XII. A surprise and Elrohir's idea

After finally waking up from a more restful sleep and having lunch found the group themselves on the way to the gardens, but while Elrond had the feeling that he had forgotten something he should have done were the others wondering where Elrohir could have disappeared to, seeing that he was the most eager one to start reading the three books in the first place. The answer to both questions come to them as they entered the garden and found said black haired half-elf just finishing his little talk with a blonde haired elfling who was seated beside him and listened with a slightly shocked expression. Before anyone could say a word had Elrohir spotted them and while jumping up with a gleeful smile on his lips had he grabbed the other elf and pulled him to the others.

"Now that everyone if finally here we can start reading after the usual and boring introductions." Elrohir said as he pulled Lindir a bit closer to the group.

After the formalities were settled and Elrond excused the fact that he had failed to greet they guest was everyone sitting again on they respective seats, though the blonde minstrel was sat beside Elrohir seeing that he was currently the only one in whose presence he felt relaxed and a bit more confident. Luckily had the blackhead also already explained what they had read so far so they could continue where they had left off yesterday. It everything went alright they could manage the same amount of chapters like the day before, it was also decided that after Rumil had finished would it be Lindir reading next seeing that he hadn't read till now while the other elflings had had they chance doing thus, even if some of the book's contests were not exactly suited for some of them.

"The next chapter is called Strider." Rumil read at which some of the adults sat again straighter hoping for some time of confirmation to they suspicions about why the look of that man was so familiar to them.

Frodo, Pippin, and Sam made their way back to the parlour. There was no light. Merry was not there, and the fire had burned low. It was not until they had puffed up the embers into a blaze and thrown on a couple of faggots that they discovered Strider had come with them. There he was calmly sitting in a chair by the door!

"Wow, they are rally good, they even can imitate our silent walk." Orophin said in a stunned tone.

"They can many things." Elrohir stated proudly.

'Hallo!' said Pippin. 'Who are you, and what do you want?'

'I am called Strider,' he answered: 'and though he may have forgotten it, your friend promised to have a quiet talk with me.'

'You said I might hear something to my advantage, I believe,' said Frodo. 'What have you to say?'

'Several things,' answered Strider. 'But, of course, I have my price.'

"I think I have a clue what he wants and they should accept it, it might spare us some heart attacks and worrying about those four." Elladan said.

'What do you mean?' asked Frodo sharply.

'Don't be alarmed! I mean just this: I will tell you what I know, and give you some good advice – but I shall want a reward.'

'And what will that be, pray?' said Frodo. He suspected now that he had fallen in with a rascal, and he thought uncomfortably that he had brought only a little money with him. All of it would hardly satisfy a rogue, and he could not spare any of it.

'No more than you can afford,' answered Strider with a slow smile, as if he guessed Frodo's thoughts. 'Just this: you must take me along with you, until I wish to leave you.'

"Knew it."

"No one said otherwise Dan." his twin remarked at which the other one blushed in embarrassment.

'Oh, indeed!' replied Frodo, surprised, but not much relieved. 'Even if I wanted another companion, I should not agree to any such thing, until I knew a good deal more about you, and your business.'

'Excellent!' exclaimed Strider, crossing his legs and sitting back comfortably. 'You seem to be coming to your senses again, and that is all to the good. You have been much too careless so far. Very well! I will tell you what I know, and leave the reward to you. You may be glad to grant it, when you have heard me.'

'Go on then!' said Frodo. 'What do you know?'

'Too much; too many dark things,' said Strider grimly. 'But as for your business -' He got up and went to the door, opened it quickly and looked out. Then he shut it quietly and sat down again. 'I have quick ears,' he went on, lowering his voice, 'and though I cannot disappear, I have hunted many wild and wary things and I can usually avoid being seen, if I wish. Now, I was behind the hedge this evening on the Road west of Bree,

"This means that he might be the shadow that jumped over the wall when the gatekeeper was not looking." at this turned everyone to a now blushing Lindir, he didn't mean to speak his thoughts out loud, he was still feeling a bit strange sitting by all these high ranked elves.

"You are right, I'm so relieved now that it was not one of those Black Riders." Arwen said in a relieved tone as she smiled at the young minstrel in training.

when four hobbits came out of the Downlands. I need not repeat all that they said to old Bombadil or to one another, but one thing interested me. Please remember, said one of them, _that the name Baggins must not be mentioned. I am Mr. Underhill, if any name must be given. That interested me so much that I followed them here. I slipped over the gate just behind them. Maybe Mr. Baggins has an honest reason for leaving his name behind; but if so, I should advise him and his friends to be more careful.'

