The Fellowship of the Novel Characters: Chapter Seven
I am dead.
Adrift in space…
I LIVE!
Ahem.
Anyways, this is late, I did NOT write it in advance. Sue me (please don’t I’m spending all my money on Christmas presents for my family. You wouldn’t want to see my family looking at you all sad, would you?).
Quick rabbit trail; recently we watched the first two LotR movies with some friends, and they really enjoyed it! One of them is quite obsessed with Legolas, and him and my sister fangirl every time he comes on. Every time Legolas does an ‘impressive’ stunt, he runs across the couch ;P
But here you go. If I’m not lazy this should be getting to you on a Tuesday, so happy Tuesday (unless you’re reading this later). Also, just a little itinerary update, once I finish this series I plan to crank out a couple movie/show reviews.
Disclaimer: My sister ships Stella with Aragorn but there is NO ROMANCE in this fic, other than canon pairings.
Warning: Lord of the Rings is rated PG-13, and while my writing will not be excessively gory, it will reflect the darkness and death that the Fellowship had to face. Also, spoilers.
Summary: Pippin got some ash on his tomatoes. Also, the Ringwraiths are coming.
Table of Contents:
Luke’s barking sliced through the night. “Shut up!” Candace hissed. Luke ignored her, and she snatched him up, clamping her hand around his mouth. We raced up to the upper level of the watchtower. Ruined arches stood imposing in a circle at the edge, frowning out over the landscape. Light clouds of breath issued from my mouth as I panted, drawing my sword.
We pressed our backs together. My fingers were already aching from the tight grasp on my sword. At the last minute, Candace had stuffed Luke into her bag and tied it shut, leaving enough room for him to breathe.
Through the broken arches I could see the approaching form. Five cloaked figures emerged from the night, armored in iron helmets and gloves. I stared into their faces. Or at least, where their faces would’ve been if they’d had any.
Adrenaline drained out of my blood and I began to shake with both chill and fear. “Back you devils!” Sam’s scream broke the eerie stillness as he lunged at one of the creatures before it threw him aside. Merry and Pippin moved forward, standing shoulder to shoulder. The creature hissed, tossing them aside as well. Candace charged, but was likewise thrown to the ground, groaning in pain.
I stood behind Frodo, feeling as if I’d come loose from my body. The beings advanced towards Frodo. He dropped his sword and stumbled backwards, toppling the both of us over. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the ring.
No, commanded my mind. No! But even though I tried, I could not force the words out. I watched as he crawled around me, backing himself into the wall. Sweeping past me, what seemed to be the head wraith drew his dagger. Frodo, cornflower blue eyes wide, pulled on the ring.
Even when he’d disappeared, the wraiths didn’t fall into confusion, or even screech. The boss wraith extended his hand, waiting a beat before hissing and stabbing the air. The weapon stopped halfway through the floor, as if hitting flesh or bone. Was Frodo still there? Could the wraiths see him? A disembodied scream rent the air and Frodo reappeared as Strider swept in. Wielding both a flaming torch and blade, he dispatched the creatures in flames.
I finally seemed to fall back into my body with a jolt and forced myself to get onto my knees and crawl over to Frodo. Sam was already at his side, shaking him. “Mr. Frodo!”
“Sam!” Frodo was gasping and trembling.
“Strider!” called Sam. “Help him, Strider!”
Strider sheathed his sword and walked over. He knelt, first examining Frodo’s wound, then taking the dagger that the wraith had used to stab him. “He’s been stabbed by a Morgul blade.” We watched as the blade disintegrated in his hand and he held only the hilt.
By now everyone was beginning to realize what was happening. I could hear Candace letting out pained groans and Luke barking. Opening the bag, I let Luke out to run next to Candace as I crawled over. “Candace?” I looked her over, helping her sit up. “Where does it hurt?”
“My back.” Candace forced her words through gritted teeth. “Hit it on a rock.”
I moved my hand down her back, ensuring everything was in place. “You’re fine.”
Frodo interrupted our conversation, screaming for Gandalf. “Let’s go,” said Strider, grabbing his things.
“What?” I asked.
“We’re going to Rivendell. Hurry. Frodo needs elvish medicine.”
We didn’t argue. I helped Candace up, grabbing her bag as she scooped up Luke. We descended the stairs of the watchtower, and ventured into the woods.
We’d been walking as fast as we could for hours, but Frodo was wheezing and turning pale, so Strider called a rest. We sat down between three statues of trolls, propping Frodo up. He was sweating so hard that he looked like a moist Swiss cheese. Sam felt his cheek, concern weighing on his features. “He’s goin’ cold!”
“Is he going to die?” asked Pippin as I handed around a few pieces of dried beef for a snack.
“He’s passing into the shadow world,” said Strider. “He’ll soon become a wraith like them.” Frodo gasped as we could hear a distant shriek from a Ringwraith.
“How do we fix it?” asked Candace, rubbing her lower back.
“Uh…” Strider wheeled towards Sam. “Sam, do you know the athelas plant?”
“Athelas?” asked Sam.
“Kingsfoil.”
“Kingsfoil?” Sam thought for an instant. “Ah, it’s a weed.”
“It may help to slow the poisoning.” Strider handed him a torch. “Hurry!” The two of them headed into the woods. I rubbed Frodo’s forehead in an attempt to calm his half-gasps, half-screams.
My eyes darted here and there, my mind conjuring wraiths out of the soft breathing and shadows of the forest.
A crack.
That was definitely a noise.
Not a forest noise
I clumsily drew my sword, hands trembling. “Who’s there?”
A tall, stunning woman stepped out of the forest, light like that of an angel bouncing off of her. I blinked as she walked to Frodo, crouching in front of him. “Frodo…Im Arwen. Telin le thaed. Lasto beth nin. Tolo dan na galad.”
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