A/N: Another chapter! Finally, I know!

~G~A~M~B~L~I~N~G~~W~I~T~H~~D~E~A~T~H~

Chapter 9 (29)

Look into my eyes

"When you feel my heat, Look into my eyes, It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide.
Don't get too close, It's dark inside, It's where my demons hide, It's where my demons hide." –Demons, Imagine Dragons

~G~A~M~B~L~I~N~G~~W~I~T~H~~D~E~A~T~H~

Aneira woke with a muted cry and threw herself from the bed and landed hard on the flagstone floor. Glancing up she saw that none of her new associates had been woken by her sudden noise. Aragorn was asleep in the bed opposite dark rings under his eyes and his face seemed gaunt and weary. The Ranger had spent the last two nights at her bedside making sure her wounds healed and that she actually rested. Gimli was snoring away merrily on the other side of the room with only the tip of his red hair poking out from under the sheet.

Gandalf was also asleep in their room and merely shifted at Aneira's heavy panting. The wizard had been monitoring the collar around her neck intently but both he and Tangwen deemed it unwise to remove the truth collar with Aneira being so weak.

Aneira gasped and shivered on the floor even though she wasn't cold. Sweat was beaded on her forehead and neck and she pushed the heavy mass of her hair back over her head with trembling hands. Nothing made sense. Her dreams were so fractured and fragmented. Pieces drifting in and out in a crazy mush that made no sense. Sometimes she thought she had something real and solid but it would drift away or explode into something else.

Things that didn't seem like they existed in this reality. Televisions? Radios? Cars? Aneira had no idea where she had seen these creations before. Certainly not in Middle Earth.

Her heart began to settle and eased into a steady rhythm. Her shivering hadn't stopped though and she worried about waking the others. Reaching up to her bed she pulled the sheets off it and grabbed the thickly woven wool socks that were on the floor. She shakily rose onto her feet and wrapped herself up in the blanket. The door looked so far away but Aneira needed to get out. She was sick of being in bed. Her head was throbbing and pounding and she was feeling lucid for the time being. She knew who she was and where she was. For the time being that would have to do.

Her feet were silent on the stone flags as she tiptoed to the door. When she reached it she lifted the latch and pulled back gently, wincing slightly as the hinges squealed softly. No one woke however and she slipped through the doorway and out into the corridor.

Torches lit the space with flickering shafts of light and there was a strange smell. Aneira sniffed as she padded down the corridor, her woollen socks hung limply in her hand, forgotten as her mind concentrated solely on the strange smell.

"Smells like... sorrow." She whispered and finally rounded left the corridor that suddenly broke into the Great Hall. The central fire had burnt low and only embers remained with smoke trailing up in wispy tendrils like dragon's breath, tiny embers glowing briefly as they ascended into the air like little orange fireflies before abruptly and swiftly dying.

Aneira moved forward entranced by the smoke her hand outstretched to try and touch the tiny lights her surroundings dismissed. Just as her finger tips pierced the smoke and a tiny ember fluttered closer a voice broke the stillness sending Aneira skittering into the shadows like a frightened child.

"I would not do that if I were you. Even though the flame is small the heat can singe your flesh."

Peering into the gloom she squinted towards the back of the hall where a dais stood with a throne upon it. The shadows there shifted and a man sat forward in the throne, his hair neatly brushed fell around his face and swallowed him further into shadow. The great fur robe that he was swathed in made his face seem frail and wan.

"I will not harm you child. Come out of the shadows. I have been here for many hours and would be glad of the company." Theoden King rose from his throne and came down to the dying fire. A trembling hand reached from inside his robes and plucked a log from a small stack. He threw it onto the dying embers and poked at it with a metal rod until flames consumed the wood. No sooner had the flames flickered into life than the King dropped the poker swiftly and hid his trembling hand inside his fur robe once more.

Aneira could smell the sorrow once more and curiosity peaked she crept from the edges of the hall and came to sit near Theoden.

Theoden watched from the corner of his eye as the young woman came forward. Her steps were slow and cautious. Bandages covered her upper arms and there were some carefully pushed under the heavy gold collar that encircled her thin neck. A thin paste had been spread over the cuts and scrapes on her face and he could just see the tip of a long cut that peaked from under her hair, the edges stitched together in a rather macabre pattern. The man made no movement nor sound as the girl seemed skittish enough already. She was like an unbroken filly, curious but careful, her eyes, ears and nose taking in everything around her all at once.

When she finally sat near the King he smiled gently and enjoyed her curiosity. It was so childlike and innocent, things which had long been absent from his kingdom. Even the horses of Rohan that ran wild on the plains were fearful and wary of everything and they no longer stopped and grazed for months at a time, always moving and keeping away from the evil that slunk through the land.

"Who are you?" She finally said.

"I am Theoden, King of Rohan. Ruler of this land."

She did not seem that impressed but Theoden knew she was not of sound mind. Once Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli had treated her wounds, Gandalf had come to give counsel and exchange information with Theoden. The pair had talked briefly of Aneira and so the King was aware of the condition she was in. He could not imagine what the young woman had undergone whilst in Grima's hands.

The very thought of the turncoat sent anger coursing through him, if it were not for him Theodred might still be alive. If Theoden had been of sound mind and not being controlled by Saruman and being fed venomous words by Grima then Theodred might still be living.

His anger was almost palpable and Aneira let out a whimper as she picked up on his rage. When that failed to rouse him from his anger-driven thoughts she let out a keening cry that pierced the silence. Theoden looked up and saw Aneira's wide and confused eyes.

"My apologies. My thoughts are dark at this hour. Much has happened that I feel responsible for, the death of my son and his men, the terror which has been unleashed upon my land and not least the terrible crimes which have been committed against you, Aneira."

