Disclaimer- I have told you, I own nothing except original characters and things and places.
The sun was just creeping over the hills of thenorth as Alex sat up, running a hand through her messy hair. She stood up, stretch, and started packing up camp. Estel was still sleeping; thiswas very odd, since he usually had to drag her out of bed.
Thankfully she no longer had cramps, she remember the first two months of traveling, she would wake up every morning with terrible cramps.
Alex had been traveling Middle Earth since three months after her sixteenth birthday. Now she was five weeks past her eighteenth birthday and very different.
For months after Legolas's department she had been quiet and….normal. She started wearing elvish dresses, and tunics. She hadn't worn jeans since two winters ago. The only thing she still had was her lime green backpack.
She had trained hard with the twins, once they came home, and Estel. She would never be as good as them but she was better than most of the guards at Rivendell.
She had seen many places throughout her travels with Estel. For a year they had been tracking a creature named Gollum. Now they were heading to the town of Bree on a quest for Gandalf the Grey. Alex had never met the wizard but Estel spoke highly of the old man.
Alex looked the same as she had two years ago over all. Her hair was a little lighter from being in the sun for so long. She was a little taller, but not much. She was thinner but these were all very minor changes. The thing that scared people the most were her eyes now. They were the same color as a hard grey stone. Before they had nice specks of blue in them but now they were hard, and cold.
"Estel, get you arse out of bed" Alex cried. She turned to the man who was sitting up, he was grumbling under his breath. "Come on, I want to get to Bree sooner than later" and with that Alex began walking to the west, not even waiting for him to catch up. But as many things had changed, Alex still hated mornings.
Estel soon caught up, a little out of breath, but fine. "Finally" Alex grumbled, walking up the hill which over looked the town of Bree.
By mid-day, the pair entered the Prancing Pony, a local inn. "Why Strider…Forest" the man at the counter said. "Hello" Alex greeted coolly. "One room please" Estel spoke firmly; "Of course" the fat man said.
The two headed to a table next to the fireplace. Alex quickly ordered some hot tea, while Estel just lit his pipe. "You know you can die from inhaling that vile stuff" Alex replied. Estel rolled his eyes as he let out a cloud of grey smoke. "I can see the headline now, 'The Great King of Gonder killed from Lung Cancer' " Alex grumbled, sipping her newly arrived tea. Estel choice to ignore her, as he watched the customers coming in and out.
Alex pulled out a fine rock after a while and began sharpen her sword slowly. As the day wore on the inn became rowdier and nosier much to Alex's displeasure.
"Estel, why theheck are we here for. You have not been telling me and that guy in the middle is eyeing me" Alex hissed under her breath. The man had long brown hair was wasted on ale.
He walked oddly over to their table his words slightly slurred, "Hey pretty". Alex glared at the man and rolled her eyes. "Can you show me to your room" he asked. Alex sighed, "No". He made a grab for her but she kicked him in the leg. "Feisty are we, that's how I like 'em" he spoke.
Alex's face was flushed with anger. Estel just sat there, knowing she would take care of it. She pulled her fist back and punched him in the stomach, stepped on his right foot, broke his nose and kicked him in the groan. The man doubled over in pain as Alex spit on him and began cursing him out in elvish.
Estel was smiling when she sat down as though nothing happened. "What?" she asked, "I was just singing".
In that spilt second she had gone back to her old self and back to her new self. "God, I hate men" Alex groaned, taking a sip from her tenth cup of tea.
Estel moved even deeper into the shadows as four short kids walked into the inn. "Estel what are they?" Alex asked quietly. "Hobbits….halflings" he whispered.
Estel was watching one of them the whole time. Alex catch bits are there conversation
"Don't worry Sam. He'll be here, he'll come"
"This my friends is a pint"
"You had a whole half already"
"That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we arrived"
Alex noticed they were talking about Estel. "You're bloody famous already" Alex groaned. "Are they the reason I had to deal with Mr. I-have-had-too-much-ale?" Alex asked. She was still being her new sarcastic self.
Estel didn't say anything; he just stared at the one that had said, "Don't worry Sam. He'll be here, he'll come".
