Disclaimer: Jessica is mine, everything else is Tolkien's.

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Chapter 4: Aragorn

Jessica, Sam, Pippin and Frodo were sitting at a table, against a wall. They were obviously trying to remain quiet and inconspicuous. Jessica watched from where she lay at Frodo's feet as Sam kept casting nervous glances around.

Frodo noticed this. "Sam," he said. "He'll be here. He'll come."

Merry sat himself down at a table, carrying a pint mug full of beer. Pippin looked at his cousin.

"What's that?" he asked him.

"This, my friend," Merry answered as he looked at the top of the mug. "Is a pint."

"It comes in pints?" Pippin asked. He looked over at the bar before getting up. "I'm getting one."

Jessica shook her head and heard Sam shout at him. "You've got a whole half already!" Jessica knew that Pippin had risen unsteadily to his feet.

Jessica looked up and around. She had felt someone staring at her and Frodo. "That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we arrived," Sam said.

Jessica looked at the brooding stranger who sat at a table in the far corner of the inn, smoking a curiously carved, long stemmed pipe, peering from beneath a travel stained cowl with gleaming eyes.

As Jessica allowed her wolfish eyesight to pick the details of the stranger as Frodo talked to Butterbur, the man that had appeared from behind the bar.

"He's one of them Rangers," Butterbur replied to Frodo's question. "They're a dangerous folk they are, wandering the wilds. What his right name is, I never heard, but round here he's known as Strider."

Jessica could see the shape of Strider's face, the bristle of the beard that he had, the short black hair that seemed to have never seen a descent bath in a while.

Jessica looked up at Frodo, his hands were playing with the ring under the table. She could see the sweat running down his brow.

"Baggins?" Pippin's voice said, breaking the silence that had collected around Jessica. "Sure I know a Baggins. He's over there…" Jessica cursed the drunk Hobbit. He was trying to be friendly with the locals. She heard Frodo get up and move towards the bar. "Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side and third cousin, twice removed on his father's side… if you follow me." Frodo grabbed Pippin's sleeve, spilling the beer.

"Pippin!" Frodo said.

"Steady on Frodo!" Pippin pushed Frodo away and he stumbled backwards, falling to the floor.

Jessica stood on her feet as in that instant, the inn went silent and all the heads turned to Frodo. The ring flew up in the air from Frodo's hand. It seemed as though everything happened in slow motion as the Ring seemed the hang in the air for a split second before it crashed down onto Frodo's outstretched finger. Frodo vanished, just like Bilbo had done.

There was sharp intake of breath of every member in the inn which was followed by total silence. Jessica looked at Sam; he looked sick. She looked at Pippin; he instantly sobered as he turned back to the bar, realising his folly. She looked at Strider; he frowned… and the rest of the inn erupted into excited babble.

Jessica smelt Frodo move by her. She followed the scent to a table. She saw Frodo reappear in front of her. Jessica watched as a hand grabbed Frodo by his collar and pulled him away.

Jessica growled and followed Frodo as he was dragged away. The owner of the hand stopped in a corridor and roughly pushed Frodo against the wall and loomed over the Hobbit. Jessica saw that the owner of the hand was Strider! He did not notice her.

"You draw far too much attention to yourself… Mr. Underhill," he said before he grabbed the Hobbit by the collar again and dragged him away.

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Jessica jumped quickly inside the room before Strider shut it behind him. She looked around quickly, getting her bearings. She was inside the Hobbit's room, their things on their respective beds.

"What do you want?" Frodo asked Strider.

"A little more caution from you," Strider said as he started putting out candles. "That is no trinket you carry."

"I carry nothing," Frodo lied.

"Indeed? I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely." Strider still hadn't noticed Jessica. "That is a rare gift."

He turned to the Hobbit and pulled down the hood of his cloak to reveal his face. Jessica inwardly smiled, her wolfish eyesight had paid-off, she could now see that he had a pair of keen, grey eyes.

"Who are you?" Frodo asked.

"Are you frightened?" Strider asked back. Jessica looked at Frodo who looked at her out of the corner of his eye and nodded slightly.

"What do you think Strider?" Jessica asked as she stepped forwards towards the fireplace. "Someone just grabbed him by his collar, someone who has been staring at him all night." She looked at the Ranger. "I was expecting more subtlety from a Ranger that was looking at his prey." She turned to Frodo, realising what she had said. "I apologise." She turned back to Strider. "Anything you want to say?" Strider was looking at her, his eyes seeming to start out of his sockets.

