Author's Note : I'm well aware there is a 60 year gap between the events of The Hobbit and LOTR. Let's assume time passes differently on Arda for the sake of this story. Also, I would strongly recommend to read my two other stories in the Hobbit/Clone Wars crossover section otherwise the following story won't make much sense. Based upon the extended editions of the LOTR film trilogy.
Turmoil beyond the Outer-Rim ! On Arda, an ancient evil weapon, the One Ring, forged in the fires of Mount Doom by the Dark Lord Sauron, is found after having disappeared for 3000 years. It ends up in the hands of the most unlikely being, a hobbit named Frodo Baggins. After having survived a devastating firestorm by Smaug The Tyrannical and a brutal invasion attempt by Azog The Defiler, former Jedi Ahsoka Tano and Onderon senator Lux Bonteri rush out to Arda in an attempt to cut off Separatist supply lines once and for all !
Aboard the Phoenix, they were both looking over the details given by Jedi Master Shaak Ti. They were provided a basic map of Arda and an objective to start things off.
"Well 'Soka, seems the information provided by your friend was accurate. We should land on Arda in a matter of hours." Lux said while looking at the navicomputer.
"Yes, Lux. Master Ti is one of the few members of the Jedi Council that I still trust. Skyguy was right about her being knowledgeable about Arda." Ahsoka answered in a a-matter-of-fact tone.
"Care to repeat our starting point again ?" Lux asked.
"We must land in an area known as Arnor. Let's look for a place which is pretty distant from settlements. We don't want to attract any unwanted attention, now do we, Lux ?" Ahsoka suggested.
"I wouldn't. Then what ?" Lux asked waiting for more.
"Ok, then we travel on foot taking a road known as Greenway, which should in turn lead us to a village called Bree. From there, we should be able to gain the necessary clues we need to stop the Separatists before they get more nasties out of there." Ahsoka stated.
"...'Soka, I'm starting to think we may have came here for nothing." Lux said in disappointment.
"What ?! What makes you think so ?" Ahsoka asked in confusion.
"Well, there are no signs of any Separatist ships... not even a blockade. It's like they never came in the first place according to the scanners." Lux stated while pointing at the scanners.
"H... how ? Confound it all, we're still going in ! We didn't travel through 7000 parsecs for nothing, Lux ! It's like Master Kenobi's former Master, Qui-Gon Jinn used to say... "Nothing happens by accident." We're here for a reason. We'll find out soon enough I believe." Ahsoka continued.
"If you insist, 'Soka..." Lux muttered back.
A few hours passed and they made their landing in a woodland area of Arnor. Fortunately, no one saw their ship coming in from the skies.
Ahsoka was the first to step out, she was taken aback by the beauty of the land. Forests, mountains, rivers, plains... No sign of advanced technology as she could see. Lux soon followed with a large backpack on his back and had a second one in his arms.
"Gee, those backpacks look kind of heavy, what did you stuff in them, Lux ?" Ahsoka wondered.
"At the contrary, my dear. They are quite light. It's mainly extra clothes, food, water. Basic supplies." Lux stated as he recalled what he brought along.
"You didn't put my winter coat in there, did you ?" Ahsoka asked.
"You never know, 'Soka. We may find ourselves scaling some of those snow-tipped mountains out there..." Lux said while pointing at the mountains in the distance.
"Heh, that'll be the day, Lux !" Ahsoka said with a smirk on her face.
Ahsoka proceeded to gather leaves, branches and twigs and was covering up the ship.
"What are you doing ?" Lux wondered.
"I think it's best we cover up the ship, Lux. Just in case. We can't afford to lose our ride back home." Ahsoka suggested while picking up more materials to cover up the Phoenix.
"I highly doubt that would be possible, 'Soka. From the looks of things, I'd say the people here have no knowledge of space travel." Lux said as he looked for signs of spaceports.
"If you don't mind, Lux, I'd rather not take chances, help me out here !" Ahsoka snapped while motioning for help.
The ship was hardly visible from all the leaves, branches and twigs that covered it. From the average person's point of view, it merely looked like a large mound of earth. Afterwards, they made their way through a field and finally came upon a small trail which led to an opening in the woods.
