Sorry that I haven't updated in a few days. I have this performance going on at my school, and I have been staying after school everyday to rehearse. The performance is tomorrow. Wish me luck!

Chapter 6: More Black Riders and Traveling

Kayden stared out the window across the street with Aragorn, or as the hobbits and Peyton know him, Strider. Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Robin, and Peyton lay fast asleep in their makeshift beds on the floor. Kayden knew she should be resting too, but she was kept awake with worry. She and Aragorn had come up with a plan to keep Frodo and his company safe. But will they fall for it? she asked herself. Four blood-curdling shrieks from the room across the street answered that question.

Frodo, Merry, Pippin, Sam, Robin, and Peyton bolted upright at the sound. All five of their faces turned to look at Strider and Kayden, wanting answers. Frodo was the first to speak. "What are they?" he asked.

"They were once men. Great kings of Men," Strider explained. "Then Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness."

Strider then turned back to the window, watching the Riders mount their steeds. Kayden continued Strider's explanation. "Now they are slaves to Sauron's will. They are the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths." The sound of hoofbeats turned Kayden's attention toward the window.

Strider turned back to face the hobbits and Peyton. "They are 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 finished darkly. Kayden solemnly nodded her head. She remembered Aragorn giving her the same information a few days ago when she had first heard a Nazgûl cry, and hearing it twice didn't make it feel any less ominous.

They departed in the morning, taking only a baggage-pony Sam had named "Bill". Following Strider, they hurried through the countryside, over hills and through woods. Presently, Frodo voiced what was on everyone's mind. "Where are you taking us?"

Strider vaguely responded, "Into the wild."

Peyton sighed. "Well, that was helpful."

Kayden rolled her eyes at her friend's sarcasm.

A few days later, Strider and Kayden led the company through yet another wood. While on the road to Bree, Strider had taught Kayden about traveling through the wild. She learned how to use her keen elven senses, which were still quite new to her, to find a safe path and detect danger. He also taught her how to find compass directions and which plants were good for you to eat, which plants could be used for healing, and which plants could kill you with one bite. Kayden really enjoyed his company. He was like a big brother to her. Unbeknownst to her, Strider had begun to enjoy her company as well, and she too had become somewhat of a sibling in his eyes. Together they passed between a couple of boulders. Strider paused, sniffing the air, then turned to Kayden. "Do your elven eyes find anything?" he asked quietly.

"No," she answered before turning around and giving her friends a quick smile. She dearly wanted to talk to them, but unfortunately, Frodo's safety came first. Perhaps, when they reached their destination, she would finally have her chance.

"Why can't she come and talk to us?" Robin whined.

"Strider seems to need her help. I'm sure she means well," Peyton replied, though she too missed being able to converse with Kayden without her having to scout a path every five minutes.

"Yes, but how do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?" Merry asked quietly, the suspicious glint back in his eye. "And that Canter is trustworthy?" The last question caused him to receive death glares from Peyton and Robin. The two girls immediately trusted Kayden and her intentions, since they had known her for so long, but the hobbits were still wary, still calling her by her nickname.

"I think servants of the enemy would look fairer, but feel fouler," Frodo replied.

"They're foul enough," Merry commented dryly, which earned him two slaps from Peyton and Robin.

Strider tipped his head at the comment. He was used to people thinking he was untrustworthy, and by the way Kayden reacted, her time as a Ranger in Bree had caused her to become accustomed to it as well. She merely shrugged her shoulders, but she couldn't help but break into a big smile at the sound of her to friends slapping the poor hobbit.

"We have no choice but to trust them," Frodo said resignedly.

"But where are they leading us?" Sam queried softly.

Both Strider and Kayden heard this, and together they answered, "To Rivendell. To the House of Elrond."

"D'you hear that! We're going to see the elves!" Sam exclaimed.

"Wasn't that the plan in the first place?" inquired Robin.

Sam looked sheepishly at the ground. "Oh yeah. Right." With all the danger and Black Riders they had encountered, he had completely forgotten where they were going. He had been focused on his master's safety and had let others lead the way. All the others smiled at this, even Strider and Kayden.

~o*o*o*o~

Snow covered the ground, crunching beneath their tired feet. It had been several days since they set out from the Prancing Pony, and they had traveled every day, regardless if the weather decided to cooperate or not. Suddenly, Strider and Kayden heard the clanking of pots behind them. They turned around to see the hobbits getting out cooking utensils.

"Gentlemen, ladies, we do not stop 'til nightfall," Strider informed them.

"What about breakfast?" Pippin queried.

"Didn't you just have it?" asked Kayden, confused.

"We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?"

Strider and Kayden rolled their eyes and continued walking behind some trees.

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip," Robin guessed.

"What about elvenses? Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner? Supper! He knows about them, doesn't he?" Pippin ranted, panicking at the thought of not having all seven of his meals.

"I wouldn't count on it," Merry replied. Suddenly, an apple came flying out of the trees and into Merry's hands. Anothor one hurtled out, this one hitting Pippin right in the middle of his forehead.

"Pippin!" Merry shouted.

Quickly, the others caught up to Merry, Strider, and Kayden. Peyton walked up to Kayden with a smile on her face. "Nice throw," she murmured.

Kayden grinned sheepishly at her friend. "Thanks."

~o*o*o*o~

Squelch. Buzz. Squelch. Buzz.

