I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

As the Rohirrim soldiers brought in maps and supplies, Elaysa was busy organizing her equipment on the side, while I stood nervously in the middle of the room, trying to piece together everything in my mind.

"Lorne, take this." Elaysa tossed me a short sword, her tone as cold as ever. "Your earlier performance made it necessary to prepare a backup for you."

I caught the short sword, my mouth twitching slightly. "You're really putting pressure on me."

"Then make sure you don't slow us down," she replied without even glancing at me, her voice completely devoid of warmth as she continued organizing her gear.

I sighed, turning my attention to the map handed to me by the soldiers. "Mount Doom is here, right?" I ran my finger across the map, stopping at the shadowy area. A chill ran down my spine as I looked at it.

"Yes," the soldier confirmed with a grim tone. "But the road there is fraught with danger. You'll pass the Gondor border and several orc strongholds. Additionally, recent reports indicate that the Ringwraiths have begun roaming Middle-earth. They are Sauron's most loyal servants and will not let anyone approach Mount Doom easily."

"Ringwraiths?" My stomach sank. Although I'd seen how terrifying they were in the movies, the thought of facing them in person made me shudder. "So, we're competing with them for the road?"

"If you're fast enough, you might be able to avoid them," the soldier replied simply, then handed me a heavy pouch. "This contains essential supplies and medicine. It might save your life when needed."

Elaysa rolled up the map and said coldly, "Don't overthink it, Lorne. Focus on the task, not potential trouble."

"Sounds easy enough," I muttered, shrugging. "But the problem is, I'm not mentally prepared for this."

"Then start preparing now." Her tone carried a hint of unyielding firmness.

Once we were ready, we gathered at the gates of Rohan. A group of soldiers came to see us off, their gazes filled with a mix of emotions—concern, hope, and a trace of somber resignation.

"May the gods protect you," King Théoden said, standing at the gates to bid us farewell.

Elaysa nodded, then turned to me. "Lorne, don't lag behind."

As we stepped out of Rohan, the night had already enveloped the land. The road ahead was full of unknowns, and I knew this was only the beginning of a long journey.

Under the dark veil of night, Middle-earth was quiet, yet an undercurrent of danger seemed to ripple through the air. We followed a narrow path, the only sounds being the rustling of leaves in the wind and the occasional distant howl of wolves.

"This place gives me the creeps," I muttered softly, my eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

"Stay focused, Lorne," Elaysa said, walking ahead with a low, calm voice. "The quieter the place seems, the more likely it hides deadly threats."

I swallowed hard and tightened my grip on the short sword, my nerves on edge. Though I'd faced plenty of trouble since stepping into this world, the uncertainty of facing unknown enemies still weighed heavily on me.

Half an hour later, we entered a dense forest. The air was damp, and the ground was covered in thick moss, making each step slightly slippery. I silently cursed these natural traps that seemed designed to trip me and found myself slowing down.

"Keep up," Elaysa urged without turning back. "Your footsteps are too loud."

"I'm… trying to be quiet," I replied in a low voice, trying to appear less clumsy.

Just as I was about to complain again, a low, guttural growl echoed from the distance, cutting through my thoughts. The sound was filled with malice, chilling me to the bone.

"Ringwraiths…" I blurted out, my body instinctively tensing.

Elaysa quickly turned her head, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. "They're here."

"What do we do?" I asked in a hushed voice, my heart pounding as sweat dampened my grip on the sword.

"Hide. Don't act recklessly," she ordered, motioning for me to follow her into the bushes by the side of the path.

We had just concealed ourselves when the sound of hoofbeats reached us. In the darkness, a faint figure came into view, cloaked entirely in black, riding an equally dark warhorse. An oppressive aura radiated from it.

"Is that… a Ringwraith?" I whispered, trying to suppress the trembling in my voice.

"Stay silent," Elaysa warned with a sharp look.

The Ringwraith's horse stopped nearby, seemingly sniffing for something. My heartbeat quickened, thundering in my chest. My palms were slick with cold sweat, and I dared not even breathe deeply.

At that moment, Elaysa silently drew a dagger, her gaze steady and locked onto the Ringwraith. Her movements were minimal but precise, as though she was already prepared to strike.

