Chapter One (Part 2): Falling Out of Windows? Yes, posters? No.
After establishing that, no, we did not have seven meals in a single day, acquiring two holes in Bliss' shoe and getting very little sleep for a couple nights, we arrived at Weathertop.
"Oh what nice country side. We should try to build a summer home here."
"Ooh, I call the Master Suite!"
Strider shot us a "shut it" look and continued walking. We hiked up the hill after him, puffing a little from exertion. Damn.
The hobbits immediately plopped down onto the ground after dumping their things. Bliss and I joined them as Strider passed out a random collection of four short swords to the little guys. He threw me a look out of the corner of his eye as he walked away, most likely to scope out the premises.
Soon Frodo was sleeping and I was zoning out, tired after our trek. Sam and Pippin got a fire going while Merry and Bliss were talking about stealing things, mostly food.
"Nix."
"Mmph?"
"I have to pee."
"Ah, dang it, so do I.."
"Let's go find some bushes."
"Oh, the modern conveniences of toilets. Or even port-a-potties."
"Ew. Don't be gross."
Leaving the warm little campfire (and being warned to stay close- pft, yeah, right) we went into the woods down on the other side of the hill. After taking care of business (we were pros after the first couple of days), we sat at the edge of the trees and chilled, glad for a minute to ourselves.
"How long do you think it'll take before we run out of tampons?" Bliss wondered. I groaned, remembering that we would have to deal with that at some point.
"I dunno. Maybe we'll get some more girl stuff at Rivendale. Yeesh, wonder what'll happen there."
Bliss sighed and we sat in silence for a while, watching the fire up on the hill. Suddenly, it went out, followed by faint yells. My eyes were drawn to the dark shadows creeping up the sides of Weathertop and I froze, half in fear and half in gratitude that they hadn't come upon us.
"Black Riders," I muttered, barely able to rip the words from my throat.
Even Bliss, who had a mad love for them, seemed to shy away from their physical beings. Never had I encountered such a terror that it froze hearts. I prayed that I would never have to face one and then tried to think if anyone did after this. I'd grown up on these books, I was a Tolkien nerd...so what the hell was wrong with me, that I couldn't remember what happened next?
"If we wait, we should be able to catch up to them when Strider comes back," Bliss murmured, drawing further into the shadow of the trees. I made a small noise of agreement and focused my attention on the hill. Firelight- a torch, most likely- sprang into motion and the Black Riders disappeared over the hill, away to the right of us.
I stood with Bliss and we ran to catch Strider and the hobbits as they came running down this side of the hill. Everyone seemed in a general panic and I could see that nerves were fried from the meeting with the Ringwraiths.
"Hurry!" Strider yelled over his shoulder, spotting us.
"But we're six days from Rivendale!" Sam cried, leading Bill the pony. "We'll never make it!"
I exchanged a look with Bliss but Strider, ever the fearless leader, just kept on going.
We paused towards morning, by "Mr. Bilbo's trolls" for a breather. Strider lay Frodo down and checked his vitals. I was doubled up, hands on my knees, but even with sweat dripping into my eyes, I could tell he was not looking so good. He was pale, short of breath and looked to have a high fever.
"Is he going to die?" Pippin asked, putting into words what the rest of us could not.
"He is passing into the Shadow Realm. He will soon become a Wraith, like them," Strider said after a pause.
A high cry alerted us to more Black Riders and I noted Strider pulling Sam aside to ask him something but my head was spinning from all the running and no sleep. Bliss was sitting by Frodo, frustrated that there was nothing we could do and I hit my knees where I stood, drained.
Merry, Pippin, Bliss and I sat in the clearing for several minutes, completely silent. That day hadn't begun yet and there was no movement in the trees. The air seemed void of hope.
At last, thankfully, Strider and Sam returned with a pouchful of Kingsfoil. An elf (at least, I assumed it was an elf-he fit the stereotype) came riding into camp soon after on a brilliant white horse. Strider and the elf (later identified as Glorfindel) bent over Frodo and there was a pause.
"I have not the skill to heal this wound. We must get him to Lord Elrond." The elf picked up the hobbit and slung him onto the horse. A few words were exchanged between Strider and him and then he was gone, toting a wheezing Frodo in front of him. Bliss and I stared at each other, fatigued and worried and not a little frightened. We were left alone to make our way to Rivendale.
A/N: Sorry this is short but that is a lot of writing. I'll try to get another couple of chapters posted but since school has started it'll mostly be on the weekends. This is kind of old so I'm rewriting as I go, so please understand why I take so long to get it up. Haha, so to speak. Anyway, there is already plenty to post, so just stay patient. I will keep going with this one, promise. Thanks for reading!
Fred