Alright! So I started on drawing a cover... And I don't like it. Some of you guys gave me great ideas, but I'm one of those perfectionist artists who has to make it PERFECT. Especially when I'm drawing Collin. So, if any of you guys want to take a crack at it, please do!

I don't own Lord of the Rings.


(Kristy)

"Pardon me, have you seen Eowyn?"

"I can't say I have, milady." The passing soldier apologized and continued on his way.

Letting out a sigh, I turned to the next passerby. "Excuse me," I began, but was cut off.

"Sorry, miss. I've got no time to chat."

Sigh. Where was that bloody woman? I hadn't seen her all day! The armies were riding out soon, and I needed someone to hold my hand afterwards. She would be my only friend remaining after everyone else rode off to war, including my brother. Goodness, there really was no time to do anything. My mind was racing, and the world was spinning. I'd known that war was inevitable, and I was thrilled that my friends in Minas Tirith wouldn't have to fight alone, but I hadn't prepared myself as well as I had thought. For all I knew, I might not see any of my loved ones again.

"James!" Finally! I found someone I knew! "James, come here!"

My brother had been standing around idly, not having much to do. After all, he was only there to swing his sword about and kill orcs. Not to mention the occasional comical relief.

"What is it?" James asked, seeming glad to have found someone to occupy his time. Like he needed an invitation? I loved my brother, he could always talk to me.

"Have you seen Eowyn?"

"Have you checked the stables?" He asked, shrugging.

The stables? "Why would she be in the stables?"

"Well, she's coming with us, isn't she?" He laughed, but my heart jumped.

"She's leaving?" I couldn't believe it. How could no one tell me this? What was I supposed to do when they were all gone? "Why?"

James shrugged. "She's a rather important figure, I guess. Maybe she's just going to see us off. Lord knows Theoden wouldn't let her fight."

I groaned, grabbing his hand and dragging him off to the stables. There she was, just as he said she would be. Only, we found her in a rather serious predicament. Well, it was more of a predicament for us, really. We found her stashing away a sword. It wouldn't have been a bother at all, had we not known her personality, and had she not looked so suspicious. The three of us froze, eyes locked, the most awkward feeling in the air.

"Eowyn..." I began slowly, not entirely sure what to say. "What is that sword for?"

She stumbled to find the right words. "For protection, of course." Eowyn finally got out.

"Yeah, I know the function of a sword... But what exactly do you need it for?"

Eowyn sighed, turning back to the horse she was preparing for herself. "As I said, Kristy, it is for my own protection. What if we are ambushed?"

James laughed at the idea. "You are going to be traveling with every soldier Edoras has to offer... And you're worried about an ambush? I think you've got a better chance of cutting yourself with that blade than killing an orc with it."

Oh, James. You just dug yourself into a hole.

"Excuse me, sir, but I am quite capable of wielding a blade!" Eowyn huffed.

"Eowyn, you don't plan to go to battle with the men, do you?" Please say no, Eowyn. Just say no.

Her hesitation answered the question for me.

"Eowyn!" I exclaimed, throwing my hands to my head. "What on earth are you thinking?"

"It is merely a thought, Kristy!" She defended herself. "Please, do not say a word about this to anyone! I am not yet sure of anything!"

"Wait..." James stared at Eowyn, not quite believing his ears. "You're serious?" He let out a nervous laugh and ran a hand through his hair. "Oh, no... no, no no..."

"James, please..." Eowyn ran forward and grabbed his hand. "Do not tell anyone."

He looked back and forth between Eowyn and I for a short moment. "Seriously? How can you honestly think that I'll make that promise? Eowyn! I can't let you do this!"

"And why not?" Eowyn was borderline panic-mode. "I have just as much of a right to defend my homeland as anyone else!"

"But you're a woman!" James practically yelled.

"Hey!" I slapped him in the chest. "That doesn't mean anything!"

James rolled his eyes, turning away from us. "Tell me that when you have a daughter of your own!"

