THE FORGOTTEN

Enemies Meet

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or anything else.

Author's Note: If I have elvish, it will be in italics. If I quote the book, I obviously give credit to Tolkien. If a sperm whale and a bowl of petunias randomly fall out of the sky, find your towel and don't panic.

They were not given long to marvel at her accomplishment in her first real battle as the general procession was moving towards the forest and they needed to follow. It was determined that all who would go with Gandalf to Isengard should rest for a short while and then they would be on their way. The first part of the morning was spent with the two elves hunting arrows and once their quivers were full once more, they hunted for a quiet corner in which to sit and eat. Lothril was more than a little hungry, though not nearly as weary as she thought she would be, yet she was still tired. She ate a whole wafer of lembas and then laid down for a couple of hours to sleep. When she awoke she ate another wafer of lembas and declared herself quite ready to press on.

The forest was a strange site to all, even the travelers. To ride through a grassy and rocky place at evening and watch it fill with orcs and have dawn reveal a forest and no orcs was enough to cause anyone to think themselves bewitched.

The afternoon came and all who were to go to Isengard readied themselves and set out. In all her days, Lothril had never felt so eager and enchanted by a wood. After all, these trees could move! They were awake. The riders setting out for Isengard that evening stopped as they reached the edge of the forest and were unwilling to pass in. Up close, the forest was a particularly odd sight, as the roots of the trees looked to be sitting on the ground, not in it, and the boughs seemed to reach down like fingers. However, there was opening like an arch and into that they entered. To the surprise of all, the road through the wood ran beside the deepening stream and clear golden evening sky was above them, though dusk lied heavy on either side. As they went through the strange forest, Legolas and Lothril, several times, were tempted to run off into the trees. The groanings and creakings seemed very nearly like words and voices to them. Legolas wanted to know why and how they had come; Lothril wanted to meet an ent. With a supreme effort of will on both their parts, they stayed on the path that seemed to be cutting nearly straight through the trees. Legolas and Gimli and Lothril rode close to Gandalf.

"I feel a great wrath about me," Legolas said, looking around. "Do you not feel the air throb in your ears?"

Gandalf and Lothril both said yes. The last time she recalled feeling anything like it was when she went driving through the Smoky Mountains and she could feel the air pressure change. It was a little like that. As Gimli and Legolas discussed whether or not the trees hated all two legged creatures, Lothril rode in silence, her own thoughts buzzing quietly in the back of her mind as she looked about, hoping for a glimpse of an ent. Her vague reveries were broken though as Gimli began describing the Glittering Caves. She paid him heed and after Legolas promised he would go to the caves with Gimli if Gimli would explore Fangorn with him, Lothril chimed in, "If I am still here, may I join you both in the caves?"

"By all means, Lothril!" Gimli said. "I would be honored to have you along as well."

They reached the end of the wood and Legolas turned to look back and then gave a cry. "There are eyes! Eyes looking out from the shadows of the boughs! I have never seen such eyes before." He started riding back. Lothril turned and saw those eyes also. So strange they were – and huge! There was clearly intelligence behind them, but she knew this was not the time for these things, and so she rode after Legolas and stayed him, much to the relief of Gimli.

"Stay, Legolas. We do not have the time for exploring this wood. Besides, if you stay, you shall miss an even greater wonder at Isengard, and I would not have you miss it," she said.

He turned his head quickly to look at her and his eyes looked nearly aflame with curiosity and longing to both go and stay. She reached over and put her hand on his shoulder. "Very well, but I cannot fathom a greater wonder than this," Legolas replied.

Just then the ents strode out of the trees and gave a great call that sounded nearly like a horn. The elves turned and looked the direction they were calling and saw more ents striding up towards them through the grass. After Gandalf reassuring the Rohirrim these were merely herdsmen, to the wonder of all, the company turned away from the Coomb and headed west towards the Gap of Rohan.

