Disclaimer: I don't own any of Tolkien's material.

A/N: Wowie kazowie! I reached 100 reviews! And all so encouraging! Thank you guys sooooo much! I never thought I would make it this far!

Imamc—(Thanks! And I can't wait to write that part! Except I will not place it in the chapter where they are on the way to Helm's Deep. I have something a little better planned... mwa ha ha!)

LilactheDryad—(Ha! I went back and watched Lord of the Beans after you commented on that! Awesome quote!)

LoverxofxNight—(Riley makes me smiley!)

Jessfairy88—(Hmm. If she does it will be after the war is over... I plan to keep writing this story so that it tells of Riley's doings after the war. Would you like that?)

Rosiethehobbit17—(Awesome to hear from you again! And thank you!)

sweetheartcat5—(All good things must come to an end... Thank goodness someone invented something called a sequel!)

1 fan of pj. hp . lotrh . con . ra—(Sorry for the spaces! I have no idea why the computer will not let me put in your correct username. I thought the flag gesture was kind of sweet and would make Riley a little more relatable if she was a bit more solemn. And Éowyn definitely needed some cheering up. As for making an account, thank you for telling me! It is so encouraging to know that people make an account to follow their favorite fics, and that mine is among them!)

Izzy bug—(Awww!)

Me and Not You— (Well, one thing I can definitely tell you is that Riley will not be going back to her world. I like her far too much to let that happen and I have a plan for after the war. And as to what she does, I think I will let her travel around Middle Earth a bit before she goes to the Undying Lands. Maybe have her torture Thranduil a bit? My mind is overflowing with possibilities.)

WinnieFawn— (Thank you! It is super awesome to have so many encouraging reviewers!)

Whew! Okay, now that all these answers are done (felt like I was writing an advice column for a minute there) on with the story! And may Riley never cease to make you snort in public!

WARNING! This is a filler chapter, meaning that it is just there, and that is its only purpose. I'm not entirely happy with the way this chapter turned out, so go easy on me.

"Helm's Deep!', Gandalf scoffed as he quickly walked towards the stables. Apparently sleeping on Théoden's decision had not made the wizard anymore comfortable with the situation.

"They flee to the mountains when the should stand and fight!', Gimli joined in with the wizard's unrest.

"He is only doing what he thinks is best for his people. Helm's Deep has saved them in the past.', Aragorn evenly suggested as if he were trying to convince himself. We all knew that even he did not believe himself.

"There is no way out of that ravine. Théoden is walking into a trap. He thinks that he is leading them to safety, but what they will get is a massacre.', Gandalf remarked as he and Aragorn walked ahead of us to Shadowfax's stall. They had a whispered conversation before Gandalf mounted the Mearas and spurred him out of the stable.

I jumped out of the way of the oncoming horse, my hair blowing around my face as Shadowfax dashed past us.

"Nascar.', I muttered as we watched the Mearas thunder across the fields at breakneck speed.

"Did you say something, Riley?"

I smirked at Boromir.

"Nothing except another obscure reference to things in my world that I have no intention of ever explaining."

He blinked in confusion before shaking his head and grinning at me.

"We leave for Helm's Deep within the hour. I suggest you ready yourself for a long trek."

Nodding, I spun around and ran to the Golden Hall to grab my bag from Éowyn's room, where I had spent the previous night with the shieldmaiden and Freda.

"If you do not mind me asking, Gimli, who is your mother?', Legolas inquired as we rode towards Helm's Deep.

"Odd question, laddie.', the dwarf answered. "Why do you ask?"

"Many say dwarves spring out of holes in the ground. I only wish to know if this was true."

"He's lying!', I teased. "He wishes to know because he once called your mother Gloin's brother when he saw her portrait."

"Who told you of that incident?" Legolas glared at me.

Gimli narrowed his eyes at Thranduil's son.

"You insulted my mum?', he growled at the silvan.

"That was a long time ago, mellon nin.' Legolas tries to mollify the angry dwarf.

"It's better than what he called you."

"And what did the elf have to say about me, lassie?" Gimli leaned closer.

"He called you a gob—" I yelped as Legolas leapt from Arod to Hasufel to clamp a hand over my mouth.

"Quiet!', he hissed into my ear before jumping back to his own horse.

"Sorry, Gimli.', I replied to the dwarf's question. "I have been sworn to secrecy."

He scowled in our direction before muttering something in his own language that sounded very unflattering.

An hour or two later Éowyn had broken away from the group she had been previously traveling with to walk alongside us. It was not long before she asked a question that brought us back to the topic of conversation earlier.

"There are such things as dwarf maidens, Master Gimli?', she questioned as she held the reins of the dwarf's brown mare.

"It's true that they exist. But you don't see many dwarf women. In fact—"

I turned in the saddle to grin at Aragorn, who rode a few feet behind me. He hid a smile as he watched our little group (which included Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, Éowyn, and myself).

