'Nonsense!' objected Sam, 'There is no way that I can let my master walk alone into danger without any companionship. Danger there may be, but that has never stopped a hobbit before. We may be made of sterner stuff than you accredit us for Master Baggins.'

'Sam's right. Think of Bilbo all those years ago, he held company with both elves and dwarves, and never did he give up, even when he became separated from them. They stuck together as we'll stick together now.'

'What good friends I have!' said Frodo, feeling the tears welling up behind his eyes, 'What would I do without you three?'

'Probably walk right into the clutches of the Shadow in the East. It is good to see you have come to your senses.'

'Gandalf!' exclaimed Frodo in surprise at the sound of the old wizard's voice.

'Yes, I have returned,' said Gandalf entering the room through the low door, 'I hope I did not startle you, but it is good to see you have reached this far safely.'

'Hardly,' said Pippin, 'we have been pursued by Black Riders, attacked in the Old Forrest, and captured by a barrow weight!'

'You have been busy! Yet I fear that your ordeal has only just begun my small friends. Now, is It safe Frodo?'

'Yes Gandalf,' said Frodo drawing the ring out of his pocket upon its slender gold chain. The ring seemed to swing away from the wizard's gaze as Frodo offered it for inspection.'

'Very good, now please tell me that you have not used it.'

Frodo looked at the others for support and then turned to Gandalf, 'I am truly sorry, but it did find its way onto my finger earlier this evening.'

Gandalf's face turned to thunder and he seemed to grow even taller in the low room. 'What have I told you about this ring Frodo? It is not to be used at any cost! Already the enemy will know we are here. We must away this instant!'

'It was an accident!' cried Frodo. 'I didn't mean it to happen!'

'That's as may be, and it is true that the ring may have a will of its own, but great care is needed especially in situations concerning rings of power. I fear that the harm has already been done, the enemy will have sensed the presence of the ring and will already be homing in on our position.'

'Then we must leave now. Sam, get Nob to saddle our ponies right away!'

'Certainly Master Frodo.'

Sam left the room to find Nob leaving Gandalf with the other three. Gandalf looked about the room and seemed disturbed by something.

'What is it Gandalf?' asked Frodo.

'Did you get the letter that I told the landlord to deliver to you earlier this year?'

'Letter? No, we have heard nothing since you left. When you failed to return on the day of our departure we thought we had best set out in the hope that we would meet up en route.'

'Then you will not have met Strider?'

'Strider? No, the name means nothing to us.'

'This is very worrying news indeed. I sent a Ranger, by the name of Strider, to watch the East Road and track your progress. He was supposed to meet you here in Bree, if he has been delayed then that means the enemy are closer than I thought. Where has Sam got to with those ponies, the longer we delay, the harder it will be to leave Bree in secrecy.'