A/N: Hey guys, just another reminder that I have updated some previous chapters so there is the new character Kedron that replaced Loki. I made a big announcement about it in the last update, so I hope that helps and isn't too confusing! Anyway, let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thank you, as always to RubberDuckiez for beta-ing for me (wow, oh wow did I ever need a beta! Thank you!)

Also, a huge shout out to Pint-sized She-Bear, RubberDuckiez, Mooncatknits, KatPawz186, WickedGreene13, Julsalthil, leward1992, pineapple-pancake, xKaminix for the reviews.

Happy Holidays.

"I look ridiculous." Kate muttered, pulling the helmet down over her head. "I can barely see. How do you fight with this? We're going to get caught."

"Do you have another idea?" Eowyn snapped, twisting her hair to hide under the helmet. The woman turned and looked Kate over, trying to hide her frown. The armor was too big for her, and even with the additional leather vests she had gotten from Rivendell, Kate was still drowning in the chainmail.

"I have to take this off," Kate said, yanking at the strapping.

"Do not take it off!" Eowyn whispered, yanking off her own helmet. "This is smaller, take mine. The larger one will hide more hair."

"Or you could just cut it, like Mulan."

"Like who?"

"Mulan. It's a story about a woman who dresses as a man and joins the army instead of her sick father."

"Does she succeed?" Eowyn asked, tightening the straps along her side. Kate bit her lip.

"In the Disney version, she does."

"Then perhaps we will have the same luck as this Mulan," Eowyn said as Kate snorted. Mulan also had a tiny mythical dragon, a cricket and the help of the ancestors. What did they have? Fate?

Kate let out a frustrated grunt and pulled off the armored plates, along with the chainmail. I'd rather have a dragon, she thought morosely.

"I'm just gonna wear the helmet, and maybe the leather stuff over it. It's too much, I can't move with all that on."

"You cannot go without armor, you will be killed."

"I'll be killed if I wear all this," Kate muttered, pulling off the heavy leather tunic she had gotten from Rivendell and pulling the chainmail back on, retying the leather over that instead. Kate let out a shuddering sigh of relief. That felt better, but she certainly didn't feel safe, and no amount of armor was going to make her feel any more ready for this.

"Well…I suppose that will do," Eowyn said, nodding in approval. It wasn't as if they really had any other option. "We will need horses, the ones we rode here on will do."

Kate nodded mutely, strapping her sword on. How was Eowyn so calm? Excited even? This woman looked the very image of soldier while Kate was sure she looked like a quivering child in comparison. She didn't want to fight, she didn't want to do this. This wasn't her place. She wasn't a soldier, she was a doctor!

The women quietly stepped out of their tents, nodding here and there to passing soldiers as they walked through the camp to where the horses were kept. The sun was starting to rise, setting the encampment ablaze in the brilliant orange glow. Was that a good sign, Kate wondered. Wasn't there a saying about orange sun's rising? Or was it red? Or did red mean dead?

You're freaking out, Kate. Breathe! You will live through this, you all will. Just breathe.

Other soldiers were there, mounting their horses and preparing to meet the Wild Men to lead them through the woods. Kate eyed Galdur, her horse, nervously as Eowyn easily mounted hers. It suddenly occurred to her now that she was expected to ride a horse through battle. She didn't know why this was such a revelation, these were horsemen after all, but the thought threw Kate into another spiral of panic.

"Hurry." Eowyn called, deepening her voice as best she could. They did not want to draw any more attention. Kate nodded, stepping forward and mounting the horse. She made it, clumsily, but she did make it onto the horse.

"Make us look good, Galdur," Kate whispered to the horse as she urged him forward, following the stream of other soldiers. With every heartbeat, she felt her chest tighten, and the nervous energy around her did nothing to alleviate her anxiety.

The only thing she held onto was the words Koa spoke, that they would survive, and the images she had seen of her assignments. She couldn't see those things if she was going to die, would she? Kate snorted, picking up the pace to match speed with the others as she decided that yes, she definitely would still be getting assignments if she were going to die.

They hurried forward now, faster and faster, as they sped through the camp and then suddenly Eowyn veered off, taking a hard right. Kate cursed, urging her horse to follow the woman. What was she doing?! They were supposed to stay together.

She watched in horror as the woman hoisted an armored hobbit onto her horse. This was not good. He couldn't fight, could he? But Kate felt nothing to indicate that Merry shouldn't go with them and so, with a sigh, she moved the horse closer, shaking her head at the woman.

"He rides with me," She explained, her voice barely heard about the pounding of hooves. Merry did a double take, giving Kate a wide smile when he realized what the two women had done.

"The both of you seem entirely too eager," Kate muttered, but said nothing further. What could she do?

"Form up. Move out!" Eomer ordered, riding well ahead of them and spurring the soldiers to action.

"Ride. Ride now to Gondor!" Théoden called, and suddenly the stampede around them was thunderous and thousands upon thousands of horses rode around them, their hooves beating against the ground at a breakneck pace in the hopes of saving the stone city.

