"I havnt heard." said Sam through a mouthful of bread, "but I think it has something to do with the shadow that has been growing in the east and..." "and what?" Frodo asked, "and why Gandalf never came" said Sam, looking into Frodo's worried eyes. "Oh Sam, you don't think.." said Frodo, not daring to say what was in his kind. "but no, not nigh has the white wizard fallen, not ever shall he fall. He will remain Domcrow, until the end of middle earth. Naught shall he die by the hands of any man or beast. HIs foe is beyond them all." Frodo said, eyes closed, wanting to believe it. "I'm sure he's alright. perhaps we should try and find him? He may be able to give us some answers." said Sam "but where?" "That I do not know. We should make for Buckland at the present, i think. They are away from what i presume to be the cause of all this commotion, let us ride, and see what we can learn." They packed up thier things, and rode north west, into the sun which was getting low in the sky. As the first stars twinkled above, they crossed the borders of Buckland. All seemed still, yet unearthly still. Not a breath of wind stirred and Frodo guessed why. "They've already been here sam." Frodo's voice wavered as he aid this, and as their eyes adjusted to the new light they saw that it was true. The houses were black from burning, there was no gathering in the pub, there were no voices lifeted in song. There were no carts going through the streets. All had fled. All that was left was the silence of the deserted town. Sam shuddered in the cold. Suddenly he ran. "Sam where are you going?" Frodo called after him, but he did not turn, istead he fled on, into the slient town. Frodo quickly followed him. They ran through the streets to the west end of the town and sam crashed through the burnt remains of a door. "Alas!" he cried. "gone! but to death? or to fear? will i ever see them again?" he cried aloud. Frodo came in, "Sam, why do you cry?" he asked. "My aunt, frodo, my cousins, but uncle, they all lived here, but where are they now? what horrible fate has befallen them?" He sobbed. They went out of the house, and walked through the streets. Then from behind them someone called, "sam? saw-wise is it you?" Sam turned to see his cousin maralyn, running towards them. "oh sam! it is! it is! They fled sam, petty, dave, gillin, they all fled to the hills, and on to bree i suspect!" she yelled, "but I couldnt leave them sam, the horses, they were so frightened, I didnt know what to di, I hid in the stables, and when they began to burn, I fled to the woods sam!" She fell intop his arms sobbing. "Mary, its alright." said sam."to bree you say? we have room on our ponies for one more, ride with us mary, I wouldnt think of leaving you behind." he said to the young hobbit. "But sam, we know naught news from bree, what if they came there aswell? what if there is none left of bree? where then shall we go?" she asked, with tears still streaming down her pretty face. "I dont think the great town of bree, with its men tall and broad would be taken so easily, come! Let us make haste!" he said, and together with Frodo, they rode north, to the villiage of bree, and whatever fate awaited them.