Frodo, Sam and Shrell continued for hours into the night, never stopping once. The moon was drifting out of the sky when the finally decided to rest. Sam dozed off at once, leaving Frodo and Shrell awake. Neither talked, but their minds were racing. Shrell took out her daggers, connected them, and began practicing her staff-fighting. Frodo stared up at the starless sky, in a daze. There was a black smoky haze about them, almost like a dense evil. Frodo's gaze shifted to Shrell. It seemed merely fate, when she turned and looked at him at the same time. Frodo smiled.

"Do you see that" he asked, pointing to the dense darkness. Shrell smiled sadly.

"I used to see it every night, when I inhabited the Northern Waste" she answered dreamily, sitting down beside him, "I was so weak....." she mused.

"Weak, Shrell? I have never seen your blade miss it's target, I am the weak one" Frodo answered, suddenly aware of his words and how true they seemed now. He always needed someone to protect him.

"Frodo, what convinced you that you were weak?" Shrell asked, her eyes narrowing.

"It's only too true, and you know it!" Frodo replied, turning away from her.

"Even if my blades never miss a target, you are the one who will pull through in the end" Shrell whispered, touching the side if his jaw and turning him towards her. "Only a fool would call you weak, Master Frodo."

Frodo felt his cheeks go cold. Could Shrell be right? Was he strong?

"My blades didn't always make their mark, such things take practice. Stand, Frodo Baggins" said Shrell, rising to her feet. Frodo did the same, grasping the handle of his sword. Shrell placed one of her swords in it's scabbard. "Shall we have a duel?" she questioned with a slight bow. Frodo chuckled and drew his sword.

"Ready when you are" he answered, then came towards her, there weapons clashing. Frodo swung at her head, which she just dodged in time, then blocked another one of his swinging blades.

Frodo gave a few slashes and jabs at her but she was able to jump out of his reach, and just in time, too.

"Not fast enough, Frodo" she teased, "Try to predict my next move" she instructed. Frodo tried but was quite dismayed by the way she could block his every move, desperate to win, he made a plan. He quickly swung at her right side and she twisted to block it. Quickly drawing his blade back before the swords clashed, Frodo swung his blade at her left side. Before she could think, Frodo had made a long, bloody gouge down her left arm. She stumbled back.

Frodo felt his blood run cold. What had he done? Alarmed, he took a step forward. Shrell raised both her eyes brows as she looked down at the gouge. A smile crossed her lips.

"Impressive" she said, turning back to Frodo. Blood was dripped from her arm, drenching her cloak but she looked very pleased.

"Again?" Frodo inquired, smiling. Shell waved her hand slightly, in agreement. They fought as though it was a true battle. Shrell was all but easy on Frodo, and Frodo didn't hold back on Shrell. Even a passing Roc would have thought that it was a fight to the death. By the time they had finished, they were on the ground, both covered in blood, and laughing very hard.

"I assure you, Frodo, your all but weak" Shrell laughed, leaning back against the rocks.

"Your not bad yourself" he answered, giving her a little punch in the arm. There was a sound of a throat being cleared and Frodo and Shrell's eyes drifted to the rocks above. There was Sam staring down at them, his arms crossed and his foot tapping.

"A little late, is it not?" he asked, casually. Frodo and Shrell stuttered a few excuses as if they were little hobbits, before making themselves comfortable and dozing off.

"Shrell?" Frodo asked as he was about to drift off.

"Hmm?" Shrell replied, waiting for a question.

"What if are quest fails" he asked dreamily.

"It won't, I won't let it."

~~

"Will you get up!" cried an irritated Sam.

"Hmmm....What?" Frodo mumbled, sitting up. Sam was staring down at him.

"We have been trying to wake you for ages now!" Sam crossed his arm. Frodo stretched and looked around. Shrell was sitting on a rock, polishing her daggers.

"Sorry" Frodo replied, patting Sam on the shoulder, "We best be started right away."

They started out at once, Sam talking about how they had taken no food with them and they would surely starve, till it was engraved in their minds. Though all of them were hungry, they remained high spirited. Frodo was in a very cheerful mood. He walked backwards, as to face Sam and Shrell. He was singing rather loudly and the oddest of words to fit such a tune.

"Frodo, if I didn't know better, I would have thought you had a gallon of ale" laughed Sam.

"Careful, Master Frodo, You might wake the dead, or worse, the Orcs" Shrell said, slyly. Frodo stopped at this.

"Certainly" he replied, all cheerfulness fading from his expression. Shrell began to laugh.

"I didn't say you had to be dull" She said, taking Frodo's arm and spinning him around.

"Come on, Sam! Do keep up!" Frodo cried. Sam laughed and quickened his pace.

They traveled long into the night. All of them hungry but not wanting to say a word. There were cries in the distance of nameless beasts and Frodo couldn't help but look behind him every few paces, then start walking faster. He was nearly running when an arm block him and he stumbled back. It was Shrell. Her body leaning forward her head turned towards him. Her face was hooded and shadowed, making her look rather menacing and evil.

"Be still" she whispered. Sam stood behind them, he looked horrified. There was a sound of distant thumping and as time passed it grew louder and closer.

"Orcs" Sam whispered in an alarmed tone.

"Sam, Frodo! Run!" Shrell whispered.

"No" Frodo furrowed his brow.

"This quest isn't going to end here. Run" Shrell repeated.

"Not without you!"

"It doesn't end here Frodo, but I can't risk your life!"

"Promise me you'll come back, Shrell" Frodo ordered, taking her hand.

"It shall be done" she said with a nod. Frodo turned, but hesitated. "Now!"

"Shrell........"

"Frodo, you have my word. Even in death I will return to you!"

"Never miss your mark. May your blades be fast and soul be strong" Frodo said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Never grow weary. May your feet be ever swift and hearts ever strong" Shrell replied, placing a hand on Frodo's shoulder and nodding to Sam. The shapes of Orcs appeared through the darkness. "Go!"

Frodo turned and ran, Sam just ahead of him. He saw Shrell charge against the army of Orcs, then disappear into the shadows. He turned away and pressed forward into the night.

'Hold to your word, Scholigrafa. I'll be lost without you'................to be continued.