Chapter 3

The nazgul screeched above them. In an instant Rhiannan dashed to Frodo who was still squirming about as if someone had started prodding him with a hot poker. The girl picked the Hobbit up the best she could and began to drag him toward the bathroom. Sam quickly came to help her as the rest of the Fellowship, and Danielle, moved together. The other men glanced about carefully, waiting for some sign that the creature actually knew they were within the home. Aragorn glanced at the young woman, her hand clutching the knife in a way he didn't know she could, "It would be best if you joined your friend. This is not something a lady should be involved in."

"Let her stay," Gandalf spoke gruffly as he moved to the front of the group toward the back door, "she is more handy then you think."

Danielle glanced over at Gandalf then back toward the shadow of the Fell-beast, "It isn't supposed to be here," she told them over the screech of the Nazgul. "In our world there aren't any creatures like these. It must have somehow followed you through the void."

"Or re-awoken when the ring came into existence in your world," Gandalf commented. The Fell-beast began to circle around the house as if looking for a spot it could get to. Danielle clinched her kitchen knife even harder and forced herself to take even breaths. It had been so long since she had been in any danger it was almost impossible to bring back up her courage she spent so long building.

"What do we do?" Danielle asked.

"We have to get out of here, quickly," Aragorn was the one to speak. "Is there any hidden tunnels from your home? Can we escape through there?"

Danielle began to think, fast and hard. The thought of hidden tunnels made her want to laugh but this was too much of a serious moment for that. Quickly she dashed to the desk in the living room and began to rummage around until she pulled out two sets of keys. One was to the house her parents had in the mountains, nearly a fourteen-hour drive, and the other set was to the mini-van one of her roommates had left. She was thankful now that Danielle had been given express permission to use it in an emergency. This was a good enough emergency.

The girl dashed to the bathroom where Rhiannan, Frodo, and Sam were. Sam was pressing a cold rag on the forehead of Frodo's pained face, "We have to leave," Danielle told Rhiannan quickly. "Get the hobbits, have them store as much food as they get into the back of both vehicles," she tossed the other girl the extra set of car keys. "I'll grab us some clothes, warm clothes, and we need to figure out who is riding in which vehicle. The van's very back seat can be pulled down into a bed so it would be best to put Frodo in with you. I'll take Gandalf and three others. The rest should be able to fit in your vehicle."

"Where are we going?" Rhiannan asked quickly. "How the heck did that thing get here?"

"We're going to my parent's cabin up in the mountains, and I have no idea how it got here, but it knows we're here now. We'll just have to drive in a way it can't find us. The moment we get that opening," Danielle winced when the Nazgul let out another screech, "we're taking it and going. This is too important now. If a Nazgul has somehow crossed over…who knows what else will."

Rhiannan nodded and with Sam's help the two began to carry Frodo back into the living room, through the kitchen, and into the van. Luckily the back seat was all ready pulled down into a bed. She quickly put the hobbits to work to get all the food into the car. The things that needed to be cold, milk and the like, she grabbed a cooler, poured ice into it and with little explanation told them to but cold stuff in there.

Danielle was in her bedroom, stuffing clothes into a backpack along with her silver snake ring, "Danielle?" she glanced to see Aragorn in her door way. "What can we do to help?"

"In the back of my car," she looked at the confused look on Aragorn's face. "It's the blue one, both trunks should be open now. There is a box of clothes. Have everyone find their sizes and put them on. Don't worry about decency in front of us. We need to somehow disguise you. Just…hurry. If you are confused ask Rhiannan she'll be able to tell you," Aragorn nodded curtly and disappeared back to the living room.

For just one moment Danielle paused, glancing around the room. In a rush she dropped the bag she was stuffing things into and began to pick up every pillow in the house, running to Legolas, who had only managed to get pants on, to put half in each vehicle. She ran back into her room and grabbed the backpack she had dropped and then a jacket for both her and Rhiannan.

Then they began to tally who got to go where. Pippin and Merry decided to climb into the back of Danielle's vehicle; Gandalf had all ready sat in the back. Boromir chose to ride in the front with Danielle. The rest climbed into the van. Sam and Frodo were all ready in the back; Legolas and Gimli took the seat in the middle of the van and Aragorn climbed into the front passengers seat. Rhiannan tossed Danielle a walkie-talkie and each climbed into their separate driver's seat.

"How will we lose it?" Pippin asked behind Danielle.

"We'll get on the highway, head north," she spoke gently as she hit the garage door button to allow the garage door to rise. "I don't know how fast they can fly, but with the mass of cars we'll find since its lunch traffic… If they find us at all will be too late."

"Danielle?" Rhiannan called over the small device sitting in the cup holder.

Boromir, Merry, and Pippin all stared at the walkie-talkie in shock; "Yeah?" she answered, ignoring the shocked stares.

"What sign are we waiting for?"

Danielle glanced at Gandalf, he put his hand out to take the communication device, "press the button on the side to speak," she explained.

