Finally, we've gotten this chapter up. I was lazy and didn't proofread it all the way, so I'm sorry if there are a few mistakes. But Breggo is a good writer, so I don't foresee many issues with that.

Without any further delay-

"Can you get your hands off of me?" Daina whispered to her companion, annoyed and still angry at him. The prince turned pale and loosened his grip on the ranger's waist. He once again was sitting on Runshaw with the slight difference that he was now sitting behind the young girl. The strong charger for some unknown reason was able to walk in the dry, huge forest without so much as snapping a twig.

This was no how it was supposed to be, Eldarion thought as the three made their way further in to the old woods. I was supposed to die, and because of this strange, unknown girl I am alive. Why? Why is it so unfair? Feowyn, I'm sorry! I need you, Fea, I miss you!

"Sorry," Eldarion murmured under his breath, but in the silence of the woods, his voice was like a shout. Daina turned back to glare at him, and with her eyes motioned the city-bred solider to keep quiet. Then turning back, the rider continued looking around and straining her hearing. Eldarion sighed and closed his mouth. He was angry at the girl, but now they were in this together...weren't they? Suddenly, he was aware of Diana's warm back pressing into his chest and her hair tickling his nose. And in this awkward moment, Eldarion felt right at home.

Why? What happened? The prince blushed deep red and for once was happy that it was dark out. How would it look if the person who Daina hated most and he was sure it was him, was starting to feel all soft towards her? Shaking his head, Eldarion looked out into the darkness. If he was in any other mood than despair, he would probably be helpful with his keen eyesight and better hearing. But his mind was clouded, he was confused and he blamed himself. He wanted to die, so if working meant survival, what was the point?

Daina on the other hand wanted to live. She always had that desire, a flame of sorts that never went out even in the most desperate times. She looked this way and that, trying to find some sign that the Orc army went this was but all in vain. Her head was pounding from the fetid smell and the wind was making it impossible to listen. It was as if the weather didn't want the two young warriors to survive what meant to come.

I hate him, I hate him, I hate him! Daina repeated over and over again. Runshaw was walking silently through the trees, choosing his own footing and his rider didn't protest. The horse could see better in the dark so why kill a good mount by showing off? A single tear ran down the girl's cheek, disappearing once in was off the white skin. Taking a shaky breath, Daina forced herself to be calm.

I must not show weakness, Daina thought when she unexpectedly remembered what her teacher once told her. It was an old memory but something she always treasured. It was this memory that got her through all of her battles in one piece and though some would never understand its true meaning, to Daina it meant the difference between life and death.

'Okay kids, that's enough', the old Ranger sighed as he stood up from his rock and took a look across the small patch of grass in front of him. Seven pairs of eyes blinked innocently back at him. The old man frowned. One, two there...seven? There were eight only a moment ago. Looking to his left he let out a sigh. There was the young girl with the dark hair. Standing in ready position, holding a stick that was too long for her short height, the child swung it with grace around her.

'Grandpa, can we go?' a little boy no older than six pulled at the Ranger's sleeve. The man looked down and smiled, ruffling the blond mop of hair on the boy's head.

'Yes, go children,' he nodded and the happy kids took off...all but one. Watching them go, the warrior smiled into his white beard before returning his gaze to the young girl. After a few minutes, he broke the silence.

'Your hold is wrong,' he pointed out accusingly. Surprised for Daina didn't notice anything around her, the girl dropped her fake weapon and looked at her mentor.

'No, it's not!' she protested as she picked up her stick again. The old men smiled slightly but immediately regaining his composure he picked up his staff.

'Go on, attack me,' he motioned with his free hand towards his body. The girl hesitated but when nothing else happened, bravely lunged into the exposed target. Instantly she felt pain in her wrist and once again the stick crashed to the ground. The old Ranger didn't even move an inch.

'Do you see what I mean?' the warrior asked smiling as Daina cradled her wounded wrist to her chest. 'You're hold is wrong. If I had a real weapon, your hand would have been cut off right there.'

'You did that on purpose,' the girl cried as she turned her back in a protective way to separate her pain and her mentor.

'Aye, I did but I also showed you that it is a law of war; if you make even one mistake, you're dead, lost to the world. Now, stand up and let me show you how to do this properly...'

A sudden tightening around her waist brought Daina back into reality. She was about to snap once more at the young lad sitting behind her but at this moment Runshaw stopped and nervously sniffed the air. Daina tried that as well and nearly choked on the stench. She finally realised that as they were moving in one direction, they were coming closer to the camp.

