A/N: Let's jump right in shall we?

"And just remember good hand hygiene, wash your hands between every patient. And your equipment, you have to wash those!"

"Yes, my lady." Jorunn nodded, helping Kate strap her saddle bag to the horse. "And thank you for the medicines, they will help I am sure."

"Don't thank me, it was the Elves. We'd have been lost without them, trust me." Kate replied, racking her brain for any last-minute advice. What else could she say? She was confident in Jorunn's ability to take over for now, but Kate wished she'd had more time! There never seemed to be enough time. Which was ironic considering her new title.

"All will be well here, my lady. See to our men, make sure they come home." The older woman encouraged and Kate quickly turned her head, biting the inside of her cheek as she fiddled with another strap unnecessarily.

She couldn't quite make that promise, if she wasn't sure she was coming home, could she? Her eyes drifted over to the Lady Eowyn, watching the tense conversation between her and Aragorn. She swore to herself as Aragorn carefully lifted the blanket and the sun reflected of the steel, it's not so subtle glint an infuriating reminder of the task ahead. Kate didn't need to guess what that was about as Eowyn yanked the blanket back down.

Look on the bright side, she thought to herself, at least you won't really have to do any travele-esque stuff if Eowyn is already intent on fighting! Your job is done! You don't have to fight, you can sit back and stitch people up. Simply observe. She's going to fight and defeat the Witchking. Timeline preserved, you're welcome world.

Kate snorted to herself as she tried mounting the horse yet again, something told her it wouldn't be that easy, but God she hoped it would be!

"Need a hand?" Legolas called, watching her from atop his horse with Gimli right behind him.

"Of course, she needs help, lad! Do not just sit here and watch!" Gimli chided. Spurred on by the embarrassment and shame, Kate gave another heave and hoisted herself onto the horse, wincing as the stitches in her side pulled. She realized she would have to take a look at them later, but shoved that aside for now in lieu of more pressing matters, such as sticking out her tongue triumphantly from atop the horse.

"I've managed just fine, thank you Master Dwarf!" She teased, "but I appreciate you trying to make a gentlemen out of Legolas."

"An endless pursuit! The young princeling has much to learn on how to properly woo a woman." The dwarf chortled, poking a finger into the Elf's side.

"Gimli, my friend, what was it you said earlier about wanting to walk to the encampment?" Legolas quipped, earning a whooping laughter from Kate and one from Gimli as well. The Dwarf was in a fine mood, puffed up and ready for battle. Where all Dwarves this way or was it just Gimli? Kate stiffened as the horse stamped under her, impatient to begin the journey.

"Good horsey." Kate plied, uncomfortably patting him on the neck. She missed the mare, but the horse she rode now was faster and stronger than the mare she was used to riding. "Just don't let me fall, that's all I ask."

"He will not let you fall." Legolas said, suddenly quite serious as a sense of urgency rippled through the air. "The men of Rohan have trained him well."

"Horse-men." Gimli sniffed. "I wish I could muster a legion of Dwarves, fully armed and filthy."

"I'm sure we'd be thankful for the numbers." Kate commented, thinking of the insurmountable odds they had faced at Helm's Deep. She prayed it wouldn't be such a dramatic victory this time. She prayed there would be a victory.

"Your kinsmen may have no need to ride to war. I fear war already marches on their own lands." Legolas said, his eyebrows drawn together and lips pursed in the way they always did when he was frustrated and unsettled. Kate's hands hitched to grab for his, to comfort him in some way, but neither of them very prone to public displays of affection and now was not the time. His eyes met hers, softening a bit as she gave him her best calming smile, knowing it would be enough for now.

King Theoden and Eomer thundered by, Aragorn following next them as they headed to the front of the line and her stomach flipped. It was time.

"Shit." Kate muttered, leaving over to rumble through her saddle bag. "I wanted to tell Jorunn how to make the salve for Bergil. The one for the burns." She swore again, shifting her weight to dismount.

"Leave it lass, no time for it now." Gimli chided. "Ye've filled the poor wee woman's head with enough, she'll sort it out on her own."

"And if she doesn't? And he gets burnt?"

"I should think he's been through a mite worse than a wee burn, wouldn't you agree? Besides, if the boy is to continue on being a blacksmith he will have many a burn to suffer through and a slab of salve willna cure every one of 'em."

