Authors note: this is my first fan fiction so tell me what you think of it.

Oh and denotes flashback. By the way the quote from Eowyn is from The Return of the King. Please read and review. Thanks!

Disclaimer: Of course the characters aren't mine except for Anora, she's all mine. You got that. So if you ever want to borrow her you have to ask. glares obsessively, obviously suspecting everyone Good. Glad we straightened that out.

Chapter one: a light among the shadows.

It was dark. It was always dark in the land of Mordor, but Anora thought that the faint light in the west made it seem all the darker. Light. The slaves that worked for the Eye thirsted for it as a weary traveler might thirst for water. It had been that faint light that had pushed Anora to the breaking point. Anora sighed. It was a stupid idea, she knew it was. If she was caught she would be killed. 'There are worse things then death' she thought 'I do not fear death' her resolve strengthened. She had been sitting there for hours, resting and waiting for the road to clear of the miles and miles of orcs that were streaming toward the gates. She had been waiting for this chance for three years. She was not going to quit now because of doubt. She resigned herself to a long wait.

Anora had only escaped two days ago and she still needed to find a way out of Mordor. She had not really planned on what to do after getting away from the tower. She knew that every way in and out of the country was guarded, but she had to try. 'What do you fear?' she asked herself. She had asked that same question years ago. Her mind wandered back through the years as she waited, to a visit to Rohan.

It was dark and she was only four years old. The lightning lit up the room and the thunder crashed around her. She began to cry. She had always been afraid of the dark. She looked up as Lady Eowyn came into the room. Eowyn wrapped her arms around her and comforted her until it was over. Anora remembered asking what Eowyn feared. Eowyn's face grew solemn, "A cage." she had said, "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of doing great deeds have gone beyond recall or desire."

'It looks like I got a share of both of our fears' she thought grimly. She looked wistfully to the west, aching to feel the sun on her face. She froze hearing a shuffling noise coming toward her hiding place. She carefully drew a knife she had stolen from the armory from her belt. She knew that her hiding spot was not a particularly good one. It was just a pit inside a roadside ditch with a dark blanket over the top to keep her from being seen. She pressed herself against the side, holding her breath. She heard whispers.

"Come on Mr. Frodo, we're almost there."

She listened more carefully. It hadn't sounded like an orc. She heard a faint thump. Unable to restrain herself she peered curiously over the edge. She gasped quietly. It was orcs. Two of them. She sank back to her knees praying that they hadn't spotted her.

"You get some rest Mr. Frodo. I'll keep watch."

She frowned. It really did not sound like an orc and now that she thought on it, orcs weren't that small either. Or at least she had never seen any that small. She was having a very confusing day.

Sam and Frodo crawled out of the melee, using the confusion as cover. Sam glanced at his master. Frodo was very pale and looked like he was about to faint.

"Come on Mr. Frodo," he whispered, "We're almost there."

Frodo nodded weakly to let Sam know that he had heard him. He rolled over the edge of the ditch with a faint thump. Sam helped him get comfortable. He thought he heard a gasp. He looked around worried that they had been spotted. He didn't see anyone so he turned back to Frodo.

"You get some rest Mr. Frodo. I'll keep watch."

"Thank you, Sam. Wake me in a few hours. You need rest as well." Frodo muttered weakly. Sam watched him until he was sure he was asleep. If anything was watching them, he didn't want to worry Frodo. He hoped he could handle it on his own. Frodo was too tired to help.

Anora awoke to absolute quiet. Her stomach groaned. She wrapped her arms around it willing it to stay quiet. 'I really should have brought more food' she thought. 'Well, time to get a move on.'

"Hello." Anora looked up in alarm. It was the orc!

Sam thought he had never seen a look filled with so much fear. Sam saw a lot of things in that look. Fear, despair and anger.

"No need to be afraid of me." He said. She didn't look like an enemy. And if it was he could handle it.

"Y-you don't sound like an orc." The girl said sounding confused. Sam realized he was still wearing a disguise.

"Oh, sorry," Sam removed his orc helmet, "It's not smart to go around undisguised in these parts of middle-earth if you know what I mean."

Anora smiled slightly. Whatever it was, it had a kind face. It was rather small, No more than three feet tall. Her mind went to the stories Uncle Faramir had told her. Of course he wasn't really her uncle but he had been a great friend of her father and she had been given permission when she was little to call him uncle. This little creature reminded of the stories he had told concerning Halflings. Small and with bare feet. Yep, a Halfling. Her stomach growled again.

Sam looked thoughtful, "Would you like to join us? I'm sure Mr. Frodo wouldn't mind." Sam looked at this girl and felt what he had when he first saw Mr. Frodo. Some one who was as fragile as an uprooted sapling. Some one who needed the proper care to start growing again.

Anora decided that it looked trustworthy and if she was wrong, it was only three feet tall. She could handle it.

Frodo woke up to hushed voices. He saw Sam sitting a little while off talking to…

"Sam? Who is this?" he looked at the girl warily.

"Some one I thought could use some help." Said Sam, "Well, I'm going to see if I can find some water Mr. Frodo, I'll be back. Be sure to get more rest if you be needin' it." Sam stood up and walked into the darkness. 'Be careful, please. I don't know what I'd do without you.' thought Frodo.

Anora saw the look on his face and knew what he was thinking. She had seen that look before. She remembered her mother wearing that same look whenever her father went on duty as a scout. The look was always the same. Be careful, be safe, please come back. I couldn't bear it if you left me.

"Don't worry. Most of the orcs have been called to the gate," she said, Frodo looked at her curiously.

"How did you know where the orcs were going?" Anora looked into his eyes. Frodo shivered slightly. She had the haunted look of some one who had known great sorrow.

"Slaves hear things." She said quietly.

"Oh." Said Frodo. He remembered how desperately Boromir had wanted help for his country. This was one of the reasons. There was silence while Frodo tried to think of something to say to the girl he now recognized as a runaway slave. He studied her carefully. She was tall with dark hair and gray eyes. She was very thin and looked like she could use a good meal. Now that he thought about it she looked much like Boromir. "Was Gondor your home land?" he asked. She nodded.

"War goes on in the land of Gondor." She said softly, "The slain are not the only casualties of war. Every time The Eye wins a battle or raid there are spoils," Anora said, her voice was starting to shake, "Some are inanimate like gold or land but the unlucky people who survive are taken here," she looked around. Frodo saw that her eyes were burning with unshed tears. "The rest of my family were the lucky ones, the ones who died swiftly. I however was one of the unlucky few. The few who instead die slowly day by day as the spirit slowly diminishes and all hopes are quenched like fire watered by the downpour." She straitened up proudly, "I am one of the first to escape the black tower. As the other slaves would tell you I just don't know when to give up." She made a brave attempt at a smile, "I never give up all hope, even if it seems that everything has come crashing down on top of me, I will get out and I will see sunlight again!" she continued fiercely. She was breathing hard, tears leaking down her face. Frodo was silent for a moment.

"What is your name?"

"Anora."She said softly.

"Anora, you should get some rest." He said. Anora nodded suddenly weary. Frodo watched as she curled up and her breathing grew deeper. 'Is this the fate of every one I care about, this human girl, if the quest should fail? You were rightly named Anora' thought Frodo suddenly 'Anor means sun, the light amidst the shadows. To have hope and courage when it is forgotten by all others. Sam was right. She could use some help.'

TBC