A really late thank you to This Is Not Apple Juice. I feel really bad that I forgot to thank you. Especially since yours was such a nice review!

This is a really long chapter. One of my longest anyway. Enjoy! (I come up with a lot of the things for this story while riding my horse.)

Chapter 37 Gotta Mind to Travel and Say Hello by Coco Montoya and April Wine

There wasn't much talk on their first day to Minas Tirith...actually there was no talk at all. Frankly though, Annwn didn't mind, she was left to her own thoughts, her own confusing thoughts. 'Why him, why now, why, why, why? What did he see in her? It wasn't like she was that pretty.' She used to think that she was a lot better looking than she did now. Looking back there wasn't a day where she woke up thinking it, it was a gradual realisation. What was this realisation? It was that she held her looks in very high regards, i.e. she was vain! Sure she had told Galadriel that she wasn't and that she was only overly proud about her riding ability and nothing else, but that was a lie. In retrospect Annwn realised that Galadriel saw right through her. She had always been told at school that she was pretty, not always in those words, but it was implied. She had been popular because of it. Now she saw a lot clearer that she hadn't really liked being the center of attention. Not in that way, having too many guys wondering what it would be like to get in her pants at night. Apart from Jake there were two other guys who were trying to get on her good side, to the point where it became very annoying.

Maybe that was why she didn't want anyone here to know that she was maybe...according to Gandalf, the Raven. There were qualities that the Raven had, apparently, that she didn't have what so ever. For instance there was something in the poem about endurance, Annwn sure as hell didn't have endurance. She was actually perversely lucky that she was unconscious when the fellowship was leaving Parth Galen. She would not have been able to run for three days. Nope, other than fire, her other foe was the cooper run. That thing was death. In grade seven and eight they had had to do the cooper around their freaking school because the gym was too tiny. The freaking school! And that was in Elementary school. Needless to say she was extremely relieved to only have to go around the gym for twelve minutes in high school...rant aside. She still didn't know why he thought he loved her.

After spending what time she had here she was realizing how petty a person she was, and how diluted she was to think that she wasn't petty. She wasn't an elf, she didn't have the perfect hair and lips like Arwen, and she didn't have the stature and ultra feminine chest of Éowyn. Or her hair! Éowyn had beautiful hair. After meeting these two women she felt like a little girl who hadn't hit puberty, which wasn't totally untrue. Maybe one day that would change...hopefully. Her doctors told her that if things didn't change she would probably never have children. All her structures were there...they just weren't turned on for some reason. It wasn't unheard of for women to start their monthlies in their late teens, but that time was swiftly passing for Annwn. This was another reason why she didn't want to marry. People assume (here even more then in Canada) that when you get married there will be children at some point. Annwn had seen Boromir with Merry and Pippin. He had been like an older brother and father to them. Not having his own children would kill him, hopefully not literally. But if she didn't marry she only had one person disappointed, herself. Annwn really was shocking herself with the depth of her thought while riding. She had never, not in a long time anyway, had the luxury of not having to send ever minute while on a horse trying to have some semblance of order and control. It was surprisingly easy for her to think up here.

But none of that explained why Boromir thought he loved her. Sure she had clear skin, blue eyes and a smallish body frame that made her look petite and fine, but petite described other parts of her too. As she had said before, her chest was nearly nonexistent. In grade nine she had even been called 'a carpenter's dream'! And there was the issue of her personality, Annwn was aware that it was less than ideal for a woman in this world and time, but she couldn't change who she was. The best she could do was try to control herself. Ha! That should prove interesting.

Gandalf only let them stop once that first day for a quick bit to eat, and then they were back riding as fast as they could. Annwn was proud of Arion, he was keeping up with Shadowfax. What she didn't know was that Shadowfax was Arion's sire. She could tell by the way he was acting that he was enjoying the free rein and the fast pace. His ears were pricked forward and he would toss his head a little as if to tell her that he wanted to go faster, but he didn't know how far he would have to run so Annwn was forced to reign him in a few times.

That night Gandalf stopped them at a craggy patch of land where they could take shelter from the cool wind behind the larger rocks. To Annwn's great dismay (even though she knew they were on a tight schedule) they only got four hours of sleep before Gandalf roughly shook them awake. They were off again before the but-crack of dawn had fully formed. She was tired and she wanted to sleep. It was worse than her first term finals of university. But like a friend had told her...at least she wasn't studying DIRT!

