Disclaimers are in chapter 1.

Thanks to my beta, Scattered Logic.

Chapter 18: The Riders of Rohan

"You really need to forget about him and move on, Kait."

"That's easier said than done, " Kaitlyn told Megan as she sipped her orange soda. She slowly put down her beverage and gave a weary sigh at how long it took her to put the cup down. All those surgeries and therapies and her hand was still not back to normal.

The blond woman with dark brown eyes pursed her lips. Her best friend was hurting and, even though she had done all she could to comfort her, it didn't seem to be enough. She cursed Derrick.

Megan felt a hand on her shoulder and looked to see that it was Kaitlyn's right hand, not her injured left. Her left hand was buried under the table, hidden from view. Kaitlyn did not like the attention that hand received. The constant, "Gosh, that's a nasty scar. How did you get that? Can you still move that arm?"

Megan had no idea the pain both emotionally and physically that her friend had gone through and was still going through.

"I'm going to be okay, Meg," Kaitlyn said as if sensing her friend's thoughts. "I haven't heard from him at all, which means that he hasn't found me yet. Besides, you told me that I should talk to someone about how I feel. I've finally told someone and I feel really good now that I have."

Megan brightened, her lips curling into a slight smile. "You've gone to see a therapist?"

Kaitlyn shook her head. "No, I've told Legolas."

Megan's brows furrowed at the foreign name. "Who?"

"Legolas, you know him," Kaitlyn told her, practically beaming.

Megan shook her head, her short blond hair twirling around her face at the motion. "No, I'm afraid I don't. Is he someone you met at the hospital? He sounds foreign." Megan smiled. "Is he cute?"

"Meg, Legolas. Tall, long blond hair, amazing at archery. Elf," she commented, not realizing that her voice had taken a slightly dreamy quality.

Megan frowned at the last word. "What did you just say?"

"He's tall, blond-"

"No, the last word you said."

"Elf?" Kaitlyn asked non-chalantly.

Megan frowned deeply when she realized that she had not misheard the first time. "Kait, are you feeling well?"

"Meg, I'm fine. I just can't believe that you don't know who I'm talking about."

Kaitlyn felt astounded. "I know I've told you how Legolas protected me, how he's become such a good friend to me. He's sort of like Brian, only I don't have that weird, uncomfortable feeling that I sometimes get when I tell Brian something. I'm always afraid that Bri is going to think I'm insane."

"Kaitlyn, you have completely lost me," Megan told her, shaking her head. "I don't know of anyone named Legaless and the only Brian I know is the one from middle school that was a complete class clown and got detention all the time."

Kaitlyn frowned deeply and her brows furrowed. How could Megan not know Legolas or Brian?

Megan leaned in over the table and lowered her voice. "I'm really worried about you, Kait. You're babbling about nonsense. I mean, really. Elves named Legaless."

"Leg-o-las" Kaitlyn pronounced.

"Whatever, Kait, but you're freaking me out." The blond shook her head. " I mean, come on. Imaginary friends were things we did as children. But you're 26 not 6 and there are no such things as Elves." Megan's frown deepened and a look of concern appeared on her face. " I'm worried that your meds are making you delusional."

Kaitlyn jumped up from her chair, nearly knocking it over with the motion. Everyone in the coffee shop turned to look at her, but she didn't care. "I'm not delusional! There is such a thing as elves. I've seen them myself!"

Megan looked pointedly from Kaitlyn to the people staring. "Would you please sit down? You're causing a scene," Megan told her through gritted teeth. The blonde stood up slowly. "Look, I'm going to get you home. You're stressed out and tired."

"No, I'm not!" Kaitlyn exclaimed."Elves do exist. And so do Dwarves and wizards and...and hobbits! I've seen them. They're my friends. I'm traveling with them."

"Kait-" Megan started.

"No!" Kaitlyn yelled back. She slammed her right fist down on the table in anger and her soda went flying, spilling all over the black and white tile floor of the shop.

Megan's eyes widened and when she spoke her voice was shaking. "Kaitlyn... let me take you home before you hurt yourself."

"NO!" Kaitlyn cried out loudly. " You think I'm crazy! They're real! Real, I tell you!"

"Kaitlyn? Kaitlyn!"

Someone grabbed her shoulders and, thinking that they were going to restrain her, she lashed out violently. The hands did not leave her alone and gripped her tightly, pushing her to the ground, forcing her hands to remain at her side.

