AN: Ok short chappy here but I figure no one is probably reading this anyway so it really doesn't matter. Oh and by the way if you are reading this, review please. It'll get better, promise! Have fun.

11: The Brandywine

Night had fallen foggily and the five companions were still traveling through the mists, lurking from tree to tree, watching and listening for the evil that haunted their footsteps.

"Can you see anything?" Sam called out to Frodo who was in the lead.

There was a pause and then Frodo answered, "Nothing."

Pippin popped out of his hiding place and walked down the hill to join the others, "What is going on?"

Merry answered him, "That black rider was looking for something or someone. Frodo?" He walked down beside him and looked at him suspiciously.

Before any more explanations or accusations could be made Sam called in warning, "Get down!"

Instinctively, they all dropped to the ground and watched as a rider came up into view. Zilda subconsciously fingered the polished wood of her bow. The black creature looked about, then to everyone's relief, turned around and galloped away.

"I have to leave the Shire." Frodo whispered. He turned to look at Merry pleadingly, "Sam, Zilda and I must get to Bree."

Merry nodded, thinking, "Right…" Then, his face lit up with dawning realization, "Buckleberry Ferry! Follow me!"

The four hobbits immediately popped out from their hiding place, "Wait!" Zilda cried out anxiously, but it was too late. Suddenly a rider burst through the brush and reared up, whinnying in a terrifying way. Sam, Merry and Pippin all managed to get around, but Frodo was trapped, moving back and forth, unable to see his way out. Zilda leaped up, an arrow strung to her bow. She aimed for the black space that was the head of the creature, but she was shaking with terror and her arrow fell low, hitting the thing in the shoulder instead. It screamed with fury, instilling horror into Zilda's already frightened heart.

"Run, Frodo!" She cried as she darted past the wraith and ran after the others. She glanced over her shoulder to see if the hobbit was following and saw an alarming sight. The rider reached up and jerked her arrow out of its shoulder, tossing it aside as if it were just an annoying stick it found on the road.

"They don't feel pain!" She thought, horrified. She then turned and ran for all she was worth toward the raft that was Buckleberry Ferry. The others were yelling at her, telling her to hurry. Sam was untying the raft. Suddenly, she was struck by a revelation. She stopped at the edge of the dock and took out another arrow. The three on the raft were screaming at her, telling her it was no use, they couldn't die. She strung the arrow onto the bow. Frodo was running toward her, a rider not far behind.

"Maybe they can't die," she thought, as she took aim. "But, I bet their horses can." She loosed her second arrow and hit her rider's mount squarely in the chest. It reared back whinnying in pain. Then, it fell on its side writhing in the dirt. The rider slipped out from under the dying beast and began to run after Frodo, but it was too late. Frodo ran across the dock and leaped onto the already floating raft. Zilda turned quickly and followed him, leaping onto the raft and landing with a thump, next to Pippin who immediately tried to choke her to death in a hug.

"Pip…" She wheezed, trying to dislodge him from her neck.

"Oh, Zildy are you ok? Did you get hurt? I was so scared!"

"Pip… I can't breathe…" She gasped out again. He finally let her go and she sucked in the cool autumn air, calming her frazzled nerves.

"How far to the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked gulping for air.

"The Brandywine Bridge," Merry said as he rowed down the river, "Twenty miles."

Everyone looked to the riverbank and saw the riders galloping away, one riding double. Zilda smiled.

The journey down the river was calm and peaceful in the fresh fall night. And agonizingly slow! Zilda would have been pacing if she hadn't been afraid of capsizing the small ferry. She laid back and gazed into the clear sky. She tried to locate her favorite stars to pass the time and get her mind off of the terror they had just endured.

"Earendil…" she whispered thoughtfully. She scanned the skies above her and found she was having trouble finding it, "Where are you?" she murmured. Suddenly, a hand took her chin and pointed her eyes to the north a bit. She only had to search for a bit afterward before she saw it and smiled. She looked up and saw Frodo smiling down at her.

"Find it alright?"

"Yes, thank you." She sat up, clasping her hands around her knees and closed her eyes, feeling the night breeze, listening to the rhythm of Merry's paddle on the river water. Having Frodo this close was suddenly awkward and she didn't want to have to look into his eyes again. Besides her little brother was right there! Suddenly there was a shriek and her eyes flew open as she grabbed an arrow and aimed in the direction of the noise. But the only thing there was a lone screech owl, floating lazily over the river and into the trees on the far bank. She sighed and replaced the arrow. Everyone on the tiny ferry had tensed at the sound and now relaxed again. Pippin edged his way over to his big sister and she pulled him close to her. He was so young; not even come of age yet. She pulled him a little closer.

They drifted for a little longer, before Merry whispered, "There, do you see it?"

Zilda glanced down the river and thought she saw a lantern on the riverbank, "Do you mean that light?"

Merry smiled and began to steer toward it, "Aye, that's the Bridge. And beyond is home."

As they got closer, Zilda could hear laughter ringing over the water and more lights joined the first. She could just make out the shape of a great building where all the light and merrymaking was coming from. And she got her first glimpse of Brandy Hall.

AN: Ok, there it was. I know I don't usually put AN's at the end of the chapter, but I need to say that this story has taken an unexpected turn in my attempt to put the movie and the books together. So the next chapter will be my own creative genius! It will not really resemble any chapter in the books or any part of the movie. If this angers you I am sorry. I am trying, be patient. Thank you for your cooperation.