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Strider build a fire and took a spot near as he scanned the trees. Night had already fallen and the hobbits went to sleep.

'You should get some sleep Lady Valkyrie.' Strider said as he watched her from the other side of the fire. By the faintly light of the fire he could make out her unease and open eyes.

'I can't.' she simply stated. She was cold, felt miserable and she was in the company of those she didn't know. Why had she come along with them? That was a mystery to herself as well. Something about them was so familiar. Maybe that's why? Valkyrie sat up and let her head rest on her knees as she thought.

'Why?'

'I'm cold and scared.' She whispered, though it was the truth she didn't want him to hear it.

As she thought he hadn't heard her, he placed a warm blanket around her shoulders. Valkyrie startled and looked at him, retreating to his own seat.

'Thank you.' She said. Strider said nothing instead he nodded at her.

'I know you're scared.' He said, Valkyrie's head shot up and met his gaze. 'You're not from here.' He simply stated. 'You're not from Middle-Earth.'

She blinked her eyes a few times to process his words. 'What are you talking about?' she asked shakily.

'Your clothes, accent, that strange book. Are you from another world?' he asked her plainly.

Valkyrie stared blankly at him from the other side of the warm fire. 'You're joking.' She said as panic slowly rose in her tummy.

Strider sighed and looked her directly in her eyes. 'I'm not joking Lady Valkyrie. Are you from another world?'

Valkyrie chewed her lower lip, a habit she had since she was little when she was nervous. Her eyes glistened with the tears that formed themselves in the corner, as she rocked slowly. She knew Middle-Earth from the stories her parents told her and her brother when they were little kids. It was impossible for her to be in Middle-Earth. Though, they looked all to familiar to her. Those children were hobbits, she had come to learn, but this man looked like a man, not a hobbit or other race Pippin had told her about.

'Is this really Middle-Earth?'

'Yes.'

'Then yes, I'm from another world.' Her fear forgotten she got to her feet and paced the forest floor. 'I can't be. This is impossible!'

'Nothing is impossible.' Strider said as he watched her carefully.

'I walked through a forest in my world, and suddenly I ran into you.' She said.

'You're not a local making fun of me, right?' she placed her hands on her hips and stared angry at him.

'No, Lady Valkyrie.' Strider held his hands up in defense, as he had done earlier that day. She shrunk back on the floor. 'How am I going to get back? Andy is on his own now.' The thought of Andy alone in the woods in New Zealand made her panic. How long would she be gone? Does he already called the police? She knew him all too well, he would do everything to get her back.

Frodo heard all of it and felt sorry for her. He had made the decision to leave the Shire, because there was no other. He had to. This young woman had left her world, because she had no other choice. Just like him. Silently he got up and placed his hand on her shoulder, in the hope it would comfort her. Instead, she jumped around fiercely making him fall backwards on the ground.

'I'm sorry Frodo.' She said and helped him up immediately.

'No, I'm sorry. I didn't want to scare you.' He smiled kindly at her. 'I've thought that eavesdropping is bad but I couldn't help it when I heard the two of you.' He started shakily, fiddling his hands and avoiding the glares Strider and Valkyrie were giving him. 'I just want you to know, that I know how you feel, and that you'll have a friend in me if you need someone.' He let out his breath he didn't knew he was holding in.

Valkyrie sat down on her knees in front of him and smiled. 'Thank you.' She said and pulled him in a hug.

With the thought of a new friend in mind she stared into the flames. Frodo went back to sleep a few minutes after his new forged friendship with her, leaving her and Strider alone in silence.

A high pitched shriek filled the air. Strider got to his feet immediately and dove the fire. The hobbits were still sleeping, to much surprise of Valkyrie.

'What was that?' she managed to choke out. She hadn't realized she had come to stand next to Strider.

There was another shriek, this one compared with hooves and sounded slightly closer.

Valkyrie grabbed Striders arm in fear. His head snapped her way and he put a finger to his lips to let her know she had to be silent.

She chewed her lip, not willing to stay here but also much more nervous than she had been before.

A couple of minutes later the sound of hooves and shrieks were gone. Strider lowered himself to the ground, forcing Valkyrie to let go of his arm.

He looked at her and saw her face was turned as white as snow and fear filled her eyes. He patted on a spot on the ground next to him and Valkyrie sat down.

'What was that?' she asked shakily as he placed the fallen blanket again around her shoulders.

'They were once men.' He glanced quickly in her way, then looked back at the trees.

'Great Kings of men. Then Sauron the deceiver gave to them the Nine Rings of Power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness and now they are slaves to his will.'

Valkyrie met his gaze briefly as she sat on the forest ground with her knees to her chest and her arms around it.

'They are the Nazgul, Ringwraiths, neither living or dead.' Strider looked at her as she tried to process his words.

That night Valkyrie couldn't catch much sleep. After Strider had told her about the Nazgul, she feared to be in this forest more than ever. Finally, she found her mind numb enough to slip into sleep.

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