Author Note: Thank you so much for your patience! Here's another chapter, the next few chapters are leading to the end of the series. Please Please Please let me know what you think of the story!

breaiden0413

Chapter Six

The trip by the river was relatively smooth after the bodies of the dead had been moved to the bottom of the ship. The other ships were easily disposed of. I had shifted back into my human form after the battle, I had blood and muck upon me, but no wounds. We drew up to the dock of the river near Gondor, hiding. Orcs were awaiting on the shore.

"Late as usual, pirate scum!"

One, who seemed to be in charge was pushing his way towards the dock.

"There's knife work here that needs doing. Come on you sea rats, get off your ships." It called.

We all leap over the side of the ship onto the shore, the orcs seemed very surprise to see us. We began our descent upon the orcs.

"There's plenty for the both of us, may the best Dwarf win!" Gimli calls out.

I couldn't help but grin as we move towards the orcs and I felt my body shiver and shift into another form. The Dead Army materializes behind us and charge, the Orcs seem astounded and the Dead quickly overtake the ones we miss and destroy them all.

Upon the actual fields of the Plains I take the form of my dire wolf, large and intimidating but also stout enough to do some damage and withstand some attacks. The orcs seemed very surprised to see a wolf on the field, but were able to do little as I dived for their throats and moved to the next unsuspecting victim. From my position on the battlefield I could hear Legolas counting. I hear Aragorn call to Legolas. Lifting my head I see Aragorn pointing to the Mûmakil coming towards us. Personally I had never seen a creature up close, even the elephants in my own time were nowhere near as large or intimidating as the creature before me. I shift from my wolf form back to my Eagle Hawk form and take flight up to where the warriors were riding on the top, I quickly dived and grabbed a few with my talons, before dropping them easily to the ground below.

Some were stomped on by the Mûmakil, other's died from the height of the fall. I managed to get several of the, ignoring the arrows that whirled by my head and wings. Soon Legolas joined me on the top of the animals and began to shoot the remaining occupants. All the while I heard him counting as the occupants fell or lost their life. Soon he clears the remaining occupants and then takes a rope and slashes at the straps holding the riding construction onto the animal. As it slips off the animal Legolas rides it till he's back on the back of the Mûmakil. I felt sorrow as I saw him fit three arrows on to the bow and fire them into the skull. I hurt me, but it had to be done. The damage those riders have done to the animal, could not be undone. Death would be its saving grace. As it collapses to the ground Legolas rides the trunk to the ground and lands on the ground near Gimli. Who looks flabbergasted.

"That still only counts as one!" Gimli argues.

I shook my head and continued my aerial assault on the Orcs from above, mindful to keep a look out for the Nazgul, I had seen the body of one earlier on the ground, I didn't fancy meeting one in the air. Soon though the Army of the Dead took over the killing of the Orcs and army that swarmed Minas Tirith. The battle was over, we had won.

We stood outside the walls of the one grand city of Minas Tirith, currently smoldering from the attack. I recognized Gandalf and Pippin move forward to look at the Army. They stand before us, in front of Aragorn. I had shifted back into my human form, tired, sore and I had some wounds that needed to be treated.

"Release us!" The King of the Dead said tiredly.

"Bad Idea! Very handy in a tight spot these lads, despite the fact they are dead." Gimli murmured.

The King of the Dead glared at the dwarf, and it was true, they would provide us good coverage in a punch, but I knew…he wouldn't.

"You gave us your word!" The King bit out.

Aragorn nods his head towards the King.

"I hold your oath fulfilled. Go. Be at peace."

A slow smile was on the visage of the King of the Dead, a small breeze and the Army was gone as well. We look around and Gandalf bows low to Aragorn, Aragorn smiles at the sight of the white wizard. I lean heavily on Legolas and he helps me walk towards him, I would definitely need healing, sooner rather than later.

