This is SO depressing!  Come on, don't I have any reviewers anymore??  You guys are inspiration!Its so close to done, don't let it stop now!

~^~

They rode for a few more miles, and suddenly they saw a pillar rise from the mists.  It was jet black, and on its top sat a white hand, pointing north.  At least, that's what most saw.  As they approached it, the girls gasped.

"Sirrah…"

"Don't worry."

"Its covered in blood and your telling me not to worry?"

"I'm crazy, remember?"

"I knew that, but I never knew you were this bad!"

As they began the approach, the girls got more and more jittery, Kat was shuddering spasmatically by the time they got there.

Gandalf rode ahead, and a small ripple went up behind them.  Kat and Sirrah could hear from the whispers that the riders now saw what they had always seen.  Reluctantly, the two passed under the hand.  Kat had stopped shuddering, and Sirrah was calming down.  They rode on, and came to the doors of Isenguard.

~^~

It was quite dramatic.  The doors were nothing but a heap of metal and wood on the ground to the side of the road.  It was still foggy, but sunlight was struggling through.  The entire place was in shambles.  Kat and Sirrah looked around in some wonder, but they were the only ones moving.  The king and his company were sitting on their horses, dumbstruck.

Suddenly, Sirrah squeaked.

"Holy SHIT!  Merry?!  And Pippin!  Oh my god!"

Kat whipped her head around to look where Sirrah was.  A small figure stood and bowed.

"Welcome, my lords to Isen guard.  we are the door wardens."

There was much more, but Sirrah and Kat were much to excited to comprehend it all.  There was quite a bit about weed, which sent the girls into fits of giggles.  There was talk of Ents, and then they were readying to leave again.  Kat sighed.

"More riding?"

Sirrah grinned.

"Come on Kat, I thought you were the horse rider here, not me."

Kat glared, and remounted.  Sirrah winked at Aragorn, who was smiling.

"Gotta know how too play on her pride."

A ball of light narrowly missed her nose, and went straight for Aragorn before disappearing quite before it hit him.  Aragorn started, and turned his horse to follow Gandalf.  Sirrah turned around and grinned.

"Can't even aim right?"

She got a mouth full of light for the comment, which she returned gladly.  It was a minute before they realized that the rest had left, yet Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas had stayed.

"Ha!  So there is no more riding for us!  So there!"

Sirrah stuck her tongue out at Kat as they both dismounted.  Merry and Pippin Stared unabashedly.  Suddenly Merry spluttered.

"You were right!"

Kat smiled, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

"I did warn you."

Pippin nodded.

"You did, as did Gandalf.  But that makes it no less surpriseing to see you in person."

Kat sighed.

"Do you know glad I am to be in person?  That was just too dodgy for me."

She shook her head, fingers to her temples.  The three guys were looking back and forth from Kat to the hobbits, and Sirrah was shaking her head.

"Anyway.  How did Quickbeam react?"

Merry shrugged.

"he told the entmoot that we had met a strange woman in the forest, who had known us, but disappeared.  The council asked if you were an orc,"

"Which I hope that you set them straight about."

Merry grinned.

"Indeed we did, but soon they dropped it in favor of continuing their concil of Saruman."

Kat nodded.

"Hope I didn't cause too much trouble."

Pippin shook his head.  Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli were staring at Kat now, who noticed and looked blandly back.

"Yes?"  She said calmly.

Sirrah snickered.

"I think you left out what happened at helm's deep.  You forgot to tell them."

Kat shook herself.

"Oops.  Sorry bout that, but I'll tell you later.  In the meanwhile, I think I'll lay down and attempt to recover my muscles, which seem to hate me now."

She laid down on a rock, and was soon half asleep.  Sirrah shook her head and listened to the talk of the hobbits and the others, lost in thought.  Suddenly, all five of them stood up.

"Huh?  Where're we going?" she asked, surprised out of her stupor."

Merry grinned.

