Never Gonna Give You Up Chapter 2
Internally she thought the fact that she hadn't verbally agreed meant she held to no such oath. She also knew that the people in this world probably weren't so deceiving with their intentions or cared so much about the wording than they did the concept of the promise itself. But she was a Shinobi, and it didn't take much to remind her of the fact that while she couldn't lie to save her life, she was still good at deceiving people. She would not have survived in the maw of Akatsuki for long if she wasn't good at detracting her words and carefully planning her sentences.
The howling wind guided the bullet like rain outside. Looking through the dripping glass, out into the muddy streets below, Hina felt like the world was setting itself up for some dark arrival, as if changing tune. Strider tapped the wooden table at which they frequented often. Tap, tap. Like a bird ready to flee, his movements were sudden and quick, setting Hina in the same awful flighty mood too.
When the bar door opened to reveal 4 small figures, Hina knew she couldn't stay out of it anymore. Strider was in trouble, and Hina had come to like the stoic man wearied by this unseen burden of his. Yet she had told him that she would not follow, although she had only insinuated it. Shinobis delt in schematics but it was clear that the people in this world weren't so deceiving with their intentions. Strider was the honest kind of man that didn't care so much about the wording than he did the concept of the promise itself.
Hina levelled Strider a look, fidgeting with the hem of her cloak. "You're looking at them an awful lot."
"I fear tonight is our last night together Hina. I have business with these folk."
"They're so tiny. I can see why you'd want business with them if they're all this cute," Hina said, making a little love heart sign with her hands, and grinning in an over the top fashion. Strider sent her a raised brow and smoked his pipe at the same time. Hina wasn't so sure he didn't see through her attempt at lightening the tense mood.
"What, you don't like cute things? Then why do business with them—wait a minute, never mind I promised I wouldn't poke into your business."
"Hn"
"Did you just go Uchiha on me?"
Strider didn't reply again. The child wasn't exactly a talkative one. She could go hours without speaking a word when she wanted to, but then just as quickly she would begin poking and prodding at him to get a reaction. His attention turned to the more important task at hand. The Hobbit who Gandalf had told him to protect was here with the One Ring. He could feel his instincts tell him it was here. Then he watched to his absolute shock as the dark-haired Hobbit fell and the ring dropped onto his finger. The Hobbit had vanished entirely. Strider got to his feet almost instantly.
Hina sipped at her water watching on in interest as Strider caught the reappearing Hobbit and dragged him by his cloak's hoodie. The Hobbit was dragged up like a simple feather weight by the tall man. She stepped lightly behind Strider, following him like a shadow up the stairs and into the room he threw the Hobbit into.
"You draw far too much attention to yourself Mr Underhill," he said in a whisper as he grabbed the little Hobbit and threw him into a room.
Hina followed out of curiosity, but mostly because she didn't want to see Frolo, or whatever his name was, get hurt. He was the cutest little thing she'd seen, and she was a protector of cute things.
"What do you want?" the Hobbit asked, getting to his feet, and putting on a brave face.
"A little more caution from you. That's no trinket you carry," he warned.
"I carry nothing!"
"Indeed. I can avoid being seen if I wish," he said putting out the candles in the room, "but turning invisible entirely—that is a rare gift."
"Not really, I can be pretty invisible if I want to as well," Hina chimed in.
Strider spun around, nearly drawing his sword, when he drew in a sharp breath to see Hina behind him. He shut his eyes and calmed his nerves. Of course the odd child had decided to follow him.
"Who are you both?" 'Mr Underhill' asked, wide eyed and confused.
"I'm Suzuki Hina, and this is—"
"This is not the time Hina," Strider warned with a frown. "Go to Gertrude now. Our time together is at an end."
"Nuh-uh, I won't let you scare away such a cute creature," Hina said, putting a hand on the Hobbit's shoulder and startling him at her sudden appearance by his side.
Hina almost regretted giving Strider the headache he no doubt had because of her stubbornness, but she thought having a Shinobi on this trip of his would save them a whole lot of heartache. Less death for sure. She remembered Sean Bean dying… yet again… but then again that had been the actor, and now this was a real person—a fact she had become too used to unfortunately. Plus she owed this man her life.
"There is a dark force that hunts these Hobbits Hina. I do not want you involved—"
Before Strider could say more, the door was busted open by three very cutely armed Hobbits. Hina didn't like the way she had to rely on her scent to know they were coming. Normally she could just tell by chakra alone, and this place stunk so she'd rather keep her senses muted.
