Chased by Death
Darkness was descending by the time Aragorn and Adriana neared the watch tower again, "It's quiet out tonight." Adriana said. She glanced worriedly at Aragorn and was rewarded with his also very worried look.
"Too quiet." Adriana nodded in agreement.
"I thought we would catch them away from the hobbits." Aragorn was silent but she continued heedless, "I wonder where they went." She said nothing about their unsaid, fool-hardy agreement to attempt to fight off the Nazgul before they got near the ring even though no one had managed it yet. Then she stopped dead in her tracks while looking at the distant watch tower. "Oh no…" she trailed off in fear.
Aragorn turned towards her in confusion, "What is it?" She pointed at the top of the tower where a flickering flame could be seen. His eyes widened and he quickly turned towards her and spoke, "Run!" They both quickly sped over the rocks and began the tortuous incline at a dead sprint. The wraiths' calls echoed across the still night.
Adriana squinted and brought the distant hillside into high relief, several black cloaked men were scaling the mountain, "We're going to be too late!" She cried as she pushed herself still faster.
In the distance she could hear the frightened screams of the hobbits and the clanking steps of five wraiths. She pounded up the cold stone stairs, her rapid breath painting white clouds in the air before it disappeared.
She heard Sam cry out and then heard a body hit the ground, "Oh please no!" Adria cried out. She glanced back to see nothing, she had lost Strider in the panic. Then two more bodies hitting the ground met her keen ears. 'Merry and Pippin, I'm so sorry.' Finally she heard a clatter of a sword hitting the ground followed by another body hitting. She pushed herself harder and faster. Hearing struggling she paused momentarily and then continued her upward rush, someone was still alive, still moving!
A piercing scream met her ears as she leapt through the door to the staircase yelling her fury. Another furious cry met her ears and she turned to see Strider leaping over a bleeding Frodo to fight the wraiths. She quickly ran to his side.
He began to wave a sword and flaming branch around giving the hobbits some small protective space while parrying blows meant to kill. The wraiths' cries blended into the cacophony of sounds that were whirling around Adriana as she plunged into battle.
Meeting swords in a flash of sparks she imagined herself back in her training area and once again she began to dance, this time her sword wasn't her only partner. The wraiths fell back and then both Aragorn and she began to push them farther. Behind her she could hear Frodo and Sam talking but she didn't look back, she couldn't.
With a sharp yell Aragorn ignited one of the wraith's cloaks and then parried another blow, Adriana pushed two smaller ones back with her sword, and then there was only one left. Aragorn quickly threw the flaming torch straight into the cowl of the ring wraith and then whirled around when Sam's cried out, "Strider! Help him Strider!"
Adriana quickly went to Frodo's side and grasped a hand while soothingly rubbing her cool hands over his forehead pushing back his hair and whispering reassurances. Aragorn's voice met her ears confirming what she already knew, "He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." There was a harsh acid-like whisper and then the blade turned to dust in his hands while he threw the hilt down with disgust.
"This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Elvish medicine." All eyes, except Strider's, turned towards her pleadingly. She shook her head back and forth.
"I'm sorry, this is beyond me as well. He needs help from Rivendell and the great elves there." Adria looked down slightly and then up again as Aragorn grasped her shoulder reassuringly before grabbing Frodo up and carrying him away. The hobbits all filed past her and then she got up and followed after them, her eyes dark with anger at the wraiths…and herself. "Hurry."
She quickly followed them into the forest but stopped at the forest's edge and then let out a piercing whistle. Sam shouted out angrily, "We're six days from Rivendell. He'll never make it!" Adriana moved towards Sam and clasped his shoulder in reassurance. He stopped and turned to hug her, she saw glistening tears on his face and felt her heart go out to the hobbit. She felt her shirt begin to get wet and then glanced at Aragorn while speaking quietly, "Lirimaer might be near. It may be our only hope." She gently touched the raindrop necklace that both Arwen and Liawing had made like a talisman to ward off evil and death. Sam pulled away but tried to smile at her and then turned to go. She stopped him with a gentle hand, "It will be okay Sam, you need to be strong for your friend." He nodded and then continued walking though the tears still flowed.
