~*~* A/N: Hey, I appreciate all the feedback I've been getting! Keep it coming!!! :-D *~*~


They followed the orcs until nightfall, and then they had to stop, for the tracks would be hard to follow in the dark. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli lay down, resting, but Laurrianne could find no rest. She stood, glaring out in the direction the orcs were. She felt restless, and was full of sadness, anger at herself, and remorse. The emotions overwhelmed her - she had never felt anything like that in all her years in Los Angeles.
She saw Legolas stir, and then sit up. His blonde hair fell over his shoulders, his eyes questioning.
"Can you not sleep?" he asked, standing and walking to her side. She merely shook her head. "It would benefit you to get rest, we have a long journey ahead of us."
"I cannot sleep until I see Pip and Merry again," she mumbled, as Legolas placed a graceful hand on her shoulder.
"I know you are hurting, Laurrianne. Do not blame yourself."
"You do, though, don't you? You blame me.. blame me for Pip and Merry, and for Boromir.." her voice broke.
"Of course not," said Legolas, astonished that she could think such things.
"Leave me now," she said softly, feeling her eyes become moist. She could not let them see her cry - see her be weak. Legolas obliged, turning and walking back to where the others slept. He lay back down.

As dawn rose the next morning, the men began to stir. Laurrianne, however, was still awake. She stood above them, gazing out into the distance.
"Did you not sleep the whole night?" asked Aragorn, as he stood.
"No.. I didn't," she said softly, and dug into the pockets of her pants. "I realized something last night. I'm probably never going back home.. and I don't know whether to be glad or sad for it. I don't need these anymore." She pulled out her wallet and a keychain.
"What are those?" asked Aragorn, stepping toward her.
"This is my wallet.. driver's license," she held up a card with a photo of her on it, "library card," she handed Aragorn another card, "cash," she gave Aragorn several peices of green paper, "and.. photos." She sat down, looking at a few pictures.
Aragorn and Legolas sat on either side of her, and Gimli stood behind her.
"That's my brother, Greg," she said, pointing to a young man in one picture. "And that's my cat... her name's Angel." She pointed at the animal in another picture.
"Who is that?" asked Legolas, pointing to a man in one picture.
"That's.. a very dear friend," her voice faltered. She then looked up at the horizon. "We must go. We can't stick around here for long. I'm going to see Pippin again."
"You became fond of the halfling?" inquired Gimli, with a knowing smirk.
Laurrianne did not respond, but stood. She let her belongings, the keychain, the wallet, and the photo's, fall onto the ground. She left them there. "Let's move."

They followed the trail for days. Laurrianne had begun to lose hope, but then they found Pip's pin; the one the elves had given him. Laurrianne did not say it, but that became the first night she didn't cry.
The next morning, they awoke. Beginning on their journey, they drew nearer and nearer to Rohan. However, the orcs knew they followed.
Legolas squinted, and turned to Aragorn. "Several orcs approach. Scouts, they must be.. they are coming right at us."
"Let them come," said Gimli with a scowl.
They continued to walk, until Laurrianne could see the orcs running toward them. She stood beside Legolas, who readied his bow. Stealthily, she unsheathed one of his daggers, and held onto it.
Legolas managed to shoot five orcs before the rest caught them. Reaching for his dagger, he realized he was missing one. He then saw Laurrianne fighting a nearby orc with it. Shaking his head for a moment, he took the other from it's sheath, and caught the next orc who neared him in the abdomen, then across the chest. It fell quickly.
Laurrianne managed to kill three orcs, all with Legolas' dagger. She did not know how, but she felt adreneline pump through her and she just faught. Then, she was on her back. An orc loomed over her. He cut into her shoulder with his sword, and she shreiked with pain. Aragorn all but tackled the orc, killing it quickly and brutally.
Legolas got her up, protecting her until the orcs were all dead. She groaned, a hand to her shoulder.
Then, he lay her back down, and tore the sleeve off her shirt. The wound had gone deep, but somehow missed bone and muscle. A miracle, it was. Aragorn wrapped it quickly with a bandage made from her sleeve, and ordered her to rest.
"We need to continue," insisted Gimli, a scowl on his face.
"Fine, Master Dwarf. You carry my pack, and I'll carry Laurrianne."