Chapter 18

On the morning of the third day, a soft splash awoke Haldir from his light slumber, as Treebeard had errands to run again. The destruction of Isengard had given Fangorn a long wished for peace but also many things to be done.

Haldir stood up and started walking towards the river. He stopped dead in his tracks when Skyler emerged from the river. Her hair had lengthened considerably the past two days, and it ran down her back in long luxurious black waves. The wounds on her skin had healed perfectly with no scar, leaving it pale and flawless. Her eyes had lost the wariness it previously held, and sparkled brightly against her porcelain façade. Long black eyelashes framed the velvety brown orbs and glistened under the light from the water dripping down.

The harshness of time and war seemed to have been removed entirely from her being, leaving behind the girl Haldir first met in Lothlorien.

Skyler shivered slightly as a cold wind blew over her. She wasn't sure how long she had slept in the Entwash, but she felt renewed and best of all, it was the first time she slept there without any nightmares or phantoms chasing her. A shadow fell over her, and a soft cloak enclosed over her figure.

She glanced up and saw Haldir standing before her; she smiled, a large wide smile that she thought she had long lost.

He handed her the clothes she shed and she got dressed behind the tree quickly before she came out again weaving her hand through the long hair and tried to form it into some semblance of a braid.

(Come.) Haldir said raising a hand and beckoned to her.

Skyler came over puzzled; he motioned for her to turn around and Skyler did so obediently. She felt Haldir deftly unwound the tangled hair and within a few seconds, braid it into a plaid down her back.

She turned around after he was down with cheeks red from awkwardness; however, Haldir merely smiled slightly before he said: (Treebeard has words from Mithrandir for us to return to Rohan as soon as possible.)

Skyler blinked slightly: (But the Huorns…)

(Treebeard has pacified them, come.)

(But…)

(Go, seedling, your place is with your love ones.) a loud voice boomed over them.

Skyler looked up and saw Treebeard smiling down at her: (Go,) he repeated, (Time is precious little to waste.)

Skyler looked at him for a second before she nodded and followed Haldir to their horse. With the litheness that she learned from the said elf, she easily leaped up the horse, and the Marchwarden followed suit.

(Good luck, Skyler of Lothlorien.) Skyler heard Treebeard rumbled as they sped away from Entwash. Skyler turned slightly on the horse and stared back at the old Ent in surprise. He had never called her anything besides Guardian during her fifty years stay here. It sounded like a final goodbye.

Her eyes grew misty as she whispered: (My blessings of quiet wind and clean water, Treebeard.) she didn't have to raise her voice, she knew the wind would take her words to the kind Ent who made her strong.

It was a brief ride to Rohan, and when they got there, the castle was in an uproar. A stable boy that Skyler grabbed informed them that Gondor had called for aide and Rohan would answer.

Skyler gave a frantic look at Haldir before she raced down the hall to find the Fellowship and her mother.

She ran into Legolas in the hall and he directed her to her mother's room. Skyler bade Haldir to follow the Mirkwood elf before she went down the hallway towards Ash's room.

She knocked on the door politely, and waited. A few minutes later her mother opened the door. Surprise was written all over her face when she saw Skyler standing there looking as healthy as if she had never been touched by the war.

"Sky!" Ash said happily as she pulled her daughter into a hug before pushing back to study the girl, checking for any injuries that may have stayed.

"I'm fine, really." Sky laughed before she turned serious, "What is this I heard about aiding Gondor?"

Ash pulled her into the room; Skyler saw that she had been packing.

"Gondor called for aide with the fire towers the night you left. The King gave orders yester-morning for us to leave today." Ash said as she went to the wardrobe and took out a readied pack and handed it to Skyler, "I had a feeling that you would make it back in time so I packed for you."

Skyler took the pack with a cheeky grin: "Always the prophet."

