Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I own nothing, please don't sue me
Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter. Please R&R this one. Again no flames please.
"Pippin yawned. 'I am sorry,' he said, 'but I am dead tired. In spite of all the danger and worry I must go to bed, or sleep where I sit. Where is that silly fellow Merry? It would be the last straw if we had to go out in the dark to look for him.'" –Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 10, Strider.
Strider looked at the young hobbit that had just spoken. "Wherever he is," he said gravely, "we should hope he returns soon. Even if the riders have not entered the town, news of what happened in the common room with Frodo suddenly disappearing, has no doubt spread. They may not be as fearful as the Nazgul," he remarked, "but spies are no less dangerous or deadly."
He had just finished speaking when there was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Frodo said.
Strider backed into the shadows of the room as the door opened and a nervous looking Nob stepped in.
"Excuse me sirs," he said, "But I have a notion to tell you that some of the folk coming in recently have said that they've been feeling quite uneasy when outside. In normal cases I wouldn't have said anything, due to the fact that it's only a few people. But taking into account what happened earlier, what with Mr. Underhill disappearing and all, and the fact that Mr. Butterbur sent me out a while ago and I felt the same thing, I thought it might be important to you. I tell you whatever it was I felt, it weren't anything natural that's for sure."
"What exactly was it you felt Nob?" Strider asked, maybe a little more anxiously than he would have liked.
Nob, though slightly startled by Strider's sudden emergence from the shadows hastily replied, "It was as if something evil was about, that part's slightly hard to explain, perhaps it was just a sense of fear. But it also felt very cold, colder than it should get in these parts this time of year I can tell you that much."
Strider grew worried at the news that had just now been presented. He was able to school his features to keep the growing sense of alarm he felt in his heart from his face. He quickly turned to the other hobbits. "Stay here, to not leave this room or go near the windows," he said, in a way that booked no argument at the current moment. He then looked back at Nob and asked the hobbit to come with him. Over the next half hour he and the other hobbit moved all of the luggage that Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin had brought with them into the other room, and then made it to look as is hobbits were sleeping in the formerly occupied room. When they were done, Strider placed a few coins in Nob's hand and asked him not to speak of the switch they had done to anyone, save Butterbur in the event that he really must. Strider then returned to the other hobbits.
Meanwhile, Frodo, Sam, and Pippin were huddled in the room Strider had commanded them to stay in bewildered and frightened at what was happening. Suddenly the door opened and Strider came bursting in. They all had been able to keep themselves from asking questions whenever Strider or Nob came in with their packs but now they could stand it no loner. Sam was the first to speak.
"Hey, now!" he cried, "what's going on here? Why are you moving around all our stuff and not letting us leave. If you're trying to help us this is a rater odd way of doin' it."
"Peace Sam," Frodo said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder to calm him. "Let him explain."
Strider gave Frodo a quick nod in thanks before speaking. "I do not know for sure, but I am almost certain that the riders have entered Bree." Three pairs of eyes suddenly widened with fright. He held up a hand at the onslaught of questions he knew was coming so that he could finish. "The feelings of dread and chill that Nob said he and others felt earlier can be brought about if any of the Nazgul are nearby, which brought me to believe that they are here in the village. If they are then they will most certainly find out where you're staying if they haven't already. If you stayed in your rooms, no doubt that you would be dead before sunrise and the ring taken. Pippin and Sam swallowed in fright and Frodo subconsciously put an hand over the pocket where the ring lay.
"But wouldn't the gatekeeper or someone have raised the alarm at the sight of black shadowy figured on horses?" he asked.
Strider sighed, "They must have left their horses outside and entered in secret" he explained.
"But what about Merry?" Pippin suddenly asked, having been quiet this whole time. "Surely it can't be safe for him out there. We should go look for him, tell him what has happened," he said, worried for his cousin's safety.
Strider closed his eyes for a moment, dismayed at the sound of distress in the youngest hobbit's voice. "I am sorry Pippin," he said at length. "We cannot risk going out there right now, it's too dangerous."
"But Merry could be in danger. What if they found him already? W-what if they've captured him or, or worse." Pippin couldn't bring himself to say the word 'killed'. The thought of any of his friends being killed outright was too new of a feeling for him and he broke down sobbing.
Frodo put a comforting arm around Pippin's shoulders, and held him close, rubbing his back in small circles and whispering soothing words, trying to get him to calm down if only a little.
"Shhhh lad," he murmured. "Easy, Merry should be alright. He can take care of himself, he's got a good head on his shoulders you know that. I'm sure he's on his way back down and will be here very soon."
Strider's heart broke at the sight of Pippin crying worriedly for his cousin. Cautiously, so as not to startle the youngster, he knelt down, and crept forward. He then lifted the little one's chin so that they were looking each other in the eyes.
"I'm sorry that we can't go out and look tonight Pippin," he said softly. "But if he has not returned by tomorrow then we will look for him first thing. I will do everything within my power to make sure that the four of you make it to Rivendell as safely as possible. Do you trust me enough for that?"
Pippin contemplated the man silently, tears still leaking from his eyes. He looked at Frodo, who gave a small, almost unnoticeable nod, before looking back at Strider.
"Yes," he said softly, "I trust you."
Strider smiled. "Good," he replied. "Now, the three of you should get some sleep while the sun is still down. I will take watch tonight."
The three hobbits rolled out their bedrolls next to the fireplace which was still glowing and faintly warm, and laid down in them. Before he fell asleep Pippin looked over to where Strider sat gazing out the window.
"Thank you for helping us," he said quietly. Strider looked over back to him and nodded slightly. Pippin then snuggled up in his blanket and soon was fast asleep.
TBC
Fellowship of the Ring, chapter 10, Strider
