"Medicine is a science of uncertainty and an art of probability." - William Oster

Chapter 19

"Bring her to the stables when packed, and swiftly, Eomer!" Gandalf called to us as Eomer pulled me out of the throne room and back to the residence quarters where my room was.

"I don't want to go to Gondor. Why the hell is he making me do this?" I asked Eomer, out of breath from the pace he was moving us at.

"I know not, Mallory, but one thing is for sure. Sauron speaking your name is an omen, one of an unappealing nature. It is no wonder Uncle was so agreeable when Gandalf suggested it."

"How does he even know who I am?"

"Magic, that is all I know, but Mallory, we must not focus on why he would want you. If we are lucky, we will never need to find out why. If we are lucky, in mere weeks we will both be back in Aldburg, safe and together like we had planned."

"Why not just send me there now? Grab one of your Rider friends and have me ride back to Aldburg with them. When this is all over, you can meet me back there and I won't have to leave the children or Vanesse."

We had reached the room. Eomer opened the door and moved to the bed, folding our blanket. "That would never work. Gandalf would never stand for a betrayal such as that. He rides Shadowfax, a pure-blood Mearas and Lord of All Horses. You would never make it there before he caught up to you."

"What is a Mearas?" I asked, remembering Aragorn's brief mention of them prior to our walk to the Hornburg.

"They are descended from the first of horse-kind. All of Rohan's horses have some blood of Mearas down the line. Pureblood Mearas bear none but the Kings of Rohan, save Gandalf. Theoden gave him permission to tame Shadowfax upon his release from Saruman." he paused, turning to me. "Mallory, will you please pack? We must waste no time."

"What, now you want me to go?" I nearly shouted.

"Of course I do not, impossible woman! But this is not a thing we can prevent."

"But we have to try!" I argued, pulling the blanket out of his hands and holding them in my own. "Eomer, I have a life here. A job I can't just abandon. Gandalf has to understand. We'll make him understand."

He sighed and pulled me into a hug, kissing the top of my head. "Mallory, I do not think you understand the severity of what all of this means."

"Then explain."

"Sauron speaking your name means that you are a target. Just as Pippin is now a target, for Sauron thinks he possesses the Ring. As much as I want you to stay here, as far away from Mordor as possible, it is with Gandalf you will be safest. There is only one person I trust more than him with your safety."

"Who's that?"

"Me, love. And I cannot protect you. I must protect the Mark first. It is my duty, not only as the future king, but as a sworn Eorlingas. There are oaths I have taken that I cannot abandon. I would not be worthy of you if I did."

I didn't argue. There was no point. I just grabbed the blanket and stuffed it into my travel pack. With no word, he grabbed my hand and began pulling me out of the Hall and toward the stables.

"Wait, what about Vanesse and the kids?"

"I know not where they are. There is no time. I will find her before the Rohirrim make move to Dunharrow and explain, I promise."

"What about my promises?" I asked as he pulled me through the stable doors. "I promised Fion that I would stay. The least I owe him is an explanation."

"You owe the children nothing but your safety. You cannot keep your promise to Fion if you die."

"Eomer is right," Gandalf said. Pippin was behind him, speaking to another Hobbit. "I understand why you may think this backward, Mallory. The only thing I can predict would be to do what Sauron least expects. The closer you are to danger, the farther you will be from harm."

"And can you promise me, Gandalf," Eomer said, and though Gandalf was taller than him, he seemed to tower over the Wizard as he spoke. "That she will be far from harm? That none will come to her?"

"I cannot make promises I cannot keep. To know Sauron's actions would win us this war tomorrow. I can only hope to outwit him. I can promise that I will do all in my power, young Eorlingas."

Eomer didn't seem satisfied, but he turned back to me. "You must do everything Gandalf says. Stay behind Minas Tirith's walls. If you need a friend, you may find it in my cousin, Hallewyn, a Lady in the courts. We have only met a few times, but I am sure she would aid you if needed."

I nodded. "I guess I'll see you when this is all over."

"May Bema grant me short days and long nights of sleep until then."

"Mallory, Pippin," Gandalf said, mounting a magnificent horse of silver and yellow coat. "It is time."

Riding bareback on a horse only barely large enough to carry three people was exhausting. Pippin rode to Gandalf's front and I was in the back, some rope tied behind my waist to strap me to Gandalf so that I wouldn't fall off. Shadowfax rode hard and fast and after the first hour, my legs were chafing. "How long is the journey?" I called over Shadowfax's hooves.

"Three days ride, as the Nazgul flies."

"What's a Nazgul?"

"Pray you never meet one, Miss Mallory," Pippin yelled. "Nasty creatures, they are."

"You should both try to sleep. The border of Gondor's realm will hit us by tomorrow morning as we pass through the Eastfold. We can break at the Mering Stream, but traveling through Anorian will leave us little peace as we near Minas Tirith and the Shadows of Mordor."

