Chapter Six
"Awake now, milady," said Aragorn, gently shaking a sleeping Estela.
Estela's eyes focused on Aragorn and she sat up.
The grey light of the early morning was drifting through the window along with cold air, making her shiver.
She pulled the blanket up around her shoulders and watched Aragorn rouse the others.
"Come, let me show you something," said Aragorn once everybody was up.
He led them back to the bedrooms where they stood and stared at it in shock. The windows had been forced open and were now swinging in the wind, and the curtains were flapping; the beds were tossed about, and the bolsters slashed and flung about; the brown mat was torn to pieces.
Estela looked at Pippin. "You get thirty points." Pippin didn't reply, just nodding, and looked at the room in utter shock.
"I will be back," said Aragorn, walking out the door. He soon returned with Barliman who looked sleepy and frightened. He had hardly closed his eyes all night (so he said), but he had never heard a sound.
"Never has such a thing happened in my time," he cried, raising his hands in horror. "Guests not getting to sleep in their beds, and good bolsters ruined and all! What are we coming to?"
"Dark times," said Aragorn. "But for the presence you may be left in peace, when you have got rid of us. We will leave at once. Never mind about breakfast: a drink and a bite standing will have to do," he said, seeing Pippin's shocked look. "We shall be packed in a few moments."
Barliman hurried off to see that their ponies were got ready, and to fetch them a "bite". But very soon he came back in dismay. "The ponies have vanished!" he cried. The stable doors had been opened that night, and they were gone: not only Merry's ponies, but every other horse and beast in the place.
'That really stinks,' thought Estela, noting Frodo's thoughtful and crushed look.
"Ponies would not help us to escape horsemen," said Aragorn, looking hard at Frodo. "We should not go much slower on foot, not on the roads that I mean to take. I was going to walk anyway, and I see that Miss Autumn can go far on foot as well. It is the food and stores that trouble me. We cannot count on getting anything to eat between here and Rivendell, except what we take; and we ought to take plenty to spare; for we may be delayed, or forced to go round-about, far off the direct way. How much are you prepared to carry?"
"As much as we must," said Pippin with a sinking heart, but trying to show that he was a lot tougher than he looked (or felt). Estela saw this and smiled. "I will take whatever any of them can't carry and more."
Aragorn looked at her oddly in a way as to say "I didn't mean you."
"I can carry enough for two," said Sam defiantly.
"Can't anything else be done, Mr. Butterbur?" asked Frodo. "Can't we get a couple of ponies in the village, or even just one for the baggage? I don't suppose we could hire them, but we might be able to buy them," he added doubtfully, wondering if he could afford it.
"I doubt it," said Barliman unhappily. "The two or three riding ponies that there were in Bree were stabled in my yard, and they're gone. As for other animals, horses or ponies for draught or what not, there are very few of them in Bree, and they won't be for sale. But I'll do what I can. I'll rout out Bob and send him round as soon as may be."
"Yes," said Aragorn reluctantly, "you had better do that. I am afraid we shall have to get one pony at least. But so ends all hope of starting early, and slipping away quietly! We might as well have blown a horn to announce our departure. That was part of their plan, no doubt."
"There is one crumb of comfort," said Merry, "and more than a crumb, I hope: we can have breakfast while we wait--let's get hold of Nob!"
Estela started laughing when she saw Pippin's face light up at the thought of more than just a drink and a bite to eat. Pippin blushed a deep shade of crimson then followed them out to the common-room were a few others were eating their breakfast.
While they ate the hobbits told her about their home, the Shire. "Who is Bilbo?" asked Estela, remembering the night before.
"Oh, he's Frodo's uncle," said Pippin. "A very nice hobbit indeed. He had a birthday party just last week. It was the grandest thing I've seen in quite a while. Gandalf brought magnificent fireworks. It was all very lovely."
Seeing the uncomfortable look that Frodo was giving Pippin (who was oblivious to it) Estela decided that he didn't like fireworks or something else was bothering and changed the subject.
"How old is he?" she blurted out. It had been the first thing that came to mind. She looked at the hobbits, sheepishly, and flushed.
'Great, now they're going to think you're rude,' she yelled at herself. She sighed and took a sip of water.
"A hundred and eleven years old," said Pippin proudly, not thinking her rude at all.
Her water got stuck somewhere in her esophagus and she started choking. Aragorn jumped from his seat to help her. "Are you alright?" he asked patting her back.
"One hundred and eleven years old?!" cried Estela, staring at Pippin in shock. Aragorn looked annoyed and sat back down in his seat.
