The Prancing Pony
Adria opened the door and stepped into the noise and smoke; squinting her eyes slightly and looking past the hotel keeper to the raging pandemonium that was happening within. Her eyes quickly roved over the company only to be brought back with a quiet cough from the innkeeper.
She turned back to him in a swish of clothing, her cloak swirling about her and her hood falling to lie against her hair and revealing her elvin features. The man opened and closed his mouth for a few moments before regaining composure, "Excuse me, Miss. What be your business here, would you like a room, we've got cozy accommodations, best in the town."
Adriana favored the man with a smile while her blue-gray eyes twinkled slightly with mirth, "I'm looking for some people actually. Hobbits with the leader having the name of Underhill, I believe." The man looked down at his ledger book and then nodded while pointing over the heads of the merry dancers and drinkers.
"They are right over there Miss. Have a pleasant evening." Adria nodded and then looked at the hobbits again and then glanced over them to a man in the corner, hood drawn up over his face. She blinked rapidly, 'Surely not, he can't be here.' She thought to herself but then he drew in on his pipe and in the glow Adria saw a face she knew well.
She quickly padded across the room, evading peoples' touch and attention with sure steps, and then sat at the table with the hooded man. She glanced at him and then away to where the hobbits were sitting, watching one get up and head to the bar she again glanced at the man next to her and then returned her attention to the hobbits, while ignoring the numerous stares she was receiving from the locals.
"Place that hood over your features Adriana, you are drawing attention—something that I don't want at the moment." Adria nodded her ascent to his request and drew her hood over her midnight hair to leave her face in shadow.
"Strider, you are watching my quarry. What is it that you want here?"
His reply when it came was muted, "Nothing at all, Adria. I'm simply wandering." She snorted her derision and then was silent as she watched the 'Mr. Underhill' grab the attention of one of the innkeeper. She heard a muffled question from the hobbit and then the other's reply.
"He's one of them rangers. They're dangerous folk, they are, wandering the Wilds. What his right name is, I've never heard, but around here he's known as Strider. The other one next to Strider, I've never seen. Perhaps a friend of his." She muffled a laugh.
"My, you make friends quite easily don't you?" her easy joviality wore off and she met his gaze with her own piercing blue-gray eyes, "You sense it." It was not a question.
"…Yes."
Her attention was again brought back to the hobbits as she heard a loud exclamation from the bar as well as the name Baggins. "Oh no…" She trailed off and then watched as the other hobbit, Frodo, got up and ran towards the one at the bar. He grabbed his shoulder but as the loud one whirled around Mr. Underhill took a spill to the ground.
Adriana tensed as she saw something shiny and gold fly up into the air and at her side Strider leapt to his feet. Her eyes followed the glittering arc of the ring and watched as it made its descent onto the hobbit's finger. He disappeared. The screaming started.
Adriana quickly rose to her feet and made her way towards the bar and the people as she felt the sudden chill in the room. She could feel him. Sauron. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead as goose-flesh pimpled her arms. So much evil. A sudden intake of breath broke her out of the fear that was mastering her and she glanced to see the blue-eyed Baggins next to her looking wildly around before a hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder. Adriana shivered at the expression on Frodo's face, so much fear, like that on the dock.
Strider began to push him up the stairs with Adria following, masking them from the view of the people—or so she hoped, "You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr. Underhill." She swept up after them and entered into the room and shook her hood of her face once again the flames making her features stand out in even higher relief.
Strider turned towards the hobbit who was just gaining his feet and Adria turned to shut the door quietly, letting Strider do what he did best. "What do you want?" The hobbit asked and then his bright blue eyes swept to Adria and stared hard at her confused. His look said that he believed he knew her but couldn't remember where from.
"A little more caution from you. That is not a trinket you carry." Strider spoke while glaring at Baggins, who now had switched his cursory glance from Adriana to the man once more.
"I carry nothing!" An exclamation of indignation rang from the small hobbit as he glared at the man.
Adriana snorted at the scene, a man towering over a hobbit, with the hobbit being just as much of, if not more, of a spit fire. Aragorn looked once at her before scathingly replying, "Indeed."
Adria moved over to Strider, "What Strider says is true. Caution is paramount Frodo, the ringwraiths will not give up. You were very lucky at the Ferry." Frodo whirled about and looked at her this time his eyes flooding with understanding and recognition. In answer to his unspoken question she placed her bow on the nearby table and ignored the look that was sent her way by the man.
