I own NOTHING but my OCs: Elizabeth, her Father and Draco. Elvish will be in Bold Italics.

Chapter 7: On the Borders of the Shire

It has been some months since Gandalf last came. Frodo was at the 'Green Dragon' drinking with Sam, and I was getting some tea ready just in case Frodo came back drunk. He'll need it when the hangover hits, since it's happened before. Suddenly someone began banging at the door. "Hold your horses! I'm coming! I'm coming!" I placed the kettle now full of water on hook above the fire in the kitchen and wiped the flour from the bread I had made off my hands onto the apron some neighborly Hobbits made for me. The banging continued and I was getting frustrated. "Lobelia Bracegirdle Sackville-Baggins! If that's you at the door, I swear what happens next I will have no control over!" I yelled as I yanked the door open.

"Well it's a good thing I'm not Lobelia then." "Gandalf!" I let the old Grey Istari into the house. "What did you find out?" He just handed me a scroll and went over to the fireplace in the study. I slowly unrolled the scroll and squinted at the words written. "Stormcrow, you know I can't read your writing." He grunted and began to look around the Study. I rolled my eyes and placed it on the table in the living room. Facing the window, I focused my power and let the scales on my hands appear. The words glowed and I absorbed the words. Gandalfs' voice filled my head as I saw who I thought was Isildur and the Ring.

"The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor, and the finding of the Ring of Power. 'It has come to me, The One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate, for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me though I buy it with great pain. The markings on the band begin to fade. The writing, which was first as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell.'"

I blinked opening my eyes and slowly turned around to find the whole house dark. In fact the place seemed eerie. I wandered over to the study to find Gandalf nowhere in sight.

"G'night, Sam."

"Good night, Mr. Frodo."

Frodo walked through the door. His eyes strayed to me over by the window in the study. I blinked at him and looked around to see the place a mess. Frodo raised an eyebrow at me and I raised my hands in defense. "Hey I didn't make this mess." He eyed me suspiciously as a hand appeared over his shoulder. Frodo gasped as it spins him around to face the wizard.

"Is it secret?! Is it safe?!"

Frodo opened a trunk in a corner and rummaged through his things. Gandalf turns around, hearing something. Frodo grasps an envelope and gives it to him. Gandalf snatches it and tossed it into the fireplace in the living room.

"What are you doing?!"

The envelope began to burn, revealing the Ring within. Gandalf took a pair of tongs and removed it from the center of the fire. "Hold out your hand, Frodo. It's quite cool."

Frodo takes it and jumps a little at the heat. Staring at the gold band, he turns it around. I look at it over his shoulder, biting my lip a bit.

"What can you see? Can you see anything?"

"Nothing. There's nothing." Frodo said shaking his head. Gandalf sighed in relief. Frodo turned to pass it to me, I however took a step back and ended up slipping on one of the papers that had been scattered on the floor. As I watched the lettering appear around the band, my eyes transformed into my True Forms. Frodo gasped looking at me.

"Elizabeth? What happened to your eyes?" I looked at him while Gandalf snapped his eyes at me. "I'll tell you later Frodo. Look at the Ring."

Frodo looked back to the Ring and gasped. "There are markings." He examined the glowing letters. "It's some form of Elvish. I can't read it."

Gandalf bit his lip. "There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."

"Mordor!" Frodo exclaimed bewildered.

Gandalf nodded. "In the common tongue, it says: 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.'"

I stood up not bothering to return my eyes to the way they were before. "That's the short version of the full verse:
'Three Rings for the Elvin-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.'"

The Ring now lies resting on the kitchen table. I grab the now boiling kettle on the fireplace and bring it over to the table and Frodo opens the top for the teapot. I then pour him a cup and fix it how he likes it, adding a bit of lemon juice and a special mixture that my people came up with before handing it to him. He raised an eyebrow at me.

