686Chapter 16: Fight And Flight
Fight And Flight
Four days with minimal rest had left everyone feeling miserable. Hiccup shuffled along while Toothless's tail dragged on the ground. The Hobbits were slowing down, and even Strider was looking weary.
Still, they pressed on. Toothless had spotted several dark shapes trailing after them in the distance. The knowledge of what was behind them was motivation enough to keep them going. They had all crossed over a large river late in the afternoon and were settled down for some rest when it became apparent that Frodo's condition had gotten worse.
"He's going cold!" Sam shouted in alarm.
They crowded around the comatose Hobbit laid out by the fire. The fire's heat did not appear to help Frodo feel better.
"The... pale... king..." Frodo mumbled in his sleep while shivering despite the ambient heat.
Strider again pulled aside the top of Frodo's shirt, revealing the stab wound.
Hiccup blanched and looked away from it, as did Merry and Pippin. The wound which had looked clean immediately after he was stabbed was now a sickly purple color, clearly with some infection.
A rustling disturbed the branches, making all of the standing Hobbits, Strider, and Hiccup spin around in alarm while drawing blades.
A deep purr and glowing green eyes reassured them only moments later as Toothless bounded up to them with a rabbit in his jaws. He dropped the dead rabbit by the fire and loped over to their side.
"How is he?" Toothless whispered.
"Not well. He needs help as soon as possible," Strider muttered while looking around the clearing.
"He's not going to die, is he?" Pippin exclaimed in evident worry.
"Sam, do you know the Athelas plant?" Strider asked, ignoring the prior question.
"Athelas?" Sam muttered in confusion.
"Kingfoil."
"That's a weed..."
"It can help to slow poisons. Go find some, quickly all of you, but stay close!"
The other three Hobbits departed to begin searching. Strider then turned to Hiccup and Toothless.
"You two stay with him. I am going to search also."
"We will," Hiccup agreed.
Strider also vanished into the night, leaving them alone with Frodo. Hiccup did not know what he could do for the Hobbit other than be here and keep him company. Toothless also settled down a short distance from the Hobbit.
Seeing the kindhearted Hobbit shivering and in pain was so terribly wrong, mostly because there was nothing they could do for him. Toothless's extra licks over the last few days hadn't done anything once the infection began to show.
"You should sleep, Hiccup. I will watch for us," Toothless whispered.
"But I..."
Hiccup tried and failed to stifle a yawn.
"Alright, wake me up if anything happens..."
He lay down at Toothless's side and was covered with a wing an instant later. While that was comforting, it did not help with the soreness.
Gods, my feet... I hope one of them doesn't fall off...
Frodo's occasional wince of pain or indistinct mumbling was far worse than his own exhaustion.
A heavy nudge in the side woke him up what felt like seconds later. He did not feel rested at all.
Oh, come on...
He opened his bleary eyes and saw Toothless's green ones only inches away.
"Hrmn... what?"
"Something is coming," Toothless hissed.
Hiccup struggled to his feet and walked over with Toothless to stand with Frodo. Frodo moaned and rolled over onto his side.
Hiccup heard something approaching through the darkness. That unknown something was big and on horseback.
"Be ready, bud..."
Then the source of the noise became clear as a white horse in light riding gear bounded into the clearing. The horse had a well-groomed mane and long, pure hair.
Also visible in the moonlight was the woman who rode on the horse. Her riding robes and long brown hair seemed to flow around her with an ethereal grace.
She put a hand on her horse's neck, and the horse slowly strode closer, displaying no fear of Toothless.
The woman though was very alert and glared directly at them.
Hiccup stared at her in awe and confusion. She was very beautiful, but it was an alien beauty. Her ears looked slightly misshapen, or maybe not.
Strider and the other Hobbits emerged from behind the shrubbery moments later at the same time that the strange woman dismounted.
Strider walked directly up to her and began speaking in a tongue that sounded like Elvish.
Hiccup resisted giving himself a facepalm.
Oh, she is an Elf! Amazing!
She must have been satisfied by whatever Strider told her because she turned away from Toothless and bent down to Frodo. She inspected the wound while Strider chewed up some herbs and put the herbs into the stab wound.
Meanwhile, her horse that had stayed at her side then confidently strode up to stand before Toothless without showing any fear. It snorted in his face.
He snorted back.
It whinnied softly and bounded back to her side. Despite the situation, Hiccup chuckled softly at that strange interaction.