'I don't see what interest my name has for any one in Bree,' said Frodo angrily, 'and I have still to learn why it interests you. Mr. Strider may have an honest reason for spying and eavesdropping; but if so, I should advise him to explain it.'

'Well answered!' said Strider laughing. 'But the explanation is

simple: I was looking for a Hobbit called Frodo Baggins. I wanted to find him quickly. I had learned that he was carrying out of the Shire, well, a secret that concerned me and my friends. 'Now, don't mistake me!' he cried, as Frodo rose from his seat, and Sam jumped up with a scowl. 'I shall take more care of the secret than you do. And care is needed!' He leaned forward and looked at them. 'Watch every shadow!' he said in a low voice. 'Black horsemen have passed through Bree. On Monday one came down the Greenway, they say; and another appeared later, coming up the Greenway from the south.'

"Great, they are gathering." Glorfindel stated distastefully, one of them was already bad enough, but more? At least now they have again someone who is capable of keeping those four foolish hobbits in line.

There was a silence. At last Frodo spoke to Pippin and Sam: 'I ought to have guessed it from the way the gatekeeper greeted us,' he said. 'And the landlord seems to have heard something. Why did he press us to join the company? And why on earth did we behave so foolishly: we ought to have stayed quiet in here.'

"What happened, happened it is useless whining about it now you should be planning as to how to continue and avoid such situations in the future." Thranduil said in his professional tone he used at home with his men when they were going over plans and strategies as to how to cleanse the forest from the darkness which is corrupting it.

"I fear to know how often he had used that tone and sentence already." Elrond whispered to his seneschal.

"To often if you ask me." was the reply, he would never dare trying to find out what would happen if after the Greenwood is free from the shadows how it would look if the king decides to start a war with someone.

'It would have been better,' said Strider. 'I would have stopped your going into the common-room, if I could; but the innkeeper would not let me in to see you, or take a message.'

'Do you think he–––' began Frodo.

'No, I don't think any harm of old Butterbur. Only he does not altogether like mysterious vagabonds of my sort.' Frodo gave him a puzzled look. 'Well, I have rather a rascally look, have I not?'

The elflings snorted at this while the adults shook they heads.

said Strider with a curl of his lip and a queer gleam in his eye. 'But I hope we shall get to know one another better. When we do, I hope you will explain what happened at the end of your song. For that little prank–––'

'It was sheer accident!' interrupted Frodo.

"A really bad one if you ask me." said Haldir feeling suspicious that it might really have been all the rings doing, he needed to find a way to somehow have a type of alarm when his Lady's ring should acts strange.

'I wonder,' said Strider. 'Accident, then. That accident has made your position dangerous.'

'Hardly more than it was already,' said Frodo. 'I knew these horsemen were pursuing me; but now at any rate they seem to have missed me and to have gone away.'

'You must not count on that!' said Strider sharply. 'They will return. And more are coming. There are others. I know their number. I know these Riders.' He paused, and his eyes were cold and hard. 'And there are some folk in Bree who are not to be trusted,' he went on. 'Bill Ferny, for instance. He has an evil name in the Bree-land, and queer folk call at his house. You must have noticed him among the company: a swarthy sneering fellow. He was very close with one of the Southern strangers, and they slipped out together just after your "accident". Not all of those Southerners mean well; and as for Ferny, he would sell anything to anybody; or make mischief for amusement.'

"In short they are now again in great danger." Feanor said while shaking his head, really he was truly dreading what stands further in these books, but if they might hold a clue as to how to survive then so be it, they needed to know.

'What will Ferny sell, and what has my accident got to do with him?' said Frodo, still determined not to understand Strider's hints.

"Frodo, this is currently too serious to play dumb." Elrohir groaned and Glorfindel felt again the cold look of his Lady, just when will she drop his little accident.

'News of you, of course,' answered Strider. 'An account of your performance would be very interesting to certain people. After that they would hardly need to be told your real name. It seems to me only too likely that they will hear of it before this night is over. Is that enough? You can do as you like about my reward: take me as a guide or not. But I may say that I know all the lands between the Shire and the Misty Mountains, for I have wandered over them for many years. I am older than I look. I might prove useful. You will have to leave the open road after tonight; for the horsemen will watch it night and day. You may escape from Bree, and be allowed to go forward while the Sun is up; but you won't go far. They will come on you in the wild, in some dark place where there is no help. Do you wish them to find you? They are terrible!'

"We can agree on that." come it from all adults who had already the 'fortune' to engage with one of them in a fight.

The hobbits looked at him, and saw with surprise that his face was drawn as if with pain, and his hands clenched the arms of his chair. The room was very quiet and still, and the light seemed to have grown dim. For a while he sat with unseeing eyes as if walking in distant memory or listening to sounds in the Night far away.

