Disclaimer:I do not own either works, nor do I profit from posting this but in terms of writing experience. The characters and plot belong to their respective creators and companies.

Full Summary: Ultimately, they would not change what happened for anything in the world. At long last they had a family, a family both had dreamed for since their genin days. Neither of them ever expected to have children together, nor let their pasts go. But here they were: content, and in peace at long last. But now they find their family, their peace, breaking apart due to the struggles of the free peoples against the Power in the East. Will they forsake the world they have so few ties to, or will they become weapons of change? WARNINGS: OC's, gender-bending.

A/N: I'm finally updating, though I apologize for the huge delay. I had a break through on the other sequel, but I just couldn't find the words for this one, and for some reason it is easier for me to write the other one first. Any ways, thank you to those who have reviewed, put this on alert or favorite ~ with love, depressedchildren

Chapitre Quatre: In the House of Healing

3017, October 9

They had traveled for nearly three full days, and were now taking a break because Dusk had begun to cry, as they had done countless times in the past three days. It was only then that they would take their breaks for both sleeping and refreshment. In these breaks Tinnu and Dawn would clean Frodo's wound and steep Athelas to continue to revive their sister's "will," while Sam would whip up some food quickly, and Naruto fed or changed her baby before eating a good portion of what remained of the rations bought in Bree.

Even though Dusk had a seal on his swaddle that kept out the wind and cold, Naruto could see him growing paler. This traveling was clearly not good for him, but she wouldn't have left him in Bree where he could be used against them or die at the hands of some unhygienic simpleton. But it was clear to Naruto know, that she had no way to protect him from germs and airborne pathogens as they traveled across Middle Earth, and she feared her baby would become sick with something she couldn't cure. This made her look over at the bastard in concern as well.

He was still unconscious and it felt as if he wasn't regaining any chakra, which he should since he was in a regenerative coma. It was almost like something was sapping at his chakra, and then Minuial…Naruto looked over at her baby girls all circled together.

Minuial hadn't woken up yet either and Naruto didn't understand what was wrong with her. She could feel the girl's chakra slowly pooling in her stomach, but she continued to sleep. Naruto was afraid she would have to resort to a medical jutsu Sakura-chan had taught Naruto in case of an emergency, she had stressed that it was only to be used when the coma patient was on the field and did not have access to an IV drip because there could be side-effects to the jutsu, due to the fact that the jutsu directly transferred nutrients into a patient.

Naruto finished feeding Dusk and looked back over at her unconscious husband who was backlighted by the slowly setting sun. He was propped against the bridge they had stopped at—Tinnu said it was the Bridge of Mitheithel, also the halfway point to Rivendell.

Naruto knelt in front of the teme and shook him slightly; he made no noise but his eyelids did flutter. "Come on Teme, wake up for me," she whispered lowly as she shook him more.

She felt so tired from all the running and she could feel the four Nazgûl she had thrown were up ahead some ways. Perhaps their brethren had communicated somehow and they knew they were heading for Rivendell? It was worrisome that they were waiting up ahead, possibly even making a trap for them, but what could she really do? The hobbits were barely hanging onto the clones as is. She bit her lip and bowed her head. She had been trying so hard to keep positive, to continue to joke, but…it was getting too hard to.

Naruto dropped her head against the teme's shoulder in fatigue. She wouldn't be able to make it to Rivendell, which practically pulsed with natural energy at the edge of her senses, if she didn't get sleep soon. She had been running on chakra but her mind was so tired that she was sure she would collapse soon. Not to mention Kurama was being strangely silent despite being so close to the foul chakra emitting ring. She had thought the fox would be in ecstasy at such close proximity but he was disturbingly silent.

"Teme, please wake up," she murmured against his shoulder. Her frustration with the situation mounted more and more so that it felt like she was being suffocated. But then, to her surprise, the teme groaned and the sound lifted some of that frustration.

Naruto looked up at her husband's face in alarm. His eyes fluttered open for a moment but then they fell closed again. "Teme!" she shook his arms to snap him further awake but he just groaned and weakly tried to move away from her.

"Quick, give me a water skin," she had been trying to get him food and water the last few days, but the last time she tried to get the teme to drink he began to choking. The same had happened to Minuial… Sam handed her a water skin and she pressed it against his lips, at first the teme was unresponsive but then he began to drink.

He drank most of it until his eyes fluttered open. He groaned and dropped his head forward. "Stay awake, teme! You need to eat…that'll get your chakra back up…" she wasn't sure anymore but she had to try. She called for some food and Sam gave her a bowl of the soup he had made thanks to the girls wandering off with a clone to hunt while they searched for more Athelas.

She mashed up what she could and blew on the soupy-mush before she brought it up to the teme's lips. With his eyes half closed he ate the spoonful and swallowed before dropping his eyes shut again.

"No, no, no, come on stay awake," Naruto urged as she brought another spoonful of mush to his lips.

"Kaasan, maybe we should camp here for the night? You need to sleep," Dawn suggested as she scanned the horizon in each direction with her eyes squinted slightly.

"We could set up protective seals around the camp," Tinnu added as she too squinted into the distance, both Naruto's conscious daughters were acting like they couldn't see as far… Right…they had unlocked the mangekyo sharingan and with each use their eyesight would deteriorate further and further.

The teme would do the eye-transplant surgery but with his arm damaged as it was and his current state chakra-wise, she wondered when he would physically be able to do it. He wouldn't let his daughters do the jutsu on their selves just because he was afraid they might do it wrong or that they wouldn't have the proper chakra control for the jutsu, so their daughters would slowly be going blind until he could do the jutsu himself.

Naruto looked back at the teme and sighed. Despite her concerns for her daughters, baby, and husband, Naruto did need to rest. This bridge was as good a spot as any—sure they could spend a few hours trying to find some secluded part of the Trollshaw to hide in, but the bridge had an equal amount of risk and benefits as the forest. So even though the bridge was in the wide-open, it had the defensive benefit of acting like a bottle-neck should any Nazgûl try to creep up on them—of course the reverse was true for them, but Naruto had a score to settle with them, plus with how desperate the wraiths were to get "the One Ring" she figured they would be coming onto the bridge and not the other way around.

"Fine, Tinnu set up the seals," Naruto returned her attention to her husband and tried to get the mostly unconscious man to eat more. "Please eat more Teme," As if the teme heard her, he ate another spoonful but when she tried to coax him to eat more, he was back in a deeper sleep.

Naruto took a few steadying breaths and closed her eyes against her mounting worries and frustration. She had to be strong for them all, but it would be a lot easier to pretend all would be well if the teme would just wake up.

…

As Dawn kept watch with Pippin mid-way through the night, she found that she couldn't hear a single bug or animal out in the Trollshaw. Something was coming then, for why else would everything be silent?

Dawn licked her lips nervously and looked over to Frodo who was sleeping almost peacefully though he was being wary of his injured shoulder even in sleep. Dawn then tried to look into the distance, but as she did so she noted that her eyesight was not as good as it had been. It had troubled her all day, but she recalled her father discussing that there was a second and third level to their eyes, levels he hoped his daughters would never get, but should they, they would someday need eye surgery.

Why was that, she wondered. Dawn had gained her sharingan when that wolf had almost killed her all those years ago, and her sisters had unlocked their bloodline while fighting for their lives against the Nazgûl….then…then Minuial went down and Dawn thought she had killed Minuial because she shouldn't have agreed to come along or let them go. They all should have just stayed at home and waited for their parents and brother.

Dawn glanced over at her mother and brother. Kaasan was curled next to Tousan as Dusk rested on Tousan's stomach with Kaasan acting as a guardrail of sorts. If Dawn didn't know any better, she might have seen a happy family portrait there; a new family blossoming. Part of her was jealous at the thought, but if they didn't reach Rivendell soon, that happy family would be destroyed. Their whole family would be destroyed. Tousan and Minuial might die before they get there either from extensive chakra exhaustion or hunger.

Dawn pulled her knees up to her chest, this was her fault. She should have just said no, she should have been the older, responsible sister! Now Kaasan was facing the death of a child and her husband, but Kaasan didn't seem to let that possibility cross her mind. She was so…optimistic in that sense, so much stronger than Dawn was being—Kaasan wasn't letting her fears control her.

Dawn perked her head up when she heard the rustle of cloth though it was not Pippin who had moved. Her eyes then alighted upon Tinnu who had been acting much like Kaasan—she had been curled around her twin—but was now sitting up.

Dawn got up slowly and moved over to her younger sisters, "What is it Tinnu?"

"It's too quiet. I have a bad feeling about this."

"I know, I do too." Dawn looked around again. Was this the calm before the storm? Other than the steady flow of water passing underneath them, it was so silent. Not an owl hoot, or bug chirp to be heard.

"Girls?" Dawn and Tinnu turned quickly toward their mother who was slowly sitting up with Dusk curled to her chest.

"Kaasan?" Tinnu ventured nervously. Had Kaasan sensed the riders approaching? Was it something else? Why was she awake?

Kaasan stood up tiredly and walked a little ways from the group. She beckoned them over as she leaned against the railing. Pippin looked over at them nervously before he turned away and focused on the world around him.

"What is it Kaasan?" Dawn asked as she drew closer to her mother.

Kaasan smiled grimly before looking down at Dusk's head resting in her arms. "I can't sleep. Too many thoughts and I've never been good at thinking things out. Then I heard you girls talking." Kaasan shook her head, but at least that explained why she was up, and it wasn't for as dreadful a reason as they had feared.

Tinnu hopped onto the railing of the bridge and sat down next to where their mother leaned. Dawn moved to her mother's other side and leaned against her slightly. "What are you thinking about?"

"Too much," Kaasan sighed and shook her head again, "All this traveling isn't doing Dusk much good, I might be keeping the cold out but," she shook her head once more and bowed it. "Then your father isn't retaining any chakra, and your sister needs food and water but with her completely unconscious…"

So Kaasan was worried too, but she had kept it from them for the past two days. She shook her head again, as if to focus herself, "Girls, how good is your chakra control? Who has the most precise control?" she looked between them tiredly though there was urgency to her tone.

Dawn shifted slightly away from her mother. Why was she asking this?

"Dawn would," Tinnu stated for her sister, "She's the genjutsu expert."

Kaasan nodded her head and focused back on Dawn. What was she going to have to do? "Tousan said I am a little better than him with my chakra control, though I do have smaller reserves so it makes sense…" Dawn looked away uncomfortably as she trailed off. Kaasan grabbed her chin gently and made Dawn look at her. Her yellow eyes were soft and encouraging despite the deep bags forming under them.

"It isn't hard to have smaller reserves than us," there was as light laugh to her voice before she sobered, "But right now I need you to do a jutsu for your sister. Otherwise she won't make it to Rivendell."

Dawn swallowed thickly and nodded her head. "I'll do whatever I can, I'll do anything."

Kaasan nodded her head and smiled slightly. Her hand moved to cup Dawn's cheek for a moment, "I know Sweetie." Kaasan searched her eyes for a moment before speaking, "But you need to stop beating yourself up for what happened," Kaasan then turned to Tinnu, "Both of you."