"You need not worry, the boy is in good hands." Legolas said, agreeing with Gimli's sentiment in his usual calming way. "You have looked after him well enough and should he have any other needs Jorunn will mend them, or the Blacksmith. Bergil will be fine, Kate."

"Yeah…yeah, no, I know. I just worry."

"You worry over everything, lass! To see you tittering about over a boy who isn't even your son, has me wondering what you'll be like with your own wee lad!" The Dwarf teased, elbowing Legolas in the side suggestively. "What do you think lad, will she be the anxious mother or will you be the one biting yer nails to the quick?"

"Oh my God!" Kate moaned, pulling the scarf up over her mouth to hide her embarrassment.

"Gimli, should you fall from this horse during the ride, please accept my most sincere apologies in advance." Legolas jibed, giving an indiscernible look to Kate who refused to meet his gaze. "Keep that over your face, it will help." He suggested to the woman who simply nodded in response.

She couldn't allow herself to think about kids right now, not knowing what she was, what she might pass on. But she had to admit, it was a nice thought…

She rode forward, following the men and urging Merry along with them as they rode out of Rohan, the people looking just as somber as the day they came but this time it was for a different reason. She sidled her horse next to Aragorn who gave her an encouraging nod, his face dropping back to his usual grim set.

"Ride hard." He said to her and she nodded, looking ahead of them at the mass expanse of rolling hillside that had been their refuge. If anyone objected to Kate being at the front they did not say, or would not, and Kate absent mindedly wondered if it had to do with her relation to Aragorn.

"Now is the hour, Riders of Rohan!" Eomer shouted to the legion of soldiers, making Kate sit up straight, a shiver of anticipation rolling down her back. "Oaths you have taken! Now fulfill them all to lord and land!"

And then they were off, like an arrow shot from a bow, charging ahead with all the haste their situation warranted. Kate's eyes watered as the wind whipped across her face and through the horse's mane and all around her the thunderous stampede of hundreds of horses.

She held on tight, pleased at least that she was able to keep up with the rest of them and not look like a bumbling idiot. Her horse really liked to run and she let him have complete freedom with the reigns, it wasn't as if she was really driving anyway. Every so often she'd see Aragorn or Legolas look back, or purposely slow their horses to fall in line with her and she'd roll her eyes, urging the horse foreword every time until at last, they finally relented.

Hours later and Kate could see several tents speckled along the hillside and she was pleasantly surprised it was not as far away as she had initially thought. Though, if she were honest, it wasn't even close to the number she initially thought it would be either and that was not a comfort.

Soon the line converged and slowed to a trot as Kate clumsily steered the horse next to ride beside Aragorn.

"Oh, quiet you!" She chided the horse, who had obstinately protested the sudden change of pace. "They already know I suck as a rider, so really this will only reflect poorly on you." The horse, to his credit, seemed to take that to heart and trotted obediently alongside Brego like a show pony.

The hurried through the encampment with shouts of "make way for the king" ringing throughout as people hurried out of the way to clear a path. King Theoden waved to the men, calling out for their numbers, 500 here, 300 there and none from Snowborn, wherever that was. It didn't sound like enough, not to fight the whole of Mordor. Kate's eyes went to Aragorn's who stared ahead, his face tightening as he mentally tallied the number just as she was.

Don't think about it now. She urged herself, riding forward past the hundreds of tents and toward a mountain with an alarmingly steep path.

"Up there?" Kate asked, her eyes following the men who had already begun the ascent.

"It is safe." Legolas encouraged, confidently moving forward. She did not miss Gimli's white knuckled grasp on the elf and she was at least relieved she was not the only one who didn't feel safe comfortable with the whole thing.

"Easy does it now, horsey, make us look good." She muttered, urging the horse forward. The climb felt like it had taken forever and a pool of sweat was beginning to form under her, she was sure of it. Every falling pebble, every mistaken glance down nearly sent Kate into a panic. The path itself didn't seem wide enough for her but, she supposed, it was well worn so plenty of people had traveled upon it and lived so she was sure it was not her time to die today. Finally, they reached level ground and Kate could have kissed that horse, she nearly did but decided and apple would have been the preferred reward. "We should probably figure out what your name is, so I can stop calling you horsey. I imagine it's a bit patronizing, isn't it? Hmm, well what about Charlie for now, and then I'll find your real name."

