Ellie awoke in a new place. She wasn't caged, but the room had spiky walls and spiky torches. Something stung her. She checked her ankle. There was blood dripping from the shackles. They were too tight and were causing her pain. She looked around. What happened? Her hands… her hands were healed, but the cuts were still present.

Great. She was trapped in Frodo's lair, in his dungeon, with no way out. And there he was, carrying a silver tray, filled with food and water.

"Here. You need it." Frodo hissed.

"Thank you, but… it's not poisoned. Is it?" She asked, suspicious. "You poisoned the food!"

He laughed. "Believe me, if I wanted to kill you, I would have done so." He shook his head. "You're quite funny, Elise."

"It's Ellie!" She snapped.

"I prefer Elise. Makes you more hobbit-y, if you take my meaning." He grinned. She snarled at him, viciously. She wasn't getting out of this. This was bad. He growled back. "Hmm. Feisty spirit. I like that."

"How long will I be your prisoner?" She asked, coldly.

"Oh. Until I say so." He smirked. "Right now, you're not exactly trustworthy."

"Can you unshackle me?" She groaned.

"No. But I can heal your wounds." He waved his hand over her ankles. The blood dried. How did he do that? "You see, if you become my bride, then I wouldn't have to chain you. If you don't, then I see no reason why you should stay."

"Really? You'd let me go!" A light flickered in her eyes. She could go home!

Frodo laughed. "Come on. Did you really think you'd go home again?" The smirk went away. "You're supposed to help me keep my reign going, not be my undoing. So, what's it to be? Caged like a rat or be my bride."

Either option didn't sound good. She would have to think fast, think of something that could draw his attention to her. He seemed to like her, and she liked him before he turned on her. Maybe she could warm him up. Maybe he would be convinced to let her go.

"What do you want?" She asked, enticing him.

"Flattery." He saw right through her trick. "It doesn't work on me."

"Come on. Let me go." She said, pleading.

"No!" He told her. "The next time you disobey me, I'll…"

"Disobey you?" She asked, stunned but annoyed. "Is that what you call being villainous? You don't treat women like this, Frodo Baggins!"

"Oh, could you please STOP!" He pulled at his hair. "Grrr! You are making this difficult!"

"And you wouldn't dare release a woman who is to be your undoing." She asked, seeing if there was a way to break through, get him to set her free.

"Why would I free you?!" He snarled. He stopped her before she enticed him further. "No! STOP IT! You may think you know me, but you do not know the full story. Now, you be a good girl and stay right here. I'll be back and when I do, you will be here. Got it? I'm watching you." He slammed the cell door, leaving her alone in the dark.

She looked around, searching for the key. There wasn't any key in sight. Wait. Was that a grey key on the ground. She stretched forth her hand, attempting to capture it, make it so she could free herself. No good. The wounds opened up again, sending fresh red blood free. There was nothing she could do except wait, wait for help. Wait for anybody to come.

But who would come for her? Who in their right mind would set her free? She'd wait all night for rescue. Yes, she would do that….

….rescue didn't come. Rescue didn't come at all. She ended up sleeping on the cold, stone floor. Her back ached. She could barely move, let alone think. Even though she did manage to eat the food on the tray, it wasn't enough to end her suffering. Dark Lord Frodo was kind to her, but he also had this vicious streak. She wondered where that came from. She'd never seen him so violent.

The cell door opened. There was Frodo, picking up the key and freeing her from her shackles. She didn't feel like doing anything. She didn't bother picking a fight with him. He simply carried her out of the cell and into a bedroom with red tapestry on the walls and a four-poster bed, where she found sleep at last.

*.*.*

Thanks for reading. :)