A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up... sorry if it's lame... but I am GOING to finish this story of it kills me. The ringwraiths must ride on!

"Stupid Shire... bloody Baggins... no-good rotton ring..."
Brett cast a concerned eye at the ninth ringwraith. He had been muttering under his breath (and hiccups) ever since they had met the ringbearer.
"Perhaps it's for the best," Brett thought, "that he take it personally."
"Sir Brett!" Matt called from ahead. "Buckland lies but a few miles ahead. I can see the lights!"
Danny did not even look up from his frustrated mutterings. Brett really did envy that wraith's ability to hold a grudge.
"Right. Be sure to make lots of noise as we get closer... we wouldn't want to be stealthy in any way." The other wraiths nodded approvingly.
"Baggins..." Danny breathed. "Baggins... Baggins..."

Somewhere in Bree, Frodo Baggins spun a golden ring between his fingers. When he held it, somehow the world didn't seem such a bad place. If it were to but slip on his finger... just a moment...
"Baggins..." Frodo jumped in his seat, opening his eyes. The inn was darker... all seemed gone save a black cloaked figure. It held a silver knife and looked down at him through an empty black hood.
"Baggins..." it said in a harsh whisper. "Baggins..."
Frodo cried out and leapt from his chair, hand flying to the ring. There. He felt comfort run through him. He drew it from his pocket and began to slip it on.
"Master Frodo! What are you do-" the midsection of the creature yelled, but too late. Before he could stop himself the ring was on his finger. He heard a gasp from all around, and suddenly knew he was invisible. He felt it.
And the world changed around him.

Danny stopped abruptly, drawing a quick breath resulting in a screech. He coughed and sputtered on his own saliva, finally falling off his mount to the ground. Three other wraiths rushed to his side.
"Danny, are you alright?" Katy shook his arm.
"Danny, what's the matter?" Lori leaned closer.
"Someone get help!" Julie yelled.
Brett narrowed his eyes. Why hadn't he thought of feining death before?
There was a silence where Danny made no sound... and then they all felt it. As the thoughts graced their minds Danny spoke.
"Baggins is at Bree."

Frodo could suddenly see through the cloak. Pippin sat on Merry's shoulders and Merry on Sam's. Sam staggered, looking concerned, while Merry and Pippin high-fived. "We sure got him!" they said.
But their voices sounded distorted. Distant.
And everything was... pink. Blue. Green. Yellow.
Tie dye.
There seemed to be a light somewhere, the source of all this... color. The sound of music played from somewhere as well.
Frodo scrambled away from the other three, tripping them on his way. "That'll show them," he muttered. Then it hit him. If he was invisible...

"Ow! Sam, why'd you have to kick me?"
"It wasn't me, Pip, I swear!"
"Oh just get your hair out of my elbow!"
Sam shoved the others off and looked around. "Master Frodo?" several Big Ones looked down at him in dangerous curiosity. "Master Frodo?" he called again. A scream issued from the other end of the tavern. With Merry and Pippin's help, Sam pushed through the crowd to see.
"Well I NEVER!" a flustered looking woman shouted and slapped a dark-cloaked figure across the face. She stormed from the bar, the man looking around wildly.
Frodo suddenly appeared, snickering. He had not seen the man glaring at him. Sam rushed forward, but too late. The man leapt from his seat, grabbed the hobbit, and ran up the stairs.

"What do you mean we need a photo ID?!?" Brett shouted at the face through the door. "We are the Ringwraiths! The Nazgul! The Nine Mortal Men doomed to die!"
"Look sir, on behalf of the government of Bree I'm sorry for any inconvenience," the teenage watchman said in a monotone drawl. "But you'll understand we must take certain precautions to ensure our safety." He paused as though trying to remember the rest. "Have a nice day."
The little door slammed shut, leaving the wraiths in the rain. Brett seethed, turning from the door and pacing.
"Brett..." Danny said. "As much as I'm glad to see you so miserable it does us no good standing out here."
"You have a better idea?" Brett said through clenched teeth.
"Actually," Danny said, oblivious to the three undead females hanging on his every word. "I do."

