LORD OF THE RINGS: 
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING
Juinor Novelization by Jeff Long
Based off the Movie, but the Book, and so the ideas in this belong to them and not me. I’d also like to thank Simply Scripts for posting the transcript, which helped greatly in this. It can be found at www.simplyscripts.com

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

Proluge: The Prophecy
				
	“The world is changed. I feel it in the water.  I feel it in the earth. I smell it in the air. Much that once was lost, for none now live who remember it. It began with the forging of the Rings of Power. Three were given to the Elves, immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings. Seven were given to the Dwarves, great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls. And nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else desire power.”

	A bunch of Elves were handed rings and they clutched them in their hands. Then the Dwarves were handed theirs, then Men were handed theirs.
	
	“For within these rings was bound the power and the will to rule each race. But they were all of them deceived, for deep in the land of Mordor, the Dark Lord Sauron forged another ring, a master ring, and into this ring he poured all his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate every living thing.”

	Sauron, a giant person, dressed all in metal, with metal gloves with spikes on the knuckles and finger tips, and a giant helmut with long spikes pointing up on it. He took a giant hammer and started putting shape to a red hot peice of metal. The sounds of the banging echoed through out the chamber.

	“One ring to rule them all. One by one, the free peoples of Middle Earth fell to the power of the Ring, but there were some who resisted. A last alliance of men and elves marched against the armies of Mordor, and on the very slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the freedom of Middle_Earth.”

	A huge army that lasted for miles and miles, consiting of Men, Elves, Dwarves, and other beings ran through a barron landscape on foot and horses, with the swords, daggers, axes, sheilds, and other weapons.
	They were met by an army of Orcs, Goblins, Trolls, and Other dark creatures, all with weapons, armor, and sheilds of their own. Both sides let out a war cry and charged at each other. 
	The sounds of battle filled the air. It was a drizzly day, with gray clouds covering the sky. Down on the ground, a huge battle was being fought between the two forces.  Swords clanged and a warrior fell from his horse.
	An Orc ran over on his horse to an Elf and swung his sword sideways, cutting the Elf’s head off. 
	A human had three members from the enemy army at his feet, dead. He was having a sword fight with Troll, winning. He rammed the sword into the Troll, just to turn around and see an Orc at him. He raised his sword to block, and got into a sword fight with the Orc. Again, he won.
	The Human heard a cry and turned to see an Orc on a horse running towards him, swinging a bunch of spiked balls on a chain, in it’s hand. The Orc reached the Human and swung the weapon, crushing his head.
	Similar fights were taking place, some on horses, some on foot. People from both sides going down. Soon, all of Sauron’s amry was dead, or being killed. There were still many of the Alliance left, and they let out a victory cry.
	
	“Victory was near, but the power of the ring could not be undone.”

	The Victory cry was cut short, as they all heard a clunking sound. Soon, Sauron, clad in his full armor, holding a huge Mace, walked towards them, and right up to the front of the line. The Human in the front, looked up, and Sauron looked down, an evil smile carved into his helmet. The human looked at Sauron’s hand and saw the ring on it. He looked back up and fear crept into his heart.
	Suddenly, Sauron swung his Mace back and then forward, causing a couple dozen men to go flying, crashing against the sides of cliffs. He swung again and again, finging dozens of men with each blow.
	
	“It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the king, took up his father's sword.”
	
	Isildur, a Human, looked down at his dead father, and bent down and said a little prayer. He opened his eyes and took his father’s sword. He heard a sound behind him and whipped around, seeing Sauron standing above him.
	Before he could stand, Isildur swung his sword, but Sauron swung his Mace and it broke the sword into peices. He then swung what was left of his sword over the other way and cut off all of Sauron’s fingers, causing the Mace to fall. 
	Sauron let out a cry of defeat and fell to the ground, dead. Soon, he began to crumple into dust and the dust blew away. 
	Isildur crawled over to the fallen fingers and touched them and they crumpled to ash. He grabbed the ring, and saw writing on it, shinning out. Soon the writing fadded and Isildur stood up with the ring.

	“And Sauron, enemy of the free peoples of Middle_Earth, was defeated. The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever, but the hearts of men are easily corrupted. And the ring of power has a will of its own.”

	Riding down a trail through a forest during the day, Isildur rode on a horse with an evil look on him. Behind him, rode 6 of his followers.

	“It betrayed Isildur, to his death.”

	Suddenly, a large group of Goblins jumped out from the forest and attacked Isildur and his men. Isildur rammed his sword into two Goblins, but then another Goblin jumped out of a tree at Isildur.

	Isildur stumbled down a small hill and into a lake, the ring falling down into the bottom of the lake.

	“And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend. Legend became myth. For two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, the ring ensnared another bearer.”

	A hand grabbed a group of rocks at the bottom of the lake and withing his clutch, he grabbed the ring. He let the rocks fall out of his hand as he looked at the ring. The person swam back to the surface. 
	“My Precious, my own.”

	“The ring came to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the tunnels under the Misty Mountains, and there it consumed him.”

	Gollum stood, bent down real low, on a rock, in the middle of an underground lake. “It came to me, my own, my love, my Preciousssss.” 

	“The ring gave to Gollum unnatural long life. For five hundred years it poisoned his mind, and in the gloom of Gollum's cave it waited. Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumor grew of a shadow in the East, whispers of a nameless fear, and the Ring of Power perceived that its time had come. It abandoned Gollum, but then something happened that the Ring did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable. A hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, of the Shire.”

	Bilbo Baggins, a short version of a human, also known as a Hobbit, crawld around in the underground cave, trying to get away from Gollum. As he crawled, his hand came across the golden ring. 
	He picked it up and studied it. “What's this? A Ring!”
	Then, Gollum’s voice rang out from some place else in the gave, angry. “Lost! My Precious is lost!”
	Bilbo slipped the ring on and dissipeared.

	“For the time will soon come when hobbits will shape the fortunes of all.”

Chapter 1: Concerning Hobbits

The Shire, 60 Years Later. 

	In a grassy feild, under a tree, Frodo Baggins sat, reading a book. Suddenly, he heard the galloping of horse hooves and heard a singing in a voice he regonized. A giant smile came across Frodo’s face and he threw his book down and ran to the dirt road and saw a horse, with a cart behind it, and in the cart sat Gandalf.
	“You're late.” Frodo said as Gandalf slowed the horse and cart down.
	“A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, nor is he early.” Gandalf said. “He arrives precisely when he means to.”
	They both tried to keep a straight face, and soon failed, smiles comming on their faces. Frodo jumped into the cart and threw himself into Gandalf’s arms for a hug. “It's wonderful to see you again, Gandalf!” Frodo excliamed.
	“You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday.” Gandalf got the horse to move again, dragging the cart down the dirt road.
	“What's new in the world? Tell me everything!” Frodo said.
	“Haven't we grown curious? Most unnatural for a hobbit. What can I tell you? Life in the wide world goes on, much as it has this past age, full of its own comings and goings, scarcely aware of the existence of hobbits. For which I am very grateful.” They passed a field where tents and a banner were being set up. Gandalf continued. “Ah, the long_expected party. How is the old rascal? I understand this is to be a party of special magnificence.”
	“You know Bilbo. He has the whole place in an uproar. Half the Shire's been invited. He's up to something.”
	“Indeed?” Gandalf asked, smiling.
	Frodo saw the smile and knew that he knew what Bilbo was up to. “All right, keep your secrets. Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of.  Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected.”
	Gandalf waved his hand. “If you're referring to that incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. I only gave your uncle a little nudge out the door.”
	“Whatever you did, you have been officially labeled a disturber of the peace.”
	Gandalf groaned, but soon smiled. A group of Hobbit children playing in the field saw Gandalf and went running towards the cart., chanting, “Gandalf, Gandalf! Fireworks, Gandalf!”
	Gandalf pretended that he wouldn’t do anything, passing by them without saying a word, causing the Hobbit children to let out sounds of dissipointment. Suddenly, he set off a firework that exploded and looked like a butterfly and the children cheered. 
	An old grandfather, who was planting in front of his house, smiled at the children's delight, but he saw his wife looking at the children and Gandalf’s cart angirly, and then saw her husband’s smile, and the husband saw her looking at him, and his smile soon became a frown.

	Back in the cart, Frodo and Gandalf continued their conversation. “Gandalf, I'm glad you're back.” Frodo jumped off the cart as it pulled to a stop. 
	“So am I, dear boy, so am I.” Gandalf blew a puff from his pipe. He had stopped the cart and horse in front of Bag End, and got out and stood up. He walked passed a sign  'No Admittance Except on Party Business', but pushed open the gate anyway and went up to the small door, part of a grassy hill in the ground, and knocked on the door with his staff. 
	A disgruntled voice came from within. “Go Away! We don't want any more well_wishers, visitors, or distant relations!”
	“How about very old friends?” Gandalf asked with a smile.
	“Gandalf?”
	“Bilbo Baggins!”
	The door opened and Bilbo peeked out. Once that he saw that it was indeed Gandalf, he swung the door open all the way. “My dear Gandalf!” 
	“One hundred and eleven years old! Who would believe it? You haven't aged a day!”
	Bilbo walked inside of his home and urged Gandalf to come in. “Come in, come in, welcome, would you like some tea? Or perhaps something stronger. I still have some of the Old Winyards left. 1296, a very good year! Almost as old as I am! My Father put it down. What say we open one?”
	Bilbo took Gandal’s tall hat and staff from Gandalf and laid them on the floor. “Just tea, thank you.” Gandalf said, having to bend down to fit inside. He knocked his head on the chandelier and steadied it, and then turned to go through a doorway, and hit his head on the beam.
	“I was expecting you last week, but you come and go as you please...” Biblo gathered food from the kitchen while Gandalf looked at the maps spread out on Bilbo’s table in the living room. He saw one of The Shire, one of the Misty Mountines, and many others.
	“I can make you some eggs if you like...” Bilbo walked into the room, but Gandalf wasn't there. 
	Suddenly, he walked in behind Bilbo from another room.  “Just tea.”
	Bilbo whipped around. “Yes, right, you don't mind if I do?” Bilbo already had his mouth stuffed with food.
	Gandalf smiled. “Oh, no, not at all.”
	There was a knock on Bilbo’s front door. Bilbo’s eyes went wide and he put his back stright up next to a wall. “I'm not at home!” he whispered to Gandalf. “I need to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's rest. I want to see mountains again, Gandalf, mountains! And then find someplace quiet where I can finish my book. Oh, right, the tea.”
	Bilbo left his spot and went back into the kitchen to make the tea. Gandalf followed. “You mean to go through with your plan, then?” He asked.
	“Yes, everything's in hand. The arrangements have all been made.”
	“Frodo suspects something.”
	Bilbo sighed. “Of course he suspects, he's a Baggins, not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle!”
	“You will tell him, won't you? He's very fond of you, you know.”
	“I know. He'd probably come with me if I asked him to, but I think in his heart Frodo is still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields, little rivers. I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I begin to feel it in my heart. I feel thin, stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday, a very long holiday, and I don't expect I shall return. In fact, I mean not to!”
	Later that evening, Bilbo and Gandalf sat outside Bag_End, on a hill, smoking long pipes. Bilbo blew a smoke_ring, but Gandalf blew a ship, which sailed through the ring. 
	“Gandalf, my old friend, this will be a night to remember!”

	At the party later, after night had come, Gandalf set off fireworks. There were many types: a tree, a fountain that turned into jet planes, birds flying away, and many more.
	People were dancing to Hobbit folk music, and at a large dining table, Frodo sat down next to his friend, Sam. They both watched a girl Hobbit dance around by herself. Frodo saw Sam looking at her.
	“Go on, Sam, ask Rosie for a dance!”
	Sam’s face went red. “I think I'll just have another ale.”
	“Oh, no you don't!” Frodo shoved Sam at Rosie as she danced by and they both started dancing together. Frodo laughed.

	At another place in the field, Bilbo was telling his story to the young Hobbit children. “So there I was, at the mercy of three monstrous trolls, and they were arguing about how to cook us! Whether it be turned on a spit, or if they should sit on us one by one and squash us into jelly! They spent so much time arguing the whithertos and whyfors that the first light of the sun crept up over the tops of the trees and turned them all to stone!”
	The children clapped and stod up to strech. Gandalf set off a butterflies firework, which the children tried to catch, running after the glowing butterflies.
	Gandalf returned to his wagon for more fireworks, and when he left, two Hobbits, Merry and Pippin came out from behind one of the tents amd Pippin jumped up onto the back of the wagon and started digging through the diffrent fireworks. He held up a small firework.
	“Not that one! The big one, the big one!” Merry pointed, jumping up and down.
	Pippin dug and grabbed the largest firework he could find, which was bright red and in the shape of a dragon, and it was huge, almost as tall as they were. 
	They hurried off into a the tent, so they wouldn’t be caught with it. Pippin lit it as Merry held it up. Pippin smiled. “There!”
	Merry’s eyes went wide as he saw the rope burn smaller and smaller. “You're supposed to put it in the ground first!”
	“It is in the ground!” Pippin said.
	“Outside!”
	Suddenly, The firework went off, taking the roof of the tent with it, and leaving Merry and Pippin flat on the ground, covered in soot. 
	The firework went straight up and exploded, becomming a dragon's head. It turned around and sprouted wings, and flew in low over the crowd, causing panic. 
	Frodo saw it coming and tried to warn Bilbo. “Bilbo, watch out for the dragon!”
	Bilbo faced the other way, not seeing the glowing dragon. He took a drink. “Nonsense, there hasn't been a dragon in these parts for a thousand years!”
	Frodo jumped and knocked Bilbo to the ground, the glowing dragon flying just over their heads. It flew and soon dissolved into a spectacular shower of sparks above a lake. 
	Merry and Pippin watched the results and were well pleased, still covered in soot, and their hair was messed up. “That was good!” Pippin smiled, looking on.
	“Let's get another one!”
	But before they could move, Gandalf came up behind and grabbed Merry and Pippin by their ears. “Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took. I might have known.”