"Daro, Rodwen! Im nin!" Stop Rodwen! It is me!

The voice and the strange words made Kaitlyn stop struggling and her eyes shot open. Breathing heavily, she realized that there was no music playing, no chatter or laughter. She was no longer in the coffee shop with Megan. She was on the damp earth; she could feel the dew soaking through her tunic. All was quiet except for her loud breathing. She could feel the warmth and weight of someone pinning her to the ground.

Kaitlyn looked up and into familiar concerned blue eyes. Dark brows were furrowed over them. The face was pale with ears that were pointed at the ends and straight blond hair fell down towards Kaitlyn and tickled her face.

"Legolas!" she let out exasperated. She started to rise and Legolas released her. She sat up, quickly throwing her arms around him.

Legolas was surprised by the action and then joy filled him when he realized that she sought him for comfort from her ordeal. He returned the embrace, holding her tightly to him. He could feel and hear her heart pounding.

They held each other for a few moments before Kaitlyn broke the embrace, but she did not pull away from Legolas completely. She curled up against him, her head resting beneath his chin, her cheek pressed to his chest, like a child clinging to a parent for protection. Legolas put an arm around her shoulder.

She was still breathing heavily and it was some time before her breathing returned to normal and she spoke. "It was a dream, wasn't it?" she murmured against the suede of his tunic. The material rippled beneath the warm breath of her words.

"Aye, it was, " Legolas told her with worry laced in his tone. He gently swept back some of the dark wavy hair that had fallen into Kaitlyn's face. "You were crying out in your sleep."

Kaitlyn swallowed hard. "What was I saying?"

"At first it was nonsense that I could not understand, but then you began to cry out that something was real." Legolas tilted his head so that he could gaze intently into her troubled green eyes. "That elves were real and that you were not crazy," he whispered softly.

Kaitlyn's eyes filled with tears as she thought about what had happened. "I tried to tell Megan that you and the others were real and she wouldn't believe me. She thought that I was crazy and that my medication was making me delusional."

She sat back and reached out timidly with a shaking hand toward Legolas. The Elf did not move except for his eyes, which focused on her trembling hand. She pressed her fingers to his face. His skin was warm and smooth to the touch.

"You are real, aren't you?" she asked with doubt in her voice. "Or am I dreaming?"

Legolas covered the hand on his face with his and brought it to rest over his heart, which was beating steadily beneath her palm. "I am real. This is no dream."

Kaitlyn lowered her gaze. In the dim light, her eyes could make out the grass and occasional rocks that spanned out for miles in every direction. "We're on the plains of Rohan and we're trying to rescue Merry and Pippin," she said softly, as she began to remember where she was and whom she was with.

Legolas nodded.

Kaitlyn said nothing for a few moments, lost in thought. Then she gave a frustrated sigh and balled her hand into a fist. "Why wouldn't she believe me? I tried to tell her and she wouldn't listen," her voice broke.

Legolas leaned in closer, his breath warm on her face. "It was a dream, Rodwen. Many times they have no meaning or they have no logic. Do not allow it to haunt you for it will only cause you to suffer."

She looked up into his eyes, which were filled with an unknown emotion.

"It's hard not to dwell on it," she told him. "It feels like it really happened and Megan is my friend. Or...she was." She gave another sigh. "If I went home, that's probably what would happen, wouldn't it?" She shifted her weight and, tilting her head, gazed intently into Legolas' clear blue eyes. "No one would believe that you or the others are real. They would think that I'm crazy."

Legolas said nothing for a moment. He sat and gazed at Kaitlyn, his eyes roaming over her face and dark hair. "If Megan is truly your friend then she would believe you, but you must not trouble yourself thinking about what will never happen." Legolas gave her a sad smile. "You know that you cannot return home."

Kaitlyn lowered her eyes and head. "I know," she whispered. Her voice took on a sad tone and Legolas worried that she would breakdown. While he was far from his home, he could not compare his losses to hers.

"Megan was upset with me and I shouted and everyone looked at us and I didn't even care. I just wanted her to believe that you and the others were real. That was so important to me." She gave another sigh and the hand that was not on Legolas' chest swept over the damp coarse grass. "I can still see and hear everything so perfectly."

