NOTE TO READER-We want to give EXTREME thanks to our ONE reveiwer we have had. I know, I hate reading stories that beg for reveiws, but we really do need them. We may be presenting this week or the following one, so look for extreme and major updates over the next few days or so. Thanks again to our reviewer, we hope to see more.

After what seemed like an eternity Andúin and her captors arrived at Minas Tirith. Two days earlier, she had been forced back into her armor, which made it even more uncomfortable to be forcibly moved around.

Night had fallen, and the large stone city was silhouetted against the mountains. "Now," Lhach said to her, "Do you understand your orders?"

"Yes," she whispered solemnly, pulling on her helmet.

"Remember, don't try anything foolish, just do as instructed," he warned.

Andúin felt sick to her stomach as she mounted the horse they gave her. She walked the short distance to the city. They wanted her to distract the guards' attention while they snuck into the city. Lhach had told her more would be explained after that, and threatened her against any way of escape. She worried that they might be after her father, and she did not want to be responsible for anything happening to him. The problem was, she didn't see any way out of the situation at the moment.

She arrived at the large gates, which opened for her. The night guards approached her. "Were you a part of one of the parties searching for Lady Andúin?" the lead one said. She recognized him, but not the other two.

"Yes, Captain Thalion," she lied in her disguised voice. "I lost the rest of my party when we were attacked by a group of bandits. I believe none were killed, but I was separated from them."

"Have you seen any trace of Lady Andúin?" the captain asked.

"No," she replied. This had to be the most awkward thing she had ever done.

"Why did you return?" the captain demanded.

She stuttered, trying to think of a reason for betraying orders.

"Speak now, lieutenant."

"I was completely lost, and when I saw the city I figured I could find rest, get my bearings, and set out in the morning." She chanced a glance over her shoulder and saw Lhach and his men beginning to enter under the cover of darkness.

"Fine," the captain said, sounding slightly annoyed. "Follow me." Andúin felt relaxed. If he took her out of Lhach's sight, she was safe and could tell the truth. But her plans were never able to take form.

"Look at his sword!" one of the other soldiers suddenly exclaimed. He reached out, pulling Andúril from its scabbard. He carefully examined the writing on the blade. A lump formed in Andúin's throat. Andúril was famous throughout Middle Earth, but especially so in Gondor. It would be quickly recognized. "I can't read this Elvish, what does it say?"

"I don't know, I took it from the body of a foe last season," Andúin said quickly, glad for the other man's ignorance of the Elvish language. She reached for her sword. "Now if I can just have it back…"

"Hang on," Captain Thalion said. "I can read it for you, son." He took the sword and began to translate the inscription.

Andúin lunged at him, grabbing for Andúril before he could read it. But she only had the hilt in her hand a second before and arm reached around her waist and a sword pressed into her throat.

"Gentlemen," Lhach's calm voice suddenly commanded. "Take me to King Eldarion."

Captain Thalion looked solemnly at Andúin. "Now it is time to keep your vows, Knight of Gondor," he said to her, then looked at Lhach. "You can kill the boy. We shall not take you to the king."

Lhach began to laugh. One of his men came up at his command and pulled off Andúin's helmet, revealing her face and allowing her auburn hair to spill onto her shoulders.

"Mi'Lady!" Captain Thalion suddenly exclaimed. "We shall do your demands."

"No!" Andúin cried, and she swung the Andúril wildly, remembering it was still in her hand. She slammed it into one of Lhach's nearby men, and the hilt hit Lhach's shoulder. He released her instantly, and she continued to wield the sword. She picked up her discarded helmet, using it as a makeshift shield against her enemies' incoming sword blows. She pushed her way through the men, closer and closer to a waiting horse.

"Goodbye, Captain Thalion!" she yelled as she reached the animal, jumping onto it and charging out the still open city gate, feeling free at last. She was just pulling her helmet back over her head when she heard the sound of hooves behind her.

She looked over her shoulder to see a few men still fighting with the guards, but Lhach and the others were in hot pursuit of her. She slammed her feet harder into her horse's side, but the delegates continued to rapidly gain ground. Soon Lhach's larger horse was at her side.

"Picked the wrong horse, girl," he laughed, positioning his horse as close to hers as the stirrups would allow. He released his reins for a moment, pushing her with all of his strength from her horse. She screamed as she tumbled from its back, landing on her scabbard. Pain shot through her right leg, but she clenched her teeth and began to run on foot anyway. If only by some miracle she could reach the shelter of Osgiliath…but it was far from her still, and there was no where to hide on the expanse of Pelennor.

She could hear hoof beats behind her as she tried to formulate a plan in her head. She tried to run harder, but her leg failed her, and she collapsed to the ground, gasping. A horse stopped near her, and the rider dismounted. She felt herself picked up by the back of her vest, and was soon looking into Lhach's dark eyes.

"How dare you do that to me!" he yelled at her, his words echoing in her ears. "I would kill you now if I didn't need that piece! I won't be fooled by a woman's tricks again." He remounted his horse, pulling her on too. He called for his other men, and they tore off at a gallop back toward Rohan and the rising sun.

Please, Andúin thought, Jnían, if you can hear me, help me.

