As the King of Rohan had decided that his people were to leave for Helm's Deep in the morning, the rest of the fellowship had no choice but to follow them. Míriel spent her last night in Edoras in her chamber since she suspected that it might be the last rest she would have for a while. As soon as the morning came and she heard the people of Edoras scrambling to get her things together, she changed into her riding attire and hurried out of the Golden Halls.

Míriel was met by a grey sky upon exiting the Halls and all around the city people were hurrying around with worried frowns upon their faces. She knew they must be so scared of what was to come and that it was hard to leave their home behind.

Míriel made her way toward the stables to get Windfola. The horse and her had bonded in such a nice way and Míriel could not remember having liked a horse this much before. She hoped Théoden would allow her to keep the mare after all this since it would be hard to be separated from her.

As Míriel arrived outside the stables, Gimli and Legolas were already there. Legolas sent her a mischievous look, probably to remind her of the kiss they'd shared the other day and she gave him a mysterious smile in return. She hadn't told anyone about it for in truth she was a bit ashamed. It was wrong of her to get close to Legolas again when she was constantly lying to him. Míriel didn't wish to pursue a relationship based entirely on a large lie.

Míriel hurried to get Windfola saddled since she realised that she was amongst the last to do so. She led the horse out again and stopped by Legolas and Gimli. The men of Rohan were already in their saddles, awaiting only the King, and the people had loaded cartridges with things to bring on the journey. There was only one person who was missing - Gandalf.

"Where is Gandalf?" Míriel asked as her eyes roamed across the city, but could not find the Wizard. Aragorn had already taken his position next to the rest of the men and Míriel would have assumed that she would find Gandalf amongst them too.

"The Wizard left this morning," Gimli grunted. "He was sick and tired of King Théoden's plans."

"What?" Míriel said and frowned. "What do you mean he left?"

"Gandalf wants to find help since King Théoden won't," Legolas explained as he helped Gimli up into the saddle. That made more sense than for the Wizard to simply stomp off in anger - although it wouldn't be the first time. "He doubts his plan and so do I, but Gandalf put his trust in Aragorn to help lead the people of Rohan. He finds that this fight will be important for the future of Middle-earth."

"As it will be," Míriel said with a sigh and glanced at Aragorn. "I just wish I had time to say goodbye. Gandalf has a tendency to leave without explaining himself, but I would have very much liked to go with him this time. He was supposed to teach me the ways of the Maiar. I'm just as lost as before without him."

"No, we need you with us," Gimli protested. "We'll at least have one Wizard amongst us. Sorry I mean Witch."

Míriel chuckled, although she didn't find the term witch all that endearing. Her smile faded as she saw Théoden walk out of the Golden Halls and toward his horse. If Gandalf doubted him this much it must have meant that they were in great trouble. What faced them in Helm's Deep would likely be everything but safe. Théoden didn't know what it was like to fight the Uruk-hai. Míriel hoped the fellowship could be enough assistance for Rohan in their time of need.

What had started as a task to destroy the ring of power now seemed to be a much greater mission. The ring was now a faint memory in the back of their minds since none of the fellowship had seen it for quite some time, which made it somewhat easy to forget about at times. Míriel knew that they were doing all this for Frodo and Sam's sake, though, so that when the ring was destroyed there would be a world worth saving. For as long as the ring was still out there, Saruman and Sauron would continue to torture Middle-earth.

"Let's hope that Gandalf knows what he's doing," Míriel decided as she mounted Windfola's saddle. "It is up to us to help Rohan now, and follow Aragorn."

Together they joined the ranks of the other riders of Rohan - men who did not seem very convinced either. They were riding into the unknown, into death, they could all feel it.

*

At night they stopped and made camp so that the poor people of Edoras could rest. They were exhausted after the long hours of walking without any breaks. Not many had a horse since all the riders had to be armed in case of an attack.

Éowyn walked around the camp to offer her not-so-tasty stew to anyone who accepted. Gimli had tasted it and told Míriel that it was the most disgusting stew he ever ate and that Éowyn wasn't a talented cook by any means. Míriel had, because of that comment, gently declined her offer and said that she had already eaten, though she was very hungry.

"I have some lembas left."

Míriel turned and saw Legolas waving the bread in front of her teasingly. Míriel's stomach made a sound in response, making it clear that she was very hungry.

