Chapter Five- Through the Woods and Over the Downs
They journeyed for many days through the Shire. After crossing over the Brandywine they travelled across country, taking paths that had been made by generations of hobbit feet. They rarely met anyone once they had left the road, only an occasional farmer or adventurous tweenager exploring the countryside. They camped under the stars at night, and worn out from their journey, Sam slept deeply.
Two days were spent in the woods of the Shire. The trees of Woody End were different to those of the Old Forest, they were younger and greener, and seemed more still and restful. The hobbits rarely spoke as they rode through the woods enjoying the atmosphere of quiet and peace.
Sam felt more contented than he had for a long time. The sunlight that filtered through the thin canopy of leaves above was warming his back, and even the trees themselves seemed to be relaxing on this placid autumn day. Although he was sad that all this would be left behind he did not regret his decision. He knew that he did not have many more years to live, for although he was in good health he could feel his age creeping up on him.
After the second day of their journey was spent the wood seemed to be thinning, and on the horizon rolling green hills could be seen.
"The wood's coming to an end now," Pippin explained. "We'll soon be in Green Hill Country, and then on to Tuckborough."
The next day was less pleasant than the previous. They were riding over hilly landscape and the cold breeze crept through their cloaks and chilled them to the bone.
"Thank goodness for these cloaks," Pippin remarked, pulling his closer around him.
"Me and Mister Frodo used to sing their praises," Sam remembered, recalling their time in Mordor. "They work wonders, do these cloaks. They stopped us being seen by those orcs many a time."
"The elves know what they're doing. The Lady knew that they would come in useful," Merry said.
The hobbits camped in the shadow of one of the hills, but the cold air still made them shiver and they were glad when the morning sun finally rose.
"If we make good time we'll be in Tuckborough by the afternoon," Pippin said, shifting around uncomfortably in the saddle as Sam and Merry mounted their ponies.
Sam felt apprehensive when Pippin spoke of Tuckborough. He had wanted to slip away unseen and unknown, but surely if he went to Tuckborough then tongues would start to wag and soon the whole Shire would know that he was leaving.
Merry caught sight of Sam's unhappy face and smiled before he spoke.
"Come, Sam, out with it."
Sam voiced his concerns to his companions. They both pondered for a moment, and Sam could tell that they had been looking forward to some good ale and a feather bed for the night in one of the inns of Tuckborough.
"Well, I don't suppose anyone will know who you are. They'll know Merry and me of course, but you haven't been out of Hobbiton for quite a while. If we stay quiet and don't draw attention to ourselves we'll be fine," Pippin suggested.
Merry laughed after Pippin had spoken. "Remember the last time we tried not to draw attention to ourselves? Frodo ended up standing on a table and singing a ridiculous song because of your big mouth, Peregrin."
Sam laughed at the memory of their fateful night at the Prancing Pony. To stop Pippin revealing his real name Frodo had promptly jumped up on a table and sung one of Bilbo's old songs, much to the amusement of the patrons at the Inn. 'So much for not drawing attention to ourselves,' he could remember saying as they left Bree the next day. Strider had not been best pleased. He smiled as he thought fondly of Strider, or King Elessar, sitting proudly on his throne at Minas Tirith.
They rode on across the downs, and soon the land began to flatten and the village of Tuckborough could be seen nestled in the valley.
They paused for a moment to look down on the village, and after gazing for a few moments Merry smiled to himself and nudged his pony on down the hill.
"It's a soft bed for old bones tonight."
*-*
They journeyed for many days through the Shire. After crossing over the Brandywine they travelled across country, taking paths that had been made by generations of hobbit feet. They rarely met anyone once they had left the road, only an occasional farmer or adventurous tweenager exploring the countryside. They camped under the stars at night, and worn out from their journey, Sam slept deeply.
Two days were spent in the woods of the Shire. The trees of Woody End were different to those of the Old Forest, they were younger and greener, and seemed more still and restful. The hobbits rarely spoke as they rode through the woods enjoying the atmosphere of quiet and peace.
Sam felt more contented than he had for a long time. The sunlight that filtered through the thin canopy of leaves above was warming his back, and even the trees themselves seemed to be relaxing on this placid autumn day. Although he was sad that all this would be left behind he did not regret his decision. He knew that he did not have many more years to live, for although he was in good health he could feel his age creeping up on him.
After the second day of their journey was spent the wood seemed to be thinning, and on the horizon rolling green hills could be seen.
"The wood's coming to an end now," Pippin explained. "We'll soon be in Green Hill Country, and then on to Tuckborough."
The next day was less pleasant than the previous. They were riding over hilly landscape and the cold breeze crept through their cloaks and chilled them to the bone.
"Thank goodness for these cloaks," Pippin remarked, pulling his closer around him.
"Me and Mister Frodo used to sing their praises," Sam remembered, recalling their time in Mordor. "They work wonders, do these cloaks. They stopped us being seen by those orcs many a time."
"The elves know what they're doing. The Lady knew that they would come in useful," Merry said.
The hobbits camped in the shadow of one of the hills, but the cold air still made them shiver and they were glad when the morning sun finally rose.
"If we make good time we'll be in Tuckborough by the afternoon," Pippin said, shifting around uncomfortably in the saddle as Sam and Merry mounted their ponies.
Sam felt apprehensive when Pippin spoke of Tuckborough. He had wanted to slip away unseen and unknown, but surely if he went to Tuckborough then tongues would start to wag and soon the whole Shire would know that he was leaving.
Merry caught sight of Sam's unhappy face and smiled before he spoke.
"Come, Sam, out with it."
Sam voiced his concerns to his companions. They both pondered for a moment, and Sam could tell that they had been looking forward to some good ale and a feather bed for the night in one of the inns of Tuckborough.
"Well, I don't suppose anyone will know who you are. They'll know Merry and me of course, but you haven't been out of Hobbiton for quite a while. If we stay quiet and don't draw attention to ourselves we'll be fine," Pippin suggested.
Merry laughed after Pippin had spoken. "Remember the last time we tried not to draw attention to ourselves? Frodo ended up standing on a table and singing a ridiculous song because of your big mouth, Peregrin."
Sam laughed at the memory of their fateful night at the Prancing Pony. To stop Pippin revealing his real name Frodo had promptly jumped up on a table and sung one of Bilbo's old songs, much to the amusement of the patrons at the Inn. 'So much for not drawing attention to ourselves,' he could remember saying as they left Bree the next day. Strider had not been best pleased. He smiled as he thought fondly of Strider, or King Elessar, sitting proudly on his throne at Minas Tirith.
They rode on across the downs, and soon the land began to flatten and the village of Tuckborough could be seen nestled in the valley.
They paused for a moment to look down on the village, and after gazing for a few moments Merry smiled to himself and nudged his pony on down the hill.
"It's a soft bed for old bones tonight."
*-*