DISCLAIMER: I do not own "The Lord of the Rings" (books or movies) or "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or "Harry Potter" or "The Chronicles of Narnia" or any other book and/or movie I happen to mention
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Shout out to FireheartNinja who added this story to their alerts list and seti31 and Warrior679 who added this story to their favorites lists. I know there are at least a few of guys out there reading this, for which I am extremely thankful. Please, please review.
P.S. If you haven't read "The Games We Play", and you don't intend to, here's a little back story about Jasmine. Jasmine has been a servant all of her life, and was born into a family of servants. Her mother was the hand maiden to Fire Lady Ursa, and thus had very strong ties in the palace. When she was five and Zuko was six, she was given to him as a playmate. What started as just a weak bond between servant and master sprouted into a strong, and vast friendship. This relationship was often made a bit complicated by the fact that Jasmine's father was the leader of the Fire Nation Resistance, and she was often sent on little info. gathering missions for him, forcing Zuko along. He never told her secret, and carried it to the grave with him. When Zuko was thirteen, and challenged to an Agni Kai by Fire Lord Ozai, Jasmine defended him, and almost put the Fire Lord on his back, but was defeated by trickery and deceit. As punishment, she was banished along with Zuko. Three years later is where our story begins.
CHAPTER 4: On The Road Again
The eastern horizon glowed with a slightly pink hue, signaling dawn, when Gandalf and the small band had assembled on the outskirts of Hobbiton, packed and prepared to depart. Frodo had packed light, only bringing the most necessary of items, and Jasmine and Zuko had nothing but homemade cloaks and borrowed water flasks. Sam, however, brought a minimized version of his kitchen.
"I doubt we will spend much time cooking on this road, Sam." said Zuko, who found Sam's display quite ridiculous.
"Well, you never know what you'll be needing on these types of things. I'm just being prepared." Zuko would have rebutted, but he thought it far too early in the morning for that.
"You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you, for that name is not safe outside of the Shire." said Gandalf to Frodo. "You shall go by the name of Underhill now. And Zuko and Jasmine, you two should just refrain from giving your names at all. They are not easy to remember, yet not that hard to forget." The two Fire Nation citizens nodded in understanding. "Oh, before I forget." Gandalf maneuvered some things around in a large pack hanging from his horse's saddle, then pulled out two weapons.
One was a long sword, complete with a homemade leather scabbard, and the other was a broadsword, oddly similar to the one that Zuko had carried in the Earth Kingdom.
"I know that you two are near master firebenders, but, for the time being, you will be in need of more subtle forms of defence."
Jasmine accepted the longsword, while Zuko took the broadsword. He found that it was worn, and rusted with age, but still sharp and able to cause sufficient damage. He also found that, with one little flick of his wrist, the sword split to form twin blades. Jasmine was not as trained in the art of the sword as Zuko, but she was proficient. The longsword was too large to hang at her waist, so she organized it so it could rest on her back.
"Something tells me that you knew that we would be going on this little quest." said Zuko with a suspicious eye. Gandalf simply shrugged.
"I had my assumptions."
"All the same, thank you." said Jasmine, who felt rather bad ass with her own sword.
"Travel only by day, and stay off of the road. Remember, the Enemy has many spies in his service, many ways of hearing. Bird's, beasts...Is the Ring safe?" Frodo patted his pocket, confirming that it was on his person. "Good, but never put it on. The agents of the Dark Lord would be drawn to its power." said Gandalf as he quickly pulled himself up onto his mount.
Frodo nodded his head at everything Gandalf said, yet there could still be seen a great amount of apprehension in his eyes. Gandalf grinned, seeing for the first time just how much Frodo was willing to sacrifice for a cause that never should have been his.
"My dear Frodo, Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month, yet, after a hundred years, they can still surprise you. Same goes for hotheaded firebenders, as well. Be careful, all of you, and farewell!" With that, Gandalf turned his steed, and galloped off into the rising sun.
For a moment, all that the odd ensemble could do was stand there, looking after where Gandalf had ridden. They had their instructions, their path, and their purpose. All that was left to do was see it through.
"Well," said Zuko, breaking the trance. "Let's get going."
-888-
"So, anyone know any walking songs?" asked Jasmine with a light, almost peppy tone. They had been walking for close to three hours in utter silence by then, and Jasmine felt that she had some kind of obligation to break the ice.
"I know a few." said Frodo, who seemed just as eager for conversation as she was. "Some of Bilbo's old rhymes. Do you have some good ones?"