Jnían caught sight of Lhach and the other delegates from within the trees. "Hwesta," remove the piece from my bag," Jnían commanded. He did what was told from where he was seated on Amáteria in front of Jnían. She decided to wait about an hour before she rescued Andúin. The delegates were much too alert from the battle they must have had. Jnían could tell there was a fight by the wounded men in the back of the two rows.

Finally Jnían charged at the back of the group. Hwesta was still seated in front of her, with the piece in his small hands. Amáteria easily caught up to Lhach. She knew it was going to be difficult because Andúin was sitting in front of him. Once she was behind him, she swung the piece and it slammed against his skull. Blood flowed into Andúin's blowing hair. Lhach immediately pulled out a dagger and bought it towards Andúin. She moved away just in time for the dagger to slice her cheek, nothing more. It bled a little, but Andúin lost her balance and fell from Lhach's galloping horse. She would have hit the ground, but her ankle was tangled in the stirrup so she was going to be trampled by the horse. As she fell, Jnían managed to grab her with her free hand. Lhach immediately went for the piece, blood still protruding from his wound. Jnían kept a firm grip on it, though she knew she would need her other hand to retrieve Andúin.

"Give it to me," Lhach commanded. "NOW!" Jnían reluctantly let go, and reached for Andúin. She was able to pull Andúin up on Amáteria behind her. Lhach quickly rode off in a different direction with the other men. Andúin sighed with relief and leaned her head on Jnían's back.

"How come you gave up the piece so easily?" she asked.

"Not easily, but you're more important besides," Jnían said quickly.

"I would have been fine," Andúin interrupted, her face serious.

"It wasn't the actual piece," Jnían said.

"What? What do you mean? I saw it. It was gold and shaped the same…" Andúin's face betrayed her confused feeling.

"Of course it was," Jnían confirmed. "I had the real one forged to trick Lhach into handing you over. I had planned to negotiate, but you were on the move and I was getting impatient."

"She certainly was," Hwesta chimed in.

Andúin looked startled at the sound of his voice. She hadn't even noticed him. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"I'm here to help, of course," he stated proudly.

"Where to now, then?" Andúin asked, satisfied with his simple response.

"First, back to Minas Tirith to get Alata. Hopefully I won't run into Teleríus again. That's what kept me so long. He tried to take me back to Rivendell, but Hwesta came to my rescue," she smiled.

"Anything to help mi'lady," he giggled sheepishly.

"Once we retain Alata we shall look for our next clue," Jnían continued. Amáteria rounded and then galloped off toward Minas Tirith once again.

Andúin struggled to hang on as Jnían galloped over the grass. She hung on to Jnían while Hwesta sat in front of her. Andúin was not used to riding bareback or double—triple, especially at this speed. Her head still hurt, and the cut on her cheek stung. But what hurt the most was her right leg, which he now had gripped against Amáteria.

"Jnían," she said, "Can we stop for a second? Or at least slow down?" Jnían nodded, and reined Amáteria in to Andúin's relief. As soon as she slowed, Andúin slid off, landing hard on the ground.

"Andúin!" Jnían yelled, leaping down to her side. She rolled Andúin onto her back. The other girl groaned. "Are you alright?"

"I don't think I've stopped for two days," Andúin gasped. "Lhach didn't stop, and now you didn't. And my leg—"she moaned again. "I landed on my scabbard, and had no chance to check it out." She sat up slowly, reaching down to her thigh. "I think it's just bruised," she said, wincing as she touched it. "But I can't hang on any longer."

Jnían smiled at her. "You've been through a lot. Why don't we rest here tonight," she rose, and then turned back to Andúin. "Think, your armor might have protected you leg from anything anymore serious."

"Well," Andúin sighed, "I guess its doing its job." They laughed together. The sun was low in the sky, and Jnían gathered kindling for a fire.

Hwesta approached Andúin, his arms full of a plant. "Here," he said to her, handing her a leaf. "The content will ease the pain in your leg." Andúin accepted it gratefully, opening the leaf, revealing a thick, sticky paste of a cream color. "Eat it," Hwesta coaxed. She dipped her fingers into it gingerly, and then slowly brought it to her mouth. It was sticky and flavorless, but she swallowed it. She repeated the slow process until it had finally disappeared.

She leaned her head back onto her saddlebag. She could feel the heat of the fire against her side, and her leg felt numb. She closed her eyes and feel into a deep, much needed sleep.

She awoke at sunrise feeling very rested. Her leg felt much better. "Andúin," Jnían said when she noticed she was awake. "I wrapped your leg while you were asleep to help it heal. Would you like something to eat?" Andúin was very grateful for Jnían's thoughtfulness, and gladly accepted the food.

After a light breakfast, they resumed their riding. With each passing day Andúin's leg felt better, but the lost precious time. They couldn't go at a rapid speed, and Amáteria tired quickly from the additional weight.

"How long do you think the delegates will remain distracted?" Andúin asked Jnían one evening as they set up their simple camp.

"I don't know," she replied. "But even if they find the third piece before us, they'll still need the original piece. And even with it, the staff will fail with a faulty mid segment."

Andúin was comforted by Jnían's wisdom. The next morning, they finally again reached Minas Tirith. "I think I should go in alone," Andúin said, dismounting. She pulled on her helmet and strode towards the city.