DISCLAIMER: I do not own LOTR or the video game 'War in the North'. Author- ACGamer owns Silran and I own Miliel.
Chap. 1 Bree
The silver droplets hit the dark shingles and fall onto the cobble street below. The dim lighting from the houses barely reflects on the muddy puddles of water. It wasn't regular to see an elf, two rangers, and a dwarf walk on the roads of Bree, nor was it regular to see hobbits either. One of the rangers, Eradan, walked down the street casually with his bow strapped on his back and his long sword in its scabbard leading the group. Only a couple of people were out, and if they were outside, they were under the roof of their home on the porch, or under some other kind of cover watching the mysterious group of four walk by.
"It's depressing," The dwarf, Farin, stated holding his axe watching everyone who watched them. The rain made a 'tapping' noise on his helmet, which was the only sound the group could hear.
The rain would soon run down the helmet and onto his face, then his thick beard. The rain was also falling on the other ranger, Silran's, brown hair.
Her traveling boots walked through the puddles causing the soles of the boots to be muddy and even more tarnished than the beginning of their journey.
Out of all of them, the two elves, Andriel and Míliel, were the only ones who wear a cloak which covers their long hair making everyone jealous.
"Eradan, do you know where you are going?" Silran asked staring at the back or Eradan's head watching the rain drops run down his blonde hair.
"Of course I know." He said reassuringly never looking back at the group. Farin sighed and began to pull out his pipe.
"What are you trying to do?" Silran asked Farin who finished lighting his pipe. He looked up and raised the pipe towards her face with his short arm.
A small gust of wind blows the smoke of the pipe towards Miliel's face making her cough. "What does it look like I'm doing?" Farin said.
"How are you going to use it in the pouring rain?" He stopped his process and looked up at the elf.
"I might as well try. Everyone here could use one; think about how happier this place would be." Silran hit Farin's helmet and he chuckled still trying to light the pipe.
"Here we are," Eradan announced. The group looks up at the green sign with a white horse on it and white writing on the bottom. "The Prancing Pony." He proceeded walking to the tavern while the group trailed behind him. There were hay bales on the side, a wagon with a horse in the back, and a door on the left. Eradan stopped in front of the door causing the group to bump in to each other.
"Remember we are here to meet Aragorn, not to get drunk." Eradan said.
"I'm not going to drink." Andriel said walking to the door.
"I wasn't talking to you." He said looking at Farin. Farin shrugged and went next to Andriel putting his hand on the door.
"It is a tavern Eradan." Farin pushed the tavern's wooden door open and the group entered. When they walk in, the quieting talking almost mumbling ceases and the attention is on them. Eradan, Andriel, and Miliel walked straight while Silran and Farin went to the left of the tavern. After they separate, the talking resumes once more except this time the mumbling is like small murmuring.
"Now you can use your pipe." Silran tells Farin who sits down on a bench. He smiles and gladly pulls out his pipe and begins to light it again. When Silran looks at him again he is already smoking it with a grin on his face.
"Did you see where Miliel went?" Silran asks her friend. "Yes she's with the other two."
Silran then moved to the fireplace and pulled off her boots. The heat of the fire rushed to her cold wet feet making her let out a small breath of relief. Putting her boots next to the fire so they can dry off, she leans against the wall next to the hearth and relaxes with the comforting heat of the flames causing her to nod off. Farin was wrapped up in his smoking feeling relaxed and calm; this had been the longest time since the journey began. He started to close his eyes but saw a dark figure in front of him. Realization hit him and he looked up to see a hobbit standing over him with a huge grin on his face.
"Tell me dwarf, would you like to play a game of riddles?" He asks leaning over in Farin's face. Farin, on purpose, puffed smoke in his face causing the hobbit to cough.
"It depends Halfling, with whom am I playing with?" The hobbit has an angry look on his face, but soon it disappeared and he sat down next to Farin.
"I prefer being called hobbit, dwarf. And you are playing with me. So what say you?" The hobbit asks. Farin gave him a strange look; he knew this was for money… On the other hand he needed some anyway.
"Sure. Ask away. 10 silver pieces." He said. The hobbit smiles and tosses a bag onto the table making a jingling noise.
"I didn't say anything about money being involved." The hobbit says raising a brow.
"It'll make the game more…interesting." Farin had said. The hobbit liked Farin out of all the people he had ever met.
"I agree. Let's begin. 'The more of these you take the more you leave behind.'" The hobbit said. Farin smiled and puffed more smoke.
"Footsteps." Farin said rolling his eyes. "Too easy." The hobbit smirked.
