So the next morning Strider wakes us early and we start to walk again. My shoes start to wear out and my coat and jeans are also not that good anymore. The cold water of the Thames wasn't that good either, I think I have a cold..

I think somewhere at noon, Strider stops before a distant hill. On the top stands the ruin of a house or a castle.. it is rather big. 'This was once the great Watchtower of Amon Sûl. We shall rest here tonight' Strider announces.

A watchtower it is then.

We climb up the hill and the hobbits collapse into a small hollow not that far away from the top. We are covered in dirt and I feel exhausted. I was never a fit girl. I am more in the pub than in the gym and I like it that way. I mean, I have a slim figure and I am rather proud of it. But now my body is failing me. Strider throws four small swords at the hobbits' feet, the swords look more like daggers to me. 'These are for you. Keep them close' He tells them. He turns to me and gives me also a sword, it is smaller than his, but still 'sword' size. 'Here, this one is for you.. Do you know how to handle a sword?' I shake my head in confusion. 'No, where I am from we have guns' Again he looks at me if I am mad.

Stupid outlaw.

'Guns?' Am I going to try to explain a sort of Middle Ages guy what a gun is? Neh.. I shake my head. 'It doesn't matter, but I have never used a sword before' He sighs and I can tell by the look on his face – he is still handsome – that he is annoyed. 'Frodo, Sam?' He asks the two hobbits. They also shake their heads. 'Merry? Pippin?' Again two no's. 'I will show you. But one time' He warns us. Strider shows us a couple technics to handle the sword, how to block your attacker and how to kill you're attacker.

Kill your attacker.

Where the actual F am I?

Am I in a coma or some sort?

'I'm going to have a look around. Stay here' Strider tells us and disappears into the dark of the beginning night. I collapse, sitting next to the boys in the hollow, with my back against the wall. I see that the boys are looking fearful to the swords in their hands. 'Boys, don't worry, we don't have to use them' I try to comfort them, but the fear in their eyes only grows. 'But what if we have to?' Merry whispers, silencing us all. Not wanting to think about a situation like that, exhaustion takes over and my eyes flutter shut.

When I open my eyes again, I hear whispering and a delicious smell fills my nostrils. I sit up, next to me lies, Frodo. His eyes flicker open en and he sits up, sniffing the air. My stomach makes a sound. I chuckle. 'It smells delicious' I say to him. But Frodo' eyes grow wide and stands up. '

'What are you doing?' He cries out while rushing to the boys. I walk after him, still confused about his sudden breakdown. I mean, they were hungry, so what? 'Tomatoes, sausages, and crispy bacon' Merry answers simply sitting next to Sam, who holds the frying pan above the little fire they made. 'We saved some for you, Mr. Frodo and also for you Sara, if you are hungry' Sam adds while looking at the food inside the pan. 'Thankyou!' I thank Sam, while I move towards them. The look of the food makes me even more hungry. It looks really good. 'Put it out, you fools! put it out!' Frodo cries out again and he begins to extinguish the fire by stamping it with his foot. 'Oh, that's nice ... ash on my tomatoes!' Pippin sneers. A sudden shriek gives me goosebumps all over my body. Five dark hooded figures are running up the steep slope in a unnaturally fast way. 'What is that?' I stammer, pointing at the figures who are coming closer within seconds. 'Go!' Frodo yells in fear and we grab our stuff. I clutch the sword firmly in my hand, a unknown fear has taken over my mind. A fear I never knew. I run after the boys, trying to outrun the five dark hooded figures, who's shrieks are unnaturally fearful. We make it to the top, a ring of broken stones, the ruin of the tower Strider spoke off.

And where's he?!

I look around, looking for a way out, but there is none!

