Alley jumped as the doorbell rang. They had finally managed to push Gollum into some clothes, but he had refused to let them take the loincloth. This proved by the bite marks on Alley's arm. He was sitting in the corner sullenly and he was tied to the couch.

"I'm cooking," Tasha called.

"My butt is attached to the chair."

"Thank you for that Captain Obvious!" Rebecca sighed and threw her empty soda can at him, hitting him in the head.

"I'll get it." Alley sighed and pulled herself up and opened the door.

Edmund looked down on Alley over his long nose. "You wanted my expertise?"

Alley blinked up at him and said a silent prayer for help.

"Is that Edmund?" Rebecca said pulling herself off the couch.

"No, it's the Lord of Mordor," Will shot. "Thank you, Miss Obvious."

"Shut up, and I refuse to wed you."

"Both of you shut up!" Alley snapped at the two. "Edmund?"

"The one and only," Edmund said blinking slowly. Alley noticed he had very large eyebrows, not to mention a giant nose.

"Looks like-"

"Don't say it, Will." Rebecca sighed and laid back on the couch.

"Erm, come in Edmund...make yourself at home," Alley said stepping aside.

Edmund came in and sat on the couch, having to fold his long legs in slightly so he wouldn't hit his knees on the coffee table. At the moment Tasha came in and sat a plate of sandwiches on the table.

"Edmund?" She asked with a raised brow.

"Yes?" He blinked at her through his silver-framed glasses.

"I imagined you...shorter."

"As I imagined you smarter," Edmund quipped.

Tasha gave him one of her special dirty looks that she only reserved for certain people.

"Stupid, fat Hobbit," Gollum grumbled, eyeing the sandwiches curiously.

Edmund frowned. "I suppose you forgot to mention Gollum? What else have you found?"

Alley swallowed, Edmund really intimidated her.

"Only the One Ring that can destroy the world," Captain Obvious put in. Rebecca gave him a look. Will grinned cheesily.

"You have the Ring?" Edmund asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Alley said softly, reaching into her pocket and bringing forth the Ring. She hated to touch the thing. She could feel its power calling to her and it bugged her.

"You didn't put it on, did you?"

"Not intentionally."

"Great, now the 'wraiths will be after us," he mumbled. "Well, if that's all you've got, I'll come back in a week. Keep that thing safe and don't, whatever you do, put it on. Keep it secret to keep it safe."

Alley quickly shoved the Ring in her pocket and let Edmund out.

"Great. I have to hide Gollum for another week." Alley shook her head.

£‰‡

That week passed rather quickly. The four friends had just got out of school and they tried to enjoy their summer, but the Ring always seemed to hover over them. Tasha heard its calling almost constantly. She longed just to see it sometimes, but she never bothered to ask.

"So, Edmund, what do you have for us now?" Rebecca asked as the four friends, Gollum, and Edmund sat down at the kitchen table in Alley's house.

"Alley, place the Ring in the center of the table."

Alley did as she was told, holding Gollum back instinctively with one arm.

Edmund looked at them all. "I have found your true names. Once the Ring hears them, there's no telling what will happen."

"Then why should it hear them?" Tasha asked, her eyes never leaving the Ring.

"It may help us." Edmund glared at her a moment, then turned to Will.

Redheaded Will raised an eyebrow. His green eyes were intense as he listened to what Edmund had to say.

"Will, you are the descendant of Faramir. Your true name is Anondir."

Slowly, Will's image faded. The three friends gazed on in silence, too bewildered to speak.

"Rebecca."

She held her head high and stately, a calm look in her deep blue eyes. Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders.

"You are the descendant of King Aragorn and Queen Arwen of Gondor. Your true name is Lossiel."

As Rebecca faded, Edmund turned to Tasha. "You are the descendant of Thane Peregrin. Pippin's daughter, your name is Ruby Took."

By now, Alley was beginning to freak out. Her green eyes held a frightened look and it felt as if her dark blonde hair stood on end.

