KAT

'Well, that was unexpected!' Gimli mumbled.

'Unexpected, maybe, but lucky.' Gandalf replied. 'Elves are usually a kind, helpful race. Talania is a rare exception. If they come to help you, your best bet is to let them.'

Pippin, Sam and Merry were all, by now, at Frodo's side. They were all trying to comfort him, but they could tell that Frodo was still too ill, despite Shadow's help, to understand what was going on around him. After a while, Frodo drifted off to sleep.

'Let him rest.' The hobbits heard Aragorn call to them. Sam and Merry obeyed and moved away from Frodo, but Pippin wouldn't move.

'Pippin?' Aragorn asked, moving closer to him.

'This is all my fault.' Pippin said. 'Sam and Merry could fight Talania's powers, I was too weak. If I hadn't been there, Frodo wouldn't be like this.'

'Pippin, this is not your fault.' Aragorn said. 'It was Talania who did this, using your body. It's Talania who's done this to Frodo, through Sauron's orders.'

'She didn't stab him, though, did she? I shouldn't be part of this fellowship!' Pippin said, still not believing he was not to blame.

'Pippin, if you hadn't been there, she would have used someone else. You are just as important to this fellowship as anyone else. Now, come away from Frodo and let him sleep.'

Reluctantly, Pippin left Frodo's side, and joined the rest of the fellowship with Aragorn.

***

For the next few days, the fellowship continued walking by day, Frodo being carried by Aragorn or Boromir. By night, the fellowship took turns to stay awake at Frodo's side in case he woke or got worse. Usually, it was Pippin or Aragorn who stayed awake during the night. Frodo spent most of his time asleep, waking every so often. It was a few days before he stopped waking up every few hours or so.

Sam, being optimistic as usual, asked Aragorn, 'Is he dying?'

'No, Sam. Shadow did a good job doing what she did, and Legolas knows what she did. Frodo's just very weak – he's slipped into unconsciousness.'

'But that's bad, isn't it?' Pippin asked, alarmed.

'It could actually do Frodo a lot of good.' Aragorn replied. 'This way, he's getting lots of rest, and is being kept still, as Shadow asked. And he's being kept warm. Though it may look like he's getting worse, I think he's on the path to recovery.'

***

As the weeks went by, Aragorn began to lose heart in what he had told Pippin. It had now been three weeks since Frodo had fallen unconscious, and he had only woken twice. He had then managed, with a lot of help, a few sips of water and a few mouthfuls of food, before slipping back into unconsciousness.

'He isn't getting enough food or water.' Legolas said, as he joined Aragorn at Frodo's side one night. 'He will die of starvation or dehydration at this rate. Shadow said she would come back if he got worse.'

'We have to stay positive.' Aragorn said. 'We have to be ready to give him as much as possible when he next wakes, and hope that if Frodo gets any worse, Shadow will come back…'

***

The fellowship became more and more worried as the weeks passed, and Frodo didn't seem to be showing any signs of waking up again. He had become very thin, and his breathing had become worse again, despite Legolas continuously redoing Shadow's treatment. 

They had almost given up hope of Frodo ever recovering, and talks had started about who would become the ring-bearer when Frodo died.

They had set up camp just off the road, and they suddenly heard the sound of horse's hooves coming towards them. Legolas peered as stealthily as possible into the distance, to see a black horse coming towards them, with a black clothed rider on it.

'The black riders are back!' Legolas called. 'Hide, quickly!'

Luckily, they were, yet again, on the edge of the forest, and they wasted no time picking up their stuff and moving into the forest, Boromir carrying Frodo.

They heard the horse stop, but heard no footsteps. They waited there for several minutes, and then the rider burst into the forest, making the three hobbits scream in surprise.

'Do not be frightened.' The 'black rider' said, taking off its hood to reveal that it was actually Shadow. 'I am here to help.'

'Thank goodness it's you.' Legolas said. 'We thought you were a black rider.'

'I could sense that Frodo was getting worse again, and came to see what I can do to heal him.' They all moved from the forest, and Boromir laid Frodo down so Shadow could examine him. She beckoned Legolas to her, to explain what she was doing, and to tell him how he could help Frodo when she wasn't with them.

After about half an hour, Shadow and Legolas came over to the rest of the fellowship.

'The good news,' Shadow began, 'Is that Frodo's lungs have healed. The bad news is that he is dehydrated, and near starving. I have managed to give him some water with added herbs while he was still unconscious, to strengthen him, but it a difficult thing to do. I have tried to show Legolas what to do.'

'Why don't you stay with us?' Legolas suddenly asked. 'I can only do so much, you know much more than me.'

'That's a good idea.' Aragorn said. 'I've been taught by Master Elrond, but you obviously know much more than me. Come and join us, Shadow. We need a good healer.'