A/N: I own NOTHING but my OC and Draco!
Chapter 8: Nazgûl, Dementors and DragonsI sat in the darkest corner of the room and kept my hood up. Suddenly the front door opened and in came a Ranger. He spoke quietly to Barliman before coming to sit across from me. When the barman brought him his drink and left, he pulled out his pipe, put some tobacco in, and lit it. I slipped out of the shadows and pushed my hood back just enough so he could recognize my face.
"I would tell you the same thing I told Gandalf, that smoking is bad for your lungs, but I doubt you would listen." He choked a bit and coughed in surprise. When he calmed down, he took a good look at me and gasped. "Elizabeth?" I smirked and reached over the table to grip his hand in mine. "It's has been a while Estel."
He then asked me the usual questions, 'Where were you?', 'What happened?', 'Are you alright?' I smiled and answered all his questions, but I didn't say anything about finding out my heritage nor about Draco. When he stopped questioning me I said the one thing that could make him go stiff. "The Lord of the Rings has awoken. The War has begun."
Aragorns' eyes widened. "In fact, it's practically happening right now." I nodded towards Frodo and the other three Hobbits. "The black haired one is Frodo Baggins; he is the one carrying something important to the Enemy." He frowned but I continued. "The one next to him is Samwise Gamgee, his loyal friend and an excellent gardener. He'll be able to find the Athelas plant, Kingsfoil as he calls it, if you asked him. Be warned, he can be suspicious of strangers and people who look like you." He nodded then asked about the two who were gulping down very large tankards of brew. "They are cousins of Frodo who insisted on coming on this journey, despite his, Sams' and my protests. They are the pranksters Meriadoc Brandybuck, the more mature one, and Peregrin Took, the… not so mature one." He chuckled.
We were silent for a while, just eating and drinking. He protested a bit when he saw I had ordered ale. "Strider, I've been drinking brews made from the 'Green Dragon' in Hobbiton. On our way here we ran into Exiles and their Lord: Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. I ate and drank with them. I'm immune to becoming drunk." I laughed at his shocked face. "How?" My face became serious as I saw Frodo fingering the Ring out of the corner of my eye. "I'll tell you later. Right now I think you should now watch and see how much fear and doubt can come from such a small, little thing."
We turned and watched the scene.
Pippin was sitting by the bar, chatting far too loudly then he should have. "Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins. He's over there, Frodo Baggins." I watched as Frodo panicked and ran towards Pippin.
Frodo grabbed his second cousin once removed on his mother's side and third cousin twice removed on his father's side. "Pippin!"
Pippin pushed him off and yelling out as his drink spilled. "Steady on!"
Frodo slipped on the wet floor and the Ring flies through the air. Aragorn sat forward and made to stand, but I grabbed his sleeve, my eyes still on Frodo. "Let what will happen, happen. It must, lest it all falls apart."
When he grabbed the Ring, it accidentally slipped onto his finger, and Frodo disappeared. The patrons of the bar gasp. I pull off my hood and my true eyes and my scales appear and I whisper. "Coloro che non conoscono dell'Anello di Sauron dimenticare questa scena del suo potere." (Let those who know not of the Ring of Sauron forget this scene of its power.) My eyes and scales flash and the power of my words wipe the disappearing act from the minds of everyone in the room. The spies of the Dark Lord that just left to report what they saw instantly forgot what they were going to report, and only myself, the Hobbits and Aragorn remembered.
I swallowed a bit and let out a breathy sigh as the power finished it's task, leaving me weak. My eyes became normal and the scales disappeared slowly. My shaking hands pulled my hood up, not seeing Aragorn giving me a surprised, worried and yet curious look. "Let's grab Frodo." I said.
Frodo appeared suddenly leaning up against a table leg. I watch as Aragorn grabs the Hobbit by his collar. "You draw far too much attention to yourself Mr. 'Underhill'!" He pushed open the door to the bedroom that was for the hobbit's and thrusts Frodo onto the floor. Then he walks around the room, putting out the candle flames with his fingers. I follow and close the door behind me deciding to silent.
"What do you want?" Frodo asked standing.
"A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry."
