AN: Back at last! It's been an awesome, eventful summer. Got back a few weeks ago from an AMAZING trip to England. LOVED IT! SAW HOGWARTS (i.e. Gloucester Cathedral)! Check my livejournal for more, now I'm WRITING! :D

Basically, all the events here happen as they happened in the book (even though I left some out, such as the Huorns passing the camp in the night). Some quotes are word-for-word from Tolkien. But usually I just summarized what's important. Still, it's long, so you should be happy. ;)

If you need to check the names, go back to the last chapter. "..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. Review Responses at the bottom. Enjoy!!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Gandalf, she cannot stay here!"

"She must! We cannot bring her any nearer to Isengard! Even in this state, Saruman will be deadly."

The sun was low in the west. The company bound for Isengard would set out soon. Gandalf was hurrying through the Keep, gathering last minute supplies for the journey.

"Olorin, listen to me!" cried Setsuna at last, using his name from long ago in the West. He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned.

"You know my task," Setsuna whispered seriously. "I am charged with her protection. I must guard her and prepare her for her next life, and her next, until finally she can rise and claim the role she was born for. I have seen many things, Gandalf. The men here are weary and the Dark Lord is searching. She must go to Isengard."

Gandalf read Setsuna's expression and relented at last. "Very well," he consented. "Yourself and two others only may accompany her. We ride at sundown."

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Setsuna entered the room where the seven remaining senshi were silently grieving for the two recently lost from their number.

"Tarien," called Setsuna softly, "come. Prepare Silhith to ride. We are going to Isengard."

Celebithil rose slowly, as if in a dream, and numbly moved toward the doorway. Setsuna hugged her quickly as she passed, hoping to comfort her princess.

The remaining senshi were looking at her with questioning looks and accusing glares. Setsuna sighed heavily. This would not be easy.

"Two only may accompany her."

The issue was solved quickly, as Menelsul and Narfea were out the door before any one else could speak. Despite their constant fights, Narfea was deeply concerned about her friend, and Menelsul would never leave her "aicath".

Setsuna nodded regretfully to the others, whom looked at her with shock and pain. "Help the people here," she advised. "And please look after the Lady Eowyn of Rohan. We shall return soon." With that, she took her leave.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Celebithil appeared at the stables in an old dirtied white tunic and worn green trousers-- the very clothing she had been found in that day by Fangorn, the only clothing she had brought from Lorien when she had fled in madness, spurred by Sauron's lusty rage, upon the back of the unicorn Silhith.

Her three companions noted this silently, also recalling the spare clothing Hinenmel had hastily packed before flying from Lorien, but Celebithil spoke no word as she numbly mounted Silhith. The others mounted their respective steeds-- Setsuna upon the other unicorn from Lorien--and they moved out to join the gathering host bound for Isengard.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Eowyn stood alone by the high window of the Keep, looking down at the small company assembling below. Once again, she was left behind.

The banners of the King fluttered in the breeze. Yes, there was Theoden upon Snowmane with Eomer at his right hand. There was Gandalf upon the great mearas, Shadowfax. With him went Legolas the elf, Gimli the dwarf, and Aragorn... the king.

Eowyn quickly flicked her eyes over the king's guard, about a dozen stout men skilled on horseback. Yet she doubted any were as skilled as she, she who was always required to stay, she who must lead those who remain.

And there at last was the elf girl, Celebithil. The rumors were true. Eowyn's heart fell when she realized that the girl was again going where she longed to go herself. Yet, strangely perhaps, she did not feel jealousy. Rather, she felt lonliness, utter lonliness at the thought of not even having the elven girl to converse with, as she had in the caves. She knew that she had found a kindred spirit in this strange girl. Yet now she was leaving...

How many years had she, Eowyn, suffered until this day? The eerie wizard woman Setsuna had said that her day would come, but when? When would those who held her dear let her out of this cage?

Or must she break free herself?

The trumpets sounded and the company set out, and Eowyn was left behind once more.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The journey was swift and mostly uneventful. Yet Celebithil's companions exchanged worried looks about the state of their charge. The daughter of Elrond remained silent and stiff upon the back of the unicorn. Gandalf had chased away the blackest of dreams, but now she was left with the weight of guilt and the horror of memory. Setsuna could almost she the girl crumbling in on herself. She longed to cry out to her, but instead she turned away and bit her lip, closing her eyes in pain. Gandalf may have saved Celebithil from the dreams of Darkness, but could anyone save her from herself?

