Hello everybody! Long time no write? Read? I don't know. It's definitely been a while, but trust me! I see your reviews and I'm determined to give this story a proper ending. Even if it takes a long time because life will continue to be life. I'm sorry if my old readers don't get to finish because they no longer visit this website, but I welcome everyone who's new and am truly blessed to those still here! You're the bomb!

At this point, let's just skip straight to the reading. Life update though! I got married :D

Not to Legolas, unfortunately, but trust me. My husband's just as cool even if he looks more like a Hobbit than an Elf. The only reason my friend set us up is because he correctly said he liked Lord of the Rings. When asked if he preferred the extended or theatrical edition, he said extended. So we've had many marathons. Haha!

Happy Reading!

~MisticLight

~.~.~.~

We stayed closer to the Rohirrim as dawn trickled into an afternoon sun. The fire I held to move beyond their slow pace dwindled greatly because of the previous evening. Legolas seemed to sense it as well. When he asked if I was waned to patrol again, I explained since were so close to Helm's Deep and therefore Isengard, our position left us open for an attack. Our focus should be towards the North, yet also to what lied nearby so we could assist should the worst happen.

My hidden reasoning, however, was to stay close to Aragorn in case what I saw came to pass, as it had before. I sensed Legolas understood my true reasoning, but he did not present the thought, which I appreciated. Legolas did not know who specifically it was I wanted to monitor. Even I did not know for certain if the Man from my dream was Aragorn, but regardless it was my burden to bear. Not his.

We left the horses with our companions and maintained a tight perimeter around the Rohirrim, and in return, Aragorn. As I yet again peeked into the crowd to find him, I heard Legolas stir beside me. His feet shuffled on the bolder we stood upon, causing a small rock to tumble down. I rose a brow at the unexpected ungainliness.

"You have said little today," he said.

I shifted my eyes up to him. "Have you considered I merely do not wish to speak?"

He appeared as though he wanted to say more, possibly to delve into what could possibly be bothering me still. Though I did not lie to him about what I saw, I did not tell the whole truth. He helped me through all he was able to, but could not silence what I did not say. Did he think there was more? Or determined Aragorn was involved? I could not allow him to believe so.

When I gave no further indication, he turned to face the plains before us. I slowly followed, forgetting our conversation.

We saw nothing upon the horizon all morning, yet as we neared our destination, I became more alert. There was a foul sense in the air, and the cliffs we rounded did not help. They blocked our vision and muffled sounds the higher they became. I continuously craned my ears to pick up what my eyes could not, only to be met with silence. I debated going around the cliff to make sure nothing approached, but held myself back.

What if that put us too far? Instinctively I looked back.

My eyes did not fall upon Aragorn, though. They became distracted by two approaching riders: Háma and Gamling, if I remembered Théoden's shouts correctly. Captain and lieutenant. They came towards us but passed without so much as an acknowledgement.

What are they doing? I thought, though all I did was follow them with my eyes. They appeared to be scouting ahead, despite its lack of necessity.

"There is a heaviness in the air," Legolas said, snapping my attention back. "One that was not here before."

"I sense the same restlessness," I said. Closing my eyes, I expanded my mind after the two Men. Chatter and laughter from the Rohirrim behind us came first, quickly followed by their loud stomps and creaking wheels. If I blocked them out I could faintly hear the trotting of the horses. I felt my brows pinch as I concentrated on that particular sound. They were silent at first, but then the pattern of the hooves changed slightly. Then the animals stopped, causing the men to murmur. The sounds reflected that of apprehension, though I could not make out the words.

Enemies from Isengard found us.

My eyes snapped open. "They are here," I whispered before leaping from the rock. Once we were away from the citizens, I removed my bow and nocked an arrow. No sense in frightening them yet. Legolas quickly followed with his weapons.

Then we heard the screams. My pace quickened at their start, and my heart hammered when they suddenly ceased. Metal clashing replaced its echo, masking the sound of a horse whinny and a creature's growl. When I heard a warning shout of "Wargs." I took a sharp breath. If there were Wargs, then danger was much closer than we thought.

