Disclaimer: Lynn is mine but nothing else belongs to me.
Red-Devil15: Hopefully things will be less confusing for you as the story developes.
TriGemini: Thanks.
lulu belle: Now see, you really need to let Legolas and Aragorn go because without them Lynn will end up getting killed and then there wouldn't be a story for me to update.
A/N: For those of you reading Prisoner of the Fellowship I will have it updated tomorrow at the latest. I'm almost done typing it up.
Lynn hides in the shelter of the trees for several hours until right around dusk a dark figure appears over the hill. She watches as he makes his way off the road and to the edge of the forest.
The man quickly gets a fire started and then begins cleaning a rabbit that he apparently caught earlier.
Lynn slips out of the tree she had been resting in and cautiously approaches the small camp with her hand on the hilt of her sword.
The man hears her approach and he slowly reaches for his sword as he stands up. Lynn notices his grip tighten on his sword and stops nervously.
"I am looking for a Ranger that goes by the name of Strider," she says using a trick Gandalf taught her to make her voice sound like a man's.
"Then you have found him. What reason do you seek me?" he questions cautiously.
Lynn steps into the light of the fire and lowers her hood. Aragorn tilts his head slightly in curiosity when he realizes the intruder is a young woman. "My name is Lynn and I was sent by Gandalf. This..." she reaches under her cloak and he draws his sword in alarm.
She stops and raises her hands to show him she wasn't up to anything. "I was only reaching for a message for you from Gandalf."
He motions for the scroll but doesn't sheath his sword. "Why would Gandalf send a woman as a messenger?"
"I am no messenger. Gandalf sent me to join you." He gives her a disbelieving look as he takes the message from her.
After he reads the message he looks up at her with a mixture of shock and confusion written across his face. "Is it true? Are you really my kin from the future?" He sheaths his sword as he waits for her answer.
"Yes. I'm from about five thousand years from now. As for being your kin, Gandalf says that I am. He sent me back here to learn about this time and to train. I'm not sure what is about to happen in my time but whatever it is, its bad enough that the Elves have returned from the Undying Lands to help and I was sent here to be trained by the best warriors in history."
"Then I will do whatever is in my power to help, Great-granddaughter." He grimaces, "that makes me sound so old."
"Well, you are over eighty if I'm not mistaken, my lord," she grins.
"Hold your tongue." He tries to look insulted but can't hold back the laughter. "Are you hungry?" He sits back down and motions for her to sit next to him.
"No, I have already ate." She sits down and watches him finish cleaning the rabbit.
"When will we reach Bree?" she questions curiously.
"Tomorrow afternoon." He nods toward her sword. "Are you any good with that?"
She sighs. "Glorfindel taught me how to defend myself but I only had two weeks to train with sword and bow. He told me I do well enough but I think he was just saying that to make me feel better."
He raises his eyebrow in surprise. "Lord Glorfindel is an expert with the sword. You were lucky to have him as a teacher and he would not have let you come if you weren't ready."
Just outside Bree, Aragorn stops Lynn. "Keep your head covered. Where we are going isn't safe for a woman. Keep to the shadows and try to go unnoticed."
Lynn pulls the hood of her cloak up so that it covers her face and Aragorn nods in approval.
They enter the city and when they get to the Prancing Pony Aragorn rents them a room. When they get to their room Lynn pushes her hood back and looks around in distaste. A lumpy bed takes up half the room and the only other furnishing in the room are an old table and a rickety chair in the corner of the room. "Not much for comfort are they?"
Aragorn smiles. "No, they're not. Stay here. I'm going to take a look around. Don't let anyone in."
"Okay." she says as she starts removing her cloak and weapons.
"Keep your sword within reach," he warns before leaving the room.
It's just starting to get dark outside when Aragorn returns to the room. He tells her that he arranged a meal for them but they will have to eat it downstairs so that he can see when Frodo gets there.
Once Lynn's ready they go downstairs and sit at a table in the center of the room. The only light is a single candle above the table and the two are barely seen in the shadows. The inkeeper brings them each a mug of ale and some meat, cheese and bread.