"Istan," the Elf told her softly. I know. "But it will pass." Legolas gently began to stroke the hand and fingers still resting over his heart. He sighed heavily before he gazed to the east. Kaitlyn followed his gaze.

"The sun will be rising soon." Legolas returned his eyes to the mortal woman who still sat so close to him.

"Aragorn wished for me to awaken you so that we could continue our journey," Legolas told her. "I allowed you to sleep longer because I had not the heart to rouse you. However, I fear my actions have made things more difficult for you." He tilted his head and noticed how tired Kaitlyn looked.

His voice became a whisper nearly lost on the wind. "Because I allowed you the extra rest, you dreamt and it has upset you. I am concerned that you will be weary and that your mind will be troubled for the journey ahead."

Kaitlyn could see that Legolas was worried about her. The unknown emotion she had seen in his eyes had turned out to be guilt. His brows were furrowed, his lips were pursed and his eyes did not leave her form. He was blaming himself for things he should not have been.

"I'll be fine," she told him. She gave a gentle smile to ease him.

She closed her eyes and could feel Legolas continuing to caress her hand. She could feel the warmth of his body, the beating of his heart. For once, she believed that she would be fine. The dream would pass with time as all usually did. It would lose its potency and she would continue on with her friends beside her.

Finding Merry and Pippin was the priority. They were more important than a disturbing dream that she did not know the meaning to just yet.

Kaitlyn opened her eyes and gave Legolas another smile. "Let me eat something and I'll be ready to travel," she reassured him. Her voice was stronger now and she did not appear as tired.

Legolas glanced her over before nodding. His fingers slowed and then stopped their continuous movements on her hand. "I will bring you some lembas and water so that you may find the strength to carry on today."

Kaitlyn nodded and an unexpected sense of loss filled her as the Elf rose to his feet, his hand slipping from hers as he moved away.

She watched him in the dimness of the early morning as he bent onto one knee and began to rummage through one of the packs in search of breakfast. His long blond hair drifted across his face in the morning breeze and he causally tucked it behind his pointed ears. He was not wearing his quiver, bow or cloak, which made him look taller and thinner than usual.

As if feeling her gaze on him, Legolas turned his head in Kaitlyn's direction and smiled at her. Kaitlyn smiled in return and feeling her cheeks warm in embarrassment at being caught, she lowered her eyes to the ground. When she looked up again, Legolas had returned to the task of finding the lembas.

Kaitlyn realized that she did not need the Elvish way bread to make her strong. She had already found her strength for the day, and it had come in the form of a tall, blond Mirkwood prince whose soothing touch, words, and bright smile had given her a reason to continue on.

There was no more talk of the dream. Kaitlyn forced herself to push it to the back of her mind and think about the hobbits that needed to be rescued.

Legolas returned with the lembas and broke a piece for each of his companions.

Breakfast was spent in relative silence, except for the brief conversation between Legolas and Kaitlyn when she returned his cloak to him.

As soon as all were finished eating, they began their journey.

The sun had not yet risen, but the sky was growing brighter with each passing moment. There was enough light for Legolas to see the trail and he led the way until the sun began to shine over the line of the horizon.

Legolas frowned and slowed his pace as the sun began its journey. "A red sun rises," he spoke with deep emotion in his tone. He looked down at the earth and then at the sun rise again. "Blood has been spilt this night."

Aragorn rushed by him, hearing the words but not daring to stop or slow.

Legolas watched the Ranger and his determination and the Elf quickened his pace. Kaitlyn and Gimli continued to run but looked at each other for a moment.

The Dwarf knew what the woman was thinking. "It does not mean that it is the wee hobbits, lassie. A red sun is an old wives tale. 'Tis like when livestock lies down and they say it will rain."

"I know what a wives tale is, Gimli. And though I've never heard this one before, Legolas sounded worried." Kaitlyn frowned, glancing at the Elf who was running hard and fast across the plain. An uneasy feeling had settled within her. It was a feeling of dread, like one felt when they had done something they knew they should not have, they had been caught and now they had to face the consequences.

"He is an Elf, lassie, he is not a god," the Dwarf reminded her. "He only has his intuitions, which are not always correct. The Elves are not as perfect as you think they are." Gimli raised his brows, then lowered them before he started off after Legolas and Aragorn who were already much farther ahead.