I reached the final rock before Legolas. Gamling, the Captain, battled the Warg rider. Far to the right was a sprawled body, unmoving, as though flung. We were too late to save him: the man who allowed Gandalf to enter Meduseld with his staff, whose hope of Edoras's return to glory never wavered. This Man did not deserve such a death. Anger forced my fingers to tighten.

Legolas ran past me, knives drawn, and leapt onto the ground below. I lifted my bow and fired an arrow into the Warg, killing it instantly. The rider flew forward. Before he had the chance to recover, Legolas slashed a knife through his throat.

I felt the footsteps behind me. They vibrated off the rock, quick and heavy, though not a stomp. Aragorn.

"A scout!" The Elf shouted as he kicked away the body.

I turned to Aragorn, but my eyes flicked past him and onto the people of Edoras. "They must be warned."

He nodded. "Can you and Legolas give us time?"

"Yes, though it cannot be for long. I fear Isengard came for a slaughter, and their numbers will reflect it."

Without another word he went to gather the Rohirrim while I joined Legolas. The Elf moved ahead slightly to gaze over the hills before us. He balanced himself on the edge of a rock jutting out of a small slope. Already I could hear the barks and howls of approaching Wargs, feel the rumble of their charging paws beneath my feet. They no longer cared for subtlety.

I readied my bow with another arrow. Legolas followed. "Aragorn needs us to stall."

The Wargs and their riders toppled over the furthermost hill, pouring over the yellowed field until hardly a patch could be seem between their dashing forms. "Not long, I hope," he said, pulling up his bow to take aim.

"Never have I fired into something so open."

"Mind the wind," he said with a smile before firing. His arrow perfectly arched into the heart of a front rider.

I huffed. "I do not need your instruction on the wind, Legoals. The woods still have it." Yet when I locked onto my target, I found my arrow sailing towards the Warg's head instead of its rider. The beast's body flipped over from the force, hopefully killing the rider too. I did not want Legolas to know I missed my intended target, so I tilted my head with a sour smile and crinkled my eyes.

We fired a few more times, but our assault did little to secure the time Aragorn desired. Thankfully a dull patter of hooves stirred in the distance, sending rivets to the tips of my already exhilarated fingers. They were not yet upon us, but near enough to turn away from our preemptive killings. Their approach was swift, and I knew we had to be among them without delaying the charge.

Legolas and I practiced the technique of mounting a galloping horse prior, but I had yet to utilize the skill. My stomach lifted as I thought over the motions. I tried distracting myself by preparing for the leap: shifting the weight to my toes, spacing my feet apart, tightening the sheath around my waist, clutching my bow with a firmer hand. Yet still my stomach would not settle, and the horses were nearing.

I turned to Legolas, as though pulled towards his gaze. His intense stare softened upon noticing me, unintentionally allowing serenity to consume me. I felt my breath catch, though why it did I could not determine. He mistook the action for nerves, it seemed, as the intensity in his gaze returned.

Legolas said nothing. He merely nodded his head encouragingly, silently telling me I could mount the horse. That I would not fail this day.

I turned to the horses and Aragorn's approaching hand while keeping Legolas in my sights. Though I could not name why, his attentiveness appeased my hesitancy. The emotion playing on his face told me he sensed this, yet that did not deter him from showing how far advanced he was in this scenario. As soon as Gimli rode closer, Legolas swung his body around Arod and into the saddle only the horse's mane to assist him. He gracefully slipped himself before Gimli, taking the reins and urging the horse onward.

Was that truly necessary? I asked myself in disdain despite knowing his action was not something I could duplicate. With a shake of my head, I put my attention solely on Aragorn's hand. When it was before me, I took hold and swung myself to the position behind him, just as Legolas instruction many nights ago. I sighed away my enthusiasm of successfully getting to this position and immediately placed an arrow upon my bowstring.