'There!' he cried after a moment, drawing his hand across his brow. 'Perhaps I know more about these pursuers than you do. You fear them, but you do not fear them enough, yet. Tomorrow you will have to escape, if you can. Strider can take you by paths that are seldom trodden. Will you have him?'

"Seas agree to it." Celebrian pleaded, it would be more calming for her to know that they had someone with them who knew of the danger, the hidden paths and how to fight if needed.

There was a heavy silence. Frodo made no answer, his mind was confused with doubt and fear. Sam frowned, and looked at his master; and at last he broke out:

'With your leave, Mr. Frodo, I'd say no! This Strider here, he warns and he says take care; and I say yes to that, and let's begin with him. He comes out of the Wild, and I never heard no good of such folk.

"They are different form those wild men." Elrond growled in offense, these were his bellowed gwanneth's descendants.

"Elrond take a few deep breaths, you are scaring Rumil and some of the other elflings." Celeborn said scolding, he understood his reaction, but it was still no excuse to scare the children.

"I'm naer." he said, but he was still feeling angry for the comment then the hole his brother left behind was constantly aching in his heart and his kin were the last ones he had left form Elros.

He knows something, that's plain, and more than I like; but it's no reason why we should let him go leading us out into some dark place far from help, as he puts it.'

Pippin fidgeted and looked uncomfortable. Strider did not reply to Sam, but turned his keen eyes on Frodo. Frodo caught his glance and looked away. 'No,' he said slowly. 'I don't agree. I think, I think you are not really as you choose to look. You began to talk to me like the Bree-folk, but your voice has changed. Still Sam seems right in this: I don't see why you should warn us to take care, and yet ask us to take you on trust. Why the disguise? Who are you? What do you really know about – about my business; and how do you know it?'

'The lesson in caution has been well learned,' said Strider with a grim smile. 'But caution is one thing and wavering is another. You will never get to Rivendell now on your own, and to trust me is your only chance. You must make up your mind. I will answer some of your questions, if that will help you to do so. But why should you believe my story, if you do not trust me already? Still here it is–––'

"Really, some people have bad timing." Rumil said while shaking his head before continuing.

At that moment there came a knock at the door. Mr. Butterbur had arrived with candles, and behind him was Nob with cans of hot water. Strider withdrew into a dark corner.

'I've come to bid you good night,' said the landlord, putting the candles on the table. 'Nob! Take the water to the rooms!' He came in and shut the door.

'It's like this,' he began, hesitating and looking troubled. 'If I've done any harm, I'm sorry indeed. But one thing drives out another, as you'll admit; and I'm a busy man. But first one thing and then another this week have jogged my memory, as the saying goes; and not too late I hope. You see, I was asked to look out for hobbits of the Shire, and for one by the name of Baggins in particular.'

"Finally we will know about the message." Glorfindel said, it had taken a while.

'And what has that got to do with me?' asked Frodo.

'Ah! you know best,' said the landlord, knowingly. 'I won't give you away; but I was told that this Baggins would be going by the name of Underhill, and I was given a description that fits you well enough, if I may say so.'

"It seems that the message was left by Mithrandir then for he was the one suggesting the alias." Erestor said to which the others nodded smiling, finally some good things were happening again.

'Indeed! Let's have it then!' said Frodo, unwisely interrupting.

'A stout little fellow with red cheeks,' said Mr. Butterbur solemnly. Pippin chuckled, but Sam looked indignant.

'That won't help you much; it goes for most hobbits.

Barley, he says to me,' continued Mr. Butterbur with a glance at Pippin. 'But this one is taller than some and fairer than most, and he has a cleft in his chin: perky chap with a bright eye. Begging your pardon, but he said it, not me.'

"Nice description." Glorfindel said grinning.

"I fear when most of us will come up for it may be slightly embarrassing." Elrohir muttered to Lindir.

'He said it? And who was he?' asked Frodo eagerly.

'Ah! That was Gandalf, if you know who I mean. A wizard they say he is, but he's a good friend of mine, whether or no. But now I don't know what he'll have to say to me, if I see him again: turn all my ale sour or me into a block of wood, I shouldn't wonder. He's a bit hasty. Still what's done can't be undone. '

"Huh…?"

'Well, what have you done?' said Frodo, getting impatient with the slow unravelling of Butterbur's thoughts.

'Where was I?' said the landlord, pausing and snapping his fingers. 'Ah, yes! Old Gandalf. Three months back he walked right into my room without a knock. Barley, he says, I'm off in the morning. Will you do something for me? You've only to name it, I said. I'm in a hurry, said he, and I've no time myself, but I want a message took to the Shire.

Many servants jumped in fright at the sound of loud grouans comming from the garden where again they lords sat reading the strange book. While some members of said group made mentaly a few comments not for the ears of elflings at the forgetfulness of the landlord.

