NOTE: The chapters have been coming fast, just because I'm going to be going on vacation in a week or so, and also because in the next comings weeks I might not be able to come up with a chapter every day, so I wanted to write any chance I got. Please review! I can't stress enough how much reviews mean to me. Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy! Sub-Note: Naneth= mother, Ada= father

I WANT TO BE FREE: 11

"Maethoriel...." Maethoriel looked up to see Aeronel staring down at her. She realized she was on the ground, her vision blurred and she was dizzy beyond words. She slowly sat up, as pressure began to push against her mind. Aeronel knelt to her side, gently rubbing her forehead to comfort her.

"You passed out," she told Maethoriel, who gave her a surprised look, for she couldn't remember having passed out moments before. Maethoriel sighed, tired and weary, longing for the comforts of home, and missing the luxury of having the reassurance of her mother only being down the hall. She was a grown maiden, but she suddenly began to feel tears uncontrollably run down her cheek, as she felt like she was an eight- year-old child again, searching for her Naneth and Ada.

"Oh, do not cry Maethoriel, it will all be okay. My stomach burns just as yours does, and my thirst for water is unbearably horrid, but we mustn't lose hope."

"Yes, my dear, believing you still have hope will surely keep you alive longer than would be expected," Ainik interrupted, as he descended the stairs to meet with the girls again. "It seems to me you two are hungry; here," he handed them two pieces of bread through the holes of the gate. Aeronel and Maethoriel cautiously approached the man, debating whether or not to receive the bread, for their stomachs begged them to but their hearts feared to. Ultimately both girls' hunger was too much to bear, and each grabbed a piece of bread, madly eating away at it. Ainik only smiled, in his mind mocking the site before him. "Tell me girls, what would you say if I were to grant your freedom?" Both girls simultaneously stopped their chewing, to look up to the man with both pairs of eyes broadly open.

"It is a trick," said Aeronel.

"No trick, indeed. I really have no use for you. I will let you free." The girls were silent, not knowing what to think. "Oh, but wait, what if my plan goes wrong. I would have no compensation for myself. Hmmmm, wait... I know. It is the perfect plan. I will release one of you, and the one who is left behind will DIE if the other does not return to rescue her," Ainik chuckled lightly. "Now, I know neither one of you would be stupid enough to return here alone, so whoever is freed must find help within.. Oh, let's say, THREE days, that should be enough, yes?" Aeronel's eyes narrowed, glaring at the sinister man.

"You are sick!" she yelled at him, banging her fist to the gate in hopes she would hit him. Ainik stepped back, only to laugh hysterically.

"Sick, but clever. So, our only problem now is which one will be released." Ainik rubbed his chin with his fingers, pretending to ponder the decision, though in his heart he already knew whom he would set free. "We all love challenges don't we? I know I myself do, so to make this task challenging for the two of you, I will release the MUTE, for without a voice, no one would be able to understand you. If I am lucky, the people may even shun you off as a lunatic!" He began to laugh excitedly, louder than he had before. "Can you imagine? Our young princess here, flailing her arms in the air, trying to make people understand her!" His laughter was completely out of his control now, as he mocked Maethoriel. Within a few moments, however, he gathered his composure to address the girls once again. "So it is settled then, say your good-byes, our dear friend Maethoriel is leaving tonight." He signaled for a guard to open the gate and release Maethoriel, as the two girls looked to one other, grasping each other's hand.

"Maethoriel, I trust you," was all Aeronel said, as they weren't even allowed to hug one another, for the guard violently grabbed Maethoriel, closed the gate, and began to lead her up the stairs. At the entrance of the fort, the door was opened, and Maethoriel thrown out, falling to the dirt.

"Three days, daughter of Elessar. When the sun sets on the third day, and you have not come back to even attempt to save your friend, her lifeless body will be thrown out of this fort, just as you were." With that, Ainik shut the great door, as Maethoriel stood and began to run to find any place that had other life, knowing she had no time to waste.

The orc guard who stood beside Ainik looked up to him. "Master, why do you release her?"

"Because she will surely return. It is a little insurance plan; no doubt she will search for her brother and lead him here. That will work to our benefit, if Erurg were to fail again, which is highly likely, and I would be left to do the job myself."

"But master, what if she doesn't bring her brother?"

"Then we simply have the joy of killing off her friend, her companion and herself. It is a win- win situation, my dear mindless orc." Ainik turned and walked away leaving the orc to scowl secretly at his master.

EWAN'S CAMP

"My King, forgive me for I hadn't known they would do this." Yrumyr was knelt on the ground, his head bowed before Aragorn, as Aragorn gently pulled the man to stand before him and speak to him face to face.

"At least it is not out of character for them," Aragorn replied.

"I suppose when they heard Eldarion, Ewan, Laurelas and Anarion would be leaving to find your other daughter, they thought it impossible for the boys to leave without them."

"But they were alright, weren't they, before all of them left? Nothing life threatening menacing them?" Faramir interrupted in the conversation.

"Yes my Lord, nothing life threatening. Though, when they first arrived, they brought to me a young maiden who had a deep gash on her forehead; passed out from loss of blood. I believe her name was Arodiel, but she quickly healed, my Lord. She will be fine." Aragorn looked to Faramir, who had a worried look on his face.

"Tell me, Yrumyr, how many of our girls were here? Clearly all of our sons were not captured, but of the maidens?" Aragorn asked the man.

