The last three hours, though feeling like eternity, had been spent shifting through the woods. Bremusa had led him deep into the forest, across raging streams, and narrow paths in attempt to allude the band of thieves. Finally, in small clearing, Bremusa halted the horse, dismounted, and motioned for Merry to do the same. Merry sighed in content when he landed against the soft grass while pulling a blanket over his twitching shoulders. He was pleased to earn a well-deserved rest. The woman sat in the middle of the clearing and lit a small fire. The hobbit immediately jumped from his covers and kicked dirt near the flame. Bremusa let out a startled cry and then seized the hobbit, slamming him to the ground. For a moment Merry actually feared for his life when he saw swelling rage on Bremusa's face. Her fingers griped his shoulders painfully, digging into his flesh.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Bremusa snapped.

Merry stuttered. "We cannot have a fire. It could lead Nephril and his men right to us. It isn't wise."

"I know what I am doing Halfling," Bremusa snarled, shoving him away. "Never interfere with me again. Besides, you are ill. The warmth of a fire will do you good."

Merry crawled away in shock at the woman's brash behavior. She turned away in a huff and resumed kindling the fire. The hobbit drew the blanket back over him and nestled against the soft blades of grass. He began to drift into slumber when he felt a hand gently shaking him. Looking up he found the woman hovering over him.

"You should not lie in the grass," Bremusa murmured. "It is still damp from the rains. Wetness will only cause you more ills. Come, lay with me near the fire. It's more warm and comforting."

Merry shook his head. "No thank you. I'm fine here."

The woman's eyes narrowed but she gave off a defeated sigh. "I only wish to help you but every time you refuse me. No, no, don't try to defend yourself you have no need. I understand that you still feel awkward around me, after all we just met. But you have to understand that I am here to help you."

"Forgive me," Merry said, "but it seems that most people in the world, now a days, require a price for their services."

"Ah, I see everything clearly now," Bremusa chuckled. "Nay, little one. I am helping you for free as I all ready made clear. I require nothing from you. Your safety is my reward. Please, let me help you." She gently made Merry lay on his side as she placed another blanket on the ground. Once done, she allowed him to roll on his back. Her hand ran through his soft curls and spoke in a low, soft tone. "You are a cute one indeed. No wonder why Nephril has been tracking you."

"He wants to kill me," Merry muttered.

"I heard the conversation," Bremusa said, causing Merry to blush. "Don't be ashamed of his behavior."

"I'm not," Merry said, "but it's still embarrassing to talk about. Could you drop the subject?"

"Very well," Bremusa answered. "How about you tell a little more on your son?"

"There's nothing much," Merry sighed. "When he was a newborn I left him with friends and traveled to Minis Tirith.

The woman left to sit near the fire. Merry shuddered and went into an uneasy sleep.

The next morning Merry woke to a downpour of rain. He scuttled about the muddy earth trying to salvage all the goods in his pack. Bremusa rushed behind him, dragging along his pony.

"The weather is turning foul!" Bremusa yelled above the rolling thunder. "We must seek shelter immediately!"

"But where?" Merry called. "There are no settlements that could take us in. We're too far into the woods."

"I know of some caves in these parts!" Bremusa said. "We'll head there and hope things take a turn for the better."

The woman took the hobbit by the arm and headed out of the clearing, taking Merry further into the vast woods. Even under the cover of the trees the rain down poured with a ferocious speed. The hobbit frowned when the caves came into plain view. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped inside a dark cave but there was no other alternative. A cold gust blew from the cave sending a shiver down Merry's spine. Bremusa's hold became painful as her nails sank into his tender flesh. At the rate she was going Merry had to hop along just to keep from tripping. A sudden pang of fear coursed through him. Although he could not explain it, a nagging voice inside his head was telling him to break free of her grip and flee. His fingers tried to pry open hers.

"Oh, I am sorry little one," Bremusa said, patting him on the head. "I was so caught up in getting you out of the rain I forgot my own strength. I hope I did not wound you in any way?"

"No," Merry coughed. "Just, please, do not do it again. Being held like that brings back bad memories."

"Never fear Merry," Bremusa chuckled. "I have no plans of hurting you."

"Exactly how far are we going?" Merry asked.

"Far enough to set up a fire," Bremusa replied.

"It's so dark," Merry shivered. "Isn't it perilous to be journeying through here in so little light?"

"I know where I am going," Bremusa said. "I've been through these parts dozens of times."

The nagging voice had returned to Merry. "I don't want to go in. Perhaps we could set up camp here instead?"

"No, no it's too close to the entrance," Bremusa argued. "It could attract the band of thieves you are so worried over."

Heat flushed against Merry's cheeks when he remembered the conversation near the fire. It seemed odd to him that she was so fearful of drawing attention now when she seemed at ease the other night. He could sense it; something was off. He began to tug harder to free himself from her.

"I really think it would be unwise to go any further," Merry snapped. "Please, release me at once."

"Trust me," came Bremusa's answer.

The hobbit studied her features. Though dark he could see the sweat beading on the woman's brow. Her eyes were starting dart from his face to the back of the cave. In the distance Merry could see a faint yellow flickering. The cave was all ready inhabited.

Merry glared up at Bremusa. "What is down there?"