"We are going to find some lunch, would you care to come?"

Sirrah grinned.

"Food is very good.  Lemme get Kat."

As it turned out, that was harder than it sounded.  Kat had fallen asleep all the way by then, and it took Sirrah thre tries and a bruise before she got her up.  They came back, both rubbing different spots on their arms.  Sirrah was actually rubbing her shoulder, being the most available target for a slumbering Kat.  Kat was rubbing her upper bicep, as retalitation had been inevitable.  The man, elf and dwarf all hid grins as the hobbits shook their heads and walked ahead of them.

The hobbits sat them at the tables and went off to the store rooms, asking what they would like.  When Merry had set food infront of all of them, he went back again, asking.

"Will you have wine or beer?"

Gimli and Aragorn had beer, Legolas choose Wine.  Kat and Sirrah were at a loss.  Suddenly, Kat got up.

"Merry, where are the barrels, I'll help, and then beable to choose."

Sirrah looked at her oddly.

"Kat…"

Kat grinned.

"Don't worry Sirrah, I'll choose one for you."

"How ever will you know?"

Kat grinned evilly.

"I'll do a taste test."

And off she walked asking merry what kind of wine it was, red or white.

~^~

When Kat got back, she was smiling quite happily, and carrying five cups.  It was quite a sight.  She set two down,

"Here's the beer,"

and then she set the other four down.

"And the Wine."

Sitting, she flashed Sirrah a smile.

"If this is poisoned…"

Kat giggled.

"Nah, I'm in too good of humor for that."

Sirrah took the glass and peered into it.  Then she looked at Kat.

"How much of this did you…sample?"

Kat slapped her shoulder.

"I only had a taste.  I'm just hyper because of the wine!"

"Uh…huh…"

Kat glared.

"Its not that!  My dad makes almost the same thing!  It's mead!"

Sirrah eyed her friend.

"I'll take your word for it."

Legolas smiled over his cup.

"She is right, and excellent mead it is.  How did you know?  It did not seem to me that you ever drank wine or beer in your world."

Kat laughed. 

"Hardly.  It's actually a problem in our world.  Alchohol is restricted to those who are eighteen where we live."

"Kat…its twenty-one."

"Oh yeah…eighteen is smoking..." she took another sip from her glass, smiling at the taste.  "I was raised in a strange household though."

"I'll say." Muttered Sirrah, setting her glass down and pushing it away.  When Merry looked at her inquisitively, she smiled.

"I'm not a fan of alchohol…it… didn't do any good in my family…" she said haltingly.  Kat gasped.

"Oh goodness, sorry bout that.  I almost forgot…" She took the glass and dumped it into Merry's.

The five peered at Sirrah, but she didn't care to elaborate.  Getting up, Kat went into the back room and soon came back with a glass of something she had found.

"What is this?" she asked, "Fruit juice of some sort, but I can't tell what it is…"

Aragorn peered in, took a sip and smiled.

"It is nothing but grape juice.  They must have used it to make the wine."

Kat looked at it oddly.

"Grape juice…that's odd…Here Sirrah."

Sirrah took the glass and sipped it.

"Your right…it tastes like grapes…but…oh well, better than the wine."

Kat smiled.

"Yeah."

Legolas was still curious.

"How do you know wine so well; when Lady Sirrah shuns it, and it is illegal?"

Kat smirked.  "My father made wine as a habit, and had a lot of friends that did so also, so I was raised with it."  She shook her head, lifting her wine glass to her lips again.  "Little taste of home is what you've got here."

"There, now you've gone and gotten me all depressed you idiot." Sirrah said, shaking her head.

Kat giggled.  "Sorry, didn't mean it."

Merry came out with more food, and both of the hobbits sat down to eat. 

"I thought you had already eaten?" said Sirrah.

"Yes, but we must keep you company, tis discourteous to do otherwise." Said Merry around a bit of bread.

Kat snickered.

