Chapter Three: To Rivendale!
‘Where is he taking us, Frodo?’ Merry asked Frodo as they watched Strider ahead of them, scouting out the land.
‘Into the Wild.’ Strider answered Merry’s question. Merry looked up to see Strider looking down at them.
‘We are going to need a horse.’ Sam said. ‘There is too much for all of us to carry.’
‘So there is. So there is.’ Strider said looking at the ‘mountain’ of baggage the hobbits seemed to need on their trip to Rivendale. ‘I will see what I can do. For the Nazgul, have scared the horse away. Your horse that you said you got from Tom Bombadil.’
‘Really?’ Pipin cried. ‘I liked my pony.’
‘There is no time to pout. Get together what you can carry and what the pony will. For I think I know of a person who may sell us a horse.’ Strider said as he walked the door.
As Strider said, he found a horse. A dreadfull looking thing.
‘Poor thing.’ Sam said. ‘Poor Bill.’
‘Bill?’ Frodo asked.
‘Bill, our pony. Mr. Frodo.’ Sam said looking at Bill.
They started off that day in to the Wild. They traveled in the day, but stopped at night. They would not be caught dead traveling at night. They came to Weather Top six days after leaving Bree. They walked around to the north side of Weather Top so they had more protection from enemies. They found a small dell, where Strider told Pipin and Sam to stay and make camp, while Merry, Frodo and himself were to go to the top and scope out the area. Strider found a stone with a rune on it.
‘It may mean that Gandalf was here.’ Strider said. ‘They could mean G3. That Gandalf, G, was here three days ago. But it also may be from another Ranger, having nothing to do with us.’
The three of them looked out over the land, looking in the silence. Frodo was thinking of the Shire as he looked west, and saw two small black dots.
‘Strider! What is that?’ Frodo cried.
Get down!’ Strider cried as he pushed Frodo to the ground, Merry followed.
‘What are they?’ Merry asked.
‘I do not know. I fear the worst. Back to Camp.’ Strider said as he slowly crawled to were they entered Weather Top.
Camp was made and ready. Strider told them about Luthien Tinuviel’s sad love story. Afterwards, Sam and Merry walked away from the fire, Frodo watched Strider as he watched the moonlight on Weather Top. Sam and Merry came running back with terror written on their face.
‘What is the matter?’ Strider asked.
‘I don’t know, Mr. Strider sir. I felt scared all of a sudden and I knew I needed to get back.’ Sam said terror in his voice.
‘I saw something.’ Merry said coming up behind Sam. ‘I thought I saw something. There were three shadows that seemed to be moving down the hill moving in this direction.’ Merry said. Strider looked grim.
‘Stay here. Have your backs turned towards the fire.’ Strider said. ‘I will be back.’
The hobbits did as Strider said. They drew their swords they got when the had an adventure at the Barrow Downs. Soon enough, black shadows came to the camp. They slowly made their way to the group of hobbits. Merry and Pipin became terrified and fell to the ground. Sam huddled near Frodo. Frodo felt the urge to put on the Ring. With each step the Nazgul took, Frodo felt the Ring call him more. Soon it was too much for Frodo to handle….he put on the Ring. Sam gasped as he disappeared.
Frodo looked around and saw three white figures standing right in front of him. There stood the Ringwraiths. The Nine Mortal Men….the Nine that Sauron gave the nine rings too. Frodo backed away in fear. They advanced on him. Soon they backed Frodo between a rock and themselves. The leader of the Nine, drew out a blade and aimed it at Frodo’s heart. Frodo moved and the blade pierced his shoulder. At that moment, Strider came leaping into the dell, with a torch of fire. The Nine screamed their evil scream and ran off before Strider could get to close.
‘Frodo?’ Sam cried when he found Frodo lying on the ground, the ring now off.
‘Sam…’Frodo whispered.
‘Strider!’ Sam yelled and Strider came to Sam’s side.
‘He has been wounded by a Morgal Blade. I will be back, keep him near the fire till I get back.’ Strider than left again. He came back after what seemed like hours with a plant in his hand.
‘Warm some water Sam.’ Strider instructed. Soon Strider made a medicated water for Frodo’s wound. They set out the next morning. Frodo on Bill the Pony and the extra baggage separated amongst the hobbits. They traveled for 15 days with the fear of the Nine Dark Riders after them. They heard horse’s hoof beats in the distance and got off the rode. Soon emerged a noble looking elf. Tall, blonde and beautiful. Strider jumped out when he saw the elf, the elf turned and looked up at them even before Strider recognized him. There were a few elvish words spoken and Strider motioned for the hobbits to come down.
‘This is Gorfindel. He is an elf from Rivendale.’ Strider said happily.
‘An elf, Mr. Frodo.’ Sam whispered but Frodo was too weak and hurt to notice. After much argument, Frodo was placed on Asfaloth, Gorfindel’s horse. They rode for a day when they were over taken by the Nine Dark Riders, There Gorfindil cried out to Asfaloth to ride over the Ford of Bruinen.
‘Noro Lim Asfaloth! Noro Lim!’ Gorfindel’s cry was heard. Asfaloth rode hard and fast. He being an elvish horse, he out ran the Dark Rider’s horses. The company of Elf, Man and hobbits ran after them perusing Dark Riders. When they reached the Ford, Frodo was across and the flood that was summoned by Lord Elrond was coming. Gorfindel and Strider made torchs of flames to scare the Nine into the water and swept away. They rushed over to Frodo on the oppisite bank, who had almost fallen off Asfaloth.
‘He needs Lord Elrond now.’ Strider said as Gorfindel mounted Asfaloth and rode to Rivendale. Strider and three worried hobbits followed as fast as they could.
