Sad Wings of Destiny

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

The following chapter is rated �M� due to graphic depictions of brutal and horrific violence that some readers may find offensive and/or disturbing. If you are easily bothered by such imagery, do not read! Consider yourself warned!




A few days after Miriel had read Istyaro�s diary, Halbarad declared that her arm had healed and that they could now resume their training exercises. �Put your cloak on and come with me,� ordered the Watcher before wrapping his own cloak around his shoulders.

Miriel obediently did as commanded, following the D�nadan out the front door. �Where are we going?� she asked.

�You�ll see.�

Though the sun was shining above, the mid-morning air was rather crisp. The Slayer pulled her cloak tightly about her in an attempt to ward off the chill that was rapidly consuming her. She followed Hal around the corner of the cottage, wondering what he had in store for her.

�Have you ever split firewood?� he queried, as he approached what Miriel could only describe as a wall of unsplit firewood, five feet high by twenty feet long.

The girl stopped in her tracks. �Why?� she asked, apprehensively eyeing the wood.

Hal grabbed one of the pieces and carried it to a stump in the yard. �Because that�s exactly what you�re going to do � split firewood.�

�What for?�

�We�re in need of it,� he replied, pointing to the dwindling stack of split wood piled beside the stone cottage. �Besides,� he continued, now prying an axe out of a weatherworn notched stump and setting the log upright on it, �it�ll help strengthen your arm.� He then swung the axe down onto the wood, splitting it in two, sending each half flying to the ground. �It�s fairly easy work,� he added. �Just stack the wood over there with the rest.� He then thrust the axe back into the stump and started to walk away.

�Wait!� Miriel cried out. �Where are you going?�

�Inside,� he replied. �It�s cold out here.�

Miriel�s eyes darted from her Watcher to the wall of wood. �How much am I supposed to split?�

Hal glanced over his shoulder, grinning. �All of it!�

The Slayer�s jaw dropped as she watched her Watcher disappear around the corner. A few seconds later, she heard the front door close. Pouting, she stared at the wall of wood, thinking that it would take the rest of her life to split that amount.

A few seconds later, she heard a couple of loud raps on the glass pane that caused her to jump with a start. Turning, she saw Halbarad standing at the window, smoking his pipe and motioning for her to get to work.

Grumbling under her breath, she stomped over to the wall of wood, grabbed a piece, and took it back to the stump. She snatched the axe, placed the firewood on the stump, and then, imagining that the wood was Halbarad, she swung the axe down, cleaving the wood in two, and sending the pieces flying to the ground.

She then gathered her pieces and the ones that Hal had split and stacked them beside the cottage. After a few minutes, she noticed that her Watcher had vanished from the window. Miriel�s annoyance grew as she continued her labors. She could picture Halbarad sitting before the fire, savoring the warmth of the cottage, while enjoying his pipe and a cup of hot tea. Meanwhile, here she was, outside in the cold, doing man�s work!

This has nothing to do with training, she thought to herself. I�m Hal�s slave. She couldn�t help but think that he was taking advantage of her, having her do the most unpleasant of tasks. It was demeaning! It was unfair. It was�

�Hello, Glossien,� greeted a chipper voice.

She turned and saw Heath approaching. �Oh, hello,� she replied with a sigh, letting the axe fall to her side.

�What are you doing?�

Miriel snorted. �Isn�t it obvious? My dear uncle is forcing me to split all this wood,� she answered, motioning toward the row of uncut wood.

The boy�s eyes shifted from Miriel to the wall of wood. �Well, that�s just not right.� Heath grabbed the axe from her hand. �Let me help you,� he said with a quick smile. �I was hoping we could go for a walk or something.� His cheeks turned slightly pink. Averting his gaze, he placed a piece of wood from the stack onto the stump and brought down the axe on the wood, splitting it in two.

The Slayer�s eyes shot to the window. Halbarad wasn�t there. Smiling, she replied, �That would be great.�

About thirty minutes after Heath had taken over for Miriel, Halbarad peeked out the window to see her progress. When he spotted his Slayer seated on the ground, watching the young boy chop wood, he flew out the door enraged.

�What are you doing here, Heath?� barked the D�nadan. �Off with you!� he ordered with a threatening wave of his hand.

Heath, frightened by the Watcher, dropped the axe and fled.

�What do you think you�re doing?� questioned an angry Halbarad, his eyes narrowed to slits. Before Miriel could respond he added, �I told you to split the firewood, not that boy!�

The Slayer refused to bow down to her Watcher. �This is not training,� she shot back. �You�re treating me as a slave and I�ll have no more of it!� She defiantly folded her arms across her chest, intent on standing her ground.

�A slave, eh?� he answered, his nostrils flaring as he spoke. �I�ll have you know that I�m paying for your keep. I�m the one putting a roof over your head. I�m the one putting food in your belly. And that does not come cheap! I expect you to do your fair share around here. You�re not on some holiday. I refuse to wait on you any more. Time to pay the piper. Now, get back to work!� he snarled, picking up the axe and shoving it into her chest.

Miriel was forced to take the axe or risk the blade falling on her foot. The last thing she needed was another injury. She stood there as Halbarad stormed off, stunned by his sudden temper tantrum. Feeling as though she had no other choice, the Slayer went back to work�



In the days that followed, Miriel�s relationship with Hal remained strained, at best. There were times when things looked promising, when she thought that they had reached a happy medium (of sorts). Such as the time when Halbarad cordoned off an area of the sitting room, hanging blankets from the rafters so that Miriel would have more privacy where she slept. She thought that was a tremendous gesture on his part. But, then, when it seemed like things were going well, he�d pull away, becoming more distant from her.

She wished that her relationship with Hal could be more like Buffy�s with her Watcher. From what she had been told, Buffy and Giles had their ups and downs, but they were close, and he had become a father figure to her. That was something Miriel envied since her relationship with Denethor was� well, not at all to her liking, though it hadn�t always been that way. She still held out hope of repairing her relationship with her Watcher.

There came a day, not long after her arm had mended, when Halbarad announced that he was going away for a few days. He wouldn�t reveal any details of his journey, other than to say that Miriel would not be going with him. His only rule was that no visitors were allowed inside his home whilst he was away. Before departing, he left her with enough provisions to last until his return. Then he was gone.

Now, Miriel found Hal�s taking off like that rather suspicious. She couldn�t help but think that it was some sort of test. Why he felt the need to do that, and what he was testing her for, she couldn�t say. No matter, she wasn�t about to fail this test of his.

As she stood beside one the of wooden columns that separated the kitchen from the sitting area, surveying the interior of the cottage, she thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to score some points with her Watcher by scrubbing the whole place clean from top to bottom. Eru only knows when that had happened last! She was determined to have the entire place spotless by the time Hal got back.

About fifteen minutes after the D�nadan had departed, she grabbed a couple of buckets and took off to the communal well. The morning was cold. The sun was already shining overhead, occasionally disappearing behind white puffy clouds that glided beneath its rays. As she approached the well, she noticed a line had already formed. Fifteen people, most pulling wagons or carts full of barrels, were in front of her.

She exchanged pleasantries with some of the locals, something that Halbarad had prevented her from doing thus far. The only exception had been Heath, who always seemed to pop up whenever Miriel went outside. This day was no exception. Maybe a minute after getting in queue, the boy showed up, pulling a wagon of empty barrels.

�Good morning, Glossien. You sure look lovely this morning,� he said, beaming.

Sheer willpower kept her from rolling her eyes at his comment. Miriel looked anything but lovely, dressed in the clothing that she had worn when she had left Minas Tirith, the fabric stained with blood and patched in many places (courtesy of the Elves of Rivendell). Her hair was loosely tied back with some string, half of the strands having already fallen out, framing her face.

She could only offer Heath a smile in reply.

�I hear Hal left this morning,� he rambled on. �Can�t believe he left you all alone like that. That just doesn�t seem right.�

�Actually, I�m glad of it. I can do with the peace and quiet.�

�Yeah, I imagine so,� Heath chuckled. �He won�t be around to work you to death. Why don�t we do something today? We can go to Bree, if you�d like.� He looked hopefully at her.

Miriel suddenly felt uncomfortable. Mostly due to the way the boy was looking at her. She knew that look. �I�m sorry, Heath, I cannot go. Even though my uncle�s gone, I have many chores to do whilst he�s away. He�s seen to it to keep me busy.� She wasn�t delighted by the fact that she had lied, but in all honesty, she really was looking forward to being alone for a few days. Even with all the cleaning she planned to do, it would still seem like a mini-holiday with Halbarad gone.

�Oh,� said the boy dejectedly, bowing his head. �Maybe another time then?� he asked, looking back at her again.

�Yes, of course. Perhaps when he gets back,� she replied, offering him a smile.

