Solatiri continued running with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli as they ran across the countryside of Rohan, still chasing after the Uruk-Hai. She was exhausted but she could not fail Boromir or the Hobbits. They had to stop the Uruk-Hai from reaching Isengard.

"Keep breathing", Gimli panted. "That's the key. Breathe."

"They run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them", Legolas said using his keep eyesight to see the Uruks.

Solatiri ran as fast as she could until the sun set. Aragorn insisted on running into the night with no rest.

"I can't", she panted. "I can't run anymore."

The group stopped as Solatiri fell to her knees. They all knew something was wrong. Solatiri felt nauseous and dizzy. She got up on wobbly knees.

"Excuse me", she said.

She stumbled behind large rocks and began vomiting. She had not eaten in days and the running was no help. Tears came to Solatiri's eyes as she looked up at the night sky.

"Boromir", she softly said. "I can't keep going. I feel so lost without you."

Solatiri watched as one of the stars in the sky shone brighter than all the others. From the back of her mind, she heard Boromir's voice speak to her as she looked that the shining star.

"The Elves call it Elendil. Now you know when you're lost, Elendil will point you in the right direction."

"Boromir, please continue to watch over me", Solatiri said.

"A red sun rises", Legolas said as dawn came. "Blood has been spilled this night."

Aragorn decided to take the day easy. Solatiri was still in poor health and he didn't want to overexert her. The group jogged still looking for the Uruk-Hai and the Hobbits. From a distance, they heard the hoof beats of horses, a large number of them. Fearing it could be enemies, Aragorn had everyone hide behind the large rocks.

Solatiri saw it was an army with Rohan armor. They carried the banners of Rohan as they rode. Aragorn waited until the army passed before revealing himself.

"Riders of Rohan!" he called out. "What news from the Mark?"

The army turned and surrounded the group, each pointing their spears at them. None of them drew their weapons showing they meant no harm. One rider came forward.

"What business does an Elf, a Man, a Dwarf and a woman have in the Riddermark?" he asked. "Speak quickly!"

"Give me your name, horse-master", Gimli said. "And I shall give you mine."

The rider dismounted his horse and walked toward Gimli looking very unfriendly.

"I would cut off your head, Dwarf…if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

Legolas quickly pulled out an arrow and pointed it at the rider. Seeing him as a threat, the rest of the riders pointed their spears closer.

"You would die before your stroke fell", Legolas said.

"Stop", Solatiri said as Aragorn pushed the arrow away. "We mean no harm."

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

The rider looked down before speaking.

"Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe", he said taking his helmet off. "Not even his own kin."

"Eomer?" Solatiri said. "I know you. You are the king's nephew."

"Yes, my lady", Eomer said. "Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished."

"How could that be possible?" she asked.

Even though she wanted nothing more than to rid Rohan from her mind, she could not. Rohan was Solatiri's home before Gondor. What of her brother, Halleth and…Hama?

"The White Wizard is cunning", Eomer said. "He walks here and there, they say…as an old man hooded and cloaked. And everywhere, his spies slip past our nets."

"We are no spies", Aragorn said. "We track a party of Uruk-Hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive."

"The Uruks are destroyed", he answered. "We slaughtered them during the night."

"But there were two Hobbits", Gimli said. "Did you see two Hobbits with them?"

"They would be small", Aragorn said. "Only children to your eyes."

"Both of them are very young", Solatiri added.

Eomer looked down before speaking.

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

Solatiri looked to see smoke rising from the hills and gasped. The two Hobbits were in that pile?

"Dead?" Gimli asked.

"No, they can't be", she said.

"I am sorry", Eomer said.

He turned and whistled to two horses that carried no riders.

"May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters", he said. "Farewell."

Solatiri looked at the pile as Eomer spoke once more.

"Look for your friends. But do not trust to hope. It has forsaken these lands."

Eomer led his army away leaving Aragorn, Solatiri, Legolas and Gimli with their horses. They had no choice but to check the burning pile for Merry and Pippin. Solatiri mounted the horse with Aragorn as Gimli rode with Legolas.