Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR. I only own my own characters.

A/N: Hey guys. Sorry it's taken forever for this to be updated. Life hasn't been all grand lately so fanfic writing has been put aside. But alas, I'm back and I hope I still have readers because I have some pretty damn epic things planned for this story. Not much to say anyway except enjoy the chapter.

CHAPTER TWO

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"What do you see Felix?"

"I see shit-all!" Felix was cold, drenched to the core and most of all bitter. Even if there was something out there, in this fog (which was worse than anything he'd ever seen in England) they wouldn't be able to see it anyway. It wasn't that Felix didn't trust Éomer and his gut, hell after all they'd been through in the past five years, it would be rude of him and poor judgement not to but Felix simply did not see it. More to the point, even if orcs were stupid they still had survival instincts and it would be suicidal of them to send a warg scout this close to the borders of Minas Tirith.

"Listen Éomer," Felix turned to his brother-in-law, "It could have been anything you saw. I'm not saying I disbelieve, but this weather plays tricks on people. We're not too far from Minas Tirith; I would suggest we keep moving."

"Besides," Nat rode up to Éomer. She'd been on the lookout a while behind them but just as Felix, she hadn't seen anything either. "Maggie and Laura will both kill us if we're late."

Admitting defeat, Éomer sighed and nodded. It had been a long ride from Rohan and more than anything he longed for a mug of warm mead in front of a fire. As they carried on across the fields, the Master of the Rohirrim glanced backwards, still feeling uneasy because he knew his gut feeling and also knew that it was not wrong.
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"You always come here when something is troubling you." Whenever they did see each other, Aragorn always liked to have a moment alone with Maggie to just talk. They were all very close but the two of them had probably been through much more than the others and shared a different kind of bond. Aragorn knew there were things Maggie told him that she didn't tell anyone else, not even her husband. Ever since he was a child, he could always tell when there was something the matter or something on her mind. This was such an occasion. They were stood by Riley's memorial, which was outside the city gates by the graveyard which had been built for the deceased soldiers after the battle of Pellenor Fields. Even though Riley's ashes had been spread by the wind, they still made a stone for him where they had carved in his name and his favourite Tolkien quote "not all those who wander are lost", in Tengwar script. Of course, none of the others knew exactly where the quote had come from or why it meant so much to Riley and it would be a secret forever kept between Felix, Maggie, Laura and Natalie.

The early morning air of autumn felt crisp and chilly towards Maggie's chin and the bright colours from the sunrise at dawn still lingered in the sky. This had always been her favourite time of year and she loved being able to feel the shift from one season to another. It was a different kind of magic entirely, much like the magic of hearing her child's laughter and the sight of joy in his eyes at being reunited with Eldarion, his very dearest friend. Life, Maggie thought, was good. Yet Aragorn was right. Something in her mind was indeed troubling her, a feeling of unease which she could not shake off.

"Elrond tells me you are not sleeping. " Aragorn said after a while when Maggie still had not answered. "What dreams do you have?" he asked. The former ranger knelt down to make way for new flowers to Riley's stone. He muttered the same blessing he always spoke when he came down there.

"I see him Aragorn," replied Maggie after a moment of thought. She hadn't been quite sure how to phrase it or what to say because in earnest, she didn't know what to think herself.

The dreams had been more frequent as of late, the latest one had reoccurred the previous night as she'd been asleep with her husband. She turned around to Aragorn and looked him right in the eyes. "I see Riley."

Aragorn didn't blink and for some time he remained silent. It wasn't unheard of for the spirits of ancestors to visit their loved ones in visions and dreams. However, it was still strange. Riley had been dead for nearly six years and he immediately thought there had to be a reason to why he was appearing to Maggie now. The first year following his death and the first year of Caspian's life had been particularly tough on all of them. Establishing themselves to life in Middle-Earth, having to deal with leaving behind the family of their own world and the death of Riley on top of it. It hadn't been an easy transition and for Maggie, raising a son had been a new challenge unlike anything else but eventually they all got used to it. They were all happy.

"What did he say?" asked Aragorn, his voice was balanced and calm but Maggie could still hint the seriousness in his tone.

"I can never quite tell. It's like whenever he tries to tell me he fades away, almost as if someone's keeping him from reaching me." Maggie suddenly shuddered as a chill was sent down her spine and she remembered the feelings she was always left with after waking up. "In the dream though, I'm always standing in the same meadow. I can't explain it, it's like it's not an actual place because everything sort of just seems to be frozen and Riley always tells me that there's something I should remember and he always says 'you need to close it Maggie.' What does that mean? Do you think it's really him? I mean, sure I've dreamt about him before, but this is different. This feels real."

Maggie's voice began shivering and Aragorn pulled her for a hug. "Hush, aier." he whispered. "I am certain that whichever reason Riley has for visiting you, it will be revealed in due time." Although there was something within Aragorn, a feeling deep in his gut which told him there was something else to it. Something suddenly caught both their attention: the familiar sound of the horn of Rohan.

"Are you going to tell them?" Aragorn asked, referring to Felix, Nat and Laura. Although Maggie knew her friends deserved to know that she'd seen Riley, she wasn't sure telling them about her dreams was such a good idea until she knew exactly what was going on herself. Besides, she didn't want to spoil the mood of the reunion.

"No," Maggie shook her "Not yet. There's no need for anyone to worry. Besides, I'm sure it's fine. Come on, let's go greet them."

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All the excitement of visitors nearly proved too much for both Caspian and Eldarion to handle. The two toddlers hardly managed to stay awake until supper and the arrival of the hobbits which was probably the most exciting part of the day. It didn't take particularly long before the two princes were fast asleep in their bedrooms. Laura had to admit, it was great to see Minas Tirith alive again and to have her friends, her family there. She loved the city and she loved the friends she had made there and how close she had become with Aragorn and Arwen but it did get lonely and with the four of them being spread out through the realms, Nat and Felix in Rohan and Maggie in Rivendell. It was great to see the hobbits too; she'd missed them a lot. Especially Frodo and Sam after all they had been through on their journey all those years ago. The fact that Sam and Rosie had finally married made her smile and she hoped Frodo would find the same happiness as well. Merry and Pippin were their usual selves and the only two missing from the gathering were Legolas and Gimli. As Laura stood watching the party going on in the great hall, she felt Faramir wrapping his arms around her and she smiled.

"You look happy." whispered Faramir as he brushed a strand of her out of her face.

"I am. Having all of us together like this, it's how it's meant to be. We've always been strongest when we're together. I missed them." she turned around to her lover and put her arms around his neck as he pulled her close to him.

"There are things we should talk about." Faramir said. He had that grin on his face he always had when he was up to something.

"What kind of things?"

"Good things. But it can wait. Right now all I want to do is—"Faramir's words were cut off. The doors burst wide open and they all heard Gimli's familiar voiced called down the hallway, except it was nothing but merry.

"Aragorn, we need some help! Legolas has been shot!"

To be continued…..

Kind of a long and maybe boring chapter but I'm back and there will be things happening. I hope you'll leave me a review.