Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings is property of Tolkien and there are many references throughout to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. I only own what you do not recognize. The character Chinky is not meant to cause offence and is named after a real horse whose name has been shortened from a Fiat Cinquecento (Chinky – Chento).

Authors Note: Hi there, just finished writing Chapter 38, man that was chore, don't know why though. Although we are nearly there with the story, still can't say exactly how many more chapters their will be. I've had so much work to do its unbelievable. Anyone would think I went to Uni to work! Pah! Uni, work? What Muppet put those two ideas together! Still have a stack load of work to do, got to do a report on the amounts of herbivores, detritivores and carnivores found in different litter types. Well something like that. Anyway, on with the show as they say!

Please review, the highlight of my sad day is getting emails and post!

Chapter 36: Split pathways

It was early morn when Aragorn saddled Brego; the horse knew something was amiss as he sensed his master's anxiety. Aragorn took a deep breath and placed his forehead on the horse's, both to calm himself and the beast in front of him. "Calm down mellonin." He whispered more to himself than the horse. "All will be ok." Stroking the silky mane he moved towards the saddle to check that his packs were in place and his provisions were secure. "It's just you and me now, mellonin, just you and me."

"I think not!"

Aragorn twisted around sharply as he heard the deep voice of the dwarf. "Oh no, not this time Gimli!"

"Haven't you heard anything of the stubbornness of the dwarves?" Legolas said coming around the side of the tent with Arod and Damer in tow.

Aragorn looked at his two friends and the young elf that tailed Legolas like a shadow, and he did not know whether to be annoyed or glad. He eventually settled on glad as Brego butted him in the back. "Glad to have you with me my friends. The journey will feel a lot less perilous with company." He said placing a hand on each of Gimli's and Legolas's shoulders.

"Yes, as I always said brother, we are better when there are three of us!"

"And you can't really think that you would leave us behind!"

Aragorn spun round again and if it had not been for Brego to grab onto he would have fallen over. For standing behind him were his two brothers and the rest of the rangers. A slow smile split his face as he saw his kin. "I do not ask any of you to follow me; you come of your own free will. You may turn back at any time, but I thank you for your support."

A cheer went around the group before they all mounted in a fluid motion; excepting Gimli that is who had resigned himself long ago to getting dragged on by Legolas.

BREAK

Èomer watched the backs of the riders as they went into the paths of the dead. He hoped they lasted longer than the paths previous visitors, yet he still wondered why they had to leave on the eve of battle. The King of men should be there at the walls of Gondor, but no he was off on a suicide mission to gather the allegiance of a group of people that had no honour. Théoden had promised him that they would be safe, and the lord Elrond said they all had a part to play in the up and coming battle. He only hoped they were right.

He turned round as the last ranger disappeared from sight, his steel grey eyes searched out the small form of Amy. She was preparing to leave also, yet no packs of food hung from the Mearas, she travelled in only what she was wearing and a tight bundle which he presumed to be her dragon banner. He walked up behind her as she used a soft brush on Moridin's coat.

"Would you like a hand my lady?" He asked.

"Èomer I am no lady. Call me Amy please, I have just found out that I am as old as two life ages of this earth, please do not make me sound even older!" She said almost desperately.

"What she really means is that Moridin has an itchy neck and he would like you to scratch it for him." Moridin said pulling his head around and butting the Marshal in the chest.

"Oh is that what she really meant is it? Well I'm sure I can manage that!" Èomer said with humour as he picked up a stiffer brush and started working it down the black's neck.

"Moridin don't be rude!" Amy said prodding him in the ribs.

"It worked, politeness is not always the way forward, you will learn this before the next few days come to pass." The horse said.

Amy looked at Èomer and shrugged her shoulders, both in confusion at the horse's words and in apology.

"Anyway, Èomer, I know you do not know where I ride to, yet I promise I will not leave you on the battlefield alone. I want to destroy the armies of Mordor as much as you. I will finish what my father started with Melkor and his lackey Sauron." Amy said running a hand down Moridin's leg in preparation for picking it up. Tugging gently on his hoof he did not move. She tried tugging a lot harder, yet still his leg did not bend.

"Say please!" Moridin said moving his head around to look at her.

"No!" She said before shoving him with her shoulder so that his weight was balanced on his other side while wrenching his hoof up.

"See you are learning my little Master." He said with mirth in his voice.

Amy shook her head at the horse's actions and levitated her hoof pick over towards her with flows of Air.

