Written by Phoenix and Sunni
The Uruk-hai traveled swiftly across the plains of Rohan in the direction of Isengard, carrying the two small hobbits on their backs, their wrists bound together with rope and placed around the necks of the warriors carrying them. The stopped momentarily when some Orcs sent by Saruman appeared from behind a rocky outcropping to check on the safe delivery of the two halflings they had taken from the shores of the Falls of Rauros. The leader of the Orcs and the captain of the Uruk-hai have argument over who will be the ones to return the halflings to Isengard and to their master.
"We've come to take these two to Saruman." The Orc leader said, eyeing the two bound prisoners.
"The Uruk-hai do not take orders from Orc maggots!" the captain bellowed as cheers rose up from behind him at his defiance.
Sniffing the air, the captain picked up scent that spelled trouble. One of the others in the horde asked, "What is it?" as he searched his captains face for an answer.
"I smell man-flesh! We are being followed!" The captain shouted, getting everyone to their feet once more and picking up a stiff pace across the plains.
Pippin overhears the orders given to move out and figures that Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are following close behind, not knowing about the others that were with them. Pulling off the brooch on his elven cloak, and dropping it to the ground as a symbol that those behind them were on the right track and that they were still alive thus far.
Aragorn leans next to a rock and listens to the earth momentarily as the rest of the group watches, Legolas and Gimli understanding what he is doing and the group from Sunnydale unsure of what the purpose of it is for.
Anya asks Xander quietly, "What on earth is he doing listening to a rock?"
Xander shrugs his shoulders in reply when Aragorn stands up and says, "They move quickly now. They must have caught our scent."
The group sets out at a fast pace in the direction that the Uruk-hai had traveled. The large racing band of creatures left an unmistakable trail upon the ground of flattened grass in only a way a dark creature could do. The brief break had helped the five from Sunnydale to recoup but still the amount of distance they were covering in such a short amount of time was almost mind boggling.
Outside of the Fangorn forest the Uruk-hai made camp for the night and enter the wood to collect fuel for the fires that were to be lit. A deep guttural sound rose up from the wood, echoing throughout the area around them. Merry and Pippin looked at each other in a state of confusion and fear when Merry recalled the trees in legend that grew tall that was spoken of in the Shire. Nearby some of the Uruk-hai began to complain about the stale bread they had been eating for the past three days and wanted to once again taste flesh instead of the measly morsels they had been stuck with eating thus far.
"All we've had to eat for three stinking days is stale old bread! I want to taste man flesh!" bellowed one of the Uruk warriors.
Great cheers and bellows rose from his comrades in agreement as one of the Orcs looks upon their two captive prisoners, not caring whether or not they were for consumption said, "Why don't we eat them?", pointing at the two hobbits.
The massive Uruk-hai captain stood before the smaller Orc and said viciously, "They are not for consumption! Our orders were to bring the halflings back alive and unspoiled and that is how they shall be delivered!"
The hobbits now felt the pressure they were under, being surrounded by a whole pillaging horde of meat craving Uruk-hai and Orcs was not in their idea of a safe thing but in their present situation it was beyond their hands. An Orc came up behind them, and silently drew a knife as he crept towards the two prisoners. Chaos erupts and the captain turns in time to see the Orc lunging at them. Swinging his broad sword swiftly he decapitated the Orc by cutting off its head. The hobbits stood unmoving like statues as the head fell to the ground, landing at their feet. A great roar erupted from the horde of Uruk-hai as the body fell to the ground behind the two prisoners. Being shoved out of the way, the captain's voice boomed, "It looks like meat is back on the menu boys!"
Crawling away from the feeding frenzy of Uruk-hai the hobbits made their way towards Fangorn forest. One of the other Orcs not in on the frenzy followed them, placing his foot upon one of their backs to stop their movement. Brandishing his blade he pinched the face of one of the hobbits and said menacingly, "Go ahead and scream. No one will hear you now!" In a sudden flash of movement the Orc screamed as a spear was thrust into its back. The Rohirrim had attacked the camping horde in the middle of the night catching them off guard, slaughtering them all but one, which escaped.
The band of travelers went on throughout the night and as dawn approached, the clouds were a hue of red.
"Blood has been spilt this night," Legolas said, looking at the horizon of red around them.
Hearing a sound almost as if a bird were chirping the group took cover in a rocky area, the group from Sunnydale close to the ground with those in Elven cloaks standing in front of them. The thunder of hooves approached and helmets and spears glinted in the light the Rohirrim rode past, not noticing the group hidden amongst the rocks. As the last of the horseman rode past, Aragorn stepped out and addressed the riders, "Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"
The riders wheeled about such that a large school of fish in the ocean would do and headed towards where the group of 8 now stood. Encircling them in a wall of spears and horses. The leader of the Rohirrim rode forwards and dismounted from his steel gray mount to stand in front of Aragorn. Speaking just loud enough so the tall man in front of Aragorn could hear, Spike said jokingly, "Not only are they dressed, in full regalia but they look like a mixture of Robin Hood and a medieval knight with hair sprouting from their helmets. To top that there is the sudden resurgence of testosterone coursing through them. Which one's more dangerous? Spin the bloody wheel to find out.
