Visitor
Yeah I know. It's been awhile since I've updated last. I just got back from vacation and I'm still tired. I'm not going anywhere for awhile, so updates should be coming a lot quicker.
Disclaimer: Same as always, not mine.
Warnings: Nope
Thanks to my reviewers!
Chapter seven
New Acquaintances
"I am tired! And hungry!" Anna rolled her eyes and pushed Pippin to keep him moving. She was in the back, Pippin in front of her. Frodo was in the very front, followed by Sam and then Merry. They had been traveling for awhile now and Anna was just getting use to them. They ate an insane amount of food, with all of their extra mealtimes.
"Get use to it Pippin. We're just out of the Old Forest!" Merry scolded. Pippin looked back at her with sorrowful eyes and she shrugged back. They had just gotten out of the Old Forest and their meeting of Tom Bombadil. It was good that he found them or Anna doubted they would have made it this far.
"We've only a day Pippin until Bree." She squeezed his shoulder and they continued throughout the rest of the day, Anna marking their path. Finally they reached Bree that night in the pouring rain.
"Who is it?" called the guard gate.
"Five humble travelers wishing to stay at the Inn." Anna called.
"Business?"
"None that concerns you." Frodo told him. The guard grunted and let them in. They walked forward and looked for the Prancing Pony sign. When they found it they went in and Anna led them to the front desk.
"We are looking for a room. They are five of us, myself and four hobbits."
"Yes, I have a room. It's more for hobbits than you."
"I don't care. It'll be fine." The man nodded and gave her a key, telling her where the room was. She thanked him and the hobbits followed her. They reached the room and dumped their packs onto their beds.
"Anna where will you sleep?"
"I'll sleep on the floor Frodo. Don't worry." He nodded and they left the room after they cleaned up slightly. Together they walked back to the dining area and they ordered some drinks, sitting at a table in the middle, around a lot of very drunk men.
"I don't see Gandalf anywhere." Anna whispered, sipping from her mug.
"I know. I was thinking of asking the desk if he left a message or anything." Frodo told her. She shook her head.
"No, wouldn't be smart. He might ask for your name and the Ringwraiths know your name for sure by now." The hobbits looked shocked for several seconds.
"Did...did they get Gandalf?" Pippin squeaked.
"I don't think so, but we don't know." Anna let her trained eyes wander around, seeing if anyone was listening. She only saw one man staring at them. He wore a long dark cloak and his hood was pulled over his face. He held a pipe in his mouth and she saw the fire of his eyes under his hood. She stared back before looking back to the hobbits.
"I'm going to get more to drink." Pippin announced and pranced away to the bar. Sam shook his head and rolled his eyes while Merry chuckled slightly, starting a conversation with Frodo. Anna paid no attention, keeping a weary eye on the mystery man in the corner. Still staring as he blew smoke rings. Keeping an eye on the man, and a ear on Merry, Sam and Frodo's conversation, she drank her beer. She hadn't never really had much of beer in Fawe, but Diego and Octavian had given it to her. And she liked it.
"And my cousins Merry Brandybuck and Frodo Baggins-" Pippin's voice broke through her thoughts as Frodo jumped up to keep Pippin quiet. She turned and stood watching as Frodo grabbed Pippin's arm, trying to keep his quiet. She moved forward as Frodo fell and the ring fell into the air, before Frodo caught it and disappeared.
"Frodo!" she yelled and rushed forward, followed quickly by Sam and Merry. She had no idea where he was, but noticed that the strange man disappeared as well.
"Good going Pippin. You lost Frodo!" Merry sighed.
"He might have gone back to the room. Come on." She ran slightly to the room the others behind her. She explained the man and how she thought that he might have gone to the room as well.
"And me without a weapon!" Sam wailed.
"Sam, can you even use one?" He huffed at Merry and they stopped just outside the door, Anna hearing another voice in the room. The others heard it as well and looked up at her. She nodded and drew her sword before the hobbits threw the door open.
The man turned around quickly, fear in his eyes, but relaxed when he saw the hobbits. Anna had slipped behind him quickly, going the way opposite he turned and put her sword under his chin.
"You do not scare me lady." He said in a deep and soothing voice, very calm and controlled.
"No, but I will give you reason to be scared of me." She pushed the sword closer to his throat.