Have you anyone you can send, and trust to go? I can find someone, I said, tomorrow, maybe, or the day after. Make it tomorrow, he says, and then he gave me a letter.

'It's addressed plain enough,' said Mr. Butterbur, producing letter from his pocket, and reading out the address slowly proudly (he valued his reputation as a lettered man):

Mr. FRODO BAGGINS, BAG END, HOBBITON in the SHIRE.

'A letter for me from Gandalf!' cried Frodo.

'Ah!' said Mr. Butterbur. 'Then your right name is Baggins?'

'It is,' said Frodo, 'and you had better give me that letter at once, and explain why you never sent it. That's what you came to tell me, I suppose, though you've taken a long time to come to the point.'

Poor Mr. Butterbur looked troubled.

"As he should." both Celebrian and Miriel huffed, three months, they could have avoided so much trouble if they would have gotten that letter in time.

"Do you think we could set Erestor at him?" Glorfindel whispered to Elrond as both glanced at them muttering chief advisor, the last person who dared such a tardiness near him is still covering in panic when being sent here by his mayor.

"I don't think that is needed, he sounds like a good man, only forgetful." was the final decision.

'You're right, master,' he said, 'and I beg your pardon. And I'm mortal afraid of what Gandalf will say, if harm comes of it. But I didn't keep it back apurpose. I put it by safe. Then I couldn't find nobody willing to go to the Shire next day, nor the day after, and none of my own folk were to spare; and then one thing after another drove it out of my mind. I'm a busy man. I'll do what I can to set matters right, and if there's any help I can give, you've only to name it. 'Leaving the letter aside, I promised Gandalf no less. Barley, he says to me, this friend of mine from the Shire, he may be coming out this way before long, him and another. He'll be calling himself Underhill. Mind that! But you need ask no questions. And if I'm not with him, he may be in trouble, and he may need help. Do whatever you can for him, and I'll be grateful, he says. And here you are, and trouble is not far off, seemingly.'

'What do you mean?' asked Frodo.

'These black men,' said the landlord lowering his voice. 'They're looking for Baggins, and if they mean well, then I'm a hobbit. It was on Monday, and all the dogs were yammering and the geese screaming. Uncanny, I called it. Nob, he came and told me that two black men were at the door asking for a hobbit called Baggins. Nob's hair was all stood on end. I bid the black fellows be off, and slammed the door on them;

"Nice one." both Glorfindel and Elrohir said imagining the scene.

but they've been asking the same question all the way to Archet, I hear. And that Ranger, Strider, he's been asking questions, too. Tried to get in here to see you, before you'd had bite or sup, he did.'

Rumil suddenly started chucling at the next sentence earning himself confused gazes.

'He did!' said Strider suddenly, coming forward into the light. 'And much trouble would have been saved, if you had let him in, Barliman.'

Now everyone saw what was so amusing.

The landlord jumped with surprise. 'You!' he cried. 'You're always popping up. What do you want now?'

'He's here with my leave,' said Frodo. 'He came to offer me his help.'

'Well, you know your own business, maybe,' said Mr. Butterbur, looking suspiciously at Strider. 'But if I was in your plight, I wouldn't take up with a Ranger.'

"On another thought, let Erestor chew him through." Elrond told Glorfindel who could only shake his head at his lord and friend.

'Then who would you take up with?' asked Strider. 'A fat innkeeper who only remembers his own name because people shout it at him all day? They cannot stay in The Pony for ever, and they cannot go home. They have a long road before them. Will you go with them and keep the black men off?'

'Me? Leave Bree! I wouldn't do that for any money,' said Mr. Butterbur, looking really scared. 'But why can't you stay here quiet for a bit, Mr. Underhill? What are all these queer goings on? What are these black men after, and where do they come from, I'd like to know?'

'I'm sorry I can't explain it all,' answered Frodo. 'I am tired and very worried, and it's a long tale. But if you mean to help me, I ought to warn you that you will be in danger as long as I am in your house. These Black Riders: I am not sure, but I think, I fear they come from ––'

"Love his bluntness and that will be helping in the explaining of things." Rumil said grinning thought there was a little shudder in his voice because of the name he would need to read, he never wanted to see that place.

'They come from Mordor,' said Strider in a low voice. 'From Mordor, Barliman, if that means anything to you.'

'Save us!' cried Mr. Butterbur turning pale; the name evidently was known to him. 'That is the worst news that has come to Bree in my time.'

"It is the worst news for anyone needing to deal with them." Angränor said while most of the others nodded.

'It is,' said Frodo. 'Are you still willing to help me?'

