Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. That honour belongs to Professor Tolkien.

Summary: The Fellowship survived Sauron, Mary-Sue and the twisted imaginings of crazed fan authors. Now they are up against something completely unprecedented. Will they survive?

A/N – This chapter is going to have a bit of romance in it.

Hotdogfish – Sorry, no. Eomer is mine. MINE! MINE, I SAY! Sorry about that, I got a bit carried away.


Chapter Fifteen

I let out a sigh of relief at the sound of the horns. Looks like the Cavalry has finally arrived. I repeated my thoughts from after Helm's Deep; did all reinforcements have to wait until the last minute before making a dramatic entrance?

Then, of course, my good mood just had to be ruined by the sound of Uruk-Hai pounding on the door. I muttered something in Mandarin. I may have no talent for languages, but Alice does, so if you listen for a few minutes, you can count on picking up something rude. I rose to my feet, picking up my sword. Those who were unable to fight quickly hid, covering themselves with various things to diminish their scent. Those who were able also stood and gathered their weapons. One of the boys looked up at me. "Are you scared, My Lady?"

I smiled faintly. "Witless." I sighed softly. "You know, when I thought of dying, I had always imagined dying in my sleep, old and wrinkly. But I am proud to have fought with you."

We formed a defensive line as the door shuddered, the wood beginning to crack. I sent up a prayer to whoever was listening and took a deep breath, turning to the children who stood behind me. "I am not one for big speeches, and I won't insult you by pretending that we'll get out of this uninjured. However, I want you all to know that I feel honoured to have known you and fought at your side. Good luck and hope, all of you."

I tried to achieve the state of calm that I had felt in our previous battle. Even if I did not survive this, I am not one to lie down and give up. The door cracked, and Uruk-Hai poured in. I fell into a pattern Eowyn had taught me. Block and strike and strike, strike, block. Step and counter and step and thrust!…

The Uruk-Hai may have had the advantage of numbers, but we fought with the strength of desperation. I heard a crash behind me followed by an Uruk's roar of pain. I dodged around an Uruk to see that a young woman had been discovered, broken a crate and was now flailing around with a long piece of wood. I dodged a sword swing. It missed the intended target of my head and sliced of a lock of my hair instead.

That did it. To avoid pissing me off: You do not mess with my hair! I cut the Uruk in half and turned to the next. Four Uruk's and another broken crate later, I felt a blinding pain down my arm, forcing me to drop my sword. In a way that was a good thing, as I had reached the limit of what I knew, and a slip-up now would get me killed. I cast my mind around for an idea, and landed on something I had been doing ten minutes before I fell into this world.

did it. To avoid pissing me off: I cut the Uruk in half and turned to the next. Four Uruk's and another broken crate later, I felt a blinding pain down my arm, forcing me to drop my sword. In a way that was a good thing, as I had reached the limit of what I knew, and a slip-up now would get me killed. I cast my mind around for an idea, and landed on something I had been doing ten minutes before I fell into this world.

Flashback

"Natasha, do you know the words to this song?" Ila had asked me.

"I know the chorus, yes. I don't know all of the words in the verses, though. Did you need them for something?"

Ila had nodded. "Yes, when you get the time could you write them down for me. I want to teach it at group time."

I nodded and reached for a pen. Best to do it while I could, heaven knows if I would have time afterwards.

End Flashback

Music and Movement. A fast, aggressive tune. Not from work, maybe, but I had been listening to 'The Lion King: Broadway Musical' on my Discman on the way to work. The Battle for Pride Rock should do nicely.

I let the opening bars flow through my mind, added what I remembered from self defence in Year Eight and the dances I made up in my room, and turned back to the fight. I was about two thirds of the way through the track when there was a scream from behind me. I glanced in that direction and let out a shriek followed by a stream of German. English failed me just then and I remembered Alice being told off for those particular phrases. Sorry, but the sight of part of the Dead Army would be enough to make most people lose their composure, so I hope you will excuse me.

