Chapter 5

Battle with Fire

Alena's POV

Recap...

Seeing my faith coming to an end, I closed my eyes and gulped my last breathe. Time felt longer when you know that you're about to die. In fact, it felt too long. I opened an eye slowly, thinking twice if it was wise to see how I would die. Nevertheless, what I saw made me gasp as I saw the sword falling towards my body... End of Recap.

The blade was getting closer to my face that I can see how sharp it was. I tried to close my eyes again to save me from my dying memory, but instincts prevailed. I had to see how I die.

It felt long. The dying, I mean.

Everything else went by fast.

On the far corner of my eyes, I saw Sam get thrown away from the others like a rag doll. After, both Merry and Pippin were pushed away leaving Frodo vulnerable. I wanted to shout at him to run, but same as me, we were petrified like stone.

My eyes were shifted away from Frodo when I noticed something bright and familiar flicker above me. Turning my eyes back to the hooded creature, I saw it burning from its head; the foul combustion of stench wrapped the air surrounding me, and I was thankful. Foul as it may be, at least the creature was standing, good as dead.

The Ringwraith screeched from agony, but I couldn't care less. The dark creature backed off of me, tumbling off the edge of the tower, and down to the rocky floor.

I propped myself up, trying to grasp what happened.

One minute I was about to die; now I wasn't... I've been in this type of situation countless of times, but I never did get used to it. As I thought of the short happenings that went, I felt someone kneel down next to me, pulling me against his chest. Raising my head, I saw Strider looking at me worriedly from my lack of response.

One look in his blue eyes, I instantly melt and hug him back.

"Where were you?" I asked him as I pulled away from his hug, looking at him accusingly.

"I was looking for you! You shouldn't have run off like that." He said as he stared at me with stern eyes, but his worry was too overwhelming for him to keep his façade. I can't blame him. It was rather rash of me to act in that sort of accord.

I looked down shamefully. My stupidity causes him more stress. Before I can give myself a mental lashing, I felt Strider's rough hands grab my chin to face him.

"But, I'm glad you're alright." He said with a small smile, relief quickly shrouding his previous emotions. I couldn't help, but smile myself from his show of emotion.

I admired this man more and more for his selfless thinking, and I was proud to be by his side. However, our moment with each other was turned brief when we heard Frodo howl with pain.

Snapping our heads to the sound of pain, lying on the ground was Frodo pierced by an unusual sword. Strider swiftly took his sword in one hand and a flamed torch on the other as he stalked his way to the creature that held the sword stabbing Frodo.

Flamed torch... Fire.

Fire was a weakness against the Ringwraiths. I knew what I had to do, but I was sure not to like it. So far, no one here knew of my powers, but this occasion called for it. I just hope I don't exert to much to bring me to exhaustion.

In the distance I can hear Strider clashing swords with the Ringwraiths, and I knew what can end all of this. Once I took hold of my sword that skimmed away from me earlier, I stood from the ground. A familiar feeling enveloped through me, the power gliding through my veins as my eyes turned from their cerulean blue color to fiery red.

As soon as the power took its charge on my body, I lifted my sword levelled with my head, and with a swing, my sword was covered with fire. The bright orange iron of my sword didn't hurt me at all as I held it close to my skin.

Without another minute to loose, I joined the battle between Strider and the Ringwraiths.

The rings of swords clashing continued on in the air as Strider and I showed our wraths. With each strike where my blade so much as graze on a dark cloak, I let my power creep on to the already tattered material they wore, setting fire to the creature. Back-to-back, Strider and I fought for what felt like hours, but we needed to keep going for the others' safety.

The heat of the battle grew with our enemies lessening in number. We had to diffuse; both of us slowly went on the other end of the tower, our own fights beginning.

I took a defensive approach seeing as how the figure seemed to have more muscle than me, but muscles were worthless without speed and agility.

A plan quickly came to mind. My sword stabbed on to the floor, seeming as though I've lost my grip from my enemy's strength. Least he know of the twin daggers tucked behind me. With his supposed to be final blow, he stalked his way to me with his sword above my head, ready to plummet its way to my skull. Just as he was about to slice his way through my skin, I pulled out my twin daggers.

The daggers took its charge against the sword as they trapped it in between them. I smiled in triumph seeing my plan in action.

I took advantage of the situation; with a swing to the left, I released the sword from the creature's hand with a clang. With one dagger, I stabbed my enemy on the chest, deep as far as my dagger would plunge. With the other dagger, I let flame engulf its blades. With a slice, the fire from the dagger soon travelled along the black robe of the dark creature, setting aflame to it, and eventually death.