"Merlin's beard, we're lost," she scolded herself and bit her lower lip in thought. If they were getting closer and if there was no other way to go...were they trapped? Panic took her cold grip over the Ranger, all her self control disappearing in a second. Strange that I should have so little discipline. Taking small shallow breaths, Daina turned Runshaw to the right, hoping to go deeper into the forest.

"Are you sure you know they way?" a soft voice sounded in her ear as the horse started cantering in the direction the Ranger pointed it. Aware of the closeness that she was to the Prince and his attractiveness appearing again in her mind, the Ranger blushed and didn't respond. Could this be another moment when Eldarion once again lost control over himself?

*SNAP* the stallion reared and both riders threw themselves forward to keep the noble animal from falling backwards. Taking a few steps backward on his hind legs, the stallion regained his balance and bolted. This surprised Daina beyond believe. Always calm and composed, always the cautious yet brave one, Runshaw even in the mist of battle never bolted. Why start now? But leaving all thoughts aside, Daina looked forward, trying to guide her friend out of the ways of trees. Eldarion was holding not only with his legs but also with his arms but that was the least of her worries. The young lady was just happy that he was still there, annoying but alive.

"Easy Runshaw, easy boy," Daina repeated again and again as the stallion continued his break neck dash through the forest. The horse completely ignored her, ignored the fact that he should be quiet and continued scared as a rabbit. Now both riders were praying out loud. Somewhere in the distance wolves started howling and there was yelling. Then between the trees the two saw lights and then they were chased.

The Orcs came; howling, yelling, screaming but they came by dozens. Eldarion looked behind him and saw only the foul warriors. The majestic grey beast regained composure but now he was racing not only from instinct but from Daina's heels. The young Ranger was holding her sword in one hand and the reins in the other. Eldarion didn't dare to pull his hands away from her waist.

It sucks feeling like the damsel in distress, Eldarion mused as they ran further into Fangorn. Suddenly Runshaw bolted left, trying to avoid a tree and Eldarion, unable to hold on tumbled off. By instinct the horse galloped a few more strides before Daina turned him and headed back to Eldarion. Something hit Eldarion's head and he fell to the ground unconscious once more.

Daina was fighting from Runshaw's back. As she bloodied her sword, she didn't see how one of the Orcs hit Eldarion with the hilt of his sword knocking the prince unconscious. Daina fought but one of the many Orcs managed to grab her tunic and pull her off of the stallion that was kicking and rearing. It had cost him his life, but the damage was done.

Alone, separated from her advantage, Daina faced her foes. She knew there were too many Orcs to even try and battle them. Her only chance was a miracle and it better come fast. As yet another Orc fell before her, the Ranger turned to where Eldarion was and gasped. The prince was gone, carried off by a huge creature and unable to fight back.

Her heart stopped for a moment and then she was off, fighting blindly with her foes, each strike meaning death or a foe too badly wounded to protest. But she didn't get far. There were too many of them, even though she was killing many. Suddenly she was pinned from the back by strong arms and something heavy hit the back of her head. The force knocked her out, leaving only despair and the feelings of being lost.

*****

"Eldarion!" Gilraen sat up wide awake, panting as sweat rolled down her forehead. Her deep blue eyes darted every which way as she tried to slow her bursting heart and her frightened thoughts. In her dream she saw things she didn't think were possible. In her dream, all her fears became reality. In her dream, Eldarion was alive and well and captured.

Gilraen huddled into the warm cape her dad draped over her as she was sleeping. The soft, furry material helped her remember where she was. The semi darkness of the cave was, well strange. Only yesterday would Gilraen have woken up in her own soft bed, surrounded by sunlight or, when the weather was rather dark, candlelight. Every morning, two young maids would come into the princess's chambers and open the window or light the candles. They would help the young girl dress, brush her long white-blond hair that she inherited from her grandmother, and make her bed. Now they would be lucky if they survived.

Slowly the young girl's breathing slowed down and she could finally think straight. The whole thing was a dream, something she imagined. But who was that young Ranger girl with her brother, the one with the dark hair? Biting her lower lip, Gilraen tried to remember if she saw her ever before. Sadly the name of the girl escaped her as did her face. The princess of what used to be the greatest nation in Middle Earth could not remember the dark haired girl. Closing her eyes, she focused instead on the main contents of her dream. Instead, she just replayed it in her head.

