Hi people around the world!

I want to thank Celridel for her help as beta.

In this chapter we'll see what's the plan of Marrow about the One Ring. Let's remember that she has her own track and that she sent word to Saruman that he shouldn't be worried because she has her own plan. Let's see which one is?

Chapter 18: A clever plan

Marrow's breath was coming short and quick, as she dashed along the trail of the two hobbits. She had a stamina that surpassed any human being; she would soon catch up with them, and take the Ring from their corpses. And then give straight to Sauron, and when he ruled, there would be no more persecution and no more scorn. She felt sure she could trust Him. It was instinctive.

Hidden behind the shadows of the tumbled boulders, she watched the hobbits sit down, and one of them dig around in his pack and produce a kind of milky-white line. It was probably Elven, mused Marrow idly, as she waited for her chance.

Sam was playing with the rope. "It's beautiful, isn't it, Mr. Frodo?"

Frodo smiled. "Yes, it is. Very beautiful, Sam."

"Everything about it is so Elvish. Looks like Lothlórien, somehow."

"Perhaps it was even made by the Lady Galadriel." said Frodo, putting a hand to his breast pocket almost instinctively. The phial lay there, a kind of beacon for him in these darkling times. "Sam-lad, I'm glad you came with me." He said with a weak laugh. "I forgot all these useful things. Like rope."

"My ol' Gaffer always did say it twas no use traveling without rope." said Sam quietly, running the twined fibers through his fingers again.

Marrow had headed for the small shrub, about a foot away from them. It would provide little cover; it was twisted and stunted from the bitter winds, and found no good soil on the Ephel Dùath.

There was silence. Then Frodo spoke, his voice a whisper. "What do you think happened to the others, Sam?"

"Strider was them, Mr. Frodo. They'll be fine."

Frodo nodded slowly. Once again that terrible weight he felt was settling on his back.

"Here, Mr. Frodo, eat this. It's the Elvish bread, it will do you good."

Frodo waved it away. "No Sam. I'm not hungry now. We'll stop and eat later." He rose and left quickly, passing by the shrub where Marrow hid without seeing anything amiss.

Frodo wondered how his life could change so terribly in so little time. Not long ago, he was in the hayfields of the Shire, Bag End was his home. Now he was stumbling through the rocky cliffs of the Ephel Dùath, trying to find the one place he had never wanted to go. The Ring was laying heavy on his chest, the chain about his neck like a captive's collar. He looked behind to where Sam was trudging, and wondered at the depth of loyalty his gardener, and dear friend, possessed…

"How thoughtful you are, Halfling."

Frodo raised his head sharply, to state astonished at a woman. Her skin was a strange color, her purple hair cropped short, but it was the armor that caught his attention. It covered most of her body, and six huge spines protruded from her back, as well as two small horns on her forehead. "Are you worried?" she asked. "About the fate of the One Ring. You will not have to be any longer. I will take care of it." Her gaze went to the chain about his neck, and suddenly heard clearly a voice calling her name. "Marrow ... Marrow ... it's me, Marrow!"

She shook her head slightly, confused, but stepped closer to the Hobbit, who had drawn his small sword. "Stop play-fighting." she snarled. "Give me the Ring and you shall go unharmed."

Frodo still held out Sting, and the blade glittered in the light. "Stay away from me."

"You have no one to help you. Your chubby friend will not come to your rescue." she snapped contemptuously.

"What have you done to him?"

"Nothing, at the moment. Now for the last time, give me the Ring! I am not a patient person, so hand it over now."

Frodo stood his ground, aware that he could not outrun the mutant.

"Come Marrow ... it's me Marrow ... come ... come ... rescue me Marrow ... rescue me from the hobbit ... Marrow come ... help me ... Marrow ... Marrow ... I can help you ... I can change everything that has happened to you ... I can give you what you want Marrow, but you have to save me ... save me Marrow ... save me from the hobbit ... Marrow, Marrow! "

The mutant blinked. The voice seemed to come the One Ring and its whispers was increasingly insistent and attractive. Little by little she was drawn to the thought of keep it rather than taking it to Isengard.

Frodo realized that Marrow seemed to be faltering for a moment and realized that it was because the One Ring was calling her, he shouted desperately for Sam.

"Give me the Ring." Marrow said in a terrible voice. "Or I'll tear it from your corpse."

