Yay! We have Chapter 2! Thanx to dandapanda and Imogen Color for reviewing last Chapter, it really means a lot!
Well onto the story!
If I Die Young
Chapter 2
The Ranger From The North
Rosalie's POV
It had taken 3 Days to get to the edge of The Shire and already I was missing Gandalf. I had asked to go with Frodo and Sam to Bree for protection…
"Gandalf?" I asked for my Mentor's attention.
"Yes?"
Taking a deep breath I said,
"I want to go with Frodo and Sam to Bree." I left no room for discussion.
"Rosalie, the road is very difficult and will be most likely be extremely dangerous."
"All the more reason for me to go!" I said, on the verge of pleading.
Gandalf gave me a dubious look so I added,
"Please! I just couldn't live with myself I they got hurt!"
He gave a deep, heavy sigh before turning back to me with a doubtful look in his eyes,
"If that is what you wish to do, I shall not stop you."
I mentally (not really) squealed with delight and hugged my Mentor is excitement.
"Great! I'll go tell Frodo and Sam!"
I ran off to tell the two friends but not before giving Gandalf another hug. The only thought going through my head being; 'I'm gonna' miss him…'
And boy was I right… I was on the verge of crying (I'm an emotional person so you can't laugh!) I missed him so much! I was snapped back into reality when Frodo began to speak.
"We should cut through the field; it's the quickest way to the border."
"Cut through the crop! Farmer Maggot will skin us alive if he catches us!" Sam protested worriedly.
"Then we should move quickly." I said with a small smile.
"Easy for you to say," Sam grumbled from behind me, "You have long legs…"
"Hey! I'll have you know, I - in human and elf standards – am considered quite short!" I protested jokingly. And I was right too. For a human I'm quite small. Only about 5.4 Inches (once again, no laughing!)
Suddenly merry and Pippin came tumbling out of Farmer Maggot's crops and promptly fell on Sam and Frodo. I tutted silently under my breath and helped the 4 to their feet just as Pippin exclaimed,
"Frodo! Merry, it's Frodo Baggins!"
"Hello Frodo." Merry and Pippin start picking up vegetables that had scattered all over the ground.
I laughed. "Did you steal all of those or something? The way you two were running…" I trail off as Pippin looks at me with a cheeky grin.
Merry hands Sam a cabbage just as Sam exclaims "You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!"
A voice exclaims angrily somewhere from where Merry and Pippin had come. Suffice to say, we all take off running (Sprinting really). I stay towards the back of the group, wanting to keep the hobbits a head of me in-case of a problem. "I don't know why he's so upset; it's only a couple of carrots."
Pippin adds on "And some cabbages… and those three bags of potatoes that we lifted last week. And then the mushrooms the week before."
Merry looks at him. "Yes, Pippin, my point is he's clearly over reacting." I stop short as the ground we've been running on suddenly became a cliff. I held out my arm to keep Frodo from running over it and braced myself as Merry and Pippin slammed into me. I sigh with relief until Sam comes barrelling out and knocked us all down.
I vaguely heard Merry complaining about breaking something as we reached the bottom and I agreed with him, while rubbing my aching butt.
"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took…" I heard Sam grumble while Merry defends that it was simply a shortcut.
"Mushrooms!"
I turn my head at Pippin's voice as he runs towards the fungus, the other three Hobbits following.
"Come on, boys, it's just mushrooms." I say trying to get them to move along and off the road.
Pippin looks at me in shock and says in an offended tone,
"Just mushrooms? Just mushrooms! How can you say that?"
"Get off the road!" Frodo cuts in, doing a much better job getting Merry, Pippin, and Sam off the road then I did.
Pulling the Hobbits off the road is set an invisibility glyph on myself while shoving the youngsters into a small cavern under the base of a tree.
Hearing the sound of deep hoof beats I not-so-visibly cringed and hoped that I had enough mana to hold the glyph for as long as need be. It was more difficult to cast the glyph with my bare hands than with my staff (The Staff of Parlathan; my ancestor.) and I considered pulling it off my back but decided against it when I heard the hoof beats get closer.
My breath hitched when I saw a dark midnight black steed stride into view as its rider hopped off with a loud, "Thump". The rider was dressed completely in black like his horse and I considered attacking it when it walked right on top of the log that the poor hobbits were hiding under…
Regular POV
Rosalie gave a sharp glance to Frodo when she saw him holding the golden ring near his finger; ready to put it on. She gave a silent pray to the Valar's that Frodo would listen to Gandalf's instructions to never put the evil band of gold on. Thankfully Sam's hand slapped over the ring bearer's; stopping it right in its tracks.
The rider was quickly distracted by a bag thrown in the opposite direction from the hobbits and as the demon like horse-man rode away Rosalie breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn't want to end up fighting such a powerful warrior.
Withdrawing the glyph as she went, Rosalie led the young hobbits further from the road just as Pippin asked,
"What was that?"