Éomer, Captain of the Rohirrim's eyes were ablaze with fury. Granted the words just spoken were of a language he didn't understand the fact of the matter being anything could go for the treachery of the Dark Lord of Mordor or of Saruman the White.
"You there!" The captain commanded getting Spike's attention, "Who are you to speak to the Riders of the Riddermark in such a manner!"
Spears were now aimed towards Spike and the group from Sunnydale as Éomer strode towards him, drawing out his sword. Legolas quickly drew up his bow and aimed it at the Captain saying, "You would be dead before your stroke fell!", as the spears of the riders of Rohan now turned to him.
Aragorn moves forward slowly, placing a hand upon Legolas' arm, causing him to lower the bow and defuses the situation in a peaceful manner.
"My name is Aragorn son of Arathorn, this is Gimli son of Gloin and Legolas of the Woodland Realm. The others behind them we happened upon at the Falls of Rauros, they were under attack from Uruk-hai. The same group that took captive two of our companions." He said to the captain standing before him.
Éomer said to the group before him, "We ambushed a party of Uruk-hai last night near Fangorn, leaving none alive.", pointing towards the smoke rising from the west not to far in the distance.
"There were two small hobbits with them, no more than children to your eyes if you saw them." Aragorn said.
Éomer shook his head and said, "We killed all that was there. I do not recall seeing anyone fitting that description among them."
The captain whistled and called sharply, "Arod! Hasufel!" and two horses, one chestnut and one dapple gray trotted forwards. Following them were five other horses whose former masters fell in the battle that had occurred the previous night.
"May these horses bear you to good fortune unlike their former masters." He said after having remounted his own horse. As the Rohirrim rode north, the group headed in the direction of the smoldering remains of the Uruk-hai. As they neared the pile and the smell of burning flesh became unmistakable. Around the area were spears, stuck into the ground with heads of some of those slain mounted on them. Gimli took his axe and sifted through the pile, coming across a leather belt.
"It's one of their wee belts," he said with a sad voice as the group from Sunnydale watched, seeing the grief etched on each of the three people from middle-earth's faces at the discovery. A great cry of anguish came from Aragorn as he fell to his knees in front of the pile feeling as if he'd failed the hobbits in protecting them.
Buffy looked at Willow who had a sad expression on her face, the only one not making that big a deal of it being Spike. The group watched in silence as each of the three handled their grief in their own respective ways. All of sudden they noticed a change in Aragorn's behavior. Touching the ground, he said quietly, "A hobbit lay here."
Legolas and Gimli stood behind him as he touched the ground once more and said, "The other one lay here. Their hands were bound. They crawled away from the battle." Moving in a direction away from the carcasses. Coming upon an axe imbedded in the ground he carefully touched its edge and said, "Their bonds were cut. They fled but were followed." Ending up standing upon the edge of the dark forest he said, "They fled into Fangorn."
Gollum leads Sam and Frodo into the dead marshes as he takes them to the Black Gate of Mordor. Carefully maneuvering their way through the swampy terrain they cross the foul smelling bog. Half way across the three stop to take a break. The sky is dark as they sit and eat some of the lembas bread. All of a sudden a piercing cry fills the air.
"Wraith!" Gollum shouts, "Hide!" as he takes cover in some underbrush.
Sam goes to take cover but sees Frodo clutching his shoulder, the one he'd gotten stabbed in at Weathertop by the Morgul blade. Sam grabbed his friend and drug him to the underbrush as a giant black winged creature flew overhead making several passes over the area they were hidden in. Sam looked at the giant creature and said, "I thought they were dead."
Gollum looked at the young hobbit and replied, "No, never dead are they."
The wraith king sat upon his flying fell beast, making several swooping passes over the dead marshes on the outer boarders of Mordor, feeling the power of the ring growing closer. After several passes over the area he flies back into Mordor, his mighty fell beast unleashing one last piercing cry before leaving the area.
The group of eight heads into Fangorn to try and find the two hobbits who had escaped from the Uruk-hai during the Rohirrim's attack. Aragorn was leading the group followed by Buffy and Willow walking along side by side, Xander and Anya walked with each other behind them, with Gimli and Legolas and following the two being Spike at the back. Gimli finds blood on the leaves of a plant and checks it, determining it is Orc blood. The group presses on when Legolas senses someone else in the forest with them.
His blue eyes scanning every inch of the forest around them as Aragorn stumbles upon a set of tracks that he has never seen before.
"Mani naa ta?" Aragorn asks. {What is it?} The rest of the group stops behind them and listened to what the two say. Anya looks at Xander as Buffy and Willow come over to where they are and she says, "I wish those two wouldn't go off on speaking whatever gibberish that is. The rest of us would like to know what's being said too."
