Next chapter is here and the start of LOTRs! I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did writing it!
Review responses;
ZabuzasGirl - I'm glad you enjoy it so much! Next chapter!
AndurilofTolkien - I'm glad you do!
thewolf74 - Things are starting to look up for her. Of course, she will hit some setbacks soon enough, but she'll be the more stronger for them.
Thorin'sQueen1Rose - I am glad you are liking this, and I will be keeping it up! Thank you!
Sarah(Guest) - Thank you! I'm really enjoying writing this so the chapters will keep coming, don't worry!
kionforever89 - Yep! The sequel is finally here! And yes, Faron will still be grieving the loss of her family, at least until her journey's end. Oh boy was grumpy uncle Dwalin mad! But he soon forgave her, just like the others. How could I not put lil Aragorn into it! He is so damn cute!
Into the Wild
It is night time on September 29th in the year 3018 as I make my way through the streets of Bree. Having been told by Gandalf a few weeks prior to meet him in the town of men, I made my way to Bree as the date came closer.
I walk into the inn, The Prancing Pony, shaking off my cloak to rid the excess water from the heavy droplets of rain that started to fall not long ago. Looking around the inn, I smile as I spot someone in the corner, hood over his head and smoking his pipe. After ordering and paying for two mugs of ale, I take them and go to the corner.
"Ale for you thoughts?" I ask as I place a mug in front of him and sit down.
He smiles. "Faron, it is good to see you."
"As it is to see you, Aragorn." I reply with a smile.
"Have you seen Gandalf on your journey?"
"Only when he told me to meet him here. He's not arrived yet then?"
Aragorn shakes his head as he speaks quietly, while glancing at the men in the room. "Not yet. Did he tell you why we're to meet him?"
I nod as I reply with the same caution. "To take the Ring to Rivendell. . .I still can't believe that Bilbo had it all this time. . ."
Aragorn looks to me. "Did you not know he had it?"
I shake my head. "No. When I had reunited with the Dwarves and we were imprisoned in Mirkwood, they had told me how he had just vanished just before they were caught. And when he appeared as if from nowhere when they escaped they Goblin Tunnels and at Ravenhill just before. . .none of us could have ever imagined the reasons behind the incidents."
Aragorn nods. "And now it is in the hands of his nephew, Frodo."
I sighs. "And they say Hobbit don't like trouble."
Aragorn chuckles. "I think your Bilbo proved that wrong a long time ago."
I smile as I drink my ale.
A few moments later, the door opens and I look up to see four Hobbit walk in. One of them goes to the counter and I can hear them talking, even over the noise of the drunken men.
"Excuse me?"
Butterbur leans over the counter at them. "Good Evening little masters. What can I do for you? If you're looking for accommodation, we've got some nice, cosy hobbit sized rooms available. Always proud to cater to the little folk, Mr err. . .?"
The hobbit pauses for a moment. ". . .Underhill, my name's Underhill."
Butterbur nods. "Underhill. Yes."
"We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?"
I look to Aragorn and whisper. "It's Frodo, he's looking for Gandalf."
He nods as I continue to listen to the conversation.
"Gandalf? Gandalf?" Butterbur seems confused for a moment. "Oh yes! I remember! Elderly chap! Big grey beard, pointy hat. Not seen him for six months."
Frodo turns dismayed to the other hobbits
"What do we do now?" one of them asks.
The four of them, after a moments of consideration, order a room, some food and drink before sitting at one of the tables. I notice one of the hobbits, the chubbier one, looking around nervously.
"Sam. He'll be here. He'll come."
One of the other hobbits return to the table from the bar, carrying a large mug.
"What's that?" the softly spoken hobbit asks.
"This my friend, is a pint!" He lifts it up and sips the ale
"It comes in pints?" the hobbit asks in amazement.
"hmmmhmmm" the hobbit replies into his mug.
The softly spoken hobbit stands. "I'm getting one!"
