They rode to the doors of Orthanc, Gandalf wanted to speak with
Saruman. The Fellowship, though bidden to stay behind, had all insisted on
coming too. Dawn didn't really care about Saruman, he was just some old
guy stuck in his ugly-ass tower as far as she was concerned, she was just
sick of being told she had to stay behind.
She listened half-heartedly as Saruman's charmed voice tried to weasel Theoden into his power once more, but Theoden's will was stronger now and Gandalf shattered the spell.
Saruman became angry at this. His eyes scanned the small crowd before him, searching for another avenue through which he could attack. His mind momentarily bent towards the young Hobbits, he called them nothing but rag-tag, but secretly he was overcome with curiosity about them. Did they have the ring? Had his Uruk-Hai captured them before? What did they know?
Then his mind was pulled to Dawn almost by some unseen force. Power- he felt it in her. She was powerful, incomprehensible even. He smiled down at her. She could be useful to him. Saruman could see the emotional pain practically radiating from her in waves. His smile deepened. She was young and deeply hurt right now- she should be easy to sway into his power.
Dawn noticed the attention she was receiving and glared back coolly. So this Saruman guy was giving her the eye. Whatever, she thought to herself. Then she felt him pushing at her mind with his, trying to see what was inside her head. She bit her lip and tried to resist.
"And, you, young one. What do you do in company such as this? This is far too uncivilised a rabble for a Lady to travel with. It is improper even, and I'm sure that none have looked to your safety in such dark and dangerous times."
Dawn almost snorted. Yeah right- she'd been more safe than she'd bargained for at Helm's Deep, the Fellowship had seen to that. And that patronising deal wasn't exactly earning Saruman any points with her either.
The Wizard leaned forward on his balcony a little too eagerly. "Come, child. If you stay with this kindly old man, I shall keep you from harm, and you shall have all you wish for," he promised.
Dawn raised an eyebrow at Saruman. He gestured to Dawn with his hand. "Speak, child. Declare your mind to all."
Dawn raised an eyebrow. "You wanna know what's on my mind, right at this very moment?" she asked.
Saruman, missing the sarcastic tone to her voice, and the wicked gleam in her eye, nodded encouragingly. The others watched, half- intrigued, half-afraid at what would become of Dawn.
Dawn opened her mouth and gave Saruman her best Steven Tyler impression.
"/Janie's got a gun
Janie's got a gun
Her dog day's just begun
Now everybody is on the run
What did her Daddy do?
It was Janie's last I.O.U.
She had to take him down easy and put a bullet in his brain
She said coz nobody believes me- the man was such a sleaze
He ain't never gonna be the same....../"
"Enough!" Saruman growled, angering at her.
"/Run away, run away from the pain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Run away, run awa.../" Dawn continued happily until she was cut off again.
"Silence!" Saruman practically screamed. "Insolent girl!"
Dawn just grinned innocently back. "What? I've had that damn song stuck in my head for hours," she told the Wizard.
"Buttmonkey," she said quietly as Saruman stormed away from the balcony.
Those standing immediately near her, namely the Hobbits, Legolas and Gimli, wondered what in Middle-Earth a 'buttmonkey' was. They were also incredibly interested in the song she'd just sung, but that, like an explanation for 'buttmonkey', would have to wait.
"Come back Saruman!" Gandalf cried, and to everyone's astonishment, the other Wizard returned against his own will.
They watched as Gandalf let his power shine. He cast Saruman out of the Order and broke his staff. As a parting shot, Wormtongue hurled something out of Orthanc's high window at them.
It hit the ground and rolled, Pippin chased it and picked it up. They heard Saruman screaming with rage at Wormtongue as they turned away.
As soon as he saw what had been thrown, Gandalf took the Palentir away from Pippin, concealing it in his robes. It was decided that they had to ride out at once, Theoden had sent messengers already calling a muster at Eodras.
Dawn retrieved Lightfoot, who had been grazing just outside the wreck of Isengard with Shadowfax and the rest of the horses. She heard someone clearing his throat behind her and turned.
Gimli stood before her, looking embarrassed. She kept her expression neutral and waited for him to speak.
"Dawn... I, uh, I... was hoping that.... well," he looked down, but looked up again after a moment.
