I'm back! Your welcome! HANNON LE, PEOPLES WHO REVIEWED. Your reviews were so thoughtful, and supportive, they make me so HAPPY! *does happy dance*

Many years had passed. I was thirty now, and had been traveling with Thorongil for many years. Most of these had been spent tracking a strange creature, called 'Gollum'. The thing creeped me out, but somehow Da and I had both managed.

We had traveled all over Middle-earth, we had seen many things, some of which I wish I could remember forever, and some I wish I could forget. We had gone all the way to the dead marshes, losing him, and then finding him again. Finally we had captured him, sent him to Thranduil, ElvenKing, and all had looked well. But then the creature had escaped, and despite our best efforts, we couldn't recapture him.

To make things worse, I had only gotten glimpses of Esgalnoron. Every once and awhile we would chance upon him, we would exchange smiles. Once, we had met in Rohan and feasted together, had a wonderful evening, but then we had journeyed on.

I never drew the beads from my hair, except to re-braid them every once and awhile. Da had perfect my man disguise, a soot-covered chin, an extra-large hood. They called him 'Strider', and somehow I had become 'Fey'.

Our journeys had been punctuated by endless danger, pain, and discomfort. But I loved it, and so did Da.

But now he looked even more concerned than usual, as he hurried through the woods, me struggling to keep up.

"Why don't you tell me anything?" I cried angrily, tripping on and tearing my breeches at the ankle, tumbling down, and popping back up.

"Whatever I don't tell you's for your own good!" He growled, ducking under a large branch, which I face-planted in.

"Why are we running?"

"We are always running."

"Why are we running right now?"

"Because we have urgent business in the town of Bree."

"Have we been there before?"

"Last year, and a few years before that."

"Ah, yes, I remember. I hate it there."

"Come on, Thurin, we need to move faster."

"It's times like this when we need a horse."

"Please stop indirectly referencing Esgalnoron, Thurin. I now it makes you feel better, but, it's staring to make me feel guilty."

"About what?"

"About separating you two, I never realized how close you were, until now."

"Don't feel guilty, none of this is your fault. I want to be with you."

Thorongil sighed forlornly.

"So many things are my fault, Thurin. Come on, we must get there in two days time."

"Is this near Hobbiton?"

"Relatively near, but no, Thurin, we won't go looking for Esgalnoron, I'm sorry, but this is incredibly urgent."

I sighed.

"Alright, let's hurry then."

We picked up our pace, pounding through the thick forest.

Suddenly, we began to hear sounds behind us.

"We're being followed, draw your weapon." Thorongil mumbled under his breath, beginning to sprint now.

My heartbeat quickened as I rushed after him, drawing a sword from my belt.

I could run very fast on occasion if I gave it my all, but not for long.

Arrows began to zip over our heads as our opponents neared, yelling curses at our persons.

"There's nothing for it, I say we turn and fight." Thorongil growled as he whirled around, lowering a knife. He had a sword, I saw it in his scabbard, but he never used it. It was strange.

I drew two long daggers, leaping into combat beside him.

My father was such a brilliant fighter, he taught me everything I know.

I myself am not very good, but I can hold my own pretty well. But him, he is amazing.

He and I both fought better when we yelled, I think I must have learned that from him. Anyway, needless to say, it was a pretty loud fight. There were five orcs, all set on killing us in cold blood. We swung our blades, dodging our opponents swords and arrows.

Everything was looking splendid for us, and then the tables turned.

I felt a sickening pain in my waist, and I stumbled, falling backwards onto the ground.

Seeing me, Thorongil turned into a dangerous killing machine. Within seconds, he had dispatched every single one.

"Thurin!" He cried fearfully, hurrying over and kneeling by my side.

"'m, fine..." I groaned, trying to tug the arrow loose.

"No you're not!" Thorongil held me down, carefully twisting loose the dark, bloody shaft.

"Ow! Ow ow ow ow OW!" I sobbed, grabbing at his tunic, twisting it tightly in my fingers, willing the terrible pain to leave.

"Thurin! Stop moving!"

"It burns!"

"Just stop writhing! I need to fix it!"

I bit my lip hard, clenching my fingers on his clothes, barely moving, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Finally he was able to pull the arrow from me.

