As I have already said, Sesshomaru and Rin may change the story line a little. I don't know just how much, but they will. Also, I haven't read the Lord of the Rings books in ages now, so don't get mad when I miss out things or change them a little (I know, I know ...).
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
It had been a week since Aragorn had left his Rivendell, and he had finally reached the inn - The Prancing Pony. It would be another day or so for the hobbits to come, but he did not know that. Staying alert with the help of a couple drinks, he sat down in a corner of the room, watching and waiting. Ignoring the dark looks many people were sending him, he sat patiently and pondered on how he could get the hobbits to trust him. Gandalf had said they were a trusting type of people, but just how much was that anyway?
- - - - - - - - - - -
Rin had travelled a long way since she had come to this land, and every night Sesshoumaru would come back, frustrated, although he never showed it, to watch over her sleeping form. Many times she did not even know he was there, for he was usually out of sight and gone by morning, but she had nothing to worry about. He was always there to protect her. The people here were the same as back at home, Rin had found a few nights ago, 'but they must have never seen a youkai before.' A group of fourteen had 'ambushed' them one evening when they were travelling (even when Sesshoumaru must of smelt them a mile off), and demanded their money. Sesshomaru had continued walking, ignoring the bandits, until he found himself stopped by a particularly angry human, ungracefully brandishing his sword like a club. He had not liked being tossed to one side, forgotten, and was used to being the center of attention. The rest of the group were about to see just how stupid someone could be in front of this particular demon lord.
Sesshoumaru had been in a relatively good mood, even when he had not found anything that he had seen before or even heard of. He decided that he might as well travel around with Rin in the day and wonder at night, as he had not bumped into anything dangerous in his travels. Now he found that he had just been lucky. These humans had ruined his fleeting good mood, and he may have just let them leave, alive, if the leader had not behaved in the way he did. Of course, not without punishing them with the loss of a limb or two. But being the arrogant, stupid human this particular bandit was, he failed to see the warning signs, and leaving most of his group who ever muttering something about elves he made a gamble, and that gamble lost him his life. Sesshomaru left again with Rin trailing behind (who always hated her lord killing, even when they were just bandits), and leaving several messily sliced up humans.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Frodo sighed. He did not dislike travelling with Sam, Merry and Pippin, but they really knew how to grate on someone's nerves. Currently they were arguing on the best way to cook all their favourite food – mushrooms. A few hours before, they were discussing on whose feet hurt the most, and before then Frodo had been forced to listen to what a random nonsense poem his uncle Bilbo had written meant. It was all very annoying to say the least, and Frodo had been glad indeed when they bumped into a lone girl, causing his companion to stop talking. She was a human, a little taller then they were but aged only around 12. She had long, messy black hair and a strange looking orange and white dress, tied around her waist with a strip of the same material. She had a foreign look about her, and a strange accent. She also looked completely and utterly lost.
After introductions they learnt that her name was Rin, and she was travelling with someone, but they could not get her to tell them who. She was an extremely bouncy person, as all of them found out, and never seemed to tire of talking. After a few days of travelling with them, leaving only as the sun set and joining the party again in the morning, everyone, even Sam, trusted her with the story of the ring. After telling her, they were surprised and maybe a little annoyed when she did not seem to think it was important at all. Rin just waved all the seriousness away, and giggled at most of the parts she could twist into being funny.
Even though she was sometimes annoying - and almost always talking, Rin was a good travelling companion. She sometimes came back in the morning with information on the road ahead, such as the path is blocked or there is a short cut through the forest. Every time they followed her advise they found it to be true, and the one time they did not follow it they spent hours trying to get out a innocent looking swamp. After that, they made sure to heed her information.
Eventually, they reached Bree without incident (except the little adventure with the ring wraiths and Tom Bombabdil, but that was before Rin joined them), and saying her farewells, Rin wondered off back into the forest, seemingly just as lost and confused as when thye first found her.
"I
wonder who she goes with. It's almost like who ever they are, they
scout ahead, report back to Rin and then in the morning she tells us
what they saw. Except it can't be that – some short cuts she took
us on could only be seen from the air." Sam said as the little
group ran along to the inn Gandalf said he would meet them at. It was
pouring down with rain, and they couldn't help but think of how the
girl was doing.
"Yes,
and we owe her a lot. If it weren't for her, we might still be in
the forest." Frodo added, watching as Merry and Pippin rushed past
them and entered the Prancing Pony.
- - - - - - - - - - -
"Are we going to see them again Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin asked her lord while skipping beside him. They were back where they started, the same hill that they had landed on weeks before when they had flown from the elf city. She was asking about the hobbits, which she had travelled with to Bree. Rin had learnt a lot from them, like the creatures she had been found by were elves, and all about the dark lord Sauron. About the five main races, hobbits, elves, dwarves, men and orcs, and Gandalf, the wizard. In return she had told them stories about her travels with Sesshoumaru (Although the hobbits believed them to be made up), and her many encounters with all sorts of youkai. Sam had even said after one story that she matched Frodo's uncle Bilbo in story telling.