Frodo let his face become blank. "I carry nothing."
Strider chuckled humorlessly. "Indeed? I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely,' He removed his hood and fear flashed across Frodos' face. 'that is a rare gift."
"Who are you?"
"Are you frightened?"
After a moments' pause. "Yes."
"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you."
The door opens suddenly, and as Strider draws his sword, in comes Merry, Pippin and Sam, armed with a candelabra and a three-legged stool. "Let him go, or I'll have you, Longshanks!" Sam snarled.
Strider withdrew his sword and I step forward. "You have a stout heart Sam, but that will not save us." The hobbits look at me in surprise. "We can no longer wait for the wizard Frodo. They're coming."
Later, after explaining that Strider is an old friend that we could trust, we settled down in a building across the road from the 'Prancing Pony'. Strider and I sat by the window and watched as not four as I thought, but five of the Nazgûl enter the inn. My eyes widen and I turn away as I listened to their horses neigh ceaselessly outside. Boy, was I glad I also made a stuffed version of myself and placed it in my room.
Pippin and Merry suddenly awake, sitting up in the bed that they and Sam occupied in the room. Frodo sits down and looks at Strider confusedly. "What are they?"
Strider turned to them. "They were once Men- Great Kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will."
Strider looked back out the window, observing the five mount their horses and ride off in the other direction.
I then take over the explanation trying my best not to cover my ears in pain at the sound of the Ringwraiths screech. "They are the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring, drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you." Suddenly, they let out one last screech, and I cried out covering my ears and my left one began to bleed a bit. I fell off my chair and curled into a ball. My eyes squeezed shut but I could feel myself being forcefully transformed into my True Form.
My tail twitched in pain and wrapped around my waist as my wings spread out behind me before folding painfully back into place. I vaguely heard the voices of the others and my hands were taken from my ears. I felt a sting as a cloth covered in alcohol pressed against my bleeding left ear. I was pulled into a sitting position that made my ears ring and I gave a cry. "In nome di Eru, si prega di fare fermare il dolore!"(In Eru's name, please make the pain stop!)
A pair of hands began to wipe my hands clean of the blood and rough familiar hands held my face. "Elizabeth!" My eyes snapped open and tears poured out as I looked the man I thought of as a Father. Strider looked at me with a sad smile and wiped away my tears with his thumb. He then pulled me into his arms as I sobbed. "Oh, Elizabeth. Che cosa avete ottenuto voi stessi in ora, Bambina?" (Oh, Elizabeth. What have you gotten yourself into now, Child?)
"Fa male Papà." (It hurts Papa.) I mumbled, not bothering to ask how he knew my peoples language. "Lo so, piccola. Lo so." (I know, little one. I know.)
Frodo gave me a worried look. "Elizabeth? Why did their screech affect you now? When we hid from that one under a tree root, you were able to scare it off." I looked at him and stated slowly. "That was just one. There are Nine all together. I could easily destroy every single one of them if I had full control of my True Form. When we were hiding from the one, I had not been in my True Form for the past few hours. I changed into my True Form tonight, wiping the memory of the Rings power from the minds of all who saw it except for me, you four and the man I think of as a father." I smiled looking back at Aragorn. "If I'm in that form for too long, I tire out."
I yawned. "That's why I exercise and train very early in the morning, I need to get my body into shape so that I can handle the power of my True Form." Frodo nodded but I saw he was a bit confused. "I'll explain more at a later date, Frodo." He nodded and he and the hobbits drifted to sleep.
Aragorn wrapped his cloak around the two of us. "Elizabeth? Do you really think of me as a Father?" I nodded and turned to kiss his cheek. "Yes, Aragorn. I do. I seem to have four Fathers now. My birth father, my step-father, Thranduil as the father of the one I love, and you: one who has cared for me and stayed with me through thick and thin. W-would you mind at all if I call you Dad?" He smiled and nodded kissing my forehead. I smiled then slowly went to sleep in his arms.
The next day, the hobbits, Bill the Pony, Strider and I started our journey. The six of us ride down a path, Strider leading Bill and the others lagging behind.
"Where are you taking us?" Frodo asked anxiously.
