Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings.

Authors note: Thanks to everyone who read the first six chapters. You've loved it so much I started this earlier than planned.

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Chapter 7

The four hunters

Tigerlily watched as Aragorn closed his eyes, listening. His ear was against a rock, searching for any sound of the Uruk-Hai they hunted.

"Their pace has quickened," he said.

"They must have caught our scent," said Tigerlily

"Hurry!" cried Aragorn as he started to run up the mound.

"Come on, Gimli," said Legolas as he followed Aragorn. He shot a quick smile at Tigerlily. She returned it. Her brown and blonde hair was frizzy and badly in need of a wash while Legolas remained almost perfect. Tigerlily caught herself wondering what Legolas saw in her. It had been three days. Three days since that kiss, three days since they had lost Boromir. Ever since then they had been hunting the Uruk-Hai who had kidnapped Merry and Pippin. The two just stood, looking at each other. Their hearts pounded at the mere sight. But the moment was soon ruined.

"Three days and nights pursuit," said Gimli, their dwarf friend. Legolas groaned inwardly.

'Nice timing Gimli,' he thought.

"No food, no rest," continued Gimli, unaware of the scowls he was receiving, "And no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell."

Tigerlily turned around and ran after Aragorn.

Aragorn stopped as he noticed something in the mud. He bent down and pulled a brooch out of the mud. It was a mallorn leaf. The kind that fastened the cloaks of all his companions. Legolas and Tigerlily stopped beside him.

"Not idly do the leaves of Lórien fall," he said.

"They may yet be alive," said Legolas, hopefully.

"They're less than a day ahead of us," said Aragorn, starting to run again, "Come."

"Come on Gimli!" shouted Tigerlily over her shoulder as she ran after Aragorn.

"We're gaining on them!" called Legolas. Gimli ran after them.

"I'm wasted on cross-country," he called after his companions, "We, dwarves, are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances."

Aragorn, Legolas and Tigerlily came to a ridge, facing out onto a new land.

"Rohan. Home of horse-lords," said Aragorn.

"There's something strange at work here," said Tigerlily, "Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets its will against us."

Aragorn nodded silently beside her. Legolas ran ahead to see where the Uruks had gone.

"Legolas!" called Aragorn, "What do your elf eyes see?"

Tigerlily stopped still as Legolas peered into the distance.

"The Uruks turn north-east," shouted Legolas, "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard."

"Saruman," muttered Aragorn. Tigerlily's blood ran cold as she remembered the cold eyes of the wizard. She had met him as a child and had been so frightened she had hidden under her brother Milo's bed and refused to come out until Saruman had gone. She was brought out of her thoughts when Gimli collided with her, pushing her over the drop in front of her.

"Aier," she muttered as she pulled herself out of the dust. Gimli jumped down beside her.

"Sorry," he said.

"Just keep running," she said, "and keep breathing."

"Keep breathing," repeated Gimli, "That's the key. Breathe." He followed his companions, realizing that their being taller and having longer legs meant they could run faster. The Uruks too ran fast. The four hunters ran throughout the night. Tigerlily was beginning to struggle. A few hours before dawn, she fell to her knees, close to tears. Legolas heard her hit the ground.

"I'll go to her," he said to Aragorn, "You and Gimli carry on."

The man and dwarf nodded and ran ahead. Legolas went up to Tigerlily. Her head was in her hands. He knelt in front of her and lifted her chin up so she was looking at him.

"I can't keep this up," she said, "You should just go on without me."

"No!" said Legolas, "We are still a Fellowship and I won't leave you by yourself. You mean far too much to me. As well as Aragorn and Gimli." He pulled her to her feet.

"You can do this," he said, "We have to find Merry and Pippin and we need all the help we can get." He placed a light kiss on her lips.

"Let's go find some Hobbits," said Tigerlily. Legolas took her hand and kissed it. Tigerlily wound her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

"I wish we could be alone, even for a short time," she said.

"When the War is over, we will be," said Legolas, kissing her.

"We ought to be catching up with Aragorn and Gimli," she said.

"Why? Scared they'll catch us?" asked Legolas

"No, I'm just scared that Aragorn would tell my brothers," said Tigerlily, "Then I'd be scared of what they'd do to you."

