Chapter 6

The next morning, Frodo and Sam continued on their road to Mordor, aided by Theoden who gave them further supplies and also by the Clans. The two from Oriana's Clans assigned to guardianship were released, having proven themselves at Helm's Deep, but went as escort nonetheless. It took three days to reach Ithilien, where their escort departed and they ran into a different set of troubles. In Ithilien, a creature named Gollum attacked them. In Ithilien, they met another Clan and the Rangers who guarded the borderland.

Etsu's ears pricked up and the gray-coated she-wolf raised her head, sniffing the air. She shook her head slowly and got up, "Well, now what's happened?"

"What's wrong, Etsu?" Gabai asked from the mouth of the cave the Ithilien Clan called home. She looked at her mate, "Some creature has befallen some manner of trouble. I can smell it in the air, there is some foul creature about in these woods."

"Oh, let Kenadi and Ishtar take care of it. They are the scouts."

"Not this time, Gabai. It's the Ringbearer." She could feel it in her bones that the one in trouble was no one who had been in Ithilien before. Some days before, a summons had come to them from the distant Clan Realm of Fangorn in Rohan. There was battle brewing and the Dark Star was heading their army, but more numbers were needed. If her Clan was not so beset upon with troubles of their own, Etsu would gladly have given this Dark Star warriors. The Clans that had fought in that battle had lost many but more had survived and the forces of distant Isengard had been soundly defeated. Etsu saw this as a sign of times to come. As for the Ringbearer, she had dreamt of him for quite some time and had known that one day he would come into her Clan Realm. Gabai nodded, "You know best."

"Keep your eyes open, Dakira saw the Rangers again this morning."

"Again? That's the sixth time in four days we've seen them so close to the den. What are they looking for?"

"Troops going to Mordor and using Ithilien as the pass-way." She bristled as she remembered how close she and the scouts had gotten yesterday to one such phalanx of soldiers. Calling Dakira and Seth to her, she took off in the direction that she suspected they would find the Ringbearer.

Sure enough, they came upon him fighting off a foul, gangly creature of some breed Etsu didn't care to identify. Dakira lunged into the fray and grabbed the creature by the back of it's skinny neck, ripping it away from the Ringbearer. Etsu quickly stood over the Hobbit, her fur bristling until it stood straight on end as she looked at the miserable wretch Dakira held flat with one paw and her jaws, "You, filthy miserable wretch. What are you doing here?"

"We was only looking!" it whimpered, "Yes, only looking!"

"Looking for what?"

"Our birthday present that we lost! The nasty Baggins stole it!"

"Shut up, you!" Dakira snarled. Etsu looked down at her newest charge and he opened his clenched fist just enough to let her see the ring of gold he clutched to his chest. She sighed, "Well, whether he stole it or not is not my business, but intruders and trespassers on my Realm is my business. Do you know what Clans do to those who trespass where they have no business?"

"Please, don't kills us!"

"Shut up!" Seth barked, startling the hobbit he guarded.

"We don't let them go away freely, if we let them go away at all. The likes of you we are not kind towards, for you cause us nothing but great trouble."

"Please, spares us!"

"I will not. Dakira, you know what to do." Etsu looked at her scout, then at the cowering hobbit between her paws. She smiled and turned, "Come, Master Hobbit. I will carry you back to our den."

"T-thank you!" he climbed quickly onto her back took gentle hold of her ruff as she took off into a lope. Seth carried his companion, and the wails of despair from the horrid creature were terrible to hear as Dakira tore him limb from limb. When they reached the den, the others had returned from patrol. Frodo Baggins literally fell off her back, exhausted. She lay beside him, "Tell me, Little One, what brings you into the Ithilien Realm? What of the battle in the west?"

"I have to go to Mordor, Clan Leader, please don't delay me."

"I have no intention of doing so. But tell me, what of this Dark Star? What manner of creature is this fighter that Clans from the Three Realms come to fight for her?"

"Oriana? She's wonderful, she's so kind. But in battle, she's vicious. She moves like lightening, that's what Aragorn and Legolas told me. I never got to see her in battle, but I can only imagine what she's like."

"I know what your friends mean." Etsu smiled, "You will rest here for a few days, for you are exhausted. When you are rested, I will let you continue your quest."

"I don't have days, Clan Leader."

"Young Hobbit, if I say you have days to rest, then you had best believe you have days." She nuzzled him the way she would a stubborn cub. He rubbed her fur distractedly, "It gets heavier the closer I get, I just want to destroy it and go home and be at peace."

"Peace will be hard bought even if you do destroy the Ring, and I believe you will. There is greatness in you, Frodo."

"How do you know my name?"

"Oriana sent word with your escorts that you were coming, and the message passed on to my scouts who brought me news."

"Ah. I'm grateful for your hospitality, Clan Leader."

"You don't have to call me Clan Leader all the time, it grows tiresome."

"What's your name, so I don't weary your ears?" Frodo grinned childishly. Etsu arched an eyebrow, "My name is Etsu, the Ithilien Clan is mine."

"Are there lions in the Ithilien Clan?"

"No, we have no lions. They were all killed off in skirmishes."

"How terrible!"

"We survive as best we can, taking what small offerings are left for us by the Rangers."

"Thank you for giving us shelter, Etsu, I don't think Sam and I shall forget you."

"My home is yours, Frodo. Be at ease here." Etsu pressed her nose behind the Hobbit's ear. He giggled, "It tickles!" She smiled and looked at Gabai, who shook his head.

An hour later, they were visited by the Rangers. Etsu went to greet Faramir, "Dakira saw you this morning, Faramir. What brings you to our den?"

"I found something very strange, where you must have put an end to the life of an orc or some such horrid creature." The youthful Ranger ruffled her ears, "I hoped you would know something of it."

"What did you find?"

"A cloak-pin fashioned as a leaf from an Elven tree."

"I must have lost it when Gollum attacked me!" Frodo hopped to his feet, hurrying over to them. Faramir showed him the unusual find, "Is this yours, then?"

"Yes! Oh, thank you, I would hate to loose it!" Frodo took it and replaced it on his cloak. Etsu smiled, "Faramir, this is Frodo Baggins, he is a guest of my clan."

"A strange meeting, Little Master." Faramir offered the hobbit one hand. Frodo took it, "You remind me of one of my traveling companions, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"What sort of company were you traveling in, if I remind you of them?"

"Two men, an elf, a dwarf, three of my kinsmen, and a wizard. One of the men looks very much like you. His name is Boromir." Frodo smiled shyly. Etsu saw a strange expression flicker across Faramir's face. Hmm. Faramir nodded, "Yes, he might. Boromir is my brother. How is he?"

"He was very well the last time I saw him three days ago."

"I'll let you two speak on your own time. Don't wear him out, Faramir, he's come a long way from Rohan." Etsu warned as she left the pair. Faramir nodded, "I won't, Etsu, you have my word." Etsu shook her head and gave them the privacy needed.