"There's been a change of plans young ones. There's a new addition to our company, and we leave at dawn," I said going over to Aragorn and gave him a hug. "It's been to long brother and ada."
He hugged me back, "Same here sister," he replied. I went to change up the room we were going to be staying in so that it looked like someone was in the bed. Then I ran into a black rider on the street as I headed back. He stopped me, "I can't help you."
"We're looking for a hobbit," the king of the nine said. "The one you helped escape us last night."
"I no longer travel with them. Try Fangorn," I said. "I heard a rumor that's where they were heading, now if you excuse me, I need to get my rest," I said leaving them standing in the muddy roads. I came back into the room.
"Why were you talking to them?" Sam asked.
"You can say that I know them. I wish I didn't, but they won't be here for long. I sent them in the opposite direction of where we'll be going tomorrow."
"I don't understand," Sam said.
"If I explain further you won't trust me. You'll find out about my past sooner or later." I laid down on the floor and used Danaë as a pillow and my cloak as a blanket. I soon fell asleep then I heard the scream of the wraiths. Three of the hobbits sat up, who had been fast asleep, all expect Frodo.
"What are they?" Frodo asked.
"They were once men, great kings of men, then Sauron the deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question. One by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgûl, ring wraiths neither living or dead. At all times they feel the presence of the ring, drawn to the power of the one. They will never stop hunting you," Aragorn said. I went back to sleep. We had a long journey ahead of us tomorrow. In the morning I was the first one up. I found Aragorn's cloak over me. I sighed and looked at him. He didn't look like he was cold. I got up quietly and gave it back to him. About an hour later the sun peeked over the hills.
As soon as the sun was up I woke everyone. "It's dawn," I said shaking Aragorn first.
"Morning Allie," he said.
"Long time no see," I said. He smiled, "Let's get the others," I said smiling back. And thanks for putting your cloak on me." After a quick breakfast Aragorn got a small pony to carry our gear. I called Evenstar to me with a whistle of my tune of a song of which the words I had long forgotten. Once we were packed we were off into the woods.
"Where are you taking us?" Frodo asked.
"Into the wild," Aragorn replied.
"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf's?" Merry asked Frodo.
"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer, but feel fouler," Frodo said.
"He's foul enough," Merry said. I growled slightly, Aragorn but his hand on my shoulder. I sighed and stopped growling.
"But where is he leading us?" Sam asked.
"To Rivendell Master Gamgee, to the house of Elrond," Aragorn replied.
"Rivendell! Hear that! We're going to see the elves," Sam said excited leading the pony. Throughout this conversation we didn't stop walking, trying to make quick time.
We continued to walk and soon both Aragorn and I heard pots and pans banging and the hobbits talking. Aragorn turned around, "Gentlemen, we do not stop until night fall."
"What about breakfast!?" Pippen asked.
"You've already had it," Aragorn said.
"We've had one yes, what about second breakfast?" Pippen asked. Aragorn and I continued to walk.
"Don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip," Merry said.
"What about lunches, afternoon tea, dinner, supper? He knows about them doesn't he?" Pippen asked.
"I wouldn't count on it," Merry replied putting his hand on Pippen's shoulder.
"Move those buns fellas, oh and heads up," I said as Aragorn threw an apple to Merry and Merry handed it to Pippen who was hit in the face with his.
"Pippen!" Merry said exasperated. Frodo and Sam caught theirs. We continued walking for several days stopping each night to rest. Late one afternoon we had to cross a marsh. The insects there were huge and of the biting variety. "What do they eat, when they can't get hobbit?" Merry asked slapping where the bugs landed on him. Pippen fell in a puddle that was a little longer than he was tall. I pulled him up to his feet.
"Try to stay standing. Some of these puddles are deeper than they look," I said helping Sam and Frodo. That night we came to the edge of the marsh, "finally," I said sighing.
"Allie you set up camp, I'm going to go get dinner," Aragorn said.
"Take Danaë with you, she can help," I replied. He nodded and left. "You hobbits stay here and look for some brush so a fire can be built; I'll go get fire wood. Evenstar, stay with them and keep them out of trouble." I disappeared into the woods and grabbed as much wood, sticks and branches as I could carry. I came back to a small pile of pieces of twig, leaves, and some weeds. I put my sticks in and got out my flint stones out and got the pile burning. I eventually got all the wood put on and started to set up sleeping places. A few minutes after I got the fire nice and hot Aragorn and Danaë came back with a buck. "Almost time for dinner," I said.