Halfway through this second day they stopped for water at a little rivulet. Annwn was kneeling beside Arion refilling her water skin while he drank when Gandalf eased himself down onto one of the large rocks that were present everywhere along the riverbed and said

"You knew, did you not?"

"Knew what?" she asked looking up from her task.

"What you were doing when you challenged Éomer that you could ride." He said a little amused. Clearly he had heard the story from someone.

"I did. Or at least it was my best guess. Who else would I win a horse from if not a Horse Lord? You really think I'm her, don't you?"

"Indeed, you have already committed four acts of mercy."

"Hun? When did I do that?" Annwn asked rocking back on her heels while looking confused. She didn't know what Gandalf was talking about. Then he got that dangerous glint in his eyes that meant he was about to give some response that would prove less helpful than saying nothing.

"That is not for me to say, but for you to find out when you are ready and you have gone with him."

"With who?" there was that twinkle again. That damned twinkle. Wasn't he supposed to be their guide, generally guides don't aim to confuse those whom they are guiding. "You know what Gandalf, you're as bad as Ralfmickey."

"Who is that?"

"The unhelpful baboon from "The Lion King". It's what my friend thought his name was when she was younger. It's actually Rafekki." Gandalf only looked at her.

After a quite moment he said "I should also like to say that you should apologize to Frodo for what you said two nights ago, even if it wasn't to his face." Gandalf said gravely "I hope they are not your true feelings."

"Oh god! What did I say?" Annwn's face fell, it wouldn't be good, especially if she had to apologise.

"You had one comment about how everyone is forgetting about Sam. I admit that I myself am guilty of this and I regret it." 'Ok' thought Annwn 'that isn't so bad. And it's a good point and something that really bothers me about the films.'

"You also had some unkind words about Frodo." Annwn winced, this sounded like her drink self, and angry drunk, with a few streaks of slutty-ness in there too...but that was an entirely different can of worms. "You said that he wasn't special, that he was annoying, confused and that no one loved him. You also made a comment about his eyes, which troubles me as yours are very similar to his."

"Ahh." Annwn groaned "I am sorry about what I said. Except for that part about Frodo not being special, because he isn't and he never will be. Neither was Katniss, or Scout or Jim from Treasure Island, and Harry...never mind, forget that last one he was special. And I know for a fact that there are people out there who love Frodo...maybe a little too much." She added thinking off all the fan girls out there that would glomp him without a second thought.

"That is good to hear, but I still wish that you tell Frodo that when you meet him next." It wasn't phrased as a question but that's what it was. He was asking if she would see Frodo again.

"That'll be an interesting conversation, and I won't enjoy it but I'll do it 'cause you asked so nicely." She gave him little nose wiggle to let him know that she really wasn't happy about his ultimatum but that she knew that it was ultimately her fault that it had to be done. Gandalf gave her a curt nod of understanding and approval then looked around for something

"Where has that Took gone off to?" he said looking around "It's time to leave."

"I'm right here!" Pippin said popping out from behind a tree.

"Alright up you get." He was about to put the Hobbit on Shadowfax but Annwn cut in.

"You should get a break from him today Gandalf. And it's not like he's that big. He won't drag us down."When Pippin pouted a bit at her comment she only responded with a cheeky smile. Gandalf nodded and put Pippin on Arion instead. Annwn mounted up after him. They were off again.

"Lady Pirate?" asked Pippin after they had been riding for only ten minutes. Annwn sighed it the Hobbit's insistence of using the nickname.

"Yeah Pip?"

"Are you sure you don't know what butterscotch is made of?" That was it? That was his question? Butterscotch! Ah well, he was a Hobbit after all.

"Yes Pippin, I don't know what is in butterscotch. Though I promise the second I find out what it's made of I will tell you. But I can tell you about...Christmas (it was the first holiday that came to her) dinner if you like? Oh My God! It's March! I totally missed Christmas!"

"I can see how missing a dinner would be upsetting but we had two very nice feasts in Rohan." Pippin pointed out.