I gasped in pain, falling against him.

"Sh, Thurin, darling, it's alright. I'll bandage it up now. Just lay back."

I had taken arrows before, but never one so painful. I whimpered, but obeyed.

My father's brows furrowed as wrenched his tunic from my grasp, and began to mop up the blood with it.

Pain raced through my body, but somehow I managed to still my limbs.

"It is done." Da sighed as he ripped off the sleeve of my tunic, using it to bandage the wound.

My breath came in gasps as my tense shoulders slumped, my craned neck loosened and my head fell forward onto his shoulder.

"It wasn't terribly deep, Thurin. I put some herbs on it while I bandaged it, you'll be fine. I've seen much worse."

"You always see much worse, Da, I know that."

"Can we keep walking? This is incredibly urgent."

I glared up at him accusingly.

"Do you honestly expect me to get up and walk for the next two days? Could YOU?!"

"Thurin, calm down."

"I WON'T CALM DOWN! I WANT TO RECOVER FOR A FEW MOMENTS IF YOU DON'T MIND!"

"Thurin, you will alert every creature in miles of our presence. Calm. Down."

He sighed.

"It's times like these when I wish I had Esgalnoron, you always listen to him."

"I'm sorry."

"No, I am. It was very insensitive of me. Rest, we will make up for lost time tonight."

I lay back against the tree. A burning pain raced all across my body, particularly around the wound.

I grabbed at the sparse grass beside me, squeezing my eyes tightly together in an attempt to douse the pain.

"Once there was a flower blue, a'blooming in the vale-"

"Singing eases the pain?"

"More than anything else."

My father nodded, squeezing my hand gently.

"The wind it blew around it sharp like kite with silver tail... Hmm, I haven't sang that in so long, I cannot remember the words."

Thorongil smiled wryly.

"I can give you an herb to help you sleep, when you awake we may continue walking."

"Alright."

Within moments of consuming the bitter herb I had drifted off to sleep.

:::::::::::

The moment my eyes cracked open I was aware of a dull, ongoing pain right above my right hip.

"Thurin! You're awake, finally! I was afraid I had given you too much and you might have slept all day." Thorongil smiled cheerily as he extended a hand to help me up.

I took it and rose, gasping at the unexpected jolt of pain.

"Here, let me inspect it." Thorongil carefully lifted up my tunic and pulled my breeches down a few inches, examining.

"Alright, all clear. It's stopped bleeding and is closing up. Come on!"

We set our pace slow at first, but I could see the anxious urgency in my father's face.

So I forced myself forward, wincing at every step.

:::::::::::

"When are we going to get there?"

"By this evening, if we hold this pace."

I set my teeth. We had stopped for a hasty lunch just a few hours before, so then maybe only a few more to go. The wound was feeling surprisingly better. It had been about a day and a half since I had received it, and it had turned out to be rather mild, barely deep at all. But still, walking was even more painful than usual.

"What are we going there for?"

"Two Halflings."

"What in Arda are Halflings?"

"I don't honestly know. I've never met one before myself, but Gandalf told my they were very small, and round. Come, we must hurry."

Ah, Gandalf. Another favor for him. Most of our missions had been for him, yet I had only been able to get glimpses of the peculiar old man.

"Hurry, we need to arrive before they do, or there could be trouble."

::::::::::::

Late that night we slunk into Bree, flitting between the shadows.

"The Prancing Pony, hurry, we mightn't have much more time." Thorongil whispered, ushering me quietly inside.

Staying toward the back wall, we made our way over to the most removed, dark corner.

The innkeeper cast us a nervous glance before waddling over, preparing to take our orders.

"Strider, isn't it? And Grey? No, no, it's Fey. Anyway, what would you two be wanting?"

"A mug of ale for me, water for my companion. Also, a bit of food would be nice. A pipe, perhaps?"

Butterbur nodded hurriedly before rushing off.

"Look, there they are." Thorongil whispered, gesturing cautiously at four incredibly short men, sitting down at a table on the other side of the room.

::

"Those men, they've been watching you like hawks this whole time, Mister Frodo."

