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: The downside of working in a garden centre, when it rains you get wet! Oh well. Hope everyone is ok and still enjoying the story despite how close I am to finishing. Just started work on an X-men movie fiction, need a break from Lord of the Rings for a while! Happy reading!

Chapter 53: Back from travels

The shining white towers of Minas Tirith were a distant speck on the Great Plains as the two travellers slowly walked beside their horses as they ventured into the realm of Gondor. Nothing about the land had changed much, green fields still lay before them and the bright trees of Lothlorien, planted by the long forgotten elves, still flanked their sides as their horses ambled down a rocky slope. Spires of smoke announced the presence of villages and slightly larger towns, full of people going about their everyday lives, not knowing about the two people that were about to come through their settlements. Two people, who everyone knew by name and reputation yet too few had actually laid eyes on.

It had been three years since the two travellers had set foot in the land of Gondor, and it had changed one greatly yet the other still did not look a day over her teen years. Now they made their way down onto the Plains and walked around the edge of the forests of Ithilian. The trees swayed softly in the wind beckoning them into their depths. Birds sat on branches and watched the two people pass; soon they started to sing out as they watched the people walk by. Their gentle twittering was joined by the voice of the young looking girl. Her voice rang soft and pure as it sung in her own language. A language forgotten to everyone in the land, bar the man riding beside her. The birds stopped their own chorus to listen to the girl's song and they kept skipping perches to keep up with her and her fire coloured mount. Soon all manner of creatures had made their way out of the deeper forests to watch the couple pass.

A small doe walked along side them for a bit, her pale brown fur soft as silk and her cloven hooves making no sound on the grass covered ground. She did not flinch away when the man reached out a hand and placed it on the top of her head gently stroking as he walked. Instead she let out a quiet bleat and from the forest came a tiny fawn, its back still covered with its innocent spots. It ran to its mother and then to the girl, long legs looking gangly as it jumped and skipped.

A red fox sat bemused just beyond the tree line, its ears pricked upright as it watched the small procession. He wondered what the creatures in front of him were, for he believed all elves to have vanished. In the tales of his kind there had been a story of a small black haired elf talking to a fox. He wondered briefly if it was the same one. He made a little barking laugh that got the attention of the girl and as she looked at him he knew it was the same person. He barked again and turned walking back into the forests, white tail tip pointing to the sky as he thought of the stories he could tell his cubs.

Soon the forests were giving way to open land and the doe stopped her calf and looked to the girl and man before her. She made another soft bleating noise and turned and cantered back into the safety of the woods, her joyful fawn following her every step.

The two travellers looked at each other and smiled. Their years of travelling together had been a blessing, yet now it was a time to get back to the land they served. Neither believed it was the land that they belonged in, yet their honour was to strong to abandon it that lightly. Three years had changed one of them beyond recognition, yet the other had scarcely changed in a millennia.

Elfking had grown both physically and mentally in their years together. His shoulders had broadened and his chest deepened. He had reached his full height of six foot and seven inches, the average height of the Númenóreans of old, and an inch shy of his namesake Aragorn. Arms had grown in strength and his hands no longer looked soft. If unclothed scars could be seen criss-crossing his chest and upper body, white lines on golden tan skin. Black wavy hair fell to his shoulders and framed his face, it swung gently as he walked and he occasionally swept a hand back to push it behind his ears. What had changed the most was his eyes. Silver blue eyes were no longer soft and childish; they held the knowledge of one who had seen the world beyond the tales told to him. No arrogance was in his eyes yet all who looked at him could tell he was powerful. Yet still despite this a smile graced his stone carved features as he talked quietly to the girl walking beside him.

OOOOOO

Amy smiled at the man walking beside her as they lightly conversed. Their footfalls not making a sound as they walked and only the gentle thudding of their horse's hooves could he heard. Three years it had been since they had last stepped foot in Gondor and she was not ashamed to admit it, but she had not missed the country. In the one hundred and twenty years of Aragorn's rein it had prospered, but now it held no life for her. The thought of being cooped up inside the White Tower again made her visibly cringe and had seriously considered on many occasions to not make the return journey. Yet she knew that Elfking needed to get back and she dreaded to think what the city and country had come to without her there to guide the king. As the last trees of Ithilian faded from sight she looked out over the Plains and the elven eye sight she had gained from her mother picked out the city of Minas Tirith more clearly. She said something in elvish to Elfking and both of them mounted their horses and pushed them into a light canter.

