I’m a Doorman at an Assassin’s Hotel

"Who… who are you?" A weak voice sounded from behind, thick with fear and doubt.

Elaysa and I stopped in our tracks, turning toward the source. Frodo was leaning against a tree trunk, his face pale as he clutched the One Ring protectively to his chest. His gaze darted between the two of us, filled with uncertainty about whether we were friends or foes. Beside him, Sam stood cautiously with a short sword gripped tightly in his hand, his expression full of suspicion and resolve.

"Calm down, we're not here to hurt you," I said, trying to sound as reassuring as possible. But after all the tension from earlier, my voice likely didn't carry much conviction.

Sam didn't lower his guard. He raised his sword slightly, positioning himself in front of Frodo. "Who are you? How do you know about this?" he demanded.

"Don't be hasty, Sam," Frodo said, tugging on his sleeve. Though his voice was weak, it carried a cautious resolve. "Let's hear what they have to say first."

"Listen, we're not working for Sauron," I sighed, scratching my head. "We're, uh… friends of Gandalf. We're here to help."

Sam's suspicion didn't waver. His grip on the short sword tightened. "Friends of Gandalf? Funny, I've never heard him mention you."

Frodo's eyes flickered with a hint of doubt, as though he was trying to recall any mention of us from Gandalf. "Gandalf… never said anything about friends coming to help," he said cautiously.

Elaysa stood to the side, her icy gaze fixed on me. She clearly had no intention of supporting my fabricated story.

Feeling a cold sweat run down my spine, I pushed forward with the lie. "Uh, Gandalf's been busy. Too busy to introduce us. But he trusts us! Otherwise, how else would we know about the Ring, right?"

Sam's frown deepened, and his suspicion only grew. "When's the last time you saw Gandalf?" he pressed.

That question nearly tripped me up. My brain spun rapidly. "Uh… in… the White City! Yes, in the White City, we met him there." I silently prayed this answer would pass.

Frodo hesitated, glancing at Sam. "Gandalf does have some acquaintances in the White City. They might be connected to him."

"That doesn't mean they're trustworthy," Sam said, his tone still firm.

At this point, Elaysa finally spoke, her voice cold as frost. "We're here to help, not stand trial. If you don't need us, we can leave and let you deal with the Ringwraiths and Sauron on your own."

Her words were like a bucket of cold water, momentarily stunning Sam. Frodo, meanwhile, lowered his head in thought. After a moment, he sighed and said, "Sam, maybe we do need their help. Even if they aren't Gandalf's friends… it's better than facing this danger alone."

Reluctantly, Sam lowered his sword, though his wary gaze never left us. "Fine. I'll trust you for now. But if you try anything, I won't hesitate to deal with you."

Forcing a sheepish smile, I replied, "Don't worry, Sam, we're really here to help…"

Elaysa scoffed softly, her eyes scanning the distance. "We don't have much time. We need to act now."

Frodo nodded, though his expression remained strained. In a weak voice, he asked, "But what do we do? The Ringwraiths are hunting us, and Mount Doom is so far away. We…"

"First," Elaysa interrupted, her tone brisk, "you need to recover your strength. Without that, no plan will work." She glanced around before pointing to a secluded area in the nearby woods. "We'll set up camp there, rest briefly, and plan our next move."

"And the Ringwraiths?" Sam asked, still uneasy, his hand gripping the sword hilt tightly.

"The Ringwraiths won't find us here, not for a while," Elaysa said coldly, her sharp gaze cutting through the shadows as though she could see any lurking threat. "But we can't count on them being lost forever. We have to move quickly."

Under her guidance, we quietly moved deeper into the woods. The dense canopy blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving only specks of light scattered across the ground. We found a small clearing to sit in, and Frodo and Sam finally had a chance to catch their breath.

"This area is safe for now," Elaysa said, leaning against a tree as she kept watch on our surroundings. "Use this time to recover."

Sam pulled out some bread and dried fruit from his pack, carefully handing some to Frodo before offering it to Elaysa and me. I accepted the dried fruit, feeling a bit awkward. "Thanks, Sam."

"You're welcome," he said curtly, though his tone remained guarded.

"For the journey ahead," Elaysa began, her voice low and commanding as her gaze swept over us, "we'll avoid the main roads and take mountain paths instead. The Ringwraiths are extremely sensitive to the Ring's presence. Frodo—" her sharp eyes bore into him, "your resolve must be stronger than it is now. Otherwise, you'll put us all in danger."

