Frodo spent the rest of the night staring up at the starlit sky. He was deep in his thoughts and only aroused by the sound of an occasional hiss from the sleeping Gollum. He watched the stars fade but there was no sign of the sun and the air was dark and grim. The dark creatures slowly began to stir and open their neon pink eyes. They hopped around the rocks, searching for some kind of dead corps which would serve as food but found nothing.

Smeagol was the next to wake. He slowly got to his feet. His eyes scanned the rocks, a thin, snake-like tongue slipping over his lips as his eye caught on one of the smallest dark creatures. He skillfully approached it from behind, his eyes glowing. As the creature was about to hop to another rock Smeagol leapt at it. The other creatures scattered, leave the small one with a pair of slimy fingers tight around it's neck. It let out a painful cry, much like the sound of a fallen bird. Smeagol twisted his fingers tighter. Soon the small creature's cries began to fade till they were merely gasps. Frodo could take it no longer.

"Stop it!" he cried. Smeagol dropped the creature one side of his nose scrunched up in fury.

"The master wishes-s-s-s to starvess-s us, it does" he growled.

Frodo didn't listen, he approached the small creature and knelt beside it. It slowly regained it's feet giving Frodo a small hiss but collapsed again. Frodo smiled sadly. He picked up the creature. It was hardly bigger than his hand.

At that moment Sam awoke. He stumbled over to Frodo, barely awake. Spotting the creature, he snapped out of all his weariness.

"What are you doing!?" he stammered.

"Depriving us-s-s of breakfast" spat Smeagol. Sam ignored Smeagol.

"That thing could be dangerous!" he cried, approaching Frodo.

"Sam, look at it" Frodo said, his eyes pleading. Frodo outstretched his hand. Sam slowly drew his hand closer to the creature, his fingers trembling. The small injured creature jolted up and bit Sam hard on his finger.

"Like I said, get rid of it!" Sam repeated, drawing his finger back and back and rubbing it.

"Sam....." Frodo begged, much like the little hobbit's did back in the Shire. The creature sat and looked at Sam, innocently.

"No....It doesn't look cute...I'm not falling for that" Sam growled, turned away. He began to walk away when it gave a little chirp. Sam slowly looked back at the creature in defeat. "Ok! You win! Keep it!" he cried. The creature seemed to be gloating at Sam, it's eyes had a devilish gleam to them. "Stop it!" Sam cried, and turned away. Frodo smiled, the first smile in a long time.

"Your name shall be Aquarius. A star seen when the night sky is alit at it's fullest" he mused. The little creature chirped in agreement and Frodo glanced down at it and chuckled.

They set out no more than an hour later, not talking much. Aquarius was pirched on Frodo's shoulder, staring down at an annoyed Smeagol.

They traveled for days, hardly stopping. The only food was what they found which usually consisted of a berry or perhaps a root. Water was also scarce. They had to collect it with Sam's pots when it rained. The rocks also grew to be steeper and sharper. The thought of falling was enough to make one's feet hold in place and not move an inch.

As weeks passed the distant sounds of Orcs could often be heard, leaving them cold and Frodo with a clear memory of Shrell, which he would always block out of his mind.

~~

It was a dark night. The stars were out of sight. The darkness was at it's thickest and there was not a sign of the moon. Frodo lay on his back, watching the endless sky, listening to the menacing cries of Orcs, yet not a thought crossing his mind. He slowly rose to his feet, glancing at Sam. He was deep in sleep.

Frodo turned and walked slowly across the rocks, his eyes focussed on the endless darkness in front of him. Suddenly, he heard a small chirp from behind him. Turning, his eyes caught Aquarius. The little creature cocked it's head and stared at him, it's pink eyes unblinking.

"Sleep, Aquarius. I shall return" Frodo murmured. The creature returned to the others, glancing back at Frodo as if to say goodnight.

Frodo continued to walk into darkness. The cries of Orcs were so near yet the sound only drew him closer. He could not see more then an inch in front of him, due to the thickness of the night but some how he seemed not to need his eyes. No stone got in his way, no branch in his path, almost as if his eyes no longer served him.