'I am,' said Mr. Butterbur. 'More than ever. Though I don't know what the likes of me can do against, against–––' he faltered.

"Mithrandir knows who to trust and whom not." Galadriel said in a calm tone.

'Against the Shadow in the East,' said Strider quietly. 'Not much, Barliman, but every little helps. You can let Mr. Underhill stay here tonight, as Mr. Underhill, and you can forget the name of Baggins, till he is far away.'

'I'll do that,' said Butterbur. 'But they'll find out he's here without help from me, I'm afraid. It's a pity Mr. Baggins drew attention to himself this evening, to say no more. The story of that Mr. Bilbo's going off has been heard before tonight in Bree. Even our Nob has been doing some guessing in his slow pate: and there are others in Bree quicker in the uptake than he is.'

"Which is really bad for us." Legolas said as he exchanged worried glances with both Haldir and Elladan.

'Well, we can only hope the Riders won't come back yet,' said Frodo.

"And there is also that one." Haldir added.

'I hope not, indeed,' said Butterbur. 'But spooks or no spooks, they won't get in The Pony so easy. Don't you worry till the morning. Nob'll say no word. No black man shall pass my doors, while I can stand on my legs. Me and my folk'll keep watch tonight; but you had best get some sleep, if you can.'

'In any case we must be called at dawn,' said Frodo. 'We must get off as early as possible. Breakfast at six-thirty, please.'

'Right! I'll see to the orders,' said the landlord. 'Good night, Mr. Baggins – Underhill, I should say! Good night – now, bless me! Where's your Mr. Brandybuck?'

Worried glances were exchanged at this sentence seeing that Marry had no knowledge about the danger in they were in again. They could only hope that he will be fine and didn't get hurt or attacked.

'I don't know,' said Frodo with sudden anxiety. They had forgotten all about Merry, and it was getting late. 'I am afraid he is out. He said something about going for a breath of air.'

'Well, you do want looking after and no mistake: your party might be on a holiday!' said Butterbur. 'I must go and bar the doors quick, but I'll see your friend is let in when he comes. I'd better send Nob to look for him.

"That will probably be a sensible idea." Miriel said as she looked at both advisor and general.

Good night to you all!' At last Mr. Butterbur went out, with another doubtful look at Strider and a shake of his head. His footsteps retreated down the passage.

'Well?' said Strider. 'When are you going to open that letter?' Frodo looked carefully at the seal before he broke it. It seemed certainly to be Gandalf's. Inside, written in the wizard's strong but graceful script, was the following message:

THE PRANCING PONY, BREE. Midyear's Day, Shire Year, 1418.

Everyone was now leaning closer, curious about the letter which should have reached the young hobbit months ago, but never made it.

Dear Frodo,

Bad news has reached me here. I must go off at once. You had better leave Bag End soon, and get out of the Shire before the end of July at latest.

"Well, they failed to get the leaving date right." Orophin said while shaking his head.

I will return as soon as I can; and I will follow you, if I find that you are gone. Leave a message for me here, if you pass through Bree. You can trust the landlord (Butterbur). You may meet a friend of mine on the Road: a Man, lean, dark, tall, by some called Strider. He knows our business and will help you. Make for Rivendell. There I hope we may meet again. If I do not come, Elrond will advise you.

Yours in haste

GANDALF

PS. Do NOT use It again, not far any reason whatever! Do not travel by night!

"And two more rules got broken already." stated Glorfindel, that letter would have really been good to have beforehand, his nerves would have been thankful.

PPS. Make sure that it is the real Strider. There are many strange men on the roads. His true name is Aragorn

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

At the poem looked most of the adult elves together for they knew or were fairly sure which broken blade was meant and the rest could it mean that…

they further thoughts were interupted by Rumil's voice as he continued reading.

PPPS. I hope Butterbur sends this promptly. A worthy man, but his memory is like a lumber-room: thing wanted always buried. If he forgets, I shall roast him.

"Well here you have it Elrond, you send your advisor to scold a heap of ash." Glorfindel said in an attempt to get his jumbled thoughts together the latest things they had found out gave him an uneasy sense of twisted déjà vu and by the looks in some of the others eyes, for they faces remained blank, was he not the only one.

Fare Well!

Frodo read the letter to himself, and then passed it to Pippin and Sam. 'Really old Butterbur has made a mess of things!' he said.

"No need to tell us, if Mithrandir had us also informed then we were probably already worried about you all." Elrohir said while shaking his head.

'He deserves roasting. If I had got this at once, we might all have been safe in Rivendell by now. But what can have happened to Gandalf? He writes as if he was going into great danger.'

'He has been doing that for many years,' said Strider.

"Unfortunately." Galadriel said softly, she had often different visions about the future and there were only a few she had liked and most of them had also involved the kind Istari.

