A/N: Damn, I'm so sorry about the long ass wait, but I have not abandoned this story, it's just harder to get to where I'm going with this one and it's coming to an end so I want it done properly. Anyway, I'm trying to work on all my In-Progress stories right now so I don't know when the next update for this one will be but hopefully soon. Until then, mwah! Hope you enjoy.

-B

Fourth Age, October, 728:

The gates to Gondor close behind you as Eder carries you further from the wall, the sky a dark blue as the moon makes its way higher above you, a new star making an appearance every other minute.

You pull your hair over your shoulder before gently patting Eder's neck, cracking a small smile when he shakes his head in response. Clicking your tongue, you give a small snap with the reins, and steer Eder towards the North-West, squinting to make out the top of the mountains just ahead.

You listen hold Eder's reins loosely as he picks up his speed to a gallop, and glance towards the East, clenching your jaw as you think of Mirkwood and it's inhabitants.

How you wanted to throttle Deaglan. Your eyes narrow faintly as you think of his arrogant smirk and his icy stare. Nothing like his sister's enchanting gaze. You're shoulders relax at the thought of the Princess, and you think back to Quinn and how she was defending Brittany at the lake.

Part of you felt completely betrayed at the fact that your sister was choosing to side with the Elven Princess who had no trouble ripping your heart from your chest before stomping on it, and yet you knew that what Quinn had been saying, was true.

As much as it seems that Brittany holds a strong dislike for you, hate even, to others, you could still see the hint of affection she holds for you in her eyes. The more you thought about her threat, the more you find yourself agreeing with Quinn that it wasn't that at all.

You let out a groan and Eder turns his head faintly.

All of this could have been avoided if you'd only mentioned Isengard earlier. Although, there isn't much of a difference now. Rivendell, Lorien, Mirkwood, and even Gondor are all aware of the threat, and taking action to protect themselves. That is what Brittany was using against her. That everyone could've been prepared sooner.

You roll your eyes thinking that doesn't make much sense. Being angry at you for not warning everyone when…

You shake your head. You told yourself that you'd move passed the whole argument. Brittany has said her piece, made her choice, and you need to accept it, whether or not you agree. What's important now, is keeping everyone you love safe.

You keep your eyes on the mountains as you rest atop Eder's back, finding the light-warm breeze calming as it brushes your skin.

You wet your lips, carrying on humming a tune, and furrow your brows faintly with a tilt of your head. A warm breeze, you question and look to your right as a shiver runs through your body.

"Hold on." You say softly, pulling on the reins. Eder slows to a stop and you stare out into the night, your furrowed brows deepening in confusion and suspicion. Eder turns on your command and you start him off in a slow gallop, heading East of Gondor, following the heat. You squint as you try to find something, anything to explain the current of warmth, and pull Eder back when realization hits you.

"Mordor…" you breathe, just making out the light of fire beyond the wall surrounding it. Your jaw clenches as you think, weighing your options.

You could head back to Rivendell and help prepare the army of elves for the war, or, you could follow the wave of heat leading to Mordor and get a better understanding of how far along the Orc and Urukai army is with their preparations.

You hold onto Eder's reins tightly as he pushes himself towards the black mountains surrounding Mordor, your eyes narrowed and scanning the area around you for any hostiles.

You can hardly see anything. It's pitch black out, and the only light you have is the moon as it rests high in the sky. Still, you cannot see more than twenty feet ahead of you, besides the outline of orange from beyond the mountain.

You wet your lips, glancing at Eder's head when he leans to the side, and frown, pulling his reins to the left to get him back on course, when you hear it. You pull back on the reins and Eder skids to a stop just as a line of arrows soar in front of you. Eder reels back with a loud neigh, and starts to stomp while trying to turn against your commands.

You try to quiet him with hushed whispers, running your hand down his mane, and turn your gaze to the right; the direction in which the attack came from.

"Shhh, it's alright." You whisper, managing to calm him down enough to control him, and back him up a few feet before turning him slightly.

