Chapter 14
On the Road to Moria
The sun began to climb in the eastern sky and break through the thick early morning clouds. The breeze began to warm slightly taking away the evenings chill. Merry wrapped in his blanket slept deeply next to the smoldering campfire, as it was about to go out.
Robin quietly gathered his members together who would ride with him to Hobbiton. Estella reluctantly prepared her things by wrapping them into her blankets and tying it securely to her horse. Ester noticed her things took on a different shape then what they were before, but she did not say anything to her.
Ester looked forward to going home to see her children because she missed them so much. However, Seeing her father and having to tell him that Erling was dead was another matter that would be hard for her to do. Especially, so soon after her mother's death. Hatty's death would greatly effect the lives of all the Bucklanders who lived there. She closed her eyes as she mentally prepared herself. She has wished that Berilac would come home with her, but she understood that Berilac needed to help Merry.
They all got on their horses to head out of the camp. Estella preferred to lag behind bringing up the rear. While Ester rode by Robin Smallburrow in the lead. Estella was glad that her friend did not insist that she ride next to her. It would be easier for her to plan her escape. She knew they would have to travel through the woodland area on a single path that led to the crossroads of Hobbiton or Buckland. Perhaps this is when she would be able to make her get away.
Fredegar and Bowman took their horses to the town of Bywater just a few miles from where they camped. They needed to purchase supplies for their journey to retrieve the horses.
While Berilac and Nibs packed the horses with the things they would need from the camp. Nibs noticed that Erling's sword and knife was missing. He had hoped to take these with him. He could not imagine who could have taken them.
While waiting for Merry to wake up, they put the camp back in order to it's natural setting. Nibs began cooking luncheon, while Berilac gathered more wood. Merry soon woke up and joined Berilac, as the luncheon was now ready to be eaten. Merry turned to Berilac and told him, "You do not have to come with us Berilac, I would understand. You have a wife and children at home that need you."
"Merry, I am just not ready to go home yet and you need every able body on this journey." Berilac grew silent, as he was again lost in this thought.
Fredegar and Bowman road back in camp and when they finished eating, Merry took out the map and laid it out in front of them.
"According to the map that Erling carried, it appears they are heading towards Moria. They must be meeting someone there to sell the horses."
Merry remembered his time in Moria with the fellowship and that was one place that he never wanted to go again.
"They can not be moving that fast with a herd of horses. We will soon over take them if we continue to push hard as we travel." Merry told them when Nibs brought the horses over for the riders.
The sun was high in the sky that now opened to a clear blue. Off in the distance they could see the fading clouds soon disappeared. It looked like it was going to be a very warm day ahead of them.
~*~
Robin approached the small woodland area that was just before the crossroads that led towards Hobbiton or Buckland. If Estellas were going to make a break for it, the best possible place would be those woodlands. The paths that followed through the woodland were narrow and there was a bend in the path halfway into these woods. The foliage and brush were thick and could easily hide a rider in them. Estella planned where she would make her break from this troupe. When the bend in the path approached Estella slowed her horse just getting enough distance from the rider that she was following. As the rider ahead of her turned the bend, Estella gently nudged her horse behind the thick tall bushes just off the side of the path. She waited for just a few minutes, then turning her horse around, galloped out of the woods heading back towards the borders of the Shire.
~*~
The guards at the border waved Merry on pass them as the five hobbits and two packhorses began heading on their long journey towards Moria.
When Estella finally reached the borders she could still see Merry and his troupe in the far distance. She galloped towards the guards with her cloak and hood tied securely around her. She pointed towards Merry's troupe when she slowed her horse as she approached the guards. The guards gave her a nod and she raced off in their direction.
Not wanting to get too close to Merry yet and keeping off towards the side of the road, so Merry could not spot her and send her back home again. She followed them at a safe distance.
She planned after a two-day journey, that she would show herself. Then, being too late to send her packing, Merry would be forced to take her with them. She had enough supplies with her to last her those two days she planned.
On and on, Merry pushed his troupe as he followed the trail of the horses. Rarely he would stop, not even when the hour grew late, and well pass the evening meal. They would only eat when the darkness of the night would not allow them to see the trail any longer.
Estella could barely keep up. Her stomach ached and her eyes so heavy she could barley keep them open, but she was determined that she would not go back home.
When night finally approached and she could see the light of their campfire. Estella would grab something to eat and wrapped her blankets around her. Estella could not risk lighting a fire to keep her warm and not even her blankets warmed her, as she shivered throughout the night.
The sound of a distant sharp whistle woke her as Merry prepared to break camp and continue his journey at the first light of the sun rising in the east.
When Merry got on his horse to head out, he heard a neigh of a horse off in the distance behind him. He slowly turned to see if he could spot who was following him. He could see nothing, but he knew someone was out there.
