"I promised never to leave you… but I left you unredeemed. The hardest thing is to say goodbye to someone most precious to you heart… never to break the odds… and redeem the truth. But in the end, we shall always be sisters."

A/N: This is a Cliffhanger's words to a dying friend… if one is meant to die. Guess who… and do you think… I should kill one of them?

Chapter 10: Windy Weather On Weathertop

Cleff groggily looked out on the dusk to the figure of Amon Sul… also known as Weathertop. Sleep was unbearable ever since the Nazgul incident, and she shivered in her black cloak as she followed the tall, dark figure of Strider, leading them to safety. Shea and the hobbits followed them closely behind, with the pony Sam took from Bree. Cleff's head was hidden in her dark hood, almost creating an ilussion of Ash, The Living Ringwraith herself, for they are almost close to being replicas of each other, if it wasn't for Cleff's blue eyes, and her long dark-brown locks tied in a braid, rivaling Ash's green eyes of envy and sandy brown hair which shone like sunlight… And friendship was almost a replica of perfection… till destiny tore this friendship apart…

"Gentlemen, ladies," Strider suddenly spoke. "Were not stopping till nightfall." Cliff, head bobbing in sleepyness, suddenly perked up to face the tall, stern Ranger. "Wha- How- But…" Strider sighed, and pointed behind her. Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin froze; in the middle of making another meal. Shea was a top Bill, the pony, slumbering noisily. Somehow, Pippin protested. "What about breakfast?" he said.

Cleff and Strider exchanged gloomy and confused looks as the ranger replied, "We already had one." Pippin gave them a as-a-matter-of-factly look and said, "What about second breakfast?" Cleff slammed her palm to her head. Having heard the word "breakfast", Shea's head bobbed up the pony as she whimpered, "Breakfast? Where?!" Only Sam's trusty ALMIGHT PAN OF DOOM placed her back to slumber with a mighty WHACK on the head.

Strider rolled his eyes as Cleff made a motion to strangle Pippin and duct tape his mouth. "I don't think he knows about that," Merry said in a squeak, as Cleff inched away and continued walking.

"What about Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon Tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?" Pippin retorted, as Cleff's eyes glazed, as her clutches clenched. Giving Pippin a nervous glance, Merry replied, "I doubt it." Suddenly, an apple soared out of nowhere (which turned out to be from a tree Strider was picking from) and was caught by Merry. "We have to do with this for now," he said to Pip as he flipped the fruit to a confused Pippin. Another flew from the tree, only to caught by Cleff, and shoving it into Pippin's mouth, before he can start a non-stop chatter again.

The sooner the reached Weathertop, the sooner nightfall approached. As Strider gave instructions to the  hobbits, giving them weapons of small swords and long daggers, he turned to Clef and Shea for final instruction. "I shall be scouting the region for a while, and I will be back before sunrise… you, Cleff, shall guard the Peak, and I believe your friend Shea must protect and keep the hobbits together for a while…"

With that, an ecstatic Shea jumped and hugged Merry and Pippin, chanting, "I am staying with you… I am staying with youuuu…" Cleff rolled her eyes and glared at Strider. "And you?" said she, eyeing the region and the sinking sun. "I cannot guard the Ring and the hobbits on my own. I have been through thick water and thin air – " Strider silenced her with a soft "Shh." Embarrased, Cleff looked down. "I am a Ranger. And I am tasked to do my duty. I am responsible for you, and for the legend you hold." He pointed down to the book Cleff carries. "The odds may be true, but do not meddle with the circumstances yet. The future is for you to meddle with… but not for the meantime. That is all of my advice, Cliffhanger." And with that, he left.

Cleff followed him with her eyes till he disappered in the darkness. She looked for a meantime at the setting sun to think about what Strider said, then miserably took up the sword she received and headed for the peak, ignoring Shea, Merry and Pippin's playful dilemmas, and Frodo's unwary look of concern at her. She was barely at the top, whe she heard someone call her name. "Cleff!" She quickly spun around to face Frodo on the top of the steps, trying to catch up with her long clumsy legs, stalking up the rock-withered staircase. "May I have a word with you?"

Cleff sighed and nodded. "Yes Frodo, what is it?" she said, nervously glancing out the plain, in case Wraiths could hear their voices. "Is it necessary for you to stay up there?" Frodo asked. "You may stay with us down here if you like, it looks lonely and deserted at the peak, I must say." Cleff shook her head. "I shall be at watch all night, Frodo. Rest assured, I shall be all fine. In case there is trouble, run up here to the top, there is more space for escape from up here." And with that Frodo nodded and descended with a last word, "Take care fo yourself." With a small smirk and sigh, Cleff couldn't understand why hobbits worry so much, as she stalked the last few steps and made it to the peak.

