Chapter Two: The Nazgul
A/N: Here's Part Two! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The Charaters belong to Tolkien....As much as I wish they were mine!!
They stayed at The Prancing Pony until late the next morning, when they got another surprise.
As everyone went down for breakfast, the entire place was in an uproar. The innkeeper seemed very worried when he saw Frodo come down with Strider. "Master Baggins, was anything stolen?"
Frodo was bewildered. "B-but I told you my name was Underhill. Who said that it was Baggins?"
"Ah, but your kind friend told me your name when I asked, that Mister Took, sir. And then when you trotted off to sleep last night a tall fellow came in, all dressed in black. He asked for which room you was staying in, and I told him. Scary chap he was."
"You told him what room we were in? But no one came there," said Sam.
Frodo looked at him. "But Sam, we stayed with Strider in his room." Sam looked to the floor.
Finally Aragorn spoke. "And you said their room was searched?" He looked to Frodo. "That means they know, they know that you are here. We must leave."
The innkeeper looked from Frodo to Strider. "Excuse me, Mr Baggins, but I don't think you should be trusting this Strider. He is foreign, and strange are the people from the North."
Strider looked at the innkeeper. "Who he trusts is not of your concern. But I do think that you should be more careful of what information you give out to strangers. Surely having tall dark Men running around won't be good for business." Then they packed up all their things and left with Strider and headed for Rivendell. Strider led the way, with Sam and Frodo behind him, and Pippin and Merry at the rear. Frodo's head was bent down, and he was in terrible thought. Strider slowed to the pace and looked at Frodo.
"What worries you, Frodo? Is it Gandalf?" He looked at Frodo, his features worried, while Sam eyed him suspiciously.He still didn't trust this ranger.
"Yes, I am worried about Gandalf, but... I also wonder... What are those creatures that hunt me?" sighed Frodo.
"You have seen them before!?" exclaimed Strider.
"Yes, on our way from the Shire in the woods. One followed me, but we hid," said Frodo, not removing his gaze from the ground.
Sam looked at his master. "And you almost put on the Ring, Mr. Frodo, didn't you?"
Frodo raised his eyes and looked at Sam. "You almost put on the Ring?" Strider asked. "Why was that?"
"I-I don't know. I mean, I couldn't help myself." Frodo stuttered.
"That's because the Ring called to you. Those creatures are the Nazgul, the Ringwraiths. They used to be Men, but were conquered by the Dark Lord Sauron. Now they answer his call. They feel the presence of the Ring at all times, and they will never stop hunting you." With that he walked ahead.
They walked for what seemed like ages, until they heard the sound of horses. The Hobbits turned around to see a single rider on a pale white horse in the distance. Aragorn turned as well, but didn't look in wonder at the rider. It was worry that dominated his soft gaze. Finally the rider drew near, and they saw that it was a beautiful woman in soft blue, he dark hair hung lose around her sholuders and her features were soft and delicate. Her brown eyes showed warm, compassion and the strength of her people. She was an Elf. As as she stopped her horse the hobbits gazed at her in wonder, Aragorn walked to her.
"Arwen, why are you here?" he enquired as he looked at her.
"Father sent me. I tried to get to Bree to see you, but you left early. Now you must hurry to Rivendell. There are five Raiths on your trail." Frodo went rigid at the talk of Raiths. He feared them even more now that they knew he held the Ring.
"Why did your father send you? He knows we are hunted."
"Because he thought you would want word of Gandalf. He is safe, at Rivendell. Father just wanted to make sure you didn't go looking for him, as is your wont." She looked at him, and he raised his eyes to meet hers. The Hobbits felt very uncomfortable. Finally Aragorn looked elsewhere, and Arwen looked at Frodo, who showed signs of terror.
Arwen walked over to him and laid her hands on his. "Ring Bearer, do not fear them, for they are fear itself. Instead, fear the thing that you hold. That alone will is fear enough for any hobbit." He nodded. Then she walked to Aragorn. "We must go. They will come soon. But you cannot go on foot."
"But we have no horses, and the nearest village is Rivendell itself." But before they could discuss the matter further, they were interrupted by the sound of horses in the distance
Pippin and Merry, who had wandered off earlier, came running back. "Those Black Riders! They're coming!"
Aragorn turned to Frodo, and was about to tell him to ride with Arwen, but Frodo had run off. "Frodo! Frodo!" Aragorn called. But he could no longer see where Frodo had gone. Arwen had mounted her horse again, and was looking around. "Aragorn!" she called. "Get the others somewhere safe. I'll find Frodo!" Then she took off in the opposite direction.
Frodo was walking fast, yet steady, towards the direction of the Black Riders. He had taken the Ring out, so that it and the necklace it sat on were visible over his cloak. He had a strange look upon his face, yet there was a shadow over his eyes. He didn't know what he was doing, and he couldn't see the foul creatures before him. He was at the will of the Ring.
Arwen came riding up on her horse, she saw Frodo draw near to the Nazgul. "No, Frodo!" she cried. And yet he did not hear her. She pulled hard on her horse's reigns, and steered him towards the misled Hobbit. "Frodo, stop!" she yelled. It was if the shadow was lifted, and he looked about. But when he saw the Nazgul, he shriveled back. The Nazgul advanced on him, and he back up and tripped over his cloak. He didn't know what to do, his fears had paralyzed him completely/ the feeling of panic was stronger than his ability to think reasonably.
The other Nazgul went over to Arwen, but she fought them off. Frodo then could only think of one thing to do - put on the Ring. All common sense left him, as he plunged into a world of shadows. And yet the Nazgul could see him, and he them. He saw their wretched bodies twisted in evil. And he was scared. There was no running from this, no possibility of escape.
The Wraith advanced and drew its sword. Although he spoke no words, Frodo somehow understood that it was asking for the Ring. But Frodo would not part with it. He held his hand out of reach, and the Wraith grew angrier. He drew his sword and stabbed Frodo. Pain unleashed from the wound in his shoulder, and he cried out.
Arwen fought off the Nazgul to a distance, but she knew she could not hold them long. One, she saw, was bent over air, it looked like it was concentrating and yet she didn't know what it meant. Suddenly a loud voice filled the air and shouted, "Elendil! Elendil!" and Aragorn came with a torch, sending the Nazgul away, shrieks filling the air. Aragorn too noticed the one Wraith hunched over, and so he thought that Frodo might be near. He lit the Wraith, then called, "Frodo! Take off the Ring!"
Hearing this, Frodo painfully lifted the Ring off his finger and went limp. He gasped for air, as the pain went deeper. Arwen and Aragorn rushed to his aid.
A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! You guys rock! Please keep it up!!