"You've had a whole half already!" Sam chides him.
I grin as I sip my own drink, telling Aragorn what was said and he grinned through his pipe in amusement.
"Thse two have done nothing but stare at you since we arrived!" I hear Sam say.
Looking back over, I see him and Frodo glancing at us, but not being able to see much through our hoods. Frodo stops Butterbur as he walks past.
"Excuse me. Those two in the corner. Who are they?"
Butterbur glances at us and blanches slightly before turning back to Frodo. "The one of the left is one of them rangers. They're dangerous folk they are. Wandering the wilds. What his right name is, I've never heard, but round here, he's known as Strider."
"Strider. . ."
"And his friend?" the hobbit with the pint asks as he glances at me.
"No ones sure. He comes and goes without as much as a word to anyone. One moment he's there, the next. . .he's vanished, like a ghost in the night. Around here, everyone calls him Spirit."
I scoff as Butterbur leaves them. "Of all the names I've heard, that one is new." Aragorn looks to me in confusion. "Apparently, I am known here as Spirit, because like a ghost in the night, I vanish completely."
Aragorn laughs. "That's about right for you."
"And apparently. . .I am a man."
Hearing him snort, I glare at him as he hides a smirk in his ale. I slap his arm before I look up as I hear the name Baggins being called. I see the soft spoken hobbit sat at the bar talking to the men.
"Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins! He's over there. Frodo Baggins! He's my second cousin once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin twice removed on his father's side, if you follow me."
"Foolish hobbit!" I hiss, watching as Frodo urgently pushes his way through the crowd. Aragorn is also watching, his attention caught on what is happening.
"Pippin!" Frodo calls out as he grabs the hobbit on his arm.
"Steady on!" Pippin exclaims as he shakes Frodo off.
Frodo steps back and trips on a man's foot and falls to the ground, the Ring flying into the air. Aragorn and I sit up straight as we sees this, me gripping hold of Aragorn's arm. I see Frodo reach up his hand to the Ring and it slips on his finger. He immediately disappears.
Aragorn and I look at each other in alarm as the men cry out in surprise. Thinking quickly, Aragorn reaches into his pocket and shoves a bronze key into my hand.
"Room twenty three, get it ready. I will bring Frodo and the hobbits once I have found him."
I nod as I leave the table and go to the room, setting my pack and weapons down in the corner, while keeping a dagger secreted along with my throwing axes, before lighting the fire then standing by the window, keeping a look out for danger. Around half an hour later, Aragorn walks in with the four hobbits. Ignoring the hobbits as they look to me, I turn to Aragorn.
"Everything is settled?"
He nods. "I have stuffed their beds to make it look like they are sleeping. We will stay here tonight and leave in the morning."
I nod as he pulls up a chair and sits by the window.
"Who are you?" the nameless hobbit asks, his voice full of suspicion.
I glance at him before turning my attention to Frodo. "You have grown since I last saw you, Frodo son of Drogo."
Frodo looks to me in surprise. "Yo-You knew my father?"
I smile. "Of course. Bilbo would not let me leave the Shire until I met his cousins newest arrival."
He looks me over in confusion.
"Maybe my appearance and name will help your memory."
I throw back the hood of my cloak and they all gasp in surprise at seeing me.
"You're an elf!" Sam gasps in surprise.
"That I am, master hobbit." I stand up straight then bow at the waist. "Faron, daughter of Thorin, at your service."
Their eyes go wide, especially Frodo's.
"Thorin? Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain?" Frodo asks.
I nod and the four hobbits suddenly crowed around me asking questions. Aragorn and I share an amused smile before I turn to the halflings.
"Let's save all of that for later, for now, you four need rest. We leave early tomorrow. So come on, to bed with you all."
They let out a groan of disappointment, which causes me to smile as they take off their packs and outer clothing before squeezing into the human sized bed. I stand by the bottomg of the bed and watch them sleep peacfully. . .as peacefully as they can in this situation.