Buffy looked at the brunette next to Xander and said, "Relax Anya, even if they spoke in a tongue we could understand chances are it still wouldn't make any sense to us anyhow."
Willow stayed quiet and looked back to where Aragorn and Legolas were, still speaking in a foreign tongue.
"I' istar tula." He replied, glancing to Aragorn. {The wizard comes.}
Aragorn withdrew his sword and Legolas removed a bow from its quiver, gently stroking the feathered end before readying his bow. Willow looked at the two and knew something was going on and said, "Hey guys, I think something bad is happening."
The group turned to see the two making ready their weapons. Willow heard the two speak in a normal tongue and heard them say, "We must be quick for he can not speak. He will put a spell upon us."
Legolas spun around and behind the group of five from Sunnydale stands a man, whose face can not be seen because of the shadow cast upon him. Releasing the arrow from his bow, it sails over the heads of the Sunnydale group, towards its target but it is deflected and Anya lets out a shriek of surprise. Aragorn charges towards the figure but as he nears the wizard his sword becomes too hot to touch and drops it to the forest floor causing Buffy and the rest to jump back.
"Show yourself!" Aragorn commands, moving those from Sunnydale out of the way as Legolas takes up position beside him.
An echoing voice travels throughout the forest as the wizard begins to speak and then steps out from the shadows revealing his identity. Legolas dropped to his knees and said, "Forgive me, for a mistook you for the white wizard after seeing that the figure before them was that of Gandalf." The group from Sunnydale stood flabbergasted when Buffy finally broke the silence and said,
"Did he just say Gandalf? I thought that he was dead."
The wizard looked at the group of five behind them and said quietly, "Who are they?"
"We ran across them in the woods at the Falls of Rauros under attack by Uruk-hai. They have three strong fighters with them." Aragorn replied.
The group of nine moves through to the edge of the forest where the horses are still standing. The hobbits are safe within Fangorn and in the care of Treebeard, one of the Ents. As the group mounts up Gandalf whistles a loud melodious tune, echoing across the lands. A piercing neigh replies as a great white horse gallops towards them from across the plain. As the nine prepare to ride off Gandalf says, "We must ride to Edoras, where the King of Rohan is for his mind has been poisoned by the words of Saruman's puppet Gríma Wormtongue.
Riding swiftly across the plains they stop upon a hill from which the city of Edoras is visible. The great city built atop a jagged hill lay before them, on the very top stood a large wooden building a golden horse's head crowning its entrance. Making great speed the nine ride towards the buildings gate where a banner comes floating down, riding the breeze ever so gently to the ground. Buffy looks at the piece of fabric as it rests momentarily on the ground and sees a background of kelly green and burgundy with a white horse galloping in the center the edges of the banner trimmed in gold thread. Slowing their horses to a walk, they ride through the silent city. Townspeople were about doing various chores, looking at the riders as they passed by, uttering nothing. Spike looked around him at the faces of the Edorian people and said, "You could find more cheer in a graveyard."
Stopping in front of the large Golden Hall of King Théoden the group dismounts and climbs the stairs to the landing. One of the Kings guards comes out and says, "None may enter armed before the King." Pausing momentarily before continuing his statement. "By order of Gríma Wormtongue."
Other guards came out to collect their weapons. When the guard came to Gandalf, the wizard said, "You would part an old man from his walking stick?"
The guard stands down and lets them pass, Legolas walking alongside Gandalf, Aragorn walking with the five from Sunnydale and Gimli into the intricately carved hall. At the end upon the throne sat King Théoden and to his right sat a man dressed in black with a pale face, piercing eyes and long raven hair. As the group walk in Wormtongue feeds the king false truths about the group approaching the throne. Tempers flare between Wormtongue and Gandalf and fight ensues between some of the guards whose minds have been poisoned by Wormtongues lies. Aragorn, and the rest handle the guards while Gandalf approaches the King and begins to rid his mind of Saruman's evil influence. The king's niece Éowyn enters the throne room and begins to race towards her uncle stopped by Aragorn. She stands with him and the group, watching as Gandalf is casting out Saruman's control of the King of Rohan. Upon the completion of the purging of the evil of Saruman the real King of the Mark returns.
Tossing out Wormtongue from the Hall, Théoden walks down the stone steps, his burgundy and green cape billowing behind him in the strong wind that blows across the mountaintop. Preparing to put an end to the poisonous tongue of Wormtongue, the King raises his sword but Aragorn steps forward and says, "Enough blood has been spilt upon his account. Let him go." Open war was coming to Rohan, it was inevitable. The King even though back to himself now his kingdom was weak. Close to 3,000 of his men who had been banished when he was under Saruman's influence now rode north. Making the best decision he could he made the choice to travel to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan.
Wormtongue rode to Isengard and began to tell Saruman of those with Gandalf. Describing the Ring of Barahir that Aragorn wore and the group of five strangers with them. "So he thinks that he has found Isildur's heir... The fool!" Saruman began to say, "That line was broken long ago."