The three senshi stayed close to keep an eye on her, but also left a bit of space. Menelsul and Narfea rode near her side, often casting quick concerned looks at their friend. Setsuna Ertirhiril rode behind, unable to look at the pain in her princess' eyes.

Indeed, Celebithil's mood was strange as they journeyed. At times she would be as stiff as a rock, her eyes blank and her face grim. Occasionally she would attain a distant look, as she rested her mind in some distant haven far from the source of her pain. Other times she would be curled close to the mane of Silhith, her body raked with silent sobs. Many times she would look to the sky quickly, and breathe a breath of relief when she caught sight of something. But always she was silent, speaking seldom even when her companions attempted conversation.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Eomer fell back in line and brought his horse in step with the unicorn. "My lady Celebithil," he addressed her.

"Lord Eomer," she said formally, her eyes glued upon the sky.

"My Lady... the dawn is still far off."

"It is not the dawn that I seek," she replied without looking at him.

He shook his head strangely, as if trying to shake off some thought or another. "My uncle calls," he said abruptly, spurring his horse forward towards the front ranks. "Farewell."

Menelsul eyed him warily as he rode off, but said nothing. No one heard any call from Theoden.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

They set up camp by the foot of the Misty Mountains as the night grew old. Legolas, with Gimli beside him, came to Narfea and the other Lorien elves. They spoke together long into the night in the Sindarin tongue, until Gimli loudly complained that he couldn't understand a word of it. The elves laughed, for the first time in many days.

The others were slowly drifting off to sleep, but Celebithil remained upright, secretly fearing her dreams, her knees hugged to her chest. "Celebithil?" said a voice tentatively, as if testing the name on his tongue.

Celebithil looked down at the call, then behind her. "Eomer," she said with a bit of surprise, moving over so that he could have room to sit by the dying embers of the fire.

He sat down, but did not speak immediately. "Well, I--" he began at last, still unable to express himself. Then he turned to her suddenly. "'Celebithil' means 'Silver Moon' in the Sindarin tongue, does it not?"

Celebithil was taken aback, but surprised and impressed. "Yes, that is what it means." Eomer sighed and relaxed a bit. "I don't understand," said Celebithil with confusion.

"It's just--" began Eomer again. "Well, how can I say this? ... My heart forebodes me. I cannot help feeling that the Dark Lord, who had risen to power once more, is watching every move you make, preparing to strike, especially as we near his ally in Isengard. I admit that I was shocked that Gandalf allowed you to come. Perhaps it is for the better, as his wisdom far surpasses mine, but I cannot help feeling uneasy."

"Sauron is yet weak. He will not attack us upon this road," she replied boldly and rashly.

Eomer jumped at the name and looked around warily for spies. "Not himself, no," he conceded at last, "but what do you know of his servants?"

"The Ringwraiths?" she replied with a mocking laugh.

"Aye." Eomer grew angry at her tone. "Maybe they do not trouble the great ones of your folk, but I have seen the hearts of the greatest of men quail before them! I was only a young one, but I clearly remember the day they stole the horses from Rohan!" Eomer's face darkened and he struggled to keep his voice low as he clenched his fists in anger.

Celebithil was shocked by what the memory had evoked from him. "No, no, forgive me Eomer. It's only... the Nazgul all perished in the Ford of Bruinen on the border of Rivendell."

Eomer looked away. "Do not fool yourself," he said quietly, almost regretfully. "They are the remains of men, but they are not mortal and they cannot die. They can only be destroyed if the Dark Lord himself were to fall. No, I fear they will rise again soon, more terrible than before."

Celebithil looked away, remaining silent for some time. By now, the camp was slowly stirring and a pinkish hue had appeared in the eastern sky. A few men near the king were stretching and groaning. They would soon set out and arrive in Isengard.

Celebithil looked back where Eomer sat worriedly. "It is true, all you say? That even the water of the elves cannot kill these beasts?"

Eomer nodded grimly, his face a mask of sorrow and regret for adding another weight to Celebithil's mind. "Ai, Valar, help us," she murmured.

"They will not harm you," he suddenly assured her. "Not on this road." A shout went up that Theoden was awake. The company would depart soon. Eomer jumped to his feet and prepared to aid his king. "Not while I'm here." He turned quickly and hurried through the crowd of bodies preparing to ride. Celebithil stared after him strangely, her mind a tangled web of emotions.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Only a few hours after setting out they reached Isengard at last, but this was not the Isengard, the center of wisdom and lore, that Celebithil had long imagined. This was the ruin of an evil regime, the White Hand bloodied and corrupted by power. Gaping holes were left in the now crumbling, slime-covered walls, and the once luscious farmland of the Wizard's Vale was completely demolished.

