A/n: Well, the verdict is in. The greater majority (when I say that, I
mean almost every person) wanted the detailed sex scene. Oh man! Lol! I was
hoping you guys would want that because I think it adds more. . .reality to
the story. One problem, I've never written a detailed sex scene before. So
if it really sucks, I'm sorry a thousand times over. I'll give it my best
shot though (it's not this chapter, don't worry). That will be in a few
chapters. You'll know its coming when you see the R rating. LoL! Neways,
enough of that for now, here's a knew chapter! Yay! Please read and review.
Thanks! - - - I'm going to keep the title for the story for now. Lol! A
reviewer (KnowInsight) made a really good comment that made me think twice
about it so, it'll stay here for now.
R/n:
Mojo: Lol! You're not a perve! Hehe, I agree with you. Omg. . .lucky! I wish I could go to France on holiday. *sigh* to an American girl like me, France is like O_o. I'm sorry I'm not on msn or aim a lot lately. I've been so busy *groans* Stupid school. Well thanks for reviewing! *hugz* Love ya!
Loveroflegolas: lol! I'm glad you're a big girl and can handle a graphic scene. I'm going to go for the graphic scene, so whoo. I have to make it so that it's still rated R though, so it won't be TOO extreme, though it should come out pretty detailed. Heh. Thanks so much for your review. I always look forward to hearing from ya. Thanks!
KnowInsight: Heh! Well, you'll get the smut. Or as much as I can conjure with my never having written it before. (did that make sense?) Lol! And you're comment on the title was very true. *sigh* I'll have to think on it more! I liked the title you mentioned too. Maybe I should just leave it here, eh? Thanks so much for the review! Love hearing from ya. *hugz*
LOTRFreak144: That's awesome that you guys are writing a story. I bet it'll be great. I'm sorry but you were outnumbered on the sex scene thing so I will email you when I update that chapter and tell you to skip over it. Fair enough? You shouldn't miss anything because you'll already know about the extra leap in their relationship. Thanks for the review!
Noa9: Hehe, this chapter is a little longer! ^_^. I totally agree, I like writing Aurora and Scott a lot more but I felt like I had to introduce some of what Dan feels and experiences too. I'll be incorporating him a little more into the story but don't worry, it's still based around Aurora. I'm glad you don't mind an R rated scene. *whew* Thanks for the review, love hearing from you. *muah*
Oil Pastel: Wow. . .lucky bitch. Got Legolas AND Jack all in one review. Must have been hot over there! Hehe, no I don't like slash but that's when it's male/male or female/female. (I'm not homophobic or anything, I just don't think it's good when it's written about characters who are not gay. It makes them off character. . .if that makes sense) I don't think I'll be writing any sex scenes with Legolas and Scott (*shudders*). This one will be Aurora and Scott (smut, I think you got confused with that. Lol! Smut is the detailed sex stuff. Slash is the gay stuff). With that being said, are you okay with me writing an R rated scene? I'm comfortable (if not a little nervous) writing it but are you okay reading it? Thanks for the wonderful review, as always. *hugz*
Alida-Fruit: Aww! I'm so glad to hear from you again! I was wondering where you had gotten to and I'm very glad that you're back. Your reviews were, as usual, very helpful and insightful. I love hearing what you think about everything, so thanks! Argh! I've been meaning to go review one of your stories that caught my eye but I haven't had any time. *sighs sadly* I even have a little paper in front of me that says "Read Alida-Fruit's story." I'll get around to it! Oh yah. . .are you okay with the sex scene thing? I assumed you didn't really care which way it went because you didn't mention it in your review, so I just want to make sure that you're okay with it. Thanks so much! Love ya!
Vorserkeien: Heya! Aww! Thanks for looking for a script. I still can't find one yet either *sigh* I'm sorry, you were outnumbered on the sex scene thing. If you are uncomfortable with an R-rated scene, let me know. I can email you when that chapter comes up and tell you to skip over it! Thanks so much for the review. It's always great to hear from you! Thanks hun!
---
Aurora dreamed for the first time in months. She dreamed that she was in a battle of some kind but it wasn't one she had ever experienced. The sky was red and black, contrasting against one another in a brilliant display of color. Orcs surrounded her, they attacked her, and for once she couldn't stop it. The edges of her mind were clouded and the monsters swayed in and out of her vision. They closed in around her and the blackness of the sky overcame the red. Screaming, screaming filled her ears as she watched a sword fall down upon her with unstoppable momentum.
