His Corrupted Mind [Witch-King x OC]

Chapter VIII : A Race to the River

"Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye" -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Trollshaws Forest

The group made their way through the forest with a hurried pace, Strider pulling his gelding along and Inconnu following behind the group. Strider glanced back at everyone and then looked deep into the forest, searching for the riders that most assuredly were following them. A screech and a responding call confirmed both Inconnu and Strider's suspicions. The black-haired Hobbit groaned and Strider called out to the rest of the group, "Hurry!"

The caramel-haired Hobbit replied worriedly, "We're six days from Rivendell! He'll never make it!" Inconnu sighed inwardly. True observations, but hold out with hope as it is often the only thing we have left in dire times. A sentiment, it seemed, that Strider shared.

"Hold on Frodo."

Two Days Later

Strider had their small company stop for a rest in a clearing, surrounded by towering stone trolls. Inconnu looked at them with interest, as though having fought such creatures farther north in the Misty Mountains. Frodo, as now she knew his name, was more pale than before and gasping for breath. His eyes seemed to be covered in a milky film, and they looked to be staring at something yet nothing at all. The caramel-haired Hobbit tried to get Frodo to talk.

"Look Frodo, its Mr. Bilbo's trolls... Mr. Bilbo?" The Hobbit put the back of his hand to Frodo's forehead, soon pulling it back and looking to Strider. "He's going cold!"

Strider took another sweeping gaze of the forest, closely followed but the light of his torch, before coming to Frodo's side. One of the Hobbits with more angular features asked with worry lacing every word, "Is he going to die?"

"He's passing into the Shadow World. He'll soon become a wraith like them." Strider did a better job of hiding his worry, but his tone turned hard when he addressed Inconnu, who remained on Sverundr as to not risk making her wound worse, turning his head slightly to better look at her. "How were you able to enter the Shadow World when you are not a wraith and possess no such ring of power?"

The three Hobbits also stared at her, but Inconnu asked calmly, "What do you mean?"

"You don't know? When we first caught sight of the Ringwraiths inside Weathertop I saw you vanish for mere moments only to return when Frodo was stabbed." Inconnu thought on this carefully.

"I have only experienced such a thing once before, but did not know how others saw it. This is something very recent for me and I do not fully understand it. I can assure everyone here though," Inconnu looked into the eyes of the ranger and the Hobbits as she continued with, "I am on your side in this fight."

Strider nodded. "I won't doubt your word Huntress, not with a life at stake-" A piercing screech cut through the night air, and Inconnu stated, "They're closing in on us. We can't stay for much longer."

Strider turned his head to the caramel-haired Hobbit at Frodo's side. "Sam, do you know the Athelas plant?" The Hobbit looked at him in confusion. "Athelas."

Strider sighed faintly. "Kingsfoil."

Sam then eagerly nodded as he replied, "Kingsfoil, aye, it's a weed."

"It may help with the poisoning. Hurry!"

Without further encouragement, the Hobbit ran into the forest with Strider close behind. Inconnu took in a deep breath at that moment, and looked to find that the remaining two Hobbits were still staring at her. The one who had asked if Frodo was going to die then asked her, "Who are you?" Inconnu chuckled softly to herself.