Kate held on, trying to fight the lump in her throat and the panic stirring in her. This was all happening too fast! Just last night she was with Legolas, teasing and practicing her swordsmanship and now she was riding off to war. A war she had no business fighting in, save for Eowyn. And that was the mission, Kate reminded herself, striving for clarity and peace of mind with the reminder of her task. No matter what happened, Eowyn had to live, had to fight the Witch King. If she didn't there would be no winning this war, she knew that in her heart, but it did not make it any easier.

She readjusted her grip on the reins, driving her sweat slicked palms and leaned forward, urging the horse on faster.

No matter what, Eowyn lives.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

That's it. Just keep breathing.

With each inhale, the smell of smoke filled her lungs, carried by the wind across Pelennor Fields. Kate was suddenly thankful for the dauntless horse, Galdur, who mercifully stood steady despite her trembling body. It should have seemed silly that a horse would show less fear than she, but as her eyes scanned the thousands of Orc that stood before them, she could not help it.

Wind whipped through flags, and she could hear the Orc armies shouting as they turned to face them. She told herself it was the wind against her face that had tears rolling down her cheeks and took one hard swallow.

"Courage, Merry. Courage for our friends," she heard Eowyn whisper and turned to glance at the woman, feeling only the slightest bit comforted that they too shook fearfully underneath their armor. "Courage," she said once more to Kate, her voice only slightly steadier than her own.

Kate wanted to reply, to say something funny and lighten the mood, but no words came. Her mouth was dry and her tongue felt like sandpaper as she licked her lips. What could be said, really?

She could hear the echoes of screams, soldiers, see the burning White City now tinged grey from the smoke and suddenly, for the briefest of moments, she was filled with pity instead of fear.

King Théoden rode forward in front of the army, shouting orders to his men, a light spot standing out against the darkness in front of them and now Kate could not take her eyes off him. She watched him, leeching every last ounce of courage from the man as he turned to them.

"Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden!" he shouted, riding so close in front of her she could have reached out and touched him. Reached out, ripped off her helmet, and begged him to send her back to the camp. "Spears shall be shaken. Shields shall be splintered. A sword-day. A red-day, ere the sun rises!"

One by one, the soldiers lowered their spears, and Kate realized foolishly now that she did not have one. It wasn't as if she knew what to do with it, but she felt the weapon's lack and her heart beat wildly in her chest.

"Whatever happens, stay with me. I will look after you," Eowyn whispered to Merry, who gave an uneasy smile while Kate let out a shaky breath and shifted to sit a little higher in her seat.

"We stay together. We look out for each other," she said with a firm nod to Eowyn, who nodded appreciatively. Kate could see that her face, covered in dirt and streaked with sweat looked whiter than usual and quickly she thrust out a hand, squeezing her arm in solidarity, if not for her own comfort, before settling back and grabbing the reins.

A musical clanking of metal could be heard as the King rode in front of their line, connecting his sword with the spears.

"Ride now. Ride now," Théoden ordered, and once again Kate grasped to the strength of his voice. "Ride. Ride for Ruin and the World's ending. Death!" he shouted with such surety Kate bit her cheek to keep back a sob. She wouldn't die here today, that was what Koa had said…but fate could change, things could change, wasn't she proof of that? The soldiers among her echoed back the chant the king shouted once more and Kate heard her own voice, along with Merry and Eowyn's mingled in.

"Death!" they shouted, pulling out their swords and holding them high. They shouted until their voices were raw, this declaration all uniting them in what would surely be their fates and stirring up something else in her she couldn't explain.

Maybe it was her own stubbornness, but as Kate shouted, her sword held high, everything within her raged against that word. There would be no death for her today, nor her loved ones. This would not be the end. Not for the race of men. Not Today.

A horn rang out, and suddenly they were moving forward, Galdur more or less taking charge and Kate let him, a mutual understanding between the two. They galloped faster now, whoops and shouts calling out around her and the air around her crackled with unspent energy. Kate's eyes drifted across the plains, the grid of energy lines a steadying comfort to her now as she leaned forward, coming up alongside Eowyn.

They rode at full charge and as both men and horses fell to her left and right Kate shoved the fear down and focused on the grasp of her sword in her hand, the hot chainmail burning her skin, the pull of healing flesh on her side, anything but the fear.

And then suddenly she was in the thick of it, clashing against the Orc army so mightily it nearly took the breath out of her lungs. Dirt kicked up around her, and unnerved by the chaos and the unfamiliar vantage point of fighting atop a horse, Kate flung her sword around her wildly, desperately praying she met Orc flesh and not that of her own people. Galdur, to his credit bit and kicked where he could, braying dangerously at any who got close to them as he urged them forward, further into the chaos.

A sword smacked against her armored shoulder, and she let out a cry, more from the searing hot metal against her than the sword, angrily reaching next to her and hacking away at a heavily armored Orc. She was sure she'd make contact, her blade now slicked with black blood a telling sign, but there was no way to be sure. There were so many of them, all around her! Shouts, screams of men and horses rose up and Kate craned her neck looking for Eowyn, panic growing in her now. Hell, she'd settle for a visual on any Rohirrim at this point.

She let out a yelp as an Orc fell against her thigh, stabbing her sword down into its neck, her arms shaking as it made contact with bone. She let out a sigh of relief, nodding to the Rohirrim soldier as she wrenched her sword from the body.

