The Road Goes Ever On And On

Disclaimer: I don't own.

Chapter Seven: In Dreams

Tithenwen came out of the darkness to see the Ranger camp. It was the early morning and everyone was busy. She was packing her belongings. Apparently they were getting ready to move again. Then Tithenwen heard loud noises and suddenly, Nicholas came into her tent.

"Tithenwen," hesaid upon entering. "Wild Men are attacking!"

"Where?"

"They are attacking the edges of the camp. They are coming for you. You must get out now!"

"No! I'm gonna fight!" she said, unsheathing her swords and exiting the tent.

"Tithenwen, you must go to the city! The King must be warned!"he pleaded with her.

"He will be warned! I promise!" she said. "I swear!"

Tithenwen climbed on the back of her horse. She rode right into the thick of things, fighting with all she had. She sliced two heads off at once, crying out, "Elendil! Take that assholes!"

Then all the Wild Men went after her. She dismounted and prepared for battle, her horse leaving the area quickly. But before she could do much, she was clubbed hard on the head. Her vision went blurry and her parrying and attacking were greatly affected. Then she dropped one sword. Now she had to parry the blows of her own sword.

But the dizziness made her slow and finally her old sword sliced her right arm at the shoulder open. The sword in her right hand started to slip. Tithenwen reached down, steadying it and placing both hands on the hilt. But at the same time, her old sword swung and cut her forehead.

"Bastard!"she cried as she fainted on the ground.

Luckily, Nicholas was nearby and saw her fall and raced to protect her limp body from harm. Finally, she began to stir and her horse returned. Other Rangers engaged in battle, protecting their captain and the fallen Ranger from harm. Nicholas helped Tithenwen climb onto her horse and he sheathed her remaining sword for her.

"Ride for the city, Tithenwen! We cannot hold them back much longer. You need to reach safety and try and get help for us."

"I can fight!" protested Tithenwen, trying to get off her horse.

"No you can't."

Tithenwen start to slip off and felt dizzy, "I guess you're right..." she admitted.

"Listen, you don't have much time. No matter what, do not stop. The Wild is no longer safe for you!"

"Why do you care now? It never mattered before!"

"Find your father Tithenwen. Promise me you'll find him!"

"My father's dead!"

"He's alive Tithenwen. You need to go to him!"

"No!"

"Tithenwen, it is time to stop denying your destiny. It is time to face it and become who you were born to be."

"Never!"

"Go home, Tithenwen!" he cried as he smacked her horse's rump and he took off away from the battle.

"Valar damn it all to hell!" she cursed.

Tithenwen tried to slow her horse, but the horse refused. Stubborn horse. Finally, the horse relented and she turned back around for the camp. But she was horror struck by the sight of the dead bodies. But suddenly she collapsed on her horse.

Tithenwen then watched herself fall off and saw a figure in white hidden behind a tree. He was reciting a spell and it was aimed at her. He was chanting in another language but the meaning or intent of the spell was clear in her mind.

The figure meant for her to lose her memory. The figure also wanted her to gain the trust of someone while taking orders from Saruman. Who ever he was. She was to be used against her will against someone. Which explained her memory loss and attitude.

Then everything went black again and Tithenwen soon fell into another dream.

This time, Tithenwen saw Minas Tirith, the white city, capital of Gondor, burning. It was a familiar sight for some reason. She'd seen it before. But she couldn't remember when or where.

But Tithenwen was in the courtyard and it was aflame. She was wearing a black dress with red sleeves, her pendant shining brightly on her neck. She was trapped in the courtyard and the fire was closing in. She was going to die and soon. A white tree burned beside her.

"Ada!"she screamed. "Ada! Help me ada!"

But no help came. Her lungs burned from lack of air. She gasped and fell to the ground before collapsing in the middle of the fiery courtyard. She knew that the fire had won as the darkness closed in again and then she fell into another dream.

She was standing in the Citadel and she was watching the guy who had been called Aragorn and saw him drop the Evenstar and it shattered. He'd been looking in the palantir and seen something that horrified him and he let go of the Evenstar and shocked, watched it shatter.