"We got them now!" the Orcs erupted in cheers and shouts of happiness. All around them the wolves howled, agreeing with their masters. The ancient forest on Fangorn creaked and swayed, expressing their displeasure concerning the use of fires and axes at the edges but the magic was weaker than it once was and the trees could no longer move. Three Orcs led a beautiful silver stallion to the center of the group.

"Cull him! Cull him! Cull him!" the monsters cheered as the leader, or so Gilraen was guessing, raised an ugly uneven dagger. The Orcs forced the noble animal onto his knees and tied him there so he couldn't move. His blue eyes shone like fire and they focused of the dagger. The steed didn't kick or bite but rather raised his head higher still. He was proud, a king among horses. The ugly leader shuffled forward and raised a hand up high.

"This....beast," he spat at that word, glancing at the silver form with disgust and continued. "This foul creature has killed many soldiers tonight. This stupid being, a lowly slave of the humans has disobeyed nature itself by refusing to run away as any animal should. Well then, we repay blood with blood. Tonight, this swine repays us for the loss of our brothers!" With that the Orc turned back to the stallion and with one fluid motion cut the noble animal's neck.

"Blood!" the whisper ran across the waiting monsters. With the leaders approval all the soldiers charged to the corpse and with satisfying noises began sucking out the blood and feasting on the meat. The leader himself, along with some of the commanders walked back to where the two human forms lay, tied and gagged. Both humans have come back to their senses and were gazing up at their captives with angry eyes. They have heard what just happened and neither one was about to thank them for that. Eldarion was tied, wearing only his white undershirt and breaches. His boots where also with him but they were covered with dirt and blood. His blue eyes were slowly turning red.

Beside him, also tied was the girl. Unlike her male companion she was wearing just her white undershirt and her breaches which were tattered and ripped so randomly that it looked almost artistic. Her eyes were sparkling with anger and hurt so deep that even the Orc leader gulped and took a small step back. Her face was covered with dirt and dried blood, a long gash going across one of her cheeks. Her raven black hair had been tied back sloppily by one of the Orcs. A rather nice bruise covered her right eye.

"Let them speak!" the leader commanded as two Orcs rushed over to pull the gags out. As soon as the cloth was out of her mouth, the girl's teeth snapped closed a couple of centimetres from the Orc's hand. Surprised, he jumped back and then, taking a clump of dirt threw it into her face. Cringing, the girl shook her head and spat on the ground.

"Don't do that!" Eldarion nearly hissed the words as he glared at the leader. Taking no notice of him, the commander grinned revealing his sharp fangs.

"Feisty little thing! I might decide to keep you! The young lord loves a challenge!" the others laughed as the Ranger shot dagger looks at her captive. "Now tell me who you are? We like to know who we supper on!" Another bone racketing laugh.

"We're travellers! Lone people. My father, he owns a pub in Bree, 'The Prancing Pony'. Surely you've heard of it!" the girl was a true actor, looking from face to face as she answered. The leader just smirked.

"Doll, you can't lie good enough. If you were lone travellers, you wouldn't be in possession of a battle stallion or of a sword. Now, I am patient yet I can let my men feast on you right now. WHO are you?"

"Leave her alone!" Eldarion kicked his feet, sending a clump of dirt into the Orc's face. The monster howled and tried to get rid of the filth. Turning away, he gave a sign with his hand. Eldarion turned to see the girl's large frightened eyes when two Orcs knocked them out once again.

A soft, warm hand was shaking Gilraen's shoulder as she sat there crying, seeing the death of a wonderful creature, the abuse of the prisoners and the way the Orc leader kept looking at the Ranger girl. She didn't notice the shaking until someone slapped her lightly on the cheek. Returning from her stage of shock, she opened her tear filled blue eyes. She found herself gazing at a soft face, golden-brown hair and gentle grey eyes.

"Elboron," she whispered giving her younger friend a hug. The little boy eagerly accepted it and hung onto his best friend as if the world depended on it. Gilraen herself was hugging him tightly, her forehead resting on his shoulder. She wasn't afraid to show him that she had been crying. It felt right that he knew. After a few moments they parted and Gilraen offered him a seat beside her, throwing the warm cloak around them both.

"Why were you crying Rae?" he asked her as she rested her head on his shoulder. Though she was older than Elboron, he was taller. She shuddered as she thought of how to answer him. She needed to tell someone yet it was still too painful to remember the noble animal and his wicked murder. But Elboron was still gazing at her with concern and question, his cheeks slightly pink from his own grief. Taking a deep breath, Gilraen turned to her young friend.