"Let him go or I'll have you, Longshanks!" the fat one shouted.
Strider smiled as he sheathed his sword. Hina looked on in amusement as well. To think they came in brandishing some candles and a chair as weaponry. This whole thing was too adorable for her. Even Strider's normally gruff disposition had lightened to show a fond smile.
"You have a stout heart, little Hobbit, but that alone won't save you...You can no longer wait for the Wizard, Frodo. They're coming."
"And how do we know we can trust you. We don't know anything about you?" the fat hobbit asked before he seemed to notice Hina by the corner.
Hina was glad she had her Henge on because she suspected the little folk wouldn't know what to make of her otherwise.
"And who is that?"
"Hmm I'm new so I have no name here, but I'm not so mysterious. You can call me Hina," she introduced herself.
"And you are leaving now," Strider said sternly. "If you can, set up an illusion at their rooms and then go straight to Gertrude. Do not dally."
"Ok, ok, fine," she grumbled, crossing her arms and stalking out of the room.
Yeah, right like she was just going to leave them defenceless and outnumbered. She did do as Strider asked though, stealthily moving to the Hobbits rooms and rigging the place up. She contemplated putting explosive tags inside the pillows so it would blow up in their face if they stabbed it, but then decided against it. The explosive tags she had on her would probably destroy the entire inn considering how weak the architecture in this poor town was. She didn't want to destroy the innkeeper's livelihood.
She didn't leave with Gertrude. Instead she made herself scarce and stayed in the shadows watching and listening from afar. She could feel the energy in the room beyond to be warped and wrong, like the cute little Hobbit was. Hina remembered the ring. How could she not? It was in the name of the title, and she remembered very little else about this world and its future other than the fact that the ring would need to be thrown into lava in Mordor.
Waiting wasn't a fun game, but it was one she was used to. In the dead of night the dark riders had come in. She didn't know what they were called, or their names, but she felt off in their presence. She didn't think she would ever describe energy or chakra as vile, but they had that distorting effect about them. She supposed this world's magic was sensitive to her like chakra had been, but chakra had never been so oppressively light and dark, it just was.
They attacked the beds where the Hobbits should be laying. All the Wraiths hit was illusions of the Hobbits she had rigged the place with. Hina then positioned herself in the room adjacent to the party, hiding herself away in a corner and using her enhanced hearing to keep an eye on Strider, who she thought would learn to appreciate her skills in the future when they came in handy.
"What are they?" Frodo asked.
"They were once men. Great Kings of men. Then Sauron the deceiver gave unto them Nine Rings of Power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul, Ringwraiths, neither living or dead. At all times they feel the presence of the ring... drawn to the power of the one… they will never stop hunting you," Strider explained.
Well that explained things. With that said she decided that she would definitely need to visit Gertrude before Strider inevitably came to check in on her. She didn't think he'd allow her to travel with them if she asked now. However if they were already halfway there on their journey and she made her presence known, it wasn't like he would send a poor, innocent, vulnerable child back on her own. She grinned cheekily at her plans. Sometimes it was better to ask for forgiveness than for permission.
Hina didn't have much on her at all except the clothes on her back, the weapons in her pouch, and one tiny sealing scroll holding some items like chakra pills, her Fūma Shuriken, her recent mission scroll from her secret contact, her father's omamori, and the flute Rui had gifted her with some of sheet music for practice. Beyond that she didn't really require much at all. Her body was heavily engineered and so she didn't have the monthly issue to worry about, and she required very little food and sleep to function, her primary weapon was her hands, the Fuma Shuriken she carried around with her was sealed, and because most poisons were moot on her body she didn't need to carry around as many emergency antidote packs as others usually did.
She didn't take off her armour though. That was something she was unwilling to part with, as it had been a present from Gaku-sensei whom she missed dearly. So even when she entered Gertrude's small cottage home, she had entered fully armed. The woman seemed to find that a little odd, but she invited her in regardless.
"There is no one else here I need to introduce myself to?" Hina asked.
"No, my husband passed along 3 winters ago, and now I am alone," she said sadly, but with a smile still on her face. "It's a pleasure of mine to invite new and interesting guests. Strider showed me that the unknown is often more fascinating than it is scary. So please don't be offended if this old lady asks questions to sate her curiosity."
