horses.

running. running. running.

These humans were so boring, there was hardly any talking going on. We ran all day, we ran all night. I'd managed to sleep twice during the short stops over the last few days. I'd learnt nothing except we were following the vile creatures that had hurt Boromir back in the clearing in the woods. I'd still made no progress as far as communicating was concerned. The others would speak often, but speech was not a skill I had acquired yet.

The running had gotten harder since yesterday. There were hills everywhere. The dwarf, Gimli was struggling to keep up often. I liked Gimli, he was funny. I was good at running though, not as good as the elf, Legolas- but good. I had to run slower than i'd like sometimes, so that Boromir didn't worry about me. I could tell he'd run faster than he should to catch up with me, before becoming wary and slowing down. Sometimes i'd hold his hand when he ran so that he knew everything was well.

I'd held Aragorns hand once as well, he was as nice as Boromir seemed to be. I could tell he was very worried about something. Neither of them minded my company very much, the only member of our company I hadn't bonded with was the elf. He watched me a lot, I think not out of dislike. There was no hostility on his face, just curiosity.

We'd been running for a few hours, since the sun had risen when Aragorn stopped suddenly. I could hear what I assumed he could hear also, a loud steady pattering vibrating the ground around us. Aragorn waved his arm in the direction of the boulders which Legolas and Boromir swiftly ducked behind. With a grunt and a point in the direction Gimli and I stood in Aragorn and Boromir strode forwards, Aragorn dragging Gimli behind the rocks beside him, Boromir flinging me over his shoulder and hurling himself next to the others.

I wish that people spoke plainly for once. I was a star not a mind reader. And I was eager to know what it was we were crouching behind boulders to avoid. No sooner had I wondered did I regret it. It was horses. Big scary horses, flying over the hills with armed soldiers on their backs. I shied pushing my face into Boromirs side, hiding.

"Riders of Rohan! What news from the Mark?!"

I heard Aragorn yelling from a few feet away, but didn't dare look back. I hated it here, I hated it. Being so tiny, and vulnerable and weak. I hated it.

Boromir scooped my along by his side next to Aragorn, who's warm hand found it's way into my shaking one. I looked up at his face, lip quivering. His expression became very gentle suddenly as he pulled the cloak from around me higher and tucked it around my head, hiding me.

I could hear the masses of horses approaching me. I was still frightened but less so now. Aragorn wouldn't let anything bad happen, nor would Boromir. I didn't think very much of their attempts at masking me from the riders but I knew they would protect me. Before I knew what was happening we were surrounded, being towered over, encircled by mounted steeds.

"What business, does an elf, three men and a dwarf have in the Ridermark? Speak quickly." A harsh, cutting voice whipped through the now silent clearing.

While the man eyed Legolas suspiciously Aragorn opened his mouth as if to reply. Before words could escape Gimli chirped in a challenging response.

"Tell me your names horse-master, and I shall give you mine."

The tense atmosphere became almost unbearable as the rider dismounted from his horse. Only fear stopped me from pulling the cloak from around my hidden face.

"I would cut off your head, dwarf. If it stood but a little higher from the ground" The man growled fiercely at Gimli, threateningly.

Legolas stepped forward bow raised, ready to protect Gimli.

"You would die before your stroke fell."

The group of men had their spears pointing towards us so swiftly I thought for a second they were intent on just impaling us. Aragorn stepped forward, hands raised submissively. Aragorn was the son of kings. Aragorn was destined to be a king, how wrong it was I though for him to stand before the horse lords of Rohan like a thief begging for his life.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn. This is Boromir son of Denethor, Gimli son of Gloin and Legolas of the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king."

The man pulled his helmet off, eyes lit up as if he had only just recognized Boromir's presence. In the man's defense, the dwarf and elf were much more interesting. And his helmet was very big, maybe he couldn't see very well through it.

"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe, even his own kin." He sighed sadly directing his words at Boromir.

"Eomer" Boromir breathed out in relief. The man managed a brief smile before turning and nodding his head in my direction

"Who is this?" The harshness was gone from his voice now, but it was still laced with mistrust.

After no one replied, the man reached over to pull the cloak away from my face. He towered above me, even more than Boromir did. His hair was yellow, like mine. He had lots of dark hair on his face. I could tell he was very young compared to any one else I'd met so far, he had a youthfulness about his face.

