Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or Naruto; both works belong to their respective creators and publishers. I gain nothing but writing and editing experiences from this fanfic.

Full Summary: Ultimately, they would not change what happened for anything in the world. At long last they had a family, a family both had dreamed for since their genin days. Neither of them ever expected to have children together, nor let their pasts go. But here they were: content, and in peace at long last. But now they find their family, their peace, breaking apart due to the struggles of the free peoples against the Power in the East. Will they forsake the world they have so few ties to, or will they become weapons of change? WARNINGS: OC's, character death (not a likable character), gender-bending

A/N: So…I am finally updating, after what…a year? In my partially unacceptable defense…health issues I am far too young to be having kicked my ass and virtually all of my motivation. I'm still struggling on all sides with that, but I just started writing out parts from the second book and it just clicked. So…here it is. Hope you all enjoy, and thank you for the continued support over my long breaks.

Now…a few things to keep in mind, this world has things that Sasuke could never hope to understand or explain. Also, Sauron and the Ring Wraiths have some fairly ambiguous and terrible powers… so, I added some flair when they are mixed with a doujutsu that perfectly captures every detail of an event while giving the user an understanding of the chakra involved on some level. So…um…yeah (it made sense to me, and there have to be more draw backs to the sharingan than blindness that can be fixed by transplanting eyes regardless of how damaged they already were [and besides (I guess) the Uchiha hate that Sasuke supposedly cured?]). Anyways, please enjoy the chapter and thank you all again for the continued support over the years ~ much love, depressedchildren.

Key:

"Text" westron language

"Text" either japanese or sindarin (both in the case of the girls). Now also the language of Rohan...so really anything but Westron (let me know if there needs to be differentiation)

Kusanagi a name/title (i.e. Prancing Pony)

Chapter 6: The Road South

3017 October 21

Naruto lay with her head against the teme's chest. She felt tired, frustrated, and…and desperate. She just wanted her family to all be together, and she had thought they were going to be until Dawn…

Naruto closed her eyes tightly, and held a little more firmly to her husband. He was drained after what had happened the day before, more drained that she thought he should be, though she couldn't blame him. Their family was just…just splintering before her eyes.

"We should get up," the teme stated with this conviction and determination Naruto didn't quite feel. She felt…numb.

"Five more minutes," she murmured in response. She rubbed her cheek against his firm chest and took in his scent. She could hear the gentle, reassuring thump of his heart and she could relax, yet she could not stop thinking about how her baby was off in the wild. Would Tinnu run out there too and endanger herself?

No…Naruto could feel Tinnu was beside her twin. She would not leave Minuial or Naruto; not after all that had happened.

Naruto hummed when the teme's good arm moved from her hip to comb through her hair. The waterfall droned around them and she could hear what few birds still remained in the north chirping just over the sound of the teme's steady pulse. She could smell the crisp autumn air and the dead foliage mixed with the scent of mountain water. This was a nice, peaceful place…she liked it.

"We can't stay in bed all day," the teme murmured, but neither of them moved. Instead, the teme kept combing his fingers through her hair and Naruto rubbed the teme's side with her thumb.

She wondered in this quiet moment, was Sasuke thinking the same thing she was? "Why did she have to leave us again?" she asked softly. She knew why, it was that stupid Gondorian's fault, but she still wondered if her parenting had an impact. She supposed she always would because it was her daughter who lied to them, rebelled against them. Had they been too overprotective? Too free?

"I'll get her back," the teme's words made Naruto sit up to attention and look down at him shocked.

"You are in no condition to go after her," she snapped, and the teme gave her a look that said he knew that.

"Once my reserves are restored."

Naruto scoffed and shook her head, "And what about Dusk and Minuial. That kind of journey could kill them, and then we would only be heading toward more dan—"

"I'd go alone," the words made Naruto freeze, and she looked down at her husband in disbelief. She shook her head and got out of the bed. The teme opened his mouth like he was going to say something. There was this look of regret that flashed over his face, yet he still looked like he was ready to justify his decision.

Naruto just held up her hand and shook her head again. "Just-just don't," her disgust was clear as she moved over to where Dusk continued to sleep. She swaddled him and quickly left the room with him in tow, still in her sleepwear. She could hear her husband sigh behind her, but Naruto didn't care.

She moved toward Minuial's room and peered inside, but she didn't want to go in there. The room was suffocating, and everything already felt like it was falling down around her already without going in there.

Naruto quickly moved on and found herself walking the halls in a daze. It really did feel like the world was falling down around her, and whenever she caught a servant looking at her in mixed parts awe and fear, she felt worse. She knew why the gawked at her, and she could hear them whisper in their own language about her after she passed. Naruto just felt…numb.

At last she reached the gardens, more than aware of the guards following her since Ranger-san had yet to come to their room and guard them. Naruto ignored the "security detail" and began down a stone pathway with rows of trees on either side that created a natural tunnel. The leaves were still green but more and more were turning gold and red.

She found a stone bench with fallen leaves on and around it. It was then that Naruto realized she didn't want to keep walking, she needed to sit down. Naruto sank onto the cold stone and cradled her babe to her chest. He was awake, and had been awake for some time. He was gargling and trying to reach up for the leaves that let the golden sunlight through.

Naruto felt her lips tug up at the sides and she caught his hand in hers. Her little baby. He would remain with her. Her little joy, her little boy.

She closed her eyes as a thought came to her: would he get to live in peace? She and the teme had displayed their skills openly, almost too openly to the members of the council. No doubt when the dwarves and foreign elves returned to their homes out east they would spread tales of how there were humans with fantastic skills. It would also mean the rumors of what Minuial had done would have more substance.

Why? Why had she done that? "You know why," Kurama remarked in annoyance.

She did. Gandalf knew most of her and the teme's capabilities after Weathertop, the hobbits did as well, and knew even more than others. Elrond had gleaned the truth too, and Borimir knew just as much. In addition, her baby girl had left her again and she was so fucking tired of her children running away from her. She had been angry and fed up, so she threw caution to the wind to give the proverbial fuck this to the situation and lash out without regard to the consequences.

Naruto heard light footsteps approaching and the sweep of cloth against the ground. Arwen-hime, Naruto guessed and opened her eyes to see the elf woman walking down the path. The other woman looked surprised before her expression changed into a smile.

"Arad," she greeted, and Naruto laughed slightly because undoubtedly Ranger-san had convinced her to call her that.

"Arwen-hime," she returned in a subdued voice. The elf's smile fell and a slight crease came onto her face. She moved to sit beside Naruto and even reached out her hands.

"What is the matter?" she asked softly, and Naruto exhaled in amusement as she shook her head.

"Besides condemning my family to who knows what with my display yesterday, and Dawn running off to fight in a war she has no right to be a part of…" the sarcastic remark was left open in the air between them as Naruto shook her head. A glance at Arwen showed the elf was trying to hide her hurt, and Naruto grimaced before sighing. "The Bastard wants to go off after our girl without any of us," Naruto felt her voice becoming a little tighter as she said these words.

Naruto gasped and tried to keep her tears at bay. First her daughters had abandoned them, then when they were reunited one was so badly hurt… Now, Naruto wanted to shake her head in disbelief, now her eldest child had fled her and her husband would be fast at her heels. The one person who kept her grounded was leaving her to bring their child home, but what if he died in the process? Gods… he had one arm to use and who knew what the ring had done to him for attacking it. She was going to be stuck here unable to help him at all as she looked after the twins and the baby. It made her feel useless.

Naruto took in a ragged breath and used her free hand to brush away the gathered tears. Arwen was looking at Naruto as if searching for some sort of answer, and after a moment she found whatever it was. She gave Naruto a sad but knowing smile.

"Come," she began as she stood up, "I wish to show you something."

Frowning slightly, Naruto stood up and began to follow the elf woman. What would it be?

…

Tinnu had to get out of the room, it was killing her being in here; however, she felt awful always leaving her sister alone in here. Come on Minu, she thought, wake up.

A shadow fell in the doorway, but Tinnu knew it was only her father, so she wasn't startled. She hurried over to his side because he was leaning heavily against the door. She helped him to a chair and he sighed slightly.

Tinnu sat back down at the bed while her father just looked at Minuial with his brow pinched together slightly. The silence and stillness persisted and made her feel uncomfortable. Tinnu couldn't stop herself from shifting in discomfort and so she began to hum an elvish tune she had heard Ojisan sing when he came to visit Minuial. It wished her to wake up after healing, and Tinnu hoped her sister could hear how much she wished for that to happen as she spoke the words.

Ojisan came into the room as she was finishing the song and he joined in the last lines as he sat down opposite Tousan. Once they were done, they all just sat in the room quietly as they stared down at Minuial; it was driving Tinnu mad. The silence was pressing in around her so much that she wanted to scream.

Just as Tinnu was reaching the fraying ends of her restraint, Ojisan spoke and Tinnu practically crumpled in relief. Ojisan cleared his throat slightly in discomfort after the long silence. "The hobbits," he began, "are presently discussing Frodo's…quest." Ojisan seemed uncertain about the word he used, as if it did not settle on his tongue quite how he wished.

Tousan just nodded his head slowly, "So we are expected to be there?"

Ojisan looked to the side. "Not yet," he replied after a moment. "The hobbits are still very afraid and wary of what lays before Frodo and Sam."

"What?" Tinnu knew she shouldn't butt in, but she was curious what this was all about. Ojisan's expression became grim and closed off while Tousan just sighed.

"Remember the foul chakra?" Tousan asked tiredly, and Tinnu nodded her head. "Well," he began, "the Council yesterday decided to destroy it, right?" he asked Ojisan who begrudgingly nodded.

"Frodo volunteered to take the ring into Mordor and cast it into the fires of Mount Doom." There was a minute pause and Ojisan smiled slightly, "Sam is to be his companion."

Tousan raised an eyebrow in interest more than surprise before asking, "Was that his punishment for spying on the council?"

"Yes," Ojisan agreed a little more amused before his expression fell and he frowned. "Though the journey will be perilous and I would not wish such plight on any one."

Tousan hummed while Tinnu couldn't help but wonder at what the small hobbits would eventually embark on. They were soft, kind-hearted creatures, and Tinnu feared what the wastelands of Mordor would do to them. What kind of danger would they go through? They had endeared themselves to her while she spied on them during their journey in the wild, and had grown more so with the training she had given them.

"They'll have to sneak into Mordor, infiltrate the orc ranks and gain patrols closer to this Mount Doom," Tousan stated matter-of-factly.

Ojisan raised an eyebrow, "Did your wife tell you this?" Tousan just shook his head. Ojisan laughed slightly, "You two think the same in these matters then."

Tousan shook his head and looked heavenward, "Basic tactics for going behind enemy lines." He shrugged then, "Their biggest challenges will be stealth, deception, and fighting prowess."

Ojisan tilted his head to one side thoughtfully. "Perhaps," he replied, "But the hobbits are often sure-footed and step lightly." Ojisan laughed slightly, "They are certainly made of sterner stuff than they appear."

Tousan smiled slightly and nodded before his expression fell, "Though they aren't warriors with battle honed instincts."

Tinnu couldn't keep herself contained any longer, "I could help them on all accounts!" She desperately wanted to leave this room, though she always felt guilty for doing so; with this task though… well, wouldn't it be beneficial for all of them if she could teach the hobbits to survive for themselves? Surely her twin would understand.

Both men looked at her in an almost indulgent manner. "Then perhaps you should offer this training to Frodo and Sam?" Ojisan stated.

Tousan nodded and a sly smirk came onto his face, "Perhaps rig a hallway with rope and bells; you could use the practice too."

Tinnu glared at her father affronted for a moment before the excitement from before began rushing up again. Oh she so badly wanted to train the hobbits, really anything to get away from the shame and guilt this room heaped on her. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her sister's forehead, "Wake up soon, Minuial." She was then out the door and practically flying toward the hobbits' room.

…

Arwen had lead Arad into her own quarters and showed the blonde her work station. It was set beside the window which opened onto the valley below. There she laid out and worked on her weavings and embroideries. Arad seemed uncertain as she stared at the half done works lying about the area. Arwen smiled slightly as she revealed her biggest project; it was nearly done, and she hoped the other woman approved.

Arad raised an eyebrow, though it appeared to be in surprise more than derision. "Wow," she vocalized before approaching the banner and looking more closely. "You did this all yourself?" she asked in surprise.

Arwen smiled a little more confidently and even laughed slightly, "Of course." She looked back at the banner she had been working on for the past year—ever since she had the vague vision of her Dúnadan's success.

Arad's fingers brushed the pale fabric before retracting, and Arwen gazed at her work with a critical eye. The white tree could be more defined, and she could add more to it; it had to be worthy of her beloved's title and all he stood for.

"So what is this exactly?" Arad asked after taking in the banner for long enough.

Arwen looked at the woman taken aback for all of a second before remembering the woman came from a different world. Of course Arad would not know what this banner meant; how could she forget?

Arwen's fingers brushed against the tree's design, "This is the banner of the King of Gondor." This earned Arwen a confused look, but she happily elaborated for Arad. "My love and I cannot be wed until he is King of all the realms."

"Ranger-san?" the blonde asked in disbelief, though Arwen liked to believe it was at the task itself and not her beloved Dúnadan being King. "Damn, and I thought the twins made it tough on their suitors," Arad laughed, and the elf feared she may have misled the woman somewhere.

"Oh no!" she began hurriedly with her checks growing warm, "it is not I who made this stipulation," Arwen rushed to amend the mistake. She shifted slightly as she tried to regain her composure. Shaking her head, Arwen stated, "No, it is my father who made this the price of my hand in marriage, but I know my beloved will succeed."

Several emotions flited across the blonde's face before she just nodded slowly with an almost disappointed look on her face. "So you just hope he'll succeed, huh?"

Arwen frowned slightly and felt more than a little offended by this. "I know because I have seen it. This war will end," her tone was resolute and unflinching. She then looked over at the banner with the white tree, "The men of Numenor will return to Minas Tirith, and the White Tree will flower again."

When Arwen looked back at the blonde woman, the blonde was looking at her with her eyes narrowed as if that would help her understand what Arwen was thinking. Her lips were pursed too and there was a furrow in her brow as she tried to puzzle out whatever it was. "What do you mean you've seen it?" she asked slowly, almost as if she suspected Arwen of something.

Arwen shifted slightly in unease but also to bolster her own courage-how this woman could make her feel so still baffled Arwen at times. "My father has the gift of foresight and I…" she looked back at the banner as she trailed off. There were times when she stared at the banner and wondered if this was a waste of time; how did she know what she saw would come to pass? Visions, her father had told her, could change based on the actions of the most unlikely player, yet she had to believe what she had seen could be. "I may not have a gift quite like his, but I have had visions, and I know in my heart more than anything my Dúnadan will reclaim his title."

When Arwen turned to smile at the blonde woman, Arad had a thoughtful look on her face. Eventually the woman's eyes focused back on Arwen who smiled more confidently, "This war will end and we must have faith that our loved ones will return to us."

The corner of Arad's mouth twitched up, and she huffed slightly in amusement. "I'd rather be in the thick of things, but…" She pressed her lips together, perhaps a little amused by something, "You're right; I need to be more positive." She smiled at Arwen before jerking her head toward the open area of Arwen's room. "Let's work on your stances, yeah?" she asked and Arwen laughed.

3017 November 1

Naruto was getting tired of being in this library with maps scattered across the table. She looked at those in the room with her and wanted to sigh. Gandalf and Ranger-san were at one end of the table as they gave advice to Frodo and Sam. The other hobbits, including the infamous disappearing Bilbo Baggins, were at the other end chittering away about the long stretch of road that would lead to Mordor. The teme had stepped outside to get away from all the talking, so she was stuck in here with her baby while Frodo fretted about this and that.

Sighing exaggeratedly, Naruto cut in, "You'll need a larger company while you travel south than just you and Sam, but you two should be sufficient once you get into Mordor."

It was silent as everyone turned to stare at her. Gandalf shifted slightly and nodded his head. "Yes, perhaps something could be arranged?" the wizard looked thoughtful. "We shall see when we have received the scout reports who might wish to join in Frodo's journey south."

Naruto nodded before she leaned forward slightly, "Good, now let's talk about that winding stair." She was trying to find it on the map some Gondorian had made after the Last Alliance. Undoubtedly in the last however many thousand years, the terrain had changed some, but she still struggled to find the winding stair they had mentioned during the council meeting.

Gandalf's expression became grave and Ranger-san looked away from the table with a troubled look. Naturally, all the hobbits froze and looked at the two men with wide, frightful eyes. "Okay…" Naruto began slowly as she sat back, "what's wrong with it?"

Gandalf made a noise at the back of his throat as his brow furrowed in distress. He then pointed at Minas Morgul—apparently at one time, it had been called Minas Ithiel and had been under Gondorian rule as its crowning palace. Part of Naruto wondered if it was a show of vanity and pride that had lead Gondor to build a palace so close to their enemy. She could understand if it was a fortress meant to keep watch and guard the dark lands so that they could smother any rekindling forces, but from what she had learned it was the home of the king and more decorative then protective.

Shaking these thoughts away, she found a small scrawled note within the mountain range next to Minas Morgul: Cirith Ungol. She looked up at Gandalf and Ranger-san expectantly. They both sighed, but it was Gandalf who spoke first.

"There is an evil there," Gandalf began with a heavy voice and it was implied Cirith Ungol was the winding stair. Naruto just raised an eyebrow at this while Frodo and Sam blanched slightly.

"The enemy?" Naruto questioned for the stunned hobbits. Pippin had been about to protest on behalf of his cousin, but Naruto had spoken up before him. Gandalf sighed and shook his head. "Great," Naruto chirped and smiled at all company present, "Then you just have to slip past them, and even if you're caught it's not like this evil will tell the enemy about you, right?"

Gandalf nodded his head in consent but he was clearly troubled. "You do not understand," he protested after a moment. "This evil is older and hungrier; it is primal and will prey upon Frodo and Sam."