"His name is Galdur." Legolas answered, dismounting Arod and assisting Gimli off.

"I don't know, he definitely looks like a Charlie to me, don't you?" The horse snorted in response, it's ears lying back flat. "Ok, geez, Galdur it is, my bad."

"It is not the name that has him ill at ease. Come let us settle them with the other horses, they deserve the rest." He replied, staring darkly at a mountain pass in the distance. A wind whipped through it that chilled her bones well after they had seen to the horses and in the distance, she could hear a low hum, barely perceptible thanks to the ring. Kate paused, concentrating, seeking out the energy lines that were now visible, all converging to that mountain pass. But something was off about it, the way these lines seemed almost fractured and gnarled as they twisted and bent, taking great pains not to touch each other.

"The horses are restless, and the men are quiet." Legolas commented to Eomer, who seemed none too pleased about the situation himself.

"They grow nervous in the shadow of the mountain." He replied, and it was not hard to figure out why. Kate frowned, staring into the paths, watching in macabre fascination as the lines seemed to move and bend on their own. Now that is new…She mused, barely registering Eomer's explanation of the creepy mountain. Normally the lines stayed put, it took a force to move them but these were suddenly moving on their own, as if making way for…Kate blinked rapidly, shaking her head as she tried to comprehend what she saw…it wasn't, it couldn't be a ghost. She was losing it, surely!

"Are you well, Legolas asked, drawing her out of her head. When she looked back there was nothing there, the energy lines lay were they were, though still fractured and oddly twisted but unmoving.

"Oh, um, yea. I think so." Kate said, shaking her head once more. "Hey…just wondering…but can you hear it?" It was a long shot she knew…even with his super elf hearing, but even if he could hear it that didn't mean he could travel. The time they'd spent, she would have known by now if he could, but still, perhaps…

"Hear what?"

"The buzzing. That buzzing, I think there's a stone circle somewhere…I just wondered if you could hear it."

"Is it causing you pain?" He asked, his brows knit together in worry. "No, I am sorry, melethnin, I do not hear it."

"No, it's not hurting," she responded, shaking her head as she tried to hide her disappointment. She knew, after all, that he couldn't. It was a long shot…still, the disappointment still poked at her. "It's not your fault, I was just curious. Probably a good thing actually, all things considering, so that's good."

"You are sure you are not in pain."

"Yea, I'm sure." She said, drawing her hand out of the riding gloves and showing him in the ring. "I, uh, got this back. So, all good." She explained, awkwardly looking away as she clumsily shoved her sweaty hand back in the glove, cursing to herself as she realized that wasn't going to happen.

"Well, then I suppose that is a good thing." He said cautiously, a million unasked questions darting across his eyes. "You do not seem at ease, though?"

"No, um, no. I guess not."

"What troubles you?"

"Traveler stuff." She whispered, her eyes darting around to ensure no one had heard. Legolas gave a curt nod, feeling the familiar nudging of frustration. He knew he had no right to be frustrated, that he could not be privy to every single thought of hers but it bothered him that there were things she could not share with him.

It wasn't that she couldn't share it with him, more that she wouldn't share it. That was more to the point. The fact that this newfound Traveler title gave her exactly the excuse to hide her worries and fears from him, and blame it on that. Say she could not share, that the things Nestaron had taught her, all the time they'd spent together in secret could not be shared with him. It was irritating and frustrating and petulant he knew, but it just seemed to him like another wall she had erected between them. Another way of telling him he could have some of his heart but not all of it.

He knew she loved him, but this dynamic was new to him and he had to wonder if all humans loved this way, in this guarded and drawn out way. When an Elf loved, they loved with their whole heart, their whole being, but Kate was not this way. If she was so hesitant to share her heart would she also hesitant to share a life with him? He did not want to admit it pained him, the way she held back when he knew she loved him the best way that she knew how, and perhaps he would adapt.

"I'll… talk about it later." Kate added, watching his eyebrow raise ever so slightly. "I have to help Eowyn but, I'd like to talk later, when we're settled."

Or perhaps, Legolas realized as he nodded again, his face softening as he watched her visibly relax, she simply needed time to open up about this. Perhaps she was adapting as well. This was new for both of them…he would have to give it more time. Time was certainly something he could give. Slowly, he reached his hand out, grabbing hers in his and kissed her hand, his lips lingering for longer than they would have in a public setting and Kate suddenly longed for a private tent to show him just how much she wanted to talk later!

