Song: "Shadow" by Macklemore feat. IRO

*******

I watched Boromir and Freya stand and they went off to the beach to get clothes, but I couldn't help but wonder what would come of Boromir now.

"Imara?" Aragorn asks.

I looked over and blinked. "Yeah?"

"Whats wrong?"

"Other than all the hobbits are missing now and the Fellowship is not a Fellowship? I guess nothing other than we see what happens with Boromir. And if Freya transferred some of her powers into him." I rubbed at my arm and healed a minor cut from an orc on my bicep.

"So, Boromir could end up a Skin Changer like Freya?"

"Most likely not." Baldor said and shuffled his wings. I didn't blame him for staying in dragon from for now. It was awkward enough that Freya was without clothes, I seriously didn't think two naked people would be appreciated.

"Freya is a Skin Changer, which is something you are born with, but also has healing abilities. It's a form of magic Imara and I are surprisingly good at, and a part of it can be used to heal someone from near death. It's not necromancy- raising the dead- but an extra powerful healing spell that literally takes part of your own health and life and transfers it to the person who needs it. It can only be done once or twice in an immortal's lifetime. Mortals would die if they tried it."

I ran a hand through my hair, brushing some red strands from my face. "So, if I were to do the same for Aragorn, there's a possibility he could end up with a part of my life as well as a smidgen of my powers."

Aragorn raised both eyebrows. "So I'd control shadows like you?"

"Mmm, maybe not. But who knows." I said with a shrug.

"And you could make anyone immortal?" Gimli asks.

"In all technicality, yes." I say. "If you noticed, Boromir appeared to decrease in age as Freya healed him. It's because he was turned, well, immortal. And it affects everyone differently so it's honestly only saved for a life or death kind of situation."

"So. What do we do now? The hobbits are gone." Gimli asked, huffing and putting his hands to his hips.

"Let's head to the beach. We'll plan from there." I said and reached out and took Aragorn's hand and pulled him over to walk with me out of the woods.

He squeezed my hand. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm just... I want to make sure we find the hobbits, that's all."

He didn't look like he believed me, but didn't press me for any more answers.

We made it to the beach and Freya and Boromir had changed. They looked up as we approached, then Freya said,

"Sam and Frodo took a boat and went to the other side. They're making their way south towards Mordor. I guess the question is whether we split up and go after them, and then there's the matter of Merry and Pippin."

I clenched my jaw. "As much as I hate to admit it, I feel like Sam and Frodo would be safer traveling alone. If any of us- especially Baldor, Freya, or I tried to follow into Mordor, it wouldn't be good."

"So we go to Rohan. And we get Theoden on our side." Baldor said, emerging from behind some trees and tugging a shirt over his head. He ran a hand through his disheveled black hair and tugged on a pair of boots. "And find Draco."

I nodded. "And find Draco."

"And on the way, we'll get the lads back from those damned orcs. I'd like to see 'em try and take on all of us." Gimli said, pumping his ax into to the air.

"Great. Let's go and get them, then." Boromir said and sheathed his sword at his side.

"Take only what you can carry. We must move quickly." Aragorn said, taking my hand again.

"Certainty of death. Small change of success. What are we waiting for?" Gimli asks with a grin and a laugh, and we as one take off into the woods.

******

Aragorn and Baldor led the group, running ahead and tracking the orcs. Baldor used his scent, and Aragorn his skills in tracking.

They were talking and lighting for most of the journey, and I found myself stuff between Legolas and Gimli as Freya and Boromir ran slightly ahead of us.

Gimli began to slow, and I called over my shoulder, "Come on, now, Gimli. Don't go aging behind now."

"Ach. We dwarves are natural sprinters, ya know."

"Are you?" I asked dryly, looking back over my shoulder. "You're not going very fast."

Legolas sent me a snide smirk.

Gimli scoffed. "I'm wasted in this cross country, lassie. Not this endless sprintin'!"

Legolas and I laughed at him. We reached the top of the hill and Legolas ran up ahead of us to stand with Aragorn and Baldor.

"Legolas!" Aragorn called. "What do your elf eyes see?"

"The Uruks are headed north! They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!" Legolas called back, eyes wide in horror.

I sucked in a sharp breath. "No. Not there. We'll never make it in time."

"Unless we fly." Baldor says.

"No it's too risky." Freya says. "As easy as that would be, dad, they'd see us coming from far away."

"That's true." He says glumly.

"Baldor, how is your shadow travel?" I asked, watching the sun begin to set over the horizon. I caught a glimpse of the black shapes disappearing over the horizon. Towards Fangorn Forest.

"I mean, it's not great, but it's decent." He replied. "Why?"

"How many can you carry?"

"Maybe one or two, excluding myself."

I nodded. "Alright. Take Boromir and Freya. Make your way towards Rohan."

Baldor snorted. "They will not like to see me."

"Yes. That's why you're going with Freya and Boromir. And Draco is there."

He sighed heavily, then said, "Fine. Get to Rohan as soon as possible."

He looked to Freya and Boromir, and she pulled Boromir over, and I watched them disappear.

I held my hands out to the others. "Let's catch up to the Uruks, shall we?"