Frodo lowered his head, saying nothing, though his face grew even paler.

"And you," she said, turning to me, her tone as icy as ever, "don't slow us down."

"I'll do my best," I replied with a wry smile, inwardly wondering why she couldn't just be a little kinder.

After finishing our meager meal, Frodo and Sam leaned against the tree trunks and closed their eyes to rest. I sat nearby, keeping a wary eye on the surroundings while replaying the earlier encounter with the Ringwraith in my mind. Elaysa stood further away, arms crossed, her gaze never leaving the shadows of the forest.

"Your swordsmanship has improved," she said suddenly, her tone as calm and detached as always.

"Thanks to… some unusual experiences," I replied vaguely, unwilling to mention the system.

"But swordsmanship alone isn't enough." Her voice dropped slightly, as though she was speaking to herself. "This world is far more dangerous than you realize."

I was about to ask what she meant when a faint, familiar growl echoed in the distance. Elaysa and I stood simultaneously, our eyes locking onto the dark forest.

"Ringwraiths again?" I asked in a hushed voice, already gripping my sword.

"No, it's not them," she said, narrowing her eyes as a complicated expression flickered across her face. "But it's not anything good, either." Drawing her dagger swiftly, she added, "Prepare for a fight."

As our nerves tightened, readying for danger, faint rustling noises emerged from the shadows of the woods. It didn't sound like a large creature but rather something small moving through the underbrush.

"Don't let your guard down," Elaysa warned, her dagger glinting coldly, her stance ready.

"Maybe it's just… uh, a rabbit?" I ventured, trying to lighten the mood, though my voice betrayed my anxiety.

Before the words were out of my mouth, a gaunt, twisted figure leapt from the shadows, landing on a rock in front of us. It moved on all fours with unsettling agility, resembling a giant spider but retaining a disturbingly human shape. Its eyes gleamed in the faint light, and its mouth muttered incoherent words in a rasping voice.

"Ah… yes… they have it… they took it…" the creature muttered, its voice sharp and grating.

"Oh, no…" I instinctively took a step back. "It's Gollum."

"Gollum?" Elaysa frowned, her gaze fixed warily on the twisted figure.

"Yeah, him," I whispered hurriedly. "He's the previous bearer of the One Ring. He's obsessively attached to it—he's practically given his entire soul to the Ring."

Hearing my words, Gollum snapped his head up, his large, round eyes locking onto me. "The Ring… yes, precious… where is it… they stole it!" His voice rose sharply as he pointed at Frodo and Sam, his tone cutting like a blade. "Thieves! They're thieves!"

"Calm down!" I raised my hands in an attempt to soothe him. "We're not enemies. We didn't steal… uh, precious."

Frodo stood up unsteadily. Though still weak, he managed to muster a semblance of authority. "Gollum, we don't want to hurt you. But the Ring must be destroyed. It's the only way."

"Destroy it?" Gollum's voice shot up an octave as he hunched defensively, his expression a mix of rage and desperation. "No… you can't destroy precious! It's ours—it belongs to us!"

The tension in the air was palpable, and it seemed as though Gollum could lash out at any moment.

Elaysa glanced at me and asked in a low voice, "Are you sure this thing is an ally?"

"Uh… not exactly," I admitted with a strained smile. "But he knows everything about the Ring. He might be the key to reaching Mount Doom."

"He's not trustworthy," she said icily.

"But we have no other choice," Frodo said firmly, meeting Gollum's wild gaze. "Gollum, we need you to guide us—to take us to Mount Doom."

Gollum hesitated, his expression oscillating between fury and doubt. He muttered to himself for a moment before finally looking up. His eyes shone with a complex mix of emotions. "Guide… yes, we knows the way… but you mustn't hurt precious!"

"We won't harm it," Frodo promised.

Still wary, Gollum reluctantly turned, his movements stiff as he gestured for us to follow. "Come… follow us, to the mountain… to the mountain," he said, his voice dropping back to a mumble.

We began following Gollum, the air around us heavy with tension. His shadow stretched long under the moonlight, his thin frame moving with eerie agility. Every so often, he stopped to sniff the air, muttering incomprehensible words under his breath.

"Can I just ask," I whispered to Frodo as I walked beside him, "are you sure we can trust him? He doesn't exactly scream 'reliable.'"

