Author's Note: I would like to thank somebody with the name of Dan Ayers for the lovely short and sweet e-mail concerning this story. Thank you! I would also like to thank Shadow Fox2 for reviewing every chapter so far! It's great to know that at least a few people like my story! So this is for y'all! Enjoy!
The Last Mission
We followed Strider out of the Prancing Pony, and outside in the open. We immediately left, headed towards Rivendell. I followed closely behind Strider, and the hobbits were farther back. I could hear them muttering about us, suspecting Strider to be a servant of the enemy, but fairer. I concealed another smile.
They questioned me next. "She's an elf!" I heard Sam Gamgee say. Apparently, he took a great liking in my kind. "But she is dressed in black, that is not like the elves to do that." Frodo whispered back to Sam. "Maybe she is servant to the enemy." Pippin whispered. "She can't be!" Merry said nearly outloud. "Elves don't serve the enemy, right?"
"Of course not." I said, facing the four. Their expressions were of shock and embarrassment. "I am no servant of the enemy. Like I said, I am here to protect you. And that I will." Strider stopped and turned around. "Exactly where do you come from?" He asked curiously, and almost suspiciously.
I turned my back to the hobbits and faced Strider, my voice dropped low. "That is none of your business. Just like where you come from is none of mine." I held my head up high, and straightened out my dress, accidentally revealing my long slender sword. Strider's eyes wandered to my sword and back up to me. "Pardons, m'lady." And he bowed slightly.
We carried on until dawn, and before we knew it, high noon was upon us. The hobbits were exhausted, and begged to stop for a rest. Strider agreed, and found a spot suitable for resting. It was called Weathertop. Sam was unpacking his things, and put strips of bacon on a frying pan he brought along. Merry and Pippin searched for wood, while Frodo helped Sam unpack his food.
Strider and I wandered off to search the place. "You know this land well. You're a ranger I presume?" He spun around to look at me. His blue eyes looked straight through me. He was not much to look at, but something about him attracted me towards him. The way he moves, his mysterious ways, and then I was brought back into the present.
"Yes, I am." He said. Forgetting my question, I nodded. "And you are an elf. Where are you from? Your hair is dark, you cannot be from Lothlorien, but I have never seen you in Rivendell before." His gaze pierced me once more. I pushed that aside and straightened up. "You've already asked me that. And I said it is only my business." Strider looked down, and realized that he had indeed already asked that. "Sorry."
Suddenly, in the distance I heard shrieks, and cries for help. I ran towards the direction of the sound, and Strider followed. We found four of Saruman's Ringwraiths attacking the halflings. The hobbit were backing themselves into a corner, and the Wraiths were advancing on the quickly. I bit my lip and hid away, hoping that I would be forgotten for the moment. But to my surprise, a wounded Frodo appeared next to my feet.
His cry of pain startled me, and I jumped back. Sam came running to his aid, begging for me to help him. His eyes flickered with anger, and it seemed he wanted me to make Frodo better. I was an elf, but I had no special powers that I knew about. "I… I have no cure." I look down at Frodo, who was grabbing his left shoulder and crying out in agony. "What are those things?" Sam yelled over the noise. I sighed and looked at the battle. Strider was actually defeating the hooded demons with fire. That surprised me because Saruman told me they were undefeatable.
"Ringwraiths. Servants of Sauron and Saruman. They are trying to get Frodo." I turned my attention back to Frodo, but Sam distracted me. "Won't you help Strider then?" Sam waited for an answer, but did not receive one. After he defeated the Wraiths, Strider came running towards us, and inspected the sword that pierced Frodo.
"He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." He dropped the sword and watched it vaporize. "This is beyond my skill to heal, he needs elvish medicine." "What kind of elvish medicine?" I asked, slightly curious. "Healing powers, unless you have some of your own." He looked at me, almost like he taunted me.
"No." I bit my lip and shifted uncomfortably. For once, I felt helpless. "Then we must hurry to Rivendell!" Strider scooped Frodo up and ran, I was in close pursuit, and once again, the halflings had trouble keeping up. "We're six days from Rivendell! We'll never make it!" Sam yelled to Strider.
Later on, Strider made a stop near three stone statues of trolls. He lay Frodo down on a clearing, and Sam immediately ran to Frodo's side. He put the palm of his hand to Frodo's forehead, and realized his condition was worsening. "He's going cold!" Sam announced to Strider.
The ranger instructed the halfling to find the athelas plant, otherwise know as kingsfoil. He told me to stay with the other hobbits, and to tell him if Frodo's condition worsens. Not really caring if the hobbit lived or died, I walked away from the scene to be alone.
I found a secluded spot, and sat down on a stone. I looked around at where I was, and noticed athelas plants everywhere. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Suddenly, I heard rustling in the distance. It grew louder and louder, and I deciphered it to be a horse coming our way. I looked over at Strider, who was gathering athelas plants quickly, but he did not notice the sound until the person was behind him.