Heath returned to his perky self. �I can always help if you�d like. I�m not afraid of work and I can do just about anything.�

�Thanks for the offer, but I have to decline,� she said in her politest voice. �I�m not allowed any visitors and I�ll mostly be doing woman�s work � cleaning, laundry and the like.�

Heath seemed to accept her response and continued to make small talk until he had filled his barrels, insisting that he wheel her buckets back to the cottage. She attempted to protest but he would not take no for an answer. When they reached the cottage, the boy insisted on taking the buckets inside. Miriel was reluctant but then thought, what harm would it do if Heath emptied her buckets into the cast iron cauldron.

Hal said no one was to enter his home whilst away, warned that little voice in the back of her mind.

Miriel ignored the warning and invited the boy inside. He followed her into Hal�s bedchamber where he proceeded to empty the water into the vessel hanging from the hook within the fireplace.

�That�s not much water, Glossien,� he remarked. �Why don�t I fill this up with the water I have. It�ll save you from making more trips to the well.�

�That would be great, Heath. Thanks!�

Not even an hour after Hal has left and you have broken his only rule. Tsk, tsk, tsk, chided that voice again. Test or no, you�ve failed.

The Slayer once again ignored the voice, having rationalized her actions with the fact that she needed more water than she had actually collected. She could see no harm in Heath providing her with extra (and as it turned out) much needed water. And once he had filled the cauldron, he left. No harm, no foul.

Miriel then turned her attention to the cottage. She thought she�d dust the place first. Deciding to start from the top and work her way down, she eyed the series of beams above. Smiling to herself, she leapt upward � a good fifteen feet � and landed on a rafter. She had never realized that her Slayer abilities could be so useful. Clumps of dust rained down on the floor and furniture below, piling up like grayish snow.

After laboring well into the night, Miriel finally had the main living area spotless. She felt a great sense of accomplishment. As she sat on the sofa, sipping a cup of hot tea, she looked around the room, noticing how everything seemed to gleam and sparkle in the fire light. She knew Halbarad would be most pleased upon his return.

When she had finished her tea and washed her cup, she was ready to retire for the night. Even though it was only about eight-thirty, all that hard work had left her utterly exhausted. She started toward the couch, which doubled as her bed, but suddenly stopped. She shifted her gaze toward the bedchamber door. With Hal gone, why not sleep in his bed? She had worked hard, and sleeping on a mattress would be an appropriate reward. How wonderful it would be to sleep with her legs stretched out instead of being elevated on an armrest since the D�nadan�s couch was much smaller than her body!

She extinguished the lights and shuffled into her Watcher�s bedroom. Tomorrow she would work on his room and the bathing chamber. She then crawled under the covers and fell fast asleep�



After a quick breakfast the following morning, Miriel started working on Halbarad�s bedroom. Just like the day before, she began working from top to bottom. When a layer of dust covered the entire room, Miriel stripped the bed of its linens and immediately washed them so that they�d have time to dry on the line. Upon her return, she noticed the faded green area rug now appeared grayish-white. Grabbing the rug so that she could shake it clean, she was surprised to discover that hidden beneath it was a trap door.

An image of Buffy carrying the ancient Watcher Diary from the bedroom flashed in her mind. �So this is where he hides it,� she uttered. For several minutes she stood there, frozen to the spot, wondering what kind of artifacts were housed below. She actually considered descending into the secret chamber, eager to see its contents, but found herself quickly dismissing that notion. Whatever was down there belonged to Halbarad and she had no right to rummage through his personal belongings. Perhaps in due time, he�d invite her down there himself. Until then, the place was off limits.

Miriel then went about her business, vigorously cleaning the last two remaining rooms. By midday she had finished all her housework and rewarded herself with a nice hot bath. After eating supper, she curled up on the sofa and was lulled to sleep by the crackling of the fire.

During the wee hours of the morning, Halbarad returned, earlier than expected. He had taken care of his errand sooner than he had thought and returned home as swiftly as he could. As he stepped into the darkened cottage, he immediately caught a whiff of some floral scent lingering in the air. Closing the door quietly, he turned his gaze to the sitting room. The fire burned low, softly illuminating the shadowy form of Miriel, who lay curled up on the sofa, sound asleep. He was somewhat surprised that his makeshift curtains had been removed, though the ropes that had held them still hung from the rafters.

The D�nadan set his bag on the floor before creeping toward the kitchen table. A few seconds later, the small flame of the oil lamp flickered to life. The interior gleamed in the firelight. A rare smile came to Hal�s face. He nodded approvingly, seeing that Miriel had kept herself busy by cleaning the place. Taking the lamp from the table, he quietly retreated to his bedchamber.

The embers in the fireplace had burned as low as those in the main room. However, the room was delightfully warm and welcoming especially after journeying in the frigid night. The topmost part of his covers was already folded back, beckoning him to slide beneath what he undoubtedly believed to be clean linens. The soft fragrance of flowers lingered in his private chamber as well. He was unaware that Miriel had added a few precious drops of her perfume to the soapy water.

Tossing aside his cloak, his eyes shifted to the frayed green rug that covered the cellar door. He frowned, wondering if Miriel had gone into the cellar. Surely, after cleaning as thoroughly as she had, she knew full well that that rug covered the trapdoor to his stash of Watcher memorabilia.

His frown lines deepened as he wrinkled his face at the thought. Despite the hour, Halbarad felt the need to see if she had indeed entered the secret chamber. Pulling aside the rug, he grabbed the recessed handle and pulled the hatch open. A rush of cold, musty air escaped from the pitch-black opening. Grabbing the lamp by the handle, he carefully descended the ladder, slowing making his way into the bowels of the cottage.

When he reached the bottom, he paused, holding the lamp aloft as his eyes scanned the shadowy depths. Halbarad raised the wick, desperate for more light. He squatted down, inspecting the stone floor. Only the imprint from his shoes had disturbed the thick layer of dust that covered the flagstone floor.

As he rose to his feet, his knees popped in protest; and the weariness of his journey seemed to hit him all at once. Relieved to know that Miriel hadn�t violated his trust, he climbed the ladder, eager for bed�



Miriel awoke at first light. Feeling the slight chill in the air, she immediately worked on reigniting the fire, stoking the wood until the flames crackled to life. That had pretty much become a morning ritual for her. She liked to keep the place warm and cozy.

Then, turning toward the kitchen, she spotted Halbarad�s bag on the floor by the door. He�s back, she thought, her eyes darting to his bedchamber door, which was now closed. Thank Eru I didn�t sleep in his bed last night.

Unsure of how long Hal had been home, Miriel was reluctant to wake him. Instead, she slipped on her boots and cloak and headed outside. She was in need of more wood and some water. Once she had lit the fire for the stove, she took off for the well.

There was no need to go further than the next cottage, as Heath was coming from the well, pulling his wagon of water barrels. �Good morning, Glossien,� he said in greeting. �I saw that you were out and about and thought you could use some water.�

Her eyes swept past the boy to the long line at the well. �That�s so thoughtful of you, Heath. Thank you so much.� She chatted with the boy a few minutes while he filled her buckets. Then, bidding him farewell, she returned to the cottage so that she could prepare a good hearty breakfast for Halbarad.

Before she had finished cooking, Halbarad came out of his bedroom, carrying a bundle under his arm. Mumbling, �Morning,� he swiftly passed through the kitchen and out the front door.

His hasty departure baffled Miriel. Where was he off to in such a hurry? A part of her was a bit annoyed that he hadn�t acknowledged how clean the place was. Surely, he had noticed, hadn�t he? With a heavy sigh, she resumed cooking.

Miriel�s annoyance grew when breakfast was ready, but Halbarad had not yet returned. Refusing to wait, she dug into her food. She had already finished eating when her Watcher finally came back.

�Your breakfast is cold,� she announced coolly, keeping herself busy by washing the dishes.

�That�s alright,� he replied, taking a seat at the table. He then started to wolf down his breakfast. He spoke no word about his trip or the cleanliness of the cottage.

When Miriel finished the dishes, she returned to the table, taking a seat across from Halbarad. �You came back earlier than expected,� she remarked. �I take it things went well on your journey.�

�Yes,� he answered between chews. �How �bout here? No problems whilst I was away?�

�No. No problems,� she replied with a sigh.

�Any visitors?� he queried, sipping his tea.

The blood began to rush to Miriel�s face. He knows, she thought to herself, half-panicked. The one thing Hal had told her not to do, she did. And he obviously knows. Why else would he bring it up? �Well, um, actually, Heath had come by,� she answered hesitantly.

The D�nadan�s eyebrows shot up. He took a breath, as if to speak, but the Slayer was quick to follow up her sentence with, �It wasn�t a social call. He helped me carry in some water. He wasn�t here longer than five minutes. I swear.� She glanced down at the table, expecting a scolding from her Watcher. �Are you angry with me?� she asked softly.

