A/N: I apologise for the gap between updates. My only excuse is that I have been moving into my new flat and along with moving my belongings, I have no internet in the flat yet… Hope this update makes up for the two week gap.

"Normal Speech"
'Wolf Speech'

Chapter 4 (24)

World-Weary

"There was something in her eyes that made me trust her. Maybe it was because they held the same cynicism, the same world-weariness I saw in my own every morning when I looked at myself in the mirror."
― Melika Dannese Lux, Corcitura

Ammy hadn't slept at all that night. She had lain, naked as a wee bairn, under her fur pelt with Theodred's wounded body held tightly to her in order to keep his body temperature up. The few hours the Ame-no-Mihashira had managed to rest had not been peaceful as her head ached as if something was pounding on it and she had felt Boromir's weakening thread.

As the Gondorian neared death the Royal Yellow thread which bound him to her pulsed weakly, fading in and out of this world and the next. When Boromir had finally succumbed to his wounds the thread had not only faded but just before it vanished it had snapped. The breaking of the thread was not like a sharp cut with an initial sting and then a dull throbbing pain but rather like a tearing wound that carried on bleeding and ripping the skin. The ending of the thread was a moment that lasted a few seconds at most but to Amaterasu it felt as if the fiery pain went on for hours.

After she knew Boromir had passed all Ammy could do was lie in the mud and cold and weep for Boromir. Brego had nosed at her several times concerned for her obvious fragile state but Ammy could not comfort him or Ayaka who chirped worriedly from her place above Ammy's head. The albino woman was too lost in the pain from the tearing of the thread and from the loss of Boromir.

Rain had been falling steadily for several hours and Ammy could feel the droplets hitting her face and hair that was plastered to her head.
The sodden mass of usually silk-like strands was so heavy that it unravelled itself from the braid Legolas had made only a couple of days ago. The loss of the braid, her only remaining visual connection to the Fellowship and the tight bonds she had made with them made Ammy want to weep further but all her tears had been spent mourning Boromir.

Sitting up Ammy allowed the cloak to fall down her torso, uncaring of her nudity as her only companions were a Tenshi (who was female anyway), Brego the horse and an unconscious Theodred. There were no peeking toms around this area and so Amaterasu could not bring herself to care much.
The horse hair on her arms, legs and torso was soon soaked too and the albino realised she now smelt of wet horse as well as blood, mud and wet animal fur.

Wrinkling her nose in distaste and then rubbing her eyes Ammy peered around at the muddy riverbank patch where she and Brego had washed up the night before. There was more light than when they had beached a few hours earlier and so she could make out more of the corpses that littered the bank. She held in a gasp of shock and horror as she was greeted by a plethora of bodies. The number of deceased here nearly rivalled the number further upstream where Theodred had been wounded.

Orc, horse and Man lay in the mud and blood; faces wracked with pain and anguish. Amaterasu sighed tiredly. It seemed despite the beauty, wonder and magic of Middle Earth there were still power hungry men, war and suffering. Her sigh woke Brego who lifted his head and whickered at the albino.

Ammy reached out her hand and rubbed it up and down the stallion's nose.

"It's alright my friend. I am well. And it seems your master is no worse than he was last night." Ammy spoke softly and Brego replied with a snicker and then dropped his head back down and closed his eyes, hoping to catch a few more minutes or hours sleep, if at all possible.

Chuckling softly Amaterasu turned her attention to Theodred. Lifting the pelt and turning it down to expose his buckled and damaged armour and the gaping wound beneath the leather the vet in Ammy that remained from her time in her old world winced and knew instinctively that Theodred would not survive.
Maybe if she had, had proper medical equipment, a hospital and a sterile environment she could have extended his life to some extent or even healed him, but here in the cold, wet and hostile environment of Middle Earth there was little she could do for him.

The Ame-no-Mihashira covered the young soldier back up with her fur cloak and then stood, her wet hair tumbling down her back covered in mud. In fact almost her entire body was covered in mud save her face and it was then that she realised that as they had lain there the edge of the riverbank had begun to sink. Cursing Ammy pulled her cloak off Theodred and draped it over Brego.

The stallion woke and lurched to his feet at the sudden weight on his back.

"Peace Brego. There's no one here. We need to move Theodred though; the riverbank is sinking because of all the fighting and the rain." Ammy looked around in the dim light and was relieved when Ayaka began to flit around illuminating the open space better.

Crouching down Amaterasu pushed Theodred into a sitting position and then looped her arms under his, so that she could drag him by his armpits. When she tried to stand up again the female nearly toppled over. Theodred was not particularly tall but his extra muscle, armour and body shape made him too heavy and too cumbersome for Ammy to shift alone.