"Wait!" Eowyn grabbed his arm. "You can't tell anyone!"

"I have to!" James sighed. "How can you ask me to betray the trust of your brother, of your uncle? I know they would feel if they knew you were putting yourself in danger. I would die if Kristy or Faelwen got hurt. I can't do that to your family."

I was about ready to bang my head up against the wall. "James, you can't tell on her."

He turned to me in disbelief. "You support her!"

"No, but she's not a child!" I looked to Eowyn, who looked as though she was going to knock James out if he didn't back down. "Eowyn, I can not support your decision, but it is not mine to make. If this is what you really want, then I can't stop you." Then, I turned to James and slapped him in the stomach. "And neither can you."

James's jaw dropped. "Really?"

"Really."

He turned and lightly banged his forehead against a pillar. "I hate you. I hate you both."

Eowyn let out a sigh of relief as she gave me a big hug. "Thank you, Kristy."

"Don't thank me. I'm not doing you a favor with this."

"Oh, but you are." Eowyn squeezed my hand before pulling her horse outside.

When she was gone, James stopped hitting his head and turned to me with a sigh. "You're going to regret that, you know. We both will."

"Not if I can help it. I'm going with you." Before James could tell me know, I continued. "Not to fight, mind you. I'm gonna see if I can't persuade Eowyn to stay out of the fight. I'll just be traveling to the rally point."

"Oh, you couldn't convince her even if you tried. You're too much of an enabler." James rubbed his forehead. "You women. You'll be the death of me."

"Worry about the orcs. You can deal with us women later."

...

"We ride at dawn!" Theoden announced before heading to his tent.

Lucky him. His tent stood out among the rest. I had no idea where I was going, which only added to my current stress. Not only were my loved ones going off to battle against a dark lord, but I also had to worry about stubborn Eowyn, who had been cleverly avoiding James and I ever since our awkward run-in. Oh, and I had no idea where my friends were. James went off to do whatever it is he does, and all of the identical tents were giving me a headache.

It was a poop night, already.

I didn't have many possessions, so I simply dropped my small travel bag on the ground and sat on a rock. My friends would find me, eventually. If not my brother, at least Legolas. He is supposed to love me, anyways. Or maybe this love thing is just an act to cover up his gay romance with Gimli...

I gave my head a furious shake. Go to bed, Kristy, before you start thinking up crazier things.

No! No bed. If I went to bed, I'd never be able to say a decent goodbye to people.

Goodbye... Hopefully goodbyes won't be necessary.

"A bowl of soup, miss?" Asked a man with a deep voice suddenly, holding out a small bowl of an herby smelling concoction. I gave him a grateful smile and took the food, suddenly feeling very hungry. I couldn't remember the last time I ate. Probably the night before. I'd spent the entire day making subtle hints to Eowyn about the dangers of war. My mind was too occupied to eat, which is odd. Stress usually makes me eat more.

Wait... "Did Eowyn make this?" I asked the man before he got too far away.

He laughed, her cooking skills well known among most of Edoras. "No, milady."

"Oh, good!" I sighed, restraining myself from gulping down the whole thing in an unfavorable manner. I failed miserably.

"There you are!"

I choked on the soup when Merry gave me a pat on the back.

"Oh!" The hobbit's eyes opened wide upon noticing the big soup stain he'd created with that hearty greeting. He pulled out a handkerchief and began to pat dinner out of my skirt. "Forgive me, Kristy. I didn't mean to hit you so hard!"

"It's okay!" I laughed, setting the bowl on the ground. "I was eating like an animal, anyways. Man, I feel like I haven't eaten in ages!" And now my soup is gone. Sigh...

Merry nearly panicked. "And now I've gone and ruined your supper! And your pretty dress!"

"No, no! It's fine!" I assured him. "I eat too much when I'm stressed, anyways. Maybe this will help me kick the habit."

The hobbit gave me a sympathetic nod. "Ah, yes. I know the feeling. I've hardly had a full meal since leaving Rivendell. Oh, what I wouldn't do to see The Shire again. To sit out in the gardens with tea and biscuits... Don't you miss it, Kristy?"

