A/N: Hey everyone! I am so, so sorry for not updating this story before now. I have been really, really busy with personal stuff the past few weeks so haven't had a chance to write anything never mind post something up. Lol. Hope you guys understand and aren't too annoyed... :S technically it is up before the deadline I set myself has passed. I managed to just catch it at the last possible minute. Lol. Thanks for all who reviewed the last chapter and I fully appreciate your criticism and pointers. I have tried to take everything on board and hopefully this chapter shall be a little bit better. :] Please excuse the fluff at the end. Thought I would give a small break to all the moaning Clara has done recently. Haha. Anyways, please read and review. Here is Chapter Eight, enjoy! :] PS. I promise Clara will get les whiny and become braver in later chapters. She just needs some time to adjust and to get a grip on her current surroundings.

Chapter Eight: Striding Into the Prancing Pony

The streets of Bree were bursting at the seams with life; men and woman were pushing their way through the various obstacles of the town. Horses the size of buildings were galloping here and there and carts full of random perishables and objects were littered around alleys and outside the tall and dirty buildings. I once again felt a strong urge to grab someone's hand for comfort and strength, but after my little breakdown on the ferry, I was determined I would not falter so easily and cower behind my male companions anymore. It was clear now that this journey had just started and would no doubt be perilous with those black riders on our tails. I needed to be strong and face things on my own from here on in; I would not be a burden to my fellow Hobbits. It didn't help much that the rain had decided to grace us with her presence an hour ago and had still not let up, therefore dampening my already frightened and sour mood.

I began looking at the various buildings more closely to help take my mind of our current situation; house. Inn. Bakers. Blacksmiths. Inn. House. House. Inn. It was rather tedious and did little to preoccupy my thoughts. I wish Frodo would just hurry up and lead us to wherever it was we were supposed to be going. Those Inn's were starting to look rather warm and dry and I couldn't care less that I was a female or not at this current moment. Just as I was about to question Frodo on our whereabouts, he suddenly lead us over to an entrance on the opposite side of the road I was gazing at. I could smell ale and the thick cloud of smoke was almost fog like as we entered what looked like another inn. Just how many inns did this place need?

"Excuse me?" Frodo asked a rather plump looking man as we reached the bar. His moustache wrinkled as he looked around him, clearly bewildered as to who had spoken until he glanced down at our level. Frodo's, the tallest of us, head hardly even reached the top of the bar. Relief and excitement filtered through the man's features. He had clearly not seen a hobbit before.

"Good evening little masters!" he welcomed us; his eyes glancing over us all individually until they rested on me and his eyes widened in what I could only describe as shock, "Oh! And little Miss! Forgive me dear?" I merely smiled in return having not much energy to even argue about his mistaking me for a man. He smiled gently back in return as he continued to address Frodo, "What can I do for you? If you're looking for accommodation we've got some nice cosy hobbit sized rooms available. Always proud to cater to the little folk, Mr eh...?"

"Underhill. My names Underhill" Frodo answered. I noticed that I wasn't the only one of us shooting him a questionable look; why would he be giving a false name? Surely those riders couldn't understand any language but their own. They seemed so supernatural, so evil. Surely they would not venture so close to a densely populated town, would they? I shivered at the mere thought of them in this inn; with these drunken helpless individuals. I must have missed the rest of the conversation as suddenly everyone began walking deeper into the inn and I was being led to a small table at the back; Pippin sitting down next to me with Frodo and Sam across from us.

"What...What is going on?" I just about managed to choke out; my throat was extremely dry from crying so much earlier. I didn't know what possessed me to ask such an absurd question as that; it was quite obvious Frodo and Sam were running from them riders and the rest of us had just been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Pippin glanced at me for a split second seeming to share my curiosity, but the other two seemed to just ignore my question completely. Typical of Frodo to ignore the obvious! I hadn't even noticed Merry had been missing until he plopped a tray on our table with five mugs on it.

"Sorry Clara, I could only get you ale. The barmaid was already asking questions and I didn't want to give her reason to ask more" he softly smiled as he placed one of the mugs in front of me. I had to swallow hard not to vomit at the stench that was coming from it. I didn't care for alcohol one bit.