Carefully putting Theodred back down again Ammy looked around frantically for another solution. Finally her eyes landed on Brego. The bay stallion was trotting nervously on the spot, his ears flicking around and occasionally pressing back against his head in agitation.

"If I can't move you or carry you I guess Brego will have to do it." Ammy whistled and Brego came to stand on her other side. Removing her fur cloak Ammy wrapped it around her form, after quickly checking that the Yata-no-Kagami was still strapped to her torso. She then coaxed the Brego to lay down on the ground.

The sky above them was beginning to lighten and Ayaka who had been monitoring their surroundings let out a worried squeal and tugged hard on a strand of wet hair that hung near Ammy's face. When she had the Ame-no-Mihashira's attention the Tenshi began to chitter and point at the sky which despite the seemingly omnipresent rainclouds was beginning to lighten from black to steel grey and in the east the clouds even seemed dove grey and white.

"Crap!" Ammy cursed and then offered the Tenshi a quick and thankful smile. "Thanks Ayaka. Now you huddle on under my hair. It won't shelter you much from the rain but it should be a sight better than darting around in this deluge and getting absolutely soaked. One of us has to be well and awake enough to know what's going on and I have a feeling it isn't going to be me."

Ayaka chirped and pressed a kiss to Ammy's cheek before she took her larger friend's advice and burrowed under her hair to nestle in the hood of the cloak and was thus protected mostly from the rain as the drops hit the curtain of silver and white hair that hung from Ammy's head.

Shaking her head and slapping her cheeks Ammy returned her attention back to Theodred and Brego. The mud beneath the horse had already begun sliding and the stallion appeared to be sinking. Amaterasu quickly raised Theodred into a sitting position once again but this time she darted underneath his right arm and managed to heave him up slightly off the ground. A pained moan escaped his lips and then his feverish face dropped to rest on Ammy's.

The young man's face was hot and flushed and his lips moved softly with gentle puffs of air and incoherent words spilling from them in his delirious state. The wound and the cold rain were taking their toll on them. Gritting her teeth Ammy steeled herself for what she was about to do next. She gently started dragging the mainly limp Theodred to Brego and then when she was at the kneeling horse's side she slowly allowed Theodred to fall across the stallions back.

Brego let out an encouraging whinny and Ammy felt her resolve begin to strengthen. Running around to Brego's other flank Ammy pushed and pulled so that Theodred finally lay along Brego's back with a leg either side. Certain that this was the best way for Theodred to travel Ammy then looked around searching for anything she could use to tie the unconscious man to the saddle, once she was in animal form there would be no way she could hold him on Brego's back.

Several leather belts later and Ammy had managed to secure Theodred securely to the saddle. She then found a soldier's pack which had some small items in; medicinal herbs, bandages, a pot of weapon oil and a water skin. The bandages were basically dry as the leather pouch had not lain in the river but on land and so after pressing some leaves in the wound to try and treat the infection Ammy packed the bandages into the gap, the white fabric almost immediately turning pink and then red.
As her fingers probed in the wound and jostled the damaged armour Theodred let out sharp cries and occasionally called for his father. Ammy felt her heart twinge with more pain and if she had any tears left she would have shed them for Theodred's pain.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She gasped as her fingers trembled. The cold rain was not helping her in anyway as her already stiff and tired fingers fumbled and consistently knocked the wound or the armour that pierced his flesh. "I'm so sorry Theodred. We'll get you home. Brego and I will take you home, shh."

Ammy ran her blood-stained fingers gently through his hair and pressed soft kisses to his forehead, murmuring gently to him until he had settled back into his feverish mumbles.

"Brego up!" Ammy said as she walked round to the stallion's head. The horse was well trained as he carefully rose up to stand on his hooves without jostling Theodred too much. Grabbing his bridle Ammy gently pulled and the horse began to move forward, his hooves slipping in the mud. Mere seconds after Brego's rear hooves left the muddy patch where they had laid that night, the mud slipped and then poured in an oozing brown trickle into the river where it was swept away and only rocks were left to be buffeted by the current.

"Thank goodness." Ammy breathed out in a relieved and heartfelt sigh. She tiredly wiped her blood-soaked and muddy hand across her forehead uncaring of the mud that stuck to her face. She did not think there was an inch of her body that wasn't covered in mud, blood or something else unspeakable but she could not bring herself to care much.

The sky above was nearly light grey and as they began to pick their way back downstream Ammy felt the change coming over her. The silver and gold lights played over her body and startled Brego who began stepping backwards, wary of this new circumstance.

In the place where Ammy had stood there was now "Aneira" the horse. Covered in mud and blood and with her several wounds trickling slightly. The transformation from human to horse had obviously torn some of the scabs open and the thin cuts that she had gained from the fight the previous day were flowing freely. Brego nosed along her muddy flank until he reached her head where he rubbed his chin over her face and buffeted her gently with his body. The warmth of the bay stallion was a comfort to the muddy white mare and she whickered gently in appreciation.