That was all that Peyton could hear as they struggled through the marshes. It wasn't too bad for Kayden, Strider, and Peyton; the water only reached up to their knees. For the hobbits however, it was much harder. The water reached to their waists, and the annoying midges flying around seemed attracted to them.

"What do they eat when they can't get hobbit?" Merry complained over the din of squelching and buzzing. No one answered him.

Pippin fell face first into the quagmire. Peyton and Kayden hurried to help him out of the water. With a good deal of hauling and splashing, the hobbit was finally out, but the force of the pull sent Peyton and Kayden down into the water. Needless to say, everyone was very muddy and upset by nightfall.

~o*o*o*o~

Strider paused and gazed up at the immense hill that loomed above him. An ominous stone ruin lay on top like a great grey crown. "This was the great watchtower of Amon Sûl," he murmured to Kayden, who stood next to him. Turning towards the hobbits and Peyton, he added in a louder voice, "We shall rest here tonight."

The five hobbits collapsed onto the ground in the hollow where they made camp. The wind tore at Kayden's hair as she looked out over the plains with Strider and Peyton. Strider knelt down, taking out a big cloth bundle as he did so. Inside the cloth were six daggers in sheaths, smaller than Kayden's sword. Strider tossed one to each of the hobbits and Peyton.

"Oof!" Merry cried as he caught the weapon. To him and the other hobbits, they made perfect short swords.

"These are for you. Keep them close," Strider informed them. He turned towards Peyton, who was looking at the dagger in apprehension. "I will procure a proper weapon for you when we reach Rivendell." Peyton nodded happily as they hobbits drew their swords, examining them.

"I'm going to have a look around. Kayden, come with me," Strider told them as he stood up. "Stay here," he ordered. "Peyton, watch the hobbits."

"And make sure they don't do anything stupid," Kayden added. The two of them left, leaving Peyton with a rather boring job. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

~o*o*o*o~

"What're you doing?"

Frodo's shout awoke Peyton. She found the hobbits, minus Frodo, sitting around a fire doing what hobbits do best: eating. A fire! thought Peyton. That could attract enemies! Apparently Frodo thought the same thing, because he scrambled to his feet and ran to the flames. But Peyton got there first, stamping out the blaze while shouting, "You idiots! Put it out! This is exactly what Kayden meant when she said –"

A loud, piercing shriek cut Peyton's rant short. She and the hobbits gathered around the edge and peered down to see Black Riders heading towards the tower through the mist. Frodo and Peyton unsheathed their weapons. "Go!" they yelled, sprinting up to the ruin. Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Robin followed suit, drawing their swords before running up the tower.

Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Robin, and Peyton stood in the middle of what was left of the watchtower. Five ominous cloaked figures stepped though the gaps in the ruin, surrounding them. Each of the Riders drew their swords, which looked purely evil.

"Back, you devils!" Sam cried as he swung at a Rider. His blow was deflected, and he was sent flying. Merry, Pippin, and Robin were pushed out of the way as the Riders approached Peyton and Frodo.

"ATTACK!" Peyton screamed as she swiped her dagger at the nearest Rider. It deftly blocked her blow and threw her into a wall. She blinked dazedly as she watched Frodo drop his sword and scurry away in terror. Suddenly, he disappeared. He had put the Ring on. One of the Riders reached out to grab something, but pulled its hand back sharply. The Rider raised his blade and plunged the point downward. Frodo's cry of pain rang through the night.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

With a cry, two figures carrying fiery torches charged at the Nazgûl. Peyton looked closer to find that it was Kayden and Strider. Kayden carried two torches, while Strider bore one torch and his sword. They swung the flames around, causing the Wraiths to recoil, shrieking with outrage.

"PEYTON!" Kayden shouted, tossing her one of her torches. Peyton caught it and swiped at the nearest Rider. The Rider dodged her attack and slashed his sword in retaliation. Peyton ducked and swung at the Wraith again. This time, she made contact, setting its robes ablaze. It shrieked and ran blindly off the ruin. Suddenly, she her a dull thump behind her, followed by another ear-splitting scream. Peyton whipped around to see a Rider engulfed in flames with a torch sticking out of where its head should have been. It ran off the hilltop, shrieking in pain.

"No one tries to sneak up and attack my friends," a voice murmured threateningly. Peyton turned to see Kayden standing nearby. There was a fire in her friend's eyes that she had never seen. Kayden's expression softened as she rushed toward Peyton. "You okay?" she asked. Peyton briskly nodded her head, causing Kayden to crack a small smile.

"Strider! Canter!"

Kayden and Peyton turned and sprinted towards the hobbits. They were huddled around Frodo, who had reappeared, but was still in severe pain. "Help him!" Sam pleaded.

Strider examined Frodo gently. As he did, Kayden noticed a broken sword, about as long as her own, lying next to Frodo. She picked it up and showed it to Strider. His face creased with worry.

"He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade," he stated gravely. Suddenly, the blade disintegrated. The hilt burned in Kayden's hand, causing her to drop it. "This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs elvish medicine," Strider continued, picking up Frodo and carrying him away as quick as he could.

The seven of them dashed through the woods, each bearing a flaming torch. Frodo groaned in pain as they ran, filling them with worry.

"It's six days from Rivendell! He'll never make it!" Sam shouted, his voice laced with panic.

"We have to try!" Robin yelled back. She too was concerned about the Ring-Bearer's fate, which, at the moment, looked grim.

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