Aurora jerked awake, the screaming still filling her ears. It wasn't hers though. In confusion, she stared around the dark room. It didn't take long to find who had awakened her. Pippin was holding a glowing ball. His face was stricken as he clutched at it, rolling around in agony.
"What the hell?" Scott asked, sitting up with a start.
"Is-is that the orb that Gandalf wouldn't let him hold at Isengard?" Aurora could already feel the bad feelings emanating from it.
Merry was watching Pippin, shouting his name with wide eyed fear. Aurora jumped as Dan put his hand on her shoulder. She didn't ask where he had been but stood up and began making her way toward Pippin uncertainly, not sure of what to do.
Just as Aurora reached him Aragorn burst in, with Legolas just behind him, saw the glowing orb, and grabbed onto it. Aragorn was immediately taken to the floor and he looked just as helpless against the mysterious ball. Aurora could feel her heart pumping loudly against her chest. What was this thing? What was it doing to her friends?
The ball slipped from Aragorn's fingers and began making its way down the length of the room. Suddenly, Gandalf woke with a start and threw his cloak over the ball, gasping as if he had just ran miles. "Fool of a Took!" he cried. The familiar line bringing back memories of Moria.
Aurora turned and felt her heart drop. Pippin was lying on the floor not moving. Gandalf ran over, the rest of the group at his heels. He couldn't be dead, Aurora repeated over and over to herself, wondering if it was true.
Pippin drew in a deep, rattling breath. He twitched and flinched and his eyes held so much fear that Aurora felt all hope was finally lost. "Gandalf," Pippin croaked, sweat sliding off his forehead.
"What did you see?" Gandalf asked. His voice was stern and commanding but his hand was gentle as he ran it along Pippin's brow.
Aurora waited in hushed breath. She wasn't sure how he could see anything in the great glowing ball. All she saw was a bright orange light, no images or sounds came from it. What was Gandalf getting at?
"A tree. . ." Pippin whispered. "A great white tree, burning."
For the first time Aurora felt certain that she saw fear in Gandalf's eyes. "What else?" he asked urgently.
Pippin didn't answer but his voice furrowed in a look of abject terror. His limbs were shaking, his eyes were glowing from a fear that Aurora would probably never understand. "He spoke to me," he whispered hoarsely.
Gandalf's face fell. Who spoke to him? Aurora wondered. But she began to slowly understand. Could it possibly have been Sauron, the Lord of the Rings himself? The great eye that instilled fear in even the most brave of hearts? "What did he say?" Gandalf asked, his hand tightening on Pippins.
"He asked me for my name," Pippin breathed fearfully. "I didn't give it to him."
"What did you say about Frodo and the Ring?" Gandalf said, obviously trying to keep his voice calm.
Aurora suddenly understood. Pippin had encountered Sauron, she didn't know how nor did she want to know. But if Sauron was as powerful as people claimed, he could have gotten the information about Frodo from the poor hobbit. And then everything they had fought for, lived and died for, would have been for nothing. Her breath came to a sudden halt, waiting for his answer.
"Nothing," he whispered. "I told him nothing."
Aurora and the others let loose a collective sigh of relief. They stepped back as Gandalf helped the shaking hobbit to his feet. "We must tell Théoden what has happened. Come."
Aurora took Scott's hand and they followed the procession out of the chamber.
"Where have you been?" Aurora asked Dan.
"I met Hanalee's family," he replied. His eyes looked distant, as if he was thinking of something and not really focusing on what Aurora had asked him.
"Are you alright?" Scott asked, raising his eyebrows in Aurora's direction.
"Fine," Dan replied. He quickened his pace and walked ahead of them, much to the dismay of Aurora and Scott.
They followed Gandalf into the chamber where King Théoden was already sitting, his advisors crowding his throne room. Aurora realized, with some shock, that it was very early in the morning. The sun was rising slowly into the sky, casting bright rays across the throne room ground.
Gandalf went before the King while the rest of them took their places behind him. Aurora leaned casually against a pillar, Scott's arms wrapped around her waist, and waited to hear what Théoden would say.