Tithenwen felt a sudden pain as the Evenstar shattered. Her hand flew up to her throat and she found the pendant there. It looked like the pendant that had just shattered. It was the same pendant. So why did this guy have it?

Tithenwen didn't remember where she had gotten it or its name. The name just fit with the pendant and she couldn't remember not having it. Her parents had given it to her, she had always supposed. Not that it had mattered.

But something wasn't right. If she had gotten the Evenstar from her parents, then who was this Aragorn? Had he known them or was he her father? And what caused it to shatter? But once more, all things went black.

Tithenwen opened her eyes and this time saw daylight. And two familiar looking people were talking. She sat up and looked around. She was in the room that she had awoken in before. She looked at the people and recongized one of them as Aragorn. Or at least that's who she thought he was. If so, was he the Aragorn from her dream?

"Um, someone's awake,"said a blonde girl who had been talking with Aragorn.

Aragorn turned and saw her, a smile coming across his face. And then he spoke to her a single word.

"Tithenwen…" he said softly, walking over towards her side.

He knew. He knew her name now. But who was he?

"Who are you?" she asked. "And how do you know my name?"

"I'm Aragorn, son of Arathorn. I was a Ranger, like you. I only just learned your name, from someone who once knew you."

"Aragorn…"

"Yes?"

"When did the Evenstar shatter?"

"What?"he asked, confused.

"When did the Evenstar shatter? I saw it shatter. You were holding it. You saw something in the palantir and then it shattered."

"It never shattered. Only in a dream I had once, did it shatter. It never shattered or I wouldn't have it now. There is only one Evenstar."

Tithenwen reached for her pendent, only to find it gone. "Where is my pendent?"

"I have it,"he said, showing it to her. "Remember? I took it before you fell asleep again."

"Oh."

Aragorn handed the Evenstar back to her, putting it in her hand. Tithenwen was confused and looked at him and at the Evenstar and back to him again. He smiled slightly.

"The Evenstar belongs to you, my daughter."

"What?"

"You are my daughter. And a princess of Gondor."

"Gondor… I need to get to Gondor."

"You are at Gondor. You've been here."

"It's getting worse."

"What's getting worse?"

"The spell…"

Concern spread quickly across his face and he asked urgently"What spell? What happened?"

"Someone put a spell on me, forcing me to forget stuff and behave strange. I saw it happen."

"Who was it?"

"A figure in white. And he said something about serving Saruman."

"Saruman? He is dead!"

"Wait, I was supposed to warn you about something… it had to do with Saruman! He's back!"

"What?"

"Nicholas… he warned me… I have to find him" she cried hopping off the bed and running for the door.

"Who the hell is Nicholas?" he cried racing after her.

Becca trailed them both, grabbing Tithenwen's sword and dagger before leaving. Tithenwen was running towards the stables. Along the way, Mary and Faramir came out of a room and Aragorn slowed to speak to them.

"Saruman is back!" he hissed at them.

"You have got to be kidding!" said Mary. "He's dead!"

"I'm afraid not. And he's apparently controlling Tess or should I saw, Tithenwen. She just remembered something and I think she's going after Saruman. Or something related to him."

"And we care why?"

"If you don't want to come along, someone needs to watch the throne."

"Like we'd pass up a fight!" said Faramir in disbelief. "We're coming along too!"

Mary tried to protest but it was useless. Faramir just dragged her along and she relented. Frankly she was getting quite bored and a fight would be fun. As long as no harm came to her Faramir that was.

Author's Notes:

Chapters 8-11 will be up tomorrow!

Reviewers!

(Chapter 5)

Boromir's Curse - Yep! A beach party could be in the future, because I've haven't done much work on part two yet. Well I have one chapter in mind, but other than that, nothing's planned.

(Chapter 6)

Boromir's Curse - That's a shame about your Evenstar breaking! I have two and they both have broken. Both times the ring that the pendant hangs on has broken and the pendant has fallen. But I've found the pendant both times. I hope your dad fixed it!