III
~Dark Shadows~


September 23, 3018
It is just before dawn and I feel a warning in my heart and a warning in my mind. I do not know what is about to happen, though I do feel that it is not safe for Frodo to be wandering around at night. I will have to keep a close eye on him tonight for he and Samwise are invited to Rosie's party. I do not feel safe in the Shire at this moment though I am sure there is nothing here...but I feel something drawing near with every moment.
I had been with one of the Rangers just a moment ago and I told him what I felt. He assured me that he would warn the other Rangers and they would stay very alert. As I was talking with the Ranger I felt as though we were being watched, though I could not see nor hear anything besides the hobbits back in Hobbiton.
Frodo is about to leave; I feel I must have everything packed and ready in case something does indeed happen. I wish Gandalf were here for I do not know what to do if something I know nothing about happens.

Lothaelin folded the parchment and carefully tucked them away into her bag and fastened it onto the lowest branch of the tree. She jumped down from the tree and followed Sam and Frodo from far behind with her hood pulled over her head, remaining in the shadows so that she would not be seen. As nightfall arrived she felt as though something bad was indeed happening, she hoped that Frodo and Sam would be out soon for the feeling grew stronger every hour.

As she was lurking about in one of the trees across from the Green Dragon, she heard hooves on the pathway near Bag End.
She turned her head to the direction of Bag End to see a dark horse climbing up the hill with a tall rider on its back. Lothaelin jumped down from the tree and raced up the hill after the horse, she jumped in through the open window in the study and found Gandalf searching for Frodo.

"He is not here Mithrandir, he is at Rosie's with Samwise. I do not feel that it is safe here any longer, but what must we do?" Gandalf did not look at her; his gaze remained on the parchment on the table that fluttered against the cool night breeze.
"Mithrandir? What ails you?" She asked, concern rising in her voice.
"Frodo cannot stay in the Shire, he must go to Bree. I cannot accompany him to Bree though I assume you will gladly make sure he arrives safely." He looked at her in the darkness, with her keen eyesight she knew that he was looking at her and could see his brow furrowing in concern.

"I will make sure Frodo gets to Bree safely. Though why do I have a warning in my mind and in my heart?"
"I do not know the warning in your heart, for I do not know what you feel. But I can tell you that you are right, it is not safe here anymore."
Lothaelin's ears pricked up.
"Mithrandir?" She looked at Gandalf hoping that he would tell her more.
"I will meet you and Frodo in Bree, though you should not allow yourself to be seen by Frodo."
"I will watch over Frodo with my life, Mithrandir." Hear ears pricked up with the sound of footsteps on the steps. She waited until Frodo opened the door before she jumped out the study window and hid herself in the hedges.

As Gandalf spoke to Frodo in the kitchen about the Ring Lothaelin heard more footsteps on the grass behind her. She quietly moved towards the left side of Bag End before turning her head to see who was coming up from behind her. She recognized Samwise Gamgee creeping up to the edge of the study window straining to hear what Gandalf and Frodo were talking about.

Lothaelin turned to look over at the tree where EveningStar was waiting for her, hiding behind the tree just as she heard the Ring whispering. She listened intently to what Gandalf was telling him about Sauron and the Orcs and the Ring, she knew that the Ring possessed great Evil but had not witnessed what it could do besides make someone disappear.

"Shire, Baggins. But that will lead them here!" Frodo offered the Ring to Gandalf. Lothaelin's ears picked up the sound of hooves further down in Hobbiton; fear clouded her mind for a moment.
*Gandalf! Get Frodo out of there now! * Lothaelin hoped that Gandalf would be able to hear her before it was too late. She did not know what to do about Samwise Gamgee, for he was Frodo's best friend but she was not permitted to show herself to any of the hobbits unless necessary.

Lothaelin heard Gandalf draw near to the window; she hid deeper in the hedge as Samwise hoped that no one heard him. Gandalf struck him with his staff and pulled him in through the window. At that moment she sprung up from the hedges and ran towards the tree. She took off her cloak and slung her bag over her shoulder before putting her cloak back on and fastening the green leaf back on. She mounted EveningStar and led him into out of Hobbiton into the East where Gandalf would be leading Frodo by Woody End. There she waited patiently behind some trees until Dawn when Gandalf, Frodo, and Samwise Gamgee finally approached.

