It has been ages since I last posted. Apologies. Life just gets in the way!

Also, I really hate the intrusive way that ffnet allows adverts in the text. I am tempted to stop posting here and go entirely to archive of our own. No advertising at all and run by the members. My own advertising:)

Summary: Merry went missing on Buckland Beacon, and was rescued by a mysterious Elf named Vanwë, who also drove off a Wight that had cast a spell in the woods to ensnare Sam (on his way to help search for Merry). Merry returned at the same time although he has no recollection of what happened. In Brandybuck Hall, the hobbits see something skulking about the lawns, but it is driven off by the Tooks. The four Hobbits are joined by Dods and Iberic, Merry's cousins, and head off to Bree to investigate these strange happenings.

Meanwhile Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli have received a message from Sam telling them Merry is missing and are on their way to help. However, the mist came down over the Andrath, which is the way up onto the Tyrn Gorthad (Barrow Downs) and Legolas cried out. He is now missing. They are joined by a strange Elf named Vanwë (the same Elf who rescued Merry and then Sam). Vanwë is Maglor. He has relieved Merry of his blade of Westernesse, although Merry does not remember this.

Legolas finds himself standing on the edge of a great stone circle and sees the ghosts of Men slain in the Angmar War, including the last Prince of Cardolan, whose body lies in the barrow along with many chiefs and princes. Then the Barrow Wight comes and begins an enchantment on Legolas.

Baranor, a Ranger descended from Cardolan, joined Elrohir who, at the behest of Aragorn, is in the search for the lost stone of Amon Sûl. Elrohir finds it but does not tell Baranor. Baranor guesses, takes it, and makes off with it. He is in the Prancing Pony when the Hobbits arrive and tell him the story of the Barrows. He is persuaded to help the Hobbits find out what is going on and why the Wight or Wights are after them.

Beta: Thank you, Anarithilen.

*Newbie's suggestion. Thank you

And thank you to all those leaving kudos and reviews/comments. Always nice to get that encouragement.

Chapter 16: Night in the Prancing Pony.

It was absolutely silent that night and the stars were very bright above Bree, no sign of any fog coming down from the moor. The Hobbits slept in two dormitories, one with Dods, Iberic and Merry and the other shared by Pippin, Frodo and Sam.

'What did he mean when he said we are being stalked by the Barrow Wight or Wights?' asked Pippin. He was sitting on the window seat looking out over the orchard where the ponies had been turned out for the night. Above him stars pricked out one by one and the Moon was approaching fullness. 'Baranor, I mean. He said three times we have been stalked; Merry, Sam and … when was the other time? And what does he mean, there is more than one?'

'I think he meant in Brandybuck Hall,' Sam said, yawning widely. 'I wondered if it was random Hobbits or if there is a reason it's been one of us each time.' He rubbed his eyes sleepily. 'I'm not sure though if I can stay awake enough to work it out though.'

Frodo smiled and pulled his blankets up. 'I can't either. Go to sleep, Pip.'

But Pippin's belly was too full of pie and crumble and beer, and his head was too full of Barrow Wights and Rangers and Riders in black. He stared out onto the orchard.

Bill was standing asleep, resting one rear hoof, head low, and Flash stood beside him. The other ponies were in the corner of the little orchard tugging at the grass. Suddenly Bill threw his head up startled. Flash turned his head in the direction of Bill's gaze and shifted. Both ponies were alert. Pippin craned his neck to see what had startled them, thinking that if the ponies bolted, he would wake the whole inn up with hollering for help. But the ponies did not move, their ears pricked forward and listening.

Pippin threw open the window then, letting in a drift of cold air, and stuck his head out of the window. All was silent but the ponies did not look towards the sound of the window. Moonlight silvered the orchard, the roofs of the houses and streets winding up Bree Hill.

'What are you doing, Pip? It's freezing,' complained Frodo, pulling his quilt about his ears.

'There's something out there,' Pippin said, leaning out. He felt a lot braver up on the second storey of the inn than if he was in the orchard. 'Bill's all wide awake and alert.'

That got Sam up and he leaned out with Pippin. At Sam's arrival, Bill did move; he looked up and gave a quiet nicker. 'He's all right,' said Sam fondly and looked at Pippin. 'It'll be a fox or summat.'

Pippin had to concede, and he drew the window down. It gave a sharp squeak that had Frodo complaining.

'Who do you think he is waiting for?' Pippin asked as he pulled back his blankets.