Naruto looked back at the old wizard with a neutral expression. How was that a problem exactly? "But if they escape it, its not gonna tell the enemy, and the enemy won't know if they kill it, right?"

Gandalf appeared frustrated while Frodo and Sam looked at Naruto with wide eyes. The other hobbits were stunned into silence and Ranger-san was just shaking his head. Eventually Gandalf nodded his head reluctantly, "I still would rather Frodo and Sam did not take that path."

"What other option do you have?" Naruto shot back calmly. She looked at the topographical map and just new the hobbits wouldn't be able to scale the mountain ranges around Mordor without being caught. "The way I see it, they either bust through those Black Gates or infiltrate Minas Morgul." Everyone around her flinched at the options presented, and Naruto looked at Gandalf pointedly who sighed in acquiescence.

"I mean," Naruto added on, "Could two hobbits pose as armies entering from Minas Morgul or the Black Gates?" Gandalf looked doubtful and shook his head. "Okay, what about returning troops?" Again, the old wizard frowned as he shook his head.

Ranger-san spoke then to explain Gandalf's doubt. "It is uncommon for orcs that have left the Black Gates to return there; usually they are out of Mordor until they die." Ranger-san shook his head slowly, "No, any armies going into Mordor would be allies the enemy has ensnared, but we have no new reports of such alliances or even movements. It would also take months to hear any such reports."

"Okay, and if there were alliances, would it be with men?" Naruto asked and Ranger-san nodded his head slowly. The hobbits could maybe pass off as goblins, but that could be a stretch. So there was really only one path before them. "Right," she began, "so the winding stairs and the pass at Cirith Ungol is their best shot to get in as secretly as possible."

Gandalf sighed heavily but nodded again. Frodo, pale and more than a little alarmed, spoke up then. "Excuse me, but…" he trailed off as he tried to find the courage to ask his question. "What is the evil in this pass?" he asked quickly, like he was ripping off a bandage—though they didn't have those in Middle Earth, it was still an apt description.

Gandalf looked at Frodo for a moment, as if seeing something else in the hobbit, but eventually he nodded his head. "The ancient evil in that pass is foul and always hungry. Shelob, a giant, putrid creature that stalks the tunnels of Cirith Ungol."

Frodo looked down at the table; his fear was clear but he seemed to be thinking through the path put before him. "Could I slip past her?" he asked in halting speech before he finally looked back up at Gandalf. Sam kept giving fearful looks back at Frodo while the other hobbits remained silent with their own fear for their friend.

The wizard frowned, "There is no way to be certain, but I have doubt even the stealthiest could slip past her."

"This Shelob," Ranger-san spoke up quietly but still clearly thinking through things. "She is the one Gollum spoke of?" there was the barest hint of a question in his voice, and it was clear he feared what the answer might be.

Gandalf nodded slowly, "I do believe she is."

"Gollum? Why bring him into this!?" Frodo asked in alarm. Bilbo shifted uncomfortably at the mention of the creature and the young cousins began to chatter to each other quickly and quietly about Gollum.

Gandalf smiled grimly at the hobbits and there was this sad look in his eyes. "Because," he began, "I feel Gollum has yet another part to play in this tale before things are said and done," Gandalf stated somberly. "Also, it may be that he has pledged his loyalty to her when he first crept into the Mordor." Frodo grimaced but Gandalf proceeded on, "He could do you mischief if he learns you intend to pass through there."

Naruto sighed heavily, "Well, they don't have any other options that'll insure their passage into Mordor is discreet." It was silent for a long moment around the table—even Merry and Pippin had quieted as they stared between the maps and Frodo.

Gandalf nodded sagely with the ranger and hummed in thought. "So we are at an impasse." The old wizard looked toward Frodo who did appear deep in anxious thought.

It took a minute for the hobbit to realize Gandalf and Aragorn were waiting on him. Then the hobbit slowly looked up at Naruto, and it was clear Frodo had questions for her. "I cannot commit to any plan until I know more."

Naruto smiled broadly at the hobbit and nodded her head, "Alright, what do you wanna know?"

The hobbit's brow was furrowed slightly as he tried to think which questions were most pressing. While Frodo debated with himself, Naruto could tell the hobbits around them were biting down on their tongues to keep from shouting out their own questions. However, the clever hobbit finally asked his first question, "You have talked about infiltrating their ranks." There was clear hesitance in his voice as he said infiltrating and Naruto cocked her head to one side.

"Well, you'll have to disguise yourself like them and get their mannerisms down, if that was your question." She then cocked her head to one side as a thought came to her, "You might want to learn their language or dialect too, so that you don't sound so not goblin-y."

Sam's expression said he was daunted by this task, and the other hobbits looked astounded, but Frodo only frowned. Naruto was aware that the wizard and ranger were looking at her but were not terribly surprised by her words. Frodo asked his next question then in a steady but slow voice, "How, then, am I to obtain these disguises?"

Merry and Pippin were shocked by this question, but it was Pippin who interrupted with an incredulous laugh in his voice, "The disguises?! You aren't worried about how to imitate their speech or-or act like them?"

Gandalf made a placating gesture while Frodo blinked a little owlishly at his cousin's remark. "Now, now, I have faith that Frodo can imitate their dialect." The old man's eyes crinkled up as he smiled, "Young Frodo has always had a way with speech." Bilbo preened at the compliment, undoubtedly having taught Frodo how to speak different tongues, while Frodo was slightly abashed.

"I doubt, however," Ranger-san started, "the Black Speech will be common in Mordor. Reports have shown orcs and goblins from different parts of the world had accumulated in Mordor."

Gandalf nodded as well though he frowned slightly. "Still, it may behoove Frodo and Sam to learn a few words in that vile tongue just in case."

Merry and Pippin looked at each other but sat down like they had be taught their place. Naruto looked at those around her expectantly, and wondered when she'd get to speak. However, Gandalf spoke again. "No," he began with a shake of his head, "the disguises may be a more pressing matter than the other details."

Naruto took this as her cue, "So…" she began to draw their attention back to her. "It'll probably be your best option to kill some goblins once you're in Mordor and take their gear."

The hobbits all looked at her with wide eyes and in clear disbelief. She shook her head at their endearing natures before explaining what she meant. "I mean, you could kill some goblins on your way south, but you'd want to take armor from those closer to Mordor in case everyone got different armor when they made it there, ya know?" Even Ranger-san looked confused for a moment before understanding spread across his face.

"True," he murmured, "if you had armor from a northern company and it became the case that all orcs are given unique armor to Mordor, then you would appear out of the norm."

Naruto nodded her head adamantly and Frodo's expression cleared with understanding; however, he paled at some sudden realization. "You said I must…kill" he grimaced at the word along with the other hobbits, "some goblins once I enter Mordor."

She felt sympathy for the hobbit and looked at him knowingly. It was hard to kill and unpleasant, but in this case it was necessary. "Unless you find goblin armor somewhere within here," she gestured the area west of Mordor but east of the Anduin, "I doubt it will match whatever the goblins are outfitted in Mordor."

"B-but do we have to kill them?" Sam asked with clear fear.

Naruto nodded slowly with a sad smile on her face, "If you knocked them out and they woke up without armor, they would know someone had infiltrated their ranks. No," she began while shaking her head, "you must kill and dispose of the bodies to ensure your safety."

Understanding and resignation came across both hobbits faces while the other hobbits shifted uncomfortably. Sam and Frodo also looked afraid, and Naruto could guess why. She reached her free hand over to rest on Frodo's hands that were resting on the table. The hobbit jumped slightly at the contact and looked up at her in confusion. Naruto, however, was looking over at Sam with a soft but knowing look.

"Use stealth, perhaps wait for a patrol to make camp and kill them while they sleep. Or if they are heading toward the bulk of the forces, kill them while you still have cover. Attack them from behind and without hesitation," she paused and looked both shocked hobbits seriously in the eyes, "because they will not hesitate to kill you."

They both swallowed thickly but nodded despite their own revulsion at what Naruto had presented to them. She pulled back and smiled sadly. "I like an upfront fight as much as the next person, but you will be sorely outnumbered and they will have more combat skill then either of you; you need every advantage you can get."

It was quiet and uncomfortable for a long moment, and Naruto looked down at her sleeping baby. These were such grim and dire topics to be talking about, yet the baby just slept through it like nothing important was taking place. However, Naruto mused, the fate of the world was being decided and prepared for, and he was utterly clueless.

Smiling slightly, she stood up, "I leave the decision to you, Frodo." He nodded his head, still troubled, and she felt her smile broaden a little. "Tinnu will be happy to train you both for whatever path you choose."

Frodo and Sam looked up at her and nodded their heads again, "Thank you Mrs. Arad," Sam mumbled while Frodo remained quiet and thoughtful.

Ranger-san stood up then and moved to stand next to Arad, "I will accompany you wherever you wish to go. I believe the decision remains with Frodo and we will discuss the path down to Mordor at a later date."

"I believe the Bastard went to check on Minuial and so I shall go there too." Ranger-san nodded slowly and they began moving toward that room.

…

Sasuke looked up at the dobe and Aragorn's entrance into the room. The rest of the guards left at Aragorn's apearance, and Sasuke turned to look back toward his unconscious daughter. "How did the rest of the endless talking go?" he asked in a tired drawl. The dobe scoffed with a laugh before passing their sleeping son off to him.

She then stretched her arms as she sat down, "Frodo's got to decide what path he will take to get into Mordor, but I explained what he and Sam should do to get to the mountain thing."

Sasuke was surprised that anything productive had actually happened so he just nodded his head as Dusk rested against his chest. Aragorn moved toward some steeping Athelas and soaked a rag in it before setting it against Minuial's forehead. Tinnu was not in the room, but Arwen had come by earlier and undoubtedly they were working together on the elf woman's combat skills.

The silence permeated the room as Aragorn began singing some song in Sindarin. Sasuke looked over at the dobe who looked tired and sad. Impulsively, he leaned over and brushed his lips against her cheek. When he pulled back she was looking at him surprised before the expression relaxed and she smiled slightly at him. "What was that for?" she asked softly, perhaps because it felt wrong to speak with any volume while their child lay unconscious before them.

"I just felt like it," he whispered back before he shifted his gaze back to Minuial.

He heard the dobe sigh before he felt her hand gravitate toward his thigh and rest there. Likely she would have rather held his arm or hand but he had a baby in one, and the other was basically an exposed nerve. They just sat there while Aragorn sang softly and in a low voice. Time felt like it slowed down and nothing really mattered but Minuial's recovery.

Of course, there were so many things happening now. There was that malicious ring here and plans to destroy it. The war to the South East would spread over to the west should the ring not be destroyed in time and the companies of men fall. More than all of that, Sasuke's eldest daughter had gone off to fight in that war when she needn't have. His baby girls…

Sasuke dipped his head down and placed a gentle kiss on Dusk's head since it rested against his chest. The baby's face scrunched up slightly and his pudgy fingers curled into the material of Sasuke's shirt.

If he left to retrieve Dawn, how much of Dusk's life would he miss? What if he di… Sasuke frowned and looked toward the window in the room. The dobe squeezed his thigh and he looked over at her. Her brow was knitted together and her lips were pulled into a slight frown.

"You're still thinking of leaving, aren't you," she murmured, and he knew it was a statement rather than a question. He sighed but nodded partially. The dobe shook her head and looked away from him.

"My chakra reserves are practically restored, and the more of a lead she has on us the closer to war she will get—"

"So you'll leave while Minuial is still unconscious huh?" the dobe interrupted and took away her hand. "And what if the Nazgûl do appear and you…" she swallowed thickly before looking away from him. "Then Dusk will grow up without you, either of you, and I'll be stuck in this world."

Sasuke stood up and moved kneel before the dobe while carefully cradling Dusk to his chest. "Dobe," he called softly, but she refused to look at him, so he sighed. "What makes you think I'll die if I encounter them?"

She turned her head sharply toward him and glared. "For one, you have a lame arm, and even if you manage to kill one you will be left comatose so another could kill you," she practically rattled off the reasons. "Beyond just that, winter is approaching and…" she huffed and shook her head. "Whatever," she looked away from him again with her arms folded over her chest, "go and run away from me again. Leave your family behind—"

"In order to get Dawn back," his voice rose up and he began to stand. The dobe looked up at him with a torn look on her face.

It was heated between them for a long moment, and Aragorn got up as if to pull them apart. "What if I lose you in the process?" she shot back with that same conflicted look on her face. She didn't want to give up on Dawn—he could see that—but she was afraid of losing anymore of their little family.

Sighing, Sasuke bent forward to rest his forehead against hers. "I'll come back with Dawn in tow; I promise."

She closed her eyes and her hand came up rub his bicep. "You better…" she murmured at last, and Sasuke smiled slightly before he moved back toward his seat, though the dobe stood up and kissed him on the cheek. "I need my teme," she whispered to him before sitting back down and letting go of his arm.

Sasuke sat back down too and looked back over at his daughter. "I'll wait for her to wake up and see how she's doing," he stated softly. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the dobe smile softly over at him.

She reached out her hand again and patted his thigh before resting it there like some steady warm weight. "Thank you," she barely spoke the words but he heard them all the same. He closed his eyes and hoped Minuial would wake up soon.

…

Aragorn was smoking out on the terrace where the council had taken place, and what an event that had been. He still had to shake his head at his friend and Arad's antics; although, what else could he expect from them with their daughter missing?

The sun had set behind him and the sky to the east was darkening as stars began to come out. He could see the star his beloved was named after and it calmed him in a way. He had to smile slightly, Arwen had been encouraging him to re-forge the sword and he knew it was now the time to do so.

Footsteps hurried out onto the terrace, and Aragorn could hear the anxiety in each light step. He turned around to see Boromir come onto the terrace while looking all about him with wide eyes. Aragorn bit down on a laugh at the sight of bright orange powder on his person; it was even the same color as the sunset behind the man. Aragorn could see the faded splotches of past colored dyes on his clothes and in his hair, which likely meant this had been happening for days.

"How goes it?" the ranger asked as casually as he could.

Boromir hurried over to him. His shoulders were tense, and his eyes darted this way and that. "That-that demon of a woman…she is everywhere," he whispered out.

Aragorn simply hummed before turning around to look down into the valley. "Then perhaps we should head to Minas Tirith now?" he asked after a moment. This sort of punishment was truly rather lenient of the blonde, which was why he had had no qualms with condoning it; after all, Dawn was his niece and she had run off into unnecessary conflict because of Boromir's words. This man had manipulated his niece and now Aragorn feared for the girl's life.

"No," Boromir began while shaking his head, "No, I would not leave now." He had his hands clasped together while he rested his arms over the railing. His eyes were looking from shadow to shadow frantically, yet Aragorn could see the man was not just paranoid but actually trying to think while remaining hyper aware of his surroundings.

Aragorn just hummed and continued to suck on his pipe as he watched the valley below them darken. After a moment, Boromir explained his reason why he'd rather wait: "I would rather not come across any riders, so I will wait for the scout reports."

Aragorn nodded in understanding and silence passed between them. The night was nearly on them and he could see lights come on across Rivendel. By the time the lights near the terrace were lit, the tobacco in his pipe was ash, so he tapped the stem of the pipe against the banister before placing the pipe back in his vest. "Well, I will see you tomorrow; perhaps we can discuss by which road to go to Minas Tirith?" Boromir nodded his head almost distractedly before suddenly lurching to the right.

Aragorn raised an eyebrow when he saw Arad where Boromir had been. She was smiling mischievously as she shook her head slowly, "Keep trying Baka-soldier!" Boromir tried to scramble away from the woman but she threw some bright red powder at him. Boromir closed his eyes and stopped his nose, but his face was now bright red in the dim light. Arad then vanished in a puff of smoke—undoubtedly one of her copies.

Aragorn looked away before bidding good night. Boromir was still spluttering, but Aragorn paid it no real mind as he walked on toward Minuial's room.

Although he had agreed to go to Minas Tirith to reclaim his birth right, he was hesitant to do so; thus, he was thankful Boromir would wait for the scout reports. This also gave them time, for Aragorn wished to help Frodo on his journey, and the hobbit would undoubtedly need aid in his travel south. Perhaps… Aragorn frowned slightly in thought as he made his way toward the healing corridor. Perhaps he could convince Boromir that they should aid Frodo...? This would delay them from Minas Tirith but also ensure the safety of all of Middle Earth; Aragorn would much rather stop this war before he became king than be trapped in the white towers only to oversee but not battle with the rest of his men. Regradless, it was certainly a thought…

3017 November 8

So cold…

So dark…

So quiet…

She could not breathe. The cold pressed in on her lungs and her limbs. She could not move; she could not escape the darkness.

So cold…

So dark…

So quie—NO!

It had found her again! She must move; she must flee!

The black rider!

It was there again, ethereal and wraith-like. It was creeping through the void, through the darkness. Run, she must run, but the cold and the dark…it was crushing her. The wraith will pull her deeper, deeper down.

She could not move, but she tried. One hand stretched out and she dragged herself through the inky darkness. The wraith shifted and stepped closer. No! No!

Wait! Something faint... Were those words?! She tried to look around her but there was only darkness and the wraith.

"…awake, awake…" That sound, that singing! Where was it coming from!?

The wraith shrieked and the darkness pressed closer, but she had to find that singing!

One hand in front of the other, she dragged her body forward.

"I wish… wake up, Sister." Tinnu! The words were not clear; they went in and out of comprehension but she had to find them. The wraith cried in rage, but she kept moving. She had to find those words.

…

Aragorn entered Minuial's room alongside Arwen, for they were to sit with the girl for a time. Aragorn often wondered where his beloved went off to with Arad or Tinnu, so he was pleased to have this moment with her, and it would be just the two of them. Tinnu was to work with the hobbits on their stealth and fighting soon, and her parents were off on a walk with Dusk.

