A/N: Thanks to our reviewers, especially Hope and Love for quickly reviewing our last chapter. A cookie for everyone, who reviewed. Please enjoy this chapter and review at the end.

Chapter 7: The Riders of Rohan

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The ride was long and tedious, though at moments Aragorn spurred the horse into a full gallop, which Jackie found quite enjoyable and she giggled quite hysterically. They were told they were headed for the nearby city of Edoras, capital of Rohan, which was just under two days ride from where they were, if all went well. One horseman claimed he could make the ride in half a day or so, much to the annoyance of the others.

"He's just excited," Aragorn explained to Jackie as they rode along, "He's from Edoras and learnt to ride there: so he may just be able to do it, as the people of Rohan are such great riders,"

Jackie wanted to know what else what else they did at Rohan, whether they had a movie cinema or something, though before she could Mel gave her a strange look, almost as if she had heard her thoughts, and shook her head. She thought she almost heard Mel say, "Life's very different here, no movies, no electricity…no plumbing," which was why she was quite startled when she heard Mel sigh after that.

Throughout the journey Gimli, the dwarf, recited the history of Middle Earth, putting a deep emphasis on the dwarf's involvement in the conflicts.

"May I remind you that the ONLY reason you joined the fellowship was because quote 'I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an elf,' unquote," Legolas reminded him rather casually. "And was it not the dwarves who delved too greedily and too deep into Moria, giving us that wonderful Khazad-Dum experience?"

"Was it not Lord Legolas who took a little too long to kill that Urak-hi at Helms Deep, blowing up the entire wall?"

"There were two arrows in his neck! Who survives that?"

"That Urak-hi sure did,"

Jackie could tell they'd had this argument many times before. Aragorn laughed, loudly, at the two.

"And don't get me started on humans! If it wasn't for you…"

Jess laughed from behind Elladan as he whispered, "I think we are a bit out numbered here Gimli, to start an argument on those grounds,"

Gimli looked around at all the humans which surrounded him and promptly fell off his horse, as he did quite regularly.

The two groups merged as they slowly became one. On their first night Jackie began a rather fiery campfire story about something Fern did; at least she told the others that's what Fern did. Jackie was momentarily glad Fern was not there as she received great laughs from all who were listening and even got a pat on the back from Gimli. Two were not listening to the campfire story, which Jackie and Gimli both noticed; Mel had handed Legolas her bow and he was carefully examining it, neither spoke during this time. Gimli and Jackie exchanged looks.

"I'll have to teach you to use it once your arm heals," Legolas told Mel. Gimli laughed softly at this, causing both to quickly look over at him then turn away.

No one even discussed the issue of camping, which Mel had previously loathed. Each accepted it as something that was done by all. Though Mel's lack of complaints was suspect; according to Jackie, Susan, Jess and Gimli; as she spent most of her time watching Legolas stand guard. Elladan was the first to point out that she had perhaps fallen asleep and was possibly showing signs of sleeping like all elves do: with their eyes open.

"Maybe she's just doing the: I'll be nice to the kind man thing, which she tends to do at random intervals, without meaning anything deeper," Jess suggested whilst sniggering.

"Yeah, that's it,"

"He could just be taking it wrong, guys do only think of one thing you know,"

"I think Legolas is a bit too deep to be like that,"

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Aragorn was fascinated by these girls; something strange had happened, transporting them there and turning them into elflings. He was willing to put that down to mysterious acts of magic. What perplexed him most was the way they adapted to this new world, which they'd said was quite different to theirs, but they'd refused to elaborate: which was doubtless a good idea. They'd adapted to the world as if it was their own and were quickly developing skills in it. They gathered information about the land without asking twice, which would allow them to seem less like outsiders when they meet other people; they were already like that with the Rangers, so much so that they often forgot their intriguing history. He had a strange feeling, that these girls when settle in society more then most, and have grand roles in it. He glanced over at Legolas and Mel and believed this feeling.

"Gimli," he called out to the dwarf who was telling jokes to Jackie, "don't scare the girl,"

"Scare her? She already knows one of the jokes I do!"

Aragorn smiled and laughed. Perhaps they were staring their own fellowship. He shook his head. They would leave them at Edoras, perhaps to the fate of the King, perhaps to the fate of Elladan to meet up with their friend at Rivendell. They would not see them again: he would go back to being King, Legolas would need to report back to his father eventually before he and Gimli went off terrorising the west.

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Edoras could be seen by the troop for some hours before they arrived there. To Susan Edoras was just a group of buildings atop of each other, on a hill with a big wall around it. She heard mention of the "Golden Hall" of what she presumed be the castle; though she could not see where that building was. She saw banners flying above many buildings and was told that the image on it was a horse: the symbol of the famous Riders of Rohan. She looked at the approaching city with apprehension; what danger would lurk within those walls, what strange new fears would they encounter, she wondered.

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Edoras was full of activity as news of the imminent arrival of the Ranger groups spread. Rumours speculated that Aragorn himself was leading the troop. People cheered from their houses at the news. Eomer sent the Riders to greet them; Merry rode out with the troop, excited to see his friends again.