"Well you can ask away for tonight as much as you want. I know it's going to be hard to believe but I'm from another world entirely, so it doesn't matter much to me if people here know my secrets," Hina said openly.
And how odd it was to be so open. Shinobi were, by trade, enshrouded in their secrets and deceit. It had become a part of her to her core, but once long ago she had been an honest being, one who felt no need to lie or to trick. It seemed this world had a way of pulling the old her out of its shell, the one that had receded to make way for a darker life that required more protection.
"My, a whole other world? That is hard to believe," the woman gasped.
"Yes well, maybe it's simply from a distant shore beyond even the elves homeland rather than another world entirely," Hina tried, hopefully to make this information a little easier for Gertrude to understand. "I'm still not a common sight there. This green hair is sort of rare, but there are people with pink hair and red hair the colour of deep crimson, and blue hair like the sky… and purple hair that smells of plum…"
Hina realised she had dragged at the memory of Anko. She pulled her attention back to the present and put on a smile that had faded before at the mention of said name.
"My, it must be such a fascinating world. Why can we not speak of it past tonight?" Gertrude asked.
"I'm going to travel with Strider," Hina replied truthfully.
"He would not allow it," Gertrude said, crossing and folding her arms.
Hina smirked in defiance. "Well he's not my master so he can't really tell me what to do. Plus I'm a lot stronger than I look and I have magic. So he will be safer with me. I just don't want you to tell him tomorrow when he comes by. I want to surprise him on the trip."
"That sounds like a terrible idea, and I would not see a child travel so soon after such darkness had galloped into our homes."
"Well between you and me I'm actually 50 years old. I only look young," Hina admitted, hoping to talk to her sensibilities.
"Ha! Good try young lass, but your trickery is easy to see through," Gertrude laughed. "Now then come on and humour an old lady. Have some stew and show me this magic of yours. If it's impressive enough I might just agree to your plan."
"Deal," Hina grinned.
Her 'magic' had in fact impressed Gertrude, and the woman would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that the child in front of her could easily take care of herself. So she reluctantly agreed to not give away her plans to follow Strider. Said ranger had walked in at the early hours of the morning to check in on the child.
"Is she in there?" he asked the woman.
"Yes, and she's a fascinating child indeed. Performed feats I never thought I'd be given the opportunity to witness."
"Yes, I fear she's gone through quite a lot to get that power, more than she lets on anyway. I see the shadows in her eyes, and where I am going there is only more. It would bring me peace if she stays here with you, somewhere safe and away."
"If that is what she wants. I certainly can't keep the lass here if she didn't want to be here," Gertrude laughed.
"Indeed, she is a free spirit. But I must go. Do not tell her of my departure. I have a feeling she would try and follow should I say my farewells."
"Of course."
Strider, being a rather apt and to the point man, had left after those few words; squeezing the woman's hand in thanks that spoke more than his words could. Gertrude watched him go fondly and then turned with a mild frown to face the child who hadn't taken off her armour even in sleep.
"Have you taken the pack I made you. It holds enough food for two weeks," Gertrude asked worriedly.
"Thanks so much for your hospitality Gertrude-san. If it means anything, I think you're the fascinating one. All those stories those travellers gave you has made you a treasure trove of joy," Hina praised.
"Oh quit your ruthless flattery lass. Don't worry about leaving payment. Your story happens to be the biggest treasure in my trove," she joked.
Hina didn't expect to be hugged, and while that was a pleasant experience, the hair ruffling was certainly not. It reminded her of Orochimaru. One moment gentle, and another holding to her scalp like a predator to prey. She shivered at the touch, but she wasn't so young now as to react to it violently like she did before. With time she learnt to quell the horrors in her heart. It was easier to be joking and jovial instead of dwelling in that hard place. In that sense she had begun to understand Anko's method of coping.
"Bye Gertrude-san. I'll come back someday if I get the chance," Hina said truthfully.
"Be safe lass."
Hina kept herself to tracking the party from a distance, not really sure if she could hide herself from Strider's eyes if she went too close. They weren't nearly a good enough distance away from Bree for him to not tell her to go back alone. She followed behind them for days, making sure to keep her steps light and leave behind no trace of her presence. It wasn't so hard since she was used to it now. It was on the fifth day, once the sun had nearly set and the party had stopped at a watchtower of sorts that Hina had decided it was time to make her way closer.