She could hear him sigh heavily. �No,� he answered.

Miriel�s head shot up, surprised by Hal�s response.

�You told me the truth, and I respect you for that.� A small smile came to his face. �Had you lied� � He didn�t finish that sentence. �Why don�t we get these dishes cleaned up and do a bit of training this morning?�

�Alright,� replied a relieved Miriel, glad that Hal wasn�t wroth with her.

She scooped up his dishes and went to the sink.

�By the way,� he added, rising from the table, �the place looks great.�

Smiling, the Slayer thanked him.

When the dishes were done, Hal grabbed some weapons and led Miriel outside. They went down a path into the woods to a clearing where they were able to practice in private. In the end, it turned out to be a very good day.



Nearly a week later, after a particularly strenuous workout session, Miriel lay in the tub of hot water, attempting to soak the soreness from her muscles. Whenever she felt that way, she�d fantasize about being back in Rivendell, feeling the skillful hands of the Elves massaging away her aches and pains. But, alas, she was in Archet where no Elves dwelt and only time would heal the soreness in her body.

Halbarad knocked on the door. �Everything alright in there?� he asked.

�Yes. I�m just having a good soak,� she replied.

�I have something for you. I�ll leave it on my bed and you can put it on when you get out.�

�What is it?� she called out.

Instead of a reply, she heard Hal�s bedchamber door close. He had already gone. From his comments, it seemed obvious that he had some type of clothing for her. That alone got her out of the tub. She quickly dried off, and peeked out the bathroom door. Yes, he was definitely gone. Her eyes widened when she saw the lovely lavender dress neatly laid out on the bed.

In typical girly fashion, she dashed over to the bed for a closer look. She picked up the garment and held it close to her body. It felt velvety soft and looked perfect for winter. She hurriedly slipped it on, wishing that there was a mirror in the cottage so that she could see what she looked like.

Once she was completely dressed, she wove her wet hair into one long braid down her back. When she stepped out of Hal�s bedchamber, she could see that he was sitting by the fireplace, puffing on his pipe. When he heard her, he rose from his chair and turned, facing her.

�How do I look?� she asked, whirling around. The last time she had worn a dress had been in Rivendell, which seemed like ages ago. Miriel was thrilled to look like a woman again. It was one thing to wear breeches out of necessity, but she wasn�t on the road fighting Orcs or trolls. Under the circumstances, this was more fitting attire.

Halbarad did not immediately reply. He stood there, his jaw slightly agape, staring transfixed at Miriel. When she saw his eyes beginning to water, she stopped. �What�s wrong?� she asked, quickly smoothing out the fabric with her hands. �Do I look horrible?�

�On the contrary,� he replied softly. �You look lovely.� He smiled warmly at the Slayer.

�Thank you, Hal,� she said, beaming. �I love it!� Miriel rushed over to Hal, threw her arms around his neck, and gave him a big hug.

�Ow! Not so hard. Not so hard,� he said with a laugh.

�Sorry.� Miriel pulled out of the embrace. �How did you do this? I mean, the dress fits perfectly.� Actually, it was an inch shorter than what Miriel normally wore, but that could easily be overlooked.

Hal took a deep draw on his pipe. �Never you mind that,� he answered, sitting back down on his chair again. �I�m just happy that you like it.�

Miriel spun around again. �I look normal again,� she observed. �I only wish you had a mirror in this house of yours. I�d like to see what I look like.�

�I assure you, Miriel, you look fairer than any maiden in Middle-earth, even one of the Elder race.�

�Now, you�re teasing me,� said the Slayer, feigning a pout.

�You should know by now that I do not tease, and that I speak my mind as I see it,� admitted Halbarad. He then chuckled, adding, �If I had known that a mere gown would�ve brought you this much joy, I would�ve done it sooner and lessened my grief.�

�How about some tea?� she asked, eager to do something to please Halbarad for such a thoughtful gift.

�That would be nice,� he replied.

As Miriel went about making the tea, the D�nadan watched her from the corner of his eye. The dress stirred such old memories. Halbarad couldn�t remember how many years had passed since he last laid eyes on that gown. He had decided to reward Miriel with the dress before it rotted away in his cellar. His beloved wouldn�t be wroth with him over that, would she?

Halbarad felt the warmth of a tear trickling from the corner of his eye. He hastily wiped it away before his Slayer could see. No, he thought to himself. I have not wronged her by giving this gift to Miriel.

The following day, the D�nadan surprised Miriel with yet another item from out of the cellar - a full-length mirror. That delighted his Slayer even more.



As the days turned into weeks, Halbarad gradually brought up more things he had stored in the cellar. He�d place them in the sitting room so that when Miriel woke up, it would be the first thing she would see. One of the items was a seascape tapestry.

�I thought this would be a pleasant reminder of your mother�s kin that dwell in Belfalas,� he had said one fair morning.

Miriel was so moved by Hal�s thoughtfulness that she broke down and cried. She dearly missed her loved ones in Dol Amroth, as well as her brothers in Minas Tirith. She had Halbarad hang that tapestry over the fireplace so that she could see it from anywhere in the main living space. With Miriel�s influence, the house was once again becoming a home - even pale green curtains adorned all the windows.

Most days were spent training in one form or another. Sometimes it was hard labor that Hal insisted, �Helped strengthen muscles and developed coordination.� At other times, they practiced dueling or wrestling, and then there were times when an entire session was devoted to gymnastics or meditation. At night, after supper, Hal would often regale Miriel with stories of the Rangers� past adventures.

Life seemed good. The Slayer seldom complained any more, having adjusted to her current living arrangement. And the same could be said for Halbarad, as he too had become more comfortable around Miriel. They had established their own little routine, and could easily work side-by-side without invading the other�s space.

Now it so happened that spring had come earlier than normal that year, arriving in mid-March. The village was abloom with wildflowers in a myriad of colors and a sweet fragrance lingered throughout all of Archet. The weather was spectacular - warm days and cool nights. The windows in the little cottage were kept open, allowing a stream of fresh air to pass through. This was most helpful in combating the heat from the wood stove on which they cooked, which had been most welcome in the winter, but not so much in spring.

There came a day, the fourth of April to be precise, when Halbarad and Miriel received unexpected visitors. They were in Hal�s bedchamber, putting the freshly laundered sheets on his bed when there was a knock at the door. Visitors were uncommon, (though most of the times it turned out to be Heath), but this time, there seemed to be a glint in the Watcher�s eyes.

�I wonder who that could be,� he remarked as he strolled out of the bedroom.

Miriel snickered, assuming it was the neighbor boy again.

A few seconds later, Miriel heard the sound of familiar voices, voices she had not heard for quite a few months. She dropped the pillow onto the bed and flew out of the room. She shrieked with delight when she spotted Elladan, Elrohir, Aragorn and G�ron standing in the kitchen. Despite the men�s haggard appearance, she leapt into the nearest man�s arms (Elrohir), hugging him tightly.

�I�ve missed you all so much,� she gushed, planting a kiss on the Half-elf�s dirt-streaked face.

�Look at you, Miriel,� said Elrohir, his bright grey eyes doing a quick sweep over her. �You look even lovelier than the last time I saw you.�

�Thanks,� she replied, now embracing his twin.

Elladan took a step back and looked over the Slayer. �Your hair has gotten longer,� he said, remarking on the most noticeable change in her appearance. �And that dress� Is that one of Arwen�s?� he asked, unsure whether or not he had seen it before.

�This?� answered Miriel, taking a step back. �No. This was a gift from Hal.� She spun around, showing off her recently acquired gown. This one was more appropriate for the warmer weather - pale blue and sleeveless. �Do you like it?�

�Indeed,� he answered with a smile.

Miriel then gave Aragorn a big hug. �It�s good to see you again, Miriel,� greeted the Ranger Chieftain. �How�s your arm?�

�Stronger than ever.�

The Slayer even embraced G�ron, though she didn�t really know him much at all.

The arrival of the Rangers meant only one thing to her - it was time to go back into the wilds, fighting the dark creatures of Middle-earth. She was quite ready, and excited at the prospect.

�I�ll change quickly, so we can get going,� she said, starting toward the chest by the fireplace where her belongings were now stowed.

�We�re not leaving right yet,� announced Aragorn, dropping his bag to the floor.

�They�re going to stay a few days with us, Miriel,� explained Halbarad. �They need to rest a bit before setting out again.� He then explained that the Rangers often leave the hunt and stop at a kinsmen�s home so that they can get some rest, a hearty meal and a much needed bath.

�Oh,� she responded. �We� we have plenty of room.� She didn�t believe that for one second. With the sudden addition of four men, the cottage already felt much smaller. Regardless, she was going to do her best to be the perfect hostess and make her friends as comfortable as possible.

