As they rode on, Miril started in the front with Aragorn, Halbarad, and the Twins. But soon enough she dropped back to find Althea, Idril, and Morwen. They were the only female rangers in the company of thirty, and all friends of hers. Female rangers, while not as uncommon as female warriors in the south, wasn't extremely common. Morwen and Idril were younger than Althea and Miril, but still capable warriors in their own right.

"Hello, Mir," Althea smiled as the half-elf dropped back to them. "Sleep well?"

"Well enough," she lied as she didn't feel like going into her nightmare. "Morwen, Idril, how have you two been? It's been too long since I've seen you."

Morwen, never one to smile much, merely shrugged. "Alright. I have been busy guarding the Shire since you left. The hobbits are a strange folk. They gave me the nickname 'Frowner' in Bree."

Miril laughed. "Don't worry. They call me 'Pointy Ears' and Aragorn is 'Strider'."

"This is true," Idril giggled. "They call me 'Fleet-foot' because I'm so fast."

It was true. Idril was one of the fastest people Miril had ever met. She could even contend with elves with her speed. She simply glided over the grass and sticks and leaves of the forest. And, Idril was an excellent bow shot.

Morwen, on the other hand, was the opposite. Her abilities were her muscle and strength and sword-play. She was a lousy shot, but her tracking was decent and she rivaled Halbarad, and Miril, in swordsmanship, which was definitely a tough feat to accomplish.

"Have you improved your bow accuracy any, Morwen?" Miril teased tthe younger woman.

Morwen rolled her get eyes and pushed her horse forward into a different group of Dunedain. Miril objected, apologizing with a chuckle.

"Oh come now," Althea laughed softly. "Twas all in good fun, Mor. Come back!"

The woman with dark, nearly black, hair sighed and allowed herself to drop back and rejoin the other women. Miril apologized again. She was sincerely sorry.

"So, what's between you and the younger Twin?" Idril asked, teasing Miril this time around. "You two seem... close."

"Indeed," Althea grinned, pointing to the brooch Miril had attempted to tuck under her cloak. "What is that you bear?"

Miril blushed. "It is nothing."

Morwen huffed and reached over, pulling the cloak away to reveal the crest of Elrohir. "Twas just as I thought, my friends!"

Idril gasped. "Are you two..."

"Yes." Miril shrugged it off like it was nothing.

Idril and Althea laughed and Morwen actually cracked a smile. They all remembered the days when the Twins would visit with Miril or Halbarad or Aragorn. Everyone liked them.

"Have you and Bregon become betrothed yet, Idril?" Miril asked, desperate to change the subject.

"Oh Eru, not this," Morwen cried.

This question had the intended effect as immediately Idril leapt into an account of her and her beloved's plans for marriage. For indeed they had become betrothed several months prior. Evidently Morwen, often Idril's partner despite their starkly different personalities, had heard the discussion before.

The women talked for quite awhile before Miril finally decided to head back up to the front. When she arrived there, Aragorn turned to her.

"I heard Morwen's exclamation from here," he chuckled. "What was that about?"

"Idril started discussing her marriage plans," explained Miril with a laugh. "Apparently Morwen had heard it all many times before."

Halbarad shook his head. "I trained Morwen myself. I will never understand why she and Idril are such good friends. They're vastly different!"

Indeed, they were quite different. Morwen was stern and stoic, but loyal to a fault. Idril was more carefree. She enjoyed life and saw the goodness in everyone. But she also was as scary as a Nazgul when angry.

"Who trained Idril?" Aragorn asked. "I remember her more vaguely than Morwen."

"Calenglad up in Tinnudir," replied Halbarad. "Morwen and Idril were then both placed under Althea's command about eight years ago."

"Ah, so that is how I know her then," Aragorn nodded. "And I assume you met Idril through Althea, Miril?"

She nodded affirmatively. "Yes. I visited Althea's company many times."

They dropped into silence for awhile. The terrain passed by as they rode on. Miril was glad to be atop Daeroch once more, though Tor had been a good horse. Aragorn, also, had been brought his horse Roheryn. Now that both had their faithful steeds, Hasufel and Tor had been returned to the Rohirrim. Only Legolas and Gimli's temporary horse, Arod, remained with them.

It was late into the night when Aragorn called a halt. They would sleep under the stars tonight and arrive at Dunharrow and the Paths of the Dead the next day. Aragorn ordered the tents put up and placed Morwen, Idril, Halbarad, and Calenglad on guard. Elladan and Elrohir stayed up long as Miril told them the tale of her visions in the Mirror of Galadriel and the meaning behind her dreams. She spoke of her nightmare the night before as well.

Elladan contemplated all the news he had received. "Evidently the threat comes from the South. Perhaps Harad?"

"That makes the most sense," Elrohir agreed. "Umbar and the Corsairs have always threatened the free peoples of Gondor."

"What of the spider, though?" Miril asked in concern. "And the strange girl."

"I'm afraid I do not know," Elladan shrugged. "Perhaps when all this is over, we may consult our father."

With a nod, Miril grew quiet. It was all quite a strange business that was for sure. She had very little idea what to make of it all. But for now she supposed she should focus on what she'd have to face tomorrow: the Paths of the Dead. She would need nerves of steel to face that place. The Paths of the Dead were a deadly place, but she knew of the prophecy that Aragorn was relying on to get them through it. She would place her faith in Aragorn. If anyone could command those spirits to let them through, it was him, Elessar Heir of Isildur.

Nothing happened that night, and the company awoke in the morning to clear skies and a bright sunrise. They packed up the tents and mounted their horses after a quick breakfast. It was time to get moving if they were to reach Dunharrow by midday.