Chapter Eleven
Frodo, Sam, and Pippin were sitting at a table on the far side of the bar. Sam was nursing his mug of ale while he nibbled on a piece of cheese and bread. He kept shifting from side to side. Gandalf's absence was disconcerting to Sam; he had always known Gandalf to be punctual. Noticing this, Frodo did his best to alleviate some of Sam's stress.
"Don't worry Sam, he'll be here. . ." Although in his mind even Frodo was beginning to stress about Gandalf's whereabouts.
Merry came back to the table and sat down holding a very large mug of ale.
"What is that?" Pippin's inquiry was more along the lines of want rather than curiosity.
"This, my friend, is a pint." Merry had a broad smile on his face as he tipped the cup towards his mouth.
"It comes in pints? I'm getting one." Pippin shot up from the table and ran to the barkeep, while failing to take notice of the fact that there were four pint mugs sitting in front of the hobbits.
"But we all have already!" Sam shouted to Pippin, who clearly was not listing.
The atmosphere of the Inn was jovial and fervent. Men were all standing around talking about glory they had won on some battle field or another, while others sat and talked with old friends about times they had missed. Only Sam and Frodo were somber during this, their concern for Gandalf outweighing the joyful mead hall.
"That man has done nothing but stare at us all night." Sam pointed to a man sitting alone at a table behind a group of four travelers.
Frodo tugged on the apron of the barkeep as he was walking by the table. "Excuse me, who is that man sitting over there in the corner?"
The barkeep's face went white. "That there is one of them ranger folk. Dangerous men, they are, roaming the wilds. What his real name is I ain't sure but 'round here we just call him Strider."
"Strider," Frodo whispered under his breath. While pondering who this man might be, Frodo spun the little golden ring in between his fingers. While spinning the ring he heard it, the word started as nothing more than a whisper but soon grew. Frodo became entranced and listened to the word as it grew within his mind.
"Baggins… Baggins… Baggins! Baggins!"
"Baggins?" Pippin said aloud. Hearing his name, Frodo snapped out of the trance and looked for the source of the voice.
"Sure I know a Baggins! He's right over there." Pippin pointed to Frodo sitting at the table. "Frodo Baggins! He's my second cousin twice removed on my mother's side."
"Pippin, no!" Frodo shouted as he ran up trying to get Pippin to stop. Running up from behind he grabbed Pippin's shoulder. As Pippin turned around he knocked Frodo off-balance.
"Steady on!" Pippin said as Frodo almost spilled his mug of ale.
As he fell everything began to move in slow motion, tripping over the man's muddy boot, falling flat on his back, and the ring, the little golden ring, that he had forgotten to put in his pocket, was now flying through the air. Reaching out to grab it, he missed, and instead caused the ring to fall onto his finger. As soon as this happened Frodo vanished completely.
Achilles had been almost motionless, watching the whole scene unfold. He was curious about the commotion but was content to just see how everything played out until the Halfling vanished. Upon seeing the Halfling disappear Achilles bolted up from his seat and marched over to where Frodo was. Looking franticly around, he noticed the small movements of objects and people. Assuming it was the Halfling, he followed the movements until they stopped underneath a table. There the Halfling reappeared. Achilles started to walk up to him when the man, who was sitting in the corner, grabbed the Halfling by the shoulder and hauled him off the ground.
"You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr. Underhill!" The shadowy man shoved the Halfling up a staircase to the next floor.
Achilles started to follow the shadowy man only to be cut off by three more Halflings who were running up the stairs. One was holding a chair, the other a candlestick, the third one holding his fists, clenched as if for a brawl.
Upstairs Strider began to move about the room putting out each of the candles.
"W-who are you?" Frodo asked in a shaky voice.
"Are you frightened?" Strider looked right into Frodo's eyes.
Something about his piercing gaze compelled Frodo to speak the truth. "Yes."
"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you. I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely…that is a rare gift." Strider pulled his off to reveal his face.