"Well, I think we're on the right track..." Ahsoka stated with a smile on her face.
"Are you sure, 'Soka ?" Lux wondered.
"Look here at this sign, Lux. In plain Galactic Basic, it says "Greenway". Ahsoka answered pointing at the signpost.
"About as obvious as it could get, hmm. But I fear our travel towards Bree won't be as pleasant as we'd wish it." Lux continued in slight disappointment.
"What do you mean ?" Ahsoka asked oblivious.
"If you take a second to look at the sky, those do look like rain clouds to me..." Lux said while pointing at the sky.
The sound of rumbling thunder was heard in the distance, soon enough rain drops started falling.
"These cloaks will keep us from getting too wet. Shall we, Lux ?" Ahsoka stated while putting on her hood on her cloak.
Lux nodded. They walked on the Greenway for over two hours. Rain poured during the entirety of the trip. By the time they reached the gates of Bree, they were both drenched from head to toe.
"Now let me do the talking, ok ?" Lux told Ahsoka while turning to her.
"No problem, Lux. You're the one with the diplomatic skills." Ahsoka replied.
"Oh... wait. Please allow me." Lux said as he reached into her hood and pushed her lekku behind her shoulders.
"Hey, hey, hey ! What are you doing, Lux ?! Stop it, you're giving me a sensory overload !" Ahsoka yelped as she felt dazed by the continuous touching of her sensitive lekku.
"I'm sorry 'Soka. I forget how sensitive they are. But let's not frighten those people now. Who knows how they'd react if they saw you without your cloak." Lux suggested.
"You've got a point. Go on, do your thing." Ahsoka answered as she pointed to the gate.
Lux knocked on the gate. It wasn't long until an old man wearing a raincoat opened the door.
"Oh ! Travelers, we have here ! What business have you in Bree ?" The old man asked.
"We're merely seeking shelter from the rain. Surely there would be some lodging of sorts ?" Lux answered while starting to shiver a bit.
"There is, young man. In the center of the village lies the Inn of The Prancing Pony. The innkeeper, Barliman Butterbur, will be more than happy to set you a place to rest and dry yourselves." The old man said as he pointed towards the Inn.
"Thank you kindly, good sir. Shall we, dear ?" Lux stated while motioning Ahsoka to move forward.
They made their way through the street. Ahsoka was taken by surprise as a homeless man passed by her, eating a carrot and almost belching in her face. She rolled her eyes in disgust.
As they entered the Inn, they took a quick gaze around. The atmosphere wasn't so much different from Leonard's on Onderon, except for the obvious fact that there were no television screens or loud music playing. All that was heard was the chatter of the patrons. Lux made his way to the main desk and was greeted by a burly man.
"Good evening, travelers ! What can I do for you ?" The innkeeper asked with a smile.
"We're merely seeking lodging and perhaps a bite to eat as well." Lux answered simply.
"I'll have that arranged in a bit, Mr. uh... ? The innkeeper continued waiting for a name.
"Bonteri." Lux stated.
"Bonteri... Hmm. That'll be 25 gold coins, my good man." The innkeeper calculated.
"Gold coins ? I'm afraid I don't have any on hand... Would Republic credits be acceptable as alternative ?" Lux said while reaching for his credit chips.
"Republic credits ?" The innkeeper asked in confusion.
Lux showed the man some credit chips. He took them in his hands and had a good look at them.
"Can't say I've seen these before, Mr. Bonteri. Mind if I keep these and they'll cover your fee ?" The innkeeper suggested.
"Sounds like a bargain. Thank you, sir." Lux said as he gave the credits.
They made their way to their room. It was relatively simple, a desk with a mirror, a few chairs, a small table, a window by the side and a large bed which looked fairly comfortable. Ahsoka's stomach began growling, she was getting hungry.
"Perhaps we should head back downstairs for a bite, Lux ?" Ahsoka asked while pointing down to the pub area.
"I wouldn't say no to that, 'Soka. Let's go." Lux answered.
They went back to the pub area of the Inn and were soon greeted by a waitress.