"What do we do now?" Sam hissed to Frodo as he began to glance for any eavesdroppers around us. I followed his gaze and noticed that quite a few of the drunken men had begun to stare at our small table; their looks were clearly of distaste and curiosity. I decided right then that I hated men and their thinking of being better than us hobbits. My gaze then caught the sight of one of said men who was sitting in the far corner of the room smoking his pipe. His face was almost hidden completely from his soiled cloak but some of his features I could faintly make out from the light off his pipe; heavy dark stubble and piercing dark eyes that seemed to never blink. He seemed quite unabashed in his leering of us which frightened me a little. His whole presence reminded me slightly of the black cloaked horsemen chasing us earlier and I instantly averted my gaze at the thought. Surely he couldn't be one of them? No. They weren't even men. They were something else completely. Something much more sinister than the degrading men in this inn.

"It comes in pints?" Pippins voice gasped next to me bringing me back to the table. He was staring awestruck at Merry who seemed to be drinking out of the biggest mug I had ever seen! "I'm getting one!" he announced, as he quickly stood from the table and made his way to the bar. Trust Pippin to act like a jealous child in a situation like this. He and Merry would be drunk within the hour if they continued to outdo each other in a drinking game. Idiots!

"That fellows done nothing but stare at you since we arrived" Sam told Frodo; his gaze glancing over to the looming figure in the corner that I had been staring at earlier. I was suddenly relived I wasn't the only one who had noticed his leering.

"Excuse me," Frodo tapped the plump barman from earlier as he attempted to walk past us, "that man in the corner. Who is he?"

"He's one of them rangers" he explained without even looking to were Frodo was indicating. He obviously came here regularly or had that much of a reputation it was hard to not know who he was. I listened more intently as the man continued, "They're dangerous folk they are. Wandering the wilds. What his right name is, I've never heard. Round here he is known as Strider"

"Strider" Frodo repeated as his eyes became glossed over with thought; his hands fiddling in his pockets. I kept glancing between him and Strider trying to make a connection as to why he would be staring. Sam most likely was just paranoid and he was staring at the whole table and not only Frodo. Most likely thinking the same as the other occupants in here; why are there five little hobbits in Bree in the dead of night? I didn't even know why we were in this inn in the first place. There were many other inns in the town, ones that were much closer to the entrance but Frodo insisted that he knew where to go. Maybe I should have listened earlier. I had a bad habit of drifting off into thought at the most awful of moments. I instantly made a mental note to ask what exactly was going on later and to listen more in the future.

"Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins!" I heard Pippins voice call from the bar. I quickly looked up to see him waving over at our table and talking to a group of men who seemed to be following his gaze. Why did Pippin have to go and get more ale? I mean who knows why Frodo was going under the name of Underhill, but it was painfully obvious that he didn't want anyone to know his true identity. I slapped my head onto the table as I muttered idiocies under my breath at Pippin's lack of brain. Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut for once in his life? That mouth of his was going to get him in serious trouble one day.

Merry shrugged my shoulder and I looked up at him with what was most likely not a ladylike expression; he and Sam seemed to be looking for something as they stood up flabbergasted. I decided to follow suit as once again I had zoned out and not had a clue what was going on. Not only do I need to grow a backbone, it seems I have the need to purchase some ears as well. I should make a note of that under very important.

"Where's Frodo? Mister Frodo!" Sam was shouting as he marched over to where Pippin was, which was now thoroughly crowded with a large group of men all staring about them. What had Pippin said now?

"What is going on?" I directed to Merry as we rushed over to join Sam.

"I don't know?" his expression was of utter confusion; his brow furrowed as he tried to get his thoughts into order, "He has just disappeared!"

My mouth drooped open in utter shock. Where had he disappeared to? He wouldn't just leave us all would he? No no, he was here only moments ago. He wouldn't be able to escape the Inn that fast. I felt very on edge and uneasy all of a sudden; something just seemed off. I noticed something was always off since we had left the Shire.