They rode on and Lothril was thinking how nice a moonlit ride might be in other circumstances when she heard Éomer comment that the river was dry. She looked around, it was little better than a muddy trickle. She shook her head, but knew soon it would be set to rights. They rode until around midnight then stopped and camped for the night. Almost as soon as they stopped, Legolas was off Arod and running up to Lothril, excitedly discussing with her what they saw as they rode through the wood and what they thought of the ents. She had never seen him so giddy. They talked until the general din of everyone dismounting and setting up camp died down and then they turned to ósanwe to carry on their conversation. After the moon was gone and all was dark, a shadow came towards them on either side of the dry stream. A misty shadow darker than the night with a great rush and rustling. Gandalf told everyone to be still and draw no weapon.

"Lothril, I think it is the wood," Legolas said.

She stared into the darkness motionless. "I think you are right."

No one slept for the rest of the night, and none saw or heard anything strange except suddenly they heard a rush of water and the Isen flowed once more. At dawn they readied to go on and saw that a heavy fog was on the land. They didn't have to ride far before a reek filled the air. Lothril kept sniffing the air as there was something about it that seemed oh so familiar to her, but she couldn't reckon just what. They passed into the Wizard's Vale and saw a land that had been ruined. Some of it had clearly been tilled, but so much of it looked like it had been torn up and left. Weeds and brambles were everywhere and the ground was incredibly uneven, as if someone had begun a construction project and left it halfway through. Suddenly it clicked to Lothril – it reminded her of the construction sites that were all too common around her house. Wetlands and woods being torn down and the land reshaped so they could build another cookie-cutter subdivision. The sight of trees ripped up and cut down haphazardly just reinforced the feeling. She sighed sadly and shook her head. They rode on for some miles and she felt her heart grow heavy and angry.

They passed a pillar with a white hand pointing towards the tower of Orthanc. As Gandalf passed it, the hand seemed to turn from white to the color of dried blood. Lothril stared at this in some wonder, and thought perchance it was some doing of Gandalf's, though she wasn't sure. They came to the doors of Isengard and were surprised to see them lying twisted on the ground. All about stone was cracked and splintered in jagged shards, scattered and piled everywhere. The great arch still stood, but it was clear what was supposed to lie beyond was a tunnel, but it was obvious the roof had been torn off. It looked like aftermath of a hurricane. Inside the ring looked worse. Water was everywhere, wreckage was everywhere, and the roads were all underwater. As Lothril looked around, her attention was turned to the archway and the ruined gate and noticed there were empty plates and bottles strewn about. Plates and bottles that looked recently used. The smell of pipe tobacco was in the air and it took Lothril but a moment to find the source of it.

Merry stood and greeted Theoden and Lothril could nearly feel Gimli nearly ready to burst. The empty bottles, plates, and smoking pipes had certainly been noticed. As Merry made his introductions, he gave a dig to Pippin to rouse him and Lothril had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep herself from laughing. Gimli could not bear it any longer and once it seemed that the message had been delivered, Gimli finally burst and Lothril did laugh.

"And here we find you feasting and idling – and smoking! Smoking! Where did you come by the weed, you villians? Hammer and tongs! I am so torn between rage and joy, that if I do not burst, it will be a marvel!" Gimli cried.

"You speak for me, Gimli," laughed Legolas. "Though I would sooner learn how they came by the wine."

"I am more curious where they found a pipe," Lothril said. "I have carried the pipes in your packs for two hundred leagues and made sure to bring them with me amongst my gear to Helm's Deep for just this moment."

"You have our pipes?" Merry asked, sounding amazed.

Lothril reached into her pack and pulled out two pipes in their cases to the joy and astonishment of Merry and Pippin.

The Riders laughed and Théoden rightly observed it was the meeting of dear friends, and the ones for which they had been searching. After a little more conversation between the hobbits and the king, Gandalf interrupted what was bound to be fascinating lecture on the growing of pipe weed and Gandalf and Théoden went to Treebeard who was by the north wall and had food waiting for them both there.