Sesshoumaru had really only let Rin go of with the hobbits because they knew a lot about this new world, and in telling Rin about it Sesshoumaru would also learn, and as much as he hated letting his ward into unavoidable danger, he hated his ignorance far more. After all, they did not seem very threatening anyway. He had accepted that they were nowhere near Japan, or even in their own world. It was slightly unnerving, but the youkai lord had stayed calm with his blood of ice, acquired from his father, but he was at a loss of what to do. Rin sugested he should help the hobbits defeat that demon or whatever he was, Sauron, but why should he get caught up in their war? Anyway, he needed to get back to kill his own enemy - Naraku. He decided that he would seek that wizard the hobbits said was so powerful, Gandalf. But his pride would never bear the shame of having to ask his help.
'Maybe if I could force him to help.' Sesshoumaru wondered idly, but even that seemed unattractive. If he could get this Gandalf to help Rin, he would send him back as well, without having his pride on stake.
- - - - - - - - - -
It was a while later, when Aragorn let the hobbits to Weathertop, and the hobbits were camping on the side of the hill. It was a dark, miserable evening, but Aragorn had forbidden a fire in fear of an attack. Merry, Pippin and Sam had thought it was a stupid idea, but Frodo had secretly agreed with him. The nazgul were still out there somewhere, and he had a feeling that they were not the only things that were. It was night, and the group settled down to sleep.
Sesshoumaru was many, many leagues from Weathertop, but he did see the tiny flame leap up on its side. He paused, before turning around and heading back. The dark did not hinder him, but he had to move slowly for Rin to keep up with him.
"What's wrong, Sesshoumaru-sama?" She asked, stumbling slightly over the rough ground. He did not answer as usual, but instead placed his hand over his sword, Tokijin. There was the rancid scent of the dead in the air, and an evil aura blanketed the countryside. A shriek filled the air, chilling the blood of all who listened to it, with the single exception of Sesshoumaru. The combination of the smell and noise sickened him to the point of a faint look of distaste on his face, and what ever was making them was going closer to the fire. Growling slightly, the demon lord picked up Rin and began running towards them. Rin cowered in his arms, terrified by the screaming. Soon they were only a white blur heading towards the same destination as the nazgul.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Aragorn sprinted back to the camp where he had left the hobbits. They had stupidly disobeyed him, and lighted a fire. It was no better then walking right up to them with a huge sign saying 'Please take the ring, we are helpless', and holding the said object out to them. Now the nazgul were coming, and he was not sure if he could fend them all of by himself. He silently cursed their stupidity for the fifth time, and just as he reached the bottom of the hill he swiftly lighted a fire and began looking for a dry pine branch. The nazgul were pretty weak now, and they were probably still afraid of light, hence the reason they did not come during the daytime when he had also been out. He found some, and setting it and another alight he raced up the steep hill. When he found the hobbits, they were back-to-back, Merry, Pippin and Sam having drawn their tiny swords and were defending Frodo. The hobbit had the ring in his hand, and looked like he was trying to stop himself from putting it on. He failed though, and slipping it on his finger he became instantly invisible.
As soon as Frodo put the ring on, chaos broke out. The nazgul screamed with renewed energy and began walking towards him, swords drawn. Aragorn yelled at them and tried fending them off with the fire. Suddenly Frodo screamed from somewhere, and appeared, taking the ring from his finger. One of the nazgul had stabbed him in his shoulder, and the others rounded on Aragorn, Sam, Merry and Pippin. Realising that the fire trick was not working, Aragorn drew his sword. Then, one of the nazgul in front of him fell over, neatly sliced in half. He dissolved into black light until there was nothing left of him except his cloak and sword. The others screamed, this time in fear, and backed away. A white blur leap up over Frodo's head, and Sesshoumaru landed softly, flicking his light whip backwards and forwards threateningly.
"So you are the creatures that fill the land with your stench?" The demon lord said, narrowing his eyes and glaring at the nazgul. Now he was closer, they made him feel like he was going to be sick. His words were hardly more then growls, and he had to stop himself transforming into his true form.
"Leave. Now." Sesshomaru commanded, freezing the air with his infamous look. Surprising everyone the nazgul obeyed, and screeching they fled back into the night.
Aragorn stared in shock at the demon. 'He commanded the nazgul, and they obeyed him! The demon lord at Rivendell!' He thought, for once shocked into silence.
Standing still, he looked on with a mask of horror etched on to his face. His thoughts were broken however, when the same little girl who was at Rivendell – Rin, ran on to the scene. She went up to Sesshoumaru, and smiling she tugged on his empty sleeve. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru-sama!" She said, voice as happy as ever.