That is one brave horse...
Then the Elf spoke.
"He is fading... we must get him to my father..."
Her melodious voice rolled over them like a soft, slow zephyr.
Strider immediately bent down and picked up Frodo, carrying him over to the Elf woman's horse.
"There are five wraiths following you. I do not know about the other four," she added.
Hiccup gave a wry grin at that and nudged Toothless.
"See, you must have gotten those four," he whispered.
"Uh, what are they doing?" Sam asked in bewilderment.
Strider and the Elf were whispering together, sharing a plan of some kind. They both glanced over to him and Toothless and then whispered some more before reaching an agreement.
She hopped into her saddle and took the reins while tightly holding Frodo.
"I do not fear them," she said aloud for all to hear.
Strider reluctantly nodded.
"Ride hard and do not look back. We know what to do. We will buy you time."
She threw another glance toward Toothless and then to the darkness around them all.
"Noro lim, Asfaloth! Noro lim!" she cried in her tongue like song.
The white horse sprang away with a neigh and flew like the wind into the night.
"What are you doing? The wraiths are still here!" Sam shouted in alarm.
Strider stared out after the Elf woman until she vanished, and then he returned to their side.
"Yes, Sam, the Nazgul are still here. They have been tracking us, and they think that we have the Ring with us. Of course we would keep the Ring with the ranger or near where the dragon can defend the Ringbearer," Strider explained.
"We are a diversion?" Hiccup wondered.
Strider nodded, pleased that he had understood the plan.
"Yes, she can ride faster and harder than we can now with how weary we are. Even if we only delay the Nazgul for an hour, that hour might be all she will need."
"What do we do now?" Merry asked.
"I say that we stay here and rest. Pretend that nothing happened. I will take first watch," Strider volunteered.
The promise of rest encouraged the Hobbits, though Sam still looked distraught at the thought of Frodo being taken ahead. Sam also had questions.
"Strider, you knew that Elf-maid."
"You see well, Master Gamgee. I do... know her. She is Lady Arwen Undomiel, daughter of Elrond the Lord of Rivendell."
The ranger's voice was oddly solemn as he said this.
"It has been long since I saw her or those of her house," Strider added in a whisper.
"How far is it from here?" Hiccup wondered.
"With a strong Elf-horse like Asfaloth, they might be in Imladris, in Rivendell, by midday."
Toothless rumbled in curiosity.
"Is it normal for an Elf-female to ride alone?"
"No. Lady Arwen is no warrior, but she is brave and can ride very fast. She will see him safely to Rivendell."
Strider sighed heavily.
"Hiccup, Toothless, I would have you both get your rest while you can. You can fly after them if the Nazgul pass us by."
Toothless purred in agreement and curled up by the fire while offering Hiccup a place at his side. Hiccup accepted the offered tent and closed his heavy eyes without any further discussion.
He still thought that there was something strange about the encounter.
Strider knew more than he let on. He knew her, and she trusted him about Toothless. Maybe I can ask later what's going on.
Hiccup tossed and groaned when he felt the paw on his shoulder.
Not enough sleep! Gods, can't I just get some rest?
"Hiccup, wake up," Toothless nudged him again.
"Alright, alright... I'mmm up."
It was not even close to dawn yet, but he still got up, stretched, and munched down some stale bread.
"Get any good rest?" Hiccup yawned.
"Not really..."
"Me neither. Feel at all better about... what happened?"
"Some. I wish I knew what was wrong with me..." Toothless sighed.
"Do I have to twist your ears, bud?"
"What? No! Why?"
"Because you are being... how do you put it... twisted. I don't think anything is wrong with you. We can ask Gandalf when we see him. Hopefully soon."
Toothless nodded in agreement and turned his attention back to their surroundings. Everything was silent and still in the darkness.
But Strider was wide awake and waiting for them by the fire's embers.
"What is it?" Hiccup asked him.
"The Nazgul have passed us by. Our deception could not last forever. Would you please fly ahead along the road and follow her to Rivendell?"
Toothless yawned and stretched his wings.
"Yes, we can do that," he answered.
"We will follow as we are able. Fly fast," Strider stepped back.
Hiccup hopped into the saddle, and they were aloft in the night sky in seconds.
"I might sleep for a whole moon-cycle though," Toothless groaned once they leveled off.
"I know what you mean, bud. We could all do with a good rest after this..."
They turned their flight to the east and began following the road with as much haste as they could make.
