Thanks for all the reviews! By the way I hope this chapter is better than the last one because I know I messed up my grammar a bit in that! Anyway here is the next chapter…
The Wind Child
Chapter 2: Philosophy and a Strange Encounter
They had been riding for nearly two months and they were quickly nearing the peaceful area known as the shire. The glossy trees and thick foliage made the area rich and healthy. It was almost as if the whole place gave off a huge wave of positive energy and the wildlife made the whole area buzz with natural beauty. It wasn't like the ring wraiths got to see all of this because most of the people and animals fled when they came nearby. Nevertheless Narisunell's head was spinning…
Its so beautiful here, I almost feel free; but how can I feel this way when I travel with a knife in my heart. I am in love with this place and yet I hate it because of the happy folk who dwell here. How can I be like this, so cruel and evil? It is not me, it cannot be me. I refuse to become one of them! "Why do you weep child?" hissed the cruel voice of Carathon"I am not crying, it's just the wind"
"Well then we must speed up if we are to reach South Amerdon by tommow.
The smaller hooded rider nodded and then Carathon the wraith whipped his beast wildly and sped off into the harsh darkness once again.
Great now they have seen me crying and they think I am weak. Well I'll show them. I'll be the one that kills all four halflings and then those old fools wont think me weak! Wait what am I saying I do not want to kill them they have done nothing wrong, and yet I hate them. I am truly evil how can I be this way?
With mixed up thoughts still running through her mind she absentmindedly slashed her stallion drawing blood from its powerful body. The horse cried out in pain and she laughed! (a cruel evil laugh).
Why am I like this? This is not me.
Her mount was now out of control and its rider was not even bothering to look where she was going. Her eyes were now streaming with genuine tears and she found herself not caring what became of her. Luckily her horse had sense and it slowed from its wild and mad gallop into a swift canter and Narisunell allowed herself to look up. She realised that she had caught up with her eight comrades and so she hastily wiped her eyes with the hems of her black cloak and pulled the hood of her cloak lower of her gaunt face. Then all of the riders began to converse in the dark language of Mordor.
"We are nearing a small house that is dug into the side of a hill." Carathon stated
The others nodded and hissed in agreement
"So child will you come here and tell us what you see"
Narisunell stepped foreword because she knew that even though the last sentence Carathon said was actually a question, she would be severely punished if she did not obey. With her keen sight she had been given by her mother (an elf), she could see well and so she told the others all that she saw.
"There is a man…no wait a halfling…and he is chopping wood. Beside him there is a creature…um…ah yes…it is a dog and there are lights on inside the house; where a similar female halfling is cooking. There are not too many other 'houses' nearby but they are all the same (more or less)."
"Well then we shall have to pay them a little visit," hissed Carathon.
This sentence made all of them cackle menacingly, including Narisunell.
So the dark riders made their way slowly and dramatically over to the now trembling hobbit. His dog began to bark madly and the man began to quake much more rapidly as he ceased chopping his wood. Narisunell thought he was quite a brave one because surprisingly the small halfling patted his dog and then lifted his face upwards and faced Carathon.
Then Carathon spoke in the common tongue, "Baggins… Shire."
Then the utterly petrified hobbit answered him shakily, "The…the…there's no bag…baggines round 'ere the…there all u…u…up in Hobbiton"
They had heard all they needed and so they turned their steeds in the dusk and quickly galloped further into the shire looking for frodo. Meanwhile (very nearby)...
Frodo had heard them coming, "I think we should get off the road"
"Mmmm mushrooms… yum," the other hobbits muttered (taking no notice).
Then when the dark riders were very close and Narisunell with her keen eyesight could make out the hobbits on the road, Frodo shouted "GET OFF THE ROAD!"
Then Narisunell saw the hobbits jump behind a large tree trunk and the Ring wraiths knew she had seen something.
"What did you see child"
"Umm… I saw… nothing yes nothing"
"Well then perhaps I'll just go and check…"
"NO," Narisunell half shouted "Umm… I mean… Why don't I go and look."
"Very well, don't be too long."
So Narisunell carried on along the road slowly thinking to herself again,
What am I doing? I am supposed to hate them, and find the ring; but even so I do not and I shall not betray them. Well not yet anyway."
She came nearer to the tree trunk and dismounted her horse. She could hear the heavy breathing of the scared desperate hobbits hidden only inches away from her. Also she sensed their nervousness because she had inherited a strange ability from her relatives that was fairly common among elves. She walked around to where she knew Frodo was and placed her hand upon the gnarled roots of the tree and she heard him gasp. Then she dropped down to eye level with Frodo and threw back her hood a little so her face could be seen. She looked deep into the hobbits eyes that were wide with horror and then she simply smiled. It was a warm genuine smile that she had not worn for many years, but she was not surprised when the terrified hobbit did not return it because he probably thought her to be mad and insane. Then she stood up and began walking back just as two other hobbits threw a bag of food in a hope to distract her; so humouring them she jumped back on her horse and galloped back to the others. As she did this Frodo was deeply immersed in thought,
Who was that black rider? She was strange and not yet a wraith, but there was pain in her eyes. And more importantly why had she smiled at him and let them get away?
Narisunell slowed up beside the others still with a deep smile upon her face,
"So child what was it?"
"Oh it was nothing… Just an animal."
