Disclaimer- I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of its fantastic characters except my OC.

Here it is as promised. Sorry it took so long.

As always PLEASE READ & REVIEW and tell me what you think.

Finally we reached the gate to the village of Bree. I turned toward Frodo whining and rubbed my head on his arm. He looked at me in puzzlement then realized what was wrong.

"Wait guys," Frodo called to them as he crouched down in front of me, "Does anybody have some rope?"

"I do," Sam answered as he handed the rope to Frodo.

Frodo made a loop and put the makeshift leash around my neck then we headed towards the gate all of us soaking in the rain.

Frodo knocked on the gate.

A small peephole opened above us then closed. Another peep hole opened at the hobbits eye level.

"What do you want?"asked the old gatekeeper.

"We're heading for the Prancing Pony." Frodo told the old man.

The gate opened revealing an elderly man, "Hobbits! Four hobbits! What business brings you to Bree? Ah! It's a wolf" he cried as he caught sight of me.

"Don't worry she won't hurt you. I've had her since she was a little pup," Frodo reassured the gatekeeper as I looked at the gatekeeper with big puppy eyes acting like I was the picture of innocence.

"We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is our own." Frodo answered the gatekeeper's first question.

"All right young sir, I meant no offence. It's my job to ask question after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad. You can't be too careful." He said as he gestured us inside.

We slowly walked up the cobbled path. We finally came across the sign for the inn we were looking for.

We entered the inn. It was crowded and full of noise. Frodo stepped toward the bar that towered over his head.

"Excuse me?" Frodo called out.

A large plump man appeared over the bar looking down at us.

"Good evening, little masters! If you're looking for accommodation we've got some nice, cozy, hobbit-sized rooms available. Mister uh —" asked the innkeeper.

"— Underhill, my name's Underhill." Frodo lied.

"Underhill. Yes…" he stopped suddenly as he caught sight of me.

"We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?" asked Frodo, interrupting the innkeeper from voicing his concern over me.

I knew I should have stayed outside the village. But I refused to let Frodo out of my sight after what happened a few hours ago.

"Gandalf? Gandalf? Oh yes! I remember an elderly chap, big gray beard, pointy hat… Not seen him for six months. Though since your friends with him I'll let your wolf friend stay."

"What do we do now?" Sam asked Frodo. I nudged Frodo towards the dining room telling him to wait and get something into his stomach.

Following my example the four hobbits headed towards the dining room.

The hobbits were sitting down at the table eating some food as I sat under the table looking at the figure that was encased in shadow. I couldn't see his eyes, but I could tell the figure was looking at me. Me and Frodo.

The laughter of drunken men filled the hair. Several people stared at us or more specifically me.

"Sam. He'll be here. He'll come." Frodo reassured Sam.

"Get out of my way." Merry said as he pushed through the crowd with a huge tankard filled to the top in his hands.

"What's that?" Pippin asked his cousin as he sat down at the table.

"This my friend, is a pint." Merry replied.

"It comes in pints? I'm getting one." Pippin said as he rushed off towards the bar.

Sighing, I shook my head in exasperation. Men and their drinking. That was something that hasn't changed over the ages.

"That fellow's done nothing but stare at us since we arrived." Sam pointed out to Frodo as he gestured to the figures direction. I turned my head back towards the stranger keeping a watchful eye on him.

"Excuse me, that man in the corner, who is he?" Frodo asked the innkeeper.

"He's one of them rangers. Dangerous folk they are — wandering the wilds. What his right name is I've never heard, but around here, he's known as Strider." replied the innkeeper.

"Strider." Frodo whispered to himself.

Strider I recognized his name. When Gandalf was missing those seventeen years he requested a man of the name of Strider to look for the creature Gollum. I gazed straight at the Striders face when the light from his pipe showed the figures eyes. They were gray. It was him.

I got to my feet and took the first step towards the figure when a sharp pain radiated from my shoulder reminding me of my wound. Ambar glowed lightly as it tried to help eliminate the Nazgul's poison from the wound. But I knew it would only be able to stop the poison from spreading too quickly. The first time I was lucky but it seems that luck had run out.

