The Return of the King and Queen

Chapter 2: Who Is She

Maethor and Strider sat across from each other in silence with their swords at their sides as they looked out the window, waiting while the hobbits slept silently.

"I know Maethor is not your real name." Strider broke the silence. Maethor turned to Strider and replied "Nor is Strider yous but we both do it to keep our true identities safe"

Strider was going to ask what her reason was for hiding but was cut off by the screeches of the ringwraiths approaching from across the street. Maethor and Strider whipped their heads and attention back to the window while the hobbits jolted up awake from their slumber.

"What are they?" asked Frodo after a second.

"They were once men, great kings of men." Maethor answered never taking her eyes off the windows.

"Strider continued the story. "Then Sauron the deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without questioning. One by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will."

"They are the Nazgul, ringwraiths, neither living or dead" Maethor clarified as she watched the wraiths ride out of Bree.

"At all times they feel the presence of the ring, drawn to the power on the one. They will never stop hunting you." Strider told them.

"Get some sleep. We have a long journey ahead." Maethor told them once the demons were gone. The four hobbits obeyed and were asleep in minutes, the two rangers were soon to follow once they knew they were safe and Maethor could no longer fell the evil lurking in the woods.

Early the next morning Strider readied the hobbits while Maethor scouted on horseback the outskirts to reassure the safety of the Ring by leaving Bree.

Once she gave the all-clear, Strider led them on.

"Where are you taking us?" Frodo questioned. "Into the wild." replied Strider.

Maethor chuckled inwardly at the look of discontentment on Frodo's face from Strider's answer.

Strider and Maethor walked together ahead of hobbits, no words were shared for a while between anyone until Merry broke the silence by questioning Frodo. "How do we know this Strider and Maethor are friends of Gandalf?"

"I think if the enemy were to send to servants they would have at least been sent together and I think they would look fairer...and feel fouler." answered Frodo.

"Well, they're both foul enough." Merry replied. Both rangers looked back a little at their words but said nothing.

"We have no choice but to trust them." Frodo said. Merry let out a large breath in discomfort with the idea.

"But where are they leading us?" Sam whispered.

"To Rivendell, Master Gamgee." Strider spoke up, letting the four halflings behind them know that their conversation had been heard.

"To the house of Elrond." Maethor informed them.

"You hear that Rivendell we're going to see the elves." Sam exclaimed. Maethor smiled at Sam's excitement.

"And this is where I leave you." Maethor said and mounted her horse.

"Where are you going?" asked Pippin.

"I'm going to make sure the wraiths stay off our tracks and if they don't I'll lead them away." Maethor explained.

"So you get to ride around while we have to walk?" Merry complained.

"Would you rather my job and hunt down nine merciless immortal Nazgul?" Maethor challenged.

"Well, do be careful, they are quite nasty." Pippin answered.