"Come find me when you are settled then." He whispered.

Kate flopped down onto the pile of blankets and furs that littered the floor in the tent she would share with Eowyn until the soldiers were ready to depart.

"I am honestly so tired I don't think I think if I go to sleep I will not wake up for a hundred years." She moaned, ignoring Eowyn's equally weary laugh. "A hundred years. Like Rip Van Winkle. I'll grow a beard so long Gimli would be jealous."

They had spent the better part of the day hoisting the tents and preparing them for the others, gathering firewood another such tasks. Kate had not realized these tents would be so difficult to erect! It seemed silly now, she realized, knowing even tents from home were a pain and a half, and those had zippers!

"And yet your Elf would still wait dutifully." Eowyn said smiling as she braided her hair in preparation for bed.

"Oh, crap!" Kate moaned, pushing herself back up and grunting in frustration as the stitches in her side angrily protested. "I need to go see him. I haven't seen him all day." She muttered, pulling up her shirt and glancing at the red wound, frowning a bit as she touched it, the warmth of it concerning her. She prayed she wouldn't get an infection, that was the last thing she needed. Maybe I'll make that tincture, just in case, and take the stitches out now.

"He was with Aragorn last I saw him, they seemed quite well, the two of them." Eowyn said with a smile. "It is rare to see Lord Aragorn smile, you two are quite similar in that respect."

"Actually, I would argue I smile a lot more than him. And you, for that matter." She teased, grabbing her boots and pulling them on. She wanted to see Legolas. She was exhausted, but she wanted every last second, she could get with him before…well just in case things did not go as planned. "They are good for each other though, Legolas and Aragorn. He needs a good friend, someone he can talk to. I mean, yea, I'm family, but there are only so many things you can share with your niece. It's kind of weird for him to tell me how much he misses Arwen all the time, I get that."

As soon as the words left her mouth Kate stiffened, her stomach dropping as she realized what was said. Neither of them said anything, each pausing until Eowyn let out a thin shuddering breath. Kate swallowed hard, quickly trying up the laces of her boot.

"Arwen…that is the Elf maiden who gave him that jewel, yes?"

"Yeah."

"The one who sailed with her people?"

"He believes she sailed, yeah." Kate answered, slowly. Eowyn shrugged, the movement deliberate and controlled as she resumed braiding her hair, trying her best to appear nonchalant.

"It is natural he should miss her. I miss those who have left me."

Crap. Why am I the one? Why? Why me?

"Well…there's a bit more to it than that. He loved her, and she loved him… I don't think she sailed."

"But you do not know that, Kate." Eowyn replied waspishly, her braiding getting tighter as she furiously twisted the hair. "You cannot know everything."

"Well, I'm fairly certain-"

"Fairly certain is not certain, is it?"

"No, Eowyn, but-"

"But she is Elf-kind, yes? An Elf and a human cannot last, it is a doomed conquest. Why would she not sail with her people as he said she did?"

Kate felt as if she'd been punched in the gut and it was Eowyn's turn to look regretful and for a moment it seemed as if she might apologize for her carelessness as she stood to her feet to hang her night robe up, but no words followed and Kate only grew more angered.

It was one thing to question it herself, to her those words Nestaron and anyone else but she trusted Eowyn…she had confided in Eowyn, and the woman knew how Kate agonized over the fate of Legolas and her, whether or not she had made a mistake by entering in to such a relationship. Such a statement, no matter how carelessly made, felt like an insult.

"Actually," Kate snapped, tying off the last lace. "Arwen is half- elven. She can choose to live a mortal life with Aragorn if she wants. Her giving that jewel was her way of saying she would choose a mortal life with him."

"And what of Aragorn?" Eowyn replied, her voice hard and unyielding. "Should he desire another in her absence? Surely, he is free to give his heart to another. One who can understand him, one who is his equal. Is he doomed to a lonely existence while she sails off to the undying lands?" Kate shook her head, cursing Eowyn's stubbornness and Aragorn's too for not nipping this when she had told him too.

A stream of harsh words pooled in her mouth, begging to be let loose but as Kate stared at Eowyn, her friend who stood ramrod straight, back turned to her she could not do it. She could not say those things and she didn't want to be the one to break her heart!