She walked up the tower walls easily enough and took in a deep breath to both calm herself down and to find Strider. He stunk to high heavens which made it easy enough. Hina held her nose and scowled. What was it with people in this world and not taking a bath every day? Even she, a Shinobi used to travelling in the wild, would suffer the cold river waters to remove the stench. It would be so easy to spot these people in the wilds of the Elemental Nations considering how little they bathed. But the more she thought about it the more she realised that bathing out here wouldn't give them the same protection that it would back at home. No one here had the scent of an Inuzuka after all.
"Who goes there. Show yourself?" Strider demanded; his tone harsher than she'd ever heard it.
Hina stepped out of the shadows with a sheepish smile and her hands up in a surrender motion. Strider looked at her in disbelief as he put away his sword.
"What are you doing here Hina? I thought I told you specifically to stay at Bree?" Strider asked angrily.
"Well—that was before I saw the Wraiths and thought you'd need some help against them if they really are tracking you," she huffed.
"You were eavesdropping?" he demanded.
"I was only doing it because there was danger and I want to keep you safe," Hina explained.
"What was that you said about being forthcoming?" Strider said, turning her own words to her.
Hina felt a little shame at her deception, especially towards such an honest man. She looked down feeling like an admonished child again, but before she could apologise the air around them distorted into darkness and there was a horrifying screech.
"The Hobbits!" Strider shouted, forgetting Hina entirely as he rushed up the tower's stairs to the highest peak.
Hina used her shunshin to travel quickly towards the hobbits to find them surrounded by 5 cloaked figures, all oozing that dark energy that made it hard for her to think. It felt almost as suffocating as the energy from that accursed ring. Before the wraith could stab its blade into Frodo, she rushed forward with her chakra. Snake → Ram → Monkey → Boar → Horse → Tiger
Fire Release: Flame Bullet!
Hina pelted the fell creature with flame, making it screech and jump away as its clothes caught on fire, and then she jumped in-between the group of Hobbits and moved into her circle step form. Like usual she couldn't control the almost glee like emotion that rose with battle, but today it felt unquenchable, like she was craving blood. No, she demanded blood. Her mind went hazy with that darkness as she rushed forward in a gust of wind release and punched the Nazgul with a chakra enhanced fist straight into the armour plate, leaving a fist sized dent and sending it flying.
"Come at me fuckers!" she laughed excitedly, as she jumped back and performed another jutsu.
Wind Release: Wind Blade Torrent!
Several sharp gusts of chakra enhanced blade like winds shot at the Nazgul pushing them back. They dodged quickly but one was caught in its blade and was cut straight in half. To her shock all she saw was a dark mist filling in the gap before they rushed at her again. Hina laughed eagerly at the challenge as she pulled out her kunai and began blocking their combined blows. Not soon after Strider had come in blocking a blow that would have otherwise hit her.
It took Frodo's scream to bring her attention away from the Ring-Wraith in front of her. She turned to see the Hobbit come back into visibility as he cried out in pain. Hina spun through the hand seals and summoned a fire dragon from her mouth, spurring it on with a torrent of wind chakra to enhance the flame, turning it bright blue with her impeccable chakra control. The heat of the flame itself seemed to turn the Wraith's armour a bright hot red, as if it were in the fires of creation. It let out an inhumane screech as it fell back and down the tower.
Strider made quick work of the remaining Nazgul and Hina felt the darkness recede with their presence. She realised her breathing had deepened, and she still felt the urge to kill despite the fight clearly being over. Noticing how unnatural that was for her, she deliberately took in a deep breath and calmed herself, only noticing later that Aragorn had gone quickly to Frodo's side.
"Help him!" Sam demanded.
"He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade," Strider hissed as he threw the disintegrating blade aside. "This is beyond my ability to heal. He needs Elvish medicine."
Strider picked up the Hobbit and made his way down without waiting for the others. Hina caught up to him quickly but noted how he was ignoring her pointedly. She felt guilty for not having been able to stop the attack on Frodo. She was meant to be a magnitude stronger than the people here, but she still failed when it came to saving lives.
"Hurry," he gestured.
"We're six days from Rivendell! We'll never make it," Sam cried out.
"Give him to me, I'll run him there much quicker," Hina offered.
"Who is she?!" Sam shouted hysterically.
