Another chaaapterrrrrrr! Yes, I've uploaded another chapter! I'm so proud. (Not) Here's my introduction of our first female character! (Not a Mary-Sue! Believe me, she's not.) so, newayz, read and enjoy!

~Hoshiko

Dweller in Nolner

Param looked out at the four riders who were still looking out into the darkness of the water. After a moment the left slowly, and Param sat down.

'They were looking for something, Ondril.' He said, and Ondril nodded.

'They are, but I don-' he said, but Param scowled.

'Ondril, I'm not mad. You have something they want, don't you?'

'No.' Ondril said, and Param saw that he wasn't about to tell.

'All right. So where are we going?' So, where are we going?' he asked, trying to sound cheerful.

'Nolner, to meet a friend of mine.'

'Who is your friend?'

'A person named Brendalin, he-'

'Brendalin?' Terry asked, and jumped up. 'We know a Brendalin!' When he first saw us, he knew us right away.'

'You know him too?' Ondril asked, starting to wonder how much he had missed lately.

'Of course! Where have you been? He's made many friends in the Shire, recently. Of course, some folks call him strange, but most like him.' Ondril felt his jaw drop. Had he been that blind not to see it? Perhaps his dreams had taken more time than he had originally thought. He had to shrug it off, though and sleep. He definitely needed sleep. Lying down on the hard wood he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

He woke up late in the afternoon, and sat up slowly. Everyone else was awake, some munching on food, others just sitting.

'Where are we?' he asked, and Brom yawned. They acted as if they hadn't slept.

'Near Noln Ford… Terry says we should get there a little after dark.' Brom said, while Terry nodded through his carrot. They sat there until dark, when they could see the small ford in front of them. Nolner was only two miles from the river, and after they tied the Old Ford to the dock, they started on their way.

Keeping their eyes out for black riders they, traveled at a quick pace on the path. Every time a shadow moved one would jumped until they came to the gates. The night was black, and no moon seemed to be out. It took them a minute to find the gate's door, and when they knocked, a man opened the look-out hole.

'Who's this?' he asked, and Ondril looked up at the man. 'Hello, my hobbit-lads! What brings you to Nolner, then?' he asked, and Ondril's voice came out rather defensive.

'We're going to meet someone at the inn.' Ondril replied, and the gate opened.

'All right, sir, nothing was meant by it. Come on in, then, come on in!' he said, and they walked through. The town was full of men, and dwarves, and the occasional hobbit would run by. None looked all too friendly, and the four companions stuck close together.

'Mr. Ondril, where are we going?' Brom asked, and Ondril looked around.

'The Golden Pickle…' Ondril answered, and Brom looked with him.

'When did Brendalin tell you this?'

'Before he left…' Ondril answered, and they found it. Walking in, they looked around. They were the smallest ones there, and felt rather inferior.

'Where is he, Ondril?' Brom asked, and Ondril shook his head.

'I don't know…'

'Hello, my Small Sirs!' a voice said, making them all jump. They looked up to find the bartender smiling warmly at them. 'You three look tired. How does a few glasses of ale and a room sound to you're ears and furry feet?' he asked.

'Sounds wonderful. We'll take a room for the night.' Ondril said with a smile.

'Certainly, Mr.—eh…'

'Goedring.'

'Of course, Goedring! Well, the common room is open for the whole night, and here's a key, enjoy your stay!' he said cheerily, turning to someone who raised their hand for more beer. They took a seat, sending Terry up to the bar for some ale. After a while they asked for some cheese, and bread, getting them from the bartender.

Ondril would sometimes finger the small jewel in his pocket, and when no one came over to meet them Brom became worried.

'Where is he, Ondril?' Brom asked. 'The two men that keep looking at us are starting to worry me a slight bit.' He said, pointing to a table over to the far right of them. Ondril glanced over warily in time to see one hooded figure whisper to the other.

'He should get here, Brom, or at least someone will.' Ondril said reassuringly. He seemed to have totally forgotten his adventure as Frodo, and started to grip the stone rather firmly.

Param and Terry, in the mean time, had been having a contest: who could stuff the most cheese in their mouth at once. Terry had to swallow sooner than Param, and as he watched Param try to chew, he was laughing up a riot.

'I swear, sometimes you act younger than tweens.' Brom said, shaking his head. Param just smiled with cheese in his mouth, and made Terry laugh even harder.

'That's what happens when you've had a bit too much.' Terry said, and took another sip of beer. When he looked over to Ondril, though, he cried out.

'Ondril!' he cried, and jumped up. Everyone's eyes fell upon Ondril, including those others in the common room. Ondril was disappearing right before their eyes. He had started to flicker, and when the flickering was done, he disappeared totally. Some of the men called out and pointed to the now vacant spot. People started looking under the table for the young chap, but couldn't find him.

Ondril, on the other hand, was having a slightly bigger problem. He hadn't been noticing his flickering until he had disappeared totally. When he did so, his eyes opened, and he looked around. Everything had gone a warped-color black, and only outlines of people could be seen.

He looked around frantically, trying to remember what had caused it, when he felt the cold-hard stone in his hand. He tried to open his hand, but couldn't. It took his other hand to pry his fingers off the stone, and when he did, he found he had stumbled to the far wall.

