"Ada?"

"Yes, Rhavaniel?" Ada responds as he tucks me into bed.

"I had a nightmare last night. I dreamt that I was with some scary people… and they hurt me… but they let me go after a long time. After that, you showed up and saved me." I smile brightly. "You'll always come save me, won't you, Ada?"

"Always, Rhavaniel."

Ada places a kiss on my forehead. I giggle. As he stands, I catch his sleeve.

"Will you stay 'till I sleep? Please?" I ask shyly.

"Of course, tithpen."


We reach the looming wooden wall outside of Bree. I assist Lhindor in hiding her elvish features as Estel steps up to the wall. We stand near to the edge of the forest, barely visible from the gate. I adjust her hair so that it covers the tips of her ears and pull up her hood. My own hood and bandana had long since been up. Lhindor frowns in realisation to this fact. She had always disapproved of me hiding in the shadows.

I hear the wooden door open behind me and sweep a hand in its direction, tilting my head towards Lhindor. Lhindor shakes her head as she walks past me. I follow after her and Estel, subconsciously fingering the blade in my wrist holster. I step back as Estel leads Lhindor into the Prancing Pony. She glances back at me just before the door closes.

I observe my surroundings. The three of us had previously agreed upon me entering separately from them.

"My eyes will attract unwanted attention." I argue.

"I do not like it…" Lhindor mutters.

"Fileg… I know you don't, but there is nothing we can do. I'd allow the both of you to slip by unnoticed if it meant being suspected. I'd lay down my life for you. Both of you."

"She's right, you know." Estel cuts in.

"There are two 'she's here. Which do you speak of?" Lhindor sighs in exasperation.

"Her." He points to me. "Glowing eyes, glowing yellow, no less, will immediately attract suspicion. Seeing as we will have to practically kidnap the hobbits if Mithrandir does not show, suspicion will only slow us down."

I nod in agreement. "I can enter the Prancing Pony separately from you and exit the same way. I've also seen the hobbits before, and therefore will recognise them. I'll signal you when they arrive. I'll drum my fingers on the table twice then make a fist and knock my knuckle on the table." I demonstrate.

"I still don't like it." Lhindor sighs. "But I suppose you're right."

Deciding that I had waited long enough to not be assumed related to them in any way, I enter the Prancing Pony. I sit in the opposite corner from Lhindor and Estel, next to the door. Keeping an eye on the door, I listen into the conversations happening around me. None of it was important information.

Approximately an hour or so later, four hobbits pile into the bar.

"- Underhill. My name's Underhill." The dark haired hobbit, Frodo, says.

I signal Estel and Lhindor, who shift barely noticeably but enough to say that they understand.

The four hobbits go to the bar to get drinks. Three leave the bar and sit in the middle of the room, holding half-pints of ale. One lingers by the bar a while longer.

"Sam. He'll be here. He'll come." Frodo says.

I imagine he speaks of Mithrandir. The hobbit who went to the bar returns, holding a full pint. Their conversation proves to be amusing, another hobbit going to the bar. I am slightly concerned when Frodo asks the Bartender about Estel.

"He's one of them rangers, Dangerous folk they are, wandering the wilds. What his right name is I've never heard, but around here, he's known as Strider."

"And the figure beside him?"

"That one is called Sparrow."

The Bartender walks off to serve his other customers. Sparrow. I raise an eyebrow in the shadow of my hood. Sparrow quite fit Lhindor. Fileg indeed. Little bird.

Frodo now stands by the second hobbit who went to the bar. "Pippin!" Frodo grabs Pippin.

Frodo slips on someone's boot and falls back. A small shiny item that was previously clasped in his hand is thrown upwards. It's a small golden ring. The ring. I glance up at my friends across the room, eyes glowing. A shocked gasp echoes through the room. I turn back to Frodo, only to find that he is no longer there.

Estel stands, placing a hand in front of Lhindor to stop her. I too stand, oblivious to the look Estel sends me. I feel a pull, bringing me to a table. In the distance, I hear the shriek of a Nazgul. Frodo suddenly reappears, having pulled the ring off his hand. The pull disappears, throwing me slightly off balance.

