Chapter 11: Meeting the Riders of Rohan

As the light finally subsided, the three others present turned to the maiden before them. Her eyes were closed, her breaths shallowed but mostly her wounds worsened to reveal the poisonous course inflicted by the orcs arrows. Legolas immediately hugged her closer, crystalline tears rolled from his flawless features. The Man and the Dwarf were also compelled to cry at the sight for only in tragic periods which an Elf display such raw emotion.

"Aragorn, perhaps you can heal her as you did with Frodo at Weathertop. You sustained him long enough for the magic of Lord Elrond to heal his wounds."

It came from Legolas, his silver blue eyes was filled with such hope that the Aragorn could not denied. However, he was torn. Boromir was dead. The Hobbits, Merry and Pippin were captured. Frodo and most likely, Sam had journeyed to their path to the land of Mordor as was intended for the Ringbearer and his master. Now, before him was an Elf and the princess from

the moon. All required attention and careful thought.

Finally, he sighed. "I have some Atheleas, a plant that should slow the flow of the poison. She has endured the poison running through her body before and she has survived. She is strong, my friend."

The Elf nodded and with that he gently laid down Serena under a grove. With that Aragorn proceeded boiling some of the green plant into a healing potion and placed the remedy on the wound. There was little movement. "Perhaps, her Crystal is also healing its mistress," Legolas said.

"Yes, and the Atheleas should ease some of its efforts. Now, I must tend to Boromir. Come Gimli, we shall prepare him for the journey down the river."

The two looked back once more at the lover and before their daunting task of sending of their own to the journey home. "What about the Hobbits?" Gimli asked as they reached the river bank.

"I am greatly divided, Master Dwarf but one thing I am certain is that we must follow our little friends and rescue them from the clutches of orcs."

Suddenly, Aragorn stopped in his speech as he starred at the two remaining boats. "I see that Frodo has made his decision after all."

"Yes, it seemed that Sam has gone with him for both their packs are missing."

Aragorn nodded and said, "I would have gone with him to the end but the path of the Ringbearer is no longer the same as mine. We shall meet once more in the end. At least, I have one less worry. Come lets bring a boat back."

It was a hard task for the two of them but eventually they placed the Steward of Gondor into the boat with his full armour and the horn of Gondor at his side. They returned to camp and found that Legolas was in the same state, stroking the side of Lady Serena's cheek who was constantly stirring and convulsing out a dark liquid.

Aragorn came forward and tried some of his healing powers on the wound while Legolas placed some of the Atheleas plant over the poison area. Soon after the ordeal, she seemed to settle down.

"Come Legolas, the young lady is resting now. We need you for the next thing that we must do." Legolas stared at Gimli before reluctantly nodding. The three stood at the edge of the river and began to push the boat containing the body of Boromir towards the way home.

They paid their tribute and respect and as the boat began to disappear from view, they turned back towards the way in which they came. It was night by then. "We shall set up camp tonight for we can do no more though it pains me to think of what might be happening to Merry and Pippin. Hopefully they will be able to help each other."

"Aragorn, what about Frodo and Sam?"

"Frodo has made his choice and his servant has joined as well."

Legolas understood and began in a sorrowful song in Elvish hoping that all will be well wherever they may be. The other two listened on to the melodic tones. It seemed that the heavens and stars had heard the call of the Elf, a lover of beauty. The clouds parted to reveal the full illuminance of the moon. The moon rays penetrated through the trees to where Serena was lying still. Sensing the lifeless-like body of its princess, the moon rays began to dance once more without the enchantment of its mistress. Many of the silver sparkling rays began to pour forth its magic into Serena's crystal. Its purity began to wash over the body of Serena as she slowly began to rise. The body arched as if to absorb the magic from the moon rays. A silver cover washed over her and then Serena let out a scream but no sound came out just a midst of black shroud. The dark cover disintegrated in the blue-tinted moon rays. A single piece of poisonous dart from an orc arrow was pulled from the wound and that too also disintegrated. The Crystal took over at

that point and began healing the Moon Maiden. Serena's body slowly was lowered to the ground.

Legolas rushed forward and felt for a pulse but there was no need for Serena was curled up in a deep sleep. The wound had completely disappeared and her Crystal was pulsing with her heartbeat. Tonight, the worse had passed but tomorrow, they would search for Merry and Pippin.

