Chapter Four, Into the Wild

"Where are you taking us?" Frodo asked as he hurried along behind Evelina and Aragorn, Neville was behind them to make sure all the Hobbits kept up and that they weren't attacked from behind. "Into the wild," Evelina said. "It is the only safe way." She pulled her hood over her head to cover up her ears.

"Why are you covering up your ears?" Pippin asked curiously. Evelina didn't answer so Neville did. "She covers them up because of her past. Her aunt and uncle weren't very accepting of her because of her magic and it only became worse when she turned into a Kitsune three years ago on her sixteenth birthday." Neville sighed if he ever saw those Dursleys again he'd kill them. "Wait your both only nineteen?" Sam questioned shocked. When Neville nodded his head Sam shared a shocked look with his friends. "Your younger than us and you've both already fought in a war!" Sam said aghast. "How can Miss Evelina's family treat her that way?"

"Not everyone is as kind and accepting as you Sam. Sometimes that goes for family as well." Evelina said with a sad and bitter note to her voice. Aragorn clenched his teeth in anger the more he heard about what had happened to Evelina the more angry he got. If he ever saw them they'll be meeting the wrong end of his sword. "They can't hurt you now Mîr-nîh. I will always protect you even if you have don't need it." Aragorn swore as he held Evelina's hand rubbing soothing circles on the back of it with his calloused thumb. "Thank you Strider." Evelina whispered as she kissed his cheek.

"How do we know these people are friends of Gandalf's?" Merry asked Frodo in a whisper.
"We don't not really. We just have to trust them." Frodo whispered back. "And I think they would feel fouler." Merry grumbled about Strider being foul enough causing Evelina to giggle slightly and Merry go blush as he'd forgotten that she had very good hearing. "Miss Evelina could you of Mr Neville show us some magic please?" Pippin asked eagerly.

"I'm sorry Pippin but doing too much magic out here in the open with the enemy on our tail is not a good idea. I will do some once we reach our destination." Evelina promised.
"But where are you taking us?" Sam questioned.
"To Rivendell Master Gamgee." Aragorn called. "To the House of Elrond."

"D'you here that?" Sam asked his friends excitedly. "Rivendell! We're going to see the elves." As they continued walking, the Hobbits slowed down to find a spot to sit and started unpacking some food from the bag. "Gentlemen," Neville called from behind them, "We do not stop until nightfall."

"What about breakfast?" Pippin asked.
"You've already had it," Aragorn frowned, looking around them.
"We've had one, yes," Pippin agreed. "But what about second breakfast?"
"Dear Merlin, you eat more than Teddy and he's three," Evelina groaned. Aragorn frowned and kept walking. They didn't have time to spare for second breakfast or for any other meal they wanted to stop for.

"Don't think they know about second breakfast, Pip," Merry sighed. Pippin's eyes widened in shock. "What about elevenses? Luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner? Supper! They know about them, don't they?"
"I wouldn't count on it," Merry sighed parting Pippin's shoulder before he trudged on. Aragorn sighed and threw an apple at Merry. He threw three more at Frodo, Sam, and Pippin.

* * *

When they finally did stop, it was a little after sunset. "This was once the great watchtower of Amun Sûl," Aragorn said. "We shall rest here tonight." Aragorn handed the hobbits four short swords when they dropped their bags. "These are for you. Keep them close. I'm going to have a look round with Neville. Stay here."

"Don't do anything to draw attention to yourselves." Evelina warned them as she pulled out a thick large tome from the depths of her bag and began to flick through it to the page she was on, while keeping her senses trained on the surrounding area. She was trying to find a cure for Neville's parents as she didn't think they were ailing from the effects of the Cruicartus Curse but something that affected the mind.

* * *

Evelina didn't even know she had closed her eyes and went to sleep until she heard the cracking of a fire. Springing up she saw Frodo rushing over to his friends. "What are you doing?" He cried incredulously.
"Tomatoes, sausage, nice crispy bacon," Merry grinned.
"Saved some for you, Mister Frodo, Miss Evelina," Sam said.
"Put it out you fools," Frodo snapped. "Put it out!" He cried stamping at the fire.

"Augumenti," Evelina said quickly. Water burst from the tip of her wand and put out the small campfire. "I told you not to draw attention to yourselves." She berated them not that it did much good.
"Well, that's nice," Pippin grumbled. "Ash on my tomatoes." The shriek of a Nazgûl pierced the air. Four of the Ringwraiths were heading towards the companions.

"Go!" Evelina ordered. She pulled her sword out of his sheath on her right hip while she cast the Patronus charm, stopping the wraiths from getting too close to them as Prongs prowled around them with his head down ready to charge. She held her left hand out at the nearest wraith and shot a bolt of fire at him. Frodo drew his own sword, the others copying him.

"Back you devils!" shouted Sam. He swung his sword at a Nazgûl. It blocked the short blade and sent Sam flying back into a small boulder. It threw Merry and Pippin to the side. "Protect them Prongs!" Evelina cried to the Stag as she battled two of the wraiths at once, dodging their swords expertly that it looked like she was doing an elegant dance. The wraith continued on to Frodo, who dropped his sword in fear stumbling backwards until his back reached a broken pillar.

Evelina gasped in shock when she saw Frodo slip the ring on. She was shocked to see that she could still see him. His figure was white and ghost-like much like the Nazgûl she noticed. Evelina started running to where Frodo lay on the ground. But she was too late. The Witch King thrust his sword into Frodo's shoulder. Evelina flicked her hand instinctually and the Witch King was sent flying screaming as Prongs charged at him. She barely registered Aragorn and Neville showing up to fight the rest of the Nazgûl.