Besides, I'd like to see anyone face up against a half-decomposed and insubstantial corpse glowing a sickly green.

A warrior who seemed to be the captain gave me a cheeky wink then gestured to his company. They flowed back out into the rest of the city and onto the surrounding plain. The young woman who had been wielding the plank of wood came up. "An army more deadly than any that walk the earth, that lot."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Was that a play on words? Anyway, they didn't walk, they floated." I looked around at the rest of the group. "I think we can leave now. Let's get the injured to the Houses of Healing."

The young woman, Yalewen, gave my arm a pointed look. I looked at it, or more specifically, at the long gash that ran from shoulder to mid-forearm. My sight started to blur as I heard myself say "How strange. I'd forgotten about that." The last thing I saw was Bella's frightened face before my legs gave out and everything went black.


The first thing I knew was an interesting smell. A strange mix of herbs, smoke and medicines.

The second sense to return was taste. My mouth felt dry and clogged, as though I had just woken up after a hot night and had been sleeping with my mouth open.

The third sense that I recovered was touch. I was lying on something soft, covered with linen sheets and rough-woven blankets.

Fourth was the ability to hear, though I briefly thought it would have been better to remain deaf. A confusing babble of voices, healers conversing in hushed tones, patients calling out for one reason or another.

Finally, I managed to open my eyes and let out a yelp at seeing Bella's anxious face only a few inches away from mine. She jerked back slightly and I looked around. The bed on my left held Eowyn, her face pale and one of her arms lying still and nerveless on the blankets.

On my right lay Faramir, with Denethor sitting on a chair between us and resisting a healer's attempts to get him away. Both looked in my direction as I tried to sit up and came over; the healer to check on how I was recovering, Denethor to ask what had happened.

I shrugged. ("Sit still, my Lady" the healer sighed) "Uruk-Hai started to break through just after you left. Some of the children had already learnt a bit about fighting so we sent the others on ahead, ran into the Blacksmiths shop a few doors down from the passage, armed ourselves and tried to fight them off. We ended up tumbling down bales of hay from the stables on the other side of the passage, then setting them on fire with a torch that one of the Uruk's was carrying.

We got to the strong room and shut the entrance just before the Rohirrim arrived. Then a second wave of Uruk-Hai reached us. They broke down the door and we held them off until the Dead Army came." I was getting a crick in my back and moved to a more comfortable position. ("Sit still, my Lady!") "Do you know what happened to the others of our group? I want to thank Yalewen for her help. Are any of them injured?"

Denethor shook his head. "Minor cuts and bruises for the most part. The son of one of the Citadel guards, Bergil, suffered a broken arm as well, but the rest of them are fine." He smiled ruefully. "I think it will be an interesting learning experience for my sons, having you as a younger sister. I agree with them, if you will accept?"

I nodded my head, the only part of me that I could move without getting glared at by the healer. Denethor smiled again. "Good. Now I wish to thank whoever taught you to fight. Will you tell me their name?"

I indicated the bed on my left. "She's unconscious at the moment, but I am sure that she will accept your thanks when she wakes up." I grinned at Denethor's look of astonishment. "She is a shield-maiden of Rohan. The fact that her people in this day and age do not approve of women riding to war does not change the fact that she can fight." I frowned slightly. "Maybe not just now, but she is capable." I looked at the Steward, suddenly unsure of myself. "Are you sure that you, Boromir and Faramir would like me as family? I am not like most of the women in this time."

Denethor reassured me. "Those two always wanted a little sister to protect and fuss over." There was a brief flash of sorrow in his eyes. "My wife died in childbirth when Faramir was very young. The baby was born dead and my wife followed shortly after. You could have been that baby girl. We never saw what colour her eyes were, but her hair was a lovely auburn, much like yours."

Just then, Faramir stirred on my right at the same time as a muffled "M'm mimne" came from my left.

Denethor bolted to his younger son's side as I turned to my friend, trying to figure out what she had just said. I thought it translated to 'I'm fine'. Of course you are dearie. I moved over as far as by bed would permit. "Try moving both arms, and then repeat whatever you just said."