He walked for what seemed like miles. His feet hurt, his legs ached, and his breath was caught in his chest but weariness was not what stopped him. The strange and sudden feeling of being watched was what caused Frodo to stop in his tracks. His hand slipped to his sword. His eyes slowly glanced to his right.... nothing.

Frodo closed his eyes for a split second, regaining his will, then his eyes slowly glanced to his left. His grip on the sword tightened.

Among the rocks was a pair of yellow eyes, caught in Frodo's gaze. Their sharp glare reflecting all that was evil......a Uruk-Hai.

Without further thought, Frodo drew his sword. The Uruk-Hai gave a cry of rage then charged at him, it's giant, curved blade ready.

Frodo's feet held steady, though his mind was racing. The Uruk-Hai grew closer, followed by an army of Orcs.

Frodo brought up his sword and blocked the beast's first blow and dodged the next attack. He drove his sword through another Orc's stomach and jabbed another through the heart. The Orcs hardly had a chance to swing their blades before Frodo had run them through with his sword. Black Orc blood stained the ground and the smell of death filled the night air. Soon, Only Frodo and the Uruk-Hai stood. Their eyes focused on the other. Rage burning in their gazes.

With a cry of rage the Uruk-Hai attacked, it's teeth bared, it's eyes gleaming. Frodo lifted his blade as the beast came closer. Their blades clashed. Frodo recovered from the blow and swung his blade at the Uruk-Hai, but to his dismay, was blocked.

Frodo dodged, blocked, and swung. His arms were weary and his body beaten by the countless blows from the Uruk-Hai. He swung again. Blocked. Again. Blocked. The Uruk-Hai brought the handle of his blade down on Frodo, knocking him to his knees. The beast smirked and grabbed him by the next, lifting him off the ground. It shoved Frodo backwards, so he was now being held against a tree.

Frodo's mind began to race but he was powerless. The Uruk-Hai drew his sword back, ready to drive it through Frodo.

The helpless hobbit glanced up at the stars. He had once been the queer hobbit who dreamed of adventures and battles, the hobbit who spent his youth pretending he was off slaying dragons with Dwarves and Elves. All of Middle-Earth depending on him......but now....now that his dream of an adventure had come all too true, all he wanted was to be back at the Shire as though nothing had happened. He wished it could all be undone.

A single tear escaped Frodo's eye and rolled down his cheek. 'It's all over......'

Suddenly, Frodo's thoughts were broken by a gasp from the Uruk-Hai. It's eyes widened, blood pouring from it's trembling lips. The menacing yellow eyes rolled back in it's head and it's eyelids fluttered shut. It staggered then fell at Frodo's feet......dead.

Frodo stared down at it in amazement and confusion. His eyes scanned the body, stopping at it's back. Right under each shoulder blade there was a deep gouge. Frodo's gaze slowly lifted, catching the shadowy form of a figure, sword in each hand, face hooded.

It's head slowly lifted to the sky, as did Frodo's. To his amazement, one star now glimmered among darkness. His gaze again dropped to the shadowy figure.

A sudden pain pierced Frodo's heart. The same shining star was now reflecting in a pair of crystal eyes. The figure's head dropped, slowly looking over the countless Orcs. Frodo gazed at the ground.

"Even in death....." the figure murmured. Frodo's head shot up.

"No....." he stuttered, "No...Your dead...."

The figure pushed back it's hood. "I am not easily broken, nor are my promises."

Frodo's hands began to tremble, his eyes filling with tears. He slowly approached to figure, falling to his knees a few feet away. It approached him and knelt in front of him.

"I would never break my word to you, Ring bearer" it said, sternly.

"I...I...thought you were were gone. My sleep was filled with dreams and memories, my mind was lost....I..I missed you too much, Shrell" Frodo stammered. Shrell took Frodo's hand.

"I am no illusion, now. That I can promise you."

Frodo's head fell onto her shoulder, soft sobs escaping his lips. Shrell placed a hand on the back of Frodo's head, reassuringly. When Frodo drew back, Shrell's eyes, too, were flooded with tears.

"How did you find me?" Frodo whispered.

"I followed a star, one that glimmered in the sky, even when all stars were shadowed. Aquarius, a star of hope."

Frodo gazed up at the sky and smiled. Fate always seemed so strong.........to be continued.