Kaitlyn followed numbly. She hoped that Legolas was wrong for once, because she did not know if she could handle the deaths of anymore of her friends.

The group traveled on for much of the day. It was well after noontime when Legolas and Aragorn unexpectedly stopped.

The Ranger and Elf stood on a small ridge looking out over the plains. Kaitlyn and Gimli stopped beside them.

"What is it?" Kaitlyn asked. She was hunched over, her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Her legs and back were bothering her much more than they had the previous days. It was a miracle that she had only fallen twice today and, were it not for Gimli, she was certain that she would not have been able to get up again.

"There are riders many leagues off. How many, Legolas?" Aragorn asked. The Ranger strained his eyes, squinting and tilting his head but no matter how he much he tried the riders were still a blur on the plains.

"One hundred and five from my count. Yellow is their hair and bright are their spears. Their leader is tall. They are moving quickly and will be here in a short time," Legolas replied.

The riders were no blur to him. He could make out the horsehair streaming from the tops of the riders' helmets. He could see the horses' shoes as the steeds took each stride and the white froth from their mouths as they chomped at their iron bits.

"Their steeds are swift and they travel over the plains as if their horses had wings," Aragorn commented.

"What are we going to do?" Kaitlyn asked. She was wary of meeting these riders. For all she knew they might slaughter her and her friends merely for trespassing on their land.

"We must take cover," Aragorn replied.

"Take cover where?" Kaitlyn asked in frustration. "We are on a flat plain and if we hide behind what little rock is on the plain, they will see us for sure."

"We cannot just stay here in plain sight, lassie," Gimli told her.

"Our cloaks," Legolas said, clutching one side of his gray cloak within his hand. "Lord Celeborn said that they would shield us from unfriendly eyes. If we sit behind the rock and wrap our cloaks about us, we may escape being seen. Hard and fast they ride and they may miss us."

Aragorn nodded. "Let it be done."

And so the four sat, with their cloaks draped around them. The sun had gone when clouds covered the sky. It was not long before the sound of hundreds of hooves could be heard hitting the earth. The sound grew louder and louder until it rivaled thunder.

Kaitlyn held her breath as the riders galloped past them and exhaled as they galloped past. It appeared that the riders had not seen them.

Aragorn got to his feet and released his cloak, letting it fall back to his sides.

Kaitlyn's eyes widened. "What is he doing?" she asked in a hushed whisper.

"Riders of Rohan! What news from the mark?" Aragorn called out in a loud clear voice.

Gimli and Legolas rose to their feet and when Kaitlyn attempted to rise, both Dwarf and Elf pushed her to sit back down. She gave them a puzzled expression.

"Someone must save the hobbits if this plan goes awry," Gimli told her.

"You will be safer here," Legolas said in a firm voice. "No matter what happens, do not stray from your hiding place. Not until we summon you," he continued.

"But..." Kaitlyn started.

"Don't argue, lassie. We know not what the outcome of this shall be. 'Tis for your own good," Gimli said, siding with Legolas.

Kaitlyn watched as the Elf and Dwarf went to stand beside Aragorn.

"For my own good..." Kaitlyn muttered under her breath. If any of them were killed, she wouldn't do much good at all. She could not track or fight well. She gave a deep heaving sigh and remained still, peeking through a small space between the fabric of her cloak.

The riders had turned and were rapidly approaching Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas who had walked down and away from the rock toward them.

The riders rode directly toward the trio and then, at the last minute, they forced their horses into a trot, creating a circle.

Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas stood close together with their backs toward each other. They watched as the riders and horses closed in around them.

Kaitlyn's heart was pounding hard in her chest and she found it difficult to breathe. The riders had halted and they were in a close circle around her friends. They lowered their spears toward the trio and Kaitlyn watched as Aragorn raised his hands to show that he was not wielding a weapon.

A tall rider on a gray horse rode forward into the circle. From his silver helmet flowed a long stream of white horse hair.

"What business do you have in the Riddermark?" he asked loudly. "Speak quickly!" he ordered, halting his horse directly in front of Gimli.

Gimli rested his hands upon his ax. "Give me your name, horse master, and I shall give you mine."

The rider looked angry. Kaitlyn could see his dark eyebrows lowered over his eyes.

He handed his spear to a nearby rider, dismounted his horse and walked in quick steady steps toward Gimli. "I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground," he spat.

