Author's Note: I don't have much to say. Except I'm sorry for taking so long to update and that no hobbits were harmed in the making of this chapter (except from the ones in my mind…) If this section does not seem realistic or like it follows Tolkein's Lord of the Rings at all, then that is just more evidence that I am only halfway through the Fellowship. Also I would like to say, that it is probably very unlikely that there are and Gypsy Vanners, Gypsy Cobs, or any other Gypsy crosses in Middle Earth, but I rode a lovely Gypsy Cob mare that was the absolute best and I had to write something about a Gypsy Cob or Gypsy cross of some kind. So that would be why Rolum is in the story.

Disclaimer: I've forgotten these in my other chapters. But I still do not own anything here except Esgal, Tathar, Suldal, Rolum, and Feowin.

CHAPTER SIX – A MATTER OF PERSUASION

Clouds loomed on the horizon, threatening to burst. Feowin urged Suldal to pick up her pace a little for she didn't want to stay outside to find out if they were empty threats or not.

There was a distant growl of thunder and the clouds spilled. A few moments after the downpour began, both Suldal and Feowin were drenched. Feowin pulled up her hood, but for all its use it could have not been there.

Puddles grew, trees soon held no protection from the rain and biting wind. Feowin allowed the faintest rumor of a smile touch her lips as she entered Hobbiton.

She and Suldal stopped at the first hobbit-hole they came to, Feowin knocked politely on the door while Suldal waited patiently on the road.

The young hobbit child that answered the door looked at the tall woman wearing a sword and daggers with frightened eyes for a moment, before running back into the hobbit-hole to get her parents.

A gruff looking hobbit came to the door, he glared at Feowin and growled, "Wha' 'id ye do that fer? Scarin' me poor little girl like that?"

Feowin bristled at his tone, but still spoke politely, "I am very sorry, I meant no harm. I am just here looking for Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, and a place to stable my horse for the night."

"Ye'll find 'em all at th' Green Dragon. Though, a warning, missie: Merry an' Pippin'll be drunker than," the hobbit paused, trying to think up a sufficient metaphor, he failed and settled on, "drunk. Yeah, they'll all be drunker 'an drunk."

"Thank you, kind sir," Feowin said, walking back to Suldal and mounting.

The ruckus coming from the Green Dragon proved the hobbit's word to be true. Feowin didn't bother to tether Suldal for she wouldn't stray far if she strayed at all.

Feowin had to stoop to get in the door. The room was thick with pipe-smoke and laughter. Feowin looked around the inn, she didn't see anyone she recognized, not that she expected to, but it was good to check anyway.

She walked up to the bartender and asked, "Excuse me sir, I was wondering if you could point out Master Peregrin Took and Master Meriadoc Brandybuck? And how much would a stall and food for my horse for the night cost?"

The bartender told her how much the stall would cost and Feowin paid him. Then he led her back to a table in the back of the inn while a young hobbit was sent to take Suldal in from the rain.

Just as the hobbit Feowin had talked to earlier had said, Merry and Pippin were drunker than drunk. Feowin sighed, thanked the bartender, and watched the hobbits for a moment formulating a plan.

Plan made up, she walked over to the two hobbits and picked them up by their collars. The hobbits protested drunkenly but were far too drunk to be able to put up a fight. She dragged them outside and threw them down in a puddle.

They clambered out of it spluttering, "Wha' wa' that fer?"

One of the hobbits' more sober friends had followed and was laughing at his two friends' plight. Feowin reached over and threw him in too.

After a few more dunkings in the cold puddle Feowin hauled all three hobbits to the stable. She dropped them down by Suldal's stall and waited for them to regain what little senses they had with them still.

As she waited she examined the stable, it was inhabited by only two horses: Suldal and a stocky piebald gelding. Upon further examination, Feowin found a label on the piebald's stall door which read, "Rolum."

Rolum, Feowin thought, looking the gelding over, Shade Horse. I suppose it suits him. Not tall enough to be a horse, I'd say only fourteen hands, but too strongly built to be a pony. His mane and tail are nice and thick, he's got nice, large hooves, feathers along his hooves. Good conformation, holds his head nice and high; alert eyes glassed with boredom. He's probably some kind of draft cob with a bit of foreign blood, used for plowing fields for some hobbit, when I bet he'd rather be free. I wonder… It would make his life better … But it also might not … And what about his owners? …

To keep herself from thinking such thought, she jerked herself away from Rolum and turned to the interfering hobbit.

"Who are you?" She questioned the him.

"Samwise Gamgee," the hobbit answered. "Who wants to know? And why?"

Feowin then realized that he was not as drunk as she had first presumed; maybe he wasn't even at all drunk. She replied, "It is very nice to meet you Master Gamgee, if you'll be off now?"

"What do you want with them?" Sam motioned toward Merry and Pippin who were leaning up against Suldal's stall door, fast asleep.

"My business is my own," Feowin stated.

"If your business is with them, then it is my business too," Sam crossed his arms and glared at Feowin.

Feowin sat herself down on a hay bale and said nothing more to Sam. He glared at her and sat cross-legged on the floor next to his friends.

The night passed slowly for Sam as he spent all of it watching the odd girl who was staring at him. And not even blinking … Sam found this curious and waved his hand in front of her face, she still didn't blink. He put two and two together to figure out that she had fallen asleep with her eyes open to have the pretense of watching him while she actually rested.

So Sam, assured by the fact that she would not attack him if he moved, curled up on the floor and fell asleep.

At dawn, Suldal kicked her stall door to wake Feowin. Sam, too, was roused by the sound, but Merry and Pippin continued their deep slumber. Quickly and efficiently, Feowin fed, groomed and saddled Suldal. Then, she stalked out of the stable. She soon returned, lugging a bucket of cold water which she proceeded to throw over the sleeping hobbits. The hobbits groaned as they slowly woke, complaining of horrid hangovers.

To Sam, Feowin seemed heartless, as she did nothing but dump the rest of the water on them and put away the bucket.

Even though Merry and Pippin were still only half awake Feowin still lifted them up and placed them in Suldal's saddle. She then grabbed the mare's reins and walked out of the stable.

Sam rushed out after her, "Where're you taking them? Wherever it is, I'm coming with you."

Feowin gave Sam an appraising look; he had to jog to keep up with her and Suldal's brisk walk. "Why are you so eager to follow your friends into certain danger?"

"Danger?" Sam yelped.

"Danger," Feowin stated.

Sam hardened his resolve and answered, "Because they need someone to look after them."

"They seemed to look after themselves just fine during the War of the Ring." Feowin said, spotting his lie quite easily.

"Fine, the truth is that it has been a bit dull around here and I'm looking for some adventure and anywhere Merry and Pippin go, I go."

Feowin shrugged, he led a good argument, "Just keep up."

Sam smiled; he found that he could be very persuasive when he wanted to be so.

Author's Note: Please review.I've decided to put in a translation of the horse terminology I've used in this chapter for those who do not know what the words mean. If you are a "horsey" person and notice that I've given a bad/incorrect definition tell me a better one and I will fix it.

Mare: Female horse over the age of four

Gelding: a castrated male horse

Cob: A stocky type (not breed) of horse

Feathers: Hair around the ankles

Hooves: Feet

Piebald: Black/dark brown and white splotches (kind of like on a cow)

Hands: Worldwide way of measuring horses, the horses are measured to the withers, one hand is four inches

Withers: Where the neck meets the rest of the body (the knobby part)

Extra Info: A pony is 14.2 hh (hands high) and smaller, horses are over 14.2 hh