Disclaimer: Own nothing LOTR... - Caladwen is mine.

Mad thanks to all who reviewed this time! See how easy it is? {laughs} Reviews make for one happy writer, who will then satiate your desire to read more (at least until the story is completed). Keep it up!

Bleeding-rose-of-sorrow and Emerald-eyed-cutie: Thank you for your reviews! Glad to have you with us! -Emerald- No! cowers in the corner curled into a ball Not the Stoned Nazgul #7! Anything but that!

Oh, and I'm having ALL kinds of formatting problems - wish they'd fix that.....There is a short dream sequence at the end...FYI

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Chapter 11

Alina stood in that same spot for a while longer, her body trembling from that kiss. She turned to go back to the tent, walking between and around other tents, some of which now held sleeping forms. A whicker from a new horse caught Alina's attention, and she walked to the animal, holding her hand out.

When she reached him, she slid her hand up his silky coat from nose to ear, never taking her eyes from the horse's. She bowed her head slightly, and the horse did the same, returning the greeting. Alina turned to leave, barely keeping herself from bumping into Lord Elrond, who had come up behind her.

"I'm sorry!" she apologized, taking a step back. "Is this your horse?"

He didn't say anything for a long time, but nodded slightly. 'What's going on?' Alina thought, growing uneasy. His grey eyes were piercing through her.

"At last we meet, Elarinya."

Alina was startled by the sound of his voice, she wasn't prepared for him to speak.

"I-I'm sorry, do I know you?" she asked, searching her mind.

"You do not know me, but I knew your mother." He answered. Her mouth gaped.

"My mother?!" she half-whispered.

"I am Lord Elrond of Rivendell. Your mother,Caladwen , was my sister." He paused, and she saw a flash of a memory go through his mind. He said nothing of it, and continued, "Elarinya is the elven name she had picked out for you before you were born."

Alina stared at him, a thousand thoughts and questions flying through her mind at once, rendering her speechless. Finally, she found her voice. "You are my uncle, then." She stated. 'Damn!' she cursed herself for not coming up with something better to say. She looked to Elrond, who was watching her with something akin to mild amusement.

"Correct." He said simply.

A sudden rush of joy swept over her, and she threw herself into his arms, crying. Elrond was a little surprised, but wrapped his arms around his neice whom he thought he'd lost, returning her embrace. Tears formed in his eyes, turning them to liquid silver as he thanked Elbereth for giving him back this piece of his sister. Alina pulled back, slightly embarrassed.

After Lord Elrond's departure, Alina went back to her tent and got some much needed rest.

ooooooooo

Alina awoke to the calls for the ride to Minas Tirith and scuffling all around the tent. Eowyn was already dressing in her armor. Rising quickly, Alina began putting on her own chain mail. 'Three days ride,' she thought, 'I hope I can bear the weight of this armor that long.'

Rushing out of the tent close behind Eowyn, Alina mounted Vidar, coaxing him into a trot and following her friend. She saw Eowyn hoist the small hobbit onto her horse and begin down the trail behind Theoden and Eomer. As they joined the rest of the regiments, the pounding of hooves was like thunder, echoing through the valley.

"Move out!" she heard Eomer calling out to the troops. They broke in to a gallop, the horses eagerly following their masters' commands. On they rode, not stopping the first day, pushing the horses harder and harder in the rush to reach Gondor in time.

On the second day, they stopped only for a short time at a stream to let the horses drink and eat. Within an hour, they were off again, racing for the white city. Alina let out a grunt as Vidar started down a steep embankment, jerking her to the side a little. So far, she was holding up well. Eowyn rode next to her, Merry in front of her. Some time later, as the sun was setting, a halt was called so that the horses and Rohirrim could rest and be able to fight when they reached the battle the next day.

ooooooooooo
[should be in itallics, but thanks to FF not working properly...]

A sea of black figures surged forward around the White City. There was no counting their numbers. She charged forward with the rest of her comrades, flying across the fields faster than she had thought possible. Suddenly, they were upon their enemies, plowing through their lines. 'It's not enough' she thought frantically. A wave of darkness swept through her sight, and then there was a horrifying figure before her. Fear took her heart at the sight as the figure swung a large mace...

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A short chapter, but I needed to get a little more background on Alina in there and I didn't want to break the next chapter up too much. Next chapter – Pelinnor Fields... Sorry if it felt kinda rushed.

"Elarinya" means 'morning star' in elvish, and "Caladwen" means 'light'