It was then that Jessica heard a noise in the hallway. Strider deftly drew his sword as Frodo jumped.

The door burst open and Sam, Merry and Pippin appeared in the doorway. Sam was squaring off with his fists, Merry was brandishing a Candelabra and Pippin held a chair.

"Let him go, or I'll have you, Longshanks!" Sam said.

Strider sheathed his sword, a slight smile was playing on his lips. "You have a stout heart, little Hobbit, but that alone will not save you," he told Sam. "Frodo. They're coming."

Jessica watched as Strider reached out in a complacent gesture towards her. "Na sal'," he said. "Amin uum- awra lle ri lle mellonae." (Be still. I will not hurt you or your friends.)

Jessica snorted in contempt. She may not have understood what he had said but she was in no forgiving mood.

"You keep your hand away from me Strider, and you may yet keep it for a while," she snapped.

Strider pulled his arm back, with an acknowledging nod of his head.

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Jessica sat in a spare room, a full mirror in front of her. She sat on her haunches looking at herself. She thought of why she was doing what she was doing. Aragorn – Strider – and Jessica had talked and they had both apologised. He had told her that he was nervous about talking to her in her wolf form.

Jessica had relented and had promised to try and shift back to her human form. Thanks to him she now stood in a room away from the Hobbits, about to change her form. She closed her eyes and imagined her human form, blonde hair, green eyes and fair skin.

When she opened her eyes she could see the transformation taking place; she felt the muzzle receding, she saw the fur all over her body rapidly turn into human hair, the hair on her head grew longer and changed colour, her paws turned to hands and feet, her arms and legs became more human and her eyes took on a more natural look.

When she was done she stood in front of a mirror, human again; blonde hair, the markings that she had worn when she had been a wolf was now on her head, the markings were a natural red, her eyebrows were red as well. Her eyes were an oak leaf green.

She looked at her body in the mirror and gasped. She ran to the bed in the room and pulled the bed sheets off the bed and wrapped them about her body, from the armpits down. She checked that it covered her fully before she went to the door and opened it a crack.

"Aragorn!" she called out. She waited a few seconds before he replied.

"Aye?" Aragorn replied.

"Could you please get me some clothes?" she asked the Ranger.

"Why do you require such items?"

Jessica winced. "Aragorn, whatever you do, don't ask that question, whatever you do, don't!"

A moment of silence stood in the air, seeming to stretch longer than it should. Within moments, Aragorn appeared at the door, with a pile of clothes in his arms, along with a set of weapons and boots.

Jessica opened the door gratefully, and took the clothing with her right arm, her left holding the bed sheets to her body, hiding it from the Ranger.

Jessica noticed that Aragorn never looked at her body but either at the floor or her head. "Not bad," he said, admiring her hair.

Jessica smiled. "Thank you," she said. Aragorn nodded and walked away quietly, letting Jessica close the door behind him.

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Jessica sat in a chair by the window near Aragorn, her clothes resembling his own, though they were obviously for a more feminine person. Aragorn had given her a spare sword, trying to make it up to her for his earlier actions towards Frodo. The others, minus Aragorn were asleep. Jessica could hear a loud screeching, she had had her head on the window, waiting for the sun to rise. She watched as Frodo walked over to the window and looked out.

"What are they?" he asked.

Aragorn looked at Frodo before replying. "They were once men," he looked away, out into the courtyard as the Wraiths rode their horses out of Bree. "Great kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them Nine Rings of Power. Blinded by the greed they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will," he looked back to the Hobbits, his face catching the glow of the glowing embers of the fire in the fireplace. "They are the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring, drawn to the power of the One… They will never stop hunting you," he said calmly.

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Jessica walked next to Aragorn as a wolf. The Hobbits were behind them, leading the scrawny pony Bill who was laden with supplies.

"Where are you taking us?" Frodo asked Aragorn.

"Into the wild," Aragorn said, pausing by a leaning tree to get his bearings.

Jessica stopped and took a breath as Aragorn took off. She heightened her hearing and managed to catch what Merry was saying before she started to walk again.

"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?" he whispered to Frodo.

"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer and feel fouler," Frodo whispered back.

"He's foul enough."

"We have no choice but to trust him."

"But where is he leading us?" Sam asked as he led Bill.

Aragorn stopped; he was not far ahead of them and glanced over his shoulder at Sam. "To Rivendell, Master Gamgee, to the house of Elrond."

Sam looked excited as Aragorn started walking again. "Did you hear that, Bill? Rivendell! We're going to see the Elves!"