She closed her eyes tightly again, and pinched the bridge of her nose as she continued to hold Dusk. "The thing is though, I know you girls wanted adventure, but…" Dawn heard the insecurity in her mother's voice, for it was tight as if she was close to crying. "Did we do something wrong? Was it really only just for adventure?"

Tinnu hopped off of the bridge railing and hugged her mother tightly. Dawn joined her sister. Was that what their parents had thought? That they had failed somehow in their parenting?

"Kaasan!" Tinnu warbled as she clutched at their mother, and Dawn felt tears coming to her eyes. Dawn wanted adventure, yes, but she also wanted to help Ojisan—but she couldn't say that because that would shift blame to him. No, it had been a selfish desire on her part, on her sisters' part, and look what it had cost them.

"You and Tousan did nothing, it was all us. We just wanted adventure, to help out!" Dawn rushed these words out; she couldn't let her mother stay in this suspense.

"Bree feels like a cage," Tinnu added as she pulled away slightly from her mother and looked down at her lap, "You've trained us to be kunoichi but there we're just…" she swallowed thickly "We're maidens expected to marry and have children. I refuse to accept that cage; I have skills to use but…" Tinnu bit her lip and looked away, ashamed. She was repeating herself, but perhaps that was how she reassured herself that her actions hadn't been needless.

"All of Middle Earth will feel like a cage, Tinnu," Kaasan stated as she moved her free hand to brush back some of Tinnu's hair. Tinnu looked up at their mother in surprise, "because here we aren't expected to be warriors and it is painful and lonely, I know. I know," Kaasan repeated and Dawn could hear and see the longing in and on her mother's voice and face. This was a longing for her parents' former home where she was a respected shinobi. "But you have your sisters, and someday you may find someone who will gladly spar with you and he might marry you." Like Tousan and Kaasan, Dawn thought as she turned to where their father continued to sleep. If he passed…Kaasan would be devastated. She would be alone in their world, with no one to respect her for the warrior she is.

Tinnu sighed as she looked down at the stone bridge, "It doesn't feel like it with the Bree boys."

"I know, Sweetheart," Kaasan sighed with her and looked away, "And as your father would say, you two have my hero complex," she laughed wryly and shook her head. "Though I'd say you also have your father's rebellious nature," there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes, but it was bittersweet for she cast her gaze toward Tousan and the glimmer was replaced with worry.

"You know, he would want to exchange your eyes amongst you three right away, but…he won't be able to until he can use his hand again." Kaasan shook her head and looked between them with a hard look on her face.

"Girls, you two know you've unlocked the mangekyo sharingan, and you've probably noticed you can't see as well as you had before, right?" they nodded slowly before Kaasan continued speaking, "Every time you activate that level of the sharingan, and especially any time you use the techniques associated with it, your eyesight will deteriorate further and further. So until your father can do the eye transplant for you three, you must not use that level of sharingan unless in the most extreme emergency and you have a chance to recuperate."

Dawn furrowed her brow for a moment in confusion until she understood what her mother was saying about a chance to recuperate, "Because it's taxing on our reserves…" she murmured and Kaasan nodded her head grimly.

"Exactly. Granted your Tousan has the reserves he has today because he used chakra intensive jutsu, one after another, until he passed out, but I don't want you girls acting like him until you have the eye transplant."

Dawn was slightly taken aback by this side of her mother. Often it was father making such demands and acting so concerned. Yet then, Tousan was unconscious and it seemed Kaasan was assuming his role. This was not to say that their mother had never been overly protective and serious with them, but this lecture seemed like one Tousan would give. It felt strange and almost wrong to see her mother acting this way. But then, her mother had once been a leader, had once lead assaults and she could be deadly serious, Dawn supposed—they had just never had need for her to assume that role until now.

"Yes, Kaasan," Dawn and Tinnu responded obediently.

"Will you teach me this jutsu you want me to use on Minuial?" Dawn asked after a short pause and Kaasan looked over at her with a grim smile.

"Of course," Naruto did her best to smile. She still had her concerns, but it had been good to talk about them, though she wished she could have confided with the teme—their daughters didn't need to know she was just as worried as they were.

Of course…Kurama had begun to stir, along with that ring. That ring was beginning to seep out energy in pulsing waves that at times made Naruto feel like she was choking. Kurama's chakra just roiled inside of her, and in her mind's eye Naruto could imagine he was pacing back and forth biding his time. She wouldn't see if that was actually the case, though, lest a mental conference incite the sadistic bastard. She was taking the bastard fox's silence as a blessing and would not provoke him—because then the fox would say awful things about what it had done in her clone's body, and that they were all going to die very graphic deaths.

That was another reason why she couldn't sleep; she was being fed images of what the Kurama possessed clones had done. It was almost as if the fox wanted her to be exhausted as the Nazgûl approached.

Speaking of them…the four to the east were spread out in some sort of formation. If they were in the Elemental Lands she might say they had a trap or were setting up a barrier even, but here she had no idea what they were planning, and that is what terrified her the most.

Then there were the three Nazgûl to the south catching up to Aragorn and Gandalf, who were themselves not far behind their company. It was like Shadowfax had picked up its pace—despite having two riders—with the wraiths getting closer and closer to it. Naruto wagered a guess that the Nazgûl to the west had found new mounts, perhaps in the various farmlands out that way, and had driven the poor creatures mad to run like they were now; after all, they were probably plow horses not war horses.

With these thoughts swirling in her mind she looked toward Dawn practicing the jutsu on the air. That was another worry of Naruto's, she knew the precise amount of chakra needed for when she performed the jutsu, but she couldn't translate that to her daughter. It was only because Naruto's chakra control was not precise enough that she was letting Dawn do the jutsu in the hopes that Dawn would complete the jutsu without frying Minuial. For the most part, it looked like she was circulating the correct amount of chakra, but it had to be exact and precise in a way that Naruto had never fully grasped, yet Naruto was sure if she had just invested more time in medical techniques and illusions, she would have understood these nuances. Hence why she hoped her little genjutsu mistress would be able to perform the jutsu with better effect.

They could hope for the best but…no, Naruto had to believe all would turn out right. She had to, and then she would try to get more sleep. She just had to believe everything would turn out well.

3017 October, 12

Naruto continued to carry the hobbits toward Rivendell. Sure they were slightly ashamed to have to be carried on her clones' backs, but it was far faster than they would have been otherwise traveling. They also were more afraid of the Nazgûl than they were ashamed, which helped Naruto's efforts. The girls acted as look-outs of sorts and flanked the group of clones and Naruto.

Since they broke camp the day before, they had stopped several times for Dusk and their injured. She had gotten the teme to eat a little more and drink some more from a water skin as well. Naruto had overseen Dawn conduct the nutrients transfusion jutsu, and from what Naruto recalled from Sakura-chan's lesson, Dawn had done the jutsu correctly, though the girl was fatigued afterwards.

Naruto had also been keeping a close sense of where the Nazgûl were and she knew Aragorn and Gandalf were not far from them now. If they delayed much longer they would all be in one big group again, but then the other three Nazgûl would be there too.

They were nearly to the Ford, perhaps a half day away with the way they had to keep stopping for Dusk, which could mean they may yet encounter the ranger and the wizard.

As Naruto looked from each of their injured party members, she wished they could move faster. Frodo was holding up surprisingly well considering he was basically being poisoned from a wound frighteningly close to his heart, but it was only a matter of time before the poison overcame him completely. Minuial's chakra continued to pool little by little but she had not woken up yet, and the Teme was still falling in and out of consciousness while his reserves refused to build back up.

For someone with as much chakra as the teme had, this could be permanently damaging. His chakra pathways were probably already shrinking from the scant amount of chakra circulating through his body—if too much chakra suddenly went through his pathways again, there could be extensive chakra burns and his tenketsu points could be permanently damaged. Naruto knew this very well, for if Kurama hadn't healed Naruto after she took on a lot of its chakra, she wouldn't have been able to remain a ninja due to the extensive damage done to her chakra pathways.

What was she supposed to do? They weren't traveling fast enough, and they were being pinned in by the wraiths. Clearly killing them was possible but it came at such a steep cost, so killing them while she had family to protect was out of the question. Her clones would disperse the moment they touched the Nazgûl, so diversion was seemingly out. She could run, but there was the possibility that they would follow their company…

That damn ring was practically sending off energy like a beacon and the closer they got to Rivendell the stronger it became, like the ring was desperate. Though maybe it wasn't just the ring giving off this energy beacon—there was a pinprick of foul chakra in Frodo, but it wasn't like the ring, it was different, but together these energies were sending out some sort of homing signal.

Damn it! What was she supposed to do?! She felt like she was being spread too thin. She had her children and husband to worry about, and then there were the hobbits who carried that stupid ring which practically held Middle-Earth at ransom! Where did her obligations lie? To all of Middle Earth or her family? Was she selfish to choose the latter? But then setting Frodo as a priority would ensure her family would be safe by proxy. But then Dusk…he was getting sick, she could just tell. He was growing pale and was crying more and more even when he wasn't hungry or needed changing—and it wasn't colic either, the twins had been colicky and Naruto was damn sure she'd recognize the symptoms.

She needed the teme to wake up and be the one to protect their family while she did what her morals told her to, but he couldn't and she had to make this choice. She couldn't balance them both equally, even with her clones. This wasn't Konoha, she didn't have an obligation to set aside her personal business for the safety of this world, she could be selfish! But was it even selfish? Naruto had never had a family before…was it selfish to prioritize them over the safety of millions?

"Stop!" she ordered her clones as she stopped in the middle of the path and closed her eyes tightly. She didn't want to make this choice! Naruto shook her head and took deep calming breaths before she began to sense the world around her. She needed information.

Those four Nazgûl continued to wait up ahead, but a new energy was approaching them fast. The new energy wasn't foul and it wasn't all that powerful either, yet at the same time…somehow it felt old, but it didn't feel like Tom Bombadil or Goldberry old. It was just different and confusing. Then there was Gandalf and Aragorn approaching fast with three more Nazgûl close on their heels.

"Kaasan?" Dawn began softly, slowly approaching Naruto.

"Quiet!" she snapped, she had to think. She didn't know if this new energy was friend or foe, and Naruto was now more certain than ever that the Nazgûl had created some sort of trap. She looked to the clones carrying Minuial and her teme before she looked to her conscious daughters. They looked alarmed, but more than that they looked hurt and remorseful.

"Dawn, you'll take your brother, Tinnu your sister. I'll carry your father," Naruto began to remove the carrier from her chest as Dawn came over toward her.

Dawn's brow was furrowed and Naruto could practically hear the question she wasn't asking out loud. Tinnu shared her sister's confusion with the situation but nonetheless accepted Minuial from the clone carrying her. The hobbits stared and likely would have begun asking questions if they weren't still trying to regain their bearings from the abrupt stop.

Naruto took the teme from her clone before she spoke again and consequently answered the question her daughters were almost afraid to ask, and the hobbits were too motion sick to ask, "You two scout ahead, one several yards farther back and in the trees." The clones nodded and hurried off to comply.

Naruto took the teme for two reasons: one, he was the heaviest and their daughters were becoming tired; and two, if Naruto needed to fight, she felt better about the teme possibly getting in the crossfire than her children. She hoped it would not come down to that bit if it should, she could protect him and maybe he might even wake up. She wouldn't risk her babies though, and though it scared the shit out of her that she was even thinking of letting the teme get close to danger when he was comatose, she had to think of her children. She could make clones to carry the teme, but she didn't know what the Nazgûl had in store.