"How many brothers do you have?" asked Legolas

"Six, all of them older," said Tigerlily, "As well as numerous nephews."

"A large family?"

"Yes and it's bound to have got bigger since I left," said Tigerlily.

Legolas smiled and kissed her again. They both started after Aragorn and Gimli, soon catching up.

As the sun rose on their fourth day of hunting, Tigerlily knew something was wrong. Something had happened.

"A red sun rises," said Legolas, "Blood has been spilt this night."

"Let's hope it's not the Hobbits blood," said Tigerlily.

Out of the corner of his eye, Aragorn something approaching.

"Quickly," he said, "We must hide!" He hid behind some rocks, followed by Legolas, Tigerlily and Gimli. He saw Legolas' hand slip into Tigerlily's and saw her grip it. He blinked and they were apart again. He saw a large group of Riders go past. As they passed, Aragorn called to them.

"Riders of Rohan, what news from the Mark?" he called. Gimli, Legolas and Tigerlily stood by Aragorn as the Riders turned around and encircled them.

"Had to yell, didn't you?" muttered Tigerlily.

Their leader spoke to them.

"What business does an Elf, a Man, a Woman and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark?" he barked, "Speak quickly."

"Give me your name, horse-master," replied Gimli, "And I shall give you mine."

Tigerlily rolled her eyes as the Rider got down from his horse.

"I would cut off your head, Dwarf," he snarled, "If it stood but a little higher from the ground."

Legolas quickly drew his bow and fitted it with an arrow.

"You would die before your stroke fell," he said.

Tigerlily stared at Legolas. She had never seen him so aggressive towards some one who wasn't an immediate threat to them.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Gimli, son of Glóin, Tigerlily, daughter of Meryn and Legolas of the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king," said Aragorn. The Rider stared at Tigerlily.

"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe," said the Rider as he removed his helmet, "Not even his own kin. I am Éomer, son of Éomund. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished. The White Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there, they say as an old man, hooded and cloaked. And everywhere, his spies slip past our nets." He looked at Legolas as he said this.

"We are not spies," said Aragorn.

"We track a party of Uruk-Hai westward across the plain," said Tigerlily, "They have taken two of our friends captive."

"The Uruks are destroyed," said Éomer, "We slaughtered them during the night."

"But there were two Hobbits," said Gimli, "Did you see two Hobbits with them?"

"They would have been small," explained Aragorn, "Only children to your eyes."

"We left none alive," said Éomer sadly, "We piled the carcasses and burned them." He pointed at a smoldering heap in the distance.

"Dead?" said Gimli. Tigerlily ran a hand through her hair and rubbed her temples. She was getting a headache.

"I am sorry," said Éomer, he whistled, "Hasufel! Arod!" two horses without riders plodded forward. One white and one chestnut.

"May these horses bear you to better fortunes than their former masters," said Éomer, mounting his horse, "Farewell. Look for your friends but do not trust to help. It has forsaken these lands. We ride north!" The riders rode away, leaving the four companions with the horses. Aragorn got on Arod and Legolas got on Hasufel. Legolas wanted to ride with Tigerlily but Aragorn had already pulled her onto Arod before she could say anything.

They rode towards the burning pile. The scent of dead and burning flesh filled the sir. Gimli picked his way through the burnt pieces of flesh and bone, searching for any sign of Merry or Pippin. An orc head was stuck on a spear, its eyes and mouth open with its tongue sticking out. Tigerlily took one look and was violently sick. Legolas looked away and tried to ignore her wretching sounds. Gimli stopped searching and pulled something out. It was an elven belt.

"It's one of their wee belts," he said, "We failed them."

Tigerlily sat down near where she had been sick and put her head in her hands.

"Hiro hyn hîdh ab 'wanath," muttered Legolas, one hand over his heart.

Aragorn angrily kicked an orc helmet and screamed. He noticed something on the ground.

"A hobbit lay here," he said softly, "And the other. They crawled," he followed the tracks, "Their hands were bound," he found a rope; "Their bonds were cut. They ran over here. They were followed. The tracks lead away from the battle into Fangorn Forest."

"Fangorn?" said Gimli, "What madness drove them in there?"