Frodo looked behind him, all too aware of the drop, and the turbulent waters of the Anduin that roared beneath.

She grabbed his clothes, but then there was a shout, and Sam had tackled her by the legs, and the three of them rolled down the slope, almost to the bank of the river. Frodo jumped up first, putting a hand to his neck. The chain was not there.

Just as Marrow had just grabbed the hobbit's clothes, there was a battle-cry and they both turned. Before Marrow could even react, Sam tackled her by the legs and the three of them rolled down the slope, almost to the bank of the river. Frodo jumped up and put his hand to his neck. The chain was not around his neck.

"Sam! The One Ring! "He shouted wildly.

The tow-haired hobbit was on his knees, looking this way and that, but then behind them was a shout of triumph, and they turned to see Marrow grabbed the Ring. But as soon as the gold touched her hand, she screamed in agony and dropped it. Frodo snatched it away, and both hobbits ran, leaving the mutant convulsing in pain.

"Where do you think she comes from, my lord?"

"From distant lands. But I care not. Strangers are not welcome in these times."

"Aye, but she seems harmless enough for the present. She looks drugged. A strange problem."

"And one that must be solved, Éothain, especially in days so full of evil."

"She is waking, Lord Éomer."

Kitty slowly opened her eyes. She felt much better. She vaguely remembered that she had seen Merry and Pippin calling her to flee with them, but it had not been possible.

"Where am I?" She asked faintly.

"On the plains of Rohan." answered the tallest man. He wore a helmet, with a white horse tail.

"I've never heard of such a place." she murmured faintly.

"Pray tell your name, and where you hail from." said the tallest man curtly.

"Katherine Anne Pryde. From Illinois. Who are you?"

Both men removed their helmets. The tallest one had a tawny hair and the frame of a giant. His partner was a little smaller than him, his hair a gold-brown. "I am Éomer, son of Éomund, Third Marshall of the Mark." he said, his voice deep and rich. "And this Éothain, second in command of my Eored. He is the one who has helped you leave the stupor you were in."

"Stupor?" asked Kitty.

"You were drugged." said Éothain, and turning to Éomer spoke in a low voice. "My Lord, how long will we linger here?"

Éomer shook his head and continued speaking to Kitty. "So, where is this realm you come from?"

"Not in Middle Earth." said Kitty slowly, blinking several times.

"And how have you come here?" asked Éomer, rocking back on his heels with his arms folded over his chest.

"Um…..I do not know. No one does. Not even the Lady Galadriel."

The two men looked at each other sharply. So, this woman was a consort with the Witch of Dwimordene.

"And how," asked Éomer, his voice suddenly cold and far more suspicious. "Did you come to prisoners of the Orcs?"

Kitty shrugged. "I was drugged….I don't know what happened after." she lied.

Éomer stared at the woman. He knew instantly that she was lying,, but he did not know what to do. The Witch of Dwimordene was well known amongst the people of Rohan, for entangling people in her magic spells and golden woods, and he felt little mercy towards the woman at his feet. "Get up." he said sharply. "We must leave."

"Where are we going?"

"I do not think that is any of your concern." said the Marshall quietly. "Éothain, give her some bread."

Kitty accepted it and the skin of water gratefully, though it made her stomach protest.

Éomer did not look at his captive. She would have to tell him the truth eventually.

Marrow opened her eyes. Her body still ached horribly, and a faint burning was racing through her veins.

She would never have imagined that such a thing would happen as soon as she touched the famous Ring! She had been for the first time in person in front of Sauron and the memory still caused her to recoil. She had told him many things, and in return He had told her nothing, and she had not dared to ask.

But her resolution was made up. She never left a mission unaccomplished and this one would not be different. Somehow, she would restore the Ring to Lord of Mordor. At that moment, her keen ear heard a noise, and she slipped into the rushes.

A few minutes later a strange form appeared, pale, large eyes animated by a light of madness, crouching and scrabbling as it hissed between its jagged teeth.

"Gollum." she murmured.

"Gollum" she murmured

There was the solution to her problem.

Kitty finished eating. She felt much better, although she was still very hungry. Éomer had passed back and forth, exchanging words with his riders, who were glancing uneasily at the forest.

Kitty, looking towards it, suddenly felt a jolt on her memory and screamed. "Oh gods, no! Merry and Pippin!"

Her cries attracted the attention of the whole company. "What are you talking about?" asked Éomer quietly.

