Alright... This one is a bit longer, since I'll use it to explain something.

For the next 3 times, I'll post 2 chapters a week. And then, the 4th time, a 3 chapter special... And it will start getting... complex. If you don't understand, ask! Don't be 'Oh yea i don't get this!' and not understand and just stop.

Weeee chapter 15

"May the gods be with you, my friends," Han bowed as the three royals exited the tent. "And may the odds be in your favor, always," he added mostly to himself.

When they left the warm, comfortable tent, it was mid-day, but cold as it were night.

Eomer shook slightly and sniffed. "Just when I warmed up…" he muttered and saw Dona standing next to the glacier.

"I really hope we can trust him," Aragorn sighed as they started walking to him.

"Aren't y-you two even a b-bit cold?" Faramir asked and quickly threw the coat around himself.

"You will get used to it. We had to do it the hard way…" the formal Marshal narrowed his eyes as they arrived.

Dona glanced at all three of them, eyes stopping as he reached Faramir. With a sigh, he handed him an herb. "Chew this; it will make the cold more bearable."

The three looked at each other before the Steward took the herb and started chewing it. It tasted foul but did its job. He could hardly feel the cold now.

"Don't get to use to it. The effect wears off in a period of time," Dona didn't even wait for the 'Thank you'.

"Let's go," was the last thing he said before walking away from the glacier and away from the camp, the others following.

They walked in the woods, mostly in silence, only the sounds of nature around them. But every now and then, there would be a sneeze or cough.

"How long is it to this place?" Strider asked from the back of the line.

"We will not arrive today, if that answers your question," Dona said back in a calm matter, something none of them expected.

Yes, it has bothered them for some time now. Ever since he offered to take them to the Ngami, he hasn't called them anything insulting. In fact, he was rather kind to them, which at times made them think they were dreaming.

Again they walked in almost silence, until the sun set. When it got dark, something that happened rather fast here, they stopped and decided to make camp.

They trampled the snow around them to make room for the wood and try and start a fire. But the flints wouldn't give a single spark.

With a sigh, Strider found a large tree root and sat there, putting his head on the wood surface.

Faramir climbed atop a medium sized tree and found a comfortable stop there. He used a branch to lean his head on it.

And Eomer and Dona sat on rocks around the trampled snow.

"Aren't you going to get some sleep?" Dona asked and stared at the wood.

"I won't be taking chances…" the King turned his gaze to the stars above him.

"Fair enough…" the Sango male followed his gaze.

And so they sat in silence, watching the stars as the two Gondorians feel asleep. Somehow, they all felt at peace here. More than when they are in the castles.

"So tell me… why do you want to fight the Ngami?" Dona asked after a long time, making Eomer look at him.

"I mean… what reason would you have to come this far to fight monsters? If any relatives were taken, maybe that's a reason, but I doubt it's that…" he added and looked the Rohirrim in the eyes. There was fire in them.

"There are people we are trying to protect. All three of us, and we plan to do all we can to do so. Even if it means fighting monster from the depths of hell," his voice was strong and powerful as his words echoed in the tribe member's head.

"People to protect huh?" he muttered and closed his eyes slightly.

"What's your reason for taking us?" the question took him by surprise.

But before anything could be said, a roar made two males look to the left, while the two others quickly woke up.

Faramir jumped down from the tree while Aragorn drew Andúril, with Eomer and Dona both on their feet.

Another roar, but this one from the other side. The two Kings turned around, while the two second in command stayed turned to the left.

"What is that?" Faramir asked as another roar echoed around them.

"We should not be standing here…" was the only thing Dona said before gulping.

At that, two large, white fur colored bears moved out of the woods and roared. A moment later, the animals charged at the four.

"Run!" Dona yelled and made dashed into the woods. The other three hesitated only for a second longer before also running into the dark forest.

And that's when things turned south. Eomer quickly lost sight of all three of them, since he didn't know the woods, it was dark and his eyes weren't used to seeing in the darkness. He ended up running where he thought best, but was stopped when he hit a thick branch that knocked him off his feet.

Faramir and Aragorn could barely see Dona as he ran through the snow as if a pack of Orcs was on his tail. They knew they had lost Eomer and wanted to turn back, but had no idea where to even start.

Dona didn't care about anything expect running. The bears should never have come on this side of the forest. Something must have scared them and he didn't want to be near it. But as such, he wasn't thinking and paying attention to his surroundings. In the next second, he found himself face first in the snow, leg stuck behind a root.