"Careful Sirrah, I think e've got some who could out eat you here…"

Sirrah glared at Kat, but continued to cut into her pork.  They listened to the males talk of their adventures, Kat tapping her chin, and Sirrah eating.  Suddenly, one of the hobbits tapped Sirrah on the shoulder.

"Would you care for a smoke?"

Sirrah looked at Pippin as if he had grown a head, then turned and tapped Kat on the shoulder.  Kat looked at Pippin, who was looking confused.

"What of you Lady Kat, have you a pipe?"

Kat suddenly bust out laughing.

"When they said peer pressure…" she dissolved into whoops of laughter, Sirrah following. The males looked at eachother, wondering what this could possibly mean.

"Sorry Pippin…" Kat said, wiping her eyes, which were still tearing from laughter, "no thanks…" and she continued giggleing.

"After all," said Sirrah, slightly calmer, "We're already underage drinkers…"

Kat snickered.

"Oh what would our parents say?" she said melodramatically.

Sirrah smirked.

"Just not to do anything they wouldn't do."

Kat giggled again.  By now, the others had dismissed the two's hysteria as something that they would never understand.  They had gone outside, and Aragorn was streatched out on one of the great slabs of rock.  Kat peeked outside and beckoned Sirrah, who gave a fake swoon.  Kat giggled, poking her.

Now  now Sirrah, don't do anything I wouldn't!

Sirrah sniggered.

Short list.  Coincedently exactly the same as mine.

They both dissolved into giggles.

~^~

They walked into the sunlight, and Merry and Pippin hailed them over.

"We were just about to tell our tale, come and sit down at least, since you will not smoke with us!"

They both shook their heads.

"No thanks," said Kat, "I'm going to go find a nice sunny spot and sleep."

"I'm with you there.  I'm beat."  Sirrah said.

The males looked around in confusion.

"You don't wish to know of their adventures?  I know I am most curious." Said Gimli.

Kat shrugged.

"Heard it, read it, I'm good."

Sirrah snickered.

Kat…

oops…oh well.

They walked off to find their sunny spot, leaving the hobbits, man, elf and dwarf in an extreme state of confusion.

~^~

The girls had been asleep for over an hour when Kat found herself being shaken awake.  It was Aragorn.

Well, she thought, I suppose I could do no better.  What she said though, was,

"Erg…what is it?"

Aragorn smirked, looking annoyingly like Sirrah, when she had caught her in a fix.

"We are off to explore, and thought that you and Lady Sirrah would like to come."

Kat rolled over.

"Erg.  I wish I hadn't been right in Edoras…" she got up and let her head stop spinning.

"What were you right about?" he said, going to Sirrah and begining to shake her awake.

"I'm getting far too little sleep…"  Aragorn chuckled, dodging Sirrah's hand.

"Kat…lemme alone."

Get up you dummy, you have a bonafide ranger slash King getting you up.

"What?  Oh…Hi Aragorn…" Sirrah said airily.

Kat fell over laughing immediately.  Aragorn sent an odd look at Kat and then Sirrah, who was blushing faintly.  Then he got up, leaving them to their devices.

Sirrah rubbed her eyes as Kat got up and streatched.

"You are evil, you know that right?"

"Yep." Said Kat.  "Come on, lets go, I want to see this."

"Oh yeah…we get cable…woo hoo."

Kat chuckled, and gave Sirrah a hand up.  They then walked off in the general direction of Aragorn.

~^~

They came up as Merry was telling Gandalf how they had rested.

"…began and ended in smoke.  Still, we feel less ill-disposed towards Sarauman than we did."
"Speak for yourself Merry."  Sirrah said.

Kat nodded.

"No kidding.  There are many bones still to pick from this beast."

Gandalf nodded.