Then the two horses began to pick their way slowly through the fallen bodies, each horse watching out for the other but trying to stick as close together as possible.

The bay stallion and the white mare had only been moving for an hour or so downstream when they heard the sound of approaching horses and men. Ayaka who had been peeking out from under Ammy's forelock quickly buried herself back in the mare's muddy hair; the Tenshi's glow unseen due to the mud and general dirt that coated the mane.

Brego and Ammy stopped stock still and waited to see what would happen. From an opening in the trees ahead they saw men dismount their steeds and begin to search through the corpses.

"Find the King's son!" One of them cried and Ammy could just make out their conversation over the sound of the river and the falling rain. The men had not yet noticed the two horses standing further upstream and Ammy was happy to keep it that way for the moment.

So engrossed in monitoring the Men in front of her, Amaterasu did not notice the white mare approaching them. This new mare was the same height as Brego and but her mane and hair was whiter than Ammy's save for some red coloured hairs that peppered her mane and tail. This mare had unusual eyes as they were not the typical brown or amber of horses but rather one was blue and the other was gold. This new mare stepped quietly and slowly towards Brego and Ammy and then let out a piercing whinny when she saw Theodred strapped to Brego's back.

All the men who had been turning over the soldiers' bodies rushed towards them with and the one who had been shouting earlier leading the charge. As they ran towards Brego and his precious cargo Ammy felt her mothering instincts kick in and her natural animal instincts told her to defend Theodred from these newcomers.

She leapt in front of Brego, who stumbled back in surprise, and then let out a loud and vicious bray. Rearing back on her hind legs she beat at the air with her front legs and hooves and the men came to a stop several feet away from the two horses.

The soldier who wore no helmet held his hands up and back to speak in a low soothing voice.

"Come on lass. We mean you and your friend no harm. Let me look."

Ammy screamed and reared up again and the blonde Viking-like man backed off his movements still slow and his hands still raised.
The white mare with the red hairs moved forward and faced Ammy, looking straight into her eyes. Until this moment Ammy had not really taken the time to look at the new mare but as she stared into the other's eyes she felt something like recognition within her head. As if Izanami had let out a sigh of relief at the sight of this newcomer.

'Could this be?' Ammy thought and she whickered at the other mare, her head cocked inquisitively to one side as she regarded the two different coloured eyes; one blue and one gold. These were not the eyes of a horse. These were the eyes of an Ame-no-Mihashira as Ammy knew because she had seen eyes like these staring back at her in all her animal reflections.

The white mare whickered and rubbed her nose to Ammy's. for the first few seconds Ammy kept her body tightly wound, shock coursing through her as well as doubt but then the feeling of recognition was replaced with a sense of camaraderie, friendship and love for a dear friend before all feeling of Izanami disappeared. This short burst of emotion from the spirit that dwelt in Ammy's head was enough to reassure the young Ame-no-Mihashira that Izanami knew this newcomer and that she was not threat.

Relaxing slightly Ammy moved to the side and ducked her head, showing that the men could come forward. The loud blonde and another soldier moved forward, both of them untying Theodred from Brego's back and slipping the injured boy from the stallion.

"Lord Eomer! Lord Theodred is wounded!" The soldier cried to the blonde. Both men inspected the wound and saw the herbs and tightly packed bandages that were already beginning to turn red.

"Someone must have done this. These bandages have only recently been put on him and the leaves are freshly plucked." Eomer murmured and then looked around, searching for the man who had tried to heal the King's son. Unfortunately there was no movement from nearby and with the rain still falling any tracks would have been lost.

"We shall return to Edoras. I will take Theodred on Tanwen." Eomer strode up to the white mare with the red forelock and mounted her swiftly. His men then passed up the wounded Theodred and Eomer gathered the reigns in one hand but did not make any move to use them.

Tanwen, for that was indeed the white mare's name, moved forward to stand next to Ammy and Brego.

"Men! Half of you will remain here. Search for survivors. If you find any return to Edoras as soon as possible. The rest of you mount up, we ride to Edoras."

There was quick conversation between the men and then half of them returned to where they had dismounted and climbed onto their horses. Tanwen began to move forward, picking her way back to the woods and the road like path that led out of the forest.

Brego let out a shrill whinny and began to move to follow her but his bridle was grabbed by some of the men who were remaining behind. The moment their hands began tugging the stallion back he went mad, bucking and tossing his head all the time crying shrilly.
Ammy couldn't stand the proud stallion's distress and ploughed forward, her larger frame causing the men to back off in surprise. Nudging Brego's flank Ammy moved away from the men and trotted after Tanwen, Brego following her in an agitated manner.