Hina winced at the sound, but she couldn't exactly blame him. All the stress was probably getting to him in this moment and seeing Frodo cry in pain made her remember the hopelessness she felt when Kusari lay dying in her arms from a poison she had no cure for.
"You should not be here! I cannot entrust him to you. I saw you with the Wraiths, you had lost control of yourself. There was madness in your eyes. It was why I told you to stay at Bree!"
"But I can run twice the speed of a horse if you just trust—"
"—There is no trust here," he said, stopping to push her chest angrily.
Hina gave pause at the furious expression on his face. She hadn't thought he would react this badly to her deceit. Then again, she had been praised by Orochimaru so many times when she lied, and cheated, and took what she wanted without honesty, that it almost felt odd to be yelled at for it. But she knew Strider was a man of integrity and honour—and she should not have abused that trust.
"You may not be a Fell creature, but you certainly have the disposition," he hissed before he left her dumbstruck and turned to run again.
Hina did not cry, she stewed. In a way she knew he was correct. She was a creature moulded by darkness, corrupted beyond any redemption, which was why despite her heart longing for a simple stable life, she had willingly chosen to play a double agent in Akatsuki. She wanted redemption but she didn't know how without murder and deceit and a raping of everything that was good. She had not even noticed the Hobbits run cautiously by her towards Strider as she stood there looking at the ground in shock at his words.
Not knowing what else to do she eventually decided to run back to the group. She knew what the ring was, and it did not bode well for her at all. There was a gravity to it, a certain enticing pull towards a promised whisper of power. Power had always been a necessity, this intangible, yet undeniable object of her desire. It was this vague means to achieve the protection and safety she craved. And the ring… well the ring was all that and more. Somehow, she figured that's why Strider did not want her here. He didn't want her to have it. In fact he seemed repelled by the idea of it. But whatever reservations he had of her joining them, did not compare to the danger they would be in without her. She was strong here. She could help.
She jumped through the trees to make quicker ground and then jogged up to Strider once again. She resolved herself to not pause at any more words said in anger. If taking his anger silently meant she could stay and keep them alive, she would do just that.
"Then let me carry you while you carry him. Then that way we can make it to Rivendell in 2 days," Hina said.
It was a ridiculous image that she painted, which was why Strider scoffed. "Impossible. And what will we do with the 3 Hobbits we leave behind? I do not trust Frodo with you, and I will not leave them here alone either. Now come, I won't have you travel by yourself, even if you are a risk."
Hina stopped herself from making a biting remark. The ring even now felt like a bright presence, something that demanded her attention. Despite all her power she could not just simply carry Frodo there quicker like she intended while it lingered so close to her reach. But she could take it and run it to Mordor if they gave her a map. In her hands it would be there quickly. But Strider clearly didn't trust her with it, and betraying him again felt more wrong than taking the ring and just ending this whole conflict. She ruminated her misgivings until they settled down for the night. The inhumane sounds of the Nazgul screeched behind them.
"They're close," Merry said, pulling his knees closer to his chest.
"Who are you again?" Pippin asked the strange girl.
Hina stoked the fire and turned to the Hobbit with as kind a smile as she could muster in her worry. "You'll remember me as the Ranger from before."
"But you were a grown man then!" said Pippin.
"I was under an illusion to look like a grown man. This is my true form," she explained.
"Is she with the enemy? Here to trick us?" Sam asked Strider, warning in his voice.
Hina hesitated to wait for his reply and was relieved when Aragorn shook his head in her defence. "She is no fell creature. She is a foreigner from beyond the seas, who's heart is weak and has no business being near the one ring."
Hina sunk back further at his scrutinising eyes. She supposed she deserved it, but she could help, and it was frustrating that he wouldn't allow her to. The group kept a wary eye on her as they continued on their journey. Hina didn't know what to do. She'd messed up terribly and contemplated just going back to Bree and researching her way home… but she didn't want to. The short week she had spent with Strider was the most calming week she had experienced in years. She selfishly wanted to hold onto it, even if he now kept her at arm's length, so she travelled discreetly, keeping away from the group's sight.
With each day Hina could feel the darkness twist the poor Hobbit in Aragorn's hands, and it frustrated her that he would have been to safety by now if she could have just been strong enough to resist whatever energy was calling to her from the cursed ring.
"Sam, come here. Do you know the Athelas plant?"
Sam looked down in thought and then it turned into confusion. "Athelas?"
"Aye. Kingsfoil."
