The Lord Of The Rings: The Path Of The Ring
Book one of three
Prologue – The Discovery Of The Night
Most of the time, in our world, we love only our equals. Our designated mates – those of our species, our race, our culture. Though sometimes – just sometimes – there are differences. There are exceptions. And if there are many of these exceptions in one bloodline, the outcome can be quite…extraordinary. Especially when the blood in the line is so very…potent. So very concentrated. Imagine the pressure on the heir. The one true ruler, the descendent of many. Bearer of all the secrets.
Enter Sunny Ruspin, daughter of Raspiel. A perfectly normal (though rather short) being, from the far southwest of the Shire – the Blue Mountains, to be exact. At least, she was perfectly normal. As normal as you'd expect her to be, anyway, considering…
But something happened that changed it all. Raspiel and Jolié Ruspin were murdered. Slain by the servants of the Dark Lord, Sauron. Sunny was forced to abandon their home in the west. She packed all her personal belongings, and went to leave. Though something stopped her. Something unnerving. She turned and ran back into the house. Pulling out the trunk from under her parents' bed, Sunny yanked at the clasp with her hands and it crumbled away. She could not explain why this trunk, just that it needed to be opened. Quickly. Lifting open the squeaking lid of the trunk, she let out a gasp. Inside was a single sheet of paper, and a chain with a pendant on the end.
Softly, Sunny picked up the sheet of paper. Looking closer, she could see it was a family tree. And sure enough, there were her parents. But she was not listed – the tree had obviously been made before her birth. Looking upwards, Sunny could see that her ancestors stretched right back to Elven history, through her great-great-great-grandmother, who was an elf. She had married Raniel, a man from the southwest of the shire. In time, the Tasquils (for that was Jolié's name before she had married) had bred with hobbits, and eventually became mainly of hobbit structure, but with the movement of Elves and the dreamy quality of Men.
Sunny then looked to her father's side of the family. She traced a finger right up through her ancestors, and then stopped. Stopped where her father's bloodline became purely of Man. And she moved as if to rip the paper in two…but ceased movement. She could hear hooves coming up the east of the hill. Grabbing the pendant from the trunk and throwing it round her neck, she slipped the paper into her pack and gently crept out of the house, in a fashion not unlike the Elven way of movement.
As she stepped silently round the buildings to the stables, Sunny watched the dark riders mount the hill. She drew breath, but did not fear them. They had come before. They had killed her parents. They should not be trusted, for they are servants of Sauron. And their movement is inhuman. Even through this, Sunny did not fear them – living in the Mountains, one cannot be too fearful. Creatures of the night roam this plain.
One of the Riders turns to the others.
"Baggins…" it hisses in its' harsh tongue. The horses let out a whine and kicked their feet.
"Shire…" another screamed. Then they moved to stand in a circle, close together, and spoke in the tongue that was never spoken in the Shire. They spoke the tongue of Mordor. And to her horror, Sunny understood them. She understood the language of Mordor.
"Baggins has the Ring, my friends. He is here, in the Shire. We must find him before Gandalf the Grey. We must get the Ring, the One Ring. We dealt with the heir – Raspiel Ruspin - he will not interfere. No one but our Master can harness the Power of the Ring now." Sunny drew breath, and mounted her horse (though with great difficulty, for hobbits are not suited for horses – they would rather ponies). Trotting carefully down the hill, she cantered off into the afternoon light through the forests as the Black Riders conversed more.
Gandalf the Grey had been a frequent visitor to the Blue Mountains, and it was now, thanks to the family tree, that Sunny had discovered why. She knew that now she had to find Gandalf, else all would be lost. She had to find him, and the one they called Baggins. Sunny had heard of the Bagginses, but only from her father and Gandalf on his visits. There was Bilbo, who by now, Sunny calculated, was around 127...then there was Frodo, who was not much older than Sunny by hobbit reckoning, though in the years of Man, 49 was indeed quite an age. Though he must be 50 in September, and Bilbo 128, Sunny thought to herself as she swept through the woods, cloak flailing out from under the pack she carried on her back.
Sunny herself was not too young a hobbit – if you are talking on physical terms. Mentally, Sunny was much older, much wiser than her years. However, for now, we shall work on the physical reckoning of the hobbits, for that is what Frodo and Sunny are. Sunny had come of age some ten years ago, making her the sprightly age of 42 (she was not 43 until the October of the year). This was considered a reasonable age for a hobbit to settle down with a partner, though Sunny, living far afield in the Blue Mountains as she did, knew not of many potential husbands. Though this digresses.
It was the afternoon of April 5th as Sunny departed for Bag End. It was around 200 miles travel – around a week if she covered around 28 miles daily. Unfortunately for Sunny, her horse, Elianor, was not the strongest of animals, and therefore would go slower than was needed in this situation. The Black Riders had steadfast horses, and could cover more ground, though there were more of them, which lead to problems with pathways. Sunny could travel where she pleased, so long as she kept going northeast. In time, she would encounter the road that went to Bree, which she could follow to Hobbiton.
