"'Lanon, have you ever thought what will happen if we can't get home?" I asked softly as Allanon's head come up softly to pet my hair. He said nothing, and I pressed forward, " Do you think maybe here you and . . . could . . . perhaps . . . "

He moved from me, my comfortable pillow on his shoulder gone. His eyes were no longer warms and enfolding but cold and cutting.

"Have you forgotten what befell us? What happened to us?" He asked sharply and I moved away from him.

"No, Allanon, of course I haven't ! I just thought, I had hoped . . ." Suddenly with the sky grew black with clouds, day turned to night and Gandalf shouted something that was blown away by the wind. I felt Rash squirm happily under my skin.

The group gathered in a ring and Legolas gave a cry.

"Eyes, red eyes in the darkness!"

"Shadowen!" Risca cried and pulled something from his sleeve . . . a carving knife. "Curse this coat!" And he drew a mace from his belt.

"Meia, you and the hobbits stay back!" Allanon ordered as he and the others rushed forward to attack the shadows.

"What's going on, Lady Meia?" Pippin asked.

"Shadowen, a great plague in our lands," I whispered. I watched as the battle raged around us. Tay, Risca, and Allanon fought with blades and fire, Gandlf's sword, Glamdring, bit with as much potency as the Sword of Shannra, as did Aragorn's broken sword. I watched in awe and in fear, when Rash whispered silkily in my ear.

"Turn, sweet Meia,"

I wheeled around and two red eyes filled my vision. The hobbits gave a shout and scattered but I was helpless to the monsters crimson gaze.

Aragorn wheeled around when he heard the hobbits shout. He saw a monster advancing on Lady Meia and reach her. It bowed low to her and she moved smoothly as if made from liquid. She touched it's gnarled head and then it pressed it lips (if that's what you called them) to her hand. The druid saw this as well.

"Meia, snap out of it! Don't let Rash take you over! Meia!" He tried to reach her, but the Shadowen seemed to know he was a threat and swarmed over him, leaving Aragorn open. The ranger rushed over the girl, whose eyes were glazed over and half-open.

The shadowen was reaching for the pendent around her neck. Why didn't she stop him? Aragorn thrust his broken sword (a/n does anyone know the name of this sword?) into the things ribs with a sickening crunch and the monster designated into dust. Meia jerked awake as if she had dozed off and starred at Aragorn. The clouds were lightening, and the monsters were losing ground. He met her gaze and then saw it. It was hard to explain, but he swore he something flicker behind her eyes. He gave a hoarse cry and lunged at her, pressing her against a large boulder.

I gave a anguished cry as Aragorn's sword touched my skin. A searing sensation filled my brain and rash seemed to scream behind my eyes. The shadowen turned as one and launched themselves at Strider but Gandalf let out a booming command and each one bloated and exploded into ash.

"Strider, what are you doing!? She's not the enemy!" Allanon cried but Gandalf gave another command and none of the Shannara individuals could move.

"I knew there wasn't something right about you, Meia! Your in league with them aren't you!?"

I could only sob under the burning blade, but Aragorn would not stop, "Tell the truth!" Aragorn bellowed in my ear. He pressed his ancient blade my throat and Rash ripped at my insides. "What are you, demon!?"

"I'll eat out your heart, you digusting filth! Take off the sword, filth, take it off!" Rash's voice burst out of my mouth and Aragorn pressed as hard as he could without drawing blood.

"Stop it! You'll kill her!" Allanon shouted, struggling against his invisible bonds.

"You fool! Isildur's bane, will be your end! I'll make sure of that, son of man!"

Rash screamed, Release me!

Aragorn had gone white as a sheet but did not lower his sword. Rash threatened to break free of our bond but suddenly the ruby pendent flared to life. It went to a brilliant white and with a small explosion, threw Aragorn off his feet and sent rash hurling into the back of my mind.

I fell and two little arms softened my fall and set me on my knees.