Aragorn had observed one of the hobbits' training sessions, and it was quite interesting. For one exercise, the girl had rigged a corridor with ropes and bells, and the hobbits had to make it to the end of the corridor without making a sound. Pippin and Merry, who insisted on participating, failed because they would not stop talking even though they did not trip any bells, and Sam often lost his footing which sent him into the ropes. Frodo did well enough, but he seemed to second guess every foot placement.

Once in Minuial's room, Aragorn and Arwen both nodded to Tinnu who stood up slowly. Her expression was grim and she brushed her hands down her sister's arm before she left the room. Aragorn moved to his niece's bedside while Arwen moved to sit next to Minuial on the bed. The ranger brushed back the girl's hair and felt her cool skin against his hand. He was beginning to wonder if she would ever wake up; perhaps she would just wither away and die in her sleep?

Aragorn grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips "Oh little one…" he trailed off as his throat constricted.

Arwen bowed her head as she took up Minuial's other hand. She smiled sadly at the child and whispered, "Please wake up, I wish to meet you, young one."

They both bowed their heads and began to say a prayer of sorts, after which they sat there in silence for a long moment. The minutes stretched by before they began to speak softly to one another. They recited lays between hushed words of comfort and distress. If only Minuial would wake.

…

The wraith was ever just behind her, but the words were becoming clearer and clearer! A little farther, a little farther! She dragged herself across the dark void, one arm forward and then another...

It was always so cold, so very cold, and it stole her breath, but she pushed herself forward. She must find those words and voices.

She felt so close to it, so very close.

NO!

She felt her body be jerked back further into the darkness. No! Let go! Let go!

…

Aragorn shot to his feet at the first scream. Arwen looked equally alarmed down at Minuial.

"Let go! Let go!" her voice was so hoarse, and then the screaming stopped and she began to shake all over. Her body thrashed on the bed, and Aragorn could imagine her head cracking back against the head board, or her falling off the bed.

"Get your father and her parents!" He did not mean to order or shout, but Arwen understood the urgency of the situation and quickly left the room in search of the two.

Not a minute past before Sasuke and Arad appeared with a puff of smoke—perhaps they were on their way back here and Arwen had found them quickly? Dusk was wailing at whatever the blonde had done, but both parents' chests were rising and falling rapidly, as they looked at their daughter in disbelief—for all of a second since the girl was shaking uncontrollably.

The blonde's eyes widened and she quickly disappeared in a puff of smoke. Aragorn heard Sasuke curse and then the blacksmith was beside him. He set his hand on Minuial's head but cursed as he looked at his other hand. Aragorn was half kneeling on the bed and prepared to catch her before she rolled off the bed. "Turn her onto her side," Sasuke ordered when Aragorn was about to pull away.

Unsure and frightened of what was happening, Aragorn did as he was told, all the while muttering calming words while his niece thrashed about. When Aragorn looked up again, he saw Arad had returned with Tinnu in tow. Dusk was wailing more and more, but some how the alarmed girl could hear her father bark orders at her in their native tongue. The girl kept nodding her head but her hands were shaking and betrayed her nervousness.

Her hands moved in patterns and then she reached for her sister's head. The tension and apprehension in the air was nearly palpable. What would happen? The shaking began to lessen after a few moments and then it came to a stop. Arad was absentmindedly trying to calm her baby, but it was clear all her focus was on her daughters.

Really breathing for the first time since the ordeal began, Aragorn sank back into his chair with a sigh. Tinnu was panting and sweating beside her sister, but she looked relieved. Sasuke, however, regarded him with a grim expression, "What happened?"

"I was talking with Arwen when Minuial began to scream: 'let go.'" He looked at the other man in the hopes that he might have insight into this, but it became clear that was not the case. "Then her whole body began to thrash about."

Sasuke breathed in and out in a calming fashion as he ran a hand through his hair, though the screaming baby did little to help. Tinnu looked to her father for some kind of guidance, but he was still unsure. However, at last, Arwen returned with her father in tow, and the Lord of Imladris examined those in the room with a severe expression. Aragorn retold the events, and Lord Elrond simply nodded. He then looked to Sasuke who shook his head at some sort of unspoken communication going on between them.

"I don't know what could have led to her seizure, the shaking," he added on for their benefit, for Aragorn was not used to the word in a medical context, but clearly it was used so in Sasuke's world. "Usually they're caused by some shock or stimulation unless…" the blacksmith cursed on his breath again. "Could there be damage to her brain from the Nazgûl attack…" the blacksmith almost seemed to be asking the mumbled question to himself and the blonde woman gasped in horror.

"Please tell me that isn't possible," the woman pleaded and Sasuke looked lost, which only made Arad and Tinnu look more frightened.

How…could what his friend have said be possible? Aragorn looked toward his niece for answers, his brilliant and mischievous niece, but he only saw her unabashed fear that was mimicked by her mother.

Lord Elrond simply nodded his head, "Her will was very nearly destroyed by the Nazgûl." But Sasuke spoke of a physical damage, did he not, so how could...

Sasuke seemed to ponder the same question but his face grew ashen in realization. He looked to Tinnu and his face expressed his urgency, "Did your sister unlock the sharingan?" Tinnu blinked several times before shrugging, but Arad spoke up with dawning horror.

"She did…didn't she? And…oh gods, if she had it…" Arad began to pace around the room while bouncing Dusk and shaking her head in disbelief. Sasuke closed his eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of his nose with a shaking hand.

"What is it, Friend?" Aragorn's voice was barely louder than a whisper.

The blacksmith looked between him and the elf lord before sighing and shaking his head. "Our eyes…" he began but trailed off. "They see energy but they will also remember whatever they see with perfect recall." Sasuke gazed over at his sleeping child and shook his head again, "If she activated her eyes, it's highly unlikely but…it could explain…perhaps in the attack…there could be damage." The man seemed to struggle with his own thoughts, and Aragorn was reminded of how he was so often left scrambling to understand the unimaginable and fantastic world his friends had come from. Perhaps Sasuke was equally out of depth in this topic as Aragorn himself was.

Arad made a high pitched noise of frustration before running out of the room, as if she could not handle this. Arwen hurried after her, and Aragorn was glad his beloved could be there to comfort Arad.

Elrond regarded his daughter's passing out of the room neutrally and then turned to Sasuke. "Or," he began, "perhaps the memory of the wraith haunts her." Sasuke scowled at the notion but still nodded his head reluctantly.

Lord Elrond nodded and began speaking with Aragorn quickly in Sindarin. He was advising him of what to do should this situation arise again, and Aragorn mouthed the chant along with his niece who was staring at Lord Elrond with rapt attention. Unfortunately, the power of such a chant came through the most with an elf speaking the words, but undoubtedly he was to pass this on to Arwen when she returned if Lord Elrond did not do so himself.

Lord Elrond then addressed the rest of the room, "I will see what I can do to remove this memory so that it will no longer harm her, but it may take time." Sasuke gritted his teeth but nodded before he sat back down beside his unconscious daughter. Tinnu moved to lay down on the bed beside her sister and began muttering every healing chant she knew in Sindarin.

At this moment, it seemed each person in the room was caught between hope that Minuial might wake and fear that her condition was worse than they had thought.

3017, November 9

So cold…

So dark…

Voices flitted in and out of her understanding, and she thought she recognized them. The sounds were all around her, but it was so dark… so cold…

No wraith now, it was gone, but she was lost in the dark again.

So cold…

If only she could move. If she could summon up her strength…

The words were so close, so very close.

…

The day before they had all waited anxiously to see if Minuial might seize again, but she had not. Tinnu had barely moved from where she held onto her cold sister; she supposed she should continue training the hobbits, but her sister would need her should she seize again. Ojisan and Obasan had left late, very late, in the evening and they came back very early too. Tousan and Kaasan…they sat quietly and stared at Minuial as if hoping for some sort of change in her condition.

Kaasan's eyes looked so sad and it made Tinnu think of those months after the miscarriage. Tousan shared her look,, and they held each other's hands tightly as they kept their watches. Tinnu did not know what Obasan had said to get mother to come back into the room, but Kaasan had clearly been crying the day before. It was heart breaking to see her parents so sad. But now they all stayed in here, even Dusk was set up in his craddel at the corner of the room.

Yesterday had been tense and quiet, and the only words spoken were mumbled prayers or chants. Today everyone seemed tired, and Tinnu imagined it was because they had all hoped and feared the whole day. They had hoped Minuial might wake up but she had not, and they had feared she might seize again but had not. It was the release of stress and the crushing of hope that brought this tiredness, Tinnu supposed, and it hurt.

So Tinnu held her cold, limp sister tightly to her body, and she whispered their adventures back to her because she had to keep her hope that Minuial would wake up. Her sister had to wake up; how else were they going to prank people, like Boromir who she was encouraged to prank.

"What do you tell your sister?" Obasan asked softly after finishing another chant. Tinnu did not raise her head but she tried to look at the elf.

"I was reminding her of our pranks," Tinnu couldn't find it in herself to speak louder. Ojisan smiled fondly and Obasan looked intrigued while Tousan just smiled and shook his head. Kaasan should have smiled too but she didn't and she just stared at Minuial as she held tighter onto Tousan.

Tousan looked over at Kaasan with a slight crease in his frown. He then tried to smile slightly as he addressed Obasan, "Mind you, half the time I was the target," Tousan drawled, and Tinnu grinned into her sister's side and watched her father shake his head at her antics. Kaasan blinked when Tousan began to rub his thumb against her hand and she tried to smile slightly.

Obasan's gaze went from Kaasan back to Tinnu. "Really?" she asked, and Tinnu wondered if this was an attempt to get a rise out of Kaasan. "And the other half?" Obasan asked softly but with curiosity.

"Boys in the village, and sometimes Haldarad." They only pranked Haldarad sometimes and it was mostly to embarrass the seemingly put together ranger who would someday marry Dawn.

Ojisan laughed outright at this, "And what did you do to poor Haldarad?"

Tinnu flashed Ojisan an innocent smile, "Nothing too bad." Kaasan began to laugh, and it felt like a weight had lifted in the whole room.

"Nothing bad is usually the most embarrassing pranks those two can think of," Tousan explained while Kaasan continued to laugh. Obasan covered her mouth in surprise before laughing slightly too.

"Oh, do tell me your best prank." Obasan looked excited, which made Ojisan wary, and only made Tinnu more willing to share some of their best pranks, though it was so hard to pick!

"Well…" Tinnu bit her lip in thought, "there was this baker's boy…" Kaasan's eyes widened in delight and Tinnu grinned broadly. Tousan frowned slightly, perhaps unsure what they had done to the baker's boy and why they would target him, but Kaasan knew.

Tinnu shifted slightly as she began to tell her story. "The baker's boy was in charge of making sweet breads that would be served at the pony, but we'd change out the salt and sugar while he wasn't looking. Eventually he figured it out, so we had to start switching out other spices like cinnamon powder for clove powder, though that was even easier to spot."

Kaasan rolled her eyes, "You forgot the most important part," she chided and Tinnu instantly sat up while shaking her head in warning. Kaasan pressed on mercilessly, "The girls had a crush on him after he gave them both a sweet roll for free."

"What?! When was this?" Tousan asked in shock.

Kaasan just waved her hand dismissively while Tinnu hid her face in embarrassment. "It was a few years ago."

"What?!"

Kaasan ignored Tousan and leaned closer to Obasan while Tinnu laid back down to hide her face with her sister's body. "Best part, they were pranking him to get his attention, but it quickly devolved into a competition to pull the best individual prank."

Obasan's eyes were wide in shock while Ojisan just shook his head. Tousan, for his part, looked relieved as he settled back in his seat.

"So what ended up happening, since this was clearly done without my knowing," Tousan asked in slow drawl, although Tinnu preened at the fact Tousan hadn't know.

Tinnu smiled mischievously as she looked at those around her. "Lots happened," she began, "After trying to mess up his baking, I began transforming into a very tall, thin man and for three days, whenever he was out of the bakery, I would be at the edge of his vision, and then I'd vanish when he'd turn around. I even started appearing in shop walls right behind him; he was jumping all around by the end of the week!"

Tousan and Ojisan stared at her, and Obasan was at a loss for words. "If you think what she did was psychologically scaring, you should hear what Minuial had planned," Kaasan put in with a pleased smile on her face. However Tousan suddenly stood up and loomed over Tinnu and Minuial. Kaasan was fast to follow him. Tinnu rolled back alarmed until Tousan crouched down with a look of disbelief on his face, "Minuial?" Kaasan reached forward with a shaky hand and said Minuial's name in mixed parts hope and fear.

What?! A sewing needle could have dropped in the room and been heard clearly, but a moment later everyone's focus was back on Minuial. Tinnu propped herself up slightly to look at her sister's face. Her eyes were indeed open, but they were not focused.

"Minuial?!" Tinnu called excitedly, her chest swelled and she couldn't believe it; her sister was awake! She shifted to sit on her knees as she looked down at her twin.

Tousan's hand began glowing green as he set it against Minuial's forehead. He was likely doing a diagnostic jutsu, and the longer he held the jutsu the more his hopeful expression fell.

"W-what's wrong with her?" Kaasan asked, and she sounded as if the world was falling apart around her; her last hope had failed her.

"Minuial, can you hear me?" her father ignored the question and asked one of his own.

Minuial blinked, and when her eyes opened again, they began shifting this way and that. Tinnu tried to see what she was seeing, but she couldn't. "It's so cold…" Tinnu blinked several times at the raspy, whispered words from her twin.

"Minuial!" everyone cried her name with Tinnu.

"It was so dark…Tousan," tears gathered at Minuial's eyes as they were coming more into focus.

"Minu," Tinnu cried and began to hug her sister; she was awake at last.

She felt her sister's body struggle to rise against hers, so Tinnu quickly pulled back to help her sit up. Minuial was so weak; she was already shaking. "W-why is it so hard…?" Minuial rasped out, she sounded dazed and confused. "It's so cold…" she whispered as she stared before herself almost unseeing again.

Tousan had pulled away from Minuial, while Kaasan moved closer so that she was kneeling on the bed. Tousan looked at loss, but Kaasan's hopeful yet sad expression was heart breaking. "Sweetheart?" she called in a trembling voice, "Can you hear me, or see me?"

There was no immediate response and Tinnu's panic began to rise. "Tousan, what's wrong with Minuial?" her voice caught as she spoke, and was borderline shrill. Tousan just shook his head and looked utterly lost.

"Ka-kaasan? T-tinnu?" Minuial called out and she turned her head slowly—as if it took so much effort to do this small thing. Relief flashed across her sister's face for a moment, but then her expression became pained. "It was so dark…it's so cold…" Why did she keep saying that?! Tinnu looked over at Tousan who shook his head again, and even turned away with his hand over his mouth. Kaasan was near tears as she kneeled on the bed with her arms out to touch her daughter but too afraid to draw her dazed gaze onto her. Ojisan had no advice to give, and Obasan…Where had she gone?

"W-why can I barely move?" Minuial asked again before she mumbled "It's so cold."

This was starting to freak Tinnu out! A shadow fell over the doorway, and Obasan entered the room following her father. The elf lord motioned for Tinnu to move away.

"Who?" Minuial asked in confusion when Lord Elrond appeared in front of her. He placed a hand on her head and began to mutter old Sindarin words. Minuial's eyes rolled back in her head and she fell unconscious again. Her limp body collapsed into Tinnu's arms and the girl quickly set her twin back down on the bed.

Tousan turned around to face Lord Elrond, while Kaasan sat more fully on the bed and just stared at Minuial numbly.

"What's wrong with her?" Kaasan asked in a quiet voice; her eyes never left Minuial's form.

Tousan spoke up then. "I…there's nothing physically…" words failed Tousan and he shook his head before turning an almost pleading look toward Lord Elrond. "What's wrong with her?" his voice wavered, and Tinnu knew it took so much for Tousan to say those words.

Lord Elrond nodded, as if he knew what Tousan was trying to convey. "Physically your daughter had recovered except for fatigue, but she is haunted by the Nazgûl, and her mind was very nearly destroyed by killing it. Her mind and her will is what must recover now." It was all the same story, and it never seemed to change.

"And the shaking?" Ojisan asked perhaps coming out of his shock.

Lord Elrond shook his head, "That…I do not know." He turned to face Tousan with a grim look, "I do not know what your eyes are capable of, and for all that I know, that damage may be permanent."

Tousan inhaled sharply but nodded his head, as if he had been suspecting such. Tousan then quickly sat down and looked over at Minuial. Kaasan however curled her hands tightly into the sheets and scrunched her eyes shut as if she could wish this all away.

"I will look through the old tomes and see if there is anything that can be done for your daughter," the elf lord then left the room.

Tinnu wasn't sure she understood what all was happening, what all this meant. The room was still and silent for a long time as everyone tried to figure out what this meant, but it didn't make any sense to Tinnu.

Tousan eventually broke the silence, "Dawn doesn't know, and…" he looked at Minuial before standing and heading toward a window.

Dawn doesn't know…what did that have to—oh! "Sh-she could end up like this too?" Tinnu could barely get the words out, and her throat felt as if a hand had clamped around it. She could barely breathe! Her sisters… She could lose both of them to-to… she didn't even know what the hell this was! She had to get away!

Tinnu wiped at her tears as she ran out of the room. She couldn't lose both of them like this!

Aragorn watched his niece flee the room with tears streaming down her face, and he felt a pressure building up behind his own eyes. A glance at Arwen showed she was not sure how to process what had occurred. Arad only clutched the sheets in her hands as tears welled in her eyes; the woman was staring back down at her child again.

"Sasuke," Aragorn moved beside the blacksmith, and contemplated whether or not he should set his hand on the man's shoulder. He decided against it and tried to speak around the tightness in his throat, "We can try to send a bird with a message for her."

Sasuke turned on him, and brushed at the tears gathering in his eyes. He shook his head, "How do we know if it won't be shot down? How do we know where she is, and if we send it to Minas Tirith, why would they hold the letter? What if it's already too late?"