Estella dashed to the blanket and saddle for her horse. Her hands shook trying to tie the cinch of the saddle and ran to grab her traveling bag and her blankets. She quickly rolled them up and fumbled with the strings to tighten them onto her saddle. She looked over her shoulder as she labored with this task. Her hair was in all disarray from trying to sleep on the hard cold ground and was barely able to close her eyes all night.
"Estella!" shouted Merry, as he was so surprised in seeing her only a few yards from where they were camped. "What are you doing here, you should be back at your home."
Estella jumped a few feet in the air when Merry unexpectedly shouted her name in shock of seeing her. She leaded against her horse knowing she was caught and probable going to be hauled back home again.
"Merry, I am coming with you. I can not just sit at home and wait. If you try to send me back, I will only turn around and follow you again." She tried her best to talk him into taking her with them, but felt it was hopeless.
Merry got off his horse and approached her, lifting her chin. "Estella this place we are going to is going to be very dangerous. Those ruffians could capture us and kill us. This is not a game we are playing. You must go home. I could not live with myself if you where hurt or killed."
"Nor I Merry, sitting there thinking at any moment you were lying dead somewhere. If it is our fate, we should die, than I want to die with you. Not tucked safely away some where." Estella wrapped her arms around Merry, trying not to cry.
Merry thought for awhile as he held her in his arms. He could not risk taking away another hobbit just to send her back home. He was short handed as it was. He knew he had no choice but to take her with them.
Merry knew that Estella could not of slept well last night, being without a fire. The night air was exceptionally cold last night. By the looks of her, she was exhausted. He put her on his horse with him so she could sleep while they continued on the trail.
~*~
Shadowspirit lifted his head when a familiar smell entered his nostrils that sent fear racing to every fiber. Panic seized his soul and his heart raced. Imagines that were well etched into his mind of those dark creatures with shiny eyes and overwhelming stench of rotting flesh and greasy black ooze from the pits of hell. Memories of is mother entered his mind of them running at a neck breaking speed trying to out run the black creatures, only to be driven into one of their traps. His mind echoed the screams of his mother when the black creature picked her up and bit into her neck as her life's blood poured out onto the ground. Then the sudden deafening silences afterwards. He remembered how he bit into the leg of that dark creature and the horrible taste to took months to clear from his mouth, as he broke free from his bondage of his captors. He ran free ever since, never allowing himself to get close enough to this odor again. Here in this land the odor was every where.
Shadowspirit pawed the ground and raised on his back legs, neighing loudly sending out an alarm to his horses. He danced and raced around the herd as the horses tried to follow him. Shadowspirit knew the lands he stood in were dangerous. The hobbits threw a rope around his neck and pulled him from the herd of the horses as he tried in vein to fight these ropes. The hobbits all working together were able to pull him to a nearby tree. They tied him and went back to move the herd forward as they headed into the lands of Moria. Huberts Farrburrow's brother, Hue, stayed with stallion and the two captive hobbits they had with them. While Night eyes lead the group of horses and hobbits up to the mountain that lay before them.
Shadowspirit as if he knew what was going to happen next continued to fight his ropes with everything he had in him. Hue did his best to keep control of the miniature stallion. Shadowspirit's mane flew in the air with each leap and his front hooves batted at the rope that held him. He snorted and pitched while pulling on his ropes to break them. Whenever Hue got close enough to the horse, Shadowspirit would kick him. Wilcome and Tom scooted as far back as they could to get away from the hysterical stallion as it fought its rope. Hue slipped trying the pull at the rope and the stallion brought its front hooves down on Hue's head knocking him out. The horse continued to fight its rope until finally it snapped send the horse racing away.
Wilcome and Tom struggled also to get free of their ropes and they too were able to wiggle a hand free and began untying each other. Before long they too were free. They thought what ever had upset that horse wasn't something they wanted to find out. So they began to follow Shadowspirit.
Night Eyes shook as he approached the first caves of Moria knowing what was to greet him. The sun was just setting in the westward sky and the dark shadows lay long on the ground. This gave a frightening feeling, with each step he took. He looked over his shoulder to the positioning of his ruffian hobbits. Their bows and arrows were pointing ready to fire if need be. The horses were just off in the near distance.
Without warning an orc jumped out from the cave. It's bright orange eyes glared at the hobbit and dragging its arms on the ground, hunched over as it walked towards him.
"I've come to see King Grubdush, tell him Night Eyes has come back."
The orc hissed and spat as it retreated back into the cave.
The hobbits were horrified standing on top of the rocks and felt they were all about to die in the seconds that ticked by.
Night Eyes trembled when the loud high pitched howls and shuffling of a great number of feet came from the depths of the cave heading towards them.
