"Look at them Merry! They're amazing!" Pippin pointed at the mountains looming in the distance, Merry chuckled as he ruffled the younger hobbit's hair. "They are something, it's a shame that we won't be able to get any closer," Merry said taking Pippin's hand and leading him forward. According to Aragorn, they would only travel a few miles along the Misty Mountains, and if they should encounter any dangers they could head into the mountains for safety.

Sounds like a good plan to me, is what Merry had said in response to the idea. Aragorn was talking with Boromir at the front of the group so Pippin had come to walk alongside his cousin. Frodo and Sam walked in silence in front if them while Legolas and Gimli took up the back. Merry had been keeping a close eye on Frodo since leaving Rivendell, nothing seemed out of the ordinary, save him being more quiet than usual.

It must be the Ring, Merry's eyes softened, I wish there was something I could do to help him. He would have offered to carry the Ring for Frodo, if Elrond hadn't made it perfectly clear that no one other than the ring bearer was to carry it. A prickle of unease crept into Merry's mind as he considered the possibility of something happening to Frodo, something that would prevent him from being able to carry the Ring.

What if he was killed? Merry nearly slapped himself. Nothing was going to happen to Frodo, he would be fine, they would all be fine. Yet even as he tried to assure himself of this, a small voice at the back of Merry's mind asked mockingly, Will they?

Merry stiffened at the sound of the voice, he looked around for the source of the voice, finding nothing but Pippin, Gimli, and Legolas giving him odd looks. "You alright Merry?" Pippin put a hand on his shoulder and studied his cousin worriedly. Merry managed a smile. "I'm fine Pip, just got lost in my thoughts is all." Instead of accepting his answer and moving on as he'd expected him to do, Pippin lowered his voice and asked, "Is it hurting you?"

"What is?" Though he could already guess what Pippin was talking about, he didn't want to burden his cousin with his problems, so he played dumb. "You know, your wound." Pippin walked alongside him, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that no one had overheard. "Oh Pippin, do you honestly think that it's bothering me?" Merry didn't bother to keep his voice quiet. Everyone knew that he had been wounded by the Nazgul's blade, and if he wanted to keep Pippin oblivious to how it was truly affecting him, he needed to make it seem like he didn't care whether or not the others heard him talking about it.

When he checked Pippin's expression, the youngest hobbit seemed confused with Merry's response, but at the same time relieved that his suspicions were proven incorrect. "Oh, well, alright then Merry. But if it ever starts to bother you please say something. There's no need for you to suffer if there's folk around who can help you."

Merry smiled again and patted Pippin on the back. "I will Pippin, don't worry." Pippin beamed, satisfied, then went on to whistle a tune that Merry had heard many times back at the Shire. He's so innocent, Merry's smile faded as he watched his cousin. He still didn't fully understand what they were all truly up against, albeit his eyes had caught a glimpse of what kind of evil was in the world, they had yet to experience it firsthand. Unconsciously Merry rubbed his arm where the wound from the Morgul blade was. It did hurt, but not as much as it did a few days ago. Perhaps the pain would vanish altogether someday.

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"Is everything alright Mr. Frodo?" Sam's voice snapped Frodo out of his thoughts, he'd had a lot of those of lately. "Sorry Sam, I was just thinking." Frodo returned to his task of refilling the water skins. "What were you thinking about?" Sam asked placing a filled water skin inside of a bag and grabbing an empty one. Frodo shook his head. "It is nothing." Sam still didn't seem convinced, but he could tell from Frodo's tone that he didn't want to talk about it so he didn't push him for answers.

The others were setting up camp not too far from where Frodo and Sam were collecting water. Aragorn hadn't wanted them to go alone but Frodo insisted that they would be fine. There had been no sign of danger for the past few weeks, and if there had been Legolas would have warned them. But something seemed off with the elf, Frodo noticed, and he was certain by now that the others had noticed too.

Aragorn had caught the elf nodding off on more than one occasion as they'd traveled throughout the day, and when the Ranger had accused him of not getting any sleep Legolas quickly denied it. Frodo sighed and lifted his water skin from the stream. After discovering Legolas' secret, he had a hard time believing a thing the elf said. What Frodo wanted to know was how long he'd been keeping the charade up, and whether or not he should tell Aragorn about it.

Did the Ranger know and was helping him keep it a secret? Did he suspect something? Or was he just as oblivious as the others? I guess I'll never know unless I ask him above about it. Frodo then wondered, was it any of his business? Perhaps I should just stay out of it, Frodo thought that this was the best course of action for now; though he made a promise to himself that if Legolas' deceit ended up causing trouble for himself and the others, he would go to Aragorn and tell him what he had discovered.

