Chapter Four: Shadows

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Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Weathertop was an ancient remnant of a watchtower that overlooked the Great East Road, nestled midway from Bree to Rivendell. Evelyn could only imagine the greatness the tower once had, its walls unyielding to the force of nature.

It had been six days since their departure from Bree, and two days since her last discussion with Strider: when he had informed her that it would be another six days until they reached Rivendell. Even though she was sure that her outburst of frustration was long forgotten by Strider, she couldn't help but still feel guilty. Though they had barely talked before, their interactions were now reduced to nods, looks, and one-lined answers.

They reached the tower after sundown, the night slowly creeping in behind them. The hobbits were more than excited to settle down to rest and she agreed. The hobbits quickly made their way into little nooks by the walls and settled themselves right in. Finding her own place to settle, Evelyn set her pack down and let out a long, deep sigh, glad that she could finally sit down and stretch her legs.

"Do you know how to handle a sword?" Strider asked her. She froze in her movements, taken aback that he was talking to her. Evelyn watched as he made his way towards her. In his hand he held the small sword that used to hang around his waist. She was lost for words, and instead settled with a short sarcastic reply.

"No, but I'll be good at swinging it around wildly." The hobbits chuckled and she let out a small smile. Looking back to Strider, she saw her attempt at humor was falling in deaf ears.

"Sorry. No, I have never held a sword before in my life." Strider motioned her to stand up, and gave her the sword. She was surprised that the sword was so light. He stood beside her, motioning for her to copy his stance.

"Keep your feet wide apart; it is important to keep yourself stable. High guard: raise your hands, put pressure when you're bringing it down." He moved closer to her and adjusted her arms, repositioning how she was holding the sword.

"For defense bring your hands down, sword pointed slightly sideways. This is the most important; you do not want yourself killed."

"Ok," Evelyn said, watching Strider set his pack beside hers, then adjust his weapons and tighten his cloak. "Wait, where are you going? You're not leaving us...are you?"

"I won't be long; I will be scouting the area. Do not make any loud noises; the last we want is attract any unwanted visitors." Without further ado, he walked away from her, stopping to talk with the hobbits in hushed voices.

Evelyn gave her new sword a few swings, trying to get familiar with the weight. Unused to the movement she fumbled with the action, dropping her sword with a clang and drawing glances from the company. "Heh, just practicing." She immediately grabbed the sword and settled back in her corner.

Soon Strider left them to their own devices. Evelyn started to feel the chilly night. "Let's light some fire, Merry." She looked over to the hobbits and saw they were huddled together.

"I don't think we're allowed to, Pippin," Sam cautiously piped in. Despite his protests, Evelyn could tell that he also wanted to build a fire for warmth.

"No, we can; Strider didn't say anything about fire. Besides, it's only a small fire—just something to warm us and cook some food." Sam, at the mention of food dismissed his earlier worries, his inner caretaker taking over.

"Yes, we might as well. We can prepare food for Mr. Frodo when he wakes, and something for Strider when he gets back." With that final resolution, Merry and Pippin went about finding loose sticks to build the fire, while Sam pulled out his cooking supplies. Before long, the hobbits and Evelyn were huddled around the fire, sipping a hot soup while they waited for their sausages to cook.

"This is delicious, Sam." Evelyn held the bowl close, trying to soak up as much of the heat as she could.

With a blush, Sam gave her a shy smile. "Thanks, Miss Evelyn."

"Mmm, where did you learn to cook? My mother tried to teach me how to bake, but my cooking always seemed to end up burnt."

"My mother taught me also, me more than my other siblings."

"Hmm, well she taught you well. Did you put tomatoes in here too?" Merry asked, examining his soup.

"What are you doing?" Evelyn almost jumped at Frodo's voice behind her. She turned to look at him, noting his glassy stare of horror at the fire.

"We are just cooking some sausages, crispy bacon, and we have some soup too," Merry answered.

"Don't worry, we've saved some for you, Mr. Frodo." Sam reassured him, holding out the food he had saved.

Frodo pushed her to the side and immediately tried to stomp out the fire.

"Put it out you fools! Put it out!"

"Well that's just nice..." quipped Pippin, disappointment clear in his voice.

She felt the air around them still; the temperature became colder and the sounds of the nocturnal animals suddenly silenced. Evelyn looked to her companions, locking eyes with Frodo. A shrill cry echoed through the hills that brought chills to her skin. She followed the four as they ran to the edge of the ledge, peaking down at the valley below.

Five figures, clothed all in black, slowly closed in on the base of the hill. Evelyn couldn't describe the fear she felt: her heartbeat increased and she was shaking. What to do, what to do, what to do...

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the hobbits drawing their swords. "Go! Go!" Frodo's voice rang clear as he urged them to get moving up the tower. He pulled her with him when he noticed that she was still frozen to the spot.

They ran through a hallway and up some stairs, which led them to the very top of the tower. The circular room in which they found themselves was a very dangerous spot, Evelyn thought, as they were more open to an attack from all sides. They quickly went to the middle, unsure of what to do but to huddle together in a circle; their swords raised high to meet their enemy.

The broken statues and lingering shadows around the tower made the walls appear to be closing in on them. A movement on her left caught Evelyn's attention, and her heart dropped. A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, followed by four more.

The hobbits and Evelyn slowly edged away as the shadows stepped forward. When the Nazgul attacked, Sam bravely tried to push them back. "Back, you devils!" He swung his sword but was easily disarmed and pushed aside.

Another step. Merry and Pippin were picked up and easily thrown sideways, leaving Evelyn and Frodo alone. She pushed Frodo behind her, raising her sword high in defense like Strider had taught.