	Minutes later, Merry and Pippin were washing all the dirty dishes from the party.

	Back at the main table, everyone was sitting and eating, talking about the party. Several Hobbits went by the table, by carrying an enormous cake with candles. Bilbo stood up and went to the front of the table.
	“Speech! Speech!” Frodo chanted and soon the other Hobbits joined in.
	Bilbo started to speak and they all quieted down to hear. “My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Gubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegirdles and Proudfoots!”
	“Proudfeet!” a drunk Hobbit shouted.
	Bilbo looked at him with disgust and countiued. “Today is my one hundred and eleventh birthday! Alas, eleventy one years is much too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable hobbits! I don't know half of you half as well as I should like and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!” The Hobbits looked at eachother, not knowing what he meant by that. “I have things to do. I've put this off for far too long. I regret to announce this is the end! I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell! Goodbye.”
	Bilbo felt his ring inside his pocket and slipped it on his finger. He suddenly dissipeared and evreyone gasped except fro Gandalf. 

	The gate in front of Bilbo’s home opened and closed by itself, minutes later, and then after that, the door to his house opened and closed.
	Bilbo appeared, taking off the ring, putting it in his pocket. He went over to a bunch of walking sticks and looked over all of them, choosing one. He turned around and saw someone sitting in a chair and jumped, but calmed down when he saw it was Gandalf.
	“I suppose you thought that was terribly clever.” Gandalf said, standing up.
	“Come on, Gandalf! Did you see their faces?” Bilbo smiled.
	“There are a good many magic rings in the world, Bilbo, and none of them should be used lightly!”
	“It was just a bit of fun. Oh, I suppose you're right, as usual.” Bilbo gathered some things from around his house as they talked, to take with him. “You will keep an eye on Frodo, won't you?”
	“Two eyes, as often as I can spare them.”
	“I'm leaving everything to him.”
	“And this ring of yours, is that staying, too?” Gandalf asked.
	“Yes, it's in an envelope, on the mantelpiece.” Gandalf looked on the mantel and Bilbo felt his pocket. “Wait, no, it's here in my pocket. Isn't that odd, now? Yet, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?”
	“I think you should leave the ring behind. Is that so hard?”
	“Well, no, and yes. Now that it comes to it. I don't feel like parting with it! I found it! It came to me!”
	“There's no need to get angry.”
	“And what if I'm angry! It's your fault! It's mine! My own, my preciousss...” Bilbo hissed.
	“Precious? It's been called that before, but not by you.”
	“What business is it of yours what I do with my own things?” Bilbo shouted.
	“I think you've had that ring quite long enough.”
	“You want it for yourself!”
	A shadow drew around Gandalf, maing him look taller and more menacing. The candles and lights through out the house dimmed. “Do not take me for some conjuror of cheap tricks! I am not trying to rob you! I'm trying to help you!”
	Bilbo backed up to a wall, his eyes going wide, as Gandalf walked towards him. The shadow retreated, and Gandalf was the kindly old man again. Bilbo ran to him and hugged him. Gandalf rubbed his head. “All your long years, we have been friends. Trust me now as you once did. Let it go.”
	“You're right. The ring must go to Frodo. It's late, and the road is long. Yes, it is time.” Bilbo gathered his pack and headed out the door. Gandalf stopped him on the doorstep.
	“Bilbo, the ring is still in your pocket.”
	“Oh, yes.” Bilbo took out the ring from his pocket and held it in his palm, and with a great effort, turned his hand until the ring slipped off and dropped on the floor with a clunk. Bilbo walked outside into the night, taking a deep breath.
	“I've thought of an ending for my book. 'And he lived happily ever after, to the end of his days.'”
	“And I'm sure you will, old friend.” Gandalf patted Bilbo on the shoulder.
	“Good bye, Gandalf.” They shoke hands.
	“Goodbye, dear Bilbo.” Bilbo walked away, singing a song. Gandalf whispered, “Until our next meeting.”
	He walked back inside and closed the door. He reached down to pick up the ring, but suddenly he saw a flash, and saw a giant eye made of fire, with a black slit for the pupil, and as he reached back, the flash ended and he was back in Bilbo’s house. He left the ring where it was.

	Before long, Gandalf was sitting in front of the roaring fire in the fire place, thinking about Bilbo’s words, and the ring's history. “It's mine, my own, my precioussss.” he repted quietly, thinking about what Bilbo had said. “Riddles in the dark... Preciousss...”
	“Bilbo!” Frodo shouted as he barged in the house. He saw the ring on the floor and picked it up. He saw Gandalf sitting in front of the fire. “He's gone, hasn't he? He talked about it for so long, I never really believed he would do it.” Gandalf didn’t respond. “Gandalf?”
	Gandalf looked over and saw that Frodo was holding the ring. “Bilbo's Ring. He's gone to stay with the elves. He's left you Bag End, along with all his possessions. The Ring is yours now.” Gandalf stood up and held out an envelope and Frodo slipped the ring inside of it. Gandalf sealed the envolope with red wax.
	He handed the sealed envolope back to Frodo. “Put it somewhere out of sight.” Gandalf suggested, walking towards the door.
	“Where are you going?” Frodo asked.
	“There are things I need to see to. There are questions that need answering.”
	“But you've only just arrived! I don't understand.”
	“Neither do I. Remember, keep the ring secret. Keep it safe.” Gandalf turned and walked out the door.

Chapter 3: The Shadow of the Past

	During the day, Gandalf was riding on a horse to the White city. In the distance, he saw the mountines that belonged to Sauron’s land, Mordor, and fire was shooting up over the mountains. 

	In the midst of these moutines, was a strong-hold, Barad-Dur, as tall as the mountains themself. The giant doors started to open and a voice screamed out, “Shire! Baggins!” 
	Nine black horses with riders dressed all in black cloaks and hoods over their heads rode out of the gate. Even with the riders looking straight, you couldn’t see inside their hoods. 
	They rode out the doors as fast as they could and away from the stronghold.

	Gandalf was in a library in the White City, looking through Manuscripts. He soon found one of Isildur’s Tale. He began reading in a whisper. “The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor, and the finding of the Ring. The Ring of power has come to me. It will become a heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline will be bound to its fate, for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, though I buy it with a great pain. The markings on the band fade, the writing that was once as bright as red flame has all but disappeared, a secret now only fire can tell.”

	As dusk was approching in Hobbitan, a Hobbit was cutting wood and was startled by a Black Rider slowing it’s horse down as it approched. The Hobbit’s dog whinned and retreated back into the house.
	“ Shire. Baggins.” The Black Rider said in a hiss.
	The Hobbit felt like his heart stopped. “No Bagginses here. They're all up in Hobbitton. That way.” he pointed as he stumbled back to his house and also ran inside.
	The Black Rider kicked his horse and it rode onwards, at a faster pace then most.

	Later that night, Frodo was returning home from the bar. He walked in and immeiditly knew something was wrong. The window was open and all the candles were unlit, making his home dark. 
	He felt a hand grab his shoulder and he whipped around. He saw Gandalf standing there.
	“Is it secret? Is it safe?” Gandalf asked, near hysterics.
	Frodo got out the envelope from a locked dresser drawer and passed it to Gandalf, who threw it in the fire. “What are you doing?” Frodo asked, running over to Gandalf and the fire.
	Gandalf pointed and Frodo watched as the envelope burned away, revealing the ring. Gandalf got a pair of tongs and got the ring out of the fire. “Hold out your hand, Frodo.” Frodo hesitated. “It's quite cool.” Gandalf reassured him.
	Frodo held out his hand and Gandalf dropped the ring into his hand. Frodo was surprised when he felt that it was cool.
	“What can you see? Can you see anything?” Gandalf asked, rushing Frodo for an answer.
	Frodo looked down at the ring. “Nothing. There's nothing.” then all of a sudden, lettering became visible in a bright glow like fire. “Wait. There are markings. It's some form of Elvish, but I can't read it.”
	Gandalf looked down at the ring. “There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor, which I shall not utter here.”
	“Mordor?” Frodo asked.
	“In the common tongue, it reads, One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. This is the One Ring, forged by Sauron in the fires of Mount Doom. Isildur took it from the hand of Sauron himself.”
	“Bilbo found it, in Gollum's cave.” Frodo stated.
	“For sixty years, it lay quiet in Bilbo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer. There is evil stirring in Mordor. The Ring has awoken. It's heard its master's call.”
	“But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed.” Frodo looked down when it appeared like the ring whispered Sauron’s name, but quickly looked up.
	Gandalf continued to explain. “No, Frodo. His spirit endured. Sauron's life_force was bound to the Ring, and the Ring survived. Sauron has returned. His orcs have multiplied. His fortress of Barad_Dur is rebuilt in Mordor. He needs only this Ring to cover all the lands in a second darkness. He is seeking it, seeking it, all his thought is bent on it. The Ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. He must never find it.”
	Frodo clucth his hand shut and started looking around, walking fast throughout the room. “All right, we keep it hidden. We put it away and we never speak of it again. Nobody knows its here, do they?” Gandalf remained silent. “Do they, Gandalf?”
	“There was one other who knew that Bilbo had the ring. I looked everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the Enemy found him first. I don't know how long they tortured him, but amid the endless screams and inane babble, they heard two words. ‘Shire. Baggins.’”
	“Shire. Baggins.” Realization dawned on Frodo. “But that would lead them here!”

	There was a Hobbit watchman standing guard near the front of Hobbitan. He heard a horse approching. “Who goes there?” he called out into the night, holding a lantern up.
	Suddenly, a Black Rider rode out of the darkness on it’s horse, holding it’s sword out. It passed by the Hobbit, chopping his head off.
	It continued running without slowing down.

	Frodo held the ring out to Gandalf. “Take it, Gandalf, you must take it!”
	Gandalf held up his hands and backed away. “You cannot offer me this Ring!”
	“I am giving it to you!”
	“Don't tempt me!” Gandalf shouted. “I dare not take this Ring, not even to keep it safe! Understand, I would use this Ring out of a desire to do good, but through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine.”
	“But it cannot stay in the Shire!”
	“No. No, it can't.”
	Frodo suddenly knew what he had to do. “What must I do?”
	“You must go, and go quickly. Get out of the Shire. Make for the village of Bree.”
	“What about you?”
	“I will wait for you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony.”
	“And the Ring will be safe there?”
	“I don't know, Frodo. I don't have any answers. I must see the head of my order. He is both powerful and wise. Trust me, he will know what to do. You must leave the name of Baggins behind you, for that name is not safe outside the Shire. Travel only by day, and stay off the road.”
	“I can cut across country easily enough.” Frodo stated.
	Suddenly, Gandalf stopped and looked at Frodo, who was within minutes packed, cloaked, and ready for a long and dangerous journey. “Dear Frodo. Hobbits are the most amazing creatures. You can learn everything there is to know about their ways in a month, and after a hundred years they can still surprise you!”
	Suddenly, there was a banging noise from outside the open window. “Get down!”
	Frodo dropped to the floor as Gandalf reached out the window with his staff, hitting something. He reached outside and haled in another Hobbit, which Frodo saw was Sam. He stood back up.
	Gandalf dropped Sam to the floor. “Confound it all, Samwise Gamgee, have you been eavesdropping?”
	“I ain't been dropping no eaves, sir, honest, I was just cutting the grass outside the window, if you follow me.”
	“A bit late for trimming the verge.”
	“I heard raised voices.”
	“What did you hear? Speak!”
	Sam shivered. “Nothing important. That is, I heard a good deal about a ring, and a dark lord, and something about the end of the world, but nothing of any importance. Please don't hurt me, sir, don't turn me into anything unnatural.”
	Gandalf and Frodo looked at each other, smiling. “No? Perhaps not.” Gandalf said. “I've thought of a better use for you.”

	Minutes later, Gandalf was leading his horse away, Frodo walking next to him. “Come along, Samwise, keep up!” Gandalf said.
	Sam ran to catch up. The three stopped under the trees, preventing starlight or light from the moon to shine on them. “Be careful, both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service. Birds, beasts. Is it safe?” Frodo knew what Gandalf meant and patted his pocket, feeling the ring. Gandalf nodded his head and gave a final warning. “Never put it on! The servants of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Remember, the Ring is trying to get back to its master. It wants to be found.”
	Gandalf climbed on his horse and rode off at a quick pace. Frodo and Sam started running, cutting across fields, heading towards Bree. Suddenly, Sam stopped on the edge of a field of wheat. 
	“This is it.”
	Frodo stopped and turned back to face Sam. “This is what?”
	“If I take one more step, it will be the farthest from home I've ever been.”
	“Come on, Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say. It's a dangerous thing, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you'll be swept off to.”
	Frodo reached out his hand and Sam took and Frodo pulled Sam towards him. They soon began walking fast.

Chapter 4: The Treason of Isengard

	Gandalf was riding his horse towards Isengard. He reaches it and his master, Saruman, was waiting for him. Gandalf got off his horse. “Saruman.”
	“Gandalf. Smoke rises from the mountain of Doom. The hour grows late, and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my council. For that is why you have come, is it not, my old friend?”