I sighed. "Frodo, the last two times you went to the 'Green Dragon', the next morning you had a killer hangover. I read about a recipe that some of my people invented that can prevent the morning hangover. My people don't need it since we can't get drunk, but made it to help the other races. Now you won't have to worry about it. I'll give you a copy of the recipe."

He gave me a grateful smile but then he blinks. "Your people?"

I bit my lip and looked at Gandalf. "He should know, child. After everything he and Bilbo have done for you, you owe them that much." I looked at Frodo and explained. "I'm the last Female Dragon-Blood in Middle Earth. I'm sure even you Hobbits have tales and songs of the race that protected you from the darkest woods, cruelest animals and evilest creatures. I cannot take my True Form yet as my body is not strong enough. I have to keep both facts quiet because Black Bone, my former boyfriend and former 'Knight in Shining Armor', is already trying to force me to be his wife. Now..." I looked at the Ring. "This is the One Ring, forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom, taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself. It's all together Evil. If I touch it, the evil within it will corrupt me. I would turn on anyone I have as a friend now and most likely become like the Dark Lord alongside Black Bone."

Gandalf looked at the Ring as well. "It was supposed to be lost after it betrayed Isildur."

Frodo placed his cup down. "Bilbo found it- in Gollum's cave."

"Yes." Gandalf muttered. "For sixty years, the Ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer, Frodo." Frodos' head snapped up from looking at the Ring to Gandalf. "Evil is stirring in Mordor. The Ring has awoken. It's heard it's master's call."

"But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed."

Gandalf eyed the Ring nervously and hushed Frodo. I swear I heard it whispering in that evil tongue.

Gandalf locked eyes with Frodo. "No, Frodo. The Spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the Ring, and the Ring survived. Sauron has returned. His Orcs have multiplied. His fortress of Barad-dur is rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this Ring to cover all the lands in a second darkness. He is seeking it- seeking it. All his thought is bent on it. The Rings yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one- the Ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find it."

Frodo grabbed it off of the table and walked into the hallway. "All right. We put it away. We keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's here, do they?" Realization and a bit of dread seemed to slowly creep over him as he turned around to look at Gandalf standing at the end of the hall next to me. "Do they, Gandalf?"

"There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the Ring." "Gollum!" I shouted. They both turned to me. I explained. "Bilbo told me of his Riddle Game with the creature. You said that's where he got it Frodo. Surly once Bilbo was out safely with the Dwarfs and Gandalf, by that time Gollum would have realized it was missing. Where you ever able to find him Gandalf? Did you ask him where he found it?"

"I looked everywhere for the creature, but the enemy found him first." Gandalf said. "I don't know how long they tortured him. But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned two words. 'Shire!' and 'Baggins!'"

Frodo's eyes widened. "Shire? Baggins? But that would lead them here!"

He suddenly offered Gandalf the Ring, worriedly becoming frantic. "Take it, Gandalf! Take it!"

"No, Frodo." Gandalf calmly said.

Frodo became insistent. "You must take it!"

"You cannot offer me this Ring!"

"I'm giving it to you!"

"Don't tempt me Frodo!" The wizard yelled. He calmly continued as Frodo withdrew his hand. "I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo, I would use this Ring from a desire to do good, but through me, it would wield a power to great and terrible to imagine."

Frodo's eyes became even more worried. "But it cannot stay in the Shire!"

"No. No it can't."

Frodo was quiet for a while. Suddenly understanding, clutching the Ring in his palm, he looked Gandalf in the eye. "What must I do?"

"We need to take it somewhere safe." I said. "I'll start packing." "What?" Frodo said looking at me. I smiled as I passed him, walking towards my room. "You didn't think you were going on an adventure without me were you?" I entered my room. Quickly and not waiting for a response, I wrote to Father.

Padre, Gandalf has returned. Gollum has been captured by the Enemy. Told them about the Shire and that a Baggins has his Ring. Frodo and I are going to head to Bree and meet Gandalf at the Prancing Pony Inn. The Nine are on the hunt. Will protect Frodo.