'Who?' Frodo said sleepily and Sam grumbled a bit that Pippin was keeping them awake.

'Baranor. He said he was waiting for someone. I think it's another Ranger. So he can come with us too.' Pippin said, thinking hard. The bed was comfortable and there was a warmed earthenware bottle at the bottom that he pressed his toes against. Barliman kept a good house, he thought and wriggled a bit for he was still too awake and excited, a little nervous too for he could not get the idea of the Riders out of his head. He was so certain something had been in the stables, sliding through the shadows. 'What if the other Ranger is out there on his own with those Riders? Won't Baranor want to look for him instead of coming with us?'

Frodo sighed heavily and Sam grumbled a bit more. 'We can wait a day if we absolutely have to,' Frodo said. 'Although, I don't think I'd want to wait much more than that. I am anxious enough as it is about all this, but something has changed too; like something is happening and I need to be somewhere else.' He paused and then said softly, 'I keep dreaming that someone is drowning. He needs me but I can't reach him…I'm not sure…'

Pippin felt a slow sense of horror. 'Who is it, Frodo? There are no lakes around here to drown in. The Brandywine is the closest river.'

"No,' Frodo closed his eyes as if he could not stay awake any longer. 'No, not that kind of drowning… Sinking…We cannot reach him.' He gave a deep sigh as sleep settled. 'I hope Aragorn and Legolas and Gimli are…safe…' The last syllable was lost in a breath that carried Frodo away to sleep. Pippin heard Sam snuffling as he too sunk into sleep and he was left alone and wakeful. But he could not sleep.

Frodo's last words buzzed around his head and he worried away at what it might mean: Sam and Merry were here with them, and Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli were on their way, for he was certain that Sam's second message would not have reached Aglarond before they had departed for The Shire. Was it Gandalf that Frodo thought was in trouble?

Pippin lay staring up at the dark ceiling and not sleeping at all. A nervous agitation had taken hold of him; it felt like he had the night he had stolen the Palantir from Gandalf and looked into it, seeing the great Eye that had scoured his every thought and emotion. He still felt the prickle of horror and shame at the memory. But the weight and warmth of the dark globe came back to him now, and he found himself wishing he could investigate the Stone now. It might tell him what was going on, he thought, who might be in danger, why the Barrow Wights were disturbed, and why they were stalking them. It might tell them who the terrible Riders on the Downs, on tall black horses and clad in black robes like the Nazgûl, were as well, he thought.

Turning onto his side, Pippin punched his pillow and plumped it up, then let his head drop heavily against it, wondering what he had seen in the stables if it was not a Rider, for the cat had been unafraid, and then he worried that Baranor would not know about important Hobbit things, like Second Breakfast and Elevenses*. Aragorn had needed quite a lot of educating about that. He closed his eyes but opened them almost immediately.

He thought he had heard something.

A creak of a footstep upon the stairs?

A breath as if someone was listening at the door?

There was a noise then, like the slip of fur against leather as a cloak fell back. And a slide of steel as a sword was unsheathed.

Pippin was immediately on his feet and seizing his own blade of Westernesse where it hung on the bedpost. Silently, for Hobbits can be very stealthy, he crept across the floor and stood beside the door, listening as quiet as a mouse.

He was certain he could hear a faint sound on the other side. He held his breath, eyes wide and clenched the hilt of his sword.

'Pip?' It was Frodo, sitting upright, eyes wide in alarm.

'Something's outside,' Pippin mouthed silently and gestured to the door. He then hunched his shoulders and imitated someone creeping past in an exaggerated way which would have had Frodo laughing if he had not looked so scared.

Sliding quietly from his own bed, Frodo joined Pippin and the two hobbits carefully pressed their ears to the door. At first all they could hear was Sam's gentle breathing, their own hearts beating. And then there were the sounds of an old house settling for the night, the creaks of wood easing after many feet have pounded the boards all day, doors resting on their hinges. A mouse scurried somewhere.

They looked at each other and both released a breath they did not know they had been holding.

'Well, back to bed then,' Pippin said cheerfully.

Frodo smiled. 'Perhaps Tubby's story of these Riders has got us overexcited, Pip. Hearing every creak on the stairs and thinking it an intruder.'

Pippin nodded his head ruefully, but he thought he would not sleep now. Yet he found himself drifting into sleep, where the dim shades of the Barrow Downs waited, and the cold Song of the Barrow Wight wrapped itself about him, reaching its thin, skeletal hand towards him.