"Christmas is more than just food Pippin. It's a holiday...that not everyone celebrates, there are those that have others. But Christmas is the one we have in my family back home. It's in December...but you don't know what that is do you? No. It's the last month of the year, and it, Christmas, takes place on the shortest day of the year."

"There are songs sung and trees decorated. And family members, for the most part try to spend the time together without killing each other." Annwn continued.

"That doesn't sound too nice. People trying to kill each other?" the poor Hobbit sounded confused.

"Oh you misunderstand me. Do you have any friends in the Shire who don't get along with their relatives?" Pippin thought for a split second.

"Well there's Frodo and Billbo who don't get along with the SB's, those would be the Sackville-Baggins. I suppose that if they had to spend an extended amount of time together someone would end up with a few injuries." 'And Bilbo would be missing some cutlery no doubt.' Thought Annwn to herself.

"My point exactly. There isn't generally any actual killing involved. Though the insults, especially the underhanded ones, fly like leaves in a fall storm." Annwn and her parents had stopped spending time with her mother's side of the family because that meant Annwn's aunt. She was the only one other than Annwn's mother. As well she was one of the most miserable people Annwn knew. She was only in her fifties and she already needed a hip replacement and she was a little too keen on prescription pain killers which made her verbally abusive. Annwn's family didn't need her added to the mix. But Pippin didn't need or want to be regaled with all of her family member's faults. And yet Annwn couldn't help but wonder what Christmas would have been like if she had woken up in that hospital bed she had seen in the mirror.

"Anyways, Christmas season is great...minus the present shopping. That's no fun at all."

"There's presents too?" Pippin asked sounding eager.

"Yes there's presents too. And mashed potatoes, turkey, cranberry sauce, little pickles, stuffing, gravy, jelly salad, pickled beets..." Annwn was all of a sudden hungry.

"It sounds delicious." It was...Annwn was in a half stupor just thinking about it.

"There's also chock-cookies." She was going to say chocolate but she figured that if Pippin was that fascinated by butterscotch she'd never, ever hear the end of chocolate.

"Chalk cookies?" Pippin asked confused.

"Just ignore the chalk part. I was talking bad."The English major in her shuddered. Annwn didn't want to tell her English teachers that she had just used that sentence, I was talking bad. It was a terrible one. It should have been 'I was not talking well'. Pippin however didn't care about her grammar, or lack thereof and Annwn was starting to think of herself as slightly neurotic that she would correct her own grammar when clearly no one cared.

"And there are some amassing songs that are for the season. Like my all time favourite Sleigh Ride, then next comes Carol of the Bells and then The Christmas song, but that one had to be sung by Nat King Cole."

"Could you sing them now?"

"How about when were not riding, carrying the conversation is hard enough at a full tilt canter."

"Okay" said Pippin, though he sounded a little sad. However she never got the chance because it was near midday when they crested a hill and there it lay in front of them, the White City, Minas Tirith. It was everything Boromir had said about it and more. In fact from this angle it kinda looked like Pride Rock from "The Lion King". Actually that's not a bad analogy for Aragorn...though his father wasn't killed by his evil uncle... and Denathror's not so much evil as he is crazy.

"There it is" said Gandalf while Pippin was putting his eyeball back in their sockets. It was the largest building he had ever seen, and he was impressed. "The White City of Gondor" to which Annwn response was...

"The only thing it's missing is theme music...and a King. But right now as far as I'm concerned music trumps Aragorn's ass outa the sky."

As they took a gentle canter up to the city Annwn was painfully aware of the fact that Mordor was looming over them, and that somewhere over there Sam and Frodo crawled on their hands and knees trying to get to Mount Doom (Mount Doom, honestly who named it that?). All the while Gollum corrupting Frodo's heart and loyalties. Poor Frodo, but that still didn't make him special. The thought of what it must be like in the center of mount doom made Annwn's skin tingle. The thought of all that heat and the sulphur fumes...she had to shake her head to clear it of those thoughts.

Under her breathe she started to hum the Indiana Jones theme song. In response Pippin turned to look at her, as well as could be done while seated on a horse. He had a rather indignant look on his face.

"You said you couldn't sing and ride at the same time." he demanded.