"There were three, your highness. Amdiriel, Arodiel, and I believe her name was Nestor. If I may, my Lord, I would highly suggest you find Amdiriel and Eldarion as quickly as possible, for they are in the most danger due to the prophecy." Aragorn looked to the man, confused as ever. "The prophecy, my Lord, you do not know?" Aragorn shook his head, as Faramir listened attentively. "The prophecy made by Ainik. I am sure you have knowledge of him; the one responsible for the small pillages in Forodwaith. It appears, my Lord, he is more dangerous than we thought. He has a plan to release the spirit of Sauron the deceiver, but there is a prophecy that if the son of elves and the daughter of hope rise against him, he will fail."

Both Faramir and Aragorn stood silent shocked for neither had heard the prophecy before. At Yrumyr's words, Aragorn quickly took his leave.

"Thank you, Yrumyr, for your kindness and hospitality to my children, and Fararmir's. Gondor's doors are welcomed to you any time," Aragorn thanked the man, as he bowed his head humbly to show appreciation.

"My King, if there is ever a time when you are in need of aid, do not forget you have a maverick gang to come to your service," Yrumyr smiled, offering a handshake to the King. Aragorn returned the handshake, and the smile.

"It is greatly appreciated."

Just outside of Fangorn Forest, the boys set up camp for the night. Little did they know that their female followers were only yards away, setting up camp also, making sure they were out of sight so they could make a fire to warm themselves.

"Amdiriel, are you alright? You haven't spoken a word since we've left Rohan," asked Nestor, looking up to her sister from where she was seated in front of the small fire, Arodiel next to her looking to Amdiriel to also see what was the matter. "Did you find out something in your little excursion to the village?"

Amdiriel looked up from where she was seated, across from the other two girls behind the fire. She disputed within herself, whether or not to tell them the truth about Ewan. She knew it would make no real difference to her sister, but to Arodiel it would have. Ewan, or Elfwine as his real name was, was Arodiel's cousin. The boy had gone missing some ten years ago, and though Arodiel and Anarion weren't as extremely close to Elfwine and his sister as they were to the children of Elessar, they were still relatively dear to one another.

"You could say I did. Arodiel, do you remember your cousin?" she looked to Arodiel who was surprised at her question.

"My cousin?"

"Yes, Elfwine."

"Yes, I remember, vaguely though. The last time I saw him was when we visited Rohan to celebrate his sister Olwen's fifth birthday. I was only eight, Anarion only seven."

"Do you remember what he looked like?"

"Not entirely. I remember his golden hair, and that was all. He hadn't reached puberty however, so it is no telling really what he would grow to look like. Unfortunately he never gave us the chance to see. Five years later, he left Rohan, and our uncle hasn't given us word about him since for no one knows where he is," Arodiel frowned, looking to the ground, for now the feeling of missing her cousin resurfaced in her heart. "Why do you ask, Amdiriel? Do you remember Elfwine? I know you've met him once before."

"Yes, I had; the year before that particular birthday of Olwen's, I believe. They came to visit, his whole family did. We got along well, even though they stayed for only a few days. I remember it now.." Amdiriel trailed off.

"Amdiriel, why do you bring it up, so? You did discover something in Rohan. Did you see him Amdiriel?" Nestor asked her sister, as Arodiel sat up attentively to hear what Amdiriel had to say.

"Did you Amdiriel???" Arodiel asked excitingly. Amdiriel looked to both girls, as she felt herself cornered. They awaited her answer, however, eager to say the least, especially Arodiel.

"Well, I... I" but before she could answer all three girls simultaneously looked to the direction from where a sound of footsteps could be clearly heard. They all stood up and crowded together, backing up as they did so, fearfully waiting what was so closely approaching, only to be relieved, but at the same time nervous, to see Ewan.

"How did you find us?!" Amdiriel asked, walking up to Ewan, annoyance clearly shown in her expression.

"We heard some noises. I was unanimously voted by your kin to see what it was. Kind of them, wasn't it?" he said sarcastically. "I had a feeling you three would do this. But there's no use in sending you back now, it is dark and dangerous. Come, bring your things, and join our camp."

The girls did as they were told, gathering their blankets and putting out the fire, as they walked to the camp of their kin. Ewan held back Amdiriel, however, to have a private word with her.

"I would appreciate it, princess, if you didn't bring up the subject of Elfwine to my cousin," he whispered to her.

"You mean yourself? You are mad do you know that? How can you keep the fact that you are Arodiel and Anarion's long lost cousin hidden from them?"

"It is not the time to tell them. It is of little importance, Amdiriel, I have my reasons for keeping my identity hidden."

"For what reason, I do not know Elfwine."

"SHHH! Keep your voice down. Do not call me that, Amdiriel, my name is Ewan. How did you find out anyway? Did you follow me all the way to the village?"

"It doesn't matter, EWAN. If you wish to hide yourself from the world then fine! You are a coward."

"What makes you think you can accuse me of such things? You know nothing of my story. It is not your place."

"IT may not be my place to tell you who you should be, yes, but I do not deny myself from the truth of where my place IS, as you do. I will not say anything of who you are, for that is not my place either, but I am allowed my opinion. If you will excuse me, EWAN, I am tired." She turned to the direction of her brother's camp, leaving Ewan to let Amdiriel's words burn in his conscious, moments later following her in the same direction.

TBC... PLEASE review!! Hope you liked it!