"I meant you no harm, my young friend, and am grieved to have hurt you.... Will you... can I....?" he swallowed. Dawn's expression did not change. Gimli sighed and blurted his request out.
"Would you let me ride with you?"
Dawn stared at him a moment. She couldn't believe her ears. She began to get angry that he had the nerve to ask her for a favour after everything, and was about to tell him off when a sudden realisation hit her. This was Gimli asking for forgiveness, putting himself at her mercy for it. She couldn't speak.
Gimli figured she wasn't going to relent and turned sadly to walk away. Dawn found her voice again. "Gimli- wait," she called.
He turned back with a hopeful look.
She gave him a small smile. "No axe-talk, ok?"
He chuckled roughly. "Thank you, Dawn," he said.
She mounted, a task which she was getting much better at by now, and motioned Eomer over.
"Milady," he said easily by way of greeting.
"Hey Eomer," she returned, just as easily.
Gimli frowned as he watched the two humans grinning at each other. They were comfortable together, too comfortable for his liking. He had noticed the tendencies of humans to do strange things when they became a slave to their passions, and it never ended well. Gimli had to admit that he was worried Dawn would do something rash and give her heart to the Marshal just to spite Legolas. He hoped it didn't come to that, for the sake of all of them.
"Can you help Gimli up for me?" Dawn asked Eomer, breaking into the Dwarf's thoughts.
"If he forgives me my rash words against the Lady of the Golden Wood," Eomer replied, turning his grin in Gimli's direction. "I spoke only as all men I've known longer than a few days speak, and would gladly learn better."
Gimli nodded. "I will pardon you for now, Marshal. But if you have the chance to see the Lady Galadriel with your own eyes, you will acknowledge her the fairest of all beings, or my axe shall be your teacher," he warned.
Eomer laughed. "In such days as these, learning the praise of a fair lady under the loving strokes of a Dwarf's axe will seem no great marvel."
Even Gimli had to laugh at that.
"Uh- hello? Can we stop chatting about the hotness of Galadriel and get moving already?" Dawn interrupted.
Eomer immediately remembered himself and helped Gimli up behind Dawn, before easily mounting Firefoot. Together, they turned and rode away from Isengard.
They moved at a fair pace, but Dawn still managed to see the progress of the other people she knew. They were the rearguard of the host for now, and ahead of them, Dawn could see that Gandalf rode beside Theoden as the King led them. Just behind them, was Legolas, carrying Merry in front of him, and Aragorn, who had Pippin. Dawn frowned and looked away as the Elf turned his head, catching sight of her with Gimli and Eomer. He was checking up on her, too.
* * * * *
"What the crap?" Dawn mumbled sleepily as the sounds of voices dragged her into consciousness. "I was having the nicest sleep..." she sighed to no-one in particular as she sat up and looked around.
Gandalf was towering over Pippin, who was trembling and begging for forgiveness. It soon became apparent that the young Hobbit had taken the Palentir from Gandalf as he slept and looked into it.
Dawn felt bad for Pippin. She could tell he was genuinely frightened and sorry as he cowered on the ground, Merry by his side. Gandalf assured him it was all right when he saw that there was no dishonesty about Pippin, and that though Sauron had questioned him, the Dark Lord had gotten no crucial information.
Thinking quickly, Gandalf decided that he had to take Pippin away from the Palentir, to ensure the stone's hold over him was completely broken. He told Theoden and Aragorn to ride with all haste as soon as the day broke, and placed Pippin on Shadowfax before him.
"Of all the luck- getting to ride on Shadowfax," Merry muttered.
An icy chill rushed over them, and the Riders, who had never felt anything as terrifying as the Nazgul passing overhead before, were terrified. Legolas, however, managed to fire off a shot or two into the beast which carried the Nazgul, and it flew away with a blood-curdling shriek.
Gandalf was gazing up. "Nazgul!," he cried. "The messenger of Mordor. The storm is coming. The Nazgul have crossed the river! Ride, ride! Wait not for the dawn! Let not the swift wait for the slow! Ride!"
Gandalf was gone, the others scrambling to break camp and leave. In the rush, Dawn noted that she was riding alone again- Gimli was already on Arod with Legolas, and Merry was with Aragorn.
