A/N - I'm sorry. I've had a bit of writer's block, plus the site wasn't letting me upload anything. It went screwy on both my account and my joint account with my friends - we're Luin, Nuin and Eren. So apologies for those who have been waiting a long time for me to update. (waiting for me to update - ha, that's a laugh and a half!) We begin our journey to destroy the Ring on Earth in awhile.

BTW, thank goodness for the Barrowdowns Name Generator, or the Nazgul wouldn't have names. I was severely stuck, but it helped me out. Go check it out!

Disclaimer - If you've read Adventures of a Desperate Elf *cough*Please*cough*Review *cough* (hint, hint) you know what I own. I only have to add to it a supply of Shire chocolate. What, didn't you know the Shire has chocolate? The best, you know, better than any you can find on Earth.

Sorry I'm Late, Mom, I Was Conversing With Nazgul...

The newly acquainted Nazgul and Ria continued to discuss strategies and possibilities for a long time. The rain continued pouring down outside, and the bleak day seemed to forbid that they do anything but talk.

No one else came into the museum, thank goodness - though it's true that emptiness is a general characteristic of most small-town prairie museums on a rainy day. If anyone had come in, they would have either been terrified out of their minds, or tempted to call the funny farm.

It was nearly seven o'clock when Ria was compelled to check her watch. Her eyes widened in shock. "Damn! I'm sorry, guys, I have to get home or my mom will be furious." She paused, thinking then of a small detail that also needed to be taken care of. "And you guys can't stay here for the night, the caretaker will find you and raise a ruckus."

Ria gulped, her head spinning as she thought of the consequences if they were caught. Man, she thought, I've never done so many dangerous and likely very stupid things in one day before. "You'll have to stay in my basement tonight. But you'll have to be very, VERY quiet, or we're all in big trouble."

"Big deal no is quiet," shrugged the Nazgul who messed up his words. The others had introduced him as Andwath.

"We'll be fine, lassie, as long as we're causing ye nae trouble," said Lhunath, the former Scottish Lilt, in a reassuring tone.

"The concept is mildly vexatious, but no alternatives gives one sparse selections," shrugged Donarda.

"Screeeeee! Aiyeeeeee! Reeeeeaaaagh!" complained the Squealer.

"He says that he ain't spendin' no tahme in anywan's baysement," translated Texan Drawl, otherwise known as Valin.

"Well you'll just have to deal with it," Ria told Squealer impatiently. "Anything else would cause trouble."

Goraldaion hissed his agreement. "Thisss girl isss no dummy," he said to the Squealer.

"Let'th get going," urged Telpekemen, his lisp more obvious than before. "It'th getting getting late, and Ria'th parenth will be thtarting to look for her. We mutht be thafe in Ria'th bathement before that happenth."

Ria shook her head as they walked out over the broken door. "What will people say when they find this door lying here tomorrow?"

"Nothing, I hope," said Pherthond. "I say, it's jolly cold out here now. Rather unpleasant weather you have, young gel. Did you say it was summer?"

The word summer suddenly brought Ria to a halt. "Oh no," she moaned, covering her face with her hands. "I have to go visit my sister in Ontario! The plane leaves tomorrow! What can I do?"

Gollum, who up until then had said nothing, still wary of being around the Nazgul, suddenly tugged at Ria's sleeve and said, "Silly Ria has got herself into a big mess?"

"Yeah," Ria said discouragedly.

"Smeagol knows what silly Ria can do! Oh yes, he does. Keep stupid Nazgul in basement, take poor Smeagol with Ria to Ontario!"

"Hey! Ah don' like no slihmy creeter insultin' me!"

"Calm down, Valin," Ria said. "I can't abandon you. I hate to imagine the trouble you'd get in without me." She glared at Gollum.

Suddenly she stiffened. "Quick, hide!"

They dove off the road and behind the convenience store as they heard the footsteps of someone approaching.

Ria bit back a scream when Lhunath tapped her on the shoulder. "Ria, the horses, we forgot the wee beasties at the museum. Someone will see them, and that will cause nae small mischief."

Ria's heart slowly returned to its normal rate as she replied in a murmur, "We can't take them with us too. We'll have to go back and set them free. People will wonder, but it's better than nothing."

The other Nazgul were grumbling as they returned to the museum, set the horses free, and practically ran all the way to Ria's house.

When they were within sight of the lighted windows, they slowed. "All right," Ria said. "There's a storm entrance into a back room. Mom and Dad rarely go in there. As long as you don't make a lot of noise, they won't notice a thing." They crept up to the house, and Ria heaved the door open. Its rusty hinges screeched a protest. Ria cringed.

"Ria? Is that you?" Her father had just come out on the front porch. Ria couldn't see him but she knew it to be so.

"Yes Dad. Sorry I'm late. I'm just putting a few things away before supper. How was work?"

"Good. Ria, where have you been all day? You're mother says she's not seen hide nor hair of you."

"I was... at a friend's house. I guess I should have called."

"Next time be sure you do." He closed the door and went inside.

Ria breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew! Thank goodness my parents are easygoing. I thought we'd had it then."

She hustled the nine Nazgul into her basement with relatively little noise and few complaints. Ria poked her head back in when they were all comfortably established. "You don't need food or water or anything do you?"

"No need of food we have."

"Thank you," said Pennondo, his articulation perfect, as always. "It cannot be easy to deal with wraiths. There seem to be very few in your world."

Ria had to smile. "You're right. See you in the morning. If you come up with any plans I'd be extremely grateful."

She turned, preparing to close the door. Gollum was slinking off around the house. "Gollum," she warned in a loud whisper. "Come back here. You can't stay in the house again tonight, there's no way I could sneak you in."

Gollum grumbled. "Nazgul are evil. Do not force poor Smeagol to stay with them."

"They'll be good, Gollum, honestly. I don't think they're as bad as you've come to believe. But if you'd rather find yourself in worse hands than the Nazgul - be my guest. I'm sure the police would be pleased to take you in." It was an empty threat - the nearest police station was twenty miles away - but Gollum didn't need to know that.

Sullenly, Gollum loped down the basement steps. Ria shut the door, and prepared to face supper with her parents.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Goodness, Ria, where have you been?" exclaimed her mother.

"At a friend's house," Ria repeated.

"You should have called, dear. I've been getting worried. Did you finish sorting out the clothes to take to the Salvation Army?"

"Not yet," Ria said, helping herself to some rice. "I'll finish it tonight, and we can take it in when we go to Regina tomorrow."

"You're all packed?"

"I've been packed for a week, Mom. You know that." Ria would still have been pleased about going to see Tanya, her sister, if it hadn't been for the Nazgul and Gollum. Her mind was rapidly coming up with plans to take them with her, and just as rapidly discarding them. It was hopeless. Whatever could she do?

Her thoughts were interupted by a screech and a thump from the basement.

"What was that?" cried her mother.

Hurriedly Ria rose from the table. "I'll go see. It sounded like it was coming from downstairs." She practically flew down the stairs, dreading what she would find.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N - I finally got over my writer's block! I'm so happy! It's one of the banes of my existence.

I hope this chapter's all right. I may have trouble with the different accents.