Aislin: I revised the last chapter after your review. My muse agreed with you and Shantel yelled at me personally, she didn't like that description of her doing what she did either. I'll have to punish her for yelling at me… just kidding, it's all up to my muse… who is now giving me hints on, wait I won't tell that would spoil it!
As for Shantel not telling the guys about the memory loss, I would think it's because of pride. She feels that she remembers enough to where it will come back soon and currently isn't a concern, that bigger things are happening that need attention. And I know that was an evil cliff hanger, wouldn't I just be horrible if this chapter was something else completely?

Trust no one: Not quite loosing her memory, just amnesia. And your welcome for the reviews, I always like to leave them for good stories, ones I like.

Blahblah: It's okay, I finally finished the book myself! Hey! Careful the Nazgul still has Shantel, don't make him drop her by smacking him! Lol! More details coming up!

Mellon: I know evil place to stop. Hope you like the update, I've been working hard on it.

Maverickgirl: I thought it'd be a good twist. All this stuff happening when *gasp* now there's more fuel to the fire… or maybe I just like to torture my characters, not sure. Hope you like this chapter!

Mrs. Ekeena Greenleaf : I know cliffhangers bad! Evil! But believe me my muse abandoned me right then leaving me gasping at the computer. I also liked the comment about prejudice. Just came to me, lol.

Elen: Poor Shantel? Don't you mean poor ring wraith who has to… oh whoops sorry got my characters switched, note to self, Shantel good person, wraith evil. Okay I think I got it… sorry I know that was a bit lame, couldn't help it.

Sunrunner of Summer: Such fury! I can understand of course, cliffs drive me crazy, bit I couldn't help it. My muse ran out on me. Ack! You're pouting! Okay here's an update! Please no more pouting!

Darkfire: I know, I know, bad cliffies. Here's the update so we can see what happens. Applauds for the muse please because she did return.

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She's like the wind
Through my tree
She rides the night next to me.

Scott put down the book and wearily shook his head. Shantel was lost to him. He could feel it. With no hold onto her past she wouldn't seek a way home. She would stay there, in Middle Earth, and know nothing about him.

She leads me through moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
She doesn't know what she's done.

Laying down on the bed, Scott sighed. The last thing he felt he should be doing right now is feeling sorry for himself, especially when Shantel faced so much peril, but he couldn't help it. The last part he read was Shantel waking with no memory of her past, and the only thing he could do was sit there. He couldn't talk to her, couldn't hold her, or tell her that it would be all right. Instead she distanced herself from everyone, and Scott knew that is when she needed some one the most.

I feel her breath on my face
her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my reach

Letting his eyes drift shut, Scott let memories of Shantel flow through his mind. When he first met her, how she shyed her eyes away. When he asked her out, how her face blushed and she said yes. How it felt to hold her in his arms. The way she cried and held him when he proposed to her. And he would never hold her again.

Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs.
She's like the wind

Getting up, Scott picked up a small stuffed bear he got for Shantel. It was a brown bear who held a heart with the words 'I love you' on it. She told him that was the one she held when he wasn't home with her at night.

"When I miss you the most, I'll hold him close and think of you," Shantel's memory said.

Passing by the mirror, Scott looked at his reflection, unshaven, hair ruffled and clothes rumpled. He still went to work, but when the weekends came, Scott spent most of his time at home, reading up on Shantel. Her parents were suspicious since he could give them no exact information on Shantel and called the police to resume the search. He was taken in for questioning, almost lost his job, but they had to release him. Not enough evidence.

I look in the mirror
and all I see, is a young old man
with only a dream

The phone ringing, pulled Scott from the mirror and he answered it gruffly.

"Hello?"

"Hey Scott how are things?" It was Nick on the line. He called when he couldn't come over, which was rare. Normally he'd be over and make sure that Scott had something to eat. He forgot to do that at times. Shantel took great care of him and Scott had to wonder, had he become much too dependant on her?