What struck me most about the field that would soon become our battlefield was not the abundance of targets gifted to me but rather the cliff on our right side. My heart stung at the sight. Could this be the same cliff? I swallowed hard. We would not be on that side. The man I envisioned was possibly not Aragorn, but regardless I had to keep him away because of that uncertainty.

I shifted my bow so it aimed off in the opposite direction. "Bad-hâr. ~ Go left. ~"

He lightly tugged the reins so when our charge collided with the enemy, Hasufel continued in the direction I said. We needed to defend the people of Rohan, but I needed to keep us as far from that cliff as the battle allowed.

We wordlessly set our strategy as soon as an Orc came into range. Aragorn attacked those within the reach of his sword while I aimed for anything beyond. Any direction given from me or a slight shift he made with the reins spoke for which way the other willed to go, with ether of us adjusting accordingly. My shots delayed slightly when a change in direction caused me to switch which side of Aragorn I positioned my bow by. Since Aragorn only had Hasufel's head to be concerned with, he could easily swing over it, making his movements as quick and precise as normal. Mine were not so swift, though just as accurate. So predominantly I aimed for the Wargs and Aragorn their riders.

"Left!" I shouted as a mounted Warg charged our way. Since they came down one of the surrounding hills, they aligned themselves at an angle where I could shoot straight through the rider's heart. However, I was becoming tired of using the same kill tactics. I smiled. Some amusement would not hurt.

As Aragorn turned Hasufel accordingly, I switched my aim from the Orc to nearly straight up. The rider faltered for a moment, but then smiled menacingly and propelled his Warg forward. Aragorn was not the least concerned with my actions as he had faith in me. He also seemed to know my thinking because he readied himself for a powerful blow. I maintained focus on the Orc, my own smile never wavering.

The creature let out a determined cry and swung his sword into the air. He was nearly upon us when my arrow finally fell from the sky. Aided from the fall, it stuck into the Warg's head with such a force that the beast's hindlegs flew up. The Orc sailed into the air, leaving his head aligned with Aragorn's sword. Dark blood spewed forth from the force, though Aragorn unintentionally blocked most of it from reaching me. I felt a drop hit my check. Unflinching, I wiped it away with a slow flick of my fingers.

I sensed Aragorn's eyes on me as I stared at the corpses. When I slid my gaze to him, he wore an expression I hadn't seen since I departed from the Marchwardens. It was a look Haldir held numerous times before, specifically when I first started, though Aragorn's was softer and more humored.

"Now is not the time for such amusement," he seemed to say.

I shrugged. "They would have died regardless." As though hearing my thoughts, Aragorn nodded and pushed Hasufel forwards.

Whenever we neared the cliff, I directed Aragorn elsewhere. So many Orcs and Wargs surrounded us that my true purpose of diverting us from the edge remained hidden. When we reached the point where most enemies seemed to assemble near the cliff, I haphazardly shot an arrow into a small hoard of random enemies to distract Aragorn from charging elsewhere. It pierced the neck of an Orc. He clutched his wound, toppling down the hill until he perished. I watched the body slide until it reached the bottom, where a small pile of caucuses diverted my attention.

A Warg stood atop it, growling down at something not entirely in sight. I assumed it was whatever died at the bottom, yet that seemed improbable. Why would the beast snarl at something nonthreatening? My eyes flicked to the bottom of the pile where I caught sight of a helmet. It took a moment for recognition to find me.

"Aragorn!" I shouted, eyes widening slightly as I shifted my bow. He sliced through the chest of an Orc and used that momentum to glance back at me. My arrow showed him where go; to the Warg preparing to attack a trapped Gimli. Aragorn spun Hasufel to the right and charged towards him while I cleared our path.

"Spear!" he shouted. I scanned the space before us until I saw the intended weapon. Since it was on the right, I shifted my bow again and he did the same to his sword. He was not as graceful as the Rohirrim when transitioning the spear into a throwing position, but elegance was not our intention. Precision was all that mattered, and Aragorn easily pierced the Warg's side. It flopped over the pile, adding to its weight.