The Halfling is ours, do not get in our way... The shadow's voice in her mind momentarily stalled Evelyn, reminding her of the dream she had many nights ago. A sword came down and she parried just in time, countering the attack with her own. She brought her arms high and swung the sword down with all her might, but was easily dodged by the shadows. Evelyn quickly swept her sword sideways, managing to hit one of them as it shrieked in pain.

Evelyn glanced back to tell Frodo to run, but was cut off when she was knocked to the ground, her sword flying out of her grip and landing a few feet away. Evelyn was trying to recover her breath when she heard the sound of metal clatter to the ground. She snapped her head to the side and saw that Frodo was on his back, backing away from the Nazgul.

"Frodo, get away!" Sam yelled, trying to get Frodo's attention.

Evelyn quickly stood and was faced by one of the figures. It is you...we have found you... It held one of its arms out to her, as if it was asking her to join them. At that moment, the clouds that blocked the moon parted and the light illuminated the figure, revealing nothing but darkness inside the hood. Evelyn was transfixed by the chilling voice; her eyes were held by the invisible face that she knew stared back at her. Her heartbeat slowed, and it seemed to her as if time itself slowed down. She raised her own hand, her fingers almost touching the cold steel armor that covered the shadow's hand, its voice luring her. You are ours...

Frodo's anguished cry pulled Evelyn out of her trance. Strider rushed in with his sword raised, his other hand holding a torch. He swung the torch around, setting two of them on fire. The shadows backed away from the flames. A figure close to her turned and tried to get Frodo, but was met with a torch thrown at its face.

"Frodo!" Sam rushed to Frodo's side. "Strider!" Strider immediately ran towards the two hobbits, kneeling beside them. "What's happening to him?"

Strider studied the wound, then picked up a sword that lay by Frodo's side. "He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." The blade of the sword turned to dust and Strider tossed it away. "This is beyond my skill to heal; he needs elvish medicine." Strider picked up Frodo and made his way towards the stairs, followed by Sam.

"Come, Evelyn, we need to go." Pippin and Merry pulled on her arms. She picked up her sword and they quickly scrambled to catch up with Strider.

"He is fading; I must get him to my father." A beautiful woman had shown up with Strider. She was incredibly beautiful. Evelyn couldn't believe that such ethereal beauty could even exist.

"Who is she?" Sam questioned. He was wary of their new quest, yet was transfixed like they all were.

"She's an elf," Pippin answered. Evelyn glanced surprised at Pippin, turning to look back at the woman. An elf... she thought, her eyes studying the 'elf woman'. The ears caught her eyes and she turned confused at the hobbit. She's classified as an elf, a whole different being because she has really pointy ears? She wandered to herself, and once again watched as the ranger and elf tried to apply the leaves Sam had gathered. Not wanting to look anymore at the grim sight, she turned to find herself a secluded spot. She sat away from the scene, not wanting to see what was happening with Frodo.

She felt a bit guilty that it was somehow her fault. If she could have been a little better with a sword, she could have protected him. Her nerves were in disarray; she was still shaken by the fact that she just faced one of her nightmares. Evelyn couldn't believe that it had come true and was terrified that it did.

Evelyn didn't know what to think of the situation. She remembered when the Nazgul had held out its hand to her, how she had felt lured in, held by the power that seem to crawl its way inside her.

We have found you...

Those words seemed to haunt her. Were they looking for her?

The image of the four figures surrounding Frodo appeared in Evelyn's mind, and she realized why Strider and the others seemed to protect him. The Nazgul were after Frodo: or rather, after something he had. Evelyn remembered the gold ring that had hung on a chain, and how Frodo had slowly put on the ring, disappearing from sight.

This world seemed to keep hammering her in the head. Evelyn once again dismissed the idea that she was dreaming, even though she thought she had long dismissed that idea. Somehow, she had been tossed into another world, somewhere far away from home.

"What are you doing? Those things are still out there!" She was startled out of her thoughts as Sam's voice cut through the air, followed by the sound of hooves.

"Do not worry, Master Hobbit, her people will protect them." Strider tried to reassure and calm Sam. His voice lowered to a whisper as he talked quietly with Sam. She glanced at the ranger as he tried to comfort Sam.

"When do you think we'll see him again Merry?" Pippin and Merry made their way towards Evelyn and sat beside her.

"Don't worry Pippin, I'm sure we'll see him soon enough." Evelyn answered, attempting to lay to rest the hobbits' worry. "She's taking him to Rivendell, and we're only a couple of days away from there. We'll be there soon." Merry added. She gave a small smile at Pippin and felt a little calmer when the hobbit smiled back.

"We will rest here for a while and travel at first light. I will keep watch. It's best you all get as much rest as you can, we will need to travel in haste to Rivendell." With that, Merry and Pippin stood up and made their way to Sam, settling beside him as they rolled out their beds.

"Evelyn...?" Strider's voiced reached her when she didn't move from her spot.

"I...I think I'll stay up a while. I doubt that I'll be able to sleep tonight." She heard a sigh from Strider as he walked away, leaving her alone.

No, I will not sleep at all tonight.

Note:

Thanks to the readers, and I apologize for the late update. I try to aim on posting once a week but this week has been pretty busy.

Any comments, critiques are welcome, but please no hate reviews. You can also send me a message if you want. Let me know what you like. don't like and your opinion on my grammar skills, haha.

Also, they will get to Rivendell, I promise. :)

Anyways, cheers!

"All things truly wicked start from an innocence."

(Updated: 12/20/2012)

::: Thanks to my beta-reader lissylouwho! :::