Gandalf described the nights events and then turned to Pippin, a faint smile lining his lips. "There was no lie in his eyes. He is a fool but an honest fool he remains."
Gandalf turned back to a silent Théoden who had his chin resting in the palm of his hand as he watched Gandalf.
"By some fortune we have seen a glimpse of the enemy's plans," Gandalf said wearily. "He plans to attack Minas Tirith."
Aurora looked confused before Legolas leaned forward and whispered, "In Gondor."
Understanding came to her and she smiled in appreciation, snapping her head back to Gandalf and Théoden. Aragorn suddenly stepped forward, "We must warn them! We must send soldiers to their aide!"
Théoden turned to Aragorn and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Why should we help Gondor?" he asked, "When Gondor did not help us?"
Silence filled the room and Aurora felt her jaw drop. Of all the lowly things to say! How could he deny a country help when Aragorn, the man who should be King of Gondor, nearly gave his life to save Rohan?
"Then I will warn them," Aragorn said between clenched teeth.
"No!" Gandalf interrupted. He walked to Aragorn and said something softly to him, Aurora couldn't hear what it was.
Gandalf then turned and faced Théoden. "I will ride to Gondor," he paused and turned around, facing the two hobbits, "and I will not be going alone."
Gandalf walked out of the hall, a confused looking Pippin and an angry looking Merry in his wake.
"They're leaving?" Aurora cried, moving forward with a start. "Just like that?"
"He does what he must," Legolas said.
Aurora looked around to see Scott and Dan's reaction. Scott looked just as shocked as she did but Dan was conversing in low tones with Aragorn. Aurora frowned as Dan nodded and left the throne room at a quick pace. "Someone's in a hurry," she muttered.
"Where's he going?" Scott asked, walking after him.
"We're going to find out," Aurora replied.
They ran out of the throne room, letting the doors slam shut behind them. Dan was just entering the stables on the far side of Edoras. Aurora and Scott jogged to catch up and made it just in time to see Gandalf and Pippin leave. Merry dashed passed them, nearly knocking Aurora over. Aurora looked sympathetically after the small hobbit, understanding that this was the first time he had been separated from Pippin the whole adventure.
She looked back around and, much to her shock, saw Dan saddling up a horse. "Uh. . .where are you going?" she asked.
"To Gondor," Dan replied curtly.
"WHAT?" Scott bellowed. "Are you mad?"
"Maybe," Dan replied, grinning slightly.
Aurora on the other hand, started laughing. "Right and I'm the Queen of. . .Moria."
"The Queen of Moria?" Dan snorted. "You don't have to believe me. I'm leaving."
"No your not," Aurora said, shaking her head. "It'd be suicide. There is no reason for you to go."
Dan finally got the saddle onto the horse and he turned and looked sadly at Aurora. "I'm going."
Aurora's face fell and the realization struck her like a boulder. "Why?"
Dan sighed, wrapping his sword around his waist. "I don't know. I just. . . I feel like that is where I belong. I can't explain it. Gandalf said he was going to Minas Tirith and I knew that I had to go too."
"This is stupid Dan!" Scott said angrily. "What about us? What about Hanalee?"
Dan suddenly looked sad. "My heart tells me to stay here, with you. But another part, I don't know which one, tells me to follow Gandalf."
"DAN!" Aurora cried desperately. "This is crazy! We need you here! I need you here!"
Dan gripped his sister's arm. "I wish I could stay Aurora, I do. But I would regret not going for the rest of my life."
"I don't understand," Scott said through clenched teeth. "Why are you going?"
Dan sighed. "I told you! I don't know. Something tells me that I should and I can't shake the feeling off."
Tears were making their way down Aurora's cheek. "But Gandalf's horse is so fast! You'll never be able to keep up!"
Dan gripped Aurora's wrist tightly. "Aragorn told me ways to track him. He told me where Gondor is. I know how to get there."
Aurora choked back a sob. "But what about me? You can't leave me Dan!"
Dan pulled his sister in and hugged her tightly. Aurora was fully aware that this was the first time in her life that her brother had ever hugged her. It only made her pain more extreme because she realized that they had become so close on this adventure. For the first time in her life she acknowledged the love that she had for her brother. The respect.
"Scott can take care of you," Dan said softly, kissing the top of her head. "Besides, I won't be gone forever."
