A/N: Thanks for all the support, it is really appreciated. We have had some requests for pictures of the character so Maddie will work on those I will upload the link when they are done ;)

Disclaimer: We own nothing but the Ocs

Chapter Nineteen – It's a Small World

Seph's POV

The last thing I remembered was running over the rocky plains surrounded by mist and screaming for Kels. A Barrow-wight wraithy thing had just appeared in front of me. I found out something very interesting on that day, barrow-wights have the same little problem as most men and will react if you kick them where the sun doesn't shine. Sadly another one caught me from behind and ruined my entire mental ninja escape plan.
That is the last thing I remember.

Next thing I know I'm awake with Tom Bombadil standing over with a smile that was so wide that my mouth hurt for him. Looking down at myself I saw that I was clothed in silvery white robes and was wearing a large range of gold jewellery. I was lying on a grassy hill, a gaping hole leading into an underground cavern (presumably the home of the wraiths that captured us). Kels sat up beside me in the same state of dress. Sam was running around franticly looking for his real clothes. Pippin and Merry were doing the same thing. Tom laughed at them before explaining that we would not find our clothes again and should run along naked. I got up and jumped back into the Barrow cave and was relieved to find that our packs were there, untouched. I slung mine over my shoulder before discarding all of my jewellery (except Goldberry's necklace which they had let me keep because it was gold) and changed into a white and grey hunting suit that was lying in the corner. Coming out of the hole I was fairly horrified and amused to see that the hobbits had quite obviously taken Tom's advice to heart and were running around in their birthday suits. Kels had turned around and I threw another hunting suit at her, one of the boots hitting her head.

By the time the sun rose we had forced the hobbits into clothes and were desperately hoping that they stayed in their garments. Tom soon returned with some food for us.
"Thank you Tom for the food." He laughed gaily and picked up his bag.
"Well old Tom must be off soon! Goldberry is waiting." I got up and placed the spare food in my bag. For each of the hobbits he chose a small dagger set with fiery stones of various colours.
"For you free spirit," he said, stepping towards Kels and in her hand he placed a long elvish sword. The blade was slightly curved and the hilt was in the shape of an eagle. Amber, topaz and other gems were set in the metal and it gleamed in the light of the sun.
"This sword was forged back in the ancient days when man and beast lived in harmony, the spirit of the great eagle Kano-nim is forever preserved within this blade. He will guide you through battle and will remain with you until the end." He turned and moved onto me.
"For you wild fea." He placed a quiver over my shoulder and attached the bow to it. "As long as you trust, your aim will never fail you." He then took out a pair of elvish mithril knives. They were curved with hilts of a wolf. Emeralds and Sapphires were set into the blades and the blue binding on the hilt looked soft and easy to grip.
"These knives, like the blade of you friend, contain the spirit of an ancient creature. Within your blades is the spirit of Heleg-rana, the last of the pure wolves. All of his kin were captured by Morgoth and were tortured until they became cruel creatures - wargs. He released his spirit into these blades so that he may see the darkness fall and help all that he can. It will take a person with immense strength, inside and out to wield these blades. I think that you are the perfect person to do so."

He placed the blades in my hands and I immediately felt the power of the fea fill me, it was a warmth that spread through my limbs and filled me with strength, carefully I slid them into the scabbards that hung at my side. Looking up I watched as Tom handed Kels what appeared to a be a quarterstaff with deer carved onto the grip and spikes protruding from the end. I was handed a rapier with a bear carved into the handle.
"These weapons are not for your own use, they are for the use of two very close to you. All will be revealed in good time." And with that, Tom turned on his heel and ran away over the grassy hills. Huffing and readjusting my bag on my shoulder I set off with the hobbits close at my heels. It took a while but soon we reached the road that would lead us to Bree. The heavens above us opened and rain began to fall from the sky, relentlessly soaking us again and again. The cloak did no good and I was soaked to the bone by the time we reached the old wooden gates that stood outside Bree. Knocking lightly on the door, Frodo waited until it was opened by a haggard old man who was only slightly drier than we were.
"Hobbits, four hobbits, and out of the Shire by your talk." I heard him say, paying no attention to Kels and I at all. "What business brings ya' to Bree?"

"We come to stay at the inn, our business is our own," said Frodo as the gatekeeper let them through, not even noticing as Kels and I crept in behind him. We walked up into the town, the mud sticking to my boots and the rain pounding on my back like it was trying to break all of the bones in my body. We quickly dodged through the crowd and into the prancing pony. As Frodo booked our rooms I looked surveyed the overcrowded room and spotted the man I was looking for. He was sitting in the corner like the last time we had met, his hood drawn over his face and a pipe was in his mouth, the burning tobacco faintly glowing. Kels went to take her hood down and I stilled her hand.
"The chances of him recognising us are slim Kels," I whispered into her ear. "But I would prefer not to take the chance." She nodded and brought her hand back down.

