Lady Light (ON HOLD)

Chapter 2 Meeting the group

Third pov

Annora and Sam had met around the time the hobbit had made friends with Frodo. Sam was so genuinely polite and sweet that Annora was surprised.

Bilbo had just laughed and given her a pat on the back begore going to start the next meal.

She'd ended up hanging out with Frodo and Sam a lot during that stay.

"Miss Annora? What are you doing here?"

Other than Sam she could see Frodo, Pippin and Merry and a man dressed like the rangers she'd seen on her way to the Shire.

"I was on my way to visit." She ran a hand through her hair. "What in the world are you lot doing here?"

"We're on our way to Rivendell." Frodo answered. "Maybe it would be best if you come with us, and get your explanation on the way."

"I'm afraid I have to agree with him. We don't have the time to stand around." The ranger said, an apologetic tone in his voice.

Annora nodded. "Alright."

Time skip

Being around 82 meant that she wasn't very surprised by a lot of things, but this was a bit more than she'd expected.

"So let me see if I've understood this, Bilbo left a ring with Frodo before leaving the Shire, a ring that Nazgul wants and that meant you had to leave because there are now creatures wanting to kill you?"

The Ranger, or Strider as he introduced himself as, had taken to walking in front of the group leaving them to talk in peace.

"You got it in one."

"No Baggins ever does things by half it seems." She mumbled.

Frodo just chukled at that.

The sun had started going down while they had explained things to her.

"Will you be traveling with us, my lady?" Strider asked.

"If it's alright with everyone, then yes, I would like to travel with you."

That got several yes! From the four hobbits. She could see the amused look on Striders face. "Very well."

Time skip

They traveled far during the day and stopped when Strider saw a ruined tower in front of them.

"This was the Great Watchtower of Amon Sul." He looked back to them. "We'll rest here tonight."

Getting up in the tower was no issue and the hobbits were eager to take a break. None of them had been this far outside their home before, hobbits normally don't travel at all.

"These are for you." Strider put some smaller swords down, handing them out. "Keep them close."

They looked at their swords, examining them. Annora already had one. Traveling alone wasn't exactly safe in reality.

"I'm going to have a look around. Stay here."

"Can I help?"

Strider nodded. "Follow me."

They went through the ruins looking to see that everything was safe.

Annora spoke. "Thank you, for keeping them safe."

"They're very brave."

She smiled. "They are. You should've met Frodo's uncle Bilbo. He went to fight a dragon when he was just a bit older than Frodo."

Strider chuckled. He'd heard about that. "Sounds like quite the story. How did you meet him."

"I was 22 I think, met him the same year he came home again. And yes, it's quite the story. Especially for a hobbit."

The air between them felt light, much to Annora's happiness.

*******************************************************

Aragorn was at ease as he and the young woman searched the ruins.

Nothing seemed amiss.

Until an icy cold spread in the air and his companion's head whipped to the direction of where they'd left the hobbits.

"Something's wrong."

The two of them started heading back, running when they heard an inhuman shriek.

"Nazgul."

Aragorn went first once they reached the rest, hitting a Nazgul with the torch he'd been carrying. Swinging his sword against another. As far as he could see Annora was also fighting. He put to mind that there was something peculiar in the way she fought.

Frodo let out a scream of pain.

"Strider! Annora! Help him!" Sam called out from his best friends side.

Aragorn picked up the blade on the ground beside the hobbit. "He's been stabbed by a Morgul blade. This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Elvish medicine."

Annora, having looked over the wound, spoke. "I can slow it down a little."

She had a grim expression, Aragorn nodded. "First we need to get away from here." He picked up Frodo.

The rest of them followed.

"I don't doubt that you can help slow it down, miss Annora, but we're six days from Rivendell. Will this really be enough?" Sam asked, obviously worried but not wanting to offend one of his oldest friends.

"It's our only chance Sam. We have to try."

Time skip

Annora moved confidently, gathering different leaves and taking some things the other had never seen from her bag.

She did her best to make it into a kind of paste that she covered the wound it. Frodo let out a pained half scream, half whine.

"He's going cold." Sam dried Frodo's sweaty forhead with a handkerchief.

"Is he going to die?"

Aragorn and Annora shared a look, she just gave a helpless shrug. She'd done what she could.

"He's passing into the shadow world. He'll soon become a wraith like them." Aragorn answered.

A shrill howling echoed in the wind.

"They're close."

Annora ran a hand through her hair. "Strider? Do you think athelas can slow it down further?"

"It might work." He motioned for Sam to come with him.

"Will he be alright?" Pippin asked.

Annora checked on the paste only to notice that it had turn a sickly brown- red-ish color. "I don't know."

It's been a long time since I wrote Aragorn. Is he in character? Or am I writing him out of character?

Vote and comment, it keeps me motivated :)