Unexpectedly turned into a cat, Kat falls into Middle-earth with the mission to prevent a death. In a feline form she can only communicate with the elf Legolas - and that he is such an attractive specimen is certainly not helpful...
A humorous (but...
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"If you stop tellin' people it's all sorted out after they're dead, they might try sorting it all out while they're alive."
― Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman, Good Omens
32. Ghostbusters
"What is that? Look! Fire, red fire! Are there dragons in this land? Look, there is another!"
Pippin's eager voice woke Kat up from her slumber. She was laying securely in his arms, and he in turn was held by Gandalf, so the journey had been comfortable despite the haste. In addition, Shadowfax had a very smooth gait.
Now she drowsily looked where the hobbit pointed. Indeed, there was a series of blazes over the distant mountains, and though it was night, part of the sky had turned red like the sunset.
Gandalf yelled to Shadowfax that he must hurry. "The beacons of Gondor are alight, calling for aid!" The war had begun.
The horse seemed not to listen, and instead neighed merrily. Kat saw three horsemen nearby, galloping past them through the darkness. The horses answered with neighs of their own, but their riders paid no attention and continued at top speed like haunted by a pack of wargs.
Gandalf explained to Pippin that they were messengers of Gondor, alerted by the beacons. The beacons were an ancient form of communication; a chain of huge fireplaces built across the mountain range which spanned the country from Minas Tirith all the way to the western sea. At intervals messengers were stationed, ready to speedily ride to Rohan and other allies and call for help when the beacons were lit. This was the first time they were lit in ages, and that was proof of how dire the need must be.
Kat listened with interest, but Pippin seemed more intent on going back to sleep which was a bit frustrating. Not for the first time during the ride she wished she could talk and ask questions herself. Having no Legolas to translate for her was a huge handicap.
Pippin started to snore and Gandalf went silent, and Kat was left with her thoughts.
She thought about the people they had met; those three messengers galloping past. How many years had they waited to do the job they were once assigned? A lifetime, perhaps.
She pictured being a beacon keeper isolated in the mountains, whose family had spent centuries patiently guarding their stack of wood and waiting to see a fire blossom on the next hill, so they could light theirs and ride to Rohan – a fire which was never seen during his lifetime, nor the lifetime of his father, or his father before him. And today the fire was lit. She imagined how surreal it must be for him to see that distant light, and realize what he had been waiting for all his life was actually happening. It was real. His purpose would be fulfilled.
Mind-blowing, in a way.
Kat regarded the fires in the distance. It was a fiercely beautiful panorama, with the brilliance of the moon and myriad of stars above, and beneath them, the crests and peaks of the mountains forming a dark contour behind the blazing pyres. Yet, it was also a terrifying sight because of what it meant. War. War was upon them. Mordor's host must have come to the White City. Would Gandalf be able to pass through? He had much power, especially now as reborn, so hopefully he would. But then there was that horrible flying shadow... They had seen it again when they passed Edoras, and instead of fighting it, Gandalf had advised Éowyn to abandon the city and take her people to a place called Dunharrow in the mountains.
