Disclaimer: I don't own, you don't sue.

Author Note: This chapter contains a lot of the book. Some parts are direct quotes, but the whole thing is changed by the presence of Verity. As always, read and review and I'll know my time is well-spent. Or at least not completely wasted!

~Raven "Sirens Muse"

Chapter Four: The Ring's Call

Rain pelted down upon their cloaked heads. It was a cold, biting rain, the worst kind. Verity glance backwards. They had left the safety of the Last Homely House several hours ago and Verity had watched as it was swallowed by rain and fog and finally too far away to see. She felt that deep weary longing, the weepy feeling she always felt when she was leaving a place that was starting to become home to her. She struggled against the tears by focusing on the path they were taking. It was narrow and decidedly treacherous. Their horses and ponies walked slowly as not to make much noise. Bilbo fretted that the mountain would fall on top of them. Verity frowned slightly at the cliffs around her. As a child, she had been horribly claustrophobic. Thankfully that wasn't the case anymore. Thorin's horse walked beside her own and she was surprised to feel his hand patting her shoulder in sympathy. "We shall be out of here soon." he said in a whisper.

All the while, rain beat down unmercifully upon them. Finally someone muttered something about getting struck by lightening. Filli and Killi suggested the cave and they all went in. It was cold and camp, but Verity had to admit, that at least the rain wasn't beating down anymore. Verity knew what came next. Goblins. She kept silently for the sake of the ring. She could feel it for some odd reason. Just like she felt the presence of the goblins as they approached. Silence. the ring urged.

They spread out their packs around the fire, giving Verity a whole half of the fire all to herself. She didn't sleep. Wrapped in her Elvish blanket, she stared at the fire. Presently he brought out some of the parchment she had packed. It is always good to bring some bit of paper and a writing device where ever one goes, because one never knows when they might have spare time to jot down a song, poem, drawing, or letter. In Rivendell, she had made herself a sort of a pencil, knowing that she could not carry ink and a quill with her. So in the light of the fire, she set about her work. A letter. She stared at the fire wondering who to write to. They'd never receive the letter, but writing it would make them seem closer. Slowly and carefully, she lifted her pencil and wrote.

Dear Lord Calen,

I miss you already and we only left this morning. It is strange tonight. The rain bears down heavily upon us. We seek shelter in a tiny cave, but a feeling of uneasiness has taken my heart. It's goblins. I know it's them. And of course, the One Ring. Sauron's master ring. My heart leaps at the thought of it, but I fear it in the very same breath. It's mine. It must be, for it calls to me. I know why Lord Elrond was so worried about me. I worry for myself. I must not listen to it! I will think of something else. I will think of you. I wondering what you are doing right now. Most likely resting since it is very late at night. Maybe you're looking at the stars. Do Half-Elves like stars too? I have yet to figure out the writing on my sword, but I have been thinking of a name for it. Assuming you have not already named it. But until I find out if you have or not, I will name it myself when I think of a suitable name. I sense the goblins even more now. Oh well, they won't kill us right away, so I need not fear. I know we will get out of this. Most of us will lose what little we have, but I will endeavor to keep my pack with me at all times. Off topic for a moment, I remember a song that I think you'd like. It sounds so much like what you always told me. You'll Never Walk Alone. I guess I won't. I hope I won't. But the fear of being alone is worse than ever tonight. For I know that I must get lost to find the ring. NO! I can't find it! I must not find the ring....but I must not let Gollum have it. Sauron will get it if it remains in Gollum's possession. I fear what I must do. But can't let Bilbo have it. Or can I? It will prolong his life. Hobbits are also less susceptible to the power. I fear what I, a mortal woman would do with such power. Would you still help me, even if you knew I was possessed by the ring? Would you try to get it from me? Would I let you? I don't want to hurt you and yet, I don't want Frodo to go through what he will in a few decades. Poor Frodo, not yet born, but someone (myself) already knows his future. Will I change it? Will I save him the despair? But her grows from the despair, so can I, in good conscience, take the quest that is in his future? Oh Calen, your wisdom would be much appreciated right now. Your strength and kindness would light up this dark, foreboding cave. How I wish you could have come. I miss you more than words can say, my friend.