Eomer came riding up beside her. "Stay close to me, Dawn."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "You do know that I can take care of myself, right?"
"I know."
Eomer spurred his horse on and Dawn followed. She passed Arod and Hafusel without so much as a glance at their riders, and concentrated on the road.
It was a moment before she realised that Aragorn was calling her name. She was still debating whether or not she wanted to answer him when Gimli and Merry called out to her. She relented and drew even with them, Lightfoot's pace matching Arod's and Hafusel's.
Aragorn was speaking. They were discussing what their course of action would be now. "The King will go to the muster that he commanded at Edoras, four nights from now. And there, I think, he will hear tidings of war, and the riders of Rohan will go down to Minas Tirith. But for myself, and any that will go with me..."
"I for one!" cried Legolas.
"And Gimli with him!" said the Dwarf. Dawn rolled her eyes and said nothing. She wasn't so sure about her loyalties these days.
"Well, for myself," said Aragorn. "It is dark before me. I must go down also to Minas Tirith, but I do not yet see the road."
"Don't leave me behind," Merry begged. He didn't want to be treated as useless baggage any more. He wanted to make a difference somehow.
Aragorn looked down at the small figure riding in front of him. "I do think your path lies with King Theoden, Merry," he said softly, and left it at that for the time being. He turned to Dawn. "And you, Dawn? What is your decision? Which way shall you take?"
Dawn looked at him through guarded eyes, but did not get a chance to speak because at that moment, the rearguard called that horsemen were overtaking them. The company halted immediately. Aragorn dismounted, letting Merry down with him and stood by the King's stirrup, sword in hand. Eomer took the other side as the persuers approached.
"Halt! Halt! Who rides in Rohan?" Eomer called in a loud voice when the horsemen were close enough.
They stopped, and a lone figure dismounted and began walking slowly towards them, hands out and empty before him in token of peace. He stopped about ten paces from the King's horse. He was tall, a dark standing shadow. He spoke.
"Rohan? Rohan did you say? That is a glad word, we seek that land in haste from long afar."
"You have found it," replied Eomer. "But this is the realm of Theoden the King. None ride here save by his leave. Who are you? And what is your haste?"
"Halbarad Dunadan, Ranger of the North I am," the man said. "We seek one Aragorn son of Arathorn, and we heard that he was in Rohan."
"And you have found him also!" cried Aragorn. Giving his reins to Merry, he ran forward and embraced the newcomer. "Halbarad!" he said. "Of all the joys this is the least expected! All is well," he said, turning back. "Here are some of my own kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why they come, and how many they be, Halbarad shall tell us."
"I have thirty with me. That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war." The rest of the Dunedain, and Elrond's sons rode up to meet the Riders. Elladan and Elrohir stopped their horses beside Halbarad. The three of them studied the faces around them.
"Wow. Bet they get asked for threesomes all the time," Dawn said to herself, taking in the handsome dark-haired Elves that had ridden up.
Her comment brought Halbarad's attention to Dawn's presence. "What is this!?" he cried, causing both the dark-haired Elves to lock their eyes on Dawn.
"This is the Lady Dawn Summers," Aragorn said quietly. "She joined our Fellowship just 'ere we reached Lothlorien. She is a comrade, and a fellow warrior, who has come through many trials with us," he stated.
Halbarad, however, was only half listening as he wandered over to take a closer look at Dawn. "No warrior are you, little Lady," he said, running his eyes over her. "But you are a pretty thing..."
"Thing?" Dawn interrupted, eyebrows raised. She glared down at the new Ranger from her perch on Lightfoot's back. "I am not a thing, Lord Halbarad. I am a woman," she told him.
Then she furrowed her brow at him and feigned concern. "You have seen a woman before, I hope?"
Halbarad flushed as those around him, including the twin Elves and Aragorn, began to laugh. Halbarad found his voice again after a moment.
"And you intend to travel the path alongside Aragorn, Lady Dawn?" he asked, clearly dubious at the notion.
Dawn looked straight past him and stared squarely into Aragorn's grey eyes. "Yes," she answered the question he had asked her earlier. "I'm still in."
Aragorn offered her the smallest smile and Dawn nodded before turning away. Then he, Halbarad and Eomer quickly remounted their horses.
