When It was Frodo's turn to stand guard he was very sleepy and wished he could be sleeping happily. Shrell was awake as well, though she looked so emotionless and cold. She was poking the ashes from the fire with a stick. Her hood no longer covered her face. She had been wearing it ever since they set foot on the mountains.

"Shrell, are you alright?" Frodo asked.

"Yes.....just...just tired" she stuttered. "I'm going....for a walk.."she said, placing the stick on the ground. She got up and began to walk away.

"Shell! That's crazy! Come back!" He quickly gabbed her by the arm and spun her around to face him.

"Stay back! I don't want to hurt you!" she said, twisting her arm free and taking a step back.

"What? Shrell? What are you talking about?" Frodo looked confused.

"The Ring, Frodo"

Shrell's eyes were unblinking and she looked so afraid. Her hands trembled at her sides.

"Slowly.....It grows in my mind....I can't help it...." she said, looking Frodo in the eyes.

"Would you take it from me, Shrell?" he asked as though to test her.

"I...."

Frodo took the ring from his pocket and held it in his hand, open to her. Her hand trembled as it approached the ring. Frodo bit his lip. Shrell took the ring and slowly held it up. Frodo could see the ring reflect in her clear blue eyes. He could hear voices surrounding her. They spoke the language of Mordor. He could tell by the grim words. In Frodo's mind; the darkness of the night seemed to be consuming Shrell. The voices grew closer. He could hear them, see them, feel them. Then Shrell disappeared. Frodo awoke from his thoughts to see Shrell holding the ring, still. Her eyes closed and she brought the ring down so it no longer reflected in them. Her hand slowly moved towards Frodo. It trembled as she placed it back in his pocket. Her eyes met his again.

"I've, far too many times, come too close to crying" She said. Then she turned and ran.

Frodo fell into panic. Orcs and other creatures covered these mountains. Shrell didn't stand a chance! He woke Gollum and grabbed his dagger.

Gollum wasn't at all happy to stand watch early but did so. Frodo raced after Shrell. It was so dark he had not a clue where he was going. The glow of pink eyes was all he could see. There were cries of nameless beasts in the distance. Frodo followed the shrieks and to his luck came to see the shadow of Shrell. She was surrounded by Orcs. Frodo had often seen her fighting with two daggers but now she was fighting with what looked to be a staff of some sort.

"Fools! This shall be the death of you!" she yelled, driving the staff through an Orc's head.

Frodo drew his dagger and charged towards the nearest Orc, stabbing it in the back. It let out a horrible cry of pain as it fell.

Shrell chopped another Orc in half. Her staff was obviously quite sharp. Then, drove it through one's heart. It wasn't long before every Orc lay dead.

Shrell bowed her head.

Frodo heard in the distance a twang. Shrell lifted her head and turned towards the sound, alarmed.

Frodo saw and arrow fly through the air and drive itself into the silowet of Shrell. She fell to her knees. Frodo was certain it had pierced her heart.

An Orc stepped out from behind the rocks.

Frodo let out a cry of rage and flung his dagger at the beast. The Orc caught it in mid-air.

Weaponless, Frodo darted towards the Orc. He fought with all his might but it was no use, the Orc was far to strong. Though he put up a good fight, he was knocked to the ground by the Orc. It's yellow eyes seemed to glow with pleasure. Frodo was about to be run through with his own dagger. Though he had been knocked to the ground before, this time he would not close his eyes. If death were upon him, so be it. He stared back at the Orc, waiting. It was at the moment he felt a rush of air. The next thing he knew there was an arrow beside his hand. Without thinking, he grabbed it and ran it through the Orc's heart. It's eyes rolled back in it's head. The pleasure of killing something was diminished as it fell down.

Unfortunately, the Orc fell right on top of Frodo. It was impossibly to breath! He struggled but it was no use. He was sure his lungs would burst when he felt the Orc being lifted. It was flung to the ground and Frodo found himself staring up at Shrell.

Her eyes were blue as ever though there was a wound that ran from her left jaw bone up to the right side of her forehead. Blood ran down her face and neck but she looked fierce as the first time Frodo saw her fight.

The staff he had seen was not of wood at all but of her two daggers! Frodo remembered hearing of blades that could be attached and use as a staff. Shrell was staring down at him.

"Decided to kill some Orc, Master Frodo?" she said, giving him a hand up.

"Shrell, what happened? Are you alright?" Frodo asked, taking her hand and pulling himself up.

"I was not careful. Orc blades are fast. As for the arrow, it pierced my shoulder, not my heart" she answered, not looking as fierce.

"The very arrow that saved my life" Frodo said, smiling. "Shrell, before you left you said that you had, far too many times, come too close to crying. What did you mean by it?" Frodo asked.

"I only wish to be strong, Frodo. For all my life if I once had a friend, somehow they were torn away from me. I have held my feelings back. I do not falter to the point of being so weak I must shed a tear. I remain strong for those I have lost" she answered.

"To shed a tear is not to be weak. Let go of you past." Frodo placed a hand on her shoulder. Shrell looked back up into his eyes, tears now streaming down her face. She sunk to her knees. Frodo knelt beside her.

"If tears must fall, then let them" he said. Shrell fell foreword onto his shoulder. She was almost sobbing.

"NASTY HOBBITESSSS!!! WE WANTS TO SLEEPP!" came a cry from Gollum.

"What did you do now?" Shrell asked, half laughing half crying.

"Let Gollum stand watch. We better hurry back!"

The both scrambled to their feet but found themselves looking at each other strait in the eyes. Shrell began to glare at Frodo.

"How did I let that happen?" Shrell said, placing her hands on her hips.

"Huh?" Frodo answered, rather amused.

"Let you get taller than me!" ....................to be continued.