Suddenly there was a crash and a voice cried out. Pippin sat bolt upright.

Another voice was raised. Pippin listened hard; it came from a room further away down the passage.

'I think that's Baranor!' exclaimed Pippin. Frodo was sitting up now as well and they looked at each other briefly and leapt out of bed. Pippin shoved open the door and Frodo followed him out while Sam was still stirring and rolling over. They hurried down the narrow passageway to Baranor's room. They stood outside for a moment, listening.

At first there was nothing and then the burst of angry voices came from within.

'Pip, go and get your sword,' Frodo said softly, and Pippin looked down to see that Frodo had Sting in his hand already. Shaking his head at his stupidity, Pippin hurried back to their room and took out his blade of Westernesse.

Sam was stirring slightly and mumbled, 'What's going on?'

'Someone is in Baranor's room. Frodo's there.'

That had the effect of a bucket of cold water on Sam and he scrambled out of his bed, eyes wild and hair sticking up. 'What do you think you're doing leaving him there alone?' Sam demanded.

Pippin gave Sam a quick look, grabbed his sword and did as he said, for Sam was like a ruffled badger when angry and it did no good to argue.

Frodo was still leaning against Baranor's door when Pippin returned. He glanced up at Pippin, a concerned expression on his face and Pippin could hear the low rumbling of a stranger speaking quietly now.

'It must be whoever he was waiting for,' whispered Frodo. 'I didn't go in because I thought he was waiting for a friend.' But he looked uncertain.

'It doesn't sound very friendly,' Pippin replied. They stood for a moment in indecision for it was not really their business if Baranor's associate turned up at gone midnight, friendly or not.

Then suddenly a cry burst from Baranor. 'No! You will not just come in and take it!'

There was the sound of a scuffle and Pippin threw open the door and burst in, blade drawn. Frodo and Sam hurried in after him.

Baranor was pressed down into the mattress of his bed, his hair tousled and face angry. A black-clad figure half-knelt on the bed, one arm pinning Baranor down and the other pulled back as if to punch him. Long black hair was pulled up into a horsetail and the stranger glared down at Baranor. A chair had been kicked over and there were crusts of mud on the floor from the stranger's boots.

'It's one of those riders!' cried Pippin. 'I knew I saw something in the stables!'

'Unhand him, ruffian or you will feel this,' Frodo said commandingly, brandishing Sting.

'Stand down, Master Hobbit,' said the ruffian, not turning but not punching Baranor either. 'This is not your battle. Do not make it mine.'

The voice was rich and deep, urbane and his Westron was slightly accented. Something registered in Pippin's brain but not sufficiently to stop him from leaping onto the assailant's back with his sword lifted above him, intending to rap the assailant's knuckles with the flat of the blade and force him to release Baranor. Instead, he found himself flung away and he landed hard on the wooden floor with an oof. Frodo, who had leapt forward alongside Pippin, had been just as easily shoved away by the stranger, and now the hobbit stumbled and fell over an upturned chair.

The stranger grasped Baranor by the collar and shook him. 'Where is it?' he demanded fiercely. Baranor glared back but closed his mouth as if he intended to say nothing.

Pippin lay on the floor for a moment, a little stunned until Sam's voice came from the doorway. 'What on earth is going on here?' And then Sam's voice turned to outrage. 'Master Frodo! Are you hurt?' Sam threw himself beside Frodo.

'Frodo?' The ruffian turned his face towards them in surprise and rose to his feet, leaving Baranor still sprawled on the bed

Sitting up and rubbing his head, Pippin saw that the stranger was very tall and his face handsome, astonished. A black cloak swept about his shoulders, but it was tatty and threadbare, and his boots were worn and muddy. He stood almost awkwardly, looking down at Frodo and Pippin. Pippin frowned; there was something…

Sam took a step forwards, glaring up at the stranger and shouting angrily, 'You dare touch him again and you'll have me to deal with. We don't like your sort round here. Now be off with you!' He grabbed the chair that had been knocked over and brandished it before him.

The stranger took a step back, hands raised placatingly although Pippin did not think he was afraid of Sam. 'I did not know it was Frodo, I swear I would not have pushed you,' the man said appeasingly.

But there were more voices now from other rooms, doors banging open and shouting. Suddenly Barliman and some other burly fellows burst into the room shouting but Pippin could see the intruder more clearly now and it was suddenly as if some glamour had fallen away and to his absolute astonishment, he recognised Baranor's attacker.