~ ~ ~

Frodo could have filled up all the spaces for sleep he missed the night before, if only he wasn't woken up by the sound of singing, laughter, and the unmistakable crackling of fire. He quickly looked up to see Merry, Pippin and Shea laughing over Dinner, with Sam roasting over an open flame. Terrified, he quickly got up, stalked his way towards Sam, and jumped over the fire to put it out.

"OUT! OUT! OUT! Out with it you fools! You do not know what you could have done!!!" he screamed on top of the shrieks and laughter which Shea and Pippin quickly put to a pause. Frodo shuddered and raised his almost roasted foot whimpering, "Why do hobbits never wear shoes?!!! Why?!!" He was cut short by a quick eerie wailing far off the north coast of the plains, as slow rumbling of hooves was heard. Sam, Merry, Pippin and Shea quickly exchanged nervous glances, as Frodo drew his sword. "Its them. You shouldn't have lit a fire…" said Frodo in a terrified voice, as he quickly motioned for them to go up the peak. "Run! Go on the top!!! Cleff will be there! They're coming!!!"

Shea nodded and decided to display her bravery as she shoved all the hobbits towards the staircase. "Follow what Frodo says! Find that girl and I will stay here to block the wraiths off!!!" she screamed, as Pippin gave her a nervous look. "You can't trample them-" he retorted, but Shea just shoved him on the stairs. "Just go!!!"

The hobbits reached the peak, which still remained desserted. And Cleff was nowhere to be found. They ganged up on each other and drew their weapons, as the shrieks and wails filled the air. "Poor Shea," Merry whimpered, as he looked over, followed by Merry, Sam and Frodo, nervously surveying the entrances with nervous glances. "Where is she?!!!" Frodo muttered under his breath… as he saw a dark figure emerge over a rock door, in total horror. "Where is she when she promised to be…" Suddenly, an eerie shriek filled the air, as Shea blasted through the staircase, tears in her eyes, deathly afraid. "DEMENTORS!!!!  AAARGHHH!!!" she shrieked and wailed as she hit Merry. Five more dark shadows emerged, much to Frodo's horror, as these Nazguls drew their swords in anger and terror. The hobbits (even with Shea) were outnumbered. And without Cleff's support, they shall face doom…

Merry, Sam, Shea and Pippin quickly barricaded in front of Frodo, shielding him from the Wraiths who aimed their weapons at the four helpless hobbits and one scaredy-cat. Sam had no more time to spare. "Back you devils!!!" Sam screamed, but unfortunately, the smallest of all the tall wraiths, flung him aside, along with Shea, who was screaming like a wailing banshee. Next came Merry and Pippin, who were all that is left… but still was flung aside by the Nazgul. Till there was Frodo left standing. As stupid a sit could be, he was severely traumatized, as he fell and dropped his sword, as an angry Nazgul with gleaming red eyes peeking from it's hood, (yes you know who this is!) closed in on him, wielding a small morgul knife, threatening to pierce it in his chest…

He had no hope left, as he drew the Ring from his pocket, he wished to disappear and make himself invisible… when something or someone slipped right in front of him and barricaded him. "Step back you stupid Nazgul!!!" It was Cleff!!! She came just in time!!! Cleff stood in front of a fallen Frodo, wielding a sword Strider gave her in front of the angry Nazgul, trying to scare it away. "Away from the halfling! NOW!!!" she screamed, as the red-eyed Nazgul threw its knife aside, and drew it sword. "Assss you wissssshhh… old sssssssssspppport…" IT SPOKE!!!

