Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. I do, however, own Thea, Jamie, Annie, and the fates of all those involved... -insert evil laugh here-
Author's Note: Sorry this one is so short. It's meant to be more of a filler. Silly necessary things!
Chapter Ten
Annie
None of them were talking to me.
They also weren't letting me out of their sight.
I wasn't sure which fact pissed me off more.
We had been walking for hours since my suggestion without a rest. I might be in shape, but even I wasn't used to walking this much. I wasn't going to complain though. I had this feeling that if I did, they would probably find something wrong with it. Likely it would have to do with them being exhausted and having lost a friend. My mind was still having trouble with that one as I pointedly avoided thinking about the thing that had caused said loss.
Certain things just couldn't exist.
I had to stick with that theory. If I didn't, I was afraid there was a chance that I might go crazy. That was something that I didn't want to risk. Of course at the rate that my mind and paranoia were accelerating, there was a very good chance that I was going to go crazy no matter what I did.
We were being followed.
Of this, I was absolutely certain. I couldn't see them and that was probably for the better. It was on two fronts. One was from the rock tunnels and caverns we had come from. The other was from the forest we were going to. I looked back, not for the first time, and saw that two of the beardless midget men had fallen behind. At least one of them was injured and both were wearing down faster than the rest of us. I turned back without a thought and pushed between the two men behind me ignoring the objections being sent my way as I went to the shorties. The dark haired of the two was being held up by the other and could barely draw a breath. I picked him up without a thought and put him on my back with my sword. He was decently heavy, but I grunted. I had carried Jamie around before and he was about the same weight.
I could handle it.
"Oi! Pretty boy!" I called to the blond who I had marked as my personal enemy. I was going to get him back for kicking my ass and keeping me around these guys.
I took perverse satisfaction in the fact that he took offense to his brand new nickname. But, as I jerked my head towards the little blonde man at my side, he knew that for now it was best to keep his mouth shut. "We need to make it to the forest," one of the others insisted..
I scowled. "Are we supposed to be safe there?"
"One of the most safe places," The man assured me. I sighed. There wasn't much of a choice now was there. My eyes flicked to the forest and I shook my head. I needed to find my sisters. I didn't have time to deal with these people. They weren't giving me much of a choice though and since they clearly couldn't take care of themselves, that seemed to be my new job.