"If you don't give me a bite I don't know what I'll do," Míriel said with a laugh.

They took a seat next to each other and Legolas offered Míriel the tasty Elvish bread. A single bite was enough to fill Míriel completely, and the taste reminded her of home. Legolas must have noticed her facial expression changing at the thought of Lórien for he frowned.

"Are you worried about not seeing Lothlórien again?" Legolas asked carefully.

"You know me well," Míriel said with a sad smile. "We don't know what we're walking into, something bad enough to make even Gandalf leave. I've been in big trouble before, but I don't think anything I've experienced will quite live up to what's coming."

Legolas examined her face and she couldn't quite see what he was trying to say.

"I didn't know you've been in battle before," Legolas said curiously.

"I haven't," Míriel said quickly. "I was referring to when we were in Moria and other times when I've found myself in a tricky situation." More lies. Míriel glared down at the ground, ashamed, and sighed deeply.

She felt his hand over hers and then he intertwined their fingers together, sending shivers down her spine. Legolas' fingers gently caressed her palm as she finally glanced into his eyes.

"We will make it out of this," he determined. "Together." Míriel smiled faintly as he rested his forehead against hers. She then moved to rest her head on his shoulder, and she stayed that way all night until they were forced to continue their journey.

As the morning came people had to be ready to leave within the hour. Míriel would have thought the children would be the hardest to wake, when in truth it was Gimli who was the grumpies of them all. Eventually, though, they were all on their way yet again.

Míriel rode next to Aragorn most of the way, and together they watched Éowyn and Gimli talking and laughing together a little up front. Míriel decided to ride up to the two since Aragorn was being rather boring at the moment since he seemed to be in deep thought.

Gimli was alone in Arod's saddle since Legolas had walked ahead to scout. Éowyn was therefore kind enough to lead the horse since Gimli was terrible at riding.

"It's true, you don't see many Dwarf women," Gimli said to Éowyn and smiled faintly at Míriel as she rode up to them. "And in fact, they are so alike in voice and appearance that they're often mistaken for Dwarf men. This, in turn, has given rise to the belief that there are no Dwarf women, and that Dwarves just spring out of holes in the ground." Míriel and Éowyn were very amused by this and started laughing loudly. Gimli grinned pleased and laughed too. "Which of course is ridiculous."

His horse suddenly started sprinting away as Arod had been frightened by Gimli's sudden movements. Arod stopped only a small distance ahead, but Gimli fell from the saddle because of the sudden halt. He was now laying on the ground and Míriel tried biting back a laugh. She dismounted her horse and hurried toward Gimli with Éowyn to help him up. Éowyn was laughing heartedly, grasping the Dwarf's arm to help him up on his feet again. Gimli was trying to act as if everything was alright even if he must have been in a lot of pain.

"It's all right," Gimli assured them and waved his hands to show that he could stand perfectly fine on his own. "Nobody panic, it was deliberate. It was deliberate."

Míriel rolled her eyes since she knew it was not, but it was a nice turn of events from the boring morning she'd had. She suddenly heard Théoden's mumbling voice behind them only a few metres away. He was now walking next to Aragorn who had awoken from daydreaming after Gimli's fall. Théoden was speaking with Aragorn about Éowyn, and Míriel was quite sure that they thought that no one else would hear them. She did, though, and listened curiously to the King's words.

"I haven't seen my niece smile for a long time," Míriel heard Théoden say to Aragorn. "She was a girl when they brought her father back dead. Cut down by Orcs. She watched her mother succumb to grief. Then she was left alone, to tend her King in growing fear. Doomed to wait upon an old man who should have loved her as a father."

It was hard to imagine that someone so kind as Éowyn had been through such horrors as a child. The fact that her heart still seemed to be filled with such love and courage despite all the darkness that she had been put through showed the strength that was in the shieldmaiden of Rohan. It gave Míriel hope to see that Théoden cared so much for the girl and she knew that Éowyn cared just as much for her uncle. It reminded Míriel of herself and Elrond.

Míriel glanced Legolas' way and decided that she should ride up to him now that Gimli was back in the saddle. She swung herself back on top of Windfola's back and made her way up the plains to his side.

"Do you see anything?" she asked him, climbing off her horse. Legolas turned his attention to Míriel.

