby throughout this time. Legolas swung up behind her, and she was grateful for the elf's soothing presence with her mind in turmoil and her body shivering. She watched as Theodred and Eomer carefully moved Reiyna to a hastily put together stretcher that would hang between two horses.

"She will live," Boromir assured her softly from where he rode alongside them.

"She'd better," Kasi said and let the darkness take her.

***

Reiyna woke to the sound of hushed voices and a soft bed beneath her. She was too dazed to move and found it hard to even open her eyes. Determination won out however and the sight that met her was drastically different to what she'd closed her eyes on earlier. She was in what appeared to be a medical ward. There were numerous beds lined against both sides of the hall all holding the wounded. A hand came into focus near her and held a cup of water to her lips, the unseen hand supporting her head.

"And I thought Morna was crazy," Kasi chastised. "Most of your bones are fragile and could break with the slightest shifting so I suggest you don't move." Reiyna finally got a look at her friend as the other young woman leaned forward. Haggard was the term that came to mind. Kasi was paler than a ghost with deep circles under her eyes and a slight tremble in her hands. How long had Reiyna been out?

"To fill you in, we've been at Gondor for just a few hours now. Apparently rumor still spread of Boromir's death and his father did indeed run straight off the cliff." Not a great loss in Reiyna's mind. She was done saving people for the day anyway. "Theoden lived and claimed a lovely prize as well, the Witch King's head. Aragorn leads the forces at dawn to Mount Doom." Reiyna's eyes grew large at this. "Not a snowballs chance in Hell, are you stepping one toe out of this bed let alone going to war. I can't even heal you again until nightfall when I have rested more." Reiyna wanted to convey her gratitude but was unable in her current state. Kasi's eyes softened. "I know Reiyna, no thanks needed. Now try and sleep."

The next time Reiyna woke it was dark and she felt much better though there was no tangible sign of improvement that she could see. Then again her head was flat on the pillow so most of what she saw was her blanket and the ceiling.

"She wakes," a familair voice spoke from her left. Theodred moved into her line of vision. "Blink once if you're thirsty." She did so and the prince held the cup of water to her lips. After she was done drinking Theodred helped her to sit up a bit. "Lady Kasi says you may sit upright now so long as you don't try to move too much. She used her magic on you again before going to rest."

"Time," she croaked.

"Just before dawn I'd wager. We'll ride out shortly. You're friend worries you will try to sneak along after us." His light tone deepened a bit. "But of course you are smarter than that and realize it is folly yes?" She rolled her eyes at this.

"It's Morna who goes leaping into battle wounded. I am not quite that crazy."

"That is good to hear. I find myself once again indebted to you. My father would be dead had you not interfered. Still, I would not have been happy had your heroics cost you your life."

"I'm alive."

"Barely," he retorted. "Eomer and I carried your litter between us to this city. You hardly breathed and even Kasi wept in anticipation for your passing, once she was revived that is. It was a long ride." The man paused and shook his head as if to erase the memory from his mind. "I do not think you realize how many here would miss you, myself amongst them. So stay in bed and grow well once more. When I return from the Mount I promise I'll sneak you down to the stables. Which reminds me, I must owe you half the horses in Rohan by now, unless you wish to collect payment for your deeds another way?" His tone was teasing and suggestive once more. Light was beginning to trickle in from the window.

"Go play hero Theodred and I'll see you in a few days." The man rose and bowed politely. He was halfway to the doorway when she spoke again. "Be careful." The prince turned right back around and came to her bedside once more. His head tilted to the side as he studied her. Without warning he bent over and kissed her soundly. Reiyna could only sputter.

"You can be sure I'll return now, if only to face your wrath My Lady." Then he was gone and Reiyna was alone in the quiet morning as all around her people slept. The nerve of that man. Overly romantic gestures were not her thing, and yet a smile crept to her lips as she drifted off to sleep once more.