As she cantered swiftly on – Elianor had not failed yet – Sunny thought of how Hobbiton differed to her home in the Blue Mountains. Traditionally, of course, hobbits lived in holes in the ground, for it was there that they felt most at home. However, the Mountains were not a place suitable for burrowing out tunnels, so the Ruspins had settled on a cabin like house – wooden, so therefore cozy. However, many places in the Shire had become unsuitable for hobbit-holes, so houses of wood, brick and stone were becoming more common. Though the uncommon was to be expected in Bag End…
She had heard much of the Bagginses birthday parties, and for the most part Sunny wished to avoid them at all costs, for they were known for their great social participation, and Sunny had always been a very secretive person, keeping herself to herself. Of course, the Blue Mountains were the best place to do so, for there were no fellows with whom to socialize. But it had not always been so, for in the year of Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday, news of a great party reached all corners of the Shire. At the time, Sunny was a mere 26, and knew not much of the revelries that took place in the mass-habited areas of the Shire. Her father would delight in telling her stories of the fireworks of Gandalf the Grey, and Sunny would dream of watching fireworks erupt over Bag End and light up the night sky, colours shining off each and every star.
Oh, for that to be now and this then, not that then and this now. Alas, however, what must be done must be done, and it is Sunny's duty to reach Bag End before the Black Riders. By her calculations, she will reach there on the 12th of April, while Spring was reaching its fullest. Recently all Spring had bought was dreadful rain, but hopefully that would clear for the most part of the journey.
Sunny rode northeast for three days. She was well on track – around five miles from the Far Downs, but Elianor was having trouble. She was limping slightly, and this worried Sunny. She dismounted and rubbed Elianor's nose softly. Elianor lifted up her leg and Sunny could see a thorn sticking out of her leg, just above her ankle. Sunny reached for it and tugged softly. Elianor let ought a neigh of protest and kicked out at Sunny, who flew backwards into a nearby tree.
Elianor collapsed onto her side and Sunny jumped up quickly.
"Elianor?" she whispered. "Elly?" she hissed more urgently. The horse whined softly and her head flopped against the cold floor. Sunny stood up and turned away. "Sorry, Elianor…" she said. "But I have to go. I have to reach Bag End in four days. I can't be slowed down." Sunny kissed Elianor's nose. "Not even by you."
Sunny jumped off the stone she was stood on and ran towards the road that lead to Bree. It was not too far. She could make it. Right?
Book one of three
Prologue – The Discovery Of The Night
Most of the time, in our world, we love only our equals. Our designated mates – those of our species, our race, our culture. Though sometimes – just sometimes – there are differences. There are exceptions. And if there are many of these exceptions in one bloodline, the outcome can be quite…extraordinary. Especially when the blood in the line is so very…potent. So very concentrated. Imagine the pressure on the heir. The one true ruler, the descendent of many. Bearer of all the secrets.
Enter Sunny Ruspin, daughter of Raspiel. A perfectly normal (though rather short) being, from the far southwest of the Shire – the Blue Mountains, to be exact. At least, she was perfectly normal. As normal as you'd expect her to be, anyway, considering…
But something happened that changed it all. Raspiel and Jolié Ruspin were murdered. Slain by the servants of the Dark Lord, Sauron. Sunny was forced to abandon their home in the west. She packed all her personal belongings, and went to leave. Though something stopped her. Something unnerving. She turned and ran back into the house. Pulling out the trunk from under her parents' bed, Sunny yanked at the clasp with her hands and it crumbled away. She could not explain why this trunk, just that it needed to be opened. Quickly. Lifting open the squeaking lid of the trunk, she let out a gasp. Inside was a single sheet of paper, and a chain with a pendant on the end.
Softly, Sunny picked up the sheet of paper. Looking closer, she could see it was a family tree. And sure enough, there were her parents. But she was not listed – the tree had obviously been made before her birth. Looking upwards, Sunny could see that her ancestors stretched right back to Elven history, through her great-great-great-grandmother, who was an elf. She had married Raniel, a man from the southwest of the shire. In time, the Tasquils (for that was Jolié's name before she had married) had bred with hobbits, and eventually became mainly of hobbit structure, but with the movement of Elves and the dreamy quality of Men.
Sunny then looked to her father's side of the family. She traced a finger right up through her ancestors, and then stopped. Stopped where her father's bloodline became purely of Man. And she moved as if to rip the paper in two…but ceased movement. She could hear hooves coming up the east of the hill. Grabbing the pendant from the trunk and throwing it round her neck, she slipped the paper into her pack and gently crept out of the house, in a fashion not unlike the Elven way of movement.
As she stepped silently round the buildings to the stables, Sunny watched the dark riders mount the hill. She drew breath, but did not fear them. They had come before. They had killed her parents. They should not be trusted, for they are servants of Sauron. And their movement is inhuman. Even through this, Sunny did not fear them – living in the Mountains, one cannot be too fearful. Creatures of the night roam this plain.