She smiled sweetly, having forgotten the momentary rage that had consumed him mere moments before.

"I forgive you. Even though it probably could not have been stopped by you. Some things are destined, others not. My path is my own and when I walk down the yellow brick road it is my footsteps that decide my fate. Even if I do not know what will happen I will follow the stones until the end of my days. You can always ask the Wizard for help. He lives in the Emerald City and he's wonderful." She began humming a happy tune her eyes glazed over as clarity was lost and confusion settled back in.

"You are too kind child." Theoden said both bemusedly and sadly. Her fractured mind was clear when she spoke. Her words made sense and were nonsense simultaneously. Her thought processes being interrupted and her mind going off in tangents was clear to anyone who watched her.

"You smell sad, Theoden King. Like lilies on a grave, carnations in a vase, hyacinths by the window, incense on a stone and like crimson roses in trembling hands."

Theoden sucked in a sudden and sharp breath. Mad or not the girl was intelligent and sensitive.

"I have lost my son."

"Where did you leave him? Can you not go look for him? Maybe he is looking for you."

Theoden chuckled softly.

"I have not lost him in that sense, he has died. He will go to the halls of my forefathers and I shall not see him again until I too pass from this world."

"Oh." Aneira understood. Death. Ultimate loss that would either heal over time or last for an infinite time until Theoden died. "I think I met your son. He was kind to me when I was not myself. A friend in the confusion but I cannot be sure. I am sorry for your loss. Especially as you care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.*"

She hummed to herself and stared up at the smoke that disappeared into the roof, through the small hole that allowed glimmers of stars to shine through the murkiness.

Theoden was intrigued when Aneira said she had met Theodred. He knew she had, the men who had come upon Grima dragging her from the stables had told the King how Wormtongue had called her a witch, shape-shifter who had attempted to curse Theodred's horse. The men had said that the horse Wormtongue alleged she was, had returned with Eomer when he had recovered Theodred. The King only wished Aneira could have clarity enough to tell him how his son had been when he was last conscious. Before the fever had set in, the wound claiming his mind and his life. Aneira was the last one in the presence of his son; she had been there when he was alone and lost from his home and his father. Unfortunately Aneira was gone again.

"Thank you. It is a comfort to know that my son was not alone in his last moments of lucidity. But that does not change how I feel. He is lost to me in this world."

"Hmm. I'm lost too." Her voice rose in pitch and volume, her eyes widened as she saw things that were not there. "I'm not sure this is a world I belong in anymore. I'm not sure that I want to wake up.** The lines are blurring am I one or three? Teru, Amaterasu, Aneira? Which am me? Where is myself? Wandering in the dark, stepping in the shadows, losing my reason."

Her hands fluttered in the air, chasing away invisible creatures or thoughts. She flicked her fingertips and stared up at the roof muttering under her breath. Her entire body was trembling with energy or was it cold. Theoden saw the woollen socks that had been dropped on the floor and carefully and slowly he rose from the wooden bench.

He stepped closer to Aneira until he was just before her and knelt, gathering the socks in his also trembling hands. Whilst Aneira was lost in thought Theoden picked up her ice cold feet and slipped the socks on. He gently rubbed the tops of her feet, putting warmth back into them. He felt as if he were taking care of a young orphaned Eowyn once more. She had always forgotten her socks when she was young.

He smiled at the recollection. Eowyn had been such a wild young girl. Always rushing about, wanting to learn and explore. Whenever the young child had become tired she would return to the hall and fall asleep in the hall under a blanket and no matter how often Theoden tucked Eowyn under blankets her feet would always spring free. As if she wished to be on the move even in her sleep. The only way to prevent her feet from turning to blocks of ice was to wrap them in thick socks and massage warmth back into them.

Aneira's mutterings slowed and her flittering hands came to a stop. She cupped Theoden's face in her hands and stared deep into his soul. A glimmer of something raced behind her eyes and intrigued Theoden peered closer. Something was shifting in her mind. It might have been her insanity but it did not feel right. It was dark and slimy. Slinking behind her conscious.

Despite the unease it stirred within him Theoden shrugged it off as his grief-wracked mind playing tricks.

"Thank you." She said and released him. She stood and drifted past him heading to the door to the town. The great wooden door creaked as she pulled it open and moonlight filtered in through the gap, glimmering in her silver hair as she paused for a moment and looked back.

In that brief moment Theoden thought he could see what Amaterasu had been. Dignified and strong, the last of a great people with a heavy burden. The moonlight was kind and hid the pain that had been carved on her flesh and face and the darkness that had visited her. She was truly entrancing to behold and Theoden could understand why Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli had been so incensed at her condition.

Then she vanished into the moonlight and the door swung shut behind her, leaving Theoden alone to mourn.

~G~A~M~B~L~I~N~G~~W~I~T~H~~D~E~A~T~H~

Aneira slipped down through the citadel wandering like a spirit, allowing the wind to push and pull at her leading her in specific direction with no ultimate destination. As it buffeted her and tugged at her hair she chuckled and held out her arms inviting the element to play.

In the quiet stillness of the night her laughter pealed out and touched people's dreams. Too long had laughter been absent from the people of Rohan's lives and in their troubled minds bad things stirred. The laughter that echoed down the hill and raced through the streets, creeping in cracks in doors and through the slivers in windows caressed their ears and their dreams turned from sorrow to joy.

Aneira was unaware of this however and continued her dance and play until she was by the stables. A stable boy was asleep by the doorway, a lamp lit at his feet and Aneira tiptoed past him and into the warm, dry stable. Her entrance caused quite a stir as Brego raised his head and whinnied happily at the sight of her.

