The Uruk-hai were a new breed of Orcs created by Saruman the White. They were larger than normal Orcs, almost as big as men, and they were smarter as well. They were crossed between Men, Goblins and Orcs and now made up the largest part of the Isengard army together with the Dunlendings, enemies of Men of Rohan. All this Saruman had created to side with Sauron and to completely destroy the world he once had been a part of.

The Uruk-hai had kidnapped Merry and Pippin - but none knew exactly for what reasons yet. They could only suspect that the Uruks had been instructed to take any Hobbits they found so that they could deliver the One back to its master. But who had created these horrible Orcs? It was a mystery to the remaining members of the fellowship.

For long Saruman the White had watched the fellowship, ever since they left Rivendell. When they entered Lothlórien, the magic in the forest had stopped him from seeing more, but he knew that one of the Hobbits had the One for Gandalf had told him so. The prize he would receive if he brought the Ring to Sauron was something that Saruman could only begin to imagine, and therefore he did everything to bring the Hobbits to Orthanc.

"Hurry!" Aragorn shouted and began running again, over the rocks and boulders that covered the lands.

Míriel picked up her speed and hurried after their leader as fast as she could without getting too far ahead. After all she was probably the fastest one there since she was the lightest and if it were up to her they would have been much faster. Aragorn had to keep track of the traces the Uruks had left behind, though, and Gimli was not a fast runner. Indeed Gimli had complained half of the time they had been running, which had been for three days straight.

The four hunters had seen the same boulders, the same grass and the same four people for days in a row, and they were growing rather tired of it. They barely rested and did everything to catch up with the kidnapping Uruks. Since they had taken some time to send Boromir off in a worthy way, the Uruks had a large lead but from time to time the four seemed to close in on them.

"Come on Gimli," said Legolas and turned around towards the Dwarf. He had a smug smile on his face for Gimli was not keeping up and did not have the same stamina as the others did. He just loved teasing the Dwarf any chance he got.

Their friendship was probably one of the only things that kept the four hunters' spirits up. There was no fighting between the Elf and Dwarf anymore, but laughter and jokes. Ever since Lothlórien, the friendship between them had grown as Gimli had started to appreciate Elves because of Lady Galadriel. It saved Aragorn and Míriel's poor ears if the two would have kept on with their nagging.

"Three days and nights pursued," Gimli muttered to himself and sighed as he was out of breath. "No food, no rest. No sign of our quarry except on the hard rock." He was quite right though, they had almost caught up with the Orcs several times and then fallen behind time after time. They needed rest while the Orcs did not, they just kept running and running.

Míriel and Legolas ran in the lead as the sun started to leave she sky slowly and Gimli fell behind as usual. They stopped only to find a leaf of Lórien on the ground, one that could only belong to the cloaks that they had received from Galadriel. Aragorn picked the leaf up and showed it to his companions and Míriel thought to herself that it had been the Hobbits that left it there as a trail.

"They may yet be alive," said Legolas. "Only less than a day ahead."

"Come on then," Míriel said and started running again. "We can't slow down if we are so close to finding them."

Legolas nodded in agreement and took off after her. He turned around only to see Gimli on the ground - he had rolled down from one of the boulders which was quite amusing to the rest. Míriel stopped and let the others run ahead while chuckling at poor Gimli. Míriel would have felt bad for him if it was not for his complaining and the fact that he never admitted that he was actually tired and wanted to rest. Gimli just kept saying that it was hopeless.

"Come on Gimli!" Legolas shouted from the front. "We are gaining on them!"

"I am no good at cross country," Gimli muttered but started running anyway after standing up. None of them could complain about his determination if anything, he could have given up a long time ago but he continued. "We Dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous on short distances."

No one was listening to him at this point for they had all started to run once more. The Fellowship stopped again as they reached the end of the hill they had been running on. Míriel, Legolas and Aragorn now stood on one of the huge rocks to behold the beautiful lands of Rohan. Never had anyone but Aragorn been there, but now they enjoyed the view because it was very impressive.