"Théoden will expect an attack on the city, but will not stay there. He will go to Helm's Deep with his people." Wormtongue said in reply, "The way through the mountains is dangerous and slow. There will be women and children with them as they flee."
Saruman turned his gaze towards the man before him; a spark in his eye at those words gave the indication as to what was coming next. The two of them walked to the deep caverns cut into the grounds of Isengard where Orcs were busy at work making supplies for the campaign of battle. Approaching one of the Orcs standing above a pit he commanded, "Send out your warg-riders once more, the people of Rohan make haste to Helm's Deep. We shall catch them off their guard."
It was a long trek from the Golden Hall at Edoras to the Fortress of Helm's Deep. There was plenty of time for conversation amongst the group as they rode forth together. Éowyn is walking alongside the horse that Gimli was upon as he spoke of dwarf women and how people could not tell the difference between the two when his horse broke into a canter, throwing the dwarf out of balance and causing him to fall to the ground. Many in the group began to laugh for the sheer fact that nothing thus far had happened to warrant such emotion. Aragorn rode next to Théoden as he saw a smile cross his face as he said,
"I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time... She was only a girl when they brought her father back dead, cut down by Orcs."
Aragorn looked on, his face etched in sadness at what the young woman had been through thus far, seeing her family destroyed by the enemy as well as by the impact the events had taken on those remaining as Théoden went on, "She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then was left alone to tend to her King in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who should have lover her as father."
As they stopped to make camp for the night the group from Sunnydale were at first just sitting around not doing anything. Xander began to complain about being hungry, again. So Buffy and Willow set off to see what they could scrounge up to fix to eat. Going through the supplies the people of Edoras had brought with them they found enough to make a small batch of stew, probably only enough for the eight of them. Buffy considered herself an okay cook, but in the circumstances anything would be better than nothing. Upon the completion of the stew, she and Willow went around to the group and served up what they had cooked. When Xander saw her coming he asked, "Who fixed this?"
Willow replied, "Buffy fixed it."
"Buffy's cooking, I'd rather take my chances on that lembas stuff." Xander said, not seeing Buffy behind him.
"Hey! I'm not a bad cook. Remember when I cooked a whole Thanksgiving dinner on my own?" Buffy said in response to his comment.
"And we all know how that turned out." Xander said in return, getting up to find some of the lembas bread.
When she and Willow went around to Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli their reactions were somewhat different. Willow took some to the elven prince, who was sitting against a rock with his cloak drawn around him. However he did not taste of the stew until Willow had left and found it beyond his liking but tried to eat what he could of it. Gimli didn't seem to mind the taste of it either and took the approach of Legolas, eating what he could. Buffy took some over to where Aragorn sat quietly, obviously in some sort of daze. Calling his name quietly he didn't answer until the third time she'd spoken. After handing him the small container the stew was in she asked, "Where exactly are we going?"
"To Helm's Deep my lady." He replied after trying a bit of the stew and almost choking, "The great fortress in the land of Rohan."
Buffy turned to leave and when she had her back to him he went to dump the contents on the ground without her noticing. As he tilted the container towards the ground Buffy turned around to ask, "Is there a battle coming?"
Rushing to right the container and spilling the hot contents on him in the process he replied, "Indeed there is. Saruman's forces are on the move."
She stood there for several more minutes asking questions related to Saruman as he forced himself to eat what she had given to him. When she left to rejoin the group of others from her home he puts down the container and began to eat a small amount of the lembas bread. As darkness falls over the camp he sat smoking a pipe, watching the wind blow the grass of the plains to and fro when he hears Arwen's voice in his mind.
{Go to sleep.} her voice called out to him.
{I am asleep} he says in return, when he opens his eyes and sees that he is back in Imladris.
As he looks at her standing next to where he now lies he says softly, {This is a dream.}.
{Then it is a good dream,} she replies, a gentle smile forming on her face as she leans down and places a tender kiss on his lips.
Standing up once more she goes and looks out onto the lands of Rivendell in all its beauty. The thunder of the crashing waterfalls, the sweet song of the forest birds and the trees as their leaves change color to brilliant hues of red and orange.
{Minlû pedich nin i aur hen telitha.} ::You told me once... this day would come.::, he said as she turned to face him as he spoke. {Ú i vethen nâ i onnad. Boe bedich go Frodo. Han bâlin.} ::This is not the end... it is the beginning. You must go with Frodo. This is your path.::, she replies gently.
{Dolen i vâd o nin.} ::My path is hidden from me.::
{Si peiannen i vâd na dail lîn. Si boe ú-dhannathach.} ::It is already laid before your feet. You cannot falter now.:: Arwen says in return, as their foreheads touch momentarily.
{Arwen,} he said quietly, but being silenced by her gentle touch.
{Ae ú-esteliach nad, estelio han, estelio ammen.} :: If you trust nothing else... trust this... trust us...:: she replied, placing the palm of her hand over the Evenstar jewel he wore around his neck.