Estel pushes past me, grabbing Frodo by the shoulder. He whispers something in Frodo's ear before dragging him upstairs. I shake off the uneasy feeling, placing a hand on the table next to me.

"Where's Frodo?" I hear a voice say. One of the hobbits, Pippin, had asked this.

The one called Sam stands, looking around as he sets his mug down. "I think that ranger, Strider, took him upstairs…" He says. "Strider is no longer in his seat and his friend seems to be on edge… well, more than before."

I raise an eyebrow. The hobbit was more observant than he looked. The other two look up. They set down their drinks and reach out for whatever they can lay their hands on. Pippin's friend reaches out for a candlestick, and Pippin a stool. I grab Pippin and his friend before they do anything. I send a glance back at Lhindor and walk the two upstairs.

We wait outside the door until Lhindor joins us. The five of us enter the room. Estel glances up before looking back at Frodo.

"You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They are coming."


The hobbits lie down on the large bed. I stand beside the window, looking out and half leaning against the wall. Rain patters on the floor. Lightning streaks through the sky. I silently drum my fingers on the handle of one of my many blades. Lhindor sits on a chair beside me.

"You should sleep." I say suddenly.

"Two eyes are better than one." She retorts softly.

"I have two eyes."

"Mmhmm.. As do I. Together, that makes four, which is much better to watch over four hobbits than two."

I nod absently. "However, two untired eyes are better than four tired eyes to watch over four hobbits."

She hums, looking out the window. I half glare at her back. I draw a blade when I hear a sound from the door. Turning, I see Estel entering quietly. I sheathe my blade.

"The trap is set. Pillows in the hobbit room's beds. That should confuse them for some time."

I nod. A Nazgul shrieks, louder this time than before. They are closer.

"Faith be with me." Lhindor whispers.

Estel moves to the other side of the window and looks out. Thundering hooves sound from outside the gate. A loud bang.

"They ran down the gate." I report.

The Nazgul enter the Prancing Pony across from us. The sound of their swords stabbing the beds repeatedly fills my head. I lift a hand to my temple, gently pressing it. Dark shapes move in the room across ours. They shriek again.

"They found the decoys." Estel mutters helpfully.

My head feels like it is being split in half. I rub my head harder. They had always affected me, but especially the Witch King of Angmar. He isn't one of those stabbing the decoys, thankfully.

"What are they?" Frodo asks quietly.

The screams must have woken them. I sigh heavily, feeling a heavy weight on my chest. My shoulder burns. The Witch King had stabbed me in the shoulder a few years past. He is near, likely outside, waiting for news of the hobbit's death and ring's retrieval. How disappointed he will be.

"Nazgul. Once Kings of Men, turned dark by greed and want for power. They want the power of the One Ring to be returned to their master. They will hunt you for as long as you carry that ring." I reply. "But do not let that discourage you, Frodo. You have friends who will help you along your journey. But the first step is to sleep. Rest, young hobbits."

The hobbits settle back into an uneasy sleep. I prompt Estel to sleep as much as he can. It's a long journey back, especially with four clueless hobbits. Estel slumps in his chair and sleeps.

"Rest, Fileg. We'll be doing a lot of traveling tomorrow." I urge.

"Is there something you don't want me to see?" She jests, quirking an eyebrow.

"Perhaps so." My voice takes on a tone of exasperation. "Or perhaps I simply would like my friend to rest!"

"But I am not tired enough to rest, so it would be pointless as-"

"You cannot do this every night, Lhindor. Being an elf means you require less sleep, not no sleep!"

"Fine." Lhindor huffs. "I sleep tonight, you sleep tomorrow night, deal?"

I nod curtly, pointing to a nice empty wall area. Of course I couldn't guarantee sleep for myself tomorrow. I always have too much on my mind. Sleep is not a necessity for me. Even as a supposed half elf, I sleep less than the average elf. I do, however tire easier. But no one knows. I never let anyone know.