Dear Readers,

Welcome to the second installment to the Bearers Trilogy! If you want any of this story to make sense, please read the first fan fiction The Bearer of Narya. I will not be able to update until after the January 30 due to deadlines for other writings that take up my priorities (school related). I am sorry for the inconvenience.

If you have any questions, comments, thoughts, concerns, or feelings, please feel free to review them to me or send me a PM. My inbox is always open.

I will say this only once: I do not own the Lord of the Rings Trilogy (J.R.R Tolkien). I only own my OCs, which are listed on my author page.

Please enjoy! Rate and Review!

- Bane

The Second Installment of the Bearers Trilogy

The Bearer of Rothos

Bane of Princes

~*1*~

*Seredur*

The older wizard slammed his pale fist against his desk, causing the items sitting on the surface to vibrate and clatter.

"You mean the Apprentice was within your grasp and you let him go?"

Seredur leaned nonchalantly against the doorway of Saruman's study. He knew what the old man was screaming about. The girl that was Gandalf's apprentice still hadn't been captured. It wasn't that he didn't have the opportunity; he had multiple chances to take her. It was the thrill of a hunt and the satisfaction of winning that caused him to delay in the girl's abduction. Absentmindedly twisting a dagger in his hands, he stared out into the distance, thinking of everything but the matter at hand. Saruman could yell at him all he wanted; Seredur wouldn't listen.

The Dark Apprentice waltzed into the study, not regarding the screeching coming from the White Wizard. "Do not fret. She will be in our grasp eventually."

"The Dark Lord wants his—!" Saruman stopped. Mouth gaping, he stared at Seredur in shock. "The Apprentice is a woman?"

Seredur smiled. "Not even a woman. She is a mere girl, an elleth to be more precise." As Saruman rubbed his chin in thought, the apprentice continued. "Also, it is obvious that there is mutual affection between her and a certain Prince of Mirkwood. All of this was learned without abducting her—."

"—And we would have that Elven ring by now if you had actually fulfilled your purpose! The Dark Lord wishes to have all—!"

"In due time." Seredur hissed at Saruman threateningly. Although the Master of the Apprentice was more powerful, the forcefulness of Seredur's voice made Saruman almost cringe. "I will have your prize, you senile man. Sauron will have his prize and you will be placed on a higher pedestal than ever before for her capture, if that is what has been causing you many a sleepless night." Seredur strode towards the door, intent on leaving. Before departing from his Master, he smirked and turned back towards Saruman. "Besides…I know the identities of the other two Bearers."

Saruman sat in his chair, mouth agape. "What?"

The Dark Apprentice smiled maliciously before turning away from his Master. He spoke nonchalantly as he walked down the hall towards the exit.

"They will be dead before the sun sets on the fourth day."

*Elizabeth*

Liz had been away from South Dakota for two days now. Being in Colorado for a Coin Exhibition was quit boring. Because her parents were numismatists, her family often went on trips like these to showcase coins. Of course, being only sixteen, she was often excluded from the more adult occasions. At that very moment, she was sitting in a chair outside the room where her parents and her twenty-one year old sister, Mary, were partying. With her chin resting in her pale hand, she leaned against the armrest.

Worst. Vacation. Ever.

Every now and then, couples would leave to go back to the hotel or women would come out to relieve themselves in the restrooms, but her family never showed. She had nothing to distract herself with except for her very thoughts which swirled around in her mind.

I wonder what Andi is doing right now. There has to be a reason why she hasn't been texting me.

Andi Foster was Liz's best friend. They did everything together. On weekends they would always hang out at each other's houses and watch movies, read books, or relax outside. Just recently, Liz had been over Andi's house. They decided to have a Lord of the Rings marathon and look for a plant called "king's foil". While adventuring, her friend had found a strange but beautiful ring. Before she left, Andi had told Liz that she was going to do more investigation. Since then, there had been no word from the Foster residence.

Liz flipped open her phone for the millionth time. The screen still showed a picture of the two of them sticking their tongues out at the camera and the time. There was no indication that a message had been received. It didn't make sense. Why wasn't she calling or texting her back? With a small hope that she would answer, Liz called Andi one more time.

Ring.

She crossed her fingers.

Ring.

Halfway there. "Come on, Andi." Liz muttered. "You're making me nervous."

Ring.

Please, please just answer.

Rin- "Officer, I have no idea why it is in the woods- Oh, hello?"

Liz jolted at the sudden voice. That wasn't Andi. "Uh…hello?"

"Elizabeth, is that you?"

Liz frowned. There was only person who called Liz by her full name. "Mr. Foster?"

"Oh God, is Andi with you?"

Why would Mr. Foster be thinking that Andi was here in Colorado? "No. Is something wrong?"

Liz heard a small curse escape from Mr. Foster. Another gruff voice in the background was asking Mr. Foster for the phone. "It's Andi. She's been missing since you left. Have you heard anything from her?"