"The ladies speak truly for me.  I must do this last task before I go:  I must pay Saruman a farewell visit.  DAngourous and probably useless, but it must be done.  Those who wish may come with me-but beware!  And do not jest!" at this he looked at the girls, who tried to look innocent.  They pulled it off…barely.  "This is not the time for it."

"I will come," said Gimlig. "I wish to see him and learn if he really looks like you."

Kat sighed, hearing Gandalfs answer.

So, what do you think he'll do when he see's us?

Ka shrugged mentally.

Who knows?  I'm guessing he'll throw a temper tantrum.

Sirrah chuckled silently, thinking of Saruman throwing a temper tantrum.

Unlikely, but that would be amusing.  Just remember when we get there, be careful.  He's where the mist came from.

Kat shuddered.

I'll be sure to remember that.

~^~

They came to the foot of the orthanc in nervousness.  Gandalf told them that he would go in, Théoden asked to follow, then Gimli, then Legolas.  Kat raised her hand.

"Gandalf, can we go?"

Sirrah smiled.

"Yeah, we promise not to kill him."

Kat chuckled.

Gandalf nodded.

"I had expected nothing less.  You will be of use."

Kat glanced at Sirrah.

"I don't want to know." She mouthed.  Sirrah nodded.

Gandalf knocked on the door.

"Saruman!  Come forth!" He yelled in a commanding voice.
There was no answer.  Rather, there wasn't one from Saruman.  Grima wormtongue poked his head out of the window far above them.

"Who is it?  Who do you wish to see?"

"I know that voice," muttered Théoden. "And I curse the day I first listened to it."

There was a pause, and suddenly a beautiful voice issued forth from the tower.  Kat and Sirrah covered their ears immediately; there was a harsh overtone to it for them, like listening to a speaker emmiting a sound just out of hearing range, yet jarring enough to feel.

"Well?  Why must you disturb my rest?  Will you give me no peace by night or day?" said a honey and sugar coated voice, smooth as molasses and ten times as sweet.  It would have stopped a rampaging lion in its tracks.

There was a figure standing over them, clothed in a cloak that winked in all different colors.  Kat sneered.

"Poor baby.  Didn't get your beauty sleep?"

Sirrah snickered, effectively breaking the spell on the riders and their company.

"It shows."

Kat covered her mouth to stop from busting out laughing.

Saruman paused, and they could feel the rush of anger that was directed towards them.  They ignored it, and the voice continued.

"But come now.  Surely you do not come to mock me, and two of you at least, I know by name."

"On the contrary…"Kat began, intending to tell him that that was exactly why they were here, but Gandalf looked at her, and she shut up.  They listened through Saruman's little speech, and when it was done, silence seemed deafening.  Gimli huffed and discarded all of Saruman's lies.  Théoden was targeted next.  He seemed to hold, saying nothing, and when he did, it was to discard the lies as well.  Last was Gandalf.  Saruman tempted him so greatly that even the girls were unsure as to whether something was wrong and he would give in.  But then Gandalf began to laugh.  Hard and long he laughed, until the girls began to chuckle with him.

"Understand one another?" he laughed, I fear I am beyond your comprehension.  But you, Saruman, I understand now too well.  I keep a clearer memory of your arguments, and deeds than you suppose.  Whe last I visited you, you were the jailor of Mordor, and there I was too be sent.  Nay, the guest who has escaped from the roof will think twice before he comes back in by the door.  And look Saruman!" at this he beckoned Kat and Sirrah forward.  "Two others who slipped through your nets!"

The girls smiled and waved happily up at the now enranged Istari.

"Hi Saruman, see you dropped the Hippie look."  Kat said.

"Too bad, It really suited you." Said Sirrah.

Saruman was rapidly changing a startling shade of purple.

Gandalf smiled.

"Yes, I believe you recognize your former captives.  They too remember you hospitality.  Isenguard has proved less strong than you had hoped and fancied.  Will you not come down?  Think well, Saruman!"