Legolas drew an arrow with lightning fast speed, regardless of the fact that over a hundred sharp spears surrounded him. "You would die before your stroke fell," he threatened. The tip of his arrow was pointed directly at the horseman's face.

The riders raised their spears as if to strike and Kaitlyn found that she was shaking. It was taking all of her willpower not to fly down the hill and plead for the men to leave her friends alone. But doing such a thing would do none of them any good and she might get herself killed in the meantime.

Aragorn stepped forward and grabbed Legolas' arm, pushing it down toward the earth, which lowered his arrow away from the horseman.

Gimli exhaled, his eyes wide and his lips pursed at what had nearly happened.

Legolas replaced the arrow into his quiver with sharp movements, conveying that he was still angry. He held his bow within his hand.

"Have you sprung out of the grass?" the man asked, looking them over. "How did you escape our sight? Are you Elvish folk?"

"Only one of us is an Elf and he is Legolas of the Woodland Realm of distant Mirkwood," Aragorn answered glancing at Legolas.

The man glared at Legolas and the Elf returned the harsh stare.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Aragorn announced. "I come from the North and I am hunting Orc." Aragorn gestured and turned toward Gimli. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin."

Aragorn turned back to the man. "We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king."

The man looked at the ground. "Theoden no longer recognizes friend from foe." He reached for his helmet and began to remove it. "Not even his own kin." When the helmet was gone, it revealed a tall blond man with dark angry eyes. He made a gesture with his hand and the riders around them raised their weapons away and moved them to stand by their sides.

Kaitlyn exhaled loudly in her hiding place and attempted to calm her pounding heart.

"Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over his lands," the man said bitterly.

Aragorn looked bewildered. He gazed away for a minute, over at the surrounding land.

"My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that we are banished," the man said, continuing to speak.

Aragorn turned at those words and frowned.

The blond man stepped toward Aragorn. "The white wizard is cunning." He gazed down at Gimli, his voice taking on the tone of a person telling a frightening story. "He walks here and there they say, as an old man hooded and cloaked."

He gazed at Legolas and the man's brows lowered further over his eyes. "And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

Legolas stared at the man, hardly able to restrain himself from restringing his bow with an arrow and pointing the sharp tip into the horseman's arrogant face.

"We are no spies," Aragorn said, before any trouble arose from the direction the conversation had taken. It was obvious to all that this horseman did not trust them, especially Legolas.

"We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive," Aragorn said, his voice sounding solemn.

The man looked at Aragorn. "The Uruk's were destroyed. We slaughtered them during the night."

"But there were two hobbits!" Gimli exclaimed. "Did you see two hobbits with them?" he asked in alarm.

"They would be small, only children to your eyes," Aragorn explained.

The man shifted his weight, his eyes cast to the ground. He shook his head and gazed at Aragorn. "We left none alive." He turned toward the west and pointed to a plume of gray-white smoke that rose toward the dark sky. "We piled the carcasses and burned them."

"Dead?" Gimli asked, his voice full of sorrow.

The man nodded slowly. "I am sorry."

Legolas lowered his head. Grief tore through him like a blade through flesh. He could feel Aragorn and Gimli's grief emanate from them and he put a hand on Gimli's shoulder.

"Might we request horses, so that we may see if it is indeed true?" Aragorn asked. "We have traveled from Amen Hen for many days on foot."

The man's eyes widened. "'Tis but a large gift you ask of the Marshal of the Riddermark. Our horses are our livelihood."

Aragorn nodded. So this was Eomer, the king's nephew that they were dealing with.

Eomer looked Aragorn and his friends over, studying them. "I will lend you horses, heir of Elendil, with the promise that when your quest is fulfilled or thwarted that you return to the Golden Hall of Meduseld in Edoras. You will prove to the King that I have not misjudged. I do this in good faith. Do not fail," he said sternly.

Aragorn was pleased that Eomer knew who he was and that alone might have saved him and his companions.

"We agree to this, Eomer, Third Marshal of the Riddermark," Aragorn told him.

Eomer nodded also pleased that he had been recognized. "This may be well enough for man and Elf but who has heard of a horse of the Mark given to a Dwarf?" Eomer asked, his voiced tainted with prejudice.

"No one," Gimli said looking at the horses that towered above him. "And do not trouble. No one will ever hear of it. I would much rather walk then sit astride a beast."