"Man, I'm gonna miss cheeseburgers and pizza." Lynn pokes at the meat in distaste before picking up the bread.
"What are cheeseburgers and pizza?" Aragorn asks as he watches her in amusement.
Lynn uses the dagger Glorfindel gave her to slice the bread in half. Then she slices some of the meat and cheese up and puts it on one of the slices of bread. after putting the other slice of bread on top she shows it to him.
"This is sorta like a cheeseburger. Only the meat is ground beef and its better with lettuce and tomato." She takes a bite of her 'cheeseburger' and makes a face. "And pizza is a round flat bread with a sauce made out of tomatoes spread on it. Then you put basically anything you want on it along with lots of cheese."
"Sounds...interesting." He makes a face and she laughs.
"It tastes better than it sounds," she says before taking another bite of her food.
He lights his pipe. "I would hope so."
The door of the inn opens and four Hobbits enter, catching Lynn and Aragorn's attention. The two watch them as they talk to the innkeeper and then eventually sit at a table to eat.
The dark haired Hobbit glances in their direction and then stops the innkeeper. After the innkeeper walks off the Hobbit glances at them one more time before turning his attention elsewhere.
One of the Hobbits at the bar says something and it causes a commotion. The dark haired Hobbit trips and a ring flips into the air and ends up landing on his finger. The Hobbit disappears into thin air and gasps can be heard throughout the inn.
"Go to our room and wait for me," Aragorn says, standing up.
Lynn imediately goes upstairs and begins pacing the room. A few minutes later the door flies open and Aragorn shoves the Hobbit into the room.
The scared Hobbit looks from Lynn to Aragorn. "What do you want?"
Aragorn looks at him angrily. "A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry."
"I carry nothing," the Hobbit says quickly and takes a step back.
Indeed." Aragorn starts putting out the candles. "I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift." Aragorn pushes his hood back and turns to look at the Hobbit.
"Who are you?" The Hobbit looks at Aragorn and Lynn in fear.
Aragorn steps closer to him. "Are you frightened?"
"Yes," he answers truthfully.
"Not nearly enough. I know what hunts you." Aragorn turns his back to him to look out the window.
The door slams open and Lynn jumps and draws her sword as does Aragorn, who pushes the Hobbit behind him.
"Let him go! Or I'll have you, Longshanks," a chubby Hobbit yells from the doorway. The two other Hobbits are standing behind him and they are all holding chairs over they're heads.
Lynn relaxes and glances at Aragorn in amusement as she sheaths her sword.
"You have a stout heart, little Hobbit. But that will not save you." Aragorn sheaths his sword and turns to the dark haired Hobbit. "You can no longer wait for the Wizard, Frodo. They're coming."
Aragorn turns to Lynn who is leaning against the now closed door. "Lynn, go with these two and help them gather their things from their room. Make it look as though they are sleeping. I'm going to go gather supplies." He turns to Frodo and the chubby Hobbit. "You two stay here until we return," Aragorn orders.
Later that night all the Hobbits except for Frodo are asleep. Frodo is standing by the small fireplace deep in thought. Lynn is sitting by the window drifting in and out of sleep while Aragorn keeps watch.
Aragorn touches Lynn on the shoulder and motions to the window. "The black riders are here."
She looks out the window as five cloaked figures enter the Hobbit's old room. Frodo joins them at the window. High pitched screaches shatter the quiet, waking the other Hobbits with a start.
Frodo steps back in fear. "What are they?"
"They were once Men," Lynn answers as she watches out the window. "Great Kings of Men."
"Yes. Then Sauron the Deciever gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one, falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul. Ringwraiths. Neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring, drawn to the power of the One." Aragorn looks at Frodo. "They will never stop hunting you."
Aragorn's words send a chill down Lynn's back. "Can they be killed?"
"No. They cannot be killed by man." Aragorn checks to make sure the wraiths have left. "Get some rest. We leave before first light."
Lynn looks back out the window before turning to Aragorn. "I've slept all I'm going too. You get some rest and I'll keep watch."