With Every Hope of Seeing You Soon, Dear Friend,

Lady Verity Andrews

She read over the letter again. Amazed by the truth in the words she had written. Could she honestly give it to Calen? What would he think of what she admitted about the ring and the future? She sighed and folder the parchment into thirds, then put it safely in her pack. The goblins presence was so close now that she could smell them. A terribly stench of filth and evil. She hesitated. Do not warn them! Let the course run! Somehow, she had to make sure Bilbo didn't fall off Bombur's back when Gandalf came to rescue them from the Goblin King. Her thoughts ceased, when Bilbo woke up with a start. Verity watched the ponies being dragged away through half closed eyes. Bilbo gave a cry that shook the cave and woke everyone up. Goblins burst from the crack which the ponies had disappeared through. Big, great, and terribly ugly. Tolkien's description did not do them justice. Verity hid her pack on her back, under her cloak right before six great goblins seized her by the arms. Their grip was strong and painful. Her arms turned white under their fingers. They went for Gandalf, but in a flash of lightening and smoke, he disappeared, killing several goblins in his wake. The stench of dead goblins was unbearable. Verity gagged aloud and tried to stop breathing in the fumes. Luckily, quicker than she could say "tinder and flint" (Tolkien was right about their speed!), they were whisked through the crack. Now, if it wasn't bad enough to have great, smelly goblins invading one's personal space bubble with their stinky, unwashed bodies, than their singing had to be worse.

Clap! Snap! the black crack!

Grip, grab! Pinch, nab!

And they did pinch, quite hard.

And down down to Goblin-town

You go my lad!

"Lady." interrupted Verity. "Or lass please."

One of her captors pinched her especially hard for her pert comment.

Clash, crash! Crush, smash!

Hammer and tongs! Knocker and gongs!

Pound, pound, far underground!

Ho, ho! my lad...and lass (someone added quickly)

Swish, smack! Whip crack!

A large whip snaked out of one of their hands and struck Verity's back. A wash of pain ran through her and the dwarves and Bilbo cried out in pity. Somehow, she continued to walk. Maybe she was dragged.

Batter and beat! Yammer and bleat!

Work, work! Nor dare to shrink,

While Goblins quaff, and Goblins laugh, (someone laughed cruelly and whipped Verity again.)

Round and round far underground

Below, my lad! (and lass!)

Their horrid voices echoed off the cavern walls and the acoustics made them sound even more terrifying to the company...all save Verity, who wasn't paying much attention to the world around her anymore. The dwarves and Bilbo whimpered and moaned for the human companion as the whip cracked several more times. The goblins had great fun in torturing Verity. Perhaps it was because she was the only woman in the company. Verity cursed them and their the rest of their clans for the rest of their stinky, dark lives. They were pushed to a great throne and Verity could vaguely make out the figure of the great Goblin-King who sat upon it. In the corner, Verity saw the goblins going through the saddlebags and one was eating one of the poor ponies. Tears sprang to Verity's eyes as she saw one goblin approaching her beautiful horse with a knife. There was a terribly whinny that was cut off in the middle of the sound. Verity jerked her head away and closed her eyes. She felt her arms being yanked behind her suddenly, pain shot through her torn back as chains were clamped on the company and they were marched over to the King. "Who are these miserable persons?" asked the Goblin-King.

Word for word from the story, no less.

"Dwarves, a woman, and this!" said one of their captors, yanking Bilbo's chain, causing the poor hobbit to fall to his knees.