I was in the House of Healing when she was brought in, my wounds long healed from Gandalf's magic. Eowyn, apparently it was Eomer who found her on the battlefield near where Merry was. No one knew they were on the field. Aragorn was helping the healing process and Eomer was always by her side looking forlorn. From the look of Eowyn she had color returning to her cheeks and her hair was still bright. She would make it through.

Soon enough I was washed and clean, something I hadn't experienced since Rohan. While I was enjoying the non-fighting time, it was no time to relax and I soon found myself in the throne room in Minas Tirith. Gandalf was speaking with Aragorn, we were all scatter amongst the room, Legolas, Gimli and even Eomer was here, apparently she was doing well enough to where his presence wasn't needed. He seemed better. There was a light in his eye again.

"Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening." Gandalf said.

He was worried, the tension was in his voice.

"If Sauron had the Ring we would know it," Aragorn countered.

Gandalf turned and looked at the Dunedain.

"It's only a matter of time. He has suffered a defeat, yes, but behind the walls of Mordor our enemy is regrouping" Gandalf states.

Gimli looked at the wizard.

"Let him stay there! Let him rot! Why should we care?"

"Because 10,000 Orcs now stand between Frodo and Mount Doom." I muttered.

That made Gimli ponder.

"I've sent him to his death," Gandalf said forlornly.

Aragorn turned and looked at the White Wizard.

"No. There is still hope for Frodo. He needs time and safe passage across the plains of Gorgoroth. We can give him that."

I glared at the scraggly Ranger of the North. Normally we thought along the same though process…and I had a feeling of where this was going.

"How?" Gimli asked.

Aragorn gives the dwarf a side-long look.

"Draw out Sauron's armies. Empty his lands. Then we gather our full strength and march on the Black Gate."

Gimli chokes on his pipe and I slapped my forehead.

"We cannot achieve victory through strength of arms." Eomer stated shaking his head.

"Not for ourselves. But we can give Frodo his change if we keep Sauron's eye fixed upon us. Keep him blind to all else that moves."

"A diversion." Legolas says understandingly.

"Certainty of death, small chance of success, what are we waiting for?" Gimli asked.

"What else is new? I said shrugging.

Gandalf shakes his head.

"Sauron will suspect a trap. He will not take the bait."

Aragorn looked confident.

"Oh, I think he will."

The word spread of the plan, I'm sure many of the men were less than enthusiastic for the plan, but there was a strange new brand of courage floating among the men. It was Aragorn's aura, he was becoming who he was meant to be and it was moving mountains. I was in a room I was assigned getting ready for the impending battle. No doubt we'd be fighting, but to win…I could not say for certain. My clothes were clean, my bag and weapons would remain here at Minas Tirith, what I need would be carried on me, or on the horse or even among my comrades. I'd be fighting in my animal forms. We would need to be strong and ruthless, something my human form had trouble with. My other half...they had no issues with it. A knock on my door revealed Aragorn, he looked tired, grim and worried.

"Worried about Arwen?" I asked quietly.

He let out a breath, I'm not sure he had realized he had been holding it.

"How do you always know?" He asked softly.

"Your eyes, they carry a different light when you think about her." I murmured.

I noticed the necklace of the Evenstar is no longer there. Aragorn looked changed mentally, but he seemed to accept and embrace his new role.

"How are you feeling?" He asked me.

"Antsy, everything will be decided soon." I said looking out the window.

Mt. Doom loomed in the distance, high and ever foreboding, smoke seemed to be a constant figure now from the mountain.

"Aye it will. What will you do after?" He asked leaning upon the dresser near the doorway.

I hesitated.

"I'm not sure…we hadn't spoken of what will happen after. To be honest…I think we just want to get through one day at a time," I said quietly.

He looked at me with a curious expression.

"What?"

He smiled.

"You never have planned ahead for the future, you just…wander." He said softly.

"I'm a Ranger of the North, wandering is what we do." I said teasingly.

At that he cracked a smile.

"I am glad you are with me at the end." He said finally.

I shook my head.

"The beginning Aragorn, this will be just the beginning of another adventure."