Aurora took a deep shuddering breath and pulled away. It was no use arguing with her brother when he had made up his mind. She couldn't possibly understand the compulsion he felt to go but how could she deny him of it? "Be careful Dan."
"I will," he replied, smiling.
Scott reached over and gave him a rough one armed hug. "Don't do anything stupid, alright?"
Dan laughed, "Of course not. I'll wait for you before I do anything like that."
Dan jumped onto his horse and with a last wave, disappeared into the town of Edoras. Aurora turned and sobbed into Scott's shoulder, wondering if she would ever see her brother alive again.
--
Dan galloped through Edoras until he came to Hanalee's house. She was already outside and she leaped into his arms as he walked to her front door.
"I thought we weren't meeting until later," Hanalee said, kissing him lightly.
"Hanalee," Dan began nervously, "I'm leaving."
"What?" she asked, her face falling.
Dan couldn't look into her eyes. He didn't know why he was leaving. Only that something inside of him told him that he wasn't made to sit around and wait for a story to unfold. He was the kind of person that was always in the heart of things, always understanding what was going on around him. In Rohan, he felt apart from that somehow. Gondor was calling to him. The thrill of battle and heroism called to him.
"I'm leaving for Minis Tirith," Dan said. "I'm sorry Hanalee, I have to go. I can't explain it."
Dan waited to hear her to yell at him and storm away. He was surprised, therefore, when she reached up and turned his face toward hers. Tears streaked her face but she kept a facade of calm. "I understand."
"You do?"
"Not really," Hanalee half sobbed, half laughed. "But I trust you and believe in you. If you must go, I won't stop you."
Dan wrapped his arms around her waist, picked her off her feet, and spun her around, kissing her fiercely. "I'll come back, I promise."
"I will come to you," Hanalee replied.
Dan suddenly looked serious, "No Hanalee. Stay here. I will come back to you."
Hanalee only nodded, kissing him. "I love you."
Dan wondered if she could hear the pounding of his heart. He had never heard someone speak those words to him. He had never said them to anyone else. With a deep breath he wiped away one of Hanalee's tears as it fell silently from her blue eyes, "I love you too."
With that, he jumped onto his horse and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
--
A/n: What do you think? Please review! Thanks for reading!
Oy, btw, here is a small plea of help. Can anyone remember what happened first in RotK. . .did Pippin light the beacon first or did Faramir flee Osgiliath for the first time (when the Orcs came up on shore and they were bombarded in the night and Gandalf rode out to save them from the Naz Gul)? I can't seem to remember *grumbles*
R/n:
Mojo: Lol! You're not a perve! Hehe, I agree with you. Omg. . .lucky! I wish I could go to France on holiday. *sigh* to an American girl like me, France is like O_o. I'm sorry I'm not on msn or aim a lot lately. I've been so busy *groans* Stupid school. Well thanks for reviewing! *hugz* Love ya!
Loveroflegolas: lol! I'm glad you're a big girl and can handle a graphic scene. I'm going to go for the graphic scene, so whoo. I have to make it so that it's still rated R though, so it won't be TOO extreme, though it should come out pretty detailed. Heh. Thanks so much for your review. I always look forward to hearing from ya. Thanks!
KnowInsight: Heh! Well, you'll get the smut. Or as much as I can conjure with my never having written it before. (did that make sense?) Lol! And you're comment on the title was very true. *sigh* I'll have to think on it more! I liked the title you mentioned too. Maybe I should just leave it here, eh? Thanks so much for the review! Love hearing from ya. *hugz*
LOTRFreak144: That's awesome that you guys are writing a story. I bet it'll be great. I'm sorry but you were outnumbered on the sex scene thing so I will email you when I update that chapter and tell you to skip over it. Fair enough? You shouldn't miss anything because you'll already know about the extra leap in their relationship. Thanks for the review!