At that moment Sam burst through the door, ready to pummel Strider, who seemed to have kidnapped Frodo. He was followed by Merry holding a chair and Pippin with a still-lit candlestick. "Let 'em go, or I'll 'ave you!"
Out of sheer reflex Strider drew his sword and pointed it towards the new intruder. Noticing it was the other Halflings Strider sheathed his sword and gave a light sigh of relief. "You are brave little one, but bravery alone will not save you."
"Perhaps his bravery is all he needs." Achilles stepped into the doorway, sword drawn at the ready. "I do not know you but I have lived under the thumb of I tyrant long enough to know when people need to be protected. So I think you should listen to this one and do as he says."
The four hobbits and Strider turned to look at the man standing in the doorway. He had bright blond hair and wore clothes that were clearly not from around the area.
"I know not who you are stranger but you draw your sword without knowing the facts. I am no enemy of the Halflings. I am an ally." Strider turned back to Frodo, ignoring Achilles' threats against him. "We can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. Get your things together. We are moving."
"Do you expect me to simply step aside and watch you leave?" Achilles still kept his sword pointed at Strider.
"If you do not trust me then come with me. I mean the Halflings no harm but I was told to protect them with everything I can muster. If you would like to help me then by all means." Strider motioned for Achilles to follow him as he lead the four hobbits out of the room. Sheathing his sword Achilles fell in step behind the candlestick-wielding hobbit as they walked out of the room.
As the six men came back down stairs they were greeted by a worried-looking Patroclus, and a calm, but concerned, Odysseus.
"Might I ask where you have been and who these people are?" Odysseus gave Achilles a serious gaze.
"I do not know who they are except for the tall one, his name is apparently Strider." Achilles gestured to the Strider who was now walking up to the barkeep.
Ninniachel walked up to the group of men. "We should go with Strider. I cannot tell you why now, but I am sure that he means us no harm."
Odysseus, always the diplomat, shrugged his shoulders. "If the elf thinks that we should follow this Strider, then I say we go."
Patroclus nodded in agreement. "I am not sure why, but following him does seem like the right thing to do."
"Well if everyone else says we should then let us gather our things. Strider says that he and the little ones are leaving, and if we are to follow him then we should leave as well." Achilles turned to the four hobbits and knelt to be at eye level with them.
"Little one, if you and your kin would have us then may we join you?" Frodo nodded.
"Very well, if you swear that you will protect me and my kin, then I would gladly have you accompany us." Frodo turned around to Sam, Merry, and Pippin. "Would you agree to that idea?"
Merry nodded. "Well, he looks like he could be helpful if we get into any more trouble with those black riders." Merry whispered to the other three hobbits.
"He did try to help us when Strider took you." Sam said in a hushed tone.
"We are in agreement then?" Frodo looked at his three friends who nodded in agreement.
Turning back around Frodo looked at Achilles. "Thank you, stranger. We would gladly have help from you and your kin on our journey. My name is Frodo Baggins; these are my friends, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrine Took." Each one of the three hobbits nodded to Achilles as they were introduced.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Achilles, lord of the Myrmidons. This is my close friend Odysseus, King of Ithaca, my cousin Patroclus, and our guide, Ninniachel." All four of them bowed to the hobbits.
Strider returned to the group of eight. "Do you have everything together? We need to leave now."
Sam pulled his pack over his shoulder. "Yes, we have everything," Frodo answered for all four of them. Strider turned to face Achilles and those traveling with him.
"Yes, we came with naught but what you see before you."Achilles still did not fully trust Strider but he was comfortable enough to follow him.
"Very well then, let us make haste. The enemy moves upon us as we speak." Strider turned around and headed for the door.
Rather than leaving the city, Strider simply moved them over to an inn across the street.
"You said we had to leave," Achilles scowled at Strider.
"You're right we did need to leave. However, we cannot leave the city. It is still unsafe. We have to wait until the enemy arrives." Strider walked up to the innkeeper and ordered a human-sized room for all nine of the companions. The innkeeper was rather perplexed as to why one human-sized room was ordered for four Halflings, an elf and four humans. However she did not pry.