You stare out into the darkness, and listen, picking up nothing. You shake your head in confusion, glancing around before sliding from Eder's back. Your feet land on the ground without a sound, and you wrap your hand around the hilt of your sword, taking a few cautious steps away from Eder.

He stomps his hooves, his way of letting you know he's completely against what you're doing as you get down on a knee, and place your free hand on the ground; feeling for vibrations. You smile faintly as Eder continues to object, and subtly look around trying to catch sight of your attacker. You look back towards Mordor, trying to calculate the distance between you and your destination.

You were a fair distance away. No more than an hour's travel between you.

It could easily be Orcs or Urukai out there, but thinking back to your other encounters, they should have charged you by now, not attacked once and then retreat.

You let out a sigh before getting to your feet, and take another look around before turning to head back to Eder. He lifts his head, staring at you impatiently, and you smile in apology, pulling yourself onto his back.

"Let's go." You say gently, urging Eder forwards. He blows out through his nose, starting a gallop before you're knocked off his back.

You land hard on your back, the air leaving your lungs as you open your mouth to try and breathe.

Eder reels back and you forced yourself to roll out of his way before one of his back hooves come down hard where your head once was.

You pull at the front of your vest, more specifically the strings, trying to untie them as quickly as possibly, feeling restricted. You pull the ties apart and yank your vest open while gasping loudly; getting your breath back.

Eder whining and kicking out his front legs catches your attention, and you immediately shift to your knees while reaching for your discarded sword. His front hoof lands a hard kick to the head of the Warg, knocking it back, along with the Urukai on it's back.

Your fingers wrap around your sword before your tense, feeling warm air hitting your neck, and swallow roughly before spinning on your knees and swinging your sword.

The Warg behind you jumps out of the way, and you fall forwards, keeping your eyes locked with the beast as you quickly push yourself away from it, and jump to your feet.

You step back until you're only a few steps from Eder, and glance around. Your shoulders fall as you quickly count just how many Urukai are surrounding you, only one other mounting a Warg, and clench your jaw. You curse under your breath and tell yourself that if you somehow manage to make it out of the situation alive, to never make such a ridiculous decision again.

"Well? Shall we get on with it, then?" you ask, twirling your sword.

The third Urukai riding his Warg grins sadistically at you and lifts his hand slowly before pointing at you, "You're the girl."

Your readied stance falters slightly, and you furrow your brows in confusion while glancing around, keeping yourself aware of the others to your sides.

"The one who took Borikan's arm."

You tense and he notices, his grin growing as his eyes narrow with a gleam.

"Am I wrong, rider?" he asks and your eyes narrow into a cold glare at the name, "I am right."

"What does it matter?" you growl and he straightens, glancing at the Urukai standing next to him and his Warg.

"I am not certain whether we kill her, or bring her back." He says, glancing back at you, "Borikan would not be pleased if I let you live."

You right your stance and the Urukai grins.

"Nor would he be pleased if I bring you back."

"What do you want to do, Orlath?" You look from the one standing by the Warg, and then shift your gaze to Orlath, clenching your jaw as he stares you down.

"Kill her; we'll bring back her head."

Eder reels back and you step towards him, slapping his backside and sending him galloping. You lunge towards the Warg making to go after him, and plunge your sword into its exposed neck, before pulling it out and slicing the front of the Urukai.

Both bodies drop to the ground as you spinning around, facing Orlath with a hard glare.

He tilts his head slowly at you and you adjust your hold on your sword, your free hand subtly shifting towards the back of your pants.

"I said kill her, did I not!" Orlath snaps, and you pull your dagger free, and throw it towards the other Warg rider, watching it embed itself between his eyes, now rolling back in his head as he falls from the Warg.

The rest of the hoard run at you, and you bounce slightly on your feet while bending your legs, lifting your arms to catch a rusty sword with your own.

You bring your leg up, kicking against the stomach of the first Orc to attack you, and pivot on your right foot, bringing your left elbow up to crack the jaw of another coming from your side. You plunge your sword deep into his chest before pulling it back out and stumbling back.