When she looked back up again she saw the man fall, his head long gone and body tumbling after. Her mouth fell open in horror and suddenly Eowyn was there, killing the Orc right where it stood.

"Come on!" she shouted over the din, and Kate gave a small nod, urging the horse to follow the others.

They pushed forward, swords sweeping along, stabbing and hacking what they could and Kate was positive she'd gotten a sword to her calf but she couldn't be sure of when or how.

Her body ached as they fought, working harder to hold on to her sword as she struggled to keep her balance atop the horse. But the crowd around them seemed to be thinning, they had more room to move, to think about their next victim. Could it be victory already?

The ground shook under her and Kate gripped tighter to the horse, certain she'd lost her balance at last. But the shaking did not stop and for a moment everything around her seemed to still. Even the Orcs turned to stare, and slowly, tortuously Kate did too.

A horn like nothing she'd ever heard rang out and Kate felt the blood rush from her face as a dizzying new fear overcame her. Nearly twenty elephant-like giants stomped forward, their lumbering steps shaking the Earth, and Kate turned to Eowyn for some sort of explanation.

They were gigantic, easily larger than any skyscraper, and heavy enough to squash her and her horse without a second thought. There were what looked like carriages atop, all harboring what Kate assumed were more Orc. She wanted to scream in frustration as a lump rose in her throat. She felt as though they were fighting for hours and now there were more?

"Get back. Fall back!" Eowyn shouted turning and joining with the other soldiers and Kate followed suit, unsure of what else to do.

"Re-form the line," Théoden called out, and Kate wondered if he, too, was unsure of their next move. "Sound the charge! Take them head on! Charge!"

Kate followed blindly after them, any prior sense of bravery or pride falling away. She had no idea what to do; she had never been trained for this.

She charged forward with little direction, simply trying to get out of the way as the beasts flung their massive tusks side to side, hurling bodies and stomping out men and horses alike.

"What do I do?" she shouted, turning to Eowyn and with horror realizing she was nowhere to be found. "Shit."

Kate followed a group of Rohirrim soldiers as they ran underneath the Oliphants, struggling to find her center amid the chaos around them. The noise and the shaking ground under her was disorienting, and if were not for the sight of the other soldiers Kate was sure she would have fallen apart.

"Left! Left!" a soldier called to Kate, furiously waving his arms but it was too late. A body careening through the air fell against her horse, sending him collapsing under her. It was only sheer luck that Kate was not trapped under the horse, but now she was on solid ground, without a mount. Her horse whined in pain and Kate felt an awful sense of betrayal as she ran away, her legs pumping as fast as they would carry her. There was no time for remorse, not now. Focus, Kate. Find Eowyn and focus.

A disturbingly familiar growl could be heard behind her and Kate spun around, sword at the ready, squaring off with the Orc. Her muscles ached, straining against the full weight of the Orc's sword crashing against her own. Sweat poured down her face, blinding her as she broke free and came around again, her sword colliding with Orc flesh. A soldier rode by and with an arching blow finished off the Orc for Kate. She nodded in thanks; there wasn't time for anything else.

She gasped for breath, fighting off Orc after Orc, looking desperately for Eowyn. Where was she? Where was Merry, or Legolas? Or Aragorn and Gimli? Did they make it? Where they alright?

With a yelp Kate fell to the ground, her lungs constricting as she gasped for breath that would not come. She reached for the sword that was knocked out of her hand, her vision tunneling as she clambered to her knees. She felt her lungs spasm, taking in the blessed oxygen as she swung her sword, pushing back the Orc with all the strength she had left.

Only, to her horror, Kate realized this was no Orc, as dark eyes met hers, both of their faces reflecting each other's shock. Kate took a step back, nearly dropping her sword. He hadn't realized she was a woman, and his eyes drew themselves along her armor. She hadn't expected to be fighting humans, to be killing humans. Orcs were one thing, but she was a healer. She helped people, she didn't kill them.

Her moment of hesitation was all the man needed as he brought his blade down, smacking Kate's out of her hand. Kate swore, stumbling back once more to try and escape the situation, but he was quicker than she and before she even knew what had happened his sword swiped across, meaning to behead her but luckily striking her across the cheek instead, her back step saving her one more moment.

The pain was blinding. She fell back as the blood poured down her cheek and then collapsed to the ground. The man laughed, kicking her as she grasped for her sword, a sword, something! The slight give of the ley line surprised her but with a newfound strength and determination Kate grasped the line firmly, pushing out the energy and sending the man hurtling back.

She seized that moment, grabbing her sword and bringing it down on the man, killing him. She pushed on the sword, sinking deeper into his belly, and fought down the bile rising in her throat as she watched the life leave his eyes.

She shook her head, blinking back the sweat and tears that burned her eyes. She wanted to run, to hide, and as she ran past the body of a fallen Oliphant she briefly considered ducking under and cowering until it was over. But there was nowhere to hide, not here, and the sharp pain in her body reminded her she had a task to do. Where was she?

Her back collided with another soldier as the both of them fought off a hoard of Orcs and despite the pain and the fear, Kate had settled into the strange sense of focus. Her body moved exactly as it had been trained to do, blocking and striking just as it should. The soldier behind her yelped, a high pitched feminine sound and Kate spun around, grasping the woman.

"Eowyn!"