"No." snapped Zuko. He - unlike the Hobbits - was familiar with Jasmine's "walking songs", and he had to admit that he would much rather just walk in silence.
"Zuko doesn't approve of my walking songs. He finds them 'annoying, and badly written'. Little does he realize that all walking songs are annoying and badly written."
"No, Jazz, just yours." Jasmine stuck her tongue at Zuko in a very immature fashion, causing him to laugh.
"I reckon we should give her chance, don't you think Mr. Frodo?" said Sam, who defended Jasmine whenever he could.
"Yes, Sam, I do." responded Frodo. Zuko simply shook his head in disgust, and pitied the poor Hobbits and their optimism. Jasmine cleared her throat dramatically, and straightened her back as if she was some sort of professional singer.
"On the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. The life I love is making music with my friends. Just can't wait to get on the road again. Goin' places that I've never been. Seein' things that I may never see again. And I just can't wait to get on the road again. Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway. We're the best of friends. Insisting that the road keep turning our way. And our way is on the road again. Just can't wait to get on the road again. The life I love is making music with my friends. Just can't wait to get on the road - a - gain!"
The group stood in silence for a while, meditating on what exactly they had just heard. Then, Frodo spoke up.
"You're right, Zuko, that wasn't very good." At that, everyone except Jasmine broke out into fits of hysterical laughter. Old Odo could probably hear their laughter all the way back in Hobbiton. Jasmine, however, did not see the humor.
"No one respects true art anymore."
-888-
Three days walking had taken its dark tole on the group. Over hill and dale, crossing rivers and forests, they had trekked. Jasmine and Zuko had spent weeks walking through the wilderness of the Earth Kingdom, so they knew what to expect. Sam and Frodo, however, grew tired of it quickly. Sleeping under trees was not something that Hobbits did regularly. Jasmine called them sheltered. Zuko called them spoiled.
The full moon shone down on them when they stopped for the night at the end of their third day on the road. Sam was busy preparing a meal while Jasmine sat cross-legged on the ground, studying a map of the Shire that she had snatched from Bilbo's study - along with some other things.
"By tomorrow, we should be at the edge of Farmer Maggot's fields, if we take the proper short cut. From there, it is a straight walk along the Eastern Road to Bree." Jasmine had become something of the groups' map historian. Of course, the Hobbits had a general direction of where they were headed, but Jasmine liked to contribute. Or pretend like she was.
"We've been making good time. We should be at the Prancing Pony in a bit less than two weeks." said Zuko, who was leaned up against the tree, his hair falling across his face. Frodo was curled up by Sam's fire, trying to absorb it's warmth.
"That will be a welcome change. A warm pint of ale, and a large fire would be much appreciated at the moment." He shivered, and pulled his dark cloak closer around him. Jasmine stared at Frodo, watching as his face paled some. She never realized that he was so cold.
"Are you feeling alright, Frodo?" she asked. Frodo nodded, even though there was uncertainy in his eyes.
"Oh yes, I'm fine. It's just, I felt a chill all of the sudden. Does no one else feel it?" The group sat in silence for a moment, listening to the dark wood move around them. Just as Frodo had said, there was definitely an unwelcome chill in the air. Even Jasmine and Zuko felt it, and their firebending skills kept their bodies constantly warm. It was unsettling, and caused fear to creep into everyone's hearts.
"We should sleep close to the fire. We'll stay warm that way." said Zuko in a hushed, almost whisper, of a voice. He prayed that whatever it was that made them feel so forlorn would stay away from an open fire. That may have been the only thing keeping them safe at the moment.
There was silence for the rest of the evening, and soon, everyone had formed somewhat of a circle around the fire, and tried their hardest to gain some sleep. It took some time, but, eventually, sleep came to them all.
Far off in the distance, a lone black rider stood, listening to the insistent hum of his master's Ring. They were close, so close. Soon, they would have it, and the eternal darkness that had clouded the black rider's mind for ages upon ages would be cleared, and he would be a king again.
-8-8-
The scream of a foreign bird caused Zuko to jolt out of his sleep, immediately reaching for his broadsword. With sleepy, yet alert eyes, he scanned the scene. The fire had dwindled down to a few burning embers, and two small lumps that represented Frodo and Sam rested near by. The chill that had plagued them earlier had passed, and the forest was peaceful again. Zuko let out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding. Then, he realized that there was a lump missing from the camp. Jasmine was gone. He was prepared to panic again, then he heard the most beautiful and ethereal sound that had ever crossed his path. It calmed him, and made him feel at once at peace. It told him not to worry, that all was well for the moment. He was drawn to the music, and eager to seek it. He took one more look over the sleeping Hobbits, then eased away from the camp in search of that beautiful music of the night.