With that I stuffed it into my bag along with the book and my clothes. Placing my cloak over my shoulders and placing my pack on my back I went back into the living room to hear Frodo say, "We can cut across country easily enough."

Gandalf smiled at the two of us then turned to Frodo. "My dear Frodo. Hobbits really are amazing creatures. You can learn all there is to know about their ways in a month. And yet, after a hundred years, they can still surprise you." Frodo smiled back with pride.

Suddenly we hear a noise outside the open window.

"Get down." Gandalf whispered harshly.

Frodo dropped to the floor and Gandalf took his staff, walking warily to the window. I stayed standing knowing who it was on the other side of the window. Gandalf then hits the poor eavesdropper with his staff. There is a squeal of pain, then Gandalf lowers his hand into the bushes and thrusts a body onto the table.

"Confound it all, Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?"

Sam nervously replied. "I haven't been droppin' no eaves, sir, honest. I was just cutting the grass under the window there, if you follow me."

Gandalf raised an eyebrow. "A little late to be trimming the verge, don't you think?"

"I heard raised voices."

"What did you hear? Speak!"

Poor Sam was trembling. "N-n-nothin' important! That is, I heard a good deal about a Ring, a Dark Lord, a Half-Dragon race and something about the end of the world," In the background next to Frodo, I snorted. "but please Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything unnatural."

"No?" Gandalf asked smirking at Frodo who smiled back. "Perhaps not." Leaning forward he whispered into the terrified hobbits ear. "I've thought of a better use for you."

The next morning...

"Come along, Samwise. Keep up."

Sam waddled behind Frodo and me with a backpack of pots and pans. Gandalf lead us through a field and to a small patch of trees.

"Be careful, all of you." Gandalf said. "The enemy has many spies in his service: birds, beasts." He stopped and looked suspiciously at Frodo. "Is it safe?"

Frodo put his hand over his chest pocket, where he had placed the Ring.

Gandalf bent down and said to him warningly, "Never put it on, for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power." He wearily glanced at the pocket. "Always remember, Frodo, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found."

Gandalf patted Frodo on his shoulder before mounting his horse and racing off in another direction. Frodo, Sam and I looked around warily before walking on. The day went by fast and easily enough. We had begun hiking before dawn and by sunset we reached a cornfield where Sam abruptly stopped.

"This is it."

Frodo and I looked at him confused. "This is what?" we asked.

Sam sighed. "If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been."

Frodo gave a fond smile and walked over to him. "C'mon, Sam." I nodded. Sam hesitantly stepped forward and when he came over near where I stood I placed an arm around him. "Just think: Just beyond the far horizon lies a waiting world unknown. Like the Dawn its beauty beckons with a wonder all its own!" Frodo laughed. "That sounds like something Bilbo would say."

We laughed. "Didn't he also use to say: 'It's a dangerous business, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.'?" I asked. Frodo smiled and nodded. We soon left the corn field and camped under a Weeping Willow.

Sam was cooking some sausages in a pan, smoking, and Frodo was reclining on a tree branch. Frodo and I suddenly looked up, and then down at Sam.

"Sam." Frodo said smiling. "Wood-elves."

I smiled and followed slowly behind them as they rushed behind a log and hid as to not be seen. Soon a procession of Elves came round the bend going down the path.

"They're going to the Harbor beyond the White Towers." Frodo said. "To the Grey Havens."

Sam looked at the Elves in awe and sadness. "They're leaving Middle-earth."

"Never to return." I said nodding.

Sam looked at me then back at the procession. He said forlornly. "I don't know why it makes me sad."

I smiled sadly. "Elves are beings that have lived since the beginning of the Earth. They are not the oldest beings in the universe but they have a great charm and grace about them that no other race can copy. They are a part of a wonder that cannot be replaced. Excluding the Dragon-Bloods, the other races of Middle-Earth will soon fade into history and leave lethal marks. The Elves shall leave permanent marks in history that will be told til the end of time, even long after they are faded and forgotten."