"I was sure you had died!"

"Not really sure how I'm not dead," Kate panted out. "Come on, we have to-"

A piercing shriek rang through the air, bringing them to their knees as they clutched for their ears. A shadow passed over them, and a gust of wind brushed her hair back as her eyes scanned the sky. The two women watched in horror as the Nazgul took Théoden in its mouth, spinning and tossing him like a ragdoll. The Black Rider turned and Kate broke out in a cold sweat as she felt its familiar gaze on her.

Then she felt it, that crackle in the air, two opposing forces meeting and colliding. Kate pulled herself to her full height, hand outstretched and ready to grasp the line. There was no need, it turned its head dismissively, as if she wasn't worth a second glance, turning its attention to Théoden once more. Ire burned in the pit of her stomach and Kate now took hold of the line, ready to strike as the Black Rider ordered its mount to feast on Théoden's flesh. Kate felt the power mounting in her hands, gaining the attention of the Black Rider once more but then Eowyn was there standing in front of the King's body protectively.

"I will kill you if you touch him," she said with more ferocity than Kate had ever heard from the woman.

"Do not come between the Nazgul and his prey." The rider said, and Kate felt the threat reverberate through her, but a peace had settled on her even now as she watched Eowyn strike, beheading the Nazgul. Things were happening as they were supposed to. This would end as she had seen, as Koa predicted. It would be ok. This Traveler stuff wasn't so hard, was it?

A surge of energy sent Kate careening backwards and throwing Eowyn on her back. The woman ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the Witchking's mace, and Kate grasped a ley line, holding on to something as a wave of dizziness came and left. She felt like she was going to throw up, but when she looked up a man stalked forward, chest bare and sword in hand, heading toward Eowyn.

Kate struck out her hand, sending another way of energy toward this new invader who Kate knew should not be here. The man deflected it with a wave of his hand, turning to Kate with a quizzical expression before letting out a barking laugh. A scar cut across his face, pulling his mouth into a permanent grimace, several more scars littering his body and shorn head. Kate swallowed hard, wondering just how many battles he had been in.

"You're not supposed to be here," he said, casually pointing his sword at her. "Not supposed to be any Traveler's here. Not since you left."

Kate pulled herself to her feet, brandishing her sword in one hand and a ley line in the other, trying to recall every skill Nestaron had taught her.

"I'm not going anywhere," she called back, her voice holding more strength then she felt. "I am the Traveler here."

"No, you're not. Remember?" he said, waiting for her to catch on. "Oh, come on, lovely, you don't remember me? You're old buddy Hayes?"

"You don't look like anyone I'd call a friend and if you take one step closer I'll-"

"You'll what? Kill me? Do me in like all the others all by your lonesome? You'll remember the last time, it didn't go so well for you, or your friend. Run along now, soon as I end this I can do what I came here for. I heard this world was just ripe for the picking since you left, and well, if no one else is gonna go for it, why not ole Hayes?" he lauded, lazily throwing a blast of energy toward Eowyn which Kate shot away. He turned his head toward her in irritation. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"Last chance," she warned as the man laughed.

"Oh! Oh this is before you left, guess I undershot!" he roared in laughter, his eyes rolling over her ill-fitting armor as realization hit him. The woman really didn't know who he was, did she? "You know something, I'm really going to enjoy getting rid of you. You've been a real pain in my ass, lovely, and as fun as this has been, I'd rather not exert the extra effort. Really wears on my old heart." Kate frowned, her mouth opening to ask a question but a wall of energy shot toward her throwing her to the ground once again. The lines under her began to raise, and she could feel the metal armor piercing under her as she rolled quickly to the left, gasping at the chunk of hair it took with her.

Kate yanked up the ley line and shot it forward but every strike she sent paled in comparison to the blows he delivered. This Traveler was far more experienced than she was, and nothing she had learned was going to stop him.

"Christ, you really are green, aren't you?" he laughed, wiping his nose and staring at the bit of blood she managed to draw from him with a shrug. "Not so much better than the rest of us now, are you?"

Kate swore at him, moving to send another surge of energy, but the line wrapped around her, holding her in place and burning her skin. She screamed out in pain, shame burning her face along with rage and as she struggled to yank up another line, to escape, to do something! He was too strong. Nestaron was right, she was in over her head! If she couldn't defeat this Hayes how could she ever hope to rid herself of Kedron? Hayes strode toward her, standing in front of her face in three large strides as he grabbed her face in one hand.

"Should have taken me up on my offer, lovely. No one's here to save you now, are they? Where's your friend? Gone and left has he?"

"Not quite," Kedron's voice called out, standing behind Kate. "I believe that's my Traveler, you're playing with and I'd rather not share. Oh, and you've damaged her. You'll have to pay for that of course."

Hayes let out a whooping laugh stepping back and clapping as he took in the duo. Kate's eyes went to Eowyn, breathing a sigh of relief, the woman was fine, fighting longer than she had too but fine. Merry was there now, all would be well.

"What a reunion! Never thought I'd see the day, and here of all places!"

Kedron raised an eyebrow looking to Kate in confusion.

"That's not usually the response I get," he said quietly. "Do you know him?"

"Apparently, we do, sometime, somewhere. Doesn't matter," Kate gasped, struggling against the pain in her arm that still kept her in place.