"No", he said and relaxed a little. "I was just in deep thought; I am sorry if I worried you."

They soon fell into silence and stared out over the landscape together. Míriel glanced at him and her heart fluttered at the sight of his profile. The feelings that arose in her when she saw Legolas were growing dangerous for somebody who constantly lied to his face.

"I really hope this is the last time we're all separated," Míriel began slowly and scratched her arm nervously. "With Gandalf gone again it feels empty; we just got him back. I just want us all to be together again like we were in the start."

"So do I," Legolas said. "But we must accept that we have different roles now. I will always believe that we'll all reunite one day. When all of this is over, perhaps twenty years from now when the Hobbits, Gimli and Aragorn are all grey and old we'll meet and tell each other the stories of the past."

Míriel smiled as it warmed her heart to hear him speak in such a way. Legolas gave her hope that the future would bring what he wanted.

"Would I have to wait twenty years to see you again?" Míriel blurted out, without really thinking. Legolas turned to her and raised his eyebrows questioningly. "I mean... it really isn't that long but still... Will you just return to your home when this is over?"

"Well that would depend," Legolas said with a mysterious smile.

"On what?" Míriel asked.

"If I could choose I would never be separated from you again, Míriel," Legolas said gently. "I would never go another day without seeing you. But that all will depend on you."

Míriel stared into his icy blue eyes for a moment she was dumbfounded and had no idea of what to say to him.

"Well... you know how I feel already," Míriel said. "It's just... a little complicated."

Míriel was lucky in a way that her eyes caught a horrible scene not too far away from them, because Legolas was just about to answer him when he also saw it. Something was coming toward them from the distance.

"Legolas," Míriel breathed. "They're attacking the scouts!"

It was a Warg - a terrible wolf-like creature, and an Orc riding it. It soon became apparent that Saruman had sent this scout and if there was one there had to be more. They should have known that something like this was going to happen, the journey so far had been far too calm.

Míriel widened her eyes as Háma was attacked and bit by one of the Wargs while Gamling tried fighting it off. Legolas lept from the hill down to the riders and shot an arrow through the Warg before killing the Orc with his dagger. Háma was already dead but Gamling survived. Míriel soon spotted more of the Wargs coming, and Aragorn came riding toward her after noticing that something was wrong.

"A scout!" Legolas shouted and hurried up toward Míriel again.

"There are more coming," Míriel said to Aragorn.

He nodded and rode back to the King, alarming everyone that they were under attack. Chaos erupted among the people, they were screaming and running all over the place out of pure fear. Never had it crossed their minds that something would attack them before they arrived at Helm's Deep, which was quite naive of them to think. Saruman had, of course, gotten news of their travelling and sent the wargs to destroy the people of Rohan at their weakest state. There were children there, which proved how heartless he was.

"Another fight already," Míriel said to Legolas and chuckled sadly. However, Legolas did not return her smile.

"You need to go," Legolas said and his look did not show any hint of a joke.

"What?" Míriel said and scowled.

"Éowyn can't lead the people to Helm's Deep on her own," Legolas said and nodded over her shoulder. Míriel turned around and saw how Éowyn was trying to gather the people around her. She was going to lead them on while Théoden fought.

"Why me?" Míriel questioned and glared into Legolas eyes. "You just said that you never wanted us to be separated again."

"Because you are the only one powerful enough to protect them all," Legolas insisted.

Míriel sighed; she didn't want to go and be separated from her companions, but at the same time she couldn't leave Éowyn to fend for herself. Therefore she nodded slowly, agreeing to what Legolas said.

"I better go then," Míriel said and nodded. Her eyes met Legolas' again and none of them spoke to each other. "This is the last time I'll ever be separated from you all. Please be careful."

"I promise that I will," Legolas said and grabbed her hand with his own.

"I believe you," Míriel said slowly and nodded.

She swung herself up into the saddle once more and gave Legolas a last look before riding toward Éowyn and the people she was trying to keep in control. Young Éowyn was telling her people to make for the lower grounds, and she seemed a little discouraged since she wasn't allowed to stay and fight with the men. The people needed her though, for her voice was calm and strong - Éowyn was a born leader. If Théoden was to die, she would be the one the people turned to, and she needed to get used to that thought.