Many lengths passed underwing as they continued along the road. A massive forest covered the lands north of the road. There were still no signs of any horses.
Maybe she would stay off the road, but why would Strider tell us to follow the road?
Hiccup couldn't see anything himself, which meant that Toothless would have to be the one to spot their quarry.
Dawn eventually began to arrive with the sun rising over the far horizon. The wind blowing from the east felt cold. The land continued getting hillier until a very large and misty range of mountains appeared in the distance. Even from so far away it was clear that they were enormous mountains.
Toothless then stiffened and growled.
"Bud?"
"Down there!" Toothless snarled.
There were five dark shapes on horseback chasing after a white horse on a plain.
That was all they needed to know.
"Don't miss, bud!"
Toothless leaned back and slapped Hiccup with an ear.
"I do not miss!" he barked.
Down they dove over the field, coming up behind the black riders that seemingly had not noticed them.
A single shot struck the ground between two of the black horses, killing both of them.
Toothless spun up into an arc and wheeled around toward the three remaining riders. They spread out further and kept under the trees, still following in pursuit of the white horse.
"What did you say about not missing?" Hiccup teased.
"I killed two of them with one shot! How about you try!" Toothless roared back.
"I'll get right on it! Gotta figure out how to be a dragon first though!"
Toothless rolled his eyes and huffed at how twisted the idea was, though he knew that Hiccup was only teasing. Then he growled as he picked out his next target. The black riders were clearly pushing their horses very fast and had been forced into the open.
Perfect!
Another quick dive brought him into a perfect position over one of the black riders.
Then his flight was fouled as he tipped to the side. Something flew through the air next to him. Hiccup had made them turn slightly.
"What!" he barked and recovered his flight.
"Toothless! You okay?"
"Yes, what happened?"
Hiccup tapped Toothless's left wing and pointed toward one of the black riders.
"That one over there threw a dart at us!"
"Oh... I did not see it..."
"Nevermind that! Let's go!"
They beat their flight ahead toward the racing riders.
"Let's try this again!" Hiccup shouted.
Toothless snarled and readied another shot. The rider below him, the same one that had thrown the dart, screamed its terrible cry.
Then it and its horse vanished in a purple fireball.
The other two were further ahead and had somehow closed the distance on the white horse which was weaving through the trees.
Toothless growled at how difficult it would be to get a clear shot.
The nearest hills started to grow into actual mountains at their side.
"No good shot?" Hiccup shouted.
Toothless flew ahead to try to get a better angle, but the trees were very thick.
However, Arwen and her horse rode ahead across a shallow river that came from what looked like a massive valley. Amazingly, the two black riders stopped at the water's edge, as if hesitating for some reason.
That moment was all he needed.
Another bright flash of fire consumed their horses as a shrieking cry went up from the shore.
Then the chill cry was gone, and the sun shone brightly again.
Toothless leveled off into a steady glide high above the racing white horse. Both he and Hiccup caught their breath, only then appreciating that the sun had been slightly veiled by shadow. Neither of them knew for how long though.
"Bud, those riders will be terrified of you by now..."
He snorted with pride as smoke trailed from his maw. It had felt very good to loose his fire.
"They should be! I am a Night Fury!"
"Yep, you are amazing even during the day," Hiccup chuckled.
Then Hiccup looked down at Arwen and her horse and passenger.
"So about this Rivendell place, she is probably going there now. Follow her?"
"Yes!"
The road that Arwen and the horse were taking more or less tracked the river while also leading up the slope toward a hidden valley flanked on both sides by cliffs.
Toothless dove for a small ledge on the side of the cliff and roughly landed there, perched on a rock with his tail hanging over the edge.
There, they both stared into the hidden valley in stunned, silent amazement.
The sun had risen far enough in the sky that it cast its light down into the valley, illuminating the world within. The sheer, white cliffs had all kinds of green plants and trees growing on them. It was a very verdant valley.
The rushing river flowing from the valley grew from a series of steady waterfalls, the mist of which formed eternal rainbows in the morning light.
Most amazingly though, set into the side of the valley near the waterfalls and among the tall trees was a series of structures the likes of which Hiccup had never seen before. Homes, gardens, and trees were interspersed throughout, and the buildings looked constructed to be very open to the air. Many of the structures had spires, columns, arches, bridges, and gathering places like great halls and outside spaces overlooking the valley. While possessing an alien beauty, it was also a small city with perhaps no more than a hundred people who could live there.
