Chapter 7: Willows POV

Oh how I wish I could slither out of life, quietly and effortlessly. What is it about life that has everyone clinging onto it so tightly? What is it we live for? How many people is it ok to kill to keep myself alive? In the end we are all going to die, ok well maybe not the elves. What do we fight for? Why do we fight if we only allow ourselves to smile for a second? Is it worth all the pain and suffering? Am I selfish for wanting a way out? It would be easy to pull out that shiny knife and end all the pain, far too easy, what was stopping me? Was it the man who held me all night reassuring me that I was no longer alone? Maybe I was scared to die, or maybe I felt I had to finish my task.

I did not want to wake up, but I knew I had no choice but to keep on moving, even if it meant more pain, more tears, and more anger. I was alone waiting for Aragorn to find the Hobbit. I remember my mother trying to wake me up to make me see that life is beautiful, that I was safe. How wrong she had been, and she had paid a terrible price for it, we all had. Her last words to me were, well to be honest I have forgotten and that made me mad. Seconds later I was being dragged out from under a jacket, I was told not to look down so what did I do I looked down, and saw bodies and blood. I remember stepping on a little girl, her face full of terror and hate as if she knew who they were. My heart stopped I wanted to scream and cry but I could not find my voice. To me it did not matter who they were, all that mattered was the fact that they were here and taking over our country for reasons I did not understand.

I was one of the lucky ones who was found before being forced into the main camp area. He found me hiding after I had spent a few days running away from those who had taken me in the first place. He was so kind to me, he carried me off as if I weighed nothing more than a small delicate flower. He hid me in his arms, as he ran away, 'Shh young girl I will teach you to fight these monsters, you will have your revenge,' and so it began.

The training was intense there were five of us. We learnt how to live off the land, how to camp, how to hide, and how to kill. It took a year and that may not seem like a long time to learn how to survive, but it is amazing what one can learn when in fear of their lives. I soaked up every little bit of information as if it were a sponge. A year later I was out in the streets fighting for survival using hit and run tactics. It was scarier out in the real world than in our small class.

I got my revenge each time I killed, I smiled, and I played with them the way they were playing with our country, 'You can't stop me, do not fight me, I am out for revenge,' I would whisper in their ear.

I would never say the same thing twice, then the kill. Oh how sweet it was to see their blood, red blood darker than that of a rose, of the enemy spilling out on the same ground they had claimed for their own. This went on for four long years. Until a dramatic change happened, someone from the outside world had decided to help us. They sent in troops to save us, I do not know why they did not come before, but it did not matter. Another year went by and we were making progress, we had managed to get most of the children out of their prison, that is a tale in it-self. At that point I had been told to let someone else take charge. The Army told me to make up a school to help the children get some normality back into their lives. They would often cry. I turned into their mentor, and made sure they knew they were not alone. I often wondered if we were still on Earth, it mattered not.

That is how I became a teacher at 18, but the war was still happening, the children were depressed, scared and just wanted their parents. Soon afterwards we had been told we could go back as they had taken back a small town. The children were desperate to see what had become of their homes, perhaps I was weak I would have rather stayed where we were, but I knew I would have to go back home eventually. We could somewhat safely live. T.V's had been restored, not the big fancy ones but smaller ones, it was all depressing news. I told my students that they were better off keeping away from the media.

The door swang open bringing me back to the present. Aragorn threw a small person in the room,

'What do you want from me?' He asked softly, Fear evident in his face

'A little more caution from you, that is no trinket you carry,' Aragorn growled.

'I carry nothing.'

'Indeed, I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift.' So this was a Hobbit, he looked like one of my younger students, scared, frightened and alone. The door barged opened and three more ran in frightened for their friend no doubt. Suddenly all eyes were on me,

The blonde Hobbit demanded, 'Who are you what do you want from us?'

'You need not be frighted, I know what hunts you. You will be safe with us. I am strider and this is my friend Willow.' Aragorn answered smoothly.

'Are you an elf?' asked the blonde haired Hobbit, looking back to me.

'No, I'm not,' I replied

'I'm Sam, this is…'

Aragorn cut him off and said, 'We will talk later, for now we must move out, this place is crawling with Ringwraiths,' He turned to the first Hobbit he had brought in with him. 'They will never stop hunting you.'

A screech could be heard in the dead of night, haunting and cold blooded, it sounded like a banshee.

'What are they?' One of the Hobbit's asked Aragorn,

'They were once men, great kings of men, they were deceived by Sauron, and blinded by their greed they took the rings, they are now slaves, neither dead nor alive, they are drawn to the power of the ring.'

