Ty-Kwan-DoHA! Crazy mind rays have no power over us anyway! We will do that occasionally…mess with your mind I mean. Please keep reading, perhaps this chapter will put you as ease.

AraelMoonchildOkay. Okay Stop and take one slow deep breath, exhale. That's right…breath! Okay, now talk, if you want too. We try to be astounding but we find it hard sometimes. Just kidding! Keep reading!

Fk306 animeloverBut wouldn't it be cool if she did die! I mean, how many fan fiction writers has exactly killed one of the most popular OC's in history? That would be a very un-Sue thing to do! Keep reading!

MnM1803Almost isn't good enough! You must learn to be wholly patient my young padawan! (I think I spelled that wrong!) But thanks for the review, the story only takes a long time to read the first thirty three chapters.! Keep reading!

crazyroninchicThou shalt not take the names of the Valar in vain! (Snodgrass waves fake lightning bolt at you!) So here is our up date as requested!

Laer4572My name is Calvin, Winkle's given name is Hobbs. I don't think those are "maiden's" names do you? No, they're not. But thanks for the review anyway! Keep reading.

Slayer3 : There, there my poor sweet slayer1 I hope this chapter will dry your tears and bring up your spirits. Keep reading dear.

Nolitari : Did we mean it? The mistake I mean….I'll let you wonder. (Winkle pats your back and wipes your tears away with a blue silk handkerchief that you must now keep) Please write and we will review it! Keep reading too!

AnnamariahHow did you know that Hadrien was going to die? When we read that one review we could hardly believe it! Can you read minds? Keep reading the story and don't scare us anymore.

theycallmemaryThank you! We have been teasing people about who 'fancies' whom through the entire story. The only people who openly love each other is Boromir and Emily and they're already married. As for whether or not they go back or stay…well, that would be telling wouldn't it? Keep reading!

Erasuithiel : First you're hiding under rocks and now you're worshiping the gods! No wonder you're so upset! I am glad to see that the chapter touched you so much. And remember amateurs borrow, but writers steal! Keep reading!

WaterbookWinkle bides me tell you how much he adores your choice of screen name. And really, how often do we make it a cliffhanger? Almost never. Keep reading.

Chicky PooOne wound could be enough to slow you down in battle, then you wouldn't be able to defend yourself very well, would you? Keep reading and see if she lives!

Princess SiaraHa ha ha ha ha ha! Even deep commanding voices didn't make the cliffhanger go away so (Snodgrass blows a raspberry) and your OC is safe in Gondor, not in battle. The truffles are great, thanks. Keep reading mellon nin!

Elvin Blue EyesYES! We made you cry! (Snodgrass does the happy dance until Winkle hit him over the head with a large cucumber) Sorry, that wasn't very nice. To say sorry, here's the up date. Keep reading!

Pancake : Well, we haven't heard from you in quite a while. Slacking off are you? Well, never mind that, YOU WENT TO EUROPE WITHOUT ME!

Winkle: "You mean us!"

Snodgrass: "Um…yes, yes, we meant us!"

Anyway, keep reading and so tell us where you went!

chelseypudgeThanks so much for the compliments and all the reviews for both stories! Keep reading!

Archimedes-Factotum The arrow in the shoulder was the first of many, many wounds! (Snodgrass laughs evilly until Winkle waves a large threatening cucumber at him) She fell from many more wounds then that. And thank you, we will do what we want. (You're my kind of person!) Keep reading!

PlainAndSimpleYes, the Jonas cow joke is quite popular, although Winkle still doesn't think it's funny. The only way you can redeem yourself is to never miss reviewing gain and to go tell us what you think of our new story. Then you should be forgiven my child! (Snodgrass makes sign of the cross above Plain and simple's head) Keep reading!

Siriusly Sirius Lily Black : Poor Sirius….we should have warned you. And with you putting flowers on his grave everyday with Kessla for company, I am sure he will always rest in peace. Hugs.

Eruanna92 : Poor you! Starting school so early! I start on the twenty second. Blah! And as for Barbie, well, read on!

Joeela AlinnWelcome to the fold! We always welcome new readers and reviewers! We're sorry to hear that you were sick, but we hope that our story made you feel better! And Hadrien will be mourned by many I believe, but there is always hope for another to take his place. Keep reading! (Snodgrass hands you a glass of orange juice.)

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Chapter Thirty Four

Breathe Into Me

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Elladan's POV

I feel for Barbara's pulse, and my fingers slip on the blood slicked wrist. I press down, harder, and barely, I can feel a faint throbbing.