"No Anna! He knows Gandalf." She stopped and looked at Frodo, his eyes large and pale in the moonlight. She looked back to the man and stared into his eyes. Seeing no evil or lies she lowered her sword.
"And how do you know him sir?"
"I am an old friend of his. He sent me to meet him, but has not showed up at all." She put her sword back in it's sheath. "I was told to help him get two halflings and a woman to Rivendell. I see four halflings and I assume you are the lady trained by elves?"
"Yes. Anna you may call me."
"We're hobbits! Not halflings!" Pippin added.
"My name is Strider. I am a Ranger from the north." She could see the flicker in his eyes and knew Strider was not his name. "I know Frodo already, but the others are?"
"Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck. Sam, Pippin and Merry." she said shortly. She trusted him, but wanted him to want her to believe him.
"Please Anna. I cause you no harm. I wish to help you get to Rivendell. I was raised there as a child and am like you, Elven friend." She nodded. "You will let me help you?"
"Yes."
"Then I am here to help and I give council now. Stay away from this room tonight. Stay in mine. I fear the Ringwraiths have found you." The hobbits gasped and Anna nodded.
"Put pillows under the covers to make it look like you sleep in the beds." They nodded and did so, before grabbing their packs and following Strider to his room.
"You four had best try getting some sleep. We're leaving in the morning." Anna said. They nodded and taking off their cloaks and jackets, and vests before falling under the covers. Anna smiled and sat down next to the window. Strider joined her when the hobbits were asleep and he relit his pipe.
"Do you want one?" he asked, holding his pipe out in meaning.
"I don't smoke."
"You had a beer I saw."
"I'll drink, but I won't smoke." He smiled at her and she smiled back. They started talking about their childhoods and told stories about the elves they knew. They talked quietly, being careful not to wake the slumbering hobbits. Frodo awoke soon anyway and just stared at the ceiling before sitting up.
"I can not sleep Anna."
"Try to Frodo. We will be having long walking days ahead of us. We must stay ahead of the Ringwraiths." He nodded and lay back down, resting, but not sleeping.
"You care for them?"
"Yes. I have known them a few precious weeks and I care for them deeply. I want nothing to happen to any of them." He nodded at her tender words and watched them as they stayed still, stirring lightly every now and then. Suddenly Anna felt something coming. She looked out of the window to see large black shapes heading towards the inn.
"Strider?" He followed Anna's gaze and nodded.
"The Ringwraiths." Frodo sat up and stared at the wall. Sam still slept, but Merry and Pippin had started to stir as the Ringwraiths banged around the inn looking for the Ring. After several moments of terrible silence, loud and earsplitting shrieks filled the inn. Sam sat straight up right after Merry and Pippin.
"What is it?" Sam asked. Merry and Pippin clung to each other in fear.
"Ringwraiths." Frodo stated simply. Pippin gasped and they stared out of the window as large black shadows passed by before several more shrieks and the galloping of horse hooves disappeared into the darkness of the night.
"I think they found us not in our room." Anna told them lightly, trying to break their fear. They nodded, their smiles not reaching the fear in their eyes.
They didn't sleep anymore than night and left early in the morning, paying for their rooms. They left Bree and walked all day, stopping only to get some sort of breakfast.
After a few days they stopped at an old place with ruins on top. "Weathertop." Strider told her. They stopped and Frodo fell asleep as Anna and Strider left to guard the area.
Several hours later Ann heard shouting by the hobbits and she called to the Ranger and they ran to the top where the hobbits had rushed in fear. And she saw a Ringwraith for the first time.
It was tall, dressed in a long black cloak with metal clad hands that gripped amazingly long swords. They stalked forward towards the hobbits. Strider jumped forward with a torch of fire and she did the same, fighting with two and swinging at them, noticing their hate of the bright red fire.
When hearing Frodo's cry she turned to see Frodo appear with his hand pressed against his shoulder. "FRODO!" she yelled rushing over to him. The Ringwraiths were now gone and Strider hurried over as well before removing his cloak and examining the wound.
He muttered something and stood. "We need to get to Rivendell quickly. There is not much I can do." The other hobbits looked shocked but Anna nodded and took Umpra from her pack and whispered to him. He grew into his full height and Strider stared at her.
He placed Frodo onto Umpra's back and Anna took the reins and they took off into the woods.
"What is it Strider?" she asked him quietly, making sure the hobbits didn't hear.