	Minutes later, Gandalf and Saruman were walking up the steps of Isengard. Gandalf had just finished explaining. “You are sure of this?” Saruman asked. 
	“Beyond any doubt.”
	“So the One Ring has been found.” Saruman looked at Gandalf as they walked.
	“All these long years it was in the Shire, right under my nose.”
	“And you had not the wit to see it. Your love of the Halflings' leaf has clearly slowed your mind.”
	“We still have time, time to counter Sauron, if we act quickly.”
	“Time? What time do you think we have?” Suruman asked. They got inside Isengard and walked amoung the halls. “Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed in his fortress he sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak. A great eye, lidless, wreathed in flame.”
	“The Eye of Sauron.”
	“He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon he will have assembled an army large enough to assault Middle_earth.”
	“You know this? How?” Gandalf asked.
	“I have seen it.” They walked into a room, where a stone sphere laid covered by a blanket.
	“A Palantir is a dangerous tool.” Gandalf stated, knowing that Saruman had used it to see the armies.
	Saruman uncovered the stone. “Why? Why should we fear to use it?”
	“They are not all accounted for, the lost seeing stones. You do not know who else may be watching.” As Gandalf re_covered the stone, he saw the burning eye he saw earlier for a second, flash in his mind, the left.
	Saruman continued. “The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving. The Nine have left Minas Mordor.”
	“The Nine?” Gandalf asked. 
	“They crossed the River Isen on midsummer's eve, disguised as riders in black.”
	“They have reached the Shire!” Gandalf peiced it together.
	“They will find the Ring, and kill the one who carries it.” Saruman concluded.
	“Frodo!” Gandalf turned to leave, but the doors slammed shut, one by one, as he tried to leave through each one.
	Saruman’s voice echoed throughout the room. “You did not truly think that a hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can. Against the power of Mordor there can be no victory. We must join him, Gandalf. Join with Sauron. It would be wise, old friend.”
	“Tell me, friend, when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?”
	Saruman pointed his staff at Gandalf and Gandalf flew back and fell to the floor. Gandalf pointed his staff at Saruman and Saruman flew back. Gandalf tried to stand, but Saruman pointed his staff forward with much force and Gandalf flew back t the floor, hitting it so hard, his staff flung from his grasp.
	Saruman pointed his hand at Gandalf’s staff and it flew into his hand. Gandalf tried to stand with the energy he had left, but Saruman pointed both staffs at Gandalf and Gandalf hit the floor again and then flew up into the air and was flung against the door, where he was suspended there.
	“I offered you the choice of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain!” Saruman yelled. He loward the staffs and Gandalf fell to the floor with a thud. Then Saruman raised both staffs to the roof with lots of spped and Gandalf started spinning up into the air, heading for the roof, fast, screaming.

Chapter 5: The Black Rider

	The next day, Sam emerged from a corn patch, alone. “Mister Frodo? Frodo!” he called out. Frodo appeared from the path ahead. Sam let out a sigh of relive. “I thought I'd lost you.”
	“What are you talking about, Sam?” Frodo asked.
	“It's just something Gandalf said. ‘Don't you lose him, Samwise Gamgee.’ And I don't mean to.”
	“We're still in the Shire, Sam, what could possibly happen?” Suddenly, two figures come out of the corn field and hit them, knocking all four of them down. They got and saw that Pippin and Merry had ran into them. 
	“Frodo! Look, Merry, it's Frodo!” Pippin pointed. They all looked at each other. 
	Merry handed Sam an armful of vegetables. “Hold these.”
	“What's the meaning of this?” Frodo asked.
	“You've been into Farmer Maggott's crop!” Sam gasped. Suddenly, they all heard dogs barking, heading their way. They all turned and ran off through the cornfield, droping the stoeln food. 
	“I don't know what he's so upset about, it's only a few carrots.” Merry said as they ran.
	“And some cabbages. And the three bags of potatoes we lifted last week. And the mushrooms the week before that.”
	“Yes, Pippin! My point is, he's obviously overreacting!” they left the cornfield and almost fell over a cliff. They all sighed, but then Sam ran out of the field and ran into them all, knocking all of them over.
	They all landed on the hard ground below and Pippin landed inches away from a pile of crap. “Ooh! That was a close one.”
	“I think I've broken something.” Merry moaned as he tried to sit up. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a broken carrot.
	“Trust a Brandybuck and a Took!” Sam scoffed as they started to stand.
	“Nonsense! That was just a detour! A shortcut!” Merry said.
	“Shortcut to what?” Frodo asked.
	Pippin was still laying down and looked forward and saw mushrooms. “Mushrooms!” they all rushed over and started gathering mushrooms into a bag.
	Frodo ran out to the road to watch incase someone came. He faintly heard horse feet running. “I think we should get off the road.” he whispered.
	He saw a figure dressed in black aspproching fast in the distance. “Get off the road, quick!” Frodo screamed.
	They all ran and hid under the roots of a tree. The Black Rider (Also known as a Ringwraith) slowed his horse to a stop as he approched. 
	The Rider got off the horse amd started sniffing as though he was able to smell that the ring was close. 
	Frodo looked up through a space between the ground and the stump, and saw the Black Rider sniffing around the head of the Rider came close, and Frodo quickly turned his head around..
	A spider crawled out from the ground, and a centipede, and a lot of worms followed behind it, crawling on the Hobbits, who tried their hardest not to run and scream.
	For the first time, the ring tried to impose its will on Frodo, pushing him to put it on so they will be found, but Frodo forgot that the Ringwriaths would be attracted to it and he found himself about to slip the ring on, so he could hide from the Black Rider.
	Sam hit Frodo as Merry threw his pack over to the side to distract the Black Rider. It looked up and swung it’s head to look at the noise that was made and it got on his’s horse as it screeched and rode away, running off into the forest.
	The Hobbits jumped up and started running through the forest, rubbing the bugs off of them. 	
	“What was that?” Pippin asked as they ran.

	As night came, they were still running through the forest. They slowed to a walk and started looking out for the Black Rider. 
	“Anything?” Merry asked.
	“Nothing.” Frodo asnwered, lookng around.
	“That dark rider was looking for something, or someone. Frodo?”
	Suddenly, they saw the Black Rider appear in the distance, not to far away, on his horse.
	“Get down!” Frodo commanded. They all fell to the ground, hidden by the bushes. He started explaining to Pippin and Merry. “I have to leave the Shire. Sam and I have to get to Bree.”
	“Bucklebury ferry. Follow me.” Merry said, standing up. They all follwed him and they started to run. The Horse and Rider was right behind them and it gave chase, running after them.
	As they were running, Frodo got seperated from the others, and saw that the others had fot to the logs tied together with a paddle, which was the ferrry, and saw them start to untie it from the warf.
	“Sam, get the ropes!” Merry ordered. Sam and Pippin untied the oat as Frodo ran out of the forest towards them, the Rider on his horse, just a meter behind him, taking out his sword.
	“Run, Frodo!” merry shouted as the raft began to leave the warf.
	At the last second, right before the Rider swung his sword, Frodo reached the warf and leaped, just making it onto the raft.
	The Black Rider stopped his horse from going over the edge of the warf an into the water and he watched as the raft went across the water.
	“Where is the nearest crossing?” Frodo asked, catching his breath.
	“Brandywine bridge. Twenty miles.” Merry answered. They looked back to see the Zrider turning around and riding towadrs the bridge. Soon, three others, exactly the same, ran out of the forest and follwed the first one, out of sight.

Chapter 6: At The Sign Of The Prancing Pony

	Later that night, it had started raining and the four Hobbits arrived at Bree. They knocked on the wooden gate and a Guard opened up a sliding window and looked down. 
	“What do you want?” he asked.
	“We are headed for the Prancing Pony.” Frodo stated, shivering cold in the rain.
	“Hobbits. Four hobbits! What business brings you to Bree?”
	“We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is our own.”
	“Very well, young sir, didn't mean no offence by it. It's my job to ask questions after nightfall. There's been talk of some strange folk about. Can't be too careful.” he started to open the gate.

	Minutes later, the Hobbits walked into the Prancing Pony and looked around. It was you’re regular image of a bar. Groups of people here and there, some by themselves.
	“Excuse me?” Frodo asked, walking up to the main counter. The Bar tender looked down at the Hobbits.
	“Good evening, little Masters. If you're looking for accommodation, we have some cozy hobbit_sized rooms available, Mr...?
	“Underhill. My name's Underhill. We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Would you tell him we've arrived?” Frodo asked.
	“Gandalf? Oh yes, elderly chap, big grey beard, pointy hat. Haven't seen him in six months.” he trailed off.
	The Hobbits tunred away from the counter. “What do we do now?” Sam whispered.
	“He'll come, Sam. He'll be here.” Frodo reassured him. They all went over and sat at a table. Suddenly, Merry walked over at sat down with a huge glass of beer foaming at the top, overflowing. Merry was laughing.
	“What's that?” Pippin asked, his eyes going wide.
	“This, my friend, is a pint.” Mery answered.
	“It comes in pints? I'm going to get one.” and he got up and left, rushing to the bar.
	“Pippin, you've had a whole half already.” Sam cried after him. Then he nudged Frodo and once Frodo looked at him, Sam pointed to a man in a dark corner, sitting by himself, with a hood over his face, slowly drinking. “That man's done nothing but stare at you since we came in.”
	As the innkeeper walked by, Frodo stopped him. “Excuse me. That man in the corner, who is he?”
	“He's one of them Rangers. Dangerous folk, they are, wandering the wilds. What his right name is I've never heard, but round here he's known as Strider.”
	“Strider.” Frodo repeated in a whisper as the Innkeeper went about his buisness. Suddenly, he heard the name, ‘Baggins’ mentioned. He looked around and saw Pippin at a table with a bunch of men.
	“Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins _ Frodo Baggins, over there.” Frodo saw Pippin point at him and the men looked back with sneers. “He's my second cousin, once removed on his Mother's side.”
	Frodo leaped up and started running towards Pippin. “Pippin!” suddenly, Frodo tripped up in a table leg and fell, his ring shooting up out of his pocket. He lay on the floor and reached up to catch the ring, but instead of catching it, it fell on one of his fingers, making him go invisible.

	The Nine Ringwriaths, who were ridding one way, suddenl pulled to a stop and started screeching and turned and headed back another way, even faster.

	Back in the bar, there was a commotion as to where Frodo had went to. 

	Frodo, invisible, started backing up until he hit a wall, and suddenly an eye of fire appeared and started calling his name, appearing to get closer. Frodo stuggled to get the ring off, but couldn’t. Suddenly, the ring poped off and Frodo became visible. He put the ring in his pocket and saw that evreyone else was facing the other way.
	Suddenly, he felt ruff hands grab him and carry him up a set of stairs. “You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr. Underhill.”
	They reached a room and the hands let him fall to the floor. The person walked in front of Frodo and looked out a window, then looked back. Frodo was that it was Strider.
	“What do you want?” Frodo asked, frightened.
	“A little more caution from you, that is no trinket you carry.” Strider said.
	“I carry nothing.” Frodo lied.
	“Indeed? I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely _ that is a rare gift.”
	“Who are you?”
	“Are you frightened?” Strider asked, ignoring Frodo’s question.
	“Yes.” Frodo gulped.
	“Not nearly frightened enough.” The hood was reveled to show a man underneith. “I know what hunts you.”
	Suddenly, the door to the room bursted open and the other three Hobbits barged in. “If you’ve hurt Mister Frodo, then I’ll....” Sam trailed off as he put his dagger away, seeing Frodo was alright. The other Hobbits then put their daggers away.
	“You have a stout heart, little hobbit, but it will not save you.” Strider stated. “You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They are coming.”

Chapter 7: A Knife In The Dark

	It was still night, but the rain had stopped. The Nine Black Horsemen was getting closer to Bree.

	The Guard heard horse footsteps running and he opened up the sliding window in the wooden door, but beofer he could see anything, the door flew off it’s hinges and fell on him. The Nine Horsemen ran into Bree, running over the door, squishing the guard underneith. They rode towards the inn.

	The door to the Hobbit’s room broke off it’s hinges as Four out of the Nine Horsemen walk in, without their horses. They approched the beds and took out their swords. They each stood beside a diffrent bed and raised their swords above the lumps under the blankets.
	Then they brought their swords down, digging into the lunps, then back up and down. They did that over and over. They then removed the blankets, and saw that the lumps were just pillows and now feathers were flying through the air.
	The four Ringwriaths screeched out for having been tricked.
	In Strider’s room, Frodo woke up, hearing the screeches and saw that Strider was looking out the window. The other Hobbits soon woke up as well.
	“What are they?” Frodo asked.
	“They were once men. Great kings of men, but Sauron the Deceiver gave them nine rings of power, and, blinded by their greed, they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the ring, drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you.”
	
	The next morning they were travling through fields and forests, avoiding the roads. “Where are you taking us?” Frodo asked.
	“Into the wilds.” answered Strider. They coutninued to walk on for a while.
	
	“How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf's?” Sam whispered to Frodo afetr awhile of walking.
	“We have no choice but to trust him.”
	“Where is he taking us?”
	Strider overheard this and answered. “To Rivendell, Master Gamgee, the home of Elrond.”
	Sam got excited. “Did you hear that? Rivendell! We're going to see the elves!”
	Suddenly, the four Hobbits stopped. Strider turned and looked at them “Gentlemen, we do not stop till nightfall.”
	“What about breakfast?” Pippin asked.
	“You have had it.” Strider stated.
	“We've had one, yes, what about second breakfast?”
	Merry nodged Pippin as Strider turned and walked into a forest. “I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.”
	Pippin began to worry. “What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea?  Dinner? Supper? Do you think he knows about them?”
	“I wouldn't count on it.”
	Suddenly, an apple flew out from the forest and Merry caught it. Then another flew out to Pippin, but hit him in the head. Frodo and Sam started laughing.

	In Isengard, Suraman was using his Palantir, rubing his hands over it. Inside the black rock, there were clouds swirling around. “The power of Isengard is at your command, Sauron, Lord of the Earth.”
	“Build me an army worthy of Mordor.” a raspy voice came from the Palantir.