About an hour later we were eating, and we had our fill. It didn't take long for the hobbits to fall asleep. Later that night I heard Aragorn singing about his mother, "Tinúviel elvanui, Elleth alfirin ethelhael O hon ring finnil fuinui A renc gelebrin thiliol. (Tinúviel the elven-fair, Immortal maiden elven-wise, About him cast her night-dark hair,And arms like silver glimmering.)
Frodo sat up, "who is she, this woman you sing of?"
"Tis the Lady of Lúthien. The Elf-maiden who gave her love to Beren, a mortal," Aragorn replied sadly. I came to sit down beside him.
"What happened to her?" Frodo asked.
"She died," Aragorn turned around to face him, "Get some sleep."
"You should take some rest to Aragorn, I can take the first watch," I said.
He shook his head, "I can't sleep tonight, you sleep."
"I miss her too Aragorn," I said. I knew it was useless to argue with him so I went to sleep. Early in the morning we set out again, this time heading for Weather Top, as it was called in the common tongue. In Elvish it was known as Amul Sul. We reached the top of the old fort by late sunset. Aragorn passed out what looked like daggers to me, but to the hobbits they would be swords. Aragorn tossed one to each hobbit and they caught it. "These are for you, keep them close. Allie and I are going to take a look around." Before we both walked away he said, "Stay here."
I added before we left, "No fires." I doubted if they would listen, especially Pippen, who had the world's greatest food drive. He constantly wanted to eat, if he only knew what true hunger was.
"What troubles you Allie?" Aragorn asked.
"Gandalf, if he said he'd meet the hobbits in Bree, he should have been there. I can't think of too many situations that would keep him from keeping his promise," I said.
"I'm sure he's fine Allie. He can take care of himself." Suddenly we heard a scream of the Nazgûl. We spun around and saw a flame go out.
"I told them no fires," I said jumping onto my horse pulling Aragorn on behind me. We rode back up the hill and at some point I was aware that Aragorn got off but I didn't stop. If there was one black rider, the other 8 would be shortly behind it. I reached the middle of the fort as the hobbits realized they were surrounded. "STOP!" I yelled at the black riders. This time they ignored me, they had found what they were looking for, the ring.
I pulled out my sword ready to fight. I had most of them backed into a corner when I heard a scream. One of the hobbits had been stabbed. I couldn't stop to look. I just continued to push the others back when Aragorn showed up with a lit torch. The ones I had backed into a corner left and then I turned to the one that had stabbed one of the hobbits. Aragorn lit a few on fire and I ducked as he threw the torch into the face of the one I was fighting. Frodo removed the ring and I could now see him.
"Help him Strider," Sam said.
Aragorn picked up a blade that was beside Frodo, "He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade," Aragorn said and as it turned to smoke he dropped the hilt. "This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Elvish medicine," Aragorn said picking Frodo up. The hobbits looked at me.
I shook my head, "It is beyond my skill as well, I'm sorry." I walked away following Aragorn who was carrying Frodo.
"Allie, what happened to your leg?" Pippen asked. I looked down at my leg, from the top of my hip all the way down to the ankle there was a deep gash.
"Guess I was cut by the Nazgûl's boot," I said tearing off two pieces of my cape. I tied one piece high up on my leg and the other down at my ankle. I grimaced slightly hopping up on to my horse. I knew it wouldn't take too long before I started to slow us down. I brought up the rear so that I could keep my eyes on everyone. At some point we stopped near Bilbo's trolls. Sam told Frodo where we were but Frodo was going cold and the wraiths were near.
"Is he going to die?" Pippen asked.
"He's passing into the shadow world. He'll soon become a wraith like them," Aragorn said and we could hear the Nazgûl calling.
"They're close," Merry said.
"Sam, do you know the Athelas plant?" Aragorn asked.
"Athelas?" Sam asked.
"Kings sword," I said.
"Aye Kings sword that's a weed," Sam replied.
"It may help to slow the poison," Aragorn said.
"Aragorn, let me take him I can get him to Rivendell. With my injury I'm leading the Nazgûl to you. Once I get him across the river the power of the elves will protect him." Aragorn shook his head.
"You are not strong enough to get there, your wound weakens you. You won't be able to protect yourself." I ignored him and looked around, I heard someone approaching, on a horse. I sniffed the air as Sam and Aragorn went to find the plant. I then smiled.
"Help is on the way. He'll be all right," I said to the hobbits who had taken notice of me smelling the air.