"If he is not taken care of shortly, he will turn into a Ringwraith himself." she gasped and looked back, watching Sam as he tried to get water into Frodo's mouth.
After a week of constant travel, fearing for Frodo, they were near Rivendell, and Frodo's wound was getting worse. Aragorn tried some remedy with a plant but it did little good. "We need him across the Ford of Bruinen to Rivendell." He told her, making sure the other hobbits didn't hear.
"I can take him on Umpra. Just tell me how to get there." Strider looked at her for several seconds before nodding slowly.
"You might meet an elf on the way there. Tell them you are my friend and Elven friend and they will help you." He told her as she mounted Umpra, Frodo in front of her. "If not, keep traveling in the direction we have been going and you will see a bridge. It is called the Bridge of Mitheithel. Cross it and keep going. When you reach a ford you will be safe. Once there, you will find an elf who will help." She nodded and said a quick good-bye to the other hobbits.
She took off at a full gallop, keeping one arm around Frodo's chest and the other on the reins. She didn't stop for anything but to make sure Frodo was still alright. She reached the bridge and still had not seen any elves.
Finally she saw the Ford. "Thank St. Artemis." she whispered as she slowly moved Umpra over the water of the Ford. "Oh hang in there Frodo. We are so close." His appearance was starting to shock her. He had been gasping for air and his skin had darkened and his eyes clouded over.
She sighed and when she was halfway across she heard something coming. She turned and saw nothing. As she continued looking behind her, she kept Umpra moving forward until she saw the Ringwraiths. She got Umpra close to the other side before turning around to face them.
They sat on their large black steeds, hardly moving. "You want him? Come take him from my dead arms!" They raised their swords and slowly moved forward. She took her sword out as well and waited for them to get closer. Her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword.
'Is this a good idea?' His voice was full of disbelief and fear at Anna's actions.
"I will not let them take Frodo while I'm alive Umpra." Umpra snorted and moved back a little restlessly, before staying still. The sun hitting off the sun hurt her eyes, but she wouldn't blink. She kept her eyes trained on the black figures as they crept closer.
A low rumble started from upstream and Anna saw a large wall of water rushing forward. Umpra reared up and moved backwards so the water wouldn't hit them. When the Ringwraiths heard the rumble they turned to see what it was. The water ran over them, taking them farther down stream, their shrill shrieks filling into the air. The water slowly calmed down and Anna began to breath again.
'Where did that come from?'
"I don't know Umpra." She looked down at Frodo and gasped. His eyes were now a milky white and he was hardly breathing. "FRODO! NO! DON'T GIVE IN! FIGHT!" She held him close, before beginning to shout for help. She urged Umpra on, hoping someone from Rivendell would find them.
"HELP! PLEASE SOMEONE! HELP US!" Umpra started to gallop forward as Anna called for help. After minutes of crying she saw someone in the woods. "Please, sir. He's ill and he needs help." The person, well elf, stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a friend of the Ranger Strider, an Elven friend. Please this is Frodo Baggins, he has the Ring."
"Yes, yes." He rushed forward, with a tall grace and gently took Frodo from her arms. "Quickly." He rushed forward and Umpra followed. "My name is Glorfindel. Lord Elrond set me out to retrieve Gandalf and the Ringbearer. He mentioned a lady as well."
"Gandalf was not where he said he would be."
"He arrived earlier this morning." She nodded and they continued to Rivendell.
"There are three other hobbits and Strider still in the woods. Should we send someone for them as well?"
"No, the Ranger is well capable of getting here." They hurried in silence and reached Rivendell by nightfall and Anna marveled at the beauty of the elven place. All around a large wooden house were beautiful old trees and large waterfalls that bounced the moonlight back and forth. The leaves were changing colors and were in reds, oranges and yellows. There were many pathways leading from the house to other parts of a garden and to courtyards around the whole place. She saw a small bridge over a small stream and it was surrounded by flowers of beautiful colors.
"Come, I shall show him to Lord Elrond." She nodded and followed Glorfindel inside, leaving Umpra to several elven stable hands, telling him to be good. She followed the tall and blonde elf to a large room. Another tall elf sat in a chair, his long brown hair straight down his back and dressed in an amazing robe of a beautifully colored fabric. He sang the words "majestic" and "regal".
"Lord Elrond, the Ringbearer." He rushed forward and took him, analyzing.