The hobbits had scattered, trying to find him, and Param was the closest. He sighed, and called the others over.

'He's over here, everyone!' he said, and all the hobbits rushed over to him, including the two men in the black hoods. With their legs being longer one grabbed Ondril, and took him up the stairs and into a bedroom. The other hobbits cried out, and followed, grabbing something to fight with. They burst into the room, and everyone turned.

'Give him up, or you'll have to deal with me, you two!' Brom cried, and one of the tall ones seemed to smirk under his hood.

'You do not know what you are dealing with, little ones.' He took his hood off to reveal long, light-brown hair and pointed ears.

'And it is not that we thought you would.' The other person said, doing the same. They were surprised to find a female under the hood, a woman no less. 'The wizard did not come, as I expected. Relnik, go and tell the others of this.' She said, and the elf left with a bow, putting his hood back over his fair features. 'And don't bow!' she called, and they could hear the laugh of the elf as he walked down the stairs. 'Stupid elf…'

'Who are you?' Ondril asked, going over to the other hobbits. The woman shrugged and closed the door, and sat in a chair, leaning back in it.

'Which name would you like?' she asked, smirk on her face. 'Here I am named Dweller. You could call me by at least twenty others, though.' she said, but when she received blank stares, she rolled her eyes and sat forward in her chair. 'I am the friend of Brendalin, the one you were told of before you left.' She said, and Ondril came back to reality.

'Oh, of coarse.'

'But we cannot stay in this room, we must go to another.' She said, and stood, taking them to the room across the hall. When they went into that room she closed the door again, and turned to them. 'I was only told of two hobbits, yet there are four here. Tell me your names, young ones.' She said, motioning to Param and Terry.

'Param Took.'

'Terry Brandybuck.' Each answered, and she nodded.

'Yes, I've heard of a Took and Brandybuck before. Now,' she leaned back in her chair and took out a pipe, 'You are Ondril Baggins, aren't you?'

'Yes…'

'And how do we know you're a friend of Brendalins? You could have very well just come with the elf and made the story up!' Brom said suddenly. Dweller just laughed, though, and leaned forward in her chair.

'I know what you have.' She said, and stood, advancing upon them, sword drawn 'And I know what it can do. Now, if I wanted to take if from you, I would have before this point in time.' She then stopped, as they were against the wall, and sheathed her sword. 'So I would not like to take it from you. Now if you would trust me, then this would be much easier.' She held out her hand, and Ondril took it.

'Very well, Dweller. We will trust you for the time being.' He said, and they let go. She sat down again, and took off her cloak, revealing a rather dirty-looking old shirt and leggings. She had grey, stern eyes, along with dark brown hair. She wasn't particularly attractive, and if their senses served them right, seemed as if she had been in the Wild for more than a good month.

'I am here to take you to Rivendell. We shall stay here the night, so you should get some rest.' She said, and everyone nodded, Terry and Param realizing for the first time that they were rather tired. While Dweller looked out the window, they climbed into the beds, and fell asleep quickly. Brom took a while to sleep, while Ondril never went to sleep at all. He instead sat next to Dweller, waiting for something.

'Their near.' He said after a long pause. She drew in a deep breath, and looked out the window down the street.

'They're not in Nolner, yet, little one. We have time.' She said, and he looked down at his feet.

'What are they?' he asked, though he knew the answer.

'They are some thing that hasn't shown in this world for an age. I will tell you more when the others are awake. I do not believe they know the danger they are in.'

'They have a good idea.' Ondril said, and sat in silence until Dweller stood up, putting out the lone candle that lit the room.

'They are here. Keep quiet.' She instructed, and he did so. They could hear the screams of people down stairs, and the clank of metal boots on the stairs. Ondril held his breath as he sat on the bed next to Terry. Terry's eyes opened, and he was about to say something when Ondril covered his mouth with his hand. They could hear the door next to them open, and after a moment the shriek of the things that had chased them call. There then was a rush as the things ran down the stairs, and jump onto their horses. The shrieks had awoken the others, and they sat up, hearts pounding.

'What was that?' Terry asked, and Dweller stood, watching them leave through the streets of the town.

'They are creatures of old; terrors of ancient times. They are the Nazgul. I believe you have heard of them before, but these are not the ones in the old stories. These are more cunning, more devious. They can see with the eyes of an elf, and hear with the ears of one.' She explained, the color in the hobbit's faces drained.

'How have they come back?'

'The Dark Powers have been resurecting them for hundreds of years. They are the original ones, but have been given new powers. We must have more caution with them, for these, like the others, will never stop hunting you.' She finished, and they all stayed quiet. After a moment she re-lit a candle, and sat back down, putting some hair behind her ear. They could see that the top was slightly pointed. Most settled back down and fell asleep, Ondril with them, but Brom gazed at her ears in awe.

'You're an elf, aren't you?' he asked, and she raised an eyebrow.

'An elf? No, Master Gardener, I'm not. Now is not the time, please go to sleep.' She said, and he laid down slowly, eyes not leaving her ear.

She awoke them the next morning, and through protests from Terry and Param, got them out the door, and through the gates of the town.