"She is alive."

I say this, yet I can almost see the last remnants of life leaving her body. The loss of blood drives her ever deeper into unconscious, and she cannot hold on much longer. Her eyes are slightly open, the dull brown iris stares as sightlessly as though of the dead.

"Elrohir, get Estel."

"Of course." His voice hesitates, and I look up.

"Can she be saved?" he asks, uncertainty strong in his tone "She…she's lost so much blood."

"I don't know Elrohir, I don't know." my temper, as well as my voice begins to rise "But Illuvatar himself couldn't save her if you don't do something other than stand there!"

Elrohir gasps a little at what I suppose he thinks is my blasphemy- and doesn't move. All color drains from his face

"Elladan." he whispers "I don't think we're going to need Estel."

His gaze is fixed on something beyond my shoulder- and I realize, as is everyone else's on the battlefield. And suddenly the brief, eerie silence is broken by the high, harsh cry of an eagle. Even Barbara moves a little, the eyes flicker for an instant.

"Oh Illuvatar." I manage to say "It's- that blessed idiot isn't here is he?"

A huge, uncontrollable smile breaks over Elrohir's face like a newly-risen sun.

"Yes." he answers "It's Glorifindel."

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Barb's POV

Someone was shaking me. I tried to move away from the hands. Every movement brought pain, hot lightening bolts of agony.

"Leave…me…alone." I said. I must have sounded like a drunk because my voice slurred heavily. I wanted to cry from the pain.

"Wake up!" the voices shouted, practically directly in my ear.

" I can't." I said, and almost whimpered, the pain was so bad "Leave me alone."

For an instant, there was no reply. The silence quickly allowed me to slip back into darkness of unconscious. The pain wasn't so bad there.

"You can't do this." the voice said, low and firm. Something about that made me angry, and for an instant I struggled against the darkness. In the light, I saw the vague outline of a face, and something golden.

"Why…not." I said "We won…I fought. Just leave me alone now…"

"So that's it." the voice becomes half-mocking "You fought, now all you want is a heroic death."

"Yes" I could hardly believe what I said, but it was true…wasn't it?

"No, you don't." the voice softened a little "We have only a little way to go now. You only have to stay awake for a little while. You only have to fight a little longer. You can't depend on others now Barbara. You have to fight this yourself."

"I can't!" I screamed the words out, and the face came into sharp, detailed focus: a pale, strong face and dark blue eyes. They caught mine, staring directly into my soul it seemed. They didn't condemn…they understood.

"I know." he said "I know you can't. But you have to try. You must try."

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Excepts From Bilbo Baggin's Journal

My goodness! I have so much to write I hardly know where to begin! I was sleeping in the garden a usual, when a vast storm broke over Imladris and drenched me to the skin! I ran inside as fast as my feet could carry me.

I hardly patted inside where Elrond and Erestor flew passed with tremendous speed! They ran straight out into the rain, braids flying! You can imagine how amazed I was to see them pound out into the fields and stand staring up into the sky! I was sincerely worried that my dear friends had finally cracked.

But instead showing proper concern over the bizarre behavior of the their lord, they all went around with idiotic grins on they're faces. None of them seemed puzzled by Elrond's conduct.

Carlithirel whirled by planting a kiss on my cheek declaring that I was 'an old dear.' Well, I don't mind that so much.

Suddenly a huge gush of wind swept through the house accompanied by a piercing eagle's shriek! A moment later, one of Glorifindel's birds landed in the field where the demented elves had been standing a second before.

Then all those tall elves got in my way and I couldn't see a thing! I heard shouts of "he's got someone with him!" and questions like "Is it the halfling?" answered with, "No it's a girl! A human girl!"

I was totally confused as to what was going on. Even when Elrond and Erestor rushed by all I could see was Elrond's white face as he followed the chancellor into a prepared sick room. Erestor was clutching a wet and bloody bundle in his arms.

Looks like another healing job. I hope Elrond doesn't over do it. It would be a shame if he was the first elf to die of exhaustion.

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Emily's POV

I can't cry. I want to, have too. But a big tight knot rests in my chest and I can't even breath normally. Elladan and Elrohir came into the city for fresh horses and to hug me before they left. I watched them as they rode away, as if the very devil himself were at their backs.

Boromir explained in quiet, loving tones what had happened. How they had found her and how Glorifindel had taken her back to Rivendell. How Elladan and Elrohir had done everything they could before she left. But we wouldn't be able to know if she would live until word came from Elrond.

