-After awhile of chasing Orcs and slicing their heads and stuff, I'm starting to get bored, you know?-Said Sîrdin to Mallengol.
-I know me too. But, our real goal is arriving in Bree soon enough. - Answered Mallengol-Though, our instructions weren't clear enough.
A full moon was rising above them, and a completely starry sky was perfect for a long night of storytelling, and dancing with the music. The peaceful environment was tempting their eyes to close and take a long nap before continuing the journey, listening to the little crickets and the scratching of little mice; but time was pressing, and they had only two days of horse riding. They had to move. Fast.
The fire they made was starting to fade, as well as their time. They had to decide; they couldn't stay there the whole night.
-We are halfway to Bree. -Said Mallengol- We cannot return; we have to continue. If we move by night, we'll arrive to Bree at midday of the day after tomorrow, more or less. If not, we'll arrive late at night.
He took out his map.
-See? We're here. - Said Mallengol, pointing to the little space before Bree in his map. -We have to move on. Now.
-Right.-Said Sîrdin. - I'll prepare our horses.
After a few minutes, everything was packed again. They were ready for riding.
Their horses, Celebrin and Beledae, were galloping fast as wind when after some hours of horse riding, the sun raised above them; a red sun.
-A red sun rises above us. There's been a blood spilling. - Commented Sîrdin, darkly.
Beside him, Mallengol was looking straight to the front, without even blinking. Suddenly, his concentrated expression changed for a worried one.
-Look! - He said.
Up ahead, really, really ahead, was a croud of Orcs which was getting closer to them every second.
-Take out your arrows and bow, because our trip will get hard.-Said Sîrdin.
A few minutes later, the Orcs where 200 meters ahead, and the first arrow flew in the air, almost hitting a horse's leg.
-Watch out! - Screamed Sîrdin to his companion. That wasn't pretty necessary to say.
Sîrdin shot an arrow and hit an Orc right in the middle of his ugly face. Then, with another arrow, he hit another Orc in his very stomach. Mallengol did the same twice faster than his friend, but they didn't care. The only thing that was important was to stay alive.
The battle started. Orcs were everywhere, surrounding them. Arrows flew around. Their horses were frightened. It wasn't a fair battle. Two against fifty; without counting the dead ones. It was a complete chaos.
When everything seemed lost, something miraculous happened: A strange light came up of the earth and made all of the Orcs go back. Soon, those creatures were out of sight, and Sîrdin looked straight to the site where three minutes ago, a strange light came of the earth.
-Look at that!-Said Sîrdin while he dismounted his horse, Beledae. He got closer to the ground and picked up a strange looking rock covered with dust.
-What is it?-Asked Mallengol.
Sîrdin placed the rock over his left hand, and passed slightly his fingers over it.
-Oh!-Said Sîrdin in surprise. Where before rested a rock, now there was a bright, silver colored, and round shaped, crystal stone.
-What's this?-Asked his friend.
-I don't know...-answered Sîrdin, while he put their discovery in a silk little bag.
They did not know, but that fancy stone could be the one thing that would bind every living creature, Elf, Men, or even Hobbits to its doom... as well as their death.