The air itself smelled of age, of history, and of peace.
"That... is... something..." Hiccup gasped.
Toothless snorted.
"Yes, it is something."
"Come on, bud! Even you have to admit that this place is beautiful..."
Toothless nodded and purred.
"Yes, it is. This... Riverdell?"
"Rivendell."
They remained there a while longer doing nothing except staring into the awe-inspiring valley. Then they finally saw a white horse race up along the main road to the gates of the city. Arwen, her horse, and Frodo went inside.
It was finished. The Ring was now safe in Rivendell.
Hiccup patted Toothless's neck.
I'm glad that is finished.
"Alright, Gandalf said that he would be here. Shall we go introduce ourselves?"
Toothless answered by crouching on the rock and then leaping into the open sky. He gradually soared deeper into the valley which he filled with a joyful roar.
The distant rumble of the waterfalls became a soothing and relaxing noise the closer they flew to them. Finally, he soared over the main gates. Inside the gates were a number of figures dressed in flowing robes. Elves, probably. All those people were looking up at them.
And there was one figure in particular that caught their gaze. A tall shape in a grey robe. The shape also had a very long beard.
"There's Gandalf! He's here!"
Toothless observed the many Elves down there, definitely waiting for him to act. He was unsure what to do.
"Hiccup, what should I do? Is there a ceremony for entering a nest-city?"
"How about we land outside the gate and let them meet us?"
They glided in over the river and then touched down on the large, stone bridge over the shallow, rocky river. Hiccup hopped down and stood at Toothless's shoulder.
The gate slowly swung open, and Gandalf strode out at the head of a number of Elves. All the Elves were clad in loose robes and generally had long hair. Their ears were also shaped slightly pointy. They also had a number of bows with fitted arrows.
"Please don't shoot!" Hiccup shouted.
"There you two are! See, didn't I tell you all!" Gandalf exclaimed to the Elves.
Gandalf's appearance looked haggard though. Hiccup was not sure what could be the cause of that, except for Gandalf's likely having to do a lot of traveling.
One of the Elves spoke to the Wizard in their Elven tongue. Gandalf frowned at whatever was said.
"I do indeed! We can trust the dark one. He is not like his far distant kin. Master Haddock, Toothless, how was your journey here?" he leaned on his staff.
"We made it, even though I feel like my feet are about to fall off..." Hiccup groaned.
"And there were the black riders!" Toothless hissed with a thrash of his tail.
Gandalf grew visibly weary at the mention of those things.
"Yes, I had hoped that you would not encounter the Nazgul, but I see that you did at some point. Where did it happen, with Frodo?"
"Weathertop," Hiccup answered.
"Strider is with the other Hobbits now, yes?" Gandalf asked.
"He is. We left them before dawn to fly along with Arwen. Good thing too because some of those black rider Nazgul things were after her. Bud, care to tell everyone what happened to the black riders?"
Toothless gazed back at all the Elves standing behind Gandalf.
"We learned that those bad things do not like dragonfire."
Gandalf laughed heartily, shaking his beard as he did so.
"Indeed. The Nazgul are creatures of the dark and the cold. They fear light and warmth, both of which your fire makes plenty of. I should know."
Toothless smugly purred at the memory of their first meeting. Then he stepped forward and sat down before Gandalf.
"May I enter this... nest-city?"
"Yes, indeed you may. It was difficult, but I convinced Lord Elrond that your human is not too great a threat and that we can trust him here in Imladris."
Toothless lifted his head and laughed heartily. Gandalf and Hiccup joined in immediately.
The Elves were a mixture of confused and slightly amused.
"Gandalf, where were you?" Hiccup asked once everything settled down.
"Beg pardon..."
"Why couldn't you come with us? You could have helped against the Nazgul."
Gandalf's remaining grin faded and was replaced with the same weariness he had seen there before.
"I will tell you, but that is not a tale for now. I was planning to join back up with you, but... I was delayed..."
"Delayed? I thought a Wizard was never late," Hiccup wondered.
"I am not, when I am free to act under my own power."
Hiccup and Toothless shared a glance, wondering about Gandalf's admission that he had been held up by something.
Gandalf then beckoned with a wave for them to follow. The Elves parted around him to leave plenty of space for them to pass.
"You must be weary. I went ahead and prepared lodging for both of you. There were not many places that can accommodate a dragon, but I found one."