Eowyn tried, then looked at me. "Aside from my arm, anyway. What are you doing here?"

I lifted my bandaged arm. "I got cut on an Uruk's sword. Apparently I had a huge gash down three quarters of my arm. What about you?"

She wiggled into a sitting position ("For the love of heaven, will the both of you sit still!") and settled back against a pillow. "My uncle was killed by the Lord of the Nazgul, his mace broke my arm just before I killed him. The only downside is that I am going to be locked up for the rest of my life 'for my own protection'."

I laughed. "I knew it! 'Not by the hands of men…'! When will they learn that some things go a lot easier if you let a female handle things?"

Eowyn pulled a face. "Yes, but you try telling Eomer that!"

We were interrupted by Faramir's voice. "Eomer? Isn't he the one that Boromir kept teasing you about? King Theoden's nephew?"

I shot him a Look. "Don't you start. There's going to be enough trouble from that child's comment about us and the ensuring rumours."

Eowyn burst out laughing. "I begin to understand why you like children so much, Natasha! That observation had the entire courtyard in hysterics!"

Faramir tried to see around his father. "A brother's privilege, little sister. But who is this lady, whose beauty doth bedazzle mine eyes?"

Surprisingly enough, Eowyn blushed as I held back a laugh. "Faramir, this is Eowyn of Rohan, niece of King Theoden and sister of Eomer. Eowyn, meet Faramir, Second son of the Steward of Gondor." I turned to Faramir. "Brother's privilege indeed. Ask your brother about a sister's privilege, and then we'll talk. You two can flirt later." I directed my attention to Denethor. "When can we get up? I start to go crazy if I am cooped up for too long."

It was Lady Ioreth who answered. "You may leave when you wish, as long as you do not do anything to strenuous with that arm. Lord Faramir and Lady Eowyn are still recovering, however, and must stay a while longer."

I bounced out of my bed and looked down at myself. I was an absolute mess. "I think that I will find some clean clothing first."

Lady Ioreth nodded. "I had one of the maids go to your rooms to retrieve fresh clothing for yourself and the girl. You may change in one of the rooms." She indicated a door. I thanked her, collected Bella and the clothing and left to change. The bundle consisted of a dress that a Rohan seamstress had made for Bella to use as everyday clothing and the dress that Eowyn had given me, along with my Green Amber jewellery and shoes and stockings for us both.

We changed and left, promising to tell Boromir, Eomer and the others where they were if we were to run into them.
'Run into' turned out to be a very literal term, as we did just that about five minutes after our escape. Well, Bella collided with Aragorn's legs while I was walking just behind her.

Aragorn was the first to recover. "I think that that is the fourth time I've been knocked down by you, Little One. Natasha, what in the world happened to your arm?"

I pulled a face. "Third time, Aragorn. Lothlorien, The Golden Hall and now. As to your question, Lord Denethor and I were leading the woman and children to safety. Lord Denethor returned to the battle after showing us a passage to somewhere that seemed like it was built in case this sort of thing happened. About five minutes later Uruk-Hai attacked us. Apparently I had a cut from my shoulder to the middle of my forearm."

The guard that was accompanying them turned out to be Beregond, who went pale. "Bergil! How fares my son?"

I reassured him, "He is in the Houses of Healing with a broken arm. Aside from that he suffered no ill effects. Lord Faramir and Lady Eowyn are there also. Lord Denethor was present last I saw but he may have left by now."

Now Boromir spoke up. "How did you survive the attack? And why would Father now be absent?"

I gave him a patient look. "If you think that Eowyn and I spent all our time together doing embroidery and such, then I need to re-think my estimation of your intelligence. She taught me how to defend myself and part of your army appeared during the second attack."

Eomer, who had until now been staring at me, speechless, finally recovered his voice. "You do realize that she now has a favour to hold over your head?"

I snickered and smiled at him. "I introduced her to Faramir. I think that should repay my debt. Which actually connects to Boromir's second question. Your father probably left because it was too embarrassing to be near them."