"Kingsfoil, aye. It's a weed," Sam said.
"It may help to slow the poison. Hurry!"
Hina followed after Strider into the forest. She did not want to pester him in his hurried search, but she needed him to accept her place here. She had been hesitant to approach him before only because he was with the group, but now she could speak to him in private. Not that she could leave if she wanted to as she didn't know the way back to Bree. These foreign stars above her were as alien as she was in this land.
"Strider… I'm sorry for my deception. You're an honest man and I shouldn't have—" she said, wringing her fingers together before she trailed off.
Strider sighed for a moment and then nodded. "From what little I know of you I suppose it is a matter of how you were raised, is it not?"
Hina was surprised he'd managed to deduct that correctly. She hadn't really spoken much about her own past, although she did tell him about her world. She nodded hesitantly, unsure about opening up about something personal like that.
"I will not trick you again… if you want to leave me behind it's ok," she said.
Strider turned to her and huffed. She didn't mean to flinch when he ruffled her hair, but she was peculiar with that motion and it seemed people in this world enjoyed doing it too much. Noting her discomfort at the touch he stopped and Hina was grateful. Explaining that away in the Elemental Nations was easy. Every Shinobi had a tick, something that made them edgy. Here she was not sure the explanation would allow her to be as brief as it was back home.
"I will not throw you into the wilderness when Wraiths are about, but once we get to Rivendell, there you will stay. You will not go without my permission."
Hina nodded and this time decided to be honest. "I will listen to you this time. I won't lie."
"Good girl, now let me be on my search."
Hina had not expected such ready forgiveness from Aragorn after his earlier anger. Maybe all he required was the truth. He deserved it from her. Despite her wandering thoughts, Hina caught the sudden change in the air. The ominous drum of the dark forest was replaced by something entirely contrasting, a soothing kind of melodical light. She turned around abruptly using her chakra enhanced speed to body flicker behind the source. The bright presence had gone to draw her sword, but Hina had her in her grasp before her hands even reached the hilt. She pulled the kunai closer to the woman's neck and tightened her hold on her arm.
"What do you want?" Hina asked with a dangerous hilt to her voice.
"At ease Hina! She is not an enemy!" shouted Strider.
"She meant to draw her blade onto you!"
"Trust me Hina. She is not an enemy," he repeated, holding her blade and pulling it away from the woman's neck.
Hesitantly Hina pulled the cold blade from her assailant's neck and was met with the face of someone too stunning to be in this world. Long brown locks, seemed to drape around her shoulders and back in perfect natural curls, her deep blue eyes were unearthly, and her whole aura was a shining white light. The first thing that came to her mind was a light bulb. And then she saw the ears and it dawned on her.
"An Elf," she whispered in disbelief.
She'd watched enough fantasy, read enough books, and played enough games to know an Elf when she saw one, yet it did not prepare her to actually meet one. A part of her was about to die of excitement, and another was telling her to run away from this suffocatingly white aura.
"Indeed child, I do not bring harm," she said placatingly before she turned to Strider and the fondness in her eyes grew. The two shared a moment together under the moonlit sky, a silent moment that conveyed more than an entire conversation could. Hina saw the way Strider seemed to lose that edge in his eye.
"Arwen, the ring bearer was struck with the Morgul Blade. I fear he won't have much time unless we take him to your father Lord Elrond," Strider said quickly.
"That is a dark magic," Arwen agreed. "I have brought my horse."
The three travelled back with the weed and Hina watched from afar, unsure how to confront the group she felt she didn't belong in. So she stayed by the side as Arwen explained how the blade corrupted its victim. Hina felt doubly bad for not being able to protect the Hobbits now.
Arwen picked up the Hobbit and put him on her horse before she turned to Strider. "I have been looking for you for two days."
"Where are you taking him?" Pippin asked.
"There are five Wraiths behind you, where the other four are, I do not know," she said in urgency before she turned to Strider and he held her hands.
"Dartho guin Berian...rych le ad tolthathon. (Stay with the hobbits. I'll send horses for you)," Strider said.
Arwen didn't look pleased with his suggestion and instead grabbed the reins of the horse. "Hon mabathon. Rochoh ellint im. (I'll take him. I'm the faster rider)."
"Andelu I ven. (The road is too dangerous)," he pleaded, shaking his head and inching forward with protectiveness.