The Riders set out again, and the Fellowship for a while rode with the Dunedain. When they had finished giving all the news they had from both North and South, Elrohir turned to Aragorn. "I bring word to you from my father: *The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.*"
Aragorn nodded to his foster brother and turned to Halbarad. While the Rangers began conversing about a staff that Halbarad was holding, a gift to Aragorn from Arwen, with a message, Dawn rode quietly up beside Elrohir.
He noticed her presence and turned to look at Dawn. "Hey..." she said, trying to find her way into a conversation with the Elf without offending him. "I, uh, guess we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Dawn," she gave him her friendliest smile.
Elrohir smiled back at the young Lady. "Elrohir, son of Elrond Halfelven, Lord of Rivendell at your service, my Lady." He bowed his head to her slightly.
"Um... that's really neato," Dawn replied. She hadn't been expecting his life story, she just wanted to ask a question. "So, Elrohir... I kinda overheard you and Est- Aragorn talking, and I was wondering... what are the Paths of the Dead?"
Elrohir looked at her gravely a moment before telling her about the Paths of the Dead. "They lay under a cursed mountain not far beyond Dunharrow, it is said. Though few have been there, and none that I know have ridden so far. The cursed ghosts of men who betrayed Elendil-"
"Oh! I know Elendil!" Dawn interrupted, counting the family tree down on her fingers. "Aragorn in Isildur son of Elendil's heir of Gondor, right?" she said, beaming smugly at her own knowledge.
Elrohir smiled at her youthful energy before he continued. "That is right my Lady. And those who betrayed Elendil remain on the paths, until they fulfil their oaths to the line of Kings and are freed. I have often heard it said that the dead will suffer no living man to pass."
Aragorn, who had finished hearing Halbarad's message from Arwen, joined in to the conversation at that point. "Yet I believe they will suffer Isildur's heir to pass," he said confidently. "As it offers them a chance to break their curse and go to their final rest."
"Break the curse by fulfilling their oath? To fight with the line of Kings?" Dawn questioned, to which Elrohir and Aragorn both nodded.
"Allright-y then!" Dawn exclaimed with fake cheeriness. "Let's go to war with our only back-up as a bunch of dead guys known for recanting on their promises! Sounds like a Sunnydale kinda excursion," she said. "All we need is a coupla re-ensouled demons!"
Elrohir frowned. He did not understand most of what she'd said, but he knew that this was not the time for fooling around. Dawn noticed his look and smiled brightly.
"Oh, c'mon, 'Ro. Lighten up- I was kidding. No re-ensouled demons," she put on her best puppy face and it worked. Elrohir's resolve crumbled and he grinned at her.
Aragorn laughed and shook his head. Dawn could manipulate anyone with that look. He bet even Sauron couldn't say no to that face. He sobered up again when he noticed Dawn staring at him. Elrohir sensed the tension between the two and wisely stayed silent. He watched with curiosity though as Dawn began to speak.
"Well, guess anything's possible with you around, Estel," she said quietly.
Elrohir looked shocked at her use of Aragorn's Elvish name. Aragorn also looked shocked, but his was a pleasant surprise. She hadn't called him Estel since Helm's Deep. She had addressed him exactly twice, and both times she had coldly called him Aragorn. Even Legolas, riding a few metres away, catching up with his old friend Elladan, had looked over, unnoticed by Dawn. A small smile graced his features and he turned his attention back to the other Elf. Dawn had made up with both Gimli and Aragorn, it seemed. He could hope now, at least.
"Thank you, Seler'nin," Aragorn responded warmly. He reached over and took one of Dawn's hands from the reins. He went to move it to his lips, but she stopped him.
"You do realise that if you ever hurt me like that again, I will castrate you with your own sword," she said quietly, staring into his eyes.
Aragorn looked a little taken aback. "I know not what this 'castrate' means, but I swear to you I shall never give you an opportunity to teach me, Dawny. Do you forgive me then?"
When she nodded, Aragorn lifted her hand and kissed it before replacing it gently un the reins. Dawn smiled, she was feeling a little better. Elrohir stared at them, utterly dumbfounded by the scene that had just played itself out before his eyes.
* * * * *
A/N: R&R! And as for the threesome comment- c'mon, who *hasn't* wondered about Elladan & Elrohir! ~Anoron.