Gandalf rolled his eyes, as if he all ready knew, and put it to his mouth, "The Fell-beast will make two more turns, if anything it is expecting us to exit out the back door. Just wait, when I say go, Danielle will pull out first, follow as fast as you can, okay?"

"Roger, roger," Rhiannan spoke. Danielle glanced over to see her saluting over at them.

They waited, the suspense made Danielle feel like she was suddenly getting squashed down. Her eyes glanced to Gandalf, "Go!" he spoke to her and into the Walkie-talkie. Danielle instantly began to back out, glancing once for vehicles passing her driveway and pulling out. As fast she could she shifted the vehicle into drive and hit the gas, nearly squealing out before the car jolted forward and down the street toward the highway. Rhiannan was quick to follow, and actually remembering to close the garage door after she pulled out.

"Can you tell if it's noticed our departure yet?" Rhiannan's voice sounded.

"It's still circling," Gandalf told her quickly. "Only a moment till it no longer senses Frodo with in."

"Legolas says its starting to circle around again."

Danielle grabbed the walkie-talkie from Gandalf, "We'll be to the highway soon, just try and keep up with me as much possible once we're on."

"Will do, better go silent for a bit. If something comes up and we're clear for a while we should stop and get gas. I have a full tank right now so we're good for a little bit," Rhiannan spoke one last time.

The ride was quiet which made the tension in the air thicker then it needed to be. They got onto the highway heading North bound and for along while road like that. Gandalf would randomly check up on the other vehicle, Aragorn was in charge of communications on the other side now, and for three hours no one spoke.

Finally they turned off at a small gas station to fill up and Danielle stood and looked at her friend while her vehicle finished filling, "Gandalf says the Nazgul lost complete track of us about an hour ago when we hit a mass of vehicles," she glanced to where the hobbits were stretching their legs. Sam was out of the vehicle as well, but he didn't move very far from it. "Hopefully our luck holds and we don't have to worry about the nazgul for a while."

"I don't understand how it got into our world though," Rhiannan muttered. "Such a wonderful Christmas present."

"We'll drive for as long as we can. If we find a camping site we'll stop there and sleep," Danielle hugged her arms protectively at the thought. "If it comes to that we'll hope that we aren't found."

"How are you doing?" Danielle jumped to see Aragorn walked up to them.

"I'm okay," she smiled just slightly, "wasn't exactly ready for this. I thought I was going to spend Christmas at home."

He frowned, "Christmas?"

"Right…you wouldn't know what that is," Danielle glanced at Rhiannan as she began to edge away. "Pretty much it's a day where we give gifts to our loved ones. In our world, for many, it also the day we celebrate as the birth of a savior that lived a little over two-thousand years ago It's not his actual birthday but it's the day they chose."

"Oh…so…. Gifts?"

"Yep," Danielle nodded and then took the nozzle out of the car and set it back on the pump. "Rhiannan, don't forget to grab the receipt!"

"Got it!" Rhiannan called back as she took the piece of paper from her pump.

Danielle grabbed her own receipt, "Okay everybody, back into your vehicles."

"We're hungry," Pippin moaned.

"Get some bread and lunch meat from the back," Danielle huffed. They just stared at her. "I'll grab it," and proceeded to dig in the back of her vehicle tell she found the right things. The Hobbits seemed very unsure of what to do so she also made each of them three sandwiches and then made everyone else one sandwich. "Okay, now lets get going please?"

With that they were on the road again. Boromir was watching Danielle carefully, having gotten over his fear of the road, and finally spoke after being quiet this long, "It's a…great thing you are doing for us."

Danielle glanced at him once then returned her eyes on the road, "It is the right thing to do."

Boromir glanced out the window for a moment before speaking again, "Not very many would leave their home behind to help complete strangers."

Danielle bit her lips and just shrugged. Her thoughts roamed over things she had avoided thinking about as she drove on, "It would be wrong of me to allow the fate of another world to be destroyed if its within my power to stop," she finally said.

The Gondorian nodded his head slowly and seemed at a loss for words. Hours past silently, Merry and Pippin were chattering quietly in the back and Gandalf had begun to snore away. The sun in the distance was finally setting.

In Rhiannan's vehicle Sam and Frodo and fallen asleep in the back as well as Gimli. Legolas, Aragorn, and of course Rhiannan were the ones still awake. Aragorn had kept his eyes on their surroundings without even pausing to glance around at those in the vehicle, "In the world where we know you," Aragorn spoke gently, "were you related to anyone?"

Rhiannan shook her head, keeping her eyes on the road, "No. I was half elf though."

"Aren't you now?" Legolas asked from behind her.

Rhiannan frowned, "Huh?"

"You are still half elf," Aragorn confirmed. "Wouldn't you know this from your parents?"

"Well…they never mentioned it," she shrugged and gave a sigh.

"What was your time like then?"

Rhiannan took a look at the setting sun and looked back at the constant white lines that ran through the middle of the road, "It was…well how you would look at it very different. Danielle and I were seventeen when we landed in your world…" then she proceeded to tell him what she could. From their insane randomness to how the two girls were chosen for the fellowship. Both Aragorn and Legolas listened quietly. Legolas was grimacing at the parts where he was not acting like himself. Finally after about an hour and a half of talking she reached the point where they arrived before Galadriel. She decided to not continue to not change the future for them.