"Are you listening to me!" Alex asked.
"No" he replied shortly.
"Damn Ranger and his damn moodiness; where's Arwen when you bloody need her" Alex muttered to herself.
"PIPPIN" a voice yelled over the laughter, the one Estel had been looking at. "Steady on. Frodo!" the one named Pippin said.
As if in slow motion the hobbit named Frodo, slipped and began falling, a ring flew into the air and fell onto his finger. He vanished into thin air, as the men let out gasps. Alex knew of this ring, Lord Elrond gave her a book on it…it was the ring of power!
Estel gave her a look saying; "Get your butt up to the room" Alex rolled her eyes, but ran up the stairs to room 19. Alex began lighting the candles around the room, as Estel burst through the door, pulling the poor hobbit along. He threw him across the room, as Alex stood in the corner of the room, half of her face bathed in candle light.
"What do you want" Frodo asked, fear in his voice.
"A little more caution from you that is no trinket you carry" Estel spoke harshly.
"No duh" Alex muttered under her voice.
"I carry nothing", Frodo spoke.
"Lair!" Alex spat.
Estel moves over to blow out the candles Alex had just lit. "I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift".
"Who are you two?" Frodo asked.
"Is the little hobbit scared?" Alex asked, taking on a baby voice.
"Yes"
"Not nearly frightened enough, we know what hunts you" Estel commented.
"Yea….wait, we do?" Alex asked, confused.
The door bust open and three other hobbits came pouring in.
"Great, more short, hairy dudes" Alex muttered, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"Let him go, or I'll have you Longshanks" one said, fist raise. Estel and Alex put back their swords which they had pulled out.
"You have a stout heart little hobbit, but that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard Frodo. They're coming" Estel spoke.
Midnight…a state of quietness, in Bree. The four hobbits laid asleep and Estel was gazing outside. Alex laid curled up by the fire, singing softly under her breath. Alex hadn't sung in front of a person since she sang her aunt's lullaby.
The only words Estel could make pout were "We belong together".
A loud screech was heard throughout the village of Bree. The hobbits all sat up, white faced.
"What are they?" Frodo asked.
"They were once Men. Great kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver 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 Nazgûl, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring. Drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you." Estel spoke.
The next day everyone was awoken early, they had a quick breakfast before starting off. Alex led the way, cursing at everything and anything. The hobbits didn't go near here after this morning.
"Where are you taking us" Frodo finally had enough courage to ask. "Into the wild" Estel spoke quietly before walking ahead. They heard Alex up ahead. "You dumb arse tree root".
"How do we know this Strider and Forest are friends of Gandalf?" the one called Merry asked Frodo. Alex suddenly was heard yelling. "Estel, I am going to kill you for giving me that bloody name!" she shouted, waking up all the birds in a nearby tree.
"I think a servant of the Enemy would look fairer and feel fouler" Frodo responded. "You think I look ugly and yes I am pms-ing, so just shut UP!" Alex yelled at the poor hobbits.
"They're foul enough" Merry said quietly.
"We have no choice but to trust them" Frodo said.
"But where is he leading us" Sam asked.
"To Rivendell, Master Gamgee, to the house of Elrond"
"Did you hear that, Rivendell, we're going to see the elves!" Sam cried happily.
After about an hour, the hobbits stop, Alex turned around impatiently.
"Gentlemen, we do not stop till night fall" Estel explained.
"What about breakfast" Pippin asked.
"You already had your bloody breakfast" Alex yelled tapping her foot.
"We've had one yeas but what about second breakfast" Pippin said.
"Screw second breakfast" Alex muttered and stalked away.
"Don't think they know about second breakfast Pip" Merry replied.
"What about Elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? They know about them don't they?" Pippin asked, scared.
"I won't count on it" Merry replied.
Alex, getting tired of the way the conversation was going, threw them an apple, and began walking to the east, heading towards Weathertop.
Two days of walking, everyone was tired and pissed off. Finally Estel came to a stop. "Thank God!" Alex muttered.
"This was the great watchtower of Amon Sûl; we shall rest here tonight" Estel spoke.