"Yes," answered Pippin slowly. "Is there something wrong?"
"Where I come from people barely reach the age of eighty!"
"There are many old things here," said Aragorn. "In Rivendell dwell Elves. Elves live forever unless killed or they die of a broken heart."
"Well I'll make sure not to brake any hearts when we reach Rivendell."
Bob came in, interrupting their conversation. He informed them that there were no horses or ponies for sale in Bree--except one: Bill Ferny had one that he might possibly sell. "A poor half-starved creature it is," said Bob, "but he won't part with it for less than thrice its worth, seeing how you're placed, not if I know Bill Ferny."
"Hey, um, isn't he evil?" asked Estela.
Bob smiled, agreeing with her, and waited for an answer.
"Bill Ferny?" said Frodo. "Isn't there some trick? Wouldn't the beast bolt back to him with all our stuff, or help in tracking us, or something?"
"I wonder," said Aragorn. "But I cannot imagine any animal running home to him, once it got away. I fancy this is only an afterthought of Master Ferny's: just a way of increasing his profits from the affair. The chief danger is that the poor beast's probably at death's door. But there does not seem any choice. What does he want for it?"
"Twelve silver pennies, sir," said Bob. Frodo sighed and let Bob lead them out of the inn and to Ferny's yard.
"Good Lord," muttered Estela, staring at the bony, underfed, dispirited beast.
"It may seem weak, but it is not dead yet," Aragorn muttered to himself, looking at the creature with pity.
In the end, Barliman paid for the beast himself, and offered Merry another eighteen pence as some compensation for the lost animals. He was an honest man, and well-off as things were reckoned in Bree; but thirty silver pennies was a sore blow to him, and being cheated by Bill Ferny made it harder to bear.
They went back to the inn and the hobbits repacked their things while Estela waited in the common-room. A few of the guests stared at her as she spoke to herself in Sindarin.
"Ikotane Bill Ferny is evil ar' i' Mor Dressy Gwaith are evil vee' eithel. Hmm. Interesting. Ar' Aragorn will il tell amin mani is going no'. Sina is ilya sai frustrating," she sighed.
"Uh...yeah, Estela?"
Estela looked up to see Merry staring at her oddly. "Yes?" she said.
"Aragorn wants us to go now." said Merry. Estela nodded and picked up Adrian's backpack that she had grabbed from the room earlier, and slung it over her shoulder. "Hi-ho, hi-ho it's off to work we go!" she said marching out of the inn like a soldier.
"Yes then..." Merry sighed, and walking out of the inn after her.
They met Aragorn and the other hobbits, who were acting *really* impatient, outside and finally began their journey to Rivendell.
They walked toward the entrance/exit of Bree. Estela noted that many people were looking out their windows or standing on the front step, staring at them.
One man in particular was staring over a hedge boldly. He had heavy black brows and dark scornful eyes; his large mouth curled in a sneer. He was smoking a short black pipe. As they approached he took it out of his mouth and spat.
"Morning, Longshanks!" he said. "Off early? Found some friends at last?"
Strider nodded but did not answer.
"Morning my little friends!" said the man to the others. Estela watched in disgust as he looked her over, a small smile on his face.
"Shut your mouth," said Aragorn sharply, noting this.
"Ohh! I see you don't that," said the man, a little surprised.
Strider kept walking, not saying a word.
"I suppose you know who you've taken up with?" said the man. "That's Stick-at-naught Strider, that it! Though I've heard other names not so pretty."
"If you don't shut you face, you're going to be Without-brains Retard!" shouted Estela. It wasn't the best comeback she had ever made but it worked.
"Watch out tonight!" continued the man, trying his best to keep a shocked look of his ugly face. "And you, Sammie, don't go ill-treating my poor old pony! Pah!" He spat out again.
Sam turned quickly. "And you, Ferny," he said, "put your ugly face out of sight, or it will get hurt!" With a sudden flick, quick as lightening, an apple left his hand and hit Bill square in the nose. He ducked to late, and curses came from behind the hedge. "Waste of a good apple," said Sam regretfully, and strode on.
"What did I tell you?" said Estela, stopping for a moment to stare at the hedge. "Without-brains Retard." She sighed and ran to catch up with the rest of the group.
It's short, yes, but I hope you like it. From now on I'm going to post the chapters on the weekend. Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. PLEASE REVIEW!!! Estela said: "So Bill Ferny is evil and the Black Dressy People are evil as well. Hmm. Interesting. And Aragorn will not tell me what is going on. This is very frustrating." Thank you, Lúthien Arnatuilë.