Frodo turned and looked at him thoughtfully, wondering about Gandalf's second postscript. 'Why didn't you tell me that you were Gandalf's friend at once?' he asked. 'It would have saved time.'

'Would it? Would any of you have believed me till now?' said Strider. 'I knew nothing of this letter. For all I knew I had to persuade you to trust me without proofs, if I was to help you. In any case, I did not intend to tell you all about myself at once. I had to study you first, and make sure of you. The Enemy has set traps for me before now. As soon as I had made up my mind, I was ready to tell you whatever you asked. But I must admit,' he added with a queer laugh, 'that I hoped you would take to me for my own sake. A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship. But there, I believe my looks are against me.'

The elflings were laughing at this while some of the adult elves smiled, but the others remained thoughtful.

'They are – at first sight at any rate,' laughed Pippin with sudden relief after reading Gandalf's letter. 'But handsome is as handsome does, as we say in the Shire; and I daresay we shall all look much the same after lying for days in hedges and ditches.'

'It would take more than a few days, or weeks, or years, of wandering in the Wild to make you look like Strider,'

"Nay, the gwanunig presto here can manage that look in one afternoon." Glorfindel said grinning as the twins blushed under they friends gazes and glared at the golden haired elf for his words.

he answered. 'And you would die first, unless you are made of sterner stuff than you look to be.'

Pippin subsided; but Sam was not daunted, and he still eyed Strider dubiously. 'How do we know you are the Strider that Gandalf speaks about?' he demanded. 'You never mentioned Gandalf, till this letter came out. You might be a play-acting spy, for all I can see, trying to get us to go with you. You might have done in the real Strider and took his clothes. What have you to say to that?'

'That you are a stout fellow,' answered Strider; 'but I am afraid my only answer to you, Sam Gamgee, is this. If I had killed the real Strider, I could kill you. And I should have killed you already without so much talk. If I was after the Ring, I could have it – NOW!'

"Good boy." come it from both seneschals, this should make them believe.

He stood up, and seemed suddenly to grow taller. In his eyes gleamed a light, keen and commanding. Throwing back his cloak, he laid his hand on the hilt of a sword that had hung concealed by his side. They did not dare to move. Sam sat wide-mouthed staring at him dumbly.

'But I am the real Strider, fortunately,' he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.'

"This proves it." at this all eyes turned to Elrond.

"How do you know if it is truly him?" Thranduil demanded, if it is really confirmed then this mortal be better at his job then the one who had landed them all in this mess.

"Arathorn was often here with his father in the past and if Aragorn is truly his son then he is a heir of Isildur." at the elvenlords words looked all elflings wide eyed, Strider or Aragorn as they now knew him was the heir of the person who had been corrupted by the ring and thus used it for himself and not destroying it.

"Then let us hope that he will redeem the name of his forefather." Celeborn said in a distant tone before gesturing to Rumil to continue.

There was a long silence. At last Frodo spoke with hesitation. 'I believed that you were a friend before the letter came,' he said, 'or at least I wished to. You have frightened me several times tonight, but never in the way that servants of the Enemy would, or so I imagine. I think one of his spies would – well, seem fairer and feel fouler, if you understand.'

'I see,' laughed Strider. 'I look foul and feel fair. Is that it?

The elflings couldn't help it and bust out laughing at the stetement, it took them a while to calm down.

All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost.'

'Did the verses apply to you then?' asked Frodo. 'I could not make out what they were about. But how did you know that they were in Gandalf's letter, if you have never seen it?'

'I did not know,' he answered. 'But I am Aragorn, and those verses go with that name.' He drew out his sword, and they saw that the blade was indeed broken a foot below the hilt.

"The broken sword Narsil, it had broken under Elendil as he fell into his death, how nostalgic is it to hear about it being carried again by one of his master's blood for it was with the broken blade of this sword that Isildur had cut the One Ring from the Dark Lord's finger." Celeborn said in a melancholic voice while Glorfindel held back a flinch at that memory.

"It truly is a nostalgic thing." Thranduil agreed.

'Not much use is it, Sam?' said Strider. 'But the time is near when it shall be forged anew.'

"It will certainly serve as a good weapon." Angränor said for back then in the Last Alliance to where he had accompanied his king and prince had he a chance to talk with the human and at his wish had they also sparred with one another as training for what will come, it was a remarkable blade indeed.

Sam said nothing.

'Well,' said Strider, 'with Sam's permission we will call that settled. Strider shall be your guide. We shall have a rough road tomorrow. Even if we are allowed to leave Bree unhindered, we can hardly hope now to leave it unnoticed. But I shall try to get lost as soon as possible. I know one or two ways out of Breeland other than the main road. If once we shake off the pursuit, I shall make for Weathertop.'