Ayaka had returned to the stables days before, feeling safe with the large stallion and the little Tennyo woke and blinked sleepily to see what had caused her guardian to call so. A delighted shriek escaped her lips and the tiny fey flew like a speeding arrow into Aneira's outstretched hands. Chitters and chirps of reprimand and worry flew from the Tennin's lips as she scolded her dear friend. Through it all Aneira smiled and hummed in the right places before gently petting Ayaka's head with a soft finger.

"Hello my friend." She murmured and then watched as Ayaka flittered away to sit on the wall of Brego's stall. Aneira crossed to the horse and giggled when he huffed at her and lipped at her hair. Her hands rose up and scratched his cheeks and along his neck. He whickered in pleasure as sweat and dirt that was days old began to be removed.

"Why are you so filthy? Has no one cared for you? How despicable." She frowned and then searched the stable looking for brushes, cloths and a bucket.

After finding the things she needed she slipped back out and collected water from a nearby well and carefully carried the heavy bucket back into the stable without spilling a single drop.

Her hands dipped the cloths into the cool water and after wringing the water sodden fabric out she began to wipe down Brego's neck. It was not ideal but it was removing the majority of the dirt, sweat and mud that still clung to him and Aneira could feel him relaxing beneath her ministrations.

She sang softly under her breath as she worked the words spilling from her lips subconsciously. "A dream is a wish your heart makes…" She washed the stallion from his head right down to his hooves and had to go out several times to freshen the water and as soon as he was clean she rubbed him down with dry clothes and then began brushing out his mane and tail. The knots and tangles were thick and snarled but Aneira was in no hurry as she carefully teased the hairs until they lay smoothly along his neck and down his legs.

Dawn was just beginning to break over the edge of the land and the night sky was lightening, the stars disappearing when Aneira finally began to feel tired.

"I shall sleep here." She declared and then pulling a blanket from a pile near the saddles she cocooned herself in its warmth and laid upon the thick straw pile in Brego's stall. The stallion waited until she was sound asleep before moving to stand over her, guarding her in her slumber. He was not the only sentinel as both Legolas and Tangwen had slipped into the stable during the night and sat, watching Aneira care for her friend.

"We cannot leave her like that." Legolas murmured softly. It broke his heart to see his friend so confused and bewildered. She had overcome so much and had so much more to give.

"Gandalf and I planned to try and remove the collar later today. We will take Amaterasu out onto the plains, away from the citadel. If the collar is of Saruman or Sauron's design then I do not doubt it will be tough to remove and there may be some backlash energy when the spell is released." Tangwen said.

"Aragorn, Gimli and I will not be leaving you with Ammy." Legolas said decisively. "We have kept her calm and steady these last few days and we will not leave her at this moment of need. We have no idea what removing the collar could do to her already fractured mind and if she reacts badly, you will need all the aid you can get."

Tangwen said nothing and stared at Brego and Aneira. The little Tennyo had curled up on Brego's now clean head and the red light was pulsing smoothly and steadily. Tangwen wished she could have met Amaterasu before she had been reduced to a mere fragment. There must have been something about her that inspired such loyalty and devotion and the older Mihashira could not see it. The frail and timid creature that now wandered the halls of Edoras was barely real, as if she was a spirit that could disappear from this realm if one didn't watch closely.

~G~A~M~B~L~I~N~G~~W~I~T~H~~D~E~A~T~H~

That morning Theoden declared that the entire town would be moving to Helm's Deep. The ruckus after the announcement was intense and furious. Women were scrambling to get their children prepared and gather up the most valuable and precious items in their homes along with provisions and blankets. Children had gathered in small groups and were watching worriedly as the soldiers moved around hastening the women. Worry was running rampant but in spite of all the chaos the children knew something exciting was going on beyond the walls. Some of the more curious and fearless children had climbed the stairs to the ramparts and were peering over the edge of the defensive wall at the group assembled on the plains below the citadel.

Even from such a great distance the shocking white of Aneira's hair and Gandalf's robes could be seen by all the children and they watched excitedly to see what would happen. Half the children believed a duel was about to take place between wizard and the strange girl who walked around barefoot and spoke strange words whilst the other half thought Gandalf was going to free the girl who was actually a princess from her enchantment.

The imaginations of the children ran rampant as they eagerly awaited the magical and mystical happenings that would occur on the plains before them. Similarly the imaginations of the group assembled on said plains were running rampant too however, the scenes and events that the remnants of the Fellowship and Tangwen were imagining were far more disastrous and serious than the enchantments the children believed in.

Aneira stood alone on the plains. Grass brushed against her calves and bare skin, once again she had lost her socks, and the wind was tugging at her long hair sending the white-silver strands floating in the breeze behind her. Her eyes were closed and her face upturned towards the sun and she seemed at peace if one did not pay attention to the tremors that ran through her fingers and arms. The shakes and twitches were sporadic and often minute but most were fairly violent. Aneira seemed oblivious however and a light smile played across her lips and she hummed happily.

"Are you certain this is the best course of action Gandalf?" Gimli grumbled as he leaned on his axe. His brow seemed even more furrowed than normal and he chewed on the end of his pipe like a grumpy goat. Legolas arched one eyebrow at the sight. If the Dwarf chewed any harder he'd have splinters in his mouth.

"Well Gimli," Gandalf began. "Quite frankly I do not know what will happen or if this is the best choice. In our present situation however Tangwen and I have come to an agreement that Amaterasu's inability to shift is detrimental to her health. Perhaps if we remove the collar she will regain some control over her mind, the animal forms reduce an Ame-no-Mihashira's brain function. Whilst Amaterasu will not regain her mind or memory the deterioration may be reduced due to the less complex functions of her animal forms minds. She will still be Amaterasu but the animal forms will offer some modicum of relief from the madness. Thus we will remove the collar and see what awaits us."