	Later, Saruman sat in his study, reading over scrolls. Suddenly the door opened and a group of Orcs walked in, clad in armor. “What orders from Mordor, my lord? What does the High command?” The leader of the Orcs asked.
	“We have work to do.” Saurman answered.

	That night, Orcs were pulling down the trees around Isengard. Gandalf was looking down at the scene from the top of Isengard, which was really high up. He saw little fires here and there, and he saw giant trees tumnbling to the ground.

	Saurman was observing the scene as well, only down on the ground, next to one of the camp fires. An Orc approched him. “The trees are strong, my lord. Their roots go deep.” The Orc pointed to a few diffrent trees, that many Orcs were having trouble pulling down.
	“Rip them all down.” Saruman ordered.

	Frodo and the others walked acorss a grassy field that had stone platforms here and there. “This was once the great watchtower of Amon  Sul. We will rest here tonight.” Strider said as they walked up the steps to a higher platform.
	Strider unwrapped four swords and gave them to the Hobbits. “These are for you. Keep them close. I'm going to have a look around. Stay here.” and so with that, Strider turned and left.
	Frodo soon fell asleep.

	Frodo woke up and saw that Strider was still not back and that Sam, Merry, and Pippin had lit a fire and were sitting around it. “What are you doing?!” Frodo yelled at them.
	“Sausages, tomatoes, nice crispy bacon!” Merry answered, holding out a stick with a sausage on it to Frodo.
	“We saved some for you!” Sam exlaimed.
	“Put it out, you fools, put it out!” Frodo yelled, running over and running onto the fire to stamp it out.
	Pippin fell back and started complaining. “That's nice, ash on my tomatoes!”

	The Black Riders approched on their horses and slowed to a stop. They saw a flickering light on one of the platforms. They screeched and rode towards it at top speed.

	On the platform, the Hobbits saw the Riders approching, even in the dark. Frodo stood forward and pulled out his sword. “Go!” he ordered his friends. The other Hobbits joined him and stood, back to back, in a circle, not knowing which way the Riders would be comming from.
	Soon, five of the Riders stepped up to the platform on their feet, their horses no where to be seen. Sam pointed his sword out. “Back, you devils!” He charged foward when one of the Riders walked towards him and he charged, but the Rider picked him up with a hand and flung him away with ease.
	Merry and Pippin stepped up in front of Frodo, and the Rider pushed them away as well, heading towards Frodo.
	The other four Riders that were there, started fighting the three Hobbits, swords clanging as the Hobbits backed away as they fought.
	The Rider was almost at Frodo, who dropped his sword as he backed away. He tripped on a rock and fell on his butt as the Rider pointed it’s sword at him. It seemed that the Rider knew he was the one with the ring.
	Frodo tried crawling backwards, but he was already against a wall. The Rider ggot closer and closer. He knew what he had to do, even though he didn’t really like the idea. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out the ring. 
	Without hesitation, Frodo slipped the ring on one of his fingers and he dissipeared from view.
	The Rider still walked towards Frodo, as if it could see him. Frodo saw the Rider as a decaying body, and he looked around and saw the other Riders as decaying bodies. The Rider got closer and reached out for the ring.
	Frodo found his hand going towards the Rider, but quickly pulled away and the Rider screeched. It rammed it’s sword forward and dug it into Frodo’s shoudler, who screamed out in pain.
	Frodo took the ring off and he saw the Riders with their cloaks and hoods on again. Suddenly, Strider jumped down from the other side of the wall and unslung his sword and attacked the Rider, who blocked with it’s sword.
	“Frodo!” Sam cried, running over towards him. 
	“Oh, Sam!” Frodo whispered in a raspy voice.
	The other four Riders rushed over and helped to attack Strider, who blocked, and attacked. He ran and picked up a peice of wood that was still on fire and brought it up, swinging it around, causing the Riders to back up a little.
	Then, when he coutned them quickly in his head, he only found four. He swung around with the torch and caught one trying to sneak up on him and he swung the torch around and caught the Rider on fire, causing it to run off, screaming.
	Strider swung back around just as the other four Riders reached him again. He blocked one attack with his sword and swung the torch a couple times, catching another on fire. That one, ran off screaming as well. The other Riders followed after it, leaving Strider and the Hobbits.
	The Riders jumped off of the platform onto their horses and rode off away from the platform, into the night, the fire on some of them, magicly going out as they got further away.
	“Strider! Help him!” Sam shouted, holding Frodo. Strider and the other two Hobbits walked over to Sam and Frodo, and saw that frodo was breathing heavily.
	Strider reached down and picked up a sword. The blade dissolved into dust and blew away. “He's been stabbed with a Morgul blade.” Strider explained. “This is beyond my skill to heal, he needs elvish medicine.” Strider picked up Frodo and slung him over his shouler, knowing Frodo was in a lot of pain. “Hang on, Frodo.” he whispered.
	They started running as fast as they could. “It's six days to Rivendell! He'll never make it!” Sam exclaimed.
	“Gandalf. Gandalf!” Frodo suddenly shouted as they ran, Pippin loked at frodo and saw that his eyes were slowly turning a green color.

Chapter 8: Flight To The Ford

	Gandalf was still ontop of Isengard, during the night. He was sitting down and looked down below and saw that the area was now barren, no trees around, and there were big holes in the ground where the Orcs mined and forged wepaons and armor.
	Suddenly, a mother fluttered in front of Gandalf and he caught it in his hand.  He started speaking to it in a diffrent language, in a whisper, and after a minute, let it go and it fluttered away.

	Down below, Saruman was overseeing his latest project _ a new type of creature was being bred in the pits of mud in the tunnels dug in the ground. It was an Orc/Goblin hybrid. One woke up and climbed out of the mud and punched the head of the Orc that was tending it and smashed the head in. It roared and Saruman smiled in.

	Strider ran, still carrying Frodo over his shoulder, the other Hobbits close behind. They stopped next to three stone Trolls. Strider went to his knees and unslung Frodo and layed him on the ground as he breathed hard. His eyes were mroe green then they were before.
	“Mr. Frodo?” Sam asked. He felt his face. “He's going cold!”
	“Is he going to die?” Pippin asked.
	Strider answered. “He is passing into the shadow world. Soon he will become a wraith like them.”
	Suddenly, they heard a screech that wasn’t very far away. “They're close!” merry exclaimed.
	“Sam, do you know the Athelas plant?” Strider asked in a hurry.
	“Athelas?” Sam asked.
	“Kingsfoil.”
	“Kingsfoil? Aye, it's a weed.”
	“It may help to slow the poison. Help me look for it.” Strider and Sam both went sepetate ways into a forest as the sun started to come out. Pippin and Merry stayed to look after Frodo.
	Strider went down on his knees and picked a type of plant, finding the Athelas. When he stod up, he felt the cold steel of a sword blade go against his neck from behind a tree. It didn’t cut through his neck, but was tight against it.
	“What's this? A Ranger caught off his guard?” a female voice asked.

	Frodo opened his eyes and saw a person walk out of the forest with Strider and saw her as she is from the shadow world_ a beautiful, glowing elf_maiden in white robes. She approched him and looked down at him.
	“Frodo, I am Arwen. I've come to help you. Hear my voice. Return to the light.” As Arwen talked, Sam and Strider started applying the juice from the plant to Frodo’s wound. A black cloud passed through Frodo’s eyes and when it passed, his eyes appeared a little less green.
	“Who is she?” Frodo asked, shivering and in a whisper, in a raspey voice.
	“She's an Elf!” Sam exclaimed with a smile. He had alrways wanted to see an Elf.
	“He's fading!” Arwen stated. “He's not going to last. We have to get him to my father.” Strider put some more of the plant on Frodo’s wound, but nothing happened this time. Arwen turned to him. “I've been looking for you for two days. There are five wraiths behind you. Where the other four are, I do not know.”
	Strider helped put Frodo up on Arwen’s horse. “Stay with the hobbits. I will send horses for you.” he said to Arwen.
	“No. She objected. “I am the faster rider. I will take him.”
	“The road is too dangerous.” Strider argued.
	“If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him. I do not fear them.” Arwen got on her horse behind Frodo and took the reins.
	Strider looked up into her eyes as she looked down. “Arwen, be careful. Ride. Ride hard and don't look back.”
	“What are you doing? Those wraiths are still out there!” Sam shouted.
	“Ya!” Strider shouted as he hit the horse. It took off running with Arwen guiding it and Frodo as a passenger. It left their view soon after.
	
	Arwen led the horse as it ran as fast as it could, as the sun started to come out, and soon, a bunch of the Black Riders ran out from through out the forest and gave chase to Arwen and Frodo on their horses.
	They started whispereing to Frodo as they chased after them, trying to get Frodo to give in to the poison.
	Arwen shook Frodo as they rode. “No! Frodo, you must not give in!” as they rode, more of the Riders showed up, so all nine of them were chasing after Arwen and Frodo, catching up. They were so close once, that the Rider in the lead reached out and Frodo forced his head to look back and saw a black golved hand reaching for him and was inches from his face.
	Right before the hand grabbed him, Arwen’s horse sped up and left the Riders behind, who still rode fast.
	Soon, Arwen got to a river which went up to the horse’s knees and she stopped the horse part way across.
	The Riders all stopped on the other side, right before they went into the water. “Give up the halfling, She_Elf!” one of the Riders rasped.
	Arwen drew her sword out. “If you want him, come and claim him!”
	The Riders all drew their swords and kicked their horses, starting to walk out into the water, starting to cross. Arwen closed her eyes and started whispering in Elvish and the water level started rising rapidly.
	She opened her eyes and rode her horse all the way across the river to the other side and the Riders were about halfway across, when a giant wave started heading at them, led by White Riders, riding horses, but were made of water.
	The wave hit the Riders and smashed down to meet the rest of the river, rushing rapidly, rushing the Riders away, covering them, and drowning them as they were carried away by the river.
	On the other side of the river, Arwen saw that frodo was starting to breath harder. She got off the horse and layed Frodo on the ground.
	“No, Frodo! Don't give in! Not now!” she yelled at him. “Let what grace is given me be passed to him. Let him be spared. Save him.”
	Frodo loked up, and suddenly went uncouncious.

Chapter 9: Many Meetings

	Frodo woke up, laying in a bed, bright light streamin in from a window. “Where am I?” he asked himself.
	“You are in the House of Elrond, and it is ten in the morning, on October the 24th, if you want to know.” 
  	Frodo looked over and saw Gandalf sitting in a rocking chair next to his bed. “Gandalf?”
	“Yes, I'm here. And you're lucky to be here, too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid, but you have some strength in you, dear hobbit.”
	“What happened? Why didn't you meet us?”
	“I am sorry. I was delayed.” Gandalf started explaining.

FLASHBACK:
	On the top of Isengard, durning the night, Saruman stood before Gandalf. Gandalf was being held over the dge of the roof by magic. “The friendship of Saruman is not lightly cast aside. One ill turn deserves another.” Saruman explained. Gandalf was hoping that Saruman wouldn’t drop him. “It is over. Embrace the power of the Ring or embrace your own destruction.”
	Gandalf spat. “The ring has but one master. Only one may bend it to his will, and he does not share power.” Gandalf heard a caw and he leaped away from the edge and fell off the top of Isengard.
	Suddenly, a Giant bird, The King of Eagles, flew under and catched Gandalf on his back and flew away. 
	“So you have chosen death.” Saruman whispered into the night.

END FLASHBACK.

	Gandalf had stopped explaining and seemed to look off into the distance. “Gandalf, what is it?” Frodo asked, bringin Gandalf back t the present.
	“Nothing.” Gandalf said, waving his hand. 
	Suddenly the door opened and Sam rushed in, follwed closely by Elrond, the King of the Elves. Sam saw that Frodo was sitting up. “Bless you, Frodo, you're awake!”
	“Sam has hardly left your side.” Gandalf said as Frodo turned to see Sam and smiled.
	“We were that worried about you, weren't we, Mr. Gandalf?” Sam said.
	“Thanks to the skills of Master Elrond, you have begun to mend.”
	“Welcome to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins.” Elrond said, shaking Frodo’s hand.

	Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin walked through a garden in Elrond, talking. Suddenly, another Hobbit walked out in front of them.
	“Bilbo!” Frodo shouted, seeing his uncle looking much older.
	“Hello, Frodo, my lad!” Frodo and Bilbo hugged.

	Later, but not much later, Frodo and Bilbo were looking through Bilbo’s book. Frodo read the cover of the book. “‘There and back again, a hobbit's tale, by Bilbo Baggins.’ This is wonderful!”
	Bilbo smiled. “I meant to go back, wander the paths of the Mirkwood, visit Laketown, see the Lonely Mountain again, but age, it seems, has finally caught up with me.” he coughed and laughed.
	Frodo seemed to stare off into space. “I miss the Shire. I spent all my childhood pretending I was somewhere else, off with you on one of your adventures, but my own adventure turned out to be quite different. I'm not like you, Bilbo.”
	Bilbo hugged Frodo. “My dear boy.”

	A few minutes later, Frodo walked over to a balcony and saw Sam packing his bag. “Now what have I forgotten?” Sam asked, looking around.
	“Packed already?” Frodo asked.
	Sam jumped and turned around, seeing Frodo. “Doesn't hurt to be prepared.”
	“I thought you wanted to see the Elves, Sam.”
	“I do.”
	“More than anything.” Frodo smiled.
	“I did, but... we did what we set off to do, didn't we? We got the ring this far, to Rivendell, and seeing as how you're on the mend, I thought we'd be off soon. Off home.”
	“You're right, Sam. We did what Gandalf wanted. The Ring will be safe in Rivendell. I am ready to go home.”

