Prologue: The Beginning

Rain poured down in bucketfuls from the swollen black clouds that spilled across the overcast sky like ink staining a precious document. Lightning crackled and ripped through the clouds, illuminating the sky for a brief moment, tasting the earth momentarily with its fiery fingers, then retreating back into the safety of its stormy fortress. Thunder rumbled nonstop in the sky, sounding like a stampede of horses plunging across the skies. Mud churned beneath four Hobbit feet as they scampered, breathless, down a seldom-used path into a thick glen. The rain soaked their cloaks, making them cling to their small bodies like a second skin.

They paused when they were in sight of a small house built into a little hill. Instead of the traditional Hobbit circular door, it was a solid rectangle of oak wood, sturdily set into the hillside. Two windows were carved into the earthy wall and lamplight shone out, casting bright squares of light onto the dark black ground. Frodo ran forward, followed closely by Sam and the two inseparable friends, Merry and Pippin. Frodo threw back his hood and allowed the rain to drum onto his dark curly hair. Sam nudged his friend's shoulder, speaking loudly over the noise of the summer storm. "Are you sure this is such a good idea, Mister Frodo?"

Frodo squared his shoulders. "She's perfectly wonderful, Sam, and she can protect us."

"Me mam says she's a witch," Pippin offered. "Mayhap it's not such a good idea, Frodo."

Frodo ignored them and knocked on the solid oak door with his knuckles. There was the unmistakable sound of a bolt being drawn back and the door opened. There, framed in the doorway was the most beautiful woman any of the Hobbits had ever seen. She had long golden hair and steely gray eyes with a curvaceous figure. Her smile was grim.

"Come in, little masters. I've been expecting you." she said quietly. They all entered and stood in the hallway awkwardly, dripping water onto the stone floors. She showed them the hooks by the door and they gratefully stripped off their drenched cloaks and hung them on the hooks. They had to stand on tiptoe because everything was human-size.

"What can I do for you, Master Baggins?" the woman asked in her low voice. She fingered her amulet around her neck - it was a huge wolf claw, intricately carved with dozens of raised grooves and ridges. It was supposed to cast good luck and a slight healing charm, although Frodo had always suspected it was more then that.

Frodo took a breath. "I need your help." he said. Cautiously he reached into his breast pocket and took out the brilliant gold ring. It shone dully in the firelight. The girl gave a snarl of disgust and closed Frodo's fingers over it.

"Put it away, Frodo!" she warned. "Don't ever take it out again unless you're throwing it into a pot of molten iron."

"I know," Frodo said softly. "Ganandalf told me a little bit about it."

"Then you should know better then to take it out when there is evil abroad." the girl said, glancing hastily out of the window.

"Please, Accalia," Frodo begged. "I need your help. We can't make it to Bree alone. I need someone to help us, to protect us. You're the only one who knows these woods like the back of your blade. Please, Accalia."

Accalia bit her lower lip, watching her friend plead with her. Then she sighed. "Frodo Baggins, you always were one for getting into trouble. Give me a few moments. I need to fetch my things."

They followed her into her bedroom, which was sparsely furnished with only a bed, a large chest at the foot of her bed, and a wardrobe in the corner. She opened the wardrobe and took out a thick oilskin traveling cloak which she wrapped around her shoulders and fastened with a dull ivory clasp. Accalia kicked off her slippers and laced up her boots tightly, which were leather and lined with some kind of fur. Then she went over to the bed and rooted around underneath it for a minute, and withdrew a pack. She rolled two blankets together and tied it firmly on top of the pack, then began stuffing clothes into her sack. A loaf of bread, three apples, and two canteens of water were added as well, along with a tiny packet of some kind of powder. Then she opened the chest and the Hobbits gasped in surprise.

Inside the chest was a pair of swords, identical and shining. Both of them were sharp and gleaming wickedly, curved slightly at the tips and they had two shining blue gems set into the pommel. She took them out and buckled them onto her belt, sheathing them in black leather sheaths. When she turned around to face the Hobbits, she was almost unrecognizable. Pippin whistled.

"You look like a war hero, Accalia!" Merry said. She took a dagger from underneath her pillow and slid this into her sleeve. Then she glanced at Merry.

"Thank you, Meredith. As a matter of fact, I am." she said, then went to the doorway again. The Hobbits reluctantly donned their soaked cloaks again and headed out into the storm.