Unexpected

I don't own any of Tolkien's characters I just borrowed them. The only character I own is my OC Brina.

"This has been a long trip," Arathorn thought as he trekked through the lands that skirted the Shire. "I never even meant to come this far west." He had been gone from the Angle since early spring and now it was the middle of autumn. "I have been gone far longer than I planned." Many things had led to him being late. First, there had been numerous orcs packs to avoid during the spring. Then, the summer had been rather wet leading to the Brandywine River being flooded and not being able to get back across Sarn Ford. Leaving him no choice but to go around the Shire and cross upstream. Not even that went smoothly for the ranger. The river still was rather high. He made it across but not without losing most of his supplies.

"I guess I have no choice but to stop in Bree to get more supplies before heading home." Arathorn thought to himself gloomily. He had orginally planned on bypassing Bree altogether and make for home. Now he had no choice but to stop in Bree. Arathorn had no way of knowing it was destiny that he stop in Bree on this particular night.

He quickly made his way up to the gate and knocked loudly. "I'm coming, I'm coming," grumbled the gatekeeper. "What be your business, here ranger?" asked the gatekeeper warily.

"Just passing through, good sir," Arathorn replied wearily. "I am on my way to the Prancing Pony."

"Alright, be on your way ranger but I don't want to hear of you causing trouble." the gatekeeper told him reluctantly.

With a nod Arathorn passed the gatekeeper as he made his way through Bree to the Prancing Pony. He stepped through the doorway and made his way to a secluded table in the back. Where he wouldn't be bothered and he could observe everyone. He passed men laughing raucously as they were already drunk. He had just taken a seat when Butterbur bustled up to his table nervously.

"What can I get for you, ranger?" Butterbur asked

"I will have whatever your serving for supper and an ale." Arathorn told him

"Right away, ranger."

Arathorn settled into the shadows as he waited for his supper. He took out his pipe to smoke while he waited. "At least I didn't lose my pipe in the river." Arathorn thought with happiness. He observed the room as he smoked. He noticed a particularly loud man who had had too much ale. The man was being a nuisance. "He will cause trouble before the night is out." Just as he finshed that thought Butterbur came bustling over with his food. Arathorn gave a nod of thanks to Butterbur before putting his pipe down to start his supper. As he ate his food all thoughts of the trouble causing man fled from his mind.

Some time passed and Arathorn had just finished his food and moved to smoke his pipe again. When he happened to look up he noticed a young woman entering the bar. Something drew his gaze to her. As he watched her look around the room with distaste and then make her way through the room. Their eyes met and she glared at him. "Why is she glaring at me?" Arathorn thought but his attention was drawn away to the trouble causing man from earlier. He had grabbed the young woman's arm and jerked her back. Just as he was about to rise and intervene he noticed the glare the young woman gave the intoxicated man. "That glare would send a legion of orcs running." he thought with appreciation. It was obviously lost on the drunk though. Next thing he knew the young woman had kneed the man in the groin and slammed his face into the table. "That had to hurt." he winced. He watched the young woman turn from the whimpering man to glare at his friends then stomp away to another secluded table. "She is interesting." Arathorn thought to himself. Little did he know this women would become his sister but that is another story.