"Beyond words..." I sighed, looking out over the numerous tents and soldiers, trying to turn them into the rolling hills and fragrant gardens of the Shire. I'd been there less than a year, yet I missed it more than anything. The innocence of it all... It would bea pleasant change, right now.

"Do you ever regret leaving?" Asked Merry, who looked to be imagining the same thing as me.

I had to think about this. Did I regret leaving? No. I just wished that I hadn't taken it for granted. What I wouldn't give to be there, right now. Away from all of this. But then what? Who do I have there, anymore? No. The people I love are here. My brother, my friends, Legolas...

"No, I don't regret it." I finally answered. "I've got everything I need right here." I threw my arm around Merry and pulled him into a hug, which he received with an intense blush. "What about you? Do you regret it?"

"And miss out on this adventure?" He laughed. "Never! Though, the food could be a bit better..."

Oh, brother. "Come on, you. Let's go make ourselves some food that will put Bilbo's cooking to shame!"

This, of course, was not an easy task. It required the help of Eowyn (who I was still very upset with), who gave us access to various cooking utensils, as well as the limited selection of foods. We scored ourselves a little cheese, vegetables, various fruits, bread, as well as some ale. We also found ourselves some wild mushrooms, which Merry ate before anyone could deem it poisonous or not. He surivived, so they seemed alright. In any case, we managed to create a decent meal.

"Just below Bilbo's standards..." I sighed after the first taste. "But good, considering the circumstances."

Merry thoroughly agreed, and we had ourselves a fine dinner. It was nice to finally have some quality time with Merry after so many years. We'd failed to find our other friends, but that was quite alright. They ended up finding us.

"What's with all of this food?" Asked James, who entered the tent with Legolas and Gimli.

"This is a feast for champions!" I declared. "People who don't abandon people named Kristy on their final night of peace."

Legolas was the first to apologize, sitting beside me and taking my hand. Gimli and James, on the other hand, preferred to stare at my well-earned food.

"Don't even think about asking me to share! If I say 'no' and you die at Minas Tirith, I'll regret it for the rest of my life..." I sighed, shaking my head. "Oh, it's no use. I'll feel bad regardless. Go ahead and eat."

Gimli had at it with no hesitation, but James restrained himself. He stood at the entrance of my tent, a frustrated crease on his forehead.

"What's wrong, James? Not hungry?" Asked Merry, whose hunger had yet to be satisfied.

"No, I'm conflicted." Was James's helpful reply. We sat watching him, waiting for an elaboration.

"Conflicted how?" Merry finally asked through a mouth full of apple.

"I don't know how I want to spend my last night."

"Well, I would like to think that spending time with me is an option." I laughed.

James sighed. "It is an option-"

"Just not your first option." Added Legolas.

James sent his elf friend a mighty glare. "That's not true at all!"

"Then what's the problem?" I raised my eyebrow at him, enjoying teasing my brother.

"There is no problem, it's just that-"

"What?" I cut him off. "Would you rather be off drinking with the men?"

"No, that's not it!" James tried to explain, but I was enjoying this far too much.

"This ain't some college frat party, boy! This is war!"

James threw his arms up in the air. "Why did I say anything?"

"I don't know, why do you speak?" Legolas questioned, grinning at his frustrated friend.

My brother sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead tiredly. "My heart is just bursting with love for you all, right now."

We laughed, settling down once more to enjoy the night in peace. Gimli and Merry had exhausted what food we'd gathered, and the night had grown quiet as many soldiers went off to bed. We had gone out to drink ale with a few of our friends, particularly Eomer, but since then we'd made our way back to my tent. Merry had gone off for a short time to get fitted for armor, and now he laid off to the side, sleeping quietly next to Gimli.

I cuddled up against my brother, my hand clasped firmy in Legolas's. For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. So at peace, that I'd completely forgotten about my mission to keep Eowyn off the battlefield. Only one candle remained lit, making it hard to stay awake. Just as I began to fall asleep, Legolas removed his hand from mind.