"I appreciate the help," Gimli cried, though I could not tell how genuine he was. We saved him, but challenged his escape. The Dwarf grunted as he attempted to lift all three corpses, his arms shaking with the effort. They moved little. Many enemies surrounded him still and each movement he made alerted them to his presence.

My eyes darted between Aragorn as he took off the head of another rider and Gimli, heaving and puffing to free himself. Hasufel twitched and his hooves danced with the anticipation to surge forward once more. Aragorn seemed ready to grant the horse his wish by moving to a cluster of Orc and Wargs, yet I found myself pulled towards the helpless Dwarf.

I gripped my bow and, with a quick exhale, slid off Hasufel. Aragorn looked back at my movement, surprised to find me on the ground.

"Gimli needs aid!" I called.

"No, I don't!" came his muffled reply. "I can manage just fine!"

An Orc spun around upon hearing his voice and ran towards the pile, expecting an easy kill. He rose his weapon into the air, eyes locked on Gimli's exposed head. However, this caused his own head to be exposed. With one simple movement I had an arrow nocked and flying towards it. I smiled to myself.

"Are you so sure, Dwarf?"

The Orc's body staggered forward from the momentum it held when alive, toppling over the pile. Gimli groaned, though I felt it was exaggerated. "Now that you've gone and made it worse…" His voice trailed as his efforts of freedom resumed.

I spun back to Aragorn, my humor faltering as I took in the image of him atop Hasufel. If he were shadowed in grey, his resemblance would match that of what I saw. Just the thought of it churned my stomach and put a sour taste in my mouth. I shook the image away.

"Can you manage alone?" I asked despite knowing the answer.

He nodded, his eyes already scanning the battlefield. "The Rohirrim are assembling where those two hills meet." He pointed his sword towards it. "I will head there. You and Gimli finish here once he's free."

"Agreed," I breathed with some relief. His location was in the opposite direction of the cliff, yet my mind still found no peace. "You must promise one thing," I added, stepping closer. The grip on my bow tighten. "Do not fall from this horse."

Aragorn looked back, eyes humored. When my face remained unchanged, he understood my plea was serious. I sensed within his gaze he made to do his best, but wished not to speak a promise for fear of breaking it. Anything could happen during a battle. We both knew that. After a moment, he kicked Hasufel into a gallop. Something mirroring regret lined my heart, but then I thought of Gimli. My purpose had shifted. I took a step towards him, but he spoke before I did anything else.

"You can stop you right there! I don't need an Elf helping me getting out of this," he said as he pushed on the pile. Despite the slight quivering in his arms, his stubbornness seemed to give him more strength. Yet the extra movement caused, a Warg and its rider to take notice. Gimli also saw and nodded towards them. "Though I wouldn't mind you fighting in that general direction."

I smirked and nocked an arrow aimed the Warg's heart. When I released, the sudden force propelled the Warg forward and his rider glided through the air. I launched another arrow and it lodged into his head before he hit the ground.

Gimli grunted his appreciation. Many more attempts on his life were made before he freed himself, but none of that hindered his spirits. He had his axe in hand once he was on his feet and an Orc to kill already in mind.

Once our area cleared, we took off after Aragorn. However, the battle grew thin with Théoden and his men the clear victors. Few enemies roamed the grass now. The soldiers of Rohan tracked them down until only soft whinnies and whining Wargs could be heard atop the wind. Since There appeared to be no further use for distanced attacks, I put away my weapon and scanned the field for Aragorn. Neither he nor Hasufel entered my sights. Panic sliced my lungs.

"Gimli, where-" I started, but the Dwarf ignored me as he hefted his axe into a Warg. His battle cry covered my voice. He would have done little to help regardless.

I continued my scan over his head, more frantic the longer he did not appear. Never had I felt my heart pound so heavily yet feel so tight before. Only when I caught sight of Legolas did I manage to focus myself a bit. I found myself running towards him.