Naruto turned to look toward the terrified hobbits shifting their white knuckled grips on her clones' clothes. "Arad, Ma'am?" Sam began peeking over at her fearfully, he seemed to find his voice.

For the most part, the hobbits had been silent during their travels due to the great speeds they usually traveled at, which was both a blessing and a curse—for though Naruto did not want to discuss all that had happened, their inane chatter would have been a nice distraction from her thoughts.

"There are Nazgûl ahead of us and more behind us. Those two are going to see what they are planning." The hobbits looked into the direction the clones had gone with doubtful looks.

"And what of the riders behind us?" Frodo asked breathily. The poison was growing stronger each passing day it seemed even though he was still holding strong.

"Gandalf and Mr. Ranger are behind us too," could she leave the hobbits in their care with the four clones acting as body guards of sorts? It wouldn't do any good to make more clones and disguise them as the party due to the energy beacon coming off of Frodo.

Damn it! She wanted to be there to help the hobbits but she couldn't just-just abandon her family! Clones might not be enough in either case!

"Kaasan, go with the hobbits, we'll make for Rivendell if you'll give us a guide," Dawn's words brought Naruto's thoughts to a screeching halt and she slowly turned around to face her daughter. Naruto knew she must have paled, for it felt like her blood had gone cold. Had Dawn ever fully forgiven Naruto for leaving when she was child? Wouldn't this be similar to back then? She was making a choice for something else over her family. Hadn't Naruto promised herself she would never do that again?

"Your uncle isn't far behind, he and gramps will make sure the hobbits get to Rivendell safely." Even though the situation was so different, she couldn't abandon her daughters again, she couldn't put something above her family like she had all those years ago. Her obligations were to them now, they were her priority. With that sorted out, she made a cross sign and created two more clones to guard the hobbits as she took her family through the Trollshaw in the direction of Rivendell, the other four clones would continue to carry the hobbits. .

"Tinnu could you stock the clones with some low-grade explosive tags?"

Tinnu nodded though Dawn looked like she was about to protest, "Your safety is my first priority," Naruto stated, her voice was thick and it was still conflicting to think of being selfish in this way.

Dawn looked taken aback but she eventually nodded and hugged her brother, who was staring out the world with glossy eyes—so he did indeed have a fever. "Look," Naruto began as Tinnu sifted through the pack stored within their storage scroll, "Once you all are safely in Rivendell I will come back for the hobbits. But you have to make sure their healer looks at your father, he can't remain like this!"

"Yes Kaasan," Dawn nodded her head stiffly, just as Tinnu handed the clones the low-grade tags.

Naruto turned to the two new clones, "One of you go to Ranger-san and explain the situation as best as you know it to be. One of the clones scouting on the Nazgûl should disperse once they know what they are planning." One of the clones nodded to her orders, "you will also try to buy time by throwing concussive tags at the Nazgûl," At this Tinnu began to fish around for those tags as well.

Naruto then turned to the other five clones, "After a half hour you will begin running half speed toward Rivendell, by then Ranger-san and gramps should be caught up to you. Depending on what the scouts learn when they disperse, you will act accordingly." The clones nodded and Naruto turned to the hobbits.

"Do you know anything that will keep you safe from the Nazgûl should a confrontation begin?"

Pippin and Sam looked terrified at the prospect but both Merry and Frodo nodded their heads with some conviction.

"Fire, Strider said to build a big fire when they came that last time," Merry answered, though there was a slight tremor in his voice that belied his confidence.

"Good, then if you come across the Nazgûl, I want all of you but Mr. Frodo to make torches. Mr. Frodo, your clone will take you to Rivendell bypassing the wraiths as best it can." The hobbits fidgeted about but otherwise did not disagree with her course of action.

However, as Naruto turned toward her girls, Sam spoke up, "Arad, ma'am! Couldn't we just go the same way you're going?"

Naruto looked off into the Trollshaw before turning back to Sam, "You four can barely hold on when we're just running on the road, in there," she jerked her head to the forest, "we'll be traveling in the trees, which means you would need to keep your head low or…" Naruto rolled her hand and the hobbits collectively swallowed as they began to shake their heads. "Not to mention I don't know what obstacles are out there. For all I know, I might have to pass over part of a mount, and run across a river, which I know most hobbits aren't comfortable being around."

"Alright ma'am!" Sam cried in discomfort, "I'd rather stay close to ground than go where you are planning." Pippin nodded his head faintly in agreement to Sam's words.

"If you should reach Rivendell before us," Frodo began, "will you come back?"

"Yes, though that old man is a lot more than he seems and you'll be in good hands with him." Frodo nodded his head and relief did show in his eyes. "If you have no more concerns, then we're off, though I wouldn't stray too far from your clones." Naruto called over her shoulder and received affirmative nods before she left with her daughters.

They moved quickly up into the boughs of the ancient trees and jumped from one tree branch to the next. The teme was breathing against her neck as she leaned forward, to increase her aerodynamics. The girls were not as fluid as Naruto was in the trees, but they had not grown up with a vast forest surrounding them—the chetwood could not compare to the forests Hi no Kuni. Regardless of inexperience, the girls moved carefully yet swiftly.

Naruto did her best to focus on the pulsating valley so close yet not close enough to ensure everyone's safety. She glanced over her shoulder at her girls, they were moving as fast as they could while keeping their charges safe. Naruto couldn't ask them to move more quickly, not without risking her babies. Biting her lip, Naruto shifted her husband's weight and continued onwards.

….

Clone B watched Clone A move closer and closer toward the foul Nazgûl up ahead. B stayed up in the trees several yards back as instructed. It watched its fellow clone carefully. What did the Nazgûl have in store for the company, why were they lined up by the Bruinen.

B kept these thoughts in mind as it paused in a tree bough just far enough away to watch as A came upon the waiting wraiths. They shrieked, but each of their swords were drawn and stuck slightly into the ground. They continued to screech, yet for a moment B thought they were screeching in a specific pattern, like they were chanting or something.

B stopped its ears against the assault as it watched A suddenly stop moving forward. A didn't disperse but just stood there, and then B felt it. B hadn't noticed before, but beneath the Nazgûls' foul energy was energy slowly seeping out. B supposed the distances from before had skewed the original's senses, but B could feel it clearly now. It was like a coating of their foul energy, which like a genjutsu wrapped around A. The energy did not spread out much farther than where A stood frozen, perhaps it was the farthest they could make it go, but regardless, B's stomach dropped.

Suddenly that old energy across the Bruinen flared and B's gaze was drawn away from its fellow clone to peer behind the cloaked wraiths. A fair looking creature with blonde hair stood on the other end, with a horse beside it. The creature's lips were moving fervently and its body was shaking with some sort of effort. From this distance B could not determine the sex of the creature, but something told it that the blonde creature was not human—perhaps it was an elf, that might explain its old energy.

The volume of the Nazgûls' cries rose, as if in response to the creature across the Ford. A suddenly crumpled down to the ground, clutching at its head, and B could sense the Nazgûls' woven energy was fading slightly from A. B watch helplessly as its fellow clone was practically being tugged at by the foul energies and the old energy battling the foul energy. B would neither move any closer nor farther away from A lest B either fall under the Nazgûl control or A under their control move to attack the company.

So B remained in the trees, ears stopped, as it felt this bizarre battle of wills take place.

…

Aragorn had been uncomfortable from the start. Gandalf had found him not long after Arad and the rest of the company left. He had his reservations about handing the company over to the usually cheerful blonde, but then Aragorn reminded himself of how catastrophically he had failed them all. Frodo had been stabbed by a Morgûl blade, and Minuial was quite possibly dead because she had killed a Nazgûl. Killed!

Aragorn hadn't thought it possible before, perhaps because he knew of Glofrindel's prophecy about the Witch King of Angmar. No living man could kill him, and it was believed his subordinate wraiths were much like him, but Minuial…she had killed one of them, and it was likely going to kill her.

Gandalf had tried to talk to him, particularly about Minuial and his friends, but Aragorn couldn't. He knew Gandalf did not wish for Frodo or any of the other hobbits to become anymore involved in the war than they already war, yet somehow Aragorn doubted the wizard understood Aragorn felt those same sentiments for Sasuke and his family. Eventually Gandalf understood that Aragorn did not want to talk about what happened, or hear about how it was not his fault Frodo had been stabbed or his niece…

He should have known his nieces were there! Frodo had sensed them, Aragorn had too, or at least he had sensed someone following them, watching them. He had thought it was something nefarious but… He just should have known. And then at Weathertop! Aragorn should have looked around first instead of climbing to the top with Merry and Frodo. He should have looked for footprints; he should have done so much differently.

And now they were running from the Nazgûl, with him as a burden on Shadowfax; though Aragorn still wondered how it happened that Gandalf could be riding the Lord of the Mearas, a seemingly untamable horse.

For the last day, at least, they could hear the shrieks of the wraiths coming closer and closer toward tem, though Aragorn questioned how they could have caught up so quickly, he learned soon enough that they had found mounts in the scattered farmlands outside of Bree. But the poor beasts were plow horses, farm hands, not horses meant for such long hard rides. And the Nazgûl were riding them hard. The creatures were practically mad and foaming at the mouths as their riders drove them onward faster and faster.

Aragorn looked forward again; they had entered the Trollshaw sometime during the night and were now nearly a half days ride from the Ford. Shadowfax was slick with sweat, and steam rose off the great horse up into the cold of the autumn air. Aragorn just hoped Shadowfax would make it to the Ford before the wraiths caught up. He had been galloping for a full day already, which made Aragorn fear Shadowfax might not make it if he did not get a reprieve.

As he was looking forward, Aragorn thought for a moment he had seen a flicker of movement on the road up ahead. It was a flicker much like his nieces made when they ran around the chetwood. Then there were two more flickers, then another set, and another—each time closer than the last. That was when things changed.

Aragorn could not describe the feeling for the life of him. But suddenly he was nearly ten yards farther ahead than he had been and suddenly there was the most terrible boom he had ever heard. It was louder than any thunder crash and it shook the earth beneath Shadowfax. After the boom, the world turned into a high pitched ringing, but it all happened seemingly instantaneously.

Shadowfax had gone up on his hind legs and in their disorientation both Gandalf and Aragorn fell off the horse. Aragorn managed to catch himself, but Shadowfax continued to rear up in the strange frightening silence.

Aragorn's attention came away from the frightened horse at a flicker of color. Arad, or perhaps one of her copies, was standing next to him. It made a beckoning motion before shaking its head and making a cross with its hands. Another copy appeared and the original handed the copy slips of paper Aragorn had witnessed level a cave! His eyes widened and he began to shake his head, but in the strange silence surrounding him, he could not communicate with her or it.

Clone 1 was getting quite frustrated with the old man and the ranger. Their horse was freaking out and neither of them were catching its message that they needed to move on. So 1 decided to create a clone with what little chakra it had left. Clone 2 had used kawrimi with the horse and its two riders. The poor clone had barely enough chakra left to even activate the concussive exploding tags it had. Now the wizard and ranger were basically ignoring 2's sacrifice!