Later that night, the Hobbits laid down to sleep and I took up first watch. "Why do we have need of a watch if we are still in the Shire?" Sam had asked. I gave him a look. "It is my duty as a Dragon-Blood to protect and watch over the races of Middle-Earth. Since I will have to sooner or later rebuild my people, I might as well start now. Besides if things do get dangerous, you two might as well get used to having watch shifts. Better to get used to it now then regret it later." He shrugged and fell asleep.

When the moon was high in the sky, I heard voices. I slowly stood up drawing my sword hoping not to wake the Hobbits. Focusing hard, I transformed into my True Form, my wings stretching out to hide the Hobbits from the view of my foe. I took up the Ithil stance, making sure Lady Moon reflected off my sword. This was a stance Father had used on many occasions when he was alive. Using the light of the Lady Moon on your sword does the same thing the Lord Sun reflected on your sword does: distract and blind your enemy. I waited in anticipation.

Out of the shadows came a group of Elves, one of which I had recognized from his picture in my book. His hair was a mixture of blonde and brown, his skin was white and his eyes were melted gold. He and the others were clothed in brown and green tunics and breeches. The Lady Moon shone graciously upon them giving them a look of Unearthly Beings. The Elves gasped at the sight of me. The one I had recognized from my book stepped forward and bowed. "Hail, Dragon-Blood! You are abroad late. Or are you perhaps lost?"

I smiled, sheathed my sword and held up my hand upon which was the ring declaring me an Elf-Friend that I had not taken off since I got it. I placed it over my heart and lifted my wings high. "Hail, Friends! I can assure you I am not lost. I am protecting a pair of Hobbits right now as they sleep." I retracted my wings a bit to reveal my two still sleeping charges. Seeing Sam shiver a bit, I grabbed a handkerchief and said "Diventa una grande coperta." (Become a large blanket.) Indeed, the small cloth transformed to what I wanted and I placed it over both Hobbits. After tucking them in, I nodded to the Elves to follow me a bit away so we won't disturb them.

"Now I ask that we speak plainly. As much as I love speaking your native language, I don't know enough to keep up a conversation for ten minutes." I winced as I faded back into my human form. I blinked and swayed a bit but two Elves caught me before I fell. "Thank you. My body cannot withstand the power of my True Form yet. I have spent most of my life away from Middle-Earth. Alas that I return during the time which a race I have admired since I was small is leaving for the Undying Lands." They helped me sit down and they set up a small camp.

"Now tell me, friends who are you all and who might your lord be?" The Elf with the golden eyes and had first hailed me sat down next to me. "I am Gildor. Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. We are the Exiles, and most of our kindred have long ago departed and we too are now only tarrying here a while, ere we return over the Great Sea. But some of our kinfolk dwell still in peace in Rivendell." I inclined my head to him. This was indeed the Elf we were supposed to meet in the book as said in the chapter 'Three is Company' in Book One of the 'Fellowship of the Ring'. "Mae giovane. Well met, Gildor Inglorion of Finrod. My name comes with a long tale of how I came to be here in Middle-Earth. However, my Elvish name is Lúthien Rhuiviel. The name I was born with is Anna Elizabeth Jones. I am the daughter of Pyael Freaniraheal of the Rohaniana Clan and Gillian of the Gondoriania Clan."

Many of the Elves gasped as they recognized the names I spoke. Gildor bowed to me the others following his example. I placed my hand under his chin and lifted it so I could look him in the eye. "No. Do not bow to me my friend. I do not deny that I will become the Mother of the next generation of Dragon-Bloods, however until Middle-Earth is at peace and the rightful heir of Gondor's Throne accepts his crown, I am what my people call a Spazzino, a Scavenger. I will protect those who bare something that could change the fate of the world or those who cannot protect themselves from the growing darkness." I then kissed his forehead. "Gildor, brother of my heart, as Elf-Friend I ask you that you and yours do not bow to me til I come into my true inheritance."