There was a pause, and Saruman seemed to change.  He mocked Gandalf then, and Gandalf persisted.  It came to blows finally, though the blows were not physical.  Gandalf smote Saruman's staff and the pieces fell.  Never in all of the speech did Saruman actually address the girls though, which puzzled them somewhat.  As Saruman crawled in like a soaked and abused puppy, there was a crash and something flew out of the window, landing next to Gandalf and then bouncing.  Kat started to get it, but remembered abruptly that pippin had to touch it.

Kat…

I know, but Pippin has to see it first, and then he'll want to see it again, and effectively throw Sauron off our tracks.

Ah.

The all knowing ah makes its next appearance in middle earth.

I'm sure middle earth is simply thrilled.

They chuckled as Gandalf led them down from Orthanc

~^~

As Gandalf walked and talked with pippin, the girls patted themselves on the back for a job well done.

I Think that we riled him up properly.

That was a lovely shade of purple.

Or it would have been, had it been on Elrond.

You forgot!  Elrond is Arwen's color, not Elronds!

Oh yeah…Oh well.

There was suddenly a shrill shriek, which scared Kat into shrieking her self.

"What the hell??"

Sirrah snickered.

"Seems as if there's trouble in paradise…"

Kat shook her head.

"May they boil in there like shrimps."

"Shrimp dear, shrimp.  Like the Sheep."

Kat glared.  Gandalf glanced over him shoulder as a scream was cut off abruptly.

"Come, let us leave them!"

He said, and they hurried away from the shadow of the building.

~^~

They walked through the ruined gates, and a dozen Ents shook off stillness to greet them.  One seemed to the girls older and more powerful than the rest, and it was he that came to greet Gandalf.  Another came next to him after a moment, and seemed to look intently at the great Ent.  Then he turned from him and stomped up to the girls.  It was a moment before Kast suddenly gasped.

"Your quickbeam aren't you??"

Quickbeam nodded and knelt by her.

"I am.  And I very glad to see you in your skin, so that I may properly look at you."

Kat squirmed as he looked at her intently.

"I'm glad to be back in my skin.  Trust me."

Quickbeam stared at her for another moment, before rising and walking off, leaving a visibly shaken Kat behind.  Treebeard eyed her for a moment, then turned to Aragorn and gave greetings to their compainions.  He talked long with legolas and seemed to ignore the girls until the rest had gone to ready their horses.

"Witches of Angmar."

They both glanced at eachother and turned around, facing the great ent.  He didn't say anything, and neither of the girls cared to speak before him.  So they sat for a moment, each eyeing the other, the humans nervously and the ent thoughtfully.  Finally, he spoke.

"Great are you amoung witches… and this would worry me - except…"

He didn't say anything for almost a minute, and Kat had suppress a mad urge to shout at him to get on with it.  He took a great breath.

"Except I see something - in you…both…of you, that is…different – hmmm, yes…different."

He leaned in close to them, making them glance at eachother worridly.

"The most powerful fall the fastest…and yet – it seems to me that…"

He squinted for a moment at them.

"You did not always…have…this power."

The two gulped and nodded.  Kat spoke up.

"No…we were normal…by magical standards in our world…"

Treebeard nodded slowly, standing up straight again.  Then he turned away, and the girls assumed that they had been dismissed.  Breathing sighs of equal relief, they quickly caught up with the others.

~^~

They rode for a little while, and suddenly they were upon the pillar and the hand again.  Well, the pillar anyway, the hand was in the dirt, its fingers no longer covered in blood.  Kat smirked.

"My how the mighty hath fallen."

Sirrah grinned.

"The bigger they are…"

Kat snickered.  The head of the company had started again, and they followed hurridly.

~^~

They camped, and though the rest fell asleep, and Kat was close to it, she insisted on staying up.

"Sirrah…we…" she yawned "Have to stay up…"

Sirrah laughed exaushtedly.

"Why?"

Kat covered another yawn.