The Uruk-hai traveled swiftly across the plains of Rohan in the direction of Isengard, carrying the two small hobbits on their backs, their wrists bound together with rope and placed around the necks of the warriors carrying them. The stopped momentarily when some Orcs sent by Saruman appeared from behind a rocky outcropping to check on the safe delivery of the two halflings they had taken from the shores of the Falls of Rauros. The leader of the Orcs and the captain of the Uruk-hai have argument over who will be the ones to return the halflings to Isengard and to their master.
"We've come to take these two to Saruman." The Orc leader said, eyeing the two bound prisoners.
"The Uruk-hai do not take orders from Orc maggots!" the captain bellowed as cheers rose up from behind him at his defiance.
Sniffing the air, the captain picked up scent that spelled trouble. One of the others in the horde asked, "What is it?" as he searched his captains face for an answer.
"I smell man-flesh! We are being followed!" The captain shouted, getting everyone to their feet once more and picking up a stiff pace across the plains.
Pippin overhears the orders given to move out and figures that Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas are following close behind, not knowing about the others that were with them. Pulling off the brooch on his elven cloak, and dropping it to the ground as a symbol that those behind them were on the right track and that they were still alive thus far.
Aragorn leans next to a rock and listens to the earth momentarily as the rest of the group watches, Legolas and Gimli understanding what he is doing and the group from Sunnydale unsure of what the purpose of it is for.
Anya asks Xander quietly, "What on earth is he doing listening to a rock?"
Xander shrugs his shoulders in reply when Aragorn stands up and says, "They move quickly now. They must have caught our scent."
The group sets out at a fast pace in the direction that the Uruk-hai had traveled. The large racing band of creatures left an unmistakable trail upon the ground of flattened grass in only a way a dark creature could do. The brief break had helped the five from Sunnydale to recoup but still the amount of distance they were covering in such a short amount of time was almost mind boggling.
Outside of the Fangorn forest the Uruk-hai made camp for the night and enter the wood to collect fuel for the fires that were to be lit. A deep guttural sound rose up from the wood, echoing throughout the area around them. Merry and Pippin looked at each other in a state of confusion and fear when Merry recalled the trees in legend that grew tall that was spoken of in the Shire. Nearby some of the Uruk-hai began to complain about the stale bread they had been eating for the past three days and wanted to once again taste flesh instead of the measly morsels they had been stuck with eating thus far.
"All we've had to eat for three stinking days is stale old bread! I want to taste man flesh!" bellowed one of the Uruk warriors.
Great cheers and bellows rose from his comrades in agreement as one of the Orcs looks upon their two captive prisoners, not caring whether or not they were for consumption said, "Why don't we eat them?", pointing at the two hobbits.
The massive Uruk-hai captain stood before the smaller Orc and said viciously, "They are not for consumption! Our orders were to bring the halflings back alive and unspoiled and that is how they shall be delivered!"
The hobbits now felt the pressure they were under, being surrounded by a whole pillaging horde of meat craving Uruk-hai and Orcs was not in their idea of a safe thing but in their present situation it was beyond their hands. An Orc came up behind them, and silently drew a knife as he crept towards the two prisoners. Chaos erupts and the captain turns in time to see the Orc lunging at them. Swinging his broad sword swiftly he decapitated the Orc by cutting off its head. The hobbits stood unmoving like statues as the head fell to the ground, landing at their feet. A great roar erupted from the horde of Uruk-hai as the body fell to the ground behind the two prisoners. Being shoved out of the way, the captain's voice boomed, "It looks like meat is back on the menu boys!"
Crawling away from the feeding frenzy of Uruk-hai the hobbits made their way towards Fangorn forest. One of the other Orcs not in on the frenzy followed them, placing his foot upon one of their backs to stop their movement. Brandishing his blade he pinched the face of one of the hobbits and said menacingly, "Go ahead and scream. No one will hear you now!" In a sudden flash of movement the Orc screamed as a spear was thrust into its back. The Rohirrim had attacked the camping horde in the middle of the night catching them off guard, slaughtering them all but one, which escaped.
The band of travelers went on throughout the night and as dawn approached, the clouds were a hue of red.
"Blood has been spilt this night," Legolas said, looking at the horizon of red around them.
Hearing a sound almost as if a bird were chirping the group took cover in a rocky area, the group from Sunnydale close to the ground with those in Elven cloaks standing in front of them. The thunder of hooves approached and helmets and spears glinted in the light the Rohirrim rode past, not noticing the group hidden amongst the rocks. As the last of the horseman rode past, Aragorn stepped out and addressed the riders, "Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?"
The riders wheeled about such that a large school of fish in the ocean would do and headed towards where the group of 8 now stood. Encircling them in a wall of spears and horses. The leader of the Rohirrim rode forwards and dismounted from his steel gray mount to stand in front of Aragorn. Speaking just loud enough so the tall man in front of Aragorn could hear, Spike said jokingly, "Not only are they dressed, in full regalia but they look like a mixture of Robin Hood and a medieval knight with hair sprouting from their helmets. To top that there is the sudden resurgence of testosterone coursing through them. Which one's more dangerous? Spin the bloody wheel to find out.