After only a few minutes of searching, he came to the edge of a wide trail that ran through the middle of the forest in secret. Underneath a large tree, lit by the soft light of the moon, sat Jasmine with her knees drawn up to her chest. Zuko momentarily forgot about the music, and moved closer to Jasmine only to berate her for sneaking off at night.
"What are you doing out here?" he whispered harshly, even though he wasn't quite sure why he was whispering. Jasmine didn't turn to look at him, just kept her eyes on the trail.
"Don't you hear it? Such beautiful music. I think there are Elves in these woods."
"Please, Jazz, we're still in the Shire. There couldn't possibly be any..." Zuko's words were caught off when he saw a procession of what must have been Spirits pass before him. Clothed in white, with hair that shone like stars, they glided past them. Sound came from them, but they moved so slowly and silently, one would have never thought that they were singing. They radiated a sense of elegance and grace and power. They were beyond awe inspiring.
Jasmine and Zuko didn't even notice when Sam and Frodo snuck up behind them, also transfixed by the beautiful sight.
"Well, bless me." murmured Sam. "Elves."
"These are High Elves. Not many now remain in Middle-earth, east of the Great Sea. This is indeed a strange chance." whispered Frodo. The four youths continued to watch the Elves pass on like rays of light shining through a darkened wood.
"Do you think they can hear us?" asked Zuko in the sofest whisper he could manage.
"Why yes, they can. I believe they can see you, as well."
With a start, they all turned around to see an Elf of obviously high esteem standing behind them, smiling with a sort of childish fascination. Jasmine would later comment that he was the most beautiful man she had ever seen. The stars in her eyes were painfully obvious.
"Hail, Frodo!" he cried, his voice ringing like a bell. "You are abroad late, and with such odd company. Perhaps you are lost?" He then called out to the rest of the company, and they immediately stopped. The odd band was suddenly the center of everyone's attention.
"This is indeed wonderful. Two Hobbits and two humans in a wood at night! I have not seen such a thing since Bilbo went away. What is the meaning of this?"
"Better question." said Zuko, who might of been amazed, but not completely undone by the Elf. "How do you know Frodo's name?" The Elf rose an elegant eyebrow at Zuko, but still managed a smile.
"A confident question for one so young. If you must know, we have often seen Frodo with Bilbo, though he may not have seen us."
"Who are you?" asked Jasmine, even though he voice was softer than she would have liked. The Elf turned his eyes on her, and fixed his eyes. Jasmine couldn't help but blush, and tried not to lower her gaze. The Elf grinned some, either pleased or amused by what he saw. He bowed from the waist gracefully, causing his long, golden hair to scrape the ground.
"I am Gildor. Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. We are Exiles, and most of our kindred have long ago departed and we too are now only tarrying here a while, ere we return over the Great Sea. But some of our kinsfolk dwell still in peace in Rivendell. But, come, it is not safe to talk here. This road is being watched."
"Watched?" asked Jasmine, who was suddenly very nervous and concerned. "But we have been using this way for three days..." Gildor cut her off before she could finish her rant.
"We cannot speak of it here. It is not our custom, but for this time we will take you on our road, and you shall lodge with us tonight if you will. We go to the woods on the hills above Woodhall. It is some miles, but you shall have rest at the end of it, and it will shorten your journey tomorrow." The group was far too tired and overwhelmed to debate. All they could do was blend into the processional.
-8-8-
Zuko was almost walking dead by the time they reached their supposed destination. A large clearing of green grass lay before them, with thick woods closing in on all sides. Faint lights glowed in the distance. The Elves sat together on the ground, talking among themselves, leaving their guests to their own devices. Sam had fallen asleep in the cool grass, and the rest were quickly following, until Gildor sprung up in front of them, which seemed to be a common thing for him.
"Come! Now is the time for speech and merriment!" Sam jumped up, clearly startled out of his slumber. "There is fire in the hall, and food for hungry guests." Gildor turned and motioned towards an earthly hall at the end of the greensward. There was a roaring fire in the center, and tall, thin trunks surrounded the space like columns. Some of the Elves sat on the worn stumps of once great trees, while others walked to and fro with refreshments. It was a sight sweet enough to bring the weary band to tears.
"This is poor fare, I'm afraid." said Gildor like an embaressed host. "If ever you are our guests at home, we will treat you better."