"That Strider characters got him!" Sam's voice shouted as we reached the edge of the crowd. I looked around trying to see how he knew this but all I could see where bodies; the crowd of men was just too dense to see through and way too tall to peek over, "Grab something and come on! We are going after them"

He marched ahead as the three of us lingered a moment to share an uneasy look before following after him, grabbing whatever was in our path to defend ourselves with. I managed to clock a brass candle holder and quickly snatched it off the passing table; Merry followed suit and grabbed a similar one from another table and witty Pippin grabbed a small timid looking stool. We managed to catch up with Sam just as he was pushing open a door on the first floor; his fists drawn up ready to fight whatever lay inside as the rest of us followed suit and dawned, what we hoped was, an intimidating pose. I was sure that we must have looked more like a comedic sight that a daunting one. No matter how stout and brave Sam was, the rest of us were not. The man in the room stood about six foot high and had his rather large and dangerous looking sword drawn. I felt the little bit of courage I had waiver slightly but I knew I had to help save Frodo. Merry and the rest had somehow managed to step in front of me protectively as though they could sense my feelings.

"You have a stout heart little Hobbit" the man, who I now could clarify was the ranger from earlier, addressed Sam as he sheathed his sword and realised Frodo slightly from the iron vice grip he had on his shoulder. I could clearly make out his face now in the soft candle lit room; his hood was removed exposing long black tangled locks. His eyes were still dark and steely, their gaze piercing my skin. Although he still looked to be a handsome man maybe in the middle of his years, he seemed worn out and his face conveyed wisdom beyond this. I felt suddenly drawn to this man now. His features may have been dark but something about his stance, his voice, was soft and kind, "But that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the Wizard Frodo. They are coming"

"Who's coming?" Pippin mused beside me as he lowered his stool. Although it was a silly question to ask, it lifted the dampened mood of the room slightly almost making me want to laugh. That was after I wanted to hit him mind for clearly leaving whatever commonsense he had back in the Shire. Besides that though, I was glad he was here. Only he could make such a situation like this into something completely different and better. So I decided to compromise and nudged him hard on his shoulder while giving him a soft smile. Merry on the other hand chose to smack him squarely on the head. Poor Pippin.

"We must leave the Inn. We cannot let them find us!" Frodo firmly stated as he pushed himself out of the rangers grip and approached us ready to leave.

"It is too late for they are almost here. There is an Inn across the way; I have a room there already. Come, they will not expect it" he stated as he marched past us and out of the room. I looked at my companions for answers to if we should follow him. He seemed to be offering us protection and knew of Gandalf, but he was also clearly threatening Frodo only a moment ago. My mind was buzzing with confusion. I knew I had to clear my head and make a decision.

"How do we know we can trust him?" Merry piped up as we all continued to stand in the room staring at each other, reluctant to follow. It was a good question; one I was sure we were all currently asking ourselves, but I knew what I wanted to do and to me it seemed the most logical in our current predicament.

"I think we should follow him" I whispered as all eyes went on me, "I would much rather take my chances with him than stay here and wait on those horsemen. There is nowhere else for us to go. They are altogether evil and not of this world and will be sure to find us if we linger here. The ranger knows of Gandalf, I will take my chances with him" And with that I left the room without even glancing at anyone and rushed to catch up with the strange ranger who I had now just trusted with my life. I know it wasn't the wisest of decisions, but it seemed like our best offer. We could use someone who knew what those riders were. We could use someone who actually had a weapon and could fight. I just hoped that I had made the right choice and that the rest would follow. I instantly thought yes when I spotted our new companion at the bottom of the stairs clearly waiting on us, a look of concern evident on his firm stature.

"I am most glad that you have decided to follow little Miss. I see a lack of trust towards me has cause a slight delay" his lips twitched into what I could only describe as the smallest of smiles. His eyes never brightening from their steely and alert gaze.

"I...I have decided that you are a much safer option than those...riders" I stuttered slightly as I tried to find my voice. His aura was mighty and made me feel at a slight loss for words, "The others are just behind me" I wasn't sure if that was true or not but the sudden sound of rushed footsteps made me sigh with relief.

"Yes little Miss, they would most definitely follow you no matter what the circumstances are I am sure" his lips almost curled into an actual smile this time and his eyes seemed a little brighter. I on the other hand just gazed back with the most unladylike look of bewilderment. This man was most unusual. Surely all men are not this strange?