Two small figures waited for them by the Gate. Celebithil gasped in recognition. They were two of the hobbits from the Fellowship, two of the perriannath from long ago in Lorien. The other pair would be attempting to climb through Mordor, no doubt. Celebithil's face darkened in sudden remembrance of Boromir. She slumped down, clinging to the mane of Silhith, even as the hobbits comically greeted the king of Rohan with gracious words.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Gandalf spoke long with Treebeard, but Celebithil was in shock at the ruin of the city. Her father had visited Saruman many times in days of peace, and had returned with wondrous tales of Saruman's creations. This place, however, was nothing like the tales of her childhood.

Debris and dirty pools were scattered throughout the city. Old sinkholes or forgotten hollows to some devilry below the earth occasionally let out steam. Slime covered all the stone, making it treacherous to walk. All buildings, besides the impregnable Orthanc, were ruined, massive angry holes in the flesh of the rock. Orthanc stood as mighty as ever, but not a single tree could be seen. All was death, darkness, and destruction.

At last Gandalf turned from Treebeard as the five reunited members of the Fellowship returned from a smoke. "I have one last task to do before I go: I must pay Saruman a farewell visit. Dangerous, and probably useless; but it must be done. Those who wish may come with me."

The others moved off toward Orthanc, but Gandalf beckoned Celebithil aside. She came curiously to where he waited with Treebeard, her three companions following.

"Treebeard, this is Eldasil, of whom I spoke. Eldasil, Saruman may yet have links and eyes of Mordor. We cannot risk him recognizing you. You will stay out of sight with Treebeard and the other Ents."

Celebithil made as to protest, but Ertirhiril placed a hand on her shoulder and quietly affirmed Gandalf's order. "It is for the best, tarien." Menelsul and Narfea were eying the ancient Ent with joy and fascination.

Celebithil yielded and slowly nodded. "You have need of my aid?" asked Ertirhiril quickly, addressing Gandalf before he hurried off.

Gandalf smiled ironically and shook his head. "This is part of my task," he replied cryptically, before hurrying off to join the crowd waiting by the doors of Orthanc.

"Aye, always a hasty one," rumbled Treebeard as they watched Gandalf hurry away. "But come now, hroom hum, we are to wait beyond the Gate with the other Ents, hm." With long strides, he led the way through the wreckage of Isengard.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The Ents seems as fascinated and overjoyed at the company of elves as the elves were to behold such magnificent creatures. Some had not seen or spoken to elves for Ages; others had never met an elf. The Ents were almost hasty as they eagerly questioned them in the ancient tongue of the elves. Ertirhiril occasionally answered, but she conversed mostly with Treebeard, while Narfea's face was bright and eager, asking her own questions and telling her own tales as Menelsul adeptly provided corrections to any mistakes in her Quenya.

Taurenreil would have loved to see this, Celebithil realized. The talking trees, the tree-herders, the Ents straight from legend! And Nenloth! Nenloth would have been fascinated and studied intently. Hinenmel may have laughed at their faces, but she would have squealed at their wonderful rumbling voices and the depths of their green eyes. And Kemenuial...

Celebithil stopped short, a sob caught in her throat.

Kemenuial would have sat and listened to their tales with utterly devoted attention and fascination. Her eyes would have shined and she would have laughed with joy at their tales of the forests from Ages past.

Celebithil curled up and buried her face in her knees. They had all left her now.

Away in the distance, she could hear the echo of the silky voice of Saruman. She couldn't make out its words, but somehow it seemed to beckon to her, promising her hope and peace. However, the illusion was incomplete and the voice soon cracked, replaced the cruel harsh truth. "He is but an imitation," she whispered darkly, as a trance of memory fell upon her. This was not the Master Voice. This was not the one who could call her from afar, the one who left his lasting mark on her. Despite Gandalf's warnings, this was a foul copy of the Voice in the Mirror, the Voice from Mordor.

Treebeard's rumbling voice broke her reverie. "Hroom hm, little miss?" She looked up slowly. "You are in pain." The deep eyes seemed concerned.

"The pain of memory," she replied quietly.

The green eyes seemed to sink even deeper, attaining a strange sheen. Celebithil realized suddenly how ancient the Ent before her was. "Hrm," he said quietly, his eyes distant. "A pain we Ents know well."

