And I'm back! I am SO SO sorry for the long wait, but I was SWAMPED up to my neck in work. So much work you wouldn't BELIEVE it. Seriously, I honestly considered many times just kicking off my shoes, and running away from all of it, singing the best of Birdy at the top of my lungs.

:(

Thanks Reviewers!

Just to make this clear, no matter how much it looks like it, this story is NOT a tenth-walker. :)

"Weathertop. Come, I want to arrive there by night." Strider gestured to a large hill topped with ruins.

I shivered: it looked ominous.

Pippin jogged a few steps, catching up to me.

"Fey? You ever been to Weatherwhatsit?"

"Weathertop, and no, I have not."

Pippin nodded.

"Fey?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you have soot on your chin?"

"It isn't soot, it's a beard. Don't you Hobbits know anything?"

"Oh, sorry, it looks an awful lot like soot. Do you know when we can stop for food?"

"We just did only an hour ago!"

"I know! I'm starved!"

I sighed, little Pippin never ceased to surprise me.

"Fey?"

"Do Hobbits ever stop talking?"

"No."

"Alright, continue."

"Is Strider your father?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you called him that."

"It's none of your business. Here." I dug into one of my deep Rangery pockets, sewed on curtesy of Esgalnoron, and pulled out a carrot.

"Thanks!" Pippin cried in ecstasy, swallowing it in a few gulps.

That should keep him quiet for a few moments.

"Fey?"

I sighed.

"Yes?"

:::::::::::::::::::

Weathertop was exceedingly dark at night, I noticed as the Hobbits began building a fire for supper.

"What's cooking, Sam?" I coughed gruffly, Sam was already suspicious, so I tried my best to act manly.

"Not much, sausages, vegetables-"

"Oh no, not vegetables again!" Pippin wailed, gazing at the handful of greens angrily.

"You like 'em Mister Took, don't try to deny it. You eat 'em every day, no complaints." Sam growled, beginning to carefully cook his sausages.

::::::

The Hobbits were asleep, all curled up around the campfire.

"Da?" I whispered, peeking under his hood.

"Don't do that! You surprised me... Yes, what?"

"Can I go off into the woody part over there for a moment, I need to re-bind." There was no way I would risk re-binding my breasts anywhere near my ever vigilant Hobbit friends.

"Alright, but be careful, the Black Riders are near."

"I know, I will be, don't worry." I tugged at his hair playfully before tripping off into the darkness.

After I was a short way away I unlaced my tunic and began unbinding. I had just finished, and was preparing to rebind, when I froze, hearing a noise. I threw on my unlaced tunic, leaving my binding laying on a stump, a cold fear filling me.

Slowly, I raised my head from my work, chills running up and down my body.

The dark trees surrounded me, but then something darker emerged.

I bit back a scream, caught unawares, unarmed, and a short distance away from aid.

The black rider approached me, slowly, it's dark robes swishing behind it.

And then I had one of those crazy adrenaline-rush impulses I get sometimes.

Without thinking, I threw myself at it, wrapping my arms around its neck and shoulders and squeezing, pressing myself against it, locking it in combat. It squealed shrilly in surprise before flailing wildly. I bounced up, wrapping my legs around its middle, throwing myself forward, pushing it to the ground where I rolled, wrestling wildly with the dark creature.

But my advantage due to surprise was soon over and it overpowered me, rising up, leaving me on the ground.

I reached and grabbed a large stick, whacking it over the head with all my might. It shrieked, grabbing its head before running away, frenzied, leaving me in a dazed trance.

"Help!"

Pippin. There must be more.

Tightening my grip on my impromptu weapon I tore back through trees and ruins.

"Pippin! Don't worry!" I screeched, breaking through the greenery and into our camp.

I froze in shock.

Black riders filled the clearing, as did the fire Thorongil was wielding.

Pippin and Merry were waving their swords wildly, while Sam was searching frantically for Frodo, who wasn't to be seen.

Hefting my weapon I rushed over to my Hobbity friends, leaping in front of them, nearly nocking the dark monster's head off of its shoulders.

"Watch out!" Merry squealed, and we all ducked, barely missing being torched by my over-energetic father.

"HELP! SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH MISTER FRODO!" Sam wailed as Thorongil dispatched the last Black Rider, bringing us all running.

Something was definitely wrong with Frodo. He looked to be in incredible pain, moaning and writhing, clutching at his shoulder.

"What happened?" My fathers voice was low and urgent as he knelt down by the Hobbit, taking light hold of his shoulders.

"He stabbed me." Frodo choked, grimacing in pain.

Thorongil's brows furrowed worriedly.

"Hurry, we must get to Rivendell."

With that, he hoisted Frodo onto Bill the Pony, bidding Sam to watch him.

And we hurried on.

"What were those things?" Merry whispered in horror, gazing at Frodo with intense anxiety.

"I do not know, but they are evil. Strider knows though, I'm sure of it." I whispered back, picking up my pace in hopes of arriving in Rivendell sooner.