"Travelers," Kedron muttered, letting out a weary sigh as he pulled out his sword. "You'll unhand her of course? And make amends to me for the inconvenience?"

"What I'll do is kill 'er, for free, and let you thank me for taking her off your hands," Hayes countered, flicking the line like a whip and letting it curl around Kate's other hand. "Be a little easier for you if I did."

"Yes, she is rather irritating…" Kedron mused, looking back at Kate as if mulling the idea over until his shoulder slumped and with a roll of his eyes turned back to Hayes. "But you see, I do need her. Alive. It would really ruin things for me, especially after all the work I've put in, you understand. I do hate to have my time wasted," he said, his tone low and menacing despite the lightness of his words

"As do I," Hayes laughed letting go of Kate with a small wave of his hands as he now focused on Kedron. Something sparked in the air as the two faced off. Kate wanted to run and hide, embarrassed and ashamed that she'd not only failed, but that she was being saved by him again.

The two men fought, and this time Kedron had the obvious advantage, but not for long, and from what Kate knew he didn't have a lot of magic left to waste.

"Feel free to assist at any time!" Kedron shouted to a wearied Kate. She looked over to Eowyn, who stood ready to defeat the Witchking and nodded. She hadn't failed. It was going just as it should.

"Any ideas?"

"Isn't that your job?"

"Give me a minute, I've got it," she shouted back, collecting the ley lines in her hands and letting the energy mount, swallowing nervously. Kedron spun around, staring at her like she had grown two heads before turning back and bringing a sword across Hayes' chest, narrowly missing him…yes, Kedron was getting tired and she didn't know how much longer he'd be willing to fight on her side. She needed to make this work while she had the chance.

"Not that way!" Kedron shrieked wildly, shoving Hayes back. "What are you doing?!"

"Escape hatch," Kate called. It was the only way she knew to get Hayes out of here. He couldn't stay, not on Middle Earth. He'd kill her and ruin everything.

"You're not strong enough for that, Kate. It will take us all with it, you fool!"

"Listen to the man, lovely," Hayes, called his voice quivering just a bit. "That's not how you want to leave this place, trust me."

"It's the only way I know how," she explained, shouting over the whirring noise of the lines as the energy mounting in her hands, collecting more and more as those near her ran away, desperate to get away from whatever she was doing.

To be honest, Kate didn't really know what to expect, just that this would make a black hole type portal, with energy so great, everyone in its path would get sucked in, sent to who knows where. She hadn't planned to do this here, and she hadn't planned to use it on Hayes, but what other option did she have? If there was an easier way, surely Nestaron would have taught her.

"Let go, Kate, you'll be lost to this world, we both will! You owe me! Do you hear me, don't do this!" Kedron screamed, uncontrolled fury and rage flowing from him like nothing she'd ever seen but it was too late.

The blast was greater than expected, but there it was, the portal, pulling in everything in its path. Kate used every last bit of strength she had building up walls of energy around them to save the residents of Middle Earth from being sucked in, but unfortunately trapping herself, Hayes and Kedron in.

"Don't do this, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'll go back. You'll never see me again, don't send me to him!" Hayes screamed, clawing at the dirt as the buzzing grew to a deafening noise as the space in between lay bare before them.

With one last surge of magic Kedron shoved Hayes forward, sending the man's body careening through the portal, his screams mingling with those that had been lost before and just like that he was gone.

Kate dug her sword into the ground, struggling to hold on. Nestaron had told her, had warned her to get as far away as possible, to close it soon after…but what if she could send Kedron too? If she held open the portal for a little longer she could kill two birds with one stone, right? Hadn't she learned all of this for the express purpose sending Kedron through? To trap him in the space between? She could be done with him once and for all.

The wind whipped across her face, her sword bending with the effort of keeping her in one place and Kate knew instantly she'd made a mistake. How would she close it now? The walls of energy she'd thrown up around it to protect the people groaned, straining against the force of the portal and Kate knew she'd gone too far.

The portal was too big, it would bring the whole city through with it if it stayed open any longer. She needed to close it. Slowly she moved one hand, stretching it forward to try and close the portal but for her efforts she was yanked back, being pulled toward the portal so quickly her body had no time to react to what was happening.

She was being pulled forward, through the portal and she screamed in protest, flailing her arms to try and hold on. Everything she was afraid of was coming to pass and it was all her fault! Legolas - her mind went to him, and she grabbed at the ground, dead orc bodies, anything to keep her here but the pull was too strong!

A hand grabbed her, anchoring her and Kate let out a small sigh of relief until her eyes landed on Kedron who had once again saved her.

"Close it," he seethed, black air wiping across his face and grey eyes boring into her and in that moment, he looked every bit the Maia he claimed to be. His hands grasped her wrist, sending shooting pain up her arms as she let out a pained cry. "Close it now, Kate."

"I-I don't think I can."

"Yes, you can. You're The Traveler. You opened it. You can close it. Do it now!"

Kate reached out, trusting Kedron with her life, despite being warned against that very thing as she fought to close the portal once, twice, three times. It wasn't working. Why wasn't it working? She could feel the both of them being pulled forward now, no longer being held safe by whatever magic Kedron had been using. "If you do not close this portal now, you will never see him again, do you understand? You will be lost in that space forever. Do you want that? Close it! Do it now!"