'Elrohir!' he exclaimed, and at that, Frodo and Sam stared first at Pippin, then at Elrohir. But Barliman and his burly men shoved Sam aside and tried to seize Elrohir. Elrohir reared back and spun, lashing out with one foot he caught the first Man in the chin and sent him to the floor and then with a jab with his elbow, he caught the other Man, who reeled back, clutching his nose. Butterbur stood aghast and staring while Elrohir brushed off his cloak, no longer tatty but a thick sable that gleamed richly in the lamplight.

'Tell your men to leave, Butterbur, and I'll thank you not to interfere in my business.' He reached into his pocket of his tunic and handed a couple of silver coins to the innkeeper. 'Here. For any damages.'

'Well, it's a fine way,' Barliman was spluttering with annoyance, but he pocketed the coins anyway. 'Breaking into my inn and smashing up the furniture.' He picked up the chair and set it to rights but Baranor interrupted.

'Thank you all for your assistance,' he said angrily and to Pippin's further astonishment. 'But I need no help, and there is no damage I can see.'

It seemed that Baranor and Elrohir were perfectly agreed that everyone else should leave them alone to finish their business, even though they had been at each other's throats. Did they just want to carry on fighting?

Elrohir turned his head and cast a glance at Baranor who was still glaring, and then back at Butterbur. 'Then there is no more to be said. You may all leave us to our business.'

'Well, I'm with Barliman. It's a funny business that ends up with broken chairs and bruises,' Sam said crossly. 'And by bruises, I mean to innocent folk who meant kindly and end up on the floor amidst broken furniture.' He pulled Frodo to his feet.'You should both be ashamed of this.' He gestured towards Pippin and Frodo. 'And don't think a few coins will buy us off either.'

Quite abruptly, Elrohir bowed his head. He drew a breath that seemed to calm him for his next words were far more courteous. 'You are quite right, Master Gamgee. Forgive me,' he said to Frodo and then turned to Pippin, extending his hand.

Pippin glanced up anxiously at Elrohir's face but he swore he saw chagrin and shame on the Elf's face and so he took the strong, large hand extended to him, and was pulled gently to his feet. Pippin stood for a moment, feeling the warmth, the capability in that hand and felt a sudden surge of strength as if Elrohir had given him something.

'Is he the friend you were waiting for?' he asked, staring at a red mark on Baranor's face where Elrohir must have struck him.

As if he had only just become aware of the mark, Baranor rubbed at it. 'Yes. And we have some business to attend to. If you don't mind?' He gestured, clearly intending for them to remove themselves from his room.

'Well try not to kill each other, won't you?' Pippin said cautiously for he did not really think they should leave them alone and as Butterbur did not look as if he was going to intervene any further, it was rather down to Pippin to smooth it all over.

'For my part, there is no violent intention,' Baranor said irritably, glaring at Elrohir. Elrohir glared back, not looking at all repentant for what he had done to Baranor, even if he had apologised for throwing Pippin and Frodo to the floor.

'Well, we will all be leaving after breakfast, so it is probably best that you both try and get some sleep,' Pippin said in a conciliatory tone. 'Perhaps you can sort out whatever it is tomorrow when we are on the Downs.' He smiled brightly. 'After all, we have a long ride ahead of us, don't we Frodo?'

Elrohir turned towards Pippin. 'I fear I will be leaving immediately once I have what I have come for.'

Pippin was crestfallen but before he could employ his considerable powers of persuasion, Baranor interrupted angrily. 'We will both be accompanying these good Hobbits,' he told Elrohir emphatically. 'There is a danger that threatens the Shire, and they are embarked upon a quest to find out what that is. I am certain the King would expect no less of you than he would of me, and so we will both accompany them.'

Elrohir stared at him as if he searched the Man's soul, his resolve and intent. 'A danger you say?'

'Yes. And if you do not agree to help them,' Baranor continued, 'You will get nothing from me though you strip my skin from my bones.' His blue eyes held Elrohir's and did not give way. 'You WILL give your word and only then, will you have it.'

Elrohir tilted his head and Pippin thought he looked more curious now than angry. 'Very well. I shall give you three days of my company.' He pulled his sable cloak from his shoulders and slung it over the foot of Baranor's bed as if he intended to settle there.

'Three days?' Pippin cried, disappointed. 'But what if we are in mortal danger at the end of the three days? Are you really going to just leave us?'

'I am beholden to Aragorn and must return to Gondor as swiftly as I may,' Elrohir said.

