Chapter 12 Journey to Weathertop

They had been walking for several hours when Pippin noticed a lack. He went up to Merry and told him of it

"Merry"

"Yes Pippin"

"I'm Hungry, we haven't had second breakfast"

Frodo and Sam heard him and they stopped Strider was up ahead of them still walking The other agreed with Pippin and they all decided that now would be a good time to eat after all they had indeed not had their usual fare of food. I knew what was coming but It so made me want to smile. They were getting out their cooking gear when Strider noticed that they were not behind him. He turned and he looked back at them

"Gentlemen" The all looked at him "We do not stop until Nightfall"

Pippin's eyes got so wide at Striders statement

"But what about breakfast"

Strider gave him a look "You have already had it"

Pippin looked like he had been struck down by something he could not comprehend " We had one breakfast but what about Second breakfast"

Strider just looked at him and turned away

Merry looked at the departing Strider and realized that they were not going to get any more food to eat, he looked at Pippin "I don't think he knows about Second Breakfast Pip" Pippin looked positively shocked That was impossible everyone knew about Second breakfast. then an appalling thought occurred to him " What about elevensies, lunch, tea, supper, dinner he knows about those doesn't he" Merry just shook his head " I wouldn't count on it" Frodo and Sam just looked resigned and a little amused at the younger Hobbits anguish but there was nothing to be done about it. All of a sudden an apple appeared out of the sky headed in Pippins general direction. Merry caught it and handed it to Pippin. Pippin looked bewildered. Then a second apple appeared and hit Pippin right on the head and he looked all around, not at first realizing that Strider was the purveyor of these apples. Merry and Sam and Frodo just chuckled to themselves and continued after Strider. Pippin felt like his whole world was coming to an end. He started mumbling to himself " No second breakfast, no lunch, nothing but apples to last the day, how can I survive" Over and over again.

They traveled for most of the day and the as night was falling Strider told them it was time to make camp. The four hobbits were exhausted and just dropped to the ground. They had never had such a day; they had walked hard and fast with out their usual hobbit provisions. After they had rested for a while they got up and gathered wood for a fire and Sam took out his cooking gear and started to cook. Strider helped get the fire started but then he went over and sat under a tree and just looked at the path ahead. He did not talk to the hobbits. His mind seemed a million miles away. It was not too long before their meal was done. Merry took a plate over for Strider. And then he asked him if he could ask a question. Strider looked at him and said "Yes" Merry went on "Strider how long are we going to be on this journey to Rivendell". "Strider thought for a minute and told him "I do not know if the road has been measured from the forsaken Inn a days journey east of Bree, Some say it was so far and others say otherwise. It is a strange road. I know it would take me 12 days of travel from Weathertop and that is still 5 more days from where we now stand" Merry Looked at him with his mouth open. " Now Meriadoc I think you should eat and then take your rest, for we still have a long way to go before we reach Rivendell"

The hobbits and Strider traveled for many days, each day like the first. It was long and tiring going up hill and dale, and they even had spent a day going through what Strider called the midgewater Marshes. The hobbits were miserable that day and were quite sure there were more midges than marsh. They now traveled over an undulating ridge that rose almost a thousand feet into the sky; it was very tiring.. But still they went on day after day. It was on their 6th day out from Bree that Strider stopped and pointed to a hill in a distance that had ruins upon it. That is the Great Watch Tower of Amon Sûl what men now call Weathertop, we shall camp there for the night." They kept walking through the rest of the day and then they climbed the hill of the place called Weathertop. When they got to the top the hobbits threw themselves to the ground. They were very tired poor things. Strider came up to them; he had a bundle in his hands. "Gentlemen I have something for you. Before I got to Bree I wandered at the edge of the old forest and while I was there I ran into an old friend his name is Iarwain Ben-adar, though people call him by the name of Tom Bombadil. He stopped me and handed me this bundle and said "I have these things for you and something tells me that you may need them on your journey" I looked at him but he is not a great one to ask questions of and he did not explain over much, But I have reason to trust him. So I took this bundle and now I give you what it holds.." Strider knelt down and opened up the bundle and handed it contents to the Hobbits. "These are knives that came for the barrows of the old Forest and they were once used by the men of Westernesse. They are just about the right size for Hobbit swords. Something tells me that Bombadil is right and that you will have use of these before our journey is done. Now, I want you to stay here, I am going to scout around and see if I can see any danger" The hobbits looked at the swords (for that is what they were to the Hobbits) that Strider had given them They were long and leaf shaped and very sharp and they were of a wondrous workmanship. Damasked with serpentine forms place upon them in red and gold. These Swords gleamed when they had taken them out of their scabbards. Iarwain was one of those that listened very well he and I were friends of old and it did not take much for me to suggest that these Swords needed to be given to Strider. Iarwain was one of the oldest walkers of this land he came before all other creatures came here and he was a Great watcher and guardian of the land that he dwells in. There is much to tell of him but this story is not about him.  Strider watched them examine the swords for a minute and then he left them and my blood ran cold for I suddenly could feel a great fear and knew that they were coming. The Ringwraiths were coming to Weathertop.