"'It belongs to you, but your friends use it more than you do. What is it?'" He asked. This one took Farin sometime to think before the answer came to him.
"My name. Come on hobbit is this all you got?" Farin asks jokingly.
"'By night they come without being called, by day they are gone without being stolen. What are they?" He asked.
"Stars." A voice said. The hobbit looked to his right and Eradan was in front of them with Andriel and Miliel standing next to him.
"Hey you cheated. This game is between me and the dwarf." The hobbit said angrily to Eradan.
"It's alright. I was winning anyway," Farin said laughing. "Money if you please." The hobbit tossed him the bag and walked out the tavern in anger.
"So what did Aragorn say?" Farin asked. Eradan quickly put his hand against Farin's mouth covering his whole head almost.
"He told us to call him Strider not Aragorn." He whispered to Farin. Farin nodded his head and Eradan took his hand off of Farin's mouth.
"Anyway, what did he say?"
"He told us that we need to go to Formost." Eradan said.
"Do we have to go now? Can we stay the night? We travelled all day and this place is actually not outside with only a fire to keep us warm." Farin requested. They all were tired Eradan had to admit, the bags beneath their eyes showed it and he saw Silran sleeping next to the fire.
"Fine. Who is paying?"
"That'll be me laddie." Farin held the bag and pushed back Eradan to walk over to the owner. Eradan watched as Farin poured the bag into his hand and hands the owner some coins. He walks back breathing out smoke from the pipe.
"I asked for the cheapest room which has four beds, one of us will have to share." Eradan hit Farin's helmet.
"I think that smoke is getting to your head; the cheapest room?"
"Well, this is my money and I'm not spending it all." Farin protested.
"Fair enough, Farin lead the way." Andriel said. Farin walked past them and up a set of stairs with Andriel following. Eradan stayed turning to look at Silran who was getting up with the help of Miliel and putting on her boots. "Thanks Miliel." Miliel nods with a tired a smile and starts to go up the stairs.
"We got a room?" Silran asks tiredly. Eradan nods his head as he follows her up the staircase. While they were walking, Silran missed a step and Eradan caught her with his arm. He looked at her and saw her eyes were closing, "Can you-" "Don't need to ask." He carries her rest of the way up and when they arrive at a hallway, he turned to his right and saw a door wide open. He entered and saw Andriel and Farin had fallen asleep on a bed, and Miliel was asleep lying back on a cushioned chair. Eradan shut and locked the door behind him and went over to a bed to lay Silran down. He looked at her and walked over to the last available bed and collapsed onto it knowing it would be a long day tomorrow.
A/N: Hey everyone, you maybe thinking I have a lot of LOTR stories, but you can never have too much fanfics for LOTR! The inspiration came from my sister ACGamer and we'll be taking turns writing this story. It's based on the video game 'War in the North' and the LOTR movie, and books. A blend of all of that. I hope you enjoyed first chapter, Please follow, favorite, and review tell us what you think! :)
-BrownEyedGirl87 and ACGamer
P.S: We added a quick character description below:
Silran: (OC) Dunedain, Ranger of the North, fights with duel weapons and somewhat archery but prefers sword combat. Light brown hair, green eyes. Close with Miliel. Wants revenge on Agandaur and to help the Rangers.
Eradan: (Video Game Character) Son of Baranor, Dunedain, Ranger of the North, master at archery and sword combat. Light dirty blonde hair, hazel eyes. Committed to his duty of being a Ranger.
Andriel: (Video Game Character) Elven lore-master, taught by Elrond himself but isn't a scholar, uses staff combat and swords, uses healing arts and magic. Immortal. Long brown hair, light blue eyes. Friends with Elrond's sons. A bit curious but willing to help for greater good.
Farin: (Video Game Character) Dwarf, a champion of the dwarf-realm of Erebor, fought at Battle of the Five Armies, lived in Iron Hills when Smaug came as a child, axe, all melee weapons, and crossbow combat. Red-brown beard, brown eyes. Close friends with Silran and Miliel. Naturally courageous and determined.
Miliel- (OC) A wise, loyal, and kind elleth who lived during the time of the Fall of Gondolin when Glorfindel slayed the Mighty Balrog. She is the quietest one of the group, sometimes she'll go days without speaking, but she doesn't do it rudely, it's her personality and is natural for her. Her companions know her well and like that about her. A master at archery and throwing knives, has long light brown hair and dark brown eyes. She is sweet and ready for anything that comes their way, and willing to protect her friends before herself.
