Chapter 3: In which Our heros have rpoblems of their own, meet up again, and meet a band.

~^~

Sirrah woke up, looked around and swore. It was dark, and she couldn't see her horse anywhere.

"Chaos! Chaos!" She tried to whistle like Kat did, but couldn't manage it. So, she whistled the common way, and managed to do it quite loudly. Finally, Chaos came trotting up to her, looking quite smug. Sirrah shook her head.

"I don't even want to know."

Then she mounted, knowing that she needed to get back onto a normal schedule. After all, it wasn't good if she was sleeping until six at night. She decided to take it easy, as her bones didn't ache yet, and she didn't want to get it that way. They walked until the middle of the night, then stopped to admire the lights on the horizon. Sirrah then tried to sleep, and managed it because she had started to hurt again.

~^~

It was late at night when Kat finally reached the city of Bree. Luckily, she had run off with the rest of the money that they had made in Helm's Deep, and was pretty sure that it was enough to get to a room in the prancing pony. Bree was a small town, and small towns meant slightly lower prices. As she rode in, she was stopped by the guard keeper. He was very suspicious, but let her in after questioning her for twenty minutes. She had made up answers for the gatekeeper on her way when she realized that she would arrive a night or two after the Nazgul's had scared the town silly. After all of that, she stabled her horse, gave it an extra grooming, and stepped into the common room, drawing her cloak around her to protect from prying eyes.

Masking her voice would be pointless, she decided, so she simply tapped Mr. Butterbeer on the shoulder.

"Yes sir?"

He gasped when she made her request for a room.

"Oh! Deepest apoligies madame! I did not mean to imply…"

She smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"It is fine sir, I know that your affairs have been jumbled in recent days."

He nodded vehemently.

"Yes indeed! They certainly have, what with all of these creatures running around…" he shuddered as he took a key and led her to a room. Kat smiled.

"Do not be afraid, they shan't come back. They are following Mr. Baggins."

Butterbeer gasped, turned around and stared at her as if she had grown another head. She held up a hand.

"Do not fear! I mean him no harm at all, though I would like to know how long ago he was here!."

Butterbeer studied her for a long while, then deemed her good enough to know.

"He left two days ago. Here is your room, would you like dinner?"

She shook her head, as much as in amusement as saying no. Butterbeer acted as if she would attack him at any moment.

"No thank you, but I do appreciate the offer. Could you please rouse me at dawn?" He nodded. "Thankyou, what is your fee?"

"A silver peeny per night."

She nodded, she had just enough. Digging around in one of the saddlebags, she found a handfull of coins and let him pick out what he wanted, trusting him quite enough to be fair.

~^~

As Kat woke up the next morning, she realized that the sun was high in the sky, and that Butterbeer had not woken her up.

"Hell…"

She jumped from the bed, trying to figure out what time it was and how long it would take to get to weathertop. As she packed, someone knocked on her door and called out. She swung open the door to find a nervous Butterbeer on the other side, wringing his hands.

"I'm so sorry miss, it plum slipped my mind that ya asked to be woken at dawn, so I thought that I'd come and wake ya up now, so's to try and make up for it."

She smiled, despite the annoyance, it was hard to be angry with the man, he meant well.

"It's quite alright sir, I just wanted an early start. You have helped me really, I am now rested and will be able to travel longer today."

He stuttered another apology and a thankyou before scuttling away. Kat vaugley wondered if Butterbeer had any hobbit blood in him, he was quite short. Probably not, she decided, none of the hobbits she had ever seen had beards.

Five minutes later, she was packed and ready to go. Walking into the common room, she forgot to put her hood up, and drew many looks from the humans and hobbits that were taking meals. For the hobbits, it was elevensies, she figured, and for the humans, a late breakfast or early lunch. She ignored the looks, some leering, some just curious and strode to the stables. She was not stopped or hindered, just looked at strangely. Then she remembered that women did not travel much alone in middle earth, and that she was probably considered a working girl of some sort. She covered her sword as she went out at full speed, hoping that a couple hours could get her to weathertop.

~^~

Sirrah woke up at a normal time. It was amazing to her that she could do that. She got up, dusted herself off and looked around. A mountain towered in the distance.

"Wait a sec…That's weathertop!"

As she looked closer, the broken watchtower swam into focus, and she realized the problem, she was missing her contacts.