The two hobbits continued their task in silence. The only sounds that could be heard was the babbling of the stream, and the whistles of birds. Once the water skins were filled, both friends hauled their bags onto their shoulders and quietly made their way back to camp. Upon nearing the camp Frodo could make out the faint voices of their companions, no doubt that they were waiting for Sam to return so that he could begin supper. Yet it wasn't until they were a few feet away from the camp when Frodo noticed that something was amiss.

He stopped walking for a moment, tilting his head to the side, his eyes narrowed while his hand strayed to the hilt of his sword. "What is it Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked coming up beside him, his face creased with worry.
"Do you hear anything Sam?" Frodo watched as Sam tilted his head, mimicking Frodo.
Shaking his head Sam replied, "I don't hear anything Mr. Frodo."

"Exactly," Frodo whispered, "the birds have stopped singing. It's almost as if the entire forest is holding its breath."
Sam's shoulders tensed at Frodo's ominous statement; though now that he listened, he could understand what Frodo meant. The forest had gone silent.
"We should probably get back to the others," Sam gulped. The uncanny silence was making him nervous. Frodo said nothing as they continued on their way, the camp wasn't too far away, any moment now they would come upon their companions.

They went up a small hill and entered the small grove of trees where their friends were waiting. Merry, Pippin, and Gimli were talking beside the fire while Boromir was sharpening his sword. Aragorn was leaning with his back up against a tree, smoking his pipe while lying down on the ground near him was Legolas, who appeared to finally be getting some much needed sleep.

"Aragorn had to drug the elf. Would you believe it?" Gimli gestured towards the sleeping elf as Frodo and Sam entered the camp.
"Drug him? What do you mean?" Sam set the pack he had been carrying beside the rest of the the supplies and looked at Gimli worriedly.
"I only gave him a small dose of a sleeping draught," Aragorn's voice rose over the crackling of the fire, the Ranger shot a look of annoyance in Gimli's direction before once again addressing Sam.
"And I did not drug him as our dwarf so mistakenly put it. I told Legolas that he needed rest so I put some of the sleeping draught into a tea I made. He drank it willingly and has been sleeping soundly since."

After he had spoken Aragorn glanced at the sleeping elf and went back to his pipe. Sam joined the others by the fire, ready to start their meal. Frodo however, stared at Legolas with a frown before approaching Aragorn. As much as Frodo agreed that Legolas needed sleep, he wished that he was awake so that his elven senses could tell him if there was any danger nearby.

Sam seemed to have forgotten the uneasy feeling they had felt in the woods but Frodo was still nervous. It was still far too quiet, save for the voices of his friends, he wondered if Aragorn would be able to set his nerves at ease. Aragorn nodded his head as Frodo approached and lowered his pipe.
"Is everything alright Frodo?"

Frodo quickly glanced over at the fire before turning back to Aragorn.
"Have you noticed how quiet it is? The forest I mean." He kept his voice low to where the others couldn't hear him. Aragorn blinked once before putting his pipe out and kneeling down to Frodo's level.
"I thought that I was the only one who had noticed," Aragorn said quietly, "I believed that itt was only my mind playing tricks on me."

"Why is it so quiet? Are we safe here Aragorn?" Frodo asked, anxiety entering his voice. He did not want to stay in this place, something had set him on edge, and he would not be put at ease until they were far away from this forest. Similar thoughts were going through Aragorn's head as well.
"Frodo, do you want to leave?"

The hobbit nodded.
"Yes, please."
Aragorn did not waste another moment.
"Put out the fire," he ordered. Those gathered around the fire looked over at him in confusion.
"Why? Is there something wrong?" Merry asked rising to his feet, Pippin scrambled to his as well.
"We must leave, now. Merry and Pippin, put out the fire. Sam and Boromir gather the supplies. Gimli get Legolas up, I did not give him too much draught, he should wake easily. Frodo stay by me."

The grim, yet worried tone in Aragorn's voice had put them all on edge, a sense of urgency filled the clearing as the company hurried to complete their tasks and leave as soon as possible. As ordered Frodo stood beside Aragorn, who was honing all of his senses in on the trees around them, one hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Merry had put out the fire and Pippin was throwing sand over the remains. Sam and Boromir had gathered everything and were handing several packs to Merry and Pippin. Gimli was furiously shaking Legolas, trying to stir the elf from his sleep.
"Come on Legolas! Get up! We have to go!"

Legolas rolled onto his side, mumbling something incoherent as his eyes flickered open.
"What?" He muttered groggily. The effects of the draught had left his mind muddled; and he was somewhat annoyed at being awakened.
"Come on lad, we're leaving." Gimli took Legolas by the hand and urged him to stand, grabbing the elf's bow and quiver with  his other hand. The elf swayed for a moment, still not fully awake, and with Gimli's help he managed to stumble over to where Aragorn and Frodo were standing.

