Thank you reviewers! You all get hugs and cookies! The short awaited chapter five is here. Hope you enjoy! By the way, I don't own LOTR. I don't own the pirates of Penzance. I'm sorry this isn't as humorous. I promise the next one will be. I had to clear a few things up.
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I stood shivering in the middle of the road as the horse came to a stop. (And I mean a "horse" not a "hoarse".) The rider was cloaked so I couldn't see their face.
The rider held the lantern above just so I could see the outline of his cloak. I really wasn't sure what to do at that point. I hadn't actually considered what I would say to the rider before I stood in the middle of the road. Now I was here and I didn't know what to do.
"Please sir . . ." I managed to come up with. "I'm-so cold."
It seemed those five words had a greater effect then I anticipated. The rider got off the horse immediately and took a bag off the back of it. The lantern was still attached to his hand somehow. I couldn't see it in the darkness. I was pretty sure it was at least 10:00 at night.
The rider pulled out a large cloth type thing. Then he walked over and handed it to me. It was soft and warm; it even had a hood attached to it. I wrapped it around me and continued to stand in the middle of the road.
As I was doing this, the cloaked stranger had taken out some other things from the bag. It included some sticks, a flint, and tinder. He walked the horse over to the tree and tied it to the other side. Then he started a fire with the sticks and tinder. Soon the fire began to burn brightly.
The man looked at me. "Come and sit." He said.
I sat next to the fire across from the man. His face was mostly hidden by the hood draped over him. Though the fire burned, I still didn't have enough light to see who he was. Strangely I wasn't afraid of him. His presence seemed to calm me, and I felt I knew him somehow. I didn't understand.
I realized I had been staring into the fire for a while and hadn't said a word to him. I probably should engage in some form of small talk with the person who kept me from freezing to death. That's the courteous thing to do.
"Thank you" I said looking up at him.
He didn't reply, he just continued to stare at the fire. I thought that rather odd. Most people at least say "you're welcome" to you when you thank them.
"Do you believe that you are ready for this journey?" He asked. It took me quite by surprise; seeing as he hadn't said that much since we had been here.
"I-I-I don't know. I hadn't really considered the journey yet. Mostly survival."
"You must" He said.
"Why?" I inquired.
"Your journey will be both long and difficult. You will see things you've never encountered before and do things which you've never had to do. Do you think you are prepared for it?"
His question seemed to pierce me right through to the heart of me. I felt afraid of what was going to happen. I didn't know who to turn to.
"I don't know. . ."
The stranger lifted his head and looked at me for the first time. I saw his shining eyes and His light illuminated from around his face. I knew who he was now. I knew in that moment, that it was my King.
"You are ready, My child." He said.
He got up and took the sword from the saddle. Then, He gave it to me. I held this sword and marveled at it. I was in awe of his presence.
"Remove it from its sheath" He said.
I did; to reveal a gleaming blade. The handle was encrusted in jewels and gold, but the blade was the most magnificent. A thin line of gold went through the center and ended near the tip of the blade. Two stones of amethyst and diamond studded either side of the line. Even the sheath had some form of gold wrapping it.
"That sword will pierce the hardiest of armor as long as you remember my Word. To anchor it to your waist I give you a belt of truth." With that he pulled out a gold trimmed belt and handed it to me.
" With these, you may fight off any attacks from the evil that will threaten you. But remember, though they come against you, they have been defeated already. You need not fear them. I will be with you."
"Thank you, my Lord."
I felt so many things at the moment when I said that. I was so happy to see Him, and yet shocked by the sword in my hand, and in such awe at his wondrous presence. It was truly an indescribable feeling.
I put the sword back in the sheath. I had to ask Him.
"Lord, why me? Why am I here?"
He looked straight at me and replied. "You shall know in due time. All you must know is that you are here, because I sent you here."
"Come child," he said. "Rest your eyes. Morning will soon be here and I will be gone. But do not worry when I am gone. I am always with you, even when the night seems its darkest."
"Sleep now."
I laid my head on the ground and wrapped myself in the cloak. I felt warm and safe. It wasn't long before I was sound asleep. I woke up to the sun rising over the hills and felt its beams kiss my face. I opened my eyes and found that He and His horse were gone. But still His presence lingered.
The sack containing the supplies had been left and the fire had been put out. All was right and I had to get moving if I wanted to reach Rivendell today. I was ready now to take on the trolls. They didn't stand a chance against me and my blade. I was ready to fight!
