We headed off early in the morning to keep suspicion at bay. We took their mule with us, for it will help us with carrying things. We had breakfast earlier, where I shared my stories with them of what had happened to me every since I left Hobbiton. They seemed to be fascinated. I had put on my cloak once again and hidden myself from the world. We are soon far off from Bree, which has become a shadow in the distance, and now something new burdens our minds. The Nazgul come through our thoughts every second.
"Where are you taking us," Frodo asks.
"Into the Wild," Aragorn replies while leading the mule. We walk for a long while as we get into the woods. Sam is now leading the mule as Aragorn has to find the right way. I can hear Sam talking to Frodo behind us.
"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf," Sam asks Frodo, whispering.
"He is with Azov," Frodo replies, "any friend of Azov's is a friend of mine."
"But how do we know that he isn't holding Azov hostage," Sam asks, "maybe Strider is just forcing Azov to be friends with him."
"We have no choice but to trust him," Frodo replies.
"But where is he leading us," Sam asks.
"To Rivendell, Master Gamgee," Aragorn states, "to the house of Elrond."
"Did you hear that," Sam asks, "Rivendell. We're goin' to see the Elves." It had become rainy at this point, so we all made sure our hoods were on. I have drifted off into a daydream about one of my days with Gandalf, just laying around and playing with the flowers. A time of simpler pleasures and overall happy ignorance. I have not noticed how far we have come until I am awoken by us stopping. The Hobbit's are starting to get ready to eat. I laugh. The eating habits of a Hobbit.
"Gentlemen," Aragorn looks startled by them stopping, "we do not stop 'till nightfall."
"What about breakfast," Pippin asks.
"You've already had it," Aragorn states, confused. I smile, standing behind Pippin. Aragorn raises his eyebrows at me and I roll my eyes.
"Well," Pippin states, "I've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?" Aragorn doesn't answer but instead walks off, shaking his head. I giggle and ruffle Pippin's hair. I bend down and give him a kiss on the top of his head and then I walk to Aragorn. I can hear Merry talking to Pippin behind me.
"Don't think he knows 'bout second breakfast, Pip," Merry says. I smile to myself. I am glad to be back with the Hobbits. They have always known how to make me laugh.
"What about elevenses," Pippin asks, almost urgent, "Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?"
"I wouldn't count on it," Merry says. I burst into laughter as I walk towards Aragorn. He turns to me and gives me a rare smile.
"They are strange little creatures," Aragorn says, "aren't they, Azov."
"They're Hobbits, Strider," I smile, "Hobbits are just about the strangest things known to all history." Aragorn throws an apple over the bush for them to catch. I grab another apple and throw it, hitting Pippin square in the face. We laugh and I slap Aragorn's back. That is fun.
"Pippin," Merry shouts, annoyed. I can see Pippin looking up, trying to figure out where the apples came from. We all start walking again, and I come up next to Pippin.
"I missed you very much, Azov," Pippin smiles, looking up at me.
"And I, you," I say, looking down at him, "I missed you so very much, my dearest little Pippin." We smile at each other and I feel something tug at the back of my cloak.
"I missed you, too," Frodo says, shyly, looking at the ground and rubbing his feet awkwardly. I scoop Frodo up in my arms and I give him a big kiss on the nose, which he gratefully accepts while laughing.
"I missed you just as much, my dear Frodo Baggins," I shout. All the Hobbits are laughing by now. I set Frodo back down to see a group of Hobbits gathered around my feet. I kneel down, giving each Hobbit a kiss on the nose. "I missed all of you so very much!" We are all laughing as we walk with Aragorn to Rivendell. I leave the Hobbits behind and I find my place at Aragorn's side. I look at Aragorn's majestic face.
"Yes, Azov," Aragorn asks.
"I am worried for my friends, Strider," I sigh, "I do not want them hurt."
"I understand," Aragorn says, nodding his head, "I am sorry, Azov, but I cannot guarantee their safety. You shall have to help me in protecting them."
"Yes, of course Strider," I smile sadly, "but if I am to fall, for any reason at all, I need to know that my little Hobbit's are safe in your hands."
"My dear Azov," Aragorn smiles, still looking at the road ahead, "I have protected you and I will protect the Hobbits. I have known you for too long to think that you will easily fall in battle. You have as much a chance as ten men fighting together. Do not worry or be troubled by the thought of you falling."
"Thank you, my friend," I smile back at Aragorn. We walk over a hill to come upon a sight of a ruined castle atop a mushroom shaped mountain.
"This was the great watchtower of Amon Sul," Aragorn says to me. He then turns to the Hobbit's, "we shall rest here tonight." We climb up the path that lead to the top of the watchtower. There is a small crevice along the way where Aragorn has us lay down our things and rest. The Hobbits almost fall down in exhaustion against the inside wall of the crevice. Aragorn is looking out upon the land, surveying it for enemies. I look in the other direction. Aragorn looks at me and I nod. Only my Fairy sight can pick up something as far away as what I see, but I can tell that the Nazgul are coming. I can see the dust flying up at every hit of the hooves upon solid ground. Aragorn turns around and unravels a bundle which reveals knives, but in the Hobbit's hands, they must feel like swords.
"These are for you," Aragorn says, "keep them close." Aragorn tosses the knives at Sam and Merry, who catch them. Frodo pulls a knife from the bunch and looks at it. Pippin also grabs a knife. Aragorn stands up. "I'm going to have a look around. Stay here." Aragorn walks in my direction and whispers into my ear. "Are you able to do anything to slow them down?"
"Yes," I nod, "there is a river that the Nazgul must cross in order to reach us. I shall be able to make it more difficult for them to cross, but it will only give us a little bit more time."
"Do what you must," Aragorn says, and walks off. I start to look over the edge of the mountain, where I take off my cloak and I decide to fly down until I find a crevice big enough to hide me.
"You're not going to leave us as well," Merry asks, "are you, Azov?"
"I am afraid I must," I sigh, "I need to protect you."
"But you can protect us from here," Sam protests.
"Not as much as I could," I smile at the Hobbit's, "do not worry, little ones. I trust you to keep each other safe. I must go, for I need to slow something down." The Hobbit's nod and I walk off the cliff, spreading my wings to fly. I slowly fly down the mountain, looking for any sort of crevice. I finally find one that is large enough for me to stand in. I fly into it and I throw my cloak back over me. It was nice to fly while it lasted.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly, focusing my energy on the river that the Nazgul are just about ready to cross. I rise and lower my hands with my breathing. Peace rushes over me. I let out a sigh of sadness as my emotions fill my soul. I push my hands forward harshly, letting everything that I have been holding back go towards that one blow. I can see a wall of water rise up, out of the river, blocking the Nazgul's way. They try to go around it, but I will not let them go around it. I move the wall to the left or right, depending on which way they go. They stop moving for a few moments before they suddenly rush through. I try to shake the water, pushing them from side to side, but they slowly get through. Some have fallen but they all get back up and they are rushing faster then before towards us. I take the rest of my energy and I drag the wall of water out of the river and over the Nazgul. I drop the water. I see them all fall at one point, only to get back up. I slide down the back of the crevice, falling asleep. There are tears rolling down my face that I quickly wipe off, only to find that that drains my energy more quickly. My eyelids close, against my will, and I pass out from exhaustion.