"Into the wild." Was the gruff reply.
Merry walked up to Frodo and whispered, "How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?"
Frodo replied. "I…I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer and feel fouler."
Merry began angrily muttering. "He's foul enough." "Tell me about it." I chuckled from my place next to the man he was muttering about. Said man gave a look that said sarcastically 'Very Funny.'
Frodo turned to him and gave a small glare. "Elizabeth trusts him, so I will trust him."
"But where is he leading us?" Sam asked.
Strider replied looking back to him. "To Rivendell, Master Gamgee. To the House of Elrond."
Sams' eyes went wide and he said breathlessly. "Did you hear that? Rivendell! We're going to see the Elves." I laughed happily at his excitement.
We soon found ourselves in a flurry of snow. Walking through a clearing atop a hill, I smirked a bit before scooping up two handfuls of snow and making two rough snowballs. When they were finished, I threw one hitting the back of Aragorns' head and the other hit Merrys'. I gave that 'innocent-baby' face, placing my hands together, as if in prayer and looking skyward as they both turned around to look at me. I still was half expecting some of my Dragon-Blood magic to make a halo appear above my head.
That is until I fell flat on my back with snow in my face.
Shaking it off, I looked up to see Aragorn and Merry smirking at each other, shaking hands and congratulating each other on a nice payback shot. Pippin, Sam and Frodo were laughing hard next to Bill the pony. I sneered at the two. "You two do realize this means War?"
Thus began what I would later tell my grandchildren, was the first battle of the 'Great Middle Earth Snowball Fight'.
Later, Strider looked around as the hobbits congregated around Bill, unloading pots and pans. Strider turned around and said, "Gentlemen, we do not stop until nightfall."
"What about breakfast?!" Pippin asked.
Strider raised an eyebrow and stated the obvious. "You've already had it."
"We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?" Pippin asked matter-of-factly.
Strider turned back around and walked past some trees. I followed after him but smirked when he pulled an apple from a nearby tree. He smiled at me before tossing it over his head and in Pippins direction. I pick another one and throw it over my shoulder. I heard a 'thunk' and an annoyed cry of "Pippin!" from Merry making me laugh when I realized the apple hit poor Pip on the head.
We walk through to the edge of the snowy forest, and then we start sloshing through a messy bog, brushing bugs away from our faces.
"What do they eat when they can't get hobbit?" Merry said. I chuckled. "Mostly small animals."
Later that night, I cooked up some deer meat Strider caught and the half-lings, stuffed full, lie down to relax before sleeping.
The next day, the Hobbits, Strider and myself stand below Amon Sûl.
Strider looked up at the old tower and said. "This was the great watchtower of Amon Sûl. We shall rest here tonight."
The hobbits sits down, weary, when Strider tosses them each a sword. I listen from the entrance to the small side cave we were resting in.
"These are for you. Keep them close. I'm going to have a look around." Strider straitened and told them sternly. "Stay here."
He came over to me and stood by my side for a minute. I looked out from the cave we settled in under the tower ruins. "I truly hope they do not find us here. They remind me too much of Dementors." Strider looked at me with a raised eyebrow. Seeing his expression, I explained. "Dementors are fictional monsters from my home world. They are dark creatures, when near everything becomes cold. They can make all your most unhappy memories come to the front of your mind and make you relive them. If you do not know how to fight them off, they could give you 'the Kiss' in which they take your soul."
Both of us shuttered at that thought. "Thank Heaven that such creatures do not exist alongside the Ringwraiths." I said turning to him. "Now, go and explore. I'll keep an eye on the Hobbits." He nodded.
Not two minutes after he left, I fell asleep. I was only woken by Pippin yelling about ashes getting into his tomatoes.
A Nazgûl screech is heard through the darkness, and we are alarmed. We watch as at least five of the Nazgûl appear. Frodo signaled to the other hobbits to run up the steps to the top of Amon Sûl with a yell of "Go!"
As we reached the top, we drew our swords. "Stay behind me." I whispered to the Hobbits as the Nazgûl came slowly towards us. Before I could transform into my True Form and fight them all Sam jumped forward in a bout of courage and yelled, "Back you devils!"