We placed ourselves at a small table and Frodo bought us each a half pint of ale. I slowly sipped mine and watched Aragorn out of the corner of my eye. To all others he would appear relaxed but I could tell that his body was tense, ready to spring at the slightest need.
Suddenly, Merry arrived back at the table and placed a massive flask of ale on the table before sitting down and observing it greedily.
"What's that?" asked Pippin, eyes widening dramatically.
"This my friend is a pint." Pippin's eyes widened further.
"It comes in pints?" he asked and Merry nodded as he drank some of his ale.
"I'm getting one," Pippin said, nodding his head in finality and leaping up.
"You've had a whole half already!" complained Sam but Pippin was already gone.

I watched Aragon carefully as Sam pointed him out to Frodo. Kels leant close to my ear and whispered.
"Not much longer." I nodded slightly and took another sip of my ale.
"Excuse me," said Frodo, stopping Butterbur. "That man in the corner, who is he?" Butterbur peered over his shoulder before looking back quickly.
"He's one of them rangers. Dangerous folk they are, wandering the wilds. What his right name is I never heard but round here he's known as Strider." As Butterbur walked off I watched Aragorn for any sign that he had heard.
"Baggins?" I snapped my head up and leapt from my seat to stop Pippin. "Sure I know a Baggins. He's over there!" the drunken hobbit continued. "Frodo Baggins." As Pippin began to explain the family tree I heard Frodo cry out for him to stop. I knew that Strider was watching and I watched as well as Frodo fell backwards and the ring landed on his finger. In a flash, he was gone causing people to gasp. Frodo reappeared under a table and Aragorn dragged him from the room. Kels appeared next to me and we bounded silently up the stairs on their heels. Kels and I slid into the room unnoticed and Aragorn threw Frodo to the floor.
"What do you want?" Frodo asked, voice wavering and I wanted to hug him and tell him that everything was alright.
"A little more caution from you," Aragorn said, striding in. "That is no trinket you carry."
"I carry nothing," replied Frodo and Aragorn turned towards the window. Kels touched Frodo's shoulder, alerting him of our presence and he calmed somewhat. We then hid under two of the four beds in the room.
"Indeed," Aragorn muttered as he began to put out the candles. "I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely," he said turning around and throwing back his hood. "That is a rare gift."

I watched amused as Kels' jaw practically dropped to the floor when she first saw his face. His features were well defined; he had a long straight nose and grey-blue eyes. He obviously hadn't shaved recently and his dark hair was slightly tangled. He was handsome in a rugged sort of way. A better looking version of Viggo Mortensern. Motioning for Kels to move behind him I shuffled so I was in line with the door.
"Who are you?" asked Frodo, a hard steel in his voice.
"Are you frightened?" asked Aragorn in a mocking tone.
"Yes," he replied, looking down.
"Not nearly frightened enough, I know what hunts you." Aragorn began to advance when a loud noise outside the room caused him to turn and pull out his sword. The three hobbits burst through the door holding an assortment of useless household items while Sam screamed bloody murder. Aragorn slid his sword back into his sheath.
"You have a stout heart little hobbit but that will not save you."
"But this will," said Kels as she placed her sword across his throat. He smiled and turned catching her sword with his own. He grabbed her shoulder and pushed back her hood revealing her face. I leapt from my spot on the floor and roundhouse kicked Aragorn in the spine so that he toppled over as Kels stepped out of the way. She placed a foot on his sword and pointed her own one at his heart. I pulled back my hood and let my curls tumble down my back.
"It has been a very long time Aragorn," I said flashing him a wolfish grin. "You have not changed much, though you did have your hood on the entire way through our last meeting."
Nodding to Kels she sheathed her blade and offered him a hand which he rudely declined as he stood up and brushed himself off.
"I recognise neither of you," he said, glaring at us as he leant down and picked up his sword from the floor. I laughed merrily and fingered the hilt of one of my knives.
"Well I admit we are no longer the small elflings we were when we first saw you. We came here with a strange story, a story of another world. Do you really, truly not remember us?"
A look of realisation crossed his features.
"Well, it's a small world after all."