"Rohan, home of the Horse Lords," Aragorn announced. "There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures, sets its will against us."

Aragorn seemed to be right for the Uruk-hai were not regular Orcs, and they were more determined than anything else they had come across. Now as they rummaged over the lands of Rohan, they were spreading their malice. In Rohan, King Théoden ruled, and Aragorn had once many years ago ridden to war with his father. It was long ago now, and if Théoden remembered the ranger was not certain.

Legolas hurried in the lead to see if he could spot the Orcs, or Uruk-hai as they were really called, with his keen eyesight over the lands.

"Legolas, what do your Elf-eyes see?" Aragorn yelled at him.

"The Uruks turn northeast!" Legolas shouted back and paused for a moment. "They're taking the Hobbits to Isengard."

Míriel glanced at Aragorn, for this solved the mystery of the Uruk-hai. They could not pretend to be surprised for they had long suspected that Saruman had been the one who had created these mutant Orcs. These belonged to him, not Sauron and the proof was right in front of them. Saruman had begun breeding an army that could fight alongside Mordor to destroy the world. Míriel's heart was burning with determination and lust for revenge; Saruman's betrayal would cost him much.

"Saruman," Aragorn muttered bitterly.

*

An argument had arisen that night of what to do at sunset. They had been forced to decide between running through the night or take a well-deserved rest for the first time since leaving Lothlórien. If they kept hunting the Uruks there was a strong possibility that they would miss any other clues that the Hobbits left and not even the Elves would be able to spot them in the pitch dark.

Legolas had been very resistant toward resting while Gimli had been strongly for it. Aragorn said that he would go with whatever the others decided so it had been up to Míriel's vote to decide the matter. Even though Míriel desperately wanted to keep going, she did find it foolish to rummage through the dark. Her mind had ached for rest as well but she could not relax until she saw the Hobbits with her own eyes again; but for Aragorn and Gimli's sake she decided that they should take a rest that night.

Míriel was leaning against a tree in the night, hearing the violent snores from Gimli. The moon was barely visible which confirmed that they had been right to stay and rest. Even Legolas had laid down after eating their final meal of the day, but Míriel did not know how long ago that had been.

She flinched as she heard the slightest sound of someone standing up and based on its gracefulness she knew that whoever it was it could not be Gimli or Aragorn. Legolas joined her as they glanced out over the plains.

"They are far far away," Legolas said sadly and glanced down at the ground. They had lost the Orcs for they would not have done the same as the four hunters and taken a rest, risking that the prisoners would escape. "I know in my heart that they have not rested tonight. I couldn't see them anymore even if the sun was high in the sky."

Míriel glanced at Legolas - he was not exactly helping her feel better. They had been forced to make a difficult choice, and the pressure was especially put upon Aragorn. He had been the one who had to lead them now that Gandalf was gone and Aragorn doubted himself constantly. Míriel trusted Aragorn with her life, though, and she would trust her friends' life with him as well.

"I know you wanted to keep going," Míriel said and the frown on her brow was growing. "But running in the dark was too much of a risk."

"I know so," Legolas insisted with a sigh. "I just keep thinking about Boromir and his death and I couldn't imagine losing the Hobbits as well. Too many of us have been lost."

Míriel looked at Legolas, almost surprised by him opening up about his feelings to her. She knew that Legolas cared about his companions, of course, but he had never been one to be too outspoken about his feelings.

"Boromir was one of your closest friends, I know," Míriel said sadly. "We all cared about him deeply and I believe he cared about us too."

"You especially," Legolas said with a small smile.

"You should stop speaking in that way," Míriel said and rolled her eyes with a grin. Legolas constantly kept pressing her about people caring about her in a romantic way - first Haldir and now Boromir.

"I only tell the truth," Legolas mumbled and his eyes roamed across the land. "You seem to have something about you that draws men near. You could make a man jump to his death if you asked them to, Míriel."