Verity tried to block out Bilbo's whimper of pain. There was more quoting from the book. Thorin introduced himself as politely as he could and Verity felt like hugging the proud, yet quite intelligent dwarf. Thorin's lie was beautiful and Verity had always hated lies, but it was one of the best she'd ever heard and she'd never been more thankful for it. However, on goblin protested and held up Thorin's sword...once Glorfindel's sword, Orcist. Seeing the sword, brought Glorfindel's face to the front of her mind. Verity wished, for the millionth time, that the noble Elvenlord had come with them. The Goblin-king, howled out his rage. He condemned them to their death and suddenly Gandalf came in his flash of light and sword! Verity vowed to hug the wizard when she got the chance. The Goblin-king was struck down Glamdring. And there was a great commotion as goblins jumped to arms. The sword flashed again and the goblins went running into the darkness with cries of, "Biter!" and "Goblin-cleaver!"

"Follow me quick!" came Gandalf voice.

Verity's heart surged. Now was the time! Bilbo must not get lost! It must be me that find the ring! a terrible voice inside instructed.

They were pulled along by their chains until they got to a place to rest. Gandalf loosed them and Verity set to rubbing her raw wrists. "Fifteen!" Gandalf exclaimed after counting them.

"Verity!" cried Bilbo suddenly. "The goblins whipped her!"

Gandalf looked closely at Verity who rubbed her wrists still more vigorously. "There is nothing we can do at the moment." he told her with a ring of pity in his voice. "We have no ponies, no food, we're quite lost, and we have hordes of angry goblins behind us! On we go!"

Verity grimaced. Gandalf, in all his light-heartedness, was quite serious in his face.

The goblins were a good deal faster than the company. Verity made sure to stay at the end of the line, clutching Calen's sword in one, white hand. They were overtaken and Gandalf, Thorin, and Verity fought back. Verity was covered in stinking Goblin blood by the time they outwitted the goblins by turning another corner. Verity pushed Bilbo and Dori ahead of her. It was now or never. Suddenly she was grabbed from behind in the dark. Into the blackness she fell, hitting her head on a rock, and blacking out into blissful unconsciousness.

When Verity came too again, she did not know whether her eyes were opened or not. (Quite like the thoughts of Bilbo would have been, had she not pushed him and Dori ahead of her.) Unlike Bilbo, however, she was not scared. She was elated! Grinning like a fool in the utter darkness, she still the whirling of her head and began crawling. Luckily she didn't have to know the way to turn, as the ring wanted her. She listened for it's call and soon her hand closed around the cold metal. A jolt passed through her and she began to tremble. She stood, cupping the ring in her palm and then remembered that her sword was not Sting and it did not glow when orcs or goblins were near. But it did not matter. The ring told her the way to go. Forward she went until she, like Master Bilbo, stepped into the icy waters of Gollum's home. She slipped the ring on her finger quickly. Then she was him. Gollum. His pale, luminous eyes shone through the dark. He had long fingers and large feet, good for paddling in water. He was frog-like in appearance with pale skin that had not seen the sun in eons. He was talking to himself, in that soft, hissing voice. "My precioussssss." he muttered, the words echoing through the cavern room.

She could not resist talking to this odd creature. Maybe asking him a riddle. Riling him up a bit. Making him suffer for the loss of his ring. "Gollum!" she called aloud while taking off the ring.

Large, glowing eyes turned toward her. The creature leapt into the water and swam for her. Verity's sword was out in a moment. "What issss she, my precioussssss?"

Thankfully, her sword disconcerted him. "Lady Verity, elf-friend." she said with a large, slightly sadistic smile.

"Elvesesss!" cursed the creature, stepping back a bit.

"Yes. And I believe I have something that belongs to you." she drew the ring from her cloak pocket and flashed it in front of his eyes. "My birthday-present!" hissed Gollum in anger.

