I'm so sorry I missed the two week mark! Unfortunately, the updates will not be coming any faster. In fact, they'll probably be getting slower. Please just be patient with me so that I can get the chapters done with at least some semblance of good writing techniques. Thank you for reading. Bows respectfully. Please enjoy the chapter

I own nothing. I have never owned anything. I will not own anything in the near future. Please refrain from thinking so.

(Self-righteousness is wearing thin)/Lies inside your head your best friend/(Heart bleeds but not for fellow man)/Broken glass, your fake reflection – Critical Acclaim, Avenged Sevenfold

Theblackeyeseesallwhilethepureheartfeelsall

Harry walked back behind the group, not really worried about what could happen. He'd seen worse, after all, and was strong enough to handle anyone. Sure he was out of practice and only used to smaller spells, but he could last for quite a while in a fight, should it become necessary. He just needed to get back into the habit of using words of power when attempting to command someone. He knew it had always challenged him to use words instead of silent spells or the spells themselves, but this was flat out ridiculous. He pondered possible explanations for this sudden weakness while he walked through the dark forest, dodging the tougher undergrowth and roots with practiced ease.

As the group continued their trek through the forest, Harry looked at the Ranger closely. The poor man kept shooting glances at him, like he expected Harry to do something or maybe say something. Harry, however, was content to just follow the five without interfering. He was happy enough to just be in the presence of another living creature that wasn't actively out to kill him. Although, that could change very easily if they decided he was a threat.

After they reached Weathertop, Harry got a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. The lights they had seen had quite clearly been from here, and they were being followed. At a distance yes, but their pursuers would surely catch up once they knew for certain that the Hobbits were here. He said nothing, however, deciding that Strider would probably not believe him. Instead, he pointed out the hiding place the Rangers had used a few days prior, as well as the footsteps he had seen as they walked.

It took a long time for Frodo and Strider to descend from the mountain. When they returned, the foreboding feeling Harry had doubled in intensity, making him want to warn them, take action faster, just do something. But he didn't. Things had to run their course; that was something Harry had learned long ago. The prevention of one death by someone who knew it was coming could lead to many deaths in a later event. Fate did not like to be messed with in any way. Unfortunately, killing someone that was not supposed to die led to the creation of objects like the sorcerer's stone. Unnatural objects that gave unnatural life. Not once had he pondered if that was how elves had come upon their immortality, as he remembered the thoughtless slaughter that had occurred when the muggles had discovered that magic was not just a figment of their imaginations. Most creatures could hide, but the Veela stuck out too much with their natural beauty. They, along with House-elves and Muggleborns, bore the brunt of senseless anger.

He was so caught up in his thoughts as to the origin of the various races of Middle-Earth that he didn't notice how close it was to darkness. The wizard was surprised when Pippin and Merry plopped down on either side of him and continued to eat. "Hope you don't mind us sitting here." Pippin said through a mouthful of food. "But it isn't natural for you to not eat anything for two days."

"At least!" Merry chimed in, having at least had the courtesy to swallow before speaking. Harry sighed and said nothing. He didn't particularly care to have anyone start to think of him as a friend again. All of his friends had a horrible fate laid on them. No one else deserved that to happen to them, least of all two unsuspecting Hobbits clearly in over their heads. But he knew everyone needed some company, so he let them sit. Harry never spoke, but he did eventually get talked into having a single apple.

Dinner was finished as the sun finally set. With the fire their only source of light, the Hobbits didn't notice Strider walk away, Harry in tow. Harry's foreboding feeling increased greatly with every step he took, until he was almost always looking over his shoulder. Strider finally stopped a hundred yards away, watching the fire flicker. He leaned against a tree for a moment, silent, before glaring darkly at the wizard. "You have no business here." Strider said coldly. "Go back to the dark corner of the world you crawled out of."

"Look, Strider, I do have business here. And you should be damn happy that I decided to help you instead of Sauron, because I know he'd show me a little respect, even if he tried to control me." A slightly frustrated Harry snapped, fighting the urge to look over his shoulder. If he did that again, Strider would probably force him to say what he was waiting for. Now, that normally wouldn't be a problem. Harry had mastered the fine art of lying many centuries ago. Just after he finished his etiquette training. Who knew the two would be tied together. Harry shook his head slightly. How had he managed to get so far off track?

A sudden chill blew through the clearing, making them both look up. The fire had gone out back with the Hobbits. Simultaneously, the two men's eyes widened in horror as they realized what the bone-chilling cold could mean. Wraiths. Strider took off, weaving through the trees, not wanting to let the wraiths get to the poor, unprepared Hobbits. Harry, however, had a slight advantage. He apparated over and, without remembering that he could do this spell silently, shouted "Expecto Patronum!" The silvery stag leapt from his wand and charged driving away the wraiths. Thgey turned around and tried to come back almost immediately, though. "Incendio!" He shouted at the dead wood, lighting it ablaze with a brilliant light. Keeping his focus on driving his Patronus, he didn't even realize that the wraith was going after Frodo until the Hobbit had slipped the Ring on. He cursed loudly and turned Prongs around, making sure the stag crashed into both of the annoying wraiths blocking his way.

Strider had managed to get over to the Hobbit soon after he'd been stabbed. He'd taken longer to get back than the wizard (though he did not understand how that was possible) and had arrived a mere moment before Frodo was stabbed. He'd been able to reach the Hobbit while the wizard drove off the wraiths with the white stag he'd called from nowhere. He cursed softly and called out to the Hobbit, knowing he had been poisoned.

Deciding to take a big gamble, knowing that there was very little time, Strider waved the wizard over. "Can you do anything to get rid of the poison? Even if you could just slow it..." He was frustrated. The Hobbit was the only one that could take the Ring to Rivendell. He didn't even trust himself with the Ring.

"I have never seen this poison in action before." The wizard said slowly, gauging the Ranger's reaction. "I do know how it works, however. A simple warming charm to help slow it..." He trailed off as he cast the charm. Digging into one of his many pockets, he pulled out a small crystalline vile. Unscrewing the top, he allowed three drops to fall into the wound. "That is supposed to heal most poisons, but I don't believe it has been tried with a Nazgul poisoning. It might just lessen the effects."

Strider nodded, feeling urgency creep upon him. He had to get moving now. Frodo needed a true healer to take care of him. He needed to get to Rivendell very soon. "Let's just go." Almost as an afterthought, he added "If he dies, or gets worse in any way, you will die for it." Harry shrugged slightly, falling back into his apathetic state. Strider just sighed and began to get the others moving to help Frodo. As soon as dawn broke, or maybe even before, they would be on their way again.

Theblackeyeseesallwhilethepureheartfeelsall

There, the too-short chapter is finally out! I'm stopping it there because I have no idea whether I want to follow the book or the movie, as they are totally different. I will, undoubtedly, figure it out when I have no access to a computer, and therefore go back to indecision every time I sit in this chair. Anyways, enjoy. I apologize again for the long wait.