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!