(Author: Alasia)

    Boromir sat bolt upright at the sound of his daughter's screaming. At that instant he knew that the little girl had felt Reighn's pain, just as he had. He vaulted out of bed and down the hall, ignoring the fact that he was barefoot and bare chested. He was not the only one to respond to Rhia's screams as he saw the others tumbling out of their rooms. He flew through the door and across the room pulling her into his arms as fast as possible. Rhia held onto him for dear life, the sound of her sobs breaking her heart in two. He rocked her back and forth for an eternity before she spoke, "Mommy..."
Her voice trailed off, and Boromir chose that moment to ignore their audience completely, "Mommy's going to be just fine baby girl."
Rhia whimpered and Boromir struggled to reign in his emotions as the little girl spoke, "Where is Mommy?"
"Mommy's at home baby," he replied, pulling her closer, "Mommy's at home waiting for us...."
He didn't trust his voice to go any further, he truly didn't. He had seen the and felt the horror enter her as the shadow attacked, and Boromir could only pray that she managed to defeat it somehow, "Can you go back to sleep?"
Rhia shook her head wildly, "I don't wanna see the scary monsters again Daddy."
"The monsters won't get you munchkin, I won't let them, and Mommy will be waiting for you in your dreams," he told her as he tucked her back into bed.
"Really?"
"Yeah, she told me so herself," Boromir replied, forcing a smile, "She said ' you make sure Rhia goes to bed so I can visit in her
dreams'."
Rhia giggled and hugged Boromir before falling asleep. He sat there stroking her hair and then rose, exiting the room and closing the door and running a hand over his face, all remnants of happiness gone. David stepped forward and the Scot rested and arm on his shoulder, "How bad was it?"
Boromir sighed, and turned bloodshot eyes to his friend, "If she survives she'll be in the hospital for ages... The others have gone into hiding..."
David sighed, "Well, at least I know my family is safe, I haven't felt anything from the bond with Laurel, not even a twinge."
Boromir nodded, "Yes,  let's just hope it doesn't get worse."
David nodded solemly and Boromir spoke, "I'm going back into that room with Rhia, tell Legolas and Jairah about the bond - they should know, explain the consequences... And pray that Reighn's still alive when we get back."
The red haired man nodded and Boromir went back into the room that held his daughter.

    "What bond?"
David turned his gaze to Jairah, "The Celtic bond... It is our version of a wedding... A cerimony that binds two souls together, allowing one to always feel the presence of his or her soul bound."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Aragorn said.
David shook his head, "It's not, but there are consequences - If your soul bound is injured seriously, like an arrow wound, the other will feel it and know something is wrong. If the injury is bad enough, one can be pulled from their body to wherever their soul bound is located and watch as they are hurt. Most of the time, when that happens the feelings have physical backlashes on the non-injured party, causing the person to feel all of the pain and become mentally and physically drained."
"Wow..."
David smirked at Pippin, "Wow is an understatement. Boromir and Reighn's bond is the strongest ever recorded in history, I've seen it in action. If she's injured seriously enough, he'll actually recive a physical impact from it. If she dies - he'll feel it, and it will kill him... They don't know their bond is that strong - Reighn knows, and that's why she let Boromir bring Rhia with him, so that he would worry about protecting that little girl instead of worrying over the bond..."
"I think we should leave as soon as possible."
The Celt nodded grimly, "I agree, I just hope we aren't too late."

(Author: Jennzah)

Jairah stood in her room, thinking about what David had said about the soul binding, and then about Reighn.

While she thought she was preparing for the trip. A knock had come on her and her husband's door, when David had come to explain things to them, and there had been no time for her to properly dress herself for that. There really had been no time for her to properly dress herself when David had shown up, as she and Legolas had been laying in their bed quietly, sharing kisses after their love making had commenced.

Now she looked around the room. Elrond's people had brought her a new dress, one like the one she'd worn on her trip to Mordor, though that one had been given to her in Lothlorien, the ones that felt like air next to her skin, that made it easy for her to move in it, for her to fight.

She closed her eyes when she thought of the fighting, it gave her a bit of a fright. She'd not had to do it in so long, but she didnt think her skills had died any. She opened her eyes and looked at herself squarely in the mirror. Her amber eyes were clear, and the dark blue dress she wore fit her nicely. All that was left was her hair, and her weapons.