"Ha! Look at that, Fey, you forgot to lace up your tunic." Pippin giggled mischievously pulling one of the dangling straps so tight that I gasped.

Suddenly his arm fell, his eyes huge, his jaw dropped.

"Fey...is that...you can't be..."

I looked down, and realized that now the tunic, terribly tight, completely silhouetted my unbound form.

"Pippin! Ugh, this is no time for jesting." I growled, deftly re-lacing my tattered tunic, wrapping my arms around myself.

"But you must be! It explains everything-"

I quickly cupped a hand around Merry's mouth in an attempt to silence him.

"Don't tell anyone!" I growled, grabbing them both by the shoulders and shaking them hard.

"Does Strider know?"

"Of course, now, be. quiet."

"Why are you disguised?"

"Because men don't think women are good fighters, they don't want them in danger, they think they need protection, you know."

"Actually, I know for a fact that women are very dangerous, my my, you do not want to get on Rosie Cotton's bad side!" Pippin piped up, while Merry laughed half-heartedly at the memory.

"Now, you two, solemnly swear, never, never to tell anyone. Strider shouldn't even know that you know, because I was supposed to keep this a secret, all right?"

"We swear, but, as long as we're learning your secrets...what's your real name?"

"Nice try."

"What are those beads?"

"Nope."

"How old are you?"

"Do Hobbits never give up?"

"Who's Esgalnowhatsit?"

"Never met him. Hey, how do you know that name?"

"Ha! You know him! You do!"

"Be quiet."

"Alright. What's Strider's real name?"

"PIPPIN!"

"Will you three be quiet back there? This is very serious!" Thorongil growled, shooting us a signature death glare with toppings.

::::::::::::

Everything was relatively silent in the camp that evening, save for Frodo's moaning.

He was laid against a tree with Sam sitting by him.

Merry was doing his best to make up a dinner, since Sam was too preoccupied. Thorongil was snoring against a tree, I had convinced him he needed sleep and that I would look after things for a few hours.

Pippin was sitting on a rock, deep in thought, while I was resting on the ground, fondling the every-shiny beads gently, thoughts far off in Rohan.

And then the relative peace was broken as Pippin sauntered over and plopped down beside me.

"I think I've figured out who Esgalnowhatsit is." He whispered excitedly into my ear, making me jump.

"Oh really?"

"Yes. A brother."

"Wrong." I smiled smugly.

Pippin smiled smugger.

"Hah! You fell into my trap! Muahahaha! So, he is not your brother..."

A short contemplative silence followed.

"Aha! A father!"

"Wrong again."

"Oooh, wait, I know." Pippin snickered evilly.

"A lover."

"What!? No!" I squealed indignantly, glaring balefully at him.

A naughty smile spread across his face.

"So, a lover...hmm...out of curiosity, how many children will you be having together?"

"Pippin!"

I slammed a hand over his mouth so fast that I bowled him over.

He went down with a squeak before popping right back up, his naughty grin increased ten-fold.

"What does he look like?" The little trouble-maker asked innocently, eyelashes fluttering. "Is he handsome? He must be handsome. And tall. I bet he has a really manly beard-thing going on, like Strider, but manlier."

I shook my head, but allowed Pippin to continue.

"What color hair does he have? Does he wear it long? Or short? Probably somewhere in between. And, hmm, is his hair black like yours? Aww, that would be cute, then you guys would match! And muscle, hmm, better have lots of that...Ooh! And I bet he has some really neat scars too! And his face...perfectly defined...every feature-"

"That's quite enough, Pippin. Honestly, he's just a regular person."

"-stunningly handsome-hmm, what did you say?-his legs...perfectly toned-"

I decided it would be cruel to interrupt Pippin's ramblings and give him the hard truth: that Esgalnoron looked just like the next person.

Better just to keep Pippin's face in the clouds, for now.

"Better go wake up Strider, it's past when he told me to." I mumbled to nobody in particular, limping over to my snoring father.

"Hello-oh, wake u-up." I whispered enticingly.

More snores.

Suddenly I had a humorous idea. I'd never figured out quite why, but Thorongil always got a sort of dreamy look in his eye at the mention of Luthien, he sang her song all the time. It was rather hilarious to think that he was in love with a character of legend.

"What is that glimmer of light! Oh! Goodness me, the lady Luthien has arrived." I sung dreamily into his ear.

"Hmm? What, what? Arwen?" My father choked on his own snore, eyes snapping open.

I tried to keep a straight face.

"Oh, excuse me, finally you have awoken. Come, it is getting late."

Thorongil glared at me suspiciously before rising and stretching.

"And we're off." He sighed, gathering up everyone and striding from the clearing.

"Come on, Pippin." I sighed, shaking his shoulder, dragging him from his musings.

"-and strong arms-Fey? Oh, yes, ahem, coming."

I smirked.

"Yes, we have a long way to go yet."

"Will you promise to invite me to you and Esgalnowhatsit's wedding?"

"Come on you silly Hobbit."

PLEASE REVIEW. IF EVERYONE WHO READ THIS STORY REVIEWED IT, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE.

:),

~Thurin