Chapter 3
A/N - The journey begins! Please review and let me know what you think. It really motivates me to get chapters out faster. Thank you for all of your support!!
*Bold - Elvish*
In the days that followed, Annelise was in constant contact with the Dunedain rangers watching over the Shire, as well as with Gandalf. Her last letter from the wizard informed her that he had traveled all the way to Minas Tirith in hopes of finding something of value in the ancient library there.
She was relieved at least by her intel from the rangers. Although there seemed to be increased movement throughout Middle Earth, nothing of the situation around the Shire had changed. The Ring's whereabouts, for now, remained hidden.
On this particular night, Annelise had decided to have a quiet, early night in while Frodo went off to the Green Dragon with some of his friends. She had just settled next to the fire in the sitting room with a cup of tea when there was a loud, hurried knock on the door.
She was out of her chair in an instant and threw the door open to reveal Gandalf's form.
"Where is it?," he asked frantically, getting right to the point.
"It is hidden away in one of Frodo's trunks. He hasn't even removed it from the envelope you put it in," she answered hurriedly, before looking at the wizard in concern. "It is true, then?"
"Almost certainly," he said with a sigh. "Where is Frodo?"
"He is down at the tavern. I don't expect him back for another few hours."
"I see," the wizard said with another heavy sigh. "Well, I suppose he should be allowed to have one last night of peace."
"Last night? What do you mean?," she inquired with confusion.
"If it is indeed the One Ring as we suspect, then it needs to get out of the Shire. I have alerted your Uncle to expect visitors, though I have not told him of my suspicions. When Frodo comes back, I will ascertain the nature of this ring. If it turns out how I expect, Frodo and I will leave the Shire as soon as possible."
"What about me?"
"I need you to leave now. I came to the Shire by way of Sarn Ford. Go to the Rangers watching the road to the east, send as many as you can spare to the outpost at the Ford. If the enemy should make its way here, they will come that way and we will have some news of their movement."
"And then?," she asked, accepting his instructions.
"Frodo and I will meet you at the edge of the Old Forest. You will continue on to Bree with Frodo, while I travel to Isengard. I must meet with Saruman and seek his counsel on our next move if it is indeed the Ring. I will meet you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony and then we will journey to Rivendell."
"Very well," Annelise said, moving to collect her things. "I will be at the forest's edge at first light."
Annelise had packed her bag hurriedly and, with a quick goodbye to Gandalf, was on her horse riding as swiftly as possible east out of the Shire. Within half an hour of crossing the border, she was hailed by one of her kinsman and relayed Gandalf's instructions.
She was surprised to learn through the leader of the men there, called Dunston, that Aragorn had been at Sarn Ford with Halbarad the last few months and wondered why he or Gandalf had not informed her. Dunston had five men that he could spare from his troup and the men departed to the south within fifteen minutes of her arrival.
Her anxiety had grown at learning that Aragorn was stationed where the enemy would pass through first, but her nerves were eased a little at the knowledge that he would soon be receiving reinforcements. And she was sure that Gandalf had shared his suspicions with the Ranger, so he would be on high alert.
With her task completed, Annelise departed from the Rangers on foot, leaving her horse behind. It would be easier for her to slip through the forest unnoticed and she knew that Frodo would be traveling on foot as well. She went slowly, conserving her energy, as she had several hours before she needed to be at the meeting place.
As it was, she made it to the edge of the forest within two hours of leaving the Dunedain. It would be another three hours before the sun rose so Annelise decided to get what little sleep she could, knowing it would be many days before she would be able to rest properly again.
She awoke from her restless sleep by the first rays of the sun and settled against one of the trees, eating some nuts and berries she had found, waiting for Gandalf and Frodo to appear. She heard them before she saw them and was surprised to learn that they weren't alone.
"Be careful, both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service. Birds, beasts."
"Even men, sadly," Annelise said, revealing herself to the trio and smirking a little when Frodo and, to her astonishment, Sam jumped in surprise. She had no doubt that Gandalf had been aware of her presence before she was aware of theirs.
"What are you doing here, Sam?," she asked curiously, knowing the Hobbit's timid nature.
"It's a long story, miss," he answered sheepishly and Frodo smiled at his friend humorously.
"Is it safe?," Gandalf asked Frodo and Annelise sucked in a breath, as his words confirmed that Frodo was indeed in possession of the One Ring.
'Oh, Valar, help us,' she thought to herself, looking down at the small Hobbit as he touched the pocket on his chest.
"Never put it on," Gandalf told him, bending down to his level, "for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember, Frodo…the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found."
Frodo looked at the wizard soberly as he stood up and moved toward Annelise.
"The Rangers have been alerted and men have been sent south," she said, answering his silent question.