On the Road to Moria
The sun began to climb in the eastern sky and break through the thick early morning clouds. The breeze began to warm slightly taking away the evenings chill. Merry wrapped in his blanket slept deeply next to the smoldering campfire, as it was about to go out.
Robin quietly gathered his members together who would ride with him to Hobbiton. Estella reluctantly prepared her things by wrapping them into her blankets and tying it securely to her horse. Ester noticed her things took on a different shape then what they were before, but she did not say anything to her.
Ester looked forward to going home to see her children because she missed them so much. However, Seeing her father and having to tell him that Erling was dead was another matter that would be hard for her to do. Especially, so soon after her mother's death. Hatty's death would greatly effect the lives of all the Bucklanders who lived there. She closed her eyes as she mentally prepared herself. She has wished that Berilac would come home with her, but she understood that Berilac needed to help Merry.
They all got on their horses to head out of the camp. Estella preferred to lag behind bringing up the rear. While Ester rode by Robin Smallburrow in the lead. Estella was glad that her friend did not insist that she ride next to her. It would be easier for her to plan her escape. She knew they would have to travel through the woodland area on a single path that led to the crossroads of Hobbiton or Buckland. Perhaps this is when she would be able to make her get away.
Fredegar and Bowman took their horses to the town of Bywater just a few miles from where they camped. They needed to purchase supplies for their journey to retrieve the horses.
While Berilac and Nibs packed the horses with the things they would need from the camp. Nibs noticed that Erling's sword and knife was missing. He had hoped to take these with him. He could not imagine who could have taken them.
While waiting for Merry to wake up, they put the camp back in order to it's natural setting. Nibs began cooking luncheon, while Berilac gathered more wood. Merry soon woke up and joined Berilac, as the luncheon was now ready to be eaten. Merry turned to Berilac and told him, "You do not have to come with us Berilac, I would understand. You have a wife and children at home that need you."
"Merry, I am just not ready to go home yet and you need every able body on this journey." Berilac grew silent, as he was again lost in this thought.
Fredegar and Bowman road back in camp and when they finished eating, Merry took out the map and laid it out in front of them.
"According to the map that Erling carried, it appears they are heading towards Moria. They must be meeting someone there to sell the horses."
Merry remembered his time in Moria with the fellowship and that was one place that he never wanted to go again.
"They can not be moving that fast with a herd of horses. We will soon over take them if we continue to push hard as we travel." Merry told them when Nibs brought the horses over for the riders.
The sun was high in the sky that now opened to a clear blue. Off in the distance they could see the fading clouds soon disappeared. It looked like it was going to be a very warm day ahead of them.
~*~
Robin approached the small woodland area that was just before the crossroads that led towards Hobbiton or Buckland. If Estellas were going to make a break for it, the best possible place would be those woodlands. The paths that followed through the woodland were narrow and there was a bend in the path halfway into these woods. The foliage and brush were thick and could easily hide a rider in them. Estella planned where she would make her break from this troupe. When the bend in the path approached Estella slowed her horse just getting enough distance from the rider that she was following. As the rider ahead of her turned the bend, Estella gently nudged her horse behind the thick tall bushes just off the side of the path. She waited for just a few minutes, then turning her horse around, galloped out of the woods heading back towards the borders of the Shire.
~*~
The guards at the border waved Merry on pass them as the five hobbits and two packhorses began heading on their long journey towards Moria.
When Estella finally reached the borders she could still see Merry and his troupe in the far distance. She galloped towards the guards with her cloak and hood tied securely around her. She pointed towards Merry's troupe when she slowed her horse as she approached the guards. The guards gave her a nod and she raced off in their direction.
Not wanting to get too close to Merry yet and keeping off towards the side of the road, so Merry could not spot her and send her back home again. She followed them at a safe distance.
She planned after a two-day journey, that she would show herself. Then, being too late to send her packing, Merry would be forced to take her with them. She had enough supplies with her to last her those two days she planned.
On and on, Merry pushed his troupe as he followed the trail of the horses. Rarely he would stop, not even when the hour grew late, and well pass the evening meal. They would only eat when the darkness of the night would not allow them to see the trail any longer.
Estella could barely keep up. Her stomach ached and her eyes so heavy she could barley keep them open, but she was determined that she would not go back home.
When night finally approached and she could see the light of their campfire. Estella would grab something to eat and wrapped her blankets around her. Estella could not risk lighting a fire to keep her warm and not even her blankets warmed her, as she shivered throughout the night.
The sound of a distant sharp whistle woke her as Merry prepared to break camp and continue his journey at the first light of the sun rising in the east.
When Merry got on his horse to head out, he heard a neigh of a horse off in the distance behind him. He slowly turned to see if he could spot who was following him. He could see nothing, but he knew someone was out there.