"What-?" I began, but he held a finger to his lips.

He went to the tent flap and carefully peered through it. Curious, James and I followed suit, making sure to blow out the remaining candle. Outside, two figures stood on the old dirt path that snaked through the tents. One was leading a horse, and the other seemed to be a woman, whose pale skin shined in the moonlight.

Eowyn.

"Who is she talking to?" I whispered as quietly as possible to Legolas, who must have heard them speaking from inside the tent.

"Aragorn." He whispered back.

Interesting...

"What are they saying?" Asked James.

"Aragorn is assuring Eowyn that he is not the man for her." Was the reply.

James and I gave each other confused looks.

"Should we be eavesdropping like this?" I asked as Eowyn ran away in distress, but no one answered me.

"He is leaving..." Legolas whispered as Aragorn continued down the path with his horse. "Wake up, Gimli." He gave the dwarf a swift kick to the side. Legolas, Gimli, and James grabbed their weapons and ran outside without another word, leaving me confused and frightened.

Why would Aragorn leave? He's supposed to be a figure of hope!

"Where do yo think you're going, Laddie?" Gimli grumbled, still half-asleep.

"Go back to bed, Gimli." Aragorn sighed, knowing that arguing was useless but praying that it'd work. "I am going alone."

"Of course you are!" Cried Gimli. "And I'm going with yeh!"

"So are we!" Legolas nodded.

"We?" James raised an eyebrow at the elf. "Why do you always feel the need to volunteer me for everything?"

Legolas smiled. "We have come this far, James. I don't see the point in separating, now."

James ran a hand through his har and sighed. "You've nearly gotten me killed by giant spiders on multiple occasions. You volunteer me for a quest involving a dark lord and an evil ring. Now, you're volunteering me to follow Aragorn down this road. It can't be that bad, I suppose."

"It can be bad, and it shall be." Aragorn sighed. "None of you are going."

"Don't even try to argue, lad! We're going!" Gimli grabbed hold of the horse reins and forced Aragorn to a stop.

"Wait just one second!" I ran forward, finally deciding to speak. "You guys can't just leave me here! Where are you going?"

"To find help in an unexpected place." Replied Aragorn. "The Paths of the Dead."

James's eyes flew wide open. "Paths of the what?"

"No, no no. You guys can't go!" I heard the spooky tales from the paranoid Rohirrim. There is no way I'm letting my friends walk into a place with so much superstition.

"We will come back." Aragorn assured me, mumbling at the end, "Hopefully..."

"They say that men never come back from the path... They disappear forever!" At least the battle at Minas Tirith had a sliver of hope in terms of surviving. This just seemed like nonsense.

"Come on, lassie!" Gimli gently tapped me with the butt of his axe. "Aragorn fell off a cliff and survived! We've got all the luck in the world. You and James shouldn't even be here!"

"Yeah, Kristy..." James gave me a cheeky grin. "YOLO..."

Everyone stared. I hadn't heard that horrible phrase in years. Not even Collin joked around with such a word. That's when you know it's bad.

"You deserve to die after that one..." Honestly. Bringing such filth to Middle-earth... Besides, YOLO had ceased to count for us years ago. This was, after all, our second attempt at life.

James pulled me into a hug. "I love you, Kristy. No matter what." After giving me a kiss on the forehead, he went off to find a horse, not once looking back. Aragorn and Gimli bade me farewell and followed after him.

Legolas turned me to face him. His beautiful blue eyes were hard to make out in the moonlight, but I could see the smile on his pale face. "I will come back. We all will." With a kiss, he turned and was gone.

Some goodbyes. And I thought I was loved.

I stood for a moment, doing my best to compose myself. I would see them again. Maybe. Hopefully. Either way, there was nothing I could do to stop them. The only comfort I had was that they were too stubborn to die.