"What luck. I hope Kat is having just as much fun."

She remebered her dream and chuckled. Kat had been woken by hobbits, and then not woken by Butterbeer. Still, she was in a lot less pain than she herself was, of that she was sure. She whistled, and chaos came running. She eyed the horse. She had to get to weather top ASAP, but she wasn't sure how long she had. I'll walk till noon or so, then decide what to do, she thought.

~^~

Late in the afternoon that day, Kat herself was just deciding the same thing. She could see weathertop, but not all that well. She was just getting into the marshes, and the bugs would not let her alone. Getting as fed up as her horse was, she kicked her into a run.

~^~

Sirrah shaded her eyes, took a drink, and looked towards the mountain again. It seemed close…ish. She had no idea where she was, but knew that weathertop was a good thing, it was where Kat was headed. She decided to risk a run, as she was getting the hang of staying on. Now she knew the feeling of slipping off well enough that she could slow down well before it happened.

"Alright Chaos, lets go!"

Chaos took off like a shot.

~^~

When Tiro slowed down, Kat looked up to find the sun nearly gone and weathertop looming in front of her. She could barely see, but a point of light shone from near the top of the mountain.

"Oh my god Tiro! We're just in time! YES, GO ME!!!"

The last words echoed loudly against the small stand of mountains, and Kat could hear them as she told Tiro, who could now act upon words, to run. The horse seemed to have caught her excitement and went faster than it had before.

~^~

Night was falling, Weathertop was close, Kat was close, at least, she was pretty sure she was, but was it the right day? She didn't know, but knew that she should be ready none the less. She kicked Chaos lightly and the horse sprung into a gallop again, heading for the base of the mountain.

~^~

Kat was nearing the bottom when she heard faint screams and saw the light go out.

"Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay…I'm going see the Nazgul, I'm going see the Nazgul!"

She finished in a sing-song voice as the base of the mountain drew nearer. She stopped Tiro when the base was twenty feet away, strapped on the sword (she didn't know how to use it, but it was comforting none-the-less.) and turned to give Tiro a last pat on the neck.

"You stay around here, and don't go near the witch-horses!"

Then she ran up the stairs, fueled by excitement.

~^~

Sirrah swung off of her horse at the bottom of the mountain, landed and immediately winced.

"Ow. Chaos, STAY HERE."

The horse tossed her head, and sirrah glared. Then she began to sprint up the stairs, hurrying due to the fact that she had heard screams while drawing closer.

~^~

Kat came to the top of the stairs, stopped, and gaped. The Nazgul had beaten her to the top of the stairs by about ten seconds, and were standing in line on her left, while the hobbits were on her left. She bounced up and down on her toes, clapping while she did.

"Oh…wow wow wow wow wow!"

No one payed her mind, being to busy trying to kill or not be killed. Just as the Nazgul began to move to put their swords down, Sirrah appeared at the other entrance, and Kat finally got it together.

"SIRRAH?? OHMIGOD! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN??"

Sirrah smiled.

'I dunno, I wandered around for awhile until I saw weathertop, then rode there. By the way, Frodo's about to put on the ring.'

Kat was so surprised that she spoke regularly, finally gaining herself some attention.

"Well stop him dummy! I'll get the Nazgul!"

Sirrah grinned and tackled Frodo. Kat chuckled at the actions of the Nazgul and Sam, not sure who was going to kill Sirrah first. Then she burst out laughing.

"Sirrah! Be careful! Sam'll kill you if you try anything!"

Sirrah couldn't be bothered, because the three remaining hobbits were tackleing her. It was then that Kat realized that the Nazgul were no longer after Frodo, they were after her! All five had turned to her, staring with empty faces. Kat couldn't think for a second. They're like dementors, she thought…whats the spell for dementors?

"Oh yeah! Expectro Patronum!"

Sirrah looked up as the Nazgul shrunk away, and then looked down again as pippin grabed a bit of her hair. She was, however, succeding in keeping Frodo from putting on the ring.

Kat watched the Nazgul back away, impressed in spite of herself. I guess they're related to them, in a sense, she thought, then put her mind to the problem at hand. When they realized that they couldn't have her, they had started off for frodo again.

"Oh crap…um…um…Aha!"

She held up a hand, fingers together.