"Why did you walk out like that?" Frodo gasped as he grabbed my arm and swung me round so we were face to face, "Don't do it again please. I was worried..." This was the first real words that either of us had spoken to each other since this whole adventure began. I felt déjà vu as I thought back to what got us here in the first place was him keeping me in the dark and wandering off on his own. He didn't seem to like it when the tables were turned. His eyes where pleading with me so much though, that I couldn't muster enough anger to shout at him. To complain about mothering me. I just shook my head 'no' in return. The others were right at Frodo's back as we left the Inn and put our lives into the hands of the mysterious ranger who we knew hardly anything about.


I was struggling to sleep. We were currently in the Inn across the street; Strider had given us his bed to sleep in while he sat staring out a window on a small uncomfortable chair. He was watching for the riders, waiting for their arrival. I was extremely uncomfortable squeezed between Frodo and Sam struggling very much to drift into a deep sleep. Frodo was perched on the edge of the bed conversing quietly with the ranger and although I was grateful for the slight bit of extra room, their chosen topic was making me feel uneasy and I wished they would both just quiet down and try to sleep. I finally got comfortable in my curled up ball only to be elbowed by a restless Sam as he tossed and turned beside me. It would seem that no one would be getting very much sleep tonight, we were all restless and uncomfortable. It was awkward enough with five of us in the bed together but the fact that I was female was just adding to the already uncomfortable situation. I had never slept in a bed with a male before never mind four of them. Yes I had dozed off on Frodo or even Pippins shoulder in earlier times, but never had I been in such close proximity before with any of them, and I didn't want to repeat the action again anytime soon. It was strange to say the least. Throughout this though, I couldn't quite help the feeling of emptiness at the side that Frodo should be on. The cold that was now there instead of his tall form was making my stomach feel funny. It was only due to worrying about his health I am sure. Nothing more.

A sudden ear slitting screech sounded from outside causing everyone to sit up in bed with a start. I had to cover my ears to stop my head from exploding from the deafening sound. If death had a voice I was sure it would sound exactly like that.

"What are they?" Frodo questioned; he hadn't even flinched from his sitting position. His expression was blank but there was no doubt about his fear; it was almost radiating from him, from all of us. We were all sting up in bed now staring at Strider for explanations. I waited with baited breath for him to answer, desperate to get some answers as to what was going on. What them riders wanted form us, from Frodo.

Strider seemed to hesitate for a moment before he answered, "They were once men; great Kings of men" he mused, recalling things from his memories. I was totally transfixed on him. I was holding my breath waiting for him to continue, "Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question; one by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul; Ringwraiths. Neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the ring; drawn to the power of the one," he locked eyes with Frodo, "They will never stop hunting you"

I looked between them with an agape mouth. Surely they would eventually stop hunting him; no one could pursue someone forever, could they? It just didn't seem viable to me, any of it. Bilbo's stories seemed to be truer than any of this. I was starting to question the Baggins' sanity now like the rest of the Shire. My other bed companions seemed to be just as conflicted and confused as I was.

The ranger tried to muster up as much of a smile as the situation would allow, "Try and get some sleep little friends for we leave at first sign of daybreak. It is not wise to linger any longer" he settled himself more into the small chair and prepared himself for sleep. As daunting as it was that those riders would continue searching for us, they had fallen for the trap and Bree was safe for the time being. The others seemed to agree as they all lay back down and began to try and fall asleep. Frodo remained perched in his sitting stance beside me as I lay staring at him in total disbelief.

"Frodo are you okay?" my words coming out no higher than a whisper, "Please talk to me..."

He sighed heavily at my words and lay down beside me; bringing us face to face. His features were soft and smooth, his eyes large and innocent as they stared back at my small green ones. His expression was a mixture of pain and sorrow; even the most innocent of creatures could not avoid being tainted from this evil. I dropped my gaze at the thought; looking him in the eye would just make tears spill. Tears that should not be in this discussion.