"Everyone is free to make their own choices, even Aragorn." Kate said as gently as she could. "But you know Aragorn, the kind of man he is…do you believe he would give his heart to another, even to a woman so strong and beautiful and courageous, if he had already promised it to Arwen? Do you believe he would ever give himself fully to another? I'm not trying to be cruel…"

Eowyn let out a short gasp, her shoulders heaving as she fought to maintain control.

"I am tired…I think I will retire now. Please blow out the candle in the lantern when you leave." She said stiffly.

"Eowyn-"

"Goodnight, Kate. I will see you in the morning."

"I shouldn't have said anything." Kate sighed. "Ow!"

"Sorry. There is some swelling. You should have let Nestaron do these stiches." Legolas tightly explained, carefully snipping the stitches. "It could not have been helped, she should have heard it from someone."

"She should have heard it from Aragorn." Kate grumbled. "I told him. I told him to talk to her, to explain."

"As did I, but he did not want to assume her feelings, he felt it was not as obvious as it seemed."

"Yea well it was. It is. Now I get to spend a night in awkward town and I feel like the ass."

"You should not. One more and then I should clean this, have you brought your supplies? Good, you should make one of your teas." Legolas said, snipping the last of the stiches and pulling it through.

"You don't have to do that." Kate said, twisting around to glance at the wound. No pus, no odor, just red. Could be worse, Kate thought with a shrug. "Yea I did. Thank you, though, for doing that. I didn't mean for you to have to tend to me, I just wanted to see you." She muttered, pulling back down her tunic and leaning her head against his, enjoy the small amount of privacy they were getting.

They two of them had sunk into the trees, giving Aragorn the excuse that they needed to remove her stitching, and they obviously couldn't do that in a tent by themselves, it would have been improper!

Aragorn had, of course, seen right through that excuse but said nothing. Kate would have taken that moment to chide him about Eowyn but he seemed preoccupied, and so she decided against that course in favor of telling Legolas all about it.

"I do not mind tending to you, Kate." Legolas said with a roll of his eye as he tilted her chin up to his. "I very much wanted to see you as well." He said, bringing his lips down to meet hers. Kate melted into the kiss, his lips now as familiar and welcoming to her as the first sip of tea in the morning.

"I love you." She whispered against his lips as he pulled her closer to him, "Thank you."

"For what?" he asked, distractedly trailing kisses along her jawline.

"For being good to me." She said, turning her head to meet his gaze. "And for being patient with all of this…stuff. I know I've been distracted lately, and not entirely present…and I know it's probably a little frustrating." Legolas sighed heavily, leaning back against the tree as his hand tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"You are right. It has been difficult." He agreed. "But not because of what you are, because there are things you cannot share with me. I realize that there are many things you cannot speak of, but I know that you have been troubled lately, once again."

"How do you know that?" She asked, thinking she had done a rather good job of masking her fears.

"You always retreat when you are troubled. The more bothered you are, the more you withdraw. It is your way…Aragorn is much the same, and my father so it is not an unusual behavior. Vexing, but not unusual."

Kate bite the inside of her cheek, crossing her arms against her chest.

"That is a fair assessment." She relented, looking away. "I don't really know any other way…I guess I just need to process."

"I understand." Legolas said gently, pulling her back into his arms and running his fingers through her hair. "Just remember, when you are done processing that I am here. That I will always be here." He whispered.

Kate sank deeper into his arms, allowing his words to mollify her, despite knowing they might not be true. If this didn't work, if she couldn't do what she needed to… stop! It'll work! Everything will work out, it has too.

"You'll have to leave though, at some point. War and all." Kate muttered, inhaling deeply as she committed his scent to memory.

"But I will return." He said with such surety that Kate lifted her head up, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"At out last pre-war sendoff you said you wouldn't make such promises?" She asked, remembering their parting at Helm's Deep. Quite frankly she felt the odds and Helm's Deep were tilted much more in their favor than they be facing now.

"Ordinarily I would not…but there is a beautiful woman waiting for me."

"Oh, there's always a woman." Kate teased. Legolas laughed quietly kissing her once more. "She must be incredible, this woman, to have you making such bold promises."

"Incredible she is! Incredibly stubborn and passionate. Incredibly brave and kind as she is beautiful." Kate felt her cheeks warm listening to his praise.

"Well you certainly have painted a lovely picture." She said, running her hands up his chest. "And do you love this woman?"

