A/N: Yes, Celtic Cross, I agree. Pippin is such an idiot, but he makes a very cute idiot, don't you think? LOL, I think all the hobbits are kind of cute... except for Sam. He's okay, but he's not cute like Elijah Wood or Billy Boyd. Of course, neither compare to Orlando Bloom! (sigh)


Chapter 9: Attack on Weathertop

Aragorn paused as they reached a hill crowned by ancient runes. "This was the great watchtower of Amon Sul." He looked back at the hobbits. "We shall rest here tonight."

The hobbits climbed the hill before reaching a cave half-way up. It had been morning when they began, and now it was sunset. Valia threw down her pack and stood at the entrance to the cave when Aragorn left. Frodo came and stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders.

What are you thinking about?

She looked up at him. Us. What if we don't survive this?

"Don't think like that," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. "We have to hope we will."

She sighed and looked toward the setting sun. "I hope…"

Valia woke from a sleep she had never meant to take. Frodo was still asleep beside her, but the others… She turned and found the others sitting around a fire.

"My tomato's burst," Merry muttered.

"Could I have some bacon?" Pippin asked.

"Want a tomato, Sam?" Merry asked.

Valia walked over. "What are you doing?"

"Tomatoes, sausages, nice crispy bacon." Merry pointed to each thing in turn.

"We saved you and Mr. Frodo some." Sam held out two plates, which she accepted.

"I'll wake Frodo. Neither of us have eaten since this morning." Valia walked back over to Frodo.

She knelt at his side and gently shook him. He opened his eyes then sat up.

"Is it safe to light a fire?" he asked.

"We draw them to us anyway." Valia handed him the other plate of food. "They fear fire so this might subdue them."

They were all eating when a Nazgûl cry was heard. Sam moved to extinguish the fire, but Valia stopped him.

"Stay close to the fire," she ordered.

While they stumbled around to prepare for fighting, Valia slipped the Ring from Frodo's pocket. Everyone felt the chill as the Wraiths approached, but only Valia knew there were only five of them. The Riders brushed past the hobbits and went after Valia. She was quick to run to the top of the hill, grasping the Ring tightly in her hand. She heard Frodo call her name, but she blocked him from her mind with a wave of her hand.

She turned to face the Wraiths, slipping a concealed dagger from her boot. With shaking hands, she set the Ring upon her finger. She was pulled into their world of shadow, and the Witch King leapt forward and bore down on her. She dropped to her knees to dodge his thrust; the knife glowed with a strange pale light.

"Ai, Elbereth! Githoniel!" she cried, stabbing at the Rider.

The Nazgûl gave a cry, and she screamed as a sharp stab of pain hit her shoulder. She dropped the dagger and cowered as flames suddenly surrounded the Wraiths. She removed the Ring with the little strength she had left.

"Valia!" Frodo ran to her side and caught her limp figure in his arms.

Her hand opened, and the Ring slipped from her grasp. He took it quickly and stuffed it in his pocket. Strider drove the Nazgûl away with fire then turnd back to the hobbits who were crowded around Valia.

Frodo looked up at the Ranger, his eyes filled with sorrow and fear. "Can you help her, Strider?"

Strider knelt by her side then picked up the blade the Witch King had dropped. "She's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." He released it as it began disintegrating in his hand, and it clattered to the ground. "This is beyond my skill to heal. She needs elvish medicine. Hurry!"

Frodo carried her while her pack was added to those Bill carried.

"But we're six days from Rivendell!" Sam reminded them.

"Gandalf," Valia murmured weakly.

Frodo held her closer to him. "Hold on, Valia."

"Gandalf!" she cried out.

A/N: So, do you like what I've done with the Wraith stabbing someone? Hehehe...