His heart was far away as he spoke, clearly reliving some past joy or sorrow. Slowly his mouth turned upward, as if in a smile, as his eyes shone. "But we must learn to look beyond the loss, hrum. Look beyond the loss to the forgotten joys, the forgotten memories that brought us such happiness, and still bring us happiness just remembering." His eyes continued to shine strangely as he moved away slowly, leaving Celebithil contemplative, but awed.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Led by Gandalf, the company soon left Isengard. To the surprise of no one, the parlay had been unsuccessful. Saruman remained locked in his tower with the dreadful servant Wormtongue, under the guard of the watchful Ents. The elves of Lorien rejoined the company, after biding farewell to the Ents and promising to visit Fangorn in the future. The sun was low as they set out to return to Helm's Deep.

At last they made camp by the thorn bushes of a green hill beyond the road. The ride and the night passed uneventfully, as all fell quickly into a restful sleep.

A piercing cry woke the camp in the middle of the night.

The hobbit Pippin lay still, beside an eerie orb of black rock. "So this is the thief!" cried Gandalf, casting his cloak over the orb as the camp moved about in confusion. "But you, Pippin! This is a grievous turn to things!"

He laid his hands on his brow. "Peregrin Took! Come back!" he called. Finally the hobbit shuddered, breathing frantically, his eyes darting around unable to focus on anything. "Look at me," commanded Gandalf, holding him steady. At last the hobbit focused his gaze on the wizard's eyes, and relaxed slightly.

"Forgive me, Gandalf!" he cried. "I-I took the ball and looked in it. He came and questioned me!"

Gandalf's face turned dark and very grim. "What did you see, and what did you say?"

A blackness seemed to fall upon Celebithil as the hobbit stammered to describe what he saw. She alone knew the horror that the Dark Lord could inflict from afar. She alone had felt his horrible piercing laughter, like hot knives, and his gloating over his prize, as you felt yourself melt to pieces. She slowly moved away from the crowd, unnoticed, as the hobbit began to speak.

"I saw a dark sky and tall battlements. And tiny stars. Then the stars seemed to be cut off by big things on wings. But in the glass they looked like bats wheeling round the tower. I thought there were nine of them. One began to fly straight towards me, getting bigger and bigger. It had a horrible--no, no! I can't say!"

Celebithil was away from the crowd, walking as if in a dream, but the hobbits words continued to piece her heart. The night suddenly grew ice cold around her, but she could not shiver.

"I tried to get away, because I thought it would fly out; but when it had covered all the globe, it disappeared. Then he came. He did not speak so that I could hear words. He just looked, and I understood."

The darkness fell over her mind and heart. She could not think. She could not feel. She was still walking.

"He said: 'Who are you?' I still did not answer, but it hurt me horribly; he pressed me, so I said: 'A hobbit.'"

The blackness of the Mirror.

"Then suddenly he seemed to see me, and he laughed at me. It was cruel. It was like being stabbed with knives. I struggled."

The soul-searing Eye.

"But he said: 'Wait a moment! We shall meet again soon. Tell Saruman that this dainty is not for him. I will send for it at once."

The child of Luthien.

"Then he gloated over me. I felt I was falling to pieces...."

The soothing voice. The promise of greatness. The fiery darkness...

There was a murmur of voices in the camp, but Celebithil could not hear them. She could not hear. She could not feel. She could not think. She could not see. She could not move.

Completely lost in the forgotten spell, she was wholly under his power.

And in that moment, his servant came to claim his prize.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-

A shadow fell upon the camp, and a soul-shaking cry suddenly filled the air. The men fell to the ground in terror.

A powerful beat of wings through the icy cold air soon followed the cry. Men covered their heads in horror, shaking on the ground as their hearts quailed.

But the beating wings did not pass by as quickly as they had hoped. Instead, they slowed and continued to beat through the air rhythmically, as if hovering. Eomer forced his head up.

There she stood before the Nazgul, tall and willowy, silent and still, like a star gleaming on the dark hill.

"Master has ssssearched for you," hissed the wraith as the wings of the dragon-monster beat heavily before her. Her hair gleamed brilliantly silver in the moonlight, and her eyes were strangely blank.

"The delay to punisssh the traitor will not bother him if he has you," the wraith seemed eager as the claw of the dragon reached toward her.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" cried Eomer, pushing himself up despite the terror. Aragorn and Legolas were with him at once, wildly running up the hill to combat the monster. Menelsul and Narfea were with them immediately. Legolas quickly aimed his bow and imbedded an arrow deep into the claw that was reaching for Celebithil. The dragon screamed.