Holding her friends hand, Rosalie said in a scolding yet soothing manner,
"Heed Gandalf's advice, Frodo, never put it on."
"Put what on?" Merry asked curiously, getting worried for his friend's safety. Adding to Merry's earlier question Pippin asked,
"What is going on?"
"That rider was looking for something," Merry said suspiciously.
"Or someone. Frodo? Rosalie?"
Sighing sadly, the young mage realised that the two mischief-makers were involved now too.
Sighing; knowing she was going to regret this, the Witch said softly,
"Frodo, Sam and I have to leave the Shire,"
Continuing for his friend Frodo continued,
"We must get to Bree."
"Right," Merry said. "Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me." Rosalie was extremely happy Merry and Pippin didn't ask any more questions, mainly because she couldn't remember half the things Gandalf said to Frodo.
They headed towards the Ferry when suddenly a Black rider was once again upon them.
"Run, Frodo! Get to Bree!"
"But – "
'Don't worry Frodo; I shall follow you in secret. Now Go!' Rosalie said through a telekinetic link, interrupting her friend as he tried to convince her.
"Run, Mellon nin, Run!" (Run, my friend, Run!) She said before gathering a ball of Flame in her hands and throwing it at the armour-clad rider…
The hobbits were now on the Ferry and all was silent until Merry asked where Rosalie was.
"She said she would follow us in secret, but how? I have no idea…" Frodo said, answering Merry's question with a shrug soon following.
"I hope she's alright. That… thing… sure looked tough!" Pippin added worriedly.
With the calm current carrying the four to Bree, no-one noticed the small magpie flying steadily after them…
After many hours of floating down a river (lake?) and walking in the damp, muggy, soggy mud the four hobbits finally reached the wooden gates of Bree.
With new-found courage Frodo walked up to the Gate and knocked. The response from the old man that opened up the small door moments earlier asked - rather rudely -,
"What do you want?" Feeling his heart thundering Frodo said,
"We're heading for the prancing pony."
"Four Hobbits, eh? What business brings you to Bree?"
"We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is our own," Frodo said using a tone of voice that would allow no arguments what-so-ever.
"All right, All right." The man said opening the door freely, "I meant no offense. It's my job to ask questions at this hour."
As they passed the gate Frodo was getting more uneasy by the minute.
'If only Rosa' was here…' Frodo thought sadly as he wandered through the sickly-looking village. Brightening up Frodo exclaimed happily, free to be far from the men giving the group dirty looks.
"There it is."
Aragorn's POV
I was just about ready to leave this place and try again in the morning when I saw exactly what – or who, I suppose – I was looking for. Deciding to listen in a bit I could vaguely hear one hobbit ask for Gandalf. I knew exactly the reply he would get as Gandalf had sent me to take them away since he couldn't at the moment.
Feeling another presence near the group of hobbits I swivelled my head around to find it. It was… strange… It didn't seem like the presence was about to hurt them… more like a protector. I let It be… for now.
Seeing a commotion I realized I must have been thinking longer than I expected as the same hobbit who asked about Gandalf was sprawled out on the floor with Sauron's ring flying through the air… and it landed directly on his finger.
Looking franticly for the young hobbit I saw him re-appear moments later and springing into action I walked over, grabbed his shoulder and said while dragging him to a room,
"You draw far too much attention to yourself." He grunted in protest as he was dragged up a flight of stairs and tossed into a room.
Slamming the door I turned to him just as he asked,
"What do you want?"
"I little more caution from you," I answered,
"That is no trinket you carry."
"I carry nothing." The hobbit protested,
"Indeed, I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear completely that is a rare gift." I said, pulling back my hood to what I assumed was a dark, accusing look.
I once more felt the presence and put my hand to my sword just as an un-naturally jagged-looking dagger was pointed at my neck. I released my hold on my sword as I noticed the presence's form was wrong, though still, none-the-less threatening.
"You won't threaten most people with that stance." I lied – rather convincingly if I might add -.
What happened next shocked me out of words.
1. The dagger held up to my neck suddenly erupted in flames, just licking my skin.
2. The presence answered in a silky voice, the voice of a woman.
"Why need stance when I can do that?" She said amused.
"Rosalie!"
"Hey, Kid."
Wait – they knew each-other!
"…I'm still older than you…"
Did they forget I was here?
I was about to speak when suddenly a trio of hobbits burst into the room holding random objects to – supposedly – threaten me with. I felt the blade fall from my neck and saw it rest lazily at the woman's side.
"Let him go, or I'll have you!" A blonde hobbit shouted with fists raised.
That at least made me smile and I heard a soft giggle from the presence and that – in turn - made me smile wider.
"You all have courage, but that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard. They are coming."
Yay! We finally have Aragorn in the story! Yay!
Anyone notice the Dragon Age 2 reference I added?
If you feel like reviewing, plz do so, though I'm not begging…! That would be bad…