Aragorn shook his head with a slight laugh as he continued to lead them through the gloom of the forest. Jessica ran so she was almost beside him as the two of them laughed quietly.

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Jessica walked behind Aragorn as he led them through a windswept moor. She heard the Hobbits behind her stop and starting to unpack things. Aragorn stopped and looked at them.

"Gentlemen, we do not stop till nightfall," he said, his face blank.

"What about breakfast?" Pippin asked.

"You've already had it."

"We've had one, yes… what about second breakfast?"

Aragorn looked blankly at the Hobbits before he turned away, shaking his head and walked off around the bush in front of him, hiding him from view. Frodo and Sam began to pack things away while Jessica looked on, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip," Merry said.

"What about Elevenses, Luncheon, Afternoon tea, dinner… he knows about them, doesn't he?" Pippin asked Merry, worry in his voice.

"I wouldn't count on it," Merry said.

At that moment an apple came sailing over the bush that Aragorn had walked around. Merry caught it, a smile on his face before he walked off. Another apple came sailing over the bush, landing on Pippins' head. Pippin looked down at the ground, picked the apple up and looked up at the sky.

"Pippin!" Merry said, exasperated.

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Aragorn, the Hobbits and Jessica struggled through a dense swamp land. Bill the pony frequently got stuck and they had to stop to pull him out. Jessica had taken to the form of the wolf during the day to keep her energy up. When they made camp Jessica would take her clothes away from camp and change into her human form.

Merry slapped at the swarming insects around them all. "What do they eat when they can't get Hobbit?" he asked.

Wolves? Jessica thought as Pippin lost his balance and fell face first into the muck.

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Jessica sat next to Aragorn in her human form. She looked up at the moon; it was full. She looked over her shoulder at the Hobbits that lay asleep.

"Tinúviel elvanui, Elleth alfirin ethelhael, O hon ring finnil fuinui, A renc gelebrin thiliol," Aragorn sang quietly. (Tinúviel the elven-fair, Immortal maiden elven-wise, About him cast her night-dark hair, And arms like silver glimmering.)

Frodo woke up at the sound of the song. "Who is she? The woman you sing of?" he asked Aragorn.

Aragorn turned around, momentarily startled. He relaxed quickly when he saw who it was. "'Tis the lady of Lúthien," Aragorn said. "The Elf-Maiden who gave her love to Beren, a mortal." He spoke as though the tale was personal to him.

"What happened to her?"

"She died." Aragorn sighed, his face bore remorse as he looked at Frodo. "Get some sleep, Frodo." Frodo nodded and lay back down.

Aragorn turned around and back to his vigil and looked up at the moon. Jessica saw eyes brimming with tears.

"It's going to be alright," Jessica said. "We'll get to Rivendell and there we can get some much needed rest."

Aragorn looked at her. "Why are you here?" he asked her.

"Frodo found me in the Shire before we had to leave. Putting things simply I was with Frodo when Gandalf sent us to Bree, I decided to come with you, if you think I'm a drain on resources I'm willing to start hunting," Jessica said calmly. She looked at Aragorn for a moment before she looked at her hand and tried to change it, imagining fur on it.

She watched as the fur appeared, growing slowly on her hand. She imagined her hand as normal. It happened slowly. She kept imagining her hand in the opposite form until it got to the point where the change was happening within seconds. Aragorn just sat watching that.

"Can you stop please?" he asked.

Jessica nodded. "As you wish," she said. She looked closely at him in the dying coals. "Get some rest. You are of no use to us if you fall flat on your face, tired."

Aragorn looked at her and nodded. "After you," he said.

Jessica just quietly laughed and they turned their attention back to their watch.

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Jessica looked around her even as she walked; they were walking along a hill, to another. Aragorn stopped and looked at a distant hill that was topped by what seemed to be an ancient ruin.

"This was once the great Watchtower of Amon Sûl. We shall rest here tonight," Aragorn said.

"Otherwise known as Weathertop," Jessica murmured.

Aragorn looked at her and smiled at her knowledge.

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Jessica, in her human form, crouched in a small hollow with the others. They were halfway up Weathertop. She watched as Merry, Pippin and Frodo collapsed further back. They were all exhausted, except Aragorn and Jessica. Aragorn gave the Hobbits swords, small enough for them.

"These are for you," he said as the Hobbits pulled them out of their sheaths. "Keep them close. I'm going to have a look around. Stay here," he said standing up. He stopped at Jessica who stood up, leaning against a wall. He handed her the fourth sword. "Give this to Sam when he gets up here," he said before he walked passed her.