1 motioned for its clone to start setting up a trap, despite Aragorn's attempts to protest. 1 glared at him and then pointed with its finger down the road. They needed to leave, they had to leave and meet up with the hobbits. The old man was still trying to regain his equilibrium from when he had fallen off the horse and the deafness caused by the explosion. 1 could see his lips moving but with its hearing impaired it didn't know what the wizard was muttering. Though suddenly, the ringing left 1 and it could hear the Nazgûl shrieking off in the distance.

"What was that?!" the old man asked in a slightly too loud voice as he tried to get accustomed to hearing again. He moved over to Shadowfax, who was slightly calmer now, and he began to stroke the silvery horse's mane.

"Sound blast."

"Sound?!" Aragorn exclaimed in disbelief before looking behind him and likely noticing the rising cloud of dust.

"It's buying you all some time," 1 replied curtly before pointing back down the road. "You two need to catch up with the hobbits. They will be heading toward the Ford soon, and there are four Nazgûl waiting. Boss sent two of the first-wave to scout ahead, and then she made us two to catch up with you two and buy you all time. But we don't know what's happening to the first-wave, they're still there, but what's going on we're not sure."

Gandalf, who had been muttering to the horse, stopped and looked at 1 gravely while Aragorn unknowingly mimicked the old man's expression.

"Where is Arad in all of this?" Aragorn asked urgently and with his gaze narrowed.

"Four clones are with the hobbits so you can settle down," 1 snapped, it could practically see what the ranger was thinking. He was probably wondering why the boss had left the hobbits alone when danger was all around them, "And the boss is on her way with her family to Rivendell. The teme might die if he doesn't get help soon, so—" 1 would have continued but for two things: one, the Nazgûl shrieked again, slightly closer now; and two, Aragorn looked properly chastised, though Naruto had exaggerated slightly.

"Then we have no time to waste," Gandalf called and mounted Shadowfax. He held out his hand to Arargorn who climbed onto the horse as well.

"You two go ahead, I'll buy you more time," 1 stated, and with that said the two galloped off as 1 and its clone waited for the wraiths to walk right into their concussive trap.

…

B could feel the old energy waning and the foul energy growing stronger around A. B had felt the slight tremors from when some concussive exploding tags had gone off, and B wondered if the boss had created more clones and sent them to act as a diversion. Surely any clones that had done that would have substituted first with Aragorn and the old man lest they get caught in the explosion. That was a downside to creating more clones outside of the first wave, only the clones within the wave have the memory link.

B looked up suddenly; the old energy had died down from the others and A had turned around. When B looked at its fellow clone…its eyes were vacant, they weren't gold like the boss's, they were cloudy.

A stepped toward the direction of the hobbits carefully, and then it took another step. B couldn't feel any of their energy within the clone anymore; it was all that foul energy had taken over…

B dropped down from the tree and withdrew a kunai. The wraiths shrieked and A charged. So the Nazgûl had found a way to take over the clones? Had Kurama told it? B quickly made a clone with orders to relay information back to the company lest B fall and A did not.

A started to diverge off its charge from B and began moving toward B's clone. B raced forward and intercepted the attack. Kunai clashed and A jumped backward. Its vacant expression was frightening but B had to be better than its fellow clone. They both didn't have too much chakra going for them with all the time they had been running, which could be a point in either of their advantages.

B licked its lips and charged. One hit and their battle would be over. One hit and one of them would disperse. B just had to be the better clone or…well…B didn't want to think about the consequences of what should happen if A got past it.

…

Aragorn looked ahead of him, doing his best to ignore the ever approaching cries of the Nazgûl. They had placed at least ten more yards between them, but it seemed the wraiths had managed to calm their mounts and proceed on. Both Gandalf and Aragorn wanted to be as far away as possible for when the next concussive blast happened, but it seemed as if the forest went on and on.

Though as they moved forward, he kept his eyes open for signs of the hobbit company. He hoped slightly that they might have begun traveling in the woods now that they did not have Arad's protection, but then they had four copies of the blonde woman with them too.

Several more yards passed when Aragorn noticed some bushes had been hacked at and based on the jagged crude cuts, a dagger cut the bushes. Had the hobbits done this? But for what?

Several more tense minutes passed with Shadowfax galloping as quickly as he could. They were coming around a bend in the road when, beneath the pounding of the horse's hooves, Aragorn could have sworn he heard the clear voices of Pippin and Sam. However when the road straightened out before them, there was no one.

"Slow down," Aragorn stated as he looked up into the trees for any flickering shadows, a sign that always told him his friends were up in the trees. And there it was. Aragorn got off of Shadowfax as the horse slowed to a trot.

"You can come out." Not a second later did four copies of Arad land in a crouch on the road, each with its own hobbit on its back. "Have you heard from the scouts up ahead?"

"Not yet," one copy stated, "Who used the concussive seal?"

"One of the copies Arad sent to contact us," Aragorn responded curtly, "and if we don't continue there will be another deafening blast," Aragorn shifted slightly as he glanced backwards. It had been disorienting and uncomfortable to be without his hearing and he did not want to undergo that again.

"Then we hurry on," Frodo panted from behind a copy.

Aragorn turned back to Shadowfax sighed and sighed as he was helped back onto the horse. With little else said they continued to rush forward, but not a minute later another Arad copy came racing toward them with wide, almost fearful eyes.

"Stop!" it screamed, and they all complied. "The Nazgûl have a trap set up and if any of us," it gestured amongst the copies, "gets too close, they control us!"

"And the wraiths block the Ford, yes?" Gandalf asked sternly. The copy just nodded and the hobbits looked amongst themselves fearfully. "Their trap cannot extend too far," Gandalf stated after a slight pause.

"It doesn't just a few yards in radius, but I would make a wide berth from it," the copy replied.

Gandalf nodded to himself and looked at the Arad copy carrying Frodo, "You will pass around the Ford. There are riders behind us but it is possible that we might trap them in the ford. Lord Elrond commands those waters and should they step food in them, they will be treated forcefully."

The addressed copy nodded its head, "So Frodo will then wait on the other side so they will have no choice but to move into the Ford?" the copy asked for clarification, and though Sam began to protest, a look from Frodo silenced the stout hobbit.

"Then should we come up from behind them with these lit?" Merry asked as he patted the bush branches they must have cut off.

"Sounds like a plan," one copy stated, "we'll help you all hide close to the Ford, then when all seven of them are together, we drive them into the water."

Plan established Frodo and the copy he was carried by began to run. Aragorn and the others followed not long after.

…

They had been running along the surface of the Bruinen for some time now. But perhaps ten or so minutes before they had reached the river, Naruto had been assaulted by the memories of the one clone she made to check on gramps and Ranger-san, and its clone. Not a second after receiving the memories of them setting up a trap for the Nazgûl and doing their best to deter the riders before they got caught in the explosion, did Naruto hear the explosion and feel the earth shake beneath her. With the rising cloud of smoke and dust in the distances, she had to force herself to keep going. They riders would still be a good ways off from the Ford, and Naruto needed to get her family to safety.

So for the next half hour, she made herself move away from the danger, move away from the seemingly defenseless hobbits, and she had to convince her daughters to keep moving forward too. They came first, they came first!

So she focused on their running across the water of the Bruinen, for without the hobbits, they had been able to move more quickly and by less hobbit-friendly paths. They basically ran as the crow flies, though running across the roaring river was more difficult than it might have appeared, for the waters were more like rapids in sections and they surged beneath their feet. Naruto held tightly onto her husband, and every few seconds she cast her gaze backwards anxiously. She had received the memories of one of her clones substituting with Aragorn, Gandalf, and their horse before it sent several concussive seal as at the wraiths, which the clone barely even had enough chakra left to activate.

Her other clones she still hadn't heard back from, but as she felt the world around her, she quickly discovered that two of her clones, the clones she had sent to scout ahead, were fighting. She also could sense that the old man and ranger had caught back up with the others, but what they were planning, Naruto wasn't sure of yet. Unfortunately the Nazgûl behind the company had regained their bearings and were pursing the company again with fervor.

As for Naruto and her daughters, they were steadily coming upon the mouth of a valley. Mists began to spread over them from the waterfall at the back of the valley. Part of her was briefly reminded of the Valley of the End, but as they moved further into the valley she spotted buildings amidst the coiling water vapors. They were stunning! There was something organic yet not about the ornate terraces and balconies. Beautiful decorative trees broke up the stone courtyards and added a touch of softness to the stone. Then there were the trees surrounding the structure. It was…it was so beautiful and welcoming.

Naruto jumped off of the Burinen with her daughters close behind her. There were many faces peering out at them from the various terraces and arched windows, but Naruto could not frankly care less. They were safe! She could feel it in the way the natural energy of this place wrapped around her protectively, invitingly.

Naruto landed on what was clearly an entry path with sentinels guarding the way. Her daughters were right behind her.

"We seek healing and asylum," Dawn stated before Naruto could find her voice, her relief at finally reaching Rivendell—for what else could this place be?—had made her forget she had a voice.

"Our party is divided and the others in it will need healing too," Tinnu added onto her sister and Naruto wondered what exactly they had said.

The sentinels were staring at them in shock, either because of their ability to run on water or that Naruto's girls could speak the elvish language. However before the sentinels could react to whatever Dawn and Tinnu had said, a man came walking down the stairs leading to this pathway.

Naruto could feel his energy like soft glowing fire; it was natural and old, but not necessarily overwhelming like Gandalf's energy. The man's eyes told her he was much older than he appeared, much like Gandalf was, but based on his features he could not be more than mid-thirties or forties. His hair was inordinately long, dark hair, and his robes were made of some fine material the teme could probably identify.

"From what do you seek asylum?" this ancient yet visually young male asked, and it dawned on Naruto that this must be what elves looked like, and she had a strong feeling he was their leader, either militaristically speaking or whatever other form of leadership existed—Naruto still didn't fully understand the various leadership systems, and since most of the Middle-Earth countries Naruto was familiar with were not militaristic, she wasn't sure what leaders were called here.

"The Nazgûl," Naruto answered quickly, "My husband and daughter have been injured by them," she would not divulge more information than she needed to about how exactly they came to be injured by them, particularly if it would divulge Konoha secrets, "and if my husband doesn't get healing soon I…" Naruto's words faltered. She didn't want to alarm her daughters any more than they already were, but this fear tugged at her—what if this prolonged exhaustion killed him?

"He needs healing," Naruto repeated and directed an imploring look at the elf leader.

"How did he sustain his injury?" the elf-man asked as he walked closer to where Naruto stood with the teme draped over her back. He held one hand out toward the teme's bandaged arm, as if feeling the air.

Naruto remained silent for a moment before she spoke again, "He shoved his fist into one."

The elf-man retracted his hand slightly and the girls looked over at them cautiously—Naruto could see that one of their hands had twitched toward their respective kunai pouches.

"And your daughter?" elf-man asked as he tilted his head slightly and looked at the air around Minuial.

Naruto's gaze narrowed slightly, and she was acutely aware of the sentinels watching them as well as the various faces sticking out from the windows and terraces above them. A few elves, and what looked like hairy hobbits had ventured to the top of the stairs. She wasn't sure how good the rest of their hearing was or if anyone could read lips, so she was not sure if she should even respond. What if there were eaves-droppers and they began to spread the word that Minuial had killed a Nazgûl? She just wanted her family to be safe again.

