Aragorn and Legolas had been alert all day. They whispered among themselves often and basically made the rest of us paranoid. Finally around midday Aragorn stopped us.
"What is it, Aragorn? You and the elf have been acting strangely all morning." Gimli asked as Aragorn waited for me and Katy to catch up.
"Legolas has spotted a group of riders coming this way." Aragorn informed us, "We do not know if they are friendly and believe it would be best if we lay here in hiding."
"Hide where?" I asked, looking around at the empty field.
"In the rocks over there." Aragorn said, nodding in the general direction of a cluster of rocks.
I looked at the gathering skeptically, "Those things wouldn’t hid a dog." I muttered.
"Maybe not," Legolas agreed, "But a dog does not wear elven cloaks."
I pondered this for a moment before agreeing to his point. We all crouched among the rocks, using our cloaks to hide the bulk of our bodies and hoping not to be seen.
A short time later, but long enough for me to wish I had sought out a more comfortable spot, a large group of riders began to pass by our hiding place. Each of them bore a spear at their side and a flag rode among them heralding the land of Rohan.
"You two stay here until we are sure it is safe." Aragorn whispered to me and Katy, beginning to rise as the last of the riders passed.
Legolas and Gimli rose with him and Aragorn walked into the open, hailing the company, "What news from the North, Riders of Rohan?"
Katy and I watched in amazement as the company of horses turned as one until they surrounded our friends then halted.
"Who are you? And what are you doing in this land?" The leader whom I assumed was Éomer questioned.
"I am called Strider," Was Aragorn’s reply, "I came out of the North. I am hunting orcs."
Éomer dismounted swiftly and surveyed Aragorn and the others with him. They spoke quiet among each other for a short time until Gimli spoke, "Then Éomer son of Éomund, let Gimli, the Dwarf Gloín’s son warn you against foolish words. You speak evil of that which is fair beyond your thought, and only little wit can excuse you."
Éomer glared at the dwarf, "I would cut off your head, beard and all, Master Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
"He stands not alone. You would die before your stroke fell." Legolas declared, quickly readying his bow to fire at the rider if need be.
It was all I could do not to laugh out loud at the look of surprise that flashed on Aragorn’s face at his companion’s movement. He quickly sorted out this misunderstanding and they talked on for a while longer before we could hear them again.
After some pretty impressive arguments on Aragorn’s part (including making himself look all kingly) Éomer agreed to help. Aragorn deemed this a good time to reveal us as he, Legolas and Gimli were left alone with the captain.
"The two you see here with me are not my only companions." Aragorn told Éomer as they prepared to talk some more.
Éomer laughed, "I suppose a wizard and an eagle make up your other companions?" He asked in amusement.
Aragorn grinned, "Nay, come forth Lady Rachel and Lady Katy." He called to us from the rocks.
We rose a bit stiffly and walked over to him, shaking dust from our cloak and pants as we came. "These are my other companions. They were meant to stay in Imladris but somehow escaped the elven guard and have traveled with us since Lorien."
"Hi." I greeted, ruling out a bow since I was sure I looked silly enough already.
"Hey." Katy agreed from beside me.
"Yours is a strange company indeed." Éomer commented, "But you have not told all. Will you now speak more fully of your errand, so that I may judge what to do?"
Aragorn told him about our company but only that he had meant to go to Gondor and mentioned nothing of the Ring. The two spoke together for some time about such things as wizards and Gondor and Sauron and Katy and I soon fell asleep, still being tired from the day’s run.
We were roused sometime later by Gimli, "Éomer has given us his three extra horses to ride." The dwarf informed us, "It seems you had better get out there as there is some talk about what to do with you."
As our brains caught up with what Gimli was saying we slowly followed the dwarf through the warriors to where we found Aragorn, Legolas and Éomer speaking together.
"Ah, there you are." Aragorn said, a bit too cheerily I noted, "You two will take this horse to Edoras with Éomer’s company. We will meet up with you there later."
I blinked at him, still half asleep.
"But what about Merry and Pippin?!" Katy exclaimed, slightly more awake than me.
"I do not think we all need to go to find them." Aragorn answered.
"But what about Gandalf?" I asked next still barely awake.
Aragorn looked at me quizzically. "Gandalf fell, do you not remember?" Legolas asked worriedly, bringing a solemn air over the small group.
I felt my face flush, "Oh yeah… Maybe I should go back to Edoras." I agreed deciding that if I went there I couldn’t screw up something. Glancing around I noticed Aragorn’s eyes watching me intently.
"No, I think perhaps you should come with us." Aragorn said slowly.
I exchanged a glance with Katy, not sure if we should welcome this change or insist against it. "Okay!" Katy agreed readily, I shrugged.
I looked at Aragorn suspiciously before reluctantly agreeing myself. We set off a short time later making promises to Éomer to return the horses.