Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings that is just wonderfully wishful thinking! Haha, anywho, I do own my plot and I do own Jamie, Annie, and Thea! I hope that you enjoy them whilst I share them!

Chapter Six

Annie

I had been walking for hours.

Literally.

I would have liked to say that I was exaggerating, but this was one of those cases where I wasn't even close to that. I had a feeling that I was at least getting close to an exit as I wandered through the darkness. The area around me was vast. I knew that much. My steps were cautious until I came up against a wall. I couldn't help but sigh with relief as I moved along it the chains of my mail shirt making gentle sounds as they brushed against each other and the rocks.

Light began to bother the bottom of my eyes and I looked down to see that the shirt had started to glow a pale blue. A part of me really wanted to ask: What The Hell. Another part of, slightly nerdish by nature, was actually rather excited about this whole thing. Of course there was one very large fact that oh the nerd and the other part of me had to agree on: Mail shirts don't glow in the dark.

I had nothing to disprove my theory as I finally came to an opening in the wall and simply stood staring down at the shirt. Footsteps began to ring through the empty hall and I looked back to see torches waving wildly. All I could think was that those had better be my sisters with an explanation. I wasn't sure if I would be able to handle anymore of the insanity being thrown my way.

I was not granted the blessed reprieve that I so desired. Instead, I was faced with something else entirely. I stood with my back to the opening, the faint glow of the mail brightening as I watched the skittish torches bob through the darkness growing from pinpricks of light to distinct flames. I was tempted to draw the blade from my back. "Run!" a man yelled at me. I raised an eyebrow questionably.

I had never really taken orders well. Thea knew this. It was why she either had Jamie tell me to do something or suggested it. Whoever it was who had yelled at me, didn't seem to realize that fact. That was why I crossed my arms over my chest preparing to stare the emerging group down. There were several of them. Standing there I actually had the time to count. Five adults (though one was midget height poor guy with his full beard and full out dungeons and dragons regalia) and four children. There was something very not right with this situation. They were dressed for battle of a medieval and fantasy style. Had I stumbled upon a bunch of serious LARPers?

As the men ran past me, two of them grabbed my arms and pulled me along with them. They were stronger than me. I had no choice but to try and run backwards. "What the hell!" I shoulder. I felt myself being spun around even as my arms were again grabbed and I was dragged along with the group. Either they took their gaming very seriously or something was going on. And by the smell of them, I was really hoping that it was first option.

A bridge loomed out of the darkness drawing a dark curse from my lips as I was pushed between the midget and whoever had grabbed my arm and propelled across the bridge. I kept going only because I knew that if I didn't, I was going to fall.

The sound of a cracking whip filled the air and the smell of smoke and fire whipped towards me. I turned even as I left the bridge and felt my stomach leave my body for a few moments. I was fairly certain that I said something very unladylike in those moments, but I honestly don't remember what it was. The sight of that hell beast had stolen all of my wits.

"Go!" A grey haired, grey robed man ordered them as he stopped in the center of the ridge.

"Gandalf!" I had mistaken them for little children before, but now I knew that they had to be men…tiny men, like the bearded one running with them. We all stood poised at the edge of the bridge watching the old man as the fire grew out of the darkness and took a shape with whip in hand. My stomach took that inopportune time to return and I honestly felt sick to my stomach.

The grey haired man faced the thing of fire and darkness. I didn't envy him that task. That thing was not something I would want to face. It shouldn't have been real but I could feel the heat coming off of it in waves. "Go!"

The second command had us all snapping to attention and for the first time in my life, I obeyed an order.