--oo--

Serena struggled to open her eyes, for she felt as if she had been a drugged sleep. As she turned to inspect her surroundings, she realized that it was dear the break of dawn and that the others seemed to be fast asleep. As she thought about the previous events, she suddenly reached up to feel where her wounds should be and found it to be completely healed. Her wings had disappeared but she had no recollection of when. She slowly eased herself up and walked over to where Legolas were. She inched forward and placed a chaste kiss on his lips. Before long, she felt him responding to her touch. His kiss felt desperate but eventually they pulled apart from each.

"I was wondering when the two were going to be finished."

Strider was smirking at them. "I was awaken by stirring and decided to investigate. How are you feeling, Lady Serena, for you had given us quite a scare?"

"The last thing I remembered was being shot by an Orc arrow ..."

They proceeded to telling her what happened afterwards including about the prospects of the Hobbits and Boromir. The sound of their talking also woke up Gimli. "I am glad to see well, Lady Serena." Serena in turn, smiled at the Dwarf.

However, their reunion was short-lived as they set off in their journey. For Serena, she had suffered numerous injuries before while fighting as Sailor Moon. Like always, the Crystal had done wonders the night before and now, she was refreshed for the vigourous journey. She kept up the hard pace set by Aragorn and Legolas. In her mind, she remembered all those times, she ran frantically to school because she had slept in again. 'At least, I have something to show for all that running I did.'

Only Gimli who struggled to keep up with his three companions. It was understandable for dwarfs were more sprinters, than long-distance runners. However, with the lives of friends on the line, Gimli would not let his short legs hinder him.

Occasionally, Aragorn stopped to track while Serena tried to sense the energies of both Merry and Pippin. At the sound of approaching horses, the four scrambled for cover. Only Legolas could see who their enemies were. "It's a group of Men riding fast on horses heading towards our direction."

Before long, the others also could note the great Men on horseback, tall in their stature. They rode swiftly on their steeds. Aragorn stepped from where the four were hiding. "Riders of Rohan, what news do you bring?"

The Men turned around in their course and immediately formed a circle around the foursome. One spear was pointed inches away from Aragorn's heart but he held on fear. "My name is Strider and I am hunting Orcs."

The leader of the group said in the Common Tongue, "Well, Strider, hunting Orcs is a dangerous sport especially in dark times such as this."

"Still, I am not weaponless, son of the Mark," Aragorn took off his cloak and pulled out his sword, "for I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. I hold in my hand the Sword Elendil, the broken sword that has been reforged. Auduril!"

All present felt at awe of the nobility that surrounded Aragorn. Aragorn began talking to the leader who introduced himself as Eomer. When they were finished, Aragorn stepped back to introduce Legolas and Gimli. When he turned to Serena, she who still have her cloak over her head, said, "I am Lady Serenity."

Aragorn understood her need for secrecy and so he nodded before turning to Eomer once more, "Yes, she is here on good terms with Lord Elrond and the Lady of the Golden Woods."

Eomer nodded and decided not to press the matter further instead he brought forth the spare horses. "How would Master Dwarf ride on such great beasts?"

"He shall ride with me," Legolas put in and the matter was settle. It was rather unnerving for the dwarf but he clung to the Elven prince.

Serena got on behind Aragorn, and the other Men were surprised at her confidence that she displayed. Little did they know that she had flown on Pegasus ... but that was of the past.

--oo--

They rode with the Riders of Rohan until they reached the point where Orcs had been overtaken. No remnants of the Hobbits could be found until after a much thorough inspection an Elven broach could be found. They knew that they were on the right path. It was here that they parted with Eomer for they had ventured far from their original purpose. Aragorn promised to return their horses. The four continued their way towards the general direction of tracks heading for Isengard.

That night, they made camp after journeying for three days at near unnatural speed. It was the first time where Legolas and Serena could talk after her 'ordeal'. They went a little off from the camp. As soon they were far enough, Legolas grabbed hold of Serena's hand and spun her around. She could feel the desperation in his touch and she responded just as quickly. Their tongues found each other as Legolas slowly lowered Serena to the soft earth. Finally as they pulled apart from lack of air, the prince proceeded to trail kisses down the side of her neck. She felt his touch soaked in to her pores until her thoughts drifted back to that day when she was shot.

She gently got up and Legolas looked up in surprise at her sudden change. He had mistaken that he had hurt her but she then, transformed once more into her princess incarnation. She spread her wings and tried to fly but instead she felt a sharp pain where her wound was. One of her wings broken. She felt Legolas gently stroking the injured feathered wings. "Let it heal, perhaps with time, your Crystal can repair it and you can fly once more."

She understood his way of trying to comfort her and as she fell into his embrace, her wings disappeared in his grasp. He gently brushed the tears that had escaped before settling in for a nights rest in each other's arms.

End of Chapter 11