"My Lord Eomer. What of the two horses?" One of the mounted soldiers called as Ammy and Brego trotted up behind Tanwen.

"The stallion is Theodred's. He will follow us to Edoras even if we tried to keep him here. Do not worry, he will not fall behind and even if he does he can take care of himself. I have never seen the mare before. I do not recognise her under all that mud. Someone see what colour her coat is."

One of the soldiers brought forth a cloth and wiped it down Ammy's breast in short, sweeping movements, pressing firmly against the mud and removing it. After a few strokes the white hair could be seen despite the red and brown tint.

Eomer stared down at the white patch and then into Ammy's gold eyes. Before he could say anything Theodred seemed to drift out of his feverish state and cried out loudly:

"Brego! Brego!" The stallion whinnied and the young man settled for a second before shouting out again.

"Grimbold? Father? No….Father…Eomer... Eomer… Aneira…" His voice trailed off but Ammy moved forward before he lost consciousness once again and pressed her nose to his palm. The feverish boy stroked her nose gently looked at her and then said 'Aneira' once more before his eyes closed and he drifted into sleep once again.

"It seems the mare belongs to my cousin. Aneira. She shall return to Edoras also." Eomer stared down at Ammy with thoughtful eyes before he pulled slightly on the reigns and turned Tanwen. Gently kicking his heels into her flanks Eomer sent the white mare cantering forward through the parted cavalry who fell into two lines behind her. Brego and Ammy cantered along behind them with a few suspicious and curious looks being thrown their way by the soldiers who were left behind to search the dead for the living.

The sun had risen on a dark day in Gondor. Boromir's body had been washed and cleansed, all signs of battle removed, and he had been dressed in the clothes and armour that suited the Captain of Gondor. He had then been placed in a wooden coffin with white flowers around his head, his broken horn on his chest, his sword hilt clasped between his hands and his shield at the top of the coffin above his head.

His eyes were closed and a small smile was on his face. The Gondorian had passed away with the White Tree in his sight and with the knowledge that Aragorn, son of Arathorn and rightful King of Gondor was going to save his city and his people.

Denethor had stayed with his eldest son all through the night and when morning came none could get him to move. Faramir had come and gone, weeping at his brother's side only to be called away by the guard or by a scout. But when the time came for his brother's funeral Faramir placed his second in command in charge.

Faramir along with three other Guards of the Citadel carried the open wooden coffin on their shoulders with the grief-stricken Denethor following behind muttering to himself. Boromir was to be buried in the Burial House of the Kings and Kiyiya could find no fault in that for Boromir had proved his worth despite the temptations of the Ring and had done right by the people and his country. The Wolf Princess knew that Aragorn would have approved of this burial and so she said nothing and only followed the funeral procession.

They entered the white building in which the tombs of the previous Kings and Stewards lay and Kiyiya held back a shiver. There was a smell of death and decaying flesh in this building despite its well cared for state and she knew that some of these caskets had not been moved or opened for thousands of years. The procession journeyed to the furthest chamber of the Burial House where several empty stone tombs were sat upon plinths. Boromir was gently lowered down into one of these and then Denethor gave a speech.

Kiyiya tuned out the rambling Steward whose voice trembled with grief and a hint of madness. Kiyiya knew what madmen sounded like, and men possessed by great want or need of treasure sounded like madmen. The dark-haired woman doubted that Denethor would heed his son's dying words and even if Denethor did listen she knew it would only be a matter of time before the Steward's mind cracked under the pressure.

Denethor had been great once; a fair and just Steward who thought of the best for the people of Gondor and for Gondor itself, but the manner in which he treated his two sons was very different. One he loved and doted on for being everything Denethor wished he could be and the other he treated with disdain and disapproval. Kiyiya knew that Faramir was not the runt despite what Denethor thought and so the Wolf Princess chose to stand by the younger son who was pale with grief.

After Denethor had finished talking and fallen into tears Faramir stepped forward and spoke only of how Boromir had been his dearest friend and confidant and how he would be missed by both Faramir and Denethor and by the people of Gondor. Faramir's poetic speech was met with a disdainful look from Denethor but before the older man could say anything Kiyiya let out a little rumbling growl which echoed off the stone walls.

Denethor turned his gaze to her and regarded her with calculating eyes before he gestured for her to speak.

Feeling slightly aggravated Kiyiya moved forward to stand by Boromir's tomb. Looking down at the Gondorian she could not think of anything personal to say as she had known him for only a few days and most of those he had been ill or delirious with pain. Instead she chose to recite words that her family used in times of death.

"They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning;
We will remember them." (Ode of Remembrance- Laurence Binyon)

The burial ended with a large marble stone being put on top of the stone casket. The resounding 'thud' that filled the chamber as the lid settled sent shivers down Kiyiya's spine as it seemed so final, so definite an end.