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Jessica resisted waking up. She had fallen asleep after Sam had joined them and she had given him his sword. She opened her eyes as she heard Frodo yelling; "Put it out, you fools! Put it out!"

Jessica sat up and nearly laughed when she heard Pippin's reply. "Oh, that's nice…ash on my tomatoes!"

She was brought back to Middle Earth when she heard a loud shriek. The last time she had heard it was at Bree. All of them looked down; they could see five Ringwraiths running up the steep slope. Fast. Unnaturally fast.

"Go!" Jessica said, urging the Hobbits to move up the stairs.

They grabbed their swords and followed Jessica's urgings.

They were soon at the summit of Weathertop, from what Jessica could guess it was the base of an ancient tower. Jessica shepherded the Hobbits behind her, knowing almost instinctively where the Wraiths were going to come from. She shifted swiftly, fur spreading across her mutating form. She shook herself down and unsheathed her claws, holding them ready. The hobbits took another step back as the werewolf in front of them growled. "Well that's new!" one of them commented.

Within a few minutes the five Ringwraiths appeared, all of whom were brandishing swords as they walked slowly towards the group of four Hobbits and one 'werewolf'.

The one wraith standing in the centre of the group wore what could only be called a crude crown. Jessica knew what this meant; the Witch king had joined the party.

"Back you devils!" Sam said, running passed Jessica, brandishing his sword.

The Witch king swung his arm, knocking Sam sideways and into a pillar. "Sam!" the others said, not moving from where they stood.

Jessica held her hands at the ready, while the Hobbits looked at her with surprise.

"You want 'im, you'll have to fight me," Jessica said.

The Witch king raised her right hand and made a gripping motion. Jessica dropped her guard as she clawed at the invisible hand at her throat. He swung his hand again and Jessica was thrown to Sam's side, clutching at her throat, struggling to breathe. She did the only thing she could do; she changed her form, into the form of a squirrel. Sam stared at Jessica with awe.

Jessica continued to struggle to breathe, darkness crowding her vision. She closed her eyes as she heard Frodo scream in agony.

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Jessica opened her eyes as she felt someone carrying her. She saw Merry above her, holding her gently in his arms.

"Thank you Merry," Jessica said, standing up. She looked around and saw Aragorn carrying Frodo over his shoulder. "Could you take me to Aragorn?" she asked him.

Merry nodded and ran up to Aragorn. Jessica nodded to Merry and jumped up onto his right shoulder.

"I see you're awake," Aragorn muttered.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Jessica apologized as she ran along Aragorn's arm to his hand, her hands resting on his own that held a flaming torch.

"Hurry!" Aragorn said, half turning around to face the others.

"We are six days from Rivendell!" Sam said from he led the Bill the pony. "He'll never make it!"

"Gandalf?" Frodo asked in a fevered delusion.

"Hold on, Frodo," Aragorn said.

"Gandalf!" Jessica ran along Aragorn's arm and over his head to Frodo, she laid her right hand on his cheek, he was slightly cold.

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Sam touched Frodo's skin, who was looking at him with his clouded eyes.

"Mr. Frodo? He's going cold!" Sam exclaimed. Jessica pawed a rock nervously.

"Is he going to die?" Pippin asked Aragorn.

They all heard Frodo's breathing slowly become shallow. Aragorn looked at Pippin.

"He is passing into the Shadow World. He'll soon become a Wraith like them," Aragorn said.

They all jumped when they heard the cry of a Ringwraith. "They're close," Merry said nervously.

Frodo gasped in a sudden pain. Aragorn motioned to Sam who came over to him and they spoke quietly before they left the camp. Jessica hopped down from the stone she was standing on.

"My friends, I ask you all a single favour," she asked the two Hobbits.

"What is it?" Merry and Pippin asked at the same time.

"I ask that you tell no one of my abilities," she replied, looking at the two Hobbits.

"We won't tell anyone," Merry said, watching her. "Well, unless you tell us to," he confirmed.

Jessica jumped and climbed all over the two Hobbits in gratitude.

Sam came back into the clearing, defeated emotionally. Jessica spotted this and ran over to him, she climbed up his leg, jumped to his arm, climbed up his arm and perched on his shoulder. Jessica repeated the question and received the same answer causing her to act the same we she had done when she asked Merry and Pippin.

"Thank you," she told the three Hobbits.

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Well? Did you enjoy it? I'll try to get up another page if possible!

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