"What?" Bremusa asked. "I cannot see anything."

Merry gave one final glance at Bremusa and struggled viciously until he was able to break free. He took off as fast as his feet could carry him. The sound of his footsteps echoed throughout the cave but the sound only grew when something larger also took chase. Bremusa was yelling at him the background but he ignored it, set on escaping from the cave. He never made it to the entrance. A familiar body came crashing into him, which forced him the ground. His skull bounced off the stone floor leaving him in a slight daze. Two forms hovered over him, bickering. The hobbit turned his head attempting view the two people.

"Humph, took you long enough," a voice shot.

"Well, I got him here didn't I?!" Bremusa snapped. "Oh, great, he's up."

The man lowered himself to Merry's level and pressed his face on his, leaving puffs of hot breath on his cheek. "Do you recall who I am Halfling?"

Merry squeezed his eyes shut. "Nephril." Tears threatened to spill from him as thoughts raced in his head. 'Not again, please not again. This can't be happening. Not again. Will I never escape from this torment? Please, make it stop. I can't survive another brutal attack. This isn't happening, no it can't be happening; not again.'

"Hm, so the half-pint does have a brain," Nephril chuckled. "Aw, are you confused little one? You should be. After all, it must be quite a shock to be betrayed by the person who saved your life and took you in."

Bremusa shrugged at Merry's confused state. "It's really not that complicated."

"You see, little one, for the past twenty years I have had quite the bounty on your head," Nephril said. "I wanted so desperately to get my hands on you that I was willing to pay a hefty price for anyone that could capture you. Unfortunately, you had to enter Minas Tirith and no one was willing to risk entering the city to steal you away from the tower. Then, you made the mistake of venturing out on your own." He sneered at Bremusa. "It was upon sheer luck that my lady friend found you and took you in, gaining your trust. You see, she's been waiting outside the White City just for this moment."

"But she attacked you," Merry said.

"So it seemed my dim-witted halfling," Nephril snickered. "Neither of us were willing to risk being caught carting you around. We were still close to Minas Tirith and, regrettably, it seems King Elessar knows that you are missing. I saw guards snooping around the forest searching for something, most likely you." He pinched the hobbit's flushing cheeks. "Surely you must have thought something was aloof when Bremusa lit a fire last night? No, I guess you couldn't. Such a trusting creature. We were able to track the flames and long after you were asleep we had a meeting with her. Apparently, this would be the best place to hide out until the guards passed by."

"So, you are his friend then?" Merry asked, gazing back at Bremusa.

"Yes, I suppose you could say that," Bremusa murmured. She shot an icy glare at Nephril, who was smirking at her. "I hope you realize that I still want that reward money, friend or no friend."

"Fine, you will have it," Nephril said, throwing a small pouch at her. "What a sum of money to just hand away but it was worth it in a sense. You're going to be worth every coin."

The man wrapped his hand around Merry's neck, squeezing his windpipe. With his air rapidly being cut off, Merry broke out in a fury of flaying arms and legs. Nephril seemed by shocked by the outburst and drew back his hand. With bandaged flesh in plain view, the hobbit sank his teeth in deep until he could taste a coppery liquid streaming into his mouth. A loud yelp echoed in the cave as Nephril shuddered and jerked, attempting to free his hand. Even with the jerky motion Merry refused to relinquish his hold, which earned him a strong blow to the side of his head. Pounding pain coursed through him causing him to gasp in discomfort but he still would not let go and he drove his teeth harder into the quivering flesh, so hard he could feel his teeth starting to mash against bone. The blows descended upon Merry at a furious rate making him undergo a spell of dizziness. Finally, his mouth lifted from the abused flesh and he tumbled back on the stone floor. The hobbit began to cower in fear of the worst as Nephril charged him. However, Bremusa darted in front of the man and shoved him back.

"You fool, control your temper!" Bremusa yelled. "In your infuriated state you'll surly kill him!"

"Er, I didn't know you cared for such a worthless creature," Nephril snarled, grasping his bleeding hand.

"Humph, I could care less for his welfare," Bremusa snorted, "but if you do away with him so soon you'll probably ask for a refund and I'm not about to give anything back to you."

"Never fear, the money is yours to keep," Nephril growled. "Though I doubt he'll survive long after this outbreak anyway. The bugger made my injured hand worse."

"That's your own fault," Bremusa said, spinning around. "Farewell little hobbit. I suppose I won't be seeing you around anymore."

"Where do you think you're going?" Nephril asked. "I need help transferring this feisty one to the back of the cave. I would have my companions help but they're busy at the moment."

"Well, that's your problem," Bremusa shrugged. "I don't want to spend a moment longer in this place. My luck, Elessar's guards will catch me with you and do you realize what will happen then? We'll all be put to the sword. He is overly protective of the ones he loves and strikes out at those who would hurt them with a ferocity that I have never seen. I suggest that you be careful and for your sake not get caught."

The woman disappeared into the darkness. Merry could hear himself whimper. He shuddered when he felt moist breath on his neck.

"Just wait until later my halfling," Nephril hissed. "I can guarantee you'll be making a lot more pained noise then that."

The man stood and rammed his heel into Merry's face with such crushing force that it immediately knocked him out.

More to follow.