Another chapter. Mwee! Ee!!! YAY!!! Me ish so happy, I love this chapter, too (though not as much as the finding of Teredon, that has yet to be topped!) ENJOY! ENJOY NOW, DAMNIT!!!

~Hoshiko

From Death, Back Again

Param and Terry looked wearily over the head of their orc. It seemed they had been on the backs of these creatures for months. In reality they had only been six days, but it seemed like an eternity. They had not stopped since the hobbits had awoken. Day turned to night, though, and the two hobbits were dumped onto the ground.

'We haven't had anything to eat for four days,' Param's grumbled at the leader.

'They have their legs, why don't we make 'em walk?' Terry's complained. The leader ignored them.

'Hey, if we're not going to make them run, they don't need their legs…' Param's said, a light suddenly burned in his eyes, and Param and Terry's widened. Terry's orc licked his lips and took out a jagged knife.

'Do what you want with them,' the leader growled back, making a fire, 'it'll be your head, not mine. Just remember, we're not too far from the strong hold of the men, make too much noise and it'll be all our heads,' the other two turned on Param and Terry, knife glittering in the moonlight.

Param and Terry were suddenly frozen with fear. The orcs advanced upon them. With a leap, Param's orc jumped on him, and Terry could suddenly run, but his tackled him. Param's plunged his knife into Param's thigh, and he cried out in pain. But it did not get the chance to do any more because he himself shrieked, and fell dead.

The poison from the knife immediately took effect, and through the blurriness of his eyes, Param could see a figure kneel next to him. Darkness then took its toll.

Terry tried to get away from his orc when Param screamed, but he could not: it was too strong. It was about to take out his knife, when his head rolled next to Terry, the end of a sword missing his face by an inch. Terry used all his strength and pushed the body off of him. A man went over to him and took out his knife, cutting his bonds. Terry could see another man go over to Param and cut his bonds, then pull the knife out of Param's leg, wrapping it the best he could. The leader orc was no where to be seen, Terry decided he had fled.

'What are halflings like you doing here?' The man asked Terry, and Terry rubbed his wrists from his bonds.

'Well, we certainly aren't here by choice!' he said, and the other man looked at the one near Terry.

'This one has been stabbed, we must hurry.' He said, and picked Param up.

'Do you mind being carried? It would be faster.' The man said to Terry, and Terry looked worriedly at Param.

'Do what you must.' He said, and let the man pick him up.

'We are not even a mile away from Minas Tirith, the other will get the help he needs there.' The man said, and Teredon nodded. They arrived there in an incredibly short amount of time, and they went immediately to the Houses of Healing. The hobbits were excepted by the lead Healer, and while Terry's wrists were treated for minor rope-burn, they were busy tending to Param's leg. When he had done as much as he could, which was clean the wound and give Param athelas vapor (not well done, but it would do the trick), he turned to a guard.

'Tell the Steward's son that there are two halflings here, we must have their wounds recorded, along with the orcs that were passing through the lands.' He said, and the guard left. Terry had suddenly become very tired, though, and none of this registered. He fell asleep moments later.

Teredon was sitting in the hall when a guard came up to him and bowed.

'Sir, there were two halflings found, captured by a group of orcs. We have slain the orcs and the halflings are in the Houses of Healing.' Teredon immediately stood.

'Take me to them.' He said, and the guard bowed, leading him down to the Houses. When Teredon arrived he saw that there were two hobbits lying down. One had a bandage on his leg, and the other merely asleep. He recognized them immediately.

'What is wrong with them?' he demanded and the Healer nodded.

'The one to your left was stabbed in his thigh, but he will heal. The one on your right is just mostly tired.' He explained, and Teredon sat next to them. He did not move from their side, and it was only when Terry stirred, did he come out of deep thought. Terry looked around groggily and when he saw Teredon he nearly jumped out of bed.

'Teredon!' he cried, eyes huge. 'If I did not know better I would say that there's a spirit in my midst!' Teredon smiled kindly, and nodded.

'Yes, and I might say the same. I am surprised, and very happy that you're alive. I thought I had failed you both.' He said sadness in his voice. To his surprise, Terry laughed.

'Failed us? I daresay we're very… accustomed to it.'  He said, and when Teredon cocked an eyebrow, he shook his head, 'never mind.'

'And Param?'

'Ah, yes…' said Terry, looking at his cousin, 'right before we were rescued, the orcs were about to cut off our legs to eat,' he shuddered, 'I was not hurt, but Param receive a nasty stabbing in his thigh. I believe they said it would take many days to heal with the help of some… athelas.' Terry said, straining to remember what the plant was that was used on him so long ago. Teredon nodded, looking at Param.

'It is widely used now, that plant, but never really properly done. I am surprised you know of its correct name, I thought you would be more accustomed to Kingsfoil.' He said, and Terry shrugged.

'I know of its use in the War of the Ring.' He said, and Teredon lifted both his eyebrows in surprise. 'Do not look at me like that, Ondril used to read it to me when I was a child to rather late in my tweens. It was wonderful to hear, of four hobbits… giving up a chance at a peaceful life… some giving up their life totally.' The pain he had felt when Frodo had left over the sea suddenly struck him, and he was quiet. He had long since forgotten, but the conversation had brought them back. In the silence, the body next to them moved and groaned. Teredon immediately went to his side, and soon came Terry.

'Oh, hello! Am I dead?' Param asked sleepily, and Terry laughed.

'Pi- Param, you lug, of course not. You just received a nasty knife to your leg.' He said, correcting himself. Param smiled, still rather groggy.