"He needs a room." Several servants appeared and led the way down the hall to a large room by a waterfall. Frodo was placed on the bed and the servants got Frodo's cloak, jacket, vest and his shirt off so Elrond could heal the wound.
"Come lady. There is nothing to do but wait." She gaped at Glorfindel as he took her by the shoulders and pushed her backwards, closing the door.
"I have to stay with him." She pushed against his hands, but he was stronger in her state of weariness of the extreme travel.
"There is nothing you can do." She turned to see Gandalf coming from down the hall.
"Gandalf!" she cried in happiness, than she grew angry. "Where were you?"
"I was held up. I shall tell later, but come. Tell me of your adventure." She nodded and followed the wizard to a large sitting room.
"Where were you?" she demanded again.
"Have you no patience?"
"We were worried. You scared poor Pippin half to death. He thought the Ringwraiths had taken you."
"Wait, Pippin? Peregrin Took?"
"Yes, he and Merry-Meriadoc-Brandybuck have also joined Sam, Frodo and I."
"They can not stay out of anything can they?"
"Please, Gandalf."
"You will find out at the council Anna. Now stop pestering me."
"Council? What council?"
"The Council of Elrond will decide what is to be done with the Ring." Anna stared at him, her eyes searching his wise face.
"Is it not to stay here? I thought that was why we brought it here. For it to be safe." Gandalf sighed and he closed his eyes.
"I have spoken with Lord Elrond. He says that the Ring can not stay here." Anna gasped and sat back, she really was tired and the thought of the evil in the room down the hall added to her tiredness. "I understand if you do not wish to stay. After the council, you may either go straight back to Gondor or you may take the hobbits back to Hobbiton, then go to Gondor."
"I go wherever Frodo goes." Anna crossed her arms and Gandalf smiled.
"May all care as much as you do." They smiled. "I see that you are tired. I know where your room is. Come, the council is in five days and you need your rest." She nodded and followed the aged wizard down the hall into her room.
YEAH! ANOTHER CHAPTER DONE! Believe it or not, but the eight chapter had actually been done for a week or so now, I just have like four things more to add. I'll put it up probably Thursday. Review please!
Next chapter: The council, the Fellowship, and a late night snack
Yeah I know. It's been awhile since I've updated last. I just got back from vacation and I'm still tired. I'm not going anywhere for awhile, so updates should be coming a lot quicker.
Disclaimer: Same as always, not mine.
Warnings: Nope
Thanks to my reviewers!
Chapter seven
New Acquaintances
"I am tired! And hungry!" Anna rolled her eyes and pushed Pippin to keep him moving. She was in the back, Pippin in front of her. Frodo was in the very front, followed by Sam and then Merry. They had been traveling for awhile now and Anna was just getting use to them. They ate an insane amount of food, with all of their extra mealtimes.
"Get use to it Pippin. We're just out of the Old Forest!" Merry scolded. Pippin looked back at her with sorrowful eyes and she shrugged back. They had just gotten out of the Old Forest and their meeting of Tom Bombadil. It was good that he found them or Anna doubted they would have made it this far.
"We've only a day Pippin until Bree." She squeezed his shoulder and they continued throughout the rest of the day, Anna marking their path. Finally they reached Bree that night in the pouring rain.
"Who is it?" called the guard gate.
"Five humble travelers wishing to stay at the Inn." Anna called.
"Business?"
"None that concerns you." Frodo told him. The guard grunted and let them in. They walked forward and looked for the Prancing Pony sign. When they found it they went in and Anna led them to the front desk.
"We are looking for a room. They are five of us, myself and four hobbits."
"Yes, I have a room. It's more for hobbits than you."
"I don't care. It'll be fine." The man nodded and gave her a key, telling her where the room was. She thanked him and the hobbits followed her. They reached the room and dumped their packs onto their beds.
"Anna where will you sleep?"
"I'll sleep on the floor Frodo. Don't worry." He nodded and they left the room after they cleaned up slightly. Together they walked back to the dining area and they ordered some drinks, sitting at a table in the middle, around a lot of very drunk men.
"I don't see Gandalf anywhere." Anna whispered, sipping from her mug.
"I know. I was thinking of asking the desk if he left a message or anything." Frodo told her. She shook her head.
"No, wouldn't be smart. He might ask for your name and the Ringwraiths know your name for sure by now." The hobbits looked shocked for several seconds.