	Gandalf and Elrond were on a ledge, loking down, watching Frodo and Sam. “His strength returns.” Elrond stated.
	“That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it for the rest of his life. A mark from a Ringwaith. A Nazgul.” Gandalf said.
	“Yet to have come so far still bearing the ring, the hobbit has shown remarkable resilience to its evil.”
	“It is a burden he should never have had to bear. We can ask no more of Frodo.”
	Elrond sighed. “Gandalf, the Enemy is moving. Sauron's forces are massing in the East. The Eye is fixed on Rivendell. Now you tell me Saruman has betrayed us. The list of our allies grows thin.”
	“His treachery goes deeper than you know. At Falcraft, Saruman has crossed Orcs with Goblin Men. He is breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army that can move in sunlight, and travel great distances at speed. Saruman is coming for the ring.”
	“This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves. We do not have the strength to stand against Mordor and Isengard both. The ring cannot stay here.”
	Suddenly, from behind the two men, a Human, Boromir, an Elf, Legolas, and a group of Dwarves arrived as Elrond continued talking. “This peril belongs to all Middle_Earth, and they must decide now how to end it. The age of Elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you turn to once we are gone? The dwarves hide in their mountains seeking riches and care not for the troubles of others.”
	Gandalf sighed. “We must place our hope in men.”
	Elrond scoffed. “Men! The race of men is weak, failing. The blood of Numenor is all but spent, its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of men that the Ring survives. I was there, three thousand years ago, when Isildur took the ring. I was there when the strength of men failed.”

FLASHBACK:

	Isildur took the ring from the ashes of Suaron’s fingers. He heard footsteps behind him and whipped around, seeing Elrond. “Follow me!” Elrond urged, wind blowing.

	“I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom, where it was forged, the one place it could be destroyed.”

	Elrond stood right on the edge of the mountain, roaring lava below him. He reached out his hand to Isildur, who held the ring. “Throw it in the fire! Destroy it!”
	Isildur looked down into the lava and back up at Elrond and an evil smile spread across his face. “No.”
	“Isildur!” Isildur turned and walked away, leaving a stunned Elrond behind.
END FLASHBACK.

	Elrond was finishing his story. “It should have ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure. Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. There is no strength left in the world of men. They are scattered, divided, leaderless.”
	“There is one who could unite them. Who could reclaim the throne of Gondor.” Gandalf stated.
	Elrond looked down at the ground. “He turned from that path long ago. He has chosen exile.”

	In a dark building, Strider sat, reading a book. In the building, was paintings on the wall of the first War of the Ring, and in the middle of the room, sat a statue of Isildur, and in front of it was the broken sword, the many peices laying close together, but apart.
	Strider heard footsteps echo in the building and looked up.

	Boromir walked into the building and towards the broken sword and it’s peices. “The shards of Narsil. The blade that cut the ring from Sauron's hand.” Boromir whispered.
	He lifted up the main part of the sword from the hilt and moved his finger over the cut blade and quickly drew his hand away, blood dripping from a new cut. “Still sharp. But no more than a broken hilt.”
	He threw it back onto the table and turned and walked out. As he was walking, the broken sword fell off the table and to the floor, making a clanging sound. He stopped for a second, but continued out of the building.
	Strider walked over to the broken sword and picked it up and placed it back in it’s place on the table.

	Later, Strider and Arwen stood facing each other in a forest park, leaves falling around them. Strider held Arwen’s hands in his own. He almost looked sad.
	“Why do you fear the past?” Arwen asked. “You are Isildur's heir, not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate.”
	Strider sighed. “The same blood flows in my veins, the same weakness.”
	“Your time will come. You will face the same evil, and you will defeat it. The shadow does not yet hold sway. Not over you, not over me. Do you remember the first time we met?”
	“I thought I had strayed into a dream.” Strider said, remembering.
	“Long years have passed since then. You did not have the cares you carry now. Do you remember what I told you?” Arwen asked
	“You said you would bind yourself to me, and forsake the immortal life of your people.”
	“And to that I hold. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of the world alone. I choose a mortal life.” Arwen reached up around her neck and took off a glass flower necklace and put it in Strider’s hand.
	“You cannot give me this.”
	“It is mine to give to whom I will. Like my heart.” Arwen closed Strider’s hand over her necklace and they leaned in and kissed.

Chapter 10: The Council Of Elrond

	Later during the day, there was a council of Men, Elves, and Dwarves, in an outside meeting area with stone chairs and a table. With these people were Elrond, Gandalf, and Frodo.
	Elrond stood in the middle of evreyone, talking. “Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You are summoned here to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle_Earth stands on the brink of destruction. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the ring, Frodo.”
	Frodo slowly stood up and took the golden ring out of his pocket and placed it on the stone table in the middle. He went and sat back down next to Gandalf. Evreyone in the council started muttering amoung themselves. 
	“So it is true.”
	“The Ring of power.”
	“The doom of man.”
	Boromir suddenly stood up and faced the people in the chairs. “It is a gift, a gift to the foes of Mordor. Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor, kept the forces of Mordor at bay. By the blood of my people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him.”
	“You cannot wield it.” Strider said, still sitting down. “None of us can. The ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master.”
	Boromir turned to face Strider. “What would a ranger know of this matter?”
	Legolas, the Elf, stood up and spoke. “He is no mere ranger. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance.”
	“This is Isildur's heir?” Boromir asked.
	“And heir to the throne of Gondor.” Legolas finished.
	“Sit down, Legolas.” Strider/Aragorn said, still sitting.
	Boromir continued as Legolas sat down. “Gondor has no king, Gondor needs no king.”
	“Aragorn is right. We cannot control it.” Gandalf said.
	Elrond spoke up as Boromir sat down, defeated. “We have but one choice. The ring must be destroyed.”
	The ring seemed to whisper, but it soon passed.
	“What are we waiting for?” Gimli, a Dwarf with a long beard asked with anger. He picked up his axe which was at his side and ran over to the table and swung his axe up and down as hard as he could and slammed the sharp edge down on the ring.
	Frodo saw a flash and saw the Eye for a second, then another flash and was back at the council. The ring was untouched and Gimli lay on the ground, sitting up, coughing. He looekd over and saw that is axe was broken in two.
	“The ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess.” Elrond said. “It was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor, and cast back into the fiery chasm from which it came. One of you must do this.”
	There was silance all around. Finnaly, Boromir spoke up. “One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep, and the Great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire, ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. It is folly. Not with ten thousand men could you do this.”
	Legolas looked over at him. “Have you heard nothing that Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!”
	Gimli looked over at the Elf. “And I suppose you think you're the one to do it?”
	“And what if we fail?” Boromir asked. “What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?”
	“I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf! Never trust an elf!” Gimli jumped up, shouting.
	Suddenly, it appeared that the ring started chanting in a forign language. The council started to go into arguing, evreyone standing, Dwarves and Elves yelling at each other, Humans yelling amoung themselves. As the arguing got worse, it looked like the ring was starting to glow, but no one was looking at the ring.
	Frodo was the only one still sitting, besides Gandalf. He stood up. “I will take it.” no one heard him and they countinued to argue. “I will take it!” he shouted.
	Gandalf heard him and it hurt him to know that Frodo must continued the quest. Within minutes, the council quieted down and looked at Frodo. 
	“I will take the ring to Mordor. Though I do not know the way.” Frodo stated.
	Gandalf put a hand on his shoulder. “I will help you bear this burden for as long as it is yours to bear.”
	Aragorn walked over to Frodo. “If by my life or my death I can protect you, I will.” he knelt in front of Frodo. “You have my sword.”
	“And my bow.” Legolas added from his spot.
	“And my axe. “ Gimli chimed in.
	“You carry the fate of us all, little one.” Boromir said, walking over. “But if this is truly the will of the council, Gondor will see it done.”
	Suddenly, Sam ran over to the group fro his hiding spot behind a pillar. “Here! Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me.” He stopped and stood beside Frodo.
	Elrond looked at him. “Indeed, it is hardly possible to separate the two of you.” then he added. “Even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.” he looked angry. Then a smile crossed his face. “Very well.”
	Then Merry and Pippin ran out from bushes nearby and ran next to Frodo, Sam, and the group. “We're going, too! You'd have to send us home tied up in a sack to keep us away.” Merry said.
	Elrond loked around with surprise on his face, loking to see if more Hobbits popped out from anyplace. “Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission.” Pippin said. “Quest. Thing.” he finished.
	“Well, that rules you out, Pip.” Merry whispered.
	Elrond then saw that there were nine people going on the quest. “Nine companions. So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!”
	Evreyone started clapping and Pippin looked around and liked his lips. “Great. Now, where are we going?”

	A few minutes later, Frodo and Bilbo are in Bilbo’s room. Bilbo handed Frodo his old sword, Sting, and a a chain shirt for armor. “My old sword, Sting. Take it, take it!”
	Frodo held onto it. “It's so light!”
	“Yes.” Bilbo explained. “Made by the elves, you know. The blade glows blue when Orcs are close. And it's times like those, dear boy, you have to be extra careful. Here's a pretty thing.” Bilbo held up the chainmail vest. “As light as a feather, and as hard as dragon scales. Let me see you put it on.”
	Frodo started to unbutton his shirt to put the vest on, when Bilbo saw the ring on a chain around Frodo’s neck. “Oh, my old ring. I should very much like to hold it again, one last time.” he said, almst a whisper.
	Frodo knew better and quickly buttoned up his shirt again. Bilbo’s eyes glowed green and his face became distorted for a second as he hissed and lunged at Frodo to get the ring. Frodo backed away and Bilbo almost fell. When he looked back up, he was back to normal, but breathing heavily.
	“I'm sorry I brought this upon you, my boy. I'm sorry you must carry this burden. I'm sorry for everything!”
	Frodo walked towards him and they hugged.

Chapter 11: The Ring Goes South

	The next morning, The Fellowship left Rivendell with a horse to carry supplies, and they wandered past old ruins, over mountains, and through fields.
	“We must hold to this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days.” Gandalf stated. “If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us, and from there our road turns east toward Mordor.”
	They continued to walk, and stopped at a gaint rock with other rocks around it, in a grassy field with thorn bushes here and there.
	Merry and Pippin were practicing sword fighting with Boromir, taking turns. Boromir defended some attacks, and attacked, while the Hobbits defended. “Very good. Again!”
	Gimli and Gandalf sat, watching Boromir and the Hobbits fighting. “If anyone were to ask my opinion, which I note they have not, I would say we're taking the long way around!” Gimli said. “Gandalf, we could go through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome!”
	“No, Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice.” 	Aragorn stood close by, also watching the Hobbits and Boromir. “Move your feet!” he advised Merry and Pippin.
	Boromir accidently stepped on Pippin’s foot as they were practicing and Pippin cried out in pain and started hopping around on one foot, dropping his sword, and holding his other foot with one hand.
	“Sorry!” Boromir apologized. Suddenly Pippin put his foot down and as Boromir walked over to see if he was ok, Pippin swung his foot out and kicked Boromir as hard as he could in the shins, and then tackled him to the ground. Merry soon joined in, helping Pippin.
	The two of them wrestled Bormir on te ground and all three of them started laughing.
	Legolas was staring off in the distance and noticed a black cloud moving towards them with his keen eyes. Sam noticed it to. “What's that?”
	At the question, the others turned to look. “It's nothing, just a wisp of cloud.” Gimli stated.
	“It's moving fast, against the wind.” Boromir pointed out.
	Legolas then knew what it was. “Crebain from Dunland! Hide!” Everyone started gathering up their possessions and they put out the fire and took cover under the rocks. 
	Suddenly, a giant flock of crows flew by, low to the ground, and it lasted for about 2 minutes, hearing the flapping of their wings, until they were long gone. That’s when the people started to get out of hiding.
	Gandalf explained. “Spies for Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We will have to go over the pass of Caradhras.”

	While climbing a snowy mountain, Frodo fell and started to roll down a hill. Aragorn caught him and helped him up, but when Frodo felt his neck, he found the ring was missing! Him and Aragorn looked ahead and saw it in the snow ahead of them. Suddenly, Boromir stepped up to it and lifted it up by the chain and face Frodo and Aragorn, the wind blowing his hair with the snow.
	“Boromir.” Aragorn said.
	Boromir looked at the ring dangling from the chain. “It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing.”
	“Boromir! Give the ring to Frodo.”
	Boromir seemed to snap out of his daze and looked up at Aragorn and Frodo and smiled. “As you wish. I care not.” But he obviously did care. He threw the ring and chain to Frodo, who caught it and put it around his neck. Boromir turned away and Aragorn took his hand off the hilt of his sword. 
	They coutninued onward through the snow as the wind blew more snow down.

	The Crows flew into Isengard and flew down one of the tunnels that led underground. They started flying around Saruman, cawing. “So, you tried to lead them over Caradhras. And if that fails? Where will you go? If the mountain defeats you, will you risk a more dangerous road?” Saruman asked, as if speaking to Gandalf.

	Legolas ran atop the snow, while the others struggled to walkm sinking deeper and deeper into the snow with each step, the wind blowing around them, and blowing more snow into their eyes.
	Legolas stood at the edge of a cliff, listening. Through the wind, he heard a faint voice. “There is a fell voice on the air!”
	“Saruman!” Gandalf yelled above the wind. They all heard a voice chanting, and son enough, an avalance started above their heads, follwed by tons of rocks. The Fellowship put their backs right up against the side of the cliff, and the rocks and snow passed right down in front of them.
	“He's trying to bring down the mountain!” Aragorn yelled. “We must turn back!”
	“No!” Gandalf argued. He soon then closed his eyes and lifted his staff, chanting a few words, trying to cancel out Saurman’s spell.

	Ontop of Isengard, Saruman had his eyes closed with his staff in the air, chanting as well.