"…Rin?" Sam said unexpectedly. Rin's eyes widened as she caught sight of the hobbit, and she laughed. "Hello again, Sam." The human girl exclaimed. Sesshoumaru sighed inaudibly and without actually moving. Were these people blind? Behind Sam, Frodo groaned. Aragorn gasped, and ran up to him. To his horror, he was lying on the ground, clutching his shoulder. Picking up a smallish dagger lying innocently by Frodo's side he watched as its already broken blade evaporated into smoke and drifted apart. Cursing, he looked again at Frodo. His only wound was relatively small, but it was made by a nazgul blade. That was not good.
"Sam…Sam! Do you know the plant Athelas? Kingsfoil?" The future king of Gondor asked urgently, shifting through some herbs he already had with him, ignoring the youkai. Sam nodded dumbly, and hurried off after Aragorn to find some.
"Can I stay with them Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin asked the demon lord, and he nodded once. She smiled faintly, and watched as he walked reagally off in the distance, the dark slowly consuming him. When he was out of sight she, Merry and Pippin helped to make another little fire and boil some water.
"So…those stories you told us in the forest, the were true, weren't they?" Merry asked, washing Frodo's wound with the water."Yes, all of it happened," Rin replied, for once quietened by the attack. "And the youkai you saw just now was Sesshoumaru-sama. Everyone seemed so shocked when the cloaked demons obeyed him. Why?" She asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"They are servants of the dark lord. So far, they have obeyed him and only him." Came a voice. It was Aragorn, returning with Sam and a handful of plants. Without another word he sat down, and crumbling half of the leaves into the boiling water, a sweet scent filled the air. It cleared everyone's minds, leaving them calm and feeling fresh. Frodo woke with a start, and looked around.
"Where are they?" He said before wincing and holding on to his shoulder.
"Don't move." Aragorn replied calmingly and gently pushed him back down. "We need to get you to Rivendell. You can ride on Bill." Rin sighed in relief, and getting up she looked at Aragorn, bowing slightly.
"May I join your group, Aragorn?" She asked sweetly, looking up at him with adorable puppy dog eyes.
"I was travelling with Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin before we came to Bree. I already know about the ring." She said quietly, as if sharing a secret with him. Aragorn sighed but nodded, maybe a little unwillingly. If she had travelled with the hobbits before, and knew of the ring but didn't try to steal it she probably didn't serve as a threat. It was this Sesshoumaru he was worried about.
'Is he another servent of the dark lord? If not, why did the Nazgul obey him? But he did just save possibly all of out lives … I don't know. I guess I'll give them a chance, but I'll tell the hobbits to keep an eye on the girl, and the demon if he shows up again. Innocent until proven guilty.' Aragorn decided within a split-second. "We better get going then." He sighed, and began unloading the luggage from Bill and sharing it out between the hobbits, Rin and himself, taking most of it.
It was many hours later, around mid-morning, and the barely conscience Frodo was riding upon the pony. They were nearing Rivendell, and just as Aragorn was going to say something about stopping for a short break, an elf appeared riding on a beautiful white horse. He had long blond hair and wore only green and brown. Aragorn immediately ran up to him, seemingly overjoyed, greeting him in elvish. The hobbits were too tired to ask about what they were saying, as they had marched non-stop since leaving Weathertop. Groaning, Sam listened to Aragorn talk urgently to the other elf, who replied swiftly, speaking in the fair elvish language. Rin perked up, almost like she could understand. Not that she could, but it seemed to remind her of something. Eventually even she stopped noticing, and her thoughts drifted to Sesshoumaru. She smiled, and knew that if she were ever in danger, which she would undoubtedly, he would always come. And when he did, nothing could stop him. Merry noticed Rin was smiling happily to herself, and wondered why. 'What could be so good that she is smiling about?' He thought.
Sesshoumaru had wondered far, and managed to hunt down and kill one of the remaining nazgul. If he had even killed it. Its aura still remained, undetectable by humans, but had fled before he could do anything about it. Now he realised that the rest were heading back to Rivendell. He sighed, and transforming into his true form he leisurely began loping back to where he had come from. Passing several small villages he ignored desperate attempts to attack him. Alarms went off and arrows and spears were flung, but none hit their fast moving target.
"You humans … better not let Rin get hurt." The demon lord thought, growling at the thought. "Rin, wait while I am away, stay safe." He mentally berated himself once again for letting the human girl get a hold of his life, for in half a century she would grow old and die, while he still had many thousands of years left to live. Anyway – a human and youkai could not live the same lives. He was a disgrace to all demons now, just by travilling with a mortal; she was a weakness to him and all around him, yet the youkai lord of the Western lands would not suffer the indignity of casting her away, and was far too proud of admitting he even had such a human like trait as a weakness. Bearing his fangs in a snarl, now that Rin was gone, this Sesshoumaru would, for now, live as his name suggested – killing perfection.