A/N: Many many MANY people have asked me if Nicole is ever going to be romantically-involved with anyone. To these people, I have one instruction: look at the category of this story. It isn't labeled Romance. *looks strict* You should know better, dear reviewers! *grins* But you'll be happy to know that there still WILL be romance, I just ask you to be patient for a while because... well, to tell the truth, the romance (or at least, the REAL romance in this story) is not coming for a while. *cringes and ducks as rotten vegetables are thrown at her* Eeek. Sorry. But eventually.... yea.

Home Sweet Home

Chapter Twenty-Five ~ The Freedom to PLAN

"GET BACK THERE, RIGHT NOW!!!"

Nicole winced. "I had no idea you could yell so loudly, Aragorn," she said and rubbed her aching sensitive ears. Her arrival had not been taken well. That's an understatement. The truth of it was that Nicole had tried to be quiet about showing up, but Aragorn found out that some soldiers were talking about an Elf at the rear of the company, an elf who was not Legolas, and he had forced the entire line to stop. This brought all attention to her as she was dragged off her horse by two particularly strong Rohirrim and begrudgingly led to Aragorn. Mercilessly, he made her keep her hood down, so that everyone could see she was a woman, and then proceeded to protest (or really just yell) at her coming along with them. Most people were annoyed at this disruption, but Gimli seemed amused and Legolas was definitely having too much fun watching Nicole suffer.

"How 'bout we make a deal?" she tried. "I get to stay with ya'll and fight if I promise to stick close to Gimli for the whole battle-shin-dig?"

Aragorn's fury melted into a stony glare. "Nicole, leave now, or I swear I will have you tied to your horse and sent back," he said menacingly.

"Aw, c'mon, you don't mean that--"

"Yes, I do mean it. I do not care how old you think you are, but you are still too young to go into a battle--"

"You let me go with you from Lorien! How is this any diff--"

"The situation was different at that time--"

"No, it wasn't, it was dangerous too. I stayed with you then, I fought, and I LIVED. I didn't even get hurt!" Legolas raised an eyebrow at Nicole's defense, which was nothing but a bunch of lies. "Shut up, Elf!" she growled.

"I did not say anything."

"You implied it! Anyway, Aragorn, I'll be mature, I won't get myself in over my head, I'll even stick with Gim--"

"NO, do you hear me, Nicole? Turn around and go back to where you will be safe," Aragorn said this with such a commanding tone that Nicole seriously considered going back to Edoras for a second. But only for a second. Then she was back to her debate.

"You think I will be safe there? Sure enough, it is a mighty place, one that has withstood hundreds of years. But this war we are in... these assaults are bolder and stronger, and harder to defeat, than ever before. Is there any place that is still safe against such evil?" Nicole raised her voice more and turned her gaze to include the men of Rohan gathered around them. "And in the face of such evil, should I be a coward and hide? Seek shelter? Succumb to defeat? First of all, it is not in my nature to give up so easily. Simply being here is my proof of that. And secondly, I live here," Nicole said, sweeping an arm to indicate the entirety of Middle-Earth. "Do I not have the right to defend these lands? Do I not have the right to fight for the survival of my people and all others on this Middle-Earth? Furthermore, if I truly love life, as do all of my kind, would I really have a choice in this matter? There is not alternative. I must fight. I stay, Aragorn, with or without your leave."

Silence fell after her speech. The one Nicole had just made beat out all previous attempts at sounding mature and wise and the least bit Elf-like. A feeling of agreement with her statements spread through the assembled crowd. The King looked inspired, but Nicole doubted that he even remembered her name. Gimli grinned. Nicole could swear that she heard his thoughts saying, that's it, lass. That is who you really are. Along with maybe an absent-minded thought about ale or roast beef... Nicole grinned, both at her thought, Gimli's imagined thought, and her apparent victory.

Aragorn sighed wearily. "This battle may be too fierce for you, Nicole," his voice was tired, he sounded like he was making a last attempt to dissuade her. "I am uncertain that a life so young as yours should be thrown away so carelessly for the sake of fighting--"

She took a step closer to Aragorn and placed a hand on his shoulder. "For what other reason would I be here? Do you believe it possible that I have some other purpose? Why else would I have come... here... at this time," she said, lowering her voice with the last words, eyes twinkling, her words clearly speaking (to those who knew of it) of her strange arrival and change.

Aragorn nodded once. "There does appear to be some logic in what you say... but I ask you once more. I will grant you anything Nicole, if you return to Edoras," he said sincerely.

