yes, I am alive! thank you to everyone who has been patient, hopefully i will be able to get more chapters up now that it is summer.

Chapter 22 The Wraiths

Maliah woke with a gasp and sat straight up, gaining the attention of Strider who was on watch. Beside her, Frodo didn't wake but rolled slightly at the loss of her body heat. She got to her feet, legs shaking, and walked over to the Ranger who was watching her carefully.

"Did you have a dream?" Nodding her head, Maliah sat at his feet among the roots of the tree he was leaning against. "What was it about?"

Flashes of Gandalf trapped on a tall, black tower flickered through her mind and Maliah shook her head with a hand at her temple. "I'm not sure, but it wasn't good."

"You should return to sleep, we are only part way to Rivendell and you need your rest."

She looked up at Strider's face, contemplating him. "Why don't you sleep?"

Her question drew a faint smile from him. "I do, just not as much as everyone else. Also, I am a very light sleeper."

"Have you always been that way?"

"For a long time, since I started training."

Silence fell between them. She had many questions for him, about himself, but Maliah didn't want to upset him. She retreated to her previous spot next to Frodo and watched Strider looking up at the stars until she fell asleep.

"If you are related to Princess Maliah and Queen Ralia, I swear I'm ready to leave this place."

Flori near fell off her branch, kicking Kali who was sleeping on the one next to her and effectively waking her. Kori woke slower, brushing away the few leaves that had fallen on his face. None were prepared to see an elf standing on a branch on a tree next to theirs, a look of calm resignation on his pale face.

"If we are?"

"Is there a trait running through your particular family to cause trouble?"

Kori was fulling awake now and had backed up to the trunk below his twin. They had been unseen, or at least undisturbed by elves the couple weeks they had been in Mirkwood. Why did one approach them now?

The elf sighed. "My name is Hissaleon, I helped the Princess through these woods when she went on her adventure years ago."

"And helped hold Amad captive."

A nerve ticked in his forehead, "Yes. Good for bad. If I judged you by your coloring, I would surmise two of you are her children." Silence. "I am not going to harm you, however I am debating about alerting your mother; I can only guess there is no way to contact her yet until they arrive at the border of the woods. What is your reason for tailing their party to Rivendell?"

The three looked at each other and Flori decided to speak. "We don't have a particular reason between the three of us, we just know something is happening and we want to be a part of it."

Hissaleon rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and in indecision, wondering what to do. "That is not reason enough not to alert the Queen."

Kali frowned at the Elf. She knew from letters Maliah had written how he had helped her and why, but their reason wasn't the same as hers and in truth, they weren't sure either other than deciding to follow the party after overhearing a conversation. "Our cousin is coming to Rivendell, that is part of our reason."

Pale eyebrows shot up as he watched the other two dwarves stare at the third after she spoke. He looked up at the moon just visible through the canopy. "I will not tell," three sighs of relief were heard, "But neither will I help you. Do not get lost in the forest for many will not come to your aide no matter your relation." He looked at them sternly before adjusting to jump from his tree. "I would suggest showing yourselves at the tree line, chances of them turning around will be slim and we will be gone by then." At his parting words, he fell from the branch and from sight.

They waited for any noise, a sign that he had lied. Nothing. "How much longer until we are out of these woods?"

"About two weeks." Flori answered Kori.

"Mahal help us." The two females agreed and they gave another downward glance before settling back into their respective branches.

Strider led his troupe of hobbits, and one dwarf, through trees and plains until he stopped and they gathered around him. "This was once the great Watchtower of Amon Sûl. We shall rest here tonight." There was silence and a pause before the Ranger continued walking.

"I swear, my feet are about to fall off." Pippin muttered.

Maliah smiled and looked to the ruins ahead of them. It looked like it was a great structure in the past and couldn't help but wonder what had happened. Perhaps Strider would tell her later. Her stomach rolled and Maliah placed her hand on it, willing the nausea away. For the last few days, she had been feeling off and so far had written it off as the meager, odd rations they had been eating since they had left Bree. It was nearing dusk when they finally reached the old watchtower and Strider led them partway up, the four hobbits and Maliah collapsed onto the stone. The Ranger dug through one of the bags he carried not far from them and pulled out four short swords which were dropped at their feet a moment later.

"These are for you. Keep them close, I'm going to have a look around. Stay here."

The four swords were picked up and Sam looked curiously at Maliah who remained sitting. "Why didn't he bring you one?"

"Because she has one, don't you Mally." Pippin said while peering curiously at his new weapon.

Maliah rolled her eyes at the nonsensical nickname he called her randomly. "Yes, I have my own. Don't worry Sam, I can fight if need be. I am part dwarf remember." She looked about their surroundings and decided where she was appeared to be a decent spot as any to rest. "I'm going to get some rest, don't do anything stupid."

"You wound us Princess, we would never." Merry proclaimed, trying to look innocent.

With a roll of her eyes, she laid her head down on her bag and settled for a quick nap; hopefully to gain some strength she felt was losing. Not a minute later, Frodo settled down behind her and both fell asleep after the setting sun.