	Lightning struck the mountain, and Legolas pulled Gandalf back from the edge just as snow fell and buried them all. One by one, they dug out and shook the snow off.
	“We must get off the mountain!” Aragorn yelled.
	“We must take the Pass of Rohan, or take the road west to my city!” Boromir suggested.
	“Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!”
	“If we cannot go over the mountain, I say let us go under it!” Gimli spoke.
	Gandalf suddenly heard Saruman’s words in his head. “Moria. You fear to go into those mines. The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad_Dum. Shadow and flame.”
	Gandalf thought hard for a minute, for he was truly scared of Moria. “Let the Ringbearer decide!” he suggested.
	Frodo stood in the cold for a minute, thinking it over. He came to a decision as snow hit him in the face from the wind. “We will go through the mines!”
	“So be it.” Gandalf whispered with fear in his voice.

Chapter 12: A Journey In The Dark

	At night, they walked down steps to a marsh, but they walked on a path carved throught the marsh and walked next to a dark lake. “The walls of Moria.” Gimli announced.
	Frodo slipped and he fell into the lake, but quickly climbed out with the help of Sam. Soon enough, They reached a wall framed by two great trees. Gandalf scrubbed away dirt to find a pattern on the wall.
	“Isildin. It mirrors only starlight and moonlight.” Gandalf said. Some clouds moved away and the moon came out, shinning down on the wall, showing the shape of a door, with writing above in elvish. “It reads, The Gates of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak Friend and enter.” Gandalf said, moving his hands over the writing.
	“What do you suppose it means?” Pippin asked.
	“Simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors open.” Gandalf started trying diffrent words and phrases and passwords, but none of them worked.
	Behind him, Sam and Aragorn unloaded the horse and patted it, letting it run free. “The mines are no place for a pony, even one so brave as Bill. Go on.” Aragorn said.
	“Bye bye, Bill.” Sam said in a sad voice as the horse ran off.
	Aragorn put a hand on Sam’s shoulder. “Don't worry, Sam, he knows the way home.” Aragorn then heard a sound and looked over to see Merry and Pippin throwing rocks in the water. He walked over and stopped them. “Don't disturb the water!” he siad, grabbing their hands.
	Boromir looked over at Aragorn then at the water as it rippled without rocks being thrown into it, but no on else noticed.
	“This is useless!” Gandalf shouted, frustrated. He finnaly sat down, exhuasted.
	Frodo walked over and looked at the writing, reading it. After a minute, he said, “It's a riddle. What's the Elvish word for friend?”
	Gandalf answered, “Mellon.” 
	There was a loud creaking sound and the wall suddenly split apart and opened inward as a giant door. They Fellowship all gathered together and walked inside.
	Gimli looked around the dark entrance and said to Legolas, “Soon, Mister Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Dwarves! Roaring fires, malt beer, red meat off the bone! This is the home of my cousin Balin. And they call it a mine. A mine!”
	The place was more like a palace. Or well, it would have been, if it wasn’t so dark. “This is no mine, it's a tomb.” Boromir stated.
	Gandalf said a spell and the end of his staff began to glow, revealing skeletons all voer the floor. “No!” Gimli screamed.
	Legolas bent down and pulled an arrow out of one of the skeletons and looked the arrow over. “Goblins!”
	“We make for the Gap of Rohan” Boromir said quickly. “We should never have come here! Get out! Get out!”
	Suddenly, a large tentacle had come frm the water and wrapped around Frodo’s leg, pulling him out of the entrance and high above the water.
	“Strider!” Sam shouted as he saw Frodo screaming as the tentacle swung him around. Sam, Merry, and Pippin ran out and to the water edge and started haking away at the tentacle with their swords, but then a dozen more tentacles shot from the water and knocked the Hobbits away as Frodo was held higher up.
	Suddenly, a huge head filled with razor sharp teeth came from the water and the tentacle started to lower Frodo towards it. 
	Boromir and Aragorn took out their swords and ran, chopping off the diffrent tentacles. The Kraken screeched and as t did, Legolas rasied his bow and fired an arrow that stuck into the Kraken’s mouth.
	Aragorn jumped up and cut off the tentacle that was holding Frodo and as Frodo fell, Boromir caught him. Legolas then shot another arrow and got it in the creature’s eye.
	It screeched one final time and went back under the water.
	“Into the mines!” Gandalf ordered. They all turned and ran back into the Mines, just as more tentacles shot out of the water, attacking the two giant doors. The doors gave way and crumpled down, causing a small cave in, blocking their exit from the Mines.
	Gandalf sighed. “Now we have but one choice. We must face the long dark of Moria. Be on your guard! There are older and fouler things than orcs in the deep places of the world. It is a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope our presence may go unnoticed.”
	They started walking, light from gandalf’s staff lighting the way. They started up a long set of stairs with no railings and part way up, Pippin almost fell over the side, because he tripped on some debris. He quickly regained his balance.
	“Pippin!” Merry shouted, helping Pippin back up. 
	When they got to the top of the stairs, they looked around and Gandalf breathed in. “I have no memory of this place.” He stated and started thinking.
	“Are we lost?” Pippin whispered.
	“No, we're not lost.” Merry whispered back.
	“I think we're lost.”
	Merry nudged Pippin. “Quiet, Gandalf's thinking.”
	“Merry? I'm hungry.” Pippin complained. 
	Frodo walked over to where Gandalf was and looked around and saw something. “There's something down there.” Frodo said, pointing down a dark hall that they couldn’t see down very far, due to the darkness.
	Gandalf answered without even looking. “It's Gollum. He's been following us for three days.”
	“He escaped from the dungeons of Barad_dur!” Frodo excliamed.
	“Escaped, or was set loose. Gollum hates and loves the ring, as he hates and loves himself. He will never be free of his need for it.”
	“Pity Bilbo didn't kill him when he had the chance.”
	“Pity? It was pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many who live deserve death, and some who die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends, but my heart tells me that Gollum still has a part to play, for good or ill. Before this is over, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many.”
	Frodo sat down and tears started to come to his eyes. “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had ever happened.”
	“So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time we are given. There are other forces at work in the world than the will of evil. Bilbo was meant to find the ring, which means that you also were meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought. Ah! It's this way.”
	Gandalf started heading down one of many tunnels. “He's remembered!” Merry stated happily as they all started to follow him.
	“No,” Gandalf said. “but the air smells less foul down here. When in doubt, Meriadoc, always follow your nose. Let me risk a little more light.” and then his staff became a bit more brighter.
	They saw they were in a huge cavern filled with Pillars going up to the roof. “Behold! The great realm of the dwarven city of Dwarrowdelf.” Gandalf said.
	“Well, that's an eye_opener and no mistake!” Sam added.
	Gimli saw a door and took off running for it. “Gimli!” Gandalf shouted, but it was too late, he had already went through the door. The others ran after him an when they got there, they saw Gimli grieving over a tomb. 
	Gandalf bent down and read the dwarven runes on the top of the tomb. “‘Here lies Balin, son of Hrundin, Lord of Moria.’ He is dead then. It is as I feared.” he looked around the floor full of debris and bones, and found a book in the hands of one of the skeletons leaning against the tomb.
	He took the book as Legolas looked around. “We must move on. We cannot linger here.” Legolas said.
	Gandalf opened the book and started reading, ignoring Legolas. “‘They have taken the bridge, and the second hall. The ground shakes. We have barred the gates, but cannot hold them for long. A shadow moves in the dark. Drums, drums in the deep. We cannot get out. We cannot get out. They are coming.’”
	Suddenly, Pippin knocked a skeleton into a hole in the floor, used as a well.l, which made a little more than enough noise to wake the dead.
	Gandalf whipped his heaad and scowled. “Fool of a Took! Next time, throw yourself in, and rid us of your stupidity!”
	Evreyone stopped and was quiet, listening. After a minute they all sighed and was about to say something, when they could faintly hear drums getting closer and closer. 
	Frodo took out his sword from it’s sheth and saw that it was glowing bright blue!
	“Orcs!” Legolas cried.
	Boromir ran over to the two and looked out, and suddenly, two arrows flew at him and hit the wall not even centimeters from his head. He looked around and saw what was comming and went back in the room and slammed the door shut. “They have a cave troll.” he stated to the others.
	“Stay back, close to Gandalf!” Aragorn ordered. Aragorn started baring the door with anything he could find around the room: weapons, armor, bones.
	Gimli took out his axe and held it in a battle postion. “Let them come! There is one dwarf yet in Moria who still draws breath!”
	Suddenly, there was a pounding on the door and they all started backing up as they took out their weapons.
	Suddenly, part of the door broke away and a Orc peered in and snarled as more holes were broken through. Legolas fired his bow, shooting arrows through the holes. One of the arrows hit the head of the Orc that was peering in, and it fell back, dead.
	There were a couple screeches from the other side, but more holes were pounded in the door. Finnaly, the door bursted down and the Orcs flooded in.
	All the people started fighting the Orcs, even the Hobbits. Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf, and the Hobbits got into a sword fight with a bunch, as Legolas started shooting arrows and Gimli stood on the tomb, swinging his axe at any Orcs that came close to him.. As they were fighting, they also had to dodge arrows from the Orcs that had bows.
	Suddenly, a giant Cave Troll bursted into the room with a roar. It was taller then anyone and dark green with a chain dangling from it’s neck.
	The Troll ran over, squishing some of Orcs under it’s feet and ran over to the tomb that Gimli was on. It raised it’s fist and brought it down smashing the tomb, but not before Gimli jumped off and ran, swinging his axe down at any Orcs that got in his way.
	The troll looked over at Legolas and grabbed the chain around it’s neck and started swinging it around and tried to hit Legolas with it, but the Elf jumped out of the way as the chain thudded down.
	The chain became momentarily caught around a pillar, and Legolas ran up it to stand on top of  the Troll and stood on it’s head. He loaded his bow and aimed down, firing an arrow into the Troll’s head, and jumped off when he saw it only angered it more and it reached up for him.
	Sam had a frying pan in his hand from his pack and hit any Orcs over the head if they came close, knocking them out. “I think I'm getting the hang of this!” Sam smiled.
	Suddenly, the Troll got free from the pillar and saw the Hobbits. It let out a roar and ran at them. They all dodged, but Frodo went a diffrent way then the others and the Troll followed Frodo. 
	Frodo ran behind a giant square pillar, and moved around to the side as the Troll peeked around the corner. Frodo stood with his back to the pillar, breathing hard as he heard the Troll sniffing. After a minute, the Troll retreated and Frodo went around to the other side as the Troll appeared at the side Frodo was just at, sniffing again. One the Troll left, Frodo went to the back of the pillar and looked both ways, not seeing the Troll. He let out a sigh of relive, but suddenly, the Troll peered around the corner and saw him, opening it’s mouth wide and letting out a roar.
	Frodo fell down, surprised and the Troll grabbed his foot and lifted him in the air. “Aragorn! Help!” Frodo shouted.
	Frodo reached up with Sting and cut the Troll’s hand, causing it to scream and let go. It started to reach for Frodo again, but before it could, Aragorn ran over with a spear and rammed it into the Troll, but the Troll grabbed the spear and flung Aragorn of of it and turned the spear around as it lumbered towards Frodo, who was on his hands and feet, moving backwards.
	Frodo backed up into a wall, and before he could move, the Troll rammed the spear forward and the spear went into Frodo’s chest, causing Frodo to cry out and slump to the floor.
	Merry and Pippin jumped on the Troll’s back and stabbed it wildly with their swords. The Troll grunts and reaches up behind and grabbed Merry and threw him off to the floor. Pippin continued to stab the Troll, and Legolas fired another arrow and this one hit it in the side of the head.
	The Troll started to calm down as it’s movment slowed. Soon, it fell to the ground hard, dead. Pippin fell off of it and rolled to his feet on the ground.
	“Oh, no.” Aragorn whispered as he ran over to the fallen Frodo. He rolled Frodo over, and he sat up and opened his eyes.
	“He's alive!” Sam excliamed.
	Frodo coughed. “I'm all right, I'm not hurt.”
	Aragorn loked at him with amazment. “You should be dead! That spear would have skewered a wild boar!”
	Gandalf smiled. “I think there is more to this Hobbit than meets the eye.”
	Frodo reached up and moved part of his shirt away to reveal his vest underneith. “Mithril! You are full of surprises, Mr.Baggins!” Gimli said.