They cantered lightly and she smiled inwardly to herself at the ease that the prince was now riding without saddle or bridal. He had finally learnt the elvish good will with beasts, and his stroking of the doe earlier had been the final test. She remembered the first stretch of their journey to Helm's Deep, the amount of times that he had fallen off his buckskin mount had been hilarious. Well it was until she got tired of healing his bruises, it got to the point where she refused to heal anything unless it was serious. He had improved rapidly after that.

The main reason they had stopped at that location, was not only so that she could teach him more of the history about the place and show him the Glittering Caves, but to visit the grave of Chinky. When they had arrived at the base of the large scree slope she had explained what had happened in the battle of Helm's Deep.

'Do you see that patch of lightened stone on the main Deeping Wall?' She had asked as they came to stand before the fort.

'Yes.'

'That was blown to apart; it has been rebuilt since then. There was a simple drainage hole and it was blown apart using Saruman's witchcraft. Hundreds died then, both men and elves, for Haldir brought an army down from Lothlorien to fight the Uruks. When hope was gone Èomer and Gandalf and I rode down that scree with the gathered Rohirrim, like the charge of the Light Brigade and slaughtered all that was left.' She had said dramatically.

'Err, what is the Light Brigade?'

Amy had cringed after nearly nine hundred years she thought she would have forgotten all about her short life in the future. 'No need to worry, you'll find out in another couple of millennia.'

Elfking had just nodded and listened intently as Amy continued talking and started to show him around the fort.

Once night had fallen they had set up camp, yet Elfking had awoken in the night to find Amy gone. On crawling out of their small shelter he had spotted her sleeping on the mound of green grass. He had guessed that it was the grave of her horse Chinky and left her to herself. The next morning she had explained to him in more detail what had happened and why the grave came to be there.

'Here lies the last resting place of Chinky, my mighty horse. I won the war for you my friend. May you forever rest in peace.' She had picked up two flowers that had grown on the grave and weaved flows of preservation around them.

As they carried on riding through Gondor Amy's hand strayed to the two flowers that resided on the straps that kept her quiver and bow in place. They had stayed beautifully preserved for three years now, and she would not part with them for the world. They were a piece of Chinky that she could carry with her, and she would not set them down.

She leant forward as Narraw jumped a small tributary of the Anduin, the fire coloured stallion could not stand to get his feet wet, and laughed as she heard Dusk canter through it kicking up a spray.

"Well it's all right for some. I'm soaked through now!" Elfking said laughing as well.

"I'm not laughing. Honest!" Amy said as she pushed Narraw into a faster gallop to get away from the wet prince.

They covered miles in their game of chase as they galloped laughing across the plains. They only settled when a village came into sight. Slowing to a walk they both dismounted and walked beside their horses again to give them a break.

The villagers came to the doors of their houses as they watched the two come closer, all stood nervously and kept darting looks around them as if uncertain. Something puzzled Amy as she came closer and it was not until she had stopped and placed a hand on Narraw's nose that she realised why.

"Where are all the men?" She said in elvish to Elessar.

The prince shook his head slightly and stepped forward to speak with the villagers. "Greetings villagers of Gondor. I am Elessar Telcontar Crown Prince of Gondor, back from my travels. Beside me is Amy daughter of Onlee, saviour of Middle Earth. Tell me, where are all the men?"

The villagers all stared in shock, some jumped back with their eyes wide. The younger children hovered in the background, curious yet still obviously surprised.

"Why are you staring? Surely you have heard of me?" Elessar said starting to look strangely at the people in front of him.

"So sorry my Prince." One lady said walking up boldly and dropping into a curtsey. "It is just that we were told you were dead; your death was announced for you did not return after a year."

Elessar looked at Amy, who shrugged back at him. "Suppose we were gone along time. Surely messengers from Arnor must have reached here though." Amy said.

"That is not the main problem at the moment. Where are all your men?" Elfking said turning back to the villagers.

"They went south to war not four moons past. We have not heard a thing since." The lady said ducking her head.

"War. What war?" Amy said taking a step forward.

"A war in the south of Gondor. There was an uprising of the Men of the Southern Harad. They marched and our men met them. More than that we do not know."

Amy looked sharply at Elfking. "I knew it! I knew he would mess up this country. Argh! I told him to keep an eye on the south. Now we've got a war to go to. Argh!"

The villagers all took a step back as fire lanced along Amy's skin as she grew angry. They had all heard tales of the girl of great power residing in the Minas Tirith, yet like many they had thought they were mere fey stories. To see the girl in front of them made them rethink everything they knew.