"Fire burn both bright and high

Around the Nazgul on this night

On the wind let their ashes be born,

as they take their master's form!"

Her hand sprung all the way open, and the three Nazgul in front of Frodo and Sirrah burst into flame. She then noticed that a man had joined them on the mountain top.

"Aragorn! SIRRAH!! ITS ARAGORN!!!"

As she rolled away from the Nazgul, sirrah looked up to Kat's yelling.

"OH!! YAY FOR ARAGORN!! Aragorn Aragorn he's our man, If he can't do it no one can!"

Kat came over next to her and sat down to watch Aragorn kick the last Nazgul's butt.

"Sirrah, it doesn't fit."

"Oh. Oh well. So, how are you? Haven't seen you for three days, what happened…besides getting woken up by hobbits."

Kat raised an eyebrow.

"I wont ask. Nothing much really, just a lot of riding, and a bit of scaring Butterbeer."

Sirrah laughed.

"Yeah, I didn't do much scaring of people, just a whole lot of riding."

"Are you sure it wasn't a whole lot of falling off? Half of your right arm is a big bruise!"

"Oh shut up Kat."

Kat grinned. They then realized that they were conversing in total and utter silence. Sam, Pippin and Merry from one corner, and Aragorn from the other.

'Sirrah, look to your far left, is that a hobbit shaped blur I see?'

Sirrah looked.

'Yes, I do believe it is. But no matter now, there's Aragorn!'

'Shush!'

She stood up, forcefully bringing Sirrah with her.

"Frodo, son of Drogo, take that stupid ring off!"

'Oh suuuuuure, that'll comfort them…'

Kat sighed.

"That didn't come out right…Frodo, son of Drogo, Ringbearer. It is your duty to Bear the ring, not to wear it!"

Pippin, Merry and Sam looked where they were looking, obviously confused. They're confusion was cleared up when Frodo slipped off the ring and appeared. Kat shook her head as Sirrah drooled.

"Honestly, Frodo, let me explain something to you, when you put on the ring, you go into the Wraith world, thereby making it easier for them to see you…sheesh."

"Kat! Give him a break! It's not like it comes with a handbook! And besides, Gandalf hasn't been able to tell him any of that, he's been with Saurauman, remember?"

They both giggled, to the amazement of the semi-fellowship. Frodo was eyeing them suspisiously, as was Sam. Aragorn's look strongly suggested that he was sure that he was having halucinations. When they stopped, Kat sighed.

"Weren't those Nazgul amazing? I got chills! They were so cool!"

Sirrah nodded.

"I got to wrestle with Frodo though!"

and she stuck out her tongue. Kat stuck her's out at her in return, then they both giggled again. Aragorn now looked slightly sick. Sirrah noticed the look and smiled.

"He kind of looks like Analgon when he fainted!"

Kat shook her head.

"Idiot, he always looks a bit like Analgon, they're related!"

"Oh yeah…"

It was Sam that drew the courage to inquire as to what was going on. If you could call it inquiring.

"Who are you! And why are ya going about attackin people like Mister Frodo in the night?"

Kat laughed.

"I would hardly call Sirrah's well timed tackle an attack Samwise! It was the ring that was the danger, not us!"

"She's right Sam."

Sam looked down, and scuffed his feet. Frodo came over to them, followed closely by Aragorn. Frodo stopped directly in front of them, and looked up at them. Kat and Sirrah looked down and sighed. They then looked up at Aragorn, who was staring in amazement. Kat bowed.

"Aragorn, son of Arathorn, it is an honor to meet you. I am Kat, and this is my friend, Sirrah."

Sirrah stared for a moment, until Kat elbowed her. Then she followed Kat's lead and bowed.

They straightened and were met with another strange look. Finally, Aragorn found his voice.

"It is a pleasure for me as well to meet you, but why do you bow?"

Sirrah began to blurt out that he was going to be king someday, but Kat covered her mouth just in time. Glaring at her, she said mind to mind,

'Sirrah! We don't want to do the same thing as we did to Analgon!'

'Oh…yes, I suppose the cute guy should be consious this time.'

Kat rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Please excuse her, oh wait, never mind, there isn't one."

Kat smiled as Sirrah glared at her. The joke went over they're heads and all was silent again. Kat threw up her arms.

"Honestly! Say something!!"

Sirrah turned around and looked at all of them.