As she fluttered about the place, assigning places on the floor for each man, Aragorn pulled Halbarad aside.

�Perhaps my eyes are deceiving me, but is that not one of Idhien�s gowns?� the Ranger Chieftain queried, his brow raised in question.

�It is,� replied the slightly uncomfortable Watcher. �No sense in it rotting away in the cellar, eh?�

Grinning broadly, Aragorn placed his hand on Halbarad�s shoulder. �I agree.� His eyes swiftly scanned the interior of the cottage. He could most certainly see the dramatic changes that had taken place. �It�s been many years since this place has looked like a home. It gladdens my heart to see that you are moving on.�

A pinkish hue came to the Watcher�s cheeks. �It�s not what you think,� he was quick to reply.

The Ranger Chieftain studied his friend�s face for a few moments. �As long as you and Miriel are on better terms, I cannot ask for more.�

�We are.�

�Then I am most pleased.�

�Hal!� Miriel repeated for the second time.

Both Halbarad and Aragorn turned toward the Slayer. She stood across the room with her hands on her hips and a look of annoyance on her face.

�Yes, Miriel?� asked Halbarad.

She sighed heavily. �Well, apparently, you�re not listening to a word I say!� she said indignantly. �We need water from the well. These good men are in need of baths, and there�s still enough daylight left so that I can start washing their clothes.� She then shooed him out the door, telling him to borrow barrels from the Hawthorns.

�They act like an old married couple, don�t they?� observed G�ron, as he sunk onto the sofa.

The others chuckled, nodding in response.

Miriel allowed her friends some time to rest while she finished her chores. In the meantime, she offered them some cheese and bread to tide them over until supper, promising them a feast if they could wait. They agreed.

When Hal returned, he and Miriel proved how effective and efficiently they could work together as a team. When the first tub of hot water was ready, the Rangers debated over who would be the first to bathe. Miriel couldn�t believe it. She settled the argument with her nose.

�Aragorn, you go first since you smell the worst,� she concluded.

The Ranger Chieftain chortled. �I don�t know if I should be honored or offended.�

�Take it for what you will,� she replied, handing him a towel and cloth. �The soap�s by the tub. We have plenty, so feel free to use it liberally!� She motioned him toward Hal�s bedroom. �Leave your dirty clothes on Hal�s bedchamber floor and I�ll get them as soon as you get in the bath.�

�Looks like there�s a new mistress of the house,� commented an amused Elladan.

Aragorn hesitated.

Miriel gave him a look since he was not obediently following her orders.

�My bag, Miriel,� he said, pointing to his satchel sitting on the kitchen floor.

She dashed into the kitchen and grabbed his bag from the floor. When she went to hand it to him, she pulled back, asking, �Why do you need your bag?�

�If you�re going to launder these,� he motioned toward the soiled garments he was wearing, �then I shall need to put something else on. Surely, you do not expect me to sit around in the nude.�

The Slayer rolled her eyes. �Of course not. But what�s the point of putting on filthy clothes after you�ve bathed?� She looked the Ranger Chieftain over, surmising that he and Halbarad were of similar build. �Put on something of Hal�s,� she suggested. �He�s got clean clothing in his wardrobe.�

Aragorn looked questioningly at Halbarad, seeking his approval.

Hal wished that Miriel would�ve asked him first, but he consented nonetheless.

�I�ll wash what you have in here,� said Miriel, as she opened the Ranger Chieftain�s bag. �Now, go. There are others waiting for their turn.�

�Yes, my lady,� responded Aragorn with a bow of his head, disappearing into Hal�s bedchamber.

As Miriel pulled out the son of Arathorn�s dirty garments, she pulled her Watcher aside, instructing him on what she wanted done next. He was assigned the task of getting their supper. When he received his orders, he left out the front door.

The sons of Elrond and G�ron watched the Slayer as she knocked on the bedroom door. When she discovered that Aragorn was already in the tub, she entered Hal�s bedchamber, snatched the Ranger Chieftain�s dirty clothing off the floor and exited the room.

�I need to get these washed. I�ll be outside,� she announced.

�Do you need any help, Miriel?� asked Elrohir.

�No. Relax awhile. Hal and I shouldn�t be too long.� The Slayer started to the door and then stopped. �Why don�t you all get out your dirty clothes as well. No sense in anybody putting on soiled garments after bathing.� She disappeared outside, as the others dug through their bags, pulling out their filthy clothing.

A few minutes later, she returned, accompanied by Hal, to get a couple of buckets of hot water from the cauldron before Hal refilled it with fresh water. She then hastily left again, taking with her all the men�s dirty garments. Miriel always preferred to do the laundry outside so she wouldn�t slosh water all over the floor. About twenty minutes later, she returned. Half of the items had been washed and were hung on the clothesline to dry.

When she came back into the cottage, G�ron was about to take his bath. �I think not!� Miriel protested. �What is the point of bathing if the bath water is filthy?� She shook her head. �No, the water must be dumped, the tub cleaned and then filled with fresh water.�

�That is too much trouble,� argued the golden-haired D�nadan. �I am fine with - �

�I will not have any guests bathing in filthy water in this house,� remarked an adamant Miriel. �I work swifter than you may think. Give me a few minutes to get things ready.�

The Elves and Rangers were somewhat taken aback by the Slayer�s insistence on washing the tub between baths. Seldom had any of their hosts done such a thing. After being in the wilds for weeks on end, the men were more than satisfied with a cloth, a basin of water and some soap to wash away the grime. Miriel was definitely going beyond the call of duty. And, remarkably, she had worked rather fast. Within ten minutes, G�ron was slipping into a tub of clean, steamy water.

Once everyone had bathed, and Miriel had all their clothing washed and hung to dry, she began to work on supper. Halbarad had been appointed the task of gathering all the ingredients for the meal. While Slayer and Watcher busily worked on dinner, the others took advantage of the safety that Hal�s home provided and got some much needed sleep, each man garbed in Hal�s cleanest clothing.

A few hours later, all was ready. Since the tiny kitchen table could not accommodate seven people, they split into two groups. Aragorn, G�ron and Hal sat at the table while Miriel and the twins sat in the seating area.

�This reminds me of Rivendell,� remarked Miriel to the sons of Elrond, referring to the many meals they ate together alone in her bedroom. �That seems so long ago.�

�It hasn�t been that long,� replied Elrohir.

�It feels like it. I feel like I�ve been locked away here for years,� Miriel said with a sigh. �I�m eager to hit the road again, to act the part of Slayer, instead of just practicing it.�

�Fret not, Miriel,� chimed in Elladan. �In a few days we�ll be off again, and you�ll soon find yourself longing to be in lodgings as fine as this.�

Miriel rolled her eyes. �I doubt that! I haven�t been anywhere, haven�t done anything, other than doing my chores and attempting to perfect my Slayer skills.�

�You haven�t been anywhere?� queried Elrohir in disbelief. �Not even to Bree?�

�Well, we had to pass through to get to Archet, didn�t we? And there was that time when I got lost in the woods and ended up on the main road in Bree. But other than that, no.�

�Then we must do something about that,� proclaimed Elladan. �Before we depart we should visit The Prancing Pony.�

�The Prancing Pony?� queried Miriel, oblivious of the name.

�It�s an inn,� continued Elladan, between chews. �Good ale. Music. Singing. Dancing. Sounds like the ideal reward for a young lady that�s been locked away in the woods for months on end.�

Miriel�s eyes lit up at the thought. �Ooh, I would love that very much.� She then glanced over at Halbarad seated between his two fellow Rangers. Her heart immediately sank. Shifting her gaze back to the twins, she added, �I�m afraid that Hal will say no. He has forbidden me to interact with the villagers, for the most part. I�ve only spoke with one of the neighbor boys. That�s about all.� Miriel�s momentary excitement dissipated, only to be replaced with glumness.

�Leave it to us to convince Hal that your having an evening out is called for,� added Elrohir with a wink.

�What�s more,� began Elladan, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth, �with you looking so lady-like, we�ve got to take you somewhere. Soon you�ll be looking very much like us men-folk!�

The smile returned to Miriel�s face. She knew that if the twin sons of Elrond supported the idea of a festive evening at The Prancing Pony that there was no way Halbarad would deny them, since the Elves were much older and wiser than he. Besides, it was highly unlikely that anything bad would happen. Bree was far from danger, or so Miriel thought.

The sons of Elrond and Miriel talked well into the night, just as they had in Rivendell. When they others were ready for bed, the trio moved their conversation outdoors, sitting next to the cottage, basking in the light of the silver moon.



The following morning, Miriel awoke with a renewed spirit. Elladan and Elrohir had promised to take her to Bree that evening and she had much to do beforehand. Her pale blue gown needed to be washed and after smelling the men�s stinky blankets all night, they too needed a good cleaning.