Estella dashed to the blanket and saddle for her horse. Her hands shook trying to tie the cinch of the saddle and ran to grab her traveling bag and her blankets. She quickly rolled them up and fumbled with the strings to tighten them onto her saddle. She looked over her shoulder as she labored with this task. Her hair was in all disarray from trying to sleep on the hard cold ground and was barely able to close her eyes all night.
"Estella!" shouted Merry, as he was so surprised in seeing her only a few yards from where they were camped. "What are you doing here, you should be back at your home."
Estella jumped a few feet in the air when Merry unexpectedly shouted her name in shock of seeing her. She leaded against her horse knowing she was caught and probable going to be hauled back home again.
"Merry, I am coming with you. I can not just sit at home and wait. If you try to send me back, I will only turn around and follow you again." She tried her best to talk him into taking her with them, but felt it was hopeless.
Merry got off his horse and approached her, lifting her chin. "Estella this place we are going to is going to be very dangerous. Those ruffians could capture us and kill us. This is not a game we are playing. You must go home. I could not live with myself if you where hurt or killed."
"Nor I Merry, sitting there thinking at any moment you were lying dead somewhere. If it is our fate, we should die, than I want to die with you. Not tucked safely away some where." Estella wrapped her arms around Merry, trying not to cry.
Merry thought for awhile as he held her in his arms. He could not risk taking away another hobbit just to send her back home. He was short handed as it was. He knew he had no choice but to take her with them.
Merry knew that Estella could not of slept well last night, being without a fire. The night air was exceptionally cold last night. By the looks of her, she was exhausted. He put her on his horse with him so she could sleep while they continued on the trail.
~*~
Shadowspirit lifted his head when a familiar smell entered his nostrils that sent fear racing to every fiber. Panic seized his soul and his heart raced. Imagines that were well etched into his mind of those dark creatures with shiny eyes and overwhelming stench of rotting flesh and greasy black ooze from the pits of hell. Memories of is mother entered his mind of them running at a neck breaking speed trying to out run the black creatures, only to be driven into one of their traps. His mind echoed the screams of his mother when the black creature picked her up and bit into her neck as her life's blood poured out onto the ground. Then the sudden deafening silences afterwards. He remembered how he bit into the leg of that dark creature and the horrible taste to took months to clear from his mouth, as he broke free from his bondage of his captors. He ran free ever since, never allowing himself to get close enough to this odor again. Here in this land the odor was every where.
Shadowspirit pawed the ground and raised on his back legs, neighing loudly sending out an alarm to his horses. He danced and raced around the herd as the horses tried to follow him. Shadowspirit knew the lands he stood in were dangerous. The hobbits threw a rope around his neck and pulled him from the herd of the horses as he tried in vein to fight these ropes. The hobbits all working together were able to pull him to a nearby tree. They tied him and went back to move the herd forward as they headed into the lands of Moria. Huberts Farrburrow's brother, Hue, stayed with stallion and the two captive hobbits they had with them. While Night eyes lead the group of horses and hobbits up to the mountain that lay before them.
Shadowspirit as if he knew what was going to happen next continued to fight his ropes with everything he had in him. Hue did his best to keep control of the miniature stallion. Shadowspirit's mane flew in the air with each leap and his front hooves batted at the rope that held him. He snorted and pitched while pulling on his ropes to break them. Whenever Hue got close enough to the horse, Shadowspirit would kick him. Wilcome and Tom scooted as far back as they could to get away from the hysterical stallion as it fought its rope. Hue slipped trying the pull at the rope and the stallion brought its front hooves down on Hue's head knocking him out. The horse continued to fight its rope until finally it snapped send the horse racing away.
Wilcome and Tom struggled also to get free of their ropes and they too were able to wiggle a hand free and began untying each other. Before long they too were free. They thought what ever had upset that horse wasn't something they wanted to find out. So they began to follow Shadowspirit.
Night Eyes shook as he approached the first caves of Moria knowing what was to greet him. The sun was just setting in the westward sky and the dark shadows lay long on the ground. This gave a frightening feeling, with each step he took. He looked over his shoulder to the positioning of his ruffian hobbits. Their bows and arrows were pointing ready to fire if need be. The horses were just off in the near distance.
Without warning an orc jumped out from the cave. It's bright orange eyes glared at the hobbit and dragging its arms on the ground, hunched over as it walked towards him.
"I've come to see King Grubdush, tell him Night Eyes has come back."
The orc hissed and spat as it retreated back into the cave.
The hobbits were horrified standing on top of the rocks and felt they were all about to die in the seconds that ticked by.
Night Eyes trembled when the loud high pitched howls and shuffling of a great number of feet came from the depths of the cave heading towards them.
