Recently the power of the Witch-king had been subdued and he was kept under control in the North-East of the land.
Gandalf though said cautiously, 'But he still exists. Much as we would like to we cannot take Angmar. The Witch-king is their and busy with evil. And no doubt underneath the mountains he controls the foul creatures of Orcs, trolls, wolves and Goblins are expanding. But the country of Rhudaur was one of Angmar's closest allies. However since Angmar's relative defeat, Rhudaur has changed from evil to a land of orderles anarchy and chaos as you've just witnessed. Coincidentally the Witch-king is not actually his proper name, it's more of a nickname. He prefers to be called 'Lord of the North,' which just about shows his arrogance and ambition.'
'Case in point is where we are heading,' Fred butt in. 'We hope to find the Last Bridge Inn, which is technically speaking under the control of the lord of Rhudaur. However as the Lord is so weak in reality the Publican and his possy can do within reason what they like. Fortunately he's an old friend of mine so we should get on, we'll be there by tomorrow.'
But that evening a sudden and new peril occured. As Mr.N and Dan watched a half-moon rise there was howls and a number of Wolves leapt towards Dan and the small fire they had lit. The look, manner and howls of the beasts chilled Dan's blood. Together though the 4 stod firm and repealed the danger with some losses to the Wolves. But one fierce-seeming wolf stayed and snarled at Gandalf, when with a bold stroke, Fred cast out a sword and decapataded it. Gandalf was surprisingly less that impressed. He rounded on Fred, 'What did you do that for?',
'Because it was bit with sharp teeth and claws and was trying to kill us!'
Gandalf snapped, 'I would have liked to have had a talk with it. You can learn a lot from Wolves and I can speak Wolf-tongue!'
Fred growled, 'That don't impress me much,' rather confirming his opinion of Gandalf as somewhat of a headbanger.
So as a showery, spring day dawned and moved on to midday, Dan, Gandalf, Fred and Mr.N found themselves opposite the entrance of the Last Bridge Inn. Dan wondered how this place would compare to the rather rough Happy Horse. He also said, 'Erm, chaps, how are we going to pay for anything seen as we have no money? trade fruit and berries?'
Fred smiled, 'That's no problem I may just ned to call in a few favours!'
To Dan's relief the Inn was spacious, well-lit and comfortable. It was almost as though the various factions of the Wild wanted a comfortable place to relax in. The landlord of the Inn was a cheerful black man with Weston blood who lived a complex life. He was called Ben Beaumont and he spend his life walking a tightrope between Elves, men of the west, men of the wild, different political forces of Rhudaur, Dwarves even Hobbits and trying to keep his customers happy. He knew Fred of old and Ben smiled at the prospect of trade.
'What can I get you gents?' he asked cheerfully.
Fred countered him. 'Well, I wonder if you could do us a favour!'
Ben's smile faded, 'Oh, yes?'
Fred told him about their singular lack of cash. ah so you need some credit?',
'Indeed and you owe me a favour. You remember that time when I warned you abou that cheap beer which was being traded, which had you used it in this Inn would have poisoned half your customers?'
'Yes and as a reward I told you that you could claim a favour any time you liked?'
'Well nows a good time!'
Ben paused frowning. He looked to Dan like he was considering refusing but then Ben said, 'Fine. Whatever. I owe you some credits so ;you can have some free drink, food and perhaps lodging for a time!'
Ben also offered, 'And we can thwo in Mr.N to work behind your bar for a few hours free. Happen to know that he makes a good barman. I've seen him work before!'
'What?' snorted MrN but Gandalf and Fred pesuaded Mr.N to do it and indeed he was welcome assistance to Ben.
The Last Bridge was certainly a cosmopolitan place. There was many varieties of Men, small but broad-looking Dwarfs with beards, some pointy-eared Elves and some creatures which no-one except Fred recognized who looked small even child-like wearing bright green, yellow or Orange with furry feet.
'Halflings ,hobitylan or Hobbits, he explained to dan. Well they might look funny but they're surprisingly tough and cheerful. Good people you know!
