Barliman sat down on the wet ground. He did not know how long he would have to wait. He hoped it was not too long.
Hours past as the night wore on. Tiredness slowly took a hold of Barliman as he sat there. Every so often, the coldness would bring him back to consciousness.
"Best check again" he said, slowly getting up.
His joints were now stiffer then normal. The coldness seemed to sink into his very skin, down to his bones. Barliman walked slowly around to the back of the building. There, he saw no lights in the windows.
Now was the time to act.
There was a door just by him.
"It's my only chance" he said.
Barliman's heart beat started to rise as he placed a hand on the freezing handle. With a small amount of pressure, the door opened.
Barliman pushed the door opened a bit more. But he stopped. The door made a loud creak. Not only that, but the bitter wind was trying to close the door.
The man took a deep breath and walked in. He made sure that he did not make a sound as he closed the door. No candles were lit as he slowly and quietly shut the door. Barliman took a deep breath. His eyes darted around, trying to get a better view of what lay in front of him. Another door came into view.
This one led into a small lobby. There, the kitchen and bar stood behind doors. But neither doors would be chosen tonight. Instead, stairs came into view. So, Barliman chose this route.
But this route led into difficulty. The stairs creaked as Barliman walked up them. Although it freezing cold, beads of sweat ran down his forehead.
The top of the stairs could not have came sooner. Relief came over the man. But his mission had only just started. There were three rooms in the upstairs part.
"One of these has to be where the girl is" Barliman told himself.
So, he slowly walked over to the first door. But, without knowing it, he had chosen the wrong room. The handle that had been screwed to the door was made from cold steel.
Yet again, like the first door, the hinges creaked. Barliman held his breath as a small ray of light hit his eyes. A bed then came into view as the door widened.
A figure was sleeping under a large duvet. But it was not the girl. A loud snore came from the man as he slept peacefully, unaware that anyone had come into his room.
Barliman stopped dead. He was now scared of waking the man up. But this quickly past as Barliman had an idea. He slowly slid out his silver dagger. It glinted in the flickering fire in the heath.
Something strange came over Barliman. The man took a few steps forward so that he standing right over the man. Luckily, he had not awoken.
A few more seconds past. Barliman wanted a good look at the man. Without a second thought, Barliman took a deep breath and turned the dagger upside-down.
With a deep breath, he closed his eyes. A second later, the dagger was thrust into the neck of the man. No sounds were made as the man instantly woke up.
Blood started to pour out of the wound like a leak in a flask. The white pillow quickly became stained red. The struggling man seemed to struggle less and less as the minute past.
As the clock chimed three times, the struggling man seemed to subside. Sixty more seconds past.
Barliman opened his eyes. He took a deep breath and looked down. The man's eyes were open, drying blood trickling down his neck onto the bed.
Barliman slowly took the blade out of the person's neck. Blood clung onto the blade. Barliman wished that he had never done what he had just did. But he needed to make sure the girl was completely safe.
And, for now, she was.
Barliman looked around at the door. He knew that the woman was still somewhere in building. So, Barliman walked out of the room as quietly as he could.
The door was left open. Barliman saw yet another door just down the hall way. The second room housed the evil woman who owned the drinking house.
She had no idea that her life was about to end. As she slept, a figure had entered her room. Without knowing it, she was seconds from death.
A pain, sharper then anything else she had ever felt radiated from her neck. Her eyes instantly opened. All she could see was a hand, gripped around a blade.
She could feel her life slip away from her as the darkness of night deepened. The flames that had been casting dancing shadows died away.
Barliman took a deep breath as he looked down. He had now killed two people. Only one person was left sleeping. The young girl that he had been looking for.
But, unknown to Barliman, the girl was not sleeping at all. She had heard movement around the house. So, taking away the thin, old duvet off, the girl stood up.
The girl was nervous. She did not know who or what it was. A small part of her did not want to know who or what it was.
But her curiosity drover her to the door. Her hand held the cold door handle. Upon applying pressure, the door was opened. The girl peaked around the corner.