After pulling the front of her hair away from her face, and braiding it back into the rest of her hair, she walked over to where her bow sat, and picked it up gingerly. It had been a long time since she'd strung it, or even needed to use it. It had not been originally hers, this bow. It had belonged to Legolas, which was why it served her so well. It had been made from a bough in Mirkwood, years upon years ago, and had been given to her when her lover had recieved a new bow in Lothlorien, one strung with her very own hair.

Onto her back the bow went, along with her quiver, which felt strange after all these years, yet very familiar. Then came the sword, the beautiful, silver sword that once had belonged to her father.

It was laying on a table, opposite the bed. Jairah had left it here, in Rivendell, when she'd left it many years ago. Elrond had put it in a display, for Sandros had been a friend of his. Jairah had intended to take it to Mirkwood, and leave it there, but something had stopped her.

She walked over to it, but could not pick it up. She stared at the mahogony handle, etched in gold and silver, and then at the blade itself, which had been engraved in the language of the silver elves. it said simply, on it "calad jairah", which meant "the light of Jairah". her father had named this sword for her.

she remained staring at it for several seconds before a hand closed around the handle and lifted it. She looked up, and saw her
husband standing there, looking at the beautiful silver blade.

"Such a pretty thing," he said. "I know why your father had it named for you." he looked at her and smiled, and handed it to her. She grasped the blade fiercely, and then put it at her side, and looked at Legolas, quietly, as she pulled the last thing off the table, a small, silver dagger, that had been a gift from Thranduil, her surrogate father, many years ago. This she handed to Legolas.

"Take this," she said. "I want you to have it." He seemed reluctant to take it, because it had been a gift from his father to her, but then as he looked at her he understood why she wanted him to have it. It was the same blade that she'd opened up their hands with, and combined them with blood.

She nodded, then moved to embrace him. "I will not lie, and say i am not afraid, my love" she said. "Because i am horribly afraid. But i am glad you will be there with me."

They drew away from eachother, and he kissed her on the forehead. "I would not be anywhere else."

Then they went to find David, who was waiting for them outside of their room, in fact. He'd heard what they'd said.

"It is time," he said, and walked with them to where Gandalf stood, in the circle of the council area, his eyes closed. Only Boromir was not present.

"He is saying goodbye to Rhia," David explained. The child was to stay in Rivendell, where she would be safe, under Elrond's care. And so they waited for the arrival of Boromir.

(Author: Alasia)
    "When will I see you again Daddy?"
"I don't know sweetie."
"Promise to come back?"
"Of course."
"Tell Mommy I love her okay."
"I will."
"I love you Daddy."
"I love you too Rhia."

Boromir stood from the edge of his daughters bed and left the room, quietly closling the door partway behind him before striking off down the hallway toward the Council Chamber. He knew Reighn was in trouble, he could feel the pain she felt. She was fighting for her life - and if they didn't hurry she would die, and their world would fall. He stepped up next to Legolas and Jairah and spoke, "Let's go. I will wait no longer. Reighn needs me."

*****

Reighn groaned and rolled to her feet, shaking shards of glass off of her clothing. Cuts and bruises rained her skin and the fog that loomed over the San Francisco Bay area was not helping in locating the Shadow. It was obvious that it was a higher level Shadow, or Reighn would have felt it enter the vecinity, much less her home. She was sick of this. Sick of all of this pain and madness that came with fighting the Shadows and their leader. Sometimes she just wanted to sit down and let all of it pass her by... But she couldn't, she wouldn't let herself do so. And so she fought on, praying against all hope that they would succeed.

It wasn't long until the Shadow attacked again, throwing spears of ice at her. She dodged as best she could, but a few still managed to hit her. She was weaponless, so they would have to duke it out the old fashioned way - with magic. She focused her energy, glowing green a began to hurl balls of greem electricity at the Shadow. She struck a lampole, it shook, then flickered and then fell, taking the entire block's lighting out with it. Reighn groaned and created multiple mage-lights, sending them out over the battlefeild so that she could see. It wasn't long until the two opponents began to exchange fire again. The Shadow traded between ice and water, Reighn ranged all over the scale and back again, throwing everything from blades of grass to metal beams at the Shadow. She was determined to win. No choice. She was going to see her family again.