"Strider!" he called out as they approached the group.

"Laddie!" Gimli called out, cheering, as Legolas and Aragorn laughed.

"What brings Rangers all the way to Rohan?" Merry asked as he pulled up his pony.

"A band of Urik-hi attacked a farm in Dunland, we chased them all the way into Fangorn, and had to save some people they'd taken captive…" Aragorn said, indicating the girls.

"Whoa, he's shorter then me," was Jackie's first thought, but she again received a glare from Mel.

"Girls, Merry is a good friend of ours, he's a hobbit," Aragorn explained. "Master Merry, please lead on, we need to speak to Eomer,"

"Yes your …Strider,"

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King Eomer sat proudly, yet wisely atop his throne, listening patiently to a farmer explain a problem he had encountered. Though when the doors to the hall were wrenched opened and Aragorn marched in, flanked by Legolas and Elladan, he stood and kindly dismissed the farmer, sending him to someone to solve his problem.

"Lord Aragorn," he said, bowing his head. "I had heard you were with the Rangers…"

"I am, I needed to stop by for a moment. We killed a band of Urak-hi on the borders of Fangorn forest; they had some Elven prisoners that I will need someone to take care of,"

"Prisoners? How unlike them. I will send them to the infirmary at once,"

"We have been riding for many days, we all need some hot food and the girls need some more clothing,"

"Girls?"

The girls stood together at the back of the hall, being unused to such surroundings. Aragorn indicated that they should come forward and they did, slowly. As they walked past Legolas whispered, "Curtsy!"

The girls all heard his words. Mel bowed perfectly, like a Queen, even though she had never done it before in her life. Susan attempted to copy her, yet looked quite awkward as she curtsied. Jackie was unsure of what to do and did a strange bow curtsy combination, while Jess inclined her head respectively.

"King Eomer, meet Mel, Jess, Susan and Jackie," Aragorn said.

Eomer bowed back to them, making them smile softly.

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They received a rather warm reception from the people of Rohan, and dined with the King that night. Their situation was not explained in depth, all that was said was that they were lost. The Rangers stayed with them teaching them to use their weapons. Each had a rather specialised teacher for their particular weapon: Susan spent some being taught how to use her glaive from the Riders of Rohan, particularly the young Rohinian who was a Ranger: Tydd and his friends, who also taught her some expert riding skills; Jackie was taught to use her sword by the Rangers, with some rather unhelpful comments by Gimli, who seemed to feel that an axe was the only weapon anyone would need, ever; Mel was taught by the elven archery expert Legolas, until he was forced to leave to report to his father in a place called Mirkwood, some distance north from Rohan, then she had lessons from Elladan and Aragorn, with some assistance from the Rangers; Jess was taught by Aragorn, Elladan and the Rangers, learning many forms of weaponry and skirmishing.

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Three weeks into their jaunt they received word from the city of Minas Tirith, in the neighbouring country of Gondor. All were standing on the steps to the Golden Hall, chatting, when a lone horseman galloped up to them and jumped off his horse and bowed to Aragorn, holding out a piece of parchment, "Your Majesty, word from Minas Tirith!"

Aragorn took the parchment and read it quickly, "Merry, I need my horse and send word to Eomer," Merry arrived moments later leading his horse which he quickly mounted and galloped away, swiftly followed by two of the Rangers.

The girls stared after him in amazement.

"He's a King!" exclaimed Mel, questioningly.

"What?" Jackie asked, baffled.

"Well, yes, he is, you didn't know?" Elladan said.

"NO! We did not!" Mel yelled.

"Are there any other Kings here we should know about?" Susan demanded.

"Apart from Eomer, not really. Though Legolas is a prince…"

"Really?" Mel asked.

"Yes,"

"I'm a dwarf lord! Much more important then some Elven princeling!" Gimli said, butting in.

"Congratulations Gimli," Elladan said, raising an eyebrow.

"Be quiet princeling,"

"You're a prince?" Jess said, turning to Elladan, and pointing accusingly.

"Guilty,"

"Cool,"

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The Ranger's realised that it was time for them to also depart, back to their home. The girls were to be escorted to Rivendell, an elven place ruled by Master Elrond, the healer. Elladan explained that that was where his brother had taken Fern. King Eomer provided an escort for the girls, Elladan and Gimli, who would ride with them as far as the Misty Mountains, which was when their paths would take different directions.

Jackie grew excited as they left Rohan, as she realised they would soon be seeing Fern. Susan was apprehensive again as she wondered how far this journey would take them and how long they would remain in this strange land. Jess and Mel talked weapons and tactics: Mel was fascinated by the overall strategy of a battle and tactics involved in fighting skirmishes; whilst Jess was more interested in the actual fighting thereof.

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A/N: Please review and tell us what you think.

And, something which was intended for this section at the end of the next chapter, but felt appropriate here:

"Fern was dying. Elrohir was not. Then a bomb came along and they all died, including the trees. Poor trees. "