Chapter 7: Strider

The rain was pouring hard once we made it across the river near our destination, we were all wet and tired as we jogged to the large gates of Bree. Once at the gate I knocked on it hard seeing a man look around the slot above us until he looked down looking at a slot closer to our size.

"What do you lot want?" he asked obviously grumpy from standing outside in the rain as Frodo said, "We are hobbits of the shire seeking entry into Bree."

He closed the slot hearing the lock click seeing a small door open as he ushered us all in saying, "Not safe being on the roads this late young hobbit, these are dangerous times."

"Which way is it to the Prancing Pony?" I asked while he pointed us in the right direction so we made our way over ready to get out of the rain.

I looked around getting my bearings seeing that there was an inn across the way of the Prancing Pony should we need an escape route seeing the hobbits weren't paying as close attention to our surroundings as I was.

Once inside we saw it was filled with humans as we all shuffled towards a table taking turns grabbing something to drink. Frodo and Sam were quite while Merry and Pippin seemed to not understand the true risks of our journey as I finally got my drink walking back to the table with Merry.

"What is that?!" Pippin said staring at Merry and my drink as Merry smirked saying, "That Pippin is a pint."

"It comes in pints?!" he said excitedly hearing Merry make a noise in his cup seeing Pippin stand saying, "I'm getting one."

"You already have this one…" I said but it fell on deaf ears rolling my eyes looking around the inn.

The bartender hadn't heard from Gandalf in quite some time but we couldn't stay here forever hoping Gandalf's friend would arrive soon, it wasn't safe.

"Frodo Baggins, he's right over there." I heard turning quickly to see Pippin talking merrily with the barkeep as my eyes widened.

Frodo and I stood up quickly to shut him up as I grabbed him by the collar saying, "Are you insane!"

His eyes remained wide looking behind me realizing Frodo had disappeared making me let go of him saying, "Oh no…"

"Did I do that?" Pippin said quietly while I shook my head saying, "No but that was absolutely stupid telling them his real name, he is in serious danger and you may have made it worse."

He looked at me apologetically as I scanned around the room looking by the stairs in time to see Frodo appear and someone grab him heading upstairs.

I whistled to the others to follow me as we made our way upstairs while I followed Frodo's voice to a door.

I kicked it in as they held pots or their fists hearing Sam say, "Unhand him or I'll gut you myself!"

I looked at him for a moment saying, "You're Strider?"

"And you must be Marina, we haven't much time, now that he's worn the ring they will know where we are." He said looking at all of us while I said, "There is another inn across the way."

He nodded quickly as we all slipped out unnoticed getting a room watching the hobbits fall onto the beds obviously exhausted. I walked around the room since there wasn't a bed for me but I wasn't feeling very tired anyway.

"Gandalf never told me about you." I said to strider quietly as he looked at me from the window saying, "I expect he wouldn't but I know of you and your mother."

"It seems everyone knows my mother, probably more than I do." I said sitting in a chair beside him seeing him smile saying, "Though she didn't live a long life she had many friends."

I smiled sadly seeing him look out the window holding up a finger to remain quiet as I turned my head seeing the riders had entered Bree and were walking into the Prancing Pony. It didn't take long until we heard the angry screeches from across the way seeing all the hobbits sit up quickly looking around fearfully.

"What are they?" Frodo said as strider looked at him saying, "They are the Nazgul, Ringwraiths bond by Sauron to hunt for the one ring. Neither living nor dead they will not stop until the ring is back with its master."

I watched them get on their horses heading out breathing a sigh of relief looking at the hobbits saying, "Don't worry you all are safe."

"Shouldn't you get some sleep?" Sam asked me worried making me shrug saying, "It's alright you all need your rest more than I do."

"She is right it will be a few days' time before we reach our destination it's best you get your rest." Strider said watching the hobbits all uneasily sink back into bed.

"Where are we going?" I asked quietly as he said, "Rivendell."