Aragorn took my hand, Legolas grabbed my shoulder, and I grabbed Gimli's arm and I teleported us closer, resurfacing from under a rock's shadow.

I felt weak suddenly and stumbled a little, but Aragorn caught me. "Easy." He says gently, righting me and checking on me.

"I'm fine. Just tired." I said abs squinted out into the distance. "I only got us a mile closer."

"It's good enough." Legolas said.

"We're that mile closer to saving the lads, Imara." Gimli said. "Don't worry yerself."

I nodded and froze when a giant green dragon suddenly soared by overhead, unleashing a savage roar as hundreds of Rohan Riders cantered on their horses past us. Towards the Uruks.

That dragon wasn't Freya...

I stepped out from the rock and ignored Aragorn trying to get me not to as I shouted, "Draco!!"

The dragon faltered, coming to a stop midair, flapping its wings in great circles, buffeting the plains grass with big gusts of wind. He turned to look at me, then landed.

We stared at each other from where we stood, the Riders coming to a stop as well.

All eyes were directed on me as I made my way down the hill, feeling my eyes water slightly. I ignored the Riders for the most part, save for one that came forward with clothes as Draco shifted back to human form.

He managed to pull his pants on and a shirt before he was running past the Rider and towards me, a giant smile crossing his face.

"Imara! Is that really you?" He yelled and caught up to me, crushing me in a hug. He had certainly gotten his father's height.

I hugged him tightly back, then pulled away and held my hands to his cheeks. "Look at you! You're all grown up. You look so much like your father."

His eyes widened, face lighting up in a grin the same way his twin sister's had. "He's alive?"

"Yes. He was actually on his way to Rohan with Boromir and your sister."

He looked like he was going to collapse at the news. "I- wow." He ran a hand through his black hair, green eyes filling with tears. "The family is back together again."

"Yes. It is." I said with a nod and a smile, lifting my hand to wipe away his tears.

"Where are you going?" He asked. "Why are you out here with...?" He drifted off as Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli approached. His green eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"I'll explain later. There were two hobbits a part of our company taken by those Uruks." Aragorn said.

Draco gave him a long, calculated look. "Alright. We'll look for hobbits then. But we should really go. It's getting dark."

I nodded. "See you there."

He nodded. "See you there." He then turned and jogged back to the Riders, shifted back into a dragon and roaring, the men cheering and racing after him.

I noticed however, two horses were left for us.

I made my way for a horse and Aragorn joined me. Gimli and Legolas took the other. Aragorn swung up into the saddle first, and I went up behind him, arms looping around his waist. Legolas and Aragorn urged the horses forward and we made our way across the plain to join the Rohirrim in the attack on the orcs.

By the time we got there, the fight was over.

Draco stood in dragon form, examining the carnage with emerald eyes.

I swung down from the horse and the men stared at me warily as I made my way over to Draco. "Did you see the hobbits?" I asked worriedly.

His wings dropped. "No. I did not. I'm sorry."

I clenched my jaw, hands coming up to cover my mouth as I struggled not to cry. I wouldn't do that in front of the Rohirrim. As I looked at the carnage of dead orcs, a few still aflame, I felt sick. Were they caught in the flames?

"We should head back to Edoras. Baldor, Freya, and Boromir are waiting for us." Aragorn said.

Draco perked up at the second mention of his father, but he kept his composure in front of his men.

"Yes. And you must meet my wife." He said instead.

I gawked at him, but before I could ask who she was, Draco lifted his wings and took off.

******

We arrived back at Edoras and Draco emerged from the stables dressed in green. He ran his hands through his black hair, and he looked so much like Baldor, it was startling.

He nodded towards the building. "Let's head inside. Maybe you'll be able to do something about the Worm in Theoden's ear." He said with a grave expression.

"You haven't?" I asked.

"No. And neither has Freya." He makes his way up into the town and left and right, people stared at me, mixed expressions of shock, fear, and disgust on all of their faces.

We made it up to the palace and Draco pushed the doors open and led me inside.

I found Grima Wormtongue standing next to the king, who looked as if he had aged sixty years.

To the left were Baldor, Freya, and Boromir, looking stiff.

Draco and Baldor locked eyes, and Baldor broke out into a smile. Draco smiled back and walked towards him and pulled his father into a tight hug.

But their reunion was cut off when the doors slammed shut.

"The spawn of the Dark Lord have arrived within my halls." Theoden drawled, looking at us with contempt.

Grima shifted nervously as I leveled a glare on the man.

"Yes. We are. And we are here to free you from our father's tyranny. Starting with this greasy little shit." I said, and with a flick of my wrist, Grima was pulled towards me as if a rope had been tied to him and propelled over where I caught him by the collar of his tunic.

He shook all over and I ignored the guards that had spears and swords drawn and thrust in my face.

"Hello, Worm. Long time since I last saw you lurking where you shouldn't be." I hissed. "What are you doing all the way out here?"

"N-Nothing, my lady!" He squeaked.

"Hm. I'm surprised my niece and nephew weren't enough to scare you away. You just had to get me here too, huh? Missed me that much?"

Before he could reply, the door boomed open and someone I didn't expect to see entered the throne room.