A creak echoed around as a figure came out of the room. She could see the fire of the woman's room. A black figure then came out of the room. The girl knew that, what ever it was, was coming for her.
Barliman looked over at the third and final door. A click then echoed around him as it shut. A smile came over him. So, Barliman walked over to the door.
The girl held her breath as she held the door shut. She could feel the figure try and open the door.
"Hmm" Barliman thought.
The door was not opening. The girl was blocking his entrance. Barliman took a deep breath and pushed as hard as he could.
"No!" the girl shouted.
But Barliman was too strong for her. The girl moved away from the door as Barliman burst in. It took a few seconds to realize that the figure was actually Barliman.
"Barliman!" she said, fear had turned to surprise in an instant.
Surprise slowly changed to curiosity as her eyes saw the bloody dagger gripped in his hand.
"What is that?" she asked, eyes on the dagger.
Barliman took a deep breath. He knew that he had a lot of explaining to do.
Origo and Ivy had now reached the main road that ran towards Rivendell. Ivy smiled as she looked both ways.
Not a soul in sight.
This is what Ivy wanted and needed. Origo yawned as he started to walk. Bree would be reached by night fall. And there, Ivy would make sure Ori got enough rest.
"Come on, pup" Ivy said, fluttering against the wind.
Origo, who was his happy, playful self bounded after her. The road was empty. No carts, horses or travelers could be seen. Only wildlife.
Ivy knew that the two of them must not be seen by anyone. She could not afford anyone to be friendly with Origo. For it would only slow them down.
But, waiting at Bree was a creature that both Ivy and Origo were familiar with. Mya was waiting for him. But a small part of her thought of leaving.
"I could have missed him" she thought, as she looked out of the misty window.
The little puppy could see figures moving through the misty window. Mya gave a small whine as she felt the cold window touch her nose.
"I need to get out of here"
But it was much harder to leave then she expected.
"Puppy!" came a loud voice behind her.
The little boy was standing at the door, looking at the pup.
"How did you get up there?" he asked.
Breakfast had come and gone. The boy fell into a deep sleep just a few hours before. But it was not a natural sleep. The small puppy, that had been picked up, had been responsible.
"Should we go and ask mummy if we're allowed out?" the boy asked.
Perfect.
It was just what she needed to escape. But, there was nowhere else to stay. But she had to escape the confinements of the boy.
The young boy smiled as he held the puppy.
"Mummy?" he asked as he came to her.
The boy's mother had an old looking bucket at her feet and a soaking wet mop in her hands. The floor had a strange shine to it as water lay on top.
"Yes, dear?" she answered, stopping her work.
"Can I go outside to play please?"
The woman took a deep breath. Bree was not the safest town to live in. Highwaymen, robbers and kidnappers all past through here.
"Only if you go with your father"
The boy smiled and scurried away. His father was in the next room, at a small table. The young boy's father took a deep breath as he read though a letter he was writing.
"Daddy?" the young boy asked.
His little puppy was still in his arms. The large man sitting at the table looked down and smiled.
"Yes?" he asked.
The boy looked like a miniature of his father.
"Can me and the puppy go outside, please?" he asked.
The man took a deep breath. He was very busy writing a letter to one of his friends.
"I guess so" he said, after a few seconds.
The boy smiled as his father stood up. Mya now had a chance to escape. She needed to change back into her human form. For her puppy form was causing too much trouble.
A few minutes later, the boy and his father were ready to go outside and play.
"Come on, puppy!" the boy said, standing at the door.
The small puppy barked as it made its way outside. There was a noticeable difference to the temperatures inside the house and outside.
The door was closed as the three of them made their way down to a small grassed around in the middle of the town. The boy smiled as he picked up a small stick.
"Puppy?" he asked.
Mya looked around.
"Oh no" she thought, looking at the stick.
The boy smiled. The next second he threw it a few meters in front of him. But the puppy did not chase it.
"Puppy" he said.
His voice sounded a bit disappointed.
"Maybe he doesn't want to play today" his father said.
