In the morning, Frodo woke up, feeling refreshed. He was lying in a bower made by a living tree with branches laced and drooping to the ground; his bed was of fern and grass, deep and soft and strangely fragrant. The sun was shining through the fluttering leaves, which were still green upon the tree. He jumped up and went out for a bit.
Samwise Gamgee was sitting on the grass near the edge of the wood. He dreamed of wanting to meet the Elves that lived in different parts within the great continent of Middle-Earth, so as to speak, he wanted to venture to the great city of Rivendell since Bilbo Baggins told great stories of this place and how many travelers or outsiders were given a warm welcome by Lord Elrond.
Soo-jin Smith had been busy polishing one of her swords while she volunteered to keep watch during the long night. Agent Jerry Fortunov tried as much to keep himself up, but couldn't since he gets really tired when its nighttime. Lancelot Hunter had been up before dawn and had been making fire.
Doctor Erik Selvig was busy standing where he had been studying the time, sky, and weather. "So far, we were lucky not to come across any storm for the past couple of days. If we can reach the city of Bree by nightfall, let's hope we won't run into any spies Gandalf told us about."
"As long as we stay off the road, it won't be an issue, but we gotta keep our eyes open for birds," Pat warned and looked around the trees. "He did tell us they can act like spies."
"If your wondering as to why we are thinking that spies are lurking around the woods, so to speak, but we are spies too," Agent Fortunov reminded.
"Hate to tell you Jerry, but how can we deliver reports to S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Pat asked. "We have no radar. Nothing."
"Nothing indeed," Rifleman sighed tiredly. "Uh, cause I'm tired and the ground is so bloody hard for me to sleep on. If I was back in my own bed, that would be something."
"Relax Mr. Hunter, I've slept much worse than my old bed back home in England," Doctor Selvig laughed a bit. "Wasn't soft. But I can tell you a story about Thor. He never likes to sleep as much on a bed on Earth, but the one he sleeps on back in Asgard… oooh." He gripped his hand tight on his chest and moved his head up to face the sky with his eyes shut. "Lovely, can't imagine how beautiful the Shire is right now. Now I remember these parts, so as long as we don't stay…"
"…on a road," Rifleman finished his sentence. "Oh bloody hell, you said that twice already. I get the picture. We have our eyes locked open, make sure no spies spot us, and save as much food for the journey to whatever its called."
"Bree," Pat corrected.
"Bree, fine, whatever," Rifleman said, clicking his tongue.
Agent Barbara Morse, in the meantime, came walking by with some firewood and sighs in disappointment. "And you were suppose to be getting some more firewood."
"Sorry Bob, guess my mind is not totally awake on this time of the day," Rifleman joked with a pretending grin on his face.
"No matter how much time we have, we have plenty of fruit, water, and bread to save for the journey," Mockingbird said, dropping the firewood hard on the ground and tossed him an apple that she took out from her pocket. "Come on, have your breakfast. You need to freshen up."
"And I need a shave," Lancelot added, holding his razor in front and thought of finding a good spot to shave.
"Just try to make it quick," Bobbie told him, picking up the firewood from the ground and walked pass him. "We're leaving in ten minutes, so try to get your ass up before we leave."
"Then whats with the firewood?" Rifleman asked, confused.
"I'm packing them up in our firewood bag," Mockingbird smirked. "And you are going to carry it."
Lancelot sighed in complaint and murmured. "Bloody hell."
"No complaints," Mockingbird hastily said before she walks off.
"Hmm, so why don't you tell me about that double agent Barbara Morse?" Doctor Selvig wondered. "Didn't you say she was your she-double ex-wife?
"Let's just say I prefer to keep that part quiet rather than you or anyone else getting into our love affair and business," Lancelot glared, refusing to answer his question.
"Suit yourself," Doctor Selvig said.
"We both share our love only when we're alone," Rifleman told him.
"Hmm," Doctor Selvig scoffed. "That's good to know."
Bobbi approaches Soo-jin Smith and says. "Bangs, you and I will take lead. Pat will be the middle, and both Hunter and Jerry will guard the back of the group."
"Wouldn't be a problem at all," Bangs agreed with a grin on her face. "I like it."
"So glad you do," Mockingbird chuckled.
