Summary: What if the Ring's destruction had unleashed two entirely new forces? Could the Fellowship triumph once again, or will darkness fall upon Middle-earth? Set just before Return Of The King ends, and after. Movieverse.
Author's Note: Chapter two was shorter, but that's ok…right? Chapter three is the party, where my two OCs that I've introduced so far are introduced to each other! And, if anyone was wondering, Kerina is supposed to be a little strange. But she isn't crazy, by any means. And my third (and maybe final) OC will be fully introduced much later. I've been having a little trouble with tonight, so, confusing as it sounds, there may or may not be two lines I wanted in that aren't showing up, as well as a question mark that should be a comma. Hopefully I'll be able to change them tomorrow... So, without further ado, on with chapter three!
Pairings: Frodo x OC, Pippin x OC, Sam x Rosie, Merry x OC, Aragorn x Arwen. -List subject to expansion.-
Frodo had left Maralena behind just before he left for the party, at her bidding. She had said something about 'getting ready,' and he hadn't questioned her. She now stood in Bag End, staring et her reflection in the mirror. "Well, Maralena, you'll certainly cause quite the stir if you wear this dress," she told herself. She had her golden dress on, and it caught any light just so that it seemed to sparkle and glow in even simple candlelight. With a sigh, she trailed her hands along the fabric, changing the dress to a much less noticeable blue. She brought a matching ribbon out of the pocket, and tied to top of her hair back.
Sighing again, Maralena turned away from the mirror. There simply wasn't any way to disguise the glow she had. Frodo had been right about her glowing. Apparently the Ring had lasting effects. Inevitably, though, she turned back to the mirror. Something about the dress's color was familiar.
Maralena gasped when she recognized it. It was the exact color of Frodo's eyes.
'And if you don't mind me saying, you have lovely eyes,' she had said. Her tongue had been too loose, and she regretted it. Not that it was a lie, but she still shouldn't have said it. Maralena knew she cared too much for Frodo, having had a long insight into his life, through Bilbo, and then through Frodo himself.
She fingered the skirt, wondering if it would be noticeable in the torchlight of the party. She had waited long enough for the sky to be darker, hoping that perhaps Frodo had been wrong about the glow, but she was wrong. Her hair even had a glittery effect to it, and there wasn't any excuse. She twirled once, and the skirts fanned out. As she slowed, the skirts billowed down, coming to rest, gathered, around her calves.
Still staring at herself, Maralena brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face. She turned towards the door again, and gasped when she saw the ghostly figure of a small girl, no larger than a hobbit.
Her hair, red as flames, flowed around her face as though blown by a strong wind. Her eyes glowed a fierce gold, reflecting the very essence of the Ring. She reached out a hand, and then suddenly disappeared.
Maralena placed a hand to her beating heart, trying to calm herself. She walked through the door cautiously, finally deciding the girl had not really been there. She hurried outside, carefully closing the door to Bag End.
The sky was much darker than she had realized, and she quickened her pace. With the small amount of moonlight, she failed to notice another hobbit on the road. She bumped into them, and both reeled.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Maralena exclaimed, rushing to help the other hobbit up.
"I'm fine, it's not the first time I've been knocked to the ground today," she laughed, standing up. She brushed her unruly hair out of her face, grinning at her. "I'm Kerina," she said, brushing some dirt off her red dress.
"I'm Maralena." Maralena smiled at Kerina, hoping she didn't notice the glow as Frodo had.
"Well, Maralena, are you headed to Sam and Rosie's party, too?" Kerina asked, looking genuinely interested.
Maralena nodded. "Yes. Late, just like yourself."
Kerina laughed. "I arrived precisely when I meant to," she said, grinning broadly. The two walked off down the road, chatting easily about Maralena's recent coming to the Shire, and Kerina's two sisters, on whom she absolutely doted when they were in Hobbiton.
When they came to the party, Kerina grabbed Maralena's arm. "Come on," she hissed. "Let's go in a different way. I'd rather not cause a…fuss." She grimaced. "I'm in a dress."
Maralena laughed, and took her arm, leading her around. "You are indeed. Do you not like to wear dresses?"
Kerina shook her head emphatically. "I rarely wear them. I had to look for ages to find this one, and it's red."