Am I just foolin myself
That she'll stop the pain
Living with out her
I'd go insane

"Fine," Scott answered. "Just getting ready to eat."

"Right," Nick laughed. "If it wasn't for me, you'd starve." After Nick Promised to stop by later, Scott hung up and went to the kitchen. First he opened the cupboards and stared blankly. Then he went to the fridge and stared in there, before pulling out a casserole that his mother made for him a few days ago. Seeing nothing green, or foreign growing on it, he sat down to eat.

Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my reach
Just a fool to believe I am anything she needs
She's like the wind

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 Explanations. That's one thing that would be really nice right now, Shantel thought to herself. She woke in a small stone room, not sure where she was. She fainted in the wraiths arms, which still upset her to no limit. If she was awake, at least then she would have known where she was, instead of waking up clueless. There was one door in the room, where orcs kept guard, and would occasionally get in fights with each other. They haven't come in since she has been in here, they would slide food along with dirty water under the door. They only did this once since Shantel had woken, but she didn't dare touch the stuff. As the door opened, Shantel shielded her eyes against the harsh torch light, then saw two orcs staring at her.

"What do you want?" Shantel challenged, trying to sound brave. She didn't feel it though, inside she shook and would have thrown up if anything was in her stomach.

"You will show us where the halfling has hidden the ring," one orc snarled. Shantel's eyes widened. They have Frodo! But can't find the ring!

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Shantel looked away. Instead of leaving, the orcs, laughed harshly and grabbed her arm lifting her off the ground. Kicking out with her feet, the other orc slapped her and Shantel stopped resisting and hung there. The other grabbed a ladder and put it up against a wall and climbed up, opening a trap door. The orc forced Shantel to climb up and the other at top forcefully pushed her out of the way so the other could enter. Hitting the ground hard, Shantel lay there for a moment before pushing herself back up. There was a huddle in the corner and right away Shantel thought Frodo!

"Snaga, wake the halfling," The orc crowed. The other orc walked over and started to kick and the laying figure.

"No stop!" Shantel got up, only to fall back to her knee's. "He'll never wake that way." But then Frodo groaned and Shantel winced.

"Say again, human!" Snaga snarled. "Tell me where the ring is, or I'll kick him again!"

"I don't know," Shantel said. "Why do you think I would know?"

"The Nazgul recognized you," The other orc said. "This is why he brought you here instead of killing you. He knew you would help us find what our master wants."

"Yeah, he wants destruction, death and powe…" Shantel found herself at a loss for breath when a snap was heard and her back burned. Turning, the other orc had a whip in his hands and a cruel smile on his face.

"No!" Moaned Frodo. He was now sitting up dressed in rags, and looking at Shantel.

"Don't tell them anything!" Shantel would have said more but another snap, sounded. Holding her breath Shantel breathed deep. She refused to cry out in front of these monsters!

"Tell us where the ring is," Snaga gloated. "Or I'll have Gorbag whip her until she is unconscious."

"I don't know what happened," Frodo begged. "Please don't hurt her!" The next few minutes where filled with the sound of the whip snapping, Frodo begging, and then when Shantel couldn't hold it anymore, her crying. Laying on the ground, Shantel didn't move until Snaga finally called to Gorbag to stop. When they left, the clinking of the trap door was heard, and Shantel stay where she was. When a light touch was felt on her back, Shantel took in a deep breath.

"Easy Shantel," Frodo whispered. "I never would have wished this on anyone else." The back of her tunic was ripped, Shantel's bra underneath was snapped, the cloth was broken, and the top of her pants were ripped. There was a slight sting, as something cold touched her back and Shantel hissed, but remained still by the gentle touch of Frodo's hand.

"These aren't deep," Frodo said after a few minutes. "So they should heal in a few days, but the chances of that are…" Frodo trailed off, and Shantel knew what he meant. Who knew when the orcs would decide to come back and torture them again. Slowly pushing herself up, Shantel winced a little but was able to stop crying.