As Naruto debated whether or not speak up, Tinnu and Dawn were being observed intently by the elf-man-leader. Tinnu shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny and she swallowed thickly while Naruto continued to deliberate with herself. Then Tinnu broke under the elf-man's gaze.

"She killed a Nazgûl, and hasn't woken up!" Tinnu burst out, and her voice broke in the middle as she nearly began crying. Her words echoed against the nearest valley wall but the echo was muffled by the roar of the distant waterfall. She continued speaking quickly with a trembling, shrill, pleading voice, "Uncle said its will nearly destroyed hers! Please, heal her!"

Naruto gazed over at her daughter, she had heard the word Nazgûl, did she confess? Dawn was also staring at her sister, but her expression was stony and looked guilty. Had Tinnu said what Minuial had done? Perhaps, perhaps not, but regardless, Naruto could see the fear in her daughter's eyes—fear for her sister's life topped upon all the frustration of what they had, seemingly, gone through needlessly.

Naruto saw the surprise on the elves' faces on the stair above them, and her stomach sank. Was it truly then the case that Tinnu had practically screamed what Minuial had done? Part of Naruto wanted to act like the teme and threaten the bystanders all into silence, but before she could act, the elf-man-leader beckoned them to follow him.

Naruto's fists clutched tightly into the teme's breeches as they walked quickly through the parting crowds on the stair and then in the hall. She heard the elves speaking in their tongue and the more the elves spoke the darker Dawn's expression became and the more worried Tinnu looked. The hairy-hobbits wearing chain-mail kept glaring up at the elves and demanding them to speak so they could all understand, but Naruto didn't want that to happen. Her stomach knotted uncomfortably and she watched countless eyes regard her family, Minuial in particular, calculatively, and those who did not know what Tinnu had said stared at her husband.

Damn it! Tinnu did say it, didn't she!? Switching into Japanese, Naruto looked sharply at Tinnu "Did you tell them?" she snapped, far more coldly than she had intended.

"Kaasan," Tinnu replied in a trembling voice, but the guilt rang clear in her voice and on her face.

"Tinnu!" Naruto couldn't find words for her anger, fear, and frustration. But the girl still looked away ashamed as she held onto her twin tightly. Dawn remained staring ahead of her, as she tried to remain stoic, but the regret and shame was clear on her face too.

As they moved further and further into the ornate structure built out from the valley walls, the crowds began to thin and Naruto could control her anger better, "Tell the elf-leader we don't want word of what Minuial has done to spread any more than it has." She could just as easily ask this but there were hairy-hobbits following after them in hopes of eavesdropping a conversation they could understand.

Tinnu was in no condition to speak so Dawn spoke up for them, and in that strange language, she caught the man's attention, "Excuse me uh…?" her tone was questing for information.

The elf-leader looked over his shoulder at Dawn, "I am Lord Elrond. Ruler of Imladris, the last homely house in the west." So he was a leader, a lord by title—good to know—though why did he choose to respond in the common tongue?

"Lord Elrond, my mother wished to ask that the word of my sister's feats would not spread any more than already has?" Dawn's voice was low and she looked at the various elves watching them with slight suspicion. She too must have noted the few hairy-hobbits following, for she continued speaking that weird language. Naruto also imagined Dawn could understand what elves were whispering and that what they were whispering was not in Naruto's favor for keeping her daughters out of future conflict.

"To repress discourse will only create more, and consequently affirm the validity of what is wished to be repressed. At present, those who did not directly hear believe it as a weak rumor," Lord Elrond stated calmly and in an equally low voice.

They were hurrying down a terrace-like-corridor in a more secluded section of the "homely house." The elf lord then held open a door for them, and based on the practically sterile conditions of the room, Naruto imagined it was the sick-bay of sorts.

"Your daughter may rest here," he gestured into the room, and Tinnu hurried to set her sister down upon the bed. "I will have one of the healers steep athelas. For now though, it seems she needs rest, at least while your husband is in as critical a condition as he appears."

Naruto jerked her head to the elf lord and the girls looked at their father fearfully. She may have implied it was dire, but the elf lord wasn't being indulgent; it sounded as if he knew just how bad the teme's condition was. "I-I never….?"

"All of you have a very peculiar energy and only the injured and sick of your family have strange fluctuations in it. He hardly has any energy in him, and it is draining out of that injured arm, the arm I am assuming was stuck into a Nazgûl?"

Naruto nodded weakly in response while the girls gasped in horror. "Tousan hasn't been regaining chakra?!" Tinnu looked ready to cry as she asked this, and Naruto wondered if it would have been better to be up front about their father's condition rather than them finding out now.

At her sister's words, Dawn nearly fell against the wall as she hugged her baby brother, who was far too quiet. "But his chakra pathways?" she asked weakly.

All Naruto could do was nod and the elf lord began to gesture to the door. The girls were about to follow her, but she shot them a look, "Watch your siblings."

Naruto followed the elf lord out of the room, well aware of the various middle-earthlings trying to watch them from the ends of the terrace. They quickly moved into another room and again the elf lord held the door open for Naruto. Once in the room she set the teme onto the bed and turned to face the elf lord. She didn't want to leave the teme, would he make her leave him? She wanted to make sure he'd be fine before she went back out there.

"Your daughters spoke of a company, and that there were injured amongst them too? Is this company one which left from Bree with four hobbits and a ranger?"

"Yes," Naruto replied stiffly, "And now an old Is-something is with them too."

The elf lord perked up at this and raised on eye-brow as he moved over to the teme's right side. "Gandalf is with the company now?" he asked, a slight edge of relief in his voice. He picked up the teme's arm and examined it for a moment.

"Yes," Naruto responded calmly as she watched the elf wave his arm over the teme's arm like a medic running a diagnostic jutsu but without the green chakra.

"And your daughters mentioned that their uncle was in the company," the far too casual way the elf said this tipped Naruto off to the fact that the lord seemed invested in the answer and possibly even knew the answer already but part of him hoped it was not so.

"They did?" she asked just as casually. Naruto had heard Tinnu say uncle in the elvish language, for though they preferred to call Ranger-san by Ojisan, they called him uncle in other languages too. "Well his brother is dead and I am an only child." Naruto paused for a moment, "Perhaps you heard wrong, Lord Elrond."

The elf's lips quirked up slightly, though he did not take offense. "My ears seldom deceive me, though perhaps this relation is not biological, for clearly your family does not have any of the company's blood in them."

"Clearly, but mistakes happen," Naruto answered in turn just as smoothly, though she anxiously wondered about when her teme would be healed and if the company needed her.

She knew this kind of game the elf was playing. She knew it from the Elemental Lands, and though Naruto had refused to play it back then, she saw the value in playing the game now. It resulted in less bruises and divulged only the right amount of information, plus in countries that valued words—such as this—it increased her authority. Besides, Naruto knew Ranger-san did not like people knowing him or about their familial bond—primarily because he was a hunted man and did not wish to endanger her family—so she would do all she could to keep his identity and connection secret.

"Possibly," Lord Elrond stopped his diagnosis-like-motions and folded his hands into his sleeves, "Yet you come from Bree," it was not a question, though the elf likely deduced this was the case, "and the only one of the company who would have frequented Bree enough to be considered like family would be the ranger, yes? In addition, your daughter's sindarin is laced with a similar accent as said ranger."

"Possibly," Naruto replied slowly, and wondered how the man could hear an accent in than strange language, "but the rangers are not well trusted in Bree, so why would a respectable family associate with one of them?" not that they were a respectable family in Bree, they usually turned heads and made people run away, but Naruto wanted to be done with this game. "Will Lord Elrond heal my husband or not?" Naruto asked in an overly controlled tone.

The elf's lips pressed together tightly for a moment, "The minute it will take to answer my question will not change the state of his health."

Naruto felt her anger snap for a moment and unconsciously she began to pull on Kurama's chakra. Her eyes likely flashed red, and she could feel her canines lengthen slightly along with her nails, while her birth marks darkened. Though Naruto quickly began to regulate her breathing and thus control her anger, she knew the elf had noticed the change in her.

He actually took a step back in alarm, though to anyone else he would look calm and collected—living with the stoic bastard on the bed taught her to see beneath many a stoics' mask. "What are you?"

"Someone you shouldn't get angry," Naruto gritted out as she continued to calm herself.

"I would have mistaken you for a daughter of nature but for that foul energy in you. I had thought you might be a guard for that foul energy, but now it seems you can use that foul energy," the man looked like he wanted to kick her out of his place.

Naruto couldn't help it, she began to laugh almost hysterically. She was tired and just wanted her bastard husband to wake up and help her! "I am the guardian of that foul chakra, I do keep it contained, and yes I can use it but I can control it too!"

Naruto sobered and took a step toward the elf lord who took a step back in reply, "It might come out when I'm angry, but I'm very good at controlling my anger," her words came out in a hiss, even though she wanted to be calm and sweet, she was too angry at the assumptions and games this elf lord was making and playing.

The elf lord stood up tall in retaliation and Naruto could see him about to throw his authority card in her face, so she spoke again as she backed off. "I promised four hobbits I would come back once I made it to Rivendell, and that I would protect them, but I will not leave until I know my husband is not going…" Naruto's words faltered.

The teme wouldn't die, his chakra wasn't completely depleted, but this irrational fear gripped her, suffocated her. She looked back over at the teme.

"I hate playing these games, so will you just please heal my husband," Naruto's voice was softer now and she stared at his paler than usual complexion. "Do you even you know what it's like to see your spouse fade away and be unable to do anything about it?" she asked, though her voice broke several times and she had to take rattle breaths to calm down.

The elf lord was silent but then a rustle of cloth told Naruto he had moved. She looked over at the regale male and noted he was muttering something as he led onto the teme's injured arm and kneaded at the muscle before pressing into the teme's palm. Naruto watched entranced for a long moment as the elf did his healing. As the minutes slipped by she could feel the teme's chakra actually begin to pool again, even if it was a miniscule change.

She sighed in relief and relaxed slightly. All she could hope right now was that her family would be slowly gaining its strength back up.

The time seemed to slip by, but Naruto was forced from the calm by one thing happening all of a sudden, and it hit her like a sucker punch.

The clones she had sent to scout ahead, she regained one of their memories, and what she discovered made her blood freeze. The self-named B clone had dispersed after finally landing a hit on its counterpart. She also received the belated memories of a clone B produced, which explained that the clone carrying Frodo would try to by-pass the Nazgûl trap. She would have gone to Kurama and demand how the Nazgûl could take over her clones, but she had to focus on the severity of the situation.

Naruto gritted her teeth in frustration and anger. She just wanted to make sure her family was alright before she had to go off after those hobbits, but since the Nazgûl could potentially control clones, she couldn't. She needed to be there.

"The company plans to drive the Nazgûl into the Ford by using Frodo as bait with the incentive of fire behind the wraiths. They seem to think you can summon the waters and wash the Nazgûl away."

The elf looked up surprised before he regained his composure, "I see, and how exactly—?"

"I have my ways, and Lord Elrond is not the only one who can sense energies." Naruto turned to face the door. Should she leave? Should she help? Would she just be in the way?

