Hello again! I come baring gifts! a new chapter! See, didn't make you wait too long did I? After all those great reviews I just had to put the next chapter up. And to Emma, who wrote a really nice review- everyone loves hugs! Yay!

Knowing that Aragorn would not leave without them, Elanor headed back to her tent to gather the last of her things. She quickly packed away her spare clothes, carefully placing Legolas' letters on top before closing the pack. Sighing lightly, she left her tent and made her way back through the tangle of tent lines, trying to find one particular one. She walked past one of the larger tents and stopped as she heard the stifled sob coming from inside. Elanor drew closer and pulled back the tent curtain and stood heartbroken at the weeping figure she found there.

"Éowyn?" she called out, "Are you alright?"

The golden haired woman looked up briefly, tears falling from her eyes. Elanor felt the overwhelming desire to comfort her. She set down her pack and knelt down by her side, gathering the other woman into her arms.

"I do not think I can stand this much longer." Éowyn sobbed, clinging to her.

Elanor looked at her with sympathy in her heart, understanding rejection and hardship the other woman must be feeling and seeing someone as strong as Éowyn cry so bitterly made it all the more distressing. The pair sat in silence for a few moments until Éowyns cries softened. Silently Elanor helped her stand and watched as she straightened herself. Neither one spoke, not wishing to acknowledge the moment of weakness. Quietly Elanor excused herself and began to head back outside.

"I wish I were going with you." Éowyns voice was soft but not lost to Elanors ears.

"The King and your brother would never permit it." she replied. Éowyn said nothing but looked even more downtrodden. "Your duty now is to your people." Elanor said.

"Too often have I heard of duty." The woman answered angrily, "May I not live my life as I will?"

"There are very few who can. But did you not choose to accept charge of your people? If you had not been chosen then some other might have." Elanor said, her eyes not leaving Éowyns face. "A captain or marshal would have been set the task and they would not have left his place whether he was weary of it or not."

"Shall I always be chosen?" Éowyn asked bitterly. "Shall I always be left behind when the Riders depart, left to find food and beds for their return?"

Elanor paused and said nothing, looking sadly at the woman so like herself. "There may be a time when none will return. Then there will be no need of valour or honour."

"But you will have your honour!" Éowyn cried, "You are accepted by them, you may ride to battle where your sword may claim your victory. Am I not as skilled as you? Am I not of the House of Eorl? I can ride and wield a blade, and I do not fear either pain or death." Eoywns eyes grew wild and she began to pace, the desperation and anger running freely in her voice. "Yet I am kept in this cage, held behind bars until use and old age accept them. And you-" she pointed at Elanor, "You would counsel me not to continue on this road?"

"I do nothing of the sort." Elanor bit back, her own temper flaring. "If it were my choice Lady, I would gladly have to ride beside me but the decision is not mine."

"No," she said sadly, the fight ebbing from her as the spoke, "and the decision has already been made by those whose words mean nothing more than to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house."

Elanor sighed, knowing she had had those very same thoughts. "We both live in worlds governed by men." She said. "We are told what to say and how to act." Elanor smiled slightly and adjusted her cloak so the hilt of her sword glinted only for a moment. "The only difference is I do not always listen."

Éowyn glanced upwards at her, seeming to take her words to heart and gave one last smile as she nodded and watched thoughtfully as Elanor left.

Elanor carried on back towards the mountain. She passed a group of Rohan men sat around a small fire, their faces dimly lit by the flames. Most of them hid their faces from her but their eyes followed her as she passed and she could hear their whispers: "Deserters."

They hide themselves in fear, away from these reckless strangers who in dark time sort even darker places. Elanor lifted her head and bit back a retort. Ignoring their obvious stares she carried on walking but the frown on her face did not disappear until she found what she had been looking for and a small smile graced her face. Just ahead of her a small tent had been pitched. It stood dwarfed by the others, a dwelling more suited to storage than living. Elanors smiled widened when she saw the pony tied up along side it and a moment later a small face appeared from the tent.

"Good evening." Elanor smiled as Merry recognised her face and beamed back at her.