"I don't understand any of that," I yelled.

"Just rest your eyes, child, for I fear the three of us will find very little of it once we reach the White City."

It did me no good to argue, even though I wasn't tired. It was only the early afternoon. I lay my head against his back and let the horse bounce me up and down. He really was unlike any horse I'd ever seen. I mean, Shadowfax was colossal. I had never seen a horse that could carry three people, even if one of us was the size of a child. His silver and blond coat seemed to sparkle in the sun. I definitely felt like I didn't belong on his back. This was a horse for someone special, not for me.

The plains of Rohan whipped past me as the sun sank deeper in the sky. Pippin made a few attempts at conversation throughout the day, but Gandalf had shut all of them down, concentrating on guiding Shadowfax to Gondor. And my eyes sank with the sun.

I woke up before the sun rose. "What time is it?" I called to Gandalf.

"The sun will rise soon. You have not moved much throughout the night," he said.

"You said we would break in the morning."

"We will reach the Mering Stream soon. We can stop for a few minutes, but not for much longer. Our pace is well kept. I hope to pass into Gondor's realm within the next two hours."

I could smell the stream before I could see it. Pippin woke up as Gandalf slowed Shadowfax, stopping a few yards away from the water. The Wizard jumped off the horse and offered me a hand. As usual, I didn't take it, which turned out to be a huge mistake. My legs burned with the chafing pain of riding and with lack of use, my knees buckled under, as I landed off of the horses back. Snap!

"Jesus!" I cried out, reaching for my ankle.

Gandalf grabbed my hand and stopped me. "You may have broken it," he said, as the pain coursed up my leg.

"Are you alright?" Pippin asked, but I couldn't answer through my clenched teeth.

"That was foolish," Gandalf said, pulling out a bandage from Pippin's knapsack. "This won't make the journey any easier on you, I'm afraid."

"Is it broken?" I asked.

He touched it with gentle hands. "I believe so, yes."

"Can't you mend it with magic, or something?"

"Magic is not that simple, Mallory. You of all people should understand that. Minas Tirith is home to some of the best healers of Men. We will just have to increase our speed." He turned to Shadowfax. "Can we do that, my friend?"

The horse whinnied and bobbed his head up and down. "Can he understand you?" I asked.

"Mearas have always known the tongues of Men."

"Cool," I said, wincing at Gandalf as he wrapped my ankle tightly.

"We mustn't linger here," he said, pulling Pippin off the horse's back. "Five minutes and we return to the road."

"We've just passed into the realm of Gondor," Gandalf yelled, about two hours later. "The road will grow rougher from here, I'm afraid."

"Gandalf," I said, choosing my words carefully, "If magic is so dangerous, why do you call yourself a Wizard and choose to wield it?"

"I do not choose, my dear. I am a Maiar and it is my duty to serve Arda and Middle-earth."

"Wait, what's a Maiar? I thought you were a Wizard?"

"One in the same, though Men do prefer the term 'Wizard'."

"And you need magic to do your duty?"

"Indeed."

"Which is what?"

"To aid the goodness that is here in Middle-earth. The children of Eru Iluvatar and the Valar."

"And what does that make Sauron?"

"A Maiar, though not like me."

"What's the difference, then?"

"I am Istari. He chose to follow Melkor. Istari serve Iluvatar."

"I'm lost," I admitted. "What about the-"

SCREEEEEEEE!

The loudest, most horrible noise I had ever heard in my life sounded out. I covered my ears and looked up to the sky. A creature with a long, twisting neck and large, bat-like wings. Gandalf was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. The creature just shot towards us, talons coming out from under its body. They snapped at us, but Shadowfax dodged them. I noticed a figure cloaked in black on its back, steering it with chains. I swooped again, and this time, I felt its talon pierce my shoulder and lift me into the air. All I remember was a bright, white light as I slipped through the creatures grasp and fell back towards the ground.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

My eyes were heavy. Behind my lids was bright, fluorescent light. I blinked slowly, opening them up. I could feel my eyelids, my lips, my eyebrows. That was it. No hands, no feet. It was like my body wasn't connected to my head.

"Well, good morning, Ms. Gilmore," a gentle voice said. "I've been waiting three days to say that."

I blinked my eyes into focus through the brightness of the light. A man in a white coat was above me, smiling.

"Where…" I croaked, horse from lack of use. "Where am I?"

"You suffered massive injuries as a result of a bear attack in the woods. You were found by hikers and brought to St. Lucy's Memorial Hospital. We placed you into a medically induced coma and performed surgery. While there is extensive scarring, I can say with a fair amount of confidence that you'll make a full recovery. You're very lucky, Ms. Gilmore.

A/N: That's not the end, I promise! Just a cliffhanger!