A cold wind howled over the barrow downs. Frodo looked out over the valley and wondered why he had ever let Sam, Pippin and Merry accompany him on this journey. He longed now for the comforting warmth of Tom Bombadil's house, and the sweet song of Goldberry that had made his ordeal so much more like the adventures that Bilbo had once enthusiastically described. A dark mood had become the group and night seemed to have lasted for an eternity with only the pale waxing moon casting grey shadows over the land. Something unnatural was at work and each of the four could feel it.

'Master Frodo, I have a strange feeling that we're being followed,' Sam was walking at Frodo's side whilst Pippin and Merry walked up ahead with the Ponies.

'Don't worry Sam; I can't think that those Black Riders could have followed us through the Old Forrest. To be truthful, I'm more concerned about what lies in wait upon the road.'

At that moment Pippin's voice came drifting back to them through the predawn mist.

'Frodo! Sam! Come quick!'

Frodo's heart jumped and he suddenly had an image of a horde of barrow weights descending upon them, but then he heard laughter from up ahead, and to his relief the sound of elf song came rising back to them in beautiful harmony.

He and Sam both ran forwards through the chill air, only to find that Pippin and Merry were nowhere to be seen. They called to them, but their cries were met with nothing but distorted echoes.

'I don't like this one bit, Master Frodo,' said Sam as a shudder ran through him.

'Don't worry Sam, they can't have gone far,' but Frodo wasn't sure. The barrow downs offered many places where parties could become lost and disorientated. The high moon offered no reference and it was still a good hour until the first light of dawn would be rising over the Misty Mountains. Sam was still calling out when Frodo noticed something strange in the air. He suddenly had the strongest urge to put on the ring. He found that his hand had instinctively taken hold and the ring and was gripping it tightly in his pocket. For an instant he wished that he could just slip it on and disappear forever, allowing Sam and the others to return back to the safety of the Shire.

'Master Frodo! Master Frodo!' Sam's voice woke Frodo with a start. 'Thank goodness you're awake. You've been asleep for hours now and we were starting to feel that we'd never be able to wake you.'

'Sam my friend, where are Merry and Pippin? Are they all right?'

'We're right here,' said Merry, 'Why are you so panicked?'

'I had the most awful dream; we became separated on the barrow downs. I thought that I had lost you both forever.'

'That'll teach you to drink so heavily of the local ale, and to mix with strange folk you'll fill your head of such nonsense,' said Pippin.

'That may be true, but anyroad, it has make me think about this whole adventure, and I have come to a decision.'

Sam, Merry and Pippin looked at Frodo in anticipation. They could sense that, now fully awake, he was in one of his serious moods and had taken on a solemn tone of voice.

'I have decided that you cannot accompany me on the rest of my journey. If anything were ever to happen to you I do not think I could bear it. Therefore I am committed to going alone into the lands of Mordor.'