The king and his men left, and the hunters stayed behind to get answers to the myriad of riddles they had encountered, leaving the horses to stray in search of grass.

"Well, well! The hunt is over and we meet again at last, where none of us ever thought to come," Aragorn said. "Well, perhaps none of us save one," Aragorn added, giving Lothril a look.

"One day, Aragorn, one day I shall answer all your riddles and then you shall be horribly disappointed for there shall be nothing left for you to puzzle over," Lothril replied.

"What are you two talking about?" Merry asked, feeling very confused.

"Ignore them," Legolas interjected, "We tracked you as far as the forest, but there are still many things that I should like to know the truth of."

"There's a good deal too, that we should like to know about you," said Merry. "We've learned a few things from Treebeard, the Old Ent, but that is not nearly enough."

"All in good time," said Legolas. "And now that the great ones have gone to discuss high matters, the hunters can perhaps learn the answers to their own small riddles. We tracked you as far as the forest, but there are still many things that I should like to know the truth of. And Lothril has not been horribly forthcoming," Legolas said, throwing her a look.

"I told you plenty enough," she replied grinning.

"First or second or plenty enough, it would go better after a meal," Gimli said, and appealed to his bandaged head and the fact it was midday to bring lunch to the fore of events.

After deciding they would rather eat in the guard house than out in the open, they went into a small chamber at the end of a larger one. Light came in through the broken roof, but it still felt more inside than outside. A fire was started and Pippin fetched dishes, bowls, cups, knives, and food.

Merry informed them that beyond toast with butter and honey, there was salted pork, bacon, wine, and beer, all of which was decent. Gimli decided this helped even things out between them and Lothril couldn't help but sit back and smile as she told them she would be content with bacon, toast, and wine.

They were soon busy with their meal and the hobbits sat down beside them with plates of food as well.

"We must keep our guests company," they said.

Legolas laughed. "You are full of courtesy this morning! But maybe if we had not arrived, you would already have been keeping one another company again."

"Maybe," said Pippin. "Most likely. We haven't really eaten properly since Lorien. We can endure it, but it is dreary. Besides, we had foul fare with the Orcs and little enough for days before that. It seems a long while since we could eat to our heart's content."

"I must say," Lothril said, "I would come visit you all in the Shire, should days of peace return, but I'm afraid I would get fat! For limited rations and four day old bread, this is quite good, and in no small part to your cooking skills. But how much better it is when you are cooking with your own pots and pans in your own kitchen with a fully stocked pantry?"

Merry and Pippin laughed and thanked her for the compliment then Merry said, "If you come to see us, we won't take offense if you pass on Second Breakfast or even Elevensies. But afternoon tea is mandatory."

Lothril nodded and said, "Noted."

Aragorn had been surveying the hobbits and said, "Well, whatever foul fare you suffered with your captors, it certainly seems to have done you no harm. Indeed you look as if you are both in the bloom of health."

"Aye," Gimli agreed. "Your hair seems thicker and curlier than when we parted, and I would swear you have grown if that is possible for hobbits of your age. This Treebeard at any rate has not starved you."

"He has not," said Merry. "But Ents only drink, and drink is certainly not enough for content. For hobbits anyway. Treebeard's draughts may be nourishing, but one feels the need of something solid. And even lembas is none the worse for a change."

Legolas' eyes widened slightly. "You have drunk of the waters of the Ents, have you? Ah then I think it is likely that Gimli's eyes do not deceive him. Strange songs have been sung about the draughts of Fangorn."

"Many strange things have been told about that land," said Aragorn. "I have never entered it. Come, tell us more about it, and about the Ents."

The hobbits began explaining Ents and started wandering into how they wound up in Isengard in the first place until Gimli stopped them and told them to start from the beginning.

