April 12

Frodo awoke to being shaken. He opened his eyes to see a worried Sam looking down at him.

"What?" Frodo asked noticing it was still dark.

"Ogres! They're attacking!" Sam yelled. Merry and Pippin jumped up. Shrell was already awake. Frodo was up in no time.

"Frodo, catch!" Shrell threw him a small sword. Frodo caught it. Myrth was chanting strange spells that seemed very effective against the ogres. Frodo fought them off the best

he could but he was out numbered and was soon surrounded. A huge ogre came and stood over him. The ogre raised his club. Frodo shut his eyes tightly. The ogre was about

to bring the club down on Frodo's head when he let out a horrible cry of pain. Frodo opened his eyes to see the ogre fall dead to the ground and Shrell standing behind it.

"Are you alright, Frodo?"

"Yeah, I'm--- WATCH OUT!" he pulled Shrell out of the way of a swinging club just before her head would have been crushed. He noticed how wide her eyes were and how

hard she was breathing

"That was close" she said still rather shocked. "Thanks, Frodo."

The battle seemed to last forever but just when Frodo thought he couldn't swing his sword again the ogres retreated. Frodo was wondering why they left when he heard Myrth

speak:

"If you can hear me com towards the light" for a moment it was dark then there was a small glow. Frodo went towards it and when he got there the only other two that

seemed to have come were Sam and Pippin.

"Where's Merry and Shrell?" asked Sam.

"Oh, I do hope they're alright" Pippin said looking up at Myrth.

"Quickly! We have no time to waste!" Myrth held the light up to see Shrell staggering up to them. She had a huge gouge in her arm and had been smashed in the side of the

head with one of the ogres' clubs.

"Shrell! I'll get something to fix that wound up!" Pippin said.

"Never you mind that, Pippin. The ogres have Merry" she told them as she walked up to Myrth. "Pack up your things. I'll ride on ahead and see what I can do" she went to

grab her pony.

"Shrell, you're in no condition--" Sam started.

"I'm fine but we must hurry or we'll never find the ogres" she answered.

"If you insist on going then you shall, but not alone. I'll go with you" Frodo walked up beside her and she nodded.

"Follow behind once you have gathered your things!" Shrell yelled over her shoulder as she galloped away with Frodo right behind her.

"Shrell, are you sure they've gone this way!" Frodo yelled.

"No!" she answered. This wasn't comforting but he trusted Shrell. "Some of the branched have been cracked that laid across the path!" Shrell yelled back to him.

"Will, this set us far off course?" Frodo asked riding up beside Shrell.

"Yes, because....." Shrell stopped. "Frodo?" she asked somewhat mysteriously.

"Uh, yes?"

"We agreed to follow you if you knew the way" she raised an eyes brow.

"Uh...." Frodo felt chills running up his back and he felt pretty guilty. Shrell let out a long sigh then began to laugh.

"What?" Frodo asked.

"It's an adventure. We don't have to know the way" and with that she took off at an incredible speed. Frodo sighed and chased after her.........to be continued.