"I thought you said that you wanted me to sleep Aragorn," Legolas muttered making his annoyance clear to the Ranger. Aragorn was about to say something when he froze. They were not alone. The others had sensed Aragorn's unease and without a word the four warriors surrounded the hobbits. Boromir and Aragorn drew their swords, Gimli handed Legolas his bow and took out his axe, Legolas took an arrow and readied it in his bow, but the affects of the draught had left his mind clouded and unfocused.

Frodo looked down and drew Sting from its sheath, the blade wasn't glowing.
If it isn't orcs, Frodo kept a tight grip on his sword as he peered through the trees, then what is it?  Suddenly Legolas released his arrow, a sharp clang was heard as the white fletched arrow bounced off another crude, yet still deadly arrow that had been meant for Aragorn's head. Another arrow was shot at them, this time at Boromir who had just barely been able to raise his shield and block it.

By the time Legolas had another arrow out and ready, dozens of men all hooded and armed with bows, emerged from the trees and surrounded the company. The hobbits all pressed closer together, Merry held onto Pippin's hand while Frodo grasped Sting tightly. Aragorn and the others  looked around warily, assessing their current situation.  

Just when Frodo thought that it couldn't get any worse, a voice sounded from the trees, one that Frodo had hoped to never hear again.
"Look what he have hear boys, it's our old friends from Bree." The one-eyed man stepped into the clearing, loosely carrying a sword and smirking.
"Frodo," Sam whispered, his voice trembling in fear.

"I know Sam, don't worry, everything will be fine." Frodo turned his attention back to the one-eyed man, and felt his stomach drop as even more armed men entered the clearing. He shivered when he saw the ropes and whips these new men carried.
"I told you that this wasn't over," the one-eyed man started slowly, "my master wants those hobbits, and he's going to get them."

Frodo watched Aragorn's face, wondering how he was going to respond to this new threat. He saved them from this man before, surely he could do it again, couldn't he? The Ranger's expression remained cold as he stared the one-eyed man down. Aragorn's gaze must have made him uncomfortable because he quickly turned away and faced the archers.
"Another thing is, my master said nothing about keeping those who meddle in his business alive..." he let his voice trail off, leaving them to guess the meaning of his words.

"So here is what we're going to do," the one-eyed man continued, "you four are going to die, and the halflings are coming with us."

Frodo looked up at Aragorn in horror, and was shocked to see that his face remained just as impassive as before. In fact, all four of them didn't seem to be afraid at all. The same could not be said for Frodo, this was exactly what he had been dreading since the Nazgul, his friends were about to be killed because of him!

Aragorn turned to look at Frodo, in a low voice he whispered,
"As soon as you get the chance run, they cannot have you Frodo. Run as fast as you can and don't look back."

I can't just leave you all to die! Frodo wanted to scream, tears of frustration began to form in his eyes when he saw that none of them were even going to try and save themselves. I don't care if I'm the ring bearer! They're lives are worth just as much as mine!

Before anyone could stop him Frodo stepped out of the safety of the others, looking straight at the one-eyed man he lifted his voice to where it could by heard by everyone gathered,
"If we come with you willingly, will you promise not to harm them?"

Murmurs of confusion mingled with amusement filled the clearing in response to Frodo's request. The one-eyed man was the only one who didn't seem amused, or surprised with the hobbit's words.
"Why would I do that when I can just kill them and take you rats now?"

Frodo didn't know what how to argue with that, how could he? The one-eyed man was right after all, he and the other hobbits could hardly put up a fight, and killing Aragorn and the others would be quick and easy. He had absolutely nothing to offer this merciless man. However, something behind Frodo had caught the one-eyed man's eye.

It had irked him to see that the four warriors seemed unfazed by the thought of being killed, yet the moment Frodo had stepped forward with his request, fear had flashed across all four of their faces, and it had given him an idea.

"Very well then." Frodo looked up at the man in confusion as he smiled. "If you and your little friends come without a fuss, I promise that no harm will come to the rest of your companions."

Fearful that he would change his mind Frodo accepted his offer without a second thought.
"We will go with you, just don't hurt them, please."

The one-eyed man ignored his last statement and addressed his men, "Take their weapons and bind them! If they struggle use the whips or shoot them, just not where it would be fatal."

Frodo was about to protest when he was grabbed by the one-eyed man and thrust into the waiting arms of his men. His sword was taken and his hands were roughly tied behind his back. The rope bit into his skin and as the men searched him for other weapons he prayed that the Ring wouldn't be discovered.