"I trust you Amy." Èomer said watching the banter between the horse and girl with mirth. "We will meet again on the battle field." He placed the brush back in the box and turned and walked away.

"When we meet again you will be king." Amy said softly.

Èomer paused mid stride and started to turn his head, yet putting it down to his imagination he carried on walking.

BREAK

Legolas looked up at the mountains that surrounded him as he explained the story of the men of Dunharrow to Gimli who sat behind him. The rest of the company rode captivated at the blonde elf's tale. They had all heard the story many a time before, yet never told with such grief and sorrow, and pity. For Legolas truly did pity what the men had become. They were cursed, immortal like him yet unknowing of the world around him. They had no link to the air that they breathed, could not feel it on their faces or in their hair. They could not smell the sweet sent of a flower in bloom or feel the soft touch of blossom falling from a tree. Yes they were dishonourable, but Legolas pitied them. Yet his pity did not overweigh his anger. If they had come to the battle at the black gates and on the slopes of Orodruin maybe his grand sire would still be alive. Many elves would still be alive. Looking around him again he shook his head slightly. No, many elves, men and dwarves would still be alive. This land was not for the use of one race alone, no race was better than another. They would all feel the war before the age had run its course. Finishing his story his mind went back to Amy and he hoped that she and the Rohirrim made it to Gondor on time. Little did he know that she rode a different path.

He smiled slightly as he thought of her, long had they lain together the night before and he could still feel her soft touches and hear her gentle moans. His breaches tightened slightly at the thought, yet he was too happy to curse, for they had joined that night in mind, body and soul and he hoped that there would be many such nights like it. The thought of not living through the war did not even cross his mind now; he would live through it even if it was to only spend one more night in her arms. For in that tent when both their bodies had been glowing with their inner light he saw her for what she really was. Saw the race that gave birth to her and he succumbed to her, he was hers as she was his, and he could not think of a better person he would like to spend his life with.

Their parting in the morning had been hard, just like all the rest of their partings, yet their hearts had been full of the night's pleasures and they still wore smiles on their faces despite sorrow in their minds.

"The paths of the Dead are perilous. Please be careful." Amy whispered as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I will be, do not fear for me. I should be worried for you, you ride for Gondor, and there lies the great battle of our time. You will be in more danger than I."

Amy did not lie to him, she was riding for Gondor, yet she would not arrive with the Rohirrim, no she would arrive by another path. "I will be fine; I have Raken and Moridin on my side, plus the aid of more dragons if I can free them."

"Please be careful, an arrow in the back will kill you, dragons or not." He said kissing her forehead.

"I will be fine. We will meet on the battle field. I promise you. You can't escape from me that easily!" She said laughing, watching his expression change from concern to lust.

Legolas growled deep in his throat as he picked her up and kissed her deeply. Not complaining she wrapped her legs around his waist and let herself be thoroughly kissed. Once he had placed her on the floor again he gently kissed her on the top of her head.

"Come, you must say goodbye to Aragorn and Gimli before we part." Legolas said taking her small hand.

Legolas came back to himself when he thought of Aragorn, looking at the man riding in front of him; he could not bring himself to feel ill against the man. Amy was not his to control, and from what she said they had both regretted it. He could see how much the man loved Arwen and Arwen alone, yet he was still curious as to why it had happened. He put it aside as they stopped in front of the entrance to the paths of the dead.

BREAK

Amy checked Moridin over a final time before vaulting onto his back. She looked back at Théoden, Èomer and Elrond. Nudging Moridin's side she turned him round on the forehand so that she could face the men in front of her. All three stood tall and proud in front of her, one rode to death, one was to be raised a king and the other had done his fighting in this war over three thousand years before.

"You ride now Amy, ride hard and fast. Do not let things tarry you, for this is more important than anything else!" Elrond said looking hard at his small foster daughter.

"I do not know if we will meet again Dragon, yet I will say this, I can rest easy in the halls of my fathers knowing that I've met and fought with you." Théoden said bowing.

"What to say I do not know. I do not know where you ride to, only that it is urgent. Ride hard and do not look back. Ride safe Amy." Èomer said also bowing.

Amy looked hard at the men and then smiled. "If I do not survive, that I have met men such as you will make me proud. I will ride hard and fast, fear for our friends will be our fuel, listen for the horns that have not sounded together since the elder days. I ride now. I will not look back!"

True to her word she turned around and Moridin leapt into a sprint, not to look back on the camp of Dunharrow for many a year. Never again would she see the face of Théoden, or many of the men that stood to see her off, yet she knew her part and she would see it through.