"H-how long have you been here?" Shantel whispered.

"I don't know." Frodo answered. "I don't know. I only find escape in sleep, though it's not peaceful. Nightmares plague me."

"Where's Sam?" Shantel asked. "They don't have him?"

"I hope not," Frodo said. "But I think if you're here, he would be as well, so there is some hope." Shantel nodded and shivered.

"Are you cold?" Frodo asked.

"No just this place, reminds me of Moria in some ways," Shantel said.

"This place is worst," Frodo said. For what Shantel assumed was passing of the night, they got no more visits, but then a commotion was heard downstairs and both cowered, hoping it would come near them. Many shouts were heard then running. The trap door opened again and the orc, Shantel recognized as Snaga, entered.

"Got two loves birds do we?" Snaga sneered. "Come 'ere." Roughly Snaga pulled Shantel to her feet and kicked Frodo away when he tried to attack the orc.

"You don't have long to live," Snaga snarled. "So unless you want to fun to begin now, I suggest you lay quiet, and you…" Snaga let the words trail off as he grinned a mouth full of yellow rotting teeth show. "Let's see what fun you can be." Shantel felt like she was doused in a bucket of ice, her breath caught. When she saw Snaga's other hand reaching towards her, Shantel did the only thing that came to mind, kicked up with her leg and spit at him. Snaga let out a yelp of pain as he threw Shantel to the ground. Growling he picked up a whip from his belt and wiped the spit off.

"I'll make you wish you have never been born," Snaga snarled and flipped the whip. Automatically Shantel lifted an arm to protect her face, but the snap was hard, and it felt like fire burst on her arm. When the whip came down again, Shantel ducked her head and curled up in a ball, her back getting most of the blows, while Snaga cackled joyfully at her pain.

A cry was heard and Shantel looked up shocked to see Snaga's whip holding hand was gone, but she couldn't help feeling relieved now as well. Snaga turned to run and tripped falling out the trap door presumably to his death. With him out of the way, it revealed her savior.

"Sam!" Shantel cried to an equally shocked hobbit.

"I thought he was hurting Master Frodo," Sam said. "What are you doing here?"

"She was kidnapped by a wraith," Frodo said stepping forward. "And brought here. It's good to see you Sam."

"There you are Master Frodo," Sam let out a breath of relief. "I was worried that some thing awful happened. You seem to be a lot more better than before."

"Yes here I may be yet the quest has failed" Frodo sat down defeated and sad. Shantel crawled over and hugged Frodo who hugged her back.

"They don't have everything," Sam said. Still holding each other for comfort, both looked up at the hobbit. "You lent me Sting and the Lady's glass, and I have this." Sam fumbled for a moment to pull a chain from under his cloak until the ring came into sight. It seemed stronger here, Shantel could hear it calling to her, she remembered it calling a promise to her before. What it was she wasn't sure anymore.

Before being able to contemplate it, Shantel felt herself thrusted aside and saw Frodo change from the caring sweet hobbit to what seemed like a small trembling monster. It wasn't in form he change, it was in the way he held himself, and the way he growled at same. Much of what he said were mutters but some came out quite clear.

"Give it to me, you thief!" Frodo snarled.

"All right Master," Sam pulled the ring off and handed it to Frodo. A moment in his possession and the monster was gone, leaving a regretful Frodo in it's place.

"Sam, oh Sam!" Frodo held a hand out to his friend. "I'm sorry, and Shantel I didn't mean to push you."
"It's okay Frodo," Shantel said getting up, a little stiff, still in some pain. "It seems the ring has gotten stronger here than I remember it being in the past."