"Frodo," Evelina whispered urgently. She knelt down by his side and ripped the ring from his finger, placing it back into his pocket. "Look at me. Look at me Frodo!" Frodo looked up at Evelina with wide, glassy eyes. Evelina quickly began working as what to do came to her mind. She tapped her wand to Frodo's wound. "Mors amicus meus socius meus. Quia ejus non est, currate iuvenum Frodo tempus est huius mundi, nunc tamen!" Evelina chanted causing a dark sludge to come out of the wound, which caused Frodo to gasp in pain.

Evelina summoned a blanket out of her bag and wrapped Frodo in it casting warming charms to keep him warm as he was still rather clammy. "Frodo!" Sam yelled as he crawled over.
"Oh, Sam," Frodo sighed. "I'm alright. Miss Evelina healed me." Aragorn threw a burning torch into the last Nazgûl's face and hurried over with the rest of the Hobbits and Neville. "He was stabbed with a Morgul Blade," Aragorn gasped. "How did you heal him?"

"She is the Mistress of Death." Neville answered. Aragorn made an awing noise as he along with Neville checked over Evelina making sure she wasn't injured. "I'm fine Nev. Strider. Honest." Evelina insisted.

Once Aragorn was satisfied that Evelina wasn't injured in anyway he picked Frodo up and placed him over his shoulder. "We cannot stay here." Aragorn told them. "It is no longer safe we must make haste to Rivendell for I have no idea when they'll return." Aragorn insisted as he hurried down the slope the others following behind them.

* * *

"Look, Frodo," Sam grinned. "It's Mister Bilbo's trolls."
"That they are, Sam," Frodo laughed. He was riding on Bill's back, still weak from his encounter with the Nazgûl as it had only been two days since then even though Evelina had done her best to heal him. Suddenly a screech filled the air. "They're close!" Merry shouted.
"We must be-" Aragorn broke off as a blade was pressed to his neck from behind him. "What's this?" a female elf asked. "A Ranger caught off guard?"

"Who are you and what do you want?" Evelina snarled pointing her bow and arrow at the elf while Neville had his swords raised ready for battle. "Mîr-nîh!" Aragorn said as he he pushed the blade away from him and made his way over to Evelina placing a hand on her cheek and rubbing it softly with his thumb. "It's fine this is Lady Arwen of Rivendell. Lord Elrond's daughter and my adopted sister." Aragorn assured smiling as Evelina leaned into his hand making a slight purring noise. "I see you have found your One then Estel," Arwen said happily putting her sword away. "Father will be pleased and with a powerful submissive Kitsune too, if the three tails are anything to go by."

"You're an elf," Sam said excitedly. "How do the number of Miss Evelina's tails say she's a submissive and powerful." He asked slightly offended for Evelina as he crossed his arms over his chest. He'd become very protective of Evelina during the week he'd known her. Neville chuckled and ruffled Sam's hair also putting his swords away. "She doesn't mean any offence by it Sam. That is just it is known about Kitsunes. If a Kitsune as more than one tail it says how powerful they are which tells you how many mates they will need. The more tails there are the more powerful the Kitsune is and the more mates they will need." Neville explained gently.

"I've been looking for you for two days," Arwen said as she helped Aragorn put Frodo on her horse. "There are five wraiths behind you. Where the four others are, I do not know."
"Dartho guin perian," Aragorn said. "Rych le ad tolthathon."
"Hon mabathon," Arwen argued. "Rochon ellint im."
"Andelu i ven," Aragorn replied.
"What are they saying?" Pippin asked.
"They're arguing over who will be taking Frodo to Rivendell first." Neville deadpanned, sharing a look with Evelina and rolled his eyes.

"Ai athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon. I do not fear them. And your One needs you here. I do not know what has happened to her but I can see the pain in her eyes." Arwen whispered, smirking as she knew she'd won the argument. Aragorn scowled at her half heartedly for he knew she was right as he'd never leave Evelina if he could help it. "Be iest lîn," Aragorn murmured. Evelina stepped forward with a small smirk spreading across her lips as she shared a look with Arwen as she took Aragorn's hand. "Trust her, Aragorn. We girls are a lot stronger than you men give us credit for."

Aragorn spluttered. "I wasn't saying anything like that!" he defended. Evelina and Arwen started giggling, Aragorn glared at them as he shook his head at his One and sister before pecked Evelina on the cheek stopping her giggling as she blushed and ducked her head. Aragorn looked up at Arwen. "Ride hard. Don't look back." Arwen nodded and urged her horse on. "Let's go." He said to the others. Neither he or Evelina noticed they were still holding each other's hand, but the others did.

End of chap four!

Translation:

*Elvish: Mîr-nîh. English: My treasure.

*Latin: Mors amicus meus socius meus. Quia ejus non est, currate iuvenum Frodo tempus est huius mundi, nunc tamen! English: Death my friend, my ally, my servant. Heal young Frodo for it is not his time to pass this world, just yet! (Sorry if it's wrong I got it off of google translate)

*Elvish: Dartho guin perian. English: stay with the Hobbits.
*Elvish: Rych le ad tolthathon. English: I will send horses for you.
*Elvish: Hon mabathon. English: I'm the faster rider.
*Elvish: Rochon ellint im. English: I'll take him.
*Elvish: Andelu i ven. English: the road is too dangerous.
*Elvish: Ai athradon i hir, tur gwaith nin beriatha hon. English: If I can get across the river, the power of my people will protect him.
*Elvish: Be iest lîn. English: As you wish.