Éomer, Captain of the Rohirrim's eyes were ablaze with fury. Granted the words just spoken were of a language he didn't understand the fact of the matter being anything could go for the treachery of the Dark Lord of Mordor or of Saruman the White.
"You there!" The captain commanded getting Spike's attention, "Who are you to speak to the Riders of the Riddermark in such a manner!"
Spears were now aimed towards Spike and the group from Sunnydale as Éomer strode towards him, drawing out his sword. Legolas quickly drew up his bow and aimed it at the Captain saying, "You would be dead before your stroke fell!", as the spears of the riders of Rohan now turned to him.
Aragorn moves forward slowly, placing a hand upon Legolas' arm, causing him to lower the bow and defuses the situation in a peaceful manner.
"My name is Aragorn son of Arathorn, this is Gimli son of Gloin and Legolas of the Woodland Realm. The others behind them we happened upon at the Falls of Rauros, they were under attack from Uruk-hai. The same group that took captive two of our companions." He said to the captain standing before him.
Éomer said to the group before him, "We ambushed a party of Uruk-hai last night near Fangorn, leaving none alive.", pointing towards the smoke rising from the west not to far in the distance.
"There were two small hobbits with them, no more than children to your eyes if you saw them." Aragorn said.
Éomer shook his head and said, "We killed all that was there. I do not recall seeing anyone fitting that description among them."
The captain whistled and called sharply, "Arod! Hasufel!" and two horses, one chestnut and one dapple gray trotted forwards. Following them were five other horses whose former masters fell in the battle that had occurred the previous night.
"May these horses bear you to good fortune unlike their former masters." He said after having remounted his own horse. As the Rohirrim rode north, the group headed in the direction of the smoldering remains of the Uruk-hai. As they neared the pile and the smell of burning flesh became unmistakable. Around the area were spears, stuck into the ground with heads of some of those slain mounted on them. Gimli took his axe and sifted through the pile, coming across a leather belt.
"It's one of their wee belts," he said with a sad voice as the group from Sunnydale watched, seeing the grief etched on each of the three people from middle-earth's faces at the discovery. A great cry of anguish came from Aragorn as he fell to his knees in front of the pile feeling as if he'd failed the hobbits in protecting them.
Buffy looked at Willow who had a sad expression on her face, the only one not making that big a deal of it being Spike. The group watched in silence as each of the three handled their grief in their own respective ways. All of sudden they noticed a change in Aragorn's behavior. Touching the ground, he said quietly, "A hobbit lay here."
Legolas and Gimli stood behind him as he touched the ground once more and said, "The other one lay here. Their hands were bound. They crawled away from the battle." Moving in a direction away from the carcasses. Coming upon an axe imbedded in the ground he carefully touched its edge and said, "Their bonds were cut. They fled but were followed." Ending up standing upon the edge of the dark forest he said, "They fled into Fangorn."
Gollum leads Sam and Frodo into the dead marshes as he takes them to the Black Gate of Mordor. Carefully maneuvering their way through the swampy terrain they cross the foul smelling bog. Half way across the three stop to take a break. The sky is dark as they sit and eat some of the lembas bread. All of a sudden a piercing cry fills the air.
"Wraith!" Gollum shouts, "Hide!" as he takes cover in some underbrush.
Sam goes to take cover but sees Frodo clutching his shoulder, the one he'd gotten stabbed in at Weathertop by the Morgul blade. Sam grabbed his friend and drug him to the underbrush as a giant black winged creature flew overhead making several passes over the area they were hidden in. Sam looked at the giant creature and said, "I thought they were dead."
Gollum looked at the young hobbit and replied, "No, never dead are they."
The wraith king sat upon his flying fell beast, making several swooping passes over the dead marshes on the outer boarders of Mordor, feeling the power of the ring growing closer. After several passes over the area he flies back into Mordor, his mighty fell beast unleashing one last piercing cry before leaving the area.
The group of eight heads into Fangorn to try and find the two hobbits who had escaped from the Uruk-hai during the Rohirrim's attack. Aragorn was leading the group followed by Buffy and Willow walking along side by side, Xander and Anya walked with each other behind them, with Gimli and Legolas and following the two being Spike at the back. Gimli finds blood on the leaves of a plant and checks it, determining it is Orc blood. The group presses on when Legolas senses someone else in the forest with them.
His blue eyes scanning every inch of the forest around them as Aragorn stumbles upon a set of tracks that he has never seen before.
"Mani naa ta?" Aragorn asks. {What is it?} The rest of the group stops behind them and listened to what the two say. Anya looks at Xander as Buffy and Willow come over to where they are and she says, "I wish those two wouldn't go off on speaking whatever gibberish that is. The rest of us would like to know what's being said too."
