Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people, places, things, or ideas of LOTR that are in this story, except for the ones I made up (see chapter 3's disclaimer).

Laiquendi: Thanks so much! And let me say again, you have a lot of talent in poetry. I wish I could write like that…

CHAPTER FOUR: NATURE

I woke the next morning, feeling much more alert and awake. After changing into a fresh set of robes, I went downstairs- leaving the falcon and my staff in the room- to get breakfast.

Then I went out to check on Asaril and my things, and found them in good order.

After paying the innkeeper, I took my bag, my staff, and the falcon to the cart, hitched Asaril to it, and started off.

The town of Bree was very pretty and- for lack of a better word,- quaint, and I enjoyed watching people going through their morning routines as I rode past. I usually stayed in isolated areas, and didn't see much of people, so it was a treat to drive through a town full of them, although I got quite a few stares.

But soon the town was past me, and it was just the Road. There were farms on either side at first, but after a while they became less common, and soon there were none. Wilderness was all around, and I felt happy to be on the move again. Birds flitted and fluttered all around, and I saw a family of squirrels peeking out from a tree. Once a fox ran across the road, making my horse shy.

The falcon took off after a bit, and was gone for a while. Just as I was beginning to worry about her, she arrived back with a piece of something in her claws. It was mangled and bloody, and I averted my eyes.

But apart from the stench of Elen's food, everything was beautiful. The air was fresh and clean, and I greatly enjoyed watching the animals as I had the people of Bree.

Remembering this, I feel a longing to go out and be among nature again. But the forest is dangerous for me now, as the trees and their shepherds despise me. I could go to the top of Orthanc and be near the stars- but no, Gandalf is imprisoned there. Mayhap I should move him to another part of the tower… but no, that is the only place where is exposed to the elements. And he suffers there the most.

But he does not suffer as I did.