Return to our Destiny.

12. A Knife in the Dark

The following morning, Strider leads the four hobbits and a newly acquired pony away from the village of Bree. "Where are you taking us?" Frodo asks while he follows behind Strider, "Into the wild." the latter answers without looking back, "How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?" Merry questioned coming up behind Frodo. "I think a servant of the Enemy would look fairer and feel fouler." Frodo said theorizing. 

"He's foul enough!" Merry quips bitterly, "We have no choice but to trust him." Frodo insists, "But where is he leading us?" Sam asks as he pulls the pony along after him, "To Rivendell, Master Gamgee. To the House of Elrond." Strider calls having heard everything. "Did you hear that? Rivendell! We're going to see the Elves!" Sam cheers excitedly. The Hobbits pause, pulling cookware and food from their packs. Strider looks back at them.

Strider seeing them do this frowns, "Gentlemen, we do not stop 'till nightfall." Pippin is confused, "What about breakfast?" he asks and Strider is perplexed, "We've already had it." he says hoping that will be the end of it, but he should have known better, "We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?" Pippin says back as everyone repacks, Strider walks away. Merry turns to Pippin as he shrugs on his pack,

"Don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip." Pippin is panicked now, "What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them doesn't he?" Pippin says really hoping for them. "I wouldn't count on it." Merry says and Pippin pouts. From over the bushes, Strider tosses an apple and Merry catches it. He hands it to Pippin and pats him on the shoulder. 

Another apple flies through the air, hitting Pippin in the head. He looks up bewildered. "Pippin!" Merry calls as the hobbit is falling behind because he's looking up for where the apple came from. 

***

The party slowly make their way through increasingly rough country. It becomes darker and the forest gives way to flat marshland. All go up to their knees in the sludgy mire. The conditions are made worse by an army of midges which attack them unmercifully. Merry slaps despairingly at the cloud of pests hovering around him. "What do they eat — when they can't get Hobbit?" Behind him, Pippin stumbles and falls into the mire.

They make camp for the night. Strider manages to kill a deer which he brings back for their rations. The Moon rises as the hobbits fall asleep. Strider keeps watch by the fire. He hums a tune softly. Strider is singing softly to himself, "Tinúviel elvanui, Elleth alfirin ethelhael O hon ring finnil fuinui A renc gelebrin thiliol." (Tinúviel the elven-fair, Immortal maiden elven-wise, About him cast her night-dark hair, And arms like silver glimmering.)

Frodo wakes, hearing Aragorn's song. He lifts himself up and stares at the Ranger. "Who is she? This woman you sing of?" he asks startling Strider. Strider's voice is filled with sadness, "'Tis the Lady of Lúthien. The Elf-maiden who gave her love to Beren, a mortal." he explains, "What happened to her?" asks, Strider looks away, "She died." He sighs. His face bears a hint of tears. He turns back to Frodo. "Get some sleep, Frodo."

***

Saruman is in the Chamber of the Palantír at Isengard. His hand is suspended over the Stone, and a fiery light is in its depths. The eye of Sauron appears within the Palantir. Saruman, eyes closed, appears to be communicating with Sauron by pure thought. "The power of Isengard is at your command, Sauron, Lord of the Earth." Saruman says, "Build me an army worthy of Mordor!" Sauron hisses, 

Saruman is sitting on a chair in one of his chambers, his arms wound about him. He looks haunted. Three puny Orcs file into the room. "What orders from Mordor my Lord? What does the Eye command?" one of the orcs asks as he come into the room. "We have work to do." Huge trees are being felled, their creaks and groans like cries of pain as they are brought crashing down by Orcs.

On the pinnacle of Orthanc, Gandalf, dishevelled and scarred, wakes. He slowly pushes himself up and moves to the edge and peers down at the activity surrounding the tower. "The trees are strong, my Lord. Their roots go deep." the orc reports. "Rip them all down!" Saruman orders.

***

Strider and the Hobbits have left the marshland behind and are now crossing rough rocky country. Strider stops and looks at the ruins atop a tall hill. "This was the great watchtower of Amon Sûl. We shall rest here tonight." Strider says as the reach the tower. The Hobbits, weary from the long travel, fling off their packs and settle down in an overhang near the hill's summit. Strider opens a bundle, revealing four short swords. He hands them to his companions.

"These are for you. Keep them close. I'm going to have a look around. Stay here." he instructs as he slings things back over his shoulder. It's some time later when Frodo wakes up with a start. Merry, Pippin and Sam are gathered around a fire. "My tomato's burst." Merry says as he's cooking with Pippin and Sam. "Can I have some bacon?" Pippin asks as Merry nods. "Okay. Want some tomatoes Sam?" Merry asks the middle hobbit. 

"What are you doing?!" Frodo snaps as he gets up, "Tomatoes, sausages, nice crispy bacon." Merry states pointing at the cooking food, "We saved some for you, Mister Frodo." Sam says with a proud smile. "Put it out, you fools! Put it out!" he gasps as he stamps on the fire, trying to douse the flames. "Oh, that's nice! Ash on my tomatoes!" Pippin says as the flames are smothered.

Suddenly, a Nazgûl's cry pierces the darkness. The hobbits jump up, startled, and look over the lip of the overhang. The hobbits see five Nazgûl closing in on Amon Sûl. The hobbits unsheathe their small swords. Frodo motions the others to run up the steps, towards the ruins. "Go!" Frodo snaps. The dark night surrounds them as they climb to the top. The hobbits stand in the ring of broken pillars of the old ruin, eyes darting about; shadows rise out of the dark.

The Nazgûl surround them, pulling out their long swords. Sam, Merry and Pippin prepare to defend Frodo. Sam brandishes his sword, "Back you devils!" Sam clashes swords with the Nazgûl, but is swiftly thrown aside. Merry and Pippin close the gap in front of Frodo, but they too are cast aside. Frodo backs across the hill, dropping his sword with a clatter. He stumbles, falls, and crawls backward until he is backed against a fallen column. 

Frodo brings out the Ring from his pocket. Immediately, the leader of the Wraiths approaches Frodo, drawing a long dagger. Frodo tries to scramble back, but has nowhere to go. He slips on the Ring. The world changes. The Nazgûls' true forms are revealed to him, shining like ghostly kings. The Witch-King reaches out for the Ring, and the Ring responds, lifting Frodo's own hand towards the wraith.

Frodo yanks his hand back. The King stabs him through the left shoulder with his long dagger, pinning him to the ground, then reaches again for the Ring. Frodo cries out in pain. Strider leaps over Frodo and attacks the Nazgûl with both sword and flaming brand. The King withdraws his dagger and drops it. Frodo summons pulls the Ring from his finger. He reappears.

"Ah!" Frodo screams Sam is instantly by his side. "Frodo!". "Oh Sam!" Frodo whimpers, Strider continues to fight the Nazgûl, torch in one hand, sword in another. He sets them afire and drives them away. "Strider! Help him, Strider!" Strider picks up the blade and examines it, "He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade." The blade dissolves. "This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Elvish medicine."

Strider carries Frodo over his shoulder and proceeds to leave Amon Sûl, the other hobbits following closely behind them. Nazgûl cries are still heard in the area. "Hurry!" Strider urges. "We're six days from Rivendell. He'll never make it!" Sam calls as he pulls the pony after them. From over Strider's shoulder Frodo groans Gandalf's name, Strider hearing this urges him with worry filling him. "Hold on, Frodo." "Gandalf!" Frodo cries out.