"There is never a bad time for the Indiana Jones theme. Except maybe a funeral. Or in the middle of an exam. I also said I couldn't sing, what I was just doing was humming." Annwn was pretty good at finding loop holes and providing them for herself, like she had just done. Pippin only frowned at her.

When they reached the main gates the soldiers eyed Annwn with untrusting eyes, however since she was with Gandalf (the white no less) they let her through, or maybe they were looking at Pippin funny, no one in these parts had ever seen a Hobbit before, but either way there were stares.

Once through the gate they charged up to the seventh level of the city. It was a long ways to the top. When they reached it, there it was. The White Tree. The dead White Tree. Dead and waiting for a King to plant the seedling. Annwn tried to shove down her fan girl squeal as she dismounted. She knew where the seedling was and Aragorn didn't, it was another thing to rub in his face!

Just to be sure no one would find it by accident she unhooked her saddle bags and tied them to her main bag, thinking of the half horn. Then she had to grab Pippin by the scruff of his jacket to get him past the White Tree.

"This is it, the dead tree I saw in my head."

"Yes, the White Tree of Gondor." She hissed as him as they passed more guards, what was it with Gondor and guards? They were everywhere!

"Why is it dead?"

"It's the King's tree, but Lord Denethor is not King." She hissed in his ear. They had reached the door.

"Now Lord Denethor is a stubborn man," at this Annwn gave a short snort of derision and Gandalf struck her with an icy stair, she tried to hide the snort with a cough but it was too late, way too late. "As I was saying he is stubborn. Do not say anything of Frodo or The Ring...or Aragorn for that matter. In fact it would be better if you didn't speak at all." They nodded and he opened the doors. Annwn took it upon herself to keep Pippin from spouting. She always seemed to give herself impossible tasks. Save all the guys who died as Helms Deep, save this person, save that person, and keep Pippin from yammering...great!

"Lord Denethor, I have come to you in this grave hour to give council and advice." Gandalf said upon entering the hall.

For a while he didn't move from his slumped position in his throne. Then he slowly raised his head. What Annwn saw was scary; it made her want to up and turn around, to leave the hall. In the movies the man was creepy, but this was different, he wasn't just the guy from 'Fringe' with long hair, big robes and a bad attitude. It was worse to see a man who was actually on the verge of madness who had the same eyes as a man you knew as honourable and sane. It was sad really. Annwn was starting to see how right she was when she said that he was like Claudius and Ophelia from Hamlet. Then he spoke.

"Perhaps you have come to tell me why my son it dead!" Annwn looked at Gandalf. Asking with her eyes if now was the right time to give him the half horn and Boromir's message. She hadn't told him about it but he knew that she wanted to tell this man that his eldest and most beloved son was not dead. He held out his hand so as to stop her from speaking while Annwn had a death grip on Pippin's shoulder in an attempt to keep him distracted and quiet.

"Lord Denethor, there will be a time to grieve for Boromir but that time is not now." 'That's an interesting strategy Gandalf...where are you going with it?' Annwn thought in her head.

"For all your subtlety Mithrandir, you have not wisdom." Annwn really wanted to say 'Oh burn!' but she knew it wouldn't go over well so she kept her gob shut, with difficulty. "I know what you seek to do. The tower of Ecthelion is not blind. I know of this ranger from the north that you ride with. I will not bow to this ranger from the north! Nor will I have Gondor take the brunt of Mordors force to spare the rest of Middle Earth where they do not worry." 'Don't worry Denethor...I don't kowtow to Aragorn either!' Annwn thought keeping a running commentary in her head. 'But way to keep Roahn; your allies for life on the porch! That's not very nice, especially when they play so well with others.' The voice in her head pouted. She liked Rohan even more than she like Rivendell, or Gondor for that matter, there were more horses, and the people had fewer spoons up their collective asses.

"As Steward it is not your place to refuse the return of the King. And tell me, if your tower is not so blind then did you not see the army of Isengard march on Hemls Deep? Did you not see that battle? The rest of Middle Earth is not so worry free as you seem to think."

"I have ruled this country good and long, do not tell me what to think and when to think it! I will not stand for it! Now get out!"

"At least ready your troops and the city guard for battle." Urged Gandalf in a last ditch attempt to get through Denethor's madness.