That day the sun came up but it was still dark, dark in my eyes as we left Bree and headed back to Rivendell.

'Well since we'll be travelling together I should tell you my name, I am Pippin, and this is Merry and Frodo my cousin and Sam.' I smiled at Pippin, as he talked happily about Hobbiton and their love of food. They reminded me of a few of my happier more carefree students.

We walked all day not bothering to stop for food, eat on the run was the motto at this point in life. I kept to myself trying not to form a bigger bond with these people, I knew what would happen. Logically thinking if I eliminated my enemy, would that mean a free pass home? It was worth a try right? But then again did I want to go home? I wanted to know how my students were and to make sure they are ok. But apart from that there is nothing there for me. It might sound selfish, but being here in this place gave me more freedom and food choice.

Aragorn soon stopped and announced, 'We shall rest here tonight,' I looked up and saw a boulder cave.

We headed up the cave it would provide good cover; Frodo soon fell into an uneasy slumber. Aragorn had gone to look around. I was stuck babysitting, not that that was a bad thing I was pretty good with children not great but these were not children they were only the size of children, and acted like children.

I think it was Merry who asked, 'So Willow how do you know Strider?' Sam and Pippin looked up from what they were doing,

'Well,' I started, unsure of how to answer. I decided I should alter the story a little bit. 'Well I met him in my travels, and he helped me out, we became um sort of like travel buddies.'

'Ahh, that explains a lot!' Pippin declared his sweet innocent face looking up at me. The other two raised their eyes at the younger Hobbit.

'It explains nothing Pip,' Merry stated,

'Sure it does, we now know why Willow is with Strider,' He replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

'No we don't, she clearly stated that she met him in her travels, where in her travels? Why did she stay with him? And why is she with us now?'

'Firstly you can ask me yourself I am right here, and I do not bite. Secondly it is none of your concern all you need to know is that I am known to Strider and I am no threat to you.' Perhaps I should have been nicer; however like I said before I keep my distance from relationships.

I had kept my distance from Aragorn I did not need four little Hobbits crawling into my heart. They fell silent going about their work, before I could stop them a fire had started, a deadly blood chilling cry haunted the night sky. Frodo bolted up as another cry pierced the sky,

'Run.' The Hobbits ran up the stairs to the top I followed behind pulling out my sword in the process.

I could see the Hobbits shaking out of their wits, I sighed they should not have to be this scared they should be back in Hobbiton, sitting by their fire place with a cup of tea and a good book. I closed my eyes taking in deep calming breaths, my mind eye seeing not only the black riders but also my enemy.

I counted 5 black riders and 6 Ninjas wait, pause, there's 6 how is that possible where had they all come from? I could linger on that thought later, for now it was 11 against 5 or should I say 1 and a half. Sam seemed to have gotten himself together but the others had not. I couldn't blame them though, they had only even known warmth and comfort. I started to fight off the Ninjas apparently they, like me, have changed their fighting style, which was good we were both weaker in the area of sword fighting. No matter, we would fight to the death. Things soon got nasty, a high pitch scream filled the air. I turned my back on my enemy and saw Sam sobbing next to Frodo, I turned back and saw a psychotic smile on the Ninja. I quickly ducked missing his strike by inches, my heart beating a little faster as I bounced back up sparing with both Ninjas and Dark riders, it was not an easy thing as swords were flying in every direction. I ran backwards towards the Hobbits adding a cartwheel in the middle as a sword came flying towards me.

If Aragorn did not show up fast we were all dead. I was doing my best fighting both the ninjas and the black riders. But all too soon something sharp imbedded itself into my leg. I felt my leg burn, but had to put that aside, with a willpower to help these Hobbits, I jumped up as best I could and continued fighting. I heard a faint shout, in the corner of my eye I saw fire. I spat out some blood, and noticed my leg was worse than I had thought. I was able to cut back on fighting as Aragorn came to my side and fought the creatures of with fire. I grabbed a small knife and with a shaky hand cut of my sleeve and wrapped it around my leg tying it tightly to stop the blood flow. I made my way to Frodo and cried out, 'Oh Frodo I am so sorry.'

A hand fell on my shoulder, I winced in pain, 'We must hurry if we are to save him. Willow can you walk?' I nodded my head and Aragorn carefully lifted Frodo into his arms. I limped up and made sure I stayed out of Aragorn's view, I did not need him seeing my weakness.