The First Stranger

I do not own the rights to the Hobbit

Chapter One

The tale you are about to read is in many ways extraordinary. Although it has been over sixty years since these events happened I remember them as if they happened only a day ago. I know that some details will be hard to believe. Anyway, I suppose a good place to start my tale would be at the beginning and my name.

My name is Bartholomew Harris, son of Phillip Harris and faithful servant of His Majesty Henry the Fifth, King of England and claimant to the throne of France. Many long years ago I, like many others, joined our king when he raised an army with the goal of claiming France, a country which rightfully belongs to him.

My castle was fairly small compared to some. There was a single, large stone tower which was surrounded by four large stone walls. In the space between the tower and the walls was a large garden and, in one section, were stables. I stood by the door leading to the gardens as I watched a pair of boys fighting with wooden swords. They both had the same black shade of hair as I but one of them, the oldest by two years, had his longer.

The elder one swung his wooden blade at his brother who blocked it. The younger one then swung back and managed to hit his brother's fingers.

'Ow!' the older boy shouted and dropped his sword. 'You did that on purpose Daniel.'

'I'm sorry James,' his brother apologised and lowered his guard when his brother laughed and grappled his younger sibling.

'Hey! Not fair!'

'War's not fair!'

Although the two of them were fighting on the ground they were laughing and I chuckled at them. I looked up at the wall and saw a pair of my sergeants watching the fight with some amusement. I shook my head and walked straight towards them.

'That's enough you two,' I said and pulled James off of his brother.

'Sorry father,' James said to me as he lowered his gaze and his brother stood up.

'Just be grateful it was me watching and not your mother,' I told them and they nodded their heads in agreement. 'Remember, in a battle you have to use every weapon you have at hand. That does include your fists.'

James smugly looked at his brother in a way which said told you so.

'Still though, I'd rather you used your swords in a fight. I broke my hand once in a battle.'

'Did you?' Daniel asked me, astonishment filling his eyes every time I told him of one of my battles.

'Yes he did,' a slightly stern voice said and I turned around. 'And I can tell you now he will not do it again.'

Walking towards us was a woman just a few years younger than myself. She had light brown hair and blue eyes.

'Of course not Myrtle,' I assured my wife and quickly hugged her.

She then looked at the two boys and shook her head.

'I swear to the Lord you two will be the death of me,' she said and crossed her arms. 'James, go and see the healer about your fingers.'

'It's fine mother,' he complained.

'It's only fine if the healer says its fine,' she said and James, knowing he was defeated, hurried back into the castle.

'Daniel, go and wash up before supper.'

'Yes mother,' he said and walked into the castle.

'Do you think they'll ever learn to fight properly?'

'I hope so,' I said and looked at her. 'Are you still worried?'

'Of course I am,' she said. 'I know you're a good soldier but this is still going to be a massive campaign.'

'Don't worry,' I said and placed my hand on her shoulder. 'When have I ever done something to make you worry?'

'Well,' she said and was about to list them off.

'Anyway,' I said and started walking towards the castle with her, 'what's for supper tonight?'

'Just the usual,' she answered.

'Nothing special for me as a going away present?' I asked.

'No,' she said and smirked at me. 'Well not for dinner anyway.'

...

Six Months Later-Saint Crispin's Day

I roared as I swung my flanged mace for what felt like the thousandth time that day. The head of the mace smashed into the helmet of the French knight and blood and bone splashed out onto my cuirass. The body joined the hundreds of others tangled together in the blood drenched mud. All I could see through the visor of my Hounskull bascinet was death. The corpses of knights, horses and commoners littered the ground, all of their armour, once shining and splendid, was stained red with blood. With a heavy sigh I rose my mace up again and brought it smashing down onto the collar bone of a knight. He moaned in pain and staggered backwards. I wasted no time. I swung my mace up with all of my strength and it collided with his bevor. The knight fell onto the ground and was then trampled by his fellow knights. Each time I swung my mace an enemy fell dead. I swung at another knight who blocked the blow with his shield. He threw himself into me and I almost fell if not for the knight behind me who steadied me. I swung down at the top of the shield and it shattered down the middle. With a triumphant grin and a swing of my weapon I caved in the knight's helmet. A tide of blood flowed out from under the helmet and down his cuirass as he fell dead.

A knight armed with a war hammer was coming at me now. I readied myself for the fight; I had to kill him quickly. The spike on his hammer could easily punch through my armour. He swung at me but I dodged just in time. I jabbed the head of my mace directly at his chest and it pushed him back a little. It was at that exact second that the air in front of me darkened. I hardly noticed it. I was too focused on killing another enemy. He came at me again and I stepped forwards.

The next instant I was caught up in a tunnel of dark blue light. Roaring, ice cold wind blasted past me and I was being pulled at lightning speed through it. I let out a silent scream and I did all I could to find solid ground to stand on.

Then it ended. I was thrown out of the tunnel and I hit solid ground, rolling across it before I hit a tree. Then I blacked out.

Well that was the first chapter. I hope you all liked it and I hope you review. I'm not sure when I'll update again but I'll try to make sure it's as soon as possible.