"Well, it looks very good on you."
Kerina rolled her eyes. "Oh yes, perhaps, but I much prefer pants. Good for running." The two entered the party from the side, and went to watch the dancing. Kerina ducked behind Maralena every time Pippin looked near her.
"Why are you afraid of him?" Maralena asked, pulling her younger friend away from the circle of onlookers.
Kerina blushed profusely, matching her dress. "He'll ask me to dance, I just know it," she muttered.
"Well let him, then! You haven't hidden very well from him, and he hasn't taken his eyes off you the entire time." Maralena nudged her towards the dancers, but she resisted. "No! Don't make me dance!" she groaned. Maralena just shook her head, and dragged her back to the circle.
Merry nudged Pippin, and whispered, "Look, Kerina's back. Go ask her to dance."
Pippin gaped at his friend. "What? Me…ask her…to dance?" He shook his head. "She wouldn't, anyways."
Merry groaned, and propelled his friend towards Kerina. "I have a feeling she might."
When Pippin was approaching-albeit slowly-Kerina groaned, and ducked around to Maralena's other side. "Why?" she whispered. Maralena laughed, and casually walked around her, leaving her wide open. "I'll be seeing you, Kerina," she said, snickering.
Kerina sighed, and turned to watch the dancers, accepting her fate. Pippin sidled up to her nervously. "Um…hi, Kerina," he said, stammering.
Kerina couldn't help but smile. "Hey, Pippin," she greeted him. Her stomach felt light, as though it wasn't really a part of her.
Pippin bit his lip, steeling himself. "W-would you like to dance? With m-me, that is," he spluttered.
Kerina smiled at him, and nodded despite herself. Pippin's face lit up, and he pulled her with him.
Maralena, sitting off to the side, as far away from the torches as she could be, laughed at them. Kerina's face was a mask of happiness, and Pippin, despite his embarrassment, looked equally happy. They stayed out, dancing, through the current song, as well as the next one.
Frodo walked over to Maralena, and she blushed when his gaze travelled over her dress. "You look very pretty," he told her, smiling. She blushed deeper, and moved over on the bench to make room for him.
"Thank you," she said quietly. She folded her hands in her lap, looking at the ground.
"Have you met Sam and Rosie yet?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No, I've been very busy, playing matchmaker." She winked at Merry, across the circle of dancers. He grinned back. "Along with Merry, of course."
Frodo laughed. "Who were you working on, may I ask?"
Maralena grinned at him. "Kerina and Pippin. Just look at them, out there." She turned to look at them, wondering what they were talking about.
Frodo's hand gently found hers, and she blushed again.
"Would you like to dance with me?" he asked, standing up. Maralena stood up with him, cheeks still flushed. "It's been a while since I last danced… But yes, why not."
Much later, the party was dispersing. Kerina and Pippin sat together now, talking quietly. Maralena had excused herself, going off by herself. She had a terrible feeling inside her, a terribly cold hand around her heart. The sky was dark, and the stars seemed very dim.
She gasped, and spun around when she heard a step. "Who's there?" she snapped.
Frodo held his hand in the air, stepping closer. "It's just me," he said reassuringly.
Maralena sighed, and relaxed. "I'm sorry…I have this feeling…" She trailed off, half-closing her eyes. "Something…" she whispered, "…something is coming…darkness…"
"What's coming?" he asked, staring at her. Maralena just shook her head. "Th-they are coming…to claim the Ring…"
Frodo's eyes widened. "But the Nazgûl were destroyed, and the Ring as well. They are seeking nothing."
She groaned softly, and swayed. Her eyes flew open, and she steadied herself. "There is much to tell, and not enough time. The Nazgûl were not destroyed. They are here…in the Shire." Her eyes flashed with anger. "They seek the Ring…or who they believe holds the Ring." She grasped Frodo's shoulders. "They are coming for you."
A shrill cry echoed through the trees, and Frodo looked around wildly. Maralena released her hold, and half-closed her eyes again. She suddenly gasped. "They're… We have to go back! They are too close to the party!" she yelped. They ran back, echoes of the Nazgûl's cry still ringing in their ears.
Maralena looked around, quickly assessing who was there. Kerina, Pippin, Sam, Rosie, and Merry still remained. "Perfect," she said quietly.
