The moon shone as a silvery sliver in the night sky, bathing the land below in a low, eerie light. Stars peeped out, gleaming gems in the dark firmament.

Yet neither the silver moon nor the diamond-like stars lent much light as midnight approached on the plains of Rohan.

Thalion sat in the foreboding dark, wrapped in his cloak, watching over the camp of him and his companion. He shuddered as the frigid winter winds whistled down to him from their birth-place in the snow covered mountains.

He glanced around himself, wondering what creatures may be skulking about in the dark, just beyond the circle of light and safety provided by the fire he hunched over now.

Why is it always times like these that Strider's tales and songs of monsters and goblins and Orcs and Nazgul always seem to come to me? He sighed, glancing over at his companion, sleeping in the dark nearby.

A strange stirring sound in the darkness caught young Thalion's attention. He sat up straighter, and his pulse quickened. Straight away, stories he had read in Rivendell, of the early Elves disappearing when they wandered away, being waylaid and carried off by strange, shadowy creatures, crept into his mind, like a growing shadow of fear.

Why did I read those stories in Lord Elrond's library? He inwardly chided himself for thinking such foolish things as the idea that the fell creatures that plagued the Firstborn race in the years of their dawn had come back for the specific purpose of bothering him in the night. Those years are long past. I needn't fear shadows in the dark. They have disappeared with the ages they lived in, many eons ago. Still, he glanced about himself nervously, wondering once more what night and dark-loving creatures may be watching him.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

I've nothing to fear. There is no warrior in the world as great as Strider. He could fight any such creature as may think to come into our camp. After all, no night-loving beast, Orc, or Goblin would dare come into this circle of light, where the fire lies. Yet no sooner had the young man assured himself in this manner, then a hand clamped down, hard and strong, on his shoulder.

Thalion tried to cry out, meaning to alert Strider of the intruder, but the sound was muffled by the other hand of his attacker, which covered his mouth, pulling his head back against the creature's chest. It hissed violently, gripping him tightly. Thalion flung an elbow into the creature's rib, but his adversary's other hand, which had been on Thalion's shoulder, wrapped around his arms, pinning them with a terrifically strong grip. All the while continuing its fell hissing as it gripped Thalion tightly against itself, and struggle as he might, Thalion could not break free of it's grasp.

The hissing grew louder and more intense, and Thalion could now feel the fell creature's face pressed near against his ear, hissing into it without cease, low and menacing.

Suddenly the creature threw Thalion to the ground and pounced upon him ere he had any chance of rising. It clamped its hand once again over the young Ranger's mouth, and then pressed it's face close against his ear. Harsh and commanding, yet barely audible, the creature whispered:

"Be silent, you fool. There is something out there."

At hearing the voice, Thalion quit his struggling, and his cheeks began to burn with the heat of embarrassment.

For this was not some fell creature of Mordor, nor of Morgoth, nor Sauron. It was Strider, his traveling companion. The hissing made perfect sense now, for it had not been hissing at all, but his companion bidding Thalion be silent.

He now lay on the ground, very still and very silent, wishing he had acted more from wisdom than impulse. His behavior would, no doubt, warrant a lecture from his mentor in the morning.

If we survive until morning.

He glanced up at Strider, once again worrying for their safety.

It was then that he noticed how tense his elder had become, watching the shadows with a concerned look on his features.

"My lord?" Thalion whispered, barely audible. Strider motioned him to be silent, and then for him to stand.

"Do not lie on the ground like that," Thalion could hardly hear Strider's voice, low and strong, as he whispered in the darkness.

"What is it?"

The question gained no answer, for Strider once again motioned him quiet. He softly drew his sword, ever watching the outer darkness.

Thalion also drew his sword, a slim, light blade, forged by the Elves of Rivendell and given to Thalion by Strider ere they set out on their journey.

The two stood, side by side, peering into the darkness. The tall grass of the plains of Rohan hissed together in the night wind.

Thalion gripped his sword tightly, his gray-blue eyes wide in the shadowy surroundings.

Suddenly Strider cried out loudly into the night.

"Be ye friend of these lands, O wanderer, come near! For no harm shall be done you, and ye shall spend the night in safety with us. For I shall suffer no harm to that which has been entrusted unto me for protection."

Thalion's smiled slightly, knowing this invitation was double-edged. An unspoken threat loomed in the final words, and well Thalion knew this.

Strider's keen eyes continued to search the shadows, knowing that whatever lurked within them had heard him. Suspecting it was not going to accept his invitation.

* * * * * *

Strider stood tense, waiting for something to emerge from the dark. He had heard it lurking about, and he knew his mind had not imagined it. His eyes glittered in the firelight as they slowly searched the surrounding darkness.

Thalion stood nearby, looking a bit like a boy playing soldier, who had stumbled into a real battle. His face was pale and his eyes wide, but to his credit, he remained silent and stood his ground.

Better than our last encounter with danger. Or rather what Thalion thought possibly could be danger. Strider thought grimly.

Carefully, Strider picked up a burning branch form the fire and held it aloft, piercing further into the night. 

It was then that Strider heard a slight sound in the darkness, one he had trained his ears to pick up, and his mind to recognize on a moment's notice.

It was the sound of a bow being pulled back.

Immediately, he leaped toward the sound, sword in one hand, torch in the other.

An arrow was discharged from the bow, but it flew harmlessly past Strider and Thalion, harming nothing but the grass it struck.

Thalion rushed after Strider, letting loose loud whoop of a battle cry.

Strider swept his makeshift torch around himself, watching carefully despite the speed with which he was turning about.

In the light, he noticed several dark shapes, some large and others small. He heard horses scream and the snarls and angry cries of Orcs. There were also harsh, angry shouts of men.

A creature leaped at him from the right, wildly swinging a blade. Strider parried with his own sword, striking the creature's weapon out of its hand. He then stabbed into the chest cavity of his adversary.

A large Orc jumped onto his back while he was occupied, but, thanks to the incompetent shooting of the Orc's 'allies,' the creature was dead before it had the chance to do any harm.

Free of the filthy creature, Strider was able to kill another Orc which lunged at him.

Thalion battled with two Orcs nearby, and wasn't doing it to well. Strider cut a fourth adversary down and ran to aid his young companion.

The battle was intense, but brief, for after Strider slew one of the Orcs which assailed Thalion, and Thalion killed the other, they could hear the remainder of their adversaries running away into the night. For though Orcs can fight fiercely at times, and are truly a terrible enemy to overcome in great numbers, when their numbers are diminished, they are cowardly by nature and do not often stay around to be killed themselves.

Strider watched them go, his eyes hard. Orcs rarely came this far into the Mark, but it was not unheard of. But more troubling than the presence of the Orcs, was that they had not been alone.

Thalion's voice cut into the older ranger's musing, voicing the Strider's concern. "They had Men with them..."

Strider said nothing. He merely nodded and turned back to the fire.

It would seem we were not sent this way chasing vain rumors.