Late Night Visitors
"Mr Lodo, you see that man in the corner? He's done nothing but stare at you since we arrived," Gam pointed out, while he and Lodo were drinking a half pint of beer.
"Hmm," Lodo pondered. "Mr Butteredbread, who is that man in the corner?" he asked.
"Him? Oh, he's one of them rangers. I don't know his right and proper name but round here we know him as Walker."
"Oh, right. What do you think, Gam, think he's evil?" But Lodo and Gam's thoughts were punctured by a loud voice by the bar…
"Kaggins? Oh sure I know a Kaggins! He's right over there; my second cousin twice removed, on his mothers side, but… Steady on!" Mippin exclaimed, as Lodo had run towards him to try and stop him talking; the Wingwraiths knew his name and Mippin had just given away his identity! But in his haste, Lodo slipped on some spilt beer and fell over; the Wing escaped Lodo's pocket and fell on his arm, making him invisible and lifting him further off the ground… Suddenly two great arms lifted him up and took the Wing off his arm, then threw him into a room.
"HEY!"
"That's no trinket you carry. I can avoid being seen if I want to, but to disappear entirely? That's a rare trick."
"Who are you?" challenged Lodo, slightly distressed, "Tell me!" Lodo prodded the man hard in the middle of his chest (the only bit he could reach), "Tell me or...! Or...!" suddenly realising he didn't have anything to threaten the man with, he decided to hear him out, or at least until he could escape.
"Walker, the ranger…"
"I'll 'ave you, long shanks!" Gam, Mippin and Perry burst into the room, fists raised.
"You have a stout heart, little one, but that will not save you." Walker turned back to Lodo, "Are you frightened?"
"N...yes," Lodo answered.
"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you. The Wing calls to them, Mr Kaggins."
"How did you know my name?"
"I am friend to Blandalf the Gay, he told me you might come looking for him. He said that if he is not here, I am to take you on to Elrondville immediately."
Later that evening…The gatekeeper heard horses approaching.
"Who goes there?" The horses did not slow down…"Who goes there?" he called again. SCREECH! The gate was trampled and under it, the gatekeeper. The sack riders didn't even look back.
Five dark shapes pushed Butteredbread away as he tried to defend his bar.
"Lodo…Kaggins," was all they would say.
The five raised their swords above the Moppets' four beds. Ready to strike, the riders in black sacking sniffed as one, and then wiped their noses. Their blows struck the four beds again and again, spearing the Moppets whilst they slept. SCREECH! SCREECH! Triumphant screeches echoed round the room, waking the Moppets next door…
"Walker, what are they?"
"Wingwraiths, Sack Riders, they were men once, Pauron the deceiver gave them nine wings but they were corrupted in their greed and reduced to wraiths. By the way, what are your names? I know master Kaggins here but you three are?" He spoke very fast and hardly stopped to breathe, ever.
"Gam Samgee."
"I'm Perry Trandybuck, and this," said Perry grabbing Mippin by the ear, "is Mippin Book."
"Hello," said Mippin, prising Perry's hand away from his ear and smiling awkwardly.
Walker gave Perry an odd look, and Mippin whispered, "Medical condition."
At dawn, Walker woke the Moppets from their sleep; first Lodo, who got up and went to leave a note of apology for Butteredbread about the room; then Mippin and Perry; and finally, after half an hour of poking him with a large stick, Gam.
"Where are we going now? Blandalf said we were to go to Elrondville, but that must be at least four days travel… anyway, where is Blandalf, and where's my breakfast?" asked a disgruntled Gam.
"What about breakfast?" Mippin pestered Walker.
"Already had it," a confused Walker said, wondering if all these Moppets ever talked about was breakfast.
"We've had one, yes, but what about second breakfast?"
Walker made off with the pony, Phil, bemused.
"Don't think he knows about them," said Perry.
"What about elevenses? Lunch? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about those, doesn't he?"
"I wouldn't count on it, Mip."
Walker threw an apple back to Mippin and it bounced off his head.