Aragorn nodded to each point, they were all true. "Then what? Will you leave now?" He gestured back to Minuial, "Leave her here just when she has woken up? When she will need her family?"

He knew it would be a mistake to imply Sasuke might abandon his daughter, but he had to get the blacksmith to think more calmly. The man's eyes flashed red and he narrowed his gaze; however, the man quickly changed his eyes back to normal and he held his head as if it ached.

"My friend?" He guided the man to a seat, and Arwen stepped closer, perhaps hoping to be of some aid. However, this all roused Arad from her haunted focus on Minuial. She turned around to look at her husband with worry etched onto her face.

"What happened?" she asked almost urgently.

The man grit his teeth, as if he was forcing himself to get the words out. "Just now…" he shook his head, "When I activated my sharingan…" He trailed off and looked to the side with unease clear on his face. His eyes turned red again and he grimaced before his eyes changed back to normal. He held a hand to his head and kept his eyes closed for a long moment.

"What is it Teme?" Arad rushed and was quickly kneeling in front of him and attempting to get him to look at her. He slowly opened his eyes and the two just stared at each other for another long moment, though Sasuke had an almost frightened look in his eyes.

"Just now…" he began slowly as he focused on the rest of the room, "I saw an eye wreathed in flame," his voice was wavering.

Arwen gasped and Aragorn jerked back and consequently in front of Arwen as if to protect her from something. Arad frowned and a hard look came into her eyes. "What do you mean?" she asked slowly.

Sasuke looked away from them, but the blonde woman set her hand against his check and made him face her. Sasuke inhaled as if preparing himself to continue on. "Both times I activated my sharingan, I…I see the eye, like a sunspot in my mind…" Sasuke shook his head. This was very grave news, for if he recalled correctly, sharingan was what Sasuke's red and black eyes were. But the blacksmith hurried on, "Though I've only it activated today, so perhaps my eyes are still healing." However, his gaze flickered over to Minuial and Arad's face blanched of all color.

Yes…perhaps it is healing or perhaps he will be plagued by the sight of the eye forever just as his daughter is plagued by the Nazgûl. Then the implications fully sank in; Sasuke had one arm available to him at the moment, and most of his spells—jutsu, Aragorn corrected himself—required the use of two hands. His eyes had…jutsu of their own that only took looking to create, but if the Eye kept him from maintaining his…sharingan then he would only have one arm to work with—his less dominant arm at that (though the smith seemed fairly ambidextrous).

"Oh gods," Arad whispered as she stood up and walked away almost horrified.

Aragorn tried to remain calm because he knew his friend would still be formidable with one arm and no sp-jutsu, but if this was all permanent… "Perhaps you should consult with Lord Elrond?" Aragorn knew his friend would not like this suggestion, and, indeed, the blacksmith's expression soured briefly. However, what other choice did they have. Arad was apparently believing the worst like Sasuke.

"I suppose I should," the man consented with minor reluctance. "This could even speed his research along."

Aragorn was slightly puzzled by this and his friend exhaled in amusement, though it was not meant to be derisive. "In healing, you learn the most from similar injuries or illnesses." Ah, Aragorn nodded his head slightly, and Arwen led Sasuke to her father's study. Still, Aragorn wondered what his friend would do. Would he stay here? Would Dawn be left uninformed and risking her life? Aragorn sat beside his niece and took her hand in his. She still felt cold as death, and he felt utterly lost.

…

Naruto stared out at the valley as the sun set behind her. Her hands curled around the banister tightly and she glared down into the curling mists of the waterfall. Her thoughts were racing, and each thought made her heart beat faster as a wild desperate fear clawed her from the insides.

Minuial might be able to move some, but she was weak. Worse yet, she wasn't really there. Her mind continues to be haunted by the Nazgûl, and Naruto didn't know if her baby girl was ever going to be free of it. Her clever mischievous baby girl was reduced to-to that. Then her teme…her husband… Would he ever be able to use his sharingan again? What about his arm? And if he went off to retrieve Dawn without any jutsu available to him… She knew he still had his speed, taijutsu, and kenjutsu, but…

Naruto gritted her teeth together as she held more tightly to the banister. What was happening to her family?! It almost felt like they were cursed…cursed ever since they came in contact with that ring.

"Why do I have a feeling," the teme began from behind her, and she turned to look at him with mild surprise—had she been so wrapped up in her own thoughts to have not sensed him coming—"that we forgot something?" he asked with a frown on his face.

Naruto's surprise turned to confusion as she wondered what her teme meant. "Forgot something…" she mumbled back. Well it couldn't be the normal, did we forget to snuff out the candles and coals before bed? And the shop was implicitly placed into Butterburs hands. They had sort of remembered to eat today too, so what…

The blonde slowly turned to face her former teammate/rival who was still trying to puzzle out what they were forgetting, but he too expressed the same dawning realization Naruto was having. "What day is it?" Naruto asked slowly, almost dreading the answer.

The realization hit the teme fully and he grimaced. "Dawn's birthday," he whispered as he leaned forward and gripped tightly to the banister.

Naruto nodded her own head and closed her eyes tightly "Right." She laughed without any humor and shook her head, "We forgot our own daughter's birthday."

"We're terrible parents, aren't we?" the teme asked as he shook his own head. Naruto just nodded her head weakly. Sure they could be given the benefit of the doubt because one of their girls was...was haunted by the Nazgûl, and the birthday girl was gone on a dangerous mission, but it was still inexcusable to Naruto.

Naruto shook her head again and laughed mirthlessly again, "You know, I just wish our firsts trips would not backfire like this."

"Hn?"

She laughed at the infamous hn and glanced sidelong at the teme. "Our first team mission out of Konoha went from C-rank to…was it an A rank?" The details seemed fuzzy after everything they had gone through. "Then the first time I left with my god-father, well…." She trailed off especially when the teme's expression darkened and closed off.

"Get to the point," he stated in a clipped tone.

Naruto sighed, "Well, if you think about it…this is sort of our first family vacation..."

The teme just stared at her for a long moment before blinking and staring out at the valley below them, and then he began to laugh outright. Naruto grinned before she joined in and brushed her shoulder against his.

"Some family vacation," Sasuke stated after sobering. His expression fell further as he glared down into the valley.

"Yeah," Naruto sighed and moved to rest her forearms on the banister. "Figures we couldn't have a normal family vacation to a hot spring,"

The teme titled his head to look at her before a slight smile tugged at his lips "I don't think Middle Earth has any hot spring resorts."

Naruto jumped back with her eyes wide. "Then we make the first one!" she exclaimed. It would be perfect! "It could be our winter home, 'cause you know business always gets a little slower during winter, and hey, our kids and grandkids could run the hotel, and they'd use their skills to keep the path up to the hot springs safe for travlers, and—"

The teme's laughter made Naruto's mood sour and she glared at him with her arms crossed over her chest. "Oh shut up, you know it's a good idea too," she shot back.

"Yes it is, except it would a whole season long vacation with how people travel here." Naruto tilted her head in concession before sidling up next to her husband.

"Still, it would be nice, wouldn't it?" she asked softly as she set her head on his shoulder.

"It would," the teme replied softly as it went unsaid that they'd need their whole family together again for such a thing to pass.

3017 November 13

Elrond the half-elven, son of Eärendil and Elwing, and descendant from the lines of Thingol and Finwë, was feeling trapped within his own home. He was feeling trapped because any time he stepped out of his study or the archives, he was immediately accosted by them. If it was not the demon controller with anger management issues, then it was the red eye wielder with even worse anger management issues. Every time it was the same questions too, the same expectant looks.

He was only trying to get food and yet they were both waiting for him at the end of the corridor. Bracing himself, the Lord of Rivendel nodded his head in greetings to both the man and woman.

"Good evening Elrond-sama," the blonde woman practically chirped. Elrond noted she held her baby in her arms. Dû merely bowed his head a bit deeper in greeting before falling in stride with Elrond.

"Yes, good evening," he replied as benignly as he could, though he supposed some of his exasperation shown through when the man began to smirk slightly. He pushed back his disdain at witnessing the human's amusement and tried to remind himself that this was Aragorn's friend-how Estel could have such a rude friend was beyond Elrond.

"I was on my way to dinner," he stated after the barest of pauses to compose himself. "Will you both be joining, then?" he knew they would not, not now that their child could wake once more.

The blonde woman looked to her dour husband and they held some sort of silent communication before the blonde woman turned to flash him a smile, "No, I'm afraid not, Elrond-sama. Though…" the blonde trailed off, "have you made any breakthroughs?" she asked slowly with an almost hopeful look on her face.

In truth, he wished he did have something to tell the parents to at least ease their worry, if not put a stop to the pestering; however, Elrond had found nothing yet and he shook his head slowly. "No, Arad," he had come to accept the woman did not care for titles such as Lady or Madame.

The husband made some sort of noise, and it was clear he was displeased, though Elrond doubted it was with himself and more about the lack of breakthroughs. The relatively exuberant woman's eyes became hard for a moment, and in them he saw a war commander faced with hardship on the field; she accepted this and understood what it would mean. The woman then looked away from him for a moment, and her expression became downcast yet somehow shut off—as if she did not wish to show her sadness. Eventually the woman turned to him and flashed a bright smile, "Then I guess you'll be combing through the library again?"

Elrond sighed slightly and shook his head, "I am not sure if what we seek will be found in my books." The blonde woman's smile became strained and the husband scoffed as he looked away from Elrond. He did not wish to give them false hope, yet he also did not wish to crush their hope. Perhaps there would be something somewhere….yes, that was a thought.

"I will send out word to the other elven kingdoms," he began to say before he noticed the immediate alarm on both parents' faces, and he could anticipate their disagreement, "requesting any materials about encounters with the enemy and associated dream impressions and like experiences," he rushed to assure them. The protests died, though the man seemed bothered by something.

"How will that help, exactly?" he asked, though Elrond did not sense any derision in the question.

He hummed and smiled slightly as he nodded his head. "Yes, I suppose it is a bit vague, but often one will receive more information with such vague approaches. Perhaps what may not seem pertinent will be in the end."

"Plus it'll keep people from knowing what you're really after if the birds' are intercepted," the blonde woman piped in as she nodded her head slowly, as if realizing his logic and finding it sound even while she continued to work through it.

The husband sighed but nodded his head, "And how long will that take? The works aren't going to come here by bird, are they?" Elrond pursed his lips at the sarcasm and shook his head.

"No. My men will travel to these other kingdoms with trading goods, and they will return with the tomes or any demands the other rulers or bookkeepers demand for the requested information." Both were silent as they processed this, though the husband was scowling.

"So months then if not years," he shook his head and darted off to the side of the corridor before jumping down onto the terrace below.

The blonde woman sighed beside Elrond and shook her head. "He's not mad about that or anything, he understands it," she assured him with a weak smile. "We just hoped this could all be solved sooner."

Elrond nodded slowly, "Yes, I understand that."

They had slowed down their walk, and the blonde woman looked at him with a furrow in her brow and a pleading look in her eyes. "So there haven't been any new theories then, huh?"

Elrond shook his head slowly, "No. For now it appears your daughter is haunted by a living memory of the Nazgûl. Given your husband's contributions, it maybe that the impression its energy made on her created this living memory." For lack of a better explanation, Elrond supposed that would do.

The woman only nodded and Elrond felt the end of their conversation coming. "You are certain you will not be joining us?" The woman only shook her head distractedly, and Elrond nodded his head. "Then good night, Arad."

Naruto nodded her head and watched the elf lord walk gracefully down the rest of the hallway. She stared after him for a long moment and just thought.

It had been nearly a week and Minuial was seldom lucid. Though her body was growing stronger, she was tormented by what they could only imagine was some sharigan copy of the Nazgûl stalking around in her mind and memories. They could have a lively conversation with her one minute and then the next she would retreat into herself while muttering over and over how cold and dark it was. Whether that was referring to the present or not, Naruto could not say.

Naruto shook her head and began to head toward the healing corridor, though her thoughts were occupied by other things. Besides Minuial's depressing condition was the teme's condition. He…he had lost so much of his own abilities, though she knew he was still a very capable warrior here because of his kenjutsu and speed. Yet…yet Naruto could see his impatience growing day by day. He didn't want to stay here where there was no progress being made in terms of Minuial's recovery. He wanted to do something, anything, but Minuial's condition as beyond any of them.

This all led to the same thing in her mind: Sasuke would run away. She knew him like she knew herself, so because he could do nothing here, he would try to do something elsewhere. If he could not ensure the well-being of one daughter, then he would do all he could to ensure the well-being of another. Plus, they both feared that if Dawn fought a Nazgûl, she would be destroyed even if she won; her beautiful mind would be shattered or haunted because…because this world was cruel and the enemy crueler. Even in death the Nazgûl caused her Minuial strife.

Naruto glanced up from the floor to see she had arrived at Minuial's room. Sasuke was leaning against the right doorjamb with his face drawn and his eyes hard. Naruto moved next to him and peered into the room. Tinnu knew they were there but she, along with Pippin and Merry, were leading Minuial around the room.

The joyful cousins were regaling her with stories of their knife-wielding sessions. Apparently, Sam had been frightened one time and had slashed out wildly only to cut clean through Pippin's suspenders—though the hobbit did not call them such—and end up pants-ing the young hobbit—again, it was Naruto's wording not them. Minuial laughed loudly and joyfully; the noise nearly brought tears to her eyes. Her baby was laughing again.

However, a glance over at the teme showed his conflict and pain. She looped her free arm in his good arm and began to tug him away from the door. He complied as he schooled his features. They moved a ways down, Dusk carefully resting against Naruto's chest.

They were out of chakra-enhanced hearing range when Sasuke broke away from her gasping. He punched the wall with his left hand before resting his head against it. Naruto felt a frown forming and she closed her eyes tiredly.

"Teme…" she called as she set her free hand against his back. He stiffened at the contact before he shifted away and turned to look at her as he leaned against the wall. Her husband, her teme… he could only hold her gaze for a few seconds before looking away.

Naruto sighed before moving to lean against the wall next to him. "You want to go off after Dawn since there's nothing we can do here to help Minu," she stated tiredly. The whole situation felt hopeless. How many months or years would it be before they had their baby girl back?

"But then I'll miss her recovery," the teme murmured in a shaky voice, "Or at least her moments of lucidity when…when we can all be a family." He inhaled shakily through his mouth as he tried to remain calm.

"You know I don't want you to leave, not with…" Naruto couldn't find the words and the teme scoffed slightly.

With a bitter smile he looked down at his lame arm. "My limitations?" he supplied. Naruto sighed but nodded her head. He rolled his eyes and looked away, though he didn't fight her more.

"Look," she started and moved to face him, "you will be traveling for weeks at least." His jaw tightened slightly at her first point but she pressed on—more than aware that he knew how his injuries limited him, "Unless you travel day and night, you're going to have to make camp. There is always a possibility of being attacked in the middle of the night, especially if you fall into a deep sleep."

The teme looked away from her while gritting his teeth, but she did not relent. "Moreover," she poked him in the chest for emphasis, "the weather is changing and who knows when it'll start snowing, you could get caught in a storm and die from hypothermia."

"And I could come across the Nazgûl, I know!" the teme shouted and shouldered past and back toward the room with Naruto hot on his trail; however, they both froze when they saw Tinnu a short ways down the corridor staring at them with wide eyes.

"Has something happened?" Naruto asked casually; she had not meant for her children to hear how dire a situation it could be for the teme to go off on his own after Dawn.

Tinnu blinked a few times, and looked lost for a moment before she shook her head. "The hobbits have left for dinner and Minuial…" Tinnu's expression said all they needed to know. "The seizure passed quickly and I did the correct jutsu and chant…" she looked to the side with her brow furrowed.

Naruto and her husband hurried past Tinnu and toward the room as soon as she had said seizure. However, once at the doorway, they could see Minuial resting peacefully, and so Naruto turned back to see Tinnu's confusion. Her daughter shifted slightly and dread began to form in Naruto's stomach. No…she knew that look of contemplation…no…

"I could go with Tousan!" Tinnu blurted out; she looked so desperate yet hopeful. Naruto just felt more of her little world falling apart.

"Out of the question," teme stated in a hard voice, but she knew as well as he did how reasonable and logical it really was, but…but Naruto couldn't be separated from her children any further. Plus, who did it leave her with? The fragile elves? Her baby and invalid daughter—though she loved them both, being left here with themt made her feel so useless.

"Please," Tinnu pleaded, "We need to warn Dawn before I lose another sister!" Tinnu gasped at her own words and her eyes were wide open at her sudden realization. Whatever had kept Tinnu positive these last few days had snapped, and the girl fell to the ground with her hands covering her face as she sobbed.

Her words had hit like…like a rasengan and Naruto fell back heavily against the nearest wall as she clutched Dusk like he might disappear too. The teme just closed his eyes tightly as he stared up at the roof of the corridor.

"She's right," the teme breathed after a moment and Naruto felt this desperation claw at her.

"No! Minuial will get better, each day she does!" she yelled, but the words felt hollow to her own ears.

Sasuke looked over at her slowly, his gaze almost soft before resignation came over him. "Minuial will be able to rest and heal here while Tinnu and I go find Dawn."

There was no point fighting this. It could even ensure her husband came back to her with Dawn and Tinnu. Naruto closed her eyes in resignation and nodded slowly. "I hate this," she whispered and could hear the teme step toward her over Tinnu's continued crying.

She felt the teme cup her cheek before he set his forehead against hers, "I hate it too."

3017 November 17

Naruto looked over at those assembled on the path above the Bruinen. Ranger-san and Arwen-hime stood beside her, and Elrond-sama was at Arewn-hime's other side. Gandalf had come too and stood off slightly to the side. It was barely sunrise, and Dusk was more than a little fussy but he had not started to cry yet. The teme and her precious Tinnu stood with packs for show but really only contained sealing and storage scrolls wrapped in extra blankets.