"Hello there, my name is Tilda. Tonight we serve fried fish and golden chips with our homebrewed ale. Give me a moment and you'll have your food." She said as she explained the simple meal options.
"How about that, Lux ? Wasn't expecting to eat fish again so soon." Ahsoka stated almost drooling in anticipation.
"That homebrewed ale could be interesting as well." Lux stated while looking forward to tasting a brand new beer.
It wasn't long until Tilda returned with the plates and glasses.
Ahsoka was the first to take a sip of the new ale.
"Hmm... this is different, Lux. Quite a bitter aftertaste, but still drinkable." Ahsoka said while sticking out her tongue slightly.
Lux took a sip himself.
"Not bad... as you said, it's drinkable." Lux stated in slight disappointment.
The door suddenly opened and four people came in, drenched as they were before. They were relatively short.
"Never thought I'd see children in this sort of establishment..." Lux said while noticing the newcomers.
"Something tells me these aren't humans, Lux. A near-human species, most likely. And my gut feeling tells me they're important. Stay quiet so I can focus on their conversation using my montrals." Ahsoka suggested as she closed her eyes and listened in.
One of them approached the innkeeper's desk.
"Good evening, little masters. What can I do for you ? If you're seeking accommodation, we've got some nice cozy hobbit-sized rooms available. Always happy to cater to little folk, Mr. uh ?" The innkeeper said as he greeted his new guests.
"Underhill. My name is Underhill." The leader of the four answered.
"Underhill... Hmm." The innkeeper nodded.
"We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived ?" The leader asked.
"Gandalf ?... Gandalf ?... Oh yes, now I remember. Elderly chap, long gray beard, big pointy hat." The innkeeper stated as he suddenly remembered who this "Gandalf" was.
The small person nodded happily.
"Not seen him for 6 months..." The innkeeper finished.
He turned to his friends and looked worried.
"What do we do now ?" The largest of the four asked.
They all took an ale of their own and sat around a table.
"Well, there you go, Lux ! If they were mere children, they wouldn't be partaking in those, now would they ?" Ahsoka whispered to Lux as they noticed them ordering ales.
"It seems you are right, 'Soka. Do you still intend on listening in to their conversations ?" Lux whispered back.
Ahsoka nodded and closed her eyes again.
"Sam. He'll be here. He'll come." The leader said as he comforted his larger friend.
The patrons were looking at the small people in a suspicious way. One of them arrived with a large mug.
"What's that ?" The smallest of the four asked.
"This my friend, is a pint !" His friend answered as he took a sip.
"It comes in pints ?" The smallest one asked in amazement.
"Hmm hmm." The other one answered swallowing a sip.
"I'm getting one !" The smallest one stated as he stood up to get his own.
"You've had a whole half already !" Sam stated.
The small one sat a stool at the bar and enjoyed his pint.
"That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we've arrived !" Sam told the leader as they glanced towards a hooded man sitting in a corner, smoking a pipe.
"Excuse me. That man in the corner. Who is he ?" The leader asked the innkeeper as he passed by to deliver some food and drinks.
"He's one of them rangers. They're dangerous folks they are. Wandering the wilds. What his right name is, I've never heard, but round here, he's known as Strider." The innkeeper explained.
"Strider." The leader repeated.
Ahsoka started to hear a malicious voice. She couldn't tell where it came from, but a chill crept up her spine.
"Baggins... Baggins... Baggins... Baggins ! ... Baggins !" The voice kept on repeating.
She noticed the leader being alarmed all of a sudden and her attention was taken to the smaller of the four. He was talking to the patrons at the bar.
"Baggins ? Sure I know a Baggins ! He's right there. Frodo Baggins ! He's my second cousin once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin twice removed on his father's side, if you follow me." The smallest one explained to the patrons.
The leader, whose name seems to be Frodo, rushed to his friend at the bar and pulled him down. The man known as Strider kept an eye on them.
"Pippin !" Frodo exclaimed in panic.
"Steady on !" Pippin yelled as he shook Frodo off him.
Frodo ended up tripping and falling to the ground. It is then a small object, a ring, flies in the air. Both Strider and Ahsoka turn their gaze at it. As Frodo tries to catch the ring with his hand, it ends up slipping in one of his fingers. He suddenly disappears.