"And you keep exaggerating," Míriel said with a sigh. "I know one person who would probably rather die than do as I say and he stands right next to me."

Legolas let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "No, I assure you that you would find a way to convince me."

Míriel did not know what he meant by that, but when Legolas glanced into her eyes again her stomach lurched and for a moment it felt different. Almost as though he shared her feelings and that his heart might have opened to her once more.

*

"I reckon the Hobbits will be alright," Gimli said as he and Míriel were walking behind Legolas and Aragorn who were trying to find new tracks of the Uruks.

A red sun had risen in the morning, implying that blood had been spilt that night. Míriel had been anxious as to whose blood had been spilt and if they had lost the Hobbits that night. Gimli had noticed her worries and was constantly trying to cheer the Elf up.

"The Hobbits are more resistant than you think," Gimli continued and Legolas merely glanced at the Dwarf. "Just think of all the troubles they've been through and still gotten out."

"I suppose so," Míriel said and smiled toward Gimil, grateful for his comfort.

Aragorn stopped suddenly and let his hand grace the ground carefully. They all winced as they heard a horse cry not far away and soon the ground started to move as dozens of hooves approached them at a fast pace. Far in the distance, Míriel spotted riders, hundreds of them and they were riding right towards the four hunters.

Aragorn urged his companions to hide behind some of the huge rocks in case the riders were foes and not friends. Soon the riders rode past the rocks and it was made clear to their leader that these were the Rohirrim. Aragorn stood from their hiding, and Míriel, Legolas and Gimli followed suit.

"Riders of Rohan!" Aragorn yelled. "What news from the Mark?"

The rider in the front gestured for his men to turn back to meet the strangers and soon the Rohirrim had turned into an arch back toward the four companions. The riders came closer and closer and surrounded them in a circle and urged closer until the four were completely isolated from the outside. Dozens of spears pointed toward them and Aragorn put his hands up in defeat to indicate that they meant no harm.

One of the riders approached them on horseback and asked them in a loud, demanding voice, "What business does an Elf, a Man, a woman and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!"

Míriel scoffered - she was not a woman, she was an Elf.

"I am an Elf, thank you very much," she muttered to herself mostly. The rider glanced at her as he had heard her and his brows raised, surprised as he realised his mistake. He said nothing, though.

"Give me your name horse master, and I shall give you mine," Gimli said coldly.

Míriel would have rolled his eyes at the Dwarf if they had not been surrounded by spears. Gimli never learnt to be quiet and to try to be polite to strangers they met that clearly had an advantage over them. Gimli always upset people, first Haldir and now this man.

The rider dismounted his horse and walked closer to Gimli and in his eyes, the rage was clear to all around.

"I would cut off your head, Dwarf, if it stood a little bit higher off the ground."

"You would die before your stroke fell," Legolas said and placed an arrow on his bow faster than anyone could have reacted. Legolas would have already shot the man if they had not been surrounded.

Soon all of the spears were aimed at Legolas, but he had no intention of releasing the arrow as long as they were outnumbered. This horse master had angered Legolas greatly, though, for they had already lost Gandalf and Boromir, and now even perhaps Merry and Pippin as well. Míriel knew how much that had hurt him.

Aragorn stepped toward Legolas and placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him. Legolas lowered his bow but glared at the rider all the same.

"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn," said Aragorn politely. "This is Gimli, son of Glóin and Legolas of the Woodland Realm. This here is Lady Míriel of Lórien. We are friends of Rohan, and of Théoden, your King."

The young rider lowered his gaze to the ground sadly and shook his head.

"Théoden no longer recognizes friends from foe," he said and removed his helmet. "Not even his own kin. Saruman has poisoned the mind of the King and claimed lordship over these lands. My company is those loyal to Rohan and for that, we are banished. I am Éomer, son of Éomund and the nephew of the King. Even I have been banished."