After having breakfast, the group continued onwards. They didn't stop for rest once they reached their exact destination towards the city of Bree. No one knows how long it will take for them to reach to the city, but Frodo suggested that they might reach by nightfall. The group then make a complete stop and keep themselves hidden behind the bushes and trees all around them. They approached a road and on the other side was a massive corn field.
"How is that you know much of Bree?" Doctor Foster asked Frodo.
"Bilbo use to take on a few trips to that city while I was still a child," Frodo told her. "Its easy to find it while on a road."
"What do you want me to do?" Rifleman asked.
"Why don't you check both ways," Pat scoffed, thinking it was a joke.
"So far, it looks clear to me," Rifleman stated.
"Okay then, should we cross?" Pat asked anyone around her.
"Cross," Mockingbird responded immediately in a hast.
"You heard her, let's go," Doctor Selvig beckoned.
The group quickly run across the road and enter the corn field to hide. While running, they suddenly got themselves separated and tried to look for each other. This wasn't fun getting lost in a field of corn that farmers use to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
"Jane, where are you?!" Darcia called out.
"Over here!" Doctor Foster called back, not to far from her.
"Hold on, I'm coming!" Darcia shouted and ran to where she was.
"Bob!" Rifleman called. "Bobbi!"
"Not to far from you!" Mockingbird called back to him.
"Then where the hell is your voice coming from exactly?!" Rifleman exclaimed, circling around.
Samwise emerges from the corn to a path, which was deserted. He thought everyone in the group were already there, but he proved himself wrong. He looks behind him and in front, seeing no sign of Frodo, Bobbi, Hunter, Darcia, Burnett, Jane, or Selvig.
"Mr. Frodo?!" Samwise called out to his friend. "Mr. Selvig?! Mr. Hunter?!"
"We're right here," Doctor Selvig said.
Samwise sighed in relief to see Frodo, Barbara Morse, Pat Smith, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Joey Burnett, Jane Foster, Jerry Fortunov, Soo-jin Smith, and Erik Selvig that managed to find each other through the cornfields without any possibility in getting lost. "I thought I'd lost you all."
"Same here," Doctor Foster said, giving him a pat on the shoulder. "But we're not lost just yet."
"So, what do we do?" Burnett asked.
"Mind if you tell me where we are now?" Agent Fortunov asked.
"I don't know, but my theory tells me that we might be trespassing," Samwise said.
"Trespassing?!" Rifleman gasped. "Trespassing?"
"We're in Farmer Maggot's land," Samwise said. "I think we need to get out of here."
"Seriously," Bangs sighed in annoyance.
"You know, you should've told us before we even thought of crossing the road in the first place!" Darcia exclaimed. "And I wonder what's gonna happen if we…"
Her mid sentence was cut off when two individuals emerge out of nowhere and bump directly into her and Frodo, bringing them onto the ground. The individuals were revealed to be Meriadoc Brandybuck "Merry" and Peregrin Took "Pippin", the two little hobbit rascals that stole one of Gandalf's fireworks and had been forced to wash a 100 dishes as punishment for their thievery and carelessness.
"OW!" Darcy groaned.
Pippin looks down at Frodo beneath him and was quite surprised to see him. "Frodo!" He turns his head to Merry. "Merry! Its Frodo Baggins!"
"Hello Frodo!" Meriadoc greeted him in surprise, not even realizing that he was still lying on Darcy. "What brings you here?"
"Will you get off me?!" Darcia angrily yelled at Merry as she shoved the hobbit off her.
"You alright?" Burnett asked, offering his hand to lift her back up.
"Fine," Darcia groaned.
"Frodo, are you alright?" Samwise asked.
"What's the meaning of this?" Frodo demanded.
"What are you doing here?" Pat asked, suspicious as to why these two hobbits were here in Farmer Maggot's territory.
Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took hurriedly pick up their vegetables they were carrying. They then heap them into Lancelot and Samwise's arms, who were both confused.
"What are these?" Rifleman asked, concerned.
"Hold these, please," Meriadoc said, wanting to pass a couple of carrots to Bobbie.
"Ah, no," Mockingbird refused.
"What have you two been doing?" Doctor Foster wondered what was going on. "And where did you get those vegetables from?"
"Oh Farmer Maggot," Meriadoc answered.
"What?" Doctor Jane gasped.