"Awake now, milady," said Aragorn, gently shaking a sleeping Estela.
Estela's eyes focused on Aragorn and she sat up.
The grey light of the early morning was drifting through the window along with cold air, making her shiver.
She pulled the blanket up around her shoulders and watched Aragorn rouse the others.
"Come, let me show you something," said Aragorn once everybody was up.
He led them back to the bedrooms where they stood and stared at it in shock. The windows had been forced open and were now swinging in the wind, and the curtains were flapping; the beds were tossed about, and the bolsters slashed and flung about; the brown mat was torn to pieces.
Estela looked at Pippin. "You get thirty points." Pippin didn't reply, just nodding, and looked at the room in utter shock.
"I will be back," said Aragorn, walking out the door. He soon returned with Barliman who looked sleepy and frightened. He had hardly closed his eyes all night (so he said), but he had never heard a sound.
"Never has such a thing happened in my time," he cried, raising his hands in horror. "Guests not getting to sleep in their beds, and good bolsters ruined and all! What are we coming to?"
"Dark times," said Aragorn. "But for the presence you may be left in peace, when you have got rid of us. We will leave at once. Never mind about breakfast: a drink and a bite standing will have to do," he said, seeing Pippin's shocked look. "We shall be packed in a few moments."
Barliman hurried off to see that their ponies were got ready, and to fetch them a "bite". But very soon he came back in dismay. "The ponies have vanished!" he cried. The stable doors had been opened that night, and they were gone: not only Merry's ponies, but every other horse and beast in the place.
'That really stinks,' thought Estela, noting Frodo's thoughtful and crushed look.
"Ponies would not help us to escape horsemen," said Aragorn, looking hard at Frodo. "We should not go much slower on foot, not on the roads that I mean to take. I was going to walk anyway, and I see that Miss Autumn can go far on foot as well. It is the food and stores that trouble me. We cannot count on getting anything to eat between here and Rivendell, except what we take; and we ought to take plenty to spare; for we may be delayed, or forced to go round-about, far off the direct way. How much are you prepared to carry?"
"As much as we must," said Pippin with a sinking heart, but trying to show that he was a lot tougher than he looked (or felt). Estela saw this and smiled. "I will take whatever any of them can't carry and more."
Aragorn looked at her oddly in a way as to say "I didn't mean you."
"I can carry enough for two," said Sam defiantly.
"Can't anything else be done, Mr. Butterbur?" asked Frodo. "Can't we get a couple of ponies in the village, or even just one for the baggage? I don't suppose we could hire them, but we might be able to buy them," he added doubtfully, wondering if he could afford it.
"I doubt it," said Barliman unhappily. "The two or three riding ponies that there were in Bree were stabled in my yard, and they're gone. As for other animals, horses or ponies for draught or what not, there are very few of them in Bree, and they won't be for sale. But I'll do what I can. I'll rout out Bob and send him round as soon as may be."
"Yes," said Aragorn reluctantly, "you had better do that. I am afraid we shall have to get one pony at least. But so ends all hope of starting early, and slipping away quietly! We might as well have blown a horn to announce our departure. That was part of their plan, no doubt."
"There is one crumb of comfort," said Merry, "and more than a crumb, I hope: we can have breakfast while we wait--let's get hold of Nob!"
Estela started laughing when she saw Pippin's face light up at the thought of more than just a drink and a bite to eat. Pippin blushed a deep shade of crimson then followed them out to the common-room were a few others were eating their breakfast.
While they ate the hobbits told her about their home, the Shire. "Who is Bilbo?" asked Estela, remembering the night before.
"Oh, he's Frodo's uncle," said Pippin. "A very nice hobbit indeed. He had a birthday party just last week. It was the grandest thing I've seen in quite a while. Gandalf brought magnificent fireworks. It was all very lovely."
Seeing the uncomfortable look that Frodo was giving Pippin (who was oblivious to it) Estela decided that he didn't like fireworks or something else was bothering and changed the subject.
"How old is he?" she blurted out. It had been the first thing that came to mind. She looked at the hobbits, sheepishly, and flushed.
'Great, now they're going to think you're rude,' she yelled at herself. She sighed and took a sip of water.
"A hundred and eleven years old," said Pippin proudly, not thinking her rude at all.
Her water got stuck somewhere in her esophagus and she started choking. Aragorn jumped from his seat to help her. "Are you alright?" he asked patting her back.
"One hundred and eleven years old?!" cried Estela, staring at Pippin in shock. Aragorn looked annoyed and sat back down in his seat.
