Hmph!
No reviews, eh?
Well, if my fics stink, you lot could at least have the common decency to tell me to my face that they stink! This non-reviewing thing ain't gonna save you when I gets through with the lot o' yeh!
GRRRR!
Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit
Claimer: Ranhaudh is mine!
By the next morning, he was ready to toss the whole matter away as a dream, caused by staying up too late writing, but the sight of Ranhaudh asleep on the grass dispelled that notion. Bilbo packed up his things slowly and waited for some time, but when Ranhaudh slept still Bilbo tapped the wolf on the shoulder.
"Oh, hwoooaaawwwnn," the wolf yawned as he rolled over and sat up, "Good morning, then!"
"Yes," Bilbo said, "Although I've spent nearly half of it waiting for you, Ranhaudh."
"Oh, my! Dear me! I am sorry if you wanted an early start," Ranhaudh said, contrite, "It's a habit of mine, I am afraid. Sometimes I fall asleep for days, years even, if I am not woken up by something or wake up myself. Other times I rarely sleep at all, so I suppose it is fair. Where shall we go today, then?"
"I believe I would like to pass the Misty Mountains by the south, and go to Erebor first, if it is possible," Bilbo said as they started for the southeastern border of the Shire, "It may mean missing Rivendell, which is unfortunate."
"Perhaps you will go there later," Ranhaudh said as he walked to the side and a little behind Bilbo.
.
.
The pair of them traveled like that for some time, and it was not unpleasant: Ranhaudh's nose was keen and they avoided trouble for the most part. In less than a month the two of them were at the ending of the Old South Road, deep in the Dunland, and Bilbo had finally decided that the Misty Mountains had no southern end.
"We shall either have to cross here, or go back north," Bilbo said despondently.
"It would be quieter crossing here," Ranhaudh said, "I can only smell men here, and no orcs or goblins. Men cross mountains regularly, so there will be paths to take."
"Bother, and it is a long way over," Bilbo said as he eyed the mountains, "How can one get across without raising the ire of men in these parts?"
Ranhaudh was silent for a time, but spoke presently.
"I suppose I shall have to give you a lift then, Bilbo. I can take a turn of speed when I need to, though I may want a long nap afterwards, or perhaps during would be better, if not before."
"I for one would not sleep until Mirkwood is in sight, even though a terror dwelled there when we went through last."
Taking Bilbo's advice, Ranhaudh agreed not to sleep until in sight of Mirkwood, and scented out much in the way of supplies for Bilbo, for when he slept Ranhaudh slept long and hard.
With that done, Bilbo seated himself on Ranhaudh's back. The wolf's long fur made the seat very comfortable, and there was plenty of the strong fur to hold on to. And it was good that it was strong, for Ranhaudh ran with the speed of the swiftest horses of men, but in the tireless way of a true wolf.
.
.
Before Bilbo knew it, they were deep in the mountain passes and climbing higher. It was hard to see what was going past them, but a sudden dark shape they passed might have been a man. They were headed downhill too soon after that, in Bilbo's opinion, but instead of entering some dark pit Ranhaudh was gently loping down a path leading to the flatlands. They were through the Misty Mountains.
To the south there was a large patch of bright green, and a much smaller and darker one to the north. Ahead lay a great river, and past that the land was brown. Ranhaudh ran on.
Bilbo was much surprised to find himself asleep when he woke up. He was still sitting on Ranhaudh and Ranhaudh was still running, but the wolf's pace was so smooth that Bilbo found no fear of falling off. On the whole, the Run of Ranhaudh was one of his better adventures.
Another three days passed before a dark green patch appeared to their left. As they were heading directly north-by-northeast, that dark green patch soon grew and became a far-off forest, the southern edge of Mirkwood.
.
.
Ranhaudh came to a halt.
"Well then! I have run for nearly five days, and there is Mirkwood. I believe I shall sleep for five days, for evens. Unless you need me, Bilbo."
And with that the wolf lay down and curled up, falling into a deep sleep instantly. Bilbo set up his camp and took stock of their surroundings. According to his maps, the lands south of Mirkwood were called the 'Brown Lands' and brown they were, very unappealing to Bilbo's Hobbitsenses.
But it was quiet, and Bilbo took this opportunity to work on his book, which he had done very little of.