In immortal horror, Frodo slipped on the Ring, leaving Cleff aghast, staring at the Nazgul. "Ash? Is that…" Cleff tightened her grip and looked back where Frodo could have been. "Not now, NOT THIS TIME!!! You can't kill him!!! It is against the law of the book-" She clashed blades with the Wraith. It is no longer the friend she knew. "Therrrrrrrre isssssss nooooooo booook!!!" Ash, the Ringwraith hissed, as she hacked blow by blow at Cleff who tried to defend herself. Merry and Pippin watched in horror, as Sam tried to fight off one Wraith that was threatening to kill them all. Shea hid behind the rock, as she watched Cleff kick butt with a dementor… *ehem* or Wraith she didn't know…

"Don't fight it!!!" Cleff screamed, as her eyes fell on the Morgul Knife, as she took her sword away from Ash's invisible neck. "It wassssss meant to beeeee…" Ash hissed as quickly she took the knife, and hacked at Cleff's head. Cleff swiftly ducked as she made sure the knife didn't sore her in any way. "Be careful with that!!! It is a Mortal Blade!!!!" she wailed. "Gooooood!!!" Ash hissed, as she hacked bits of shards away from Cleff's sword. Then Ash halted, and so did Cleff. It twas meant to be… "Do it. It was meant to happen… and I can't stop-" An invisible evil grin was seen from Ash's hooded face, as she stabbed it through thin air.

All the wraiths, fighting off Shea and some of the hobbits looked up, as an ear-splitting scream filled the air…

"NOOOOOOOO!!!" At that instant, Cleff knew that Ash was able to stab Frodo. Angrily, she lunged at the wraith, dropping her sword. Ash, the wraith quickly ducked, as Cleff lost footing, and slid over the edge of the peak, almost plummeting down the rocks below… if she hasn't held on a protruding rock stuck on the peak of Amon Sul. Ash brushed dust off her cloak, as she stood up and went over the edge… about to kick Cleff in the face… plummeting to her death… Cleff nervously, fumbled for a rock to climb on… about to slip footing…

Cleff's fall was able to distract Ash, so that Frodo had the chance to reappear on the spot, still wounded. Merry and Pippin continued to fight off the remaining five wraiths. Shea lost her mind, and grabbed Sam's ALMIGHTY PAN OF DOOM, and slammed it down one of the wraith's heads. "Oooh! I never thought this would work!" she mustered, as sam grabbed it back, whacked her on the head, and proceeded to come to Frodo's rescue.

Cleff was still helpless, hanging over the cliff, with the wraith laughing and hissing… about to become the cause of her death. I do not wish to die this way… Cleff thought, as she looked up at the wraith. Not by the hands of my own best friend… Ash stopped hissing. She looked down, about to stab Cleff to her doom with a Morgul Knife, as she was able to whisper in pure clear English… "Now, my friend, how issss it to be a CLIFFHANGER?!!! Hahahahahahaha…" she hissed mercilessly, as Cleff hung on for dear life… her face distorted with confusion… looking at a friend she used to have…

Suddenly, Ash spun around. Someone was setting the Nazguls on fire!!! Strider has come to the rescue, scaring all the Nazguls with a torch of flame, as Merry and Pippin, dragging a unconscious Shea (Knocked out by Sam's pan) went to the aid of Sam and a wounded Frodo. Ash, the wraith had no way out… all the other Nazguls were running away, jumping off the tower. One particular nazgul went up in flames… as Strider closed in Ash… carrying a burning torch…

"Sssssssee ya ssssuckerssssssss…" she hissed, as she jumped over Cleff, escaping Strider's torch, jumping off the tower. Strider looked over to see the wraiths scamper off Amon Sul… when he heard a small traumatized voice from below his boots… "Strider!!! A little help – please?!!" It was Cleff, still hanging. Strider, quickly dropped the torch, and gave Cleff a hand, pulling her back on the peak, on her foot. Cleff was panting and gasping… full of rock dust, as she turned to Strider saying, "I owe you my life." Strider pummeled he rin the back in relief… when a soft eerie squeaking gasp… sounded from the place where all the hobbits were busy huddled over.

Frodo was terribly wounded, blood oozing from his shoulder. Strider quickly picked up a knife lying from the side… one which Ash was threatening with Cleff a while back… which she stabbed into thin air… "Is he going to die?" Merry gulped, exchanging nervous glances with Pippin. Strider gave Pippin, Merry and Sam a glum look as Frodo let out an eerie moan. Cleff stood over them all, horrified. "He has been stabbed by a Mortal Blade…" Strider spoke as the knife's blade disintegrated into black ash…

"He shall become a wraith… just like them…" Strider whispered above Frodo's pitiful moans… "As he travel through the regions of darkness…" Cleff looked down. It was all her fault… she was too busy surveying the book… that she naturally didn't notice that a fracas was already going on…

"Is there any way we can save him…?" Cleff spoke softly. Strider looked at her, and so did all the hobbits, crouched around Frodo, drowning in Frodo's moans… and Shea's snores.

"We must get him to Rivendell."