Chapter 2:
They journeyed in silence for some time, each feeling suddenly lonely. Although they had made this journey to Bree many times just the two of them, they had only in extreme circumstances gone beyond that point without the others. They were the last two of the four who had set out on this road all those years ago. Although Frodo and Sam were not dead, that they were sure of, to be parted from them forever was unbearable. The Shire had been full of memories of them, and that was one of the reasons for staying, but now there seemed no point in staying, so the grief at loosing their two friends was fresh once again.
They had left shortly after dawn, and rode fairly quickly, wanting to get to Bree not long after nightfall. They looked around at the land, imprinting each image in their memories, so as never to forget what their homeland looked like. It had all been so different when they had left on their great adventure all those years ago. They had been young and full of excitement at the thought of the journey, also they had been sure at the time that they would return to see the rolling green hills of the Shire once again. Now they knew they never would. Old memories flooded back to Pippin as he rode, and he softly began to sing,
"Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread; Through shadow, to the edge of night, Until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadow, cloud and shade; All shall fade, oh all shall...fade."
Remembering the last time he had sung that, tears slipped silently down his cheeks, and he hurriedly brushed them away. Merry was having similar problems with old memories, and to try to rid himself of them, he too started to sing a slightly more cheerful song,
"You can drink your fancy ales! You can drink them by the flagon! But the only drink for the brave and truuuuuuueee, comes from the Green Dragon!"
Pippin joined in with the last part, and they laughed as they finished. The day passed by quickly after that, and they spent the time singing songs and telling tales, and before they new it the gates of Bree were in sight.
It was just after dusk when they came to "The Prancing Pony", and they quickly took their ponies round to the stables, before heading inside to find a room and a warm meal. Young Butterbur was pleased to see them; he had taken over his father's business many years ago, and had also taken up his father's like for these two hobbits. He found them a room, and settled them down in a private parlor with a hot meal, within minutes. They ate in silence, enjoying the meal, and spent some time discussing the journey ahead before heading out to the common room. They were greeted cheerfully, and were soon settled down at a table by the fire with pints of beer in front of them.
Remembering the first time they had been here they laughed, and were soon chatting happily with the locals. Turning in late, they had an uneventful night and were up late the next morning. The day passed pleasantly enough, and they spent some time talking with Butterbur before going off to the kitchens to sort out some more supplies for their journey. The night was again a pleasant one, and Pippin made the most of the pints at the bar once again!
They left early the next morning, and said goodbye to young Butterbur, before setting out along the greenway. It was a clear morning, bright and fresh, wit the tiniest hint of summer in it. The two hobbits were cheerful as they rode, most of their memories buried deep once again. The day passed quickly, and they rode at their leisure with a few brief stops throughout the day. That night they found a sheltered hollow, and camped around a small fire. They slept well with no disturbances, and woke to a second hazy dawn.
The day's passed rapidly, each following as the first had done, with little or no changes, apart from the surrounding countryside, and that changed very little. Their plans had changed slightly during their stay at Bree, and fearing what they might find at Rivendell, they had decided to give it a wide berth, and head on the more direct route to Edoras. Several weeks passed, and finally the grey length of the river Greyflood slowly came into view. They neared it gradually, and after many day's journeying, finally reached its bank's. Crossing at Tharbad, they continued on, never looking back, for what good would that do them now? They could never return to their homeland, and although this grief was forever on their minds, they tried to push it to the back of their thoughts, always concentrating on what lay ahead.
The weeks marched by, and soon it was May, and summer was definetly in the air. Each day was a joy to be out in the open, and the two hobbits soon cast off their winter cloaks, preferring the sun's strong rays. The Misty Mountains had been on their far left, but as the road swung rouns to Isengard, they loomed ever closer, reminding Merry and Pippin of the dark depths that lay beneath them, and the horror that had once dwelt there. There was some disscussion between the two, over whether they should visit Treebeard in Isengard or to pass by and continue to Edoras with all speed. A warning feeling had grown in Merry's heart as they neared the plains of Rohan, and they talked at length over which road they should take.