Noa9: Hehe, this chapter is a little longer! ^_^. I totally agree, I like writing Aurora and Scott a lot more but I felt like I had to introduce some of what Dan feels and experiences too. I'll be incorporating him a little more into the story but don't worry, it's still based around Aurora. I'm glad you don't mind an R rated scene. *whew* Thanks for the review, love hearing from you. *muah*
Oil Pastel: Wow. . .lucky bitch. Got Legolas AND Jack all in one review. Must have been hot over there! Hehe, no I don't like slash but that's when it's male/male or female/female. (I'm not homophobic or anything, I just don't think it's good when it's written about characters who are not gay. It makes them off character. . .if that makes sense) I don't think I'll be writing any sex scenes with Legolas and Scott (*shudders*). This one will be Aurora and Scott (smut, I think you got confused with that. Lol! Smut is the detailed sex stuff. Slash is the gay stuff). With that being said, are you okay with me writing an R rated scene? I'm comfortable (if not a little nervous) writing it but are you okay reading it? Thanks for the wonderful review, as always. *hugz*
Alida-Fruit: Aww! I'm so glad to hear from you again! I was wondering where you had gotten to and I'm very glad that you're back. Your reviews were, as usual, very helpful and insightful. I love hearing what you think about everything, so thanks! Argh! I've been meaning to go review one of your stories that caught my eye but I haven't had any time. *sighs sadly* I even have a little paper in front of me that says "Read Alida-Fruit's story." I'll get around to it! Oh yah. . .are you okay with the sex scene thing? I assumed you didn't really care which way it went because you didn't mention it in your review, so I just want to make sure that you're okay with it. Thanks so much! Love ya!
Vorserkeien: Heya! Aww! Thanks for looking for a script. I still can't find one yet either *sigh* I'm sorry, you were outnumbered on the sex scene thing. If you are uncomfortable with an R-rated scene, let me know. I can email you when that chapter comes up and tell you to skip over it! Thanks so much for the review. It's always great to hear from you! Thanks hun!
---
Aurora dreamed for the first time in months. She dreamed that she was in a battle of some kind but it wasn't one she had ever experienced. The sky was red and black, contrasting against one another in a brilliant display of color. Orcs surrounded her, they attacked her, and for once she couldn't stop it. The edges of her mind were clouded and the monsters swayed in and out of her vision. They closed in around her and the blackness of the sky overcame the red. Screaming, screaming filled her ears as she watched a sword fall down upon her with unstoppable momentum.
Aurora jerked awake, the screaming still filling her ears. It wasn't hers though. In confusion, she stared around the dark room. It didn't take long to find who had awakened her. Pippin was holding a glowing ball. His face was stricken as he clutched at it, rolling around in agony.
"What the hell?" Scott asked, sitting up with a start.
"Is-is that the orb that Gandalf wouldn't let him hold at Isengard?" Aurora could already feel the bad feelings emanating from it.
Merry was watching Pippin, shouting his name with wide eyed fear. Aurora jumped as Dan put his hand on her shoulder. She didn't ask where he had been but stood up and began making her way toward Pippin uncertainly, not sure of what to do.
Just as Aurora reached him Aragorn burst in, with Legolas just behind him, saw the glowing orb, and grabbed onto it. Aragorn was immediately taken to the floor and he looked just as helpless against the mysterious ball. Aurora could feel her heart pumping loudly against her chest. What was this thing? What was it doing to her friends?
The ball slipped from Aragorn's fingers and began making its way down the length of the room. Suddenly, Gandalf woke with a start and threw his cloak over the ball, gasping as if he had just ran miles. "Fool of a Took!" he cried. The familiar line bringing back memories of Moria.
Aurora turned and felt her heart drop. Pippin was lying on the floor not moving. Gandalf ran over, the rest of the group at his heels. He couldn't be dead, Aurora repeated over and over to herself, wondering if it was true.
Pippin drew in a deep, rattling breath. He twitched and flinched and his eyes held so much fear that Aurora felt all hope was finally lost. "Gandalf," Pippin croaked, sweat sliding off his forehead.
"What did you see?" Gandalf asked. His voice was stern and commanding but his hand was gentle as he ran it along Pippin's brow.
Aurora waited in hushed breath. She wasn't sure how he could see anything in the great glowing ball. All she saw was a bright orange light, no images or sounds came from it. What was Gandalf getting at?
"A tree. . ." Pippin whispered. "A great white tree, burning."
For the first time Aurora felt certain that she saw fear in Gandalf's eyes. "What else?" he asked urgently.
Pippin didn't answer but his voice furrowed in a look of abject terror. His limbs were shaking, his eyes were glowing from a fear that Aurora would probably never understand. "He spoke to me," he whispered hoarsely.