'Sara!' Hisses Merry and beckons me. The boys are standing back to back and I join them quickly. I stand between Merry and Frodo. All of us, clutching our swords. 'Who are they?' I stammer. 'Those are the ones who were following us, when we found you' Sam answers in fear. 'Why are they following you?' I ask them but before one of them can answer they appear. Their long swords shining into the moonlight and they move slowly towards us. 'Back, you devils!' Sam screams. He rushes forward with a cry and swings his sword at the figure in the middle, who look taller than the other four. But the hooded figure blocks Sam's blow with his own sword. Sam's little sword shatters and the figure lashes out with his fist, sending Sam flying against one of the stone's. 'Sam!' I yelp. And run forward, I swing my sword but one of the figures blocks it and pushes me away, so I fall on the ground. 'Sara!' Merry yells. I look around and see the two of them lying flat on the ground. They are shaking in fear. I try to stand but the one who pushed me down, holds his sword dangerously at my throat. 'No!' I hear Sam scream and move my head to his voice. I see Frodo on his knees, slipping a golden ring on his finger and... he disappears again!

I try to move away from the figure who keeps me bound to the ground, but the point of his sword sinks a little into my throat. I scream in pain, it feels like fire consumes me. But another cry can be heard. Frodo!

The figures are suddenly fleeing, two of them are on fire. The figure keeping his sword at me, turns away and flees with them. Strider is back! A torch in his hand and a sword in his other. I stand up, looking around for Frodo. Blood flows from the wound the figure made, but I wipe it away, It is just a scratch.

'Frodo!' Sam calls out in horror. I see that Strider runs also to Frodo, who sits on his knees, clutching his shoulder.

O no!

I rush towards them, Merry and Pippin already by his side. I still hear the figures shriek in terror while the flames are consuming them. 'Mr. Frodo!!' Sam yells in panic when Frodo slumps to the ground. I kneel quickly besides Frodo. Luckily I know a little of first aid. I listen to his breathing what is becoming more difficult within seconds. 'He stabbed him!' I cry in agony. Sam looks with tears in his eyes to Strider who kneels next to me. He holds the dagger from the figure in his hands, staring at in in gravely. 'Help him, Strider!' Sam pleads. 'He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade' Strider says grim. The blade starts suddenly to melt and vanished into the air like smoke. Strider throws the hilt down in disgust.

Seriously, where the hell am i? Sword fighting and a sword that disappears in thin air. I am for sure in a coma! 'Do something' Sam pleads while I look at Frodo. He looks already sickening.  'This is beyond my skill to heal' Strider sighs. 'He needs Elvish medicine' He lifts Frodo gently onto his shoulders. 'Take only what you can carry, Sam take Bill' Strider orders.

∞

And so we are jogging from the hill, into the wilds again. Strider is carrying an ailing Frodo on his back. We have flaming torches for protection, for if the figures come back again. I shiver at the thought and my neck is slightly starting to sting a little bit. 'Hurry!' Strider calls out from the front. 'We are six days from Rivendell' Sam yells back and Frodo groans in pain.

He is never going to make that!

'He'll never make it!' I yell back at Strider while Frodo's head is lolling about, he is barely conscious. 'Gandalf ...Gandalf?' He feverishly calls out.
When the night is falling we arrive at an open spot in the forest. Three stone ugly fat figures are standing next to each other. Strider lays Frodo down on the grassy ground and walks away to check our surroundings. I have the sword still in my hand, the weight of it feels weird. I look to the hobbits, still looking like children in my eyes. Sam points to the stone figures. 'Look, Frodo. It's Mr. Bilbo's trolls' He says trying to lift up the mood. He lays his hand on Frodo's forehead when Frodo doesn't replies. 'Mr. Frodo? He's going cold!' He suddenly cries out. 'Is he going to die?' Pippin rushes to his friend. I do the same, falling down on my knees and listen to Frodo's breathing what is getting shallow. I hear footsteps coming our way and Sam looks up. 'He is passing into the Shadow World. He'll soon become a Wraith like them' Strider states, kneeling down next to me. A distant cry can be heard, carried through the wind. 'They're close' Merry nervously says.

Wait, a ringwraith? What is that?! And one stabbed me!

My hand goes up to the cut on my neck. The eschar is already forming, healing the small wound. It is not colored like Frodo, with veins making a way to his heart. I see Strider looking at me, his expression is worried. But he is distracted by Frodo, he gasps in sudden pain. 'Sam, do you know the Athelas plant?' Strider asks Sam, looking at Frodo in horror. 'Athelas?' Sam replies questionably. 'Kingsfoil' Strider replies. Sam looks happily. 'Kingsfoil. Aye. It's a weed'

'It may help to slow the poisoning. Hurry!' Strider stands up, while Sam is already rushing away. 'Stay here!' Strider orders me and the boys before he runs away into the dark forest.