Boromir's eyebrow shot up. I rolled my eyes. "They were flirting outrageously when I left. I didn't know that Eowyn could blush, let alone that shade of red!"

Boromir's face suddenly broke into an evil grin. "Faramir with a crush? This I have to see. I was right by the way, on both counts." He, Aragorn and Merry quickly left for the Houses of Healing, leaving Eomer and I to follow at a slower pace.

It was a comfortable silence as we walked together, before Eomer finally spoke. "What did Boromir mean, he was right on both counts? Every time I have seen that gleeful expression on his face, it means that something has happened and the unfortunate object of his glee is never going to hear the end of it."

I smiled at that. "My second day here, Boromir took me on a tour of the city. When we visited the marketplace, I saw the jewellery I am currently wearing at a stand. The jeweller said that I would look beautiful wearing it. Boromir said that you would agree. He bought it for me on the basis that he had tried everything else to put you in a state of shock, why not try this? Speaking of which, what do you think?"

Eomer gave me an upraising look. "I had not thought it possible that you could be any more beautiful than you already were, a beauty to challenge the earth herself. You have proved me wrong."

I could feel myself blushing. "Thank you. That was very poetic. I don't think any boy outside my father and uncles has ever said anything like that to me. But why earth? Not that I'm complaining, just that most people use flowers."

Eomer smiled back "Flowers are beautiful, but they wither and fade. The earth may change, but she stays constant." He then turned serious. "I hope that I did not offend you with the letter I sent. If so, it was unintentional. I felt I should warn you so you would not be unprepared for the rumours that were likely to follow. I did not wish to give the wrong impression."

Eomer was head and shoulders taller than me. I looked up at him, equally serious. "I was not offended. In fact, I was grateful for the warning. But if you don't mind me asking, what would you deem the right impression?"

Sometimes I wonder about the male half of the species. Females don't always seem to have this much trouble expressing their feelings towards others.

Eomer seemed uncomfortable. He took a deep breath. "I like you, Natasha. A lot. Romantic interest is new to me, and aside from my sister, most of the women I know were interested in the idea of me, rather than the person. When I first saw you, you were more interested in caring for others than praising our arrival. I found that interesting. The more I got to know you, the more I liked you. You are gentle, but also stronger than many I know. You don't seem to have a problem putting others before yourself or defending those in need, but you do not let it make you arrogant, and you maintain a realistic assessment of yourself. I do not know the extent of what I feel, but I did not wish to give the wrong impression that I desired you only for your beauty, or as a warm body. I respect you too much for that."

That was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to me. "To be honest, romantic interest in someone is new for me also. I have had a childhood crush when I was too young to know the difference between like and love. I thought that I loved two others, then discovered that it was the love of a sister only. The only real relationship I have had I am not sure about, but I think that it is that of two very good friends, who just happen to be of opposite genders. I do not know what I feel for you, but it is a greater love than I have felt for any other male outside my family. Eowyn told me of you, and I heard a great deal from maidens who giggled about you in corners. But I know that you are a real person, with real flaws and strengths. You will do what you think is right, even at great risk to yourself, even if you risk relationships with those you love. For that alone, you have my respect. You are willing to protect your people, and most of them would march into the Void, punch Morgorth in the eye and waltz back out again for you."

That earned a laugh. "Nice analogy."

I smiled, pleased. "Thank you. It is true though."

By now, we had reached the Houses of Healing. We went inside to see what was going on, and to check on our companions, who appeared to be under fire with questions about their well being and 'interaction with each other.'

As Eomer and I entered, the teasing questions found a new direction. Us.

I mentally sighed. This was going to be a long evening.


A/N#2 – Chapter Fifteen up! Only a few more to go. Big question: Should Natasha stay in Middle Earth or return to our world? Please cast your vote. I may just do two different endings, one of each scenario.

Sorry if the end of the chapter was a bit fluffy.

Review and tell me what you think.

Nathalia.