Mya's paws were now very muddy. This was not what she wanted at all. She liked being clean. She liked it when her fur was fluffy. Not wet and sticky.
The young boy took a deep breath and walked over to the stick. The puppy did not watch him. In fact, it was watching and listening for any signs of another puppy.
Origo and Ivy were closing in on their target. The first signs of a settlement met Ivy's view.
"Puppy, look!" she said, stopping in midair.
Black strands of smoke were snaking away in the wind. This was civilization. And this meant a place to stay and rest for Origo.
"That might be Bree, pup"
So, the two of them continued on with their journey. Origo had started to feel hungry again, but could last an hour or two more.
Mya had now seen her chance to escape. And that's exactly what she did.
"Puppy!" said the young boy as he saw his puppy running away.
The father of the young boy turned around. He could see the little boy running after his puppy. But the boy did not go far as the figure of the pup dodged large puddles and people walking past.
The boy's eyes started to fill up as he looked around. He saw his father looking at him.
"What's the matter?" he asked.
A single tear ran down the face of the little boy.
"Puppy, he ran off" he whimpered.
His father took a deep breath.
"Alright, come on" he said, holding out his hand.
So, upon taking boy's hand, the two of them started to walk down the path where the puppy ran down. The mud clung onto everything that touched it.
The small puppy headed straight for the one place she knew was safe.
The stable.
After a few minutes, she had arrived at her destination. The small pup looked around for a few seconds before heading into the stable.
No one could see her as she changed back into her human form. Luckily, her bag was still where she left it. So, Mya picked it up and looked inside. She gave a smile as she took out a loaf of bread.
It was still fresh as she ripped a piece off. Just then, someone came into the stable. Mya ducked down, just in case it was the little boy, looking for his puppy.
But it wasn't. Yet this did not mean Mya wanted to be seen. She could see the man untying the reigns of a white horse. A minute past. The man jumped on the horse and rode away.
Mya took a deep breath.
"Right" she said, putting her pack back on.
Mya took a deep breath, wondering what to do now. But then, it came to her. She would wait for Origo else where. So, Mya exited the stable.
"Oh!" she said, bumping into a small boy.
It was the exact boy that was looking for her. But, being human now, the boy did not recognize her.
"Sorry" she said, giving a warm smile.
But, Mya noticed that the boy looked upset.
"Are you alright?" she asked, knowing exactly what was wrong.
The little boy took a deep breath.
"My puppy, he ran away" he told her.
Mya now felt guilty. She knew how much the boy loved her. But she had to get Origo and make her way to Radagast.
"Oh, well I'm sure he's around here somewhere"
Just then, the boy's father came up to him.
"What have I told you about wondering away?" he asked.
The boy did not say a word. He just hung his head and took his father's hand. The father then looked at the girl standing before him.
"Your not from these parts, are you?" he asked.
Mya's eyes darted away, just for a split second.
"Of course I am" she answered.
But the man was not so easily fooled. Mya knew this by the shake of his head and the small laugh he gave.
"I can hear a local by the sound of their voice" he said.
"And you don't sound like your from this neck of the woods"
Mya took a deep breath.
"Well, if you don't believe me, then good day" Mya said, giving a small nod and walking off.
The man took a deep breath, knowing that trouble might come of this girl. But he did nothing to prevent it.
Origo and Ivy continued to walk for the next few hours. Stopping regularly for food and a rest. The sun had now risen and was beginning to sink in the West.
The coldness grew deep as the sun could no longer heat the land below it. Origo was the first and only one to feel this coldness.
He let Ivy know with a small whimper.
"Cold?" she asked, knowing that it was too short a time to be hungry again.
Origo gave a small nod. Ivy took a deep breath. It was getting repetitive, trying to keep the puppy warm and happy.
The two continued ever onwards, nearing their goal. And, by the time they saw the first signs of a wall, it had almost gone completely dark.
Mya had been sitting in a dirty, smelly stable for the past few hours, just waiting for any sign of Origo. Little did she knew she would only have to wait another hour before seeing him again.