They had been sitting in the room for hours. Sam, Merry, and Pippin had fallen asleep in the bed whilst Frodo stayed awake sitting on the edge. He knew that something evil was coming, but what he could not say. Achilles was sitting on the window sill with Strider, never taking his eyes off of him for more than a minute to check outside. Odysseus was sitting in one of the two chairs; Patroclus had fallen asleep in the other. Ninniachel remained completely silent as she stood by the fireplace, waiting for the enemy to show itself.
It was late, very late. Later than the gate keeper wanted to be up. He heard a horse whinny outside of the gate. Getting up to go check he opened the top porthole. The last thing he saw was a hoof slamming on the wooden wall that crushed him as it fell over at the force of the stampeding hooves. Four riders in black bolted into the city atop horses with glowing red eyes and bleeding hooves.
Achilles got up from the windowsill and silently walked over to Odysseus. "They are here, if you would like to see them."
Getting up from the chair Odysseus walked over to the window to look out at the four black riders who had shown up. After looking at them, Odysseus suddenly had a flashback to the dream he had while he was chained to the wall of Ost-Morsereg. "They look just like he did," Odysseus whispered to himself.
"What?" Achilles looked at Odysseus wondering what he had just meant.
"Nothing, I just remembered something." Odysseus returned to his chair and closed his eyes.
The four riders in black moved as silently as wisps through the bar hall of the Prancing Pony, swords drawn. They scoured each room until they found the one they were looking for. With the stealth of snakes they slithered into the room and stood at the end of each of the four beds. They then proceeded to turn their swords downward and raise them over their heads. Suddenly, with swift and sharp movements, they began to stab each one of the lumps in the beds repeatedly.
The next thing Patroclus knew, he was awakened by an inhuman scream that caused his whole body to shiver.
Everyone was awake now, each one of them startled by the inhuman scream that erupted from the room across the way.
"What are they?" Frodo asked Strider in hopes of a clear answer.
"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 the rings without question, one by one falling into madness. Now they are servants of the Dark Lord. They are his eyes and ears in search of the ring. They can always feel its presence. They are always looking for it; they are slaves to its power. They are then Nine, Nazgul, Ring Wraiths." The rest of the night was quiet and everyone, save Ninniachel and Strider, fell into a restless sleep.
"I am glad to see you again, Ninniachel, yet I am concerned. Weren't you supposed to leave on a ship bound for the west almost a week ago?" Strider queried.
"You're right, I was. However I was captured by a group of orcs from a place called Ost-Morsereg. There I was imprisoned for three days before I escaped. After two hours of running I found my way to that man right there." Ninniachel pointed at Patroclus, then, as though she was just a young girl, her face reddened. "We have known each other for a few weeks and I find myself enamored with his presence. He even permeates my dreams. I am sure that I love him."
"You? In love with a mortal man? That seems rather unlike you. I was sure that you once said that love was the last thing you would ever do." Strider gave her a half smile at the idea that Ninniachel would fall in love.
"You know better than most that things change, Strider." Ninniachel emphasized his name, pointing out they both knew 'Strider' was not his real name.
Strider chuckled. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Well, do you care to sleep before we go or should I just wake them in a couple of hours?"
"Wake them; I think that even the Hobbits know that we must be moving soon." Ninniachel nodded as she turned to look out the window towards the rising sun.
The following morning the nine companions mounted their horses and left Bree in the early morning. Strider had given the explanation that under the light of the sun it would be safer to travel. They had been riding for three hours at least when Sam finally spoke to Frodo in a hushed tone.
"How do we know we can trust him?"
"I believe that an agent of the enemy would look kinder but feel fouler." Frodo was riding on the horse with Achilles next to Patroclus, who was riding with Pippin, Odysseus who was riding with Sam, and Ninniachel who was riding with Merry.