"Aragorn and the Hobbits."

Kat looked at Sirrah,

"Well…that was something…I suppose…"

Pippin found his voice now.

"Who are you?"

Sirrah giggled.

"I think the question is more like, what are you, merry?"

Kat shook her head.

"Sirrah…that's pippin!"

"Oh! They should invest in nametags!"

Kat laughed.

"Yeah! They aren't garden decorations!"

The hobbits stared. Aragorn stared. Kat sighed.

"Aragorn, Shouldn't we be getting to Rivendell?"

Sam objected.

"Beggin your pardon miss, but you aren't one to talk! You're the one came barging in here! I say we set them on their way!"

Kat laughed.

"Oh Sam! The Movie didn't do you justice! You have amazing pluck!" She shook her head as Sirrah rolled her eyes.

Sam crossed his arms and glared, though he was quite flattered.

"I still don't see what that has to do with you coming with us."

Kat smiled again.

"All that is gold does not glitter Sam, and not all who wander are lost, As I know you found out three days ago."

Now it was Sam's own turn to gape. Aragorn had by now regained his composure and was studying them closely. Frodo also looked at them consideringly.

"I believe," said Aragorn, "That the lady is right once again. Come, gather your things, we must leave at once."

Sirrah and Kat raised their hands.

"Um, Aragorn…" He just looked at her. Sirrah about lost her nerve, then found it again. "Sir, We know that the wraiths will return to find Frodo soon."

Kat nodded.

"Fire does not stop them completely, we have horses, and know where a friend of yours is."

Aragorn raised his eyebrows.

"Which friend is this?"

Kat shrugged.

"I'm not sure of the pronounciation, but I think it's Glorfindel…"

Sirrah nodded.

"Good job! You actually pronounced it right!"

Kat pushed her lightly.

"Shut up, its only Isenguard and Isildor I have problems with!"

"And you don't even have those anymore!"

Kat gasped.

"Your right! Go me!"

"Woo hoo! Go you!"

They gave each other high fives, thereby scaring Aragorn and the Hobbits further. Kat noticed the look on Frodo's face. It clearly said, oh no, I'm in trouble now.

~^~

In all fact, the look on Frodo's face was more of wonder than anything else. He had been about to put on the ring when the long haired girl had barreled into him. He had then watched as the Nazgul went to the other girl, shrunk away, then turned back to him. He was just about to yell that they were coming this way when the ones directly in front of them had burst into flame for no apparent reason. Now he remebered the taller one chanting something, a spell, in common. When Aragorn had shown up and chased the other tow ringwraiths away, he had used the chance to slip on the ring. They had talked, as if it were an every day thing to face down the servants of Sauron, then turned and faced him directly. For some reason, he heard and saw them clearly when wearing the ring. He had taken off the ring when it was obvious that he was not hiding from them. He had come back to the same place, with them both looking at him like he was a small child. It had all confused him greatly, and them quoting the poem for Aragorn and speaking of Gandalf had only made it worse. He looked at Sam, now beside him, and sighed. Aragorn had taken them aside and begun to question them further to determine whether they would accompany them. He was still sorely confused. As Pippin had said, who were they? He wished he could know.

~^~

As it happened, Aragorn was just thinking the same thing.

"You are saying," he said as he tried to sort out their story, "That had you not come when you did, that Frodo would have been stabbed by a Morgaul blade?"

Kat and Sirrah nodded.

"And…you knew about the ring? And it's powers?"

They nodded again.

"How?"

Kat sighed and Sirrah rolled her eyes and groaned. They had explained it to him twice already, saying that they were foretellers.

"We told you, we are foretellers and Sirrah saw it in her dreams."

'Sort-of.'

'He's not buying it.'

Aragorn shook his head.

"I do not believe you, but shall leave it to later. Right now the more pressing thought on my mind is how did you keep the Nazgul away from you?"

Kat sighed, how could this be so hard?

"We work magic. I do it through verses of my own, and Sirrah does it in her dreams. She is the Foreteller, and can also locate things."

'Is that right? I just guessed on that one…'

'Yeah, its right, I think.'

'I'm pretty sure it is, you weren't exactly surprised to see me.'

'No, I knew you were there.'

Kat sighed and turned to Aragorn again. He still hadn't figured out why they stared at eachother periodically, and was still working it out.