"I should like to see Treebeard again before we pass out of these lands."
Pippin remarked one evening. Merry was silent, a troubled look on his face, and he thought for some time before replying.
"I too should like to see him again, but I am troubled. I have a warning in my heart."
Pippin's attention was divided between the discussion and the food he was consuming, so he missed the seriousness in Merry's voice.
"Your starting to sound like Legolas! You think too much nowadays Merry! You weren't like this last time we were on a journey together!"
"But this journey is different! We know it will be our last! Pippin, I have a bad feeling that if we delay much longer, Eomer may not be there to greet us when we arrive at Edoras."
Merry had a real hint of pleading in his voice as he said this, and this time Pippin picked up on it.
" Are you saying that there is a reason why Eomer sent for us then?"
Pippin was still slightly unsure as to what Merry was hinting at.
"I'm sure of it, and I really think we should go to Edoras with all speed."
Pippin made up his mind, and although both were dissapointed to miss seeing Treebeeard again, they rode past the entrance to Isengard and with haste rode as quickly as possible across the Westfold. They slept for less time, and reduced halts during the day to a minnimum, and within a few days were passing the valley before Helm's Deep. Both were now excited at the prospect of seeing these lands once again, and strove to ride further each day. They were rewarded at dawn five days later. The rising sun caught the gold on the golden hall, and burned brightly in it. The hall gleamed in the early morning of the day, and as the two hobbits watched, Edoras came alive with early morning activity. Grinning to each other, Merry and Pippin set off at a gallop along the last stretch of land that lay between them and their destination. As the two riders were noticed, a horn call was sounded on the walls, and repeated from further along the wall. The gates swung open to admit them, and Merry breathed deeply the smell and feeling of Edoras. Although the Shire would always be home in his heart, this was the next best thing.
They journeyed in silence for some time, each feeling suddenly lonely. Although they had made this journey to Bree many times just the two of them, they had only in extreme circumstances gone beyond that point without the others. They were the last two of the four who had set out on this road all those years ago. Although Frodo and Sam were not dead, that they were sure of, to be parted from them forever was unbearable. The Shire had been full of memories of them, and that was one of the reasons for staying, but now there seemed no point in staying, so the grief at loosing their two friends was fresh once again.
They had left shortly after dawn, and rode fairly quickly, wanting to get to Bree not long after nightfall. They looked around at the land, imprinting each image in their memories, so as never to forget what their homeland looked like. It had all been so different when they had left on their great adventure all those years ago. They had been young and full of excitement at the thought of the journey, also they had been sure at the time that they would return to see the rolling green hills of the Shire once again. Now they knew they never would. Old memories flooded back to Pippin as he rode, and he softly began to sing,
"Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread; Through shadow, to the edge of night, Until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadow, cloud and shade; All shall fade, oh all shall...fade."
Remembering the last time he had sung that, tears slipped silently down his cheeks, and he hurriedly brushed them away. Merry was having similar problems with old memories, and to try to rid himself of them, he too started to sing a slightly more cheerful song,
"You can drink your fancy ales! You can drink them by the flagon! But the only drink for the brave and truuuuuuueee, comes from the Green Dragon!"
Pippin joined in with the last part, and they laughed as they finished. The day passed by quickly after that, and they spent the time singing songs and telling tales, and before they new it the gates of Bree were in sight.
It was just after dusk when they came to "The Prancing Pony", and they quickly took their ponies round to the stables, before heading inside to find a room and a warm meal. Young Butterbur was pleased to see them; he had taken over his father's business many years ago, and had also taken up his father's like for these two hobbits. He found them a room, and settled them down in a private parlor with a hot meal, within minutes. They ate in silence, enjoying the meal, and spent some time discussing the journey ahead before heading out to the common room. They were greeted cheerfully, and were soon settled down at a table by the fire with pints of beer in front of them.