I place the belt and sword around my waist , and pined the cloak around my neck. I hope I looked less conspicuous while I was traveling. I thanked God for His gifts and continued to walk down the road.
I walked the road feeling rather pumped for the situation. That bridge didn't seem so big anymore. If had a bungee cord. I would have bungee jumped off it. That's how excited I was. I skipped along the bridge that day feeling extremely happy.
I even broke out into one of the most annoying songs to sing.
"Climbing over Rocky Mountains" from the Pirates of Penzance.
I'm pretty sure, that at the pitch I was singing, the elves could have heard me from Rivendell. I approached the Trollshaws very wary though. I was quiet on the road. I didn't want to disturb them enough for them to come out and get me.
The one thing you never notice when you look at forest roads, is that you never notice that there are trees around the road. That makes everything very dark and creepy. I was very aware that the trolls could be lurking around the trees. The birds were calling out and giving the place a very eerie place to walk in. But I knew I was safe.
I crept along the bramble covered road. The bushes and trees seemed to grow very wild on this path. The birds seemed to be the only animals in the forest. I didn't see any squirrels or foxes roaming the road. I was grateful for the birds. They made it seem less like a haunted forest. Everything was going alright. . .I should have known something was lurking.
I must have traveled a ways into the forest when I heard something in the trees. It was big, whatever it was. It's steps sounded huge in the forest, and the trees were rumbling and shaking. They were coming closer and closer to the small grove of trees behind me.
I knew that I was in trouble. I started to run as fast as I could. It had to be trouble if it shook the trees. The road never seemed longer then it ever did before. I ran like the whips of a balrog were on my tail. I did not want to know what was behind me. I heard it knock a tree over as it finally reached the road. A guttural cry emerged from the creature's mouth. I may have been far away, but it was loud. It shook the forest as it rang through the trees. The birds scattered. I'm pretty sure I had a troll on my tail. Adrenaline became my best friend in three seconds.
I felt it coming towards me as I ran. I looked back a moment. The troll was still far away. . . but they have big feet and legs. It wouldn't be long before I couldn't out run the troll. I wanted to get out of the forest. If I was going to face him, I wanted to be out in the open. Wait a minute. . . How do I fight? I don't have any sword training! CRAP!
" I better out run him to the river. Legs! Don't fail me now!"
I was so tired, but I kept running. There was no way I was going to give in. This chase is REALLY bad for me. I have an inherited heart murmur that affects me when I run. I can't run for long distances. Only short ones. But if I stopped I could die! What do I do!
I must have had an angel carrying me through the forest, because I emerged through the clearing in record time. . .Sadly with angry troll still on my tail. I knew I couldn't go anywhere. I was exhausted. I drew out my sword rather haphazardly . My hands shook violently as I held it. The fear gripped me like death as I contemplated how the troll was going to kill me.
"Believe. . ." A voice whispered on the wind. It rustled through the trees. The clouds were dark above me.
I began to believe. I believed in myself, in my King, and the weapon I had. I could defeat this troll. My King was with me.
Crash.
The troll rammed through the trees. It was a mighty troll. I made a guess that it was a hill-troll. Still, a troll is a troll, to me. I held my sword in front of me. The troll snarled and roared at me. Wielding a heavy club, it came at me.
As it got closer the troll seemed to be hesitant of me. My sword seemed to be growing brighter. The troll was a few yards a way as it came closer. I must have looked like an easy meal for it. One that was too tired to fight.
The troll raised his club to hit me. I was prepared to run away as soon as it got near me. He was about to strike his hefty club on me. His club was held high above his head. Then he stopped.
He seemed to be posing in a frozen state.
I didn't know what had happened. Then I saw the sun.
The clouds had rolled completely away from the sun. The bright sun had begun to harden the skin from the top down. In 30 seconds he became stone.
Shock would not describe how I felt.
I shivered furiously. It was mostly relief that I felt mixed with happiness and fatigue.
My legs gave way and I collapsed on the ground. Still shaking, I looked up at the troll. Frozen in time. I had never seen a miracle like that.
I knew now. I was in good hands. . .
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Okay peoples. I gave you a climatic chapter. Yes, I know my faith shines through chapter. But I think if you went to M.E, you'd depend on God too. I always wanted to write a story like this. Hope you enjoyed it. And by the way. . .READ AND REVIEW! Love you All!