Everyone was in a sudden state of shock.
"Did you see what I saw, Lux ?!" Ahsoka asked in disbelief.
"Indeed... That person just... vanished !" Lux answered in surprise.
Frodo finds himself in a ghostly world. He hears an evil voice. He sees a huge lidless eye wreathed in flames.
"You cannot hide ! I see you ! There is no life in the void ! Only death !" The voice shouted out to him.
Frodo then removed the ring from his finger and suddenly everything returned to normal. He breathed a sigh of relief, but was caught off guard by Strider.
"You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr. Underhill !" Strider stated as he picked Frodo off the ground and took him upstairs.
"Will you interfere ?" Lux asked hesitantly.
"Not yet. Let's see what the others do first." Ahsoka suggested.
Frodo is brought to Strider's room and is thrown on the ground.
"What do you want ?" Frodo asks his captor.
"A little more caution from you ! That is no trinket you carry !" Strider warned him.
"I carry nothing !" Frodo pleaded.
"Indeed. I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift !" Strider said as he extinguished the candles in his room and removed his hood.
"Who are you ?" Frodo wondered.
"Are you frightened ?" Strider asked.
"Yes." Frodo answered with hesitation.
"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you." Strider continued.
Suddenly the door is opened and the 3 others show up carrying stools and candlesticks. Strider turns around faces them with his sword.
"Let him go ! Or I'll have you "Longshanks" !" Sam shouted in a menacing voice.
"You have a stout heart, little hobbit ! But that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They're coming." Strider said while sheathing his sword.
But footsteps and more voices were heard beyond the door.
"I'm telling you, Lux ! We should be helping them. My gut feeling tells me they're important !" Ahsoka pleaded to Lux.
"But 'Soka, you don't even know them. How can you..." Lux stated before being cut off when Strider opened the door and saw the two hooded figures.
"Who are you ?! What is your business with these hobbits ?!" Strider shouted in anger as he dragged both into the room.
"It's really her idea, good sir. Please understand we mean no harm to anyone here." Lux said calmly while removing his hood.
"You ! Take off your hood ! Show yourself !" Strider ordered to Ahsoka.
"If you insist... but you're gonna be surprised !" Ahsoka stated as she finally removed her hood and rearranged her lekku to fall in front of her shoulders.
Strider took a few steps back, eyes wide in horror.
"W... what in the Valar are you supposed to be ?!" Strider asked in shock.
"I'm a Togruta. Ahsoka Tano is my name. This is Lux Bonteri, my betrothed. As you can probably guess from our looks and attire, we are from a far-off land. Farther than you could possibly imagine." Ahsoka explained while not going into the details of space travel.
"Well then, young hobbits. Perhaps we could learn who you all are." Strider suggested as he turned to face the four hobbits.
"Very well, I might as well introduce everyone. Frodo Baggins is my name, this is my good friend Samwise Gamgee, my distant cousins Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. I was asked by Gandalf to meet him here, but he hasn't shown. I don't know what could have happened. " Frodo stated as he introduced himself and the three other hobbits.
"We have little time, Lady Ahsoka and Sir Lux, pack your things and follow the rest of us, quickly !" Strider ordered. They both took their belongings and met up with Strider and the hobbits in a room from the other building, opposite of the Inn.
A few moments later, a group of cloaked figures appeared and entered the Inn. It could be seen that they had entered the room that the hobbits were supposed to stay at. They proceeded to pierce the beds with their swords. Upon realizing that they were tricked, they screeched in frustration. The screeches could be heard all over the village. Lux and Ahsoka stood by the window along with Strider while the hobbits laid on a bed. They watched them depart on their horses, still screeching in anger.
"What are those things ?" Ahsoka asked in slight worry.
"They were once men. Great Kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgûl. Ringwraiths. Neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring. Drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you, Frodo." Strider explained to everyone.
"So what do we do now, Strider ?" Lux asked his newfound ally.
"For now, you all may rest. We head out into the wilderness in early morning." Strider finished before allowing himself some much needed sleep.