After breakfast, Aragorn wanted to test Miriel�s abilities by having the men ambush her in the deep of the woods. The Slayer agreed, but only after she did the laundry so that the things would have time to dry before the night�s festivities. As she finished her chores, the Rangers took off into the forest, positioning themselves in strategic locations for the staged attack.

Once she had completed all her tasks, she readied herself for the woods. Ever since that time when she had gotten lost in the woods, Miriel had made a point to never leave the cottage without a weapon. Usually it was her dagger since it was the easiest to conceal. The villagers looked at her strangely, mostly because she was dressed in manly garb, and the thought of stomping off into the woods carrying a bow or sword was out of the question. Before exiting the cottage, she slid the sheathed blade inside the leg of her boot so that it fit snugly against her skin.

She was about to open the door when thoughts of Heath sprang into her mind. Chances were that the lad was already outside, waiting for her. Not wanting to risk the boy following, she ran across the room and dove out the rear window, hit the ground with a perfect roll, and then sprang to her feet.

The cool air felt good against her damp skin. The sweet fragrance of flowers and freshly cut grass wafted into her nostrils, convincing her that spring was the best time of year. She took a deep breath as her eyes scanned the forest�s edge, looking for any signs of the Rangers. She turned her attention to the ground, looking for their tracks. Miriel had already made up her mind that she would be the hunter, instead of the hunted.

She walked closer to the tree line, searching for flattened patches of grass that the men had stomped on. She found their trail easily enough, but once she entered the woods, their tracks were not so clearly visible. Her heart started to race, thinking that her plan to find her pursuers had come to a screeching halt before it even began.

Calm down, Miriel, she told herself. The Slayer closed her eyes, and took several slow and deep breaths, listening intently to the sounds of the wood. She could hear birds chirping merrily in the treetops, the sound of their wings flapping as they flew from one tree limb to another. Several squirrels chattered as they played a game of chase, running down the bole of a tree and jumping onto the dried leaves that littered the forest floor. Though their feet were tiny, she could hear them crunching on the leaves as they ran across them. Other than that, she could hear the occasional breeze rustling the treetops. She heard no sounds from the men.

Opening her eyes, she now saw the group of squirrels, still happily chattering away, scampering in single file along an exposed birch root, hurrying up the trunk, and disappearing into the canopy of greenery above. Miriel then turned her attention back to the ground, thinking about her hunting trip with Glorfindel.

She squatted, inspecting the ground more closely. When she noticed that some of the vegetation amidst the trees lay bent and broken, she figured this had to be from a heavy foot. Plucking one of the damaged stems from the ground, Miriel lifted it to her nose and inhaled the sweet fragrance. It had recently been broken to emit such a strong smell and the absence of morning dew from the stalk only confirmed that at least one man had gone stomping off to the north.

Rising to her feet, she mumbled, �Thank you, Glorfindel,� before heading in what she believed to be the direction that one of the mortal men had taken. She wasn�t sure if she�d be able to find the sons of Elrond since the Elves had this uncanny ability to leave hardly any tracks at all.

Deeper into the woods she went. Things seemed to grow more quiet the further she went. She had gone maybe a mile or so when she noticed a single green leaf fluttering to the ground a few yards ahead. She looked more closely at the tree and spotted Elladan standing on a limb with a huge grin on his face.

Chuckling, she marched toward him, proclaiming, �By the looks of it, you wanted me to find you.�

The Elf leapt out of the tree, landing softly on the ground. �I was bored,� he replied. �No luck finding the others, I take it.�

�Not yet.�

He leaned in closer, whispering, �If you need some help finding them, I can � �

� � Absolutely not!� interjected the Slayer, cutting the Half-elf off mid-sentence. Raising a brow, she snidely added, �Or is it that you find me incapable of tracking my pursuers on my own, son of Elrond?�

Elladan raised his hands in submission. �I was just offering my assistance. If you�re uninterested, then so be it. I�ll follow along, that is, if you do not mind.�

Miriel smiled. �I don�t mind. I can use the company.� She started off again with the Elf following behind. �Just so you know; I do know a thing or two about tracking. I survived on my own for a long while without the aid of anyone. I do have some survival skills.�

�I never said that you didn�t,� responded Elladan.

The Slayer came to a stop, so sudden was it that the Half-elf nearly bumped into her. �Look!� she said, pointing to a broken spider web strung between two trees before them. �Someone walked through this recently,� she observed. She looked at the ground and saw no other obvious signs that someone had trodden over the ground. However, trusting her instincts, she found herself veering west.

From behind, she heard Elladan sounding his approval at her choice.

Being somewhat familiar with these woods, she knew that the way in which she was going led to a clearing about two hundred yards ahead. She and Hal had practiced weaponry there before. Her Watcher had chosen that place because it was far enough away from the villagers that none could hear their clashing weapons.

Miriel glanced over her shoulder at Elladan. �I�d think Hal wouldn�t choose such an obvious place for an ambush. I�ve been here before, you know. Where�s that whole element of surprise?� she queried with a snicker.

The moment the words came out of her mouth, the Slayer walked right into someone. Jerking her head back around, she looked up into the handsome face of Elrohir. �You were saying something about the element of surprise, I believe,� he remarked, his grey eyes twinkling in victory and amusement. �I�ve captured you, Dagnir,� he added, taking hold of her arm.

�Like hell,� she countered, speedily grabbing the Half-elf by the shoulder and flipping him onto the ground. She leapt onto his chest, pinning his arms to the forest floor. �It looks like I�ve captured you, son of Elrond,� she said in triumph, wrapping her legs around his lower extremities so that he could not use his legs to buck her off.

Having had the wind knocked out of him, Elrohir gasped, �I can see that you have been practicing.�

�Do you give up, or are you eager for more?� she asked, grinning from ear-to-ear.

Elrohir fixed his gaze on his twin. �I suppose you�re not going help me, eh, brother?�

�I�ve already been captured,� answered Elladan, throwing up his hands. �You�re on your own, I�m afraid.�

�Actually, Elladan surrendered,� laughed Miriel. �He knows when he�s met his match! So what about you, my dear Elrohir? Do you surrender as well?�

The Half-elf squirmed beneath the Slayer, but relented when he saw that there was no escaping her clutches. �Aye,� he finally sighed in defeat.

�Two down, three to go,� said Miriel, clambering off Elrohir. She offered him a hand and pulled him to his feet. �I would never have thought that you two would be the first ones I�d capture,� she added before stomping toward the clearing.

The sons of Elrond exchanged looks. Didn�t the Slayer see that they had wanted to be caught? They took off after her but stayed several paces behind.

For a split second, Miriel spotted a glimmer of gold in the sunlight on the western side of the glade. She knew that had to be G�ron�s golden hair. Perhaps his restlessness had caused him to reveal his hiding place. Or, maybe he had overheard Miriel talking with the sons of Elrond and his curiosity had gotten the best of him. Who knows what had prompted him to peek out from behind that tree. Regardless, the Slayer now knew his position.

She rushed toward him, ducking branches that jutted out across her path. G�ron seemed oblivious to the fact that he had been detected. Though focused on her prey, Miriel couldn�t overlook the fact that two more Rangers were lurking about somewhere in the vicinity. She watched out of the corner of her eye for sudden movements and listened intently for the sound of crunching leaves or snapping twigs.

When Miriel entered the clearing, both Aragorn and Halbarad came charging from the north and south. She stopped dead in her tracks. Both men were unarmed, so she would have to engage the �enemy� in hand-to-hand combat, something that she had not only worked on with Hal, but with Buffy more times than she could count.

Her muscles tightened, as her eyes darted from man to man. She delivered a roundhouse kick at Aragorn, striking him in the side, which sent him soaring across the glade. As she came out of her spin, Halbarad had jumped on her back with full force. She countered by flinging herself backward, causing both to fall to the ground. With Miriel�s added weight, the Watcher hit the earth hard, leaving him dazed.

Aragorn had already gotten back on his feet and came racing toward Miriel yet again. Though Hal was trying to blink the stars away, he kept his arms tightly clamped around her body. She squirmed, her eyes widening as Aragorn came nearer. Her adrenaline was pumping. Her legs shot out in an attempt to kick the Ranger Chieftain in the stomach again, but he slid to the side in the nick of time and avoided being hit. Fearful that he�d leap on top of her, she swung her legs around, trying to sweep the D�nadan off his feet.

Having surprisingly good reflexes, Aragorn leapt over her legs, and then dove toward her. Miriel�s body reacted instantly. She head-butted Halbarad, which caused him to loosen his grip so that she could roll off the Ranger, just as Aragorn landed, his body crashing down on top of his friend.

