A/N- Written for Shirebound & Grey Wonderer on their birthdays

The darkness was overbearing. As we moved East, the air seemed to still and I felt even more forgotten than ever.

“Who are these men,” I asked the sullen Dernhelm who had not once spoken to me. We were facing strange men of different language and dress and I was ill at ease.

Dernhelm just shook his head.

It looked like King Theoden was trying to negotiate a way in. It seemed that we could not face our enemies head on and we were looking for a short cut.

I braced myself for the oncoming storm.  Pippin, I am coming.