She listened half-heartedly as Saruman's charmed voice tried to weasel Theoden into his power once more, but Theoden's will was stronger now and Gandalf shattered the spell.
Saruman became angry at this. His eyes scanned the small crowd before him, searching for another avenue through which he could attack. His mind momentarily bent towards the young Hobbits, he called them nothing but rag-tag, but secretly he was overcome with curiosity about them. Did they have the ring? Had his Uruk-Hai captured them before? What did they know?
Then his mind was pulled to Dawn almost by some unseen force. Power- he felt it in her. She was powerful, incomprehensible even. He smiled down at her. She could be useful to him. Saruman could see the emotional pain practically radiating from her in waves. His smile deepened. She was young and deeply hurt right now- she should be easy to sway into his power.
Dawn noticed the attention she was receiving and glared back coolly. So this Saruman guy was giving her the eye. Whatever, she thought to herself. Then she felt him pushing at her mind with his, trying to see what was inside her head. She bit her lip and tried to resist.
"And, you, young one. What do you do in company such as this? This is far too uncivilised a rabble for a Lady to travel with. It is improper even, and I'm sure that none have looked to your safety in such dark and dangerous times."
Dawn almost snorted. Yeah right- she'd been more safe than she'd bargained for at Helm's Deep, the Fellowship had seen to that. And that patronising deal wasn't exactly earning Saruman any points with her either.
The Wizard leaned forward on his balcony a little too eagerly. "Come, child. If you stay with this kindly old man, I shall keep you from harm, and you shall have all you wish for," he promised.
Dawn raised an eyebrow at Saruman. He gestured to Dawn with his hand. "Speak, child. Declare your mind to all."
Dawn raised an eyebrow. "You wanna know what's on my mind, right at this very moment?" she asked.
Saruman, missing the sarcastic tone to her voice, and the wicked gleam in her eye, nodded encouragingly. The others watched, half- intrigued, half-afraid at what would become of Dawn.
Dawn opened her mouth and gave Saruman her best Steven Tyler impression.
"/Janie's got a gun
Janie's got a gun
Her dog day's just begun
Now everybody is on the run
What did her Daddy do?
It was Janie's last I.O.U.
She had to take him down easy and put a bullet in his brain
She said coz nobody believes me- the man was such a sleaze
He ain't never gonna be the same....../"
"Enough!" Saruman growled, angering at her.
"/Run away, run away from the pain
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Run away, run awa.../" Dawn continued happily until she was cut off again.
"Silence!" Saruman practically screamed. "Insolent girl!"
Dawn just grinned innocently back. "What? I've had that damn song stuck in my head for hours," she told the Wizard.
"Buttmonkey," she said quietly as Saruman stormed away from the balcony.
Those standing immediately near her, namely the Hobbits, Legolas and Gimli, wondered what in Middle-Earth a 'buttmonkey' was. They were also incredibly interested in the song she'd just sung, but that, like an explanation for 'buttmonkey', would have to wait.
"Come back Saruman!" Gandalf cried, and to everyone's astonishment, the other Wizard returned against his own will.
They watched as Gandalf let his power shine. He cast Saruman out of the Order and broke his staff. As a parting shot, Wormtongue hurled something out of Orthanc's high window at them.
It hit the ground and rolled, Pippin chased it and picked it up. They heard Saruman screaming with rage at Wormtongue as they turned away.
As soon as he saw what had been thrown, Gandalf took the Palentir away from Pippin, concealing it in his robes. It was decided that they had to ride out at once, Theoden had sent messengers already calling a muster at Eodras.
Dawn retrieved Lightfoot, who had been grazing just outside the wreck of Isengard with Shadowfax and the rest of the horses. She heard someone clearing his throat behind her and turned.
Gimli stood before her, looking embarrassed. She kept her expression neutral and waited for him to speak.
"Dawn... I, uh, I... was hoping that.... well," he looked down, but looked up again after a moment.
"I meant you no harm, my young friend, and am grieved to have hurt you.... Will you... can I....?" he swallowed. Dawn's expression did not change. Gimli sighed and blurted his request out.
"Would you let me ride with you?"
