Chapter 2
Reunion
I stayed in Bree for a month. The innkeeper Mr. Butterbur was very kind. One night he came to my room with news.
"Miss Gilraen….Strider just walked through the door. I thought maybe you should know." He said.
"Thank you sir. I will be down shortly." I said.
He smiled and then left. I put on a cloak and hooked my sword to my belt. I grabbed my bag and made the bed. After I had seen my father I would be leaving. It was raining outside. I walked down the stairs with my hood up.
"Which of you is the man they call Strider?" I asked.
They looked into a corner. I saw a man sitting there smoking a pipe. He looked at
me and I walked over to him.
"You are Strider?" I asked.
"That depends on who is looking for him." He said.
It was my father alright. I was mad. He had the nerve to speak in riddles to me. I slammed my hand on the table.
"~Don't play games with me!~" I said.
Now he looked up at me.
"~You speak the Elvish language?~" he asked.
"~Yes. And now I must ask if you know who I am.~" I said.
I lowered my hood and looked at him. He looked at me and shook his head. I was hurt. How could a father not know his own daughter? I took the Evenstar out of my pocket and threw it on the table. He gasped and then looked at me.
"Gilraen!" he said.
I nodded.
"~Where have you been for 14 years of my life?!~" I asked.
He sighed.
"~Answer me Strider!~" I said.
He looked at me surprised.
"~I have had things to do. I always return you know that.~" he said.
I shook my head. I grabbed the Evenstar and left. He called my name but I ignored him.
"Leave her alone!" I heard a voice say.
I turned and saw Merry and Pippin! I ran forward and turned them both around.
"Merry! Pippin! What are you doing here?" I asked them.
"We came with Frodo and Sam." Pippin said.
I saw two more Hobbits come forward. It was Frodo and Sam. I had never met Sam but I knew he was Frodo's gardener and good friend. I smiled at Frodo and Strider returned to his corner. I looked over at him with tears in my eyes. I walked over to him and the Hobbits followed me.
"~I want nothing from you. For the past 14 years I have taken care of myself. Every day I have looked out my window hoping to see you! And everyday I didn't see you…..I thought you had been killed. I watched mother wait for you. With her heart breaking everyday you didn't come home. Grandfather was more of a father to me then you were. You are not my father!~" I said.
I then turned and walked out the door into the rain. I mounted Asfaloth and rode towards home. A few days later I stopped to rest. The place I stopped at was called Weathertop. However that night I heard the shrieks of the Nazgûl. I hid behind a rock and Asfaloth ran off. I saw the wraiths approach. However they were heading for the top. I knew there was someone up there who needed my help.
I ran up and heard the screams.
"FRODO!"
I gasped as I realized it was the hobbits. I screamed and jumped out to fight the wraiths. Merry and Pippin saw me. I could not hold off all of the wraiths forever. I saw Frodo out of the corner of my eye. He took out a ring and put it on his finger. He disappeared!
"FRODO!" I shouted.
I fought off a wraith and saw one stab at thin air. Then I heard a horrible scream. I turned and saw Frodo reappear. I ran over and dropped down next to him with Sam. Then I heard another yell. I saw my father come. I stayed with Frodo. However one of the wraiths was coming up behind my father.
"NO!" I shouted.
I ran and drew my sword. I blocked the wraiths sword from my father. I fought the wraith and I saw my father turn and look at me.
"~Gilraen move!~" he shouted.
I jumped away and my father threw a torch at the wraith. It ran off shrieking.
"STRIDER!" Sam shouted.
We both ran to Frodo.
"Help him Strider!" Sam said.
"He has been stabbed by a Morgul blade. This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs elvish medicine. Gilraen ride ahead of us." My father said.
"No I am staying…."
"~Do not argue with me! You are my daughter whether you like it or not and I will not have you get hurt! Now GO!~" he said.
I glared at him and then ran off. I whistled and Asfaloth came. I jumped on his back and rode towards Rivendell. However half way I stopped. I could not just leave Frodo. I would not. I turned around and raced back. I saw my father. I jumped off Asfaloth and quietly drew my sword. I put the dull side to his throat.
"What's this? A ranger caught off his guard?" I asked.
He pushed my sword away and stood up.
"~I told you to get away.~" He said.
"~Frodo is my friend! I will not leave him!~" I said.
I rode back to where the Hobbits were. I jumped off my horse.
"Frodo." I said.
The others looked at me in wonder.
"Lasto beth Nin. Tolo dan na galad." I said.
It did not work. Frodo looked away and I knelt down beside him.
"Frodo!"
I dabbed the sweat from his brow. My father put Athelas on his wound.
"He is fading. He's not going to last! I must get him to my grandfather!" I said.
My father picked Frodo up and put him on Asfaloth.
"Dartho guin perian. Rych le ad tolthathon." He said.
"Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im!" I said angrily.
"Andelu i ven!" He argued.
"Frodo fîr. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon." I said.
He looked at me.
"I do not fear them!" I said.
He nodded and I mounted Asfaloth.
"Gilraen! Ride hard. Don't look back." He said.
"Noro lim Asfaloth! Noro lim!" I said.
*Hear my voice. Come back to the light.
*Stay with the Hobbits. I will send horses.
*I am the faster rider I will take him.
*The road is too dangerous.
*Frodo is dying! If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him.
*Ride fast Asfaloth! Ride Fast!