No one was comforted by this and Aragorn laid his hand on the pommel of his sword. For some reason none of the group felt comfortable around Ammy this morning. There was something different about her manner since she awoke in Brego's stable. Something deeper and disturbing about her presence. Even her humming seemed discordant, out of tune, unsettling. The tune was stunted and the melodic line did not flow smoothly.

"Well let's get on with it then!" Gimli said and swung his axe up to rest the shaft on his shoulder.

"What do you need us to do Gandalf? Tangwen?" Legolas asked.

"I will force the Black Speech from the collar." Tangwen said and lifted her hands that were beginning to cover with ice. The temperature around her dropped suddenly. Plummeted as if ice had dropped down from the very top of Caradhas and they were all stood bare and exposed to the cold. Her hands were blue and sparkled with ice crystals that travelled up her arms.

"And after that?" Legolas prompted and shivered slightly. His eyes widened slightly. The cold did not affect him as it did Men or Dwarfs but Tangwen's power was different to natural ice or snow. Instead of creeping into your flesh and penetrating your bones, making your body feel tired and heavy, sleep calling to you, your mind slowing and becoming foggy: Tangwen's power was sharp and painful like blades spearing into your body and into your bones. It burned and writhed within Legolas' body and he shivered again. Gimli and Aragorn too were shivering and even Gandalf was not unaffected.

"After that we will see how Aneira/Amaterasu reacts to the removal of the collar. She may revert to a shadow of her former self. She may shift into her first form or one of her preferred forms, hopefully not her dragon which would be rather hard to control. Or she may do something entirely unexpected and beyond our ability to control. Hopefully however, it will be one of the previous scenarios."

The group shuffled anxiously and glanced at Ammy who was oblivious to the current procedures. She seemed entirely unaffected by the ice that was creeping over the grass towards her with a faint mist rising from it.

Gandalf pushed his cloak back away from his arms and over his shoulders so that he could move more freely.

"Legolas can you make sure that Amaterasu does not head towards Edoras in the eventuality that something goes wrong. Gimli and Aragorn get ready to intervene and hold Amaterasu away from Tangwen and myself if she is not herself. We will have to adapt to the situation that is presented to us and admittedly my knowledge of the Ame-no-Mihashira is not what it used to be. Thranduil of the Woodland Realm holds the greatest knowledge in Middle Earth of the Ame-no-Mihashira for he knew the greatest Ame-no-Mihashira who ever walked upon the soil. Alas, Thranduil is half a world away and we will have to make do with what we can. Ready?" Gandalf finished almost cheerfully and Aragorn and Gimli exchanged worried looks.

Legolas looked surprised that his father knew the Ame-no-Mihashira but before he could inquire further Gandalf raised his staff and began to speak in strange tongues.

"Tabi ni yande, Yuma wa kareno o, kakemeguru.***" Gandalf repeated the chant over and over and the Black Speech that was etched upon the collar glowed like the words upon the Ring, like fire scorching the metal.

Aneira's eyes flow open and she gasped in pain and feel to her knees. Her hands trembled above the surface of the collar, desperate to try and stop the pain but fearing touching the metal and being burned. The smell of burning flesh rose from her neck and Tangwen leapt forward and placed her hands on the collar.

Ice burst from her hands and covered the metal, the ice sizzled and cracked as it froze and melted over the words. Tagwen's lips moved and her breath formed words that rose and sank against Gandalf's in a counter-rhythm. Legolas could just make out the words but could not comprehend them.

"Amaterasu, Kami no mitoku wo, Yo no hito ni, Nokorazu hayaku, Shirasetaku mono.****" Tangwen muttered over and over and steadily her voice grew stronger as both she and Gandalf sent power into their words. Pulses of energy throbbed from Tangwen's hands and her ice covered the collar, suppressing the Black Speech, annihilating the runes carved into the gold until the collar was blank.

As soon as the Black Speech disappeared from the collar the back suddenly appeared to have a clasp with a lock on it. Before the collar had been a blank smooth surface of gold, no lock, no clasp no join to show how the metal ring had been fastened around Ammy's neck.

Tangwen removed her hands from the collar and drew back, taking with her the ice that had formed over the collar. Slowly and carefully Gandalf reached down and pressed his forefinger to the lock which sprung open. He pulled the lock from the clasp and lifted the now open ring away from Ammy's neck.

The small woman's head was bent forward onto her chest. Her long white hair draped down over her face and into a puddle on the ground. A pool of white that was as pale as the ice that had covered her neck mere moments before.

For several long moments there was no movement from Ammy and everyone held their breath in worry. Only the slight rise and fall of Amaterasu's shoulders showed that she was still breathing, so still she knelt upon the ground.

Swallowing hard Gimli decided to investigate and treading carefully he moved until he was stood before Amaterasu.

"Lassie? Aneira?"

Aneira's head suddenly flung up and a loud growl reverberated in her chest. She flung her arm out and hit Gimli. The stocky and steadfast Dwarf was startled by the sudden movement and nothing could have prepared him for the force behind her blow. Aneira's forearm hit the Dwarf's chest hard and with a loud 'crack' the leather jerkin that Gimli was wearing shattered and Gimli was sent tumbling backwards.

Aneira snarled and snapped when Aragorn and Legolas began to approach. Tangwen circled around with her hands still iced over and let out a startled shriek when she saw Aneira's face.

The younger Mihashira's face was transformed. A sharp jaw and even sharper cheekbones now divided her face. Blood had swallowed the whites of her eyes and the golden irises were slowly being encroached upon by red. Her snarling mouth was filled with sharply pointed teeth like a canine's. Glancing down at the young woman's hands Tangwen saw that her fingernails were turning yellow and pointed as if claws were literally growing and morphing before her eyes.

