A.N.: Um, yeah... Still alive out here. Just in Grad school. kthanxbai

P.S.: I'm, like, hopelessly behind on thanking all you kind reveiwers, aren't I? *Looks at list sheepishly.* Oh, geeze. Ok. *Takes deep breath*

Thank you all, for commenting on my story. Glad you've been liking it. In particular, most recently, thanks to: Writer From Rivendell, Aranel3, KnowInsight, ladyrowan2, RogueTigress, Riini, Munsje, mpfan, Melissa, Blue Kat, Blue Kat, technetium, Phoenix Flight, Melime, Pallas Athena1, Hobbitfeatures, & Isthia for your comments and interest. *falls over* whew. Ok. On with the story.

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The Nightmare - Part 22

by Bex

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I turned away and glanced around for something, anything, with which I could defend myself. I had no skill with arms, but it rankled, the thought of being utterly defenceless while being rushed by raiders.

Nothing but a few wooden cups and a ceramic jug on the table before the fireplace caught my eye. Even in those few moments, I turned, glanced, then swung back to see that our two guards had dispatched two of the raiding party in a brief burst of violence.

I blinked as I realized it was already over. That must have been that hoarse cough I'd heard as I'd pivoted, I thought numbly. A man's life bleeding out onto the ground. Just as simple as that. Two forms huddled on the ground, one of them right on the threshold. Both stabbed or gutted, bleeding, twitching. Dead or close to.

I took a step closer. The furs...they wore rough clothing; wool and leather and fur in a hodge-podge of colors and textures, these raiders. The fur mostly hid the blood and whatever else was there. That was good thing, I decided.

I took another step closer.

"Sarah."

I turned my head to see Radagast staring in my direction and caught the question behind his tone.

Shouldn't you be doing wizardly things out there with the good guys? I thought inwardly. I said: "I'm all right. Why don't you...?"

I glanced around again, my gaze falling upon an outflung arm and I paused, staring.

Without seeing my wizard companion, I felt him approaching. So concerned with his charge. One of the guards reached down, grabbed one of the dead raiders by the feet, and hauled him outside. Taking out the garbage, I thought, suppressing an unseemly burble of hilarity.

"Sarah." This time there was a firmness behind the tone. A lookatme andletmeknowyou'reallright insistence. I turned and let him see me; was caught for the briefest of moments in his eyes.

"Go on," I said. "I'll be all right."

Radagast looked at me a few moments longer, then nodded. "I will be back soon," he said. "They will guard you with their lives." Then he was gone, striding to the door and through, after pausing for a few murmured words with the guards. They either believed him an ally now or he'd mojo'ed them; I cared not.

I sat down heavily on one of the benches. This is exactly the reason I didn't want to leave Imladris, I thought. I'm useless when it comes to this sort of thing. Useless. A burden. Something to guard.

"Mi'lady?"

I glanced up. One of the guards, fresh-faced and hale, and sporting a few new flecks of blood on his tunic - must've been a bugger to get out on laundry day, part of my mind noted idly - was approaching. "You are well?"

I looked at him tiredly. "I'm all right. Thank you." When he did not immediately go away, I struggled for small talk. "I'm sorry; you are...?"

"Aelfwhed, my Lady."

"Sorry. Aelfwhed...thank you."

His eyes narrowed just a fraction, a momentary glance of puzzlement as he worked out my meaning, that I was thanking him for merely doing his duty. Then he nodded, in a you'rewelcomebutI'mjustdoingmydutytomyleigelord sort of way and stride back to the door to confer with his comrade.

I don't want to be guarded by someone else's life. I want-

Between one heart-beat and the next, horror crept into my head, an icy-cold foreknowledge: Something Bad is coming.

I had slumped down, but now my head jerked up. Something veryvery Bad is coming. Got to get out, go, run, NOW!

Yes. I stood, glanced over at my two guards/protectors where they stood frozen in the doorway, staring out and up. They felt it, too.

They couldn't protect me. Not from this.

I crept up behind them, legs heavy with dread, coiled in anticipation. One of them - the other one, Morthren - must have heard my steps; he turned suddenly, his face a pale, stern mask, tight-lipped and narrow-eyed.

"We have to go," I said, my voice a faint whisper. "Run. Now."

He took in my words, then took a deep breath. "A Rider of the Mark..." he replied then, voice almost as subdued as my own, "does not run from our foes." Visibly mastering himself.

I probably ought to have been impressed. On some level I suppose I was. But at that moment I merely growled inwardly in frustration and sidled forward, hoping to just slip around him and out the door.

He stepped to block me, and I darted to one side. Outside, Aelfwhed turned to see what was happening behind him.

"Let me out!" I hissed. The feeling of imminent Badness wasn't fading, only growing stronger, and my sense of urgency rose with it. I moved forward, hoping he'd give way, but he held his ground.

"We need to go," I said, hoarse. "Please."

The expression on his face shifted. Starting to believe me, perhaps. I was the Seer, after all...right?

I was just someone out of place, out of time, currently goaded onward by vague, growing terror.

They didn't need to know that, though.

I didn't have time to wait for him to decide to let me out. As Morthren shifted his position slightly, glancing over at his comrade as he considered my plea, I saw my opening - and took it. Leaping forward, I shoved violently by my guard as he stumbled to the side.

Then I ran.

~End Part 22~