Whoo-hoo! Another chapter! I really wanted to publish this one, thus explaining why I'm up at one o'clock in the morning writing this author's note.

This chapter is a "short and sweet" type of chapter. It's not extremely long, and at least half of it is a lot of reflecting, thinking, and other various types of fluffy stuff. Next chapter, we should finally get to the final battle for all of Middle-Earth. I am so excited!

Peyton: Are you done with your ranting now?

Maethor: Yes, I am. You want to do the disclaimer?

Robin: Yup!

Peyton: Of course!

Kayden: You bet! Maethorelen only owns me!

Robin: And me!

Peyton: And me!

Chapter 34: A Promise

Later that day, Kayden, Peyton, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Ėomer, and Gandalf all gathered in the throne room of the Citadel. Kayden and Peyton sat side by side at the foot of the black throne of the Steward, where Gimli was lounging comfortably, smoking his pipe. Robin, Merry, and Pippin did not come to the meeting; instead, Robin and Pippin kept Merry company in the Houses of Healing while he rested.

Gandalf paced across the hall, his face deepening into a frown. "Frodo has passed beyond my sight," he announced grimly. "The darkness is deepening."

Aragorn shook his head, gazing intently at the statues of the kings of old standing in the alcoves along the walls. "If Sauron had the Ring, we would know it."

"We'd be dead," Peyton intoned dryly.

Gandalf continued to pace, his shoulders beginning to sag tiredly. "It is only a matter of time before the Ring finds a way back to its master. Sauron has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor, our enemy is regrouping."

Gimli pulled the pipe from his mouth, a lazy wisp of smoke floating up to the ceiling. "Let them stay there and rot! Why should we care?"

"Those thousands of orcs will be standing in the way of Frodo and Sam," Kayden realized, staring up from her position on the floor. "If he is to have any chance of reaching Mount Doom, he will have to wade through an entire army to get there!"

The White Wizard nodded gravely, a helpless expression on his wizened face. "I've sent him to his death," he sighed quietly.

Kayden and Peyton both audibly gasped at his words, and even Aragorn seemed shocked at the Wizard's hopelessness. Never before had any of them seen Gandalf like this; he was always calm and cool, never without a plan. "There must be something we can do!" Kayden cried, hating the idea of just giving up on Frodo.

"There is still hope," Aragorn insisted, turning to face the others. "He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

Peyton stared at him questioningly. "But how? We can't just march into Mordor and wipe out a massive army of orcs!"

"That is why we shall draw Sauron's forces out of Mordor," Aragorn corrected. "Force him to empty his lands. Then, we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."

Gimli nearly choked on his pipe, coughing and spewing so much Peyton actually stood up and began thumping the Dwarf on his back. Gandalf's eyebrows shot up in surprise and disbelief. Ėomer shook his head doubtfully.

"We cannot win through strength of arms," the man of Rohan pointed out to the Ranger.

"Not for ourselves," Aragorn agreed. "But we can give Frodo his chance to destroy the Ring if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us; keep him blind to all else that moves in his land."

"A diversion," Legolas whispered, eyes gleaming with understanding.

A smile broke out across Kayden's face. "And if the Ring is destroyed, so is its master, and then…"

"Then the orcs won't have anyone to command them in battle," Peyton finished. "They'll be toast."

Aragorn nodded. "If Frodo can reach the fires of Mount Doom and destroy the Ring, the whole of Mordor and its army will fall into ruin." He turned to Gandalf. "Frodo needs our help. We need to give him a chance."

Gandalf slowly began to nod, beginning to understand what Aragorn was saying. Gimli snorted into his pipe, shaking his head in grim disbelief. "Certainty of death, small chance of success; what are we waiting for?"

Kayden grinned, walking to where Peyton stood. "You know, I have a feeling we may be rubbing off on Aragorn," she whispered. "This has to be one of his craziest ideas yet!"

Peyton chuckled, turning to face her friend. "So crazy, it just might work."

~o*o*o*o~

Robin sat by the windowsill of Merry's room in the Houses, staring up into the night. Pippin had left a while ago to get some sleep, leaving only her and Merry. Kayden had come in an hour or so ago informing them of Aragorn's plan, and all three hobbits eagerly said that they would accompany the armies to battle. So now all Robin could do was wait for the morning to come, too anxious to sleep.

"There's no moon anymore," Merry remarked, coming over to stand by her. Robin hadn't even noticed he was awake, but nevertheless, she didn't protest against the company.

"Yeah," Robin agreed, resting her hands on the cold stone. She gestured to the red glow painting the black sky to her right. "And there's Mordor." A small sigh escaped her lips as she continued to stare at the fiery scarlet glow of the Black Land. "Tomorrow, it will all end, right over there."

Merry turned to Robin, a solemn expression on his face. "Are you afraid?"

Robin paused for a moment, thinking over the seemingly simple question. Her fingers drummed lightly against the stone as she considered, not for the first time, that she probably would die. That Kayden and Peyton may die out there too. That all could be lost. Thought after thought whirled through her mind, the young hobbit finally finding an answer to Merry's question.