Naruto handed Dusk off to the teme so he could say his good bye to the baby—she tried to snuff out the fear that he might not see him grow older as she pass him over. Instead, she smiled weakly at Tinnu and smoothed out the folds of her cloak, "Look at you, my little adventurer." She tried to smile but she was so afraid she'd never see her baby again and tears were waiting just below the surface.

"Kaasan," Tinnu managed to look a little embarrassed and she shifted slightly.

Naruto breathed deeply to compose herself while she busied her hands with making sure the pack and cloak were secure. All the while she asked, "Did you pack all the blankets I set out? Do you have rope for snares? What about flint and steel? You never know when you might need that…"

"Kaasan!" Tinnu whined as she set her hands on Naruto's to still the movement. "I packed everything you told me to and Tousan looked through it too." Her annoyed expression fell and she moved to hug Naruto. Her arms were shaking as they wrapped around her, and Naruto held onto her daughter tightly in return. Tinnu squeezed. "I love you, Kaasan," she stated in a quiet almost tearful voice.

Naruto closed her eyes and smiled. "I love you too, sweetheart." She pulled back slightly and kissed her daughter on the forehead.

Tinnu smiled slightly and nodded before they fully parted. She then raced over to Arwen-hime and hugged her tightly around the middle before giving Ranger-san the same treatment. The tall man would likely impart some advice about the wilderness, but Naruto decided to focus on her teme, her husband.

He had likely finished his quiet good-byes with Aragorn—probably did that warrior handshake thing they do—and had clearly passed the baby off to him. They stood in front of each other. Ranger-san prattled on about wilderness things but Naruto didn't bother trying to actually listen to him.

The teme nodded to Naruto once and she returned the nod. "I'll be back before you know it, dobe."

"You better be," she barked back as she folded her arms across her chest, "or I'm kicking your ass."

"I'd like to see you try, dobe," he teased back with a little smirk on his face.

She got right up into his face while glaring, "You know I can."

After a beat, they both began laughing slightly, and Naruto threw her arms around him. He cried out when she hit his overly-sensitive arm, and she immediately backed off with a sheepish grin. Still feeling the aftershocks of pain, the teme just shook his head and gave a grimace like smile before placing his working hand behind her head and pulling her close so that their foreheads touched.

"You're such an idiot," he whispered, and Naruto punched him lightly in the chest before she let her hand rest flat against him.

"You're such a jerk," she shot back in an equally soft voice.

"I'm your jerk though," he commented almost casually as he pulled completely away from her, and then he held out his fist.

She looked at him startled for a moment; that was a gesture from their old lives… She looked up at him, but saw his determination. Naruto couldn't help but grin like a fool as she formed her own fist and bumped it against his.

He nodded his head once, and as he turned around. Tinnu hurried to stand beside him, and without another word they bounded off. They would run along the base of the mountains for a short ways, before crossing over it. Although Dawn took the High Pass, she was likely some ways south by now and traveling along the Anduin, and so the teme hoped to cut her off by traveling along the mountain base and then crossing over after reaching Hollin.

Originally, the teme would have gone along the High Pass as well, but there were increasingly worrying reports of marauding orcs that way, and there had been a few scuffles already to keep the orcs and goblins out of Rivendel territory. Hopefully further south there would be less conflict, so the passing over the mountains would be a little easier.

Naruto stayed on the path long after both Gandalf and Elrond had left, and the dots that were her husband and child were no longer on the horizon. Arwen-hime and Ranger-san remained beside her, and eventually, at their behest, she left with them.

3017 November 21

Sasuke had reviewed the maps time and again before leaving, and he had hoped this pass would be more accessible than others. It would be perhaps another day before they saw the path to the pass, which he was insistent on taking; though they could both walk up the mountain face, the slopes were slick and very steep—he worried Tinnu's chakra control would not hold the long way over the mountain, and he had one arm with which to rescue her should she start to fall.

No…having a pass on which to stop occasionally was better than scaling the mountain, although it also meant they might come across some conflict too. Tinnu would likely be upset with him if she learned he was trying to take the safest routes for her and stopping earlier than he would normally have done; she did not like thinking she was being coddled, which Sasuke could admit he was doing.

Sasuke's gaze drifted over to the sleeping girl in the tree over. She was tied in to ensure she wouldn't fall out of it in her sleep. She fast asleep now; the first few nights she had been restless with worry for her siblings, but fatigue now pushed away those worries. He supposed this was the first time she had sustained a chakra-enhanced run that long, so she was undoubtedly tired.

He shifted slightly in his own tree and looked up at the night sky. The stars were so different here…he had never really stopped to consider that sense he regained his memories. The wind shifted slightly and he tried to pull his cloak tighter around him. A cold wind was coming down from the mountains, and it would only grow colder the higher they went on the mountain.

Sasuke froze suddenly and strained his ears; he thought he had heard… There it was again, accompanied by another. Wolves. They were just at the edge of his hearing.

The former missing-nin looked down at the camp site below them where the smothered remains of a fire were mixed with the bones from their dinner—perhaps they had smelled the kill?

Sasuke sat in the tree for a long while before he heard another howl, but it was closer this time. Tinnu snapped to at the sound and looked over at her father who motioned for her to remain silent.

Minutes or hours ticked by, Sasuke was not sure which due to his hyper-aware state, and then he saw the first shadowy movement amongst the darkness below him. He could hear sniffing and scuffing along with heavy pants. He stared at the clearing below as the wolves began to enter the clearing, clearly sniffing around; however…

Wolves aren't that big. Tinnu's signs could barely be seen in the dim light, but Sasuke had managed to work out its meaning, for it was the same thing he had been questioning.

There were five below them and they howled again. Those weren't wolves. Though the thought shouldn't have alarmed him, Sasuke still felt a spike of adrenaline. Minutes ticked by while the creatures sniffed around the camp. A glance over at Tinnu showed her growing concern, which he began to mimic when he saw they were at the base of their trees.

Howling turned into growls, and the sniffing turned into claws slashing across the tree bark. Tinnu looked over at him with wide eyes, "Tousan," she whispered, but the creatures heard her and began howling again before really attacking at the trees.

They wouldn't be able to climb the trees, but it would be nerve-wracking to wait up here the whole night, and there was no guarantee they'd leave in the morning. They could waste their weapons on the creatures too, but that could draw more to them.

"How confident are you at tree jumping in the dark?" he asked barely above a whisper, and Tinnu looked at him with wide, frightened eyes before looking back down at the circling, growling, shadowy creatures.

The girl swallowed deeply before she began to work the knot that kept her tied to the tree. She then stowed the rope a way while using chakra to secure herself to the tree. Sasuke did the same as best he could with one arm and eventually had to use his teeth to hold onto the rope.

Sasuke could practically hear the anger and indignation of the creatures below when they jumped to another tree and then another. They went slower than Sasuke would have liked, but Tinnu was uneasy in this darkness. The creatures still chased after them, all the while howling.

It wasn't until sunrise that they received a reprieve from the shadowy creatures below, and Sasuke realized belatedly they had gone too far south away from the pass. They would need to backtrack to make it to there; however, looking over at Tinnu he knew she needed to sleep.

…

Sasuke somehow managed to keep awake for the few hours Tinnu was able to sleep. They moved on quickly however, despite Tinnu's insistence that he should rest. They raced through tree boughs after a short breakfast of stale bread and dried meat. Hopefully they'd make it to the pass before nightfall.

…

Tinnu had caught a couple of hares, which Sasuke was trying to cook as quickly as he could. His head felt a bit heavy and spun slightly when he crouched for too long, but he was pushing through his fatigue. The day had past too quickly due to their late start, but the foot of the mountains were a half mile away from them when they decided to make camp. Sasuke refused to sleep in the mountain where they would have little shelter and could be trapped by those who knew the mountains better; he'd take trees over rocks.

Tinnu's head snapped up and he looked over at her with his eyebrow raised. She motioned for him to be quiet. Frowning, Sasuke pushed a little chakra into his ears as he ignored the crackling of the fire.

Howling.

Gritting his teeth in annoyance, he looked back down at the rabbits. He poked the flesh but it was still too soft; meaning it was too raw to eat. Tinnu stood up and began fidgeting with some knives she kept on her person. "Tousan," she called as the howls grew closer.

"Get in the tree," he ordered. They had to conserve their rations for when they were climbing over the mountain; food would be scares up there, so he was not going to waste these rabbits if he could help it. Tinnu looked at him for a moment before complying with his order.

Sasuke stared at the hares roasting over the makeshift spit and willed them to cook faster, but each minute that ticked by the howling grew closer and closer, and the rabbit no more cooked.

Cursing, Sasuke kicked dirt over the fire before grabbing hold of the spit and tossing it as far away from their clearing as he could. He then jumped up into the tree where he pulled out a kunai as well.

It was still below them but he could hear the creatures not too far away. They were sniffing around again, scuffing through the dirt, and uttering low growls. Sasuke gritted his teeth in annoyance when he realized they had ignored the hares and instead had begun circling their trees. Tinnu had seen the creatures' deliberate actions too and looked over at Sasuke with wide eyes.

So these creatures were after them for whatever reason? Perhaps these were hounds of the enemy and hunted humans down? Perhaps they had caught their scent and would not leave them after chasing them the night before? Sasuke glared down at the shadowy creatures below him.

His kunai whistled through the air and he heard a pained howl before other aggressive, growling noises were made by the others. Tinnu followed his lead and sent her own weapons down at the shadowy creatures. More cries came back to them, and yet…the shadowy figures remained and only began baying more wildly at the trees they continued to scratch at.

What the hell was going on?!

3017 November 22

Sunrise came and the creatures were gone. How? Sasuke wasn't sure. They had tried to kill the creatures the night before, before tree hopping out of the clearing. They had to go anywhere but towards the pass because they had no protection there from these creatures they could apparently not kill; however they tried not to stray too far away. In the end, it was another night of running, and Sasuke's eyes burned with the need to sleep. Tinnu looked ready to drop as well, but Sasuke wasn't sure where they would be safe to sleep.

Somehow, in the early morning light, they made it back to their last camp. Sasuke's head spun even as it pounded from the fatigue. Tinnu was dragging her feet and looked utterly exhausted. "I'm so hungry," she murmured once they found what should have been their supper.

"Eat some of the rations."

"But what if we don't have—"

"You need your strength," he didn't care if they wouldn't have enough rations to make it over the mountain; he could forego food for a while.

They were at their camp from the previous night, and Tinnu was looking at him with a frown marring her features. She was looking down at the storage scroll with the rations uneasily and would occasionally look up at him as if she was uncertain.

"Just eat," he stressed as he looked down at the grass around the clearing. There were blades bent here and there as if by some sort of animal, and yet where he found the kunai there was no blood. Had the creatures been there or not? Were they some sort of illusion? Or were they some-some incorporeal creature? Yet why would the grass be bent? Perhaps a creature came around here after them? And why were the kunai so dull now?

Sasuke's head was spinning too much to even think anymore, he needed sleep. However, Tinnu was half asleep as she munched on some of their rations. No, she came first. She would sleep first and then him. Perhaps they could make for the pass by midday?

…

Tinnu hugged her legs to her chest as she sat against the tree trunk. She didn't understand what kept coming after them when night came, and she was afraid to go to the mountains with those things chasing them. On a mountain there would be less room to maneuver and she could fall due to a loss in concentration if she was walking up the mountain face.

She glanced over at her father as he slept in the tree next to hers. He was tied in and she could see his eyes moving rapidly behind his eyelids. Was it a bad dream or just deep sleep?

Tinnu worried her lip between her teeth as she looked out over the clearing. She still felt tired even though she knew Tousan had let her sleep for at least four hours. He hadn't slept at all for the last two days now, and she wanted him to rest up too. He had these deep bags under his eyes and she could see the fatigue in every muscle of his body. It was hard to see, so Tinnu had let him sleep longer than he had said she should, but she figured he'd wake up when he needed to anyways.

A gust of wind blew the loose strands of her hair back. Tinnu held more tightly to her legs and shivered against the chill air. It felt too cold, perhaps it came down from the mountain? It was past mid-day and yet it was getting darker. Frowning, Tinnu slowly uncurled herself and began to stand. She then climbed up the tree and looked out of the canopy. Clouds, dark rain clouds. Great.

She dropped down back to the original branch before moving over to her father's tree to wake him. He sat up right before she could even touch him and he held a kunai in his hand. He quickly stowed it as he glared up at the canopy that let in dimmed light.

"You let me sleep too long."

She could hear his displeasure, but she didn't care. "Storm coming."

Tousan nodded his head they began to make for the mountain in the hopes that there might be a cave or some kind of shelter since the trees would do little to protect them from the rain and they had come across no caves in this forest. As Tinnu ran, the cold, sharp air hit her lungs harshly and she could tasted the metallic tang of blood on her tongue despite there being no blood in her mouth. She coughed slightly but raced on with her father up mountains slopes.

The first drops of rain began to fall while they were searching for shelter. Then it began to pour. The rain was freezing and Tinnu shivered against it. Their visibility had been reduced but after another ten or so minutes of searching, Tousan found something.

"Over here!" he shouted over the wind and heavy rain. There was an opening in the rock face and they began to approach it with their weapons drawn. It was a good twenty or thirty feet from the pass, and it was not the most accessible thing. Tinnu had lost her footing several times due to the deluge of water and her own fatigue; however, she caught herself in time.

Tousan went in first with clear caution, and Tinnu followed after him. The cave was empty and was not too deep. Tousan hit his good shoulder against the walls a few times but they did not budge and Tinnu could see no smaller openings within the place. Tousan had even activated his sharingan before promptly closing his eyes and sitting down. His face was pinched, as if in pain.

"Tosuan?"

He waved his hand dismissively, the kunai still gripped tightly in it. "You don't need to worry." He sighed and then set his head back against the wall. "We should have collected dry wood to make a fire," he muttered.

Tinnu just laughed weakly but she could feel the cold of the stone seeping through her drenched clothes and down into her already cold skin. She tried to fight back a shiver but she couldn't. Tousan began to frown in worry, so Tinnu turned to look out of the cave; the rain came down in grey sheets now.

Tinnu could her a rustling. Looking back, she saw Tousan had removed the scroll that had their extra clothes in it and some of the blankets. "You need to get dry and change your clothes."

Tinnu nodded her head slowly and did as she was told. Once dry and in her extra set of clothes, she turned to face the cave mouth again while her father changed out of his wet clothes and into some different ones Kaasan had managed to pack before they Bree. Their wet clothes were then set on the ground to dry, and Tousan wrapped a dry blanket around her shoulders since she was still shivering. The chill hung about her.

"Try circulating your chakra through each limb slowly," Tousan instructed suddenly, "Feel your tenketsu open at the influx of chakra."

What odd instruction, but Tinnu did as he said with much consternation. How did one feel their tenketsu opening? Regardless she tried to slow down her chakra circulation and tried to feel it flow through her. She gazed out of the cave mouth unseeing for five minutes before she felt her limbs warm slightly. She was still cold, but it was better than before.

Tousan then moved beside her and wrapped another blanket around her and pulled her against his side. "Sleep for now; we'll move when this has passed."

…

The freezing rain had persisted the rest of the day, even as the temperature had dropped. Sasuke could see his breath form in condensed puffs in front of him, and Tinnu curled tightly to his side to conserve warmth. Outside of the cave was a thin sheen of ice-like slush over everything but it would be disturbed with each drop of rain. Fortunately, the freezing rain had lessened, but it was heavy enough to be unpleasant to run through.

It was hard to tell if the sun had set yet due to the darkness, yet Sasuke imagined it may have by now. It would seem their whole day was wasted, though at least they were on the mountain pass now.

Sasuke froze even as Tinnu snapped away. "They're back!" she cried and as if to confirm her fear, there was another familiar howl. Sasuke quickly gathered the blankets and clothes before placing them in his storage scroll. They then waited anxiously with seemingly useless weapons drawn.

Minutes ticked by before Sasuke could make out the first shadowy figure against the grey background of mountain and rain. "Tinnu," he began in a low voice, "activate your sharingan."

The girl looked at him before she complied, though he could feel her question as she did so. Whatever she saw caused her to frown bring her hands up in the symbol to release a genjutsu. Nothing… the creatures howled outside of the cave, and Sasuke could see them moving into attack formations.

"What did you see?" he asked in a rushed whisper.

"They're made of energy…" What? Sasuke frowned as he looked back out at the creatures. What did that make them? Creatures of chakra? Or were they an illusion not even the sharingan could break and his daughter was too weak to disperse? They seemed intangible, yet…

Sasuke glared out at the mountain slope before him. They were going to charge in, and without knowing if they could attack the creatures or not…Sasuke did not like being in this confined space where a bottleneck might not even work.

Sasuke could not use the shunshin properly with his arm as it was, and likewise substitution was out. Tinnu was not skilled enough to use the shunshin in this type of weather or on the slippery slope. "We run," he stated, and Tinnu looked over at him for a moment with wide eyes before she nodded her head.

They were all poised, the strike was eminent. With a howl, the shadowy creatures charged and they raced up the walls to avoid them before leaving the area and running. Tinnu slipped when her feet first touched the icy slush, and Sasuke quickly stuck his arm out to catch her. He then swung her toward his back, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist so he could carry her.

Sasuke started to the pass again but there were more of the creatures there than had ever chased them, and he could see more stationed higher on the pass too. Cursing as the howls and sounds of snapping teeth came closer, he looked down at the slope of the mountain. Down it was then.

The freezing rain stung like needles against his skin, and he could feel Tinnu shivering against him already, but still, he jumped down the side of the path. The standing icy slush splashed up at him and the half-frozen water clung to his breech. He could feel a chill crawling into his bones, so he tried to circulate his chakra through his limbs, even as he tried to regulate the charka in his feet to ensure he didn't send them both cartwheeling down the slope of the mountain.

He could hear the creatures snapping and growling behind him and to the side, so they were in pursuit then. The pass was out; Sasuke just wished to be rid of these creatures, whatever they were.