"We shall tell you if we have time," said Merry, "but first – if you have finished eating – you shall fill your pipes and light up. And then for a little while we can pretend we are all back safe at Bree again, or in Rivendell." Presently he produced a small leather bag full of tobacco. "We have heaps of it. Found it while doing some salvage work this morning, Pippin and I. It was Pippin who found two small barrels, washed up probably from some cellar. When we opened them we found they were filled with this: as fine a pipe-weed as you could wish for, and quite unspoilt.

Gimli took some and rubbed it in his palms and sniffed it and said it smelled quite good. Merry informed it was Longbottom Leaf. Lothril produced the pipes of Merry and Pippin.

"Bless you! I counted mine as lost," Merry said as he reached for one of them. Pippin took his and they thanked her profusely. Then Pippin pulled two more pipes from the breast pocket of his jacket.

"I have been carrying these for a while. Precious as Rings they are to me. Seems now we each have one to ourselves, though if the elves wish to smoke, they should have to share." Pippin held up a small pipe with a wide flattened bowl out to Gimli. "Does that settle the score between us?" he asked, smiling.

"Settle it!" cried Gimli, "Most noble hobbit, it leaves me deep in your debt!"

"Legolas? Lothril? Either of you care for a smoke?" Pippin asked, offering up the one Lothril had been carrying.

"No thank you," Legolas said.

"I shall pass also. For as fond as I am of the smell of a good pipe tobacco, I couldn't ever bring myself to smoke it."

"You like the smell?" Legolas asked.

Lothril reached for the small barrel and took a sniff. "It brings back many happy memories of childhood and some of the dearest, sweetest people I know. I have no desire to smoke myself, but I won't deny myself a sniff and the reminiscence that comes with the smell of someone smoking a pipe."

"You astound me sometimes, you know that?" Legolas said.

"It is a part of my charm."

"Well, I am going back into the open air, to see what the wind and sky are doing," said Legolas.

"We will come with you," said Aragorn.

Everyone returned outside and made themselves relatively comfortable upon a large pile of rocks. For a long while the elves lay staring up into the sky as Legolas sang softly to himself while the others sat smoking their pipes in silence. Lothril allowed herself the opportunity to be at complete ease for a few minutes. Since they had left Lorien she had hardly spent a moment at rest, striving one way or another with enemies both near and far, or else plotting how to Orc hunt in modern America; but she set that aside for the moment and let her thoughts stray to the sky and the wind and the smell of pipe tobacco and the singing of an elf.

At length Legolas sat up and said, "Come now, the afternoon is passing as are the mists, or they would be if you strange folk did not insist on wreathing yourself in smoke. What of the tale?

Pippin began. "Well my tale begins the moment I awoke in an orc-camp all strung up. Let me see, what is today?"

"The fifth of March in the Shire-reckoning," answered Aragorn.

Pippin did some quick adding in his head then continued. "Only nine days ago! It seems like a year since we were caught. Half of it seems like a bad dream, though I reckon that there were only three very horrible days that followed. Merry will correct me if I forget anything important. I am not going to go into details: the whips and the filth and stench and all that; it does not bear remembering. Though," he said pausing. "Even in the midst of all that, I had some of the fairest dreams. Dreams of starlight in summer and warm winds in spring, of sunlight and moonlight and home." He trailed off into a brief moment of silence. Lothril smiled, so her singing had worked some good. Pippin then launched into their story from the last battle of Boromir and the horrible orc-march from Emyn Muil to the Forest of Fangorn. The hunters nodded at various points where things the hobbit said matched their guesses.

At length the story came to parts that Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli knew nothing about. Even Lothril paid a little more attention as she now had a much better grasp of the landscape and could envision everything much more clearly. Once the story reached the present, Aragorn became very concerned with how leaf from the Southfarthing wound its way to Isengard.

"I hope that the evil that was afoot in the Shire is over now, if not, it is beyond our reach at present. Yet, I shall mention the matter to Gandalf," Aragorn said, giving a glance to Lothril.

"Speaking of him, I wonder what he's doing," Merry said. "Let us go look around. You can enter Isengard now if you wish, Strider, but it's not a cheery sight."