"More than I have words to say." Legolas replied, suddenly growing quite serious as he gazed down at her. "My heart was yours long before I knew it and it will be for the rest of our lives."

"You have my heart too." Kate whispered, that very heart thumping wildly in her chest. Legolas smiled, opening his mouth and then closing it again, seemingly at a loss for words. It wasn't often the Elf had difficulty saying what he wanted. Kate's face softened. "Whatever world, whatever time my heart is yours, Legolas. There is only you. And, since you've made such a promise, I expect you to come back to me." Legolas nodded, bringing her hands to his lips.

"I will come back…and I should hope I will come back to my intended. For if she agreed to be my wife there is no distance I would not travel to return to her." He said quietly, her hands still held in his as his eyes reflected all the love he felt. Kate's mouth fell open, suddenly going dry.

Holy shit.

"Uh, wh- are you asking me to marry you?" She stuttered, blinking rapidly.

"Was…was that not clear?"

"No, it…I just had to clarify. Oh, oh no I've ruined it by asking, haven't I?" Kate said, stepping back in shock. Legolas shook his head, laughing to himself. "My first proposal and I've ruined it."

"You have ruined nothing, vanima. Though you have yet to-"

"Well, of co- Wait! What about your dad?" Kate asked. "Isn't he going to be opposed to this?" Legolas sighed, shaking his head. He hadn't expected this to be easy, it was Kate after all.

"I have sent a letter with Nestaron explaining my intentions though I anticipate some…resistance, it is my decision to make. Mine and yours alone." Legolas said, raising his hand as Kate's mouth opened again. " I did also ask for Aragorn's blessing."

"Oh…you did?" She asked, brows furrowed. Why was this so worrying to her? This was everything she wanted! "What did he say?"

"He said it is a terrible idea, he could not imagine a more terrible candidate for his beloved niece and that you should emphatically reject my proposal of marriage.

"Legolas!" Kate huffed, but couldn't help laughing. "What did he really say?"

"He said you need not his blessing, but he gives it."

"Oh, oh…well that's good. No, I don't need it but It's nice to have all the same." She said with a sigh. Legolas nodded knowingly, pleased he had made the right call in asking him first. "Well then…you really want to marry me?"

"Yes." He said with a laugh. "I certainly hope that was clear."

"You want to marry me."

"Yes, you still have not answered me by the way." Legolas said, his eyebrow arching ever so slightly.

"Oh right, crap."

"Very well then, when we tell our grandchildren of this moment I will be sure to leave that bit out." Kate laughed, covering her face with her hands as she leaned into him.

"Legolas, you can't leave that out every last detail is critical to our story. Our grandchildren deserve to know what I delight I am." Kate looked up at him, despite his amused expression there was a vulnerability in eyes that made her heart melt.

"Our grandchildren…" Legolas started a smile blooming across his face. "I will need you to say it of course, one can never be too sure with you."

"Yes." Kate said, a giggle erupting from her lips. "Yes, I'll marry you, Legolas." Legolas picked up, spinning her around in delight as they tried to contain their private enthusiasm.

Kate had never considered herself a romantic, she much preferred to be called a realist. A title of which was made all the easier to carry when there were a limited number of suitors to begin within. If she were being honest with herself she had imagined she'd never marry, and she was fine with that. She liked being alone it afforded her the opportunity to learn and continue her work. But then she met Legolas and before she had even realized she was falling in love with him she was already head over heels.

He was kind and perfect and loving and patient and all the things she wanted but more than that he saw her. He saw past her imperfections and straight to the heart of who she was and what she could be. He saw her and he knew her and he loved her anyway. How could she want anything else than to spend her life with him?

Eowyn hardly spoke two words to Kate the next day. The tension was so palpable she made every effort not to be around the woman if she could help it at all.

Instead, Kate spent the day sparring with Aragorn, Legolas and Merry. They didn't really need the practice and Kate claimed she was simply bored and wanted to stretch her muscles.

"I need real practice now that my leg is pretty much healed." She explained, but the intensity of her focus and the force behind her strikes and parries did not escape their notice. Kate was a good student, and she enjoyed swordplay as much as the next but she didn't love it, and given the choice between blade of iron or a scalpel she would choose scalpel every time.

"Wrists! Do not let yourself become lazy." Aragorn chided, knocking the blade out of her hand. "Again. Eyes ahead, mind you do not look at your feet."