"Frodo Fir. Ae anthradon I hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon. (If I can cross the river, the power of my people can protect him)."
"What are they saying?" Pippin whispered to Merry, who just shrugged.
Arwen reached her hand down from the horse to take Aragorn's and she gave him a reassuring squeeze. There was a surety and courage in her posture.
"I do not fear them," she said steadfastly.
Strider did not let go of his love's hands for a moment but then conceded his trust to her. She was indeed the fastest rider he knew. He let go and watched with trepidation as she rode away on her horse, the screaming of the Ringwraiths still echoing behind them. Hina came to stand by Strider and placed a hand on his arm in reassurance. He turned down to her and gave her a tentative nod.
"If you give me the order, I will follow after her and protect them both," Hina offered.
"It is true then… you are faster than a horse?" Strider asked.
"There aren't many people back home faster than me," she replied confidently.
"If you promise to be safe on the journey and to only attack if necessary."
"Don't hold your breath for me Strider-san. I am a Shinobi, a born warrior. You could say it's in my blood to battle and I won't fall to some stupid undead," Hina replied with a resolute nod.
Before he could warn her to be more cautious, he got a glimpse of the speed which she proclaimed to possess. In the blink of an eye she had jumped to the treetops and disappeared. Strider had rarely seen such a feat of acrobatics, even from the Elves. To jump that far was impossible for mere Men.
"Is she someone we can trust?" Sam asked, looking ahead pale and sweaty, his thoughts no doubt on the well being of his wounded friend.
"She is not a fell creature. Of that, you have my word," he said.
"Then she is truly a child… surely she can't do much. She must be at most 15 winters old," Merry said in disbelief.
"I would not underestimate her strength. For now we have to put our trust in both ladies. We should hope Frodo is in good hands," Strider settled to say.
It had been a while since she was required to run so fast since she was dropped in this world. As it turned out the horses of the Elves were quite a bit faster than normal horses, and so were the Nazgul's steeds. Hina caught up with Arwen pretty quickly though as the forest was her landscape.
"What manner of creature are you little one?" she asked.
Hina dropped by the woman whose eyes were still on the road ahead in determination. Good some chit-chat wouldn't distract her.
"I'm not from these lands. Where I come from my kind are called Shinobi. We utilise the chakra within us—an energy or magic as you would call it, to perform jutsu and other feats. That's the summary basically, but I don't think we have the time to talk. The Nazgul are upon us. I will delay them, but you should look forward and ignore me."
"Although I do not know you, I sense great power and bravery in you. Be safe little one."
Hina nodded and fell back. She could hear the unearthly screams of the Nazgul. It made her excited again for the thrill of battle. She pulled out her exploding tags this time. Now they were on sprawling fields and it was just them vs her, she could go all out on them. She had no idea how exactly to kill the undead, but even delaying them an hour would be enough to give Arwen the time to stay ahead for the rest of her journey.
The dark horses were within sight now. Hina threw down the explosive tags on her precious kunai into the ground in front of them in a neat row and then waited with the tiger hand seal ready and prepared. Then as they came closer and closer brandishing their weapons, she activated the tags. The explosions sent the horses falling backwards and their riders falling off with horrifying screeches. Hina smirked. Sometimes the sounds of terrified crying actually felt nice… sometimes.
"Is that all you got? Sauron must be pissing in his panties thinking about how shitty his minions are," Hina taunted.
"We will cut out your tongue," the creature hissed at her.
"Pfft, you'd have trouble cutting some sleeping Halflings considering how unbelievably weak your kind is," she teased with a grin.
She had effectively made the Nazgul pissed off at her beyond words. Their screams sounded a little more offended than usual to her ears. It made her happy. Pre-fight banter was certainly the best if used properly. Some smart opponents wouldn't react at all, but they were no fun. Now all she had to do was not die. If you died after insulting someone else's strength, that just made you look like a fool, and while Hina wouldn't deny being a fool, she also did equally value that being a private admission rather than public knowledge.
Tiger → Hare → Dragon Wind Release: Wind Blade
This time she made a blade out of wind chakra and held it in her hand. She preferred not to use kinjutsu, it was something she didn't like to do often. Most Shinobi didn't fight with the blade and instead preferred kunai. But fighting hand to hand against wielders of the blade put one at a disadvantage.
It was time, she thought expectantly, to breathe.
A/N
Oof time to fight some wrinkly old emo men, Hina's natural nemesis.