Summary: Pre Council of Elrond: Missing scenes before Frodo's company, Legolas, Boromir and Gimli arrive in Imladris. WIP! Reviews most welcome ;)
A/N: Smiles innocently... Im very sorry, I hadn't forgotten that I was writing! I'm done with exams now but I didn't expect the holidays to be so busy! I was quite surprised when I found I'd already half written this chapter and being away for so long hopefully will encourange me to write more and quicly! Thanks Morier for giving me a kick up the behind lol, you were right - I can't beg you for updates when I neglect my own!
Four Wraiths Behind You:
9. Saving the Hobbit
"Frodo?" Frodo didn't answer. The voice called to him again a little louder. The Hobbit opened one eye and involuntarily jumped back upon seeing an unfamiliar face.
"Peace," the man said walking away whilst gathering up belongings. "Your Hobbit friends are already awake, fed and ready to leave," Strider said. Frodo recalled the night before somewhat sleepily and pulled himself out of bed.
"Why didn't you wake me?" he asked.
"I mean you no offence," was the rangers reply, "I thought you could use the sleep. We've a long journey ahead of us."
Frodo nodded but said nothing. Merry and Pippin soon came back upstairs with a basket of bread and fruit. Nob, a servant of the Prancing Pony had been un-thankably kind to both Hobbits that morning. Merry suspected it was somewhat to do with wanting to look after the Hobbit after he had been found outside the night before. While Pippin had decided, upon learning that the drink in Bree came in much larger quantities than the Shire, to purchase himself a "pint" Merry had excused himself and retreated outside for some air. He was fortunate that the rain had stopped now and the night was cloudless so the moon lit his way.
The streets of Bree were quite empty and for a foreign village it felt quite peaceful. He wandered further down the street glad of some relative safety after their encounter with the black riders. As Merry walked however and recalled the last days he began to feel quite uneasy again as if someone were watching him. He suddenly found he wanted to stop and turn back to the inn very quickly but his legs were being very uncooperative, as thought he were somehow drawn towards what he feared. 'What's out there?' He whispered to himself squinting curiously down through the village towards the gate. Past the gate, and Merry saw what he ultimately has spurred them here so quickly. He spun around so quickly that he lost his footing in the sodden earth and slipped to the group.
But Merry didn't stay down for long.
A hand grabbed his and pulled him back up, and before he could even stand straight had him dashing back to the inn. He was a Hobbit, not one of Merry's companions but a Hobbit of Bree who Merry recognised as a servant of the Inn. Barliman had been talking with him earlier that evening.
"Hurry!" Nob called, "It isn't safe out!"
By the time they reached the Inn Merry was out of breath. He had arrived just in time to see Pippin and Sam running for the stairs and he looked at them in complete confusion.
"He's taken Frodo!" They hissed.
"Merry? …Merry!"
"Yes Pip?"
"Are you going to give Frodo his breakfast or stand looking at him all morning?" The younger Hobbit asked.
"Oh, sorry." Merry came back from his wanderings and handed Frodo his food.
"We're leaving soon," Frodo told them. The Hobbits gathered their packs and following Strider left the Prancing Pony before anyone else in the village had awoken.
In no less than a week of departing Elladan and Elrohir had both safely returned back home from Minas Tirith. Their home was considerably less tranquil than when they had left.
"Arwen, what is happening?" Elrohir called after his sister. Everyone seemed very busy and even the Evenstar was distressed.
"Thank the Valar that you're back," Arwen smiled running back to greet her brothers. "Tell me, when did you last see Estel?"
The brothers looked at one another, "Two days perhaps, before we left home,"
"It was the second evening,"
"Why?"
"There is trouble in the forest. The enemy has been sighted and there have been reports of dark riders in the South. Father says they have crossed the River Isen."
As the siblings talked they continued to walk away from their fathers home and down a steep path. Outside in the forest was much calmer than in Rivendell. It gave them a chance to think clearly.
"You think Estel is in danger." Elladan said flatly. Arwen looked at him and nodded. The three Elves weren't stupid, whether their father admitted to them or not the fact remained that the one ring had been found, it was simply a matter of proving it, and there was a very good chance Aragorn was in danger. Arwen finally reached where she had been heading unlike the others who were simply following for some space.