"FARMER MAGGOT!" Samwise roared in shock. "You've been into his crop again!"
"Wait a minute, you stole these?!" Pat exclaimed.
Suddenly, the sound of a dog barking alerted the group. They then turn to see a scythe held high above the corn that was coming straight towards them.
"Hoi! You get back here!" Farmer Maggot yelled. "Wait till I get this through you! Get out of my field! You'd better watch out when I catch up with you!"
"Ah, who would that be?" Burnett asked, nervous.
"I take it that must be the angry farmer," Rifleman guessed correctly.
"Figures, cause he sounds really pi****," Doctor Foster described the farmer's tone.
"You think?" Agent Fortunov scoffed.
Frodo was very terrified upon hearing the sound of the dog barking. Meriadoc could tell as he immediately grabs Frodo by the shoulder and pushes him through the corn as him and Pippin run away.
"Any suggestions?" Bangs wondered.
"Ah, should we wait here and apologize to the angry farmer or should we just run?" Rifleman asked.
"My answer, run!" Darcia exclaimed and followed after Frodo and Merry.
"Wait for me!" Burnett cried as he ran after her.
"C'mon," Mockingbird ordered, taking Selvig with her.
"Yeah what she says, its now or never," Pat started to pant through the corn.
"Quit wasting your time and let's go," Bangs beckoned Lancelot and Samwise to follow along.
Lancelot Hunter and Samwise Gamgee turn to exchange nervous looks on their faces. Since it seems that the group made decision to pick their one answer in running rather than suffering the consequences from the angry farmer, they gave themselves a nod, and quickly drop the vegetables they were holding and ran after the others that were running as fast as they could to get away from the farmer. Neither Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, or Peregrin Took didn't want to meet Maggot face-to-face and did what they wanted to do.
"Oh he's pi****," Darcia hurriedly paced through cornfield. "He's really pi****."
"That's why I prefer we keep running," Burnett panicked.
"Which is why we're not staying near!" Darcia exclaimed in a pace.
"Hey, can you explain to me why you two would just be so stupid in trespassing and stealing vegetables from a farm that doesn't belong to you?!" Doctor Foster demanded a strict answer while running as fast as she could.
"Well I don't know why he's so upset from the start," Meriadoc answered her question. "Besides, its only a couple of carrots."
"And some cabbages, and those three bags of potatoes that we lifted last week," Pippin said as he ran and looked back. "And then the mushrooms the week before."
"Is there anything else you took?" Agent Fortunov asked while running. "Cause you two little rascals are in serious trouble."
"Trouble?" Pippin responded while hs continued to run. "Is he serious?"
"Yes Pippin, my point is, I think these outsiders of the Shire are clearly over reacting!" Meriadoc explained the rest very loudly. "Run!"
"This way!" Pat called.
"Just keep running, just keep running," Burnett muttered in a panic.
As the group kept on running as they could, it was a relief that they all found themselves exiting the cornfield, but didn't bother to stop at all or even look back. Suddenly, the Conspirators were heading directly towards a cliff top and the group weren't unaware that it ends.
"Ha, I think we outran him!" Burnett sighed deeply in relief, but continued to run.
Darcia Lewis stops dead and stares at the bottom from the cliff. She turns around and screamed. "STOP!"
It was too late as Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took suddenly ran right into her. They look down and just as they're trying to decide what to do, the others in the group run straight into the back of them all and they tumble down the steep hill together. They rolled and rolled downwards until they landed in a heap.
"Oh, ow," Bangs groaned, rubbing her head.
"Ow," Agent Fortunov groaned in agony.
"That was... fun," Pat laughed pretendedly. "Ha, ha."
"Well that was... pretty much unexpected," Burnett weakly groaned and sighed in relief. "At least we ditched the old angry farmer."
"Well, we can take a long moment to breathe and relax," Doctor Selvig breathed heavily in a groan. "No point in moving after this dizzy experience."
"I feel like my ears are ringing," Darcia gruffled.
"Perhaps next time, warn us before we run into something that is unsafe," Rifleman told her with a groan.
"Actaully, I did warn!" Darcia raised her voice at him. "It was too late! You just didn't stop!"
"And how was I suppose to know we were reaching a dead end?!" Rifleman loudly argued and felt a bit dizziness in his head. "Ah, bloody hell."