"He smells rather foul to me as it is," Sam whispered back to Frodo.
"Where do you think he is taking us?" Pippin whispered.
"To Rivendell, the home of the elves." Strider spoke up loud enough for everyone to hear.
All four of the Hobbit's eyes went wide when they discovered that he could hear everything they had whispered to each other.
"Ah, that is good. Our company has been seeking to get to Rivendell for some time." Odysseus spoke up. "Perhaps you can give us some aide. Who is E?"
"E?" Strider turned around and gave Odysseus a perplexed look.
"Yes, Achilles," Odysseus pointed to Achilles riding with Frodo. "was given a missive by a messenger who was paid handsomely; enough, in fact, to buy his own land with farmhands. However I am getting off the subject. The letter was written in a language that Achilles can read and it said to meet him in Rivendell. The only thing was that a name was never given, only the letter E."
Strider turned back around. "No, I cannot say that I know who this E person is. However, if they requested you meet them in Rivendell then I am sure that they will be there waiting for you once you arrive."
Another seven hours went by in silence. They were riding through a patch of snow-covered ground when the contingent stopped. After a minute of listening Strider could hear nothing. Turning to see what the problem was he noticed that all four hobbits had gotten off of the horses.
"Gentlemen, what are you doing?" Strider was confounded by their halting.
"We're stopping for breakfast," Pippin answered as a matter-of-factly.
"You have already had it." Strider was even more confounded than before.
"Yes, we have had one breakfast, but what about second breakfast?" Pippin was curious about why he was asking about second breakfast. Hadn't Strider heard of them?
Strider shook his head and turned around. Continuing to ride on his horse he disappeared behind a grouping of trees.
"I don't think he knows about second breakfasts, Pip." Merry laid his hand on Pippin's shoulder and began to walk back towards Ninniachel to mount the horse again.
"Well what about Elevenzies, Lunchin, Afternoon Tea, Dinner, Supper, he knows about those, right?" Pippin was frantic, to think that he might not get to eat at all the proper times in the day! It was quite disconcerting.
"I wouldn't count on it, Pip." No sooner had Merry spoken than had an apple came flying over a tree. Merry caught it just barely and handed it to Pippin. Then he patted him on the shoulder and got back on the horse. Shortly after a second apple came flying over the tree and hit Pippin square in the head.
The party continued to ride until they came to a ruined tower atop a stone mesa.
"This used to be the great watch tower of Amon Sul," Strider mumbled to himself. "We will rest here for the night," he yelled to the entire group.
A couple hours later the four Hobbits, along with Achilles, Odysseus, Patroclus, and Ninniachel had set up a campsite on an outcropping ledge just under the once-mighty watchtower. Once the tents were set up, Strider came over to the four Hobbits.
"These are for you." Strider unfolded a piece of cloth that contained four short swords. He handed one to each of the four unarmed Hobbits.
"Use them well. I am going to take a look around." Strider turned around to leave.
"I will join you; it has been too long since I have seen this place." Ninniachel followed Strider as he left.
"I desire to find a good lookout point, please excuse me." Odysseus walked away to find a higher point of ground.
"I would stay as well. However, I do not trust Ninniachel alone with that Strider. I will go with them." Patroclus left to follow after Strider and Ninniachel.
Just like that the four Hobbits were left alone with Achilles. "Do not worry, little ones, I promised that I would protect you, and I will not leave you alone."
The hours passed by slowly and soon Achilles and Frodo fell asleep. While sleeping, Sam, Merry, and Pippin gathered some wood and started a fire.
Frodo awoke to the sound of hushed voices coming from behind him. Sam, Merry, and Pippin were sitting around the fire they had made, with a skillet, and roasting food.
"What are you doing!?" Frodo shrieked
"Tomatoes and some nice crispy bacon." Merry was almost salivating.
"We saved some for you, Mr. Frodo." Sam held out a plate to Frodo.
"Put it out you fools, put it out!" Frodo screamed.