"Smeagol," Edmund said, causing Gollum to fade.

Alley looked into the dark eyes of Edmund, questioningly.

"Take the Ring, daughter of Frodo. And may I, son of Gandalf come with you. Your true name is your birth name. Mine, Theodred."

Edmund faded as Alley thrust the Ring in her pocket once more.

"Alamira Racine," She choked out, and she faded from the present to the past.

£‰‡

Alley stumbled forward in the soft mulchy dirt with a gasp and Gollum wailed clinging to Alley.

"It is the forest!" He shrieked. "Death is here! They will kill us! The trees the elves taught, they will kill us!" He wailed and cowed on the ground covering his ears.

Rebecca gasped looking around and stumbling over a tree root. She stared up in awe.

"We're in Fangorn," She whispered. "The Ents live here, if the Ring was destroyed, they'll still be alive!"

"What makes you think we're in Middle Earth?" Tasha asked dully.

"What makes you think we're still sitting in the kitchen?" Edmund asked picking himself up off the ground and watching the trees groan around him. "We are in Fangorn."

"Many memories here, painful ones at that," Will said.

"You sound like Legolas," Rebecca remarked and then her eyes lit up. "We're in Middle Earth."

"Yes," repeated Edmund. "At least someone is smart enough to tell that. The Ring sent us here, obviously."

"So in theory, if the timing is right, everyone thinks the Ring is destroyed. But it's not," Rebecca said slowly in deep thought. "So, we should make for Rohan. If our timing is right Éowyn and Faramir are in Rohan. We could get them to take us to Gondor!"

"And from Gondor, we will go to Mordor," Edmund finished for her.

Rebecca studied Edmund for a second, he wasn't as annoying, wait, yes he was. "I was talking." She glared at him. "You aren't the only Lord of the Rings freak, and I'd like to point out Frodo nor Gandalf had any children!"
Edmund blinked at her slowly. "Tolkien didn't put everything down, you know."

"Smart alec," Rebecca growled.

"Hate to break up the arguing, but if we're going anywhere we need a direction, now don't we?" Tasha interrupted.

Rebecca smirked. "Middle earth equals Elves. Elves equal Legolas!" She perked up and looked around and gave a small squeal. "I'm in the same forest Legolas was in!"

Everyone rolled their eyes at her.

"Too bad we don't have a camera, such a Kodak moment. All of us lost-"

"We're not lost Captain Obvious!" Rebecca glared at Will.

"We don't have a compass, we're lost! And stop calling me that!"

"Stop being so obvious!"

"SHUT YOUR RUDDY MOUTHS!" Alley yelled and all of them jumped. The trees groaned louder. Alley gave a squeak at this and inched towards Will.

Rebecca snickered. "That's what you get for interrupting my arguing, and making fun of my fangirlism...and Bloom Headism."

"Orlando Bloom ruined everything," Edmund said dryly as he examined tree trunks. "Moss points north," He said slowly. "We need to head south then. We must go south, go through the Gap of Rohan and make to Edoras."

"Hey, Gimli, let's go to the Gap of Rohan!" Alley said jauntily.

"I should have never have let you read that fan fiction," Rebecca moaned. Alley grinned.

"We go that way," Edmund said decisively and pointed to what would be, the south.

"Don't hurt the trees, or you'll end up hurt," Rebecca said looking at a looming tree ominously.

"Great, now we know where we're going, but we're surrounded by killer trees," Tasha said, moving closer to Alley. The Ring's call was stronger then before. She stopped when she saw Gollum rubbing Alley's leg, where the Ring was in her pocket. Alley noticed that.

"Bad Smeagol!" She slapped his hand away, revolted, and checked her position before heading due south. The others followed.

£‰‡

They managed to get to the edges of the forest without much trouble. All of them were careful not to upset the trees and Gollum was too scared to be much of a problem.

"Light!" Alley exaggerated as she stepped out from under the last branches of the trees. The forest seemed to moan a farewell.

