The next morning, Miril woke early before her husband. She quickly changed into a tunic and pants, strapping on her leather boots and combing her hair to try to get the dirt that had accumulated out of it. She wished she could bathe before leaving but she wasn't sure there would be time today.

She walked out of her bedroom and into the common room. Because it was still early and the sun had only just risen above the hills, breakfast was not there yet. No matter, she desired to take a walk first anyways.

It was warm outside but she still put on her weathered cloak for good measure in case it get windy or the weather changed some other way. Besides, she liked having a cloak on. She had always worn them during her days in the North.

Oh the North! How she missed those rolling hills and even the bite of the bitterness at Bree. What wouldn't she give to have a simple ale at the Prancing Pony, or go warg hunting up near Lake Evendim? She loved Gondor now too, but the North would always be her home.

She missed the faces of her hobbit friends, too. She missed Pippin's happy little smile and curly sandy hair. She missed Merry and his affinity for maps and books. Though she had never grown close to them, she also missed Frodo and Sam. She wondered how they were doing. News of the Scouring of the Shire had reached Gondor before she left, but as it was sovereign territory and the hobbits seemed to have everything under control, no citizen of Gondor was dispatched to help.

And what of Lothlorien? Surely by now, with the departure of the Lady Galadriel, the Mellyrn trees were starting to wilt and die. The majority of the folk of those lands moved to Mirkwood after the destruction of Dol Guldor by the Galadhrim. Oh how sad was the fading of what was once beautiful.

Most of all Miril missed Rivendell and the lands north of the Shire. Rivendell had been her home for so long and she wondered if Lindir and Oreleth had left to go over the sea. She wondered if they'd left without saying goodbye?

"Quit thinking like that, MIril," she told herself outloud as she walked the stoney streets of Emyn Arnen.

"Thinking like what?"

Miril turned around sharply to find Maglor looking at her.

"Were you following me?" Miril asked incredulously.

Maglor laughed. "Calm down, your highness. Nay. I was out for a stroll myself and saw you wandering forlornly across the path."

She huffed and turned away, only somewhat believing his answer.

"So tell me, what is troubling you?" Maglor walked closer to her.

"I am merely lamenting the loss of so much that was once fair," Miril sighed. "Does that answer your question?"

"Indeed." He nodded. "I understand completely, you know. More than most I should say. For I have seen ultimate beauty and lost it forever."

Miril looked at him. She supposed he was right. He had lost everything. He had lost his family, his riches, his friends, his home. All he had was his life, and that was a hollow one, knowing the only way he could die would be in battle or to fade away entirely.

"Come on," Maglor gestured for her to follow him. "It should be time for breakfast by now."

She looked at the sky and supposed he was right. The sun was high enough that the others should have been awake as well. Together, she and Maglor made their way to the house they were staying in and went inside. As suspected, the twins were both awake and the food had just arrived.

"Where did you two run of to?" Elladan asked curiously as he stuffed his face with berries.

Maglor spoke as he sat down in a chair. "I ran into her as I was taking a walk and reminded her it was high time for breakfast."

"Good thing you got here when you did," Elrohir laughed. "Elladan is likely to eat all the berries if you don't stop him!"

Elladan smiled at them, his face red with berry juice. Miril snorted with laughter as she put a few of the ripe red berries on her plate as well as a few slices of bread and some butter. She ate her meal in relative silence, realizing that for everything she had lost by helping with the Ring quest, she had gained much as well.

For she had managed to wed the greatest man, elf, or half-elf alive in Elrohir, and was now carrying their child. She had managed to see her greatest ally, her best friend, crowned king. And she made new friends along the way like Faramir and Imrahil and Eomer.

She had much to be thankful for.

After breakfast, Faramir appeared in the door. They got up and followed him as he asked them to do. Faramir led the way to the Main House where they went into a side room and sat at a large table.

"We need to discuss how you plan to get to Harad," Faramir told them once they were all seated. "For I have decided to suggest to you something that once upon a time I would never have suggested."

"You have an idea then? Something to make our trip into Mordor quicker?" Elladan asked excitedly.

"Indeed. For as I see it, it could take well over a month for you to go up to the Morannon, down into Nurn within Mordor, around the Mountains of Shadow, and into Harad." Faramir paused. "However there is another way into Mordor."

"The Tower of Cirith Ungol," Miril murmured, seeing where Faramir was heading. "You want us to go by Minas Morgul?"

"Indeed." Faramir nodded. "That place is still dangerous and can warp a man's mind. And the climb up to the tower is not for the feint of heart. But it will cut two weeks off your journey."

"Is the Spider's Pass safe then?" Elrohir asked.

Faramir sighed. "It should be. Sam told us he had killed the monster before he returned to the Shire. But be careful if you do choose that route."

"Let's say we do go through the pass of Cirith Ungol." Miril looked at a map of Mordor that sat in front of her. "How far do we still need to travel?"

"I've had our best cartographers working that out." Faramir took the map and laid it out for them all to see. "From Cirith Ungol to the first crossing of roads is about a 120 miles. From the crossing to the settlement of men at Thaurband is around 90 miles. From Thaurband to the first tributary of the Sea of Nurn is 90 miles, and to the next river along the Khand Road is 90 miles. After that, we estimate it should take you nigh on 25 days to reach Harad, going through Khand along the way."

In all, the trip was estimated to take thirty-five days and that was without stops to search for the mysterious lights in Southern Mordor, or stops to speak to the men in Nurn. Food would be scarce and water even scarcer. But they had to make it work.

"That's a lot of walking through unknown territory," Maglor muttered unhappily. "Do we know anything of what we're up against."

"Just what you and I gathered in Dol Amroth. Oliphants, tribes, jungles, and deserts." Miril shrugged. "Think of it as an adventure!"

The words sounded hollow even to her ears.

Faramir cocked an eyebrow at her before continuing. "Are you sure you want to proceed? This will be a hard journey."

"Yes." Miril immediately said, slamming her fist down on the table. "Yes. We must go."

Elrohir and Elladan nodded as well. Eventually Maglor agreed.

"Very well then." Faramir smiled. "We have a gift that arrived in a caravan from Rivendell. A special pack pony for you to use. His name is Bill."

"Bill?" Miril asked in confusion. "Who's Bill?"

"He's the pony the Fellowship used until Moria," Elrohir smiled. "He made his way back to Rivendell after they cut him loose. He's a smart beast."

"Sounds good," Miril nodded. "Can he be packed with food and water and clothing for our trip by tomorrow morning, Faramir?"

"He shall be ready by sunrise." Faramir agreed. "And do not worry about your horses. I personally shall see them delivered back to Minas Tirith, and I will update Aragorn on your plan."

And so they spent the rest of the day preparing for their trip. Miril did get the bath she wanted, and was glad too. It was unlikely there would be much bathing where they were going. Water was likely scare in the regions to the South.

They had a huge task ahead of them. And Miril hoped they were prepared for it.

A/N: Just want you guys to know I spent upwards of three hours today mapping out their route and alternative routes and picking the route I wanted and measure distances and then calculating how long those would take on foot. Phew. But now it's done and I recorded it in a notebook and it's all good!