"Did...did they get Gandalf?" Pippin squeaked.
"I don't think so, but we don't know." Anna let her trained eyes wander around, seeing if anyone was listening. She only saw one man staring at them. He wore a long dark cloak and his hood was pulled over his face. He held a pipe in his mouth and she saw the fire of his eyes under his hood. She stared back before looking back to the hobbits.
"I'm going to get more to drink." Pippin announced and pranced away to the bar. Sam shook his head and rolled his eyes while Merry chuckled slightly, starting a conversation with Frodo. Anna paid no attention, keeping a weary eye on the mystery man in the corner. Still staring as he blew smoke rings. Keeping an eye on the man, and a ear on Merry, Sam and Frodo's conversation, she drank her beer. She hadn't never really had much of beer in Fawe, but Diego and Octavian had given it to her. And she liked it.
"And my cousins Merry Brandybuck and Frodo Baggins-" Pippin's voice broke through her thoughts as Frodo jumped up to keep Pippin quiet. She turned and stood watching as Frodo grabbed Pippin's arm, trying to keep his quiet. She moved forward as Frodo fell and the ring fell into the air, before Frodo caught it and disappeared.
"Frodo!" she yelled and rushed forward, followed quickly by Sam and Merry. She had no idea where he was, but noticed that the strange man disappeared as well.
"Good going Pippin. You lost Frodo!" Merry sighed.
"He might have gone back to the room. Come on." She ran slightly to the room the others behind her. She explained the man and how she thought that he might have gone to the room as well.
"And me without a weapon!" Sam wailed.
"Sam, can you even use one?" He huffed at Merry and they stopped just outside the door, Anna hearing another voice in the room. The others heard it as well and looked up at her. She nodded and drew her sword before the hobbits threw the door open.
The man turned around quickly, fear in his eyes, but relaxed when he saw the hobbits. Anna had slipped behind him quickly, going the way opposite he turned and put her sword under his chin.
"You do not scare me lady." He said in a deep and soothing voice, very calm and controlled.
"No, but I will give you reason to be scared of me." She pushed the sword closer to his throat.
"No Anna! He knows Gandalf." She stopped and looked at Frodo, his eyes large and pale in the moonlight. She looked back to the man and stared into his eyes. Seeing no evil or lies she lowered her sword.
"And how do you know him sir?"
"I am an old friend of his. He sent me to meet him, but has not showed up at all." She put her sword back in it's sheath. "I was told to help him get two halflings and a woman to Rivendell. I see four halflings and I assume you are the lady trained by elves?"
"Yes. Anna you may call me."
"We're hobbits! Not halflings!" Pippin added.
"My name is Strider. I am a Ranger from the north." She could see the flicker in his eyes and knew Strider was not his name. "I know Frodo already, but the others are?"
"Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck. Sam, Pippin and Merry." she said shortly. She trusted him, but wanted him to want her to believe him.
"Please Anna. I cause you no harm. I wish to help you get to Rivendell. I was raised there as a child and am like you, Elven friend." She nodded. "You will let me help you?"
"Yes."
"Then I am here to help and I give council now. Stay away from this room tonight. Stay in mine. I fear the Ringwraiths have found you." The hobbits gasped and Anna nodded.
"Put pillows under the covers to make it look like you sleep in the beds." They nodded and did so, before grabbing their packs and following Strider to his room.
"You four had best try getting some sleep. We're leaving in the morning." Anna said. They nodded and taking off their cloaks and jackets, and vests before falling under the covers. Anna smiled and sat down next to the window. Strider joined her when the hobbits were asleep and he relit his pipe.
"Do you want one?" he asked, holding his pipe out in meaning.
"I don't smoke."
"You had a beer I saw."
"I'll drink, but I won't smoke." He smiled at her and she smiled back. They started talking about their childhoods and told stories about the elves they knew. They talked quietly, being careful not to wake the slumbering hobbits. Frodo awoke soon anyway and just stared at the ceiling before sitting up.
"I can not sleep Anna."
"Try to Frodo. We will be having long walking days ahead of us. We must stay ahead of the Ringwraiths." He nodded and lay back down, resting, but not sleeping.
"You care for them?"
"Yes. I have known them a few precious weeks and I care for them deeply. I want nothing to happen to any of them." He nodded at her tender words and watched them as they stayed still, stirring lightly every now and then. Suddenly Anna felt something coming. She looked out of the window to see large black shapes heading towards the inn.
