The moon had risen high in the night sky, silver and swollen over the glen where a fiery girl paced. She paced back and forth till the sound of hooves reached her ears.

Foxburr hid behind a tree as a horse broke through the foliage, the rider gleaming in the moonlight. She recognized him and the figure drapped over his lap. She timidly came out from her hiding place.

"Mlethier, you can't take her, not yet, I haven't-"

The elf sneered at the halfblood, "If you haven't snagged that hobbit yet then it's your own fault. I've delayed Lord Frostanan long enough!" He looked into her eyes with his own, which glittered a deadly green in the moonlight. "Now, dearest daughter, we had an agreement that if the Baggins wasn't wrapped around your finger before now you'd return with me." Tears stung Foxburr's eyes as Mletheir held out his hand to her.

"But I love him!"

Mlenthier gave an audible sigh, "Then do this, return with me for a month and I'll return you to the shire for another month. By then he'll be so wretchedly heartbroken he'll propose to you on sight,"

Foxburr stared at the man claiming to be her father. He had come to her one night in Rivendell. Somehow she knew it to be true as she saw herself in his depthless green eyes.

She had told her of her broken heart and he told her of his quest to gain possession of a silver-toed rabbit. They compromised and now she had to decide if she would uphold her end of the bargain. "Well daughter?"

Foxburr starred at his slim pale hand and the unconscious figure that was Rashelle draped over his lap.

She accepted the elf's hand and mounted behind him.

But both failed to notice the pair of crafty eyes watching from behind a bush.

************************************ *****************************

"Easy, Peregrin! You really should rest," Elrond said as the hobbit rose unsteadily to his feet. Pippin grabbed a hold of his cousin's hand and supported himself. The wounds were healed but tender.

"I have to go, I swore," Pippin said again as he had every time some tried to convince him to stay. Pippin dressed in clean clothes and Sam handed out the provisions he had gathered.

Now, let's go find your wife," Frodo said, clapping Pippin's shoulder. They quickly left the last house Bilbo, Elrond and elves behind them when two elf guards came up dragging a man in their grip. Behind them were a troop of what seemed to be dozens of women.

"We found this rogue trying to sell his 'goods'." Said one guard and shoved the man known to the Frodo and Sam as Stoneblu to the ground.

The elves were no strangers to this man's kind, many women and young men and even the few precious children were stolen by them. Elrond knew what he did and what he sold. He glared at the man with his depthless black eyes.

Stoneblu met these eyes and gave a feeble laugh; "A man must make a living,"

Elrond looked at the dozens of women, wondering if any once lived in the walls of Rivendell and gave a sound of disgust, "Take this scum of man away and lock him the deepest dungeon! Free these women! I want to be treated as our honored guests,"

Several of the women cried, others merely looked around uncomfortably wondering what freedom would bring. One, a small dwarfish girl, ran to Elrond and sobbed into his robes. Elrond petted her chestnut curls and whispered soothingly to her.

"Do not be afraid, flower, all of you may stay in the walls of Rivendell till you can find your families again,"

"NO! Wait!" Stoneblu cried as the guards began to drag him away. "I came with a message! A message about Silvertoes!!"

Pippin gave a snarl and wrapped his hand about the pommel of his sword," Where is she!?" He began forward, but Sam and Merry restrained him, "TELL ME!!"

Stoneblu shook his head, "I can't! He lives in the north where no map has ever been drawn, the way must be shown and I will," He smiled, "for a price," He tapped his temple, "Its all up here, take my women and throw me in jail and I'll never tell you where your precious Silvertoes is,"

The came a great wail from several women and they rushed to the spectators, begging not to let Stoneblu have them.

It took Elrond several times to calm them down, "Surely some else knows." No on answered, "Won't anyone speak up? Who knows the way to the north?"

"I do,"

The crowd of women parted to reveal a tall human girl with long golden hair and grey eyes. She walked forward standing before Pippin as Stoneblu shouted obscenities at her.

Pippin, the tallest of the hobbits since drinking the ent draught only came to the girl's neck as she stood before him.

Then she kneeled and unsheathed her sword and sank it into the ground before him, "I know the way to the North, to Lord Frostanan's fortress, I promise to lead you and help get back your silvertoes,"

"Samantha!" Stoneblu spat, "You wretched little strumpet! Betraying your own sire! You women should all be slaves so you don't stab every man in the back!" One of the guards got tired of his talk and cuffed him and dragged him away.

"Then you must be on your way, guide them well, Lady, and bring Rashelle home safely," Bilbo said touching Samantha's shoulder.

The woman smiled and stood sheathing her sword as several elves brought forward a horse and several ponies.

Mounted and ready, the group of five sped off into the night.