The six passed through a ruined tunnel and stood upon a pile of stones and gazed out at Orthanc. She gave a low whistle. "This is quite a mess. It is a good thing ents are so large, or else it would take decades to clean this up!"

Suddenly Legolas spoke, "There is Gandalf and Theoden! Let us go and meet them!"

"Walk carefully!" Merry warned. "There are loose slabs that might tip up and throw you in a pit if you're not careful."

They carefully made their way to the riders. The going was slow because the stones were slimy and cracked, and some would shift under the weight of whoever was walking on it.

Gandalf greeted them, "Treebeard and I have had interesting conversation, and made some plans. We all have had some much needed rest, and now we must go again. I hope you all have rested as well."

"We have," Lothril said.

"We have one more task before we leave; rather, I do. I must pay Saruman a visit. Dangerous and useless it will be I'm sure, but it must be done. Those of you who wish to come with me may, but beware and do not jest!" Gandalf said.

"I have business with him also," Lothril said grimly. Gandalf gave her a curious look. "I have my orders."

He gave a knowing nod. They made their way towards the foot of Orthanc. Black it was, and it gleamed as though it were wet. The sharpness of the corners and the just cut look of the place was almost startling to Lothril. Once Gandalf dismounted, he requested Aragorn go with him and had Lothril go along as well. Then Théoden, Gimli, Legolas, and Éomer decided to go as well. Up the stairs they climbed and once at the top, Gandalf knocked on the door with his staff and cried, "Saruman! Saruman! Saruman come forth!"

For some time there was no answer, and Pippin began to wonder whether he was still there or not. Eventually Grima opened a window and asked who was there and what they wanted. The next voice she heard was that of Saruman. The whole time Saruman spoke, she was unpersuaded by his gentle speech. She could hear the malice even through his most honeyed words and briefly wondered about it.

"And what about you Lady Lothril? You have no complaint against me and you know in part my power. Will you not persuade your friends to a wiser course?" Saruman asked in the most melodic voice he could muster.

"That is not true, I do have a complaint. You have made yourself a commander of Orcs, abandoning fully the task for which you were sent here, indeed now aiding the very enemy you were to help tear down. To say nothing of how many of those foul creatures tried to kill me last night. As a servant of the Valar, I have much to say against your deeds, but I have not been called as a witness nor are you accountable to me, but you are to Gandalf and so I leave you to him for your appeals. But beware and heed my words! I have been sent to give you this message from the Lords of the West: if you reject whatever terms or mercy Gandalf extends and do not today repent of your wickedness, you shall be wholly rejected by your lords forever."

Saruman looked nearly fit to be tied at those words, his face went deathly white and everyone could see through his mask into a mind full of doubt and loathing to stay, but dreading to leave as Gandalf offered.

"Accept Gandalf's terms?! To come down? Does an unarmed man come down to speak with robbers out of the doors?" Saruman mocked. "I am not accountable to you, stray whelp!"

Legolas bristled at those words directed at Lothril, but she immediately replied, "You are accountable to the Lords of the West and I am their emissary. Gandalf has offered you the only mercy you could hope for. Reject his hand, and you seal your own doom. I am not your judge, but I have been given authority to pronounce your doom."

The interview from there slid further downhill for Saruman who began losing control and losing his ability to persuade. He turned and left the balcony.

"Come back, Saruman!" said Gandalf in a commanding voice. Saruman looked as if he was being dragged back to the balcony. "I did not give you leave to go. I have not finished," Gandalf said. Gandalf declared himself as Gandalf the White and cast Saruman out of the order and broke his staff. "Have you any message for Saruman?" he asked Lothril.

She spoke in a loud and clear voice, "Hear now your judgement, Saruman – you have been cast out of your order and you have been rejected by the Lords of the West. Your spirit shall wander formless and powerless until the unmaking of Arda and then you shall face a final judgement before your creator where all your deeds shall be weighed. May you not be found wanting." Saruman looked pale at her words and yet his eyes still flamed with fear and hatred. Gandalf sent him away and he crawled back inside.

