(AN) I do not own Lord of the Rings, or any of Tolkiens' awesome characters….
I woke up in a cold sell, my head already pounding, to a man yelling at me. "Wake up! There is no time to lose!" I stood up, and looked around. The last thing I could remember was a cloth covering my mouth, and then something heavy hitting my head. I stopped examining my sell, and turn to the man who was still telling me to hurry. I hesitantly walked over to the door, which was open. I edged out, and as soon as I crossed the threshold he turn around and dashed around a corner, calling for me to follow. I did as I was told, and followed him around the corner, a bit slower than he had. I stopped dead in my tracks at the sight before me. The cloaked man had just run his sword through two of my captors. I slowly started to edge my way over, feeling sick at the sight of the crimson blood dripping off his sword. I saw him look me up and down, and had the sudden urge to stand straighter, and taller. He told me to take the contents of the satchel that was lying by his feet. I knelt down next to the satchel, and grasped one of the straps. I pulled the top off and stuck my hand in. I pulled out a knife, and stuck it through my belt. I then spotted something shiny next to the satchel. It appeared to me a rusty long sword. I grabbed that as well. I looked back to my cloaked rescuer as he said, "You are not the only prisoner here, friend. My fellow Amdir and I have come to rescue a hobbit, but it turns out he is not the hobbit we have been tracking." I felt slightly disappointed as that sunk it. I had been hoping that my family had hired someone to come and rescue me… "Then who is—" I started to say, but was cut off when he held up his hand. "This escape will be dangerous for us all, for I know that a great evil lurks here. I have heard of its movements, and I can feel its presence. Do you know how to fight?" I felt slightly shock at his question, but I nodded none the less. "You should practice with me to get a feel for that weapon." He said, stepping into a fighting stance. I gaped at him. "Y-you want me to what?" I said, stuttering. He just chuckled. I shrugged and swung at him, and I thought I might just lop off his head. Not a very nice thank you, if you ask me. But seconds before my sword connected, he ducked. I gave a surprised, yet happy yelp as my sword flew past him, and into the stone wall. I was sent staggering, and nearly tripped. I steadied myself, and looked back to my rescuer, the cloaked man. He gave an approving nod, and said, "Well done." He then turned his back to me, and strode purposefully around yet another corner. I rushed after his and called out. "Wa-wait! What's your name?" He turned slightly, and said I could call his Strider. I paused mid-step, and then rushed after him once more. I was around the corner now, and I watched as he came to a locked door. But instead of lock picking it, like I thought he would, he just chopped off the lock. He stepped through the now open door, and into a foggy night. I quickly walked after him, and stepped into the cold, windy darkness. Suddenly, and torch lit up, causing me blindness for a moment. I held up my hand, covering my eyes. I opened my eyes once more, and searched for Strider. I saw his standing in the middle of the courtyard, and walked over to him. I felt his eyes watching me as I approached from under his hood. "Here we must part ways, miss—"Strider started to say, but I interjected. "Tiatia, that's my name." He nodded and continued, "Here we must part ways, Tiatia. You should free the two innocent hobbits also being held captive here." I gaped at him, "What? Are you sure…?" But he was already walking walk. Then, as if remembering something, he turned around, and called out, "Their names are Celandine Brandybuck and Mundo Sackville-Baggins. I must search for signs of Mordor and lean what I can of his connection to the Blackwolds. Amdir, my fellow Ranger, is making a path for us—he will be waiting for us at the main gate." And with that he turned around, and disappeared off into the mist. I looked around, feeling rather confused. I spotted a gate, and seeing it as my only way out quickly walked over to it. I grasped the handle, and pulled it open. I jumped back, because a bandit from the other side had spotted me. He charged through the now open gate door at me, and I panicked. I swung my sword, slicing from his left shoulder to his right hip. He fell to his knees, making a strangled gurgling noise. I chocked, and stumbled back as I watched the bandit die. I looked down to the sword clutched in my grip as scarlet drops rolled off, forming a small puddle. I dropped my sword, and doubled over, emptying the contents of my stomach onto the dirt walkway. After I was done, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and retrieved my sword. I didn't look at the