The wheels in Nicole's head churned furiously. Let me think about this for a second... Anything I want. He is supposed to be a king, so I could technically get riches like I wouldn't believe. I could get a palace. I could get Aragorn to ban Legolas from being within five miles of me. Yea, I could do all that, but then I'd be a lady. How could I get him to let me fight, though? He's not stupid enough that he'll just let me go off if I tell him I want to go fight. She gave a silent moan of frustration. This guy is like an annoying parent. He won't let me have any decision-making of my own! Wait a second... oh, genius! I love you, my genius brain!!!! She grinned broadly. "Such an offer is hard to refuse, Aragorn. You say you will grant me anything? May I have your word on that?" she asked.

"My word is given," he replied, mild curiosity expressed due to Nicole's sudden change.

"In that case, milord, I ask for my freedom, utterly complete from influences by yourself, or any other upon these lands," Nicole proclaimed.

A whisper spread through the crowd. The ranger's brow furrowed. He knew the plan was suspicious. "And if I grant it to you, though truly it should not be something given, you would surely follow us into battle. How can I be assured you would fulfill your promise to return to Edoras?"

"If you wish it, you may send someone with me, and see me past the gates of the town, into the very Golden Hall," she replied, keeping up the matureness. If he believed that she was really getting normal and sane, then he would be more quick to grant her request.

"I shall hold you to your word," he replied and instant success spread on Nicole's face. "But... to ensure that you do follow through, I shall have Gimli and Legolas accompany you for half of the journey back. Aside from that, you have your freedom."

Nicole grinned again. "We have an accord, my lord!" she exclaimed and grasped his hand firmly. She was happy to mount Fuchsia, who had been brought forward, and drew her hood up. "Very well, I shall now depart. I wish you fortitude in battle. May your swords shine brightly, Rohirrim!" she yelled into the mass of soldiers and turned her horse around and galloped off in the direction she came from.

With an expression of frustration, and his eyes saying that he only did this out of extreme loyalty to Aragorn, Legolas nodded to him and turned his horse around, leading Gimli and himself after Nicole.

"That woman is amazing," Gimli said with rough pride. "It is my belief that she's finally matured. She truly is an Elf."

Legolas did not care to respond and simply rolled his eyes.

Breaking her so-far-mature facade, Nicole paused a short distance away while she waited for Gimli and Legolas to catch up, and raised a hand in salute to Aragorn. "You rock, Aragonite!" she yelled, her voice easily carrying to him on the wind. She grinned at the pun. Seeing that her two companions were close by, she spurred Fuchsia into a swift gallop.

Her ears caught Gimli's gruff voice yelling to her. "Continue like that, Nicole, and you'll find yourself a better speech-maker than even Bilbo Baggins!"

Nicole grinned and deftly flipped herself around in her saddle so that she was sitting backwards. "Trust me, my friend, that happened once and will never happen again," she said gleefully. Her plan was working marvelously. Re-assuming her normal position on the horse, Nicole continued on towards Edoras silently working out the details of her plan. The three rode on as the time passed. Nicole pushed Fuchsia faster and faster, knowing that she needed to act fast and knowing that Gimli was probably dying to get back into battle. When they reached what was probably the half-way point, Nicole pulled Fuchsia to a stop.

"Alright, see, I've kept up my share of the bargain," Nicole said smugly.

Gimli sighed (gruffly). "Alas, that is true and we must keep ours."

"You are free to leave," Legolas proclaimed, only it didn't sound so wonderful when he said it.

"Come here, lass," Gimli said and gestured. Nicole dismounted and approached him, still seated on his horse. "Be safe, Nicole," he said and firmly shook her shoulder. I guess that's the Dwarf equivalent of a handshake, she mused. "This will not be the final time we meet."

Nicole grinned and punched his arm merrily. "Oh no, definitely not. You can count on that, Master Dwarf," she replied then moved back to mount Fuchsia. "Just remember that you owe me one, Gimli. I'm coming back to cash that in. Have fun! Don't get yourselves killed!" On that reassuring note, Nicole softly kicked Fuchsia and rode off into the nearly-sunset and towards Edoras.

"She is planning something," Legolas said with suspicion.

"Yes," Gimli replied happily, "yes she is."

A/N: I apologize for this short and crummy chapter, but my writing skills have just died. May they rest in pieces. I need a bit of time off from this story, so I'm going on vacation. When I get back... in about two weeks, I will rewrite and repost this chapter because quite honestly, it's my worst and shortest ever. No plot, no character development, and Nicole's humor sucks.

Thank you, my loyal reviewers. If it wasn't for you, this chapter and many others would never have been written. Wish me luck!

~Morgaine of Ithil