"Well its not my fault that we didn't have time to stop at a dead end," Darcia argued. "If it weren't for those sneaky field bandits, we wouldn't be end up here in the first place.
Barbara Morse took a moment to stand herself up and cracked her bones. She turns to the others who were still on the ground and asked. "Is everyone alright?"
"Don't worry, I'll live," Doctor Foster answered with groan, raising her hand up high to show she was perfectly alright.
"That was a… great experience we did," Agent Fortunov breathed heavily and laid back on a tree.
"No it wasn't," Samwise groaned.
"Excuse me, Sam," Pat said to him.
"Yeah," Samwise answered.
"Not to sound rude in all, but don't you realize that your hands on lying on something that is part of my lower body," Pat told him with a smile.
"What do you mean I…" Samwise paused and out of pure shock, he realized his hands were lying flat on Pat's butt. He quickly removed his hands from her and held them up in front of him in a worry. "Oh my, I'm terribly sorry." He hastily apologized to her. "Please forgive me."
"No, no, its fine, Sam," Pat scoffed, getting herself up to stand. "All is forgiven. Just remember not to do that to someone who is… too high for the likes of you."
"I'll try to remember that," Samwise grumbled, taking a moment to heave himself up from the dirt. "Trust a Brandybuck and a Took."
"Ooh, that was really close," Pippin commented, seeing that how pleased that he and everyone else were able to survive the most terrible fall.
"Too close," Meriadoc groaned as he sat himself up.
"You alright?" Doctor Foster asked him with a fake smile.
"No, I think I've broken something," Meriadoc answered as if he was suddenly upset. He reaches under his back to find out what it was he broke. It turns it was a carrot that had just broke during the fall. "Oh, this was biggest one I had."
Bobbi walks over to Merry and Pippin with a very dissatisfied look on her face. "You know, we should've left you two at the mercy of that angry farmer."
"Oh, we were just trying to do like we always do," Pippin said, paying innocent. "Except running and falling was not what I had in mind."
"Yeah that was a curve ball," Mockingbird said, nodding her head, pretending she understood.
"Look, it was just a detour," Meriadoc told her what he and Pippin were trying to do. "We led you all out of the field unharmed. It was one of my best shortcuts."
"Yeah, it was the best shortcut we could think of," Rifleman glared annoyingly at Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. "Speaking of which, what was the shortcut you were taking us, exactly?"
Pippin was spying something under the trees on the far side of the path until his eyes suddenly go wide, staring stared at something sticking up from the dirt and exclaimed in excitement. "Mushrooms!"
"What mushrooms?!" Rifleman asked, exclaimed in confusion. "Is this a joke?!"
"No, mushrooms, over there!" Pippin pointed directly at the small, brownish mushrooms that were growing amongst the loamy undergrowth.
"Oh," Rifleman sighed. "Thought as much."
Samwise spotted the mushrooms down at the undergrowth, but Peregrin Took and Meriadoc Brandybuck dashed over there first. All three of them kneeled down and looked at the delicious mushrooms in appreciation.
"This will be a fine meal for tonight, right Pip?" Meriadoc asked in admiration.
"Oi, that's mine," Pippin whispered sharply, taking the mushroom from Samwise.
"Oh that's nice," Meriadoc remarked on the one he picked up from the overgrowth.
"What is it with mushrooms these days?" Burnett asked, confused.
As the others were taking a moment and finding out where they were while the three hobbits were picking up the best mushrooms to save for tonight's dinner, Bobbie walks ahead and began to realize that she and the whole group were on a road. This was one of Gandalf's warnings before leaving Bag End. Despite Sauron's spies taking the roads in every corner of Eriador, Bobbi knew that they had to get off the path before trouble approaches.
"Oh no," Mockingbird breathed.
"Everything okay?" Doctor Selvig asked, walking up from behind the tall woman.
"We're on a road," Mockingbird answered. "We're not suppose to be on one."
"Oh boy, when your right, your right," Doctor Selvig sighed and turned to the others. "Everyone! We need to get off the road right now!"
"Why?" Meriadoc asked, wondering what this was about. "What's the problem?"
