Thanx so much for your lovely reviews! I apologize for misspelling Merry, my only excuse being that I wrote that part of the chapter very late and if I ever do something like that again please tell me! I actually think this next chapter is the weakest so far. Maybe I'm being to critical, or maybe not critical enough, anyway tell me what you think! I decided to follow the movie instead of the book as thats all Lizzy knows, but I do agree that the books are much better than the movie! Thanks again and do keep reviewing! ShyPixie

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Whoever said the smell of sweat on men and horses was attractive clearly didn't know what the hell they were talking about. Had these men never heard of bathing before?! Trying hard not to breathe through her nose, Lizzy reflected that, although her stomach was still throbbing with pain, she was quite comfortable. Thick arms surrounded her and managed to ward off the chill in the air and occasionally, Lizzy could feel Eomer's warm breath tickle her neck and if she had been anywhere close to drifting off she certainly wasn't after that. He disturbed her and she didn't know. Just the feel of his hard chest beneath her cheek sent an odd thrill though her she could neither deny or explain.
Lizzy's thoughts floated away to the question racing around her head. "Was this a dream?" No longer as sure of herself as she once had been she gazed around at the passing scenery. The details were just to sharp and the pain coursing though her body too real. "Okay . . ." she thought, "If this isn't a dream then how did she wind up here?" No light bulb clicked on, no forgotten instant came to mind. In short, she had no freaking clue, but she wasn't ready to confront the issue, it was too disturbing. Lizzy made the decision not to concentrate on what she could do nothing about, but enjoy where she was to the fullest.
Glancing behind them, she could still distantly see the thick cloud of smoke still billowing from the Uruk-Hai bonfire. Chewing her lip in thought, she estimated that they should be running into Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli anytime now. Making their way over a hill, the horses hooves thundering loudly on the way down, when, sure enough, a voice shouted from behind them.
"Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"
She felt Eomer stiffen behind her and grinned in response. This had been one of her favorite parts of all the films as it reminded her of four roosters fighting for dominance in the coop.
Turning in a wide half-circle, Eomer's men changed direction and galloped toward the crest of the hill where Aragorn and his posse waited. Holding his reins tightly in one hand, Eomer stayed to the rear of the group and when they had circled the three Lizzy found out why. Swiftly dropping her to the ground so she would be invisible behind the horses rumps he pushed his way toward the front without bothering to spare a glance for her.
Landing on her feet neatly, surprised to find that the dizziness had evaporated, Lizzy glared at Eomer's back as he trotted away. Well, if he thought she'd stay behind like a good girl he had a lot to learn. There was no way, come hell or high water she'd miss this exchange. Charging forward, Lizzy began the difficult task of squeezing in between the tight group of mounts.
"What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?" Eomer's voice boomed loudly. "Speak quickly!"
She heard Gimli's voice pipe up insolently as she neared the scene. "Give me your name, horse master, and I shall give you mine!" Lizzy grinned when she saw Aragorn roll his eyes. Turning her head swiftly, she eagerly looked at Eomer for she loved his next line as it never failed to make her laugh. He didn't disappoint.
"I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground," Eomer snarled.
Slapping a hand to her mouth, her eyes brimming over with mirth, she almost missed Legolas's sift response.
"You would die before your stroke fell!" Legolas declared passionately an arrow notched menacingly in his bow.
The smooth sound of several swords being quickly unsheathed brought her attention to Aragorn, who diplomatically intervened. Rapidly stepping in between Legolas and a grim looking Eomer, he placed his hand over Legolas's arrow lowering it so it pointed harmlessly to the ground.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn, this is Gimli son of Gloin, and Legolas of the woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan, and of Theoden your king." Eomer's menacing stare slowly lessened during the short introduction though he never took his eyes off Legolas.
"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe . . ." he hesitated then gradually reached up to remove his helmet, "not even his own kin."
A look of surprised recognition crossed Aragorn's features.
"Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and taken ownership over his lands," Eomer continued with a sad, defeated look. "My company as those loyal to Rohan and for that we are banished." He took a step closer, lowering his voice ( Lizzy leaned in unconsciously), "The white wizard is cunning, he walks here and there they say as an old man hooded and cloaked and everywhere his spies slip past our nets."
Aragorn spoke up with an irritated tone in his voice, "We are no spies. We track a party of Uruk-Hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive," he finished with a look of pain.
"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night." Eomer said with a grim voice.
Looks of panic flashed across the faces of the fellowship.
Gimli blurted out, "But their were two hobbits! Did you see two hobbits with them?!"
Lizzy decided it was time to make her presence known.
"Don't worry," she said briskly, stepping out from between two horses, "I saw them safely walk into Fangorn Forest unharmed."
Four male faces focused their complete, unblinking, attention on Lizzy and she abruptly halted in her steps from the sheer force of it. She darted a quick glance at Eomer and winced at the fury she found on his face. Ignoring him, she stepped closer to the fellowship.
"Your friends are just fine!" When they continued to stare at her, not saying anything, Lizzy had to catch herself from reaching up to pat her wild hair, the tie having fallen off sometime ago. She stopped, deciding that no matter how bad she looked there was no reason for them to stare so rudely. So, in mid reach she changed directions and settled her hands firmly on her hips and glared back.
"What? Did I miss something?" She asked defiantly. Lizzy had no way of knowing that they weren't staring at her in fright from her looks, but rather at her torn clothes where they could see bruises and the burn lines around her mouth from the gag.