Buffy looked at the brunette next to Xander and said, "Relax Anya, even if they spoke in a tongue we could understand chances are it still wouldn't make any sense to us anyhow."
Willow stayed quiet and looked back to where Aragorn and Legolas were, still speaking in a foreign tongue.
"I' istar tula." He replied, glancing to Aragorn. {The wizard comes.}
Aragorn withdrew his sword and Legolas removed a bow from its quiver, gently stroking the feathered end before readying his bow. Willow looked at the two and knew something was going on and said, "Hey guys, I think something bad is happening."
The group turned to see the two making ready their weapons. Willow heard the two speak in a normal tongue and heard them say, "We must be quick for he can not speak. He will put a spell upon us."
Legolas spun around and behind the group of five from Sunnydale stands a man, whose face can not be seen because of the shadow cast upon him. Releasing the arrow from his bow, it sails over the heads of the Sunnydale group, towards its target but it is deflected and Anya lets out a shriek of surprise. Aragorn charges towards the figure but as he nears the wizard his sword becomes too hot to touch and drops it to the forest floor causing Buffy and the rest to jump back.
"Show yourself!" Aragorn commands, moving those from Sunnydale out of the way as Legolas takes up position beside him.
An echoing voice travels throughout the forest as the wizard begins to speak and then steps out from the shadows revealing his identity. Legolas dropped to his knees and said, "Forgive me, for a mistook you for the white wizard after seeing that the figure before them was that of Gandalf." The group from Sunnydale stood flabbergasted when Buffy finally broke the silence and said,
"Did he just say Gandalf? I thought that he was dead."
The wizard looked at the group of five behind them and said quietly, "Who are they?"
"We ran across them in the woods at the Falls of Rauros under attack by Uruk-hai. They have three strong fighters with them." Aragorn replied.
The group of nine moves through to the edge of the forest where the horses are still standing. The hobbits are safe within Fangorn and in the care of Treebeard, one of the Ents. As the group mounts up Gandalf whistles a loud melodious tune, echoing across the lands. A piercing neigh replies as a great white horse gallops towards them from across the plain. As the nine prepare to ride off Gandalf says, "We must ride to Edoras, where the King of Rohan is for his mind has been poisoned by the words of Saruman's puppet Gríma Wormtongue.
Riding swiftly across the plains they stop upon a hill from which the city of Edoras is visible. The great city built atop a jagged hill lay before them, on the very top stood a large wooden building a golden horse's head crowning its entrance. Making great speed the nine ride towards the buildings gate where a banner comes floating down, riding the breeze ever so gently to the ground. Buffy looks at the piece of fabric as it rests momentarily on the ground and sees a background of kelly green and burgundy with a white horse galloping in the center the edges of the banner trimmed in gold thread. Slowing their horses to a walk, they ride through the silent city. Townspeople were about doing various chores, looking at the riders as they passed by, uttering nothing. Spike looked around him at the faces of the Edorian people and said, "You could find more cheer in a graveyard."
Stopping in front of the large Golden Hall of King Théoden the group dismounts and climbs the stairs to the landing. One of the Kings guards comes out and says, "None may enter armed before the King." Pausing momentarily before continuing his statement. "By order of Gríma Wormtongue."
Other guards came out to collect their weapons. When the guard came to Gandalf, the wizard said, "You would part an old man from his walking stick?"
The guard stands down and lets them pass, Legolas walking alongside Gandalf, Aragorn walking with the five from Sunnydale and Gimli into the intricately carved hall. At the end upon the throne sat King Théoden and to his right sat a man dressed in black with a pale face, piercing eyes and long raven hair. As the group walk in Wormtongue feeds the king false truths about the group approaching the throne. Tempers flare between Wormtongue and Gandalf and fight ensues between some of the guards whose minds have been poisoned by Wormtongues lies. Aragorn, and the rest handle the guards while Gandalf approaches the King and begins to rid his mind of Saruman's evil influence. The king's niece Éowyn enters the throne room and begins to race towards her uncle stopped by Aragorn. She stands with him and the group, watching as Gandalf is casting out Saruman's control of the King of Rohan. Upon the completion of the purging of the evil of Saruman the real King of the Mark returns.
Tossing out Wormtongue from the Hall, Théoden walks down the stone steps, his burgundy and green cape billowing behind him in the strong wind that blows across the mountaintop. Preparing to put an end to the poisonous tongue of Wormtongue, the King raises his sword but Aragorn steps forward and says, "Enough blood has been spilt upon his account. Let him go." Open war was coming to Rohan, it was inevitable. The King even though back to himself now his kingdom was weak. Close to 3,000 of his men who had been banished when he was under Saruman's influence now rode north. Making the best decision he could he made the choice to travel to Helm's Deep, the great fortress of Rohan.
Wormtongue rode to Isengard and began to tell Saruman of those with Gandalf. Describing the Ring of Barahir that Aragorn wore and the group of five strangers with them. "So he thinks that he has found Isildur's heir... The fool!" Saruman began to say, "That line was broken long ago."