You hiss at the sharp pain and look to your shoulder with a glare, pulling the arrow out with a growl before throwing it to the ground and taking long strides towards the one archer. He quickly readies another arrow as you make your way towards him, deflecting the strikes of the ten others, and flip your sword in your hand, spinning quickly with your arm stretched out.

His head drops to the ground, his body following slowly after, and you cast Orlath a quick look before ducking under a sword.

You let out an outraged yell, pulling your hand from your thigh, and blink hard at the blood staining your palm, before something hard hits you in the back of your head, causing you to fall to your knees. You blink repeatedly, seeing fuzzy dots, and try to regain your focus when a hard kick meets your side. You flop to the ground, coughing, and push yourself up on your arm, trying to pull yourself away from the kicks.

"Where are you going, rider?" Orlath calls, and you clench your jaw, turning onto your back while continuing to shuffle away from the group.

You heard Eder's worried whine, and curse his loyalty.

A heavy foot traps your left ankle beneath it and you wince, following the leg to a long, dirty snout. The Warg lowers its head, glaring at you with a growl, and Orlath grins wickedly as the others around him mumble and curse at you.

"Enough fun." He says, nodding towards you.

You look to the side, an Orc with a very large axe dragging his feet over. You pull on your leg and the Warg presses down, making your eyes roll back from the pain. Anymore and your bone will snap like a twig.

"Goodbye, rider." Orlath sneers and you lock your gaze on the axe as it's raised above the Orc's head.

You take a sharp breath as the axe begins to fall towards you, and pull your head back with wide eyes when both axe and Orc are scooped up and carelessly tossed plenty of feet away.

Your gaze lifts to the dark sky as the Orcs and Urukai around you start yelling in panic, and your lips part in awe as giant wings spread above you. You watch as three giant eagles swoop down repeatedly, picking up the hostiles and dropping them from the air.

One eagle, while the others handle Orlath's followers, lands next to you and Orlath, and you narrow your eyes at the short figure sitting on the birds back. The eagle throws it's wings out to the sides before letting out a screech, and staring at Orlath's Warg. You swallow, glancing around quickly, and do a double take when you see your dagger still embedded in the dead Urukai's face. You stretch, while Orlath's attention is on the bird and it's rider, and yank the dagger from the body before pulling yourself up and plunging the blade into the Wargs shoulder.

It lets out a pain yelp, stumbling away from you, releasing your ankle, and you pull yourself back and away from the fight of Orc, Urukai, and bird. You watch as the orcs and Urukai continue to be picked off, and bump into something sturdy, looking behind you to see Eder lowering his head to yours. You offer a pained smile and reach up, grabbing the saddle, and pull yourself up, putting your weight on your right foot while holding onto Eder for support. He watches you struggle before lowering himself to the ground, and you mumble your appreciation while getting settled on his back.

He rises and you look towards the fight, Orlath retreating on his wounded Warg.

You let out a breath and slump forwards on Eder, tangling your fingers in his mane before wincing when you move your arm, remembering your shoulder wound.

"You're injured."

You snap your head up, looking to the side, and curse quietly at the close proximity of the giant eagle. It blinks it's beady eyes at you and you gulp, tightening your hands around Eder's reins.

"Uhm…you talk?" you ask lamely and the Eagle tilts its head while you hear a loud laugh. The eagle then takes a few steps, revealing the short figure on it's back and you roll your eyes at yourself because obviously it wasn't the bird.

"You're injured." The figure repeats and you eye them carefully, frowning at their hood pulled low.

"Just flesh wounds, nothing to worry about."

"I am certain Lady Quinn and Lord Aelfheah will disagree." They say and you tense, narrowing your eyes at the figure. "You need not worry, Princess." They continue before you can speak. You scowl at the title and watch as tan hands lift to remove the black hood from the figures head. Long brown hair falls onto small shoulders as the person lifts their head, smiling widely at you with sparkling brown eyes.

And a nose identical to the beak of her companions.

"My name," she grins, "Is Rachel."

And there's Rachel ;)

-B