"You must ride, Gimli, or you will slow us down," Legolas told him. "You shall ride with me so that we may find our friends," the Elf offered.

Gimli's eyes widened in surprise and then his brows lowered as he grumbled a few words in his own tongue. Whoever had heard of an Elf and a Dwarf riding on the same horse?

Eomer whistled and two horses were brought forth, one a chestnut stallion with two white socks and the other was a white stallion with a gray mane and tail. "This is Hasufel," Eomer said sweeping a hand toward the chestnut "And this is Arod. May these horses bear you to better fortune then their former masters."

Aragorn nodded as he took Hasufel's reins.

"Farewell," Eomer bid to Aragorn. He replaced his helmet, mounted his horse and took his spear from the rider who had been holding it.

Legolas placed a hand on Arod's neck and the stallion stepped closer. The Elf was still filled with grief and the horse of the Mark could sense it. He nudged the Elf gently and Legolas patted him again.

Aragorn's head was lowered as he ran his fingers over Hasufel's braided reins.

"Look for your friends," Eomer said and Aragorn looked up at him. "But do not trust to hope."

Eomer bit his lower lip, released it and gazed out over the plains of Rohan. "For it has forsaken these lands." He looked away to his company. "We ride north!" he yelled and he dug his heels into his gray stallion's sides.

The horse trotted off and all the others fell into step behind him. In a matter of moments, the riders were gone, galloping across the plains as they had been before they were summoned.

Aragorn mounted Hasufel quickly and turned the chestnut toward the rock where they had left Kaitlyn.

The mortal woman was standing now that the danger had passed, her dark hair and cloak blowing in the wind. She was waiting as Aragorn halted the stallion in front of her. Kaitlyn's eyes were full of fear and anguish.

"Is it true? Are they...?" She could not bring herself to say the word.

"We know not for certain," Aragorn said truthfully and offered his hand to her, which Kaitlyn just stared at. "Come," he beckoned.

"I...I've never ridden a horse before," she admitted. She took a step back as Hasufel nodded his head a few times and used his tongue to toy with the bit. There was the jingle of metal and leather and the clattering sound of metal on teeth as the stallion moved about. He was eager to run.

"You have nothing to fear," Aragorn assured her. His voice was soft and there was pain in it. He patted the stallion who seemed to calm under the Ranger's gentle hand.

Kaitlyn bit her lip. She looked at the large horse and then away to the cloud of smoke in the distance. She paused a moment and, having made her decision, she slowly slipped her hand into Aragorn's.

Aragorn released the reins to lift her up with both hands and he settled her behind him.

"Hold onto me," he ordered and Kaitlyn did so, wrapping her arms tightly around the Ranger's waist.

The white stallion came trotting up beside them carrying Legolas and Gimli. The Dwarf held tightly onto the Elf.

Legolas gave Kaitlyn a sad smile and Gimli gave a look of annoyance. The Dwarf didn't seem to be the least bit happy with the traveling conditions.

"Let us ride," Aragorn said.

The Ranger dug his heels into Hasufel's side and Legolas spoke Elvish to Arod, coaxing the stallion forward.

The stallions tore across the plains, their hooves kicking up grass and earth as they went.

Kaitlyn clung to Aragorn; the feel of the stallion galloping beneath her was foreign and frightening. The grass and scenery were shooting past them and though she had gone much faster in a car, the experience of speed on horseback was quite different. She closed her eyes and rested her face against Aragorn's back, unable to look as they went. She bit her lip and prayed silently that Merry and Pippin were all right.

In silence and at breakneck speed, the four rode toward the plume of smoke that rose in the western sky.

To be continued…

Once again, my apologies for not being able to comment individually. I've barely found time to write never mind comment.

I was surprised that so many people thought that Kaitlyn was going to commit suicide. While the thought might have crossed her mind during her rehabilitation, she is too strong for something like that. She's cowardly in her own way, but not so much that she would be willing to take her own life.

I'm glad that I didn't turn out to be predictable!

To the person who asked if I have a beta reader. I do. Occasionally, due to distractions and RL we both might miss things.

For those who like photo manipulations, I have a few goodies up on my webpage. Ff.net usually won't allow urls but hopefully this will show up. If not check out my profile and you will find the photo manips on my web page.

Images were created by myself and distort_me

Please keep those reviews coming. I love reading your thoughts and reactions to things.