Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi and J.R.R. Tolkien, respectively.

Chapter One: So it Begins

As a sheildmaiden of the great house of Eorl the Young, Usagi was rarely bored. There was always some visitor from far away lands to entertain, and when that failed, there was always a need for more battle practice. Her skill with a sword was great, although she knew it would still be many years before hers matched the skill of her famed Aunt Eowyn. On her visits to Rohan, Eowyn had taught her things that the swordsmen would not, but there were many things she still had to learn. These things, Eowyn had told her once, came with experience, and Usagi had none. She longed for an adventure, something exciting that would require the use of swordplay, but knew that the days of mortal peril had been over even before her birth. She hoped that she could one day convince her father to allow her to visit her kin in Ithilien, so that even if she could not have adventure, better training would have to do. However, if there was a single drawback to being the firstborn and much loved daughter of the King, it was that he was often loth to let her far from his sight. She had been conspiring with her cousin in Ithilien to create a reason for a journey, but as yet that endeavor had proved fruitless.

That was why she was vaguely surprised to be summoned to the Golden Hall, late one evening, when most of the court had retired to their own chambers. She herself had been about to prepare for bed when a rather harried maid appeared at her door with a summons from her father. Whatever the reason was, it was important enough that he wanted to speak to her immediately, rather than wait for morning, when he could find her himself. Redressing quickly, she hurried to the Golden Hall as fast as her feet could carry her, trying to determine in her own mind what sort of circumstances could be so urgent.

The first person her eyes fell upon when she entered the Hall, was a tall, dark haired woman, wearing the robes of a Wizard. She carried a great staff, the top of which glittered in the light of the fire. There was a second figure standing behind this woman, but it ducked out of sight so quickly, that Usagi was not sure that she had actually seen it. A cough from her father reminded her where she was, and she quickly regained whatever composure she had lost and she bowed before them.

"You sent for me, my Father?"

"I did indeed, daughter. It has been in my mind for some time that you are somewhat unhappy with remaining here in Edoras." Usagi's eyes flashed.

"My Father, that is not true. I am not unhappy here. This is my home."

"Never the less, I believe that you desire for some adventure before your life has passed, do you not?"

"I admit to that, yes Father."

"Ah, then I am not mistaken. If you had not made that admission, I would be sure that I had a liar for a daughter. But, you are no liar, that I know. You are the most gifted with a sword of all of our women, and you have a ken for excitement that will make this mission most appropriate for you."

"What mission is that Father?" Usagi asked, her curiosity piqued. The woman beside her father answered her.

"What do you know of Halfling people, Usagi of Rohan?" Usagi frowned, trying to remember the stories she'd been told as a child.

"I know that they are a peaceful folk who live northwards and to the west of Rohan. They were the stuff of legends only until four appeared during the War of the Ring to give aid. They are a hardy people, with a fondness for food, pipe-weed and sleep." She finally answered, after a brief time of thought.

"What you say is true. Perhaps a little bit too concise, but enough. You have never seen a Hobbit then?"

"No, my lady." The woman nodded, then fell silent. Curiosity got the better of Usagi, and she started asking questions of her own. "My lady, if I may, who are you? What exactly am I to do?" The woman laughed suddenly.

"Who I am is hardly important in the here and now. However, if you must have a name, then you may call me Setsuna. In my order, I am called Setsune the Silver, keeper of the time to come. As for what you are to do, I need for to escort this young Hobbit to Gondor, among other things." She said, and she pushed out from behind her robes the figure that Usagi had seen earlier. Usagi knew that the Shire-folk were small, and so was not surprised that the girl was half her size. There was wisdom in her eyes that betrayed her modest years. This was no child, but she was still young, by Hobbit standards, barely into her tweens. Usagi did not know this, however she could see that the Halfling was young. She had very large pale blue eyes that were highlighted by her straight black hair. She was dressed modestly, for travel, and seemed very nervous. She bowed to her, and Usagi returned the gesture.

"Greetings Lady Holbytla. I bid you welcome to Rohan. I hope that our country pleases you." The halfling smiled timidly.

"Indeed it does, my lady Usagi. It is a fair country, of which I have heard only in stories. Stories which do it no justice. But you need not call me 'Lady'. I am merely a humble Hobbit, I would have you call me Hotaru, or nothing at all." She said is a soft voice.

"It would not do to call you nothing at all, so Hotaru I will call you." Usagi told her, a smile breaking out on her face. At this point, Setsuna spoke again.

"Hotaru is the daughter of one Meriadoc Brandybuck. His name is well known in Rohan I believe."

"Indeed it is! Not a single child knows not of the valiant Master Merry and his exploits on the battlefield. My father tells me that he knew him well." Usagi cried, amazed.

"I think that it is time to move on." Setsuna said. "It is vitally important that Hotaru accomplish what she has set out to do. In order for that to occur, she must travel inconspicuously, yet safely. I cannot escort her the entire way, for there are many things that I must do in the meantime. A full compliment of soldiers, though safe, would be noticed by things that we would like to avoid."