"I said GET OUT!"

"Very well." Gandalf said curtly. Annwn again had to drag Pippin out of the hall for he was gaping at the man he now knew as Boromir's father. Annwn heard Gandalf muttering to himself. She heard him say something that sounded like "Yes, you've ruled a good deal too long."

It seemed that since Denethor wasn't going to prepare his city, Gandalf would. They mounted their horses again and rode through the streets telling the men in charge to be on watch and the battle would soon come. They listened. The fact that they did, kept the dying ember that was Annwn's faith in men from completely spluttering out. However she knew that this would only mean that it would take a little longer for it to happen. It had taken a blow back when she had last looked in the mirror Galadriel had given to her (which as a result she was now scared to look into), then another blow when Aragorn had spiked her drinks and most recently when Denethor refused to see reason.

They had made their way to the first and lowest level they saw them, and heard them. The Nazgul. There were three of them and they were attacking the men fleeing from Osgiliath. Gandalf sprung into action and galloped to the main gate with Pippin riding in front of him. Annwn followed not knowing what else to do.

She rode beside Gandalf as he produced such light that was blinding and wondrous to behold at the same time. It made the wraiths leave. The men kept riding heading for the safety of the city.

"Shouldn't we go back and see if any of the men can be saved?" Annwn yelled to Gandalf over the thundering of hooves and the cries and shouts of the men.

"They are lost, even those whose wounds are not fatal they are now dead inside. There is nothing left for them."

"So we just leave them there to die?" Annwn shouted half in rage and half in terror.

"It is for the best. They would only bring more pain to their loved ones in the city. It is better to say they died of wounds than madness."

Maybe he was right. After seeing Denethor she could understand that thinking...even if she didn't want to. They had reached the main courtyard where injured men were milling around and getting off their horses ready to find medical aid.

Faramir was riding up to them, Annwn assumed it was Faramir because Lord did he look like his brother. They had the same powerful jaw and light (by Gondorian standards) hair. And there were the eyes. Faramir's were like Boromir's but not so identical. His were not so much like the sky on a stormy day, they were bright and intelligent but they were still young. There were other differences as well. Faramir wasn't as broad shouldered and his hair had a slight wave to it. When Annwn tore her eyes away from his face she was hit the fact that he looked like someone else she knew...sorta. She was the first to speak

"God, you look even more like Robin Hood than you did in the mov-what your brother said." She almost said movie, that would have been bad. She would have to explain and it would lead to questions she didn't want to answer.

"Who is Robbin Hood? More importantly, you knew my brother?"

"A great guy."

"He was wasn't he?" Faramir said sounding sad

"I was talking about Robbin Hood, not Boromir."

"You don't think-" he was cut off by Gandalf

"Faramir! What happened?" everyone zoned back in on topic.

"Osgiliath is overrun with orcs. There are thousands." He was breathless when he said this, overwhelmed, as he should be. Then his eyes shifted and rested on Pippin who looked away uncomfortable with the man's powerful stare.

Faramir was staring at him, his gaze wasn't hard like he disliked Pippin but it still made him uncomfortable. Boromir who was taller and even more imposing than his brother had never made him feel like this. He had to look away. Gandalf spoke up breaking the uncomfortable silence

"This is not the first Halfling you have met?"

"No, two there were and they had another lanky sickly looking creature as a guide."

"Where? When? Tell me everything."

"I shall Mithrandir, come this way." They followed him back up to the sixth level. This was where he dismounted and gave the horses to an Osler.

"Stable their horses with mine." Faramir said not unkindly. The boy who looked no more than fourteen smiled and said

"As you command Captain Faramir."

Then he was leading them into what looked like a military barracks building. She was proven right and from the looks she was getting it seemed to her that she was the first woman to have ever set foot in the building. She glared at some of the men as she passed. Faramir lead them into a meeting room and closed the door.

"Now, who are you?" he asked Annwn in a rough voice

"Hey, don't take my comment back in the courtyard the wrong way! Your brother is a good guy too. But as for whom I am, I'm Lady Annwn of Canada. It's very far north."

"Ah, I see." His tone with her had softened. He then looked at Pippin with one eyebrow raised.