Once the men finished their work they shoved Frodo over to the other hobbits, all three were bound just as Frodo was. The hobbits watched helplessly as their friends were roughly handled by the men, they hadn't bothered to be gentle with the hobbits, but they were certainly going out of their way to make the others as miserable as possible.

Their weapons had been yanked from their hands, and after being searched a small pile of daggers and knives was made on the ground. All four remained silent though, hardly making a sound. Once their hands had been tied securely behind their backs they were forced to their knees. Confused, Frodo watched nervously as the one-eyed man walked up to them, smiling in contempt at his prisoners.

"Interesting," he said letting his gaze sweep over them, letting it linger on Legolas and Gimli. "I assumed that one of you was a dwarf, but I never could have expected one of you to be an elf."

The one-eyed man looked at Gimli in disgust.
"How can anyone even stand to be in your company? You make an orc look seem pleasant."

"You're not exactly nice to look at yourself," Gimli replied, "in fact, you could fit in with the orcs if you ever wanted to consider joining them, that is if your face didn't frighten them off first."

The one-eyed man's only response was a chuckle, though the dwarf's words had irked him. Moving away from Gimli he approached Legolas, who stared at him with sharp, unblinking eyes, the affects of the draught long gone.

"I've never seen an elf up close before," the man grabbed Legolas' face and forced his head up. The elf's eyes shot daggers at the man as he turned his face to the right, inspecting him as one would an animal. Turning to his men he added, "I almost thought this one was a lass before I saw him up close. Tell me elf, does your kind have trouble telling their men apart from their women?"

His words were met with mocking laughter and jeers towards the elf who kept his gaze calm and breathing steady. They were just trying to get a rise out of him, and they all knew it.

"Must have been the hair that confused me," Legolas bristled as the man fingered one of his braids in his grimy hands, "a little trim would fix that, wouldn't it boys?"

As the men voiced their agreement he reached for the knife that hung around his belt, before he could remove it however, a voice came from behind him.

"I wouldn't do that Dronar." Ayoung man, possibly in his early twenties, appeared beside him and looked down at Legolas warily.
"Why not Thilald?" Dronar asked, annoyed at the interruption.

"I've heard stories about elves, they're dangerous and can put spells on people, we should just kill him now before-"
Thilald was cut off by Dronar's loud laughter.

"You still believe those stories brother? There's nothing danherous about this elf." To prove his point Dronar nodded towards the man standing behind Legolas who raised the whip he was holding and struck the elf on the back.

Legolas' eyes widened and he flinched, gritting his teeth to keep himself from crying out, but other than that he did nothing.
"See? He's harmless," Dronar walked away from Legolas, no longer interested in the elf while Thilald continued to glance at him.

When Dronar came to stand in front of Aragorn and Boromir his demeanour changed drastically. Anger seemed to radiate from the man's body as he glared at the two captives.
"You cost me some of my best men and made me look like a fool." he growled.

Aragorn and Boromir remained silent and impassive, which only added more wood to the fire that was burning inside of Dronar. Without warning he slammed his fist into Boromir's face, at the same time Aragorn lunged forward and two men had to hold him back. The hobbits looked on in horror, save Merry who was nearly trembling in anger. It took all of his will power to hold his tongue and avoid saying anything that would only cause further trouble for their friends.

Boromir shook his head, dazed, but unharmed except for a bruise and a little blood. By now Dronar had moved onto Aragorn, and the look in his eye chilled the Ranger's blood. Dronar leaned down to where his face was only inches away from his, in a quiet voice he whispered, "I have something special planned for you, I can't wait to make you scream."

"Not if your stench kills me first." Aragorn replied calmly. Dronar snarled before moving away from him.

Turning his back to them he raised his voice and ordered his men to get their prisoners moving. As Dronar started towards the hobbits he noticed one of his men inspecting the sword he had taken from the prisoners.

"Whose sword is that?" Dronar demanded, his voice made the man holding the weapon jump.
"I-I got it from the dark haired one."

Dronar yanked the sword from him and studied it himself. It was a fine blade, far better than the sword he carried.
"I'll be taking this," Dronar returned the sword to its sheath and strapped it around his own waste.

Finally he approached the hobbits, he ignored the other three and focused on the one who had approached him earlier. There was something about this halfling that was different from the others, and he was determined to find out what it was.

Before turning away from them he decided to leave them with something to dwell on for the next few weeks, "If you think you saved them you're wrong. Before this journey ends they will all die, one by one and I can assure you their deaths will be slow and painful."

The terror that filled their faces was more than satisfying for Dronar, though he wouldn't be truly satisfied until the four other prisoners were screaming and begging him for mercy, starting with that Ranger.