Gandalf said, 'Hmm, Hobbits. I must get you to introduce me to one. Nice to meet someone new. Ah, hello Glorfindel!' Gandalf was speaking to a taoo, golden-haired Elf who had just entered the Inn and was known to Gandalf and would have news for him. The Elf was known to Fred too who called, 'ah, Goldie, greetings to you!' Gandalf snorted to Fred, perhaps thinking that Fred was been disrespectful to an Elvish lord, but Fred continued unperturbed, 'but he does have long golden hair///1' which was indeed true. Glorfindel himself said unflustered, 'oh, it doesn't mater Gandalf, Goldie was a nickname of mine whilst I was doing an errand undercover and met Fred, it can be useful. Now Gandalf I am glad that I have seen you I have some news. Recently the evil powers of the North has grown weaker. There are some who have been arguing that now is the time to deliver a knock-out blow. However to do this would still take all our strength.'
Gandalf countered a little skeptically, 'But isn't the centre of Angmar surrounded by walls of iron?'
'Until Recently. We have just received reports that the foul rivers of Taur-nuin have dried up and disappeared. That land is passable.'
That was indeed news to Gandalf. He explained to Dan (and Fred) that Taur-nuin was a river of the southern mountain borders of Angmar. It was a sad, haunted, enchanted river which the witch-king had filled with cursed souls of the dead. None, men or Elves could pass it without their minds been scrambled in horror. But if the waters had died down then that left Angmar vulnerable. Glorfindel mad another point, 'Don't foge the slaves of Angmar. Those poor souls have been captured by the forces of the North in various wars and some have been kept in desperate slavery for years. Many hundreds in fact, possibly thousands. We have been unable to do anything direct to help them but now we can. Some of us are going up there to see what we can do to save them. A mission of mercy in fact.'
Gandalf offered to him, 'Well I'm in. I might well go ahead first to see what I can do. I'm good a that type of thing. I can probably speak for Mr.N and say that he will come along too. Anyone else?' he looked at Dan and Fred.
With what Fred thought was depressing eagerness Dan spoke up. 'I'll come, I do hear that some of my own people have been captured. I'd love a chance to rescue them.' Fred sighed as Dan asked, 'What of you, Fred?'
'Absolutely no way.'
'What?'
'You heard. I'm not going to Angmar. That sounds like suicide. Now I might not like the Witch-King's agents and will not do deals with them, but I'm not going to die in that country.'
'Scared?' snarled Dan.
'You will be! but my answer stands. No. You'll never find me in the castles of the witch-king!' Dan was a little upset but Gandalf was unflapped and left it at that. In the meantime as Gandalf, Glorfindel and Fred talked of big maters Dan was left a little on his own watching Mr.N work. Fred had introduced him to a small, cheery, furry-footed Hobbit called Timbo who was apparently something of a regular. He was called Timbo and was surprisingly merry talking to Dan. He was fascinated by Dan's country and Dan ended up telling him something of what he was doing.
'You sound like a pleasant chap. I don't like the evil in the North either. If you like, I can give you a hand.' Dan did wonder what help someone like Timbo could give. A useful amount surprisingly. Only problem was that had Dan noticed Timbo had had a little to drink. Possibly a little too much. When he did sometimes Timbo made statements which he intended to keep at the time, but ended up not doing so in reality. As will be seen later, though he was a decent enough little chap.
Just then there was a gust of wind in the evening dark and the lights temporary went out for Dan. He looked around and noticed a lady all hodded, drinking a bottle of mild, looking at him. She had a knowing smile on her face. Dan turned to Fred saying, 'do you know who she is?'
'Who?' and when Dan turned back the lady had vanished.
'That lady who was just there, she disappeared. She looked odd.'
'You get some odd types here,' said Fred and the matter was forgotten for the moment. Dan tried one more time to pesuade Fred to join them, but Fred was adamant. 'No thanks, I like living too mych and you should be careful following that Gandalf, you'll end up in trouble too big for you.'
That was it and Dan went to bed for the night. Now, the Hobbit, Timbo did have every intention of joining Dan on his journey. Timbo thought it might be profitable. The trouble was, however, that he did have a lot to drink that evening. Some Hobbits were able to drink plentiful amounts of alcohol without having hangover's the next morning. Unfortunately, not Timbo. So when Mr.N called for him at 8:00 the next morning, Timbo was in no mood for an adventures journeyand so he replied so to Mr.N, actually using language that was a little unfit for a Hobbit! So his chance was gone