"Never put it on! The servants of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Remember, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found." Gandalf advised Frodo and Samwise before he mounted his horse. O gain Gandalf sped off leaving Frodo behind, Gandalf's destination was unclear to Lothaelin, his thoughts she could barely read; all she knew was that she had to watch Frodo and Sam to ensure that they arrived in Bree safely where Gandalf would lead them to Rivendell.

The two hobbits started to continue their way towards Woody End; Lothaelin hopped off EveningStar and led her behind the hobbits on foot. With the speed they were walking she figured that they would arrive near the Old Forest in a few, if not, more days. Poor Sam stopped before they reached the Three Forthing Stone road, Frodo led him on reminding him of a quote that his Uncle Bilbo had always said: "It's a dangerous thing, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you'll be swept off to."

A few days later the two hobbits found themselves wandering around Farmer Maggot's cornfield, the maiden waited below the little cliff of a hill behind the trees and off the path. She could see the tops of the cornstalks moving as Sam was telling Frodo what Gandalf had told him when out popped Merry and Pippin. Sam pulled Pippin off of Frodo and Merry handed Sam an armful of vegetables as Merry, Frodo, and Pippin ran through the cornfield. Lothaelin could see the top of Farmer Maggot's straw hat and his dogs heard barking furiously. Poor Samwise stood there dumbstruck for a moment before dropping the vegetables and running after the other three just as Farmer Maggot drew near.

"I don't know what he's so upset about, it's only a few carrots." Merry called out from behind Frodo.
"And some cabbages. And the three bags of potatoes we lifted last week. And the mushrooms the week before that." Pippin added.

Lothaelin nearly burst out laughing at Pippin's last remark, however she remembered how important it was for her to keep herself hidden from them unless necessary. She elegantly placed her hand over her soft lips as she saw Pippin stop just inches before the little cliff of the hill, Frodo ran into him and Sam pulled them back before Pippin lost his balance- that was until Merry turned his head to check on Farmer Maggot and they all tumbled down the hill. Lothaelin shook her head and raised her left eyebrow; she looked at the four hobbits piled on top of one another, a very comical and rare scene. Pippin's face was just inches away from a pile of manure.

"Oh, that was a close one!" He observed. Beside him, Merry groaned.
"I think I've broken something." He reached behind him and pulled out a broken carrot. Lothaelin could barely restrain her laughter any longer but managed to giggle quietly until she suddenly felt as if she was being watched.
She looked in every direction possible before returning her gaze to the hobbits; they were in plain sight right on the road! She watched Frodo stand and look out at the road in front of him with a bit of concern and confusion on his face; suddenly the road twisted and seemed to grow larger. *Frodo, get off the road! * She thought to herself. Then his eyes grew wide with fear.

"Get off the road, quick!" He yelled to his companions as they were busily picking mushrooms. They all ran towards Lothaelin's hiding spot but she quickly climbed the tree without making a sound, the hobbits passed her spot and jumped over a large uplifted root of a tree. There they hid as the Black Rider came forth. He sniffed around on his black horse not finding what he was seeking, until he smelt something familiar-the Ring!

Lothaelin closed her eyes forcing herself to see what she thought Samwise would be viewing through his own eyes. She saw Frodo holding the ring in his left hand, his other hand bringing it closer until he was about to put it on.
*Don't let Frodo put on the ring, Sam! * Sam looked over at Frodo he slapped Frodo's chest with his right hand and shook his head, Frodo put the ring away, while Pippin threw the bag of mushrooms away and the Black Rider mounted his horse and sped off.

Night came quickly covering the sky with a dark blanket covered with tiny stars; the moon was full but hid behind the dark clouds that swarmed together- a sure sign of rain later on in the night, Lothaelin could feel it in her bones, and smell it in the air. She still hid behind the trees watching, waiting. The hobbits whispered to one another looking for another one of the Black Riders.