"I am Peregrine Took, known to my friends as Pippin."

"From the Shire?" Pippin could have light an entire town for a year with the light his little face was giving off with that one smile.

"You know of the Shire! You did indeed meet Sam and Frodo!"

"I did meet your friends." thus started the account of what had happened to the two Halflings. Annwn didn't pay much attention, she knew the story. She sat with her saddle bag on her lap. Turning it over and over again in her hands. Faramir thought his beloved brother was dead. As did his father. Her message from him would go either unheard...or punished. But she had to give it, she had promised it. To go back on it would be to betray a friend. And that was something she wouldn't do.

The others were getting up Annwn was still lost in her thoughts. Until Faramir touched her shoulder lightly and said

"Milady? Are you alright?" he sounded so like his brother when he said those words, they shocked her out of her thoughts.

"Yes, yes I'm fine." She nodded and picked up her bags still sounding distracted.

"You knew my brother?" she only nodded

"Then would it pain you to know that he is dead?" she looked him straight in the eyes and said in a deadpan voice

"Do you have his body as proof?" That was not the response Faramir was expecting.

"No, but he is dead, part of the horn he carried with him was found in a boat that came down the Anduin river. And it had been heard on the wind."

"The you have proof the horn is dead, that's all" she could tell that her unemotional and seemingly uncaring words hurt him. She could see it plainly as if written on his face. He may be Boromir's brother but he did not have the ability to hide his thoughts like Boromir did. He wore his heart on his sleeve. No wonder Denethor favoured Boromir, some father he is. Annwn reached out and put her hand on Faramir's hand.

"I'm sorry if my words seemed cruel."

"They cut deep."

"I am sorry." Annwn slung her pack over her shoulder and followed Gandalf.

Am I the only one who thinks that Faramir looked like Robbin Hood in the film?

So? Did you catch the innuendo? What about The Princess Bride reference? And who the non special ones are?

Would it be totally weird if I did a parody of this story? Would you read that or do I think too much of my writing? Annwn would be more Mary-sueish (but without the fear or fire or bad past). Let me know. Please!

I did the review answers a little different this time. Some are answered by Annwn, I suggest you read them. I think they are funny. Let me know what you think, should I keep answering them by her or not. Annwn is in "" and I'm not.

Favourite story thanks to Runxtapioka, Snevilly

Story alert thanks to Snevilly, Sketchninja7, Melidell

Review thanks to

Lira-leigh54 (I actually changed it from alcohol to booze for that reason. And had Aragorn purposely spike her drinks 'cause he thought she was too tense. I decided to change it last minute.)

Runxtapioka (Yay! Good for you. There are more references coming up!)

Silver Ashlotte (I'm glad you think so! My exams start on the 13th, I feel your pain. And Yes it is Bob Anderson, though I did mention it in a A/N after no one got it. But good for you! He's also working on the Hobbit film that's in production right now and he in his 90s! That man is epic!)

Sarabqh (The dreaded and yet almighty 'L' word! I'm glad I could make your night with my update.)

Claire ("Hey, Annwn here. I'm not letting Finance respond to this review 'cause it's more personal (and yet it's on the internet). Whatever, I'll try to be polite. I didn't kiss him 'cause I don't want to kiss him! Nor do I believe that I will ever kiss him." *storms off stage right* Yeah...don't mind her, just stay patient. "Are you telling them something that you shouldn't!" Who me? No. Definitely not.)

Roses (Ah, I know that not all Mary-sue's are bad, those were just Annwn's panicked thought's. As for the other part...well your right, and please stay patient. It's worth it.)

Kyonkichi9 (I'm not very good at Vollyball, or basketball. Did I really quote your story? I read your review and went 'Hun?' where was this quote cause I don't know what it is. However you should still take it as a compliment that my subconscious self thinks that your story is awesome enough to quote. Also people do tend to be vulgar in high school halls.)

Butterflyninja935 ("Again Annwn here, and I will try to play nice like the people of Rohan...but I'll have you know that I do NOT like him. And I have no idea how a real person could be a Mary-sue! Finance! I have to have a talk with you!" Please leave your sword here Annwn! *turns to reader* Hopefully this goes well and you get more chapters...wish me luck.)

What did ya think?