They turned and descended the stairs.

"Well that is done, and I must now tell Treebeard how things have gone," Gandalf said.

"He will have guessed it, surely?" said Merry. "Were they likely to end any other way?"

"Not likely," answered Gandalf, who then explained a bit of his reasoning for doing what he did and Saruman's for rejecting his offers.

"What if Sauron does not conquer?" Pippin asked. "What will you do to him?"

"I? Nothing," Gandalf said. "What comes of him is in the hands of Lothril, it seems."

She shook her head, "It is not in my hands, I simply made the pronouncement."

"That is not how it sounded to me," Legolas said.

A shriek suddenly cut through the air from an open window high above.

"It seems that Saruman is missing the thing Wormtongue threw down at us," Gandalf said shaking his head. "I guess that even if we had entered, there are few treasures we could have found more precious than what he threw."

They returned to the ruined gates and had hardly passed out of the arch when they saw Treebeard and twelve other Ents came striding up. This was the first close up look Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, and Lothril got of Treebeard. Gandalf introduced them to the Ent and Treebeard turned and spoke to each in turn, last of all turning to Legolas and Lothril.

"So you have come all the way from Mirkwood?" he asked Legolas. "A great forest it once was."

"It still is, but not so great that we who dwell there do not delight in seeing new trees," Legolas said. "Lothril and myself would love to explore Fangorn's Wood."

Treebeard's eyes gleamed. "I hope you both have that pleasure soon."

"May we bring a third?" Legolas asked.

"Any elf is welcome!"

"The third is not an elf, but Gimli here," Legolas said. Unfortunately, Gimli's axe slipped out of his belt and clanged on the stone. Lothril cringed slightly.

"Hoom ha-hoom. An axe bearing dwarf. You ask much Master Elf," Treebeard said. "A strange friendship this is."

"Yes, strange it may be, but while Gimli lives I shall not come to Fangorn without him. His axe is not for trees, but orc-necks, Master Fangorn. He slew forty-two in the battle," Legolas said.

"Hoom! That is a better story! In that case, I welcome him," Treebeard said. Legolas, Lothril, and Gimli smiled.

"Now what of you, Lothril of Imladris? How is it you come to be emissary of the West?" Treebeard asked.

"I am afraid my tale is too long for the time we have. I hope one day we have the time for long tales; then I will tell it to you then gladly," she answered.

The good-bye's were spoken between Gandalf, the hobbits, and Treebeard and they left.

As they rode, Lothril fell deep into thought. She was recalling the timeline of events; that Frodo and Sam would soon be meeting Faramir, that Pippin was about to look into the palantir, and that the Dunedain were going to over take them in the early morning hours. The road ahead was going to be dark, very dark, for everyone, but especially Frodo and Sam. She knew the Paths of the Dead were looming up before Aragorn and those who would follow him. She knew Legolas would elect to go, and she knew she could choose to go with either Aragorn or the Rohirrim. For the better part of the ride she weighed the choices before her. There was no way poor Leofa could keep up with Shadowfax and Gandalf, so she ruled that out right away, despite the fact she almost thought that might be best. If she went with the Rohirrim, she would reach the battle sooner and avoid the Paths of the Dead. If she went down the Paths of the Dead, she would have to be all stealth and be unable to do anything much until they arrived at Pelannor.

Briefly she wondered if her performance at Helm's Deep had been noticed, but somehow she doubted word of her deeds had gotten very far. Though she had done quite well, she did not think she had done anything any more spectacular than anyone else had. Little did she know that amongst those who had been present at the battle, there were comments being made about the she-elf who glowed with white light as she carved through the enemy like fire through dried brush. Further away in dark places a crack was felt in the shadows and for a moment a ray of light flashed like a bolt of lightening and the buzzing in Sauron's ears turned into a moment of deafening silence. A very nasty realization was coming to him - the Valar had sent another.

