CHAPTER 7 : THE VEIL OF MISTS

The party soon was on the road again but there was no telling how long they would be traveling. The breaking news that hit them earlier that day still hadn't seemed to seep into their minds as they still avoided Frodo's sight. Everything was silent, no one seemed to want to open their mouths afraid of what might burst out and though it became awkward at times Gandalf greatly appreciated it. The forests started to sicken in their guts seeing to many and hoping they would veer into a more spacey and broad path. The day stretched along slowly making their bodies tiresome and their eyes heavy with drowsiness.

Evening would be approaching in a few hours, the pink was already showing beyond the clouds. The air began to feel heavier as they emerged into a clearing. White fog lay at their feet as they stepped onto a mossy surface. Their shoes sunk into the mud, water rising up their clothes. "Tis a swamp Gandalf I don't remember seeing this place on the map, nor have I passed it on any of my travels." Legolas looked to the wizard but he was searching the area as everyone else.

"Hmmm." He nodded and pulled the brim of his hat down to his eyes. "Be careful this place doesn't like those who disturb." The party followed close behind, Frodo in the middle and Amelia at the end.

The tree branches hung low, fungi and moss growing quickly on their trunks. There were no flowers near by that anyone could see and it was silent except for the whispers of the leaves. They all kept on their guards turning at the slightest movement but there was none. Joden stopped abruptly, Amelia almost as quickly stopped dead in her tracks. The vampire began to sniff the air, something wasn't liking their presence. "Gandalf look!" Amelia pointed her gaze down towards the invisible ground. "The fog is rising!" From the wood into clearing poured in thick blankets of smog rising above their heads. Their eyes were covered by it they could see nothing but white.

The mist rose unnaturally over their heads. It swirled off the ground and wielded their eyes even from each other and quickly from even themselves. Some called out but its thickness blocked all senses natural and magical from use. Though but four feet apart it was as though they stood leagues away. There was one sense that they couldn't throw off. Though faint a man with a cold could smell the heavy perfume that was their block.

Joden's nose and eyes twitched. Underneath the sleepy effect of it was something particularly nasty. The evil was a bit more than what even he could bear. He wondered a few steps trying to see the ground and follow step but he couldn't see even that. Instead he rubbed his hand across it as a blind person would. The ground was always soft in a swamp.

He felt very small footprints, hobbit sized but it was smoother than an average print like it had been wiped by robes. Wasn't Amelia in the back? He was behind Frodo and his feet were no where to be found.

Joden grumbled but no sound even met his own ears. he walked in the direction the foot was in , bent waiting for a turn. In his mind he wished he could fly but how he called upon his wings in the first place, he was still at a lose of. He would be grounded for now.

Like a physical blow the wind hit him, where it came he was at a loss but when his eyes, red with aggravation, came open a sky met them. He could see. Quickly he stood knocked down from the burst and looked around. Balls of mist moved slowly around as the others wondered blindly.

"Damn lords" He muttered facing forward. Just five feet away Amelia was standing. he head was bowed and he hair twisting and turning into the sky like a collection of snakes. Her dress seemed to blow around to as though she was the center of a torrent.

"Joden" She said in what sounded like a double voice of another woman over lapsing hers. "thank you for bringing him this far, but now I must take Frodo."

"Joden! Strike me is mine now. Kill me!" The voices were ensued. Though heeding her words sounded like a good idea he opted for curling his fist. Amelia's face was contorted a mix of hate and fear.

"If you will not kill her then you are useless!" Joden was swept off of his feet into a spiral. He landed with a heavy thud on the floor, it made a sickly wet sound on the mud. His fangs were bared, he glared up.

"Who are you!?" He growled.

"It is unimportant to a being such as yourself." Amelia said in her double voice. She lifted her hands to the air and green lightening danced around them, she was saying a spell.

Joden struck with lightening speed. he crawled and punched lading on her with his teeth in her neck. The spell stopped.

"Yes! kill me!" She screamed but Joden had a better idea. He covered her eyes with his left hand. She didn't care she continued to laugh in a manically way.

If you won't leave till she or we are dead allow me to fix you Joden thought. He bit down into his own wrist. The blood from his own body was cold and a slight purplish. He lifted his wrist over her laughing mouth. "Drink up" He muttered. The moment the blood hit her tongue she contorted her body and screamed. All of the mist disappeared. Her body was glowing vibrantly and hissing.

"Curse you! she screamed. "Curse your blood!"

Joden felt his energy draining making a person always took to much. It was much more spiritual than physical which is why as the light left her Amelia stood, her hair had fell again behind her and the storm had disappeared. the night became peaceful as though nothing had ever happened.

"What?" Amelia said.

Joden's eyes fluttered. he fell to his knees nearly head height with Amelia then to his face with a thud again. He didn't draw breath. Amelia saw him fall but her mind was on someone else. She carefully stepped around him turning her head side to side. Some others had the same idea.

Frodo was gone.