Limping I approached the figure slowly. Then sat down in front of him and we exchanged glances. He leaned toward me and held out his hand. I took that as the sign to move forward. I sniffed his hand and his scent filled my nose. It smelled like the wind and earth. He reached forward and patted me on the head.

"I have heard of you from Gandalf, you are the wolf Aear."

I looked into his eyes and nodded. This seemed to shock him. It was then he realized I was not an ordinary wolf.

"Baggins!" Pippins voice snapped me out of my daze. I snapped my head towards his voice whining in alarm.

"Sure I know a Baggins. He's over there, Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin twice removed on his father's side, if you follow me." Pippin continued on.

In the corner of my eye I caught sight of Strider sitting up his attention caught in the conversation.

Frodo was running towards Pippin, "Pippin!" he cried as he grabbed Pippin's shoulder.

"Steady on, Frodo!"

Frodo slipped and the ring went flying into the air. As it fell to the ground the ring slipped onto Frodo's finger causing him to disappear. I tensed up instantly. I could feel the evils power surge the second the ring slipped onto Frodo's finger. I followed the scent of the evil. It ended up right in front of me and the Strider.

Frodo reappeared in front of us. Strider grabbed his shoulder "You draw far too much attention to yourself Mister 'Underhill'!" Strider whispered to him as he pushed Frodo up the stairs with me at his side.

He opened the door and pushed Frodo in. He stumbled and fell and then jumped to his feet while I sat in the corner and stayed out of the way.

"What do you want?" Frodo asked Strider as he looked at me in confusion, probably wondering why I wasn't mauling Strider beyond recognition right now.

"A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry." Strider advised Frodo basically saying the very words I have wanted to tell Frodo since the beginning.

"I carry nothing!"

"Indeed. I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift." Strider told Frodo as he walked to the window and pinched out the candles and threw his hood back revealing his face. He had shoulder black hair and grey eyes with a dignified face.

"Who are you?" Frodo asked him fearfully.

"Are you frightened?" he asked Frodo.

"Yes."

"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you."

The door flung open causing Strider to draw his sword and I jumped to my feet growling as I revealed my fangs.

"Let him go! Or I'll have you Longshanks!" Sam cried with his fists in front of him flanked by Merry and Pippin. I sighed in relief as I returned to my original position and watched the scene once again unfold since I couldn't even join in the conversation.

Sighing Strider sheathed his sword, "You have a stout heart little hobbit, but that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard Frodo. They're coming." He advised Frodo.

I sat at the bottom of the bed looking at Strider when pain shot through my shoulder. I whimpered as I licked the wound capturing the ranger's attention.

He came to my side and put his hand on my head as he examined my shoulder.

He gestured me to follow him as he walked towards his bag.

"I take it that you were injured by one of the dark riders, I know that you're not the average wolf I can sense it. If only you could talk and tell me everything," he talked to me as I nodded. He looked into my eyes, he then bandaged my shoulder. He then caught sight of Ambar that was hanging around my neck. He examined the ring with his fingers. It was then Ambar sprang to life and we were connected. He and I stood in front of each other, and to my amazement I was in my original form. He looked at me in absolute awe. I reached my hand out to him waiting for him to take my hand, when he did I took him through my memories. Of all that happened that happened the last few days.

He then turned toward me; he then realized that I was the wolf due to my similarities.

"Who are you?" he asked me.

"Malina, but please since I'm stuck in that wolf form call me Aear.

"What happened to you," he asked me.

I smiled at him silently and showed him my final memory as an elf.

Then we were back in the small room. He looked at me in wonderment when suddenly a noise shocked us out of our little world.

We both looked out the window as the riders entered the inn. Then we heard screeching when they realized that they were tricked waking the hobbits from their sleep.

"What are they?" Frodo asked.

"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. They are the Nazgul, 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." Strider explained.

Well there you go. Another chapter completed for you all.

PLEASE REVIEW and tell me what you think of this chapter.

I'm going out of town tomorrow but I promise you all that I will update soon.

See you all soon!