Just as Estel finished Alex was running at full speed to Amon Sûl.
By the time Estel and the hobbits reach the top, Alex is asleep and snoring.
"Put it out, you fools! Put it out!" a voice yelled into her ear. "Wha…" Alex rubbed her eyes.
"Oh, that's nice! Ash on my tomatoes!" Pippin yelled.
"Shut the heck up Pippin" Alex groaned, followed by a familiar screeching sound.
"Oh, shit" Alex muttered, "Bloody idiots; get your swords defeat yourselves at all costs" Alex yelled, pulling them behind her. "ESTEL, GET YOUR BUTT UP HERE!" she yelled into the air.
Alex motioned them up the stairs to the highest level of Amon Sûl, the black cloaked Nazgûl surround them. Alex set her face, "Don't move till the last possible second" Alex said, moving in front of Frodo. "Back you Devils!" Sam cried at them. "Sam...No wait!" Alex yelled, but a Nazgûl knocked him down.
"Oh no, you don't" Alex whispered, raising her sword to eye level. She swung at one of the Nazgûl's sword; but she didn't' notice on of them creeping over to Frodo.
Frodo let out a ear-piercing scream. "FRODO!" Alex yelled, sparing a glance at the hobbit.
"ESTEL, ANYTIME NOW!" Alex yelled to the black sky, sweating against the cool October air.
That's when he came, Estel came flying, sword in one hand, torch in the other. Alex left the demons to him and rushed over to Frodo, dropping her sword on the way.
Once the last one was defeated, Alex yelled over to him, "ESTEL, GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE" panic in her voice.
Frodo was as pale as a chalk board, his eyes blood shot, and gasping for air. "A Morgul Blade" Estel spook as the blade dissolved. "This is beyond my skill to heal, he needs elvish medicine" Estel said quietly, picking up Frodo and running down the set of stairs. "Come on, hobbits, we need to keep up with him" Alex said, dashing down the stairs.
Two days straight they had been running, Alex once in awhile took Frodo to carry, but Estel took him most of the time. The hobbits were slowly falling behind, but Alex kept running, even though her hot sweat felt bitter against the cool October air, but her breathing was raged, and she need she was slowly get dehydrated.
"We're six days from Rivendell, he'll never make it!" Sam cried.
"Gandalf" Frodo sobbed, "GANDALF!" Frodo yelled at the top of his lungs.
They came to a stop in the forest where three large trolls towered over them.
"Look Mr. Frodo, Bilbo's trolls" Sam said to Frodo, who started embedding start sounds.
"Mr. Frodo" Sam asked, he turned to Alex, "He's going cold" Alex sigh softly.
"Is he going to die" Merry asked.
"He's passing into the shadow world, he'll soon become one of them" Estel spoke quietly.
"They're close" Alex spoke up, her voice breathy.
"Sam do you know the athelas plant?" Estel asked.
"Athelas?"
"Kingsfoil"
"Aye, it's a weed"
"It may help slow the poison, Hurry!"
Alex stayed with the hobbits, the woods were quiet expect for Frodo's noises. A bright light came through the trees. "Wha…ARWEN" Alex cried happily.
A/N-2250 words! I hope you guys really liked this chapter and thanks for so many reviews! You guys do not know how much this means to me! Please review and I should get the next chapter up soon.
Fk306 animelover-Yes it is and thanks
Gir The Insane Flamin Ninja-The hobbits are here! Thanks
Sass-But it doesn't sound right, so I will not be changing the title
Lady Keshanna of the Night-Well if you figure it out tell me, thanks for the review
DarkAngelPearl-Sorry it is kinda long, but I was away for the weekend so I cound't update anyway. Anyway, Legolas should be in the next chapter.
Celtic Cross- I wrote more, and hopefully some of you questions were answered.
Elvin BlueEyes-Thanks for the review!
Yellow Peanutbutter Ruler-I AM VERY HAPPY ABOUT THAT. When Legolas gets back, there things are going to get interesting.
The Lady of The Light-Thanks for all of the reviews!
ArwenEvenstar83-Kinda of, she is sorta of more sarcastic.
Thanks for all the reviews and sorry they are so short.