"God only knows when that will be." I said.

"As soon as they get there the twins offered to send back a meager." Boromir soothed.

"Boromir, tell me the truth. Do you think she will live?" I asked I looked deep into his eyes and he said, very softly, "I don't know." And I saw that tears were in his eyes. The knot in my chest loosened and I began to cry.

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Excepts From Bilbo Baggin's Journal

It has been two days since the arrival of Glorifindel with the girl. She seems to have put a damper on the weather. I say this because it has rained solid sheets for two days!

Fires burn in every grate to try and keep the damp from reaching Elrond's precious library. Erestor is ruling for the time being because Elrond has been so busy with the girl. I haven't even seen him for all this time. Ellons and elleths file in and out all day with herbs and water, towels and such.

The first days the clothes and ruined chain mail were taken out fairly dripping blood. I wonder if she will live. I've asked Glorifindel but all he says is, "only time will tell, and "It's all in Eru's hands now." Why must he be so stupidly mysterious? What is any of that supposed to mean?

I could ask Erestor, but any important information he has would not be worth the verbal battle. Who is this girl anyway? I find no help from anyone in this area and I wish I could get a few plain answers to some plain questions!

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Emily's POV

The first day after they returned was like one other that I have ever seen before or since. I woke up before dawn, and I slipped down from the big, high bed the cold stone floor against my bare feet. Even in the summer the castle's rooms were cold so I pulled on a big robe thing of Boromir's.

He was sleeping heavily, with his bright red/gold head buried under a pillow. So I crept around the room as quietly as I could. We used Boromir's old chambers because frankly we still had to clean Denethor's things out of the main bedroom. I wasn't even sure that I wanted to move into that room considering the past events. But then again we'd probably clear his stuff out and replace it with our own.

I laughed a little as I went through my things, I didn't have much. In fact, I had never been as poor in earthly goods since I came to Middle Earth, but then I was so unbelievably rich in everything else. On the table in the middle of the room lay my sword and sheath, Boromir had told me about Hadrien as well.

I cried for him and had gone to see his body where it was laid out in the Healing Houses. Would I be cruel if I said I wasn't surprised? If you ever meet someone like Hadrien you'll know that there is something so good and so precious about them that they will live a short time. You know they'll burn up quickly and brightly, touching a lot of people and then pass away quietly.

Kessla cried in my arms when Boromir gave her the message from Hadrien. Her mother had arrived soon after and mother and daughter were given some time alone to grieve.

I went to the windows and as quietly as I could I lifted the catch that held them closed. I opened them and they creaked a little bit as they swung wide. The world outside was magical, the city was shrouded in a veil of mist. All around the white city was sparkling with little kisses of dew. The pale rays of dawn were truly golden and they touched the mist turning it into spun gold.

I inhaled deeply and felt the weight of care from weeks, months, roll away in a huge sigh. The birds were beginning to sing and chirp their good morning to the world, a new kind of peace in the music. The Mordor skies were blissfully clear and blue even from here I could see it, as far as the eye could see.

The sight, or maybe it was the golden air, made me hopeful. I knelt down in the golden light and thanked God that he had given me this morning, this sunrise. I thanked him for my sister and husband, giving Barbie into his care. I prayed that no matter what happened that I would have the strength to face it. And you know what? I think he heard me, because just then the soft dawn turned into the full morning light with a brilliant rainbow through the mist.

The subdued morning horns sounded, waking the sleeping city to the new day. I went over to Boromir, there was a new, I don't know…. Something bursting inside of me that I wanted to dance and sing and cry again at the same time! I knew that no matter what was coming that everything would be all right!

After all the king was returning today! For the first time in my life I understood what everyone must be thinking and gong through because of Aragorn.

"Wake up sleepy head." I tickled Boromir's temple lightly with my finger. He swatted it away as though it were a fly, and I did again with the same result. So instead I kissed him.

He woke up then.

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Barb's POV

It seemed like I had been sleeping forever.

The brief times of conscious were just that: brief. I was vaguely aware, in a fuzzy sort of way, that people were around. Coming in, talking, in hushed, scared voices. They kept coming, and I tried to tell them to leave. Words wouldn't come though, and someone would always tell me that "you need to rest child, rest." I couldn't even find the words to tell them that I was not a child.

Mostly, though, there was dark.

Mostly, though, I couldn't find any strength to fight back the dreams that came, over and over. All of battles, of fights that were…lost?

I can't wake up.

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Snodgrass : Sorry this is a shorter chapter then normal, but winkle is ill and unable to write much.