Adria watched Frodo stir a little and then heard Aragorn say something only to be shocked when Frodo suddenly yelled out in pain, "Gandalf!" She pushed on towards Aragorn's side tears streaming down her face as well now. 'This is not fair. I've came so far…I will not lose this hobbit. He is not meant to die,' she again grasped her necklace, 'Oh Arwen…Liawing. I'm worried for him. I need help…I need hope.'
They finally stopped in a clearing, partly to catch their breath after their mad dash but mostly to check on Frodo. Adriana glanced at the statues that surrounded them, but then turned to look at Sam who was at Frodo's side. "Mr. Frodo? He's going cold." Sam spoke looking at Aragorn and Adria beseechingly for help.
Pippin suddenly turned away from where Frodo was laboring to breathe and looked at Strider, "Is he going to die?"
He turned, "He's passing into the Shadow World. He'll soon become a Wraith like them."
Suddenly a cry broke the night air and Merry spoke up, "They're close."
Aragorn whirled around quickly a thought plain on his face, "Sam, do you know the Athelas plant?" Adriana from Frodo's side quickly perked up as she thought about what Strider had said. She nodded encouragement and then quickly walked to Aragorn's side, Sam following her.
"Athelas?"
"Kingsfoil."
Sam suddenly brightened with sudden understanding, "Kingsfoil, aye, it's a weed."
"It may help to slow the poisoning. Hurry!" Adriana watched as Aragorn and Sam disappeared into the trees. Aragorn stopped and turned back, "Watch over them, Adria." She nodded her ascent and then walked towards Frodo. He gaped at her in surprise. What was he seeing? Adriana wondered briefly her throat hitching with another sob.
Adriana grabbed his hands, "Frodo, Frodo. I'm so sorry. I will not leave you ever again, I promise to help you. Just don't give up. Please." His breathing grew even more ragged. Suddenly a horse galloping towards them brought Adria back to attention, she had whirled and withdrew her sword so fast that the Frodo's hands clenched open air for a moment before dropping to his side.
Just as quickly she had sheathed her sword, "Arwen!" Adriana's desperately cried out. Arwen walked towards Frodo trailing a reassuring hand along Adria's back in the process. The hobbits backed away from the other elf and Adriana also allowed her friend to kneel beside Frodo. She began to speak with him and he suddenly began to breath harder still. Adriana crept back to the other hobbits and stood behind them. She heard Merry's muffled comment and Sam's answer and quietly elaborated.
"She is Arwen, a friend." She watched as Aragorn knelt and began to put the kingsfoil into the wound even as Arwen talked with Frodo.
"He's fading…He's not going to last." Adriana glanced at Frodo's very pale face and silently agreed, "We must get him to my father." Suddenly Aragorn reached forward and began to carry him towards Arwen's horse. The other hobbits began to ask questions, worried about their friend. Adriana worked to soothe her remaining charges. That finished she caught the last of Arwen's words, "I've been looking for you for two days. There are five wraiths behind you, where the other four are I do not know."
Then they lapsed in Elvish. Adriana followed the conversation but refused to tell the questioning hobbits what it was about. "They are going to help him." She spoke carefully and they quieted. She got the hobbits about gathering their things but couldn't miss the look and touch that the two shared. She smiled slightly. There was always hope.
Adriana finally walked up to Arwen as she was about to leave, "Arwen…be safe. We will follow shortly." Aragorn nodded and then added his own words.
"Ride hard. Don't look back."
Arwen quietly chanted to her horse in Elvish and then she was gone, disappearing into the night. Adriana turned and clasped Aragorn's shoulder in reassurance, "She will be fine, Aragorn. We have charges to look after, we cannot fail again." He nodded once and then they turned and set off into the night.