A moments silence passed as I felt him twitch next to me, "Do you remember when Gandalf came that night and I told you it was nothing?" more silence came; the tension was starting to become unbearable when he continued on a more solemn note, "I lied..."

"I kind of guessed that by now" I whispered as I braved a small smile; my eyes finding their way back up to his searching ones. His expression was one of guilt and unbearable sadness. I smiled a little wider encouraging him to continue. It was the first real conversation we had had in months and I was reluctant for it to end.

"I should most likely start at the beginning..." his eyes bore into mine causing me to hold my breath. He was continuously fiddling with his hands trying to calm his nerves, "Well ,do you recall how Bilbo disappeared at the party? Well he had used a trinket of sorts to leave unnoticed; them riders are after that trinket. Bilbo left it to me and Gandalf came to warn me that night of its dangers. He said Bilbo was in the dark about its true worth or else he would never of left such a thing in my possession" I reached over and rubbed his arm showing my support. His gaze dropped guiltily however as he continued, "I had to leave the Shire to protect everyone. To protect you, my...my friends..."

"I...I don't know what to say Frodo..." I stuttered. I knew Gandalf had come that night with bad news but not something as serious as this. How could he of expected Frodo to bear this burden on his own? The weight of the world seemed to be on his shoulders and he just looked so guilty. Did he regret ever accepting this task? I was suddenly overwhelmed with guilt of my own. I had shouted at him that day, caused an argument and rift between us when he was only pushing me away to protect me. Why did I have to be so nosey and stubborn! "I am sorry for pushing you to answer me that day, for shouting at you. I was just so upset that you were keeping things from me that I never took a moment to think of why you would. I am so sorry Frodo..." I pulled my gaze from his and began nervously playing with stray strands on the blanket that covered us. I was too guilty to look at him. I had turned my back on him when he needed me most. He was only trying to protect everyone from harm by not telling me. I was beginning to think I was more like Pippin than I would of like to be, silly and stubborn. Look where that had led me now; I was right in the thick of some crusade with evil popping up at every opportunity. I was beyond prepared for this sort of thing. Fear gripped me at the thought.

"Clara don't be sorry" he said as he titled my head back up so our gaze was matching. His lips curled, smiling slightly but his eyes were just as sorrowful as ever, "I am the one who should apologize for shutting you out in the first place. I should have known you wouldn't have let it drop without an argument. You always were stubborn" his smile widened as I smiled at his comment. I was more than stubborn and he knew it. I could argue with a brick wall! His smile quickly disappeared though as he spoke his next words, "Maybe if I just told you then, you would have known the dangers and you wouldn't be here. I am truly sorry for everything..."

The look in his eyes was heart breaking; He looked so defeated so, broken. I decided then that I had had enough of apologies and it was time to cheer up, "we both know I would of found a way here either way. I am a magnet to trouble, like Merry and Pippin. We would of do doubt found some way to follow you and Sam. Like you said before, I am stubborn and won't take no for an answer. I am afraid you are stuck with me now Frodo Baggins" I mustered the biggest smile I could, considering everything that was going through my head and playfully poked his chest. There was no need for us to keep going round in circles over who was sorrier than the other. We both had regretting things and it was time to just move on; concentrate on the dangerous road ahead. Frodo seemed to agree as he smiled back; his eyes soft and kind. Now that we were both smiling I was reluctant to stop, "Now go to sleep before I start crying again. No need for us to gush over how much we missed each other and how big fools we have been for arguing. Besides, we need our beauty sleep for tomorrow"

He laughed as I playfully poked his chest again; my smile just as big as his. Now that the tension was lifted, I suddenly felt quite tired. I was aware that Frodo and I had been talking for a while now and the prospect of getting up in a few hours to go trekking to god knows where was not pleasing. I shot him one last small smile and turned my back on him as I curled up into a ball, hugging my legs. I felt surprisingly more comfy now that I had been told a few things and I knew sleep wasn't too far off. I yawned as my eyes drifted close. The presence of Frodo behind me, coming closer as he settled down into a comfortable position next to me. His heat comforted me and I soon felt myself drift off into a deep slumber hopefully free from any nightmares of what was to come. Maybe I was wrong, maybe we would all get some much needed sleep tonight after all.