Chapter 3: Nazgul

Shadow quickly grew tired of this world. It seemed like every turn they made had a hungry beast of some kind waiting to eat walking, talking hedgehogs. Not to mention the monsters called by the ring. Shadow had just killed another when he decided to comment.

"I thought things were supposed to progress slower than this. You just got the damn thing."

Sonic looked at him and nodded, looking at the ring. He sighed and shook his head.

"Who were those people Frodo got help from? Maybe we should find them."

"Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and some others? Yeah, we could do that."

Shadow sighed. There was just one problem. "How? We can't just wander around and hope we come across them."

Sonic thought about it then smiled. "If we go to Rivendell, Elrond might be able to help."

Shadow nodded. "All right. Which way to Rivendell?" He hated to admit it, but he was completely lost.

Sonic looked around; he wasn't sure either. "We just left the Shire, so...it's east of here, I think. How about we just go to Bree and ask for directions? If we follow this road, it will take us there."

Shadow nodded. If Sonic knew the general direction, then he was going to trust him.

"Bree it is."

"Alright," Sonic said.

The two continued walking down the road. Sonic sighed and looked at the One Ring, thinking of the burden he had to bear. It was his responsibility now; he had to destroy it. He looked at Shadow, who glanced at him.

"I'll stay with you all the way. Like Sam." Shadow knew how much of a burden that ring was going to be. If he could help Sonic in any way, he'd do it. He turned his gaze back to the road in front of them as they continued walking.

Suddenly, a loud screech could be heard. The two looked at each other and immediately looked around for a place to hide, then jumped into a ditch in the roar. A few minutes later, a horse with a Black Rider appeared and jumped down. Sonic could hear the ring and closed his eyes, struggling to put the ring on his finger.

Shadow stared at him. He put his hand on Sonic's.

"Won't that tell the creature where you are?" he whispered, hoping the rider couldn't hear him. "It's drawn to the ring's power, isn't it?" Part of him said they ought to run from it; surely they were fast enough.

Sonic gulped as the ring continued getting near his ring finger. Shadow looked at him and then back to the Black Rider; there had to be some way to distract him.

A rock to the side caught his attention. Shadow shrugged. It was better than nothing. Cautiously, he grabbed it and threw it as hard as he could back down the way they'd came. The rock hit a few trees and finally frightened a deer, which ran off. The Black Rider took the bait, hopping back onto his horse and riding in that direction. Shadow had the feeling he wouldn't be distracted for long.

"Come on." He grabbed Sonic's arm and pulled him back onto the road. Their speed would be enough to put some distance between them and the Black Rider.

They ran off at a fast pace, getting some distance between the Rider. Eventually night fell, and they continued walking through the forest. Sonic sighed and looked at the ring; he could already feel it beginning to take hold of him.

Shadow glanced at Sonic.

"What's with the sigh?"

"The ring...it's only been a day, and I can already feel its power beginning to take hold of me," Sonic told him.

Shadow frowned. He was certain that a single day was much too fast. "Come on, you're a hero. Nothing's swayed you from that before. Don't let a ring do it."

Sonic shrugged. "We better get going," he said.

Shadow nodded. A few minutes later, he heard more screeches and saw the more Nazgul were around. "I already hate those things," Shadow said. He had no idea how to get rid of them. Sonic was already fighting the ring, and he was being useless. Growling wouldn't do any good, but he felt better after doing it.

He looked at Sonic and ran off. Sonic followed him too but the Nazgul heard and started chasing them. A few feet away, they saw a river and a raft attached to it. Shadow's mood brightened a little at the sight. If they used that, it would make things harder on their pursers.

"How good are you with rafts, Sonic?"

"Not sure," Sonic said. "But it's better than nothing."

He jumped onto the raft with Shadow and they quickly untied the rope, then sailed away. One of the Nazgul stopped at the edge of the water and let out a loud shriek.

"Looks like it worked," Shadow said. "How do we steer this thing?"

Sonic looked around and saw oars on the raft, picking one up and tossing another one to Shadow. He put the oar in the water and started paddling. Shadow smiled and did the same thing as the raft floated down the river.