The Nazgûl hits Sam's sword, then throws him aside. He hits a stone hard, and lies in a huddle on the ground. I growled seeing one of my charges was hurt, and transform raising my sword. Merry and Pippin then realize that the Nazgûl are after Frodo and the Ring, and stand in front of him, trying to guard him as I stand in front of them to guard them. "Demoni di Sauron, in nome dei miei Antenati e Eru, sfido il Re Stregone di Angmar." (Demons of Sauron, in the name of my Ancestors and Eru, I challenge the Witch-King of Angmar.)
The Witch-King steps forward his sword raised. "Child of Eru, I accept your challenge." We saluted each other. "Let me warn you now Witch-King, should you and your men indeed harm my charges during this challenge I will bring out my full power and destroy you all. You know I can." He hissed at me and charged. Blocking each of his blows, I concentrated on the battle. Suddenly, there was a cry from behind me. I turned to see Merry and Pippin franticly looking around for a disappeared Frodo. The Witch-Kings Sword suddenly tore through my right wing, hitting the joint and knocking me aside. Screaming in pain, I fell. Hearing my scream, Merry and Pippin rushed over to me.
"Elizabeth! Are you alright?" Merry asked. I gritted my teeth but instead of answering yelled out to Frodo. "Frodo, take off the Ring! Their more DEADLY if you keep it on your finger!" But the scream from his throat told me my warning was too late. "Merry, Pippin, get Sam and go over to Frodo. He'll appear soon!" They nodded and I slowly stood up. As I was walking towards the Nazgûl, the Hobbits would later tell me I looked like a One-Winged Angel of War on my way to Battle.
Strider jumped in with a sword in one hand and a torch in the other. Placing my hands on my sword hilt I spoke. "Lasciate che questa spada fiammata di Fuoco Bianco!" (Let this sword blaze with White Fire!) My blade was ablaze with white hot fire and together with Strider, we fought. We set their cloaks on fire and he flung his torch strait into the hood of the Witch-King. Said Witch-King screamed and fled.
Slowly I transformed back, but because my right wing was damaged, my magic kept my wings out until the wounded one was fully healed. And from what my Father and Draco told me, it will only be a few days.
Sam yelled to Strider and me. "Strider! Elizabeth! Help him Strider."
Strider picked up the knife that was dropped beside Frodo. "He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." I scowled as the blade vanished turning into dust. He dropped the hilt. "He needs elvish medicine." I said. Strider nodded and gently carried Frodo away from Weathertop.
"We are six days from Rivendell. He'll never make it!" Sam said, Bill the pony, Merry and Pippin following behind us.
"Hold on Frodo." I heard Strider mutter as Frodo continued to moan Gandalf's name.
Two days later, we soon came to a rest beneath the shadows of what seems to be statues of large Trolls when in reality they were the Trolls Bilbo himself face and had turned to stone. I sat with my back leaning on ones' leg with Frodo's head in my lap. My left wing was neatly folded while Strider was sewing up my right wing. "I doubt you will be able to fly for a while Bambina." I stretched my wing out a bit and winced. "I haven't flown much yet Dad because my Master said I should wait till I can fully access my True Form before flying." I slowly folded my wing back into place.
My head snapped up when I heard the Nazgûl cry in the distance. "They're close." I whistled to Sam and asked. "Do you know the weed known as Kingsfoil?" He nodded. "You and Strider go and find some. It will slow the poison." With another nod, he tapped Strider on the shoulder and they went off to search.
Pippin: "Is he going to die?" I looked up to Pippin. Biting my lip I decided he should know the truth. "He's passing into the shadow world. If they don't find the any Athelas plants, he will soon become a wraith like them."
Suddenly a white light seems to approach. Smiling I looked down at Frodo who is mesmerized. A She-Elf appeared out of the light and spoke to the Hobbit. "Frodo… Im Arwen. Telin le thaed. Lasto beth nin. Tolo dan na galad." (I am Arwen. I have come to help you. Hear my voice. Come back to the light.)
"Who is she?" I heard Merry ask. Sam, who had apparently returned said, "She's an elf."