3017 November 28

Naruto sighed as she opened her eyes. She could feel eyes on her and imagined someone wanted something from her. However, when her eyes settled on her baby girl staring back at her, Naruto had to smile. "Hello sweetheart."

"Kaasan," she replied with a slight smile.

"How are you feeling?" Naruto asked as she moved closer and crouched down beside the bed.

Minuial hummed as she looked around the room. She then looked back at Naruto and gave that weak smile again, "Could we see the garden today?"

"Of course," Naruto helped her daughter sit up despite her feeble protests. Then she began to change Minuial's clothes into something more presentable. Before they were done, however, there was a rap at the door.

"Yes?" Naruto called while she worked on lacing up the back of Minuial's dress.

The door opened slightly to admit Arwen-hime who was followed by Ranger-san. They nodded in greeting and each gave Minuial smiles, though they were a bit subdued.

"Minuial," Arwen-hime greeted, "Are you to go on a walk today?"

The girl just nodded and Ranger-san quickly moved to Minuial's side now that Naruto was finished dressing her. "Where to?" he asked in that elvish language.

"The gardens?" she asked softly and bashfully. Arwen-hime smiled brightly at this reply, and Ranger-san took Minuial's arm in his for support. Arwen-hime took up the other side while Naruto swaddled Dusk who was still asleep, though would likely start to fuss when they got outside.

"The gardens are an excellent choice," Arwen-hime stated gently in her native tongue, and Minuial smiled slightly.

"Do you remember the path down to the courtyard?" Ranger-san asked as they began to lead Minuial out of the room. They took slow, steady steps and Naruto could see the strain it had taken weeks before was practically gone now, though it was still slow progress.

"Of course," there was almost a bit of bite to Minuial's response that made Naruto smile. As they walked, they spoke that pleasant, odd language. It took a few minutes for Naruto realize they were telling poems, though that really shouldn't have surprised her. Though…Naruto supposed she was distracted and thus wasn't at fault for not catching on sooner.

Frankly, most of the blonde woman's thoughts were occupied by the seconds ticking by that her daughter remained lucid. It was going on fifteen minutes by the time they came to the gardens. Usually, at about this time Minuial might fade away again into haunted mutterings, but she was remaining lucid for longer and longer periods—her record was almost an hour.

"Wow," Minuial murmured as she looked up at the tree-made tunnel that led to the gardens. They continued down the path and her eyes were wide with delight as she took in each statue along the path, no matter how overgrown it had become. She also enjoyed how there were still plants blooming, though Naruto could feel they were withering due to the chill weather.

Dusk began to fuss so Naruto began to bounce him and hum slightly. Minuial turned around to look at her and Dusk. "He looks so much like you," she stated in Japanese with an almost dopey looking smile on her face. Naruto could see fatigue already setting in on the girl through the smile.

Naruto hummed with a slight smile on her lips. "I know," she replied calmly before pouting slightly, "though he still has your father's coloring."

Minuial laughed slightly, "Genetics, Kaasan."

Naruto hummed again, and Minuial turned her attention back to the path they were walking down. Ranger-san and Arwen-hime asked her something in their language before laughing a little too; likely Minuial was explaining what they had been talking about. Then the two lovers began telling more stories as they walked beneath the boughs with Minuial.

After ten or fifteen minutes, Minuial began to pant from the exertion and her helpers led her to sit down. Naruto motioned for them to continue on the garden path, and even threw in a sly look toward them which made Ranger-san blush and Arwen-hime bow her head. Naruto then sat down beside her daughter who had her face turned up toward the sun peeking through the trees as if she was trying to soak in the rays.

They sat on the cold stone seat for several minutes before Minuial dropped her head forward and then began to lean against Naruto's side. She dropped her head onto Naruto's shoulder, and Naruto shifted Dusk so that she had one arm free to wrap around Minuial. "Kaasan?" she asked. "Why am I so tired?"

Naruto turned her head slightly and pressed a kiss to the girl's forehead before resting her own head against the girl's. "You were badly injured; it takes time to recover."

The girl made an annoyed noise at the back of her throat. "I don't like this…I don't like this at all."

Naruto bit her lip and breathed in and out for a few seconds. "I know," she replied at last, but her voice was still rough from the emotions she was trying to keep at bay. "I hate this too."

Minuial wrapped her arms around Naruto's middle and dipped her head forward as if to hide. "I'm sorry…this wouldn't have happened if…"

Naruto closed her eyes tightly and breathed for a few seconds, while her hand around Minuial's side rubbed up and down slowly. "You just need to focus on getting better," Naruto choked out. "Don't you worry about anything else."

"But this was my punishment wasn—"

"Never!" Naruto pulled back and looked at her pale child in alarm. Dusk began to cry at her sudden change in behavior and she exhaled heavily. As she tried to soothe the baby with rocking, she looked over at Minuial with a hard gaze and whispered, "Never think that. Shit happens, and it sucks, but don't ever think this is some kind of punishment."

Minuial's face began to scrunch up with unshed tears and she nodded her head before bowing it.

Dusk was working himself up into a full wail, so Naruto tried to get a hold of her emotions. Breathing deeply one last time, she put on a smile, "Come, let's sing your brother to sleep."

Minuial looked up and nodded a little tearfully. Kaasan then began to sing the lullaby she had learned in hobbiton over a decade ago, and Minuial quickly joined in.

3017 December 1

"So…" Naruto began as she looked around the elven forge. Ranger-san glanced over at her with a smile that said she was endearing to him. She wanted to roll her eyes.

Ranger-san then gestured to his broken sword, "I thought it might interest you to see the elven smiths at work."

She could only hum. Although she knew the significance of Ragner-san re-forging that heirloom sword, she just couldn't bring herself to be excited about it. Minuial was so weak, and despite the days that passed, she wasn't remaining lucid for longer than an hour at a time. It was so painful to see.

Arwen-hime was sitting up there with Dusk and Minuial, but the elf woman had been so enthused that Naruto would witness the broken sword being remained, and she'd be disappointed if Naruto left now. Granted... Arwen-hime was always enthused when it came to things related to Ranger-san becoming king, and what bigger sign of that than broken sword being remade business?

She supposed it was fascinating how the elves worked in their chants as they hammered the steel together, though…maybe the material wasn't steel. She moved away from where the smiths worked and looked over at their ores. She had never before seen this one ore they had an abundance of, so she picked it up and examined it. She then found a refined alloy and examined it. It was light in hands and shone brightly. She looked up at some of the weapons around her that she could tell were made from the same alloy.

"Arad?" Ranger-san called her name, and she looked over at him with her eyebrow raised.

"What are these made out of?" she asked as she held up the alloy.

Ranger-san frowned and looked over at the busy elvish smiths uncertainly, "I am afraid that is their secret to tell."

Sighing, Naruto nodded her head and picked up one of the swords made out of the shiny metal. The blade was light, and as she pressed her thumb against the blade, she could feel its sharpness immediately. She then gave it a few experimental swings through the air. There was no resistance. Impulsively, she began to circulate some of her wind chakra into the metal, and was amazed when it did not shatter but let the chakra form around it.

She looked over at Ranger-san with wide eyes, "I want to make weapons out of this for my family."

Ranger-san only blinked several times before he nodded slowly, "You will have to ask Lord Elrond for permission, and the elves would have to teach you how to work the ore."

Naruto nodded her head and put the weapon back. She then moved to the ore again and picked a piece up. She circulated some chakra through it and again, the same effect. This metal…it was almost like the alloy they used back in Konoha. This was wonderful.

"I'll even make weapons for his guards," she stated, referring back to the elf lord. Weapons were not village secrets, they could be used by anyone, and Arwen could use some throwing knives of her own to continue her practice.

Ranger-san just laughed slightly, "Again, you will need Lord Elrond's permission."

Naruto just grinned broadly, that would be no problem. This would be a perfect way to pass time!

…

Sasuke glanced over at his daughter. She was shivering violently even as she slept. Sasuke was going through cycles of fevers and chills that left him shivering in the cold air. It had been, what? Weeks? Or perhaps only days? He wasn't sure any more. He had lost track of the days after running from the creatures all night. They had tried running through the day to put distance from these creature but they would find him all the same once nightfall came

It was concerning that these creatures vanished with the light, and he wondered what…what kind of trick this was. Was it simply an illusion? He had not risked his daughter's safety to fight them bodily, and Sasuke had learned to err on the side of caution after the Nazgûl attack. If there was some unexplainable creature, he would not confront it with his own physical body.

But not confronting them physically left doubts in his mind. What were these creatures? Were they merely a fear tactic? Did they pose no real threat?

Sasuke sneezed violently and closed his eyes tightly from the force. His eyes began to burn and water from the sneeze too. These fevers and chills were getting worse, and now he was becoming congested on top of it. At least Tinnu only had a fever so far, yet she could never stay warm in this weather. Frankly, Sasuke just wanted shelter from these elements and those damn creatures. Perhaps he'd make for the river, the Bruinen. Or perhaps they should head back north?

Through his pounding headache and brought on by fatigue, hunger, and fever, he thought it was odd they had been going south this whole time with the mountains always to their left. Were they being led? Was this some sort of trap?

Groaning, he shook his head and tried to breathe despite the mucus constructing his airways. He was beginning to feel lethargic from this cold too, if they kept up they might be too weak to run from the creatures. They needed shelter; a warm place to rest and restore themselves.

It was decided then; he'd make for the west once the creatures began chasing them again.

3017 December 12

Naruto fiddled with the cloth wrapped weapons in her lap. She looked over at Minuial with a frown, and she wondered when the girl would wake up…and if she'd be lucid. The few times earlier in the day, she had been lucid but Naruto was putting the final touches to her gift. The other times she visited, the girl was lost to her haunted thoughts.

She peaked down at the wrapped weapons one more time. It had been good to work the forge again, but not just because it was a distraction. There was something about the heat and sparks that comforted her. Perhaps because it had been her life with her teme, and smithing made her think of their home. The ring of metal against metal, the hiss of a red-hot blade plunging into water…it was home.

"It's so cold…" Naruto looked up abruptly at Minuial and sighed.

She got up and set the weapons on the bedside table. She then moved over to her daughter and smoothed back her hair while she muttered how dark and cold it was. "I know sweetheart," Naruto murmured before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her forehead. As she pulled back she murmured, "Happy birthday."

When she straightened, she had to fight against the constricting feeling in her throat as she hurried toward the door. She didn't stop moving until she came to the garden. She knew she shouldn't leave Minuial or Dusk alone, but a guard would have seen her hasty exit and have gotten someone to watch them, likely Ranger-san.

Naruto found a bench in the garden and sat down quickly before covering her face. Gods! She didn't want to cry but, god damn it! She had basically forgotten Dawn's birthday, and now it was doubtful Minuial would get to experience her own birthday. Tinnu was off with the teme, and…and Naruto just wanted everything to be how it had been. She missed her babies and she just wished…she just wished…

She could hear Arwen-hime approaching, but Naruto couldn't stop now that the tears were let free to fall. The elf woman sat down beside her and just wrapped an arm around her before pulling her against her side. Naruto just wanted her family back the way they had been before.

…

Sasuke held tightly to his daughter. They were both shivering but Tinnu more violently than him. Their fevers were low-grade again, but Tinnu had developed a persistent cough. They were wrapped up in all the blankets they had, and even the pale winter sunlight wasn't enough to really warm them.

Their attempts to go west, north, and east had all ended with the tree-lines. Without the protection of trees, the creatures could circle around them. Worse than that, there would be bad storms or a forest fire that would send them racing toward shelter found in the rock walls of the mountains. At that point, they had passed over a marsh with a bracken river running through it. When they had tired to follow the river, they came to a wall with steep steps; at the top of which was a stagnant pool with a monster that tried to drag them to the depths below. So they continued south, ever south next to the mountain.

Even in his tired, fevered mind, Sasuke knew they were being weakened and driven toward Isengard. Why? He did not know why, but he had to believe that was the reason they were dogged by these monsters and ill luck.

He didn't even know what day it was anymore after so long of running in the dark and sleeping in snatches during the day. Their food was scarce and the rations nearly gone. He tried to hunt for game during the day, but it was scarce now with the coming winter.

Sasuke stared ahead of him. Soon they would be in the hilly plains of the Dunland. They wouldn't be able to make it to the river before night fall, and undoubtedly there would be a fire when nightfall came…

He hoped the fish he had caught at that brackish river would last…

3017 December 18

Sasuke's suspicions came true when the creatures chased them well into the Dunlands and then stopped chasing them. It was possible these lands were not in their domain, but it was more possible they were minions of that wizard Gandalf mentioned. He had even tried running toward the river once the creatures stopped chasing them, but then they were there again and snarling at them to get back.

"Tousan?" Tinnu asked as they were running toward where Sasuke believed the Gap of Rohan would be.

He hummed and pushed himself to keep going. Tinnu coughed loudly and faltered in her run. He slowed down and waited for her to regain her breathing.

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "This is a trap, isn't it?"

He could only grit his teeth and nod, especially as they passed a crudely made hut that had been savaged by some wild animal and left abandoned.

"Should we rest then? They have us where they want us, don't they?" she asked hoarsely.

"Yes, I suppose we should," he murmured as he looked up at the night sky. They had a few hours before sunrise, and then they would keep sleeping until they felt strong enough for whatever trap was waiting for them. Perhaps they could even find some rabbits or burrowing animals? They'd work on regaining their strength before they faced off against whatever Sauruman met them with, and they could rest in the crude hut they had passed by.

3017 December 24

The birds had been watching them for six days now. At first there were clusters of birds that would fly over them, but now there were only a handful of them watching their progress across the Dunlands. Tinnu stayed close to him, though her coughing persisted, and they had slowed their pace considerably to help with her coughing.

In the distance he could see the Gap of Rohan. The mountain slopes on either side of the gap stood out like giant teeth against the horizon. They had seen the opening into the Isengard days ago, but oddly no battalions had come to get them. Also, every hut they had passed by was empty and devoid of life. Sasuke did not doubt Saruman was behind what had happened to both him and whoever had lived in these lands.

As they bounded across the plains, more details of the hilly gap came to him. For one, he could see some sort of river ran through the gap along with the road. However, it wasn't until mid-day that he could make out the abnormal dots on the hilly sides of the gap. There was a trap waiting for them…

Tinnu saw it too once he pointed them out. "Do we let them come to us?" she asked before coughing.

He wasn't sure who awaited for them, but it was clear they were to be ambushed at the gap. If they waited out here they would be swarmed. A glance over at Tinnu suggested she might not be able to blow through the gap with a sustained run to miss them. They could use more rest too…perhaps it would be best to wait.

3017 December 25

The sun had set long ago, and Tinnu was sleeping fitfully beside him. They hadn't had enough rope or weapons to make traps for what was likely waiting to ambush them. Fortunately they had caught a few gophers which been sufficient for their lunch and dinner.

As the night passed, Sasuke kept his ears strained to pick out movement in the darkness. It was an oddly still night, at least amongst animals and insects. The wind had died down, but it would blow across the flat land every now and then. With the wind was the smell of snow—likely there would be a snow storm come sunrise. The moon had set before he heard any other noises. At first there was the pounding of many feet, though he could not pick up how many people there were coming toward them. He woke Tinnu quietly and motioned to his ears. They then sat there to hear how the feet began to soften as they drew closer; their would-be ambushers had slowed down from their run to walk toward them.

Frowning, Tinnu set her ear to the frozen ground and closed her eyes. Sasuke stared at her and wondered if this was something Aragorn might have taught her, though how would it benefit the ranger without enhanced hearing.

"Fifty," she whispered as she sat back up. Fifty people coming out here for just them? Perhaps these people were not enemies then? Or perhaps they had abandoned their posts—no that was unlikely. At the gap, more enemies must be stationed.

Sasuke motioned for her to lay back down and he did too. He then feigned sleep along with Tinnu as they waited for the enemy to draw closer.

He could hear them stopping just out of normal hearing distance; likely to discuss their plan of attack. Sasuke could tell Tinnu was tensing but he couldn't just mutter for her to relax…or could he. With his best acting skills, Sasuke try to mumble out "Relax…wait…" He thought it was a fairly convincing sleep talk, even if it was just a precaution.

With his enhanced hearing, he then listened to a few men speaking in a guttural language, and by their tone, they were not pleased with the situation. One man practically growled at the others, "Remember, we retrieve this ring for Saruman and we will win his favor," the man snapped in common which sent those grumbles of dissent into silence-perhaps there was no common language amongst them but Westron?

More concerning however, was that they believed he had the ring. Him? How on earth would Saruman come to that conclu—right… He was allies with Sauran, and undoubtedly the Nazgûl had made a report about Sasuke's daughters. With the ring coming out of hiding again and him leaving Rivendel shortly after the council instead of waiting out the winter…well, it could be assumed he was carrying the ring to Minas Tirith or destruction if any spies had seen. How Saruman could know for certain though was a mystery? This was…bothersome, and meant all their obstacles had been made by that damn wizard (and the creatures probably couldn't have actually harmed them physically which made Sasuke curse himself for being so cautious).

Should he try to convince these men he didn't have the ring with him? Or would they doubt him? Sasuke would doubt himself if he was in their position, even though it was the truth. No…these people would be desperate for the favor of Saruman, especially if they were to waylay Sasuke with such great numbers. He could hear them even now questioning whether Sasuke and Tinnu were as dangerous as the White Wizard had made them out to be?

This would be a fight then.

He had his sword in his sheath at his right hip. He laid on his left side but had his hand gripped around the hilt. His traveling cloak hid it all from view. He knew Tinnu would be prepared in much the same way.

He could hear the men circling around them with slow, cautious steps. Soon it would be time.

The stillness of the night made the hair at the back of Sasuke's neck raise, but he knew these were just men and would ultimately do little harm, right? He could feel the nervous excitement amongst the men circled around them. A few more seconds and it would be time.

He could hear the soft shift of metal against leather; that was his cue. They would strike while the men were reaching for their weapons and were distracted by the easy targets.

