Chapter 9: Danger in the Darkness

The sun was beginning to set as I leaned against a broken pillar yawning lightly as they all watched me while eating some apples.

"If I shut my eyes for a moment so Strider can get some rest when he returns will you make sure they don't do anything stupid?" I asked looking at Sam seeing that Frodo was already asleep watching Sam nod as I laid my head back letting sleep consume me.

I ran quickly to my mother's side as she had collapsed again feeling Gandalf run past me picking her up gently.

We were staying in an old broken down hut as I paced back and forth waiting for Gandalf to come out with any news. The door to the room opened as I walked quickly over towards him but the look on his face wasn't hopeful.

"Uncle Gandalf… please tell me you can fix this?" I asked softly seeing him put a hand on my shoulder replying, "There is nothing I can do now except make her comfortable."

"What about the other elves, surely they'd have something?" I asked getting desperate while he sighed replying, "I'm sorry Marina they wouldn't be able to either."

My eyes began to fill with tears as I looked at the door hearing him say, "She wants to talk to you."

I walked slowly to my mother's side as she grasped my hand weakly feeling the tears begin to pool out as she smiled sadly at me.

"I want you to have your grandparent's daggers." She said holding them both out to me as I took them with shaky hands saying, "This isn't fair… why aren't you getting better?"

She wiped a tear from my cheek saying, "Some things that are broken cannot be fixed regardless of how much we try, just know my dear that I love you."

"I can't lose you… I have no one left." I said closing my eyes hearing her laugh lightly saying, "Gandalf will be there for you and you will find others on your adventures. Perhaps even find someone you'll grow to care for…"

"I doubt that." I laughed weakly feeling fresh tears begin to fall.

She stroked my tear-stained cheek her eyes looking into mine as she said weakly, "You have your father's eyes… it is nice to see them… one last time…"

I woke up with a jolt grabbing my head feeling tears want to fall but the sound of a crackling fire broke me out of it.

"What are you doing? Put out that fire!" I yelled scrambling to get up as I kicked dirt into it but hearing screeching in the distance it was clear we'd been found.

I looked towards all the frightened hobbits feeling my fist tighten around my daggers saying, "Weapons out, we must defend ourselves, I will do what I can to protect you."

They all nodded scared as I slowed my breathing keeping my eyes forward, I had people to protect even if my body was trembling immensely.


I saw the hooded riders begin to ascend the ruins holding their swords up as I stayed in front of the hobbits glaring towards them all. One quickly went to strike but I deflected it with my dagger using my other dagger to swipe at another as his sword came towards me. I watched as a third one came to strike me but the hobbits jumped into action to help defend me.

I kept blocking their attacks until one of them grabbed my shirt lifting me in the air feeling it start to choke me. I clawed for breath feeling myself get lifted as my feet danged helplessly unable to get any air.

I turned to my side seeing Sam, Pippin and Merry get surrounded and to my other side, Frodo was being backed into a corner by another until he suddenly disappeared.

I felt the hold on my neck let go as I swallowed up some air coughing feeling Pippin, Merry and Sam run to my side to make sure I was okay. I looked up seeing them circle an empty space until one raised his sword stabbing the air hearing Frodo cry out appearing again as he clenched the ring tightly. I heard a noise to my side seeing Strider come out of nowhere with a torch driving back the riders easily throwing it into one of their faces watching them all flee.

"What happened?" Strider said as I replied weakly, "The rider stabbed Frodo when he disappeared."

He picked up the sword watching it disappear before grabbing Frodo saying, "We must move quickly."

We all ran down the ruins at a quick pace hearing the riders in the distance passing some stone trolls as Strider placed Frodo down moving his clothes to see the wound.

"He was struck with a Morgul-Blade, the poison is slowly making its way to his heart and once it reaches it he will become a wraith." Strider said hearing Frodo cry out in pain as I said, "There must be a way to help him."

"Do you know of Athelas?" Strider asked while I nodded saying, "Kingsfoil it's a weed."

"It will slow the poison until we can reach Rivendell you guys go search for some." Strider said as we all nodded spreading out to find it.

I stared at the ground feeling my body shake, it was my fault he had gotten hurt, I should have never fallen asleep. I finally found some as I picked the weeds making my way back to where Frodo was but stopped short seeing an elven woman appear on horseback.

I handed the weeds to Strider as he talked with the woman in a hushed tone standing beside the hobbits as they watched worriedly for their friend.

"She's an elf." Sam said while I nodded saying, "He will be safe now."

Strider picked up Frodo leading him to her horse as she got on holding onto him hearing Merry say, "Where is she taking him?"

"Rivendell, it will be much faster on horseback." I said quietly as she rode off hearing Sam yell, "Are you crazy those things are still out there!"

"I know they are Master Gamgee but he will be safe, for now, I must make sure you guys make it safely." Strider said as we all nodded deciding the best thing to do was to keep moving.

The morning had come and we were still on the path to Rivendell making our way through a clearing, despite how tired we all felt we were all determined to get to where Frodo was to make sure he was safe. I looked down still upset about how he got hurt unable to hold off the riders even if I knew I didn't stand a chance if I was my mother I might have had done it.

I felt a hand on my shoulder seeing Pippin beside me saying with slight worry, "Are you alright?"

"Yea, don't worry about me." I said shrugging off his hand seeing him frown lightly saying, "It wasn't your fault, we were the ones who started the fire."

"And I'm the one who foolishly thought you guys wouldn't do anything stupid so yes Pippin it is my fault Frodo got hurt." I said with a slight bitterness to my voice seeing him sigh knowing it was easier just to leave me alone.