Disclaimer; Everything to do with Lord of the Rings belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.

A/N; HAHA! So! What's gonna happen NOW fellas? Bilbo's disappeared at his party, Frodo's scared out of his wits, Gandalf needs everyone present before he can tell of something, and Kooky, Merry and Pippin are all very close after she helped them set off a firework! Read on to find out what comes to pass….. (I love that phrase!)

CHAPTER FOUR

Brush with Death

"I have no good news for you I'm afraid," said Gandalf soberly. "But this, is a matter of grave importance. That ring you hold in your hand, Frodo… let the others see it."

Frodo reluctantly opened his hand. There in the middle, clear as day, was a shiny, golden ring… stainless, smudge-less… but whispering, as if alive with a soul. Something in Rochelle gave a jolt, and she felt longing for the ring. Sam stretched out his hand but Gandalf closed Frodo's hand.

"See what you just did then?" he said sadly. "That is the power of the ring. Many long for it. It has a dark power; it takes over the minds and souls of innocent people who succumb to its glory and then deserts them, searching for its master… the Dark Lord Sauron. He has regained his strength and is calling for the ring right this very moment… and the ring wants to be found. Black Riders are coming to find it right now, as I am told, and they are drawn to the power of the ring, as they sense it at all times. If you put it on, they will find you.

The reason I call you all here right now, after a delightful party, is I need you all to go with Frodo, who has willingly agreed with me… this ring must be destroyed… but it can only be destroyed in Mordor."

At this, everyone started yelping and giving cries of surprise. Even Saz, Kooky and Rochelle knew of what he spoke… their new hobbit friends had told them everything about Middle Earth that they could think of, including that of Mount Doom.

"Friends… you need to make a decision. Those who do not wish to go with Frodo, speak now. Those who do, raise hands…"

At once, everyone raised their hands in the air, smiling encouragingly at Frodo, who was very relieved and grateful.

"Thank you," said Gandalf chuckling. "This is a wonderful turn out… it is unfortunate, that these witches of the future," said Gandalf looking at the three friends, "have to embark on this journey with us, but we will be stronger with them than without. Sam, Pippin, Merry… take care of Frodo. Kooky, Rochelle and Sarah… you protect the hobbits."

Sam looked at Rochelle with a scrunched up nose.

"The future? You mean, like they've come here from twenty years from now?"

"Longer than that…" said Gandalf kindly. "But let us not talk of this! You need to move now… the Black Riders have got word of Frodo's name and location, so you must flee right away! I cannot go with you. I must seek the counsel of my old friend Saruman, he will know what to do."

Gandalf helped them all pack at once, and they were on their way within five minutes. Kooky was overwhelmed. First a vortex, now a journey to destroy a ring that could make the world perish? This was too much!

Gandalf arranged for them to meet at the Prancing Pony Inn at Bree, then left infront of them.

"Come along, quick!" hissed Frodo as they scurried like mice into the wood near Bag End. "We must not be seen!"

They all ran one infront of the other through the treacherous wood, looking around them all the time, thinking that even the slightest movement was deadly to them, or that a leaf rustling must be a Dark Rider. Kooky was more awake than ever, Saz's eyes quickly surveyed the area, and Rochelle had forgotten her drunken state. They stopped running and hid behind a tree as a dark shadow was seen searching the ground through leaves, but it was nothing more than a fox searching for scraps. They went on, quicker and more alert than ever, and was just about to exit the wood when a loud CRUNCH: WAAAAH! Was heard, and Rochelle fell down a hidden slope.

"Roch!" they cried, and went to find her.

"Oh no!" whimpered Pippin, as he looked at the long, steep slope.

"We have to get her!" said Kooky sternly, and started to scramble down. Saz followed and so did Merry, and when they were near her, they held onto one another, Saz holding out her hand for Roch to grab hold of. Roch reached out and grabbed Saz's fingers, but slipped further down.

"Aaaargh!" she yelped, as her leg caught on a bramble.

"This isn't what we need right now," muttered Merry to himself, and they ebbed further away to they were hanging on by a thread, nearly falling in Roch's footsteps.