Lothaelin saw one of the Black Riders lurking close by one of the trees that the hobbits were by, she knew that this was the moment she dreaded. Lothaelin pulled her hood over her head and covered her face as she emerged from the trees to reveal herself as one of the Black Riders, the moonlight shining right in front of her. She hoped that one of them would see her and tell the others to get down. She waited a few moments before leading her horse down the hill

"…Sam and I must get to Bree." She heard Frodo telling Merry. Merry nodded while looking at Frodo.
"Right." An idea suddenly hit him.
"Bucklebury Ferry, follow me." Merry emerged from his hiding spot and the other followed him before Frodo emerged, a Black Rider suddenly jumped out from behind a tree cutting Frodo off from his path.

Without thinking, Lothaelin led EveningStar back into hiding until she located the other two Wraiths before she emerged in front of them. She kept an eye on Frodo running towards the Ferry with the Black Rider trailing behind nearly close enough to reach out and grab him, the ferry was pulling away from the dock but Frodo did not stop running; he leapt into the air crashing into Pippin and Sam. Two other Wraiths emerged from the darkness and Lothaelin was on of them. She led the Wraiths out of Woody End and on the path that would eventually end and open up to lush green grass, some trees scattered about, and Bree. *

The road to Bree was just a few miles away; slowly EveningStar began to lag behind the other Wraith's powerful horses. The leader of the Black Riders remained in the front with the other two following closely behind. The road to Bree was now coming up to Lothaelin's right, EveningStar silently turned and galloped at full speed towards the town as night began to fall, and it started to rain.

Lothaelin arrived at Bree shortly after the hobbits had settled themselves down at a table. She pulled her hood back so that her face was revealed, EveningStar stood still beneath her as the little window at the top opened up to reveal an elderly man with gray hair holding up a lantern.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"I wish to stay at the Inn, for I have traveled far and am weary. I also would like to speak to Barliman Butterbur for Gandalf the Gray has a message for him." He shut the door and opened up the gate and allowed her and EveningStar to enter. She dismounted EveningStar and led him down the road that curved towards the left, where the stable was located; she left him at the back of the stable but did not tie him up. For she knew that something was going to happen to the horses inside the stable.

"If you hear the Wraiths I want you to run behind the Prancing Pony and wait for me." She whispered into his ear as the rain continued to pour down. She wrapped her cloak around her body as she continued her way into the Prancing Pony to ask Barliman is he had seen a Ranger named Strider around. He pointed him out to her and she thanked him, not taking off her hood she managed to make her way over to the far corner behind the fireplace where Strider had his hood pulled over his face.
She could see him smoking his pipe, he was staring intently at the little ones and he did not see her until she sat down across from him, hidden behind the fireplace from the hobbits' view.
* It's me, Strider. * She sent to him with a nod, he moved backward suddenly as if backing from a great blow. He nodded in surprise and recognition.
"Gandalf sent you then?" He asked almost in a whisper so that only she would hear. She nodded her head slowly, she could not risk taking off her hood in fear that one of the Men would comment to the others that she was an elf.

Suddenly, she heard a whispering that sent a chill throughout her body. It kept repeating Baggins, Baggins. She slowly turned her body so that she could see Frodo and Sam out of the corner of her eye without making it too obvious that she was looking at them. Frodo had the Ring out, he was playing with it in his hands with his eyes closed; sweat started to form beads around his forehead. A soft voice spoke out loud enough for even Strider to hear.

"Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins-Frodo Baggins, over there. He's my second cousin, once removed on his Mother's side." Frodo ran towards Pippin, he clutched the ring in his hand; as he grabbed Pippin with his free hand he tripped over Pippin's feet.
"Steady on!" Pippin cried out watching Frodo fall to the ground, the ring flew out of his hands and up into the air.

In fear of losing the ring Frodo reached out with his right hand hoping to catch the ring, indeed he did, but the ring slipped onto his finger causing him to disappear. Gasps were heard throughout the crowd, the same thing had happened at Bilbo's party!
How peculiar Lothaelin thought to herself, she rose out of her seat and started towards the place that Frodo had disappeared, Strider walked by her side.

Although she could not see Frodo, she knew exactly what he saw. Everything was blurred like it was smeared across; the people were shadows that could scarcely be seen. An eye suddenly appeared to him, it had a catlike pupil, and flames were wreathed around it. Lothaelin felt that icy grip on her chest again; her breath began to come out raggedly. She closed her eyes but saw the Black Riders' horses check and turn around towards Bree…


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