Elrohir eyed her suspiciously. Arwen opened the gate to the stables and hurried inside. "What are you doing?"
"That is Glorfindel's horse!" Elladan pointed out.
"Glor-fin-dels," Elrohir emphasised.
"I know," Arwen replied simply climbing up onto Asfaloth.
"So I ask again, what are you doing?"
"Going to find them." She said quickly and spurred the horse into a gallop from the stables. Elladan and Elrohir watched her go silently before looking at each other again. They said nothing, only turning to follow her path once more.
It was a six-day journey from Bree to the next notable landmark in their journey; Weathertop or Amon Sûl as Aragorn told the Hobbits. It seemed like only yesterday that Aragorn had paused there looking down on Bree but that night the great watchtower was shrouded in fog and it was difficult to see anything at all. It made the night quiet and Aragorn didn't like it. He was glad of leaving a bundle of small swords here on his way; they would serve the Hobbits well. There was little else to be found of use to them that night.
That was six nights ago and since then an attack by the Black Riders had left Frodo wounded with little time to spare. With Frodo now riding to safety with Arwen, it was Aragorn's charge to keep the remaining Hobbits moving.
"We'll rest soon," he assured them.
"No!" Aragorn looked round in surprise. "We have to reach Rivendell with Mr. Frodo," Sam was saying, "We need to know he's alright."
"Even if we reached the valley tonight we still wouldn't know, it could take time for him to heal." Sam was still a little dissatisfied. "I promise you, we will reach Rivendell as fast as we can, I too have no wish to linger in the woods."
After a while or so, Pippin began to hurry to make pace with Strider. "What's it like? Rivendell I mean."
"Pippin!" Merry hissed making Aragorn laugh.
"It's alright," he said, "Rivendell is a good place, with good people. The elves there make music and stories that would fill entire libraries." Aragorn smiled at the memory.
"Have you been there often?" Pippin went on. Aragorn nodded but gave no further reasoning.
"The realm of Imladris is hidden in the trees of they valley," Aragorn explained, "Of the Misty Mountains. Those are a dark and dangerous place where few would willingly venture, most people never find Rivendell unless they are looking for it."
"And you're sure that you know the way?" Pippin asked again not too fond of the idea of being lost on those peaks. For the third time the Hobbit made Aragorn laugh.
"Yes, I assure you I know the way."
The following two days were just as tiresome as the last. Aragorn surmised that Arwen and Frodo would cross the Ford of Bruinen sometime on their third day of absence if she rode direct and hard. Knowing the daughter of Elrond she would be true to her word and outride any that followed her. Aragorn was glad that the Hobbits seemed to be at ease with him now and were happy to talk normally in front of him and even join him in their conversation. Underlying worry nevertheless was always present with the fear that the Black Riders would return and there wasn't a lot Aragorn could do so solve that.
Elves could however.
Aragorn was right when he guessed that Arwen would reach the Ford that afternoon. It took the remainder of the day to ride the indirect and winding pathway to Rivendell.
"Tua Amin!" Arwen called as she and Asfaloth sped over a stone bridge into her home. "Help me!" she called again. This time her pleas were met with familiar faces - her family among other elves whom dwelled there. Mithrandir was also present. Lord Elrond had already been educated of his daughter's departure and with a combination of ire, relief and worry amid other things, knew she was coming.
"Bring him to the houses of healing, quickly," Elrond ordered. An elf to Arwen's side lifted Frodo from Asfaloth and hurried after Elrond.
Arwen fixed him with a questioning look before he looked. "Ada?"
Elrond returned the gaze and nodded to her. Arwen had made the right decision.
A/N: I wasn't sure how far to delve into Merry's trip around Bree (if you've read The Fellowship of the Ring you'll know where I mean) so I tried to incorporate it in a movie-verse way! Also I thought I'd do some explaining for Arwen as to why she decided to rescue Frodo instead of Glorfindel! And also that the Hobbits dont show as much trust for Srtider as they do in the books because the films never have the chance to go that deep. Its ok I've read the books enough times to know I'm writing this all backwards, thank god for movie-verse!