Note: Updated and corrected April2017 PT

Nariel the Red

Chapter 10: The Prancing Pony

Nariel sat by the open window watching the people going in and out of the inn on the other side of the street. She had been here for weeks watching and yet there was no sign of the hobbits that she was looking for. And her father had been worried? Well, she reminded herself, the longer the hobbits took to get here the more danger they were all in. However, the longer the hobbits took the more likely it was that Gandalf would meet them. She knew that her father would be beside himself by now. She remembered how he had been before he left her there on her own and couldn't help but smile. She missed him terribly.

They had just arrived in Bree. Gandalf was in 'The Prancing Pony' talking to the inn-keeper. He wanted a letter delivered to the shire, asking the hobbits to leave immediately, so that they could travel as far and as fast as they could before they were perused. While he was talking to Barliman, Radagast and Nariel were across the street renting a room for as long as possible. They had no idea how long Nariel would have to stay in Bree before the hobbits arrived and she would attract less attention here than if she were staying in the inn itself, where questions and curiosity were the norm.

After securing the room, Radagast went to a merchant they had passed earlier and bought a large dark red cloak to give to his daughter. As it was she stood out quite a bit, and they wanted to keep that to a minimum. The problem was, not only was Nariel taller with broader shoulders than many of the men, let alone the women of Bree, she also dressed unusually. Nariel was not one to wear dresses, she never had been. It didn't matter in Mirkwood if she walked around in leggings and a tunic. In Bree however it was unheard of for a Mannish woman to be seen in the clothes of a man. Her first suggestion of course had been that she dress as a man, but despite her overall size the young wizard was obviously feminine. The cloak at least could be wrapped around her whenever she left the room, which would be seldom unless she found the hobbits.

As soon as Radagast returned from his errand he began to fuss around the rented room.

"If anything goes wrong, I want you to transform immediately got it! And run."

He paced back and forward rubbing his hands together nervously.

"Yes Ada"

Back and forward, back and forward

"I mean it Nariel. And you write to me as soon as you leave Bree There are always birds around who are willing to carry messages so you can reach me any time, for any reason."

He added.

"Yes Ada"

Gandalf put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

"She'll be fine Radagast. It is a simple errand."

He then handed her an envelope.

"This is a letter written by Frodo. He wanted me to give it to Bilbo the next time I saw him. Will it be enough for you to find him?"

Nariel sniffed the parchment. There was a faint sent on it, aside from Gandalf.

"It should be."

She said taking it and placing it where she could reach it on the desk in front of her.

Nariel sat by the window and sewed some of her own hair into the new cloak. She did this with all of her clothes, as did the other Beornings. Beorn had taught her long ago that if she did this, when she changed to bear form her clothes would be absorbed into her body. This meant that when she changed back she wouldn't be naked, which apparently was frowned upon in most civilised places.

Just as Nariel put the cloak to one side, her task complete, she caught the scent she was looking for. Looking out of the window she saw four hobbits make their way towards the inn. That must be them. She stood up, pulled the cloak around her shoulders and stepped outside into the rain. Just as she stepped out into the open air she caught another vaguely familiar sent and stopped spotting a familiar ranger. Well, well, well. Hello Aragorn. She grinned and made her way towards the inn confident that she would meet at least one friendly face.

Once inside Nariel drew back her hood and made her way to get a drink, although she was careful to keep her clothing covered to maintain the illusion that she was dressed as any other woman. Just as she had paid for her drink she felt a person come up to behind her. She wasn't worried, as she knew who it was.

"Fancy seeing you here 'Red'. Your father finally let you out of the forest I see."

Nariel grinned, and replied without turning around.

"Couldn't let you Rangers have all the fun"

Aragorn laughed and retreated back to the corner of the room with Nariel following close behind. While they waited for the hobbits to make an appearance Nariel explained why she was there and Aragorn explained that he was in search of Gandalf.

They sat watching the hobbits as they drank their ale. They had been fairly quiet so far, though obviously suspicious of the Bree-landers. When Frodo disappeared in the middle of the floor however Aragorn jumped up. But Nariel grabbed his arm.

"Keep them out of their room tonight. I have a room across the street. Leave the Nazgul to me."

Before he could reply she had pressed a key into his hand and was gone without a trace.