"Yeah, I guess," she admitted, her gaze shifting to the ground. "I'm afraid of losing everyone I know. Kayden, Peyton, you…" She trailed off sadly, not wanting to pursue the thought.

Merry nodded, wrapping one comforting arm around her shoulders. "I understand how you feel. I felt that way before the battle out on the fields; I was afraid I'd never see any of my friends again when it was over. And now, on the edge of another battle, I feel the same way."

"But no matter what happens," he continued, the smallest of smiles on his face, "I'll be right there beside you, fighting for our friends."

Robin looked up at him, her brown eyes glazed with tears that she refused to shed. "You will?"

Merry nodded resolutely. "I promise." Gently, he leaned closer to Robin, softly pressing their lips together. He could feel her smiling beneath his lips and returning his kiss. After a few blissful moments, the two broke apart, and Merry was pleased to see a radiant grin on Robin's face. She gazed silently at him for a moment before whispering two words, her voice almost lost to the night.

"Thank you."

~o*o*o*o~

Peyton wandered the halls of the Citadel aimlessly during the night, unable to find sleep. Thoughts swirled in her head, memories spanning from the very beginning of their journey in Middle-Earth to right here and now. It was strange, how much she, Kayden, and Robin had been through, how much the trio had changed. Their old life on Earth seemed nearly forgotten, faded away like a far-off memory. Those peaceful days, when they learned archery and swordsmanship for fun instead of for survival, when they sat in a quiet room studying wars instead of fighting in them, now seemed just as surreal as this world did when she first came to Middle-Earth. So much had been left behind, but Peyton wouldn't trade the companions she made and the experiences she had here for the world.

Presently, she noticed a dark figure sitting on a bench, bent over a small object in his hand. As she neared him, Peyton saw that it was Aragorn, his face marred with doubt and hopelessness. Biting her lip, Peyton walked to the bench where Aragorn sat. "Hey," she greeted softly, sitting beside the Ranger.

Aragorn looked up at her coming, his face grim. "Peyton, do you believe that we have any hope for tomorrow? That we have the slightest chance of winning the war that Sauron has waged upon us?"

Peyton stared in shock at Aragorn, unsure of what to say. The Ranger has always been a leader, first to charge, last to retreat, and last to lose hope. "Aragorn," she questioned anxiously. "What has made you like this? You of all people shouldn't lose hope!"

The Ranger rubbed his face tiredly. "I am meant to be a King, Peyton. I do not know if I am ready for the task of leading these people into battle."

"Aragorn, many of these people would follow you to the ends of the earth, King or not," Peyton reassured him. "I know for a fact that I would, and so would Kayden, Legolas, and Gimli." She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, and if anything happens, know that we will always have your back. We're still a Fellowship, and no matter what, we will always be one."

Aragorn gazed at Peyton for a moment before a small smile spread across his features. "Thank you, Peyton," he stated, rising to his feet. "You four are some of the greatest companions one could ever ask for."

~o*o*o*o~

Kayden lounged on a bench in the dark, deserted courtyard of the Citadel, enjoying what could possibly be the last moments of peace she would ever find. Like her friends, a million thoughts ran through her mind as she contemplated on what may be her very last night alive. It was eerily silent, the only noises being the distant rumbles from the heart of Mordor. The calm before the storm...

"Kayden!"

Said elleth whirled around to see Legolas striding towards her, something clutched tightly in his hands. "Legolas, what is it?"

He smiled softly, taking a seat beside her on the bench. "I wished to give you something before we ride out tomorrow." Slowly, he unclasped his hands, revealing a gleaming silver leaf pendant hanging from a piece of brown cord.

"After the Battle of Helm's Deep, I found your broken mithril guard among the ruins of the wall. While we waited for the lighting of the beacons in Rohan, Gimli took the guard to the blacksmith, forging this pendant for me to give to you," Legolas explained, pressing the necklace into Kayden's palm. "I wanted to give this to you sooner, but I never did have the chance."

Kayden beamed fondly at Legolas. "Thank you," she grinned, pulling him into an appreciative embrace. Legolas couldn't help but smile at Kayden's joy, affectionately returning the hug.

After a few moments, Kayden pulled back, a thoughtful expression on her face. Slowly, she reached over her head, slipping on the leaf pendant necklace, and then, fumbling slightly with the clasp, she removed her bronze eagle pendant, gently placing it into Legolas's hands. "Here," she stated. "I want you to have this."

The ellon seemed shocked, shaking his head. "I could not take this from you," he replied hastily, pushing the pendant back towards Kayden. "This means too much to you."

"Take it," Kayden insisted. "It's meant to be a promise. No matter what happens out there, I'll always return to you and this pendant, like I did in Rohan."

Understanding dawned on Legolas, and he smiled, clasping the chain around his neck. "A promise."

Yes, a good deal of sweet fluffy stuff in this chapter. There's only a few more chapters left of this, so I have to put in the fluffiness somewhere!

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