With one last force of effort Kate leaned forward, grabbing the ley lines and forcing them apart, back to their original places, untangling them and removing them from the portal.

And just like that, it disappeared, evaporated into thin air as if it had never happened. The war raged on, oblivious to the chaos that had been going on around them and both Kedron and Kate collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath.

"Next time you want to kill me," Kedron breathed after several moments, the both of them still unmoving, "might I suggest something less dramatic? Poison, beheading? Anything but that."

"Duly noted," Kate quipped, grasping the blessed ground under her. She was alive. She was still here. She managed to keep Eowyn alive. She hadn't failed, quite the opposite, in fact. "I suppose I can add that to my list of debts too."

"No, that was for free," he panted, "To show you it won't be so easy to kill me."

"That was hardly easy," Kate snorted, wiping the sweat out of her eyes. She didn't want to move. Her body hurt and she was just so tired. Where was Eowyn? Where was Legolas? Aragorn, Gimli? Where they ok? "And I wasn't trying to kill you."

"Oh no? So Nestaron didn't teach you that little magic trick to be rid of me?"

"Well what did you expect?" Kate groaned out. Orc still milled about but in less numbers now, being chased by hordes of what looked like ghosts. God, I must have really gotten my ass kicked. I'm seeing things. "I'm not gonna just lie down and let you manipulate me. 'Oh, you will help me, Kate.' Screw you, no I won't!" she mocked, halfheartedly reaching for her sword as Kedron laughed heartily, still lying on the ground, eyes closed, completely at peace amongst the chaos.

"How did that work out for you?"

"Well, you're still here, so not as well as I had hoped," Kate grumbled. "Go away now, I'm tired." Her eyes closed, and she concentrated on the feel of the scorching sun on her face, the blood seeping into her tunic, the dry grass under her. She just wanted to sleep.

"You need to stay awake, Kate," Kedron hissed, suddenly sitting up, humor leaving his voice entirely. "You should not have done that. You're too weak to pull such stunts, it could have killed you."

"At least I could go to sleep," she whispered. Her body felt so heavy, it took more effort to stay awake. The war was nearly over, she could just sleep, right? Just for a few moments.

Kedron grabbed her wrists, the pain from Hayes' lashes shooting up her arms and waking her momentarily.

"You really are a fool, aren't you? You should not have done that. You have learned nothing. You cannot just banish people. You were supposed to send him back to his place of origin not the void, you cannot dispense your own judgement. What will Mandos say? What will Eru say? You've ruined everything. There is no coming back from this, Kate. Do you understand? You've damned us both."

Kate couldn't move her mouth to respond, and she was far too tired to come up with something clever, but the panic rising in Kedron's voice had started to unnerve her. She hadn't meant to banish anyone, she was simply trying to get rid of the bad guys. Wasn't that what she was supposed to do? Keep the timelines and get rid of those who shouldn't be here and wanted to screw that up. She did that. Why was he panicking. Kate let out a heavy sigh as her only response, sinking into a blissful sleep before Kedron shook her again.

"Stay awake, Kate. Do not sleep, not yet," he urged swearing under his breath at the incoherent woman. Healing her would use up a lot more magic than he was willing to part with. A lot more, and he wasn't exactly thrilled about weakening himself to save her. Where was the Elf?! Shouldn't he be dragging her to safety or something heroic? That was the bargain struck in romance, right? The two lovers always saved each other, so why, Kedron wondered in irritation, was it always on him?

Regret filled him as he realized it would have been easier to simply use that Hayes character and be rid of Kate… Hayes' was already full of ill intent and easily corruptible, it would have been easy. But Hayes wasn't The Traveler, not like Kate. Hayes was a Traveler, a talented one… but not like Kate could be. What Kate had was far more valuable than any Traveler Kedron had ever seen, save one and he wasn't a Traveler anymore.

No, it had to be this one, unfortunately. Swearing to himself Kedron reasoned that once he was restored to his rightful position again he wouldn't care about the magic expended to get him there. But, he had to get there first, and he needed Kate to do that. He grabbed her hands, far too small and far too cool and swore again at the idiocy of this small woman. She shouldn't have done that - not until she was stronger, and he wondered if Nestaron had bothered to warn her at all, or was the Elf simply that desperate to be rid of him?

Kate wasn't moving now; her energy utterly spent with only the barely detectable rise and fall of her chest as a sign of life. Kedron turned her hands over, bringing the inside of her wrist to his lips as he felt the power leave him and seep into her. She'd need rest, medicine, but she'd live. Color flushed her cheeks again as she took a deeper breath, still unmoving but alive. With a curt nod, he rose to his feet, leaving her there on the ground. The Elf would find her. Even now Kedron could see him looking for her. The war was all but won now, and he knew Legolas would waste no time in looking for her. Kedron sneered as he looked over the Elf, knives out and finishing off two Orc as his eyes scanned the bodies that littered the field.