She closed her eyes and felt out toward the Ford. They were practically at the river now. The clone with Frodo was just crossing the river out of what Naruto assumed was the Nazgûl's reach. Her four clones stayed back slightly and were hidden in the trees, while the rest of the company had begun to travel in the woods from what she could tell. The three behind the company would soon be at where the clones were.

She looked behind her and noted the elf was staring at her intently. Instead of snapping at the elf lord or making a sarcastic comment, Naruto licked her lips and sighed, "Look, all seven are almost—"

"Seven?! Nazgûl?" the elf ask in pure confusion, "I thought your daughter had—"

"She only killed one, but my husband uncloaked one which made it disperse back to where it came, okay?" or at least she assumed it went back to where it came. The elf nodded solemnly and Naruto continued with her explanation, "They're almost at the Ford and Frodo will be in position soon."

Naruto didn't want to say this, she wanted to be selfish and demanding, but damn it! There were people at risk out there, "I'm guessing since you stopped your magical words," she assumed they were magical, "that he's at least stable?" her voice broke slightly as she said this and looked back at her husband.

"I will feel when they enter the Bruinen, but until then, I will continue my healing so that it will not be undone," did that mean the jutsu or spell, or whatever, wasn't done yet? Naruto nodded numbly and stared back toward the door.

Would she get in the way? Her clones knew to stay behind the Nazgûls' reach, and that one old energy, which must be an elf, would be close by to fight off their hold should they try and possess, or whatever they did, the clone carrying Frodo.

"What did they do?" she asked the fox in her mind, but he didn't respond. In her mind's eye she saw the fox just smile—more like bare his fangs. "What did you do?" the fox's smile broadened.

Naruto moved over to the chair next to the teme's bed and sank into it. She was so tired and felt spread so thin. She just wanted this all to be over, for everyone to be safe! Tears of frustration gathered in her eyes and sank further into the chair as covered her eyes with one hand. She might be able to replicate herself through her clones, but she was still just one person, she needed her teme to help her through this all.

Then she heard a noise that just made her begin crying outright. After three babies she knew the sound of one crying for its mother. She was too tired, too stressed, too worried!

Slapping her face slightly to snap out of it, Naruto shook her head and straightened up. She dabbed at her eyes with her dress before she stood up and walked toward the door. She was cognizant of the elf lord's eyes on her, perhaps he was a little concerned. Naruto shook her head again to figuratively brush aside her moment of hysteria. She then proceeded through the door and into the next room where Dusk was wailing and his sisters were flitting around.

When Naruto opened the door, sure enough, Dawn was holding Dusk at arm's length and Tinnu was poking the bottom of his swaddle and sniffing him. Neither one knew what to do, and it was clear they were overwhelmed and frazzled. Perhaps they were wondering where the off switch was, like she and the teme had first wondered with Dawn.

Shaking her head but smiling this time, Naruto extended out her arms, "Give him here. If he isn't wet or smelly, he's probably hungry or needs to be rocked to sleep again."

Dawn looked between Naruto and Dusk a little uncertain—perhaps she could see that Naruto's eyes were red from her earlier crying session? But in the end, Dusk shrieking in her ear convinced Dawn to hand him off to Naruto.

Naruto slipped off one side of her dress and brought Dusk to her chest, but when he did not begin to feed, she fixed her dress and held Dusk close to her.

Naruto moved out onto the terrace and looked off toward the Bruinen as she bounced Dusk and hummed. She was constantly feeling out how the company was doing as she tried her best to calm down Dusk. When would this day be over, she wondered. When would her teme wake up?

…

Aragorn watched from the shadows as their plan played out. The wraiths went screaming past them toward their counterparts. From Aragorn's vantage point, he could see Glorfindel across the Ford being held back by the wraiths who had likely set up some sort of barrier against the ancient elf. He looked haggard but he never stopped chanting against their barrier or spell.

There was a blur of yellow and something dark as the Arad copy carrying Frodo landed across the Frod, but they were slightly behind Glrofindel.

The copy set Frodo upon his feet and stepped back a few paces. The Nazgûl gave one outraged unified shriek.

Glorfindel looked alarmed at the copy's appearance, but nonetheless, he moved back toward Frodo and knelt down beside the hobbit. He was examining Frodo, and the poor hobbit was pale from the Morgûl taint running through him.

"You want what he carries, come get him bastards!" the copy shouted at the wraiths and Aragorn just grimaced at its choice of words rather than be shocked by it—he had known the boisterous blonde long enough to not be surprised by what she or her copies said. The wraiths, though, turned toward the water and shrieked angrily.

Aragorn looked over at Gandalf who locked eyes with him. Then it was time. Aragorn nodded to the hobbits who struck flit and steel together, with the sparks directed at their branches. Quickly, the leaves caught spark and slowly bloomed into a consuming flame.

Aragorn was right behind them, though the dry branch he had picked off the forest floor was lit by Gandalf. They then ran out of their hiding spots behind the wraiths and brandished the flaming branches at them. Gandalf shown a light from the end of his staff which seemed to frighten the Nazgûl into entering the river. Then Gandalf began to chant just as the water level began to rise higher and higher.

The adrenaline pumped through him as he and the ever so brave hobbits waved the burning branches at the wraiths. And what could have been minutes seemed like seconds. All of a sudden there was a great flood roaring down the Bruinen and it seemed as if they would all be swept away in the crashing waves, and what sounded like grinding boulders. In the froth of the surge were the shapes of horses galloping toward the wraiths. The Nazgûl fell, and after the flood passed there was no sign of them.

It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from Aragorn's shoulders. Their company would be safe from here on out. They would be safe.

3017, October 13

Naruto stared at Dusk as he slept in the cradle some servant-elf-person had brought up. It was a beautiful crib, better than their roughly made one. The crib had carved leaves crawling up the legs and what Naruto assumed was elvish script written across the headboard. The fabrics and cushions used were even nicer than what they had in Bree, they were more aesthetically pleasing than what the teme could make, but…but she missed what they had in Bree. It may not have been the best quality, but they were made with love—as corny as it sounded—and had been part of their family for so long.

She missed the quilt on their bed, the quilt the teme had spent hours working on, and it was the only thing he made that had crooked stitches—his first completed sewing project. She missed seeing patterns for their scratchy wool dresses being scattered around their room and the way the teme's characters would decorate them with notes about size and so forth. She missed her little garden, and the carvings the girls had made into the doorways and baseboards. She missed the character of their home, of their patchwork lives.

Naruto looked down at her sleeping husband. Elrond had healed him the best he could, but now they had to wait for the teme to wake up on his own, for real this time. Last night she had managed to coax him out of sleep for a few bites of food and some water-like draught. But then he fell back into a real regenerative coma.

Sighing, she looked back over at Dusk. The baby was sleeping more now, and he wasn't crying as much as he had been the last few days. In fact, his color was returning slightly. It was probably all because of that elf healer. She made some sort of incense and sang some song and Dusk stopped his fussing and fell right to sleep.

Naruto looked over at her husband and sighed again. She leaned over and pressed a kiss against his now feverish forehead. When she pulled back she smiled sadly and left the room.

Once on the terrace she could hear Elrond chanting in Frodo's room next to theirs. She could also see Sam, the stout, defensive hobbit, leaning anxiously against the railing outside of Frodo's room. The hobbit had probably been there since Frodo got to Rivendell. Practically the moment Frodo got here, Elrond had begun and still continued to heal the hobbit. It seemed there was something they were missing that was making it difficult to heal the hobbit fully. Naruto shook her head of those thoughts and moved down one room and began to enter her daughter's room.

When she entered the room, Naruto was not surprised to find Aragorn sitting next to the bed in a guest chair. Tinnu was lying in bed with her twin, and she was holding onto her like Minuial might disappear, but every day the girl's chakra pooled more and more. Dawn sat opposite Strider with one leg propped up on the chair as she rested her chin against her knee. The dress was long and flowing enough to not be obscene with her sitting in such a position.

To Naruto's surprise, there was a hobbit in the room as well, it was Pippin. He was staring at Minuial guiltily, just like the rest of them. Naruto sighed again, and moved further into the room. She moved behind Dawn and brushed lightly at her hair and the girl leaned back into the touch.

Aragorn watched those in the room discreetly. He could see the remorse on Pippin's face, and it only increased Aragorn's own guilt in all that had happened. If he had just surveyed the area before they set up camp, if only he had better prepared the hobbits for what was to come… If only he had taken the girls on more hunting trips or anything, just so that they would not have felt inclined to follow him.

It was heart breaking seeing his nieces like this. Tinnu held onto Minuial tightly, fearfully. Dawn just appeared as if this was all her fault and could barely move from where she sat. His nieces should be happy, they should be finding suitors and living full lives, not fearing for the premature death of their sister. And poor Arad.

She wasn't smiling, and bags were forming under her eyes again, but Aragorn knew this had little to do with Dusk keeping her up. Aragorn looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching their room. It was quite possible whoever it was—likely a female elf based on the stride and lightness of step—would pass their room, but it still caused him to tense.

He could see Dawn had tensed marginally but Arad just brushed her hair again and the girl relaxed. So they knew someone was approaching too, but perhaps Arad's energy sensing told her who was coming was friendly?

There was a tap at their door before it was opened slightly. Aragorn's breath caught when Arwen stepped partially into the room. He could tell she was nervous by the way her gaze drifted downwards, and by the way her hands smoothed out her dress. Undoubtedly his nieces and Arad had caught onto her nervousness.

"Yes?" Arad asked in a soft voice, a voice that lacked her usual vivacity.

"Excuse me," Arwen began, ducking her head slightly before she looked up more directly at Arad. Aragorn couldn't find his voice, and his throat had gone dry in fear—fear that Arad would discover Arwen is his love and then the blonde woman would discuss most embarrassing things with Arwen about him and about… he shuddered mentally.

"There will be lunch soon and if…" her words faltered, an unusual occurrence, "And should you wish, I would happily give you all a tour of Rivendell. Perhaps the library or gardens might be of interest?" She had glanced over at the girls when she spoke of the library and had glanced at Arad when she spoke of the gardens.

Aragorn felt his lips twitch up slightly at the corner, though with a quick glance at Arad and he knew she had caught his smile. Her lips twitched upwards for a moment before she brushed at Dawn's hair again.

"Why don't you girls go to the library, check the place out a little?" Arad asked softly again, but the girls just shook their heads. Arad smiled grimly as she turned back to Arwen, "Perhaps tomorrow or tonight they'll be more in the mood, um…?" Arad's voice went up on the end as if asking for a name to address the elf before her.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner, I am Arwen," the girls looked over at her briefly, there was a slight suspicion in their eyes as they looked between her and Aragorn. Aragorn did his best to hide his blush and just raised an eyebrow at their glances.

"That's fine," Naruto attempted to assuage her fears that she had been rude when she had not introduced herself right away—it wasn't that she had been presumptuous, she had just been nervous and Aragorn knew he had told her many stories about this family whenever he stopped in Rivendell, mostly to assure her he had not purposely abandoned her.