Remembering the first time they had been here they laughed, and were soon chatting happily with the locals. Turning in late, they had an uneventful night and were up late the next morning. The day passed pleasantly enough, and they spent some time talking with Butterbur before going off to the kitchens to sort out some more supplies for their journey. The night was again a pleasant one, and Pippin made the most of the pints at the bar once again!
They left early the next morning, and said goodbye to young Butterbur, before setting out along the greenway. It was a clear morning, bright and fresh, wit the tiniest hint of summer in it. The two hobbits were cheerful as they rode, most of their memories buried deep once again. The day passed quickly, and they rode at their leisure with a few brief stops throughout the day. That night they found a sheltered hollow, and camped around a small fire. They slept well with no disturbances, and woke to a second hazy dawn.
The day's passed rapidly, each following as the first had done, with little or no changes, apart from the surrounding countryside, and that changed very little. Their plans had changed slightly during their stay at Bree, and fearing what they might find at Rivendell, they had decided to give it a wide berth, and head on the more direct route to Edoras. Several weeks passed, and finally the grey length of the river Greyflood slowly came into view. They neared it gradually, and after many day's journeying, finally reached its bank's. Crossing at Tharbad, they continued on, never looking back, for what good would that do them now? They could never return to their homeland, and although this grief was forever on their minds, they tried to push it to the back of their thoughts, always concentrating on what lay ahead.
The weeks marched by, and soon it was May, and summer was definetly in the air. Each day was a joy to be out in the open, and the two hobbits soon cast off their winter cloaks, preferring the sun's strong rays. The Misty Mountains had been on their far left, but as the road swung rouns to Isengard, they loomed ever closer, reminding Merry and Pippin of the dark depths that lay beneath them, and the horror that had once dwelt there. There was some disscussion between the two, over whether they should visit Treebeard in Isengard or to pass by and continue to Edoras with all speed. A warning feeling had grown in Merry's heart as they neared the plains of Rohan, and they talked at length over which road they should take.
"I should like to see Treebeard again before we pass out of these lands."
Pippin remarked one evening. Merry was silent, a troubled look on his face, and he thought for some time before replying.
"I too should like to see him again, but I am troubled. I have a warning in my heart."
Pippin's attention was divided between the discussion and the food he was consuming, so he missed the seriousness in Merry's voice.
"Your starting to sound like Legolas! You think too much nowadays Merry! You weren't like this last time we were on a journey together!"
"But this journey is different! We know it will be our last! Pippin, I have a bad feeling that if we delay much longer, Eomer may not be there to greet us when we arrive at Edoras."
Merry had a real hint of pleading in his voice as he said this, and this time Pippin picked up on it.
" Are you saying that there is a reason why Eomer sent for us then?"
Pippin was still slightly unsure as to what Merry was hinting at.
"I'm sure of it, and I really think we should go to Edoras with all speed."
Pippin made up his mind, and although both were dissapointed to miss seeing Treebeeard again, they rode past the entrance to Isengard and with haste rode as quickly as possible across the Westfold. They slept for less time, and reduced halts during the day to a minnimum, and within a few days were passing the valley before Helm's Deep. Both were now excited at the prospect of seeing these lands once again, and strove to ride further each day. They were rewarded at dawn five days later. The rising sun caught the gold on the golden hall, and burned brightly in it. The hall gleamed in the early morning of the day, and as the two hobbits watched, Edoras came alive with early morning activity. Grinning to each other, Merry and Pippin set off at a gallop along the last stretch of land that lay between them and their destination. As the two riders were noticed, a horn call was sounded on the walls, and repeated from further along the wall. The gates swung open to admit them, and Merry breathed deeply the smell and feeling of Edoras. Although the Shire would always be home in his heart, this was the next best thing.