"Merry and Pippin!" she said franticly. "Two hobbits! Have you seen them?"
"Hobbits?" asked Éomer. "I have not heard of them."

Kitty closed her eyes, trying to recall what else they were called. "Halflings! They would be like children to you!"

"Halflings!" asked Éothain with a scornful laugh. "Do we walk in old wives' tales?"

"Did you see them?" begged Kitty.

"We saw none." said Éomer shortly. "Why did you not tell us this at the first?"

"I have to go." was Kitty's response, but Éomer grabbed her arm. "Answer my question." he said sternly.

Kitty saw she had two options. Answering this man's questions would take away precious time. She could get away and use her tracking skills to find the hobbits.

"Let me go to the forest! I have to find my friends! " She exclaimed, trying in vain to wriggle free.

"No, my lady, you will not leave until you answer all my questions" Éomer replied.

Kitty realized that there was no choice but to use her mutation, so without thinking twice, she concentrated and passed her arm through the hand of Éomer who stood as one who sees visions.

"Witchcraft!" he exclaimed.

Kitty looked around. Éothain had instantly had also drawn his sword and threatened her. The other men had heard the voice of their leader and had come to see what was happening.

"She's a witch! Catch her! " Éothain said in a thunderous voice.

At one point the men moved toward her to catch her, but to everyone's astonishment, Kitty passed through them and ran toward the woods. The astonishment of those warriors increased until they were astonished when one of them fired an arrow to hurt her, but this one crossed Kitty's body as if the girl had been a simple shadow.

The men hurried to the forest, but no one not dared to enter.

"Do you think she was Saruman's spy, my Lord?"

"I do not know." replied Éomer. "but I do know that the Fangorn Forest will take care of her."

Gollum crawled along the path, muttering to himself, when a soft thud made him turn. Marrow instantly had pinned him against a stunted tree, one of her terrible thorns to his gulping throat.

"What are you doing here, freak? Following your precious One Ring?"

Gollum said nothing, but his gaze answered everything. Marrow released him, but that did not stop her from threatening him with her terrible thorns.

"Gollum, I need you to do me a favor."

This being did not dare to flee, for he knew that Marrow's aim seldom failed. "I need you to take the One Ring to Mordor."

Gollum gasped. Give his precious to Him?

"Listen Gollum, I'd take the One Ring to Mordor myself, but Saruman needs me in Isengard and as you can guess, I cannot be in two places at the same time, so I need you to do me a huge favor." Marrow said quickly, and then paused. "Surely you know, two hobbits are going to Mordor to destroy it… well, it's about you take them to Mordor and at the right time, you steal it from them."

"And the precious will be mine?" he hissed.

"Yes, if you are able to get what I ask and run away from Mordor." said Marrow suavely.

"No, precious. No!" he snarled. "We cannot do that! Avalanche will kill us, precious. Gollum! Gollum!" he sobbed in his throat.

The mutant smiled. She knew that Gollum detested Avalanche because the first time they met, he had almost killed Gollum in a rather painful way. It was only through Saruman and herself that Gollum was still alive. That action somehow gave her some credibility before him; So she bent down and let out a thorn in a strange, blunt form from her arm, and gave it to him.

"Here." she said, "If you find Avalanche, show him this and he'll let you go. It's a kind of hidden message that he and I have. Maybe he will not help you escape from Mordor, but he will spare your life, and then it will depend on your cunning to get out of that place, which I am sure you will get ... after all, you managed to escape from the elves of Mirkwood, is not so? You've even tracked the One Ring here."

"You wants to give the precious to the wizard….now why do you want us to have it?"

"Because I have realized that Saruman is not someone trustworthy." Marrow lied, with a sigh. "Then will you do that for me, Gollum?" she asked after a moment. "Once you have it, kill the hobbits and get away from Mordor. And if you find Avalanche, just shown him the thorn and hide. Later I'll come and find you."

Gollum was too eager for the Ring, his mind and heart twisted wholly to have that object. "We will do it, precious. But you must swear on the precious to do what you have promised to us."

Marrow offered her hand to shake. "I swear on the precious."

Gollum hissed in delight and was lost in the shadows of the night. Marrow smiled after him. She had succeeded, and now the One Ring would safely come straight to Sauron.

So... will Marrow's plan succeed?

Waiting for your reviews, they're the food of the story!