"Legolas!" I shouted when I could no longer contain my voice. It sounded more panicked than I would have liked, an unconscious act of self-betrayal. He was finishing off an Orc with his knives, but the sound of my voice caught his attention. I clutched his sleeve once I reached him. "I cannot find him."

"Who?" He seemed calm, but his furrowed brows showed his concern. I felt out of breath despite not being winded. Words formed on my lips but refused release, leaving my lips parted. I could not focus. My eyes looked everywhere yet also never left Legolas's face, my insides freezing. Is this fear?

The longer I did not answer, the more Legolas realized my connection. He briefly surveyed over my head then firmly grabbed my shoulders and shook. "Nia, who can you not find?"

"Aragorn," I whispered.

He froze, eyes widening before releasing me and stepping back. "Aragorn!" he shouted. No reply came, though the eyes of those around us snapped in our direction. He tried again. "Aragorn?"

When met with more silence, Legolas circled the area. Somewhere in the distance Gimli called out as well, yet neither were met with a return. The Rohirrim watched on, their faces mirroring our voices yet refusing to join.

"Aragorn!" I tried, with Legolas's attempt following like a wave. After numerous chants of his name without so much as a whisper of acknowledgement, my breathing turned sharp. What if he were wounded? I thought, which spurred a new tactic: calling for him would not work, then, but seeking the horse could.

I looked to the hills before me. "Hasufel!" I called, stillness greeting me. Curious eyes fell to me at the change of name, but I persisted. "Hasufel, mellon nîn, na van evíneg? Talo annin. ~Hasufel, my friend, where are you? Return to me.~"

The following silence seemed to stretch until a piercing whinny answered my call. A rhythmic gallop pounded the earth, its volume increasing until Hasufel's head peeked beyond the rim of a hill. Though he appeared to yearn for our reunion, his gate carried an unseen burden. I reached for him when he neared. Warm air filtered from his soft nostrils as though releasing his relief yet allowing me to absorb it through my fingers. His saddle was empty.

I touched the cold leather, willing Aragorn to appear.

Legolas came to my side, his attention just as fixated on the saddle. I took a deep breath. "My dream. What if…"

I could not finish the thought. Legolas would not have heard it regardless. His focus snapped to the cliff as soon as I spoke and he ran towards it before I finished. I slid my hand from the saddle back to Hasufel's neck. He looked back when I pressed my palm into him. "How were you separated?" I whispered.

He responded by stooping his head to nibble at the grass. I patted him and made my way towards Legolas, Gimli just before me. My intention was to analyze the rocky edge he was already scrutinizing, but a choked chuckle drew our gazes elsewhere.

Just before the grass became rock lied an Orc. Dried blood coated his armor from a dagger embedded near his hip and his face bore generations of scars. He could hardly move, but the laughing caused him to spasm forward. Life was slow to depart from him.

"His laughs are no mere coincidence," I murmured to Gimli. The Dwarf grunted his agreement and drew his axe.

"Tell me what happened and I will ease your passing," he said, approaching the Orc.

"He's…" the creature coughed "dead."

Dead? The word chimed like a bell in my mind, causing my skin prickle and my hands to twitch. I shared a glance with my companions, my head slowly shaking. "No," I whispered.

"He took a little tumble off the cliff," the Orc continued. My breath caught and his chortle returned. However, they were slight and faded into the wind as I rushed to the edge of the cliff. I was not alone in this endeavor, as Théoden was already there.

Peering over the edge, I prayed the darkness from my dream shadowed something painless. Yet that is not the way of the world. Jagged rocks and rushing water filled the space below. If Aragorn had fallen, his survival was slim. I clutched Luinil, unable to look away.

"You lie." I heard Legolas demand his wish with, but his answer lied in the Orc laughing until life finally choked away from him. Footsteps of Elf and Dwarf then trickled towards the edge. Gimli hefted to my left while Legolas filled the small space between me and Théoden. He stood so close I could feel the back of his palm pass over mine.

"I did this," I said so low only he could hear. My mind flashed to when I dismounted Hasufel. "I left him."

Legolas turned to me, but before he could utter a word, Théoden spoke.