*****

Across the street a bluish portal opened in the park and five figures stepped through just in time to see the power go out and watch the area plunge into darkness. They gazed around as Boromir ignited a mage-light and Gandalf lit his staff.Pale green mage-lights began to appear from somewhere to their left, floating out to certain sopts along the street and pak and stopping to light their designated areas.Boromir quickly tracked the source and sighed in relief to find that it was his lover.

"This way."
He went off at a jog, allowing the others to stay close. He crossed the street and ran up onto the lawn, barely noticing the hole in his front window or the glass sprinkling all around. He turned the corner and came to an abrupt halt, blinking. He heard Jairah gasp in shock and Gandalf intake a sharp breath. Reighn stood there, covered in her own blood hurling random objects at a tall black Shadow. She was alternating between heavy, modern objects and magic to keep her energy supply up in hopes that one of the others - one of the ones that hadn't gone into hiding would sense the battle. Boromir made hand motions to David while quietly drawing his sword. The Scottish Celt grinned and pulled the huge double-bladed, battleaxe off his back before the two began a wide circle in the shadows to approach the Shadow from two sides. Legolas drew his bow and aimed, ready to help if it was needed. A huge flash of silver-green light came from Reighn as she hurled a huge bolt of mage energy at the Shadow. It took the hit, staggering and then hurling an attack back at her inresponse.

Reighn didn't have the energy to move. She stared with wide green eyes as the fatal attack approached her when suddenly something impacted her side. She was hurled to the ground, a heavy object following. She heard shouts in Gaelic - one she vaguely thought was Boromir's and - and the shriek of a Shadow as it died. She looked up to see Jairah hunched over her and her eyes widened, "You came."
Jairah looked down at her and smiled only slightly, "Yes."

"REIGHN!"

Jairah jumped back as Boromir ran over and fell to his knees, gathering Reighn into his arms, "David, bring the others and a change of clothes for me. I'm taking Reighn to the hospital."
David nodded and pulled out his car keys, "Take my car."
The red-head pointed to a blue Ford Explorer and Boromir nodded, tossing his sheathed sword to David in return before gathering Reighn into his arms, placing her into the back seat of the car and peeling out in a screech of wheels.

(Author : jennzah)

jairah had watched as the car had sped away from them, frightened by it. She didn’t know what it was, after all. It had made a loud, horrid noise that had hurt her ears.

In fact all of her senses were now being assaulted, as David led them quickly through a strange row of houses of sorts, and to another SUV. He pulled open the doors and told them to get in. The visitors from Middle-Earth hesitated.

“Please!” David said, pushing Gandalf into the passenger side and slamming the door. “We don’t have much time!”

Jairah climbed carefully into the backseat of the SUV, and sat warily on the seat, Legolas behind her. David had snapped the door shut and all of a sudden the ground shook and another horrible noise erupted from somewhere in front of them. Gandalf winced, and Jairah put her hands to her ears and cowered against Legolas, who had also put his hands to his ears. David looked in the rear view mirror at the elves and smiled.

“It’s just the engine of the car,” he said. “It cant hurt you.”

The sound deadened as he revved the engine and backed the car up very fast. The elves, not knowing the meaning of “seat belt” were jostled around in the back of the SUV, both of them falling to the floor when David hit the brakes and started going forward.

They didn’t dare go back up on the seat. They seemed safer on the floor, and Jairah was afraid. After all, she couldn’t fight anything, couldn’t defend herself against this. She clung to Legolas in fear, and he tried to comfort her though he was afraid himself. He could only imagine how the wizard must be feeling in the front seat, with David manning the car like a maniac.

At long last David screeched the vehicle to a halt, and turned off the engine. Jairah was trembling in Legolas’ arms as the engine cut. David hopped out of the car, and opened the door for Gandalf, who was more than happy to be on solid ground again, and then for the elves. Legolas helped Jairah out of the car and they both looked at it with disdain.

“What is that?” asked Gandalf, as David rushed them hurriedly towards a big building.

“It’s a motor vehicle,” said David. “I don’t have time to get into it now. But once this is all over, I’ll tell you about it, if you like.”

They entered the building and suddenly Jairah stopped as soon as she went through the moving doors. She didn’t even notice that they were moving.

David kept going towards the reception desk, Gandalf followed him. Legolas had stopped when Jairah had stopped.

“what is it,” he asked her.

“I can smell the dead in here,” she said. “this is a house of the dead.”

