Note from Nikki

Finally I updated! I apologize for taking so long to get everything going again. I have no motivation for anything since my Dad's accident and I haven't even had time to write, what with taking care of him and trying to get caught up in school. Thanks to all my wondeful reviewers who have stuck with me throughout this ordeal. I promise I will try everything that I can to update once a week, alright? I don't have time for reviewer notes but thanks to everyone who reviewed!

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"So, are you ready?" Scott asked Hanalee as they readied their horses for the last time. Théoden had ridden around camp that morning and had shouted that today was the day that they would at last reach Gondor. This news was treated with both cheers and terrified silence.

"I'm ready to see Dan again," Hanalee said confidently. The confident voice and stature that she carried did not hide the paleness of her face or the look of fear in her eyes.

"Hey," Scott said comfortingly. "You're going to be fine."

"I know that," Hanalee snapped. "I don't care either."

"What do you mean, you don't care?"

"If I can just see Dan one last time, I will be a happy person."

Scott frowned. "You don't sound very optimistic."

"I'm going to battle against monsters that I have only ever seen dead without any fighting skill," Hanalee replied bluntly.

"Well. . .if you put it that way. . ." Scott said.

"But like I said, I don't care." Hanalee straightened and leaped onto her horse determinedly.

"I'll stay by your side until you find Dan," Scott replied, mounting his own horse. He didn't care to voice the fact that Dan might already be dead or that it might be impossible to to find him. He didn't want to voice it in fear for Hanalee and for himself.

"Thank you," Hanalee replied. "For everything."

Together they rode to where Merry and Éowyn sat waiting for them. They were bravely in the front of the battalion, about three rows back to ensure the girls' and Merry's identity were kept secret. The vast mass of men spread out in long, horizontal lines that nearly took up the entire hillside they stood on. A palpable silence filled the air as men (and two women and a hobbit) attempted to prepare themselves for battle.

Scott wasn't scared. All he wanted to do was find Aurora and stay by her side, even if that is where he died. As long as he could fight next to her, he would be okay.

The procession started moving and Scott urged his horse forward, excitement and consternation flowing through him at the same time. They passed mountains and hillsides as if in a dream, silence trailing the army. The only sound was the clip clop of the horses hooves and the distant sounds of battle that were becoming increasingly loud.

Soon, they were almost overwhelming and then Scott saw it. The battle. It hit him like a pile of bricks and he felt momentarily dizzied. There had to be millions of them! Millions of Orcs attacking the castle walls. From what he could see, the castle had already been breached. Men were desperately trying to keep the Orcs out but Scott could see that the situation was almost helpless.

Hanalee was breathing very heavily and was trying to keep herself under control. Scott could see the fear in her eyes and the complete and utter awe that she was feeling. He couldn't blame her. He had felt that way when seeing the thousands of Orcs at Helm's Deep. This was about ten times bigger than that battle and their chances at winning were about ten times smaller. Still, Scott felt that it was his duty to comfort her in her time of fear.

"You'll be okay, really. Just stick by me and I'll protect you as best I can."

"I'm not worried about me," Hanalee replied, sounding dazed.

"Dan is okay, he's a strong guy," Scott said, not entirely believing his own words.

"What if he's dead?" Hanalee choked, her eyes filling with tears for the first time.

"He's not. I promise you that you'll see him again."

"I'm going to hold you to that promise," Hanalee half laughed, half sobbed.

Horns bellowed from the surrounding hillside and half of the Orcs turned around, ready to attack this new army, looking mildly surprised. Scott looked around him and saw fear and dead resignation in his companions' eyes.

"Courage Merry, courage for our friends," Éowyn was saying, pulling Merry closer to her.

Scott had thought her to be nearly invincible but for the first time she showed true fear.

"Éomer, take your éored down the left flank. Gamling, follow the King's banner down the center. Grimbold, take your company right, after you pass the wall. Forth, and fear no darkness!" Théoden called after baring his teeth and glaring at the ruthless army.

Théoden swooped in front of them, riding up and down the ranks bellowing as loud as he could, "Arise! Arise, Riders of Théoden!"

"What is he doing?" Hanalee whispered.

"Oh, this is his usual pep talk. He does it to give courage to his men and er. . .women," Scott answered knowledgeably.

He rode by them and Scott could see Éowyn duck her head, fearing that he would recognize the little features that showed from underneath her helmet.

"Spears shall be shaken! Shields shall be splintered! A sword day! A red day! Ere the sun rises!" Théoden shouted.

Scott noticed that the sun was indeed rising. It was a bright red color, silhouetting the sky, looking dreadfully as if the sky itself was bleeding. He didn't know if this was a good sign, indicating the fall of Mordor, or a bad sign, indicating the fall of Gondor.