Both Arwen and Strider kneel beside me as Strider placed the weed over Frodo's wound. "He's fading, Arwen. He's not going to last on foot. Take him to your Father Elrond with haste!" She nodded to me as Strider picked Frodo up and placed him on Asfaloth.
"I've been looking for you for two days." Arwen said speaking to me and Strider. "There are five wraiths behind you. Where the other four are, I do not know."
I looked at the Hobbits and spoke to them in a whisper. "Let Arwen and the one she loves have a moment." They stared at me in shock. "They Love each other very much but Love between Elves and Mortal Men are taboo. I know firsthand the troubles their love for each other with bring."
"Dartho guin Perian. Rych le ad tolthathon." (Stay with the Hobbits. I will send horses again for you.) Strider said to Arwen.
"Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im." (I'm the faster rider. I'll take him.)
"Andelu i ven." (The road is too dangerous.)
"Frodo fir. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon.' (Frodo is dying. If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him.) Arwen stood firm and finally said 'I do not fear them."
Strider gripped the reins of Asfaloth. Sighing, he nodded. "Be iest lin." (According to your wish.)
Arwen smiled and mounts Asfaloth with Frodo seated in front of her.
"Arwen!' She turned to look at him. 'Ride hard. Don't look back!"
Arwen nodded before whispering in Elvish to Asfaloth and riding off.
Sam then shouted angrily at Strider. "What are you doing?! Those wraiths are still out there!" I looked at him and said. "On horseback, Frodo will get to Rivendell much faster than on foot! On foot it would be easier for the wraiths to catch us. It's the Ring they are after, not three Hobbits, a Man and the Last of the Dragon-Bloods."
We packed up and began our foot journey to Rivendell. Suddenly I froze. Strider looked back at me. "Elizabeth?" The Hobbits also stopped. My hand reached up to the grey and green scale around my neck and whispered "Sei sicuro, Maestro." (Are you sure, Master?)
Nodding to myself. I looked up at the other four. "My Master is near and would like to speak to all of you. However, you try to harm him in any way, I will not hesitate to disarm you and bind you until we leave. If that happens I will be forced to wipe the memory of my Master from your minds. Is that understood?" I asked using a commanding tone as was needed since I was of an Ancient Race. They hesitantly nodded and I led them using my Scale necklace as a guide. We soon reached a Cave and I bowed at its mouth. "Master, may myself, one I think of as a Father and three Hobbits come in?"
"Enter, mio giovane apprendista."
I straitened and walked in. There was the large grey and green dragon. I turned towards my shocked friends. "Allow me to introduce my Master, Draco Raxa- um... Raxacoricofallapatorius." I looked away from their shocked faces to my master. "Did I get it right?" He laughed and raised a large paw to pat my head. "Indeed you did." As I did a little victory dance, he turned towards the others.
"I have watched you four and the Ring Bearer through the scale I gave to mio apprendista and have decided something. When the time comes to rebuild the Dragon-Blood Race, I would like you four and young Master Baggins to help her in any way you can."
They all gasped. Sam then bravely stepped forward. "Master Dragon, First I must admit that seeing a Dragon such as yourself is both a fearful shock and a wonder. However, after all Miss Elizabeth has done for us, I'll help her rebuild her people." Merry and Pippin nodded. Strider stepped forward. "I think of Elizabeth as my own child. I will do what I can." He bowed and Draco placed a claw under his chin and gently made him look back up.
"That is all I am asking Erede di Gondor." (Heir of Gondor) Strider blinked in shock before bowing again. "Now, go! Rivendell is near and Frodo is fine. He is on his way to complete health. Do not tell anyone of my existence." I bowed to my Master and led them out of the cave. As we continued on to Rivendell, Pippin asked, "Is it really safe to be around a Dragon like you Master?"
"Well, of course he's not safe! None of us our safe to be around! I'm not safe, you're not safe, Merry is not safe, Sam, Frodo and Strider aren't safe. Even Barliman back at the 'Prancing Pony' isn't safe! But as long as we know who is Good and who is Evil, we will find the right path in Life that will lead us to the White Shores of the Valinor and Beyond."
