(Author's note: Okay, firstly, for some reason isn't showing the story...I dunno if that'll change any but I'm going to keep uploading chapters in case it does. Secondly, we are finally getting to the chapters that deviate from the book. So, without further ado, on we go)

Kria rested in the tub, the only one in the room currently. The boys were having some, from the sound of it, rather childish play in the other room. Chuckling, she relaxed further into the warm water, letting it soothe away the tense muscles that had been gathering since they left Bag's End. She hadn't been entirely sure that they were going to make it to Buckland but she had never been happier to see Merry ride up from the Brandywine Bridge; not even the farmer handing the hobbits mushrooms could spoil her relief.

Sighing quietly, she sank further into the tub, soaking her hair. She purred quietly to herself, glad no one was around to hear her. This would be the last comfort she would have until they hit Rivendell, so she was taking full advantage of it. She really wasn't looking forward to the next leg of the journey...the Barrow Wrights were as dangerous as the Nazgul in their own way. It would be better if Old Man Willow ate the ring than one of those restless dead got a hold of it.

Speaking of the Willow, she was of two minds on how to deal with him. She could allow events to play out as they had originally, letting the hobbits meet Tom as the hero he could be. On the other hand, she could avoid the problem all together but perhaps not have that safety net that meeting the Eldest would give them. She had no doubt in her mind that things could be a lot trickier without him but was she willing to risk the hobbits was the question she had to ask herself.

At the end of the day, she decided that Willow would be less of a risk than the Wrights. She sighed again, wondering what Gandalf would do in her place. It wasn't something she could really understand though, given he wasn't exactly mortal. She may have been chosen for a special task but she was no Maia, after all. They could be really strange in how they acted towards mortals...same with elves, if she was honest with herself.

Still, that was a problem for tomorrow...or later tonight, depending on when they left. For now, she was going to concentrate on washing her hair and relaxing. Though, she wouldn't be surprised if a shroom got tossed at her at some point. Those hobbits, especially the youngest ones, were full of mischief at times...that wasn't a problem though. They were a breath of fresh air next to the all-to-serious elves and humans. She just prayed that their innocence would last through this War.

KWKWKW

Kria grimaced, hating having to ignore the screams of her companions. She knew Tom was nearby and that Frodo would find him soon...it still didn't make it any easier having to pretend that she had gone off to find some wild berries or something. Sometimes, to prevent a greater tragedy, she had to let things play out the way they had in the original timeline, as much as it pained her to do so. She would catch up to them after they left Tom's dwelling.

Meanwhile, she was going to scout ahead to make sure she knew where the barrows were. It wouldn't matter in the fog but it would at least help her to know which way to go. Honestly, she was halfway considering going all the way to Bree and meeting the hobbits there...but that wouldn't be fair to them, at least not without fair warning.

She supposed that she could leave a note for them, though. That was always a possibility...in fact, look out on the downs as she listened to Tom's singing, she decided that was exactly what she was going to do. Now that the hobbits had met the Eldest, the next leg of the journey would be on their own merit. After all, there was going to be a time, eventually, when she could no longer guide them all. Best that they learned independence now, while it was still relatively safe.

Her mind made up, she scrawled a note that she stuck on an obvious branch on the path the hobbits would be taking. Thankfully it wasn't going to rain tonight, so the note would stay dry until read. After that, she set off across the downs, making sure to travel on their west side. She was half-way grateful to be able to go at her own pace...with the sun almost down, she didn't have a lot of time to get across. She certainly couldn't have waited for the hobbits to keep up with her. As she walked, she sent a silent prayer to Eru, and to the Valar, that things would not go stomach up while she was away...it shouldn't, as long as this next part stayed true to the original timeline.

KWKWKW

The Prancing Pony was surprisingly quiet in the middle of the day, Kria decided as she sipped upon a mug of watered down ale. She hated the stuff but water was harder to come by in a tavern. While she drank, she scanned the few customers in the room. None appeared shifty eyed, more they just looked like they were eating lunch between shifts. That was fine to her, people needed to eat after all. Still, it didn't hurt to keep an eye out for any potential traitors, someone who would sell out his mother for a gold coin.

Speaking of, she narrowed said eyes as she saw Bill Ferny walk in, followed closely by the squint-eyed stranger. She fingered her staff, a low growl in her throat. She had known that Ferny lived here but she hadn't known that the stranger had arrived before the four companions crossed the Downs. It would still be some time before that journey was complete...she kept her head down, focusing on her ale. She was thankful her reputation was similar to that of a ranger; few would have the nerve to question her presence directly.

She almost choked on her drink, though, when she saw the next person walk into the Inn. As much as he tried to hide it, Strider had a presence about him that made those who understood take notice. She honestly had expected him to arrive an hour or two later, though, and had to wonder slightly why he was arriving early. It hopefully wouldn't matter but one never could be too careful.

Strider was as persceptive as always and had obviously spotted her as soon as he walked in. He joined her after ordering a drink and she raised her tankard to him. Kria had great respect for the older man; besides his part in the coming War, he had served as her mentor during the years she had traveled. Which might explain his rueful smile that she could just barely see underneath his hood. She rolled her eyes, knowing that, once Frodo and compnay reached the Inn, Strider was likely going to have a few embarrasing stories to tell on her...mentors, she thought to herself, can be as bad as parents.

(End Author's note: I want to point out that Kria has a lot of hard choices ahead of her. She has a duty to prevent needless suffering but she is treading a fine line...if she meddles too much, she could mess everything up. The party doesn't even know yet that she knows things...once they find out, her decisions are going to be ten times as hard.)