The few nobles who had attended the funeral left the Burial House first and the last to leave were Kiyiya, Faramir and Denethor. They walked back in silence up to the White Tree where Menewa and Kajika sat in silence.

Kiyiya whistled to the wolves that stood and moved to stand behind her, she then turned to face Denethor and Faramir. Smiling gently and comfortingly at Faramir the Wolf Princess bowed her head in respect before turning her attention to Denethor.

"Lord Denethor, I am sorry for your loss. I hope Boromir's last words were a comfort to you." Kiyiya kept her voice soft and smooth but her face was expressionless.

"They do not comfort me. You have not told me how my son died." Denethor's voice was bitter and when he finally looked up at Kiyiya she almost recoiled with the venomous glare that was being aimed at her. Grief had twisted Denethor's face and his dark eyes were filled with the promise of pain if she did not answer. Menewa's hackles rose at the animosity that was being directed towards his sister and Kajika began to pace back and forth behind both of them, keeping a watchful eye and keen ear on the soldiers and civilians that surrounded them.

"I am sorry Lord Denethor. I do not know exactly how Boromir received his wounds, but from what I gather they were inflicted when he was trying to protect those weaker than himself, as any good soldier should do, for a sword has no honour unless it is used to protect those who cannot defend themselves. It was an honourable deed."

Kiyiya fought to keep her voice steady, she would not be intimidated by Denethor and even if he was going mad, that was no excuse for him to be rude to her.

"An honourable deed? He is dead. He was loyal to me and should have brought back that which I bade him retrieve. Not die protecting those who had no business in these matters. Now tell me everything you know about the Ringbearer or I will have you killed where you stand!" Denethor's voice rose shrilly and several of the guards pointed their pikes and spears at Kiyiya and the wolves.

"Father?!" Faramir cried and grabbed his father's arm. "It is not Princess Kiyiya's fault. She has done us a great favour which we cannot repay her for. You cannot treat her in such a manner!"

"Release me boy!" Denethor shouted and then advanced on Kiyiya. He grabbed the edge of her cloak and pulled her towards him, shouting wildly and spit hitting her face. Kiyiya did not flinch and instead stared the grief-stricken man in the eyes.

"Tell me everything you know, or you shall never leave this Citadel. Not until you are dead!"

"Unhand me Denethor. I do not talk with madmen, nor would I tell you anything of the Ringbearer. The Ring is evil. It corrupts minds with evil insidious words and obeys only Sauron. You could not control it nor should you desire it. Your desire for the Ring will destroy you, your sons and your city. Forget the Ring and concentrate on your defences like Boromir told you to." Kiyiya snapped coolly at him but it did little to abate his rage.

"This woman is not to leave Minas Tirith! Send word down to the gate. She and her mangy flea-bitten mongrels are to stay here until she gives me what I want!" Denethor cried petulantly and out of the corner of her eye Kiyiya saw a guard run down towards the city. She sighed and then peered around Denethor to meet eyes with Faramir.

"I am sorry for this Faramir." She raised her hand and struck Denethor on the side of the head with the hilt of his knife which she had lifted from his belt only moments ago. The Steward was so incensed with grief and rage that he had not felt her hand scrabbling for his dagger.

The man slumped down but before he could hit the ground Menewa had picked him up by the back of his clothes and the Steward now hung limply from the giant wolf's mouth.

Kiyiya darted over to the wall that barricaded the edge of the cliff. She jumped up onto it with the beads in her hair clicking and chiming wildly as she spun around to face the guardsmen who were now pointing their pikes at her.

'Go on. I'll jump down and Kajika can catch me.' She growled at the wolves who ran through the swarming guards in quick steps, none of the weapons even grazing their fur. Kiyiya turned her attention back to the soldiers and Faramir who had not moved an inch when Menewa picked up his father.

"I will return the Steward to you once I have left the city. Faramir!" The Gondorian soldiers parted as their new Captain stepped through their mass until he stood before Kiyiya.

"Climb up here please."

Faramir stepped onto the stone wall and peered anxiously down at the drop. It was several feet and if they fell there was nothing to stop them from dying.

"I will return Lord Denethor to Lord Faramir when I and my siblings have left the walls of Minas Tirith. Good day!" With that Kiyiya turned and grabbed Faramir's hand and pulled him off the wall. She heard shouts from above as the soldiers rushed to see what had befallen Faramir but all they saw was two russet wolves racing down the street and Faramir clinging to Kiyiya's torso as Kajika hurtled along.