"Oh father what have you got us into now!" Elfking said looking to the skies as if they would answer him. All that happened was that a large drop of rain landed on his face, followed by several more. "Well there is nothing that we can do now. Can your village put us up for the night through the rain's? A stable for our horses and a bed of hay is fine for us."

The villagers obviously thought that the idea of a prince sleeping on hay ludicrous. For after they had led the horses to a stable where children had been set to rub them down and water them, they had been taken to the village hall. Inside the village large beds had been set up with the softest cloth and blankets that could be found in the village. Food had been laid on low wooden tables and they were bid to make themselves at home.

They had thanked the villagers graciously and told them they did not want to be a trouble, yet their words were brushed off, as light wine was sent for. Once food had been consumed and the children had been fascinated by small firework shows from Amy, they retired to their soft beds.

"Amy." Elfking said from his bed.

"Yes."

"Do you really think that my father started a war?"

"Your father could not start a fire if he was given an ember to start with. No I knew this was going to happen. It is his own idleness that got him into this." Amy said snuggling under the blankets.

"We should send out a rider tomorrow. I think we shall need Rohan's help."

"Yes, although we do not know the scale of the battle, or whether it has finished or ended, back up is always good." The girl's voice starting to slur with sleep.

"We shall ride to Minas Tirith with all haste tomorrow, then plan more from there. Good night Amy."

"Night." Came the reply.

Silence filled the hall for a minute until Elessar rolled on to his back to look at the rafters. "Amy." When there was no response he looked over at the girl and saw her eyes wide open and staring at him. He jumped, then told himself to stop being silly. After three years of travelling with her, he thought he would have got used to her sleeping with her eyes open. Obviously not, it was just plain creepy.

OOOOOO

The next morning the grass was damp from the previous night's rains yet the sky was bright and clear. By the time that Elfking had risen Amy had already seen to the horses and the villagers were up and doing their morning work. He searched round a bit before he found Amy sitting on a wooden stool with an ink and quill in her hand.

"Good morning Elessar." She said nodding to a villager as she walked by. "There are apples and bread inside if you want some breakfast."

Elfking nodded and walked inside the small house, stooping to get his tall frame through the door. Picking up an apple and a couple of slices of warm bread he headed back outside and leant against the wall of the house as he watched Amy carefully write on a piece of red leather.

"What are you writing?" He said between crunches.

"Honestly, you can read!" Amy said looking up at the tall man. Seeing his bemused expression she sighed. "It is a message to the King of Rohan, asking him to ride with us if he is needed. If we get to Minas Tirith and find that he is not needed I will send a bolt of red light into the sky that can be seen from the camp of Dunharrow. If he is needed I will send a bolt of green light into the sky, telling him to ride to the gates of the White city. I need your signature though." She said handing the strip of leather and the quill to the man.

Elfking stuffed his apple into his mouth and bit into it holding it with his teeth whilst he wrote his name on the leather. "Why red leather?" He said after handing back the leather and taking the, now drool covered, apple out of his mouth.

"Traditionally a red arrow was carried from Gondor to Rohan when the horse lords were requested. But I could not find a red arrow or enough red dye to colour one. So I'm improvising." She said tying the strip around an arrow that lay on the floor next to her.

OOOOOO

Amy and Elessar mounted up and rode to the edge of the village followed by the villagers. Amy turned Narraw around and looked at the villagers, seeing the hope and fear in their eyes. "Do not fear, I placed the strongest wards I know on Talab. No harm will come to him on his journey to Rohan. Once there he will be treated like royalty until it is safe for him to travel home." Amy said thinking about the twelve year old boy that had galloped off earlier that morn carrying the arrow. He had been considered too small to go with men, yet had yearned to. Now knowing that he was helping his future King he would put everything he had into getting the arrow safely to Rohan.

"We ride now, most probably into war. I will send news of your men as soon as I hear it. Soon they will be safe and if any have perished, rest knowing that they served their land and would have wanted to spend their eternal days with you." Elessar said.

Amy nodded. "Thank you for your hospitality, if there is anything that you require ask Minas Tirith and if it is within our reach we will get it for you."

With that both Narraw and Dusk span on their haunches and galloped off towards Minas Tirith. "Looks like we are going then!" Elfking said as he laughed at the horse's antics.

"They are far more intelligent than people let on." Amy said.

"That they are."