I am suddenly reminded of travelling with Bilbo on the Quest for Erebor, and how I made a vow with myself to protect him in the strange new world. I now make the same vow to protect the four hobbits, aiming to watch out and protect them as much as I can.
"Muinthel, are you alright?" Aragorn asks me.
I smile as I turn to him as he sitting in a chair, a sword held to his chest for protection. "I am well, Muindor, do not worry."
I walk over to stand behind him, placing my hands on his shoulders as we both look out of the window.
A while later the front gate is knocked down by the wraiths as they charge in on their mounts and make their way inside the inn. Aragorn grips his sword tighter as I take off my bow, notching an arrow to it as I listen to their footsteps as they make their way to the hobbit room. a few seconds later, I hear the sounds of their blades thrusting into the beds, aiming to kill whoever was sleeping and then their shrieks echoed throughout the building as they discovered the decoys.
The shriek causes the hobbits to wake in fright, bolting upright.
"What are they?" Frodo asks.
I turn to him as Aragorn continues to look out. "They were once Kings of Men. The Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question. One by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will." I finish as I look out of the window to see the wraiths mounting the horses and leaving the town.
Aragorn turns to Frodo this time. "They are the Nazgul. Ringwraiths. Neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring Drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you."
The hobbits look at each other, all of them holding fear in their eyes. I look to them all.
"Fear not, they have gone. They will not return tonight. Go back to sleep." feeling somewhat comforted by what I said, they big us goodnight and lay down to sleep. "And you, muindor." he just looks to me. "Sleep. I will take my rest tomorrow."
He looks as if he is going to argue, but just sighs before getting out of the chair and laying his bedroll on the ground to sleep, still holding his sword to him. I sit in the now vacated chair, bow and arrow still in hand as I look out of the window and start humming to ease the five males to sleep.
The next morning, after a quick breakfast and buying a pack pony, we leave Bree and travel across country, Aragorn and I leading the way.
"Where are you taking us?" Frodo asks.
"Into the wild." Aragorn simply replies.
As we're walking through the woodland, we overhear the hobbits whispering with each other.
"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?" Merry asks Frodo.
"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer, but feel fouler."
"He's foul enough."
Strider tips his head a little hearing the comment and I clear my throat to cover the snort of laughter.
"We have no choice but to trust him. Besides. . .Faron trusts him and Bilbo trusts her."
Merry lets out a huff of frustration before Sam talks next;
"But where is he leading us?"
"To Rivendell, Master Gamgee. To the House of Elrond." Aragorn answers.
"D'you hear that! Rivendell! We're going to see the elves!"
I just smile at Sam's enthusiasm at meeting the elves.
We continue to walk through the woodland and rain until we reach the top of the hills by mid morning, walking over snow covered grounds.
"Gentlemen! We do not stop 'til nightfall." I hear Aragorn say.
Stopping and looking around, I see the hobbits unloading pots and pans from Bill the pony. I bite my lip to refrain from laughing as I know what is to come next.
"What about breakfast?" Pippin asks.
"You've already had it." Aragorn states in confusion.
"We've had one yes. What about second breakfast?"
I have to turn away and keep walking so I didn't laugh at the innocent smile on Pippins face. I hear Aragorn walk after me.
"Second breakfast?" he asks.
I can't take much more and begin giggling. "Did you not know hobbits eat seven meals a day?"
He stops and stares at me. "Seven?"
"Mhm. Breakfast, second breakfast, elvensies, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner and supper. I about nearly fainted when Bilbo first told me after our quest and realised we had pretty much starve the poor hobbit. It was no wonder he talked so much about food."
Aragorn just continues looking at me before he plucks some apples from the nearest tree and tosses them back at the hobbits, laughing as I hear one of them hitting one of the hobbits on the head.
Ha! Really loved writing the end part to this! Had me chuckling all the way! Right. Now working on the next chapter. . .maybe two lol! Keep your lovely reviews coming!