The Slayer took advantage of this situation by leaping onto Aragorn�s back. Straddling him, (he was still on top of poor Halbarad); she reached around and grabbed his stubbly chin with both hands, bringing it back so that his body arched painfully in response. Victory was in her grasp.

�Do you surrender?� she breathed heavily.

Aragorn grunted. Halbarad continued to twist and turn beneath them both, hurling every obscenity known to mankind.

The Ranger Chieftain was nearing his breaking point. But then, much to her surprise, Miriel was struck from behind. Elladan, deciding to help his friends out, hit the Slayer across the back of her shoulders with his forearm, thrusting her forward into the Ranger Chieftain. As a result Aragorn ended up head-butting Hal, and Miriel was forced to loosen her grip on her captive. Elladan swiftly slipped his arms under hers, pulling her back and off the men while clamping his hands at the base of her neck.

Elladan maintained his balance, as Miriel attempted to counter the hold. She wanted to retaliate by head-butting the Half-elf, but it was too painful to even try. She then resorted to stomping at his feet, but the Elf was too quick and she kept missing them. Having no other choice, she reached back and grabbed a handful of his dark hair and yanked, hard. To her dismay, Elladan did not loosen his grip. He responded by tightening his hold. The pain in Miriel�s neck was so great that she was forced to let go of his hair. Many strands of his fine elvish hair remained entwined around her fingers.

She watched as Aragorn helped pull Hal to his feet. She knew she needed to act fast. With Elladan�s body pressed against hers, she knew that he was within striking distance of her elbows. She rammed each one into his ribcage, knowing that would have to inflict some pain on the Half-elf.

By the sound of the groan that escaped his lips, Miriel was right. His grip did ease up, but somehow Aragorn was suddenly there. He grabbed her and body slammed her onto the ground. That alone knocked the wind out of her, but it became much worse when she felt the Ranger Chieftain climb atop her, pinning her arms over her head.

�Not bad, Dagnir,� he panted, tossing his head in an attempt to get his hair out of his eyes.

Miriel was also breathless, but she wasn�t about to give up. She brought her left leg forward, wedged it between her and Aragorn, and pushed. But the Ranger Chieftain refused to let go of her wrists and when he went backwards, she went forward. The momentum caused her to roll over him, thus breaking her free from his hold. Her wrists burned from the friction, as she leapt onto her feet in one swift motion, and resumed her fighting stance.

�I think we�ve had enough,� said Halbarad, pinching his nose in an attempt to stop the stream of crimson.

Miriel hadn�t noticed her Watcher was bleeding. �Sorry, Hal,� she apologized.

�I believe Aragorn�s head is responsible,� he answered.

�Sorry, Hal,� said the Ranger Chieftain, still hunched over and trying to catch his breath.

�Hold your head back,� advised Elrohir, who went over to assist the injured Watcher.

�I agree that we should work on something else,� chimed in Elladan, rubbing his throbbing scalp. �I think Miriel can handle herself in hand-to-hand combat.�

The Slayer watched as the eldest son of Elrond pulled stray strands of hair from his locks. �I�m sorry, Elladan, but you left me no other choice.�

�We were only practicing, Miriel,� replied a grimacing Elladan.

�I know. I did go easy on you though.� The Slayer found herself feeling badly about having pulled out some of Elladan�s hair, but let�s face it - he had her in a hold that felt as if he was going to snap her neck in two! What was she supposed to do?

They took a break for several minutes so that all could catch their breath and allow the pain to subside. In Halbarad�s case, they waited until the bleeding stopped. From that point on, they went over the rules of engagement and the importance of following orders, more specifically, Aragorn�s orders, since he was leader over all, including the sons of Elrond.

They then went over battle tactics, both offensive and defensive. Aragorn stressed the importance of not jumping into the heat of battle as Miriel had done with the trolls.

�In combat situations, you assess, then react,� he advised. �This can be done in a matter of seconds. But you must assess the situation before reacting. If you choose to react first, you may end up with a broken arm!� he said lightheartedly. Aragorn hoped that by mentioning Miriel�s own past experience on how not to fight, his message would hit home.

And it did, though none would discover that until a short while later.

They worked on various exercises, exercises that weren�t taxing or painful. Time seemed to fly by. Before they knew it, the shadows had deepened in the woods, signaling that evening was rapidly approaching. As the group marched back to Hal�s cottage, Miriel�s thoughts turned to supper. She, like the others, was ravenous.

�Any thoughts on supper, Miriel?� asked Hal, knowing that the two of them would be responsible for feeding their guests.

However, before she could respond, Elrohir spoke up. �If you do not mind me interjecting here,� began the Half-elf. �Elladan and I would like to take everybody out this evening for a meal at The Prancing Pony.�

�Ooh, I like that idea very much,� Miriel was quick to agree.

�Then it�s settled,� added Elladan, not wanting to give Halbarad any time to voice his disapproval.

Surprisingly, Halbarad also agreed.

As soon as they reached the cottage, Miriel grabbed everything off the clothesline, including her pale blue dress. She asked Hal to get more water so she could bathe before enjoying a night in Bree. If there had been a record for speed bathing, the Slayer would�ve broken it hands down. She had never washed so fast. Usually, she loved a good long soak, especially after a lengthy practice. But her muscles weren�t aching or throbbing. Even her neck felt better.

Once Miriel was ready, the group set off for Bree on foot. It was no longer than a mile and a half walk, an easy trek for Rangers. Aragorn led the group, walking alone several paces in front of the others. Miriel and the twins followed behind him while G�ron and Halbarad stayed at the rear.

Many of the villagers were outside, enjoying the rather beautiful evening. However, Miriel couldn�t help but notice that the townspeople seemed to shrink back from the road, as she and her friends approached. She couldn�t imagine why they�d do that, since her companions were the most valiant men in all of Bree-land, if not the whole of Middle-earth!

G�ron, having noticed Miriel�s perplexed expression, leaned in, whispering, �It�s the Elves, I�ll have you know. Bree-landers are not accustomed to seeing the Elder Children, and remain very suspicious of them.�

The twins scoffed at that notion.

�They find all outsiders suspicious,� corrected Elrohir. �Present company included.�

�Ah, my good Elf, they may not favor the D�nedain, save Halbarad here, but these folk think the Elves possess magics that they find frightening.�

Elladan snickered. �Yet their shopkeepers would gladly take our money for their goods and services.�

�Keep your voices down,� hissed Halbarad. �These people are my neighbors. Just ignore them.�

They took the Watcher�s advice, for the most part. Miriel thought it was silly for the villagers to be fearful of the Elves or the Rangers. In fact, she was proud to be in such company and wasn�t ashamed to show it. She linked each arm with that of Elladan�s and Elrohir�s, pulling them closer to her side - Bree-landers be damned!

Not even fifteen minutes later, they were strolling along the Great East Road. Apparently, the people in Bree were used to travelers of all kinds. Many people were milling about, enjoying the evening, but they reacted quite differently than the villagers of Archet. They gave a quick look at the Rangers as they passed by, showing no obvious fear or distrust from what Miriel could see.

When they finally reached their destination, Miriel paused for a moment, as the others passed through the stone archway into the courtyard. She looked up at the three-story inn, her smile widening. After spending months on end in Hal�s little cottage, The Prancing Pony now more closely resembled some magnificent mansion built by a strange race of Man from long ago. The construction was fine enough, having withstood the test of time.

�Are you coming, Glossien?� asked Aragorn from the topmost step.

Her smile lessened at the use of that name. Why not address her by her proper name? Surely, there was no danger in that.

Regardless, she nodded before climbing the wide steps of the inn.

Once inside, Aragorn continued to lead the way. They passed through a door to their left and entered a large, smoke-filled room already brimming with people. The smile returned to Miriel�s face when she spotted a group of Halflings sitting around a table, drinking little tankards of ale. The chairs that they sat upon were man-size, and they swung their dangling, hairy feet as they talked animatedly with one another.

�This way,� said Aragorn over the din, leading the group to a table against the far wall. As they followed him, Miriel spotted a group of dwarves eating near the fireplace. Her eyes shifted from each dwarf�s face, hoping that by some strange chance she�d see Gimli again. But, alas, none appeared to be the friendly dwarf she had befriended whilst traveling on her own.

Hal pulled up additional chairs so that they could all sit at the same table. After taking her seat, Miriel continued to scan the room. Other than the dwarves and Hobbits, men filled the rest of the room. It appeared that Miriel was the only woman in the entire establishment. She found that a bit strange.

Seated between the sons of Elrond, Miriel leaned over Elrohir so that she could speak with Halbarad. �Why are there no women here? Is that� normal?� she asked, her face wrinkled in bewilderment.