Some time later, Frodo's eyes flickered open as sounds and smells ticked his senses. He suddenly sat up, sniffing the air and whirled around to see Sam, Merry, and Pippin huddled over a small fire with a hot frying pan. "What are you doing?"

Merry lifted his plate in gesture. "Tomatoes, sausages, and crispy bacon."

Sam held out a plate towards him, "We saved some for you, Mr. Frodo."

Disbelief and horror covered Frodo's face and he ran to the fire, stomping it out with his feet. "Put it out, you fools! Put it out!"

"Oh, that's nice ... ash on my tomatoes!" Pippin muttered to himself, ignoring Frodo actions and stilled as a loud and piercing shriek echoed. "What was that?"

Maliah woke almost the same as Frodo. "He's here."

"He?" Sam asked as the others looked over the edge to see five Ringwraiths running up the steep slope unnaturally fast.

Frodo pushed Merry and Pippin back, "Go!"

They all grab the swords given to them, Frodo dragging Maliah up with his other hand. "Get your sword!" She looked at him with foggy eyes and took a few seconds to respond to his demand. Holding onto her arm still, he dragged her along with him behind the others to the summit of the ruins. He found them looking around in the center of a ring of broken stones. Where was Strider? Frodo looked back to his wife and saw her sword almost dangling from her fingers and swaying as though in a trance. There was no way she could fight and he had no idea what was wrong with her. He pushed her forward to the others and they closed around her, standing back-to-back in the center of the ring of stones, waiting.

One by one, the five ringwraiths appeared brandishing gleaming swords as they moved slowly towards the hobbits. The four hobbits watched and waved their own swords at the advancing Nazgul. Frodo was pushed behind the others with Maliah and Sam was the first to advance.

"Back, you devils!"

Sam rushed forward with a scream, swinging his sword at the wraith in front of him. His movement was blocked and his blade shatter after a few blows, a metaled hand struck out and landed on Sam's head which sent him flying. Merry and Pippin closed ranks together in front of Frodo and Maliah, trying to put on a brave act before they were knocked to either side. Frodo pushed her back as he tried to walk them away from the looming Nazgul, venomous whispers were beginning to fill the air. Or at least he thought since he could feel Maliah tense under his hand and gasp. His foot caught on a loose rock and Frodo slipped, falling back and into Maliah. They fell to the ground, the small part of his mind that wasn't overrun with the voices of ringwraiths had him covering her body with his as he moved them further back until a large boulder stopped them.

Him mind became overran as the five stood before them and his hand pulled out the ring. Unable to resist any longer, he slipped it on and disappeared from the sight of the other hobbits.

"No!" Sam screamed, having gotten to his feet a few seconds before.

Frodo was looking up at the wraiths, more confused and distraught as he gazed upon the five in their true appearance. Ghouls, dressing in long, gray robes with white hair and shrunken, pallid ruthless faces. The same wraith that struck Sam, extended a haggard hand towards Frodo, reaching for the ring on his finger. As though his arm had a mind of its own, Frodo watched as his trembling hand lifted and reached towards the wraith. He tried to move away but was only able to slide further onto the ground and revealing Maliah in the process. The wraith directly in front of him snarled, jerking back before lifting its sword and stabbing Frodo in his left shoulder.

Frodo screamed in pain as the tip sunk deep into his flesh and fell back as Maliah moved behind him and her own smaller sword at the Wraith. It missed, but the arrival of Strider distracted the Ringwraiths and moved them from the couple as he charged in front of them, wielding his sword in one hand, and a flaming torch in the other.

Both fall back to the ground, Frodo on top of Maliah as he managed to pull the ring off and appeared back into the sight of their friends.

"Frodo!" The cry came from Sam and Frodo let out another anguished scream.

Another Ringwraith was lit on fire as Sam ran over to them, dodging the others screeching fearfully at the flames as they turned and fled.

"Frodo!" Sam's hands fluttered around the wound that was causing his friend much pain. A brief glance to Maliah told him she was unharmed. Strider came to their side after running off the wraiths and kneeled next to Frodo, picking up the ghostly blade that was dropped next to them. "Help him, Strider!"

"He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." The Morgul blade dissipated suddenly, vanishing into the air like smoke. Strider threw the hilt down in disgust.

"Do something." Sam pleaded, Merry and Pippin next to him now.

Strider looked from Frodo, to them, and then to Maliah. "This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Elvish medicine." He picked Frodo up and hoisted him onto his shoulders. "Help her up."

Merry picked Maliah up by the arms to her feet and pulled her after Strider's hurried speed with the help of Pippin. The Ranger was jogging as soon as they reached the ground and the four are running to keep up with him, carrying lit torches for protected.

"Hurry!"

"It's six days to Rivendell!"

Strider ignored him. "Hold on, Frodo."

"He'll never make it!" Sam cried out to him.

It's a little rough, but please let me know what you thought