He stood watching me for a fraction of a second head tilted. He'd thought I was a man at first, I hoped he didn't think I was a man still. They did dress me in men's clothes. The others already knew I was a girl from my first encounter with Boromir.

I was glad that making friends with Boromir had been so easy. I quickly dragged through my memories reliving exactly how Boromir and I had had met. Even before i'd made him better he'd wanted to be my friend.

I recalled the way he'd touched my cheek and pressed his lips to mine. That was when we'd decided to be friends, I think. That is when the affection towards one another started.

I looked up into the man's eyes, they we're darker than any other eyes i'd seen so far, harder to read. I hoped he wanted to be my friend.

After a split seconds hesitation I reached up on my toes towards him planting my lips on his mimicking the way Boromir had first interacted with me, all them days ago, eyes shut tightly. I held myself there as I counted to three in my head before stepping back.

I pulled away smiling at the man above me satisfied with my friend making efforts.

There were several intakes of breaths from the riders around me. I could feel my face crumple at the response i'd received. There was an uncomfortable silence that made me weary and nervous. Even the man whom i'd tried to befriend wore a strange, mistrusting expression. His brow was furrowed eyes on Aragorn and the others behind me.

This did not feel like i'd made a new friend. A small part of me wondered if i'd asked the man wrongly.

No harm in trying again, I hopped forwards swiftly pushing my lips against his again, pushing harder than I had last time. I kept my eyes open this time gauging the man's response. The hair on his face tickled around my mouth making me smile wider before pulling away again, not sure quite how long I'd held my face against his. I felt my nose brush against his as I pulled away, a strange foreign taste left on my lips.

I smiled as sweetly as I could up at the tall man in front of me. His mouth had opened slightly into a confused pout, eyes not leaving my face. They didn't seem quite as cold as they had before. Perhaps warming to the idea of being my friend.

"Forgive her, she meant nothing by it. She is simple, easily confused." Aragorn pleaded sliding his arm around my waist lifting me back towards him, away from the man.

"We found her wandering, we thought to return her to Rohan, if this is her home. But that is not our purpose- We track a party of Uruk-Hai, Westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive."

Eomer replied to Aragorn eyes still intent on me "The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night"

I wish I understood what they were talking about, I wondered which two of our friends had been taken by the beasts we had been perusing.

"But there were two Hobbits! Did you see two Hobbits with 'em?" I looked down at the distraught tone in Gimli's voice. Words finally making sense of the few days, the hobbits had been taken. Saurons ring had been taken.. did this mean that the fate of the war was decided? How was I ever going to return home now.

"They would be small. Only children to your eyes."

Eomer's face face finally left mine, a twinge of remorse clouded his tone as he spoke slowly, seemingly unsure of himself.

"We left none alive. We piled the carcasses and burned them."

"Dead?" Gimli whispered. I looked down to see his hopeless shattered expression. Eomer had not said that the half-lings were dead. Eomer had said that the Urukai were dead. Eomer was a protector of innocent. Why should Gimli think the Hobbits were dead?

"I am sorry." Eomer frowned at us one by one, before whistling and calling behind him "Hasufel! Arod! Drogo! May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters. Farewell." He handed the reigns of three approaching horses to Aragorn. I stepped back lips pursed startled. Did this mean Eomer was our friend now? Do friends give each other horses?

Eomer turned and mounted his horse swiftly slipping his helmet back on his head. "Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands..."
He trotted a few feet before glancing back at the five of us.

"Protect the girl, I would take her with our company for safe keeping...but war is no place for an innocent heart." He smiled softly and sadly at us before turning and striding out of sight, being followed by his endless company of riders.

i'm so poo, it's been weeks since i've updated, but i've been busy with coursework- ah well done now! have you epic people seen the hobbit by the way? i have! twice...it was immense. I'm going again after christmas.
ah i don't own middle earth or it's inhabitants; but i love every little speck of it! :)))

also sorry for the boring of this chapter, my mind wasn't in it, partly because i'm not sure who the star should end up with, or HER NAME. suggestions? :)))

ps. thanks to all the reviewers/favs/followers, i was totally gonna bail on this story before i realized how many people had read it mwuha C:

MERRY CHRISTMASSSSSS!