Kajika let out a howl as they ran and the streets ahead of them cleared of civilians who stepped into doorways and alleys and mothers pulled children close to their skirts. Denethor still hung limply from Menewa's mouth and the male wolf was careful not to swing the unconscious man into any buildings. The fruit cart that he went into was a simple mistake and Menewa got no pleasure out of the Steward being covered in fruit…

In a few minutes they had reached the gate where a line of guards stood with pikes, spears, shields and swords. The wolves slid to a halt in front of the troops and Kajika grinned at them and enjoyed watching them squirm. She could even have sworn that one of them wet himself at the sight of her pearly white incisors.

"Open the gate!" Kiyiya commanded. The guards simply shifted in place and looked nervously at Denthor hanging limply.

"Open the gate and you will get your Steward back. He has no right to force me to remain here. He is only a Steward and I am royalty. You will open the gate." Kiyiya's voice was harder and more firm now as none of the soldiers moved.

"Faramir, if you would be so kind." She growled and then held onto the man as he slid down Kajika's front leg. Once Faramir was on the ground she released his arm and sat back up on Kajika and pulled her spear from the strap of the pack that was tied to the she-wolf.

"Open the gate. Princess Kiyiya will do my father no harm." Faramir strode over to the gate and began pulling on the door. The men hastened to aid him and soon the doors were wide enough apart that the two wolves could fit through one at a time.

"Menewa will go first with Lord Denethor, than Faramir can go ahead of Kajika and myself." Kiyiya called and was met with a firm nod from Faramir.

They proceeded out of the gate in single file with Kiyiya keeping an eye on the soldiers who gathered to watch what would happen once they left the citadel. Archers were on the battlements with bows drawn and arrows notched; waiting for any sign of deception.

'Menewa, carefully put Denethor down next to Faramir please.' Kiyiya growled and the wolf obeyed with a few grumbles. He had not liked how Denethor had treated and spoken to his sister and wanted to cause the Steward to suffer some more. But Kiyiya was the eldest and he knew they were in a tricky situation.

Faramir knelt down next to his father and checked the lump that was forming on the side of Denethor's head. He chuckled weakly before looking up at Kiyiya.

"You hit him rather hard, Princess Kiyiya."

"Whoops?" Kiyiya shrugged and then dropped the borrowed knife into the dirt with the blade sinking in an inch or so. She didn't like stealing weapons, preferring her own spear, but Denethor had given her no choice as she couldn't reach the blades strapped to her legs or to her arms due to the tight grip he had held her in.

"I apologise for my father. I would like to say the grief has made him loose his senses, but I fear that will not convince you." Faramir bowed lowly to the Wolf Princess who sighed and then spoke once more.

"I suspect the grief is playing a part Faramir. I do not doubt that Denethor loved Boromir dearly. But I have seen Men and Dwarfs go mad over gold and power. Watch your father; do not trust everything he says until he stops talking of bringing the Ring to Minas Tirith. It will not be safe here and will only bring ruin and destruction on your people, and I fear that will be headed your way shortly."

"I thank you for your council Wolf Princess." Faramir bowed once again and then watched as the two wolves raced off towards the North-East and towards the River Anduin. He had heard tales of the Wolf Princess, stories of the woman who walked and ran with the giant wolves and these tales spanned at least 60 years, but he had never expected to discover that they were true and would not have imagined meeting her.

Sighing Faramir picked up his father's knife and returned it to it's sheathe. The Captain of Gondor than gestured for some of his men to bring out a cart so that they could take his father back up to the White Tower. He was not looking forward to his father's temper for the next few days. But maybe after a few days grieving for Boromir, the Steward would be in his right mind once again.

Kiyiya looked behind her at the shrinking city of Minas Tirith. The tanned woman shuddered at the thought of having to go back there.

'Where to now Kiyiya?' Menewa growled as they trotted along.

'Are we going to go home?' Kajika asked.

'I think, we need to go home yes. But we need to make a visit first. We will journey back up towards Lorien and then cross the Anduin. I think a visit in Mirkwood is in order.'

'Mirkwood?' Kajika gasped and then growled. 'Why do you want to go there?'

'I think I need to try and talk to Thranduil. He is looking after something that I think Amaterasu may need in the future, well him and that other male… The others will not be happy when we return home though… Especially…' Kiyiya trailed off and winced when she thought of the reactions she would get upon her return if they found out she had stopped in Mirkwood.

'You mean your dear mate will not be happy with you?' Menewa teased and was rewarded with a scowl from the woman.

'I don't think he'll be best pleased with her anyway brother dear. She's been gone for several months now and he's had no one to play with.' Kajika's voice was sharp with humour and as both wolves descended into laughter Kiyiya pouted.

'Just because I have a mate. You scared off the last giant wolf that was interested in you Mene, she said you were too immature. And Kaji won't accept that nomad's suit. You are both just childish and need to start acting your age. You'd think after 90 years you would have grown up and decided to take a mate, but no. You're staying with the pack and causing Mother to get grey fur.'