'Then what's he doing here.'

'I'm quite alive, Master Param.' Teredon said, and laughed. 'I have just told Terry how wonderful it is to see you two alive too.'

'I'm happy to see me alive.' Param said, and sat up, feeling the pain in his leg for the first time. 'Ow… that's going to leave a mark. But tell me, Teredon, how is your arm? Last I remember you were stabbed too.'

'Oh, my arm is fine,' Teredon said, moving it, 'it healed quickly, as yours will.' He said, and Param nodded.

'Terry…'

'Yes?'

'I'm hungry.' Teredon then burst out laughing, to the surprise of them both.

'Even through orcs a hobbit's appetites will never fail.' He said, and stood, walking up to a nurse. 'Nurse, will you please bring down from the kitchens…' he turned to Param and Terry.

'Mushrooms!'

'Coney's!'

'Mushroom and possibly rabbit stew for our guests?' he said, and the woman nodded.

'Certainly.' She said, and bowed, leaving. Shortly she came back, two bowls in hand with spoons. 'Here you are, dears.' She said cheerfully. 'It was all ready cooking; I think someone slipped the healer a few words before he fell asleep.' She said, looking at Terry. Terry turned a rather bright red, and took his bowl. They ate hurriedly, not getting enough of the warm soup, and when they were done Teredon looked at them in wonder. It was more than he would have eaten at one sitting, and how it all fit into beings half the size of himself was beyond him.

'Haven't you ever seen a hobbit eat?' Terry said, and Teredon shook his head.

'Obviously not.' He said, and Terry looked out of the small window across his bed.

'What time of day is it?' he asked, and Teredon looked out the window, too.

'It is very early morning. You were asleep most the night.' Teredon said and on the stairs could be heard a staff, going slowly down them. They each looked to the door, and shortly enough a robe of white could be seen, then the figure of Brendalin stood in the doorway. Terry and Param gapped, while Teredon walked up to him.

'You are back, my old friend!' Teredon said, and greeted Brendalin.

'Yes, and none too soon.' Brendalin said, and looked at the two hobbits that were gapping at him, still. 'Ah! My young hobbits!' he said happily, and looked at both of them. 'We meet again.' He said. Something in his eyes told them he knew.

'Indeed we do, Brendalin!' Terry said, 'You really must stop dying on us like that, most uncalled for.' He said, and Brendalin smiled.

'Yes, well, I see one of you did not get out unscathed.' Brendalin said, and Param looked at his leg.

'Yes, so I didn't.' he said, and Brendalin nodded.

'Then it is Terry who will come with me. It is a strange fate that you will go to Rohan, my Brandybuck.' He said, and Teredon looked inquisitively at the aged wizard.

'Rohan?'

'Yes, you and the young hobbit there will come with me to Rohan, they are in need of some assistance, and I am sure some people there would love to see you both alive and healthy.'

'When are we to go?'

'As soon as possible!' Brendalin said, and Terry stood. 'Go, both of you, get ready! Battle is on the verge in Rohan.'

'Shall we bring troops?'

'No, they are going to be needed in a very short amount of time here. We can not risk having too many die. We have enough troops in Rohan, it is just a question of finding them all.' Brendalin said, 'now hurry, up the stairs, and you,' he said, while Terry and Teredon hurried up the stairs, 'You're going to heal quickly. Do not try to follow, for it would not be in your best interest.' He said, and Param sighed. Brendalin then left, and after a moment Terry came back down the stairs.

'Bye Pippin, I'll see you later.'

'Naturally.' Param said with a smile and Terry nodded, going back up the stairs. Param's smile faded, though, and he sat in bed, missing Terry all ready.

Teredon went quickly to his room and opened up a closet he had not before. In it hung the armor of Gondor, regal in status. The armor itself was made of gold and steel, and over the breastplate and armor of his thigh was a leather tunic, bearing the white tree. The one Elessar had planted long ago had stood until recently, when it started to wilt; only when the fires began to stir in Mordor. The helmet was made of gold of steel, the nosepiece looking of tree roots. It had been a long time since he had worn it, but it was time.

He put it on and tied his belt around him, placing his sword and knife in their sheaths. He also put on his horn, shield, and finally his helmet, then left out the door. Tedren had just come down the hall to see him, and when she saw what she wore she stopped.

'You are changed…' she said, and he nodded.

'Yes, I am. Brendalin has come, I must leave again.' He said, and she sighed. She had not thought he would have to leave this soon. She embraced him, though it was oddly done through the armor, and kissed his cheek. 'I do not want to hear of any more close encounters of death.' She said, and he nodded.

'Of course, not, you know me.'

'All too well. I warn you, I'll kill you if you die.' She said, and he smiled. Her odd sense of humor had always calmed him.

'I imagine you would find a way to do that, yes.' He said, and she nodded.

'Good bye, good luck.'

'Good bye, my dear sister.' Teredon said, and left her, hurrying down the hall. She watched him go and turned, tear running down her cheek. When Teredon arrived down at the stables, he found Terry and Brendalin waiting for him, Terry wearing small chain mail. Teredon cocked an eyebrow, wondering from where it came.

'The weapons smith said it used to be yours when you were a child.' Terry said, reading his face, 'playing soldier, no doubt.' He said, and Teredon nodded, remembering his times doing as Terry had said.

'Come, now, this is not a time for reminiscing!' Brendalin said, and got onto Starflight, 'we must get to Edoras. Come, lad, there you are, we must hurry.' Teredon got onto his horse, and they sped out of the stables, in the direction for Edoras.