I think I only got two reviews for the last chapter. (sigh) Well we're going to be delveing a little into Neveil's past in this chapter and maybe a little encounter with Legolas? ;)

The field is filled with the dead of Elves, Men and Orcs of all kinds. The air is hot and dry and the sky is red as though it too had suffered a wound in this battle of all battles. I am with a unit of Gordinian men fighting the forces of Sauron. My hair is entirely gone, shaved off, and my breasts are bound, I fight under the name of Durlith "dark ash" A fitting name for the occasion.

It seems that with ever Orc or foul beast we cut down another springs up. Like a restless tide we could not stem the slaughter. For me the world spun away that day. I became something darker, I gave in to anger and hate. I smiled at the death and reveled in the bloodshed. I was killing the enemy, I was killing myself. I gave in to the darker part of me, the long repressed and restrained part that was him and I found myself wanting it to end.

I never saw Sauron in that battle but I felt the pain when he fell a split second before the shock wave hit. As soon as it hit me massive wounds opened on my skin and blood fell from my eyes nose and mouth. If not for the men fighting at my side I have no doubt I would have meet my end by and Orc's blade. But I knew no, I felt he was still there.

I knew the ring had not been destroyed when the battle was over, Valar I knew. If it had been thrown off into the fires of Doom I would have felt it. After all his blood was my blood, his being was mine, and while his spirit had been destroyed his spirit remained. We were held in the same space of existence, I didn't believe you could destroy the higher being without destroying the lesser. But no one questioned it. Everyone was more than willing to believe the evil had passed. After a long, hopeless war, people will settle for peace at any price.

In war the first casualty is truth.

I hate war and battle as only a soldier who has lived through it can. I should have died that day, I should have passed into shadow. But I lived. Why?

PAGEBREAK

My eyes open to the sound of someone moving past me and looking up I see a flash of gold before it disappears into the dark.

Looking around at the still sleeping men and still hearing the heavy snores of the Dwarf, I quickly equip my sword and give chase to the hidden being, dancing carefully around the sleeping forms laying on the ground.

He moves quickly farther away from the camp still and I see a pair of pointed ears. I falter in my step. Why would Legolas be sulking about in the middle of the night?

I don't have long to ponder it however since once we are a good distance from the camp he spins on his heel and locks me under an angry gaze. I nearly flinch from the intensity of it. "Is there a particular reason you're following me?" He snaps causing me to get angry as well.

"What is wrong with you!" I snap back, not even trying to control myself. I was sick of this self righteous Elf looking at me like I was going to slit his throat. Legolas crossed his arms over his chest and gave me a look that appeared both angry and annoyed. As though he was having to scold a child. "Oh, perhaps it is the fact that you are more or less Sauron and were created for the sole purpose of deceiving and destroying." He spat and I actually recoiled from his words, my eyes widening from his careless cruelty.

"I am still the same person I was when I joined you-"

"No you are not." Legolas interrupts. "If I had known from the beginning I would not have even tolerated your presence."

A chill breeze blows around us and I find myself closing my eyes to it and taking a deep breath before once more staring down the Elf. I slowly draw my sword and before I know it an arrow is pointed at my face, a cold and angry Legolas wielding it. I stare at him with large cold eyes as I hold out my sword to him. His eyes flick down in surprise at the gesture. "Take it and cut me down then if you think I am so deserving and you are so righteous." I hiss, though keeping my face cold and neutral. "I wont try and stop you." I say as I push the sword closer to him. "But tell me. Would someone as evil as you claim ever offer this chance to you?"

To that Leoglas held no answer.

"Then don't you dare judge me." I sneer, yanking my sword out of his hands and sheathing it at my side. I give the Elf one more look that clearly expressed my disappointment before turning my back to him and walking back into camp and hopefully into sweeter dreams.

PAGEBREAK

After a sleepless night of tossing and turning I finally gave up on the whole notion and at dawn began sharpening my blade to a razors edge. I always took time to care for my blade for I always believed that a sword was simply another part of yourself, a stronger part that serves to protect the more fragile. I held a special disdain for those who let their swords drag through the muck, or placed them upon shelves to grow dull and dusty.

I begin dragging the whetstone an bit more forcefully as I think back to my encounter with Legolas. Was I angry with him, no. I was frustrated yes, but not angry. I was angrier with myself for trusting him in the first place. When we first met I would never have thought him capable of such rage and cruelty, I even thought I could have befriended him, even loved him. That was why, after all, I considered his request to court me after the danger had passed. But I was wrong. For Valar's sake! I didn't even know if I was to survive past this war, and what was I planning to do when he did eventually start courting me? I couldn't hide my heritage forever….