Míriel exchanged glances with Aragorn. Things had not gone well in Rohan clearly, for now, the enemy had control of an entire realm. Rohan was only the beginning for Saruman, soon he would take Gondor as well and then there would be no hope for Men.

"The white Wizard is cunning. He walks here and there they say, as an old man hooded and cloaked. And everywhere his spies slip past our nets."

Éomer son of Éomund stared right at Legolas as he uttered the word 'spy' for Legolas had been the one to threaten the rider's life.

"We are no spies," Aragorn said. "We track a party of Uruk-hai westward across the plain. They have taken two of our friend's captive."

"The Uruks are destroyed; we slaughtered them during the night," Éomer said.

Míriel glanced at Legolas - was this a good thing or no? If the Uruks had perished either Merry and Pippin could have fled or perished alongside them.

"But there were two Hobbits," Gimli said desperately. "Did you see two Hobbits with them?"

"They would be small," Aragorn explained - the people of Rohan did not have much experience with halflings. "Only children to your eyes."

Éomer hesitated and by the look on his face Míriel realised that he did not bring good news for them.

"We left none alive, we piled the carcasses and burned them." Éomer said and nodded in the direction of the battle. They followed his gaze to the pile of burning Uruks not far away, the smoke still erupting from the carcasses.

"Dead?" Gimli uttered.

"I am sorry," Éomer said, and he looked as though he meant it.

Míriel refused to believe it and so when Legolas placed his hand on her shoulder she brushed it away. There was no reason to be sad; Merry and Pippin could still be alive. All they had to do was find them.

"I won't believe it until there is proof," Míriel insisted and looked to Aragorn. "We will go there ourselves."

Aragorn nodded in agreement.

"Hasufel, Arod, Windfola!" Éomer called and whistled. The man whistled for three horses, a white stallion with a silver-grey mane, a grey mare with a black mane and a brown one. Míriel grabbed the reins of Windfola and patted her neck. This was a beautiful horse.

"May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters," Éomer said and nodded toward them. "Farewell."

Éomer turned away, placed his helmet on his head and mounted his steed yet again. He turned to the four for one last time and sighed.

"Look for your friends. But do not trust hope, it has forsaken these lands. We ride north!"

The Rohirrim were soon only a shadow in the distance and the four had still not yet mounted their horses to ride toward the carcasses. It was as if they wanted to put it off until later for they were afraid of what they would find. Eventually, they mounted their steeds, Gimli riding behind Legolas on Hasufel and off they went.

The closer they got to the battlefield the worse the smell of the burning Uruk-hai became. They soon dismounted and started to look for any clues of where the Hobbits could be. No signs of them could be found amongst the pile until Gimli suddenly gasped.

"It's one of their wee belts," he said quietly as he looked at his two companions.

This could mean nothing less than that Merry and Pippin were indeed gone. Míriel lowered her head sadly as her eyes began filling with tears. Too much pain this fellowship had to endure, and now the very joy of the company which had always been the two Hobbits, was gone as well.

"May they find peace... after death," Legolas mumbled as he closed his eyes.

Aragorn kicked one of the Uruk's helmets as hard as he could and released a cry of anger. The pain of losing yet two more companions hurt the leader perhaps more than anyone, for he felt as if he had failed. They had not been able to protect any of the Hobbits that came with them from Rivendell, never would they return to their homes in the Shire and meet their families again. Aragon fell to the ground on his knees, defeated.

"A Hobbit laid here," Aragorn said suddenly as his hands graced the ground. "And the other."

It did not take long before the ranger had found a track and soon he started moving around the ground eagerly. Legolas, Míriel and Gimli followed him as a small string of hope had struck them. The tracks led them all the way toward a great and dangerous forest, one that no one would enter unless they desired to get lost in an endless maze of trees and dangerous things beyond imagination.

"Fangorn forest?" Gimli mumbled. "What madness drew them there?"

Indeed.