"We need to get clothes, especially for you Shantel," Sam said. She looked down at her ripped tunic and sighed. "Hold on I'll be back," Sam said making his way to the ladder. Leaving instruction on lowering it only when they heard him say Elbereth he was gone. Moments later he was back, with a bundle and calling from below. Shantel reached out as Sam cleared the top and helped him over with the bundle. Every stretch of her arm, twist of her back, she let out a silent hiss but tried to ignore the pain. Soon Frodo and Shantel were dressed, in foul smelling orc clothes, while Sam simply put on a helmet and put a black cloak over his own.

As they left for the exit, Shantel would have to go on from this point with them to Mount Doom. She wasn't going to wait in the tower, and there was no way she was going to try and exit this place alone. With a deep breath, holding it at many a times, they worked their way around stepping over dead bodies of orcs and headed out to what Sam called the watch towers.

"Fought among themselves," Sam mused quietly. "Over your stuff Master Frodo."

"I always knew Frodo had good taste," Shantel said, getting a smile from the two. Soon all joking ended as it became more painful to wind their way out. At the watch towers, Shantel saw them as no more than huge statues with alien eyes. They couldn't pass and Shantel was at a loss. When Sam pulled out the elven glass of Galadriel the sudden brightness that came blinded Shantel momentarily then she could see again. The two hobbits cried out something in elvish that Shantel didn't understand and a crack was heard.

"Run!" Shantel cried as the arch above them seemed to shatter and fall in slow motion. Moving barely fast enough, they were able to escape the crushing stone barely but the audible wail of the sirens could be heard and a ghastly shriek from a winged creature above them.

"Not again!" Shantel cried! Sam sheethed the light and they ran to cover before the Nazgul saw them.

"Wish I had an arrow for each one!" Shantel growled.

"And I wish we had an easier rode," Frodo sighed. "This will not be easy." And it was hard. In time, Frodo had casted aside the mail shirt Sam had gotten for him, it being too heavy, but Shantel didn't dare. She kept on the layers of uniform for if they were spotted, she didn't want to be recognized as a female and have them all taken down because of her. They walked until some light drifted over the horizon and the Nazgul gave another shriek, one of dismay.

"Things are looking our way!" Shantel said. "Well kinda." Still walking, it was to their delights to find a small trickle of clean water, that looked clean enough to drink. Pausing to drink their fill, Sam refilled his water bottle, the looked for where to go. If they continued on the side from the road, they were to battle thorn bushes, which had already tattered their cloaks, and rough terrain. Or there was the road, which would be a much easier and faster path. They continued on the side, ending only when they could go no further and fell asleep under some bramble bushes.

Shantel woke first, there was some light out. She climbed out and climbed a little further the hill looking towards mount doom. It was almost hard to believe that they were almost there when the journey at times seemed to take so long. The land was barren and had very little life, but pitches of tents were about, evident of the Dark Lords army, and that they were still plentiful. How to get around, Shantel had no idea, but knew they had to. Turning she climbed back down and waited for the hobbits to wake.

It wasn't too long, and they shared a small morsel of food and had more water. Once the hobbits climbed up and saw what Shantel saw, it seemed to give them a weary look and Shantel sighed. Up here was no way to cross and they were forced back to the valley, they didn't dare the road, yet at least. A stone hut was passes but there was no movement, so a second thought wasn't given until they heard orc voices ahead. Scrambling out of sight, Shantel simply lay flat on the ground behind the hobbits, being too tall to duck behind a bush, she saw two orcs of a smaller breed come into view.

They argued, one about loosing a scent because of a rogue orc, and the other threatening to report the tracker. It ended quickly when the tracker killed the other and ran off, leaving the huddled three a bit surprised.

"That was a bit of entertainment," Sam said.

"That kind of entertainment I can do with out," Shantel said getting ready to get up.

"We should stay here, and not move until dark," Frodo said, looking about, "There may be more of them out there."

"And they were talking about Gollum, I knew he was alive," Sam boasted.