"What about Strider and the Hobbits? Are they still in danger?" Hiccup asked.
"They should not be. The Nazgul care only about finding the Ring. The Hobbits and a lone ranger are unimportant to them. Still, I had Elrond send out several parties of Elven warriors to search for them. You need not worry about the Hobbits or Strider now. Shall we?"
Gandalf led them through the city. Up flights of stairs, around gardens and groves of trees, and alongside the ancient buildings.
All along the way the Elves gathered to watch Toothless's peaceful passing.
"Gandalf, where is Frodo?" Toothless asked.
"Frodo is being tended to by Lord Elrond. That stab wound needs treatment that only Lord Elrond has the skill to provide, though it may never fully heal."
Toothless whined softly.
"My licks usually helps hurts get better, but that hurt was not healing."
"A stab by a Morgul Blade indeed carries a curse and terrible poison. Left untreated, such wounds would eventually turn the victim into a wraith. But he will live; I am sure of that."
Hiccup shivered at the mention of the victim becoming a wraith. He also wondered if that is what had happened with the Barrow-wight.
Maybe that is what Strider meant that Frodo would die in a way...
They ascended one more flight of stairs, and then they saw where they would be staying: a stone guest-house high up in the city. The front door, which was large enough to accommodate Toothless, opened onto the main path. Inside, the guest-house was very simple with only one bed, a fireplace, and some furniture of a strange design. Everything looked intentionally designed to be flowing or curved, elegant even. The outside balcony was cleared and opened into an unobstructed view of the valley and the waterfalls. The guest-house was just large enough for Toothless to maneuver around inside.
"You will have to forgive me, Toothless, but I did not know what you would want, if anything," Gandalf admitted.
"How about a pile of gold to sit on?" Toothless warily chuckled.
"And with that I am already doubting myself. You would not believe how skeptical Lord Elrond was when I told him about you."
"I do not need anything that I do not have, but," Toothless tilted his head and pointed with a paw, "I still need answers to questions about... many things."
Gandalf nodded in understanding.
"And you will have them. For now though, you should both rest after your long journey. Hiccup, I shall have a change of clothing roughly in your size brought to you in the morning. I shall send for you to be shown the bath-house as well."
Just the mention of that reminded Hiccup that he had not enjoyed a proper bath since leaving the Shire. He knew that a long bath would be very enjoyable and...
Wait a minute...
"Gandalf, is there a reason why you mention that?"
"There may be a reason, or there may not be. As for you, Toothless, I shall have some fish brought up for you in due time."
"I would like that," Toothless answered.
"Hiccup, I will also have you shown where the restrooms are. However, there are none of those that can accommodate a dragon."
"What are restrooms? Are those where you sleep?" Toothless asked.
"No. They're where humans or these Elves... relieve themselves..." Hiccup answered.
Toothless nodded, understanding the problem. Many animals would drop their waste wherever they were standing. He always ran deep into the woods to do that away from anyone and to not foul his own den.
"I will have Hiccup fly me out of this city so I can relieve myself somewhere else."
Gandalf then turned to depart, but he paused at the door and glanced back at them.
"I wonder... did you get my message in Bree?"
"Yes, we did eventually. Barliman gave me your letters for Frodo and Strider," Hiccup answered.
Gandalf laughed freely, obviously very pleased.
"Did he? Wonderful! I had my doubts. The next time I see him I shall lay upon his beer an enchantment of surpassing excellence for seven years!"
Hiccup blinked.
"Uh, you can do that?"
"As far as you know, yes I can!"
The Wizard then spun around and departed, leaving them alone. They both wandered back out onto the balcony where they watched the clouds go sailing by, heard the echoing roar of the waterfalls and the singing of birds, and felt the warm wind.
Peace at last.
"I'm glad it's all over now," Hiccup sighed.
"I am also. I wonder what is next."
Hiccup then worked at Toothless's rigging to remove it. Everything, even the tailfin, came off to prevent any itching.
"That is better," Toothless purred while stretching.
"You're welcome, bud."
Hiccup then yawned freely and walked back inside over to the warm, inviting bed. He had not seen a proper bed in a couple weeks. Then he fell face-first into the bed and did not move or bother snuggling under the covers or taking off any of his dirty clothing.
Toothless also yawned and went back inside. He collapsed next to the bed and then vanished under a wing. The last things he heard were Hiccup's snoring against the constant crashing of the waterfalls.