"Move away from her!" Gandalf shouted and all four moved away. Gimli clutched at his chest and pulled his tunic down slightly only to see a rapid bruise already forming.

"Gandalf? What is happening?!" Legolas called as he notched an arrow on his bow and aimed at Ammy. Even if she was his friend he would pin her down to avoid her injuring herself or anyone else.

"Her soul is corrupted." Tangwen whimpered and recoiled as Amaterasu fixed blood red eyes upon her.

A chilling laugh exploded from Amaterasu and then a sudden gasp of pain broke her mocking call. As they all watched Amaterasu clasped her head and rocked on her knees. Blood stained her fingers and she panted loudly trying to manage the pain. Horns were growing from her scalp. Long and sharp, carved with strange runes and symbols like those on the case of the Yata-no-Kagami. They arched up and over her head, white horns dripping with blood that were crooked and twisted. Nothing like the beautiful and ethereal horns that adorned her head in dragon form.

Still clutching at her head Amaterasu rose to her feet and stood before her friends.

"That is not our Amaterasu." Aragorn slowly said and drew his sword.

"Indeed." Gandalf said and the tip of his staff glowed white. "Tangwen, I believe it is necessary to make some adjustments."

"Agreed. Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas. Can you hold Amaterasu there? Keep her away from us and away from Edoras. We need only a short time." Tangwen looked at the Three Hunters whom she had journeyed with and noted the resolve and conviction in their eyes and their stances. Without even waiting for their acknowledgement she turned and walked over to Gandalf.

The older Mihashira and Mithrandir crouched over the collar and Gandalf created a barrier of energy. If Amaterasu did manage to defeat the Man, Dwarf and Elf the pair of spell casters would have some time at their disposal before having to face Amaterasu.

"Try not to harm her. Although she is transformed she is still our friend and we should only resort to wounding her if she proves beyond our abilities." Aragorn said and then walked towards Amaterasu.

She growled and flung her arms out, trying to scratch the Ranger with her claw-like nails. He dodged and punched Amaterasu his blow hitting but barely fazing her. Legolas came from behind and tried to pin Amaterasu's arms to her side. She senses his presence however and darted away from him only to encounter Gimli who swung at her with the back of his axe.

"We may have to use a bit more brute strength lads." Gimli called when she parried the blow from his axe and he was forced to roll away from her claws.

"Try not to leave open wounds. Bruises only if you must. Maybe we can just tire her out." Legolas suggested as he darted away from the demonic woman. She was acting on pure instinct, like a wounded or crazed animal.

"How is it possible that she has gained so much physical strength? What did Tangwen say? Her soul is corrupt?" Aragorn cursed and let Amaterasu's claws slip past him, they grazed his hair and he saw from the corner of his eye several short strands were cut and fluttered away in the wake of air from Amaterasu's swift retreat.

The Three Hunters carried on leading Amaterasu on a merry dance, dodging blows and occasionally striking back. All three were growing weary however and Amaterasu was getting frustrated. She seemed so aggravated that her actions became even more violent and unpredictable. When none of the blows landed however, she let out a piercing howl that echoed all the way into Edoras and past the refugees heading to Helm's Deep.

It was simultaneously mournful and angry. An animal in such pain and sorrow that cries could even attempt to alleviate its torment. The cry rang on the wind and across the plains and seemed to last forever.

"Her soul is corrupted from killing."

Tangwen was suddenly stood next to the Three Hunters the ice on her hands had disappeared and she seemed exhausted. Her mismatched eyes roamed over Amaterasu's demonic form and she shuddered at her appearance.

"From killing?" Legolas asked. Amaterasu was still howling, breathing briefly and then continuing the cry.

"When she killed Grima it was out of rage, anger, hatred, despair. Our kind never kills for those reasons. Not normally anyway. We only kill to protect, to save, for others and not for ourselves. It has tainted her essence, that which makes her Amaterasu. If she had her mind she might have been able to overcome this darkness, the demonic side that has risen up from her soul might have been less strong if her mind was intact. Now all we can do is suppress the demon until we can restore her mind."

"And exactly how do you intend to do that lass? It's not as if she's going to just let you stop her." Gimli scoffed.

"We will stop her together Gimli son of Gloin." Gandalf's voice boomed over the Dwarf's head and Gimli jumped (and may have let out a slightly feminine squeak of surprise but then again that might just have been Amaterasu's howl).

"What do we need to do?" Aragorn said.

"You must bring Amaterasu to her knees, then we can fasten the collar back around her neck and the demon will be returned to her soul. Although Tangwen, I do not believe the demon is entirely of Amaterasu's making. There is a darker and more malevolent force at work here."

"You sensed it too?" Tangwen asked surprised.

Before Gandalf could reply however Amaterasu ceased her howl. The five of them turned their attention fully to the Mihashira. She stood watching them. Her blood red eyes taking in their body positions, she could smell their fear, apprehension, worry, torment. It filled the air and some part of her revelled in it. For some reason the thought of enjoying other's suffering repulsed the demon and she swallowed and tried to summon some semblance of control.

The demon rose up again and she charged at the onlookers. They scattered and tried to subdue her. Their efforts were pathetic. Puny, scrawny creatures that could only flee and avoid her strength. She would bring her claws down and tear them limb from limb. She would relish in the feeling of their life's energy draining from this world. Of their bodies growing cold and turning back into the soil. Then she would take every life in this pitiful world and destroy it. Then the beast would be sated.

"She's fighting even harder now than before!" Aragorn cried as Amaterasu's claws grazed his arms. The cuts she was managing to inflict were only light surface wounds, like those you might receive from a puppy or from a tree branch. A momentary sting and then the scrapes were forgotten. They would be healed within a couple of days. Even so she was landing more blows than before.