"Yes," answered Pippin slowly. "Is there something wrong?"
"Where I come from people barely reach the age of eighty!"
"There are many old things here," said Aragorn. "In Rivendell dwell Elves. Elves live forever unless killed or they die of a broken heart."
"Well I'll make sure not to brake any hearts when we reach Rivendell."
Bob came in, interrupting their conversation. He informed them that there were no horses or ponies for sale in Bree--except one: Bill Ferny had one that he might possibly sell. "A poor half-starved creature it is," said Bob, "but he won't part with it for less than thrice its worth, seeing how you're placed, not if I know Bill Ferny."
"Hey, um, isn't he evil?" asked Estela.
Bob smiled, agreeing with her, and waited for an answer.
"Bill Ferny?" said Frodo. "Isn't there some trick? Wouldn't the beast bolt back to him with all our stuff, or help in tracking us, or something?"
"I wonder," said Aragorn. "But I cannot imagine any animal running home to him, once it got away. I fancy this is only an afterthought of Master Ferny's: just a way of increasing his profits from the affair. The chief danger is that the poor beast's probably at death's door. But there does not seem any choice. What does he want for it?"
"Twelve silver pennies, sir," said Bob. Frodo sighed and let Bob lead them out of the inn and to Ferny's yard.
"Good Lord," muttered Estela, staring at the bony, underfed, dispirited beast.
"It may seem weak, but it is not dead yet," Aragorn muttered to himself, looking at the creature with pity.
In the end, Barliman paid for the beast himself, and offered Merry another eighteen pence as some compensation for the lost animals. He was an honest man, and well-off as things were reckoned in Bree; but thirty silver pennies was a sore blow to him, and being cheated by Bill Ferny made it harder to bear.
They went back to the inn and the hobbits repacked their things while Estela waited in the common-room. A few of the guests stared at her as she spoke to herself in Sindarin.
"Ikotane Bill Ferny is evil ar' i' Mor Dressy Gwaith are evil vee' eithel. Hmm. Interesting. Ar' Aragorn will il tell amin mani is going no'. Sina is ilya sai frustrating," she sighed.
"Uh...yeah, Estela?"
Estela looked up to see Merry staring at her oddly. "Yes?" she said.
"Aragorn wants us to go now." said Merry. Estela nodded and picked up Adrian's backpack that she had grabbed from the room earlier, and slung it over her shoulder. "Hi-ho, hi-ho it's off to work we go!" she said marching out of the inn like a soldier.
"Yes then..." Merry sighed, and walking out of the inn after her.
They met Aragorn and the other hobbits, who were acting *really* impatient, outside and finally began their journey to Rivendell.
They walked toward the entrance/exit of Bree. Estela noted that many people were looking out their windows or standing on the front step, staring at them.
One man in particular was staring over a hedge boldly. He had heavy black brows and dark scornful eyes; his large mouth curled in a sneer. He was smoking a short black pipe. As they approached he took it out of his mouth and spat.
"Morning, Longshanks!" he said. "Off early? Found some friends at last?"
Strider nodded but did not answer.
"Morning my little friends!" said the man to the others. Estela watched in disgust as he looked her over, a small smile on his face.
"Shut your mouth," said Aragorn sharply, noting this.
"Ohh! I see you don't that," said the man, a little surprised.
Strider kept walking, not saying a word.
"I suppose you know who you've taken up with?" said the man. "That's Stick-at-naught Strider, that it! Though I've heard other names not so pretty."
"If you don't shut you face, you're going to be Without-brains Retard!" shouted Estela. It wasn't the best comeback she had ever made but it worked.
"Watch out tonight!" continued the man, trying his best to keep a shocked look of his ugly face. "And you, Sammie, don't go ill-treating my poor old pony! Pah!" He spat out again.
Sam turned quickly. "And you, Ferny," he said, "put your ugly face out of sight, or it will get hurt!" With a sudden flick, quick as lightening, an apple left his hand and hit Bill square in the nose. He ducked to late, and curses came from behind the hedge. "Waste of a good apple," said Sam regretfully, and strode on.
"What did I tell you?" said Estela, stopping for a moment to stare at the hedge. "Without-brains Retard." She sighed and ran to catch up with the rest of the group.
It's short, yes, but I hope you like it. From now on I'm going to post the chapters on the weekend. Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. PLEASE REVIEW!!! Estela said: "So Bill Ferny is evil and the Black Dressy People are evil as well. Hmm. Interesting. And Aragorn will not tell me what is going on. This is very frustrating." Thank you, Lúthien Arnatuilë.