Hello, again! Sorry it took me so long to get this latest chapter up. I'm in school right now and it is difficult to get things posted. I will have chapter 4 up shortly. Inthe mean time enjoy this latest chapter.

Chapter 3

Meeting of Aragorn

The rain had been falling for some hours when the small bundle of travelers arrived at the Bree Gate. Stepping forward Cora knocked loudly on the Gate. The gatekeeper opened a small view door in the upper section of the door and looked out at the girl, still in just a shirt and jeans. More than a little disturbed by the odd clothing he looked at her a moment before speaking.

"What do you want?" The question was rough and not very friendly, but Cora replied very calmly.

"We're heading for the Prancing Pony." She could say that without arousing suspicion from the 4 small hobbits, having been told their destination while they crossed the river on the ferry. The gatekeeper closed the window, and opened the gate. Looking down he saw the 4 small fellows standing behind Cora as well as her human companion dressed even more strangely than the first.

"Hobbits, 4 hobbits! What's your business here?" He looked down at the 4 cloaked and hooded men that stood gazing up at him, pointedly keeping his gaze off of the strange women.

"We wish to stay at the inn; our business is our own." Tie spoke up, finally enjoying the ability to quote the movie without getting weird stares, although she received enough because of her clothes. The gatekeeper stepped aside and let them in the city, mumbling his apologies and warnings.

They moved quickly through the city to the inn and went inside, grateful for the warmth and dryness of the interior. The girls received more odd looks and stares that made their skin crawl. They hung back as Frodo asked the innkeeper about Gandalf, knowing that he wasn't there and they wouldn't see him until they safely arrived in Rivendell. They sat with the hobbits at a small hobbit-sized table just out of the main traffic zone. The girls shivered, not from cold, the fire warmed the room pleasantly. They shivered from the constant stares that were directed at them. Tie was on the verge of yelling at everyone in the inn and asking what they were staring at, but knew that she and her friend must be the oddest thing most, if not all, of the men in the lounge had ever seen.

The only thing the girls had to restrain more than their anger was the desire to look into a shadowed corner. Even when Sam mentioned to Frodo that they were being watched, they would not allow themselves to look. They had discussed this as they traveled with the hobbits to Bree. Each knew what they were to do, and what they weren't, and they were both taking great pains to make sure that they did what they planned.

So they sat watching and listening, waiting for what they knew must happen. They finally moved from the comfortable positions they had been in for so long, when Frodo fell backward, and in an effort to grab the ring before it hit the ground, it fell onto his finger. Tie stood and watched as a tall cloaked and hooded stranger stood and as Frodo appeared, grabbed him by the front of his tunic and dragged him up the stairs to the rooms of the inn. She followed them up the stairs and stood outside waiting for Cora to bring the hobbits up to the room. The sound of rapid feet coming up the stairs was followed by the appearance of three very angry hobbits and a more than amused Cora. Merry and Pippin had brought weapons, obviously scrounged from the lounge just prior to mounting the stairs to rescue their comrade. The hobbits burst through the door upon reaching it and stood weapons poised.

"Let him go or I'll have you Long shanks!" Sam yelled at the stranger trying his best to sound fearsome, but having little success with his hobbit voice. Strider straightened and put his sword back in its scabbard.

"You're of stout heart, but that won't save you," he said to Sam then turned back to Frodo. "You can no longer for the wizard Frodo. They're coming." His gaze went around to those assembled and stopped as his eyes fell on the girls.

"Who are you? And what business have you with these fellows?" His tone was accusing and he gazed at them suspiciously. They were just about to respond when Frodo spoke in their defense.

"They are traveling with us and are friends of ours. They go where we go." Strider studied the girls for a moment more, then turned back to Frodo.

"You should perhaps make certain that your friends are not so conspicuous next time. What is it you are wearing anyway, your undergarments?" The question being obviously directed at Tie caused Cora to turn red with repressed laughter and Tie retorted angrily.

"I am not in my underclothes!" Strider's eyes widened in an oh really expression.

"Well, you still stand out far to much for the company you keep, but now is not the time to discuss this matter. Come we must change inns now or they will find us here and I am not prepared to face them." He gestured toward the door and after they had all filed into the hall, they left the inn, following his lead. They moved quickly to a nearby inn and got a room. They went to the room in as inconspicuous a manor as possible with one near naked girl and another oddly dressed.

Once inside, Strider left them saying nothing more than he would return quickly and to not open the door for any reason. They waited listening to the sound of the rain still falling heavily in the city. The hobbits settled down to quiet discussions of the Shire and the absence of food at the moment, before slowly one by one dropping off to sleep on the large bed in the room. The girls were the only ones left awake when Strider finally did return, bearing in his arms a large bound package.

"Seeing as the young hobbits have determined that you are to accompany them were ever they may travel, I found it…prudent to find you more appropriate traveling clothes." He passed the bundle over to the girls and took up a chair by the window. Sitting on the foot of the bed they opened it. Inside the bundle they found two brown tunics, two cloaks of heavy wool that would be warm on any cold night one being black the other dark woodland brown and…the last two items drew them up short. Tie drew out one of the soft leather skirts that were in the package.

"This is supposed to be traveling clothes? How can you travel in these? Couldn't you have gotten us trousers or something?" She asked, being rather disgusted by the idea of having to wear a skirt for any reason, she didn't even wear them at home when she had to.

"I could not find trousers for you on such short notice, that will have to do. Unless you fancy traveling around in you under things."

"I told you their not undergarments!" Tie was getting rather irritated with the thought that every man that had been looking at her so far had thought her in her underwear (Not that she appreciated being stared at).

"Either you wear that or you must remain behind," he replied calmly as if she hadn't raised her voice at all.

"Come on, Tie," Cora said reassuringly. "Their not that bad. They have a split so that we can at least walk in them." Tie gave her a look that showed her irritation clearly, translating roughly to be, don't encourage him or I'll kill you.

"Tie," Strider mused over her name. "That is an unusual name."

"That is a shortened version of my name. My name is Tiernan; Tie is simply easier to say."

"And what is your name, lady?" He asked turning to the other girl.

"Cora, though that is truly my name and not a shorter form of it." Strider seemed about to go on but from across the road came the sound of something screeching in anger. The girls knew instantly that the Black Riders had found the beds that were made to look as if the hobbits were indeed staying there. The noise did, however, wake the hobbits and they appeared to be a little frightened by it. Frodo sat up and looked to Strider.

"What are they?" He asked, his voice low and chilled.

"They were once men," Strider's voice was equally quiet, but it was not in the frightened manor that Frodo had. His was more subdued, almost pitying. "Great kings of men. Then Sauron, the deceiver, gave to them 9 rings of power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question, one by one falling to darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul, Ring Wraiths, 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. Tomorrow we set out, for now rest, all of you." With that he turned back to the widow beside him and would say no more.

So what do you think? I really enjoyed this one as I wrote it. So please review and tell me what you think.