A sigh of relief escaped from my lips, but was cut short when I saw Strider struggling with the last Ringwraith. With a swing of my arm, I let my dagger fly across the length of the floor and in to the face of the creature. The creature screamed in agony, but I knew a pierce against a Ringwraith can only go as far as cause small damage on their skin. Snapping my hands open, I let the flame dance off the blade as I controlled it in to burning the last one standing.

It was over. We won.

Relief overcame me when I saw Strider alright; the same look displayed on his face. Before I can stop myself, I ran towards him. I wrapped my arms around him as I buried my face in his chest. Not many men have lived to tell their story of survival fighting off the dark creatures, let alone five of them. I felt his arms wrap around my waist as he lifted me off the ground, clearly as happy as I was. With an amused chuckle, he pulled me off him and looked me in the face.

His smile slowly fades.

I stared at him, confused with the way he looked at me, and then I remembered. My eyes were still probably red. My powers... he knew none of it. Judging from the way he is looking at me now, I can tell that he hardly noticed how I fought against the Ringwraiths earlier.

My eyes cast down as I thought of what his further reaction will be. Will he push me away? Will he tell me I'm bewitched? Will this change everything between us? I couldn't think of more. I didn't want to think of more.

Maybe I am a monster undeserving of his affections.

Tears were already brimmed my eyes by now. I couldn't help, but feel hurt. Will there ever be a man that could accept me for who I am? Or am I plague cursed to walk this world alone forever?

My thoughts of self-pity were disturbed, when I heard him speak.

"So it is true," I lifted my head to stare at him, confused with his words. "A fire wielder still breathes 'till this day." He reached his hand to touch my cheek, and I let him. I leaned to his touch, my tears falling as I felt the warmth of his hand caress my skin.

"You know of us?" I asked dubiously, slightly surprised of him knowing my heritage considering we were considered more of a myth than reality.

"My father would tell tales of Masters of Fire; how they controlled the element unlike any magic-wielder can." He said. I can feel his admiration radiating from his voice, and I couldn't help but smile. Although, my smile was wiped away.

"Why are you not afraid?" I asked him. I knew I know not that much on how to control this devilish power, and fear soon struck me when the thought of possibly hurting him came to my mind. I backed away from his touch, tears freely falling by now.

"Must I fear you? I know you enough to say that you will not hurt me willingly." He grabbed my arms and pulled me closure, as if to reassure his words are true.

"Strider, I do not wish to hurt you even by accident. I cannot bear the thought of..." thoughts of me killing him quickly came to my mind, and by now I was sobbing. "I should not have used this power at all. I could have lost control and cause harm."

"If it was not for your power, we would either be badly hurt or dead." He slid his hands from my arms to both sides of my cheeks, and lifted my face to his eyes, "I am thankful you are gifted with fire."

I stared at his face, trying to see if he was lying or not, but the look on his face spoke a hundred kind words. I smiled at him, thankful for his kind words.

With a smile on his face, he kissed my forehead. His lips lingered on me; I savoured the moment as it was. As he released, my smile broke in to a small grin as I considered how silly our little dispute was.

Though sweet our moment was, our moment was once again cut short.

"Strider!"

On the other side off the tower, we can hear Sam shouting from help.

Quickly, we ran towards my distressed friends. What I saw made my heart clench; Frodo was on the floor, clutching on air as he stared off to the distance. I made my way to his side, holding on to his hand.

His hand was cold. What kind of blade could do this?

"He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." I heard Strider say from the other side. I stared at him with disbelief; this was no easy task. A Morgul blade was too much for me to handle; its poison was beyond my knowledge, but I knew it was grave once grazed with its deathly matter.

I stared down at Frodo, catching his eyes on me; by now my eyes would be back to normal. "Alena..." he whispered. I can tell the pain he was carrying was killing him inside. I felt so useless; there was nothing I could do. All I can do was soothe comforting words in his ear as he pants heavily. It took all I had to stop myself from crying on that moment; I had to stay strong for the hobbits, to assure them that somehow, everything will be okay. I stared at Strider, panic taking me as I searched his eyes for answers.

"This is beyond my skill to heal." Not the words I would've liked to hear. "He needs Elvish medicine."

We were days away from Rivendell, but it was the only choice we had.

Wasting no more time, Strider picked Frodo off the ground and carried him down to from the top of the tower with us on his tail.

I never really thought of updating this considering school and all. BUT, I have the measles... so that sucks XD

With no prior things to do, I plan on finishing this story so READ & REVIEW

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Thanks for the reviews by the way, they were actually what made me rethink of continuing this story. Hope you review and I would be glad to hear some criticisms about my writing. I need to improve, so thanks in advance! Every Review counts :))