Sam, Frodo, Jasmine, and Zuko all exchanged glances before turning back to face the High Elf. Zuko took up the role of speaker of the group.
"I think we'll manage."
-8-8-
Jasmine would later recall that she remembered very little of the feast she had shared with the Elves. Bits and pieces would stick to her mind, of course, but she never would be able to put them together. Somewhere in between the sparkle of Gildor's eyes, the music of Frodo's laugh, and the bottom of a glass chalice once filled with the most delicious drink she had ever tasted, she fell into sublime bliss.
Zuko, however, kept his head as clear as possible throughout the entire evening. He ate very little, only drank the water he carried, and laughed at none of Gildor's jokes. He had learned a long time ago not to drink from every cup that was presented to you.
"You told us earlier, Gildor, that the road we were traveling on was being watched. You never did say by who." said Zuko to Gildor as he nibbled on a piece of white bread. Gildor's smile drooped a little, and the Ora that shone around him seemed to fade.
"Yes, I did. I know that you are all leaving the Shire, but I do not know why the Enemy is pursuing you, but I perceive that he is - strange indeed though that seems to me. And I warn you that peril is now both before you and behind you, and upon either side." Gildor paused, and leaned in some, causing the rest of the group to lean in closer, as well. "Has Gandalf told you anything of the Black Riders?" The very mentioning of their name sent chills into everyone's hearts.
"Gandalf mentioned them." answered Jasmine. "He referred to them as Ring-Wraiths. He said that they were once Mortal Man, given nine Rings of power many ages ago, and fell under the will of Sauron, and are now his right hand servants." Gildor nodded, the light of the torches dancing off of his flawless face.
"It is not for me to say more, but in that you are correct. It seems to me that you have set out just in time, if indeed you are in time. You must now make haste, and neither stay nor turn back; for the Shire is no longer any protection to you."
"I cannot imagine what information could be more terrifying than your hints and warnings." said Frodo, who once again wore a solemn air. "What can we do now? Our plan was to leave the Shire secretly, meet Gandalf in Bree, and then make our way to Rivendell, but now our footsteps have been dodged before we even reach Buckland."
"I think you should still follow that plan." said Gildor. " I do not think the road will prove too hard for your courage. But, I do not know the reason for your flight, and therefore I do not know by what means your pursuers will assail you. Those are questions for Gandalf. And yet, you have just told me that you will not be meeting him again until you reach Bree, and there are many, many miles that you have left to journey. I cannot begin to guess Gandalf's plans. But it is said: Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. The choice is yours to go, or wait."
Frodo laughed some, even though the subject matter seemed far too serious.
"It is also said : Go not to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes." Gildor sat up slightly straighter, his eyebrow raised, and an odd half smile gracing his face.
"Is it indeed?"
"Do not take it the wrong way, we are deeply grateful for the...advice." said Zuko who was trying his hardest not to show his building frustration. "But we would still be a lot more grateful if you would give us a direct answer on what to do. Like you said, it will be a long time before we see Gandalf again, and having nine deadly servants of a dark lord on our tail doesn't make our odds any better."
"You are very 'to the point', as Men say, young one ." said Gildor. "Slow down, and maybe the answers will come to you. But, in regards to your question, all I can say is that is is not enough to know that they are the servants of the Enemy. You must flee them. Move quickly, and in secret. They have followed you this far, there may be a chance that they can predict where you are going next. But, I shall say no more. There is a great sense of foreboding in my heart that you all - especially you, Frodo Baggins - will know more of these fell things than I before the end."
An odd, tense silence hung throughout the hall, making everything seem darker, even in the light of day. Gildor suddenly perked up, and the entire hall seemed to burst into life again.
"But you must be of good hope. Sleep, now. In the morning we shall have gone, but we will send our messages through the lands. The Wondering Companies shall know of your journey, and those that have power for good shall be on watch. I name you all Elf-friend! May the stars shine upon the end of your road."
Jasmine struggled to stifle a large yawn even as Gildor finished speaking. She was suddenly overwhelmed with weariness, and was eager to join Sam, who had dosed off some time ago. With a slight mumble that could not be distinguished, she lied back on the cool grass, pulling a borrowed cloak close around her. The last thing she remembered was feeling Zuko's hand squeeze hers before she fell into a deep, and beautiful sleep.
Yes, another long one. I think most of the chapters of the story are going to be about this length from now on. Maybe a little shorter at times. Thank you all for reading, and please review!
P.S. Jasmine's walking song were lines from "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson. I just couldn't help myself.