"Boo, did you ever feel so scared that you thought that if you weren't, then you weren't human anymore. When, to her utter surprise and amazement, her friend nodded she continued. "Well, it happened to me except it isn't about the fighting or the White City ending."

"It's not?" Elboron slightly tilted his head as Gilraen shook her head.

"No, it's not. I can deal with sorrow and with pain and anger. But this, this was different. I was terrified! I couldn't think, couldn't look away, and couldn't do anything."

"When did this happen Rae?" Elboron was now really concerned as he looked upon his older friend. She gulped, turned slightly pink and looked away. After a moment which lasted quite a while, Gilraen sighed.

"It happened to me in my dream...."

*****

"Eldarion?" Daina whispered as she slowly came to be. She was lying on hard earth, her hands still tied. Though it was cold, she found that her back was warm, or rather in was pressed against something warm. Turning onto her other side, still without opening her eyes, she was surprised when her lips met someone else's. Immediately opening her eyes in shock and embarrassment, Daina realized she was looking into the rather surprised and amused eyes of the person whose name she called. Ending the rather unfortunate kiss, she rolled until she was facing him again but this time at a distance.

"Glad you came around," the prince was smiling softly. Daina realised that his face which was perfect before she was once again knocked out was now covered in black bruises and bright red scratches. His white shirt was torn and his shoulder was bleeding, yet he was smiling. Daina's heart swelled with understanding because they had tortured her before but she didn't tell them anything. She gazed at the prince. Did he? Noticing her stare, he shook his head. "I didn't tell them anything. Get over yourself Ranger. I might be a child in the way of the woods, but I am a warrior."

"Sorry," she replied embarrassed that he caught her out. Her mind travelled back to earlier that night. They killed him! She couldn't believe it. They killed Runshaw, her friend and companion. Her noble teacher and student, the one creature who understood her. The king of horses, the purest animal that walked Middle Earth. They killed him! She would not, could not ever find another to replace him. Tears gathered at her eyes, her fist clenched behind her back. If she ever could get her hands on that Orc, she would tie him down and cut his hear out and feed that to the dogs. Then she would...

"Look, I'm sorry about Runshaw," Eldarion's strong voice brought her back from her insane situation. Shaking her head, Daina tried to focus on that calm voice, filled with true sorrow. "I was on his back twice yet I never met a more remarkable steed. Even my own horse was never this special. He truly was a king of the horses, no, rather king of the Mearas. Even old Shadowfax wouldn't stand a chance against Run." Daina smiled sadly at his words. They were kind, considering that the two of them weren't best friends.

"Yeah, even old Shadowfax wouldn't surpass him in looks or courage or speed. But that won't bring him back now. At least he died a noble death, without a sound or threat. He was the best," unable to contain herself any longer, Daina started crying. Eldarion watched her suffering with concern. He had some time to think everything through and in the end, though he still thought that death would be nice, he didn't want it as desperately as before. After all, Gilraen said 'We have you' when he was about to give up. When he watched Daina, he felt as if his sister's free spirit still lived in her.

"Shhh, come on. We can't have you crying. We must somehow get out of these ropes and avenge the death of everyone in Gondor and, without question, Runshaw."

"So what's your plan?"

The sobs reduced to sniffles as Daina eyed her companion with a curious eye.

"Well, you untie my hands, I untie yours, we get up and start running around, yelling like crazy. Grabbing two big swords we kill everything we see and then--"

"Then what?" Daina asked in grim good humour. Eldarion gave her his most attractive smile.

"Then, once we kill everyone, we run as fast as we can to Rivendell, saddle up two of the bravest steeds, gather an army and fight against the dark," Eldarion answered. Daina started laughing slightly at the absurd future her companion was telling her. Nerves, she thought as Eldarion rolled his eyes. Sadly they were unable to continue with their plan. Because, somewhere in the mists of the Orcs there was the thunder of hooves, fire and a battle cry that made both young people's blood boil.

"For King Elessar and the North!"

AN: Happy New Year everyone! Sorry about not updating sooner! I had exams and ect. Please don't blame Jason for this since this is completely my fault. Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter. Please leave us some good wishes!

Love, Breggo13

And this is Jason again. And yes. It is entirely Breggo's fault. (Just kidding, haha) Well, we're both patiently (or not so much) waiting for reviews

Thanks in advance!