"You speak of your time there in such detail," Aragorn spoke wistfully. "There is nothing else but for it to be true."

"It's just a different reality is all," Rhiannan shrugged. "In your reality we don't exist. In ours we experienced but with the exception of that ring it never happened."

"You speak of a girl I don't know… I mean with what I've seen of Danielle," Aragorn commented. "She is happy in a way but there is something else. I do not know what to call it."

"Heartache is the simplest way to put it."

All three paused when Danielle's voice spoke through the walkie-talkie, "Hey Rhiannan. There's a camping area just a mile up, would you want to stop a rest? We have about six hours left to drive and I could use a little shut-eye."

"Sounds good, Danielle," Rhiannan called back. "Hey I actually managed to find some tents, for those of us can't get comfy we can try and pitch it."

"Oh I'm SO excited."

Rhiannan smirked, "Snarky girl."

They pulled off the highway and drove into the camping area. It was surprisingly open, but no other camper was seen when they slowly entered and found a well tree covered spot. Danielle climbed out of the car while pulling a jacket on. Rhiannan sat in the van for a moment while pulling out some blankets and pillows for Gimli, Frodo, and Sam before leaving it.

Boromir was out of the vehicle, stretching his legs. Danielle moved to get blankets and pillows for the three in the back of her car. After handing them to Gandalf who gave them to Merry and Pippin they went to setting the tent up, "You three can try to sleep in the vehicles if you like," Danielle told them gently when they were nearly done setting up the tent.

"We will not allow you two to sleep out here alone," Aragorn told her quickly.

Danielle almost smiled but moved to grab the sleeping bags and pillows. Boromir helped her carry them into the tent. It was just big enough to fit five people. Aragorn and Legolas had decided to take turns on night watch. Danielle crawled into the tent and began to arrange the pillows. Aragorn volunteered to take first watch so he was left with a blanket to help keep warm. Rhiannan and Legolas chose to stay up just a little longer to continue talking. Rhiannan, in a very hushed tone, began to explain to them what she meant by heartache.

Boromir was in the tent with Danielle, helping her get everything arranged, "I feel as if I must make some apology," he spoke. "It's been a wild day as it is and I feel very improper knowing I am taking your privacy from you. It is not right a gentleman to share a tent with a lady unless married."

"Then I will say something to help you feel better," Danielle took in a shaky breath, feeling oddly nervous. "In this world it is not unusual for a man and a woman to share a house, though they are not engaged, married, or related in some way. Sometimes it is a physical relationship, and other times they are just friends. I know it is against your gentlemanly duty, but I think tonight you can make an exception. It is going to be very cold tonight and we'll need all the body heat we can get."

He nodded silently then glanced toward the door of the tent that was now zipped up, "Then I offer my body heat to help you, Danielle. It is the least I can do at the moment with what you have done for myself and my comrades."

Danielle felt a blush cover her cheeks and she gave him a small smile before taking her jacket off and sliding into the sleeping back. Boromir cleared his throat and glanced around for a moment. It was a two-person sleeping bag and he felt rather flustered about the idea of sharing of a sleeping bag with her. After a very short inner battle he slid in behind her and carefully placed his arm around her waist, letting her rest her back against his chest.

The young woman rested her head against the pillow, taking in his scent. It hadn't changed, it was exactly the way she remembered it. Boromir kept his breaths even and rested his own head against his pillow. His heart was thudding in a way he never felt before, but at the same time it felt so familiar.

Rhiannan crawled into the tent and paused at the two who were now lying down. Slowly she took the pillow on the other side of Boromir and turned her back to them. The other sleeping bag was also a two-person sleeping bag. Legolas stood and looked at the stop left and frowned a little, "I do not know if it is wise I share a sleeping place with you."

She rolled her eyes, "Get over it elf boy. I don't care. If you feel more comfortable with it, sleep on top of the sleeping bag. Either way I get heat."

Legolas huffed and moved himself into the sleeping bag, "You don't snore, do you?"

"No…not that I know of. Danielle is the one that sings and dances. Be worried for Boromir, not me," she insisted as she glared at the elf.

He looked over at her and rolled his eyes, "Why is it we share such a strange hostility toward one another?"

Rhiannan frowned, "I dunno… I mean… I had made up with you and was fine with you before we magically reappeared back here. Maybe its just hormones."

"What?"

"Female thing. You don't wanna know," she muttered as she snuggled herself more into the covers. The heat from the elf and the man around her was making her nice and warm. "Night Legolas."

Legolas raised an eyebrow for a moment then nodded once, "Good night Rhiannan."

Note: So that's chapter three. Doobie doobie doo! Hope you guys liked it. Just slightly shorter then the others but that's okay. I can't always make them super long. But thanks to my reviewers: Doll-Fin-Chick and Song in the Woods. You guys are awesome! Here's your update!

And of course, if you feel like it, or just want me to update a.s.a.p. just review.