"Aye. Especially the horsemen of Rohan, my lady. Even if the men were as quiet and hidden as mice, it would be difficult to conceal many horses. You believe that two women of different races would be less conspicuous." Usagi was doubtful. Someone was bound to notice a Hobbit so far away from her home country.

"Two women alone would be suspicious, I know. I propose three. Hotaru, yourself and one other. At least until you reach Gondor. Perhaps you can add more to your party."

"Indeed, we have kin residing in Ithilien who would not be adverse to an adventure." Eomer said helpfully, raising a knowing eyebrow in Usagi's direction. She reddened, he must have suspected some of the conspiracy with her cousin. The wizard woman seemed pleased with this.

"Very well. Choose your third companion, and return here as soon as you are ready to leave."
Usagi bowed respectfully, then turned and very nearly sprinted out the doors.

She returned to her rooms, and began assembling a pack. She summoned a maid, and sent her with a note to rouse her childhood companion, Ami. The girl would be invaluable on a journey such as this. She was a soldier's daughter, her father having ridden with Theoden King in the battle of the Ring, but she was one of the most intelligent people in the court. This was a mission that would require ingenuity and the kind of knowledge that Usagi had never had the patience for. Usagi opened her closets and examined her wardrobe of gowns for something travel worthy. The most she had ever travelled had been to visit the farm areas on the edge of Rohan long ago to learn the importance of such things, and that dress had ceased to fit ages before. Everything that she owned now was inappropriate for travel, and would immediately mark her as someone of high importance. She also did not own any footwear that would serve her for a journey through the wilds. Just as she was beginning to despair, someone knocked at her door.

It was a maid, one of her fathers, if she remembered correctly.

"My lady, Eomer King bade me to bring you these. He said that they would fit you better than any that you own now." The girl was holding a bundle of green and brown cloth, on top of which rested a pair of sturdy walking shoes. Usagi smiled to herself, thanked the maid, and retreated back into her room to change. The bundle consisted of a plain green and brown dress that would blend nicely into most backgrounds, a long cloak for warmth and protection, and leather sword belt. Usagi's eyes lit up at the belt, taking its presence to mean that she could take her sword with her.

She barely finished dressing herself when another, softer knocking sounded at her door. This time it was Ami, dressed for travel as instructed and carrying a pack similar to Usagi's.

"You came with haste my friend." She remarked, pulling on her own pack on her back.

"My lady, your summons came at so late an hour that I knew it to be urgent. So strange they were in nature as well. I knew further explanation would await me on my arrival, so I hastened." Usagi smiled at her.

"You come by our reputation honestly. Come with me then, for there is no time to explain here. I will tell you on the way to the Golden Hall." Usagi took the other girl's arm and led her in the direction of the Golden Hall, chattering the whole way there.

The lights in the Golden Hall had been dimmed considerably when they arrived, and Eomer, Setsuna and Hotaru were waiting for them by the doors this time. They had not paused for more than a moment before Setsuna spoke to them.

"Time is of the essence. You must take the swiftest path that will take you to Ithilien."

"Even the shortest route will take us several days, my Lady." Ami answered her.

"I am aware of this, learned one. But you must still travel as fast as possible. I will meet with you in Ithilien, for by then I shall have gathered enough information to set you on your mission proper. You have provisions enough for this leg of the journey?" She directed the last at Usagi. She nodded in affirmative.

"We have food enough, and there are streams aplenty to refill empty waterskins."

"Good. Then I will take my leave, for I must go another way. Make your goodbyes as swiftly as possible, and be off with you." Setsuna pushed her way out of the doors and disappeared into the darkness. Usagi turned to her father. He was looking at her with a mixture of emotions upon his face.

"You are a sight to behold my daughter. You make me proud, and you make our ancestors proud. You remind me of my sister when we were young. Eager and strong you both are." But there was a measure of sadness in his gaze that could not be explained.

"Why such sorrow father? I cannot be displeasing you, if you are so proud."

"I feel as though I shall not see you again. Not as you are now, in any case. Perhaps we shall not meet again in this lifetime at all. It is not a thought that I like to entertain about you." He said. Usagi's eyes filled with tears and she moved to embrace her father.

"I do not know what is going to become of me in the coming months Father. But I do know that I will always love you, and I will always strive to make you proud." She whispered. They stood still for a moment, then the King pushed her away gently.

"It is time to go, daughter. Good luck to you. You will be in our thoughts until your return. The same thought will be made for you, Ami. You are well thought of here. For you, little Halfling, I hope that someday you will return to our lands and see it in better lights." He said.

The three girls bowed low to him. When they straightened, they adjusted their packs into more comfortable positions, then turned away from the Hall doors. They disappeared as easily into the darkness as Setsuna had.