After that was cleared up, we began to talk of everything and nothing. I told them much of the world I was born in, including how different nations view elves. Later, while the other Elves went into the dream-sleep of their kin to rest, I asked Gildor of many things happening outside the Shire. The tidings were mostly sad and ominous: of gathering darkness, the wars of Men and the flight of the Elves. After a while we fell silent.

"You do not ask me or tell me much that concerns your charges, Elizabeth,' said Gildor. 'But I already know a little, and I can read more in your eyes and in the thought behind your questions. You are leaving the Shire. The dark haired one, Frodo Baggins nephew of Bilbo Baggins, doubts that he will find what he seeks, or accomplish what he intends, or that he will ever return to the Shire. Is not that so?" "It is,' I nodded looking in the direction of the Hobbits who were still sleeping. 'But our plan must be kept secret. It is known only to Gandalf Stormcrow, Frodo son of Drogo, myself, and Frodos' faithful friend Sam Gamgee." Gildor followed my gaze and smiled.

"The secret will not reach the Enemy from us." I smiled out of gratitude. "Do you happen to know where a certain grey-bearded, pointy hatted wizard is in the world today?" He chuckled at my description of Gandalf and shook his head. I sighed. "I thought not. Though it has not been a week since we last saw him, I worry. He said he was going to seek council from Saruman the White. My instincts shiver and shout out warnings about him and I fear Gandalf is in trouble. I know for a fact Saruman is using a palantir. The others are not accounted for. I fear he may have fallen to darkness. He always had a thing for power."

Gildor went silent. "I do not like this news,' he said at last. 'That does not bode well." "What should I do? Do you suppose I should send someone to check on him or go get him myself?" He thought for a minute then said, "It is said: Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger. The choice is yours: to go or to send another."

I groaned rubbing my temples. "I forgot. Elves seldom give unguarded advice, because it is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill." I smirked. "After all, it's also said: Do not go to the Elves for counsel, for they will say both no and yes." "Is it Indeed?" Gildor laughed and I snickered.

We continued talking, only this time of lighter things. Soon I found my eyes drooping. Gildor gently led me back to the Hobbits. "Rest and sleep, Elizabeth. We shall stay and watch over you and the Halflings and leave when you all are awake." I smiled. "Thank you, Gildor. I will tell you this though, Sam will be in awe. He has always wanted to meet Elves. Bilbo is the one who got him fascinated with your people."

The next morning, I awoke to Frodo talking with Gildor and Sam shyly sitting at his masters' side, looking at the Elves in awe. After a small breakfast, the Elves said farewell to us and our two groups continued on our separate ways.

~Time Skip~

Rustling through a corn field, Sam finally came to a clear path. He looked ahead and behind him, then around nervously.

"Mr. Frodo? Miss Elizabeth?" He called out somewhat calmly. He received no answer. Growing anxious he cried out, "Frodo? Elizabeth? Frodo!"

Frodo and I turn around the corner and Frodo looks at Sam confused.

Sam sighed in relief. "I thought I'd lost you."

"What are you talking about?"

Sam shrugged a bit walking towards us. "It's just something Gandalf and those Elves said."

"What did they say?" Frodo asked calmly.

"'Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee.'" he said with a determined face. "And I don't mean to."

"Sam, we're still in the Shire. What could possibly happen?"

"Uh, oh. You just jinxed us, Frodo." I said. He looked at me confused and eyebrows raised. Instantly, Sam is bombarded by a Hobbit. Then the same thing happened to Frodo. As I doubled over laughing, the one on top of Frodo got up and looked down to see who he ran into.

"Frodo!" Pippin said with a smile. "Merry, it's Frodo Baggins!"

