Author's Note: Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been busy trying to get my GPA up before grades closed. Grades closed yesterday so I'll be updated more – hopefully, if I'm not grounded for my failing grade in gym :). I would like to say that as soon as I publish this chapter I will go through the rest of my already published chapters and edit them again for stupid typos. And so here is my fifth chapter of my story:

CHAPTER FIVE – A FRANTIC RIDE TO HOBBITON

Though she hadn't wasted much time in Mirkwood, Feowin felt as if every second counted. Once she and Suldal made it out of the darkness of Mirkwood and onto the open plain, they broke into a flat out gallop. Suldal – true to her name – ran almost unbelievably quickly, her steely hooves pounding in a quick four beat succession. After an hour or so of hard galloping, Feowin came to her senses and pulled Suldal up to a slow canter as the sun was fading down behind the trees of Mirkwood.

As night fell, Suldal ran by the light of the nearly full moon. Then the moon began to set, and their last source of natural light began to diminish. Reluctantly Feowin pulled Suldal to a stop and patted her neck, "We'll make camp here tonight and set out again at first light."

Suldal nodded her head as if she understood, then she hesitantly nibbled a blade of grass, asking permission to graze.

Feowin smiled, "Go ahead, girl. Feast yourself for the night."

Suldal grazed contently while Feowin ate two thick slices of stale bread.

Feowin was physically and mentally exhausted and she dropped right off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Suldal noticed Feowin would most likely not wake up if someone – or something – came by, so she felt it was her duty to watch over her friend as the night wore on.

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Dawn graced the sky with a flourish of color, Suldal watched it for a bit, then, judging it was light enough to continue their frantic ride to Hobbiton, she gently nudged Feowin awake. Feowin got up and slapped the sleep from her face.

After a hurried breakfast of a pear each, Suldal and Feowin set out on another day's riding. Feowin had realized earlier that morning what Suldal had one during the night and decided not to go too quickly for fear of over exhausting her friend. Suldal was grateful fro this because she felt that if she had to go on another long, hard gallop she would collapse.

That day Feowin and Suldal didn't cover all that much ground for they stopped around sundown to give them a long rest in preparation for the hard riding that was sure to commence the next day.

●◊●

The next morning, a red wood thrush zipped by Feowin's ear, all in a titter.

Feowin watched the bird fly away then spoke to Suldal, "How curious, very curious. One has to wonder what put that poor thing in that state of mind."

It wasn't long before they found the answer to Feowin's question. An abnormally large, black fox soon rushed up on them. The fox was thin, but it had powerful muscles bulging out in his jaws, shoulders, and legs. The fox was also exceptionally tall, it was as tall as Feowin's knees. Slowly he turned his head, glared at Feowin and Suldal, seemed to contemplate wheather or not to make them his next meal.

When he growled and leapt at Swift, it was clear what he had decided. Swift dodged the snapping jaws, but just barely. Feowin drew her sword and pointed it at the fox who stared at the blade for a moment before pouncing again. A moment was all Feowin needed though, in that moment she mounted Suldal and kneed her into a quick canter. The fox, determined not to let his breakfast get away again, followed close behind. It soon became clear to Feowin as she and Suldal were in a flat out gallop that they could not outrun the fox for long. They'd have to turn around and fight. Feowin sighed, she really wasn't in the mood to have a delay such as this. Suldal, picking up on Feowin's mood, laid her ears back to her poll and agitatedly swished her tail.

On the cue from Feowin, Suldal reared and pivoted on her hind legs, towering over the midnight fox. The fox was a tad daunted and took a half step back, then regained his courage and moved to attack again.

"Stop!" A voice with an accent foreign to Feowin shrieked.

A tall, slim, dark-haired woman in a red dress and tan leggings ran forth shouting. The fox, at the sight and sound of her, dropped obediently back to all fours and trotted over to the woman. The woman turned her icy gaze to Feowin, "What were you thinking, trying to attack a poor innocent creature, such as Tathar here?"

"That – that thing attacked me!" Feowin protested.

"This thing," the woman said indignantly, "Is a purebred fox."

"Purebred for what, may I inquire? Attacking innocent riders?" Ask Feowin losing her temper.

"No! For hunting down wanted criminals. This here fox could out-track you any day!"

"Is that a challenge?" Asked Feowin, perfectly ready to accept it if the chance came round.

"My purebred foxes don't compete with common folk such as yourself. Who are you anyways?"

"No one of consequence," Feowin said, giving no unnecessary information away.

"Well, 'no one of consequence,' I just happen to be Esgal, top breeder of hunting foxes. And this fox," she said, stoking the black fox's head, "Is my champion, Tathar."

"I see," said Feowin buying time, "And what are you doing out in the middle of nowhere, out here?"

"I could ask you the same question, shield maiden-in-training of Rohan."

Feowin gaped at her, she hadn't thought many outsiders knew the insignia of a shield maiden-in-training.

"But since you could help me on my quest, I shall tell you what I'm doing here…"

Esgal did not get to finish what she was saying for Feowin interrupted her, "Yes, lovely, I'm sure that there is someone out there who cares. My business is my own, I will leave now and make great haste to finish it."

Before Esgal could utter a sound, Feowin urged Swift back into a quick canter. Esgal knew she could send Tathar after her and he would catch her, but she didn't wish to waste her time.

●◊●

Feowin was quite content to ignore the odd incident and keep on riding father and farther away from the odd woman and her frightening fox.

She was relieved to see the comfy hobbit-holes of Hobbition as she and Suldal crested a small hill.

Suldal, too, pricked her ears up and put a bit more stride in her step, "Hey, girl. Don't get your hopes up." Feowin cooed to Suldal, "We are just going to get the hobbits and stay until dawn, then we are going to leave again. The pace will be much slower for you will have to carry the two hobbits and I follow on foot.

Suldal shook her head, a tad disgruntled, but continued quickly on to Hobbiton.

●◊●

Author's Note: I know that I've messed up the phases of the moon and such and will continue to do so, but I'm not about to spend hours of research for that one thing. Please review – even though I bet you hated it I would like to know what you think. If you find any typos please, please, please tell me. I hate typos.