"Because Pip…tries to look into the Palentier…"

"Kat, we can't exactly help…"

Kat nodded.

"Thanks, I needed a good excuse."

Sirrah shook her head.

"Besides, pip gets out alright, and if we prevent it he'll just do it at a more inopportune time…"

Kat nodded again, head lolling to the right.

"Yeah, hey…isn't it me that's supposed to be keeping track of this stuff?"

Sirrah nodded, smiling.

"Go to sleep Kat, you aren't functioning."

Kat nodded and complied.  Sirrah looked around, and then followed her own advice.

~^~

Aragorn glanced over at the girls in the dying fire light.  Merry came back to him, looking lower than he had.

"So four of the company still remain." Said Aragorn.  "We will ride on together.  But we shall not go alone, as I thought.  The King is now determined to set out at once.  Since the coming of the winged shadow, he desires to return to the hills under cover of night."  Legolas stepped closer to him.

"And then whiter?"

Aragorn stared out at the dawn

"I cannot sayyet, as for the ing, he will go to the muster that he commanded in 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 gimli quickly

"Well for myself, it is dark before me.  I must go down to minas Tirith, but I do not see the road. An hour long prepared approaches."

"Don't leave me behind!" said merry.  "I have not been of much use yet; but I don't want to be laid aside, like baggage to be called for when all is over.  I don't thin the riders will want to be bothered with me now.  Though, of course, the king did say that I was ro sit by him when he came to his house and tell him all about the shire."

"Yes," said Aragorn sadly, "and your road lies with him, I think, merry.  But do not look for mirth at the ending.  It will be long I fear, ere Théoden sits at ease again in meduseld.  Many hopes will wither in this bitter spring."

"They may, but there is still the matter of our young followers.  What of the laides of Angmar?  Will they travel with us?" Legolas asked, looking over at where the girls were still asleep, despite the excitement.

Aragorn turned to look at them as well.  "I believe that they intend to follow us." He said.  Smiling, he added, "Whether we would have them or not."

Legolas hid a grin with his hand and went to ready his horse.

~^~

There was no light at the camp, but there was movement, as horses began to be readied by their masters.  A man found a particular and set her off her ropes, pointing her in a direction.  The horse complied with the man's wishes, and was probing its owner with a slightly moist, and very cold muzzle.

"nerk…"

"Arg…Kat…"

"Erg…"

The horse nosed its owner again, wanting something.

"ACK!"  Kat bolted up, startling the horse, and hitting Sirrah in the process.  She rubbed the back of her neck while glancing moodily at the horse, who had calmed considerably and was now tossing her head.

"Oh goodness Tiro…why *now*?"

She dug in her pocket for what she knew her horse wanted.  An apple from Isenguard was produced, and disappeared.  Kat grumbled.

"Think your smart do you?"

The horse walked off in reply.

"Erg."

"Oh shut up, its your fault…and you woke me up!"

"Sorry." Kat grumbled half-heartedly.

"Are not."

"To true."

"Gee, I feel loved."

Kat glomped her to make up for it.

"Bwah."

"Ow.  I think you broke something."

"You deserve it."

"Why?"

"I dunno.  You just do."

The other men where starting to stir now, wondering what was going on.  Aragorn walked up to them, face grim.  Kat's jaw dropped.

"Oh my god…we slept through it, didn't we!"

Aragorn looked at her and his face brightened a little bit.  He nodded, a shade of a smile on his face.

Kat hit herself, as Sirrah shrugged.

"So whats the set up?"

Aragorn looked distracted, but replied after a moments pause.

"Gandalf has gone to Minas Tirith with Pippin.  Théoden rides at first light to Edoras, we shall follow him.  Or do I speak truly for you?"  He said, looking at them curiously.

Kat nodded.

"Of course…should we get ready now?"

Aragorn nodded, then walked to get his own horse ready.

~^~

Kat swung up onto her horse.

"Erg…and off we go…joy…"

Sirrah yawned in reply.