"It was you!"
Adriana nodded once, "Yes, and it is lucky that I was there, that Gandalf sent me to help you. What you've done just now, you must never be seen!" She nearly yelled out in exasperation and then calmed herself with deep breaths, "Your friends' safety depends on your discretion. Can you shoulder that burden when you are already shouldering so much? He sees everything, Frodo!" Her eyes looked pointedly at his chest pocket where the ring was concealed and Frodo placed a protective hand over it.
"I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely…that is a rare gift." Strider moved over to the windows and began to snuff out the candles. He pulled back his hood at the end of his speaking as he turned back towards the hobbit, who now was very confused.
Adriana moved towards Strider's side once again and then wheeled around so they were both looking at the hobbit. Strider's blue eyes were flashing and his hair curled about his face, damp from being concealed all the time. Adriana's eyes were likewise flashing but her hair was falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Frodo looked between them, "Who are you?"
Strider answered back quickly and partially mockingly, "Are you frightened?" Frodo glanced between them at a loss for words. Adriana moved to comfort the hobbit but a nearly imperceptible movement from Strider kept her cemented to the floor. He was making a point. She could understand that, especially since now she would have to help them. The ringwraiths wouldn't be long in coming she was sure of that.
Frodo again cast a confused look between the two and again Adria could see the fear that had crossed his features two times this night. His reply, when it came, was soft, "Yes."
"Not nearly frightened enough, I know what hunts you." Strider took a few steps closer to Frodo and Adriana mirrored him but then a thumping of feet up the stairs and at the door came to their attention and both whirled around drawing their swords in the same instant and placing them at the guard position.
Three more hobbits burst into the room, the door hitting the wall with a loud thwack. Adriana was amazed to see that these hobbits were prepared to fight. A candlestick, end table and fists all raised protectively in front of them. Though the front hobbit was the only one shouting out while the others looked slightly afraid and hung back behind the 'leader' of the small group, "Let him go, or I'll have you Longshanks!" Adria glanced at the hobbits again fighting a smile, apparently the only bad guy in the room was Strider. He glanced towards her and met her eyes, amusement in his own for a moment before he turned back towards the hobbits.
"We've not hurt your friend," she spoke softly and the hobbits looked at her wonderingly and then at Strider as he picked up the line of conversation.
"You have a stout heart, little hobbit." He sheathed his sword and the whisper of steel echoed about the room, followed by another as Adria sheathed her sword as well. "But that will not save you."
Adria nodded her head slightly and then walked over to the table to gather up her bow as Strider took a step towards Frodo, "You can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. They're coming."
"We'll help," She cast a look to Strider, who nodded, relieved that she did have his help she continued, "You must follow us though, but first wait here, Strider and I must talk." They disappeared into the hallway and then she whirled around and hugged him after a few moments she moved away.
"Oh, Aragorn!" Adriana cried out quietly. "I know you and the other Rangers were watching the Shire, I had heard it from father, I just never thought that I would run into you. I hope that they will be able to fare by themselves for awhile. I'll need help getting the hobbits to Rivendell." She looked down slightly ashamed it was hard to talk of her fears and say that she needed help.
"Why do you need help?" the question was posed quietly and without any trace of judgment.
Adriana flicked her head up and met his eyes resolutely, "The ringwraiths are coming. You know it, I know it, even they know it," a nod in the direction of the room where the hobbits were waiting for them, "They nearly caught them at the Ferry. I had to shoot an arrow to stop it for heaven's sake!" Aragorn's mouth twitched for a moment and then broke out into a wide smile despite the circumstances. Adriana had met Aragorn long ago and he knew well her hidden weakness.
"You had to shoot an arrow?" Adria glared at him and her answer was short and to the point.
"Yes."
"Well," he supplied diplomatically while trying to hide his laughter. He failed miserably, "ah-hem. Well, since they are still here…I'm assuming you didn't miss."
Adriana smacked him on the shoulder, "Don't mock me. I hate shooting, I can hit any target I want it's just I'm so gods-cursed slow. What if something like that is to happen again? I do need help, will you help me?" For a moment the hallway was quiet and outside a screech carried through the town. The mirth was instantly erased from both faces and Aragorn met her eyes steadily a plan already forming.
"Of course. Here's what we have to do." Adria bent her head closer to hear him and then nodded once before sweeping down the stairs.
At the bottom she looked up at him, "Thank-you Aragorn."