Ash rolled her eyes, something Skyler noted that she had never done before while back on earth. The action sent her a reminder that both she and her mother had changed, perhaps for the best on this land, and because of that gift this world had endowed upon them, Skyler was determined to protect it.

Ash turned to place the last items in her own pack before she waved her hand at the door: "Let us go, if you have come any later, Rohan would have been emptied."

Skyler shrugged and winked: "You know me; I'm never the one to miss the fun."

They walked quickly down the hall and into the courtyard where Eowyn was already seated upon her horse. She nearly jumped off when she saw Skyler.

"Lady Skyler!" Ash grinned at the shocked exclamation as she went to retrieve the horses.

"It's Sky," Skyler replied with a smile.

"You're better now." Eowyn said, surprise still evident in her face.

"Better and stronger."

"But how? You were injured gravely!" Eowyn cried.

"Because I am an Evans," Skyler grinned, "We Evans never do things by halves. I swore in Rivendell I would see the Fellowship through, and I will not abandon my oath."

"Well, I'm glad you say that, lassie. I thought you had ran off because you lost the count with us." A low rumble came behind her.

Skyler turned and saw Gimli standing there, red and blustering as usual.

"Well, Master Dwarf, how come I didn't see your visit when I woke up?" Skyler teased bending down slightly, "Did you get drunk, again?"

"Bah, I knew you would come back full of bounding energy, just like those annoying elves." The dwarf snorted, but his face reddened even more.

"You know me so while." Skyler laughed.

"Oh! Master Gimli, are you prepared to make use of your riding lessons now?" Ash said as she led out two horses from the stable.

Skyler glanced at her in surprise before she turned back to Gimli with a devious smile: "Riding lessons, my dear Master Gimli? You are full of surprises. You wouldn't happen to be trying to impress our dear Prince of Mirkwood, would you?"

"Watch your tongue, lassie. I do not need to impress anyone. We dwarves are an amazing race all on our own, with no need for those temperamental beasts." Was the disgruntled reply.

Skyler snorted before she easily lit up on the horse.

Ash was, however, much kinder. She handed led the horse in front of Gimli and waved over two guards from the side.

"Help Master Gimli up the horse." The guards nodded and easily boosted Gimli up on the animal. Skyler had to admit, unlike before, he actually stayed on the first time he was helped up.

"I will ride with my sister." Ash said as she leaped up behind Skyler, "We are light enough together the animal will not tired out as quick as like you and Master Elf."

"Sky!" a child-like voice yelled catching everyone's attention.

Skyler saw Merry running out to the courtyard ahead of Legolas, Haldir, and Aragorn.

"Why if it isn't my favorite Brandybuck!" Skyler laughed.

Merry rolled his eyes: "I'm the ONLY Brandybuck you know. You sound a lot better. Did you meet with Treebeard. Fangorn is well now; is that why you are cheerful?" He rushed out as he stared up at her from the ground.

Skyler tilted her head slightly before she shrugged: "Perhaps, or maybe I'm just happy to see you, my dear hobbit."

Merry rolled his eyes again.

"Come, Master Brandybuck, ride with me." Eowyn said friendly.

Merry nodded and with Eowyn's help he clambered onto the horse.

"Aragorn, Legolas, Haldir." Skyler nodded a greeting at the elves and man. Her eyes lingered slightly at Haldir before moving away.

"I am happy to see you joining us." Aragorn said.

"As am I." Legolas followed.

"Rumil and Orophin?" Skyler inquired as she glanced around.

"They received a message from Lady Galadriel; it seemed Lord Elrond of Rivendell had a request for them." Legolas said.

"Oh…Lord Elrond…odd." Skyler said puzzled as she turned to Haldir who shook his head slightly, indicating he had no knowledge of the event either.

"Come, my uncle will wait no more." Eomer said as he clambered into the yard from the stable.

"Very well, we ride for Gondor." Ash said with a nod. Skyler murmured quietly to the horse and it followed Eomer out the courtyard.