But this hour would be the longest one yet. The coldness was deepening as she sat there. The people that had once been outside had now retreated back into.
The lobby around the two people had now sunk into blackness, save for a few small candles. One stood proudly in the middle of the table.
"Come, we need to get back to Bree" Barliman said, standing up.
The two of them had been sitting there for many hours. The doors were locked, keeping them inside and any unwanted visitors outside.
The girl took a deep breath. She could not help feeling upset. The people that looked after her for all those years had gone. But, then again, she was relived.
Life for the girl would get much better as she stood up. This was not where she belonged anymore. Her home was now in Bree. There, she could be who ever she wanted and get what ever she wanted.
Barliman smiled as he opened the door to the back.
"We need to get going" he told her.
He picked up the two mug and walked to the bar.
"We're going to Bree, right?" the girl asked.
Barliman looked around. His large sideburns moved as he smiled.
"Of course, I have spent too long away from the inn"
The girl smiled. She loved Bree, especially the Prancing Pony. For some reason, the girl felt at home there. The first time that had ever happened.
So, the two of them walked out, leaving two dead bodies upstairs. The coldness hit Barliman as opened the door.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?" Barliman asked.
The girl smile.
"Of course" she told him.
Barliman gave her a smile as he untied one of the horses standing in the coldness.
"Then you can take this one" he said.
Saddles had been placed onto the horses already.
"You alright?" Barliman asked, getting onto his horse.
The girl placed one foot in the stirrup and hauled herself onto the house.
"Yes" she said, smiling.
Her dirty hair danced in the cold breezed as she sat there.
"Let's go then"
With a flick of his heals, the horse jumped into life. The young girl did the same too. Both horses were steered towards the road. They gathered speed as they put distance between them and the building.
Frodo and Elanor walked with their father along a lush, grassy bank. Their father, Samwise, held three fishing rods in his hands.
In the pack, hanging from his shoulder, was food and bait. A large wooden box full of earth worms sat next to a few loafs of bread and flasks. Two flasks were full of water while the third was full of ale. This one was for Sam.
The three of them followed a small trickling stream that lead away from Hobbiton. The stream ran around a shallow bend.
This was where Sam's father brought him when he was their age.
"Right then" Sam said, looking at his oldest two children.
"This is where we'll make our camp" Sam said.
He smiled as he handed the three rods to his daughter. Sam smiled as he took his pack down. Elanor looked around. This was a lovely spot of the Shire. The trees were growing on either side of the stream. Their roots sunk deep into the silt covered floor of the stream.
Sam smiled as he took out the flasks.
"Here" he said, handing it to his children.
Both of them took it and unscrewed the cap. Elanor smiled as she gulped down a large amount of water.
"Right" he said, seeing that both children were now ready to start fishing.
"Now, do you know what this is?" he asked, holding out the rod.
"It's a rod" Frodo asked.
Sam smiled.
"Yes, and what is this?"
He held out the long piece of thin string. On the end, was a metal hook.
"It's the hook, isn't it?" asked Elanor.
Sam gave a smile.
"Very good" he said.
Sam then opened his pack and took out a large wooden box. Elanor yawned as she watched her father open the box.
"Now, we'll have to use these as bait" Sam said, picking a large worm.
This was not everyone's cup of tea. Elanor did not like getting her hands dirty. Where as Frodo smiled.
"What are you going to do with that?" Elanor asked, watching her father.
"Well, I'm going to put him on the hook"
Elanor backed away a bit. She liked neither pain nor wriggling little creatures. Frodo, on the other hand, liked the sight of the wriggling worm, hanging on the hook.
"And now, we can cast out" he said, turning around.
A few seconds later, the line flew out to its full length and plopped into the water. The worm slowly sank to the bottom.
"And then we wait" he said.
It was now Frodo's and Elanor's turn to bait up and cast out. Frodo seemed to have no trouble at all doing this. But Elanor did. She looked into the wooden box of worms. She did not like the slimy touch that Frodo and Sam could cope with.