He was up with Kusangi drawn before there could be any startled responses. Tinnu followed his movement, and then they attacked. Those stunned and in mid draw were the first to go down. Tinnu's eyes swirled red and black as she looked at each man and cut into their defenses faster than they could comprehend. Sasuke was beside her and insuring any weapons or men she had not accounted for did not harm her. She dove between slashing arms as her sword found the weaknesses in their armor. Sasuke cut through the numbers as well, aiming for the same areas as Tinnu or the necks.

"Demons!" someone at the back of the ranks cried out, and he could hear the outer ring running away. The forty some remaining—thirty of which still lived—backed off from the circle with their weapons drawn and a frantic look in their eyes.

As Sasuke took in these men, he noted they were darkly colored with matted hair and thick beards. They wore animal skins and furs as their armor, and Sasuke had to wonder if these were the men of Rohan, the Rohirrim? If they weren't, would they not be able to find shelter along their way to Minas Tirith when they so desperately needed it?

Tinnu had her back to him and he could feel her shaking from more than just the fever this time. These were her first kills… He swallowed slightly and eyed the men remaining. They would take them out and then proceeded on toward Minas Tirith by the East-west road, which he'd always think of as the Greenway.

"Well get that ring from you even if we have to chop your fingers off!" one man screamed to rally the others. It was on then.

…

The pale morning light revealed a macabre scene of blood spilled across the land as steam rose from the puddles and bodies. Snow began to drift down softly onto dead men who were scattered around a dead fire. Two soiled blankets remained of the campsite, and a bloodied rag with some kind of antiseptic staining it. Any survivors had fled east along the road.

…

Naruto stood beside Arwen-hime and Minuial as they observed the recently founded Fellowship leave the gates. The women staying behind while men went off to fight the battles of all free peoples; it made Naruto's insides lurch and made her feel sick. She should be out fighting, not taking care of the sick and children, yet she did more good here than risking her children in the wild.

Arwen-hime brushed her shoulder against hers as if in comfort as they watched from above these men leave. "Our time will come when we will be an assistance to them," she murmured, and Naruto smiled slightly.

"It's so cold…" the smile fell at Minuial's words; she had been lucid enough when Ranger-san came to her room at dawn to bid her goodbye, but at their actual leaving she was lost again.

Sighing, she moved and put her arms through Minuial's, "Come, let's get you to bed."

3018 January 2

The past week had been a long march through thick snow. The cut in Sasuke's side was becoming infected, but none of the settlements they had stopped in had medicine to spare. Tinnu's cough had also become worse and more persistent. Her body now shook with each cough, and her face was so terribly pale. They had not stayed at the settlements long due to Saruman's wild men, but they had had shelter for those few days or nights they had stayed. Sasuke had been wary at first of the people from Rohan, but he now knew there was a difference between the horse people and those under Saruman's employ.

Now, after a week, they stood at the mouth of vale, wherein stood a raised shape like some lonely sentinel. They would have to move closer to see more, but what he could make out from the rise in the valley was a glimmer of gold at its highest point. He could also see a pale river cut through the vale as it flowed down the mountain and likely went to join the Entwash into the Anduin. He could also make out the thin trails of smoke rising from the structure in the distance. Fire meant protection and warmth. A shiver went through him as well despite his efforts to retain body heat. However, they had some ways yet to go.

Tinnu coughed violently and for a long moment; it almost seemed like she was coughing up a lung. Each cough sent a cloud of condensed moisture in front of her. Pneumonia, bronchitis…he wasn't sure which afflicted his daughter, but they needed to get out of this weather. Not for the first time did Sasuke wonder if Dawn had found shelter, or even made it to her goal.

He tried to think where they would be if that white wizard had not interfered and assumed he had the ring. They would have crossed the mountain, picked up the Anduin and run down to Minas Tirith, perhaps they could have over taken Dawn. But what was done was done.

Since leaving Rivendel, they had been run ragged because of those damn creatures and his little girl had killed because of those wild men. They were chilled to the bone from the weeks of running after that first storm, and their fatigue felt so complete that the rest they had in the settlements along the way did little good. Whereever they went Wild Men seemed to follow so that with each stay in a settlement they had to warn the people of the attacks and encourage them to make for Helm's Deep. Now they were here at this Valley and making for Edoras. Surely this capital would provide them with more shelter and protection from the wild men; besides, they were asked to tell the King about the attacks.

He came out of his thoughts as Tinnu's coughing fit ended with her bent over as she tried to catch her breath, but each inhale was painful due to the cold air. "Just a little further," Sasuke breathed, his own teeth chattering in the cold, though his side burned like it was on fire.

Tinnu looked at him tiredly, but nodded. Her chest heaved and her face was so awfully pale except for her wind burned cheeks. It was just a little further and then they could thaw out their numbing limbs. Gods…if Dawn was still out in this weather…he could lose all his daughters.

Although he wished to race toward the capital, Sasuke knew that at this point they would be a visible speck on the horizon to the guards, and if they moved too swiftly only to slow down nearer the building…well, it would only make them more suspicious and subject to scrutiny. So they began to slowly drudge down into the vale. Their feet and legs sinking into the snow for effect. Tinnu drew closer to Sasuke who threw his arm over her shoulder as they drudged their way to toward the large settlement through more than a foot of snow—likely the valley had collected more of the snowfall than the plains had.

"Almost there," Sasuke breathed out every time his daughter would cough violently next to him.

Perhaps after an hour of this he could make out Edoras in more detail. Spiked wooden walls enclosed the place, but thatched roofs peaked above the walls' height. And there was the "golden" roof of the Golden Hall. Even in the pale winter daylight the roof shone and truly looked like a golden hall. But Sasuke's eyes were drawn to the smoke filtering up from the various chimneys and openings, and he felt a surge of motivation. He moved a little faster through the snow and Tinnu stumbled after him since his arm was essentially pulling her with him.

The sun rose higher as they made their trek down into the vale, yet no one rode out from the gates to see them. So it was only with some shock that when the main gates finally loomed ahead of them, they were shut. This contradicted what the smaller settlements of the West Fold told them of Edoras, and yet he was almost expecting this when no one rode out to check on the refugees. Tinnu looked up at her father anxiously, but he shook his head slightly and just squeezed her shoulder. Perhaps the town were guarding up in case of an assault from those mountain men; he kept telling himself this as continued forward.

Closer and closer they came, but the gates still did not open. Why? Surely they looked like any other refugee. Perhaps they did not expect them to make the trip and without any animals, but they could lie and explain their horses had been injured in a raid the day before by the Wild Men, and they had had to let their mounts die in the snow.

Perhaps they would have seen more welcome at Helm's Deep, but it was farther from their goalm and Saruman had derailed them enough as it was. Minas Tirith lied to the East along the range of mountains Edoras stood beneath; to seek refuge in that Deep would only delay them. The place would also be overflowing with dying and sick refugees who could aggravate Tinnu's illness further. Food would also be scarcer for most of the rations would go to the active guards and he may be asked to join the defenses despite his lame arm (he had shown to quite a few of the refugees how capable he still was without that arm when they were fleeing the wild men). In that kind of environment, even Tinnu might be encouraged or at the very least feel encouraged to aid in the defense of Helm's Deep for their refuge there. No, Edoras was a better option, plus Tinnu liked to remind him that they had promised to warn the King of the Wild Men attacks.

Yet now they were a yard away from the gates and still it was closed; not even a sentry came out to greet them. "Tousan…" Tinnu whispered feebly with uncertainty in her hoarse voice.

The smoke said people were within the walls of the settlement, so it was not as if the place had been vacated. Sasuke could also see movement at the look-out towers. Were they preparing for an attack? Or had they shut their doors from further refugees? Sasuke grit his teeth together and pulled Tinnu closer to his side.

They were finally at the gate but no one opened it. He could hear men in metal plate shifting just behind the gate. Tinnu looked over at him anxiously with uncertainty clear on her face. He might have given her some words of comfort if he did not fear how that might make the guards on the other side of the wall react—whether he spoke in Westron or Japanese to her.

Coughing to clear away the built up phlegm, Sasuke then raised his voice, "We seek shelter in Edoras." His voice was hoarse and his teeth chattered; overall, he sounded cold and weak. He glanced sidelong at his shivering and coughing daughter. He had hoped she might pick up the diplomatic matters, but she was letting him handle things, perhaps nervous and too tired.

There was some more movement and shifting from behind the gate, and Sasuke gritted his teeth in annoyance. He could jump this stupid gate and enter that way; he didn't have to deal with this shit, but…he didn't know the Rohirrim's customs and it would not…behoove him to offend them. So he glared at the gate and forced out his next words.

"We have traveled…" how would the Middle Earthlings phrase it? "Traveled many leagues," he settled on that. "We need shelter from the cold, and we come bearing news from your outlying settlements." His teeth kept chattering and Tinnu was coughing more frequently. Still there was no stirring, no movement that indicated someone would open the gate, but a look at his pale and violently shivering child made him grit his teeth and swallow his pride. "Please," he added, and he could hear his own desperation.

There was more shifting but no moves to open the gate. He couldn't believe this; it was like some kind of petty juvenile act he would never have expected of Middle Earthlings. "God damn it!" He screamed at the gate, "My daughter could die out here, you bastards!" So much for their hospitality; he didn't even care if the use of his native language offended them or made them more wary. He didn't think TInnu could make the trip around the mountain range and into Minas Tirith, she had been ill for too long now and needed to rest.

He glared at the gate and wanted to add some spiteful words about them also letting their people die. However, there was a commotion quickly traveling up to the gate, and Sasuke could hear a young man's voice carry over the crowd; although a normal human would not have heard it. "What are doing, open the gate!" Sasuke did not recognize the language but he could hear the inflection of outrage; a look at Tinnu showed an equally clueless response to the words.

"But Lord Théodred," someone started in a faint voice, "your father—"

"And there is a girl dying," the same young voice spoke in a commanding yet chastising voice. Sasuke assumed the young man was in some position of power. Perhaps a general or commander, perhaps a lord?

What Sasuke presumed was the same guard spluttered in uncertainty as the commotion drew closer, and Sasuke let his arm go from Minuial so he might be able to reach for his sword quickly. Two things could be happening: one, someone in power was going to help; or two, someone in power was chastising a guard who had felt sympathetic and had been ready to open the door. It was one of the two based on the reactions; still he signed for Tinnu to be prepared. The girl's hand shakily moved to her sword that was hidden by her cloak.

Another guard, he assumed it was a guard, spoke up as the metal clothed footsteps drew closer. "My young Lord, this could be a trap or an enemy, they speak some odd language and clearly were cursing us." Caution and paranoia was in this guard's voice, perhaps he gave the young commander a warning, so perhaps the young commander was to help them?

"Perhaps because you keep the gates shut as if no one is here," the young man shot back in annoyance.

Tinnu looked over at Sasuke and he shared a look back at her. He was not sure what to make of the younger man, so it would be best to play it cautiously. He moved slightly in front of his daughter, and if need be he would cut through whatever threat appeared before him. In kind, Tinnu moved slightly into his side, and a glance at her showed she was looking meaningfully up at the guards standing resolute at their watch in the towers at the corners of the wall. Of course, the guards were becoming suspicious by his lack of action.

"Please!" Sasuke shouted, for dramatic effect, "We will die in this weather, and the news from the settlements is grave."

He could hear the heavy metal covered steps coming closer and closer to the gate. "It could all be a trap," that guard persisted, "some trickery," he whispered. Sasuke recognized the paranoia easily. Perhaps they were considered a danger to the young commander; this may solidify that the young man was to help them, though he did not know for certain.

Internally scowling at the measures he had to go to, Sasuke played up the pathos appeals. "We were attacked by Wild Men and lost much of our supplies, and have since been hounded by their raiding parties," he cried to the gates even though the people beyond could hear him just finef. He was of course omitting certain details (such as Saruman seemed to think he had the ring), but his plight should be convincing and dire enough to be let iin. "Please, we just seek shelter!"

"If there is trickery," the young lord whispered to his guards, "then they will be surrounded and easily dispatched." The inflection in these words he was less certain about. It seemed as if the young man was assuring the guard of something, yet it did not sound dismissive.

Tinnu moved closer to his side and held more tightly to the hilt of her katana but otherwise did not show her unease. Finally, there was more movement from the guards and the gate began to open marginally, just enough for a few guards to come through. Sasuke tensed marginally, his muscles prepared to move at a moment's notice. Tinnu was equally tensed and was trying to suppress her coughs.

A cursory look revealed who was the young commander, although there were several young men in the assembled group of armed and armored men. All the men had fair hair that were in impractically long braids—in Sasuke's opinion. Their armor was polished but one young man's armor was polished more than the others and it had a different level of craftsmanship.

The young commander did not speak, but an older guard came forward and tried to intimidate him. Sasuke met the man's gaze but did not challenge him in any other way; he had played the pathetic card enough but would not test his luck. Tinnu watched the man cautiously and pressed even closer to Sasuke as if afraid, but the former missing-nin knew it was to get a better angle of attack. For show, he let go of his hilt and wrapped his arm around her shoulder in a protective manner. The guards could see he was armed due to the fact his cloak moved when he pulled his hand away, plus it was a given he had a sword because he had removed his hand from his opposite hip, but they did not draw their own weapons (perhaps seeing this as his way of relquinshing any threat he might pose).

"You do not speak our language, do you?" the man asked in that odd language. Sasuke just stared at him blankly.

"Are we allowed in?" he asked in Westron.

"It is the will of Théoden King that none should enter his gates, save those who know our tongue and are our friends," the guard stated while he kept an eye on Sasuke's sword hilt.

The young commander looked annoyed about something, and Sasuke felt his own patience fraying. Tinnu was barely keeping her coughs at bay, and Sasuke's own shivering was beginning to get worse.

The guard was prepared to go on but Sasuke intervened. "Look!" he snapped as he glared at the guard. "I do not speak your language, so are we allowed in or not? Just nod or shake your head."

The same guard sighed and have him a peeved look. "You are outsiders who do not even speak our tongue." Yes, that was the obvious; now what was this man's point. "You could be spies of the enemy, assailants who intend to do harm to our King."

He could respect the paranoia, although it was annoying to be on the receiving end. Still…it felt at home to him, and Sasuke began to relax. Tinnu felt that and relaxed slightly as well—even taking her hand off of the hilt of her own sword. "We seek shelter that is all," Sasuke explained.

"Then why not seek it at Helm's Deep?" the guard asked stonily, "Why come to Edoras?"

"Because we intend to make for Minas Tirith." The men looked surprised by this, but the guard looked ready for a rebuttal.

"To weather the winter at Helm's Deep would be the same as to weather it here." After a brief pause the guard continued, "You came from the West and so it would not have hindered your journey to stay there."

Sasuke glared at them, "Dozens of refugees flock there a day because of those wild men." He looked at the assembled men pointedly but none of them drew the conclusions he hoped they would, and only the young commander was concerned about his report.

"Then you would have company," the guard remarked.

"They are sick and dying; it would be a danger to my daughter." Not to mention with all the people staying there, there would be food shortages.

The other guard eyed Tinnu warily, "And she is sick. Do you intend to bring a plague here?"

He felt Tinnu tense at his side, and the girl struggled to suppress her coughing but it was getting worse and more obvious despite her efforts.

The guard scoffed and the young commander looked uncertain. "We could hear her coughing before; we cannot risk the health of our people for outsiders."

Sasuke breathed slowly in and out; if not for these nearly desperate circumstances he might have done something foolish. Through gritted teeth, Sasuke spoke, "She needs rest and shelter. We've traveled from Bree; do you know how long of a journey that is?"

The guards were reaching for their various weapons at the touch of a threat he held in his voice. They even stepped back from him; perhaps he was exuding some killing intent too but it wasn't that much.

The guard looked at him with clear suspicion. "You claim to have travled a long way, but you have no supplies, no horses."

"We were ambushed by the wild men in the dead of night, they killed our mounts and burned most of our supplies," Sasuke explained in a level voice.

The guard looked at him incredulously. "If you were indeed attacked by these Wild Men and survived, how will you compensate for your shelter here?" the pragmatic guard inquired, again commendable yet annoying to be on the receiving end.

He did not stop to grab their savings when he left Bree, and even so, such currency would have been left with the dobe. However, looking at guards' uniforms, he could see their weapons and armor needed some more work. "I am a weapons' smith by trade, and could be taught armory."

The young commander spoke then, "Why do you not use your right arm?" So the young man was observant and saw how unnaturally still his right arm was.

Scowling, Sasuke stated in a clipped tone, "Injured in the attack." He then turned back to the pragmatic guard, "My daughter knows the trade as well and would assist me. I also do basic smithing jobs too."

"A blacksmith, really?" the guard raised an eyebrow at this and shook his head. The young commander sized the shaking Tinnu up and down before he looked over at the guard. There was an exchange between them in their odd tongue and some pointed looks thrown to each other before the young commander turned to them with a genial smile.

"My Father will decide if you may stay in Edoras on the condition of your services as a weapons' smith." It hung unsaid that they would be watched closely. Sasuke also suspected they would have few amenities or comforts if they stayed here beyond a roof over their heads.

"Now," the young commander spoke quickly, "what name are we to call you by, blacksmith?"

Sasuke regarded the young man for moment before he replied—he knew the longer he waited the more hesitant and distrusting they would be—"Dû, and this is my daughter Tinnu."

"No father's name?" a guard whispered and Sasuke scowled slightly.

"Forgive me if I knew no father to be named after," he shot back, and the guard looked perfectly scolded. The young commander shifted slightly, before he led the march through the village.

They proceeded through the gates with five guards surrounding them. Tinnu traveled at his right side, Sasuke knew it was to guard his lame side from any attacks he might not be able to intercept with his other hand. The young commander came up beside his other side, and Sasuke knew there was going to be a conversation he would not be able to leave.