"Good evening, Princess." He answered cheekily, stepping out of the tent. Elanor raised an eyebrow but smiled at him.

"I see you have elevated in the ranks." She said, eyeing the leather tunic he wore, emblazed with the Kings insignia. Merry smiled proudly and pulled at his uniform, the white horse shining in the dim light. Elanor felt her heart tighten as she looked at him. His young, child-like face grinned up at her looking so much like a child in his fathers armour and she worried for him.

"Part of me wishes you would come with us."

"I have given my service to the King. I cannot go back on that but-" Merry paused and looked away. "I am not valiant like you and the others."

"I feel very small." He said quietly. "This war may be too big for me."

"You may be small but you are brave, my friend." She said softly, resting her hand on his head. "Your deeds will not be forgotten."

Merry looked up from under her hand and smiled weakly. "It's moments like these that I miss Pippin more than ever." Elanor smiled and tried to comfort him. "He was always getting us into trouble, but I would always get him out again."

Elanor looked at him, once again amazed how such small people can be so strong. She knelt down beside him and kissed the top of his head. Merry blinked and stared at her in surprise. "You never cease to amaze me." Elanor said. "I will miss you Merry."

"We'll see each other again." He said, sounding more confident than he felt. Elanor smiled reassuringly.

"You are in good hands Merry and I have no doubt the King will be glad of your protection."

Merrys smile returned at her words and Elanor felt her spirits lift. She stood up and straightened herself. "Will you come to see the others?"

Merry nodded eagerly and joined her as they walked the short distance to the mountains edge. In the dim light of the rising morning, Elanors eyes could make out the profiles of their group, Aragorn standing with Legolas and Gimli, Elladan and Elrohir were mounted upon there horses as were Edain and their fellow rangers. Legolas was the first to notice them approach and immediately smiled when he saw her. Elanors stomach fluttered and she could stop herself smiling back. Merrys gaze flickered between the two of them and he grinned.

"Master Merry!" Gimli boomed out, drawing the attention of the others. Aragorn turned and smiled at the hobbit walking over to join them and the five of them stood together. Elanor felt suddenly out of place as the remaining members of the fellowship looked at each other. She turned to Merry and smiled down at him. "This is where I leave you. Farewell Merry."

The hobbit smiled back bravely and she left the fellowship to say their goodbyes. She walked over to where Aeglos stood beside her father's horse and swung up gracefully onto her back. Elrohir reached out and touched her arm softly providing a warm comfort. Elanor glanced over at her fellow rangers. Edain and Talin were huddled in conversation while Raef, Mannen and Adan waited quietly, their horses shifting beneath them anxiously. So much had changed over such a short time and Elanor found herself thinking of Rammel and her fellow fallen rangers and how she wished they were here with them.

There was a tense nervousness hanging around them. Elanor looked over her shoulder to the looming mountain behind her casting a shadow over all of them. The sky had lightened though the mountain remained dark as the sun had not risen over the eastern ridge. Her eyes moved to the narrow path leading into the rock face. She could make out the thin leafless branches that wavered in the breeze and the unnerving way mist swirled across the path. Her attention was drawn back to the group when she heard Aragorn and the others walking back to them. She glanced at Merry briefly to see his face smiling bravely back at them. The hobbit stood still as his friends mount their steeds and watched them until they passed into the shadow of the mountain, in which was the Door of the Dead. When they were lost from his sight he turned and went back to his lodgings, trying hard not to hide himself in his fear.

Oh, it's all getting a bit dark now... this fic is rated M for a reason!

As most of you have noticed I've tried hard not to make this into one of those '10th walker' fics, not that theres anything wrong with that, it's just that I wanted Elanor to be her own character rather than just a female member of the fellowship.

And as I've said before my story follows both the Movie and the books so some of the characters lines are from both. For the next few chapters will mostly be along the movie side of things as those of you who've read the books will know, the battle isn't mentioned that much from Aragorns view. And you might need some tissues... just a warning!

Thanks again for all the positive reviews-you make me want to keep writting!