Strider and the Prince have now lost sight of Dona as well, but still kept running, hoping to find either of the companions or anyone else. But they hadn't expected to go with such speed, that they couldn't stop. And so, they slipped on the ice in front of them, and rolled down the hill through branches and bushes. And to make matters worse, Elessar fell even deeper into a cavern at the bottom, landing on a pile of snow.

Now, all four men lay in the cold snow as the night engulfed them. Each was separated from the others, taking deep breaths and trying to stay calm.

It took them a while, but they managed to stand firmly. Each looked around themselves, checking if anyone one or thing was nearby.

Then, they did the thing any human would do. They started calling the names of their companions, hoping to find a way to get back together.

But it had a most opposite effect.

The four males all found themselves suddenly feeling a bone biting wind and rain on their skins. There was a frightening silence about them, as if everything had died in an instant. Not even the rain was heard as it poured on them.

Then again, the bone chilling winds made them all shiver with coldness, as an inhuman shriek was heard all around them that shook their very cores.

They turned around, looked in every direction, seeking the source of the shriek, yet found only trees, snow and plenty of darkness.

And that's when they saw it. They all saw something move in the darkness. Then the something became many. It was as though the dark itself was moving closer, trying to suffocate them.

But that wasn't what they wanted. No… far from it. Again the shriek came, but it was followed by so many, they couldn't count. And then, they ran again. Ran where ever they could as fast as they could. Ran to get away from this abomination.

As they kept running, they entered a new forest; this one seemed darker, more evil. As if it was about to come alive and kill them. But they kept running. Even through the thick fog of darkness that lay in those woods.

Breathing became harder and their limbs were heavy and burning, but they still ran. Soon, they started choking on the air they were breathing, as if it was a poison. But they ran still, ran and ran, until they each saw a field with the moon's rays landing upon it.

It was as if they were dreaming, so beautiful. Without another thought, they each ran into the meadow, taking deep breath and only stopping when they crashed into one and other, falling to the ground.

They quickly stood up; eyes darting from one man to the other, taking enough time to make sure what they saw was real.

They stood silently, only their pants hearable as their eyes showed so much panic and fear, that they couldn't believe it.

And they were right to do so, as things just couldn't be like this. There was something horribly wrong here, and they knew, this was the worst place they could have come to.

But there wasn't much they could do now, as the shrikes echoed once more and the darkness moved closer. They drew their weapons, prepared to fight whatever came out, but then they heard whispers.

"There isssss no hope…" the voice was high pitched, shallow and poisonous.

"Just ssssssurrender…" another one spoke in the same manner.

At that, they could see their enemies, but realized, weapons will be useless. They stood there, as if frozen, staring with panicked eyes, as their breath got stuck in their throats.

Fear overtook them, and they knew not why. They were all brave warriors; brave enough to take on an army of Orcs, but this… this was insane. They could hardly move as fear wrapped around their hearts.

"That issss right…" the voices came again.

"Fear ussss…" and at that, they appeared.

Faramir was the first to start shaking as he lost his grip on the weapon when he saw them. It was as if they were shadows come alive, floating in the air as a dark vail covered their forms and continued down, disappearing into the darkness.

"W-What is this?" Eomer managed to speak as he fell to one knee, taking deep breaths.

Aragorn trembled, unable to understand why. He wanted to speak, run, move, anything! but couldn't as he to collapsed on his knees.

Dona couldn't even stay conscious before these monsters and fell limply onto the cold snow. The Steward knew these abominations, but had no strength left to do anything. He bent over, and wanted to puke. They made his stomach turn, but didn't know why.

"Perfect…" again they spoke, but moved closer to their prey.

The first one they arrived at was Dona. Three stopped there, while the others moved closer to the others. There was so many, the royals couldn't even count them.

And then they saw it. They saw one of the shadow's force it's self into the Sango male's body through his mouth and nose. It was a horror to witness this.

But then they realized this was going to happen to them as well, and they couldn't even move.

The second was Eomer, as one shadow vanished inside him, but he still managed to keep conscious and present. So, three others followed suit, forcefully gaining entry to his body, as he collapsed a minute later.

Elessar was the next to go, but managed to raise his hand to try and push it away. But his hand went right through them as he watched with mouth and eyes opened. And that's when two shadows invaded him. He fell back, falling unconscious.

Now they moved to Faramir, as he tried to prepare for what is to come. And came it did, as he fell forward with the first shadow that forced itself into him.

He got one last look, and saw the other three being pulled out of the meadow, deeper into the forest. He let darkness take him as he closed his eyes and feel out of consciousness.

Boo! Well... They're in deep trouble now :X If you didn't read what I wrote at the top, you better do it now! It's important! I think...