"Elanor?" Sam asked.
Elanor looked over at her father.
"I cant do it" she said, looking at the worms.
Sam took a deep breath.
"It's not that bad" he told her, walking over.
But Elanor still did not like putting the worm on the hook. Not only the feel of the worm, but the thought of piercing the poor, helpless creature got to her as well.
"Would you like me to do it?" Sam asked.
Elanor smiled and nodded. So, Sam picked up a nice looking worm and hooked onto the end of the line.
"There you go" he said, letting go of the line.
Elanor smiled.
"Thank you" she said.
The little girl walked to the edge of the bank. She looked back to see if anyone was there before casting out. The worm hit the water with a small plop and sank out of sight.
Now, all three rods were baited and waiting for a fish. Frodo Gamgee was now sitting down, looking very bored. This was not what he called fun at all.
Sam smiled as he looked over at each of his children. He was the only one still standing. The sunlight shimmered on the calm stream.
Ever so often, a few ripples would erupt from a random place. This was the only evidence of fish swimming under the surface.
But an even bigger bit of evidence that fish were swimming came just a few minutes later. Frodo, who had been picking at long strains of grass and putting them in the water, looked up.
Something was tugging at his line. A few seconds later, a very large tug told him a fish had fallen for his bate.
"I've got one!" he said, making both Sam and Elanor look over.
Sam smiled as, sure enough, a fish jumped up, creating a splash.
"Well done, Frodo" Sam said.
Frodo slowly brought the fish to land. But it was a very hard process. The fish struggled with all his might. But, in the end, Frodo was the victor.
Sam smiled as his son looked at the fish, now flapping on the ground.
"And can you tell me what kind of fish this is?" he asked as he took the small hook out of its mouth.
Frodo started to think as he saw his dad pick it up.
"I don't know" he answered.
Sam then turned to his daughter.
"Do you know what this is, Elanor?" he asked.
Elanor looked up. It took a few seconds to spot the reddish fins.
"Roach?" she asked.
Sam smiled and nodded. Elanor was better at naming fish then her young brother.
"Do you want to hold him?" Sam asked his son.
Frodo was unsure. The fish started to wriggle in his father's hands.
"No, it looks icky" he said.
Sam smiled.
"Shall we throw him back?" he asked.
Frodo nodded and walked over to his rod. Samwise slowly let the fish slip out of his hands into the water. Elanor took a deep breath as she waited for her fish.
What felt like an hour past without anything being caught. a few times, Frodo and Sam got close to catching one. But they let go before they could be hauled in.
Elanor took a deep breath. Samwise had finally sat down. But the heat was making him tired. He sat with his back against a near by tree.
A few times, he had fallen asleep. Elanor smiled.
"Frodo?" she whispered, trying not to wake her father.
Her younger brother looked up. Elanor gave a small nod at her father. Now, both children were smiling. It was then Frodo got an idea.
He slowly stood up, not wanting to wake his father. The box of wriggly worms was sitting just a few feet away. A loud snore came from the sleeping Sam.
Frodo slowly picked up the wooden box. He smiled as he picked out one of the biggest worms he could see. Elanor couldn't help but laugh. For it would be a while before Sam noticed the worm wriggling on his hand.
Frodo quickly put the box down and went to sit down again. Just as he did, Elanor got a bite on her rod.
"I've got one!" she said, standing up.
Origo and Ivy had now arrived at the large gate that lead into Bree. But it was closed. Origo yawned as he watched a little green light zoom away from him.
Old Harry, the gate keeper, huddled in his small room. every night, he would have to wait for a few seconds. Ivy magically opened the heavy door. Ivy smiled, knowing that Origo was now safe.
So, she fluttered down.
"Hurry" she said, fluttering away.
Origo scooted after her, snaking through the large door. This was the second time the pup had been to Bree. But, due to his memory loss, he did not remember it.
The two of them made their way up towards the centre of the town. Mya, who had been waiting for Origo nearly all day, was minutes from seeing him.
As the small pup walked up, another four legged creature came into view. And Origo did not like it. A growl came from him as the black cat stopped.