Naruto continued on without missing a beat, "but I'm sure Mr. Ranger could escort you, perhaps you can convince to stop blaming himself." Aragorn's face did heat up at this, and he would have given her a sharp look if she had not already been giving him a pointed look before jerking her head toward Arwen and then raising her eyebrow in a testy manner, that practically said "I will embarrass you out of that chair."

Aragorn tried not to get up too hastily but Arad's knowing smirk and the girls gasps told him he failed.

Pippin for his part was caught between staring mesmerized at Arwen and looking confusedly between Aragorn's nieces and Arad. However the slight flicker of mischievous recognition passed across his face and he gasped with the girls.

"She's your Tinúviel!" Tinnu exclaimed, sitting up in the bed, though thankfully she refrained from pointing. Pippin began smiling broadly, almost like Aragorn would have expected Arad too.

Arad, however, just rolled her eyes and stated, "About time you figured that out. Now tomorrow why don't you hang out with your Obasan." Obasan…she said obasan….Aragorn's face was likely bright red at this point, or at least his mortification over this episode made him feel as if it was.

Arwen was blushing slightly and Aragorn wanted to leave quickly for both their sakes. He was about to set his palm to Arwen's elbow and guide her out of the room when the girls spoke up.

"We will be glad to tour Rivendell with you tomorrow," Dawn looked down nervously, "Obasan," she stated softly, "unless it is too forward to address you so Lady Arwen?"

Arwen looked confused and she smiled slightly to hide her confusion, but Pippin spoke up before Arwen could ask the question.

"What's this Obasan? Is it like how you call Strider Ojisan?"

Arad smiled slightly and nodded her head, "It means Aunt and Ojisan means Uncle." She was gauging Arwen's reaction.

Other than blushing and ducking her head, Arwen simply shook her head, "It is not too forward."

Aragorn supposed he could have intervened at some point during this carriage crash, but frankly that would have condemned him more.

Pippin smiled brightly from his place at the end of the bed, but before things could devolve further, Aragorn ushered the both of them out. Pippin and Tinnu began to laugh, and Dawn's giggles were mixed in the cacophony.

Once they had passed the healing wing, Arwen looked at him with a teasing smile, "Do I embarrass you?"

"No, but we are not married yet and…" Aragorn's words failed him and he felt heat creep back onto his face as he stared at the stone floor, "And Arad can be quite lewd and teasing."

Arwen's laughter was like clear bells chiming in the wind, "Oh my poor Dúnadan."

Aragorn sighed and resigned himself to a few hours of good natured teasing.

Naruto sensed Aragorn and Arwen leaving the wing before she turned back to her girls, "I should check on your father and brother."

Dawn and Tinnu sobered quickly, and Pippin—poor hobbit—was lost at the sudden mood change. "Kaasan," they both began.

Naruto just smiled and left the room. She just couldn't be what her daughters needed right now! Especially not after seeing Aragorn and his lover, or betrothed. She missed her teme. They hadn't insulted each other in so long and she just…just needed someone to share this waiting with.

Entering the room she moved over to the teme and lay down beside him.

3017, October 15

As Dawn walked along the terraces toward the library, she took in the view. Kaasan would love this, if only she would leave the healing wing and Tousan. But she understood. He was all she had in this world; he was the only one who understood and valued her.

However, Arwen could be someone she could be friends with, like how Tousan and Ojisan were friends. Yes, Arwen was a proper lady who had never lifted up a weapon in her life, but they could breach their differences. Arwen could be a confidant, and vice versa.

Dawn sighed again. But Arwen was too gentle, it was true, and even though it was nice to walk through the gardens with her and talk in sindarin and about the lore, there was a disconnect between them. Dawn could imagine this disconnect would carry over with her mother, even more so than it happened with Dawn. Perhaps it was that they were fighters, warriors, and Lady Arwen was not and likely never would be.

Even when talking about Haldarad and how Dawn hoped he would marry her someday—even though he was quite young, hardly into his thirties—there was something missing. They couldn't fully relate even though they both loved a man of the Numenor line, and had fathers with slightly over-protective personalities—though apparently Lord Elrond consented to Obasan and Ojisan's marriage if only Ojisan became king of all the realms of men, seemingly an impossible stipulation to their marriage that Tousan probably would have loved to copy if he could.

No there was just something missing…Dawn stopped to stare out into the waterfall mists which shimmered with rainbows. She heard steps approaching her and she turned toward their direction. Ironic, how the people you think about often show up.

"Obasan," Dawn greeted and Arwen smiled softly at her—soft! Everything so gentle, and sweet, and feminine!

"Dawn," she returned the greeting and came to stand beside her. "I was just off to the library, were you headed that way?"

"I was," Dawn replied as she looked out at the mists again, she didn't mean to sound cold but there was just no connection there—something was missing.

"Is something wrong?" Dawn immediately heard the self-consciousness in Arwen's voice, and Dawn turned to face her honorary aunt with a slightly forced smile.

"No!" but it was clear to them both there was something wrong and Arwen's smile fell and she looked down at the railing.

Dawn sighed and leaned against the railing, "Sometimes I wonder how Kaasan does it," she began slowly and glanced over at Arwen, "She doesn't have sisters or anyone but Tousan to understand her and to support her. Haldarad understands and accepts that I was trained to be a warrior, but he is still uncertain about it. But it's still better than what will likely be in store for my sisters when they get married." If they get married or lived long enough to get married.

Dawn hugged her arms though she was not cold, "It still feels isolating, there's no one else like us. No other women who are…" Dawn paused and thought how she was going to phrase her next words so that she wouldn't offend Arwen.

But she spoke up first before Dawn could find the right words, "Strong, daring, willing to challenge their gender roles?" Arwen asked with a slight smile on her lips.

Dawn looked at her wide-eyed but nodded her head curtly before ducking it and blushing. Arwen laughed lightly and leaned close to Dawn's ear, "Honestly, I always wanted to, but with my standing…" she pulled back as she trailed off, but then she looked at Dawn with an almost conspiratorial look.

Dawn looked over at Arwen before she spoke slowly, "Men are typically the ones to use weapons," her own conspiratorial look came over her features.

"Hmm…that they are," Arwen smiled lightly and began walking in the opposite direction of the library with her hands folded in her sleeves behind her back. She paused and looked over her shoulder at Dawn, "Do you suppose you would like to try a bow from our armory?"

Dawn couldn't help but begin to smile, "I would love to." Perhaps they could have a connection, a connection her mother could also have with Arwen if she ever left the healing wing.

3017, October 17

Aragorn looked between his nieces as they sat in their sister's room. Minuial was still unconscious though her color had returned fully and she was no longer cool to the touch. It was just on her to wake herself up as Elrond said each day after running a diagnostic test on her.

He sighed and looked over at his nieces. They had been giggling and smiling an awful lot yesterday, but of course they sobered immediately whenever they came into this room and the guilt and remorse seemed to physically fall onto their shoulders and weigh them down.

Had Arwen told some sort of embarrassing story about him? Was it womanly gossip that had them so…he couldn't find the right words to describe their behavior, but they acted as if they had an inside joke. He shook his head briefly and eyed them closely again, it was clear they had been training lately, but unfortunately Aragorn had been busy with scout reports and doing close to the boarder scouting as well to join them. He only had rumors to go off of and the new callouses on their hands. Though in those rumors he had heard that Arwen was overseeing their training, which was curious in itself.

He hoped no one else had overseen too much of their training. It seemed people knew of his connection to the strange Bree family and when he walked past conversing clusters, they often silenced their conversations. He was not sure if people knew about his nieces' abilities and he hoped that was indeed not the case.

He heard Arwen's footsteps long before she opened the door and came into the room. "Frodo woke up today, they will be celebrating his recovery and the arrival of our many guests with a feast," she stated slowly, almost hesitantly. Perhaps it was because their father and sister were still in comas and Arwen understood there was little to celebrate for them.

The girls looked down at their sister, who was being sustained by some spell their mother taught them. He could see the reluctance on their faces and he could see Arwen's faint hope they might agree to go, but they both understood. The girls felt bad enough leaving their sister to go on excursions with Arwen. Even when they would go to the library, they would always come back with a book or scroll on lore and they would read it to their sister. They would tell her about the beautiful sights Rivendell held, and they would describe their day. It was painful to watch, heart breaking to hear their slowly deadening voices as they hoped against hope that today, would be the day she woke up.

Surely their guilt compounded upon the hope that being here meant Minuial would heal quickly, was what made them lose hope of her awakening ever. But she would, Minuial would awake someday, she just had to overcome the will that nearly overpowered her. It was on Minuial and no one else, which was also probably why it was so hard on all of them.

"Perhaps you two should go," Aragorn offered and looked over at Arwen hopefully, "and perhaps Lady Arwen could help you find appropriate attire?"

The girls looked at him with blank, borderline displeased looks. "Tousan made our dresses for us," Tinnu stated after a moment and Aragorn sighed. Didn't girls, though his nieces were more like young women, usually enjoy dressing up with their older female relatives? Though then, his nieces were not the average middle-earthling female.

Arwen shook her head slightly at him but then the girls stood up and left with their aunt…it was strange to say that even to himself. Aragorn closed his eyes and sat there for a long moment and debated about whether he would go to this feast himself or not. However, before he could make a decision, the door to the room opened and his surrogate brothers quickly crossed the room.

Elladan and Elrohir looked down at the girl with their brows furrowed, "And who is this Dúnadan?" Elrohir asked with a joke in his voice.

"Why do you sit around her like family?" Elladan asked with more curiosity in his voice. His eyes were narrowed slightly as if that would help him figure out this "puzzle" before him.

Aragorn refrained from looking down at Minuial lest the twins discern his connection to her; instead, he walked toward them, "What do you call me for?"

"We just came back from scouting," Elrohir stated while his brother continued to look at Minuial with mild intrigue, which for either of them meant they would like do all they could to learn what they could about his nieces. Aragorn stamped down the impulse to move in front of Elladan's view, for that would only alert his surrogate brother to the fact he did not like the way he was looking at his niece and of course that there was indeed something to be intrigued about by Minuial.

"Dúnadan," Elladan began with a slight smile on his face, "She is not the child is she? The one to kill a Naz—"

Perhaps it was his failure to protect his nieces, even though they had gone behind his back, or perhaps it was an instinct that told him to protect his nieces while their father was incapacitated, but Aragorn promptly interrupted his brother and glared at both of them. "She nearly died, and may still yet," his voice was a low hiss as he glared between the twins. They both pulled back slightly in alarm.

He let out a controlled breath and did his best to soften his expression, but he knew it remained hard and cold, "I confess, she is like family to me. I consider her my niece and I have trained her in hunting and tracking since she was a child. Her family does not wish to be any more involved in this war than they already are.

"So please, brothers, I ask you not to speak of what my niece has done and do not bring others' attention to it. It is best that it remains just a rumor, please?" Aragorn finished in a softer, more imploring, tone. The twins nodded in understanding, and though Elrohir begrudgingly respected his request, Elladan continued to look at Minuial with intrigue—even more than there had been before.

Aragorn found himself glaring at Elladan who held up his hands defensively. With a sigh, Aragorn shook his head and ushered them out of the room. He needed to be debriefed of their most recent scouting mission.

