Stalking the Fellowship

Chapter seventeen: Mo endeavours to succeed

"How is it that they are faster than us and they are walking?" Questioned Mo.

"Because they are following Orc tracks which go through the fastest route possible. We, meanwhile, have to go around the world and back to make sure that Legolas doesn't see us," Said Maddy bitterly, still grieving over the lost of Boromir and Bree.

"And it doesn't help that we keep on getting lost," Added Fran shooting a surreptitious look at Maddy, who caught it.

"What? We have to follow their trails without being able to see them! You try doing it! AND they keep on meandering across these damn open plains!"

"Home, home on the range...where the deer and the antelope play..." Sang Fran, not caring enough to listen.

"Well it's nearly sunset, should we set up camp?" Asked Maddy.

"What camp? We have no logs to make a fire. We have no blankets to make a bedroll so we freeze to death," Fran pointed out.

"It's not my fault that someone forgot to take the stuff off Bree!" Maddy gave Fran a pointed glare.

"I only forgot the blanket! We still have the food and weapons!"

"My Lorien blanket! I wanted to treasure that for life! It was so soft and never made me too hot or too cold," Maddy sighed.

"Stop whining over everything! Now we'll keep on going for another hour and then stop. How long is it until they meet up with the Rohan soldiers?"

"Rohirrim," Maddy corrected, "Tomorrow. So well have to obviously skirt around them for a while," Said Maddy.

"Dear God we're going to end up in Fangorn, no scrap that, MORDOR!" muttered Fran.

"I heard that!" snapped Maddy.

"You were supposed too, why can't you read a map?"

"What map? It's gone in case you've forgotten!"

"That was Bree's fault. Stupid pony," Said Mo.

"Bree..." Maddy sighed wistfully. Fran and Mo rolled their eyes. "I'm in the mood for some cheddar, in between buttered crackers at the moment." She continued.

The group sighed; Lembas was fine but to quote Maddy, 'I want some Food! This stuff is starting to taste like plastic!'

They set off at a gallop, Maddy occasionally pointing and shouting, "Yonder!"

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

"Will you two get off your ass and help me!" Mo yelled throwing a few sticks from the bundle in her hand at Francesca and Madeleine.

"OUCH! Alright, I'll go feed the horses," said Fran standing up and started to where Orion and Coco was.

"The horses don't need feeding! They're in a bloody field of grass!" Said Mo, now dropping the sticks into an ever growing pile. "Madeleine Clarke! Stop eating all the Lembas!"

"I'm not! I'm only having a nibble!" said Maddy trying to defend herself from the raging Mo.

"Ok Mo clam down," said Fran.

"Calm down? If I calm down we'll freeze to death since some are such a useless idiots and can't even remember to do anything right! At least this way I can stay warm!"

"Ok, no need to start with the insults! Why don't you just go for a ride and come back later?" suggested Fran.

"Oh and get lost, whilst I'm at it shall I?"

"She's only suggesting it Mo, anyway how can you get lost? Just go for a ride and cool off," added Maddy persuasively.

"Fine!" Said a defeated Mo, as she mounted Orion and started to circle the camp.

"What's wrong with her?" asked Fran.

"I don't know."

.-.-.-.-.-.

An hour later Mo came back and was welcomed by a warm fire, which Maddy had created.

"You two look over there," She said pointing to the North West, where a little light could be seen, a large cloud of smoke rising into the star lit night.

"The riders must be burning the orcs," said Maddy.

"Yes, well I've been watching it for half an hour, so goodnight," said Mo as she went and placed herself next to the fire using the Elvin cloak as a blanket "By the way put out the fire before you lot go to sleep. I don't want to wake up and find I'm staring down at my corpse," she said over her shoulder.

"Urg, the stink! You can smell it from here!" Said Fran.

"Err...That's just Coco's poo, unless it's your feet!" Said Maddy, bursting into little giggles.

"Oh shut up."

"Nah, it's ok."

"So do you think we will ever meet them?"

"I don't know; I'm not a seer. I'd like to meet them though."

"Yeah more like you want to meet Legolas."

"Legolas..."Said Maddy dreamily, slowly drifting into her own little world.

"Right I'm going to bed; you can put out the fire," said Fran expecting no answer as Maddy stared into the night.

