Chapter One

I was gathering berries when Teoryn alerted to a sound. Her ears dropped and she moved into a crouch, blocking the path from me to whatever she heard. I dropped the berries and jumped onto her back, beginning our journey again in haste. We tried to keep our breaks for a minimum, only stopping to get food or water. Whatever or whoever followed us stayed close behind, but I didn't know why. I held on to the fur on the back of her neck and with my legs around her sides as I glanced back. I could see a figure on a horse standing in the trees as we broke free of the tree line. We continued on until nightfall when we stopped for the night. I climbed up into a tree and Teoryn laid under a bush's cover. I pulled my cloak hood over my head to hide my pure white hair in the darkness. A few hours into the night, I heard hoof beats slowly walking towards the tree I was in. I waited for them to pass under me. I could see that the person wore all gray and they were tall. Slowly, I moved into a crouch. I couldn't see Teoryn so I acted on instinct. When the time came, I leapt out of the tree towards the person on the horse. Before I knew it, I was being thrown to the ground with a flash of light. I gasped, looking up at the person. He dismounted and looked down at me with a look of disappointment. I heard Teoryn's grown behind me, so I put out my hand to tell her to not attack.

"Rae and her trusty friend." The man spoke in a deep voice as he created light from his staff. He was older with a long gray beard and gray eyes. "I have been following you for almost four days. You are a hard one to track down."

"Who are you?" I stood, afraid to move too fast.

"You don't remember me?" He smiled slightly, but he seemed slightly offended. "I used to visit you and your parents when you were young." I studied him, unsure what to say. I felt like somewhere inside of me, he would never hurt me on purpose.

"I am Vikore the Grey." He nodded. "And I need your help."

"How can we trust you?" I questioned as Teoryn sniffed then rubbed her head against him.

"You may not remember me, but I can tell that you know your can trust me." He replied. I nodded, hesitantly. "Good. I need you to return to the Shire with me. A dear friend is in danger and needs our help." I turned to Teoryn and pulled myself up.

"Alright. We will go with you." I watched him mount his horse.

"The Great Eye's army is growing. He is returning so we must make haste." He told me. His horse gave a hearty neigh before starting a full gallop. We followed close behind in the darkness.

*~~*~~*

By nightfall the next night, we were in the Shire. Vikore lead me through a window where I watched from the darkness of the Hobbit hole. I figured that the Hobbit that lived here didn't know about our arrival due to the fact that they weren't here and that we lurked in the darkness. From a hallway, I could see the round door open and someone with a head full of dark curly hair enter. For once, I was taller than someone. He paused in the doorway, studying the open window then the hall that I stood in. After a long moment, Vikore grabbed the small man.

"Is it safe?" Vikore whispered. The man looked as if his heart would fail in that moment of surprise. He quickly lit a few candles to create some kind of light before going into a chest to grab an envelope. Feeling the power from inside the envelope, I crept closer. When the Hobbit turned, he yelped. I gazed at him almost horrified.

"You hold an item of immense power. It should not exist." I spoke in a serious tone. Vikore looked to me before taking the envelope and casting it into a newly set fire.

"What are you doing?!" The hobbit panicked. The envelope burned, revealing a golden band. I could hear the whispers that came from it and backed away. Vikore pulled it from the fire and placed it into the hobbit's hand.

"Do you see anything?" The wizard questioned him. The hobbit shook his head then paused.

"There are markings. It's in some form of elvish and I can't read it." He looked to me. I closed my eyes, knowing what the ring said.

"One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." I sighed, opening my eyes. Vikore seemed like he heard the worst kind of news. "Sauron is returning. The ring must be destroyed! Sauron can only survive if the ring still exists, Vikore."

"Yes. Terrible things will ensue if the ring still exists." Vikore grumbled. The hobbit looked to me with horror.

"Take it! Take the ring!" He pressed his hand to me.

"I can't. It's chosen you to be the one who brings it to it's master." I backed away. "I cannot take it from you."

"It cannot stay in the Shire!"

"No, it can't." Vikore faced us. "It has to be taken to Mount Doom in Mordor."

"Please take it, Miss."

"I ca-!" The ring erupted in a wall of fire and screams that sounded demonic. The hobbit cried out, dropping the golden band. It shot across the room, hitting me in the chest. I hit a wall from the force, feeling searing heat in the center of my chest. The fire and screams disappeared and I was left clawing at the leather that was once my clothing. It burned a hole into it, burning my skin before cooling. I pulled the ring from my chest, holding it in both hands as I sat on my knees, breathing heavily.

"Rae." Vikore came to me. I gazed up at him.

"What...just happened?" I barely spoke.

"The ring has chosen you." He kept his voice low. "It is now your responsibility." Tears filled my eyes.

"I will destroy it." I promised.