It began with the forging of the Great Rings.

Three were given to the Elves; Immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings.

Seven, to the Dwarf Lords; Great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls.

And nine; nine rings were gifted to the race of men, who, above all else, desired power.

For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race.

But they were all of them deceived…

For another ring was made.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

Valae Staerl watched as four tiny figures came into the Inn. Hobbits. They wore dark capes over their heads and bodies. She, herself, was hooded. She needed not the attention of curious eyes. Still, she nudged the other hooded figure beside her. He understood. Valae could sense something else coming from the half-lings. She knew her companion could as well.

Valae was as normal as any mortal human could me. She was part of the race of Men, though she hardly looked the lot. For beneath her hood, she was a pretty girl about nine-teen. Exotic-looking. Almost Elvin-like, though not nearly as beautiful. A slim long nose, deep dark eyes, thick lips, tanned skin, and long dark hair like a raven's wing gave Valae the kind of attention a Ranger avoided. So she kept herself hooded and cloaked most of the time.

The hobbits sat at a table, drinking beer and talking casually. One hobbit, however, seemed nervous. His bright blue eyes glanced around at everything, occasionally glancing at Valae and her companion.

"What do you think, Strider?" Valae asked her companion. He didn't reply.

Another hobbit mumbled something to the little blue-eyed one. He turned to glance at us and spoke briefly to the waiter, who also glanced at us at our table in the far-back corner. The waiter mumbled something to the hobbit and continued with his own business. The hobbit glanced at Valae. She smirked, knowing the lower half of her face was visible. The hobbit turned away quickly.

Suddenly, one of the hobbits, who'd made his way to buy a pint, began speaking loudly.

"Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins!" the hobbit laughed cheerfully in a heavily accented voice. "He's over there. Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin twice removed…"

Valae tuned the hobbit out as she saw the little blue-eyed hobbit dash towards the chatty one. Strider put his pipe down beside her.

Blue-eyes, as Valae called him for now, grabbed the other hobbit and yanked on him hard. Startled, the other hobbit turned quickly, knocking Blue-eyes off his feet. The poor hobbit fell on his back, a small gold trinket flying out of his hands. Strider jumped at Valae's side, starling her. Then, as the gold trinket slipped onto the hobbits finger accidentally, the little half-ling disappeared. Valae gasped.

"Wait for me in the room. Go, now," Strider mumbled harshly to her. She nodded and stood. She quickly made her way upstairs, pushing past others. Strider was always right. Valae simply did as she was told.

Soon enough, the door barged open and the little blue-eyed hobbit tumbled in, Strider at his heels. Valae drew her dagger and caught the hobbit. She shoved him back and he rammed into the wall. Valae pointed her dagger at the hobbit, motioning him to stay where he was.

"What do you want?" the hobbit asked. Strider shut the door and barred it.

"A little more caution from you. That is not trinket you carry," Strider replied as he moved to the window.

"I carry nothing," the hobbit protested.

"Indeed."

Strider's reply was sarcastic. He blew the candles out.

"We can avoid being seen if we wish, but to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift."

Strider removed his hood, revealing his gruff but handsome face. His blue eyes glowed and his long black hair was wet and mopped to his face.

"Who are you?" the hobbit narrowed his eyes at me and then at Strider.

"Are you afraid?" Valae asked him tauntingly. The hobbit seemed to struggle with an answer.

"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you," Strider replied. Valae could see fear on the hobbits face. She thought about the trinket she'd seen as the hobbit had fallen. She thought for a long moment before she realized what she'd seen. It was legend, the one ring. It had been forgotten, for the time being…Valae glanced at Strider, but he wasn't looking at her. She felt fear grow in her own heart. Then, she heard a thumping up the stairs outside the room.

Valae jumped and pointed her dagger to the door as Strider unsheathed his sword, ready to attack. Three hobbits barged into the room, the hobbits that had accompanied the Ring Bearer.

"Let him go! Or I'll have you Longshanks!" the stout hobbit who'd been mumbling earlier shouted, his hands balled in a poor attack stance. Valae had to smile. Strider simply shook his head and sheathed his sword.

"You have a stout heart, little hobbit," Valae said, sheathing her own dagger. He stared at her strangely.

"But that will not save you," Strider added. He turned to the blue-eyed hobbit. "You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They're coming." The hobbit turned pale. Valae took only a second to think of who Strider meant. Of course. Who else would be coming for the ring…?

"Come with us," she said as she ushered the hobbits out of the room. She nodded to Strider, who would take care of things.