Pippin smiled widely. 'Oh, well that's perfect! Aragorn is on his way already.'

'What?' It was the second time Pippin had surprised Elrohir and Pippin thought he may as well make it three.

'Legolas and Gimli are on their way too.' Pippin smiled even more widely. Sam chewed his lip anxiously and Frodo winced slightly.

The change in Elrohir was most satisfying. He looked suddenly younger somehow, perhaps a little more vulnerable and Pippin wondered if he was missing Legolas and that was what had made him bad-tempered with Baranor.

'Here?' Elrohir asked, startled. 'They are coming here? To Bree? Of course.' His face cleared with sudden understanding, and he almost smiled. 'It is your wedding, is it not, Master Gamgee? They are coming for that, although I did not realise.' His face fell for a moment and he seemed to be looking inward. 'I did not think to ask.'

'Oh, no, not that,' Sam said, blushing. 'I didn't expect them to come all this way just for me.'

Pippin saw Frodo smile slightly and pat Sam's shoulder. 'They would have, you know, Sam. But as it is, we had need of their help,' he said. 'As Baranor says, we have had trouble in the Shire. The Barrow Wights are awake.'

'Tell me,' Elrohir said seriously and so Frodo told the whole tale; how Merry had gone missing and they had gone to search for him, that Sam had followed and been suddenly surrounded by an eerie fog and the Elf who had driven it away, leaving Merry. He spoke of the strange creature they had seen in the grounds of Brandybuck Hall and the Riders Tubby had described. And the bonfires seen from the Barrow Downs. Elrohir leaned forwards at that point and asked lots of questions and seemed very unsatisfied by their answers but at last he leaned back in the chair, long legs stretched out and his fingers steepled. His face was serious but unafraid.

'It seems to me that the bonfires have been lit to either drive the Wights from their barrows, or to summon them,' he said. 'Could it be that Iarwain Ben-Adar, whom you know as Tom Bombadil, is finishing what he began?'

Sam and Frodo looked at each other but Pippin was unconvinced. 'What about Merry?' he demanded. 'If Tom is throwing the Wights out of their barrows, they are coming to find us!'

Elrohir glanced at him. 'Yes. That does not solve that mystery.'

'And what about the Riders?' Sam interjected. 'Tom is nothing to do with them and it seems to me that they began to appear around the same time as the bonfires started.'

'Very well,' Elrohir agreed. 'So, we think the bonfires are connected somehow with these Riders on black horses. But we have yet to discover if they are driving the Wights out, or summoning them to some evil purpose.' He looked at each one carefully and Pippin was reminded of Elrond, the sensation that he had looked into each of their hearts and weighed them, judged them, knew them. 'But why do they pursue you? It is only Merry and Sam they have pursued. What is it they think you have? Or is it simply a remnant of what you carried before?' he asked looking at Frodo first, and then Sam. 'But why would a Barrow Wight take Merry if that were true? No. I think it is something else.' He leaned forward. 'What do you have that they seek?'

'That I do not know,' Frodo said. 'Not yet. But I think we will find the answers on the Barrow Downs.

Baranor shifted and seemed about to speak but Elrohir spoke first. 'I cannot in all conscience ignore the danger to you. I would counsel that you do not venture onto the Downs and leave it to Baranor and me to discover what we can and return to tell you what there is.'

'Leave it to the Big Folk, you mean!' Sam exploded.

Elrohir laughed softly. 'I do not think I would ever say that to those who took the One Ring into Mordor alone and cast it into Oroduin, he said with great respect. 'I said I do not think it is wise,' Elrohir continued, 'and would counsel you against it. But that is not because you are Hobbits but because the Barrow Wights are powerful and are seeking you out. You will attract them I think. They will be drawn by you and place you and any companions in great danger. They are not simple spirits as you have discovered yourself. They are demons that haunt the dark places of the earth, hiding from the light. They were summoned by Angmar to prevent the Dunédain of Cardolan from ever returning here. They are formed of a darkness that can enter the eye, heart and mind, crushing the will. If we pass by their barrow, we will hear the voices of the poor souls captured and devoured. They cannot be destroyed except by powerful spells beyond any Man.'

He leaned back again, his eyes raised upwards as if he were thinking deeply now. 'They can only be destroyed by light and only by breaking open a burial site can they be driven from their secret hiding places.' He turned back to the Hobbits. 'But they are demons and can animate the bones of the dead. If someone wanted an army, there is one waiting in the Barrow Downs.'

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