Merry who was getting off of Sam at the moment smiled. "Hello, Frodo!"

Sam angrily tossed Pippin off Frodo and helped him up.

We watched the two quickly pick up some fallen vegetables. "What's the meaning of this?" Frodo asked.

Sam was handed a handful cabbage. "You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" I continued to laugh.

Dogs begin to bark in the distance and a man's voice angrily yelled. "You get back here!" Merry shoved Frodo into the stalks, Pippin and I followed. Sam stayed there in nervous indecision. He saw the sickle and heard Farmer Maggot yell, "Get out of my field! You'll know the devil if I catch up with you!" before dropping the vegetables and started running right behind us.

"I don't know why he's so upset!" Merry said while we ran. "It's only a couple of carrots!"

"And some cabbages." Pippin said. "And those three bags of potatoes we lifted last week. And then the mushrooms the week before!"

"Yes, Pippin!" Merry said stopping him from continuing. "My point is, he's clearly over-reacting!" "You call this overreacting?" I yelled glancing back for a fraction of a second before crashing into the hobbits sending us tumbling down a cliff edge. We land in a pile, from bottom to top: Pippin, Frodo, Sam, Merry and myself.

Pippin looked up from the ground beneath our little hobbit pile, and I followed his line of sight to a small pile of dung his face had almost gone into. "Oh, that was close!" He said. I rolled off of the hobbits avoiding the dung, though it wasn't as bad as Dragon dung.

Merry sat up. "Oh, I think I've broken something." He pulled a broken carrot out from under his back and looked so sorrowful about it that I had to snicker. Sam brushed some dirt off his sleeves.

"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took." He said sarcastically.

"What?" Merry exclaimed. "That was just a detour- a shortcut."

"A shortcut to what?"

"Mushrooms!" Cried Pippin.

As the other three started picking the mushrooms, Frodo and I look at the clearing down the path. A cold feeling entered my stomach.

"I think we should get off the road." Frodo said glancing at the other three.

The others were stuffing their findings in a cloth sack and don't seem to take heed. He stared back and the path seemed to draw closer. A hard wind picked up and I covered my ears as a Nazgûl screech cries out. My teeth sharpened and my eyes flashed into my True Form. "GET OFF THE ROAD! NOW!" I shouted.

They all jumped at my shout but seeing my face they obeyed. They ran over the side of a tree and take cover in a small nook under a root. I summoned my wings and jumped up onto a high branch. Settling down on that branch I steadied myself. I listened to Sam, Merry, and Pippin examine their mushrooms and chat quietly. I looked down at them and smiled seeing Frodo staying deathly still. Horseshoe clops were approaching.

I heard Pippin whisper. "Be quiet."

One of the nine came into view, and my wings trembled at the dark power radiating from it. If I could hold my True Form for longer than a few moments, I would be able to destroy the foul creature once and for all. I watched as it got off its horse and bent down to clutch one of the roots above Frodo's head. It started sniffing around for the Ring. And most likely me.

My sharp Dragon-Blood eyes saw spiders and other insects trying to get away from the Ringwraith. I watch as Frodo's eyes roll back, entranced by the call of the wraith. He pulls the Ring out from his pocket and the Nazgûl senses its presence. Frodo was about to slip it on, but Sam grabbed his wrist and the trance broke. The rider froze. I stood up and decided to scare it off. Lifting my head high into the air, I let out a roar that shook the forest. I felt the eyes of all four hobbit on me as I roared; Sam and Frodo in awe, Merry and Pippin in shock.

The Nazgûl screeched, jumping back on his horse and riding off. The Hobbits all rush out and run down a hill. I jumped and used my wings to soar down to where they were standing.

"What was that?" Merry asked panting.

Frodo looked down and his eyes widened in fear, staring at the Ring clenched in his palm. I landed and let my wings and eyes go back to normal. Sam and Frodo came up to me and I hugged them. "Miss Elizabeth that was a genius thing, scaring it off. You really are embracing the Dragon-Blood tradition, protecting us like that." I nodded and led them, Merry and Pippin off.

