Chapter: Seven
Title: Ruddy Rangers
Author: Tanni
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The next morning, everyone was ready for the second leg of our journey, hoping to reach Minas Tirith by nightfall. After the third snap voyage, around a fourth of the way to Minas Tirith, Zelli stopped and looked around suspiciously.
"What is it?" Tanni asked, also reining in her horse, glancing about her.
"We're being followed," she answered curtly, narrowing her eyes. Zelli suddenly looked toward some shrubbery, and she motioned for a couple of her spoons to charge.
The spoons disappeared, and silence took the gathering. Suddenly three dark-clad men leapt from the dense shrubbery yelling out in pain as the kamikaze spoons bravely attacked blow for blow. Zelli again motioned to the spoons, who deceased their attack.
Tanni, Éomer and Zelli all dismounted and cautiously bust sternly walked over to the three men. They painfully stood, groaning as newly gained bruises were bumped and stretched.
"State your purpose!" Éomer barked, planting his feet firmly on the ground and crossing his arms.
The three men threw back their hoods, revealing their identities.
"Elladan? Elrohir? Aragorn?!" Tanni exclaimed in surprise.
"Hello Tanni!" Elrohir said as he gave a quick hug to his old friend. "How do you fair?"
"Good. Why were you following us?" Tanni asked.
Elladan, Elrohir and Aragorn looked at each other. Something was most definitely wrong.
"What is it?" Zelli asked, searching the eyes of the three rangers.
"It is not safe to speak freely hear. A great evil roams. We have lingered here too long." Aragorn replied, casting a wary glance over his shoulder.
"I understand," Zelli answered. "Tanni?"
"Of course. Osgiliath or Minas Tirith?" Tanni asked, gathering her troops around her.
"Osgiliath would be best," Elladan spoke up. "Too many Dark Friends roam the streets of Minas Tirith unknown."
"Right. Okay, everyone gather..." Zelli said.
-SNAP-
The three rangers stumbled as they landed in Osgiliath. The Rohirrim and spoons, being fully used to it by now, landed gently with merely a shake of the head.
"Rooms will be arranged for you," Aragorn said. "Freshen up and meet us back here in an hour's time." He bowed and left with the two elves.
After washing away the traveling grime, Tanni and Éomer left for the meeting spot. They found Zelli already there, casually leaning against a tall pillar.
"What took you so long?" she asked, raising a questioning eyebrow, while looking at her nails.
"It's been not half and hour." Éomer replied. "We're early!"
"I told you!" Tanni said, rolling her eyes in mock exasperation.
The remaining time was waited out silently.
Bang on the dot, Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir appeared.
"Come with us quickly," Aragorn said, motioning with his hand. "There is much to speak about."
A/N: Guess what! We got our first flame. -happily roasts a marshmallow- 'Course, if the persons had left something better than a little poem, we might actually feel bad. But as there's a big fat warning/disclaimer in our profile, we need say no more. But Kudos to Lessa! A'least someone appreciates us.