Aragorn recovered first. "Fangorn Forest?" he croaked.
"Finally!" Lizzy thought with exasperation.
"Yes," she said loudly.
"Eomer was looking at her with confusion and anger written all over his face. Lizzy couldn't blame him, after all, she hadn't mentioned the hobbits.
There was a moment of silence, then Gimli shifted his feet and muttered, "Well, we better get going, then!" He carefully avoided her eyes when he nudged Aragorn.
"What happened to you, my lady?" Legolas asked softly.
Glancing at him, she smiled slightly at the concerned look on his face or as concerned as an elf could look, she supposed.
"Oh, I had a little run in with the Uruk-Hai. Got a little banged up, but I'm still breathing, right? So thats good."
Judging from the looks on their faces, that wasn't good. She didn't realize they were all thinking how impossible it was for a woman to run into a band of Uruk-Hai and come out of it with only bruises. "Anyway," she chirped to cover up the silence not daring to look at Eomer again, "You guys really should go and look for your friends now."
"Yes, you should go search for your friends," Eomer said abruptly.
The thought of not being able to stay with the fellowship or meet Gandalf sent a wave of sadness through her. She would have loved to be with them as they went on their adventures.
Suddenly, Lizzy perked up.
"I'll go with you!"
Three pairs of horrified eyes swung her way.
"Nonsense, woman!" Gimli blustered, "You'll only slow us down!"
"You manage to do that all on your own, Gimli," came Legolas's amused reply. Gimli huffed and began protesting loudly, but everyone ignored him. Eomer was looking even angrier than before, if that was possible, and opened his mouth, but Legolas cut him off.
"We'd be glad to have such fine company."
Aragorn and Gimli stared at him in shock.
"This is . . ." Legolas stammered, "That is . . . if Aragorn thinks it's alright."
Blinking rapidly, obviously thinking fast, Aragorn quickly said, "We don't even know your name!"
"Lizzy McMillian."
He paused again, not having thought this far ahead, "Well, I . . ."
"Great then! When do we leave?" Lizzy interrupted not giving him anytime to come up with an excuse. There was no way she was missing this opportunity. If this was a dream she might as well enjoy it as much as she could, if it wasn't . . . well, she'd have to deal with that some other time.
"If she goes, so do I," Eomer stated firmly, shooting Legolas a look of distaste.
Throwing up his hands, Gimli shouted sarcastically, "Why don't we just bring everyone? We could have a party!"
"Why do you want to go?" Lizzy asked Eomer in astonishment.
Not bothering to answer her, Eomer turned around and began shouting orders to his men.
"You'll ride north without me. If I need you I'll send word. Leave Arod and Hasufel."
"You can't go, Eomer! Go with your men I'll be fine!" Lizzy almost yelled, scrambling after him. She didn't know if his coming would change the story but what she did know was that she had to get away from him as he was disturbing her peace of mind. An amused voice whispered in her head, "As if you aren't already disturbed. Look around you!" Lizzy shoved the disconcerting voice away.
Legolas took a few steps toward Lizzy, "Thats right, Captain," he sneered, "she'll be safe with us."
"I'm she she would be," Eomer drawled, managing to infuse just enough doubt to be insulting, "but I'd rather not take the chance."
"Why are you doing this?" Lizzy cried, "You don't even know me!"
And still he ignored her.
Lizzy not used to being ignored, ran after him.
"Did you hear me?" She demanded, poking him in the back repeatedly.
Eomer turned around and glared down at her, "I'm sorry," he said in a clipped, polite voice. "Did you say something?"
He strode away leaving her fuming, her mouth gaping open like a fish. "Of all the nerve!" Lizzy muttered, then turned around blindly and ran straight into Legolas, who caught her with a grin.
"Careful," he cautioned, setting her straight. The collision had reminded her of the many bruises as the pain returned with a vengence. Glancing up, she distantly noticed how pretty he really was with his gorgeous blonde hair and light blue eyes, but he lacked the strong masculine features she so admire in Eomer and Aragorn, even if they smelled slightly less clean.
"Thanks," she murmured and moved off, missing the killing look Eomer sent Legolas.
Striding up to Aragorn, who had barely moved, she grabbed his hand.
"Thanks for letting me go with you, Aragorn!"
"It's not like I had much of a choice," he muttered.
Gimli snorted. As Lizzy passed him she patted him on the head as one might a child. A loud snarl issued from behind her and she grinned in delight.
The two riderless horses were led to them. Legolas hopped on Hasufel and Aragorn on Arod. Lizzy and Gimli stood between the two, both with their hands on their hips.
"Lizzy would you like to ride with me?" Legolas's melodious voice chimed above her head. Smiling in assent she reached up to grasp Legolas's hand when a horse elbowed his way between them and Eomer reached down and easily pulled her up beside him.
"She rides with me," Eomer said in a voice that tolerated no argument and Lizzy saw Aragorn cast a look at Legolas, who abruptly closed his mouth, shutting off whatever protest he had. He instead reached down and hauled Gimli up behind him, who was muttering something about being a second choice and that he'd rather walk.
Lizzy normally would have snarled at Eomer for being so highhanded but she let it slide because she was secretly glad to have his comforting weight behind her.
She watched Aragorn give the signal and the two parties separated. Lizzy fought down another grin of excitement as she was beginning to feel like a raving lunatic, walking around with an insane smile plastered onto her face. But darn it all this was fun! As they trotted away, Lizzy rubbed her hands together eagerly. On to the next scene!