A/N:  Sorry it's short!  Enjoy!

Chapter 8: Parting Ways

            Éowyn was laying on her pallet, but her breathing was too shallow to be asleep.  "Éowyn?" Seven kept her voice low.  The other woman looked up, her face tear-stained.  "What has occurred?"

            "I made a fool of myself, Seven."  Éowyn wiped her face.  "I followed Aragorn and asked him to take me with him on his quest."  Seven nodded her on.  "I'm sure I looked like a puppy trying to follow someone who has given him scraps.  I was behaving like a lovesick little girl.  That aside, I probably ruined whatever chance I may have to prove myself in battle."

            "Your opportunity will come."  Seven wasn't sure why she was so certain of it, but it felt right.  "Do not pursue Aragorn.  You will find your own way."  Seven paused, not really sure where any of that had come from.  "You are tired, Éowyn.    You will find your own way."  Seven paused, not really sure where any of that had come from or why she had repeated herself.  Repetition was inefficient.  "You are tired, Éowyn.  You should rest."

            Éowyn was too tired to argue, and within moments, she was asleep.  Seven tried to rest, too, but couldn't.  She rose early the next morning without having slept at all.  The sky was only beginning to lighten in the east, but she was restless.  She dressed in her riding clothes, tying her hair back with a bit of cloth, and left the lodging she shared with Éowyn.  Walking through the sleeping camp, she passed by the lodging shared by Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli.  Out of the corner of her eye she saw a little motion.  Aragorn came around a corner, nodding a greeting.  He motioned for her to come with him and the two of them walked away from camp so they could speak normally without waking anyone.

            "Lady Seven of Nine, good morning.  Why are you about so early?"

            "I was restless."

            Aragorn nodded.  "I spoke to Legolas.  He is suspicious of you."  Seven just nodded.  "Before we parted ways, Gandalf told me that you had a part to play in the events that are unfolding.  He was suspicious of the way you arrived here, I think, but if I have read him right, he thinks of you as an ally.  Do not let Legolas' suspicion concern you overmuch.  In time all will be explained, or so I hope."

            "Thank you."  It was the expected response and Seven couldn't think of anything else to say.

            "If you will excuse me, lady, I need to finish my preparations."  Seven nodded, then turned and walked back to her own lodging.

            Seven found Éowyn awake and, like her, dressed in riding clothes, a sword hanging on her hip.  Seeing each other, the two of them paused.  Seven cocked an eyebrow, but Éowyn turned away.  She had a cup of wine ready.  "I need to go say farewell to the riders, Seven."

            Seven nodded and Éowyn left the room.  After hesitating for a moment, Seven followed.  The company was ready to ride, Gimli and Legolas sharing a horse.  Aragorn was about to mount his horse, but stopped when he saw Éowyn.  Seven caught up a moment later.  Éowyn asked again to go with him, even falling to her knees and begging, but Aragorn picked her up, saying simply "Nay, lady."

            With that he sprang into the saddle.  In that moment, the indecision Seven had been feeling faded.  "Wait!"

            "Lady Seven?"  Aragorn looked down at her.

            "Allow me to accompany you."  Instantly, four sets of eyes locked on her.  Gimli and Legolas looked suspicious, and Éowyn looked horrified, but Aragorn fixed Seven with a gaze so intense she almost turned away.

            "Why would you accompany us, lady?"

            "I do not think I can adequately explain."  She didn't fully understand herself.  "I feel that it is necessary for me to accompany this expedition."

            "Do you understand what the Paths of the Dead are?  I go there only at greatest need."

            "I was taken prisoner and lived as a slave since I was a small child, only to be freed several years ago.  I adapted to life among my own people again, only to lose the one I loved.  I do not fear death."

            "A soldier with a death wish is a liability on the battlefield."  Legolas spoke for the first time.

            "I did not say that I wish to die, only that I do not fear death."

            "You may not fear death, lady, but what of the dead?"  Aragorn looked down at her.  "This is a hard path we take."

            "I have taken many difficult paths.  Please, allow me to accompany you.  I have no obligation to remain here."

            Aragorn looked at her for a long moment, then nodded.  "We must ride immediately.  Do you have a sword?"

            Éowyn made a little sound that could have been a strangled sob.  "Seven, no!"

            "You did not fear to make this journey yourself.  Do not fear for me.  I am no less capable of fighting in battle and defending myself than you. You are needed here.  I have no obligation to remain here."  Éowyn may not have realized it, but every time they had sparred, Seven had held back much of her strength and speed.  If she used all her strength and stamina, she could easily beat Éowyn, and unlike Éowyn, she had fought against multiple opponents before.  Fighting experience was not the only factor to consider, but it was significant, whether or not Éowyn would admit it.

            Éowyn kept shaking her head, and Seven moved over to her and put a hand on her arm.  "There is nothing more I can do to help you here.  Let me go."  The contact was strange for Seven, but hopefully it would reassure Éowyn.

            Éowyn lifted her head and looked Seven in the eyes.  She swallowed hard, but didn't reply.  After a long moment, she looked down, then unbuckled the sword belt from her waist and handed it to Seven.  "Wait here—I'll only be a moment."  With that she ran off.  Seven buckled the sword around her waist, then stood there awkwardly for a moment.

            Éowyn returned shortly with a saddled horse.  A shield was tied to the saddle, and she held two knives, which she handed to Seven.  Seven tied the larger knife to her belt and slid the smaller into her boot.  The small dagger was the one Q had given her when he first brought her to Middle Earth.  Éowyn also produced a bow and a quiver of arrows.

            "I know you've never trained with these, but you will be among experts."  Éowyn nodded toward the assembled Rangers.  "As quickly as you learn, you should be able to learn to use them quickly."  Éowyn swallowed hard, then pulled Seven into a hug.  Seven returned the hug awkwardly, then mounted the horse.  Éowyn stood and watched them ride off silently.  When Seven glanced back, she saw her friend stumbling back toward camp as if in a daze.