"How?" Frodo asked.
She moved closer. "People we can trust." She called loudly then, "You will not be happy with me for spoiling this evening…but I must. We are all in danger here." Maralena looked at Pippin and Merry. "You have met them before, and have thought them dead.
"The Nazgûl have returned, and are here, in the Shire. They search for the Ring, and their search is not in vain."
Merry shook his head. "No…the Ring was destroyed."
Maralena sighed. "Its physical form, yes. And Sauron with it. However, there is still something they can seek, although it is not what they expect. I cannot say all yet, but I can safely say that I must leave, and right now."
"What do you have to do with the Ring?" Rosie asked. She'd been filled in on everything that had happened.
"As I said, I cannot say." Maralena suddenly turned around as the sound of horses' hooves reached her ears. "They are coming," she said sharply, clenching her hands. "Get away from here, all of you!"
Kerina looked at Pippin, who shook his head. "No," she said angrily. "We're all in this together, now. You're coming too."
"Listen, I-"
Frodo touched her arm. "We're not leaving you behind," he told her firmly.
Maralena groaned. "You just don't give up, do you? Very well…" She looked around, judging their chances for the first time. With an unknown number of Nazgûl loose in the Shire…the odds didn't look too good. She saw Kerina examining her dagger, and nodded to her. Kerina walked over, still clutching her dagger.
"Kerina, you and I are the only ones with weapons. We'll have to split up into two groups, and double back." She pulled out her own small, hobbit-sized sword.
Rosie came over as well, uncertainly. Maralena smiled at her, and beckoned her closer. "Rosie…some of us are going to have to lead the Nazgûl out of the Shire." She lightly touched her arm. "You ought to stay here…what with your baby coming, and all."
To her surprise, Rosie nodded, relieved. "Yes. I couldn't think of going off somewhere," she said gratefully.
Maralena flashed a smile, then turned to the others. "We'll split up into two groups. Kerina and I are the only ones armed, so we'll be heading those groups.
"I know very well that you've kept your swords, though. Therefore Rosie, Sam, and Frodo will be coming with me, and Merry and Pippin will be going with Kerina."
Kerina shot her a glare. "What, I can't handle myself just as well as you can?" she snapped.
Maralena just shook her head. "I've had experience with real swordfighting," she said calmly.
Shrill screams filled tha air, and she cried in a loud whisper, "Go! We'll meet at Bucklebury Ferry!" Maralena ushered Sam, Rosie, and finally Frodo out of the area. She stopped only to make sure Kerina had gotten Merry and Pippin away, and then rushed off.
Bag End wasn't too far away, and so they reached it first. Maralena grabbed Frodo's arm before he ran up the stone steps. "Don't do anything before you have Sting in your hand," she ordered him, before pulling Sam and Rosie off towards their house.
Kerina's heart was beating madly, and she was certain it would give them away. "How am I going to do this?" she muttered under her breath. She truly wished she'd never come, although before the Nazgûl had showed up everything was wonderful. She hadn't even minded the dress as much.
Now, though, Kerina wished for nothing more than a good pair of pants to be running in. They'd already stopped at Merry's house, and Pippin's was next… She almost cheered. Her house would be right after that, on the way to Bucklebury Ferry.
Kerina stood with Merry outside the house, acting as a guard. She stole glances at him every so often, watching his stance. She had realized she knew very little about him, only that he'd caused trouble with Pippin in the past. Her curiosity was slowly getting the best of her, and she wanted nothing more than to ask him about himself. But something in his eyes made Kerina hold her tongue. Some…unspeakable fear shone brightly in his eyes. Something that she had no desire to hold as well… And yet she wanted to ask. She gripped her dagger, and shook her head. No…I cannot bring a fear like that out into the open. I couldn't do that to anyone.
Pippin rushed outside, his sword hanging visibly on his hip. Kerina shook her head. "Close your cloak, Pippin. You don't need everyone seeing you're armed," she scolded him, moving off down the road. "We have one more stop left," she continued.
"Your house?" Pippin asked, jogging up beside her.
Kerina nodded. "A dress is not what I'd like on a long journey…" She sighed, and yanked his sword belt around so the sword was hidden under his cloak. "Wherever we're going," she muttered.