Life in Death

2. Weathertop

He looked over at the sleeping girl, or woman as it had turned out, once again. Her babbling about being dead and all of Middle Earth being in a book still didn't make much sense to him. Something about her was striking a nerve with him. She didn't seem that dangerous all together, but if life taught him one thing it was that most of the time there was more to things than met the eye. He didn't trust her. Her story was nine kinds of crazy and didn't make any sense. She could be a spy. Still someone innocent but corrupted by the evil that roamed the lands. Or something entirely different and an even greater danger since he couldn't figure out what she was.

Human she was without a doubt. Her clothes were another riddle. Sure they didn't seem out of place in this part of Middle Earth, still the material was some he never saw before. The fabric woven just too tight and the smell not natural at all. Maybe Lord Elrond would know what to make of this.

As if it hadn't been enough to have four Ringwraith hot on our trail and Gandalf is off to whoever knows where. His thoughts were interrupted by Frodo carefully approaching him. The other Hobbits had already given into sleep shortly after supper.

"Is it alright if I sit with you for a while?" He motioned for the Halfling to take a seat and pushed some of the firewood further into the flames.

"You seemed upset about what she said to you earlier. What was it?" It had bugged Frodo since he watched Strider grab the woman, they had found unconscious, by her neck with an angry face. She had sobbed and seemed a little freaked out.

"I try to figure out what about her story who and where from she is turns out to be actually true. Most of it doesn't make any sense. We will take her with us to Rivendell, maybe Lord Elrond is able to shed some light on it. I would appreciate it if you, Mr. Baggins, and your friends would keep your distance as far as possible. As long as I cannot trust her not to be a danger to you I will not allow her a chance to harm you. Keep the ring out of sight, she cannot know about it as long as we don't know who she really is." The Hobbit looked over at the sleeping woman.

"Do you think she is the enemy? She seems so harmless..." His eyes roamed over her now peaceful face framed by the dark blonde curls.

"Trust me Mr. Baggins, the enemy rarely shows itself in his true form. The worst evil lurks behind the mask of innocence. You should rest, we have a lot of ground to cover before we make it to Rivendell." The Halfling nodded and turned around once more.

"Thank you Strider. We wouldn't have made it out of Bree if it wasn't for you."

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When I woke up I half expected to wake up in my own bed or at least in the hospital. Slowly I opened my eyes and almost sighed in annoyance and despair as in front of me the same grassy and foggy landscape unfolded that I had fallen asleep to. It was still only early dawn, the sun had just started to creep up behind the small grass covered hills.

The quiet clattering of items being moved made me lift my head. Strider was walking around the died down campfire and gathered the cooking items and everything else that could not be left behind. As far as I could see the Hobbits were still fast asleep.

With a light shiver I pushed the slightly damp blanket off of my body and tried to stand up. I looked around and saw a bush a few feet away which was good because I needed to empty my bladder. Before I had taken more than two steps I was harshly yanked back by my arm and collided with Striders' chest.

"And where do you think you are going?" His voice was a low and cautious growl as he eyed me suspicious.

"I need to pee if you don't mind..." I answered, flushing a deep red.