We wait while Frodo is breathing hard, becoming more ill every second. 'Sara! Someone is coming!' Merry hisses and I hear the clopping of a horse. A dark horse walks through the trees towards us, a cloaked figure on top. He leaps of the horse and strides towards us. He puts his hood back so his face is visible. And it is not a he, he is a she.

She does not look like a human, it seems she bathes in a white light. She kneels before Frodo and looks at us, she smiles. 'Frodo, Im Arwen ... Telin let thaed'  (I am Arwen. I have come here to help you) 'Lasto beth nîn. Tolo dan na ngalad' (Hear my voice. Return to the light) She says urgent in a strange language.

She is definitely not speaking French.

Again I hear footsteps approach us and this time it is Strider, he is walks towards the woman. 'Who is she?' Pippin asks in awe. 'Frodo?' The woman says worriedly. 'She's an Elf' Sam replies to Pippin still looking at the women.

An elf? She looks like a normal women to me, but she is dirty though the riding... Or does it look like that?

'He's fading. He's not going to last. We must get him to my father!' She says worriedly to Strider and stands up, and mounts her horse. Strider quickly lifts Frodo in his arms and placing Frodo in front of the woman. 'Where are you taking him?' Pippin cries out in a sudden, seeing Frodo being carried away. Strider ignores his pleas, turning towards the woman. 'I've been looking for you for two days. There are five Wraiths behind you. Where the other four are, I do not know'

'Dartho guin Berian ... rych le ad tolthathon' (Stay with the Hobbits. I will send horses for you) He replies to her in the same odd language she spoke earlier. She grasps the reins of her horse. '

'Hon mabathon. Rochon ellint im' (I am the faster rider. I'll take him) She says insisting. Strider clamps his hand over the woman's. 'Andelu i ven' (The road is too dangerous) He sounds worried. 'Frodo fîr. Ae athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon' (If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him' She says to him and he looks at her, than he nods his head acceptingly. 'What are they saying?' Pippin whispers to the rest of us. I shrug my shoulder. I have really no idea.

The woman reaches for Strider's hand and looks him deep into the eye. 'I do not fear them' She states and looks at us. I smile at her. She smiles encouraging. I can see that Strider has a difficult time to let her go. 'Be iest lîn' (As you wish) He mumbles and release her hand. Arwen tugs on the reins and her hose neighs. 'Arwen, ride hard. Don't look back' Strider orders her. She looks down at him as she supports Frodo with one hand. 'Noro lim, Asfaloth, noro lim!' (Ride fast, Asfaloth, ride fast!) She cries out. 'What are you doing? Those Wraiths are still out there!' Sam shouts at her but the horse springs away, bearing Frodo into the night, hopefully to a safe haven.

Strider turns to us. 'We still have a three day walk to Rivendell to make. Hurry!' He states and the boys quickly grab their stuff and Sam takes Bill his reins and drags him along.

That pony is a strong one.

I hurry after them, I grasp the hilt of the sword tightly in my hand.

∞

We walk for two days straight, but my neck is stinging and the pain grows. On the morning of day three, while the boys are sleeping, Strider walks up to me. 'Sara'

'Yeah?' I say when I look at him, his blue-grey eyes looking at me in worry. 'You have been stabbed? Are you?' He suddenly asks? I notice my hand goes automatically to my neck, friction over the wound. Strider takes my hand and when he does so, I feel sparks all over my body. He looks at me.

Does he feel them to?

'It is just small' I mumble when he moves my dark hair away from my neck. I hear him gasp. 'It is spreading quicker than I thought' Is his answer. What is spreading?

'Sorry, what?'

'You are stabbed by a Morgul blade, and you saw what happened to Frodo. If you are not helped soon enough you end up like Frodo, as a Ringwraith'

'But..' I stammer. He looks at me, his hair messy and in the bright morning sun-light he looked more handsome and more human than I'd ever seen him. 'I guess I'm asking you to trust me' He says, a grin spreading on his face.

Aye, I could do that.