…

Tinnu had done her best to enjoy the feast. She sat with the hobbits who talked about their journey, but when they got to Weathertop they thankfully stopped talking about it. Instead, the dwarves they sat with talked about news from their region of the world and it was all very talkative. Then after dinner they were all escorted into a big room with the largest fireplace she had ever seen. It was so nice and toasty, she could have fallen asleep in there.

However, more talking ensued, along with stories and songs. The stories and songs were lovely and a joy to hear, especially the sindarin ones, but…really, over all it was boring. Tinnu also felt like a doll, and not their cool dolls Kaasan made—the doll Tousan made was usually on their book shelf in Bree because Tinnu and her sisters had all agreed that he was special to Tousan and thus could not be played with anymore. The doll Tousan made acted like their guardian that kept away the monsters when they were little, and they had a good feeling he was likely their biological uncle, which was why Minuial had sneaked them into their pack so that Weasel could still protect them.

But unlike he simple clothes their awesome dolls had, Tinnu and Dawn were in comparatively fancy clothes. The dresses were nice and all, they were silky and smooth, but they weren't who Dawn and Tinnu were. Tinnu had fun getting her hair braided by Obasan, but overall…she just didn't feel like herself. Besides, all the elves were giving her these indulgent looks, like she was some child playing dress-up and trying to fit in. But it was Obasan who picked out the shimmering dresses, and gilded accessories, not them!

Maybe Tinnu was just being negative because she couldn't share this with Minuial…and oh would Minuial have loved to prank all those elves that looked at them like they were children.

Tinnu left the hot room and stepped out onto the terrace. The autumn wind made the fabric of the dress wrap around her body even more than the swishy fabric already did, and she had to turn her face so that the stray hairs that fell out of the braid didn't blind her. When she turned she saw Ojisan and Obasan talking closely together. She smiled softly at the sight and in the corner of her eye, she caught her nee-san looking at them too.

Dawn turned away from the sight and began walking toward Tinnu. "Do you want to go for a walk?" Dawn asked in their mélange of languages.

"Yeah, anything to get away from people looking at me like I'm some child." Tinnu folded her arms over her chest and began walking toward the stairway closest to the main, ground-level courtyard.

"I know," Dawn nodded her head as she looked back into the fire-lit room.

Once they reached the bottom courtyard they found a bench and sat down. "Do you ever worry they might not wake up?" Tinnu didn't mean to blurt the question out, but it had been bothering her for a while now.

"Sometimes…" Dawn replied slowly. She then pulled Tinnu into a hug as they stared at the quiet courtyard, "but…we have to hope. Kaasan may not be hoping anymore, so we have to hope for her."

Tinnu wasn't sure it was as simple as that, that meaning that Kaasan had given up. "What if Kaasan's just tired, what if she just needs Tousan?"

"I don't know Tinnu."

Tinnu sometimes wondered if Dawn still resented Kaasan for leaving them all those years ago while she sorted out what she needed to sort out. Before they could say any more, there was the sound of horse hooves approaching the gate entrance of the courtyard. Not long after a travel worn man entered the clearing.

He had aristocratic features like her Ojisan and he was really tall like Ojisan too, but somehow, he just wasn't as cool or impressive as Ojisan.

The man pulled on the reigns until the horse stopped and he looked down at them in surprise. "Elf children…?" Tinnu heard him mumble and she glared up at him with Dawn.

"Do we look like elves or children!" Tinnu snapped as she stood up and began to stomp away. She knew she was being childish, but she didn't even want to go to this stupid feast while Minuial was still in a coma, but Ojisan basically pressured them into it!

Dawn followed after Tinnu, though over her shoulder she said, "You shouldn't underestimate us," she murmured to the man. Tinnu was so tired of this all, both of them were. She knew Obasan and Ojisan were trying to do something for them, to get them to get away from the room, but it was bad enough they left during the day, it felt wrong to leave Minuial alone at night.

Tinnu just wanted her family whole again. She was tired of it being so…so broken.

3017, October 18

Sasuke couldn't help but smile at the dobe. They held hands as the Old Took ran through the service. The Brandywine shimmered behind them and light reflected off of its surface to highlight her face.

She was stunning! The dobe was one of the very few blonde hobbits in the shire, or at least she appeared to be a hobbit, and the way her hair had been done took his breath away. She wore a simple dress a neighbor loaned her, because they had no family here, and no nice clothes either—their back story was that the big people of Bree had a riot and Sasuke and the dobe's house had burned down along with nearly all their possessions.

The dobe was so happy, and her eyes flashed gold beneath the blue illusion. She was stunning, just stunning. Something had told amnesic Sasuke she had never been happier in her whole life because now she was starting a family with someone she loved, and amnesic Sasuke had felt the same.

The dream shifted and they were in Crick Hollow on their tiny bed. The dobe was curled against him. They were completely content just being in each other's company. Then the dream shifted again, they were older and in Bree. Lightning cracked outside and he shutters banged against the side of the house.

Dawn came running into the room on her chubby legs. Her sisters were still sleeping in their crude crib, though they were already outgrowing it. She cried out their names and came up to the edge of their bed, "'m scared!" she cried inarticulately. The dobe smiled so sweetly and though Sasuke was uncomfortable being in bed with the amnesic dobe, only because they seemed to be living a lie; they both pulled her up onto their bed and let her sleep between them through the storm.

The dream shifted again, and again. Their life as a family passed before them. All the sweet, domestic times they shared. As the dreams flashed past him he became cognizant of a weight against his left side, and a hollow feeling in his stomach. He could smell the dobe, there was some sort of earthy scent that he always associated with her, and it was right below his nose. He could feel the heat of the sun on him now too, same with the dobe's body heat half on top of him.

He slowly opened his eyes though cringed against the light. He was going to move his right arm to cover his eyes but moving it made him aware of the most…He wasn't sure how to describe the feeling. It was like when he had been trapped in that fake hunter's ice mirrors and all those senbon kept stabbing into him—how lucky he was the other boy hadn't poisoned the needles. But on top of the needles was the sensation of his arm being cut to ribbons while being set on fire at the same time.

Sasuke shot up in bed and cradled his arm to his chest as he cursed with his teeth gritted. He faintly heard the dobe beside him, she as asking if he was alright.

Sasuke did his best to breathe through the pain. When he finally regained control and his arm was just a fiery, stabbing ache, he looked over at Naruto. "What's wrong with your arm?" she asked, he just shook his head in response as he looked down at his arm, the dobe checked out for a moment before growling under her breath.

"What?" Sasuke gritted out.

"The fox says that your nerves might be healed but they're still pretty raw, and with your tenketsu still closed its aggravating it," the dobe sounded tired but not surprised.

"He enjoyed telling you that, didn't he?" Sasuke asked dryly as he looked around the room. He noted the dobe nodded, but his surroundings were his main focus. He didn't know why he hadn't heard the waterfall before, but it was dull roar in the background, and there was also the sound of a rapidly flowing river. More closely, there was the sound of people speaking that language the girls and Aragorn spoke.

"We're in Rivendell," the dobe stated, as if knowing what he was thinking. Sasuke turned to look at the dobe who was hanging off of him. That was when he noticed how tired she looked, and pale. He saw a small stack of plates on the chair beside the bed, and there was a crib on the other side of the wall where Dusk slept.

"What about the girls?" Sasuke asked slowly.

The dobe sighed and pushed him slightly back and down onto the bed. "They're fine," there was a slight tightness to her voice and Sasuke wanted to get out of the bed right then, but her hand was urging him to stay lying down, "Minuial is in a coma—"

"And that's fine!?" He was about to sit up again but the dobe straddled him and pressed lightly against his injured arm. Sasuke would have doubled over at the pain, but the dobe was holding his opposite shoulder down. Then she removed her hand from his injured arm and continued to pin his shoulders down.

He could barely pain attention as he tried to breathe against the pain.

"Because eventually she will wake up," the dobe stated loudly enough hear clearly despite the mind-numbing pain. "Her body is healthy, her mind just has to wake up. As for our other daughters, they're with their aunt."

Sasuke breathed through the pain for a few more seconds before he responded. "Obasan?" was this the elvish woman Aragorn was afraid to marry because he would be taking her from her family and people?

"Yes, and now the girls have someone else's hair to braid than mine," the dobe gave a wan smile and Sasuke noticed immediately that she had not been doing well. The dobe wasn't just tired, it was so much more than that.

"What day is it?"

"The eighteenth," the dobe replied immediately.

He had been unconscious for two weeks? How was that possible? He should be dead, but instead he felt ravenous and dehydrated. Though…when he made himself think about it, there had been hazy moments were he recalled being fed and drinking water.

The dobe seemed to know he was thirsty, for she reached over to a pitcher of water and poured him a glass. She backed off of him slightly and helped him sit back up. "Kurama may have healed the nerves, but he didn't heal the other damage the wraith gave you. The injury was draining out any new chakra. Hence your extremely long state of chakra exhaustion, and regenerative coma."

"So I'll need to begin expending copious amounts of chakra until my pathways expand again?" Sasuke would have run a hand through his hair, but since he was holding a cup with his good hand he just sighed heavily.

"Yeah…" she dropped her head forward against his.

"What exactly happened?" As soon as he asked this, the dobe pulled back from him and sat heavily on his legs as she looked down at the space between them. Her eyes were dark, haunted in a way only Kurama and decisions against her hero-complex could cause. She was tired too, stressed, worried, afraid even.

Sasuke leaned over to the side to set the cup back down from the nightstand it had been taken from before he set his hand against the dobe's arm. He tried to get her to look at him by ducking his head and looking up at her, but she turned away.

"Dobe…" he began softly and slid his hand up to catch her chin. When she looked at him, her jaw was trembling and her expression was hard. He brought his forehead forward against hers and sighed, "Dobe…please tell me."

"I just want my husband right now," her voice was surprisingly soft and Sasuke closed his eyes tightly at the implication—she felt insecure and afraid at the moment. She needed support, and someone who understood her.

"Okay, you have me." Whatever happened had left the dobe worn and insecure. Maybe everything seemed fine now, but perhaps for a while it had been touch and go.

Aragorn stopped outside of the room as he heard his friends talk to each other before possibly settling down to sleep. He would tell them later then, and perhaps he would make sure to have a servant send copious amounts of food over to them a little later. But for now, he did not want to trouble his friends with news of the council. The council which Arad, should her husband have been unfit to attend, would have had to sit in on and explain what had happened with the Nazgûl.

Aragorn was relieved that his friend was awake now, for it would be more certain that Sasuke would decline to having his family made more involved in the war in the East. It was all still troubling though; particularly because a man from Gondor had come the night before, and something told Aragorn that this man might be desperate to find something to help his country against the Evil in the East—even resorting to using young women to take out the Nazgûl at the risk of their own lives. Then there was Elladan and Elrohir who were obsessed with destroying orcs, so much so that they may be will to resort to using Aragorn's nieces as their own secret weapons.

No, he wanted no one to abuse his nieces' gifts. But tomorrow the Council would happen, and Sasuke would certainly make it clear where his family stood in regards to the war.

A suivre

A/N: So I have all the logistics figured out, at last, for how the rest of this fanfic will proceed. The only issue will be finding the words, which I clearly have been having problems with lately. Next chapter will be the Council of Elrond, plus some extra stuff. Hope you enjoyed ~ much love, depressedchildren