Suddenly, Alley tensed. She had heard a rustling behind her. Will, Edmund, Rebecca, and Tasha had already left the wood.

"What was that?" Alley whispered.

A large horse emerged from the forest, followed by two smaller packhorses. On top of the lead horse was a woman, obviously from Rohan. She had dark blonde hair that was in two thick braids to hold it out of her face. She was wearing a long brown and gold dress, typical of the style of Rohan. She had dark blue eyes that studied the world with a slight pessimistic side.

"Oh," Will said and stared at her. Alley rolled her eyes.

"Don't stare Will," she said shortly.

The girl stopped her horse as she saw the five humans in front of her, all dressed like something that Mordor had spat up.

"I'm Will," Will said feebly. She raised a brow and stared at him.

Will's face fell. "Does she not know English?" He whispered.

"Fool." Edmund rolled his eyes. "We look like morons compared to everyone who really belongs here." Edmund calmly walked up to her and gave her a bow.

"My name is Theodred son of...that's not important." Edmund finished quickly. "I'm traveling with my companions, Alamira, Lossiel, Ruby and Anondir. We're traveling to Rohan, which I am assuming, is the land you hail from. We would appreciate your help."

She studied him for a moment and pointed to Gollum who was clinging to Alley. "What is that?"

"A... a new breed of dog." Rebecca said immediately.

She studied the troupe and then turned back to Edmund. She eyed Will who was staring at her.

"My name is Kadril. I will allow you to accompany me to my homeland. All though he... Anondir, you called him? Should keep his eyes moving."

"I will be sure to tell him that," Edmund said quickly.

"You can use the packhorses, I rid them of their load already, so they can hold two of you at a time"

"I get Wi- erm Anondir," Alley said automatically.

"I'm riding with Kadril though," Will said. Kadril studied him a moment.

"I'll allow him to come," she sighed resignedly, much preferring him to the one with spectacles.

"I get to ride with Alamira," Tasha said automatically.

"No!" Rebecca protested. That left her with Edmund. Edmund gave her a smug smile and she gave him a dirty look. "Fine I'll ride with Theodred," she said, gritting her teeth and not looking too happy about it.

"Thank you for your cooperation Lossiel," Edmund said with a smirk.

"We will have to go out of our way though," Kadril said. "We must make our way through the Gap of Rohan before we can go to Edoras."

"Don't you go through the Gap of Rohan anyways?" Edmund asked.

Kadril studied him. "No... Have you never been here? The Gap of Rohan is southwest of here, Rohan is south. We are going to the Gap though, for there have been reportings of Wargs on the Riddermark"

Edmund fumed at the possibility of being wrong and Rebecca smirked. "I knew you wanted to go the wrong way, I just chose not to tell you." She chuckled and ignored the glowering look Edmund gave her.

Kadril clucked to her horse, kicking it into a trot almost immediately. There was a yelp as Will tumbled off the back end of the horse. Alley couldn't hold back a laugh as she rode up beside him and reached down to help him up. He smiled a thanks and took her hand. Kadril pulled her horse around.

"Learn to hold on tighter," she said with a sly look. Alley scrunched her nose in the look she made when she knew what someone else was up to.

Edmund glanced at Will and then wrapped his arms tightly about Rebecca.

"Uh, Theodred..."

"Yeah?"

"I can't breathe."

Edmund gave a nervous laugh and loosened his hold slightly.

"Thanks," Rebecca said, taking a deep breath.

Alley thumped Gollum on the head and forced him to sit still. Tasha took this chance to try and reach the Ring, but Alley's pockets were too tight to reach into. Luckily, Alley was busy with Gollum and didn't notice.

"Let's go," Kadril said when she had Will back on the horse.

The three experienced riders clucked to their horses and they headed off to the southwest.

£‰‡

The small fire glowed softly in the dusk. Tasha, Rebecca, and Edmund had already fallen asleep. Gollum was half asleep, leaning against Alley, who felt the call of the Ring stronger than ever. She was too nervous to sleep just then, so she quietly watched Kadril and Will through the dying flames.