"—they are so alike in voice and appearance, that they are often mistaken for dwarf men.', Gimli finished. Boromir raised an amused eyebrow and Éowyn turned to Aragorn for confirmation.

"It's the beards.', he whispered loudly. The ranger's eyes twinkled as he rubbed his stubble covered chin. Éowyn shushed him and continued to walk, hiding a grin.

"This has given rise to the belief that there are no dwarf women: and that the dwarves simply spring up from holes in the ground!', he scoffed as he sent a meaningful glare in Legolas' direction. Éowyn's peal of laughter rang out and Gimli, encouraged by her mirth, continued.

"Which is of course ridiculous!', he said with a huff. I held back a giggle as I watched Legolas lean over and give Gimli's mount a slap on the rump. The horse took off, spilling Gimli out of the saddle as it cantered ahead.

Éowyn's eyes widened for a moment before she chuckled and ran to help the dwarf up from the ground. I watched as she turned to grin at us, her face suddenly falling into a thoughtful countenance as her eyes met with Aragorn's.

Aragorn puffed on his pipe, chewing thoughtfully on the stem as he blew smoke rings to join the haziness that drifted above the campfires.

"His heart dwells on his beloved."

I turned from my vantage point to see Legolas beside me.

"I know.', I whispered softly before leaving him to find a place to sleep.

Aragorn's defeated stance makes me wish with all my heart that I could tell him how everything will turn out. But I can't, and that makes it worse.

I sighed as I looked for a place to unwind my bedroll. Éowyn had offered me a space in her tent, but I had politely turned it down in order to sleep under underneath the stars.

Boromir and Gimli had built a fire nearby and I quickly joined them. Unrolling the mat, I laid down and let my arms curl over my stomach, my hair falling around my shoulders.

"Have you ever wondered what stars are?', I asked Gimli.

"No."

"I used to think that they were those we love, those who had gone on before us.', I murmured.

"What changed that belief?"

I rolled onto my side to grin at Boromir.

"Science. I found out that stars are just big balls of flaming fire, though it may be different here. I mean, Eärendil is a star."

"He is also your grandfather.', Aragorn reminded me as he joined us. He studied me for a few moments before sitting down beside me.

"Are you alright, Riley? You are more subdued than usual tonight."

I nodded hesitantly.

"Yeah. It's just that me and my dad used to sit around the campfire like this sometimes. It makes me think about him."

"Treasure those memories, penneth. You are lucky to have them."

The next morning I woke up to see a frightened Freda sobbing on my stomach. Boromir and Aragorn were trying to calm the hysterical child down and I gently sat up, repositioning her head.

"What's wrong, Freda?"

When she didn't answer I looked at the men standing beside me.

"I do not know, Rielásse. She came to wake you and she suddenly began to cry."

Blinking in confusion, I tried to soothe Freda so that she could tell me what had happened.

"Freda?', I breathed into her brown hair.

"I- I thought...', she sniffled before she shuddered and curled into my shoulder.

"You thought what, penneth?', I pressed.

"I thou-thought you were dead!', she wailed.

"And why would you think that? I am very much alive, little Freda."

"You didn't blink."

Oh. She doesn't know how elves sleep. Can't say I blame her for freaking out: I did the same thing when I first found out.

"Elves sleep with their eyes open."

Her own eyes widened and she looked at me in surprise.

"They do?"

I chuckled and nodded before nudging her back towards her brother. Breakfast was quickly eaten and we resumed our journey to Helm's Deep.

I walked ahead of the long procession of people to stand by Legolas as he scouted the area.

"Mani naa ta?', I queried.

"I am uneasy. Something foul is drawing near. I can sense it."

I swallowed nervously as I suddenly remembered that we were going to be ambushed. Háma and Gamling rode forward on their horses and Legolas glanced in my direction before quickly following them on foot.

"Wargs!', Gamling yelled.

I could hear the twang of Galadriel's bow and then a thud as the warg fell dead. I arrived in time to see Legolas slice the throat of an orc before kicking it away as its high-pitched squeals were silenced.

"A scout!', he snarled.

Háma was quickly helped to his feet: Legolas had come just in time, apparently.

The chaos began and I drew an arrow from the quiver on my back.

"Go with the women and children, Rielásse! You must help Éowyn lead the people to safety!', Aragorn shouted as he gave me a look that boded no good if I disobeyed. I nodded and placed the arrow back into the quiver before running back to the people of Edoras.

"Make for the lower ground!', Éowyn shouted as she herded several people in that direction. "Hurry!"

Guide...

penneth— little one

Mani naa ta?— What is it?

A/N: Sorry for the mix up guys! I hit the wrong button while uploading, and when I finally realized my mistake I wasn't at home.

Thank you...

Tibblets, Rosiethehobbit17, sephchipmunk, and fan of pj . hp. lotrh . con . ra for pointing that out. I'm sorry I made that mistake!