"Strider?" He followed Anna's gaze and nodded.
"The Ringwraiths." Frodo sat up and stared at the wall. Sam still slept, but Merry and Pippin had started to stir as the Ringwraiths banged around the inn looking for the Ring. After several moments of terrible silence, loud and earsplitting shrieks filled the inn. Sam sat straight up right after Merry and Pippin.
"What is it?" Sam asked. Merry and Pippin clung to each other in fear.
"Ringwraiths." Frodo stated simply. Pippin gasped and they stared out of the window as large black shadows passed by before several more shrieks and the galloping of horse hooves disappeared into the darkness of the night.
"I think they found us not in our room." Anna told them lightly, trying to break their fear. They nodded, their smiles not reaching the fear in their eyes.
They didn't sleep anymore than night and left early in the morning, paying for their rooms. They left Bree and walked all day, stopping only to get some sort of breakfast.
After a few days they stopped at an old place with ruins on top. "Weathertop." Strider told her. They stopped and Frodo fell asleep as Anna and Strider left to guard the area.
Several hours later Ann heard shouting by the hobbits and she called to the Ranger and they ran to the top where the hobbits had rushed in fear. And she saw a Ringwraith for the first time.
It was tall, dressed in a long black cloak with metal clad hands that gripped amazingly long swords. They stalked forward towards the hobbits. Strider jumped forward with a torch of fire and she did the same, fighting with two and swinging at them, noticing their hate of the bright red fire.
When hearing Frodo's cry she turned to see Frodo appear with his hand pressed against his shoulder. "FRODO!" she yelled rushing over to him. The Ringwraiths were now gone and Strider hurried over as well before removing his cloak and examining the wound.
He muttered something and stood. "We need to get to Rivendell quickly. There is not much I can do." The other hobbits looked shocked but Anna nodded and took Umpra from her pack and whispered to him. He grew into his full height and Strider stared at her.
He placed Frodo onto Umpra's back and Anna took the reins and they took off into the woods.
"What is it Strider?" she asked him quietly, making sure the hobbits didn't hear.
"If he is not taken care of shortly, he will turn into a Ringwraith himself." she gasped and looked back, watching Sam as he tried to get water into Frodo's mouth.
After a week of constant travel, fearing for Frodo, they were near Rivendell, and Frodo's wound was getting worse. Aragorn tried some remedy with a plant but it did little good. "We need him across the Ford of Bruinen to Rivendell." He told her, making sure the other hobbits didn't hear.
"I can take him on Umpra. Just tell me how to get there." Strider looked at her for several seconds before nodding slowly.
"You might meet an elf on the way there. Tell them you are my friend and Elven friend and they will help you." He told her as she mounted Umpra, Frodo in front of her. "If not, keep traveling in the direction we have been going and you will see a bridge. It is called the Bridge of Mitheithel. Cross it and keep going. When you reach a ford you will be safe. Once there, you will find an elf who will help." She nodded and said a quick good-bye to the other hobbits.
She took off at a full gallop, keeping one arm around Frodo's chest and the other on the reins. She didn't stop for anything but to make sure Frodo was still alright. She reached the bridge and still had not seen any elves.
Finally she saw the Ford. "Thank St. Artemis." she whispered as she slowly moved Umpra over the water of the Ford. "Oh hang in there Frodo. We are so close." His appearance was starting to shock her. He had been gasping for air and his skin had darkened and his eyes clouded over.
She sighed and when she was halfway across she heard something coming. She turned and saw nothing. As she continued looking behind her, she kept Umpra moving forward until she saw the Ringwraiths. She got Umpra close to the other side before turning around to face them.
They sat on their large black steeds, hardly moving. "You want him? Come take him from my dead arms!" They raised their swords and slowly moved forward. She took her sword out as well and waited for them to get closer. Her grip tightened on the hilt of her sword.
'Is this a good idea?' His voice was full of disbelief and fear at Anna's actions.
"I will not let them take Frodo while I'm alive Umpra." Umpra snorted and moved back a little restlessly, before staying still. The sun hitting off the sun hurt her eyes, but she wouldn't blink. She kept her eyes trained on the black figures as they crept closer.