"Good, very good," he responded, almost absentmindedly.
"Why didn't you tell me he was at Sarn Ford?," she couldn't help but ask him, knowing he would know what she meant.
"Hmm, must have escaped my notice," he answered facetiously, smiling down at her.
"As if anything ever escapes your notice," she said, with a teasing roll of her eyes before turning more serious. "But he is alright?"
"Yes, he seemed very well though he was a bit concerned about you. He had received word from Lord Elrond of your latest misadventures and was very glad to learn of your wellbeing."
Annelise couldn't help but wince at the wizard's mention of her last journey six months earlier, and the injury that had come with it. She had been traveling alone through Rhudaur, south to Rivendell, from one of the more remote Dunedain outposts when she had encountered a small band of five orcs that took her by surprise. She had made it out of the skirmish alive, but not unscathed.
One of the orcs had managed to cut her deeply across her left collarbone and she knew she needed more healing than she was able to do herself. She had cleaned and bound it as well as she could but when she reached Rivendell three days later, she all but collapsed into her Uncle's arms and remained unconscious for six days.
Lord Elrond had told her later, once she was fully recovered, that there had been moments in that time that he had not known if she would survive. The wound had gotten an infection and while the wound itself would not have been of too much concern, the fever that had resulted from it was very serious.
"I had hoped he wouldn't learn of that," she said sheepishly, rubbing the scar that was still fresh.
"You know how he worries about you."
"I do," she spoke quietly, stepping back as Gandalf moved to mount his horse and addressed the two Hobbits who had come to stand on either side of Annelise.
"Stay close to Annelise and listen to everything she tells you," he said seriously and the two nodded to him. With that, the wizard turned and rode off quickly and Frodo and Sam looked around with paranoia as the sound of birds calling echoed through the forest.
"Come on," Annelise said encouragingly. "Everything's alright, but we've got a long way to go."
Annelise quickly discovered that traveling with two Hobbits was a completely different experience than any other companions she had ever had. She had to constantly remind herself that they were not used to walking such long distances and that their legs were significantly shorter than hers.
'You'd think growing up with dwarves would have taught me that,' she thought to herself with a little chuckle. She quickly sobered up though when she thought of just how long it had been since she'd actually been among any dwarves. 'I supposed Dwalin did write to me a year or so ago, but it's been quite a long time since I've heard from Balin or Ori. I hope they're alright,' she thought, dread growing in her stomach because she knew from the last letter she had received from Ori that orcs had been a growing problem in Moria. She was pulled from her morbid thoughts as they crossed into a corn field when Sam began speaking. She turned to look back and saw that he had stopped at the edge of the field.
"This is it," he said simply and Frodo turned to look at him as well.
"This is what?"
"If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been."
With these words, Annelise's face dropped with sympathy and Frodo walked to his friend's side.
"Come on, Sam," he encouraged and stood patiently as Sam built up the courage to take another step and continue walking.
"You know what Bilbo used to say: 'It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.'
The trio continued traveling until they reached another part of the forest and Annelise called for them to stop for the night. Sam was quick to get a fire going for supper and the two Hobbits quickly pulled out their pipes to relax a bit. Annelise could only shake her head but made no comment about concealing their presence in the forest, as there had been no sign of anything or anyone else in the forest with them. 'Let them be free and innocent while they can,' she thought to herself.
She looked up suddenly when she heard soft voices ringing through the forest and smiled sadly when she realized what it was. Frodo must have realized too, because he sat up from where he was reclined in a tree and got Sam's attention.
"Sam! Wood elves!"
The two quickly took off toward the voices and Annelise followed them quietly. The two Hobbits watched the passing elves from behind a downed log while Annelise crouched next to them. Tears formed in her eyes as she recognised some of the faces among the walking elves.
"They're going to the harbor beyond the White Towers. To the Grey Havens."
"They're leaving Middle Earth."
"Never to return."
"I don't know why…it makes me sad."
Annelise quickly wiped a tear from her eye before placing a hand on Sam's shoulder.
"Me too, Sam. Me too."
'Farewell, my friends. May the Valar guide you on your journey home.'
"Everywhere I lie, there's a dirty great root sticking into my back."
Annelise couldn't help the smile that pulled at her lips at the complaint from Sam. She had been listening to him shuffling on the ground for the last few minutes and knew that he was finding it hard to sleep on the ground.
"Just shut your eyes," Frodo said softly from his place on the ground, 'and imagine you're in your own bed with a soft mattress and a lovely feather pillow."
There was silence for a few moments before Sam spoke again and Annelise had to contain her chuckle.
"It's not working, Mr. Frodo. I'm never going to be able to sleep out here," he said finally before turning and grabbing some more food, much to Annelise's amusement.
"Me neither, Sam."