When just moments ago I was dozing off to a nice warm sleep, I was now wide awake and in the cool night air. Further into camp there were still fires with soldiers lying awake beside them. Chances were, most of the man were still awake. With such a big battle ahead of them, it's a wonder any of them got to sleep.

Feeling antsy, I decided to take a stroll through the camp. In a matter of moments, I came across Eomer sitting alone outside his tent.

"What exactly is going through your head right now?" I asked, lowering myself to the ground next to him.

Eomer glanced my way as he puffed on a pipe. "The things every man thinks of before battle." He replied simply.

Uhuh... "Which are..?"

He chuckled. "Life. Regrets. Fulfillments."

"Well, you still have the trip to Minas Tirith. Why not enjoy these final nights?" That seemed like a more reasonable decision.

Eomer sighed. "When one becomes a soldier, he never really stops thinking about these things. Even if you're not a soldier, these are still things that we all ponder, and what better time to ponder them than on a sleepless night?"

He had me, there. "I suppose you're right! Still, you don't seem like the kind of man to have many regrets."

"Oh, I have plenty." He assured me. "Some sillier than others. I often regret certain patrols, after losing men. I regret not being there to save Theodred... Not killing Grima the moment he arrived. Not courting Sophie when I had the chance..."

"What?" That one was unexpected!

"Yes, that is one of the silly regrets..." He laughed. "Do not worry, that ship has long since sailed. In the years she was gone, we both changed, as did my feelings. Still, it is the simple thought of, 'what if?' Not with the Sophie thing alone, but with everything. These are the fruitless thoughts that plague my mind in times of war."

"They're better than my fruitless thoughts! All I do is worry."

"Ah, yes. I worry, too." Eomer sighed. "Mostly about my sister, should I not return."

Oh, believe me. She can take care of herself.

Speaking of...

"Eomer, have you seen your sister around?" I'd nearly forgotten about her. So much for keeping her out of battle.

"Not lately, but you could check her tent. It is just over there, by Uncle's." He pointed to a simple, unlit tent.

I gave my friend a hug. "Thank you, Eomer. Just in case I don't see you in the morning, I want you to know that it's been an honor being your friend."

He chuckled and squeezed me tight. "The pleasure was all mine. Make sure to name your first son after me, yes?"

Oh brother. "Get over yourself." I laughed, standing up to leave. "Oh, and Eomer?"

"Hm?" He puffed on his pipe and stared into the fire.

"What's with the smoking, all of the sudden?" Out of everyone I'd met, he had been the only one to never smoke. Seeing it was just weird.

Eomer held the pipe in front of his eyes and gave it a curious look. "I'm not quite sure." He shrugged. "Someone handed it to me and never came back for it. Honestly, I do not find it a pleasing sensation."

"Well, put it up and go to bed. We don't need the next king of Rohan to get lung cancer."

"Lung cancer?"

"Good night, Eomer!" I wasn't about to go into another rant about the effects of smoking. Instead, I decided to check in on Eowyn. After that moment with Aragorn, I'm sure she needs a friend.

"Eowyn?" I tried to knock on the tent flap and felt like an idiot. "Eowyn, are you all right?" After no reply I decided to go ahead and let myself in. Worst case scenario I woke her up. Even so, it was highly unlikely for her to have found enough peace to fall asleep.

In the darkness, I could vaguely make out the shape of a bundle in the corner, all cozied up on a bed roll. I smiled, glad to see that she'd managed to get some rest. Quietly, I backed away towards the door, when my back met with another person. We both gasped, flailing in the dark, and there was a loud 'clunk' as something hit the ground.

"Who's there?" The person angrily whispered as I stumbled about, trying to find a candle. The other person beat me to it, though, and the tent soon lit up to reveal me face to face with Eowyn.

"Eowyn?" I gasped, looking back and forth between the bed cot and my friend. "But... You!" I threw the blanket to the ground, revealing more bundles of blankets all shoved together to look like a body. Eowyn had never looked more suspicious.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, doing her best to keep her voice low.