"Oh that's nice," Pippin said in a sarcastic tone as Frodo stamped out the fire.
The silence of the fog-filled night was cut with a blood-curdling scream. With that the four hobbits looked over the edge of the cliff and saw five Ring Wraiths heading straight for the rocky outcropping.
Achilles' eyes shot open when he heard the scream. Looking out over the edge he saw five shadowy figures heading towards them.
"Nazgul, quickly, little ones, up the stairs!" Achilles ushered the four Hobbits to a more open location, one where they could easily defend against attackers. In the main tower Achilles walked up behind Odysseus.
"Did you see them?" Achilles asked quickly.
"Yes, only five of them though. I would expect this to be an easy fight." Odysseus turned around to face Achilles. "We need to choose the most defensible location up here. From my vantage point I can strike at anyone coming up from the south, east, and west side. However the north side will be at my back so I will need you to guard it for me."
Achilles gave Odysseus a cocky smile. "Easy enough. Get set up."
Achilles moved to the north side of the tower, while Odysseus set up near the four Hobbits. All six of the companions looked around. Their eyes flicked from opening to opening. The gothic statues of kings glared at them from every direction.
Frodo's heart pounded in his chest. He was not sure if it was anxiety due to the upcoming fight, or if it was fear welling up inside of him. One thing was sure to him, no matter what happened he had to keep the ring safe. He had to keep it away from anything that might seek to take it.
"South side!" Odysseus bellowed as he saw one of the five Nazgul walking through a marble archway. Odysseus pulled back on the bowstring and let loose an arrow. The arrow flew straight and true and struck its target in the area of where the right eye should have been. However, instead of stopping it went right through and out the back of the hood.
"Achilles! They act as though they are smoke and fog!" Odysseus was about to launch another arrow when another Nazgul came up to his right side and slashed him across the arm. The cut hurt more that Odysseus had anticipated, rather than a sharp cut like he was used to when being hit by a sword, the wound burned. Not only did it burn but it began to fester with black ooze.
"Gahh!" Odysseus shouted as loud as his lungs would allow. He watched as the wound grew black as the poison began to travel throughout his veins.
"Odysseus!" Achilles howled as he watch Odysseus fall to his knees in pain. Achilles ran over to the Nazgul that had struck him and brought his sword down upon the wraith's head. To his surprise, the Nazgul was stronger than he anticipated. It parried his attack with relative ease and, as a parting gift; the Nazgul threw Achilles across the tower. As he slid on the wet ground, Achilles hit his head on a piece of fallen marble, causing him to loose consciousness.
The five Nazgul proceeded to surround the four Hobbits. Having removed the only true defiance to them they began to move towards the one carrying the ring.
Sam was a brave Hobbit. He was given the task of defending Frodo as best he could and he would not fail the Wizard's charge.
"Back, you devil!" Sam shouted at the nightmarish shade. He swung his sword haphazardly in an attempt to strike his opponent down, only to be parried with each shot. With his third strike the Nazgul parried Sam and pushed him to the side like he was nothing more than a minor nuisance. Merry and Pippin were not nearly as brave as Sam was but they also knew what had to be done in order to keep the world safe. Seeking a way to keep Frodo safe, they stepped next to each other so that their shoulders were pressed together. Their attempt to keep Frodo from harm failed as the Nazgul simply swept them away like leaves on the wind.
Frodo began to panic. He dropped his sword and stumbled backwards, tripping over a small rock. While on the ground he could hear the whispers in his mind again. He looked at his front pocket and noticed that the ring was speaking, it was crying out to be returned once again to the hand of its master. Pulling out the golden ring he held it up, even in the pale moonlight it was glowing like the embers of a dying fire.
One of the Nazgul, who was previously preoccupied by the sight of Achilles now turned to face Frodo and the ring that he held in his hands. The Nazgul drew its sword and marched right over to Frodo. In a panic Frodo saw his only chance for escape and slipped the ring onto his finger.