"My lady?" My head snaps up from my thoughts and from my work of sharpening my blade to see the Lady Eowyn standing to my side looking down at me with worried and curious eyes. I bow my head slightly out of courtesy, taking tight control over my own reeling emotions once more.

"How may I be of assistance to you, Lady Eowyn?" I ask monotonously, setting aside my whetstone and sword carefully. The Blonde woman smiles weakly before sitting down on the ground at my side and I raise an eyebrow but Eowyn simply smiles in a disarming manner. I had to give her this; she had a smile that men would go to war for.

"You looked as though you needed some company." She says sweetly and that is how we end up talking, well Eowyn does most of the talking while I listen. She tells me of the customs of Rohan and the Rohirim, the people of her hold, her uncle, and her fears of the war. Once she gets more comfortable she delves into more personal topics. She talks about how she wished she could do more to protect her people, her hatred for the finer points of being a lady and on that I had to agree with her. Even though I often enjoyed wearing gowns it was often far too much of a hassle to wear day in and day out, and what was the nonsense where men had to stand when a woman left the table?

When she goes into the topic of her brother Eomer she gets an odd twinkle in her eye that makes me a bit apprehensive.

"Eomer is a strong warrior, a captain!" She praises her brother as I listen and I had to admit. Her brother seemed an admirable man and one that I could easily get along with, but not likely in the way she was thinking. I doubt if she knew I was the immortal creation of Sauron she would have brought it up….

"What of yourself?" Eowyn suddenly asks and I find myself grow tense, Eowyn notices this and quickly puts me at ease. "Nothing too personal or anything." She says with a dismissive wave of the hand. "Though may I ask you something?" I grin at her. "you already have." Eowyn smacks me in the arm playfully and lets out a small bell like laugh.

"I meant to ask you what your name meant, it sounds Elvish in nature but I unfortunately know none of the language." I nod at her. "First tell me what your name means, a question for a question." I explain and Eowyn nods in agreement.

"It actually means 'horse of joy'." She says with a small embarrassed sounding laugh and running a hand over her hair. "To be truthful I always thought it was a silly name as a child but now I would have no other name." I smile at this information, filling it away for later.

"Well my name roughly means 'new life' though it is actually closer to 'new house'." Eowyn laughs merrily at this and I frown a bit at her causing her to hurriedly explain. "Forgive me, its just…New house.." She says, another chuckle slipping from her and I cannot help but laugh as well, it was rather absurd.

"Well, I can see you two are getting along swimmingly." A gruff voice says from behind us and turning around revels the owner to be Gimli. He is leaning on his axe lazily and smiling at the scene we are causing.

"Don't sound so surprised Gimli." I say, flicking a piece of hair out of my face that I would have to cut soon. "I can be quite charming company if I am approached properly." This comment elicits a loud laugh from the Dwarf and I frown at him.

"Lass, half the time most talking to you could mistake you for a statue. Your more quiet than a cave mouse and less moving than rock."

"And you master Dwarf are less charming than a drunken Orc." I interrupt and Eowyn attempts to hold in her giggles as Gimli sputters indignantly at the comment and we have to listen to a lecture of the virtues of Dwarves which we ignore. We have to move about our way though when the march to Helms Deep starts yet again.

Eowyn and Aragorn somehow manage to get Gimli onto a horse and I was honestly surprised how little of a fuss he made. Though I suppose that had something to do with the fact Lady Eowyn led his horse while he 'regaled' her with stories of dwarves.

I myself though was stuck walking because Azura would dart forward every time I attempted to get on her back. So I was stuck leading the confounded horse on foot.

Cursed animals….

Eowyn's laugh brings me out of my self pitying thoughts and I see Gimli rolling around on the ground like a beetle trying to get up shouting "it was deliberate!"

I laugh out loud at the sight and I turn to see if Aragorn saw the humorous scene only to find him examining the plains around us with the sharp eyes that he no doubt had acquired throughout his rough life. I watched with him as two horsemen moved over a hill, no doubt to scout ahead.

Suddenly the screams of both men and horses came from over the rise where the two scouts had ridden and Aragorn immediately dashed towards the source of the noise. I rushed over to Gimli to tell him to ready himself. I had a feeling some knife work would have to be done.

I saw Aragorn quickly rush back towards us and Theoden shouted out to him. "What is it? What do you see?"

"Wargs! We're under attack Aragorn shouted quickly and instantly a wave of panic moved through the crowd. I gave Gimli a shove towards his horse and quickly hoped onto Azura's back, who thankfully must have understood my need and did not protest.

"All riders to the head of the column!" Theoden ordered, and I along with Aragorn and a slightly slower Gimli Surged forward with the skeleton of Rohan's army.

Okay. That felt a little rushed. Sorry. Also, I am thinking of keeping Aragorn from falling in the next chapter. Let me know what you think. REVIEW!