They were talking softly and laughing. Alley wondered what they joking about, but she daren't ask and reveal the fact that she was still awake.

Kadril smiled and sighed softly. "Anondir, you try too hard."

"I do?" Will asked. He frowned. He'd expected something like this to happen, it always did.

"Yes, but it's quite all right," Kadril replied. Their eyes met and they leaned towards each other.

When their lips met, Alley had had enough. "Get a room, you two!"

Luckily for her, a loud howl covered her outburst. Otherwise, she never would have stopped blushing, or apologizing.

Kadril pulled back quickly. "Wargs. They're close, too."

"We'll never loose them in these plains," Alley thought aloud.

"We're close to the Gap, if we hurry, we might make it by sunrise," Kadril said confidently.

The three hurried to wake the others and mount the horses, then fled to the Gap of Rohan.

As Kadril had predicted, they made the Gap by sunrise and found the Wargs not far behind, just on the horizon. They urged the horses onwards.

"We're going to follow the river," Kadril cried as the howls came closer and the horses sped into a gallop. Dirt flew through the air as the horses' hooves pounded the ground in a steady rhythm. Ahead of them was an overhanging cliff that overlooked the river.

"Wait!" Edmund cried. "There's a shelter in the side of the cliff! We can get in it!"

"But the horses!" Kadril protested.

"We don't have time to worry about the horses!" Tasha snapped and nearly fell off her horse.

Kadril hesitated but reined in her horse and the others followed suit.

"We need a bit of rope to be able to climb down the side," Will said falling off of the horse and grabbing onto Kadril in his attempt to get off. Kadril let out a yelp and fell on top of him, but quickly scrambled to her feet, grabbing his hand and pulling him up with her.

"I've got some." Kadril yanked out a long line of rope and looked at Edmund. "Theodred, are you sure there is a cave?"

"Yes, I saw it as we ran up here!" He snapped, he did not intend to be eaten by Wargs.

"Tie it around our waists, so we won't fall," Alley said, stringing the rope around their waists. She didn't bother with Gollum, he could climb on his own and would follow the Ring.

Kadril was fumbling with her knot, trying to get it tied. Rebecca turned and tied it quickly around her waist. Tasha, who was at the top, tied the rope around a nearby rock.

"I will go first," Kadril said bravely.

"Be careful," Will said forlornly, he had a bad feeling about this. So for good measure he gave her a good luck kiss.

Kadril smiled at him and swung over the edge while Gollum clung to the rocks below her. Slowly the group worked their way down, they were nearing the edge of the cliff when Rebecca felt a jerk on the rope that sent it cutting into her stomach. She turned to look down and saw the knot around Kadril was slowly coming down undone.

"Kadril!" Rebecca cried and Kadril looked up and saw the knot. Her mouth opened in a silent cry of surprise as she grabbed at the rope, trying to hang on. It was too late. The rope slipped through her fingers as Kadril plunged downwards. Her back hit the ledge and she toppled over. Rebecca closed her eyes tightly until she heard a thin cry. Kadril was still below them, barely hanging on to the edge of the cliff and her fingers were slipping.

"No!" Will wailed. He started to untie himself, but Alley beat him too it. She loosed the knot and kicked herself off the cliff wall as the rope slipped, sending her propelling forward. Her foot caught Rebecca in the head, sending her wheeling.

"No Alley!" Rebecca cried and swung forward, she wasn't about to let her best friend plunge to her death. She grabbed her by the back of her belt and they both careened and smacked into the wall.

"Let me go! I can sa-" Alley's words were cut short as Kadril's cry cut through the air, her fingers slipping and sending her plunging into the river below.

"Kadril!" Will and Alley cried out as they watched her fall. Everyone heard the sickening thud as Kadril's body hit the jagged rocks that broke her fall.

"No..." Will whispered and he held the rope tightly as he swayed, leaning against the cliff face. But they had to go on.