"But how?"

'He sounds like my cousin…grrrrrr.'

Sirrah smiled, then said.

"Alright Kat, I'm sick of sitting here, you'd better tell him about what people keep calling us."

Kat nodded.

"I was just about to. Aragorn, we don't know what it means, but for what it's worth, we keep hearing people say that we're witches…of…of…blast it, I think the word is Angmar…"

Sirrah nodded.

"Yeah, that's right…"

Then they got a good look at Aragorn, who looked ill. Kat smacked her head.

"Great. Now what did we do?"

Sirrah shook her head.

"I dunno!"

Kat shook her head and got up. It was nearly dawn now, but since she had slept late, she wasn't very tired. She streached, then sat down on the east side to watch the sun come up. Sirrah stayed where she was as Aragorn got up and walked around, contemplating what to do. He called to Frodo, and they talked for a moment. Then, just as the sun peeked over the hills, Aragorn cleared his throat, waking Kat from her semi-trance.

"You shall accompany us to Rivendell, where we shall talk more, and then decide what to do."

Kat sighed.

"Thank goodness! I thought youd never make up your minds!"

Aragorn smiled, and Kat saw Sirrah swoon slightly. Aragorn shook his head.

"It was not I who decided. Frodo has deemed you safe, as you saved him from himself."

Kat grabbed Sirrah's arm so that her friend wouldn't hug the Hobbit, and smiled.

"Thank you Frodo, Elen Sila lummena omentilmo."

Sirrah looked at Kat strangely, and she found that all were mirroring her look.

"I didn't know you spoke elvish!"

Kat blushed.

"Only a little, and I don't think I had the pronounciation right."

Aragorn shook his head.

"You were very close, closer than any non-elf that I have met. Save Frodo and Bilbo. Where did you learn the speech of the High elves?"

Kat shrugged.

"I pick things up quickly, especially languages I like. Elvish was one that I liked because it's like a song."

Aragorn nodded.

"It is indeed, as elves were the first beings to sing."

Kat nodded.

"You miss them. Let's go, the sooner we get there, the sooner that you see Arwen."

They snickered at the look on his face, then scurried down to find their horses.

~^~

Kat whistled twice as Aragorn and the hobbits looked on. Tiro came, but not Sirrah's horse.

"Sirrah? Um…where's your horse?"

Sirrah smiled.

"Chaos? She'll be along, she thinks its me, and is therefore taking longer than usual."

Kat raised her eyebrows.

"Chaos? You named her Chaos?"

She shook her head.

"I suppose there's a reason?"

Sirrah nodded.

"Yes. She is chaos in the form of a horse. And here she comes."

Kat, Aragorn, and the hobbits looked into the dawn light to see that Chaos was indeed coming, or rather meandering, to them. Sirrah scowled.

"Erg. Fine."

And to the sniggers of Kat, she jogged up to the horse and mounted, then fell off the other side.

"OW! I'm fine!" She looked up at her horse. "Stupid horse."

Kat snickered.

"Stupid quest, stupid fellowship! Stupid ring!"

Sirrah laughed as she got on, managing to stay on this time.

"Killed by orcs, Stupid orcs!"

The semi-fellowship stared at them.

What have I gotten myself into, thought Aragorn.

~^~

Five days later, Sirrah and Kat rode ahead, having freaked the fellowship out too much to be bothered with them. Kat grabbed the map from Sirrah as they started out and stuffed into a pocket.

"I am not letting you run off with the map again!"

Sirrah glared.

"But I'm the one most likely to get lost!"

Kat looked thoughtful.

"True."

And she handed the map back.

"Hey! I take that as an insult!"

"You asked for it!"

"So! You gave it to me to quickly!"

Kat sighed.

"Whatever."

"You learn well my child."

"Shut up."

Sirrah just grinned.

~^~

An hour later, Sirrah and Kat made camp in the Trollwoods. Both were unsure as to whether this was safe or not, but took no mind. After dinner, Kat sat down for a while, trying to think of a warding spell.

"Um…Um…Help! I can't think of a thing!"

Sirrah turned around.

"I dunno! You're the poet around here!"

Kat sighed.

"Alright alright, just keep watch till I think of something."

And she began to mutter.