"She's not there, you fool," he said, just loud enough to make sure the Elf heard him. Legolas' head snapped up, turning to Kedron and their eyes met for the first time in what felt like ages. Kedron smirked at the way the Elf's face hardened, watching him beeline for the two of them. Kedron reached down, pushing Kate's hair behind her ears and gently stroking her hair, if only to get a rise out of the Elf. He really was too easy. You shouldn't fall in love with something so impermanent, Kedron mentally warned the Elf. "Still…she's stronger than she looks." He mused to himself as an arrow whizzed by his head. Kedron rolled his eyes, bowing deeply, mockingly to the Elf Prince before stepping away.

Kate would live. Her Elf was coming. The day was saved… so why did Kedron feel like he was the one coming up short?

"Ow." Kate grumbled to herself, adjusting the pillows as her body screamed in protest. Eowyn smiled sympathetically.

"Battle scars giving you trouble?"

"No. Right as rain. I'm fine. I shouldn't even be here," she replied, staring down in irritation at the pristine white gown the Healing Rooms had provided her with. She opened her mouth to complain again and then looked over at Eowyn, who was barely awake even a day later. The woman was by far much worse off than she was, and tears pricked her eyes. She almost lost her. "I'm glad you're here though," she whispered to Eowyn. Thankful Aragorn was such a skilled Healer.

"Me too."

"You had me worried there."

"I apologize. Next time I shall make nearly dying less frightening for you."

"It's all I ask." Eowyn laughed, sending her into a coughing fit. In a huff Kate threw back the blanket, and stepped over to Eowyn, gingerly lifting the woman and added another pillow behind her back. "There, that's better. Isn't it?"

"Yes, thank you, Kate."

"You're welcome," Kate tutted, wincing a bit as she pulled the blankets up over the small blonde. "You need to keep warm. And rest, plenty of rest. Do you feel rested?" Eowyn opened her eyes and gave a pointed look to Kate. "Right. Of course. I'll let you get right to it… but uh, first… I need to tell you something."

"Hmm?"

"You were right. I cheated, I totally cheated. You would have kicked my ass and I cheated so I could win."

"I knew it," Eowyn scoffed. "You were going to let me die thinking I lost to you?"

"No, that's nonsense. I would never let you die, you were in very capable hands," she said firmly. In truth, Kate wasn't quite so sure. She didn't feel so capable and Kedron's words kept floating in and out of her memory. You've damned us both. Had she? She couldn't remember anything after that, except for the feeling of Legolas lifting her up, and waking up in the healing rooms of Gondor with him by her side.

"Hmmm," Eowyn hummed, unsure, and shrugged. "I demand a rematch as soon as I am well."

"Then get well," Kate said, kissing her forehead. "I'll let you rest."

Eowyn gave a small smile, sinking deeper into her pillow and letting out a comfortable sigh. Kate watched her for a moment until she realized how creepy it must seem and then turned, her feet padding against the cold stone ground as she made her way to the balcony.

So this is Gondor? she thought to herself, really looking at it now. She supposed it was beautiful at some point, now there was a lot of repairs that needed to be done. Now it was crumbling. For the briefest moment, she was glad Boromir wasn't here to see this, knowing how much he loved his city, their city. His heart would have been broken.

But they had won. One more battle won. One more impossible victory. Men were winning, which meant Frodo was winning and that was an encouraging thought. Her eyes traveled to the small garden beneath her, specifically held in the healing hall for what Kate assumed was to grow herbs and healing plants, and to provide rest for the weary soul. There she saw him, never far from her, walking amongst the gardens. Kate smiled, enjoying being able to simply watch him.

Legolas.

He was leaving tomorrow. They all were. Moving to the Black Gates. Aragorn wouldn't hear of it when Kate had begged to go with them, insisting she was more than well and could handle the journey and the battle, but he refused. She couldn't blame him, not really, she did look rather pitiful, but she felt fine. More than fine really, just a bit sore. Kate huffed, blowing her hair out of her face, her stubborn insistence drawing Legolas's gaze to her, a smile breaking out across his face.

Kate motioned for him to wait there and in a flash, she turned, grabbing the robe off its hook and sneaking out of the healing halls, feeling like a rebellious teenager breaking curfew rather than a grown woman going to visit the man she would marry. But, it was great fun.

Kate tiptoed as quietly as she could until she was safely out of the halls, receiving odd looks from Gondorian soldiers who marched through. However, no one said anything in protest as she glided through the vast open halls, simply nodding and muttering "My lady," before carrying on. One of the perks of being related to future King, she thought wryly, quickly rounding a corner. She let out a yelp of surprise before familiar lips met hers and a giggle escaped her.

"I thought I was coming to you?" she teased, as the two of them ducked into a darkened alcove, the moonlight casting silver shadows across the floor.

"I could not wait," Legolas whispered teasingly, gingerly holding her face in his hands as he kissed her softly. Kate leaned in deepening the kiss, not in the mood to be handled delicately right now. Legolas chuckled pulling back and pulling her hands out of his tunic and into his. "You should rest. You have been through a lot."

"No more than you," she countered, stepping on her tiptoes to kiss his neck. She smirked to herself as he let out a shuddering sigh. "I don't want to rest," she whispered. Legolas didn't either and met her lips once more, pulling her body as close to him as he could.

A small, polite cough came from behind them, and the two of them detangled themselves from each other and tried to appear as presentable as they could. Legolas looked peeved as he smoothed his hair and Kate couldn't tell if it was because a human had managed to sneak up on him or because of the interruption.