One of the Riders turns to the others.
"Baggins…" it hisses in its' harsh tongue. The horses let out a whine and kicked their feet.
"Shire…" another screamed. Then they moved to stand in a circle, close together, and spoke in the tongue that was never spoken in the Shire. They spoke the tongue of Mordor. And to her horror, Sunny understood them. She understood the language of Mordor.
"Baggins has the Ring, my friends. He is here, in the Shire. We must find him before Gandalf the Grey. We must get the Ring, the One Ring. We dealt with the heir – Raspiel Ruspin - he will not interfere. No one but our Master can harness the Power of the Ring now." Sunny drew breath, and mounted her horse (though with great difficulty, for hobbits are not suited for horses – they would rather ponies). Trotting carefully down the hill, she cantered off into the afternoon light through the forests as the Black Riders conversed more.
Gandalf the Grey had been a frequent visitor to the Blue Mountains, and it was now, thanks to the family tree, that Sunny had discovered why. She knew that now she had to find Gandalf, else all would be lost. She had to find him, and the one they called Baggins. Sunny had heard of the Bagginses, but only from her father and Gandalf on his visits. There was Bilbo, who by now, Sunny calculated, was around 127...then there was Frodo, who was not much older than Sunny by hobbit reckoning, though in the years of Man, 49 was indeed quite an age. Though he must be 50 in September, and Bilbo 128, Sunny thought to herself as she swept through the woods, cloak flailing out from under the pack she carried on her back.
Sunny herself was not too young a hobbit – if you are talking on physical terms. Mentally, Sunny was much older, much wiser than her years. However, for now, we shall work on the physical reckoning of the hobbits, for that is what Frodo and Sunny are. Sunny had come of age some ten years ago, making her the sprightly age of 42 (she was not 43 until the October of the year). This was considered a reasonable age for a hobbit to settle down with a partner, though Sunny, living far afield in the Blue Mountains as she did, knew not of many potential husbands. Though this digresses.
It was the afternoon of April 5th as Sunny departed for Bag End. It was around 200 miles travel – around a week if she covered around 28 miles daily. Unfortunately for Sunny, her horse, Elianor, was not the strongest of animals, and therefore would go slower than was needed in this situation. The Black Riders had steadfast horses, and could cover more ground, though there were more of them, which lead to problems with pathways. Sunny could travel where she pleased, so long as she kept going northeast. In time, she would encounter the road that went to Bree, which she could follow to Hobbiton.
As she cantered swiftly on – Elianor had not failed yet – Sunny thought of how Hobbiton differed to her home in the Blue Mountains. Traditionally, of course, hobbits lived in holes in the ground, for it was there that they felt most at home. However, the Mountains were not a place suitable for burrowing out tunnels, so the Ruspins had settled on a cabin like house – wooden, so therefore cozy. However, many places in the Shire had become unsuitable for hobbit-holes, so houses of wood, brick and stone were becoming more common. Though the uncommon was to be expected in Bag End…
She had heard much of the Bagginses birthday parties, and for the most part Sunny wished to avoid them at all costs, for they were known for their great social participation, and Sunny had always been a very secretive person, keeping herself to herself. Of course, the Blue Mountains were the best place to do so, for there were no fellows with whom to socialize. But it had not always been so, for in the year of Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday, news of a great party reached all corners of the Shire. At the time, Sunny was a mere 26, and knew not much of the revelries that took place in the mass-habited areas of the Shire. Her father would delight in telling her stories of the fireworks of Gandalf the Grey, and Sunny would dream of watching fireworks erupt over Bag End and light up the night sky, colours shining off each and every star.
Oh, for that to be now and this then, not that then and this now. Alas, however, what must be done must be done, and it is Sunny's duty to reach Bag End before the Black Riders. By her calculations, she will reach there on the 12th of April, while Spring was reaching its fullest. Recently all Spring had bought was dreadful rain, but hopefully that would clear for the most part of the journey.
Sunny rode northeast for three days. She was well on track – around five miles from the Far Downs, but Elianor was having trouble. She was limping slightly, and this worried Sunny. She dismounted and rubbed Elianor's nose softly. Elianor lifted up her leg and Sunny could see a thorn sticking out of her leg, just above her ankle. Sunny reached for it and tugged softly. Elianor let ought a neigh of protest and kicked out at Sunny, who flew backwards into a nearby tree.
Elianor collapsed onto her side and Sunny jumped up quickly.
"Elianor?" she whispered. "Elly?" she hissed more urgently. The horse whined softly and her head flopped against the cold floor. Sunny stood up and turned away. "Sorry, Elianor…" she said. "But I have to go. I have to reach Bag End in four days. I can't be slowed down." Sunny kissed Elianor's nose. "Not even by you."
Sunny jumped off the stone she was stood on and ran towards the road that lead to Bree. It was not too far. She could make it. Right?