"A wise choice." Glorfindel said, that was a good outlook spot.

'Weathertop?' said Sam. 'What's that?'

'It is a hill, just to the north of the Road, about half way from here to Rivendell. It commands a wide view all round; and there we shall have a chance to look about us. Gandalf will make for that point, if he follows us. After Weathertop our journey will become more difficult, and we shall have to choose between various dangers.'

'When did you last see Gandalf?' asked Frodo. 'Do you know where he is, or what he is doing?'

"I hope that Mithrandir is fine because this doesn't sound all too good." Rumil said gravely.

Strider looked grave. 'I do not know,' he said. 'I came west with him in the spring. I have often kept watch on the borders of the Shire in the last few years, when he was busy elsewhere. He seldom left it unguarded. We last met on the first of May: at Sam Ford down the Brandywine. He told me that his business with you had gone well, and that you would be starting for Rivendell in the last week of September. As I knew he was at your side, I went away on a journey of my own. And that has proved ill; for plainly some news reached him, and I was not at hand to help.

"Great, Aragorn is also working on trying to find out how long our nerves can hold out."

'I am troubled, for the first time since I have known him. We should have had messages, even if he could not come himself. When I returned, many days ago, I heard the ill news. The tidings had gone far and wide that Gandalf was missing and the horsemen had been seen. It was the Elven-folk of Gildor that told me this; and later they told me that you had left your home; but there was no news of your leaving Buckland. I have been watching the East Road anxiously.'

'Do you think the Black Riders have anything to do with it – with Gandalf's absence, I mean?' asked Frodo.

"Nay, but the foulness fits just fine." Thranduil mumbled, he had always had a strange feeling by the White Wizard and his instincts were usually always right.

'I do not know of anything else that could have hindered him, except the Enemy himself,' said Strider. 'But do not give up hope! Gandalf is greater than you Shire-folk know – as a rule you can only see his jokes and toys. But this business of ours will be his greatest task.'

Pippin yawned. 'I am sorry,' he said, 'but I am dead tired. In spite of all the danger and worry I must go to bed, or sleep where I sit. Where is that silly fellow, Merry? It would be the last straw, if we had to go out in the dark to look for him.'

At that moment they heard a door slam; then feet came running along the passage. Merry came in with a rush followed by Nob. He shut the door hastily, and leaned against it. He was out of breath. They stared at him in alarm for a moment before he gasped: 'I have seen them, Frodo! I have seen them! Black Riders!'

"Aiya, that is not good, not good at all." Elladan said, they had arrived to soon, but seeing how the Nine were already dead, he should not be surprised.

'Black Riders!' cried Frodo. 'Where?'

'Here. In the village. I stayed indoors for an hour. Then as you did not come back, I went out for a stroll. I had come back again and was standing just outside the light of the lamp looking at the stars. Suddenly I shivered and felt that something horrible was creeping near:

"Got that feeling perfectly pointed down." Glorfindel said distastefully, he hated the feeling he got from them.

there was a son of deeper shade among the shadows across the road, just beyond the edge of the lamplight. It slid away at once into the dark without a sound. There was no horse.'

'Which way did it go?' asked Strider, suddenly and sharply. Merry started, noticing the stranger for the first time.

'Go on!' said Frodo. 'This is a friend of Gandalf's. I will explain later.'

'It seemed to make off up the Road, eastward,' continued Merry. 'I tried to follow. Of course, it vanished almost at once; but I went round the corner and on as far as the last house on the Road.'

Strider looked at Merry with wonder. 'You have a stout heart,' he said; 'but it was foolish.'

"I agree with Aragorn, but I also need to admit that not many creatures would freely follow one of the Nine." Glorfindel said in wonder.

'I don't know,' said Merry. 'Neither brave nor silly, I think. I could hardly help myself. I seemed to be drawn somehow. Anyway, I went, and suddenly I heard voices by the hedge. One was muttering; and the other was whispering, or hissing. I couldn't hear a word that was said. I did not creep any closer, because I began to tremble all over. Then I felt terrified, and I turned back, and was just going to bolt home, when something came behind me and I... I fell over.'

"Then he is lucky to have woken up for it was probably the Black Breath about which you will probably hear enough in this book." Elrond said with a tight voice, he had lost to many patients to the Black Breath and never whished to have to deal with it or the Nine which caused it.

'I found him, sir,' put in Nob. 'Mr. Butterbur sent me out with a lantern. I went down to West-gate, and then back up towards South-gate. Just nigh Bill Ferny's house I thought I could see something in the Road. I couldn't swear to it, but it looked to me as if two men was stooping over something, lilting it. I gave a shout, but where I got up to the spot there was no signs of them, and only Mr. Brandybuck lying by the roadside. He seemed to be asleep. "I thought I had fallen into deep water," he says to me, when I shook him. Very queer he was, and as soon as I had roused him, he got up and ran back here like a hare.'