"What has changed?" Legolas said.

"She knows we are going to try and subdue her." Tangwen said and she blasted Amaterasu with ice. The frozen water clambered her legs and held her to the ground and Legolas, armed with the collar tried to fasten it around Ammy's neck. With one swift tug however she had shattered the ice and was sprinting away from Legolas.

"By Aulё's hammer!" Gimli cried. "How long will this fight take?"

When Amaterasu leapt at Gimli's unprotected back she was repelled by a blast of magic from Gandalf's staff. She was momentarily flung onto her back and Tangwen took that moment to blast her with ice, locking her arms and legs down onto the ground. This time however she did not stop freezing Amaterasu's body. Any damaged caused by her ice would not be as damaging as the pain that Amaterasu would suffer if her demon killed people.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called and the elf threw the gold collar to the Ranger. Aragorn leapt into the air and caught the metal band as it arced towards him. Gandalf reinforced Tangwen's ice with a barrier and Amaterasu howled and struggled beneath their combined power.

Aragorn knelt by Amaterasu's head and unclasped the collar. She flung her head wildly side to side, trying to snap at his hands. Cursing Aragorn pinned her head between his knees wincing as her twisted horns cut into his calves and thighs.

"Please Amaterasu!" He begged and she suddenly stilled.

All movement stopped and she lay passive on the ground. Her blood red eyes looked into Aragorn's and he shuddered at the sight but did not look away. As long as her attention was focused on his face he might be able to fix the collar around her neck.

He snuck the collar around her neck and began to close the clasp, his hands were steady and his motions smooth even though he was worried and nervous. If the collar did not work then he had no idea how they would stop Amaterasu without killing her.

"Aragorn…" Amaterasu whispered.

Shocked he scanned her face, looking for signs of recognition. It was not Amaterasu however that was speaking but Aneira, a softer and more innocent character than Amaterasu or the creature Amaterasu had become.

"Please, help me!" She pleaded and bloody tears began to track down her face and dripping into the grass. The plants beneath her began to hiss and sizzle as the blood seemed to poison the very earth.

Aragorn swore and wasted no more time. The clasp latched on the collar and with fumbling fingers he slotted the lock into the eye of the clasp. The barrel slid down and there was an explosion of frost and white magic beneath his fingertips.

"Quel esta mellonamin (Rest well my friend)" Aragorn said as the demon retreated. The horns that rose from her scalp seemed to drop off, like the antlers of a stag and left no sign that they had existed as they turned into dust and disappeared on the wind.

The claws that had grown from her fingers retreated, turning back into normal human fingernails and her teeth became smooth and rounded once more. Finally Aneira's eyes lost the redness that had consumed them and the sharp and harsh planes of her face smoothed out into the kind and rounded shape the Fellowship had come to know so well.

Aneira breathed slowly and stared up at Aragorn who was still knelt over her.

"Thank you." She whispered.

"Well, that was fun." Gimli said. "Glad to see you are sort of back to yourself lassie. Worried we would lose you more permanently this time. You really need to stop giving us such scares lass; I'm not as young a Dwarf as a used to be."

"I'm much older than you Gimli." Legolas said amusedly.

Everyone seemed to be making anxious and humorous conversation, the tension and worry draining from them in strange ways.

Tangwen recalled the ice that had covered Aneira's body and then sat down on the grass with a thump. The snow woman's hair was limp and drenched with sweat, her skin was pallid and dark shadows circled her eyes.

"I think I might have a nap. Anybody mind? No. Good night then." With that final statement Tangwen transformed into a fox and curled up where she sat and fell asleep. Gandalf chuckled lightly and scooped up the Mihashira with one hand. He draped her limp form in his arms and if he listened closely he could have sworn he could hear light, whistling snores coming from her mouth.

~G~A~M~B~L~I~N~G~~W~I~T~H~~D~E~A~T~H~

The group had returned to an almost deserted Edoras. The streets were still and quiet and the last few stragglers were just leaving as they returned to the citadel. Their horses were saddled and their packs filled with their belongings and food, enough to sustain them on the journey to Helm's Deep.

Aneira disappeared as soon as they reached Edoras, ashamed and confused she retreated to the stables were the piercing cries of Brego were heard from the gates.

"King Theoden. You must ask Gondor for aid." Aragorn once again pleaded with the Rohan King but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Theoden merely turned away and began to mount his own steed. His soldiers followed his lead and the last of them began to exit the stable, some struggling with Brego.

The large stallion was rearing and tossing his head. Too much had happened too quickly and the poor creature was confused and lost. The loss of his owner and the changing scents and appearances of Aneira had been the final straw.

Aragorn hurried over and began to calm the stallion with elvish words. Onlookers watched in amazement as the stallion calmed and finally allowed Aneira to stroke his mane.

"We should let him go. He needs to go back to the wild. Back to being just a horse. He will heal there and if he chooses he can return to the sides of Men. But he has been an honourable horse and a good friend." Aragorn murmured to the distraught Aneira.

Her heart was filled with sorrow at the thought of Brego leaving but she did not know why. She did not know a great many things.

She nodded and pressed a gentle kiss to Brego's nose before stepping out into the sunlight. The sorrow and anger and confusion threatened to overwhelm her. She began to feel as she had on the plains. Rage began to consume her before it was hastily shoved down by the collar.

Biting her lip Aneira summoned the sorrow and allowed the feeling to transform into something else, something new.

As gold lights danced about her body Theoden King and his men watched in amazement as the strange girl who had suffered so much vanished before their eyes and what took her place was a small goat. Aneira the goat trotted out to the gates of Edoras and Aragorn led Brego to the gates too.

