Author's disclaimer. I do not own the rights to any of JRR Tolkien's works or characters. They are all trademarks of The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises. Are Characters, Places, and Events in Middle-earth are © by the Tolkien Estates, and renewed by Christopher Tolkien.

Also, please note; Though some of the main characters from Professor Tolkien's works will make appearances in this story, the main body of the story is about other characters. The story does deviate from canon in some ways. The body of this story is based loosely on the adventures of player characters in a RPG. Also, the story puts together elements of both the books and the Peter Jackson films. Enjoy.

Chapter One. Party Preparations.

Sandy Brandybuck was, of course, a Hobbit. But, he did not live in the Shire, though he was born, like all of the Brandybucks, in Buck Hall. Instead, he lived on the outskirts of Bree, along with his father, Salwain Brandybuck, and his mother, Rosemary (Took) Brandybuck. His family, you see, left the Shire when Sandy was quite young. His father was a lover of adventure tales, and would listen to his Cousin Bilbo's stories for hours on end. And there was Sandy, on his father's knee, listening right along.

Sandy was unusual, as Hobbits go. Oh, on the surface, he looked an ordinary Hobbit, resembling as he did his cousin, Merry. He had two odd physical traits, however, that set him apart from most other Hobbits. One; he was fair of hair. In fact, his hair was a honey golden color, not normally seen among Hobbits. Two; his eyes were a sapphire blue, which made him seem most peculiar indeed.

He had another unusual trait, as well. Like many Hobbits, he was gifted in song. But Sandy was more than just gifted. He seemed to almost possess the "magical" ability for song that was normally reserved to the elves. He not only had the uncanny ability to play an instrument without so much as a lesson, but it was said that he could use his honey tongued voice to charm the birds from the trees.

But, that part of the story will wait for later. For now, let us stick to the matter at hand. One day, when Sandy was about eleven, his father decided he needed a change. So, he packed up his family, and moved to there present location. When asked his reasons, Salwain simply answered, "Shire folk are such sticks in the mud. We need to get out. Besides, my spendthrift brother, Saradoc, will have all of the Brandybuck assets used up in no time, and I aim to provide for my family. I've bought a pipeweed farm on the outskirts of Bree, and that's that!"

So, they left. They said their goodbyes to Buck Hall, Buckland, Hobbiton, Tuckborough, The Four Farthings, and all. Oh, they'd be back to the Shire from time to time, to pay their respects, and to see old friendly faces, but from that day hence, they counted themselves a Breelanders. Never again would Salwain Brandybuck have to listen to those naysayers back home, who often told him that such nonsense as what Bilbo Baggins spoke was no good for anyone. No sir. If he or his wanted to hear far off tales, then Bree was the place to hear them. Of course, as time went by, Salwain's time was taken up mostly with farming, so he had little time for listening to tales.

But, when he had reached his tweens, Sandy went to work for Barliman Butterbur, at the Prancing Pony, so he heard all of the far off tales he'd ever want to hear. And, each day, during first breakfast, he'd tell his father all he'd heard the evening before. And, not just ordinary tales, either, but whispers of happenings far off in the North, or in the East, or in the South. Stories of armies moving, and of darkness growing. Stories of the Shadow, and of his minions, causing all sorts of worries for the Free Peoples. These were no "There and Back Again" tales. These were very frightening stories, indeed.

There were rumors that Carn Dûm, in far off Agmar, was being repopulated. Other whispers spoke of the reoccupation of Dol Goldur, in Southern Mirkwood. Other tales spoke of the Haradrim moving in the South, and of Easterling armies on the march. There were stories of Orcs multiplying at Mount Gram, Mount Gundabad, and Goblin Town. And, of course, there were always tales of The Lidless Eye, atop The Barad-dur, in that most dread land of Mordor.

Sandy was able to hear such tales, of course, because of two things. One, he waited tables at the Inn. Two, he was nosey. It was the latter that would be the reason that he would be sent off on his very first adventure. It was on September 23rd, 3001 T.A. that this would have its beginning. It was on that day that Barliman Butterbur came barreling into the kitchen, and stirred the whole place up.

"Sandy! Bob! Nob! Rosinda!" cried Mr. Butterbur. "Come here, all of you! There's a very important job for you four! I want you to get busy, and set up the private dining room on the second floor! And hurry up, you slow coaches! Gandalf himself has asked special for that room, for him and his friends, though what he sees in calling Strider, or that other fellow, Smiley , as friends, I'm sure I'll never know. But, that's his business, and none of my own. Well, get to it!"

