"Wyn, go ahead of me. Go to Rivendell and stay there." I whispered in my horse's ear, giving her a kiss on the nose. I hugged her neck and released her, watching her run off towards the elven city.
Turning around, I smiled as Sam and Frodo walked out the door to Bag End. "Are you two ready?" They nodded solemnly and we began our walk to Bree. It wouldn't take us too long thank the Valar. I knew the Nazgul would be searching for the Ring and the faster we could get it out of the Shire the better chance we had of keeping it from them.
It was a beautiful day for a journey. The two hobbits talked to each other and I enjoyed the sounds of nature: the birds singing in the trees, the wind rustling the leaves, the sounds of a far off brook trickling down rocks. As we approached a field I ran ahead to check out in between the stalks of corn. Satisfied it was safe, I allowed the hobbits to enter it. We walked a little ways into the crop when shouts rang out. I instinctively fingered my sword and scanned the area. Suddenly out of the corn ran Merry and Pippin and they tumbled into Frodo and Sam. They dropped the vegetables they were holding and the hobbits jumped to their feet. I laughed and released my grip on my sword. The hobbits began to quarrel until the voice of Farmer Maggot was heard. We all looked at each other and took off running towards the forest. I had heard stories about him and didn't particularly want to meet him.
The hobbits didn't pay attention to the land dropping off in front of them and tumbled down it. I neatly jumped down and landed next to them, laughing. "And that, my dear hobbits, is why you pay attention to where you are going."
Pippin looked up at me sheepishly and went to say something, but was distracted by a shout. "Mushrooms!"
I ruffled Pippin's hair and wandered down the road we had landed on while the hobbits occupied themselves with picking mushrooms. Squinting in the distance I noticed a black shape approaching. It gave me an uneasy feeling and ran back to the hobbits. "Get off the road now! Forget the mushrooms!" I pulled them all to their feet and shoved them behind a tree root making sure they couldn't be seen from the road. Glancing at the road, I hopped over the root and hid next to them, left hand gripping my sword.
Not even a minute later the clatter of a horse's feet could be heard. It stopped next to the area we were hiding and I heard the rider dismount. I held my breath as it approached, almost certain it knew we were there. The thing crept closer and closer, but suddenly turned around and jumped onto its horse before riding away. I motioned for the hobbits to stay hidden and peeked around the root to watch the figure disappear. I knew that shape.
As soon as I felt it safe for the hobbits to come out of hiding I peeked my head back over the root and looked down at them. "Well come on now my dear hobbits! We need to reach Bree, and soon." I took off into the forest, making sure the hobbits stayed right behind me. It was growing dark and I heard Merry and Frodo discussing what had just happened. Frodo was smart enough to realize the Black Riders were after him. I kept an eye out, always looking to see if the other Riders were around. I must have missed the shape of one because suddenly a Black Rider appeared next to Frodo. I drew my sword and rushed at it, preparing to fight. "Run Frodo!"
Frodo took off running with the others, headed towards Bucklebury Ferry. I stabbed at the Rider's horse and took off after the hobbits. They made it onto the raft and I keaped onto it as it pulled away from the shore.
We floated down the river for a while in silence before it began to rain. We huddled together to keep warm and I sighed in relief at the sight of Bree in the distance. Docking the raft, we headed towards the gate. After a little bit of pleading I convinced the gatekeeper to let us in and we made our way to the Prancing Pony. I just hoped that Gandalf was already there waiting.