"Chaos linger upon the dawn, watching over it's earthly spawn…erm… let her vison pass us by tonight, let us be freed from the fight. Two times let the circle be cast, one for…uh… Elbereth's love which will last, One for…oh yeah, Lorien's wisdom of time, the circle is laid at the end of this rhyme! I got it! Yes!"

She got up.

"Sirrah, pick your spot, I have to walk around the circle."

Sirrah looked up.

"Figured it out have you? Good, we'll need the spell later."

Kat nodded.

"I'm not sure how it works though, It'll protect us for sure, but whether we're invisible or just protected, I dunno…oh dear…"

Sirrah shook her head.

"Now what?"

"I forgot, there has to be a ending spell for circles. Blast."

And she sat down and started muttering again. Sirrah shrugged, and continued about her own work. It was attempting to work out how long they should stay here and whether they should look for Aragorn and the hobbits again. She didn't know, but was pretty sure that the Nazgul would regroup fairly quickly. Suddenly she knew with certainty that they had to find them.

"Oh no…" she whispered.

Kat looked up.

"What?"

Sirrah stood up.

"We have to find them."

Kat now stood up, her clearing spell forgotten.

"The Nazgul. Blast. They're coming aren't they?"

Sirrah nodded. Kat sighed, put her cloak on and whistled. They had been stopped for four hours already, having taken their time. Chaos and Tiro came semi-quickly, and Kat began to load them.

"Sirrah, where are they?"

Sirrah shook her head.

"I'm not sure.

Kat sighed.

"I knew this would happen, sit down."

"But…"

"Trust me on this one. As Qui-gon-gin said, time is of the essence, but if time is spent wisely, it will turn out good in the end."

Sirrah pulled a face.

"Qui-gon never said that."

"Oh yeah. But you get the jist of it don't you?"

Sirrah rolled her eyes.

"Yeah yeah. Why am I sitting down?"

"I'm going to teach you how to meditate, sort of. It's more like focusing your thoughts, but you get the picture."

"How do you know it'll work?"

Kat smiled.

"I've tried it. You should have read the Tamora Pierce books, the magic here is quite similar."

Sirrah sighed.

"I know I know, I didn't have time!"

Kat grinned.

"That's why this is fun! It's quite simple really. Close your eyes, and breath in a rhythm, any old rhythm, just so long as it's steady. Wait a sec." She held up a hand as Sirrah tired to follow her instructions as she gave them. "Wait until I'm done. What I think you have to do is visualize Aragorn and the hobbits somewhere familiar, and the background will just change. You might hear things to clue you in where they are, but I'm not sure, our magic is different. If that doesn't work, try visualizing them on a blank background."

"Lets go, I know where they are."

Kat shook her head.

"I assume you ignored me."

"Of course."

Kat sighed.

"Oh well, at least you know how to do it now."

Sirrah grinned.

"All I had to do was think of them at weathertop and I knew where they were."

Kat sighed and mounted.

"Which way? And how fast do we have to go?"

Sirrah sighed.

"As fast as we can go, much as I hate to say it. Northwest."

Kat gained a blank look on her face.

"That way." Said Sirrah, pointing.

"Ah. Aha. Ok, lead the way…"

Sirrah winced, then weebled.

"Spiders?" She choked out.

Kat grinned.

"Ok, I'll lead."

~^~

It was hard going, picking the way through the trees, but they went as fast as they could, Kat leading the way, and Sirrah following, hood pulled far over her head. She had it this way so spiders couldn't get in, she said. At last Sirrah called out to say that they were near them, and to be watchful.

"What's going on?"

Sirrah shook her head.

"I'm not sure, but it certainly isn't good."

Kat nodded.

"Nazgul, possibly a troll."

Sirrah started.

"I thought they didn't have any troll troubles!"

Kat shrugged.

"They don't, but if we prevented the Nazgul from stabbing Frodo, something else has to happen."

"Ah, cause and effect."

"I guess you could call it that…wait a sec."

She pulled her horse to a stop, looking around. Breathing softly, she closed her eyes. There it was, that soft light in her mind's eye. She already knew what it was.

"What…"

"Shhh."

She whipped around in the saddle and gaped.

"I knew it!"

Sirrah turned around herself to look and at first did not see anything, she looked closer and found a man with long, pale hair on a horse staring at them from the trees. He looked startled, and the look did not suit him, as if it were not meant to be there. Kat smiled.