Frodo sighed, his voice quiet. "I don't know. But he knows the way better than anyone. Right now, we have no other choice."

"No other choice…" I repeated to myself, glancing at Gollum ahead of us. His strange eyes darted around constantly, and his hunched figure seemed both ridiculous and ominous at the same time.

"Don't get too close to him," Elaysa warned as she walked up beside me. Her tone was calm but carried a cold edge. "Creatures like him… can turn on you at any moment."

"Noted," I said, raising my hands in surrender. But inwardly, I couldn't help but grumble: This mission just keeps getting more complicated.

The journey continued as Gollum led us through dense woods and across small, trickling streams. Every time we tried to speak with him, he ignored us, mumbling to himself instead. Only when Frodo mentioned the "precious" did he pause abruptly, turning to fix Frodo with an intense, possessive, and hateful gaze.

As the tense silence settled in after Elaysa's decisive action, the group resumed their journey through the dark and foreboding woods. The heavy weight of her decision loomed over everyone, especially Frodo, whose pale face betrayed his internal conflict.

I caught up with him, trying to lighten the oppressive mood. "Look, I get it. This world, these decisions... they're not easy. But staying alive and completing the mission—that's what matters now."

Frodo glanced at me, his eyes reflecting an ocean of doubt and regret. "Does surviving justify everything? If we lose our principles, what makes us any different from Sauron?"

I hesitated, fumbling for a response. Elaysa, ahead of us, didn't slow her pace, but her sharp ears likely caught every word. Her cold voice sliced through the tension without turning back. "The difference, Frodo, is that we don't kill for greed or conquest. We do what's necessary to ensure survival and success. If that makes us ruthless, so be it."

Frodo's hand instinctively went to his chest, clutching the One Ring through his pocket. He didn't argue, but his silence spoke volumes.

Sam, ever the loyal companion, stepped in to comfort Frodo. "Don't listen to her too much, Mr. Frodo. We've made it this far by sticking to what's right. We'll keep going, no matter what."

I nodded, attempting to reinforce Sam's optimism. "And hey, we're still here to help. It's not just about the end goal—it's about how we get there. Right?"

Elaysa's faint scoff echoed ahead, but she said nothing more.

The forest grew denser as we moved forward, the canopy above blocking out most of the light. Gollum, darting ahead with his erratic movements, led the way. He muttered incessantly to himself, a chaotic mix of anger, fear, and obsession with his "precious."

I couldn't help but lean toward Frodo. "Are you sure he won't lead us into a trap? He doesn't exactly seem… stable."

Frodo sighed, his voice low. "No, I'm not sure. But he knows this path better than anyone else. For now, we have to trust him."

Elaysa's voice cut in from ahead. "Trust is a luxury we can't afford. Keep your eyes open and your weapons ready."

We continued in uneasy silence until Gollum suddenly stopped, his thin body trembling as he sniffed the air. He crouched low, pressing his face to the ground. "Close… very close… yes, precious, we're near," he muttered, his eyes darting around like a cornered animal.

Elaysa immediately raised a hand, signaling us to stop. Her sharp eyes scanned the surroundings. "What is it?" she asked coldly.

"Something's off," Gollum hissed, crawling backward as though recoiling from an unseen threat. "They're watching us… they want it…"

"Who?" Elaysa demanded, her tone as sharp as the dagger in her hand.

Gollum didn't answer directly. Instead, he clutched his head and muttered, "Thieves! They're all thieves! Precious mustn't be taken… mustn't…"

A sudden rustling broke through the tension, followed by the distinct snap of a twig. Elaysa's hand tightened on her dagger as her body tensed, ready to strike. "Prepare yourselves," she ordered in a low, commanding voice.

The rustling grew closer, and shadows flickered among the trees. Suddenly, several dark shapes burst from the underbrush—orc scouts, armed with short bows and daggers. Their snarls filled the air as they quickly spread out, their sharp eyes locking onto us.

"Orcs!" Sam cried out, stepping protectively in front of Frodo.

Elaysa's gaze swept over the scene with icy calm. "These aren't random stragglers," she said quietly. "They're trackers. Likely sent by Sauron to monitor the Ringwraiths or us."

The orcs wasted no time. Barking orders in their guttural tongue, they raised their bows and loosed a volley of arrows.

