Chapter One: The Ring Bearer

As I sat on the steps of Migelo's shop, waiting for Penelo to arrive, I heard the humming of a familiar voice. I knew who it was...Reddas, the wise, sky pirate of Balfonhiem. He was going to visit my brother, Reks, for his 190th birthday. It was not-so-long ago that this certain sky-pirate led my brother to his own adventure in Nabradia...ever since then I, too, wanted to set out on my own adventure one day. Stopping in front of the shop, he turned to me with a small grin planted on his face. "Well, if it isn't Vaan."

I crossed my arms across my half-bare-chest. "You're late, Reddas." I replied, half-amused.

"Sky pirates are never late. We come just at the right time."

I tried to be serious in front of him, but seeing him again brought me such joy, that I couldn't overcome it. "I'm glad you're back. Reddas!" I shouted as I lunged at him. He chuckled in response and placed me next to him on his hover. Younger hobbits came running towards the vehicle, all screaming at once. Reddas was known around Rabanastre as a distruber of the peace but the hobbits still loved him and treated him like he was one of us.

When we got closer to my house, I jumped off the hover and waved goodbye to him. I had to go back to the shop and wait for Penelo.

Later that day, all of Rabanastre came to Rek's birthday celebration. The streets were covered with blue and green trimmings and ballons flew all over the place. Food littered the wooden tables and music filled the air with fiddles and laughter. Reks was at one of the tables telling the little hobbits of his adventure at the Nalbina Fortess, they gasped and sighed as he told them of how he slew dragons and orcs. Penelo and I danced under the gleaming stars with our friend, Yuffie and many other hobbits. But was interrupted when Reks decided it was time for him to make his speech. Everyone stood in silence as he walked on the stage.

"I have breathed in this world for 190 years and I have to say...I feel younger than ever, thanks to you folks!"

The crowd roared happily and cheered his name over and over.

"But..." Reks shouted among the cheering. "I must say that I will soon leave...Goodbye."

I narrowed my eyes as I focused on his pocket. He looked as if he was carrassing something that resided in it. I stood up to get a better look but Reks suddenly just vanished. I grabbed Penelo and we both ran towards my house, hoping to find Reks there. Yuffie tried following but the stirring among the crowd made her lose sight of us.

Penelo and I stared through the window as we watched Reks and Reddas argue about a ring of Nethicite. "What's a nethicite?" I asked. Penelo turned to me and shrugged. "How should I know?" She whispered back. Then we heard the front door swung open, we ducked immeddiately under the bushes. A soft grunt escaped my mouth as a thorn pierced my arm, Penelo swatted my back and placed a finger on her mouth. "Shush! Do you want to get in trouble for eavesdropping on their conversation!"

After we watched my brother leave for an uncharted destination, we barged inside the house wanting to ask Reddas where he was going. Penelo yelped as she accidently stepped on a ring that was laid before us on the floor. I picked it up and examined it. "Reddas...is this the ring of Nethicite?"

Reddas stood up from the chair, swiped the ring from my hands and threw it at the fireplace. Flames shrouded it but it didn't blacked, it stayed ever as gold. He picked it up with metal tweezers and demanded me to hold out my hand. I expected the ring to be immensely hot but it wasn't. Instead it felt cool. "Do you see anything?" Reddas asked, sternly.

"No, nothing at all." But then some form of writing started appearing. "...wait...I see something. I can't read it though. It looks like Viera language."

Reddas shook his head. "No. It is from the tongue of Archadians. In common language it reads: One ring to rule them all. One ring find to them all. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." He handed me an envelope and gestured me to place the ring in it. "It is not safe in Rabanastre anymore. You and Penelo have to leave immediately for the hume town of Kalm and wait for me there."

"But why? Does this ring carry bad luck or something?"

"If only it did, young Penelo. But that is not the case here...that ring is cursed and wicked. It is the one ring of the Dark-Lord Venat."

Penelo gasped and turned to me with worry in her eyes. "Vaan...get rid of it!" She screamed, trying to swipe the envelope from my hands. "Vaan! Get rid of it!"

"No! You musn't do that!" Reddas cried as he grabbed Penelo's shoulder. "Vaan must keep it safe at all costs! That ring must not reach the hands of the dark-lord!"

Backpacking through the outskirts of Rabanastre, was tiring. The desert sun was making me feel light-headed and my feet heavier than usual. Penelo and Yuffie trailed behind me, whining about how they wanted to go back home. Yuffie joined our little quest after Penelo told her about the ring. The hobbit-ninja said she always loved a good adventure or two, but from the way she was handling the journey now...I was beginning to doubt her.

"How much farther to Kalm?" Yuffie moaned.

I took out the map and examined it. "Hmm. Roughly about another 20 miles or so." I replied with a slight irritation in my voice.

"What? We still have that many miles to go through? Aww...Vaan can't we borrow a chocobo back at that village we passed?

I glared at her. "Does it look like we can afford to borrow one, Yuffie?"

Penelo placed her hands on her waist. "Guys, will you stop! It's too hot for this!" She shouted, feeling like her naggy-mother.

I opened my mouth to shout something back at my blonde-friend but something caught my attention as I glanced behind her. Five men shrouded in black cloaks and riding black stallions were galloping towards us in immense speed. Shivers ran down my spine as I heard their ear-bleeding shrieks. "Run!" I yelled. Penelo and Yuffie didn't have to be told twice, they ran as fast as they could, with me, following behind them. Penelo looked back from her shoulder. "Don't look back! Keep running!" I screamed.

Penelo's eyes widened as one of the men held its sword above my head. "Vaan, look out!" Stopping and pointing to the cloaked figure above me.

I felt a sharp pain coursing through my body as its blade stabbed my shoulder. I buckled over in pain and choked out breaths of air. Penelo tried running towards my direction but Yuffie pulled her away and pleaded her to hide. I turned around to examine the creature looming above me, I couldn't make out what he looked like...the only thing I could see was a dark shadow and a hand coming at me. Before my whole world completely blackened, I heard the clashing of another sword and a scream of another man.

A/N: Well that's the end of chapter one. I know I cut some parts off but I wanted the story to move along without some of the boring parts. The next chapter will be in Penelo's POV since Vaan is knocked out for the moment. And it's the chapter where I finally reveal who takes over the part of Aragon and Arwen. :) I hope you liked it.