Disclaimer: Didn't, don't, haven't, and wont own Lord of the Rings.

3. Bree 1

They were finally closing at the wooden gate of Bree. Merry looked at everyone again. Frodo was serious and determined to do something, that Merry had not the slightest idea. Sam and Pippin could barely lift their feet from the ground, they were really tired. Zeke was by the side of Rika, as if guarding something dangerous.

He had covered her with a cloak, a very big cloak. At first, she became angry with the idea of walking as a blind person; because one could barely see her at all, and she could barely see at all. But at the end she had agreed to walk with the cloak, Zeke had said something in secret to her.

Frodo knocked at the gate. They waited some time, until they heard and saw a little door open over them. A man looked at them surprised.

"What do you want and were do you come from?" he asked.

"We are looking for an inn" Frodo answered "We head to the east and we cannot go further this night."

"Hobbits! Six hobbits! And what it seems from the Shire, by the accent." said the guardian.

He watched them, and slowly opened them the door.

"We don't usually see people from the Shire around." he continued "Will you excuse me if I ask takes you to the east of Bree? What is your name, if I may?"

"Our names and business are of our concern, and this is not a good place to discuss it." Frodo said.

"Alright, alright, I was just asking." the guardian said.

He let them in. When they entered, Frodo felt the guardian was still watching them. But felt much better once he heard the gates close. Frodo had never been to Bree, so he was going to keep walking, until finding the inn.

Rika was not going to let that so called Zeke tell what to do. She wanted to see around, maybe find something familiar to her home. First, she had thought she was dreaming, but she just didn't wake up. So now she was thinking they were thieves, or guys running from the law. But she couldn't believe that either. Most were nice to her, and helpful. She just couldn't see them as law breakers. Still, appearances can be deceiving.

Zeke was not going to let her help. He convinced Rika to hide in the cloak; so there would be no doubts in the gate, and she wouldn't be able to recognize the village from the movies. He did not believe she had never seen those movies. They were too famous to not be known.

He was looking at the village. He felt as if he was in a carnival, with the theme of a medieval age. Men with boots, some with swords. Women with very long dresses, but looked ragged. Peter Jackson was close with the creation of the village. There were houses, on both sides of the road. No children outside, it was late. Men were heading outside, visiting other houses or going somewhere else. It was old to his eyes, the village, but it felt new to inside.

They walked a little more before they reached a place called "The Prancing Pony", were they intended to stay. The place sis look old and used. Once inside, everyone felt much better. It was warmer, with many people around, the hobbits felt safer.

Then a fat chubby man, came to them, holding what it seemed a lot of beer .

"Please sit here." the man said trying to point a table. "While I go give these." to the beer now, "I will come back."

He left hurriedly. Everyone sat down quietly, but the sound everywhere made it impossible to notice the silence surrounding the group. Everyone stared at nothing.

"Oh, now, good evening little hobbits! If you're looking for accommodation, we have some nice cozy hobbit-sized rooms available, Mr..?"

"Underhill. My name's Underhill," Frodo said quickly. "We're friends of Gandalf the Grey, can you please tell him that we've arrived?"

"I am Barliman Butterbur" the big man said when he came back. "But I haven't seen Gandalf in a long time.

He looked at him strangely

"Now, Underhill… sounds familiar" he said as if thinking hard. And Frodo freaked out a bit.

"I think there was something I was to tell you, but… ah! I will remember later. Enjoy for now. I will get Nob to give you food." He continued.

Pippin trailed off to his thoughts. Hunger was winning him. He had walked to much without eating, this had put him very strange. He needed to stay put, the food was soon to come.

Finally, it came. Soup, bread, butter, meat, and more. Rika stared at how the hobbits devoured their food and ate more. She only ate bread, her favorite thing. Zeke was pretty hungry and ate some of everything. Frodo didn't bother to eat much. He stuck to the usual. It was a very silent dinner.

They finished, about an hour later; and walked to another room, that to Rika's surprise it was filled with even more people. Singing, drinking, smoking, laughing, talking. She didn't want to be in a room too full of people.

"I think I will go outside for some air." Merry said to her surprise.

"Why?" Sam asked.

"I don't think I feel well." Merry answered.

"I'll come with you." Rika said, and Merry stared. "I don't feel well either." She told him.

Zeke watched them concerned. He was not sure if he should let the new girl go with Merry. She had said to be ignorant of the situation around her. And she could tell him many things, that they shouldn't know. But it was out of his hands now. So he just let them go.

Merry and Rika were standing by the wall, observing the people that passed by. Both were silent. And Merry decided to break it.

"Why aren't you inside?" he asked.

She took a second before she answered; sometimes she thought before she spoke.

"I'm not really fond of smoking and drinking. It is quite loud for me. And I don't like to be around too many people." Rika answered.

He laughed at the answer. He was actually expecting silence from her part, but that amused him.

"And you?" she said, "Why aren't you inside?"

"What?" he asked surprised. "Don't you believe I was sick?" he said trying to sound hurt.

Now she laughed.

"Its not that I don't believe its… just curiosity." she said, and laughed when she finished.

Merry had joined her.

"Well…" he started to say. "I don't really like to be around people either. The only exception for that is when Pippin gets me really drunk, and sings with me in front of everybody." Finishing with a faint blush.

Rika was first silent, but then burst out laughing.

"Hrrrmm" someone cleared their throat by their side, and stopped their laugh.

Zeke was looking at them and said "Hm, Rika could you please follow me I need to speak to you."

She was about to respond to this interruption but he won her.

"It is quite urgent, if must know." Zeke said really serious.

Hey!

Light shines on darkness.

I will try to keep on.

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