"Now, Barliman!" exclaimed Gwendolyn Butterbur. "Calm yourself, husband! There's no need to be shoutin' at th' poor dears. They'll have things ready in no time, so don't you go gettin' in a right stew 'bout it."

Barliman sighed. "Yes, goodwife, of course, you're right. You four just make sure everything is right for Gandalf and his company. And, Sandy. Gandalf wants you special to wait on them, see?"

Sandy's jaw dropped. "Me? Gandalf asked… f-f-f-for me?"

Barliman smiled at the young Hobbit. "Yes, lad. He asked for you. So, no messing about. Make sure their meeting goes well, with no interruptions or intrusions. Do I make myself clear, lad?"

Sandy gulped hard, and answered, "Y-y-y-yes, Mr. Butterbur. I'll make sure everything goes just right."

"I know you will, Sandy. I trust you, over Bob and Nob, at any rate. And since Rosinda has a curfew, she has to go home soon as she helps set the room up. Now, the four of you, off."

So, the four of them set off to work. They got everything just so. Mrs. Butterbur had made sure that they had everything that Gandalf had asked for. There was even some fine wine for the occasion! If Sandy didn't know better, he'd have thought that Gandalf was entertaining Elves. But Elves seldom stopped at the Prancing Pony. But, by the looks of things, one might be tempted to think it so.

And, just so it was! The first two to arrive were Strider, and an Elf! By the looks of him, he was Sindarin. He was dressed in a fine silver tunic, and had long, blond hair. But what struck Sandy the most was his noble bearing. He even wore on his head a silver coronet, fashioned to look like leaves. He sat at Strider's left, and they talked at length in Sindarin (which, of course, Bilbo had taught Sandy at an early age, so he understood everything he "happened to overhear").

After a while, there was the sound of booming laughter from out in the hall. Ah, thought Sandy, Smiley has arrived. Smiley was known far and wide as a story teller. But Sandy, being nosey, had long ago discovered the truth. Smiley was also a Dúnadan Ranger, like Strider. And, of course, as a Ranger, he was tasked with protecting the Free Peoples of the North. Sandy was one of the few folk about who knew this fact. Most folk just thought of the Rangers as wanderers in the wild, and so mistrusted them. But Sandy's inquisitive nature had paid off in this instance, and he'd already come to appreciate what most folk didn't even realize.

Smiley was tall, even by Dúnadain standards, and had to stoop down low to enter the room. He sat at Strider's Right, and gave him a very large, and loud, slap on the back. This nearly caused Strider to drop his pipe, which he was trying to light. "Ha ha ha ha! Well, kinsman! 'Tis good to see you!" exclaimed Smiley.

"Um…yes, kinsman. 'Tis good to see you again. But, please, keep it down. This is supposed to be a secret meeting," said Strider, sotto voce.

"So," said Smiley, in a much quieter tone, "where is Gandalf?"

"He'll be here. He sent word ahead. He says there is pressing business, which may cause him to postpone our meeting for a couple of days. He also says he's going to bring one more person in on this," said Strider, lighting his pipe..

"Postpone the meeting?" asked Smiley. "Then we shall have to find rooms here."

"I've already arranged that, kinsman. All is in hand," said Strider, with a confident puff on his pipe.

At that moment, the door opened, and Gandalf The Grey strode into the room. "Sorry for the delay, gentlemen. And, I'm afraid we shall have to delay a little longer. You see, there's a birthday party in the Shire, and I must attend. It's Bilbo Baggins' eleventy-first birthday, and I shall be there. And you, Saradoc Brandybuck, shall accompany me," said Gandalf, noticing Sandy listening in. (Saradoc was Sandy's given name, for he was named after his Uncle)

"Well, I was planning on going," said a startled Sandy. "Mr. Butterbur has given me the next several days off. It shall be the grandest party ever, of course. Besides, I'm in the band. But, me accompany you? Mr. Gandalf! I am honored!"

"It's settled, then. We leave right now. I have a pony cart with room enough for the both of us. I shall need to talk to you en rout, of course, my young Hobbit. Gentlemen, I suggest you go to your rooms, and settle in. We shall all meet back here in two days hence. I must go, for I don't want to be late."

The Elf spoke up at last. "Mithrandir! You should know better! A wizard is never late. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."

Everyone laughed at that. Gandalf then looked at the Elf. "Well spoken, Legolas. Well spoken indeed. I shall try to remember that. We'll meet back here, in this room, in two days. Come along, Saradoc. We must be off." And with that, the two of them left.