"And do not shift so readily off your injured leg. It is easily spotted as a weakness and your enemy would use it to their advantage." Legolas added, walking around them in a circle, critically eyeing the two of them.

"Aye, and stand a little straighter, mind! Don't look like ye're cowering, lass!" Gimli shouted from atop a fallen log, tipping back another pint of ale.

Kate nodded, wiping her brow with her arm before squaring up again. She felt more confident know with the sword. She'd never be a warrior, not like them, but with the practice she was remembering herself, remembering her lessons. She continued sparing with Aragorn and as time dragged on she noticed he no longer held back, pleased as she matched blow for blow without losing her sword. He had even thrown in a few of his own moves, maneuvers he used in battle but she had held her own.

"Good. Very good." Aragorn said, a wide smile on his face and Kate beamed with pride as she stood there panting and drenched in sweat. She could count on one hand the number of compliments she received from Aragorn during training and she could recite each one word for word.

A crowd had gathered now, all interested in watching how well the stern healer would defend herself. She glanced at Legolas who nodded approvingly and let out a sigh of relief. Thank God she hadn't embarrassed herself.

"And not nearly a year the lass has been training!" Gimli said proudly to a small group of onlookers. "Trained and taught by all of us, of course. She does well, do she not? Aye she does!"

"Then perhaps she has grown used to sparing against you." A voice called out. Kate frowned as the golden-haired woman became visible, the men parting like water to make room for her. "It is not much of a challenge when you know your opponent."

"It's plenty a challenge, trust me." Kate retorted, taking a swing from her water skin. "Ask anyone who has spared with Aragorn, they know he is a worthy opponent. Right?" laughter and cheers of agreement rumbled through the crowd that was growing by minute while Aragorn merely shook his head in amusement.

"And are there no other worthy opponents you see fit to spar with?" Eowyn asked, earning her own good-natured grumble from the crowd. The woman was batting her and she knew it Kate thought, grinding her teeth in mild annoyance.

"I see about six thousand!" Kate answered back, shooting a smug look to the woman as the soldiers around applauded and whooped. "And I would spar with all of you but I'm afraid I've grown rather weary tonight. Besides, the hour is growing late. It will be past your bedtime before you know it boys." Kate teased, smiling wide at the loud chortle that came from the Dwarf.

"Then perhaps you have time yet to spar with one more." Eowyn said, pulling out her own sword as she stepped forward. "You and I have yet to practice together, my dear friend, and you did agree to it, do you not recall?" Kate sighed in frustration, slapping some water on the pack of her neck. The sun was beginning to set and the air around them was cooling, yet Kate still felt a heat rise up in her.

"Yeah, I remember." She grumbled. "In Helm's Deep we talked about it. Though we hadn't exactly set a date."

"Now is as good a time as any."

"Now? After I've been sparing for hours?" Kate asked incredulously. Really Eowyn? Kate was recovering from injury and exhausted and Eowyn was a fresh as a daisy looking every bit like a Viking warrior as she stood before her, her long hair flowing free and her sword poised and ready.

"Unless you are not up to the task. I would understand if you are tired."

That's it! Kate thought in frustration. If this is how she wanted to play then bring it on! She'd take an old-fashioned sword fight over this awkward tension between them any day!

"I'm up to it." Kate. Bring it on! Kate moved further back into the sparing circle, tightening her hair as Eowyn did the same, a murmur of anticipation moving through the crowd. One thing was for sure, Kate was not losing in front of all these people. Judging from the look on Eowyn's face, she had no plans to lose either.

Kate squared up, raising her sword as the two of the moved in circles, an almost rhythmic dance as they waited for the other to make the first strike. Kate's body was tense but she waited, remembering Boromir's warning to her the first day he had taught her: "Never be the first to strike unless you are absolutely sure you have the advantage, and trust me Kate, you will not."

And then suddenly, before she could even register the movement Eowyn struck and it was all Kate could do to block that blow without losing her sword. Strike after strike Eowyn came after Kate with a speed and agility that had not been seen in Rohan's other warriors. Kate was very much in a defensive position, but that was fine, she was fine letting the woman tire herself out.

That was the thing, Eowyn was faster than Kate, and obviously more skilled with a blade, but Eowyn had never fought in a war, had never fought against a real enemy. She fought with honor but in a war all bets were off…and if Eowyn was going to fight in a war she needed to know that.