�It is,� he replied. �The men of Bree tend to want to get away from their wives, for a while.� A smile crept upon his face. �This is their reward after a hard day�s work.�

�I don�t understand,� she continued. �Surely, the women work just as hard and are entitled to the same reward for their labors.�

�Oh, their reward is that their husbands have left the house for the inn,� G�ron said with a chuckle. �Gives the women a bit of peace and quiet.�

Miriel chortled. She felt that there was some truth in G�ron�s statement.

�And let us not forget that the road is perilous nowadays,� added Elrohir. �Women travel only in great need.�

�I hadn�t thought of it that way,� remarked Miriel.

�You�re an anomaly,� said Aragorn, pulling a pouch from his breast pocket. He withdrew his pipe, and began stuffing the bowl with weed. The other two D�nedain followed his lead. Only Miriel and the sons of Elrond refrained from smoking.

Shortly afterward, a squat, plump bald man came bumbling up to the table, looking flustered. �Good evening,� he said in greeting, wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. He quickly surveyed those seated at the table. When his eyes settled on Aragorn, his body seemed to stiffen. �Oh, it�s you.�

Miriel narrowed her eyes. She didn�t much care for the tone of the innkeeper�s voice.

�Yes, it�s me,� answered Aragorn sternly, his grey eyes boring into the man.

The innkeeper became nervous and uncomfortable by the Ranger Chieftain�s penetrating gaze. He shifted his eyes. �I assume you and your guests will be wanting some supper.�

Elladan then slipped a few coins into the proprietor�s hand. �Yes, and we�d appreciate friendlier service.�

The innkeeper looked at his palm. His eyes widened, pleased at having received his payment upfront. �Yes, sir,� he replied in a chipper tone. �I�ll have your meals right away.� He turned. Two men at the adjoining table were waving their empty tankards at the innkeeper. He took the tankards and then vanished out of the room.

�I don�t like that man,� remarked Aragorn as his drew on his pipe, staring at the empty doorway through which the innkeeper had walked.

Miriel suddenly became apprehensive at the idea of eating in an unfamiliar place. �You don�t think he�ll do something to our food, do you?�

�Of course not,� replied Halbarad. �Butterbur may be a disagreeable character, but he�s not a complete idiot.�

G�ron nodded his approval. �He has enough wisdom to know not to meddle with a Ranger.�

�That�s all fine and well,� sighed Miriel. �But, I�m not a Ranger.�

�No,� said Aragorn, blowing out a plume of smoke. �You�re much more than that.� A rare smile came to his face.

At that moment, the dwarves seated by the fireplace burst into song. Whatever apprehension Miriel had felt, instantly disappeared. She turned her chair so that she could get a better look at the Naugrim. They stood before the fireplace singing in their deep, gruff voices. They had the entire room�s attention.

The dwarves finished their song to rousing applause, which inspired them to sing another. Just then, Butterbur, accompanied by a young Hobbit, came bounding into the room, carrying trays laden with the Rangers� supper. Ham appeared to be on the menu tonight. Ham and roasted vegetables. A block of yellow cheese, a loaf of bread, butter and some type of jam rounded out their meal. The Hobbit gave each person a tankard full of foamy ale.

�Can I get you anything else, gents, and lady?� asked Butterbur, slipping the empty tray under his arm.

�No, thank you,� replied Elladan.

The man gave a quick nod of his head. He then turned his attention to the Halfling, who still had two tankards of ale of his tray. �Oi! This table!� he said, pointing to the table beside the Rangers. The Hobbit then gave the two men their drinks before he and Butterbur cleared away the dwarves� dirty dishes.

�Cheese, Glossien?� asked G�ron, offering he a slab.

�Yes, please,� she answered, holding up her plate. The golden-haired D�nadan dropped the wedge onto her dish.

The ravenous men immediately dug into their food. Miriel watched them for a moment.

�Eat,� said Elladan, nudging her arm. �It�s good.�

The Slayer took a bite of ham. It tasted a bit salty, but was good, nonetheless. She was quite appreciative of the fact that she didn�t have to cook the meal nor clean the dishes afterward.

Miriel and her companions made small talk while they ate. They were very fortunate that the dwarves had carried instruments with them and were now making music for everyone�s enjoyment.

As soon as they had finished eating, the mortal men pulled out their pipes and began to puff away.

The Slayer turned her chair around again so that she could watch the dwarves. After a while, Elladan asked, �Would you like to dance?� Before she could reply, the eldest son of Elrond was already out of his seat, taking her by the hand. He led her to a cleared area near the fireplace beside the dwarves.

At first, she took turns dancing with Elladan and Elrohir, as the rest of the patrons looked on. Once the Rangers had finished their pipes, she danced with each one of them too. As the night wore on, the people became livelier, singing boisterously, clapping along with the music, more than likely as a direct result from the ale. Miriel had only taken sips of hers when her mouth had become overly dry. By eight-thirty, she had only begun her second tankard.

She was of the opinion that the ale had relaxed people�s inhibitions, as one of the Hobbits came up to her and kindly asked for a dance. She found herself unable to refuse, despite the height discrepancy. She danced with the Halfling as she would have with any child, though her dancing partner was far older than a mere child.

Perhaps Miriel�s dancing with someone outside her party had prompted others to ask for a dance. First, it was a Hobbit, then a dwarf. Then another dwarf, then a Hobbit, and so on and so forth until she had danced with all of them. The only ones that refrained from asking her were the mortal men in the room. Miriel wasn�t sure if that was because they were married or that they felt intimidated by her companions, who were much bigger and stronger than all the men in that room. That didn�t mean that they didn�t watch nor join in the revelry.

The last dwarf with which she had danced had a tendency to step on her toes from time to time. For one so short, he sure was heavy. Her toes throbbed horribly. It made her think of the ancient rumor that dwarves were made from stone, because that dwarf�s feet felt like blocks of marble!

Relieved when their dance was over, Miriel limped back to her table. She collapsed onto her chair, fanning herself with her hand. �It�s terribly hot in here, don�t you think?� she remarked breathlessly.

�It�s only you,� answered Elrohir.

�I imagine if I danced so much, I�d be hot as well,� laughed Elladan. �I take it you�re all danced out.�

�Yes, and my toes are killing me!� she said, slipping one foot out of her shoe and rubbing her aching toes.

�Maybe we should call it a night,� suggested Halbarad, looking at his pocket watch. �It�s getting late.�

�No it�s not,� countered Miriel. Her feet may have hurt, but she wasn�t ready to go home. Not yet. This was her first outing in months and she wasn�t ready for the night to end. She gulped some ale to quench her thirst.

�O� come on, Hal,� began Elladan. �Let� Glossien enjoy her evening out. This a rare treat for her.�

Miriel nodded in agreement, as she continued to frantically fan herself.

�Besides,� chimed in his twin, �we�ll be on the road soon enough. When will she get another opportunity like this, hmm?�

�That�s right,� added Miriel. �And I have been working hard and have been less insolent. You�ve said so yourself.�

The Watcher threw his hands up in defeat. �Fine. Fine,� he conceded. �Have your bit of fun.� He then dug his pipe out of his pocket, having the sudden need for a smoke.

Miriel smile gratefully at Halbarad and the sons of Elrond. Then, rising from her seat, she announced, �I�m going to get a bit of fresh air.�

Elladan had misgivings about Miriel�s going outside alone at that hour. �I�ll join you,� he suggested. �I can use a bit of fresh air myself.�

Miriel frowned. �Why do I get the impression that you feel the need to protect me, as if I�m some defenseless maiden.� She folded her arms across her chest in defiance. �I am quite capable of taking care of myself, my dear Elladan.� Her words came out colder than she intended.

�Feels a bit chilly in here to me,� snorted G�ron into his tankard of ale.

Elladan remained calm. He understood that it was Miriel�s youth speaking. �I am well aware of your capabilities. If you want me to remain here, then I will. I only counsel you not to take too long.�

�I shan�t be gone but a few minutes. I just need to cool off a bit.� Her expression softened, having regretted snapping at her friend. She gave him a quick smile, hoping that things were alright between them. She then turned on her heel and made a beeline for the exit, skirting around those barring her way.

As soon as Miriel stepped outside, she felt the cool night air against her damp skin. It was amazing how much quieter it was outside. She climbed down the steps, longing to feel the gentle breeze against her skin. She stood in the courtyard, twisting her long hair onto the top of her head so that she could feel the crisp air on her neck.

When she saw Halbarad�s face peek out from behind the heavy curtain of the common room, she grew annoyed. Did he not trust her? Did he think she would flee in the night? For Eru�s sake, could she not get a few minutes peace?

Her annoyance was quickly turning into anger. She stomped across the courtyard, through the stone archway, and into the street. The moon bathed her surroundings in a silver light. She stood near the main intersection in Bree. Almost directly across from where she was standing was the road that lead to the West Gate. To her right, the road continued northwest until it met the one that wound its way through Bree-hill and back to Archet. To her left, the road went on for a few miles until it reached the South Gate.