.-.-.-.-.-.

"We can't see the fellowship!" announced Fran.

"That's the point; anyway that big green mass over there is Fangorn. It's about two days ride away," muttered Maddy.

"No it's a day maximum!" said Fran.

"The plains are deceiving, it takes two days for the riders to get from the battle to Fangorn, but they burnt them at night. I don't know the specific date though, I can't remember."

"We don't care, though now we're going to hide from them and the riders is beyond me," Said Mo.

"We've been doing it for ages, travelling in between them I mean."

"Can you see that?" Fran asked.

"What?" Maddy asked peering over Fran's Shoulder following her arm.

"What that is Rohirrim, which means we hide, come on!" The three set off at a fast pace to a hill, which they hid behind.

"Great sense of direction you said, well I guess we've discovered that, that was a bunch of clap trap!" Said Mo.

"Excuse me?" You try navigating around a place you've never been before without a map! Then there's of course an elf that can see ten times further then I can with glasses!"

"I could have done better then you!" Mo retorted.

"Why didn't you volunteer instead of dumping it on me when I was emotionally unstable!" groused Maddy.

"Emotional unstable? Hardly!"

"Did you leave your horse to the wilderness?"

"Will you both shut up!" exclaimed Fran, "We should leave the horses here and climb to the top of the hill and see what's going on!"

The girls climbed the hill only to see Aragorn jump out and exclaim, "What news-"

"From the north, riders of Rohan?" Maddy whispered, earning a glare. As the riders circled the man, elf and dwarf Maddy continued, "Leggy, careful, that spear is awfully close!"

"Maddy! Be quiet! Elf at 5 o'clock!" Hissed Mo.

They watched in silence for a few minutes, Maddy only just keeping her comments and exclamations of joy at bay. Just then one of the Rohirrim horses neighed, Orion neighed in response and started to trot around the hill.

"Orion! NO!" exclaimed Mo, jumping up. The Rohirrim plus three turned around, quickly pointing their swords, bow, spears and axes at her. Mo stood there like a deer caught in headlights. "Uh Oh..." She muttered her voice suddenly meek.

A/n This is PiXiE here. Mo is meant to be putting this up but I was bored and this is one of my favourite chapters so I thought I would put it up.

Why is this one of my favourite chapters you may ask? Ok, so you don't but I thought I would tell you anyway! The phrase, "Yonder!" used previously has become somewhat of a phrase for me, in fact I used it yesterday while we got lost on London…We live there but y'know it's quite big, especially if Mo is being our guide…((love you really!)) Also, we're finally meeting the fellowship which is my favourite to write, it just allows for so many…odd situations.

I also thought you might want a heads up on how far the editing process is going…I just finished editing chapter 20 and I shall edit some more later tonight, I seem to be getting into it, which is a good thing for you. So if any of you remember the story before it was taken down, chapter 20 of this is the incorporation of chapters 42, 43 and 44, so just over 60 more of the old chapters until we have caught up, which means another 20-30 of these longer chapters. Hope that all makes some sense, I haven't had to study English since last June so I'm getting a little rusty, even if it is my first language…ask me anything about maths or science and I'll be happy to answer! Now enough of my nonsensical ramblings, I'll reply to the reviews, which is what you care about I'm sure.

Kaye Thorne: Hopefully the quick updates will continue though I promise nothing as I go back to school on Monday and I have to start my chemistry coursework which is worth 15 of my grade…Poor Boromir and Bree. Bree reminds me of the horse I used to ride, except the horse I used to ride was an Arab, and she wasn't fat in any way at all…(Her name was Enya, she was really sweet apart from her habit of trying to mother the ponies; she thought they were foals…)

Lady Glory: Thanks for the, er, kisses. I have to ask though, just how many times have you read the chapter where I receive Bree? The lovely horse that he/she is, as the author I really should know that…

Jousting Elf with a Sabre: You have four computers? Lucky you! I could only wish for such a gift, instead I have to share with two brothers and my parents! If only they would connect my laptop to the internet! Wow, that story is way long, when you post it be sure to tell us, I will try to make sure I read it. If I think of any ideas about the elf child I will email you!

Cookies to you all (even if I have given them up for lent…)

Toodles,

PiXiE a.k.a Mads