Mist and Boromir hurried after Aragorn and the others, but constant rest was needed, Mist seeming to always be exhausted.
"We must keep going." Boromir insisted, taking her arm as she breathes heavily again.
"I know." She gasped and the frowns out across the land. "There is darkness across these lands, heavy..." She shudders. "It is draining."
Boromir hesitates for a moment. "Would it be easier if I carried you?"
They stare at each other.
"If...if you think that will help." She said quietly. "It would only be for short moments, until I get my strength back."
Boromir nods, and for some time, that was how it was, Boromir would carry Mist on his back until she could go again and then they would be traveling together for a few hours until she had to rest again.
They made an odd pair, but at least they were not stopping now.
They arrived in Edoras at the same time as Aragorn and the others.
Mist was leaning heavily on Boromir as they saw them approach, her face pale and dark lines under her eyes.
She seemed unsurprised to see Gandalf with them.
"I hope you intend to deal with this Gandalf." She said quietly as they met them.
Gandalf mouth twitches with a smile. "Good to see you too Mist."
"I'd say that too, but you're not much more than a bleary outline." She mumbles and winces as if something heavy was weighing down on her.
Boromir grips her tightly as she sinks and looks at the others worriedly. "It has been getting worse the more we've traveled here."
Gandalf nods. "Stay here with her, we will go and sort this out."
They quickly disappeared into the city and Boromir helped Mist down to the ground, leaning against the city wall.
"Are you alright?" He asked, frowning with concern.
Mist's eyes were glowing faintly, not with blue, but with red.
"I'm sure I will be soon enough." She attempts a small smile. "You don't have to start worrying about me just because I saved your life."
His frown deepened. "I worried before that."
"Sure."
But, whatever Gandalf did inside, her eyes cleared and she was suddenly breathing easily.
"Well, that certainly feels better." Mist lets out a sigh and relief and stretches her back.
"What happened?" Boromir asked.
"I don't know. Let's go and find out."
He helps her to her feet and they enter the city together.
They find a crowd gathered, bowing to the King.
"Saruman is no longer poisoning the King." Gandalf explained as they sat down together later. "It was his magic you could feel."
Mist frowns. "A wizards magic normally does not affect me like that Gandalf."
"No, this is true, but I believe because Saruman was using a darker magic, that is why it would affect you so."
Mist frowns at this.
"Do you not remember how you felt against the Balrog?"
She shudders, the memory coming unwillingly.
Gandalf points to her hand. "Whatever has bound you so, is no magic of the light, it had been turned light by your own abilities, but that does not mean you cannot be affected by the darkness."
Mist lets out a slow breath. "I do not know what I am Gandalf, so as much as your words terrify me, they also mean little."
Gandalf gives a solemn nod. "I understand, but I think, perhaps, time will help."
"It hasn't helped me so far." She mutters, staring at her hand.
She leaves Gandalf be, who watches after with a calm gaze.
Aragorn leans forward on the table. "What is it?"
Gandalf looks at the four of them, Boromir's gaze still on where Mist had left. "She is of Numenor, this is correct?"
"That is what the lady Galadriel said."
Gandalf thinks for a moment. "I would not be surprised if Mist is from a time when Sauron was in power, perhaps offered as a peace giving or captured as a slave. The markings on her hand...it is magic, magic very similar to that used on the rings of power."
Boromir looked at Gandalf. "If that was so, she would have been affected by its power?"
Gandalf shakes his head. "It depends on what the original purpose behind the markings were. If that can be revealed to us then I think we will end up with more answers than we wanted."
"She used those markings to heal," Legolas said carefully. "Surely that would mean something?"
"She also used those markings to take a life." Aragorn reminded him. "That Uruk did not last long once her hand touched it."
"I have a feeling she is painfully aware of her abilities," Gandalf said. "And I have a feeling that she is very cautious about when she uses them. Her markings spread when she used them too much, which caused her great pain, and yet she more than willingly used them to heal Boromir's wound."
"Perfectly, might I add." Boromir said with a frown. "There is no scarring or anything."
Gandalf sighs. "We can at least say she is on our side. She has posed no threat and we trust her, correct?"
They all quickly nod in agreement.
Much to Gandalf's annoyance, the people of Rohan made their way to Helms Deep, terrified of the forces that could fall upon them at any moment.
The warg attack came swift and sudden and the towns people fled as the warriors gave them time.
Mist stayed back as long as she could with her bow before a blue flash timed her arrival into the fight, dancing between Boromir, Legolas and Gimli.
It seemed to be over quickly and they were catching their breathes staring around the battlefield.
"Aragorn?"
Legolas was the first to notice his absence. They searched for him only to find an orc that told them he fell from the cliff.
Mist stood the longest looking down at the river.
She did not join them the rest of the way to Helms Deep.
Boromir was the one who noticed first. "Where is Mist?"
But Mist and her horse were indeed gone.
Mist found Aragorn barely holding onto consciousness on his own horse.
He started as she rode up, concern on her features.
"Are you alright?"
Aragorn blinks at her. "What are you doing?"
"Coming after you. I knew you survived the fall but I did not know how you would be." She said looking him over. "You are wounded."
He winces. "A few bruises."
Mist frowns. "You can barely stay in your horse. Here." She holds out her hand.
Aragorn shakes his head. "It's fine-"
"Aragorn." She looks at him sternly. "I didn't come and find you just for you to say no."
They stare at each other before Aragorn sighs and takes her hand.
Her hand began to glow and he felt warmth travel up his arm. It wasn't unpleasant but it made him feel odd, even as his breathing got easier and the heavy feeling lifted off his shoulders.
He flexed his hand as Mist let go, the blue fading.
"Thank you Mist."
"That's alright."
They rode towards Helms Deep together, only to stop and stare at the approaching army.
"We must make haste." Aragorn breathed. "They need to be warned."
Mist nods in agreement and they break into full gallop towards the city.