They did not ride long that day, for it had been late in the afternoon when they had set out from Isengard. When they stopped for the night in a pleasant dale Gandalf found Lothril and said, "May I have a word?"

"Certainly, Gandalf."

He led her off a short ways away from their companions and spoke to her in a rushed whisper, "Lothril, if I may, I would seek your council in a matter." She nodded and he continued, "Things are coming to a head quickly and Sauron is moving his pieces into position, I have no doubt. I am tempted to look into the palantir and discover its uses, but I cannot settle my mind on the matter. What do you think?"

"Do not use it yourself, Mithrandir. It is not yours to use, though you should keep it for a short while longer before presenting it to its rightful owner. As far as Sauron is concerned, you know or guess much of his movements, but I shall tell you things that the stone would not. I believe you intend to head for Minas Tirith, and there you are most needed. The hour of departure hence is closing upon you rapidly and so you should rest while you may for these are the last hours of quiet before the final desperate moves are made by both sides. As always, you are needed squarely in the thick of it. Minas Tirith shall need you desperately before ten days have passed and none other shall be able to help her or reach her before you. Also, see about finding some aethelas. It shall be wanted and the fool of an herb-master in the houses of healing there does not keep any. For all his lore and knowlege, he knows nothing."

Gandalf smiled, "Truly, I do not know what the others meant when they said you would tell them nothing, indeed, I think perhaps you say too much."

"Well, I would not say as much as I have, but time is not a luxury we have anymore and all decisions must be sure and swiftly made. Secrecy though is still our best defense, but even the time for that is fading rapidly."

Gandalf nodded. "I believe you are right. Even your hours of hiding in the shadows are ending, I think. Before it is all said and done, all of us shall declare ourselves openly to Sauron, even you."

"Five months ago I would have laughed at the notion and been sure you were mistaken. Now, I am sure you are right. I cannot imagine my presence will do half so much to strike terror into the heart of Sauron as seeing you or Aragorn oppose him, but if that is my part then I shall play it to whatever end."

Gandalf laid a hand on her shoulder and said gravely, "Do not underestimate yourself, Lothril, servant of the Valar. You have walked in places Sauron has not seen in time uncounted, and you have been trained and sent by those whom he fears most. He may not know your face or name as yet, but he is by now aware of your presence and from whence you have hailed and that is enough. Be careful that you do not show yourself too soon."

"No fear of that," she said. "I believe I know my road to Minas Tirith and it is one that lends itself to secrecy, but I shall say no more of it."

Gandalf looked at her with a curious expression but said nothing else.

The dale about a mile from the highway on which they had been riding, and as soon as they had stopped, her companions lit a fire beneath a spreading hawthorn that was as tall as a tree and very old, but hail. It was a snug little camp, being surrounded by thornbushes and bracken. Around the fire Merry began peppering Aragorn with questions about the surrounding country in hopes of getting an inch of perspective about what all was going on. By the time Lothril came over the food was nearly ready and she saw that Legolas had saved a place for her beside him. She smiled involuntarily as she walked up and assumed her place beside the elf.

"You were very quiet as we rode back this afternoon," Legolas commented in a low tone so only she would hear him.

"I had much to think about," she answered.

"Is there anything I can help settle your mind about?" he offered.

She smiled. "Thank you, but there is not. I have made up my mind. At last I see clearly the path I must tread before things are decided for good or ill. I can say no more about it though at present."

After supper everyone wrapped themselves in their cloaks and blankets and went to sleep. Lothril did try to sleep to little avail. She knew they would be moving soon and her mind kept wandering in and out of waking and sleeping. Beside her Legolas was quite asleep and untroubled by the whispered conversation between Merry and Pippin, nor the latter hobbit tip-toeing his way to Gandalf. As he made his way towards Gandalf, Pippin cocked an eye at Lothril and wondered if she noticed him. She was sorry for what he would suffer, but of all the things she could prevent, this was one that did not trouble her. Pippin would recover in remarkably fast time, Sauron would be given an exquisite red herring that would buy them precious time and fuel his fear and doubt, and events would be set in motion with an earnestness that persuasion could not garner, of that she was certain.