dead bandit's body as I stepped over it. I made my way through the gate, as saw a chicken pecking at the ground, and two horses in a make shift stable. I heard someone yell angrily, and looked to where the sound was coming from. Another bandit was charging at me, and I instinctively stepped backwards, trying to put as much space between me and the bandit. I stepped on something, nearly tripping. I looked over my shoulder to see what it was. It was another dead body. I heard the charging bandit yell, and I whirled around, losing the grip on my sword. It flew from my hand, and imbedded itself in the oncoming bandits' stomach with a sickening 'slurp-crunch'. I stumbled backwards, and this time, tripped over the dead body. I fell to the ground heavily, looking at the bandit as he doubled over my sword. He fell to the ground in a cloud of dust, dead. I unsteadily got to my feet, and edged over to the dead bandit. I grasped the handle of my sword with both hands, and placed a foot against the bandits side, pulling my sword free is yet another sick 'slurp'. I averted my eyes as I stepped over the dead bandit, not wishing for another dizzy spell. I made my way over to yet another gate, and this time, I pulled it open slowly, checking to see if there were any more bandits. There was only one that I could see, and he was tormenting a small girl. I gasp, and charged through the gate, grabbing the knife from my belt as I did so. When I was about eight feet away from the bandit I stopped at chucked my knife at him. With a huge amount of luck, it hit, and sunk, into his neck, killing him instantly. I shuddered at the thought that I had just taken another life, but I had to push those thoughts away. I rushed over to the little girl, and knelt beside her. With closer inspection though, I found it was not a little girl. She had all the womanly assets already, yet her height highly suggested that she had barley seen seven summers. Then the realization that she was most likely the hobbit girl Celandine Brandybuck hit me. "Um, are you Celandine? Celandine Brandybuck?" I asked peering at her. Then she started jumping up and down. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was starting to worry that this little misadventure would be the end of me!" I smiled and told her that I was sent to rescue her, and a hobbit named Mundo Sackville-Baggins. She frowned slightly when I mentioned him, and then smiled again. "Of course! Just a moment, please." And with that, she ran over to the small fire that was next to the dead bandit, and grabbed one of the burning logs. Celandine raced back over, and past me, to stand in front of one of the houses. She chucked the burning log onto the thatched roof, and then spun around looking at me. She had successfully started a large fire. I motioned for her to follow me, and I turned around, racing for a gate I had not tried yet. I heard Celandine following me as I jogged towards it. I opened it, hearing cries of 'Quick, fetch water!' and 'Fire! There's a fire!'. I watched as the majority of the bandits raced away, all except for one, who was guarding a small boy—or, uh, hobbit. He turned around at the sound of Celandine squeaking. I rushed him, impaling him with my sword. He grunted as I pulled it from is chest. He fell over, and was still. I stepped over his now lifeless body, and made my way over to Mundo. Celandine beat me to it and untied Mundo from the training dummy he had been tied to. Mundo stomped over, and glared up at me. "It's about time! Was I expected to… to rescue myself?" He spluttered, still glaring at me. I narrowed my eyes, and looked down at him. "Maybe I should have let you." I said, and took a step towards him. He backed up, still glaring. "Well, come on clodpoll! We haven't got all night!" And with that, he was off, racing around a corner with Celandine in tow, leaving me to splutter at his insult. I strode after them, and rounded the corner. I heard Celandine shout with shock, and I quickened my pace. I was through the gate and half way across the space before I saw what was going on. I saw Strider standing over someone, and Celandine kneeling next to said someone. I guessed it was Striders friend, Amdir, or something. I rushed over, and kneeled next to Amdir as well. He looked at me and said, "Good…the hobbits are… are out of danger. I am glad. Do not… concern yourself with me. The greatest danger… has passed. The Nazgul fear those who wield fire…" And with that, he passed out, while Celandine yelled at him to stay with us. I fell back onto my haunches, and stared at Amdir. I decided there and then that I would have no part in any more adventures. I shuddered at the memory of the men I had slain. No, no more adventures. No more killing…" But, fate rarely lets you carve your own path…
(AN) Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed the first chapter.