It was from the south that she heard a dog barking incessantly in the distance. The dog proved to be as annoying as her Watcher! It must have been the mood she was in. She turned, facing northwest, since that was the direction from which the breeze was coming. She inhaled deeply. The air smelled clean and refreshing.

She twisted her hair onto the top of her head again and walked closer to the intersection. No one appeared to be outside, though it wasn�t that late. Maybe nine-thirty, nine-forty-five. She then heard a man�s voice shouting from the direction from which she had heard the dog, drowning out the barking.

Finally, she thought. The dog must have been taken inside because everything became quiet again.

Miriel let her hair fall down again, allowing it to billow in the gentle breeze. She decided to follow the northwest road for a bit. She passed the intersection, glancing up at the houses dotting the hillside. She could see dim lights illuminating from a few of the windows, but for the most part, they were dark. Most of the people lived south of the intersection, not to its north.

Miriel shuddered. She wasn�t sure whether the temperature had suddenly dropped a few degrees or if her body had finally cooled enough that the night air now seemed to chill her. She decided it was most likely the latter and that she should return to the inn. As she turned, she heard a noise coming from the north. She stopped, cocked her head and listened intently. Yes, she definitely heard something, but it was indistinct. She couldn�t make out what it was.

She took a few more steps along the road before stopping again. The hair on the nape of her neck was standing on end and goose bumps covered her flesh. She could see nothing in the road, so she began to scan the roadside. A tall hedge ran along the north side, obscuring her view. There were no lamps along that part of the street and though the moon was full, she could only make out shadows from the tall bushes.

Once again, she heard a noise, but this time it sounded like a muffled moan. Whatever it was, she felt the need to investigate. She resumed walking again, her eyes fixed on the north side of the road, as that�s where the noise had come from.

When Miriel neared the hedge, she clearly heard a muted cry. Her heart began to pound frantically in her chest. By the sound of it, someone was in distress. She continued to walk along the bushes, which were as tall as she was, looking for an opening to pass through to the other side.

She came across a small gap and pushed her way through, blocking her face from the bristly limbs that raked her body as she climbed through. The moment she stepped into the grassy clearing, she quickly spotted the source of the noise and froze to the spot.

Not twenty feet from where she stood was a man with his breeches pulled to his knees. He was on top of a woman, her legs thrown over his shoulder, as his bare rear thrust back and forth. One hand was clamped over her mouth; the other held a knife up to her throat. Miriel could see the metal of the blade glinting in the moonlight.

Aragorn�s words, �Assess, then react,� echoed in her mind. Though she felt a surge of anger upon witnessing this brutal act, she wasn�t going to do anything that would cause the girl further injuries. Her eyes swept the immediate area, making sure that there were no others lurking about that could blindside her.

The man was too preoccupied to notice that she was there, and Miriel was glad for that. That gave her the upper hand, for now she was the predator and he, her prey. No more than a couple of seconds had passed since Miriel had stumbled upon the scene, yet, already she had formulated her plan of attack. Sticking to the shadows, she crept closer, determined to strike from behind.

As Miriel drew nearer, she could see things more clearly. The woman turned out to be a young girl, no older than Miriel. Already, her right eye was swollen shut. Her cheeks glistened with tears, which continued to stream from the corner of her eyes.

The Slayer fixed her eyes on the weapon. The blade was lying flat against the girl�s skin, though the man still maintained a firm hold on the hilt. Her goal was to disarm the savage without the blade accidentally piercing the girl�s flesh.

She slunk a little to her right, since that was the hand in which the villain clasped his weapon. It was at that moment, the girl spotted Miriel. Her left eye widened. Fearing that the thug would notice the girl looking at her, the Slayer pounced. She moved fluidly. One hand shooting out, snatching his wrist and pulling it back until it cracked, as her other arm swept around his neck, clamping down on his throat. She then yanked his body backward with such force that she lost her footing and stumbled, falling onto her back with the fiend on top of her.

The man cursed and thrashed. �I�ll kill you,� he threatened in a gravelly voice.

But Miriel merely tightened her chokehold, wrapping her legs around his, preventing him from kicking himself free.

Now sobbing, the girl scooted away from the fray, pulling the torn bodice of her dress together. She was in shock, finding this whole ordeal surreal. From the rape to her rescue - it all seemed unreal.

Miriel was worried at having lost sight of the girl, not to mention that this was not an ideal position for her to fight from. As the man twisted to one side, she let the momentum carry her over until she found herself splayed across his back, her limbs remaining locked around his.

The man still had one good arm and decided to rake the flesh off Miriel�s forearm with his fingernails. She snarled in response. She then shouted to the girl, �Run!� through gritted teeth, feeling the burning in her arm as the flesh was shaved off.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the girl scrambling toward the gap in the hedge. She crawled through it, escaping to the other side. The girl, now crying hysterically, took off down the street.

With the girl safely out of harm�s way, Miriel was ready to deal with this beast as she would any other. She shifted into a squatting position, loosening her hold so that she could flip the man over onto his back.

The fiend gasped and coughed, trying to suck in some air, desperate to free himself. He bucked, attempting to dislodge Miriel from his back. Knowing that her adversary only had one usable hand, she let go, doing a one-handed backward cartwheel. She landed in a crouching position, eyeing her opponent.

�You lost me my sweet young thing,� he huffed, staggering to his feet. His breeches had now slid down to his ankles. �You�ll pay dearly for that.�

Before he could even steady himself, Miriel charged. She clotheslined him, sending the brute sprawling onto his back, and leaving him winded.

Standing a few feet behind him, she could see the metal of the knife gleaming in the grass. She ran for the weapon, grabbed it, and before the man was able to regain his senses, she was on top of him. Her legs not only kept his arms pinned to his side, but she re-wrapped them around his legs so that he was trapped.

Surprisingly, the bastard didn�t realize how dire his predicament actually was. �Gonna take her place, eh? Slide a little lower, if you please,� he taunted.

His comments caused Miriel to snap. Her reply came in the form of her balled fist crashing into the bridge of his nose. The bone broke from the blow. Crimson flowed from each of his nostrils. She then delivered another punch, and another, wanting him to experience what it was like to suffer at the hands of another.

Miriel was so consumed with this sudden rage that she was detached from her environment and was unaware that the girl�s shrill cries had aroused many of the townspeople. A quarter mile down the road, the Constable sounded the alarm bells, an event that had not happened in many years in Bree-land. In the still of the night, the clanging could be heard as far away as the South Gate to the south and Archet to the north.

Of course when the Rangers heard the alarm, they instantly thought of Miriel and rushed from the inn and into the street. They were greatly dismayed when they didn�t see the Slayer. Eager for news, they immediately ran to the Constable�s house, where a mob was quickly assembling. Lights sprang on inside many of the homes in Bree, the occupants fearful of what misfortune had befallen in their close-knit community.

Miriel remained oblivious to all else except the anguished groans of the enemy. She was focused solely on him and the punishment she intended to dole out that befit his crime.

�You want to stick it in something, eh?� she snarled, her legs wrapped tightly around the man, pinning him down.

She waved the blade menacingly before the man�s nearly swollen shut eyes. �I�ll see to it that you never do that again,� she hissed. She jabbed an elbow into his throat. The man coughed and gasped, his hands instinctively reaching for his throat. Miriel slid backward until she could see the man�s half-flaccid penis. She grabbed it while her dagger swished through the air, hewing the man�s sex organ from his body.

The villain let out an ear-piercing shriek, as blood spewed from his nether regions.

When the Rangers heard that blood-curdling scream, they took off in that direction, knowing that was where they�d find Miriel. Being long-legged, they were able to outrun the Bree-landers, who followed, but were unable to keep up with the Rangers� pace.

Miriel climbed back onto the man�s torso, holding his severed penis in her left hand. �You want to stick it in a hole,� she hissed. �I�ll take care of that for you.� She then quieted his screams by shoving his penis into his mouth, trying to shove it down his throat. �Choke on this, fucker.�

His body writhed and twisted beneath her, as he gagged on his own appendage. But it wasn�t enough. The punishment she had devised was not enough. She lay her blade longways across his throat. She let go of his penis, which she had managed to wedge in his throat. She placed her left hand on the spine of her blade, then, using the weight of her body, she thrust down, the blade severing the man�s head from his body.

Not a second later, Miriel heard the bushes rustling behind her. Her companions were the first to reach her. They stopped short when they discovered the gruesome scene.

�Miriel?� cried out Elrohir.

The blood soaked Slayer leapt off the villain, turned and faced her friends. Her chest was heaving from the adrenaline rush. Blood still streamed from the blade clutched in her hand.

�O� Miriel, what have you done?� gasped Aragorn, his face a mask of horror.

�I assessed, then reacted,� she answered calmly.