A low rumble started from upstream and Anna saw a large wall of water rushing forward. Umpra reared up and moved backwards so the water wouldn't hit them. When the Ringwraiths heard the rumble they turned to see what it was. The water ran over them, taking them farther down stream, their shrill shrieks filling into the air. The water slowly calmed down and Anna began to breath again.
'Where did that come from?'
"I don't know Umpra." She looked down at Frodo and gasped. His eyes were now a milky white and he was hardly breathing. "FRODO! NO! DON'T GIVE IN! FIGHT!" She held him close, before beginning to shout for help. She urged Umpra on, hoping someone from Rivendell would find them.
"HELP! PLEASE SOMEONE! HELP US!" Umpra started to gallop forward as Anna called for help. After minutes of crying she saw someone in the woods. "Please, sir. He's ill and he needs help." The person, well elf, stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
"I'm a friend of the Ranger Strider, an Elven friend. Please this is Frodo Baggins, he has the Ring."
"Yes, yes." He rushed forward, with a tall grace and gently took Frodo from her arms. "Quickly." He rushed forward and Umpra followed. "My name is Glorfindel. Lord Elrond set me out to retrieve Gandalf and the Ringbearer. He mentioned a lady as well."
"Gandalf was not where he said he would be."
"He arrived earlier this morning." She nodded and they continued to Rivendell.
"There are three other hobbits and Strider still in the woods. Should we send someone for them as well?"
"No, the Ranger is well capable of getting here." They hurried in silence and reached Rivendell by nightfall and Anna marveled at the beauty of the elven place. All around a large wooden house were beautiful old trees and large waterfalls that bounced the moonlight back and forth. The leaves were changing colors and were in reds, oranges and yellows. There were many pathways leading from the house to other parts of a garden and to courtyards around the whole place. She saw a small bridge over a small stream and it was surrounded by flowers of beautiful colors.
"Come, I shall show him to Lord Elrond." She nodded and followed Glorfindel inside, leaving Umpra to several elven stable hands, telling him to be good. She followed the tall and blonde elf to a large room. Another tall elf sat in a chair, his long brown hair straight down his back and dressed in an amazing robe of a beautifully colored fabric. He sang the words "majestic" and "regal".
"Lord Elrond, the Ringbearer." He rushed forward and took him, analyzing.
"He needs a room." Several servants appeared and led the way down the hall to a large room by a waterfall. Frodo was placed on the bed and the servants got Frodo's cloak, jacket, vest and his shirt off so Elrond could heal the wound.
"Come lady. There is nothing to do but wait." She gaped at Glorfindel as he took her by the shoulders and pushed her backwards, closing the door.
"I have to stay with him." She pushed against his hands, but he was stronger in her state of weariness of the extreme travel.
"There is nothing you can do." She turned to see Gandalf coming from down the hall.
"Gandalf!" she cried in happiness, than she grew angry. "Where were you?"
"I was held up. I shall tell later, but come. Tell me of your adventure." She nodded and followed the wizard to a large sitting room.
"Where were you?" she demanded again.
"Have you no patience?"
"We were worried. You scared poor Pippin half to death. He thought the Ringwraiths had taken you."
"Wait, Pippin? Peregrin Took?"
"Yes, he and Merry-Meriadoc-Brandybuck have also joined Sam, Frodo and I."
"They can not stay out of anything can they?"
"Please, Gandalf."
"You will find out at the council Anna. Now stop pestering me."
"Council? What council?"
"The Council of Elrond will decide what is to be done with the Ring." Anna stared at him, her eyes searching his wise face.
"Is it not to stay here? I thought that was why we brought it here. For it to be safe." Gandalf sighed and he closed his eyes.
"I have spoken with Lord Elrond. He says that the Ring can not stay here." Anna gasped and sat back, she really was tired and the thought of the evil in the room down the hall added to her tiredness. "I understand if you do not wish to stay. After the council, you may either go straight back to Gondor or you may take the hobbits back to Hobbiton, then go to Gondor."
"I go wherever Frodo goes." Anna crossed her arms and Gandalf smiled.
"May all care as much as you do." They smiled. "I see that you are tired. I know where your room is. Come, the council is in five days and you need your rest." She nodded and followed the aged wizard down the hall into her room.
YEAH! ANOTHER CHAPTER DONE! Believe it or not, but the eight chapter had actually been done for a week or so now, I just have like four things more to add. I'll put it up probably Thursday. Review please!
Next chapter: The council, the Fellowship, and a late night snack