"Glorfindel. It is a pleasure."

~^~

Sirrah had to slap a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing at the elf's expression. He was very, very confused, a strange emotion for an elf. He held his reigns loosely, and stared at them. Kat shook her head.

"Blast it, I need to stop doing that. I think I surprised him a bit to much."

Suddenly, a scream resounded through the air, startling all present. Kat and Sirrah wheeled around, both swearing. Glorfindel decided to ask questions later, and followed the two, who were now crashing through the trees.

~^~

The two girls arrived just as the troll held up Pippin, who was screaming like a banshee. Kat didn't blame him, the thing was incredibly huge. Aragorn darted in with his sword to slice the thing's leg. It yelled and dropped the Hobbit, allowing him time to scramble away as it jumped around, leg in its hands. Kat thought no more of it and began to chant the words that leaped to her mind.

"Troll! Go swift from this place like day

By my hand and words I say!

Be banished from this world tonight

Run in fear from my light!"

There was a great flash, as if the clearing had been bathed in sunlight, and then it was dark again. Silence was the only noise for a moment, and then a gasp was heard. It came from behind them, Glorfindel's eyes had adjusted quicker than the rest. Aragorn was next, followed by the Hobbits and Finally Kat and Sirrah. The only ones that didn't seem to be surprised were Kat and Sirrah, though Kat looked slightly impressed.

"Hm. Didn't know it would be quite so…so…flamboyant."

Sirrah shrugged, but everyone else stared. The troll had turned to stone. Aragorn finally shook his head and turned to them, then gasped. It was a moment before Sirrah and Kat had registered that Glorfindel and Aragorn were hugging, and then Kat shrugged.

"I remember, they're friends, and it's been…I dunno, like three years."

They had begun to speak in rapid elvish, and Kat suddenly felt like sitting down. She did so with a thump. Sirrah jumped and looked down.

"There you are…are you ok?"

Kat nodded.

"Remind me not to do that spell for awhile, it's very, very hard."

Sirrah shrugged.

"Ok. Why?"

Kat shook her head.

"I dunno. I think it might be the whole creating the light of the sun thing. Takes a lot of energy."

Sirrah nodded.

"Not surprising. Are you sure you're ok?"

"Yeah, just a bit light-headed."

"It is unsurprising, that is supposed to be an impossible task."

Kat rolled her eyes.

'So was getting here, so why is that at all new?'

'Dummy, he doesn't know about the whole other world thing.'

'Oh yeah…'

Kat looked at Aragorn, standing beside Glorfindel, just smileing, as if he had stopped being surprised at them long ago.

"I figured from the way you reacted. Where are the Hobbits?"

"Behind the trees." Said Sirrah, "The light startled them."

Kat shook her head.

"The light startled me."

Kat looked at the troll and smiled.

"Interesting position he was in."

And indeed it was. The troll had its arms thrown up in a protective position with it's mouth open. The cut that Aragorn had opened was visible only as a jagged trench on smooth stone. Aragorn looked at the troll a moment, then at the Hobbits, now talking in a knot a little ways from them, and then to the girls.

"How did you find us? And how did you know that we were in need of assistance?"

Kat shrugged.

"I told you at weathertop, Sirrah is a fortuneteller, and a locator. She knew that you were in trouble, and led us here…we just ran into Glorfindel on the way." Kat said sleepily.

Glorfindel looked at them, and spoke to Aragorn in elvish again. Kat sighed, and lay down, swinging her cloak around her. She then curled up and promptly went to sleep, to the amusement of Sirrah. She shook her head, unsaddled the horses and let them go. Glorfindel's horse followed them, and Glorfindel did not seem to mind. Looking around, she found that while she had unsaddled the horses, the hobbits had formed a cirlcle around the fire with Aragorn and Glorfindel. Not wanting to be sociable, she herself lay down, turned over twice, and fell asleep.

~^~

"Aragorn, who are they?"

"I do not know my friend, but they have saved us twice now from uncertain situations."

"We may only tarry here until early dawn, there are four riders seeking you, where the other five are, I do not know." The elf looked to the sleeping hobbits, then to the girls. "It is strange, how they sleep, as if they were only dozing."

Kat sighed in her dreams. Aragorn nodded.

"I have noticed that as well. They do not sleep like any being I have seen, they look as if they are free only in their dreams."