Her senses were being overwhelmed. Lots of smells that were foreign to her, along with the smells of the dead. Voices, both of the living and of the dead, in languages that she didn’t understand. And the noises here! So many, she couldn’t tell them apart and yet all invading her ears at once. She wanted to put her hands over her ears again. David had come up to her.

“No,” he said. “This is not a house of the dead. This is a hospital, a house of medicine. They cure people here. We are here for Reighn.”

David led them to an elevator, where they went in. The doors closed, and then opened again in a few seconds, and David led them quickly down the hall and into a room where Boromir sat next to Reighn’s bedside. She was unconcious.

Jairah released Legolas’ hand and went round to the sorceress’s beside immedately. She felt a sadness deep in her heart.

She didn’t understand what all the things were that were going into Reighn’s body. She looked at them sadly, then over to Boromir, who was looking at her.

“What are these things?” she asked him.

“Here, they have these things to help her, to keep her alive. Right now, they say they cannot do anything for her, that she is going to die.”

Jairah looked at Legolas, then down at Reighn’s body again. She didn’t know why she was about to do it, but she put her hands down on Reighn’s body. Immediately she knew, that with Legolas’ help, Reighn would not die.

“No.” Jairah said. She took Legolas’ hand, and he looked at her questioningly, as he heard her say to him in his mind “focus your strength, love. Help me.”

With one hand on Reighn’s wounded body, Jairah began to chant in Elvish, the rhythm of the words weaving through everyones ears. Magick energy began to crackle in the air. This was not like the Celtic healing, it was more fierce, more beautiful. Jairah’s body began to tremble as she spoke, her eyes closed. Her grip tightened on her husbands hand, and he could feel the power flowing through his fingers into her.

All of a sudden, Reighn sat up, coughing wildly, as Jairah fell, backwards, onto the floor, releasing Legolas’ hand. Boromir rushed forward and took Reighn into his arms.

“Reighn!” he cried, embracing her fiercely. She’d stopped coughing and was looking wide eyed around the room, whilst hugging Boromir.

Gandalf and Legolas were at Jairah’s side. She was sitting, out of breath, on the floor. She had no idea what she’d just done. She didn’t know how she’d known how to do it. Her insides tingled, a bit painfully, as if where Reighn had been wounded had been taken into herself. She looked down but there was no wound.

“Jairah?” Legolas whispered, squeezing her hand. She looked at him, wide eyed. “Are you alright?”

She felt tired. Very tired, in fact. And as she looked at Legolas, he looked tired, drained.  But all was well if the sorceress was healed.

“Is Reighn alright?” she asked Gandalf, turning to him.

Gandalf nodded. “Yes. Your healing powers are quite great, Jairah. She is fine.”

Legolas helped Jairah to her feet, but she found it hard to stand, without wobbling. She leaned on him. Never had she felt so drained in all her life. She had fought countless battles and never felt so drained. She looked at Reighn, now sitting full of life, on the bed, and smiled.

“Then all is well,” she said, before falling backwards in a faint, into her husbands arms.

(Author : Alasia)

Reighn sat there clinging to Boromir like the world would end if she let go. He held her tightly, relief in his eyes, he embraced her and kissed her softly before she poked at his armor and wrinkled her nose in distaste. He chuckled and stood, retrieving a duffel from David, who was now clad in cargo pants and a wifebeater. Boromir storde down the hall, entering the bathroom and opening the bag. He removed a loose pair of tan cargos and pulled them on along with a belt, he stripped off the rest of his armor and pulled on a white wifebeater before pulling a green plaid button up on over it, leaving it unbuttoned. He packed his things away and went back down the hall, re-entering his wife's room in regular clothing. He hugged Reighn and they held onto each other as they watched Legolas bring Jairah around.

"Mr. O'Haire?"

Boromir looked up, then stood and strode over to the doctor, "Yes?"

The doctor was staring at the healed Reighn and shook his head, "I'm not going to ask. I've seen this a couple of times so I'll shut my mouth about it. You Celts need to stop coming in here, we get enough car accident and dares gone wrong without you people wandering through twice a week."

Boromir grinned, "Sorry Doc."

The Doctor sighed, "I'll authorize you're release Mrs. O'Haire. Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do. And patients to look after."

He left and Jairah spoke, "He has life glowing about him. Why does he work in here if this place is filled with death?"