Gandalf's face fell. Who spoke to him? Aurora wondered. But she began to slowly understand. Could it possibly have been Sauron, the Lord of the Rings himself? The great eye that instilled fear in even the most brave of hearts? "What did he say?" Gandalf asked, his hand tightening on Pippins.
"He asked me for my name," Pippin breathed fearfully. "I didn't give it to him."
"What did you say about Frodo and the Ring?" Gandalf said, obviously trying to keep his voice calm.
Aurora suddenly understood. Pippin had encountered Sauron, she didn't know how nor did she want to know. But if Sauron was as powerful as people claimed, he could have gotten the information about Frodo from the poor hobbit. And then everything they had fought for, lived and died for, would have been for nothing. Her breath came to a sudden halt, waiting for his answer.
"Nothing," he whispered. "I told him nothing."
Aurora and the others let loose a collective sigh of relief. They stepped back as Gandalf helped the shaking hobbit to his feet. "We must tell Théoden what has happened. Come."
Aurora took Scott's hand and they followed the procession out of the chamber.
"Where have you been?" Aurora asked Dan.
"I met Hanalee's family," he replied. His eyes looked distant, as if he was thinking of something and not really focusing on what Aurora had asked him.
"Are you alright?" Scott asked, raising his eyebrows in Aurora's direction.
"Fine," Dan replied. He quickened his pace and walked ahead of them, much to the dismay of Aurora and Scott.
They followed Gandalf into the chamber where King Théoden was already sitting, his advisors crowding his throne room. Aurora realized, with some shock, that it was very early in the morning. The sun was rising slowly into the sky, casting bright rays across the throne room ground.
Gandalf went before the King while the rest of them took their places behind him. Aurora leaned casually against a pillar, Scott's arms wrapped around her waist, and waited to hear what Théoden would say.
Gandalf described the nights events and then turned to Pippin, a faint smile lining his lips. "There was no lie in his eyes. He is a fool but an honest fool he remains."
Gandalf turned back to a silent Théoden who had his chin resting in the palm of his hand as he watched Gandalf.
"By some fortune we have seen a glimpse of the enemy's plans," Gandalf said wearily. "He plans to attack Minas Tirith."
Aurora looked confused before Legolas leaned forward and whispered, "In Gondor."
Understanding came to her and she smiled in appreciation, snapping her head back to Gandalf and Théoden. Aragorn suddenly stepped forward, "We must warn them! We must send soldiers to their aide!"
Théoden turned to Aragorn and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Why should we help Gondor?" he asked, "When Gondor did not help us?"
Silence filled the room and Aurora felt her jaw drop. Of all the lowly things to say! How could he deny a country help when Aragorn, the man who should be King of Gondor, nearly gave his life to save Rohan?
"Then I will warn them," Aragorn said between clenched teeth.
"No!" Gandalf interrupted. He walked to Aragorn and said something softly to him, Aurora couldn't hear what it was.
Gandalf then turned and faced Théoden. "I will ride to Gondor," he paused and turned around, facing the two hobbits, "and I will not be going alone."
Gandalf walked out of the hall, a confused looking Pippin and an angry looking Merry in his wake.
"They're leaving?" Aurora cried, moving forward with a start. "Just like that?"
"He does what he must," Legolas said.
Aurora looked around to see Scott and Dan's reaction. Scott looked just as shocked as she did but Dan was conversing in low tones with Aragorn. Aurora frowned as Dan nodded and left the throne room at a quick pace. "Someone's in a hurry," she muttered.
"Where's he going?" Scott asked, walking after him.
"We're going to find out," Aurora replied.
They ran out of the throne room, letting the doors slam shut behind them. Dan was just entering the stables on the far side of Edoras. Aurora and Scott jogged to catch up and made it just in time to see Gandalf and Pippin leave. Merry dashed passed them, nearly knocking Aurora over. Aurora looked sympathetically after the small hobbit, understanding that this was the first time he had been separated from Pippin the whole adventure.
She looked back around and, much to her shock, saw Dan saddling up a horse. "Uh. . .where are you going?" she asked.
"To Gondor," Dan replied curtly.
"WHAT?" Scott bellowed. "Are you mad?"
"Maybe," Dan replied, grinning slightly.
Aurora on the other hand, started laughing. "Right and I'm the Queen of. . .Moria."