Though as they wound up the well-trodden path—likely made so for the horses—to the Golden Hall, he noted they had drawn a crowd of forlornly dressed men and women. Looking past them he could see the wooden structures with horse-like designs in the woodwork. The thatched roofs made him think of the less well-made homes in Bree, but it would be shelter. There were three stables, and two armories, but only one well near the center of the settlement. Sasuke observed various weak points in the walls that could be shored up with more wood and metal crossings, and he noted ways to escape if things went bad—there were less guards on the North western side, likely because of the mountain's slopes were closer at that side and so were less likely to have a battalion attacking from there.

He took in all these things as the young commander attempted to glean information about his encounters with the Wild-Men. The first few questions were simple and easy to answer: where did they attack you, how many of them were there, what kind of weapons did they carry, did they have any distinguishing marks or symbols. With each answer the young commander would grow more concerned, but it was clear he was connecting Sasuke's "report" to past intelligence on this topic. The guards around them also seemed to grow more and more concerned.

Then the young commander looked at Sasuke and took in his sword, for it became visible with each stride that shifted the cloak away from his right hip. "Did you alone fight them off?"

"No." If he said yes, he would likely be enlisted to their defense, lame arm or no. A few the guards laughed under their breath behind him but the young commander only nodded soberly.

"Did you lose many of your party in those raids?"

Sasuke remained silent, unsure how he should proceed. Fortunately, the young man took his silence as an answer and the snickering stopped immediately. Sasuke could feel the pity directed toward him, and with each cough Tinnu tried to stifle, their pity grew. He remained stoic though and somehow refrained from expressing his annoyance.

"Your wife…" the young commander began and Sasuke could not stop from flinching at that. Oh god, the dobe… he missed her so much, and he only now realized it. He missed their baby boy too, and Minuial! Was she better?! He could not stop himself from turning to look at Tinnu, but knew his emotions shone through for a brief moment.

"…I see," the young commander looked away from him and Sasuke hated how all the men around him shifted uneasily about him. He could feel the pity they directed at him like a palpable force, and it was beginning to piss him off, though it was better for them to assume he was a widower than to have them know he had abandoned his wife after giving him a son.

"Father," Tinnu murmured at his right. She shifted and when he looked down he saw she was hesitating to hold onto his hand. She frowned and looked away as she let her hand drop instead.

The atmosphere was tense and somber, but finally, they came up the Golden Hall where another Rohirrim stood guard. "What is this? It is the King's will that only those who know our tongue or are friends may enter and seek counsel with the king. None are welcome here in days of war but our own."

The young commander made a placating gesture before he spoke back to the man, "He is a weapons' smith who has traveled from Bree. He has lost many including his wife on this journey and he only seeks refuge for him and his daughter in return for his services."

"Do you have proof of his skill at all? He could be lying or a spy," this new guard appraised Sasuke warily and seemed not to find anything worthy in Sasuke. He also watched Tinnu with disgust as she shivered and coughed beside him.

"Then let us ask him," the young commander responded curtly, and the man straightened slightly. The young commander then turned to Sasuke, "Do you have any samples of your smith skills?"

"Yes," he grabbed his sheathe and tugged it out of his belt to present it before the guards.

"I see you are armed," the guard the commander had spoken with stated calmly. "You will need to leave your weapons out here before you may enter the hall.

Sasuke scowled at the notion, though he could be dangerous enough to escape without them, as was Tinnu. "Then we best have our weapons returned to us when we leave. Should they be missing—"

"Us?" one of the guards laughed behind him, and Tinnu shifted as she coughed behind him. He could practically feel her anger and annoyance.

The young commander raised an eyebrow at this, "Does she even know how to fight?" He was simply incredulous but it came off offensive.

"Tinnu do not act rashly," Sasuke gritted out in annoyance, and the girl made a noise at the back of her throat before going into another fit of coughing.

"Wait," a guard spoke up behind them with laughter in his voice, "does this mean his daughter helped him fight off the Wild Men?" Several of the guards began to laugh and the young commander began to smile as well but he eyed them both up and down in an appraising fashion. Why were they all laughing, the other settlers understood and could accept that all should know how to die on a blade than die cowering in the shadows.

"Did you make your daughter's weapon as well?" the young commander asked while the new guard gestured for their weapons.

"Yes," Sasuke responded again while glared at the men laughing. Like Tinnu, he was barely keeping himself in check. He just knew instinctively that the men were laughing at his daughter's fighting abilities, these insolent, chauvinistic bastards. He was beginning to not want to stay here, but what choice did they have. Although, Sasuke amended, even Aragorn had been…reluctant to encourage his daughters fighting and had been uncomfortable with Naruto's skills as a warrior. The people in the settlements might have had a different outlook because they were all at the risk of their homes being taken, but the people here had the protection of walls and more guards.

Tinnu revealed her tanto and katana as well as the few kunai she had on her person. She then helped him remove his make-shift weapons' pouch before she began reaching into their packs for the storage scroll with more weapons but he shook his head.

"What is it?" the pragmatic gate guard asked, having seen the exchange.

Sasuke sighed, "Weapons' schematics." He then pulled out the roll of parchment and waved it. The guards laughed while Tinnu flushed in embarrassment.

However, the focus was moved from her and onto the projectiles in Sasuke's weapons' pouch. The guards held up the kunai and shuriken and laughed. "What are these supposed to be?" one asked.

"Projectiles, but the knives can be for close range fighting as well." The men laughed, but the young commander ignored them in favor of Tinnu's sword. He unsheathed Tinnu's katana while the newest guard unsheathed Sasuke's chokutō

Another guard laughed while the two men examined the make of the swords, "You call those blades of grass swords?!" one laughed. However, both the guard and the young commander were not laughing for they took in the quality of weapons, which reassured Sasuke. However, Tinnu did not see the impressed looks.

"They cut open plenty of Wild Men with ease," Tinnu shot out in anger, but the guards only laughed more.

"Tinnu, let them make fools of themselves. The ones with brains will recognize our skill, and only they are worth our time." He could feel the girl's indignation but she moodily turned away from those who tried to harass them.

"Yes, Tousan."

The two men sheathed Sasuke and Tinnu's weapons. The one guard spoke, "Do you have any other weapons on you?" They both shook their heads.

The guard eyed them suspiciously, and began to look through their packs only to find the storage scrolls. "You lost all your supplies but these schematics then?" he asked almost incredulously.

"We kept them on our person when we were attacked," Sasuke answered smoothly. The garud frowned but nodded as he put the scrolls away. They were then lead into the long house once they were given back their packs.

For a major focal point of the city, it was grim within the great hall. There was just this feeling within the air, and it set Sasuke on edge. They were escorted in further with four guards surrounding them. They stopped at the large fire pit roaring near the center of the hall while the young commander and the guard he had talked with outside the hall went toward the end of the room. They stopped before a throne.

There was an older man and a young man there. The younger man sat on what Sasuke assumed was an advisor's seat. There was something about the man that made Sasuke uneasy. He appeared cunning, and his demeanor reminded Sasuke of Kabuto in small ways. The "advisor" seemed like Kabuto in the sense that Sasuke was not sure where his loyalties lied, and there was something cruel and greedy about how the man looked at the world around him. To what ends was this man loyal, and to whom? The King of Rohan, Saruman? Who?

Then there was the older man, whom Sasuke assumed was King Théoden. He could see callouses on the man's hands and other evidences of him once being a warrior, but now the man seemed…withered. There was strength in him still, but it seemed…repressed. His features were pale and his appearance unkempt. His eyes looked out at his hall but did not really look.

Something didn't feel right about any of this. The young commander and guard argued with the advisor and the king remained passive. Something truly was not right about this whole situation.

Sasuke moved to lean over the pit and warm his hands. Tinnu did the same but could not stop from coughing. With her so close and the fire roaring before them, he whispered, "Place a henge on your eyes; something does not feel right here." The girl swallowed nervously before coughing more.

She bowed her head and placed her hands in her lap so that they would be hidden by her cloak. She quickly flashed through the signs and Sasuke could tell the jutsu took hold. Tinnu knew why he would order this of her and sensing his daughters' chakra, he could tell when she activated her sharingan. She gasped when she looked up at the king.

Whatever she saw troubled her. Tinnu bowed her head with her brow furrowed and held her hands together. He felt her chakra ripple through the room toward the old King to disrupt what Sasuke suspected was a genjutsu on him. Odd…she was constantly sending out the stream of chakra as if she could not just disrupt the genjutsu.

Sasuke cautiously observed the old man closely and there was no apparent change in his demeanor. The minutes dragged by before Sasuke noticed anything different. The King's eyes began to see and Sasuke could tell the old man was no longer weakly parroting the advisor's speech. The advisor seemed confused but did not seem alarmed by this. At last, the young commander bowed to the King and moved over to Sasuke with a smile. Tinnu was still concentrating and was even beginning to sweat from the exertion.

"That is enough," he called and the girl let go of her attempts with a sigh of relief.

The young commander greeted them then, "My father has agreed to let you stay, but you will work for the smith for lodging and food." Basically an indentured servitude for their stay here. Sasuke then realized that the young commander had said father in relation to the King. Well…

The prince, it would seem, gestured to the guard from before, "He will show you to your know lodgings and explain the situation to the smith."

The guard came forward and introduced himself, but Sasuke didn't care to remember it. When Sasuke did not give his name, the guard shifted slightly, "We have not been introduced yet, sir."

"He is Dû, and this is his daughter Tinnu," the prince introduced them for him since it was clear Sasuke had not replied. The young commander then smiled slightly to him, "And I am Théodred, son of Théoden. Forgive me for not introducing myself earlier, but in these times of war we must be cautious," the young man's expression became slightly strained and even a little tired.

Sasuke waved his hand dismissively. "War does that," he began and decided to end on a middle earthling note, "and the wise...are cautious." Tinnu smiled up at him slightly and the guard seemed shocked by Sasuke speech.

"I'm surprised a smith would share such sentiments," the young commander stated.

"Hn," Sasuke nodded calmly before he stood up with Tinnu. When they left the hall, Tinnu took their weapons. They were then taken on a brief tour of the capital: during which they were introduced to the market, their sleeping quarters and the smith they would be working at. The owner of the smith was dour and eyed them warily, especially when Tinnu began coughing, but Sasuke presented his sword and the smith begrudgingly agreed on the craftsmanship.

After that, he was shown to where they would be staying. Only after that could he could speak to his daughter as they sat in the small room they had been given. Sasuke knew it was a sick hut of sorts, and rooms were lined along the edges of the hut while a large communal fire pit stretched down the middle of the larger area.

They stared at the small room and Sasuke supposed they were both thinking as they looked around it. They could hear moans of pain and coughs from their neighbors but they sat there in relative silence. Tinnu broke it after a long moment, "I don't like it here."

"Is this about their reaction to our weapons?" and consequently her ability to fight, but Sasuke left that off.

Scowling, Tinnu muttered, "Thanks for reminding me." But the girl began coughing more and she was distracted from her anger. He could see no end to this coughing, so Sasuke promptly got up and left the room to retrieve the kettle set up by the communal fire pit.

The kettle was still full and hot, so he quickly went back and picked up one of the cups they had received upon coming to this building. He poured hot water into the cup before returning the kettle. He brought the cup back to his coughing daughter and she took it with some reluctance—they had nothing to make tea with and so she had to accept it as it was.

She continued to cough, and Sasuke supposed he would have to see if there was any honey stored up somewhere he might be able to trade for. He then checked Tinnu's temperature and began to do minor one-handed scans.

Tinnu coughed while he did the exams and it was clear there was build up in her lungs, shit. He didn't know many medical jutsu for illnesses, only injuries and home remedies, but those would do little good out here. Tinnu looked at him worriedly, but he tried to give her a reassuring smile. He and the dobe had always had good fortune when it came to illnesses; nothing was ever more severe than a cold, but then…they had done everything they could to keep their daughters healthy. Perhaps he should ask the women around him for suggestions, but for now it would seem fluids and rest were in order for Tinnu.

They were grim and quiet in the room as Tinnu helped Sasuke arrange bedrolls and blankets. They had lost two blankets due the…ambush, and now only had two extra than the scratchy, possibly flea infested, ones they were provided. He made sure Tinnu had both of them. It was a little draughty in the building, but they were fortunately close to the communal fire, so its heat traveled to them easier than some of the rooms farther away. Still, it would be best to keep her as warm as possible, and he could always wrap up in his cloak and sleep next to the door.

As Tinnu got ready for bed he wondered how long they would need to stay here, and how much danger Dawn would face in the time being. He pulled out of his thoughts when he saw Tinnu was tucked under her blankets. She picked at them and looked over at Sasuke guiltily, but he shook his head. He then moved over toward her and pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving toward the wall next to the door.

He sat with his back against the wall next to the door and was prepared to guard his daughter from any nefarious attempts. He had his sword near at hand and although he closed his eyes, he was alert. Tinnu's breathing was beginning to level out, and the sounds of the night drifted to him. There was the howl of the wind coming down from the mountain and moving through the streets of the settlement. The other occupants of this house were coughing and as he inhaled he could smell…sickness. It was and odd scent but he could recognize it. Of course they were shoved into some sort of sick bay, and he could not really blame them except in a petulantly irrational way. He would have to go around and see what was contagious and keep his child away from those people.

"That advisor and the king…" Tinnu's mumbled words floated across the stillness of the room. Her voice was hoarse from the coughing and expressed the weight of her fatigue. The girl was half-asleep but this topic seemed to keep her awake.

"What had happened?" he asked when it seemed she was not going to go on; he was curious why she had held the 'kai' for so long and what she had seen with her sharingan.

"Well…" the girl paused to cough and Sasuke winced at how painful it sounded. "There were tendrils of some kind of energy…" she faded out as she thought back on the time in the Golden Hall. She coughed weakly but quickly began relating what she had seen, "It was moving through the advisor and onto the old king-guy. It was centered around his brain like a genjutsu."

Tinnu frowned and her hand gripped tightly to the blankets, "I could see he was mimicking the advisor's words and I didn't think they were gonna be in our favor." Another cough tore out of her before she explained the rest. "So I tried to break the connection but…" her brow furrowed slightly in concern, "I couldn't get it to all go."

The girl sighed in frustration as she rubbed her face against the pillow. "I found the other chakra and I tried to disrupt it but it kept…it kept…I don't know…" The girl shook her head as she struggled to find words for what had happened. She began coughing again and Sasuke reached for the water pitcher to refill her cup.

When the coughing stopped, he got the girl to sit up and she began to drink the water before she laid back down. The coughs still came of course but they were not as severe after the water; at least for now.

Sighing, the girl stared up at the ceiling before she looked back over at Sasuke and resumed her observations. "That other chakra… it was like it could outmaneuver me. It kept finding ways around me, and I could only…chip away at it."

Sasuke frowned at this news. The only…mind control he had seen had been when he tried to attack that idiot solider. Was it only Gandalf and elves who could do that, or were other…wizards—Istar was what he called himself, right?—capable of such things. Perhaps Saruman. Sasuke wouldn't be surprised if the White Wizard was behind yet another obstacle in their lives.

After all, Gandalf had said Saruman had betrayed their order, had betrayed all of them. Saruman believed he had the ring, or did when the wild men "ambushed" them. Isengard was close enough to Edoras that perhaps he sought power over the one potential challenge he had in the area.

So in the end, even Edoras was not safe from that damn wizard. They had to leave if Saruman could control the King of these lands.

Sasuke was roused from his thoughts by Tinnu. She began coughing again; her body physically rose off of her bedroll with the force of the coughs. His little girl… They couldn't keep traveling, not in this weather and not in the condition they were in. Even Sasuke felt the lethargy and headache of a cold coming back to him. Sasuke could only hope something had changed to move Saruman's attention away from him so they could stay here.

…

Far away from Edoras, Aragorn looked out at the night around them. Another week and they would reach Hollin. He felt eyes on them and yet as he gazed out in the darkness he could find nothing. He looked around the campfire to see the hobbits fast asleep and Legolas standing a ways away with his eyes closed—perhaps walking through the memories of his comparatively long life. Gandalf was awake as well, muttering incantations under his breath for practice. Gimli and Boromir also slept though both were fitful and Aragorn knew one would wake up soon to ask for their turn to watch. Still, Aragorn could not shake the feeling of being watched, but no one else seemed to feel it for they all acted as they might normally.

A/N: So I'm trying to keep this canon to the books, which unfortunately were written in the 1940s and reflect that time period; thus, trying to find abilities for Arwen is…well canonically challenging. However, discussing the book-canon abilities of elves with my mother has been illuminating, and I am trying to make Arwen a more interesting character.

Now, probably the biggest point of contention in the chapter: the thing with Minuial and consequently Sasuke. I explained at the beginning and throughout the chapter why (sorta), but I know some people will be rather annoyed that I "took away" Sasuke's sharingan. Honestly, I feel like it levels the field a lot more, but it doesn't have to be permanent (regardless it will be fixed when Elrond learns what's going on/the Ring is destroyed). This could be temporary while his sharingan heals from having the eye of Sauron burned into its photographic memory, which might be after Helm's Deep, or even before it but that would make the most desperate (and consequently [I thought] poignant) part in the trilogy…meh. I'd rather he not have the thing that could shoot out walls of black fire and a wind skeleton because that still makes him pretty broken even with one arm, but I know that removing his overly powerful dojutsu just makes him not Sauske to some people even though he can still trounce most middle earthlings solely based on speed. And Minuial… perhaps some people think she should have woken up sooner because Eowyn was maybe out for a few days, but Eowyn was 23, Minuial was 13 almost 14…she's not as developmentally stable or strong.

One last point, Dawn's story and journey. I can write up a chapter for that and post it as a one-shot or after this chapter if people are interested. Frankly, because she's an oc, and I personally find it hard to read stories where OCs take main character roles, I didn't write it in. Oh and I know there are continuity issues because I never gave any of the OC's birthdays because that's just how I wrote it…yeah…I will someday correct that… ANYWAYs, thank you for your continued readership ~ with love, depressedchildren