The night was clear and the air had a misty chill about it. Their breath could be seen floating in the air infront of them. The only light came from the strong moonbeams over head, struggling to get through the tree leaves and down onto their heads, lighting their way. Suddenly the clear air tightened. It seemed to drop heavily on their shoulders, and the moonlight retreated. Saz was inches away from Roch's hand, when hooves were heard softly clumping in the distance. They all stopped still, fear gripped their chest and they tried to breathe quietly in panic. The Black Riders were near… they could feel it… everyone looked about the area quickly… what were they to do?

"Roch…" Saz said, looking at the terrified face below her that was lit up by little moonlight. "Grab my hand…"

"The Black Riders…" Rochelle whispered petrified.

"Yes, the Black Riders, but you have to grab my hand! We have to get out of here!" Roch didn't move. She was staring wildly around her. "ROCH!"

Roch got to her senses and grabbed Saz's hand.

Kooky hauled Saz up, Merry helped Kooky, and they fell onto the bank silently. The Black Riders' horses were gaining on them, hunting them out… Frodo was staring into the distance, away from the ledge…

"Quickly, hide in there!"

Frodo pointed to another ledge, where tree roots had lifted the ground, and underneath was a hole they could fit into. They all hurried over and got undercover just in time. The Black Riders, well one as they had not thought, came over the bank, and stopped above them, sniffing out the ring.

"You have to cover the ring up…" whispered Saz to Frodo. Frodo nodded and covered it up with his clothes and bags.

"No!" said Kooky. "It can only be covered up by heat!"

"Heat?" said Frodo.

"Yes! Like this!" Saz grabbed the ring out of his hand, popped it in his mouth and kissed him. Immediately the Black Rider stopped sniffing and rode away.

Saz broke away from Frodo and he fetched the ring out of his mouth.

"So now I want that Rider to come back again…." he sighed, and Saz blushed.

"No time," said Kooky and grabbed Saz's hand and dragged her out of the hole along with the others. The air had lightened up a bit, but they had no time to enjoy it. With evil on the prowl, they needed to make fast progress if they wanted to make it to Bree in one piece.

They were halfway in a field, out of the wood, when a loud neigh and screeches were heard behind them, sending crows in the sky. It was near dawn, but the moon wasn't down yet, and the sun wasn't up. Rochelle looked behind her expecting to see a horse, but Sam put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry Miss," he said nicely. "We should get near Bree by dinnertime."

"It's not that I'm worried about…" Rochelle replied, but walked on anyway.

Pippin and Kooky were near the front, and were talking a little about the party.

"Honestly I had no idea you were a witch! Not even when you cleaned us up like that!"

Kooky giggled, but quickly quietened when the screech was heard again. Hooves, many hooves this time, were galloping closer, and through the thin lining of the wood they saw two huge figures coming up fast, baring swords and screeching.

"RUN! RUN!" yelled Frodo, and they dashed across the wide field.

It was no use. The Riders were already level with them as they dashed this way and that. The Riders separated them from their huddled group. Sam and Rochelle fell to the floor, Frodo Merry and Pippin ran on infront, but Saz and Kooky were trapped. The Riders swung with their swords up high, before bringing them across. Kooky ducked and tried to bring Saz down with her, but the Rider had slashed Saz's side and she was screaming in hot pain.

"SARAH!" Frodo yelped, and they all looked on in horror as she fell to the ground limp, next to Kooky. Sam, Pippin and Merry drew out their little swords and drove them into the legs of the Black Riders. They yelled out, swiped at the Hobbits, but gave in and rode back into the wood.

"Oh my God…" sighed Kooky, and tears rolled down her cheeks as the others went to tend to her. "I tried to pull her down out of the way, I really did!"

"We know," said Pippin and Merry and they hugged her as she broke down.

"We need to get her some attention right away…" said Sam, analysing the wound. She was still alive, but writhing in pain. "We need to get to Bree as fast as we can!"



A/N; DUN-DUN-DUN! What will happen now? Will Saz survive? Will The Black Riders come back? Will Kooky ever forgive herself? Find out next time, in CHAPTER FIVE!!!!