The cold aura of the Ringwraith spread through the air, making the temperature around us feel as though it had dropped several degrees. I was so tense I forgot to blink, my body frozen like a stone.

The Ringwraith's head tilted slightly in our direction. The hollow void beneath its cloak was utterly unnerving. Its warhorse stepped on the damp ground, each hoofbeat resonating like a drum against my heart.

"What is it sniffing for?" I wondered silently, not daring to speak. A bead of sweat rolled down my forehead and landed on a leaf, making a faint sound.

The Ringwraith immediately raised its head, as if it had caught something. It let out a low growl and began moving toward our hiding spot, its oppressive presence nearly suffocating me.

"Fight or flee?" I signaled to Elaysa with my eyes. Her gaze was calm and resolute, showing no trace of panic. She subtly raised her dagger, signaling me to be ready.

However, just as the Ringwraith was about to reach us, a sudden commotion arose in the distance. A flock of crows burst from the trees, accompanied by rustling noises. The Ringwraith turned sharply toward the sound, growled, and spurred its horse toward the disturbance.

"What just happened?" I whispered.

"Doesn't matter. Move now," Elaysa said softly, quickly pulling me up and leading me away in the opposite direction.

We cautiously navigated the forest, keeping an ear out for any sounds behind us. The Ringwraith's shadow gradually faded into the distance, but its oppressive aura still lingered in my chest.

After running for a while, we finally stopped to catch our breath. Leaning against a tree, I tried to calm my pounding heart, my forehead slick with cold sweat.

"What was that about?" I asked her, my voice still shaky.

Elaysa, leaning against another tree, scanned the area with sharp eyes. "Something must have drawn its attention. But we won't get many more chances like this. We'll have to be more careful moving forward."

Suddenly, a cold realization washed over me, and I straightened up. "Oh no! It's Frodo!"

Elaysa frowned and looked at me. "Who is Frodo?"

"He's… look, the Ringwraiths' target is him," I stammered, trying to steady my breathing. "If they find him, things will get much worse."

Elaysa stared at me with a skeptical look. "How do you know this? Your words sound more like wild guesses."

"That doesn't matter!" I said, my voice quivering with urgency. "What matters is if the Ringwraiths get to Frodo, they'll likely get their hands on the One Ring. And if that thing falls into Sauron's grasp…" I paused as images from the movie flashed through my mind. "Middle-earth is doomed."

Her cold gaze lingered on me for a moment. Though she didn't seem entirely convinced, she didn't press further. Instead, she quickly adjusted her gear. "If what you're saying is true, then we need to find him immediately."

"Wait, find him?!" I nearly jumped. "Are you serious? The Ringwraiths are already there! Charging in now is suicide!"

"What do you suggest?" she retorted icily. "Let the Ringwraiths claim their target?"

"I…" I opened my mouth but realized she was right. We couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

"Let's go." Without waiting for my response, Elaysa grabbed me and began running in the direction where the Ringwraith had disappeared.

As we pushed through the forest, my mind was a chaotic mess. Though I'd watched The Lord of the Rings, I never imagined I'd find myself thrust into this world, let alone face a threat of this magnitude. My steps grew heavier as I prayed silently, hoping we weren't too late.

The atmosphere in the woods grew colder, as if the sound around us had been swallowed up, leaving only the echo of our footsteps.

Finally, we reached a small clearing in the distance. At its center, a small figure was huddled on the ground, surrounded by several dark silhouettes closing in.

"It's Frodo!" I shouted, pointing forward, only to have Elaysa clamp her hand over my mouth.

"Quiet. Don't expose us," she hissed, quickly surveying the terrain.

I nodded vigorously, though anxiety churned inside me. If we didn't act quickly, Frodo would be done for!

Elaysa's sharp gaze fell on a cluster of rocks near the edge of the clearing. She spoke in a low voice. "Follow me. Don't mess this up."

We crept around to the rocks, the low, guttural growls of the Ringwraiths growing louder. Frodo was curled up on the ground, his face pale, clearly paralyzed by their oppressive aura.

"What's the plan?" I whispered, my nerves frayed to the breaking point.

Elaysa drew two daggers from her waist, her eyes cold and sharp as blades. "We hit first and figure it out later."

I swallowed hard, took a deep breath, and gripped my sword tightly. "Alright, hit first… but do you actually have a plan?"