"Get the wounded on horses. The Wolves of Isengard will return," The King ordered his men. "Leave the dead."

My head snapped towards him. My companions looked on as well, but I doubtde they felt the same heat I did. We could not leave.

Théoden only looked to Legolas, who must have appeared distressed for he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come." We lingered, slowly shifting our gaze back to the rushing waters below. I heard Théoden sign when we did not move, but at length he left us.

"We cannot go," I said. "That Orc could have seen anyone. We do not know for certain whether that person was Aragorn!" Legolas slowly opened his hand, revealing the necklace the Man always bore and solidifying his fate. My hear fell.

Gimli sighed and turned away first. I looked after him, feeling desperation and anger rising within me. "We cannot leave without a proper search!" I cried louder than intended. The surrounding Men turned towards me, Théoden was among them. I locked eyes with him. "King Théoden, do those no longer among us not deserve a proper burial? Those missing a chance of survival? They will rot upon the grass!"

"And how do you propose we gather them?" He snapped back. "There is no time! We will be outnumbered before the first soldier is covered."

"Some…" my eyes darted across each face. Even I knew my rash plan was not thoroughly thought out. "Some can stay here and start a search. Others can gather carts to bring back. Surely we are close enough to Helm's Deep that we will have time. We can save them. Aragorn can be found! We can—"

I felt Legolas place a hand on my shoulder, stopping my words. My face fell, and I noticed Théoden's softened before he turned away. I knew he did not mean to be harsh. He merely needed to make a decision for the betterment of his people, even when faced with on as difficult as this. In return, he gained their respect, as evident by them following him without protest. I lowered my gaze.

"Nia," Legolas's fingertips grazed my check, adjusting my face to his. He retreated them down my jaw, though a tingle was left in their place. "You could not have prevented this."

"No, I could have. I saw every detail the previous night. I had every opportunity, and still I left him alone…" My face played with the emotion of grief, but I refused to let it bubble forth. I kept my eyes fixated on Legolas, but could see my own struggle reflected back. "And now I have to leave him again. What if he's still alive"

"Then he can manage. We must have faith that he will return."

"And if he does not? If truly he is…" the word did not fit well in my mouth "dead?"

He did not answer. His eyes momentarily flicked to something behind me. Heart pounding in the hope of seeing Aragorn I quickly turned to see who approached, but it was only Gimli leading the horses. My shoulders dropped. When I looked back to Legolas, it was clear he faced the same defeat. "We have to go."

"No, we don't." The heat I felt before burst into a flame. A quiver tried to take hold of my lips, so I fiddled with my hands in an attempt to distract myself. "What allegiance do we owe them?"

Legolas squared himself before me, locking his eyes with mine. "They fight the same darkness we sought to vanquish when we left Rivendell, when you left Lothlórien. Gandalf and Aragorn both put their trust in these Men."

Gimli appeared beside him and handed Arod's reigns off. "And they certainly wouldn't want us abandoning them now! That force was mightier than any of us thought, and surely Isengard plans to release a mightier one still." He held out Hasufel's reigns. The horse took initiative and nudged me. I turned to the empty saddle and felt my lips mold into a frown. It would be strange riding alone. "We must stand with them."

I looked again to Legolas, to the struggle hiding behind his eyes yet the determination to stand with Rohan. He calmed me, reassured me, all without exchanging any words. The memory of his fingers sliding from my face flashed upon my skin, but dissipated when I sighed.

Without pulling my eyes away, I took the reigns from Gimli. "To Helm's Deep."

~: Author's Challenge :~

Maybe from now on I'll just make this down here section for Author Challenges only! Then it's less reding for you after already getting through these long chapter. I like to write, what can I say?

Anyway, use the word "Sharku" creatively in your review. Who's Sharku? That Orc who was laughing and choking before dying. So let's give him some love! He was played by Jed Brophy, who was also Snaga (another Orc) and Nori (one of Thorin's Company). Use all his characters if you want a real challenge!

Until next time!