"Scatter!" Elaysa barked, diving behind a tree as arrows thudded into the ground around us. I barely managed to roll behind a boulder, cursing under my breath. "Does it ever stop?"

Frodo and Sam huddled together behind another tree, their faces pale with fear. Sam held his short sword in trembling hands, while Frodo clutched his pocket, desperate to shield the Ring.

Elaysa, as always, moved like lightning. She dashed between the orcs, her daggers flashing in the dim light. Two orcs fell within moments, their bodies hitting the ground with dull thuds.

"Help, Lorne!" she shouted, parrying an arrow with her dagger.

"Right, right!" I muttered, gripping my sword tightly. My heart raced, but I drew on the combat skills the system had given me. Charging an orc, I swung awkwardly, my first strike glancing off its armor. The orc snarled and lunged at me, but I managed to dodge and counter, slicing its leg. It fell with a howl, and I quickly finished it with a second strike.

"Got it!" I exclaimed, only for another orc to barrel toward me. "Oh, come on!"

"Stay focused!" Elaysa snapped, kicking another orc aside.

With her covering us, we slowly began to turn the tide. The orc scouts, realizing they were outmatched, started to retreat. One of them bolted into the woods, its hunched form vanishing among the trees.

"Don't let it escape!" Elaysa commanded, drawing a throwing knife. She raised her arm, ready to strike.

"Wait!" I shouted, stopping her. Everyone froze, even the retreating orc hesitating momentarily.

"What are you doing, Lorne?" Elaysa hissed, her knife still poised. "We can't let it report back."

"It might know Sauron's plans," I said quickly. "If we capture it, we could learn something useful."

Elaysa's icy gaze bore into me, filled with skepticism. "Capture it? And then what? Drag an orc along with us?"

Frodo, still catching his breath, spoke up. "Lorne might be right. If Sauron is after more than just the Ring… we need to know."

"Ridiculous," Elaysa scoffed, though her throwing knife wavered slightly. "Fine. You take responsibility."

Before I could respond, she darted into the woods, her movements swift and precise. Within moments, she returned, dragging the struggling orc by its arm. She threw it to the ground at my feet, its hands bound and its eyes filled with hatred.

"It's all yours," she said coldly.

The orc hissed and snarled, baring its fangs. I crouched down, trying to appear calm. "Look, we're not here to kill you—unless you make us. Tell us what Sauron's planning, and this can end without more pain."

The orc sneered, speaking in broken Common. "Dark Lord… will kill… all of you…"

"Great start," I muttered, glancing at Frodo and Sam. "Any advice on dealing with this thing?"

Sam shook his head. "We usually just run."

"Figures," I muttered, turning back to the orc. "Let's try this again—"

Elaysa stepped forward, her dagger gleaming in the dim light. Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Talk. Now. Or I'll make you wish you'd died in the fight."

The orc recoiled slightly, its bravado faltering. After a tense silence, it growled, "Dark Lord… seeks power… the stone… your doom…"

Elaysa straightened, her expression grim. "The Space Stone. He's targeting it too."

Frodo paled further, his hand clutching the Ring tighter.

"Let's move," Elaysa said sharply, already preparing to leave. "We've wasted enough time."

"And this one?" I asked, motioning to the orc.

"Kill it," Elaysa said simply, not even looking back.

"Wait!" Frodo's voice was firm, though conflicted. "Perhaps we should let it go. Killing it won't change anything."

Elaysa whirled around, her eyes blazing. "Let it go? Are you insane? It'll report straight to Sauron."

"Sauron already knows about me," Frodo argued quietly. "Killing it doesn't protect us."

A tense silence fell over the group. Elaysa's jaw tightened, and in one swift motion, she slit the orc's throat. Its body slumped to the ground as the forest fell silent.

"Elaysa!" Frodo gasped, horrified.

"Sentimentality gets you killed," she said coldly, not sparing the corpse a glance. "Move. Now."

Frodo stood frozen, his fists clenched, while Sam gently urged him forward. I sighed, stepping to his side. "Frodo, I get it. But right now, staying alive means making hard choices."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with anguish. After a moment, he nodded weakly. "Let's go."

As we continued onward, the air grew heavier with tension. Ahead, Elaysa's figure moved swiftly through the trees, but the shadow of her actions lingered, leaving me with a growing sense of unease: this mission was far more complex—and dangerous—than I'd ever imagined.