"Lady Kate, are you well?" the guard asked, his face flushed beet red and doing his best to control his features. He looked mortified. Kate pulled her robe closed, lifting her chin up and doing her best to look like a lady and not what he had thought was a harlot.

"Yes. Fine," she sputtered. "Just, uh, discussing wedding details with my intended."

"Prince Legolas," the guard nodded, looking well and truly put out now. Legolas said nothing, his face impassive and Kate had the urge to giggle. "I apologize for the interruption, you'll understand that I-"

"Understood," Legolas interrupted with a curt nod. "As you can see she's quite well. That will be all."

The guard stood for a moment wavering between the dismissal and the lady's need for a chaperone. The poor man looked as if he'd rather take on another Nazgul then be in this position.

"Thank you, you can, um, carry on now," Kate added. "Just going for a walk. I'll be back in the healing halls soon." The guard hesitated for a moment until his shoulders sagged in relief, and with an affirmative nod continued on his way. As soon as he turned the corner and out of earshot Kate collapsed into Legolas chest, muffling the sounds of her laughter as best she could.

"So much for avoiding scandal," Legolas remarked, a smile tugging up the corners of his lips as he grabbed her hand. "Come on," he said, and the two of them darted down the hall, Kate giggling to herself as her robe fluttered behind her. Legolas to his credit, was very stealthy, peering around corners until they came to a door, unlocked, and ushered the two of them in. The room had been prepared for Kate, made ready until she no longer needed to stay in the healing rooms and blessedly empty.

Once safely inside, privacy theirs once more his lips crashed into hers, no longer ginger and tentative. Kate kissed him back, matching his intensity with that same bruising need, not wanting to be treated like an injured woman, but as the woman he loved.

He was leaving tomorrow to war. He might not come back. It felt as If they two of them were always on the edge of disaster, only having movements together before they were ripped apart for what could be forever. Kate didn't want that anymore. She didn't want pieces of him, she wanted all of him. Quickly she shrugged off the robe, undoing the laces to her gown and letting it start to fall.

"Kate," Legolas growled against her neck, his kisses moving across her collarbone and she leaned back allowing him access. "I cannot control myself if you are in such a manner of undress."

"Then don't," She whispered pushing down the gown until it pooled around her feet. Legolas let out a low moan, his hands hovering over her body but not daring to touch her… not yet. She did not know what she was asking, surely, she didn't. But as her hands slid up under his tunic, pushing it up over his head and pulling him closer to her there was no denying it. "If we are going to be married than let us be married," she whispered, kissing his smooth chest and bringing her eyes up to meet him. He wanted this, every part of him wanted this, wanted to bond with her, make her his, but how could he knowing what tomorrow would bring?

"Tomorrow we do not ride to victory… I cannot promise I will come back to you Kate, not this time," he whispered, holding her in his arms, the feel of her skin against his enough to make him lose all sense of reason.

"I know… I know you cannot make that promise, and that's ok. If this is all the time we have left, then let me spend it as your wife," she whispered. Tears pricked her eyes and she wiped them away furiously. She didn't want to cry, she didn't want to ruin this with thoughts of war and death and all the horrible things life had in store for them. There were always horrible things waiting, but there were also good things… joy, love, friendship, happiness… she wanted to enjoy that now. Tonight. Legolas kissed her, running his hands in her hair. He didn't want to allow himself this happiness, not now, not if it would end in her grief. He couldn't hurt her in the worst way for his own selfish desires. Kate could feel his hesitation, could feel him throwing walls up and she kissed him deeper. "Don't push me away, Legolas. Don't shut me out cause you think you're protecting me. That's my move," she teased. Legolas smiled, but it didn't touch his eyes, and he simply held her.

It seemed a strange thing to him, that being immortal he was now forced to deal with his own mortality. The chances of them surviving tomorrow were slim, and the chances of Frodo succeeding even slimmer, he was no fool. He would not live through this battle. He knew he would die one day, when Kate did, but he assumed they had many years left. Time.

"Perhaps you will share some of that hope with me," he said quietly, allowing himself to run a finger down her collarbone and in-between her breasts.

"Is that not what we've been doing this whole time? Sharing hope between each other?" Kate answered. "Is that not what a husband and wife do for each other."

"It is," Legolas nodded, smiling and tilted her chin up to him. He wanted her. Now. "You would be my wife, knowing it could mean you are a widow tomorrow?"

"Stop being so morose on our wedding night," Kate chided, teasing as she pulled him into another kiss. She felt him laugh, but relent. They always knew there wasn't much time between the two of them, why waste anymore now? Legolas led her to the bed, trailing kisses down her neck, her breasts, every inch of her. With every kiss came whispers of love, affection, devotion. Everything they wanted to say, every touch they should have had years to share now being forced into a manner of hours.

If mere hours were all they had to give then they would give it, fully, completely. As husband and wife. And when the sun began to rise, it's golden light unbidden and unwelcome they separated, unnerved by the lack they felt already. There was no regret, no remorse, only the desperate wish for more time.

A/N: OK, I know this was pretty long but hopefully worth the wait? Let me know what you think. Read and Review, please and thank you!