Chapter 13: The Bridge Of Kazad-Dum

	Suddenly, Orcs started to flood the room again with swords, spears, and arrows. “To the bridge of Khazad_Dum!” Gandalf yelled, running off, the others closley behind. They ran from the room and through a caverb, Orcs running after them from all sides, hundreds and hundreds of Orcs flooded the cavern and surronded the Fellowship, gunting.
	The Orcs started snarling as they all rasied their wepaons, ready to strike. Suddenly, there was a loud, echoing roar in the distance the the Orcs started grunting amoung themselves and backing off. Soon, they turned and ran away, leaving the Fellowship by themselves.
	“What is this new devilry?” Boromir asked, pointing his sword out.
	Gandalf gulped. “A Balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!” Gandalf started running again, the others closley behind as the room started brighting as a bright fire glow started comming around from the corner.
	They ran through some more rooms, the fire glow not far behind. Boromir was in the lead, and suddenly came to the end of the path, a long black abyss laying before him. He dropped his torch over the edge and watched it dissipear into the blackness as the others got there.
	“Lead them on, Aragorn!” Gandalf said. “The bridge is near. Do as I say! Swords are no more use here!”
	They started running as Gandalf fell into the back of the group. He chanced a look behind and saw the glow getting brighter. They rached a winding staircase going down, with no railings on it. They started running down the case, when they got to a break inbetween sets of stairs. Legolas jumped across easily and Gandalf followed after a moment's hesitation. Boromir grabbed Merry and Pippin and  jumped across as the edge crumbled away. Aragorn threw Sam cross, but Gimli held up a hand.
	“Nobody tosses a Dwarf!” He jumped, but didn’t quite make it, and Legolas grabbed Gimli’s beard to keep him from falling. “Not the beard!” Gimli shouted as Legolas pulled him up. “Not the beard!” he shouted louder as he reached the other side.
	Suddenly, more of the edge broke away and Frodo and Aragorn backed up as the fire glow brightened from the direction they just came from. Then, part of roof broke off and fell to the set of stairs, breaking the section that Frodo and Aragorn were on, causing it to break loose from the rest of the stairs and it started to tilt. Trying to keep his balance, Aragorn found he was able to influence the direction the stairs as he and Frodo leaned to the front. 
	The section of stairs fell forward into the rest of the stairs, allowing Frodo and Aragorn to rejoin the party. 
	They kept running as the enormous section of stair fell into the abyss. They managed to get down the rest stairs to ground level without more trouble. As they ran toward a long bridge, the Balrog emerged from the chasm behind them. 
	They couldn’t really make out what it looked like, except that they could tell it had a black giant bull type head with two horns and wings on it’s back. The rest was obscured by roaring fire. They could also see a sword of fire in it’s hand. It saw them and roared and started to follow them.
	Gandalf made sure everyone was across the bridge before he made his stand. In the center of the bridge, he turned to face the demon, staff and sword in hand. “You cannot pass.” he said to the Balrog.
	“Gandalf!” Frodo yelled from the other side of the bridge.
	Gandalf ignored Frodo and stared at the Balrog right in the eyes as it started to walk towards him. “I am a servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor!” Gandalf said. “Dark fire shall not avail you, flame of Udun!”
	The Balrog swung it’s fire sword, but Gandalf swung up his sword and blocked it, knokcing both swords down into the abyss.
	“Go back to the shadow! You shall not pass!” Gandalf yelled. He slammed his staff on the ground, and a flash of white light shot forth and pushed the Balrog back. The demon drew a whip of fire and stepped back onto the bridge, and the bridge gave way under it’s weight and with the help of Gandalf’s magic. 
	The Balrog fell backwards, falling with the crumpling bridge, roaring as it fell. Gandalf sighed and turned away, but before he could walk anywher, the end of the fire whip swung up and wrapped around his foot, dragging him down into the abyss with the Balrog.
	Before he fell, he grabbed onto the edge and saw the others looking back at him. Frodo tried to run to save him, but Aragorn held him back. “Flee, you fools!” gandalf shouted. And then he was dragged off the edge of the bridge and down into the abyss.
	“No!” Frodo got away from Aragorn’s grasp, only to be held back by Boromir. They all turned and started running, and Boromir looked back and saw Aragorn still standing, looking the other way.
	“Aragorn!” Boromir shouted. He sighed and carried Frodo away.
	Aragorn turned to leave and looked back one last time. Suddenly, an arrow whisleted by his head and hit the wall next to him. He looked up and saw Orcs with bows standing in holes in the wall, high up. 
	Aragorn turned and ran with the others, dodging arrows. Legolas turned back and fired two arrows at once, and both hit two Orcs that were firing at them, the arrows ramming into their heads. 
	The group escaped from the mines, and into the sunlight before they all collapsed with grief, weeping for the loss of their friend. Legolas stood still, staring into space, stunned.
	Aragorn knew that now he must become their leader. “Legolas, get them up!” he ordered.
	Boromir looked down at the Hobbits, who sat on the ground, tears in their eyes. He ran up to Aragorn. “Give them a moment, for pity's sake!”
	“By nightfall these hills will be crawling with Orcs! We must reach the woods of Lothlorien. Gimli, Legolas, get them up! On your feet, Sam, Merry, Pippin, and Frodo. Frodo?” they looked around and he wasn’t with the other Hobbits.
	They suddenly saw him walking away from them, heading back the other way, tears streaming down his face. 
	Aragorn jogged over to Frodo. “Come Frodo, we well grieve about Gandalf once we reach Lothlorien. But now we must continue, for Orcs well be here once night falls. Frodo stopped and looked back at Aragorn.

Chpater 14: Lothlorien

	Later, they walked into a forest with the tres having a silver shine. This was the entrance to Lothlorien.
	Gimli looked around, cautious and leaned into the Hobbits and whispered. “Stay close, young hobbits. They say a great Sorceress lives here, an Elf-Witch of terrible power. All those who look upon her fall under her spell, and are never seen again.”
	As Frodo walked, he looked around as a voice suddenly filled his head. “Frodo. Your coming is as the footsteps of doom. You bring a great evil here, Ringbearer.” Frodo looked around, but it didn’t see that any of the others had heard it. He listened to Gimli finish.
	“Well, this is one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily! I have the eyes of a hawk, and the ears of a fox!”
	Suddenly, they were all surrounded by arrows pointing at them. Elves walked out from behind trees with drawn bows. The leader, Haldir, walked up to the front, his bow still rasied with an arrow in it, pointed at Gimli.
	“The Dwarf breathes so loudly we could have shot him in the dark.”
	Aragorn spoke up. “Haldir of Lorien. We have come for help. We need your protection.”
	Gimli drew his axe. “Aragorn, these woods are perilous! We should go back!”
	Haldir lowered his bow and looked at Gimli again, but the other Elves still had their bows rasied. “You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood. You cannot go back. Come. She is waiting.”
	Suddenly, the other elves lowered their bows and they all started walking together.

	Soon enough, they entered the Elf City in the trees and were brought before Celeborn and Galadriel, who sat on thrones of silver. “Eight there are here, but nine there were set out from Rivendell. Where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him.” Celeborn said.
	Galadriel seemed to go into a trance. “He is fallen into shadow. The quest stands on the edge of a knife, stray but a little and it will fail, to the ruin of all.” then she looked down at Sam, Merry, and Pippin. “Yet hope remains as long as the company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now, and rest, for you are weary with toil and much sorrow. Tonight you shall sleep in peace.”
	Galadriel stopped speaking, but Frodo heard her speak in his head, even though when he looked at her, her mouth wasn’t moving. “Welcome, Frodo of the Shire, one who has seen the Eye.” Frodo looked at the others, and saw that they had apparently not heard the voice. It was then that Frodo realized that the voice he heard in his head in the woods, was the same as Galadriel’s.
	
	That night, the Fellowship camped on the ground, being more comfortable there, then in the trees. There was a loud singing from some kind of party high above them. 
	Aragorn was sitting on a tree stump as Legolas came down from a staircase going up the trees. He had a sad look on his face. “A lament for Gandalf.” Legolas said.
	“What do they say about him?” Aragorn asked.
	“I have not the heart to tell you. For me the grief is still too near.” and Legolas walked away, to his sleeping spot.
	Aragorn walked around and saw Boromir standing gaurd for Orcs, his sword drawn. Aragorn put a hand on Boromir’s shoulder. “Take some rest, Boromir. These borders are well protected.”
	Boromir put his sword away, but still stood guard. “I shall find no rest here. I heard a voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Gondor. She said to me, even now, there is hope left, but I cannot see it. It is long since we had any hope. My father is a noble man, but Izual is failing, and the people lose faith. My father looks to me to set it right, and I would do it, I would see the glory of Gondor restored. Have you seen it, Aragorn? The white tower of Ecthelion glimmering like a spike of pearl and silver, its banners caught high in the morning breeze. Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?”
	“I have seen the White City, long ago.”
	“One day, our paths will lead us there, and the tower guard will take up the call, 'the lords of Gondor have returned!'”
	Aragorn nodded his head, but didn’t make any promises.

	Later, they were all sleeping, when Galadriel walked by them all. She saw that Frodo was awake, lost in deep thought. As she approched, Frodo seemed to snap back to reality and she guestured for him to follow her.
	He stood up and follwed her to a place with no others around and in the middle was a basin set in stone. Galadriel walked over to a table and grabbed an urn, then walked to the basin and filled it with water from the urn.
	“Will you look into the mirror?” She asked Frodo.
	“What will I see?” Frodo asked.
	“Not even the wisest can say, for the mirror shows many things. Things that are, things that were, and some things that have not yet come to pass.”
	Frodo cautiously walked over to the basin and looked into the water. “I see nothing but my own reflection.” he said, looking back up.
	“Look again.”
	Frodo looked back down, and this time, a ripple went across the water and he no longer saw himself. He saw Legolas shooting an arrow, then it rippled again and he saw Merry and Pippin running, then it rippled again and he saw Sam smiling. Then he saw the Shire as it was when he left it and a smile came to his face.
	Suddenly, smoke rose from the Hobbit Holes and he saw Hobbits running as Orcs and other creatures overran The Shire, taking Hobbits as prisoners and slaves, killing any who didn;t obey. He saw Sam bound in chains, being forced to walk with other Hobbits, Orcs forcing them to move on, hitting anyone who slowed down.
	Then the water rippled and Frodo saw the Eye of Fire, and he felt the ring around his neck get heavier and heavier and it appeared that the eye was growing and as it did, Frodo could feel the heat from the fire on his face, sweat forming.
	The ring, still attached to the chain around Frodo’s neck, pulled out from his shirt and was pulled towards the water of the basin, by itself. Suddenly, Frodo snatched it away from the basin and he fell backwards . He stood back up and looked in the basin again, but all he saw was his reflection.
	Galadriel looked down at Frodo as he looked at her. “I know what it is you have seen, for it is also in my mind. It is what will come to pass if you should fail. The Fellowship is breaking. Already it has begun. He will try to take the ring. You know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all.”
	Frodo took the chain from around his neck and held the ring and chain in his hand. He held it out to Galadriel. “If you ask it of me, I will give you the One Ring.”
	“You offer it to me freely. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this.” Suddenly a dark light came over her as she reached out for the ring. Her hair started blowing back as  if a wind came up and her skin and cloths changed color as if she was a negetive in a picture. She started speaking in multiple voices. “Instead of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Tempestuous as the sea, and stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me and despair!”
	She reached out and almost touched the ring, then walked backwards, putting her hand down. She suddenly went back to normal and took a dep breath and smiled. “I passed the test. I will diminish, and go into the west, and remain Galadriel.”
	Tears started to come to Frodo’s eyes as he put the chain back around his neck again and tucked the ring inside his shirt. “I cannot do this alone.”
	“You are a Ringbearer, Frodo. To bear a ring of power is to be alone. This task was appointed to you, and if you do not find a way, no one will.”
	Frodo though for a minute. “Then, I know what I must do. It's just I am afraid to do it.”
	Galadriel smiled her warmest smile. “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

Chapter 15: The Great River

	At Insengard, during the night, down in the pits made by the Orcs, Saruman was talking to the first Orc/Goblin hybrid. “Do you know how Orcs first came into being? They were elves once, taken by the dark powers, tortured, mutilated. A ruined and terrible fall of life. And now perfected, my fighting Uruk_Hai. Whom do you serve?”
	The Uruk-Hai stared forward, even as Saruman walked around slowly, in a cirlce, around him. “Saruman.” he growled.

	Not much later, Saruman stood in front of an army of Uruk-Hai, the leader in the front. “Hunt them down.” The evil wizard commanded. “Do not stop until you have found them. You do not know pain, you do not know fear, you will taste man_flesh! One of the halflings carries something of great value. Bring them to me alive, and unspoiled! Kill the others.”
	The Uruk-Hai groweled and howled as they started putting on armor and white face paint. The leader had curved streaks of white pain going down his face and he watched as his army put on helmuts and armor. He put on armor, but no helmut. He ran over to a pile of weapons and took a bow and many arrows for it. Then he lifted up a long sword, that was curved near the top. The curve was almost like a square.
	After all the Uruk-Hai’s had armor and weapons, they began to march out at a running pace.

	The next morning, the company departed Lothlorien in three small row boats. They were in the water and all the people were in them, but they did not leave, for Galadriel stood on the bank, talking to them.
	“Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Earendil, our most beloved star. Numarii. “ She handed Frodo a pendant with a bright light inside of it. Frodo stood up and took it, placing it in his pocket as he sat back down in the boat again. “May it be a light for you in dark places, where all other lights go out.”
	Galadriel waved good-bye as they started paddling the boats away.

	They were stearing the boats down a long river, between two high cliffs.

	The Uruk-Hai were running through a forest, not stopping for anything.

	The boats got to a bend in the river and Aragorn tapped Frodo’s shoulder. “Frodo. The Aragornath. Long have I desired to look upon the kings of old, my kin.”
	Frodo looked ahead and saw two enormous statues of Men in armor flanking the river, their left hands outstretched in a gesture of warding. The company rode past them, into a lake, where 	they found an old dock and beached their boats. They got out and walked up a grassy hil to an area whee there were logs around the remains of an old campfire.
	They took seats on the logs and Aragorn spoke up. “We cross at nightfall, hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the North.”
	Gimli cocked his eyebrow. “Oh? Just a simple matter of finding our way across Emyn Muil, an impassable labyrinth of razor_sharp rocks! And then it gets even better! Festering, stinking marshlands as far as the eye can see!”
	“That is our road, Sir Dwarf. Perhaps you should take some rest, and recover your strength.”
	“Recover my...!”
	He was cut off by Legolas. “We should leave now.”
	“No.” Aragorn objected. “Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness.”
	“It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near, I can feel it.”
	Gimli was still arguing over what Aragorn said to him and leaned over to Sam and Pippin. “Recover my strength! Pay no heed to that, young Hobbits.” 
	Suddenly, Merry returned from gathering firewood and looked around. “Where is Frodo?”
	Aragorn also looked around and saw that not only was Frodo missing, but Boromir as well. 