Suddenly the cry of Pippin rent the night. The guards came rushing towards the source and the whole camp was astir. Gandalf was first at Pippin's side as Lothril immediately went over to where the hobbit had been sleeping and began packing his gear.

Legolas looked over at where Pippin was and then over at Lothril. He went over to her and gave an inquisitive look. "You best go pack your things. We shall be leaving very soon."

"I need only to strap on my weapons," Legolas said.

"Then do so, and in the name of haste, start packing up Aragorn and Gimli. Minutes count now," she said with a serious earnestness he did not dare to question.

Legolas set about readying himself and then quickly packing up for his friends who were yet at the side of the hobbit. As the elf closed Gimli's pack Lothril came over and gave him a peck on the cheek in passing as she went to Hasufel and began to ready him also.

She had barely gotten the saddle on Hasufel when a shadow fell over them. The bright moonlight was suddenly cut off and a blind fear and deadly cold fell on them. A massive winged shape passed over them, wheeling then headed north and then it was gone. Lothril looked up, and as soon as it had passed she began getting Leofa ready to go even as Gandalf cried,"Nazgul! The messenger of Mordor."

Lothril watched as Shadowfax came running up and ran towards Gandalf and Pippin and handed the hobbit his pack. Gandalf and Pippin mounted Shadowfax and went flying off into the night. She made her way over to Aragorn and Merry.

"I have already packed your things, Merry, and Pippin's as well and sent them off with him. Legolas and I saw to it that you and Gimli are also packed and ready to go, as is Hasufel," Lothril said. Merry only nodded in reply and ran off to where they had been sleeping to fetch his things.

"I see you have not been idle," Aragorn said.

"Time is short and there are many leagues between here and Minas Tirith," she replied.

"So five of the Company still remain," said Aragorn "We will ride on together. But we will not go alone as I had first thought. The king is now determined to set out at once. Since the coming of the winged shadow, he desires to return to the hills under cover of night."

"That is wise," Lothril said.

"And then whither?" asked Legolas.

"The king will return to Edoras and hear tidings of war and the Riders of Rohan shall go down to Minas Tirith. But for myself, and any that will go with me-"

"I for one," cried Legolas. "And Gimli with him!" said the Dwarf.

"I shall go with you also, Aragorn. I believe your road is the one I shall be most useful on," Lothril said.

"And what is that road? It is dark before me. I must go down also to Minas Tirith, but I do not yet see which road. And the hour long prepared approaches."

"The road tonight leads to Helm's Deep," Lothril said. "And the road shall be made clear to you."

"Now I know something more shall happen this night!" said Aragorn. "Only tell me if it shall be a good or evil thing so I may brace myself for it."

"It is something you have wished for," she answered.

"What about me?" Merry asked. "I don't want to be laid aside like baggage to be called for when it's all over. I don't think the Riders will want to be bothered with me now. Though the king did say that I was to sit by him when he came to his house and tell him all about the Shire."

"Your road lies with him, Merry," Lothril said. "Indeed, your fate is close wound with the House of Eorl. Tonight though you may ride with me if you wish."

Merry wondered at her words, but said nothing. Hadn't Aragorn called her a seer earlier while they were telling their story? He thought Aragorn had been joking, but now he was starting to think otherwise.

The signal to mount was given and Lothril got on her horse. A slight thrill ran through her of excitement and adventure. She had only been in Middle-earth seven months, but it had felt like an age. Events long in coming were about to begin and from here on out, everything would happen at a frantic speed. She took a deep breath and stared out at the road before them with a determined look on her face.

"What troubles you?" Legolas asked as he mounted his horse.

"The race has begun," she answered, "and there are many long, dark miles to be trod yet."

"Do not worry, I shall be with you through it all," he assured.

She smiled in reply as the company began moving out and they rode swiftly through the night.