"The Queen of Moria?" Dan snorted. "You don't have to believe me. I'm leaving."
"No your not," Aurora said, shaking her head. "It'd be suicide. There is no reason for you to go."
Dan finally got the saddle onto the horse and he turned and looked sadly at Aurora. "I'm going."
Aurora's face fell and the realization struck her like a boulder. "Why?"
Dan sighed, wrapping his sword around his waist. "I don't know. I just. . . I feel like that is where I belong. I can't explain it. Gandalf said he was going to Minas Tirith and I knew that I had to go too."
"This is stupid Dan!" Scott said angrily. "What about us? What about Hanalee?"
Dan suddenly looked sad. "My heart tells me to stay here, with you. But another part, I don't know which one, tells me to follow Gandalf."
"DAN!" Aurora cried desperately. "This is crazy! We need you here! I need you here!"
Dan gripped his sister's arm. "I wish I could stay Aurora, I do. But I would regret not going for the rest of my life."
"I don't understand," Scott said through clenched teeth. "Why are you going?"
Dan sighed. "I told you! I don't know. Something tells me that I should and I can't shake the feeling off."
Tears were making their way down Aurora's cheek. "But Gandalf's horse is so fast! You'll never be able to keep up!"
Dan gripped Aurora's wrist tightly. "Aragorn told me ways to track him. He told me where Gondor is. I know how to get there."
Aurora choked back a sob. "But what about me? You can't leave me Dan!"
Dan pulled his sister in and hugged her tightly. Aurora was fully aware that this was the first time in her life that her brother had ever hugged her. It only made her pain more extreme because she realized that they had become so close on this adventure. For the first time in her life she acknowledged the love that she had for her brother. The respect.
"Scott can take care of you," Dan said softly, kissing the top of her head. "Besides, I won't be gone forever."
Aurora took a deep shuddering breath and pulled away. It was no use arguing with her brother when he had made up his mind. She couldn't possibly understand the compulsion he felt to go but how could she deny him of it? "Be careful Dan."
"I will," he replied, smiling.
Scott reached over and gave him a rough one armed hug. "Don't do anything stupid, alright?"
Dan laughed, "Of course not. I'll wait for you before I do anything like that."
Dan jumped onto his horse and with a last wave, disappeared into the town of Edoras. Aurora turned and sobbed into Scott's shoulder, wondering if she would ever see her brother alive again.
--
Dan galloped through Edoras until he came to Hanalee's house. She was already outside and she leaped into his arms as he walked to her front door.
"I thought we weren't meeting until later," Hanalee said, kissing him lightly.
"Hanalee," Dan began nervously, "I'm leaving."
"What?" she asked, her face falling.
Dan couldn't look into her eyes. He didn't know why he was leaving. Only that something inside of him told him that he wasn't made to sit around and wait for a story to unfold. He was the kind of person that was always in the heart of things, always understanding what was going on around him. In Rohan, he felt apart from that somehow. Gondor was calling to him. The thrill of battle and heroism called to him.
"I'm leaving for Minis Tirith," Dan said. "I'm sorry Hanalee, I have to go. I can't explain it."
Dan waited to hear her to yell at him and storm away. He was surprised, therefore, when she reached up and turned his face toward hers. Tears streaked her face but she kept a facade of calm. "I understand."
"You do?"
"Not really," Hanalee half sobbed, half laughed. "But I trust you and believe in you. If you must go, I won't stop you."
Dan wrapped his arms around her waist, picked her off her feet, and spun her around, kissing her fiercely. "I'll come back, I promise."
"I will come to you," Hanalee replied.
Dan suddenly looked serious, "No Hanalee. Stay here. I will come back to you."
Hanalee only nodded, kissing him. "I love you."
Dan wondered if she could hear the pounding of his heart. He had never heard someone speak those words to him. He had never said them to anyone else. With a deep breath he wiped away one of Hanalee's tears as it fell silently from her blue eyes, "I love you too."
With that, he jumped onto his horse and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
--
A/n: What do you think? Please review! Thanks for reading!
Oy, btw, here is a small plea of help. Can anyone remember what happened first in RotK. . .did Pippin light the beacon first or did Faramir flee Osgiliath for the first time (when the Orcs came up on shore and they were bombarded in the night and Gandalf rode out to save them from the Naz Gul)? I can't seem to remember *grumbles*