"Théoden will expect an attack on the city, but will not stay there. He will go to Helm's Deep with his people." Wormtongue said in reply, "The way through the mountains is dangerous and slow. There will be women and children with them as they flee."
Saruman turned his gaze towards the man before him; a spark in his eye at those words gave the indication as to what was coming next. The two of them walked to the deep caverns cut into the grounds of Isengard where Orcs were busy at work making supplies for the campaign of battle. Approaching one of the Orcs standing above a pit he commanded, "Send out your warg-riders once more, the people of Rohan make haste to Helm's Deep. We shall catch them off their guard."
It was a long trek from the Golden Hall at Edoras to the Fortress of Helm's Deep. There was plenty of time for conversation amongst the group as they rode forth together. Éowyn is walking alongside the horse that Gimli was upon as he spoke of dwarf women and how people could not tell the difference between the two when his horse broke into a canter, throwing the dwarf out of balance and causing him to fall to the ground. Many in the group began to laugh for the sheer fact that nothing thus far had happened to warrant such emotion. Aragorn rode next to Théoden as he saw a smile cross his face as he said,
"I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time... She was only a girl when they brought her father back dead, cut down by Orcs."
Aragorn looked on, his face etched in sadness at what the young woman had been through thus far, seeing her family destroyed by the enemy as well as by the impact the events had taken on those remaining as Théoden went on, "She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then was left alone to tend to her King in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who should have lover her as father."
As they stopped to make camp for the night the group from Sunnydale were at first just sitting around not doing anything. Xander began to complain about being hungry, again. So Buffy and Willow set off to see what they could scrounge up to fix to eat. Going through the supplies the people of Edoras had brought with them they found enough to make a small batch of stew, probably only enough for the eight of them. Buffy considered herself an okay cook, but in the circumstances anything would be better than nothing. Upon the completion of the stew, she and Willow went around to the group and served up what they had cooked. When Xander saw her coming he asked, "Who fixed this?"
Willow replied, "Buffy fixed it."
"Buffy's cooking, I'd rather take my chances on that lembas stuff." Xander said, not seeing Buffy behind him.
"Hey! I'm not a bad cook. Remember when I cooked a whole Thanksgiving dinner on my own?" Buffy said in response to his comment.
"And we all know how that turned out." Xander said in return, getting up to find some of the lembas bread.
When she and Willow went around to Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli their reactions were somewhat different. Willow took some to the elven prince, who was sitting against a rock with his cloak drawn around him. However he did not taste of the stew until Willow had left and found it beyond his liking but tried to eat what he could of it. Gimli didn't seem to mind the taste of it either and took the approach of Legolas, eating what he could. Buffy took some over to where Aragorn sat quietly, obviously in some sort of daze. Calling his name quietly he didn't answer until the third time she'd spoken. After handing him the small container the stew was in she asked, "Where exactly are we going?"
"To Helm's Deep my lady." He replied after trying a bit of the stew and almost choking, "The great fortress in the land of Rohan."
Buffy turned to leave and when she had her back to him he went to dump the contents on the ground without her noticing. As he tilted the container towards the ground Buffy turned around to ask, "Is there a battle coming?"
Rushing to right the container and spilling the hot contents on him in the process he replied, "Indeed there is. Saruman's forces are on the move."
She stood there for several more minutes asking questions related to Saruman as he forced himself to eat what she had given to him. When she left to rejoin the group of others from her home he puts down the container and began to eat a small amount of the lembas bread. As darkness falls over the camp he sat smoking a pipe, watching the wind blow the grass of the plains to and fro when he hears Arwen's voice in his mind.
{Go to sleep.} her voice called out to him.
{I am asleep} he says in return, when he opens his eyes and sees that he is back in Imladris.
As he looks at her standing next to where he now lies he says softly, {This is a dream.}.
{Then it is a good dream,} she replies, a gentle smile forming on her face as she leans down and places a tender kiss on his lips.
Standing up once more she goes and looks out onto the lands of Rivendell in all its beauty. The thunder of the crashing waterfalls, the sweet song of the forest birds and the trees as their leaves change color to brilliant hues of red and orange.
{Minlû pedich nin i aur hen telitha.} ::You told me once... this day would come.::, he said as she turned to face him as he spoke. {Ú i vethen nâ i onnad. Boe bedich go Frodo. Han bâlin.} ::This is not the end... it is the beginning. You must go with Frodo. This is your path.::, she replies gently.
{Dolen i vâd o nin.} ::My path is hidden from me.::
{Si peiannen i vâd na dail lîn. Si boe ú-dhannathach.} ::It is already laid before your feet. You cannot falter now.:: Arwen says in return, as their foreheads touch momentarily.
{Arwen,} he said quietly, but being silenced by her gentle touch.
{Ae ú-esteliach nad, estelio han, estelio ammen.} :: If you trust nothing else... trust this... trust us...:: she replied, placing the palm of her hand over the Evenstar jewel he wore around his neck.