Sweat beaded on both their foreheads as Kate blocked another blow, her sword crashing down to the hilt and it took all her strength to push the woman back. Stocky little thing isn't she, Kate thought in irritation, narrowly dodging a blade. She whipped her head around eyes glaring at Eowyn.

"Watch it. I don't need a haircut." She hissed, moving to make her own strike.

"I do not know what you mean." The woman retorted, batting away Kate's blow. Both of them were panting heavily but neither of them showed any signs of surrender, but Kate was tired! She'd been at this for hours, and her leg was sore and begging for a reprieve. One misstep has Kate pushed back Eowyn's blade and she crumpled to her knees with a yelp. Whoops and jeers and coin bags were tossed as Eowyn's blade came down with a clang. "End this. There is no dishonor in your loss, you fought hard." She urged, her face hardened in determination.

"Same for you." Kate grunted, pushing back with every last reserve of energy she could muster. Suddenly her eyes caught the ley lines that flowed under them and an idea formed in her head. It was a bad one, a dishonorable one…but one that earn Kate her victory and teach Eowyn what she needed.

Eowyn lurched forward, arms raised high in a strike that would absolutely ensure her victory but as soon as her feet landed on the ley line Kate jerked it upward, sending enough charge energy through it to shock the woman and end this fight. The movement was barely perceptible to those in the crowd, and Kate had practiced this defensive maneuver with Nestaron so often that she knew the act had barely felt like more than a static shock, but it was enough to throw her off.

Kate stepped forward hand outstretched to help Eowyn to her feet but the woman would not take.

"What did you do?" She hissed to Kate, standing to her feet as the crowd occupied themselves with their own individual victories and losses, they hadn't noticed Kate's little magic trick, as she knew they wouldn't.

"I won." Kate said with a shrug, sheathing her sword.

"You cheated. I would have won and rightfully so if you had not cheated." The woman accused, a new level of animosity brimming between the women. The hurt and damaged pride that reflect in her eyes was enough to make Kate question her choice.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You fell and I took the opportunity. You can be sure if you fall on the battlefield your enemy would do just that." Kate replied, wiping the dust off her knees. Eowyn straightened, her face hardening and her eyes growing cold.

"I had not thought you were my enemy." Came her clipped reply and with that she turned on a heel and disappeared with the rest of the onlookers.

Great job, Kate. Well done. You've managed to ruin the only female friend you've made in the entirety of Middle Earth. Incredible.

"That was not wise." Legolas said, coming up behind her as he handed her a water skin. Kate sighed as she removed the cork.

"No one saw me. They didn't notice."

"That is not what I am referring to." He said, pointedly nodding his head in the direction Eowyn had stalked off in. "You should have let her win."

"No way." Kate huffed, taking another swig of water.

"Then your pride will cost you your friendship." Legolas warned as Kate looked away, shame suddenly filling her. "And you did cheat."

"I wouldn't call it cheating, really…"

"Kate."

"Yeah, I know." Kate grunted, running a hand over her sweat slicked hair. "You're right. I screwed up, I need to fix it." Legolas nodded in affirmation opening his mouth to speak again when his ears perked up listening to something only he could hear. Kate stood stock still, waiting for him to speak. "What is it?" She asked after several moments.

"Drums." He replied and Kate could swear she felt the color leave her face.

"Orcs?"

"No," Legolas said, an odd smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "The Drúedain."

A/N: Yup, bad form Kate, bad form. You'll have to wait for the next update to see if they are able to mend their friendship! Btw, The Drúedain, or Woses, are in the book and they are pretty interesting if you'd like to read up on them. I have altered the timeline a bit from their involvement in the book to flow with this though. Anyway, I really hope this update was worth the wait!

On a side note, I am thinking of getting a Beta because I've been very busy with school and haven't been able to edit as thoroughly as I'd like (for both stories honestly, who am I kidding?) and I often miss easy edits so I think it might be beneficial. Soo, how does one go about getting a Beta? Please and thank you.

A huge thank you to Julsalthil, yasmina1, KatPawz186, Mooncatknits, Pint-sized She-Bear, leward1992 and Mediocre Dunces for reviewing and all those who have followed and favorited! Please continue to review, because honestly, I really love them and I definitely appreciate the advice and love. Until next time!