Dawn stared at him a moment. She couldn't believe her ears. She began to get angry that he had the nerve to ask her for a favour after everything, and was about to tell him off when a sudden realisation hit her. This was Gimli asking for forgiveness, putting himself at her mercy for it. She couldn't speak.
Gimli figured she wasn't going to relent and turned sadly to walk away. Dawn found her voice again. "Gimli- wait," she called.
He turned back with a hopeful look.
She gave him a small smile. "No axe-talk, ok?"
He chuckled roughly. "Thank you, Dawn," he said.
She mounted, a task which she was getting much better at by now, and motioned Eomer over.
"Milady," he said easily by way of greeting.
"Hey Eomer," she returned, just as easily.
Gimli frowned as he watched the two humans grinning at each other. They were comfortable together, too comfortable for his liking. He had noticed the tendencies of humans to do strange things when they became a slave to their passions, and it never ended well. Gimli had to admit that he was worried Dawn would do something rash and give her heart to the Marshal just to spite Legolas. He hoped it didn't come to that, for the sake of all of them.
"Can you help Gimli up for me?" Dawn asked Eomer, breaking into the Dwarf's thoughts.
"If he forgives me my rash words against the Lady of the Golden Wood," Eomer replied, turning his grin in Gimli's direction. "I spoke only as all men I've known longer than a few days speak, and would gladly learn better."
Gimli nodded. "I will pardon you for now, Marshal. But if you have the chance to see the Lady Galadriel with your own eyes, you will acknowledge her the fairest of all beings, or my axe shall be your teacher," he warned.
Eomer laughed. "In such days as these, learning the praise of a fair lady under the loving strokes of a Dwarf's axe will seem no great marvel."
Even Gimli had to laugh at that.
"Uh- hello? Can we stop chatting about the hotness of Galadriel and get moving already?" Dawn interrupted.
Eomer immediately remembered himself and helped Gimli up behind Dawn, before easily mounting Firefoot. Together, they turned and rode away from Isengard.
They moved at a fair pace, but Dawn still managed to see the progress of the other people she knew. They were the rearguard of the host for now, and ahead of them, Dawn could see that Gandalf rode beside Theoden as the King led them. Just behind them, was Legolas, carrying Merry in front of him, and Aragorn, who had Pippin. Dawn frowned and looked away as the Elf turned his head, catching sight of her with Gimli and Eomer. He was checking up on her, too.
* * * * *
"What the crap?" Dawn mumbled sleepily as the sounds of voices dragged her into consciousness. "I was having the nicest sleep..." she sighed to no-one in particular as she sat up and looked around.
Gandalf was towering over Pippin, who was trembling and begging for forgiveness. It soon became apparent that the young Hobbit had taken the Palentir from Gandalf as he slept and looked into it.
Dawn felt bad for Pippin. She could tell he was genuinely frightened and sorry as he cowered on the ground, Merry by his side. Gandalf assured him it was all right when he saw that there was no dishonesty about Pippin, and that though Sauron had questioned him, the Dark Lord had gotten no crucial information.
Thinking quickly, Gandalf decided that he had to take Pippin away from the Palentir, to ensure the stone's hold over him was completely broken. He told Theoden and Aragorn to ride with all haste as soon as the day broke, and placed Pippin on Shadowfax before him.
"Of all the luck- getting to ride on Shadowfax," Merry muttered.
An icy chill rushed over them, and the Riders, who had never felt anything as terrifying as the Nazgul passing overhead before, were terrified. Legolas, however, managed to fire off a shot or two into the beast which carried the Nazgul, and it flew away with a blood-curdling shriek.
Gandalf was gazing up. "Nazgul!," he cried. "The messenger of Mordor. The storm is coming. The Nazgul have crossed the river! Ride, ride! Wait not for the dawn! Let not the swift wait for the slow! Ride!"
Gandalf was gone, the others scrambling to break camp and leave. In the rush, Dawn noted that she was riding alone again- Gimli was already on Arod with Legolas, and Merry was with Aragorn.
Eomer came riding up beside her. "Stay close to me, Dawn."
Dawn rolled her eyes. "You do know that I can take care of myself, right?"
"I know."
Eomer spurred his horse on and Dawn followed. She passed Arod and Hafusel without so much as a glance at their riders, and concentrated on the road.