"Its too early for this sort of thing…"

Kat nodded.

"It's too early for any sort of thing.  We must be mad, tramping around with these men when we should be at home feasting on oreos and trying not to be bothered by Anne."

Sirrah nodded.

"Instead, here we are…riding horses at…" she glanced east, where there was no light that was even hinting of showing itself. "Four in the morning."

"Lovely." Kat commented. "Oh well.  This is much more interesting than school."

"And ten times as physically and mentally inturiging."

"Make that twenty.  Mentally because we have to deal with thinking about the fact that we're in a book.  Now we have to wonder if Tolkien wrote it wrong, or if we're the wrong ones."

"It's us.  Now shut up so I can sleep."

"We're about to ride Sirrah."

"So?"

"Never mind."

Kat decided not to interfere with Sirrah and her sleep, it was considered a dangourous act.  Théoden called out to them, and then sped off, the men following.

"SIRRAH!"

"Wha?"

"Come *on*."

"Oh…comeon Chaos, no time for sleep I spose."

Kat rubbed her temples, it was going to be a long ride.

~^~

They had passed what Aragorn had identified for them as the mounds of Isen when a rider from the rear of the line hailed them, his horse catching up to the front.  Théoden called a halt as soon as the man had spoken to him and the girls pulled their horses around.  Soon they pieced together what was going on, as hoofbeats became audible and Éomer called for the riders to halt.  There were prancing hoofbeats, and finally the riders became visible.  They were dressed in black from head to toe, and their horses were all dark brown or black.

"Who rides in Rohan?" asked Éomer to the darkness.

There was a small intake of breath, and the leader spoke.

"Rohan?  Rohan did you say?  That is glad news!  Long have we ridden in search of this land."

"You have found it," answered Éomer coolly. "When you crossed the fords of Isen you entered it.  But none ride in these lands without the leave of Théoden King.  Who are you, and what business have you here?"

The man bowed from his horse.

"I am Halbarad Dunadan, Ranger of the North!  We seek one Aragorn, son of Arathorn, we had heard that he was in Rohan."

Ten years melted off of Aragorn's face as he gave his reigns to Merry and ran to hug the man. 

"Halbarad!  Of all joys, this is least expected!"

                The girls yawned and dozed on their horses as Halbarad and Aragorn explained all to the king.  Kat had to urge Tiro next to Chaos so that she could make sure that Sirrah didn't fall.  She wasn't sure why, but Sirrah seemed to tire more easily than her.

~^~

They began again, and Kat and Sirrah rode near the middle, trying their hardest to stay awake.  Kat took off her helmet so that she could breath and stay awake.  Sirrah was still on her horse, and though Kat tried many times to strike up a conversation to keep them both aware of their surroundings, it never worked.  She finally realized the problem when they reached the trenches of Helm's Deep. 

*thunk*

"Sirrah!  Chaos, WHOA!"

Kat pulled Tiro around, jumping off and running to the place where Sirrah had fallen.  Reaching her, she fell to her knees and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Sirrah?"

Sirrah's only response was to mumble and turn over.  Kat stared in disbelief.

"Is your friend well?" asked Legolas, urging Arod behind her.

Kat stood up, scratching her head.

"Yeah…she's…she's…"  She shook her head in blatent disbelief. "She's still asleep!"

Legolas covered a grin as Gimli peeked his head around the elf to see.  Kat shook her head again and leaned down, whispering something in Sirrah's ear.  Sirrah woke up immediately and immediately smacked her head soundly.  Then she got up, clutching her back, and limped over to Chaos. 

"What did you say?" asked a still grinning Legolas.

Kat, rubbing the back of her head, smiled.

"I told her that the average human being eats eight spiders while sleeping in their lifetime."

Chuckling, she walked over to Tiro and swung on.  Thoroly perplexed, Legolas and Gimli looked at each other, and rode after the girls.

~^~