The stallion was far more comfortable in Aneira's presence as a goat. His withers no longer shook with fear and his nose inhaled her scent that was sweeter and not so sharp. Aragorn released the lead rope and slipped it over the horse's head. No need for restraints in the wild and Brego tossed his head gratefully at the loss of even the mere rope.

Aneira the goat bleated at Brego and the horse bent his neck down and lipped at the top of the goat's head. Aneira trotted alongside him and rubbed her head against his legs in a similar motion and the stallion whickered lightly.

Ayaka who had been sat upon Brego's head the entire team twittered at Aneira. Aneira began to bleat frantically but Ayaka flew down from her perch and placed a soft kiss on the goat's cheek. The two females who had shared so much stared at each other before Aneira ducked her head and looked away.

Ayaka chirruped sadly and tried to catch Aneira's attention once more but to no avail. Resigned Ayaka flew back up to nestle on Brego's head, the place she once used be seen with Ammy and both Tennyo and stallion made their way down the road from Edoras and back towards the East.

"Aneira?" Legolas asked softly as the despondent goat watched her friends leaving. The elf had never thought a goat could look sad but Aneira looked heartbroken. What was even worse was that she had no idea why she felt so upset as her mind kept showing her random images of Ayaka and Brego that made no sense and held no validity to her.

Aragorn and Gandalf were conferring quietly by the gates of Edoras whilst Gimli stood nearby with Tangwen curled up asleep in his arms. The white fox was dead to the entire goings on and slumbered like a babe. So much energy had been used in such a short space of time that she needed the rest to regain her strength.

Legolas glanced behind at his friends and saw they were all busy and he had been left alone with Aneira. They needed to leave soon and the Mirkwood elf could see Theoden was getting antsy astride his horse. The Rohan King was watching the last of his people leave his city and he looked over it with sorrow. So much had gone wrong in his time as King and he wondered if he was doing his people justice. Legolas had seen the same expression adorn his father's face on rare and fleeting occasions. Moments when the great Elf King thought he was alone and that his son was not watching him look over old diary's or old sketches.

"Aneira, we must leave." Legolas said softly and steeled himself to pick the goat up. If she took her rabbit or snake form it would be much easier to travel but he had no idea if she was even hearing his words let alone understanding his unspoken request.

Just as he crouched down to slip his arms under her goat belly Aneira began to transform, the gold lights shifting over her goat body, seeping through the little beard on her chin and through the curls on the top of her head.
Legolas watched in astonishment. It had been several days since he had seen Amaterasu find a new form and yet within the space of mere moments she had taken on two new forms. The tiny monkey that sat in the grass was probably her smallest form yet.

She had a sort of ruff around her cheeks and head and a droopy moustache framed her tiny mouth. Legolas reached down and held his hand out and her strong fingers gripped his palm and arm as she climbed up and wrapped her tail around his wrist. Worriedly Legolas brought his other hand round to cup it around her back. She was so small he was concerned she would fall of his arm but the moment he started moving he could feel her tail tighten around his wrist and the mobile but strong fingers grasped the cloth of his tunic hard.

"By my beard!" Gimli exclaimed as Legolas came back to their horse. Elf and Dwarf were to ride together until they reached the head of the refugee trail. Gimli was not overly fond of riding and riding with the elf was better than trying to ride solo at speed.

"She has taken another form?" Gandalf asked with some astonishment and stroked his beard.

"Is that usual of the Mihashira?" Legolas asked and the wizard shook his head.

"I do not know. The only one who might know is Tangwen and she is unfortunately unavailable at the present time. You will have to ask her when she wakes."

Gimli looked up at Gandalf suspiciously.

"You aren't coming with us are you Mithrandir?"

"No Gimli. I am going to look for aid. Saruman will not take the loss of Grima well. He will strike at Edoras in any way he can. His army of Uruk-hai will destroy the people of Rohan and I fear that Helm's Deep will not be as safe as it has been in the past. A mere 1,000 men will stand guard at Helm's Deep and I fear Saruman has far greater numbers. Eomer left with over 100 riders and many more will have joined him as he travelled over Rohan. If I can find him the odds may turn in our favour if Saruman does indeed realise that Theoden will flee to Helm's Deep." Gandalf explained and mounted Shadowfax.

Aneira watched with interest as Gandalf whispered to the horse. There was something strange and magical about Gandalf's mount but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Just as Gandalf made to ride off there was a shout of anger and Theoden came charging over to the remnants of the Fellowship.

"Who has taken it?!" The King shouted. "I want Grima's body returned. We will place him on a spike before the gates of Edoras to warn Saruman of the fate that awaits him if he dares to strike at Rohan again!"

Gandalf looked sharply at Theoden before furrowing his brow. The White Wizard cursed and without another word rode off, Shadowfax crossing the plains like a blur of lightening.

"Well?!" Theoden snapped. Eowyn rode up and Aragorn noticed she looked rather queasy and pale.

"We have not taken the traitor's body." Gimli boomed and then cursed as the fox in his arms growled in her sleep.

"Gimli speaks true. We have only just returned, you saw us return yourself King Theoden." Aragorn soothed over the Dwarf's gruff manner and earned a frown from the red headed Dwarf who turned and began to walk towards his and Legolas' horse. Gimli was a warrior, not a politician for a good reason (and he took the time to explain all this to the slumbering Tangwen who would later swear that she had heard every reason and in fact challenged Gimli as he could make quite the persuasive argument).

"Grima's body is missing. We were going to burn it this morning but instead I have spent the last hours organising my people and sending word to Helm's Deep to ready it for our arrival. All of Grima's men were killed when you arrived at Edoras so I do not see how his body has been removed. None of my men or people would be willing to touch the traitor." Theoden grumbled and then spurred his horse on.