He made a flying leap for it, but Verity expected it and slipped the ring on, moving to the side. She watched for a moment as the distraught creature swore and fretted. "She issss leaving, my precioussssss!" he realized suddenly and ran the exact direction that Verity wanted to go. She grinned in her invisibility, silently thanking the stupid creature for escorting her out. Getting past the goblins at the gate was quite easy. Verity grinned and praised herself for having more brains than Bilbo. She was a better keeper of the ring, anyway. Having escaped the caves, she took off the ring and looked at the back of the mountains. She grinned up at the sun, thanking it for shining and hurried off to find the company. She heard their voices soon enough and slipped the ring back on to surprise them. Balin was doing look-out duty and she slipped past him easily. Gandalf, Bilbo, and Thorin were in the middle of the tiny camp, arguing. "How could she have been lost!" cried and anguished Bilbo.

"I agree, it is quite odd that she has been lost. She seemed like a very capable woman and I wish we could find her!" Thorin said quickly.

Verity had to smile. Good 'ol, Thorin.

"Yes, it is odd that she has disappeared, but we can hardly go back looking for her. She came of her own accord and as much as I hate leaving her, we have no choice. Unless you would like to go into those tunnels again?"

Bilbo and Thorin shuddered and Verity discarded her vow to hug Gandalf. He was thinking of leaving her! "Well," said Verity, taking off the ring, "it's a good thing I am capable. I don't relish the thought of being left behind."

They all jumped sky-high. "Verity!" exclaimed Bilbo with joy as he ran to her, throwing his arms around her.

She grinned and was soon hugged by all the dwarves, Thorin being the exception. He merely smiled and bowed low. "A very capable lady indeed." he said gallantly.

"How did you get out and past Balin?" asked Gandalf suspiciously.

Verity took the book's advice and decided to keep the ring secret. "The Rivendell elves trained me in more things than just fighting and riding." she lied with a smile plastered to her face.

"I see." was Gandalf's quiet answer.

And she told them about how she escaped, leaving out the ring, of course, and telling them that she tricked Gollum into showing her the way out. Everyone praised her for her quick thinking and she was held in an even higher regard with the dwarves and Bilbo. Then Gandalf went about telling them how he had rescued them. And they were on their way again. Poor Bilbo bemoaned the loss of their packs and Verity suddenly remembered her own pack that was still hidden under her cloak. She brought it out with and with a great cry of happiness from the company, she distributed what little food she was carrying.

So, mostly satisfied from the food and regenerated from the stories of both Verity and Gandalf, the company traveled on for a greater part of the late afternoon. Gandalf realized that the goblins tried to track them and after the sun set, when all were tired and complaining for a nice place to sleep, they heard the distant cry of the wolves. "Up the trees, quick!" ordered Gandalf.

Verity had never climbed trees as a child so she had great difficulty with this order. The wolves suddenly bore down upon them. "Someone give me a hand up!" Verity cried.

Dori was helping Bilbo at that moment, but Gandalf's hand was flung in front of her and her grasped it and he helped fling her up. The wolves also called wargs because they were the evil wolves at the edge of the wild, began planning what to do with them. It wasn't long before the suggestion of a bonfire was brought up and they began their task. They began singing in their own language and though Verity could not understand the language, she knew the songs. It was more disconcerting than even the capture by the goblins and the songs were far worse. Gandalf and Verity's tree had caught fire and both were trying to climb higher. Sweat from the heat of the fire, plastered the hair that had escaped from Verity's braid to her forehead. It was terribly uncomfortable. Gandalf flashed lightening from his wand, killing a few, but that only resulted in making them more angry. She told him this and at her comment he glared and asked if she could do any better. Gandalf poised to spring into the fray of wolves, mush to the protests of Verity who was claiming it to be a insane thing to do. But he jumped anyway and was caught by the Lord of the Eagles. Suddenly a great many eagles swooped down and caught the rest of the company in their talons and carried them off. It was terrible hanging from the talons of an eagle, soaring high up into the cloud and seeing the ground so far down below. Verity fought back waves of nausea and fear and she shuddered and hoped the eagle wouldn't accidentally drop her. They finally reached the safety of the eagles nests and soon had a wonderful dinner of rabbits, hares, and small sheep. And they all slept soundly that night...all except Verity. She hardly seemed to need sleep, although it had been two days since she slept. She spent the night staring at the stars and wondering...