Menewa stopped chuckling and if wolves could blush he was doing so. Kajika was acting stuck up and then decided to retort.

'If anyone gives Mother grey fur it's you Kiyiya. Before we'd even crossed the mountains 60 years ago you were doing silly things like wrestling with the wolves at the Fell Winter and then taunting Dwarfs.'

'Well look where taunting Dwarfs has got me. It's not a bad place to be and I'd not change it for the world. Any of it.' Kiyiya stroked the scars over her eye reminiscently and with a hint of sadness. 'Besides, I don't think anyone will be too concerned over where I've been or whom I've been with. Not with the news we have to bring back of Moria and of Frodo.'

Their moods turned sour and all three fell silent as they journeyed on. It would take them several days to reach Lorien once again, especially as they would have to hunt and rest having done little of that trying to return Boromir to Minas Tirith. The journey through Mirkwood should not be too hazardous but all three would prefer not to spend too much time there and they were eager to return to the Ithil Draug Tylwythau Pack and Kiyiya had spent too long away from her mate.

Turning their attention northward the three journeyed on, oblivious to all that was happening in the west…

They had travelled for most of the day, the rain letting up in the middle of the morning but the foreboding grey clouds had remained making the countryside seem dark and ominous. Ammy could feel her sleepless night catching up on her and when they stopped further down the river Ammy charged into the water and washed the mud off her body.

The water was freezing cold and Ammy whinnied loudly at the shock. Forcing herself to plunge under the water she nearly forgot about Ayaka who was still nestled under Ammy's forelock. The Tenshi screamed shrilly and flew out from under the wet silver mane and darted into Brego's mane instead.

The bay stallion merely huffed at the sudden intrusion and then regarded Ammy's antics. Once the mud was washed off her, Ammy's white hair and silver mane glimmered with water droplets and after coming out of the river she tossed her head and some of the water flew off her mane. The cuts on her flanks were more obvious now and she sighed.
Maybe tonight she would be able to find somewhere she could treat her wounds where no one would see her transform and she could get some rest without having to worry about orcs attacking and where she could grieve for Boromir properly.

"Mount up!" Eomer called as he swung back up onto Tanwen. Theodred was passed back up to Eomer by one of the soldiers. They had taken it in turns to ride with Theodred so that the horses didn't tire too quickly. "We have a few hours of daylight left and I want to be in Edoras before nightfall."

They set off once again but this time the pace was quicker, not a full-fledged gallop but still a speedier canter than before. Ammy and Brego despite their lack of sleep were still quicker than some of the other horses who had men with armour, weapons and gear to carry. All Brego had as extra weight was his tack and saddle and even though they were soaked with water from the river and the rain he was still quicker than the other horses.

The rider less stallion and mare galloped around the small group, circling the riders agitatedly. For some reason Ammy felt restless and wanted to break into a gallop but instead of going towards Edoras she wanted to turn and run the other way. Something was up ahead that she really didn't want to meet; it felt evil and cruel, like an oozing black feeling that sunk into her veins.

As they rose up over the crest of a hill she saw a small mountain standing alone in the middle of a mainly flat grassy plain. Standing alone in the vast grasslands this towering rock dominated the landscape and Ammy didn't think she had seen anything quite like it. England had some pretty amazing locations for old houses and towns but this was different. There was normally another town, village, anything nearby in England but Edoras was isolated with not another settlement in sight as far as the eye could see.

Tanwen whickered at Ammy and buffeted her flank with her nose. Eomer tapped the white and red mare's flank and Tanwen charged off in the fast canter once again with the other riders falling into two lines behind her. Brego trotted along quite happily at the back but stopped when he realised Ammy hadn't come with him. The bay stopped and whinnied at her, stamping his hoof and tossing his head in the direction of Edoras.

Ammy however was frozen; her ears were pressed back against her head, her muscles were quivering and her eyes were trying to roll back in her head. Brego trotted back and rubbed his body along Ammy's white flank. Once again his warmth was comforting and Ammy felt her muscles tense and then relax. The two horses began to move forward with Brego sticking close to Ammy's side. They started off at a trot but then progressed to a gallop with their manes and tails streaming behind them like banners fluttering in the wind.

Ayaka who was still on top of Brego's head, poked her frame out of his forelock and leaned into the wind that was streaming over and around the stallion. The Tenshi let out high giggles of delight at the speed with which they were travelling and raised her hands above her head to cut into the wind.

Despite the slimy feeling that only grew stronger the closer they got to the outcrop Amaterasu forced herself onward. Brego and she passed the group with Theodred and thundered across the plains to the road that led up to the front gate, Brego charging ahead as his stronger muscles and greater stamina allowed him to overtake Ammy. The smaller white mare found that as Brego pulled away from her the sense of evil grew stronger and she cried out shrilly for him.