Liz's heart stopped. She felt as if she couldn't breathe. Her best friend was gone? Missing? Andi wouldn't run away; she loved her father too much. The only way she would be missing is if she had been murdered or kidnapped or…worse.

"N-no! I've been waiting for her to call or text me! I didn't know that she was missing!"

Another stream of profanities erupted from Mr. Foster. She heard a drawn out sigh and then he began speaking again. "If you hear anything, please call." There was a click, and Mr. Foster was gone.

Liz slumped forward in the seat and rested her head in her hands. Andi's gone? Just like that? She didn't know what reaction she should have. Fear? Anger? Sadness? Hope? Then again, what hope was there? Frustration from the fact that she could do little to help find her best friend burned viciously inside her. Why did she have to be stuck in the mountains when her friend needed her most?

"Lady Andrea has not been harmed."

Liz whipped her head upward to find an old man. Grey hair framed his aging, but friendly, face. A hopeful smile graced his face, but Liz was curious. What did he know about Andi? How did he know about her? Why would he be calling her a Lady (which she was far from)? Who was this guy? She looked at him curiously. He looked like a simple man dressed in brown robes that were definitely from some kind of Harry Potter convention or something. Her stomach twisted around, plagued by nerves. Was he just trying to be a creepy old man? The gentleman held out his hand to Liz. Flinching backwards, she stared at his hand as if it were a knife. He chuckled.

"If I am a friend to Andrea, then I am a friend to you. I mean you no harm."

"What have you done with Andi, you freak!" Liz hissed through her teeth.

"Your friend has left this place to save what many have thought to be lost."

"What do you—?"

"She is fading, Elizabeth. What ties her here will soon be forgotten unless action is taken. Help her, Elizabeth. Help Andrea."

Frowning, Liz looked up at him. What was this guy trying to pull off? Was he trying to act like a wizard with his little "links" and garb? "Listen, bozo. I don't care if you're Merlin, Dumbledore, or the Wizard of Oz. I hate playing games and my patience is running thin. Where. Is. Andi?"

"Are you willing to help her?"

"In any way I can." Liz replied, glaring at the man who appeared homeless.

He rested a hand on her shoulder and muttered words under his breath. Liz immediately shoved his hand away, but one touch was all it took. She heard a snap and everything started to spin. A sudden wind blew her dirty blonde hair in her face, obstructing her vision. She tried to reach out to find the old man and possibly maim him, but her hands clasped around air. Screaming, she felt the sensation that she was falling until she landed in water. Cold water. Gasping, she inhaled, bringing the water into her lungs. Choking on liquid, she struggled to the surface of the water as pin pricks of cold tortured her skin. When she reached the surface, she coughed violently, water spraying out of her mouth. Desperately breathing for oxygen, she concentrated more on her breathing than her surroundings. When she finally regained her breath, she looked around. Immediately, she regretted her decision.

Horses. Men. Strange monsters. Blood. Swords. Arrows. Screams.

Liz closed her eyes. This was a dream. It had to be a dream. She opened her eyes and the same scene was before her. Pinching herself, she tried the method that worked in many cliché movies. It was worthless. Why did this look so real? Screaming in frustration, she slapped the water with her fists and later realized how childish the action was. Then she thought of a brilliant idea. Keeping her arms at her sides and ceasing movement in her legs, she stilled her limbs which caused her to sink. If I die in my dream, I'll wake up back in Colorado. This is just a nightmare. She slowly, but surely, sank down through the murky water. It'll be painless. It'll be like dying in a dream. Her lungs were beginning to feel scratchy, the warning signs of loss of oxygen. Painless. They were on fire. She kicked away from the river silt and swam frantically towards the surface. Gasping for breath yet again, she accepted her fate.

She wasn't in Colorado anymore. She wouldn't let herself slip into lunacy yet by saying she was in some kind of "magical land" just yet.

Swimming to the opposite bank, she rest on the sand and watched, horrified, at the battle across the small river. The warriors that looked human seemed to be losing terribly. Their numbers were dwindling as the monsters seemed to gain the upper hand. One warrior was about to be stabbed.

Liz couldn't watch anymore. She grabbed a good sized stone and threw it across the river at a monster, hitting it in the helmet. Of course, it did nothing but distract him, but the warrior was able to kill his opponent. The warrior who was saved then sounded a retreat. Diving into the water, he then swam across the river. Liz wasn't sure if she should stay or run. She walked backwards and stopped, starting a pattern that ended when the warrior came to shore. He came towards her, grabbing her hand and dragging her into the forest and out of sight of the monsters. Panting, he then smiled at her.

"Thank you, kind lady." He nodded slightly. "You saved my life."

"I threw a rock. I fail to see how that would save you." Liz said.

"Still," The man declared. "I owe you a debt of gratitude." When Liz showed confusion, he asked. "Do you know whom you are speaking to?"

Liz shook her head.

The man straightened his posture. "I am Theodred, son of Theoden and Prince of Rohan."