The Nazgul tried to gain height as the arrows began to fly and sword sliced through the air, towards its creature's claws. An arrow caught the weak sinew of the dragon's wing, even as the wraith prepared to dive. The creature faltered in the air and howled in agony as the arrowed ripped through the thin wing-flesh.

"My bussssinesss is with Isssengard," howled the wraith as he was forced to gain higher height and retreat from the madmen. "Thissss issss not finisssshed!" He uttered a final deadly cry, and then took off through the air. As the warmth returned to the night, Celebithil collapsed to the ground, unconscious. Menelsul, Narfea, and Ertirhiril rushed to her aid, as the others looked on worriedly.

"Nazgul!" cried Gandalf as if crazed. "The messenger of Mordor. The storm is coming. The Nazgul have crossed the River!"

"Gandalf!" called Setsuna urgently, cutting off his rant.

He hurried to the hill where the six were crowded around the unconscious Celebithil. Eomer was shaking. He had not acted quickly enough!

Gandalf quickly knelt beside her and laid his hand on her brow, closing his eyes and murmuring some lost tongue. Slowly the color returned to her face and she began breathing normally.

"She is well and will awake soon," he said, standing hurriedly. "But she must be taken from this place at once. The wraith will return soon, and if he cannot find her, he will spread the news to Mordor and the Nine will scour this land. She cannot be found! I would take her with me to Minas Tirith, but I fear the effect of such a close proximity to the Dark Land. He has some hold over her still, and being so near might increase his control. Aragorn," he said suddenly, turning to the Ranger and clasping his arm. "I entrust her care to you. She must not be found! But now I must fly!"

He actually ran down the rest of the hill, urging the Rohirrim to move as he ran. "Ride, ride! Wait not for the dawn!" Celebithil awoke slowly to his yells and was hurriedly helped to her feet by those around her. "Let not the swift wait for the slow! The Nazgul have crossed the River! Ride!"

Gandalf grabbed Pippin and jumped upon the back of Shadowfax. Like a streak of grey through the night, they were gone in a flash.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

AN: Firstly, I planned that scene with Ithil and the Nazgul loooong before seeing TTT. That part has been with this fic from the very beginning. I was mad was Frodo ended up going to Osgilith, and completely freaked out when he starting acting like I imagined Celebithil and the Nazgul. GRRRRR!!!!!!!

But I hope you enjoyed the length. I really enjoyed writing it. :D Onto Review Responses!

MidnightGodess- oi yah, there's so many bad LotR/SM fics out there that they give most of the genre a bad name. xP And I'm SO mad that the movie messed up Faramir and Haldir GRRRR!!! And haha, there's something coming at the end of this fic that shows the link to mamo-baka. Big secret, can't spoil it sorry... but I think you'll like it. ;D If I ever get that far, that is. Oh well. Thanks mucho for reviewing!

kittydemon(usagi)- haha, sorry I had to kill off Boromir. I'm actually gonna write a "butterfly effect" sequel in the future that shows what would have happened if he didn't die though, mwhahaha!

EyesofPearl- Eomer... now there's a tricky one. I was going to have a whole psychological part in this chap where she wonders what her feelings are for him, but I had to delay it because too much else had to happen. It won't be quite a pairing, but it's more than friendship... gah, I'm about to spoil it. ::seals mouth::

Kitoky- another long delay, gomen lol. " I'm getting better though!

Molly- LOL!!!!! Huzzah for Star Wars! :D haha, there will be a sequel-ish-thing, but yah, can't be in the First Age. I should write a Silmarillion fic though. That would be rockin'. ;D

shelum- haha, Leggy's made a bit of an appearance here. And as for the names... well, I just felt that they shouldn't have Japanese names in Middle-earth, so I used my rudementary elvish to create names with similar meanings.

Thank you also to:

angelwings6117

devilsheart

KoKo Belle

Sunny Days Over Clouded Water

Thank you everyone for reviewing, you truly rock my socks. Also, my email alert system is still in action, so if anyone wants an email from me when I upload a chapter, say so in a review and remember to leave your email. Thanks!

Hopefully there will be more soon. I have a lot of other fics to tend to, but I have SO much planned for this fic that I want to get it moving faster. Thank you for reading, please leave a review.

Until next time, ja!

Calli-chan