The Beginning of Darkness [LotR] [COMPLETED]

Sisters Reunited

It was once again nightfall, they had been travelling for two days and Frodo’s condition wasn’t getting any better. He had gone deathly pale, his eyes looked too big in his sunken face and he was freezing cold no matter how many clothes they piled on him. Strider gently placed Frodo down on a soft patch of earth, he gave a little cry when his shoulder bumped a small rock.

“Careful!” cried Sam rushing to his side.

Out of them all Sam had been the most worried about Frodo, every time they stopped to rest he was beside Frodo in a flash, mopping up the sweat from his brow, giving him some water, encouraging him to eat some food. But Frodo was becoming more and more distant, his eyes unseeing staring into the unknown.

Mariliel started a small fire, when the kindling had caught she looked over to where Frodo was laying. He was on his back looking up at the sky that was just starting to be dotted with stars, Sam had taken off his cloak and placed it over Frodo in an attempt to warm him up. The three Hobbits were sitting around him with worry on their faces.

They had asked her what would happen to Frodo if he died, she didn’t have the heart to tell them that he would pass into the Shadow world and become a wraith like the Nazgul. Instead she said that he would just pass away as if he had died of old age.

Frodo couldn’t die now, Mariliel thought, they were nowhere near completing their quest. If he didn’t destroy the Ring then who would? Imagine how angry Gandalf would be with her when he found out she had failed to protect Frodo like she promised to.

Strider appeared from the trees and walked up to Mariliel and followed her line of sight to Frodo,

“We’re still a while away from Rivendell, he’s not going to make it” he commented

Mariliel sighed and stood up, “I could go looking for Athelas, there might be some nearby”

Strider nodded and walked over to the Hobbits and pressed his hand against Frodo’s forehead, worry creased his brow.

Mariliel walked into the trees eyed glued to the ground looking for the plant she was looking for. Athelas wouldn’t heal him completely but it would hopefully keep him alive long enough to get to Rivendell. Spotting something interesting in the undergrowth Mariliel stooped down to inspect the plant closer when she felt the tip of a sword at her throat. There was only one person in Middle-Earth who could successfully sneak up on her.

“Hello sister” she said while slowly standing up,

“Hello to you too” Arwen replied removing the sword from Mariliel’s neck

They stood for a moment gazing at each other until Arwen broke it,

“Father isn’t going to be happy you’re coming back”

Mariliel sighed, “I wasn’t thinking about it. I have a far more important task to complete, I don’t have time to think about Father’s approval of me”