DISCLAIMER: Nope, I still don't own Lord of the Rings. But Gwen and Niral are still mine.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the Shire, Gwen realized that she had no idea how to reach the Brandywine Bridge. It was getting late, so she decided to ask directions from what appeared to be a child walking down the deserted road.
" Excuse me little one, but could you point me in the direction of the Brandywine Bridge? I am afraid that I am quite lost."
" Who are you calling little one, ye foul fiend?!"
Gwen blinked her eyes in surprise as she looked down into the face of an old man! " Oh, sir, I am so terribly sorry! Please forgive me, I have never been here before!" she stammered, flushing with embarrassment.
" Oh, tis all right" he said, craning his neck up to see her face. " How about you come down off of that beast and come inside and have a warm drink?" he offered, seeing that she was quite cold.
Gwen brightened at the idea. Dismounting Niral, she saw that she was a good two feet taller than the man was. He looked up at her, saying, " There, that's more like it. Now, what is your name?"
" My name is Gwen."
" You may call me Mr. Gamgee. I see that you're of the elf kind. I can also see that you have a tale. There will be plenty of time for that once we reach my hole." Gwen looked at him quizzically. These people live in holes? She thought to herself. Noticing her expression, he laughed and said, " You'll see." Soon they reached a door in the side of a hill. " You can put your horse to pasture over there," he said, pointing towards a field that already had two cows in it. Gwen did so and followed him into the hole. Once inside, she began to straighten up to her full height, but was almost knocked to the floor when her head struck the ceiling! " Oh, ho, you really have never been here before! Come and sit down!" said Mr. Gamgee, chuckling to himself as she rubbed her head. " Bell, where are ye, my dear?! Come, we have a visitor!" A jolly, round little hobbit woman walked into the room. " Oh, my, I can see that we do! Don't start telling us anything until I get some food down ye!" Soon Gwen was bombarded with so many plates of food that she didn't know what to do! " Oh, I can't possibly eat all of this!" she cried out. The hobbits looked at her in shock, then began to finish off the plates themselves. After dinner, the three of them gathered around the fire and Gwen told them everything. After her tale, Bell told her of one of their sons, Samwise, who had set off on a journey with their neighbor, Frodo. " Mayhap you will meet them on the road. Keep your eye out and watch for them." Mr. Gamgee then began telling cheerier stories that lifted Gwen's spirit and made her temporarily forget what had happened during the past two weeks. Suddenly she looked at the clock and exclaimed, " Oh my goodness, I must get to Bree tonight!" Mr. Gamgee asked why, and she told him that she needed a place to stay. He laughed, saying, " Do you think that after such stories that we would throw a young maid out onto the streets at this time of night? I insist that you stay here!" Gwen laughed, a twinkle in her eye as she replied, " Be careful who you call old, sir! I am nearly 2,100 years old!" The Gamgees stared at her in amazement as she continued, " Remember, I am an elf. I would be glad to stay the night with you. Thank you so much for letting me!" With that, they all went to sleep.
Gwen awoke to the lovely smells of breakfast. She trundled out of bed, pulled on her clothes, and entered the kitchen. " Good morning, deary!" Bell greeted her. " Good morning, Mrs. Gamgee!" Gwen replied. Again, Mrs., Gamgee put more in front of her than she could possibly stomach. Mr. Gamgee ate all her leftovers along with his own breakfast. Gwen stared at him in awe. He laughed, saying, " That is how a hobbit eats. I suspect that you probably want to set out for Bree. Come outside and I'll give you directions as you saddle your horse." Gwen followed him outside. " Now, listen closely, my girl. This road" he pointed to the road running past Hobbiton " will connect to the East road. You can't possibly miss it. You stay on the East road until you reach Bree. When you near the Brandywine Bridge, there will be a farm on the side of the road. Old Farmer Maggot lives there. His dogs will most likely be out. Don't be alarmed, just yell that Master Gamgee sent you, and he will give you directions from there." He then continued in a low voice, " I wanted to tell you, there have been strange happenings hereabouts lately. Strange black — robed men on black horses. Stay on the roads only if you must. Camp a little ways off from them. Don't cover your face or do anything strange. Folks are on edge. Be safe. Me and the missus are expecting you to come and see us again." He laughed to lighten the mood " Of course, you could probably take care of anything that crosses your path will all those blades you carry!" Gwen laughed along with him, walking back to the house. After many hugs and promises to visit again, Gwen took the travel bag full of food that Mrs. Gamgee made for her and departed. I could stay her forever she thought. Sadly, she left her tiny oasis of comforted and again continued down the road.