The soldiers fell in behind him and Eowyn too cantered after her uncle after sending a glance towards Aragorn.

Aneira watched as the blonde woman's gaze lingered over Aragorn. She may be mad but she knew that lingering looks meant affection; she just wasn't sure now was the time to be sending signals or attempting coquettish behaviour or other womanly wiles to a man.

The empty streets of Edoras were eerie and Aneira shifted restlessly in Legolas's hold. The elf looked down and smiled kindly at the monkey.

"Would you mind taking Aneira, Aragorn?" The elf said. He had been watching his friend and noticed that Aragorn seemed burdened with sorrows and thought Aneira might be of some comfort to the Ranger. She might also help fend off Eowyn's less than subtle advances.
Aragorn was obviously oblivious to the young woman's attentions. The Ranger had lived too long with rough Men, Dwarfs and Hobbits to notice when women were being coquettish. Legolas however knew that women did not always advance when another woman was present and surely Aneira counted, even if she was a monkey, she was still a talking monkey…

"My horse already has three passengers. You only have yourself Aragorn and Aneira's form is only small and light." Before Ranger or Monkey could say a word Legolas had deposited Aneira onto Aragorn's shoulder leaving the tamarin to clutch at Aragorn's hair with her tiny paws and her tail wrapped frantically around the column of his neck.

Sighing Aragorn mounted his horse and once settled plucked Aneira from his shoulder. He did not mind Aneira riding with him but he did wish to reach Helm's Deep with his throat unbruised and her tight grip was not particularly helpful.

Legolas laughed and tossed Gimli up into the saddle before climbing on in front of the disgruntled Dwarf.

"Four of the Fellowship reunited once more." Legolas said.

"What could possibly go wrong." Gimli said sarcastically and no sooner had they begun to canter after Theoden then Gimli toppled off the back of the horse.

The Dwarf lay in the dirt and endured the mocking of his friends. A bit of dirt was not a high price when the result was laughter that had long been absent from their travels. He didn't think the angry fox that was glaring at him from on his chest agreed however and Gimli closed his eyes. It was going to be a long journey…

~G~A~M~B~L~I~N~G~~W~I~T~H~~D~E~A~T~H~

A/N: Another chapter, another complete labyrinth of plot twists that I have to remember… Why do I do this to myself? Hope it was okay folks. I'd apologise for how long it's taken to update but you guys are probably sick of apologies so I'll just give you a quick "SORRRY!".
In other news THANK YOU SO MUCH! We've reached over 600 reviews! I would never have thought it possible when I began to reach even 100 and I'm so happy that you have taken the time to leave a review, especially to those of you who have been waiting since the very beginning and those who have left a review on every chapter. I appreciate each and every review and thank you all for the encouragement.

*'You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it.'- J. , Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

** 'I'm not sure this is a world I belong in anymore. I'm not sure that I want to wake up.'- Gayle Forman, If I Stay

*** "Tabi ni yande, Yuma wa kareno o, kakemeguru- Falling sick on a journey, my dream goes around above withered fields."- The Jisei of Matsuo Basho

**** "Amaterasu, Kami no mitoku wo, Yo no hito ni, Nokorazu hayaku, Shirasetaku mono - It is our wish,To have Amaterasu's, Goodness be known, To all the world's people, Soon and without exception." - Kurozumi Munetada (1780-1850)

Thanks to:
Counting Sinful Stars,
i am a Fire-jay,
DragonOwl,
lizziecats,
Emzy2k11,
Ely-chan chapter 29 . Jun 16- Thank you for your kind words! Rannoch is a bit of a loose cannon. He has some serious issues because of his past which will be explained later on in the fic. I love him though. The image of him I have in my head is a Khal Drogo (Game of Thrones) type person bordering on Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland)… It's a weird combination…
NaruVamp, Tintcalad,
Malys chapter 29 . Jul 6- I'm flattered that this is your favourite Lord of the Rings fic on this site!
stac chapter 29 . Jul 15- I give you more! I have an erratic (read non-existent) updating schedule. It really does depend on what is happening in reality and whether I have the inspiration to write. I will not abandon this fic however, even if it takes me another ten years to finish it! (Hopefully not that long). There will be no relationship between Thranduil and new Ammy. Thranduil will see her as a sort of child/grandchild, one who might have been his if things had happened differently. As to the Legolas/Ammy you'll have to wait and see. I haven't decided on the pairing with Ammy, let alone if there is going to be one. Hope you carry on reading!
Anonymous434 chapter 3 . Jun 28- If you made it this far well done! I'm glad you like the plot and I hope you'll continue reading!
stacia chapter 13 . Jul 17- I'll be sticking close with the original storyline between the movies and the books but things will deviate more in Return of the King arc. That's when everything sorta blows up and the plot will change slightly… I say slightly, I'm going to almost completely change the Battle of Pelennor Fields… As to finishing it, it will be finished when it is finished I'm afraid. Can't really hurry it.
Guest chapter 14 . Jul 24- I never realised I was so funny!
pikaremo,
Vanessa chapter 15 . Jul 23- Hope you made it this far! I chose Japanese names and mythology because, well, why not? I really like some of the concepts from Japanese mythology and it seemed to work slotting it into Middle Earth. It is similar to some of the cultures that already exist within Middle Earth but at the same time is completely different. Using totally different names and culture was another way to develop the characters and their struggles for me. Hope it's not too weird!
Greenwood girl chapter 18 . Aug 30,
Guest chapter 29 . Aug 29,
Mrs. Greenleaf chapter 29 . Sep 3,
unicornsinpink300,
Guest chapter 29 . Sep 22,
DJpaigeDJ