The bay came to a stop and waited for Ammy to catch up. The two stood near the gates and waited for Eomer and his men to catch up. As the small mounted group came towards the wooden barricade a cry went up from inside the town and the gates creaked open as they battled against the racing wind that poured down from the top of the town near the Great Hall.

Brego and Ammy allowed Eomer and Theodred to go ahead but followed closely behind and as they went up the road through the town Ammy saw children with tired and weary faces, old women looking haggard and bitter and few men. It was as if the life had been drained from them. Looking around at her surroundings she saw wooden buildings with horses carved into the woodwork above the doors and on the eaves. In the edges of the town there were tents and it looked as if several villages were taking refuge in the safety of Edoras.

The wind up here was bitterly cold and seemed to continuously be tossing hair and mane about. The group came to a halt near the steps to the Great Hall and Theodred was eased down and then carried by several men up the steps and into the building.

As soon as Theodred disappeared from his sight, Brego began to whinny and call out for his master, stamping agitatedly and tossing his head. When the bay made to go up the steps to the hall the soldiers threw ropes over his head and began tugging him towards the stable were the other horses had been taken. Brego cried shrilly and strained against the ropes but to no avail as more and more men came to hustle him into the building and then into a large stall. Once they had him in there they tied the ropes to a ring at the front of the stall.
Before they could shut the enraged stallion in, Ammy slipped by the men and came to stand by Brego, whickering and nuzzling his neck and ears; lipping at his mane. After a few seconds the stallion calmed and dropped his head wearily.

The horsemen seeing that the stallion was calmer took this opportunity to slip into the stall and remove his tack. Another braver soldier decided to wipe down the two horses and treat their wounds. Most of the cuts were superficial and after being washed with clean water he simply left the wounds to the open air to scab over and heal. With Ammy's cut from Moria and the arrow wound she had received trying to defend Boromir he was forced to rub in some medicinal salve and then bind the arrow wound.

Ammy stayed still throughout the entire procedure and only let out a cry once when his hand slipped and knocked the arrow wound. All around them men were tending to their horses and soon all the horses were happily resting or eating. As soon as the horseman had finished tending Ammy's wounds he backed out of the stall and shut the door securely so that Brego could not escape.

The only problem with being in the stable was that Ammy could not see the sky and thus could not tell when sunset was drawing near. Deciding she may as well get some rest before she transformed Ammy closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off into a light sleep.

A few minutes after falling asleep Amaterasu heard Ayaka squeaking and felt the Tenshi's hands on her ear. Opening her eyes she looked for the small fae and saw the ruby-red glow gittering about in the darkening stable. Realising that Ayaka had woken her in time for change Ammy tried to move forward but realised someone had slipped a bridle on her whilst she was asleep and tied her to the stall wall.

Jerking her head Ammy tried to pull the rope from the metal ring but it was no good. She was tied securely to the wall and there was only a few seconds till the sun fully set. Thinking on her toes Ammy transformed into her snake form which would be the least different to a human frame, having no extra appendages. The gold and silver lights danced over her horse body as she shifted to snake and just as that transformation finished the one from animal to human began and Ammy could only hope that the horses didn't panic…

Outside the stables of Edoras, Grima Wormtongue skulked up the road to the Great Hall. He had slipped out earlier that day to meet with an informant and it had been a disappointing journey indeed with the imbecile having old information and a failing mind.

To have to return to Edoras and watch Eowyn run around the town was hardly a burden, but Grima had been informed at the gates by one of his men that Eomer had returned and brought an injured Theodred as well as a strange white horse. The sallow-skinned man cared little for the horse, there were far too many horses here as it was, but the news of Theodred's possibly fatal wound was bringing him joy.

Just as he passed by the stables Grima decided to take a look at this white horse that had sent all the peasants into a state of rapture, it was not like they had never seen a grey horse before; Eomer rode on that vicious one that was white with blood-red hairs in its mane and forelock. Pulling a lit torch from a bracket on the wall Grima swung the door to the stable open but was blinded by a pure light that was shining from somewhere within the building…

A/N: I've just realised there's been lots of death and feels in the last couple of chapters or so… Can't say it'll get much better, but there will be less death… Can anyone guess as to whom Kiyiya is mated with? I'd love to know what anyone thinks! And what are your opinions on Tanwen…. Seem familiar or no?
Let me know in a review!

Thanks to:
Danda225, daddys number 1 girl, Kistelle, Fellowship of Avengers, jonnioholo, Panthour, Emzy2k11, Sadly Only A Guest, GleekLover2012, Rorythedragon, DragonOwl, ZabuzasGirl, Nebriniel Peredhil and trollalalala.