"You sleep like that my friend. As does the ring bearer. You both have a burden to bear that is one that no one deserves."

Aragorn nodded.

"Yes. But what is their burden?"

~^~

Early in the morning, Glorfindel rose everyone, except for Kat on Sirrah's command. Though she wished for more sleep of her own, she also could feel Kat's exhaustion through their bond. Sam and pippin were trying to cook a breakfast, but the fire would not start. She smiled, eager to try another spell of her own.

"Excuse me, could you step back a moment, I'd like to try something."

The hobbits obediantly moved away, and Sirrah pointed.

"Incendio."

A very small amount of green flame licked the tinder. Sam quickly moved in to build it up and soon had a cooking fire going. There was only a few minutes to eat breakfast, in which Kat was woken up, Sirrah was glared at for letting her sleep, and breakfast was eaten. Then the horses were called. Glorfindel had tried to call al three together, but they didn't seem to want to listen. Rolling her eyes, Kat called them, loaded them and, to the amusement of all, lectured the horses in good manners.

"Honestly, you two are impossible. If an elf calls…yes I know you know the difference between me and an elf, how else would you not come to him and come to me? Any way, if an elf calls, for heavens sake, go to him or her, they might be in need! Oh yes, and if it's a mortal, yes, I know you can tell the difference between that too, don't go unless its me, Sirrah or Aragorn."

She glared at them.

"Yes, I know you can tell the difference, don't lie to me."

Chaos tossed her head, as if to say allright allright, I get it, can we go now? Tiro just tilted her head. Kat smiled.

"Alright, fine, I think you get the picture." She mounted Tiro, then looked at the others and blushed.

"Sorry," she muttered, "I've always done that."

Aragorn laughed.

"It seems to work! Come let us go, we have many miles to cover."

"Wait!"

They turned around, including Glorfindel, who was about to mount Asfaloth.

"It would do my heart good to see Frodo on Asfaloth, should the riders come unexpectedly."

Glorfindel seemed to pause, surprised by Kat's abrupt request.

"No! I shan't ride him! Not to Rivendell or anywhere, leaving my friends behind in Danger!"

Kat raised her eyebrows, the line sounded rather familier.

"Frodo, I doubt that they would be in danger if you, and the thing that you bear were not with them."

For nearly all of that day, they pressed on, and since none were particularly tired or hurt, they made good time. Kat now remebered what happened in the book, and winced. She knew that the ring had already taken hold in Frodo's heart. She hoped that Frodo's health would keep them from having to flee from the riders, but was not sure.

By night fall, they had reached the end of the woods. Kat took out the map before she lay down and figured out that it was about ten miles to the ford. She then folded the map carefully, let Tiro go, and followed suit to Sirrah, who was already asleep.

~^~

The next morning Kat awoke feeling a bit better, though Sirrah was worse. For some reason, she was having trouble breathing. Not really trouble breathing, but it hurt whenever she did. Her entire right side burned a bit when she first got up. She ignored the pain and mounted the horse when Kat did, which didn't help, Chaos was not particularly smooth. They walked for an hour, then came to a place where the road seemed to be cut from the cliffs. Kat stiffened as they walked in, remebering this particular part.

'Sirrah. Do you feel anything?'

'Not really. But then I'm not exactly all here right now. I think I cracked something.'

'Oh dear. That isn't good. But none-the-less, try to listen, this is where they came last time.'

'Uh oh…your right, now that I think of it.'

"Shit."

They heard the riders far before they saw them. Glorfindel Shouted to Frodo to run, as Kat and Sirrah Kicked their horses into a gallop.

"Noro lim Asfaloth, Noro lim!"

Kat heard Glorfindel yell to his horse and saw it surge forward when she looked back. They were now on the flat plain before the ford. Asfaloth had pulled along side her now, with Sirrah a bit in front of her. She chanced a look back, and saw the Black Riders, cloaks flowing behind them, catching up bit by bit.

"CRAP!"

Sirrah looked back, and started, the riders were catching up to them quickly, but thankfully, so was the ford. Asfaloth was much faster than them, but they were faster than the riders. There it was, in a matter of moments they would be at the ford. Frodo was already across, now looking at them as they raced to it. Sirrah closed her eyes as her horse leaped into the water, sensing the race was over. Then she felt splashing on her feet. They were there.