"What were you doing not here?" I demanded, and her gaze quickly flickered the ground. There, I found the source of the 'clunk.' Armor. "Eowyn!"

Eowyn put her finger to her lips and sushed me. "Be quiet, I beg you! Uncle will hear you!"

'Good!' I wanted to shout, but the redness of her eyes made me sympathetic. Perhaps she was merely being irrational in her sadness after the whole Aragorn incident. It was obvious that she had been crying.

"What is wrong, Eowyn?" I asked, wishing to get to the bottom of this behavior.

She was a bit surprised that I didn't immediately yell at her, but that surprise quickly turned into confusion. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"You've been crying. I can see it in your eyes."

Eowyn looked away. "I am merely distressed with the thought of my loved ones riding off to battle, of course."

Ah. So she thought I didn't know.

"Argorn left with James, Legolas, and Gimli not long ago..." I watched as her eyes went wide. "Did you see them?"

Eowyn did not answer. Her eyes began to well up with new tears, and her lips quivered as she fought to find words. She was doing her best to remain composed, but her best was not enough.

"Eowyn..." I sighed as she choked on the tears, finally allowing them to fall. She ran into my open arms and cried into my shoulder, shuddering with sobs. "It's alright..." I rubbed her back, doing my best to comfort the normally strong woman.

"F-forgive me..." She began through the tears. "It is just..."

"I know..." I gave her a sympathetic smile. She wiped her eyes and took deep breaths as she stepped back. "Want to talk about it?"

"There is nothing to say." Eowyn let out a shaky sigh. "I misunderstood Lord Aragorn's intentions. That is all."

Remind me to give him a firm talking to.

"And now you're going off to battle." I bent down and picked up her light breastplate. "Is this your way of making things better?"

Eowyn picked up the remaining pieces of armor and carefully set them aside. "It is my wish. My last remaining family members are riding off to their deaths, and it is my desire to go with them."

"Eowyn, there is still hope for them!"

"Not enough to please me, I'm afraid." She shook her head, gazing upon the armor longingly. "This has always been my dream. To find glory on the battlefield. Our chances of victory are slim, and we will need every able body to fight. Should I be denied the honor of serving my country simply because of my sex? Are there not woman warriors in your world, Kristy?"

Sigh... I should have known that she'd pull that on me. I didn't even need to answer, for she continued.

"What is so different about our worlds? What makes it okay for a woman to fight in your country, when it is not okay for a woman to fight in mine? I am well trained, and fueled by a life-long hatred for orcs. You needn't worry about me, Kristy."

Eowyn was right. She had every right to fight for what she believed in. Of course, I did not want her to go, but it was not about me. What really frightened me was the consequences, should she fall. King Theoden and Eomer would never forgive me, nor would many of my friends. What could I say to change her mind?

"Eowyn..." I began, trying to gather my thoughts. "Your family would never forgive me, should you get hurt. So..." My emotions were conflicted, but I knew that there was only one way to do this without me feeling guilt for the rest of my life. "If you really want to go, you have to knock me out."

Eowyn froze. "What?"

"I can't, in good conscience, let you go. Since I know that I can't change your mind, I'm giving you a choice." Her sword was in a chest by her bed roll, and I quickly retrieved it for her. It was heavy, but the hilt was nice and rounded. It could easily knock a person out. "When I count to three, I am going to scream as loud as I can. When your uncle wakes up and runs in, I am going to tell him your plans. Now, if you want to go, you have to knock me out before I scream, alright?" Before she answered, I threw my arms around her in a hug. "You are a good friend, Eowyn, and a beautiful person. Thank you for that."

This was going to hurt. Bad. But there was no turning back. I pulled away and stepped back. "On the count of three. Ready?"

Eowyn's eyes widened in panic. "Kristy, don't make me do this."

"One..."

"Kristy, please!"

"Two..."

Eowyn looked ready to cry. "Kristy!"

"Three!"

Just as I began to shout, the hilt of Eowyn's blade fell upon my skull, and everything went dark.