"What's this about Gollum?" Shantel asked. The hobbits quickly filled Shantel in of Gollum leading them to Mordor and of his betrayal of trying to feed them to a giant spider. In turn Sam started to tell Frodo of how he knew Gollum was still alive while Shantel grew drowsy even though she had already slept and fell asleep.

Waking with a start, Shantel leaned up fast, earning stinging pain from her back which still wasn't healed. Biting back a cry of pain, Shantel motioned that she was fine and after a drink, they continued on. Moving Shantel felt her bones and joints crack and pop, each one sounding loud enough to alert the enemy to their location. As good as it felt Shantel wished it would stop. They continued on for two days, the second continuing a bit when the light of dawn came back into view. Frodo told of a plan to cross around the camps to get to the mountain, but now they could see that the path was not possible. The only way on from there would be the road.

"We must get some rest before going on," Sam said.

"Yes, even though all I feel anymore, is rest and travel, rest and travel," Shantel sighed. "And I keep telling myself that it will be over soon, one way or another." When Shantel woke again, she was filled in on tales of how Gollum had almost gotten to Frodo, when Sam retrieved more water but ran away at Sams return.

"The little worm," Shantel hissed and got nods of agreement from her friends. Continuing on, Sam refilled the water and they headed onto the road. Trying to keep a brisk pace, they walked when a sound came that made Shantel's breath catch.

"Oh damn," Shantel cursed and looked behind her. Torches were coming their way and fast, there was no were to run.

"We'll we've trusted to luck and it failed us!" Cried Frodo and slouched against the wall.

"Maybe if we slouch here, they will think us tired soldiers and pass us by," Sam suggested.

"Good idea," Shantel ran over and slunched down. Making sure her hair was hidden well from sight, she ducked her head and soon the army was marching past. Shantel's heart hammered in her chest and it calmed a little as they went not seeming to stop. At the end, Shantel could see two Uruk with whips, making sure that none deserted their line. She just wanted them to go quickly so she could go dry heave in the bushes, that's all she wanted at this time, besides not being there!

"Hi you!" A whip sounded her way and Shantel squeezed her eyes shut. "Get up!" When none answered, the company was halted.

'Not good, not good,' Shantel's mind screamed.

"Come on you slugs!" he cried stepping towards them. "You should have been inside Udun already. Fall in or I'll have your numbers!" Wearily they climbed to their feet, and went to go to the rear.

"No here!" The cry came, then the marching presumed. The uruk seemed to have great joy in cracking the whip about coming very close but nearly missing every time. Shantel kept her face turned away and tried to fight the memories that tried to emerge of her capture with the other two hobbits, and what they talked of doing to her. Marching for the rest of the day, it as nearly night when they reached the gates, and all the orcs clambered to get in first. A few uruk pulled out their swords and a fight broke out. Shantel saw Sam pull Frodo to the ground, which she followed to not get involved in the fight, and followed them as they crawled away. Slipping off the side of the road, they crawled for a bit more, until weary from the march and get away, sleep over took them.

As Sam, Shantel woke many times, due to cruel rocks, and horrid dreams, of orcs standing over her. When morning came she didn't feel much better but continued on with the hobbits. For four days they traveled and no other creature was met, for which Shantel was glad. They wouldn't survive a fight, even them three to one. The water nearly gone again, very few waybread left, for they ate sparingly, they continued, closer and closer.

"I am casting away this orc armor," Frodo finally stated throwing it off. "Let them take me if they find me, I will be an orc no more!"

"We should only take what we need," Sam said and looked longingly at his pans. Shantel took off the helmet and armor but kept the cloak. It was a very thin blanket at night but it was something. She watched Sam cast away all the possessions to be discarded down a deep hole where the clash was loud but ended quick. Then turning, they started towards the mountain.

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If time seems a bit weird between what was happening between the hobbits and back at Pelennor Fields, it's my fault but noticed it too late to change it. I just didn't want to go and redo all the work. So sorry about that but the story will still flow.