Chapter 3
Strider removed his hood while speaking to the hobbit giving Ava the chance to study his face. After a few moments he turned her, his gaze full of curiosity. "You have to get out of this Inn. It will not be safe tonight." He said her to her. Ava looked fearfully at the man.
She looked at his face. He turned a sympathetic expression to her. Ava was too lost in his expression to look away. He was more handsome than she had expected him to be. Her face remained fearful, studying his face. "Ava? Would you agree going with this man? He is headed in your direction and has offered to lead you." The healer said.
Ava looked slightly afraid and shook her head, her eyes wide. "He is a healer, also and can help you should you run into any problems." she said gently. Ava looked worriedly at Strider, feeling that she couldn't trust him. 'Did you explain?' Ava mouthed to the healer, who nodded smiling. "I did."
The door swung open to three hobbits. "I'll have you Longshanks!" The first one had bare fists raised, while the second with a candle stand in hand, and the third with a broom, trying to look something fierce. She giggled to herself silently when Strider unsheathed his sword.
"You have a stout heart little hobbit, but that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They're coming." Strider said directly to the one he threw in there. "Are you coming?" Strider said gently to Ava, who numbly nodded, her heart racing in her chest.
'Thank you for everything!' Ava mouthed to the healer, who nodded with a smile, giving her a hug. Strider ushered the hobbits out of the room and waited for Ava, who came a moment later.
He led her from the room and led the five of them downstairs paying the innkeeper, who took it and smiled at Ava.
Strider left the inn and ran across the street to another inn. They all got settled in a room. Strider pulled a chair up to the window to watch. The hobbits settled down in the bed and fell asleep. Ava smiled, watching them.
She felt a hand rest on her shoulder. She jumped looking alarmed at Strider. He raised his hands to show he meant no harm.
"I'm sorry. I did not mean to startle you." He whispered on behalf of the sleeping hobbits. She shook her head and turned toward him, sitting on the window sill. He gazed at her face intently, trying to figure out how to communicate better with her. She blushed, covering up her neck incase he saw her scar.
Strider touched her shoulder. "It's ok. May I take a look at it?" He asked softly. Ava looked fearful for a moment before closing her eyes and exposed the right side of her neck to him. He gasped softly looking at the healed wound. His fingers traced over the scar that began at the hollow of her throat and ended in her hairline behind her ear. She shivered from the touch. He looked to her face. Ava met his gaze.
"The healer did a good job on this." Strider whispered. "Does it hurt at all?" Ava shook her head. Strider looked at her and smiled. "You should sleep. We have a long journey tomorrow." He whispered. Ava smiled at him and spread a blanket out on the floor, laying on it.
His gaze rested on her for the longest time as she slept. He was so curious about the girl.
The screeching of the Nazgul startled the four tired hobbits and the girl, who all woke gasping. Strider remained calm and collected watching the hideous black creatures enter the other inn.
As Strider spoke to Frodo, Ava just listened to his voice. She loved how soft it was. She watched him, scanning his face again smiling.
The next morning Strider led the hobbits to a house where they bargained with a man for the horse named Bill. Once they loaded the old pony he started heading for the gate.
"Ava?" Strider called upon not seeing her, stopping the group. He looked for her. After a few moments of waiting, he sighed heavily and started turning back around. A sharp neigh sounded causing him to glance behind him. Ava was leading her tall black colt.
"There you are!" Strider said sounding relieved. The hobbits stared at her slightly horrified, but more so at the towering horse, who was prancing excitedly toward them. Ava smiled petting the horses' neck as he stretched his neck out to survey Bill and the hobbits. Strider smiled at Ava reaching out his hand to the magnificent horse, rubbing his forelock.
'His name is Shadow.' Ava mouthed, pointing to a shadow for him. Strider's smile brightened understanding her.
"You said Shadow?" He asked. She nodded smiling. "He's beautiful!"
Ava smiled and pointed to the gate. Strider nodded and turned Bill around with the hobbits and out the gate. Ava's smiled walking silently behind the group.
After several hours, they were traipsing through a swampy land. Strider stumbled in the swamp and Pippin did a face plant in it. The bugs were awful and attacked the hobbits endlessly. They found a place to sleep and Strider hunted down a deer. Ava made sure the hobbits were settled for sleep after they ate.
She sat down beside Strider, as he sang a sad sounding song. When Frodo questioned him, he merely told him to get some more rest. Ava saw the tears forming in his eyes though as he looked at the moon to hold them back. She placed a hand on his shoulder. He looked to her and smiled slightly.
Ava watched his face carefully. He started looking more relaxed and not so sorrowful. She extended her gift into him to help him relax, though he didn't know. He smiled at her.
"You should sleep." Was all he said and she nodded slowly before laying down.
Strider watched her settle in, smiling as she started falling asleep. He looked away after a few minutes still confused by how she was able to calm him with only a touch. She was a unique girl. Her horse had stunned him when her first saw the black animal. He had never seen one so tall.
He kept watch for half the night, when a sharp scream split the air. It was cut short when her voice failed. Strider went to Ava alarmed. She was gasping looking around frantically, her eyes dilated.
"Ava?" he said gently, stroking her hair. She looked at his face, reaching a shaky hand to his cheek, her breath beginning to calm down. She blinked a few times, her eyes becoming normal again. She petted his cheek as to make sure he was real. He grasped her hand. "I'm here. It's ok" He soothed her cheek with his thumb.
Strider glanced around them quickly and then back to her. "You are not completely incapable of speech. You made a scream." He said with a smile. Ava smiled looking up at him, loving the news.
She pointed at him. 'You sleep. I will…keep watch.' She mouthed showing him symbols of what she was saying. He looked unsure, but nodded, laying down, grateful for the chance to rest.
A few days later, they were racing through the woods with an injured Frodo. He was stabbed by a blade Strider called a Morgul blade. He was fading fast and Strider and Sam left Merry and Pippin with the sick hobbit. Ava tried to make Frodo comfortable, but otherwise left him still. A woman came up to Frodo. She was an elf that Strider clearly liked.
She soon had Frodo on her horse and the two ran off. Ava watched Strider as clear concern and worry covered his face. They packed up quickly and made it to Rivendell within days.