Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 32: Damnit. Just, Damnit.

Cathy:

Good news: I lost the black orc after the explosion.

Bad news: I also lost Aragorn.

The three of us, along with nearby elves and Uruk-hai, flew off in different directions. I didn't know where the other two landed. All I knew was that I landed behind the wall, in the Deep, on a few bodies of already slain Uruk-hai and elves. They helped cushioned the fall, but I nearly hurled when a blank, bloody face of an elf stared back at me.

My body was exhausted, and the explosion didn't help. My ears were ringing and it felt like my brain was pounding against my skull. My broken hand pulsated and every time I tried move it, all I felt was sharp pain.

Great. Just great.

I thought my luck was finally running out.

I staggered back on my feet just as I heard someone yell out Aragorn's name. Followed by Aragorn shouting Gimli's name back.

Thank God. Aragorn is still kicking and so is Gimli, for now. But what about Abby and Legolas? And Haldir? I still remember what Abby told me about her dreaming his death. Considering that the past two times she has had a dream of someone dying that turned out to come true, I wasn't going to risk it this time.

Probably her relation to Galadriel that's giving her that power. That Seer-like power. But Elrond said she wasn't a Seer. Maybe he was wrong?

I need to find them. Any of them.

My legs shook as I took a few steps. I would have fallen if I didn't feel someone come up from behind and wrapped a supporting arm around me.

"I got ya," came a familiar voice.

"Viator?" I tried turning to him, but he positioned himself so I couldn't see his face. "What are you doing here?"

"I didn't save you from Saruman's Tower just for you to die on me now." He held on until my legs stopped shaking. Once he let go, I turned to him. He still had a hood covering his face, and he held a staff in his hand-

Wait.

That was my staff.

"I believe this is yours," he handed of Estelone and I gratefully took it.

"Thank you. Again."

He reached into his pocket and held out two small bottles. "Drink these. They should help. Emphasis on 'should'."

I took the bottles. "What are they?"

"One should help reenergize yourself, and the other should help replenish your magicka."

"Where did you find these?"

"I'll explain later. But drink them, trust me, Cat."

Cat? Only a few people have ever called me Cat. Who the heck is this guy? But, we were in the middle of a battle, so I stuck the question into my pocket and uncapped one of the bottles.

"For your sake, I hope this works."

"I hope so too," he murmured, biting his bottom lip.

I took a deep breath, threw my head back, and downed the liquid in one gulp and nearly gagged. I couldn't describe what I just drank. The liquid was light but it tasted like blended rotten tomatoes, dirt, shrimp, and honey. I think I would have thrown up if it wasn't for the sweet honey aftertaste.

"Oh my God," I coughed. "What's in that?"

"You don't want to know. Now the other one."

I tossed the empty bottled aside and uncapped the next one.