"Puppy, no!" Ivy said as Ori ran off.
The cat hissed, but this did not seem to bother the pup. A few barks echoed around the area. The stables were just a few buildings away. But Origo's bark was loud enough to hear.
Mya looked up. Her ears seemed to sharpen all of a sudden. Another bark echoed around. This solidified Mya's thoughts. So, grabbing her pack, she stood up. A few seconds later, she was outside.
"Now, where did it come from?" she asked, looking around.
Just then, a cat ran out from one of the many ally ways that ran between the houses. A few seconds later, a small puppy ran out.
Mya could do nothing but smile as she walked over to him. But Mya was not the only one to hear Origo's barks. A young boy did too.
"It's puppy!" he said, rushing into the kitchen.
The young boy's parents were sitting at the table. They had heard it as well. The father took a deep breath. He knew that the coldness would be deeper then it had been a few hours before.
A few minutes later, after much persuasion, the father put on his coat.
"Wait here" he said to his son.
The little boy nodded and watched his father open the door. The coldness hit the man as he closed the door behind him. Another bark told him which direction to go.
But, he was not the only one wanting the small puppy.
"I wont hurt you" Mya said.
Ivy fluttered past a man walking towards Origo. It was then, as Origo came into view, a girl came into view as well. She was holding out her hand.
The cat had vanished, Origo was looking a bit weary. Just as Ivy reached him. He was picked up. Mya carefully placed the pup into her bag.
But her plan did not go as smoothly as she had liked.
"Hey!" said a man, coming out from the darkness.
Mya knew that it was the man she had seen earlier.
"You have my little boy's puppy" he told her, stopping a few feet from her.
Mya gave a confused smile.
"What?" she asked.
"I saw you put my son's puppy into your bag"
Ivy was worried for Origo's safety. Two strangers were fighting over him.
"But, they don't know him!" Ivy thought to herself.
It never once crossed her mind that Abira had been here too, just a few hours before.
"No I haven't" Mya answered.
She then started to walk away. Origo gave a small whine. This was evidence enough for the man.
"Hand him over, you have no right to be here"
But Mya just ignored him. Ivy was now fluttering very close to Mya. She could not help but think there was something strange about this girl.
"I haven't got anything of yours" Mya told him.
"So, leave me alone"
Mya turned around and walked away, without giving the man another chance to talk. But her troubles were not over yet as the man gave an evil smile.
He knew exactly what to do. So, he walked the opposite way. He would gather a group of men up to get the puppy back by any means possible.
Mya smiled as she walked through the dark roads. The empty pub came into view. Normally, she would have stayed there. But she could not.
A few minutes past as she headed back down to the main gate. She smiled as she raised her hand. But something stopped her from opening it.
"There she is!" shouted a voice.
Mya looked around to see a large group of beastly looking men coming towards her. Old Harry emerged from his little hut beside the gate. He had been sleeping, so he did not properly know what was going on.
Mya knew that she had to get away. So, she opened the small door within the large gate and stepped out. A bang told her that it the gate was closed.
But her problems were far from over. Ivy was now having problems as well. She had tried to keep up with Mya. But the wind had pushed her off course.
"Origo?" she shouted.
Origo whimpered as the bag moved about. It was not the most comfortable place to be. He had been stuffed into the beg and was now being taken far away from where he wanted to be.
"Ivy?" he whimpered.
There was no sign of his fairy anywhere. All he could hear was the foot steps of the person who had taken him away from his Ivy and the shouts of the men behind.
Mya was now very worried that she would not get away. The girl looked back to see men filing out of Bree, onto the road. She knew that she had a good enough start on the gang as she dived off of the road, into the forest on one side.
"Find her!" the man shouted.
Back at the house, the little boy was looking out of the window.
"Where is he?" he asked his mother.
His mother was looking very tired indeed. She took a deep breath as she drank her warm tea.
"He'll be back in a minute, sweetie" she said.
The little boy started to think that he would never see his puppy again.
And he was right.