She shot me a frosty glare. "The plan is, don't drag me down."

Before I could complain, she was already moving silently, her steps as light as a cat's. Not a single sound betrayed her approach. I followed cautiously, making sure not to step on any dry branches.

The growls of the Ringwraiths grew louder, their chilling voices resonating like a death knell. Frodo remained frozen in fear, his wide eyes filled with terror. I tightened my grip on the sword, my mind racing with strategies. What would I do if the Ringwraiths turned around?

Before I could spiral further into panic, Elaysa made her move. She sprang out from behind the rocks, her twin daggers aiming straight for the nearest Ringwraith's head with a swift, deadly precision. The Ringwraith let out a piercing shriek and raised its sword to meet her attack.

"Move!" she shouted at me without looking back.

"Move?" I froze for a second before rushing toward Frodo. "You handle them; I'll get him out of here!"

I reached Frodo and Sam, pulling them up from the ground. "Get up! We have to go!" But their legs were like jelly, refusing to move.

"The One Ring… where is it?" The Ringwraith's voice was low and raspy, invading my mind like icy claws gripping my throat.

I shuddered violently and shouted instinctively, "The Ring isn't here! Go look somewhere else!"

The Ringwraith ignored my nonsense, its sword swinging once again toward Elaysa. Her movements were swift and precise, deflecting the strikes just enough to avoid being hit. But the sheer strength of the Ringwraith was overwhelming.

"Hurry up!" Elaysa's voice carried an edge of impatience. "Lorne, get them out of here!"

Gritting my teeth, I hauled Frodo onto my back, dragging him away as fast as I could. Just as we were about to leave the Ringwraith's line of sight, a chilling presence swept over us. Its blade gleamed with a frosty light as it swung down in our direction!

I raised my sword, mustering every ounce of strength to block the attack. The clash of metal rang out like an explosion, sending a shockwave of pain through my arm. I nearly dropped the sword.

Drawing on the system's implanted swordsmanship skills, the weapon in my hand suddenly felt like an extension of my body. Planting my foot firmly, I adopted a defensive stance, ready to face the Ringwraith head-on.

Its attacks were relentless, each strike accompanied by a freezing aura that seemed to tear at my soul. I managed to parry its blows, but my feet slid back with each impact, as if I were dancing precariously on the edge of life and death.

"Damn it!" I growled, dodging a downward slash at the last second. As the Ringwraith overextended slightly, I countered with a thrust to its side. The blade struck true, but the creature didn't react to the wound, emitting only a low, chilling growl.

"What even is this thing?" I cursed inwardly, bracing myself for its next move.

It raised its sword high, preparing to bring it down with terrifying speed. I barely had time to react, relying on the system's enhanced reflexes to roll aside, narrowly escaping the lethal blow. The blade struck the ground, kicking up a cloud of dirt.

"Lorne, don't die out there!" Elaysa's voice rang out from the other side as one of her daggers flew through the air, embedding itself in the back of the Ringwraith's head. It hesitated for a brief moment, turning its attention toward her.

Seizing the opportunity, I adjusted my stance and drove my sword into its chest. This time, the blade pierced its armor, producing a harsh screech of metal tearing. The Ringwraith let out an ear-splitting shriek and staggered back.

"Elaysa!" I shouted. "It's distracted—attack now!"

She didn't waste a second. Moving like the wind, she slashed at the Ringwraith with lightning speed, leaving deep cuts across its body. The creature's movements grew sluggish, and a strange black mist began emanating from it.

"Don't let your guard down, Elaysa!" I warned. "Ringwraiths can't die unless the One Ring is destroyed."

Elaysa froze mid-strike, her dagger hovering in midair. Her icy gaze turned toward me. "What do you mean? It'll come back?"

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I took a deep breath. "Ringwraiths are immortal unless the One Ring is destroyed. As long as the Ring exists, they'll keep chasing its presence."

Elaysa frowned, her gaze returning to the dissipating black mist. "So this thing is here for the Ring…" she muttered, her voice tinged with unease.

"Which means we need to fix this before they do," I said through gritted teeth, gripping my sword tightly. My hands were still trembling, and the cold dread of facing the Ringwraith lingered in my body.

"Who… who are you?" a weak voice came from behind us, filled with fear and confusion.