Reighn laughed outright, "This is a hospital Jairah. People bring there loved ones here for medical attention, like your healing halls. People are cured here all the time. Hurts are healed and sometimes a heart as well. Broken bones are mended and diseases treated, but yes, people do die here. There are many diseases in the world today that have no cure, that not even magic could cure, not these sicknesses. Many of the people who carry those illnesses are brought to places like these to recieve treatment, the best that can be done is ease that person's pain and make them as comfortable as possible before they leave this world."

"But that man?"

"He's what we call a doctor. He's a healer, he helps people, he mends their bones and sometimes their hearts."

"Well," David said, "I don't know about you but how 'bout we blow this joint?"

Laughter filled the air as Boromir kicked the group out of the room and held Reighn dress in a pair of jeans and one of his shirts. She grinned wickedly when she realized that it was the one she always stole from him. It was their favorite peice of clothing in the house.

~ * ~

"You're fixing the window in the morning love."

Boromir groaned as he and Legolas finished boarding the front window shut. Reighn smiled, "I love having a handy-man around the house."

Boromir rolled his eyes as he wrapped Reighn in his arms, "Oh, I dunno about handy."

Reighn laughed, "All right Mr. Fix-it. I'm tired, let's hit the sack."

"Hit the sack?"

Gandalf looked confused and Boromir grinned, "Another expression. Why don't you guys retire for the night."

Things were agreed on and Boromir swung the shrieking Reighn over his shoulder and tromped up the stairs, a slam was head and then gales of laughter floated down to meet the two Elves and Miar.

(Author : Alasia)

Reighn sat there clinging to Boromir like the world would end if she let go. He held her tightly, relief in his eyes, he embraced her and kissed her softly before she poked at his armor and wrinkled her nose in distaste. He chuckled and stood, retrieving a duffel from David, who was now clad in cargo pants and a wifebeater. Boromir storde down the hall, entering the bathroom and opening the bag. He removed a loose pair of tan cargos and pulled them on along with a belt, he stripped off the rest of his armor and pulled on a white wifebeater before pulling a green plaid button up on over it, leaving it unbuttoned. He packed his things away and went back down the hall, re-entering his wife's room in regular clothing. He hugged Reighn and they held onto each other as they watched Legolas bring Jairah around.

"Mr. O'Haire?"

Boromir looked up, then stood and strode over to the doctor, "Yes?"

The doctor was staring at the healed Reighn and shook his head, "I'm not going to ask. I've seen this a couple of times so I'll shut my mouth about it. You Celts need to stop coming in here, we get enough car accident and dares gone wrong without you people wandering through twice a week."

Boromir grinned, "Sorry Doc."

The Doctor sighed, "I'll authorize you're release Mrs. O'Haire. Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to do. And patients to look after."

He left and Jairah spoke, "He has life glowing about him. Why does he work in here if this place is filled with death?"

Reighn laughed outright, "This is a hospital Jairah. People bring there loved ones here for medical attention, like your healing halls. People are cured here all the time. Hurts are healed and sometimes a heart as well. Broken bones are mended and diseases treated, but yes, people do die here. There are many diseases in the world today that have no cure, that not even magic could cure, not these sicknesses. Many of the people who carry those illnesses are brought to places like these to recieve treatment, the best that can be done is ease that person's pain and make them as comfortable as possible before they leave this world."

"But that man?"

"He's what we call a doctor. He's a healer, he helps people, he mends their bones and sometimes their hearts."

"Well," David said, "I don't know about you but how 'bout we blow this joint?"

Laughter filled the air as Boromir kicked the group out of the room and held Reighn dress in a pair of jeans and one of his shirts. She grinned wickedly when she realized that it was the one she always stole from him. It was their favorite peice of clothing in the house.

~ * ~

"You're fixing the window in the morning love."

Boromir groaned as he and Legolas finished boarding the front window shut. Reighn smiled, "I love having a handy-man around the house."

Boromir rolled his eyes as he wrapped Reighn in his arms, "Oh, I dunno about handy."

Reighn laughed, "All right Mr. Fix-it. I'm tired, let's hit the sack."

"Hit the sack?"

Gandalf looked confused and Boromir grinned, "Another expression. Why don't you guys retire for the night."

Things were agreed on and Boromir swung the shrieking Reighn over his shoulder and tromped up the stairs, a slam was head and then gales of laughter floated down to meet the two Elves and Miar.