It was a moment before she realised that Aragorn was calling her name. She was still debating whether or not she wanted to answer him when Gimli and Merry called out to her. She relented and drew even with them, Lightfoot's pace matching Arod's and Hafusel's.
Aragorn was speaking. They were discussing what their course of action would be now. "The King will go to the muster that he commanded at Edoras, four nights from now. And there, I think, he will hear tidings of war, and the riders of Rohan will go down to Minas Tirith. But for myself, and any that will go with me..."
"I for one!" cried Legolas.
"And Gimli with him!" said the Dwarf. Dawn rolled her eyes and said nothing. She wasn't so sure about her loyalties these days.
"Well, for myself," said Aragorn. "It is dark before me. I must go down also to Minas Tirith, but I do not yet see the road."
"Don't leave me behind," Merry begged. He didn't want to be treated as useless baggage any more. He wanted to make a difference somehow.
Aragorn looked down at the small figure riding in front of him. "I do think your path lies with King Theoden, Merry," he said softly, and left it at that for the time being. He turned to Dawn. "And you, Dawn? What is your decision? Which way shall you take?"
Dawn looked at him through guarded eyes, but did not get a chance to speak because at that moment, the rearguard called that horsemen were overtaking them. The company halted immediately. Aragorn dismounted, letting Merry down with him and stood by the King's stirrup, sword in hand. Eomer took the other side as the persuers approached.
"Halt! Halt! Who rides in Rohan?" Eomer called in a loud voice when the horsemen were close enough.
They stopped, and a lone figure dismounted and began walking slowly towards them, hands out and empty before him in token of peace. He stopped about ten paces from the King's horse. He was tall, a dark standing shadow. He spoke.
"Rohan? Rohan did you say? That is a glad word, we seek that land in haste from long afar."
"You have found it," replied Eomer. "But this is the realm of Theoden the King. None ride here save by his leave. Who are you? And what is your haste?"
"Halbarad Dunadan, Ranger of the North I am," the man said. "We seek one Aragorn son of Arathorn, and we heard that he was in Rohan."
"And you have found him also!" cried Aragorn. Giving his reins to Merry, he ran forward and embraced the newcomer. "Halbarad!" he said. "Of all the joys this is the least expected! All is well," he said, turning back. "Here are some of my own kin from the far land where I dwelt. But why they come, and how many they be, Halbarad shall tell us."
"I have thirty with me. That is all of our kindred that could be gathered in haste; but the brethren Elladan and Elrohir have ridden with us, desiring to go to the war." The rest of the Dunedain, and Elrond's sons rode up to meet the Riders. Elladan and Elrohir stopped their horses beside Halbarad. The three of them studied the faces around them.
"Wow. Bet they get asked for threesomes all the time," Dawn said to herself, taking in the handsome dark-haired Elves that had ridden up.
Her comment brought Halbarad's attention to Dawn's presence. "What is this!?" he cried, causing both the dark-haired Elves to lock their eyes on Dawn.
"This is the Lady Dawn Summers," Aragorn said quietly. "She joined our Fellowship just 'ere we reached Lothlorien. She is a comrade, and a fellow warrior, who has come through many trials with us," he stated.
Halbarad, however, was only half listening as he wandered over to take a closer look at Dawn. "No warrior are you, little Lady," he said, running his eyes over her. "But you are a pretty thing..."
"Thing?" Dawn interrupted, eyebrows raised. She glared down at the new Ranger from her perch on Lightfoot's back. "I am not a thing, Lord Halbarad. I am a woman," she told him.
Then she furrowed her brow at him and feigned concern. "You have seen a woman before, I hope?"
Halbarad flushed as those around him, including the twin Elves and Aragorn, began to laugh. Halbarad found his voice again after a moment.
"And you intend to travel the path alongside Aragorn, Lady Dawn?" he asked, clearly dubious at the notion.
Dawn looked straight past him and stared squarely into Aragorn's grey eyes. "Yes," she answered the question he had asked her earlier. "I'm still in."
Aragorn offered her the smallest smile and Dawn nodded before turning away. Then he, Halbarad and Eomer quickly remounted their horses.