'I am afraid that's true,' said Merry, 'though I don't know what I said. I had an ugly dream, which I can't remember. I went to pieces. I don't know what came over me.'

'I do,' said Strider. 'The Black Breath. The Riders must have left their horses outside, and passed back through the South-gate in secret. They will know all the news now, for they have visited Bill Ferny; and probably that Southerner was a spy as well. Something may happen in the night, before we leave Bree.'

"They will need a plan as to how to get out of this situation." Legolas said, but then felt two hands on both of his shoulders, looking to either of his sides he spotted Elladan and Haldir.

"And they will no need to try coming up with one now Legolas." they said in union.

"Those three got pretty inseperetable since we started reading." Arwen explained to Lindir who nodded to the smiling elleth.

'What will happen?' said Merry. 'Will they attack the inn?'

'No, I think not,' said Strider. 'They are not all here yet. And in any case that is not their way. In dark and loneliness they are strongest; they will not openly attack a house where there are lights and many people -not until they are desperate, not while all the long leagues of Eriador still lie before us. But their power is in terror, and already some in Bree are in their clutch. They will

drive these wretches to some evil work: Ferny, and some of the strangers, and, maybe, the gatekeeper too. They had words with Harry at West-gate on Monday. I was watching them. He was white and shaking when they left him.'

"This sums they way of working perfectly up." Angränor growled while shaking his head, a low trick to control other with they fears.

'We seem to have enemies all round,' said Frodo. 'What are we to do?'

'Stay here, and do not go to your rooms! They are sure to have found out which those are. The hobbit-rooms have windows looking north and close to the ground. We will all remain together and bar this window and the door. But first Nob and I will fetch your luggage.'

While Strider was gone, Frodo gave Merry a rapid account of all that had happened since supper. Merry was still reading and pondering Gandalf's letter when Strider and Nob returned.

'Well Masters,' said Nob, 'I've ruffled up the clothes and put in a bolster down the middle of each bed. And I made a nice imitation of your head with a brown woollen mat, Mr. Bag – Underhill, sir,' he added with a grin.

"A classic." come it from the twins and Legolas.

"He is truly a handful elfling, this seems like truly a match made to torment us all." Erestor said chuckling as Thranduil buried his face in his hands.

"You don't even have a clue how much it will torment us my advisor, Legolas tends to get brought back to me each time he is gone in baskets. He is more of then in the healing rooms then any of my soldiers or myself." the king said while looking at the advisor.

"I will be then sure to have strong drinks ready each time he is visiting Imladris." was the kind reply.

"A good idea, there is a ground for my excessive wine consume then while we can't die from a mare heart attack, I would not wish going grey anytime soon." Thranduil said with a chuckle.

"True, I myself think that this hair colour similar to Anor's rays suits you better then gray." Erestor sad smirking before noticing what he had said, this was already the second time that he had forgotten himself and let his tongue go loose.

"I thank you for the kind compliment Erestor." Thranduil replied with a smile.

"Your welcome aran nín." the advisor replied.

"Ai, and you can call me by my given name, I think there are enough elves in this household who will already refer to me by my rank and only a few use my name." he said in a thoughtful tone startling the raven haired noldorin slightly, but then he gave a faint smile.

"I will then try to keep it in mind Thranduil." he finally replied.

Pippin laughed. 'Very life-like!' he said. 'But what will happen when they have penetrated the disguise?'

"Something embarrassing to report to they Lord?" Elrohir asked.

'We shall see,' said Strider. 'Let us hope to hold the fort till morning.'

'Good night to you,' said Nob, and went off to take his part in the watch on the doors.

Their bags and gear they piled on the parlour-floor. They pushed a low chair against the door and shut the window. Peering out, Frodo saw that the night was still clear. The Sickle was swinging bright above the shoulders of Bree-hill. He then closed and barred the heavy inside shutters and drew the curtains together. Strider built up the fire and blew out all the candles.

The hobbits lay down on their blankets with their feet towards the hearth; but Strider settled himself in the chair against the door. They talked for a little, for Merry still had several questions to ask.

'Jumped over the Moon!' chuckled Merry as he rolled himself in his blanket. 'Very ridiculous of you, Frodo!

"Got that right." Orophin said chuckling at the memory of that song.

But I wish I had been there to see. The worthies of Bree will be discussing it a hundred years hence.'

'I hope so,' said Strider. Then they all fell silent, and one by one the hobbits dropped off to sleep.

To be continued…