Frodo took a careful glance at them. One, a very tall man, sat behind a small table, smoking a pipe, his face covered. Another, smaller man sat behind him, bathed in shadow. It was impossible to make out any of his features, save for something very shiny that glinted brightly when the candlelight shone on it.

"Just ignore them, Sam. Don't worry."

::

Nothing had been happening. The halflings were eating, drinking, talking quietly amongst themselves.

And then everything happened at once.

The small one appeared to be slightly drunk, and was yelling things and pointing at the other halflings.

The dark-haired one became all agitated, rushing over, grabbing his friend, and somehow falling.

I felt my father tense as he hit the ground.

And then suddenly the halfling just disappeared.

My eyes widened, unable to believe what I had just seen.

In the blink of an eye Thorongil rose, grabbing something and hurrying off.

It was the dark-haired halfling.

I tried to rise and follow him, but I was waylaid.

"Hey! You! What's your friend doin' to mister Frodo!" A heavily built, sandy-haired halfling grabbed the edge of my tunic, bristling with fury.

I shook myself from his grip, before hurrying after my father.

The halflings caught up, and within moments the four of us burst into a dark hallway.

Thorongil was rebuking the halfling in his low, dangerous tone, when he froze, glaring at us in surprise.

I quickly scuttled to him side, away from the aggressive halfling's stool.

::

Sam surveyed the two men carefully.

They certainly looked very suspicious: The tall one's tunic was blotted with blood, a threatening sword at his side, dark, brown hair touching his shoulders. The short one had an odd limp, the sleeve off his tunic looked as if it had been ripped off in a hurry. His waist was bandaged, and bloody. Long, Raven hair fell below his waist, ornamented with strange silvery beads. These men were not to be trusted, not at all.

::

"Who are you, what do you want." Sam questioned angrily, glaring up at my father.

"I am Strider, this is Fey. We want to protect you."

The halflings shared dubious glances.

:::::::::::::::

A piercing shriek echoed through the town, sending us all into shivers.

We were squeezed into a small, dark hallway of a room.

It appeared the Black Riders had just discovered our decoys.

The halflings, or Hobbits, as they call themselves, were snuggled together against the opposite wall, eyes wide with fear.

Across from them sat Thorongil, and me.

I pressed my trembling hands against my thighs, in an attempt to calm them. That sound was the most horrifying thing I had ever heard, chilling me to the marrow.

Thorongil appeared composed, but I could tell from the little shiver his muscles gave at the sound how frightened even he was.

I leant my head on his shoulder, feeling even more drained than usual.

"Da?"

"Hmm?"

"My head's pounding."

"Try to sleep, you'll most likely feel better by morning."

All this was whispered so imperceptibly, the Hobbits couldn't even catch it, but they looked at us curiously, irritated at our whispering.

"Try to get some sleep, master Hobbits, we will have lots of walking, come tomorrow."

The Hobbits sighed, but soon were able to get to sleep.

:::::::

"Pip, you awake."

"Now I am, what is it, Merry?"

"Look at those queer men, why do you think they are sleeping like that?"

Merry gestured to my father and I. He was in a sitting position, head lolling down, one arm around me, limbs relaxed, enjoying pleasant dreams.

I was curled up by his side, face buried in his shoulder, mumbling something about Ranger-hating men in my sleep.

Pippin cocked his head.

"What relation do you think they are to each other, Pip?"

"They must be cousins, like us."

"They might be, what about brothers?"

"Or Fey could be Strider's nephew."

"Or son."

"Or they could just be good friends."

"Or maybe not, that may be how all men sleep, men are very queer."

"I still think they must be cousins."

"Let's ask them, tomorrow."

"Good idea, goodnight Merry."

"Goodnight Pip."

What is wrong with Thurin? Will Esgalnoron ever come back into the story? What about Boromir and Faramir, where did they go? Why won't Thorongil tell Thurin anything? What about Arwen, what will our dear Thu think of her?

NOTE: I am using the book timeline, but most of the action scenes from the movie. I am not quoting the movie or the book word for word. :P

PLEASE REVIEW.

Every time I get a new review, a big happy smile spreads across my face because I know people appreciate my writing and are enjoying my story. There is no reason for me to continue posting if I don't get positive feedback. D:

~Thurin