The Riders set out again, and the Fellowship for a while rode with the Dunedain. When they had finished giving all the news they had from both North and South, Elrohir turned to Aragorn. "I bring word to you from my father: *The days are short. If thou art in haste, remember the Paths of the Dead.*"
Aragorn nodded to his foster brother and turned to Halbarad. While the Rangers began conversing about a staff that Halbarad was holding, a gift to Aragorn from Arwen, with a message, Dawn rode quietly up beside Elrohir.
He noticed her presence and turned to look at Dawn. "Hey..." she said, trying to find her way into a conversation with the Elf without offending him. "I, uh, guess we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Dawn," she gave him her friendliest smile.
Elrohir smiled back at the young Lady. "Elrohir, son of Elrond Halfelven, Lord of Rivendell at your service, my Lady." He bowed his head to her slightly.
"Um... that's really neato," Dawn replied. She hadn't been expecting his life story, she just wanted to ask a question. "So, Elrohir... I kinda overheard you and Est- Aragorn talking, and I was wondering... what are the Paths of the Dead?"
Elrohir looked at her gravely a moment before telling her about the Paths of the Dead. "They lay under a cursed mountain not far beyond Dunharrow, it is said. Though few have been there, and none that I know have ridden so far. The cursed ghosts of men who betrayed Elendil-"
"Oh! I know Elendil!" Dawn interrupted, counting the family tree down on her fingers. "Aragorn in Isildur son of Elendil's heir of Gondor, right?" she said, beaming smugly at her own knowledge.
Elrohir smiled at her youthful energy before he continued. "That is right my Lady. And those who betrayed Elendil remain on the paths, until they fulfil their oaths to the line of Kings and are freed. I have often heard it said that the dead will suffer no living man to pass."
Aragorn, who had finished hearing Halbarad's message from Arwen, joined in to the conversation at that point. "Yet I believe they will suffer Isildur's heir to pass," he said confidently. "As it offers them a chance to break their curse and go to their final rest."
"Break the curse by fulfilling their oath? To fight with the line of Kings?" Dawn questioned, to which Elrohir and Aragorn both nodded.
"Allright-y then!" Dawn exclaimed with fake cheeriness. "Let's go to war with our only back-up as a bunch of dead guys known for recanting on their promises! Sounds like a Sunnydale kinda excursion," she said. "All we need is a coupla re-ensouled demons!"
Elrohir frowned. He did not understand most of what she'd said, but he knew that this was not the time for fooling around. Dawn noticed his look and smiled brightly.
"Oh, c'mon, 'Ro. Lighten up- I was kidding. No re-ensouled demons," she put on her best puppy face and it worked. Elrohir's resolve crumbled and he grinned at her.
Aragorn laughed and shook his head. Dawn could manipulate anyone with that look. He bet even Sauron couldn't say no to that face. He sobered up again when he noticed Dawn staring at him. Elrohir sensed the tension between the two and wisely stayed silent. He watched with curiosity though as Dawn began to speak.
"Well, guess anything's possible with you around, Estel," she said quietly.
Elrohir looked shocked at her use of Aragorn's Elvish name. Aragorn also looked shocked, but his was a pleasant surprise. She hadn't called him Estel since Helm's Deep. She had addressed him exactly twice, and both times she had coldly called him Aragorn. Even Legolas, riding a few metres away, catching up with his old friend Elladan, had looked over, unnoticed by Dawn. A small smile graced his features and he turned his attention back to the other Elf. Dawn had made up with both Gimli and Aragorn, it seemed. He could hope now, at least.
"Thank you, Seler'nin," Aragorn responded warmly. He reached over and took one of Dawn's hands from the reins. He went to move it to his lips, but she stopped him.
"You do realise that if you ever hurt me like that again, I will castrate you with your own sword," she said quietly, staring into his eyes.
Aragorn looked a little taken aback. "I know not what this 'castrate' means, but I swear to you I shall never give you an opportunity to teach me, Dawny. Do you forgive me then?"
When she nodded, Aragorn lifted her hand and kissed it before replacing it gently un the reins. Dawn smiled, she was feeling a little better. Elrohir stared at them, utterly dumbfounded by the scene that had just played itself out before his eyes.
* * * * *
A/N: R&R! And as for the threesome comment- c'mon, who *hasn't* wondered about Elladan & Elrohir! ~Anoron.