"Whatever happens, stay with me. I'll look after you," Éowyn said to Merry.

"Same applies to you," Scott announced to Hanalee, feeling like it was his duty to reassure her.

"Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin, and the world's ending! Death!" Théoden shouted.

"Is this really supposed to make us feel better?" Hanalee choked.

"Umm, yeah," Scott said uncertainly.

"Death!" the army shouted around them.

"Death!" Théoden shouted back.

"Well, they don't sound so optimistic," Scott tried to joke. Hanalee was almost transparent white, like a ghost.

"Death!" they shouted back again.

"Death!" Théoden bellowed one last time.

"Death!" replied the army, Scott, Éowyn, Merry, and even Hanalee included.

"Forth, Eorlingas!!" Théoden shouted.

With a cry, the army charged forth, ready to attack, their hearts and spirits pumped for the kill. Arrows rained upon them and Scott's horse leaped over fallen bodies of both horse and man. He turned to take a quick glance at Hanalee and was surprised to see a determined, resolute look upon her hidden face.

"Death!" Scott heard Merry roar over the pounding of hooves and the shouts of the men.

"I think your getting a little carried away with the whole death thing!" Scott shouted back.

"Death!" Théoden called.

"Okay! Enough with the death thing!" Scott shouted irritably, dodging another hail of arrows from the Orcs.

He wasn't entirely sure what they were doing but he could see that they were going to charge into mass of the Orcs. It seemed like suicide to him but there was no other away around it. They finally reached the Orcs, after what seemed like an eternity, and charged through their lines.

The force was so great that no Orc could withstand the powerful lines. Scott had to admit it was a little weird to feel his horse trod on screaming Orcs but he didn't feel sorry for them in the least. He hoped they were feeling unsurpassable pain and he urged his horse onward, drawing out his sword.

It was then that he realized he had lost Hanalee in the passion of the attack.

"Hanalee!" he cried, hoping to hear her answer.

No one replied, only screams of pain and victory, strangely mixed together. Scott cursed himself, how could he have lost her? She had been right by his side the entire time! The only answer was that she must have left him in her search for Dan.

Scott's musing was interrupted when he felt a sudden jolt and realized that he was flying through the air. He landed hard on his stomach and was temporarily winded as he feebly tried to get back to his feet.

Two dirty, mud caked boots stood in front of him. Slowly he lifted his eyes and saw an Uruk standing before him, his blade above his head, ready for the victory. Scott twisted to his side and the blade barely missed him, scraping the side of his leg lightly.

He reached for his sword, managed to grab it, and swung blindly at the Uruk behind him. He turned in time to see the Uruk grunt in pain and fall onto his back, his legs separating from his body.

Scott stood up slowly, glaring down at him. "That's what you get for killing my horse," he said. Next he chopped off the monsters head. "And that is for pissing me off."

Scott turned around and limped to the nearest Orc, swinging his sword wildly into the monsters chest. He turned around and began attacking another one, feeling enthusiasm that he hadn't felt in a long time. He was beginning to question his sanity at finding joy in killing Orcs when he did a double-take.

There stood Dan, fighting right next to him. "How's it going?" Dan called, lopping the head of an Orc.

After Scott had gotten over his moment of shock he grinned and dodged an assault from another Orc. "Oh you know, not too bad, how about yourself?"

"Been fighting this war for a few days and I'm not even tired!" Dan called brightly.

"Oh yeah?" Scott replied, stabbing his opponent through his head.

"Glad to see you guys, wasn't sure if we were gonna make it there."

"Have you seen Aurora?"

"No, isn't she with you?" Dan asked worriedly.

"Uuum," Scott said, killing off another Orc. "We were separated. She left with Aragorn without telling me. Apparently they're coming some secret way but the place they were going. . .it didn't look so good."

"You lost my sister?" Dan roared.

"She left without telling me!"

Dan narrowly dodged an Orc that stabbed at his stomach and managed to slice it across the back in a quick move. "I forgive you then," Dan replied, jokingly. "She'll be fine if she's with Aragorn, but I don't know where they are."

"Oh er. . .Hanalee's come to visit too."

"WHAT?" Dan bellowed stopping mid combat and nearly jeopardizing his life.

"I didn't know until last night! Honestly, I would have stopped her if I knew sooner but she's really a very stubborn woma-"

"Where is she?" Dan cried.

"That's the problem. I lost her! One minute she as there and the next, poof, she's gone."

"I need to find her!" Dan said desperately, finally reaching Scott and gripping his arm tightly.

"Let's go," Scott said reassuringly.

Together they made their way through the army in search of Hanalee, both praying that when they found her, it wouldn't only be her body.

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A/n: Sorry if this sucks. I haven't written in such a long time.