Hiya! Quick a/n to say thanks again! review please?


"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took," Sam said angrily, getting off me. Before he glanced at me with equal hatred. "Two Tooks."

"What?" Merry scoffed, sitting off my legs, brushing himself down. Groaning, I sat up too. "It was just a detour, a shortcut."

"A shortcut to what?" Sam asked, still cross.

"Mushrooms!" Pippin called, still strewn across the dirt, looking at the glorious fungi.

My head instantly snapped to where Pip was gawping at. There, at the pavement, were our mushrooms.

Immediately, we all seemed to be on our feet, apart from the other Took, trying to scramble to his feet.

Merry pushed Pippin back down first, before Sam did, as they all ran towards the small toadstools.

My sitting position didn't move me as I sat there, feeling a bit queasy after that tumble. Maybe it wouldn't be a good idea to eat food straight afterwards.

I looked elsewhere, down the path, as I stood there. The trees began to sway the leaves slowly unravelled from their normal layer.

"What's that?" I whispered to Frodo, standing beside me. He shrugged before turning his head to the boys, who were stuffing mushrooms in a bag.

"I think we should get off the road," Frodo told them. I gasped as the trees began writhing dangerously, the wind violently pulling up those leaves.

"Get off the road!" Frodo yelled, "Quick!"

The boys then got up, running off the road. I followed Sam, Pippin close behind. The vegetables rattled within his arms.

We jumped off the road, and hid inside a gap of tree roots, enough space for us all to squeeze through.

Despite the fear and worry unstable in me, embarrassment coated across my cheeks as Pippin moved his arm across my chest, attempting to reach for the mushroom bag with Sam and Merry.

"Be quiet!" Sam hissed suddenly, and we all froze, feeling the road above us trembling.

Hooves' sound entered the freezing atmosphere. They rang out like cold voices, echoing in discomfort. Loud, eerie breathing came in too. I held my exhalation, fear overtaking me.

Ever so slowly, I looked up, seeing the black, metal claws curled around a tree root.

My heart skipped a beat as I saw a gothic hood peer over us. Masked it was, its face invisible to the human eye.

Suddenly, Sam threw his arm across Pippin and me, touching Frodo's hands. The dark haired Hobbit opened his eyes abruptly, moving his hands away from each other. Sweat appeared over his skin, the same terror attacking him.

The monster wasn't going to go until it found us.

"Merry," I breathed. Our eyes locked and I mouthed, "Sam's blanket."

He nodded and eased the blanket off Sam's backpack. The stout Hobbit glared at Merry for a moment, before the problem seemed to 'click' in his head.

Merry, with the blanket stuck between his sweaty palms, muttered a countdown to himself before extending his hand, unlocking the blanket from his grasp.

The quilt flew across the road, unravelling and lying in a sprawled and dirty heap.

The monstrous figure screamed and charged away, detecting the source of the intrusion.

I watched Merry and Pippin run away as soon as that happened, racing down the slanted surface. Dazed, I followed, the shriek flooding with icy water into my thoughts. My heart grew icy cold. Sounds were inaudible and unclear as the haunted screech stowed itself away inside my ears. The trees seemed to be darkening as my feet swerved around them, shadows crawling and lingering as I hurtled over bushes.

Blood built up at the back of my throat. I was having difficulty of keeping my eyes watching my own feet, as well as the boys, who were well ahead of me.

They stopped, which slowed me down. Relieved, I fell onto the ground, beside Pippin, his face whiter than the clouds, and felt colder than snow fresh and crisp from a foggy sky.

"What was that?" Merry asked, looking at Frodo's back which was on us. His voice was shaking with pure fear – the first time I had really heard it from Merry. But Frodo just opened his outstretched, clenched fist.

And I could just see the golden flicker in his palm throughout the fiery sun.


Just to say, if you like Hobbit stories as well, I have written a short story under that. thanks again!