That night I saw a Rider and heard its horse braying wildly. The hobbits hid behind a tree. I had given a brief explanation to Frodo's cousins what I was and promised that I would protect them too.

"Anything?" Sam asked.

Frodo shook his head, no Rider in sight. "Nothing."

"What is going on?" Pippin asked.

Merry walked over to Frodo. "That Black Rider was looking for something.. Or someone." He raised an eyebrow at the other Hobbit. "Frodo?"

Pippin suddenly gasped. "Get down!" Ducking down we watched a Nazgûl on top of a hill. It seemed to look around a bit before leaving.

"I have to leave the Shire." Frodo said turning to Merry "Sam, Elizabeth and I must get to Bree."

Merry nodded thinking. "Right." His eyes suddenly lit up. "Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me."

We start to run for the Ferry, when a Nazgûl suddenly appears from behind some bushes. "Run guys!" I yelled pulling out my sword as it pulled out its own. The hobbits are parted, Sam, Frodo, Merry and Pippin run for the Ferry, and me left behind. I swung my sword and it blocked my hits. Finally, I slashed at the horses knees and as it reared, I ran.

"Run! This way, follow me! Run!"

"Get the rope Sam!"

I neared the ferry, but the Nazgûl followed me as I ran towards it.

"Elizabeth!" Sam yelled.

"Run Elizabeth!" Pippin yelled.

"Go!" I yelled.

The hobbits pushed off the dock and I spread my wings.

"Jump Elizabeth! Go on faster! Jump!" Merry cried out.

I jumped onto the ferry, balancing myself with my wings. The Nazgûl's horse slid just on the edge, nearly falling into the water. The hobbits sit on the ferry, seeing the Nazgûl turn around, riding off.

"How far to the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked in a shaky voice.

"Brandywine Bridge." Merry replied. "Twenty miles."

The Nazgûl rides towards Bree, and we see two other Nazgûl joining him. Soon it began to rain and we lifted our hoods to keep it out of our faces.

"Come on." Frodo said after looking around, making sure the Wraths were not nearby. We trotted over to the gate and I knocked on the door. The Gatekeeper looked through the slot in the gate. "What do you want?" he rudely asked.

"We're heading for the Prancing Pony." I replied. He opened the gate and held out a lantern to see our faces.

"Hobbits!" The Gatekeeper exclaimed. "Four hobbits! And a young lady too! What business brings you to Bree?"

"We wish to stay at the inn." Frodo said a bit harshly. "Our business is our own."

"Alright young sir, I meant no offense." He said letting us pass. "It's my job to ask question after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be too careful." I nodded to him and hand him a couple coins. "Beware black enemies on horseback. Do not let them enter. They will trample the gate down." I warned him and he nodded.

I led them through the streets towards the Prancing Pony inn. I glared at those shady characters that either had a greedy look in their eyes or that glint of lust at seeing me. We soon saw the sign of the Prancing Pony and entered pulling off our hoods. The noise and smell of fresh brew and stew filled my nose. I walked up to the counter. "Butterbur?"

The innkeeper came over and smiled. "Miss Elizabeth! How have you been?" I smiled. "As good as I can be Butterbur. We need a Hobbit-sized room with four beds and a room for me nearby. Both under my name and the name Underhill, please."

Butterbur smiled and nodded. "Master Butterbur?" Frodo said. "We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?"

Butterbur looked confused for a minute. "Gandalf? Gandalf?" Suddenly his eyes lit in recognition. "Ohh yes! I remember, elderly chap, big gray beard, pointy hat." Frodo nodded. "Not seen him for 6 months."

I blinked and sighed. After quietly thanking him I turned to the Hobbits. Sam voiced the question in all of our minds. "What do we do now?"