Aragorn's POV

I sat in my usual position, corner bench with one foot up on a stool. I had been waiting here every day for the last week waiting for the hobbits that Gandalf said would come this way. He mentioned something about companions but I mainly ignored that part. I was about to turn in for the night when the door opened and four hobbits entered with two, taller companions. The first hobbit matched the description that Mithrandir had provided me with and I watched as they took their places at a small table. They were all wary but the shorter of the two tall companions acted differently. He was surveying the room as if looking for someone, possible threats and shuffled closer to the dark haired hobbit.

I watched their conversation carefully, trying to find out any information possible. The hobbits talked little and the two companions said nothing, both now on high alert. I watched amused as the dark haired one, Frodo Baggins wasn't it, asked the old innkeeper who I was. The shadowy companions conversed in a soft whisper, too quiet for even me to hear.
'Baggins?" I tensed slightly as one of the hobbits began to give them away. The shorter of the companions lept up and ran towards him. I didn't bother watching him; it was Frodo I was worried about. I rose quickly as he tripped over a stray shoe and fell onto his back, the ring flying into the air and landing on his finger causing him to disappear. A quick scan of the room showed me where he was. He reappeared, gasping for air. Striding forward I grabbed him by the collar and dragged him from under the table and pinned him against the wall.
"You draw too much attention to yourself Mr Baggins," I hissed before dragging him up the stairs and into a bedroom, closing the door behind us.
"What do you want?" the hobbit asked and I huffed.
"A little more caution from you! That is no trinket you carry." I thought I heard a slight scuffling but I ruled it off as a mouse.
"I carry nothing." He replied and I turned to put out the candles.
"Indeed." Having removed all light from the room but that which filtered in through the window, I straightened myself.
"I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift," I said as I threw back my hood and turned to Frodo.
"Who are you?" he asked, voice steely, and I admired his courage.
"Are you frightened?" I mocked slightly and he nodded his head and muttered a yes in reply.
"Not nearly frightened enough, I know what hunts you."

A tremendous noise sounded from the corridor outside and I drew my sword. The other three hobbits burst into the room bearing objects that would clearly be of no use in a real fight.
"You have a stout heart little hobbit," I said sheathing my blade, "but that will not save you."
"But this will," said a voice behind me and a curved elvish sword appeared at my throat. I smiled gently; they would have to do better than that. I turned quickly unsheathing my blade and the figure in front of me easily parried. I grabbed his shoulder and threw back the hood revealing something I did not expect to see – a woman.
Her hair was chocolate brown and plaited, her features were smooth, all in proportion. Her eyes seemed slightly familiar, a dark woody brown with flecks of gold dotted around, they were different to almost all eyes I had ever seen, and I could not place where I had seen them before but I was certain that I had. Two pointed ears protruded from her head - so she is an elleth. A smug smile suddenly stole across her face and I didn't have time to react as a kick with an incredible amount of force behind it slammed into my spine and knocked me to the ground. I turned over and watched as the second figure threw back their hood revealing that they were also female. She was shorter than her companion; her hair was long and curly, caramel and golden in colour. She had a wolfish grin on her face and her cobalt blue eyes stared at me, mirth filling them. The brunette placed her boot on my sword and pointed her own at my beating heart, the other bent down.
"It has been a very long time Aragorn." I froze, how did they know my name? "You have not changed much, though you did have your hood on the entire way through our last meeting."

The short one nodded and the brunette released my sword, sheathed her own and offered her hand to help me up. I stared at the thin pale fingers for a moment before brushing the appendage away and standing up.
"I recognise neither of you." I glared harshly. The shorter one stared back with a faintly amused expression but the brunette shrank back slightly, pain at my brutality clear in her eyes. I wanted to apologise, she looked so innocent, doe-eyes wide and slightly sad as I retrieved my sword from its place on the floor. The short one laughed and shook her head, playing with the hilt of her knives.
"Well I admit that we are no longer the small elflings we were when we first saw you. We came here with a strange story, a story of another world." Her eyes softened and she gave me a crooked smile.
"Do you really, truly not remember us?"

*flashback*
A small brunette elfling in strange clothes wandered up to my table. "Hello!"

Her caramel haired friend gave her annoyed expression as she listed off the reasons why you shouldn't talk to strangers.

"Aragorn?" the brunette asked. She knew my name.
…
They tell me their names and explain what happened
…
"You're her favourite character you know," Seph said with a wink before running off to join Kels.
*flashback ends*

A look of realisation passed over my face and I began to laugh quietly.
"Well, it's a small world after all," I said smiling slightly.

A/N: Thanks for reading! They survived! YAY!

P.S. R&R please!