"I- I'm sorry!" Frodo said to the man who had thrown him so violently into the private room. "I accidentally bumped up against her and-"
"Yeah, yeah, heard it a hundred times." The man paused a moment, looking Frodo up and down with a single eye gleaming under his hood. "What's a hobbit doing in Bree anyway?" He paused again. "Wait. Wait, I know you. You're the one with the ring..."
The door banged open behind them.
"Leave him alone or I'll... I'll skewer you with a sconce!" Sam said from just outside the door. The man turned and laughed.
"Ah, so you are a good guy. Well then, all's excused. Now, we have to get a room at the other inn."
Frodo shook his head. This was all happening too fast.
"Why?"
"Why?" the man repeated. "Because we must, that's all. Oh, and fill these beds with hay to make it look like someone is sleeping here. And tell the landlord you'll be staying in this room." He saw the look the hobbits were giving him. "What? It's a tradition in Bree."

The wraiths pushed all at once, heaving the giant wooden bunny to the door.
"Alright, that's enough." Brett said, wiping sweat from his brow. He leaned to Danny. "What now?"
"Now we leave it for the watchman to find. He'll think it's a gift and take it in."
"Hello?" a voice said from behind the door. The wraiths scattered to the bushes where they sat and watched.
"Hello- oh." The eyes inspected the rabbit. "Well uh..." the watchman scratched his head. "Okay. I guess I'd like to see some ID, please."
The rabbit stood in the pattering rain, not moving.
"Look, I need photo ID or you can't come in," the watchman sighed. "Sir, if I could just see some..."
"Alright, alright, no need to say it again." The rabbit creaked as it reached into its pocket and removed a wooden card, which it presented to the teen.
"Welcome to Bree." The watchman opened the door and the rabbit wheeled itself in.
From the bushes, Brett uttered a low growl.
"Who... who was it that carved the rabbit's pockets?"
Daniel, who had just been whittling a credit card out of oak, turned to Brett. "Oh, I did! Great detail, huh?"
"NAAAAAHGGGGGGGHHHHH!" Brett cried and ran at the door. Shrugging their shoulders, the wraiths stood and followed their leader, running headfirst into the door. In a shower of splinters it fell to the ground, and Brett delighted in the feel of the boy underneath.
"I'd like to see some photo-"
Brett hiccoughed again and ran into the city, his wraiths following him.
It did not take them long to find the inn where the ringbearer was staying. The landlord took one look at their sharp swords and happily directed them to the room himself.
"Alright, now... we have to be silent this time. And look ominous... that's right, look at Matthew, he's got it right."
Matthew held his sword at his chest, grinning and glaring with flame in his eyes.
"Yes, I'd like to ask that bloody hobbit for directions again..." Danny muttered and stepped forward. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Brett.
"Soon we shall be rid of these blasted hiccups. I would like to say it's been a pleasure to travel with you." The three females nodded in agreement. Brett smiled, and realized he was savoring the past tense of his statement. He blinked in surprise at himself.
Danny smiled. "You as well, brother ringwraith."
They stepped silently into the room, swords held at ready. Danny stared down at the mass under the covers on the bed before him. He couldn't quite place it, but somehow this did not seem right.
Brett stared at the mass, imagining the watchman's photo-ID-asking face.
And he stabbed.
At his que the others plunged their swords as well. For a moment the room held only the sounds of ripping blankets and swishing robes.
"They're awefully quiet for lacerated hobbits," Brett muttered, and held up a hand. All stopped but Matthew. He stabbed a few more times, still grinning. He paused in mid-stab, looked around, then sheathed his sword and watched Brett with polite curiosity.
"Now I understand," Danny said. He ran his hand along one of the shredded quilts. "I knew something was wrong. The hobbits," he looked up at Brett, "smell awful. And there is no such smell here."
"You fools!" came a rumbling voice that shook the walls. "You must find the ring, and soon. I shall remind you of what is at stake."
And the voice stopped, the walls still. All stood in silence, waiting for some terrible death blow.
Lori hiccuped.
"Sorry," she muttered, and they continued to wait.
Matt hiccuped.
"Shush!" Brett said impatiently, and promptly hiccuped.
"It's our punishment..." Danny said, and hiccuped himself. Then they hit like a wave. All hiccupped, long and dreadful screeches filling the night air.

"Well, glad we moved from that inn," Sam said to Frodo as he blew out the candle.
"Actually," the cloaked man said, staring out the window. "They're not so bad tonight. Usually the band is far worse."