Chapter 16: Amon Hen

	Frodo walked in the forest by himslef, thinking things over. Suddenly Boromir walked up in front of him from the side. “None of us should wander alone, you least of all.” he said. “So much depends on you. I know why you seek solitude. You suffer, I see it day by day. Be sure you do not suffer needlessly. There are other ways, Frodo, other paths we might take.”
	“I know what you would say, and it would sound like wisdom, but for the warning in my heart.”
	“Warning? Against what? They are all afraid, but to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have... Don't you see? It's madness!”
	“There is no other way.” Frodo said quietly, slowly backing up a little.
	“Why do you cower? I am no thief.” Boromir chuckled.
	“You are not yourself!” Frodo said.
	Boromir held out his hand. “I ask only for the strength to defend my people! If you would but lend me the ring...”
	“No!” frodo shouted, cutting him off.
	Boromir suddenly turned violent. “What chance do you think you have? They will find you, they will take the ring, and you will beg for death before the end! It is not yours save by a chance. It could have been mine. It should have been mine! Give it to me!”
	“No!”
	Boromir leaped at Frodo and pushed him to the ground. Boromir held him to the ground and started searching for the ring. Frodo kicked him and he fell back and Frodo turned and tried to crawl away, but Boromir grabbed his foot and started to pull him back, but suddenly, Frodo dissipeared.
	Boromir opened his hand, stunned and looked around, an evil smile still on his face. “I see your mind! You would take the ring to Sauron! You will betray us! You go to your death, and the death of us all! Curse you! Curse all you halflings!”
	Boromir fell to his knees and lowered his head and tears came to his eyes. He had returned to normal. “Frodo? Frodo? What have I done? Frodo, I'm sorry!”

	Frodo, invisible because he had slipped on the ring, ran away. He ran up a small hill and up some stone steps to a stone platform and stood there. He looked to the East and saw Barad-Dur, then suddenly saw an army of Orcs, then he saw the Fire Eye looking at him, and nothing else.
	He fell back with a scream and fell off of the stoen platform and fell to the ground and took the ring off, holding it in his hand. He stood up just as Aragorn walked up from the forest and saw him.
	“Frodo?”
	“It has taken Boromir.” Frodo announced.
	“Where is the ring?” Aragorn asked calmly.
	Frodo started to back away, seeing the same glint in Aragorn’s eyes that he had saw in Boromir’s. Frodo held his hand shut, hiding the ring from view. “Stay away!” he said as he backed up.
	“Frodo? I swore to protect you.” Aragorn said as he walked towards Frodo.

	Frodo stopped backing up. “Can you protect me from yourself? Would you destroy it?” Frodo opened his hand and held the ring out to Aragorn.
 	Aragorn reached Frodo and reached down for the ring. Right before he took it, he moved his hand and pushed Frodo’s hand closed over the ring. “I would have gone with you to the end, into the very fires of Mordor.” Aragorn said.
 	“I know.” Frodo said, putting the ring and chain back around his neck. “Take care of the others. Especially Sam, he will not understand.”
	Aragorn looked down and saw the sheth that Sting was in and saw a faint blue comming from the other side of the sheth. “Go, Frodo!”
	Frodo took Sting out a little ways and saw it shinning bright blue. Really bright. He put it away and Aragorn turned around, to face away fro him as he took out his sword. “Run, Frodo! Run!”
	Frodo turned and ran away just as a bunch of Uruk-Hai ran out of the forest. “Find the Halflings! Find the Halflings!” the leader growled.
	Aragorn got into a sword fight with the oncomming Uruk-Hai and killed a couple, but mostly defend himself, for there were too many. He was forced to walk backwards up the stairs, onto the platform, still fighting, swords clanging.
	He got to the top and just as one Uruk-Hai charged him, he moved out of the way and it fell off the side. Aragorn stayed at the top of the stairs, swingin his sword at any Uruk-Hai that tried to come up, giving him the advantage.
	He turned and saw Pippin and Merry running, a couple of Uruk-Hai chasing after them. Aragorn jumped off of the platform and spread out his arms, knocking both the Uruk-Hai’s to the ground. He immeditly jumped up with his sword and rammed it down in one and swung it back up and down into the other before they could get back up.
	He was soon rushed by more Uruk-Hai’s. Legolas and Gimli ran up the hill and saw the scen and started helping Aragorn fight the Uruk-Hai’s. Gimli swung his axe at a bunch, killing some, but at the saem type, some were blocking his swings.
	Legolas tried to load his bow, but an Uruk-Hai got right in his fae and screamed, bringing up it’s sword. Legolas took the arrow and rammed it into the Uruk-Hai’s head, killing it. He took it out and loaded his bow with it and fired, knocking another to the ground. He then loaded two arroas and fired them both at once and got another couple of Uruk-Hai’s.
	
	Frodo was running through the forest, when he turned and saw Merry and Pippin hiding behind a tree. They waved for him to come over.
	“Here, Frodo, hide here!” Pippin called out. Frodo shoke his head, no. “What's he doing?” Pippin asked Merry.
	It suddenly dawned on Merry what Frodo was doing. “He's leaving.”
	“Leaving?” Pippin repeated in a whisper. Then hsi eyes went wide. “No, Frodo!” Pippin bolted from his hiding place, only to realize that there was an army of Uruk-Hai’s not standing too far off an turned at the noise of him running. Pippin stopped on the spot and looked back and forth between Frodo, Merry, and the Uruk-Hai’s.
	From his hiding place, Merry knew what had to be down to make sure Frodo got away with the ring.  “Run, Frodo. Go.” he whispered to Frodo. 
	Pippin knew what Merry had in mind and agreed. He also turned to Frodo as the uruk-Hai’s started heading towards them, quickly picking up pace. “Go. Run.” Pippin agreed.
	Then Merry ran out to Pippin and they both started waving their arms at the Uruk-Hai’s. “Hey, you, over here, this way!” they both started shouting. They turned and ran away from Frodo as the Uruk-Hai chased after them, quickly gaining, not seeing Frodo, who then took his turn and bolted the other way.
	“It's working!” Pippin eclaimed as they ran.
	“I know it's working, run!” Merry yelled. Suddenly, right befoer the Uruk-Hai’s reached the Hobbits, Boromir flew out from a tree and knocked a bunch to the ground and stood up, taking out his sword and swinging it at any Uruk-Hai that got close, getting into sword fights with them.
	Merry and Pippin stopped to catch their breaths on the other side of Boromir, watching him fight the Uruk-Hai’s.
	As he fought, Boromir took out a horn with his free hand and started blowing into it as he backed up, still fighting.
	Suddenly, the Uruk-Hai’s stopped fighting and Boromir blew into the horn one last time, before he saw why the Uruk-Hai’s were stopping. They moved to the sides and created a path for their leader, who stood on a small hill, looking down at Boromir. 
	The Leader took out his bow and loaded it with an arrow. He pulled back and fired, hitting Boromir in the chest. 
	Boromir stumbled back, and was about to fall, but found more strength, and stood tall, raising his sword. He then put the horn back to his lips and blew again, calling for help, but then another arrow from the leading soared and broke the horn as it flew through it and into Boromir’s shoulder, causing him to stumbled back some more, but not giving him. He had to defend the Hobbits.
	The Leader of the Uruk-Hai let out a cry of victory as he fired a thrid arrow into Boromir, knocking him to his knees, but that still not stop him from swining his sword at any Uruk-Hai that came close to him or the Hobbits.
	But, then, the Hobbits turned to run away, and a bunch of Uruk-Hai grabbed them and picked them up, running off with Merry and Pippin, into the forest, away from Boromir.
	The Uruk-Hai leader walked down towards Boromir as the other hybrids turned and ran off into the forest. The Leader reached Boromir and dropped his bow and took out his curved sword and swung it back, ready to kill Boromir.
	Boromir closed his eyes and dropped his sword, for he knew what was comming. Then, before the Leader could swing, Aragorn arrived and ran into him, knocking him away.
	The Leader punched Aragorn and sent him flying. the Leader stood back up and went over to Aragorn, who also stood up. They ran at each other and their swords clanged together as they blocked each otehrs blows and treid to attack.
	After a few minutes of doing that, the Uruk-Hai leader punched Aragorn in the gut, causing him to walk back and into a tree. The Leader reached down and picked up a broken peice of armor, which he flung like a frisbee and it dug into the tree, trapping Aragorn to it, for his neck was in a tiny space between where the armor was stuck into the tree.
	He dropped his sword and tried to move the armor out so he could get away, but it was stuck into the tree too tight.
	The Uruk-Hai leader snarled and smiled and walked towards the trapped Aragorn. He brought his curved sword back, and right as he swung, Aragorn managed to push the metal out of the tree enough to duck his head down and out, juts as the sword hit the tree.
	Aragorn rolled and grabbed his sword as he came back up to his feet. The Uruk-Hai leader tried with all his might ot free his sword from the tree, but it was no use. He spun around and hit Aragorn in the side of the head with his fist, and sent him flying.
	The Uruk-Hai Leader growled as he walked towards Aragorn, who was staning up. Aragorn ran at the Uruk-Hai Leader and the Leader ran at him. At the last second, Aragorn rasied his sword and swung, chopping off the Uruk-Hai Leader’s head, casuing it to fall to the ground and roll down a hill.
	The body fell to the ground.

Chapter 18: The Breaking Of The Fellowship

 	Aragorn ran back to the fallen Boromir, who was now on his back, eyes closed, breathing hard, three arros sticking up from him.
	“They took the little ones.” Boromir said, slowly opening his eyes to see Aragorn leaning down to him.
	“Stay still.” Aragorn ordered.
	“Frodo. Where is Frodo?”
	“I let him go on.” Aragorn said.
	“Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the ring from him.” Boromir said through pain, braking down and crying.
	“Do not worry. The ring is beyond our reach now.”
	“Forgive me. I did not see it. I have failed you all.”
	“No, Boromir. You fought bravely. You have kept your honor.” Aragorn reached down to pull one of the arrows out from Boromir, but Boromir reached up and stopped him, but not with much strength in him.
	“Leave it. It's over. The world of men will fail. All will fall into darkness, and my city to ruin.”
	“I know not what strength lies in my blood, but I swear to you I will not let the White City fall, nor our people fail.”
	“Our people.” Boromir repeated, then faintly smiled, holding Aragorn’s hands in his. “Our people.” Aragorn handed Boromir his sword which had fallen to the ground. “I would have followed you, my brother, my captain, my king.” Boromir then gasped and his head turned to the side as his eyes closed. His heart stopped beating.
	“Be at peace, son of Gondor.” Aragorn said quietly as he stood up.

	Frodo was at the boats as night was starting to fall. He held the ring in his hand still.

	Sam was running throught the forest, looking for Frodo. “Frodo! Mr. Frodo!” he called out.
	
	As Frodo was preparing one of the boats, he stopped and said quietly with tears in his eyes, “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had ever happened.”
	Then Gandalf’s voice filled his head with what he had said to that commement earlier. “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given you.”
	Frodo regained his confidince at remembering Gandalf’s words and tucked the ring into his pocket and jumpped in the boat, pushing away from the shore and paddling through the water. Suddenly, Sam ran out from the forest and onto the shore and saw Frodo leaving in one of the boats.
	“Frodo! Mr. Frodo!” he called as he ran across the shore.
	Frodo’s eyes went wide as he whipped around in the boat. “No, Sam.” Sam started to walk into the water, trying to reach the boat, which was pretty far away. “Go back, Sam! I'm going to Mordor alone!”
	“Of course you are, and I'm coming with you!” Sam said as he kept going, the water getting high and higher.
	“You can't swim! Sam!”
	The water got over Sam’s head and he started trying to swim, doing it wrong, and starting to sink as he swam. Frodo quickly tired turning the oat around so he could go save Sam. Sam fell below the water and started sinking. He sunk deeper and eeper, darkness surronding him. 
	Then suddenly, a hand broke the surface of the water and grabbed onto Sam’s shirt and pulled him up out of the water and into the boat.
	Sam coughed as his cloths dripped. “I made a promise, Mr. Frodo.” Sam said as tears came to both his and Frodo’s eyes. “A promise. Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee, and I don't mean to. I don't mean to.”
	“Oh, Sam. Come on.” Frodo said as they hugged, then started paddling across the lake.

	Boromir’s body was in one of the boats with his sword layed on his chest. The boat went through the water and reached a waterfall and fell over the edge, carrying Boromir’s body with it.
	From the shore, Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn watched. Legolas suddenly went and started psuhing the last boat intot the water. “Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore!”
	Aragorn buckled Boromir’s belt on, which had the symbol of the white tree of Gondor. Legolas then realized that Aragorn was not going with him and Gimli. 
	“You mean not to follow them.” Legolas said.
	“Frodo's fate no longer rests in our hands.” Aragorn said, putting his sword into it’s new sheath.
	Gimli sighed. “Then it was all in vain. The Fellowship has failed.”
	Aragorn put a hand on both of his campion’s shoulders. “Not as long as we remain true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death at the hands of the Uruk-Hai. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind, we travel light. Let us hunt some Orc.”
	Gimli let out a cry of agreement and battle as the three of them set off in in pursuit.

	Frodo and Sam had reached the other side of the river and was in a barron wastland filled with mountines. They got to a a height from which they were able to see the path ahead.
	“Mordor. I hope the others find a safer road.” Frodo said.
	“Strider will take care of them.” Sam comforted him.
	“I don't suppose we'll ever see them again.”  Frodo said sadly.
	Sam looked at him. “We may yet, Mr. Frodo. We may.”
	“Sam, I'm glad you're with me.” Frodo ad Sam looekd back ahead and saw Mordor lying not that far away. They fixed the positons of their packs and started off towards Mordor.

					THE END