Before either of the conspirators could answer Meriadoc's question, it seems that trouble had already come. Scattered leaves were rising into the air, whirling down the road as if a storm was coming. As that happened, the group heard a long, drawn wail that was coming down the wind.
"Wow," Darcy gasped in fright.
"I think that is the problem," Burnett gasped nervously.
"What the hell was that?" Doctor Foster asked, looking terrified now.
"I don't know, but it sounded like someone was screaming from over there," Doctor Selvig assumed, pointing at the direction where the sound came from.
"Maybe its a woman," Burnett assumed that was the case of the loud scream. "She could be in trouble."
"I don't think that sound came from a woman," Rifleman said, shaking his head as he stared at the direction where the scream was. That was when he began to hear another sound. "But what I hear is the sound of hooves approaching straight towards us."
"What should we do?" Darcia asked, starting to freak out.
"Everyone, get off the road, now!" Mockingbird exclaimed, giving an order to the group to fan out.
"Right now?" Meriadoc asked, confused. "Can't you give us a minute."
"She means now!" Pat shouted at him. "C'mon!"
"Quick!" Frodo yelled urgently. "C'mon, Sam!"
Pat grabs Meriadoc and Peregrin while Samwise Gamgee quickly grabs a bag of mushrooms he picked out from. Everyone else immediately scrambled to their feet and followed Frodo, who was a successful in finding the perfect hiding place which was located below the road. The group quickly crawl under a ditch and hide beneath a large tree root and take a long moment to wait for the rider to pass by.
"Stay lock and load," Agent Fortunov whispered to Bangs.
"Copy that," Bangs complied back in a slight whisper.
"Can somebody tell me what we're hiding from?" Doctor Foster asked, whispering next to Bobbi.
"I don't know," Mockingbird whispered back sharply and when she heard the sound of hooves approaching, she lowered the sound of her whisper and held her finger close to her mouth. "Sssh, everyone be quiet, someone's coming."
"Who is it?" Darcia quietly wondered.
"How should I know?" Doctor Foster whispered sharply to her.
"Keep your voices low," Rifleman whispered to the four hobbits.
As the group kept themselves quiet while hiding under the road they were once on, the sound of horse hooves was slowly approaching their way and no one in the group didn't bother to say a sound once the sound had passed. Emerging from behind the tree, one of Sauron's black riders, known as the Ringwraiths, appeared to have been hunting all day. He mounted on a huge snarling black horse with insane, red eyes. Almost everyone, except for Barbara Morse, Lancelot Hunter, Pat Smith, Jerry Fortunov, and Soo-jin Smith, freeze in terror and didn't even think in wanting to move at all.
No one in the group knew who it was from above and they prayed that whoever it was on the road would simply pass by, but that was proven to be wrong. The Ringwraith paused right beside their hiding place, sitting very still with his lowered. From inside the hood came a sniffing noise as if he was trying to catch an elusive scent like a hunting dog. The group looked above nervously and couldn't tell who it was. The Ringwraith continued to sniff through the air and decided to dismount from his horse, dropping his metal-booted feet on the ground.
"Its above us," Pat whispered to Bobbi.
"Get ready," Mockingbird whispered back as a sign to do something reckless.
"Nobody make a sound," Rifleman whispered to them.
The Ringwraith slowly approaches the group's hiding spot, and no one made a breath. Jane Foster, Darcia Lewis, Joey Burnett, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Peregrin Took, Frodo Baggins, and Samwise Gamgee were very scared now and could feel that their hearts were pounding so hard as if they were about to explode. Jane was starting to feel pale due to the fear that the person would soon find her and her companions. Bobbi turns her eyes to focus on the Ringwraith that was now peering over the tree root, moving his hood left and right as he continued to sniff.
Everyone in the group kept themselves from still or without saying a word at all while the Ringwraith continued to sniff and remain over the side of the tree root. Frodo was even more terrified than the others, but as the feeling of terror continued to move through his body, he started to feel as he was getting sick from something. Then, he closes his eyes and slowly reaches his pocket to take the One Ring out. As he gets it out, the Ringwraith started to turn his hooded head towards where Frodo was while his horse was whining very loud. Feeling an overwhelming desire to put the Ring on, Frodo holds it out to his finger, but before that could happen, Bobbi noticed what the young hobbit was about to do and reaches her hand out to him to stop him. Frodo quietly gasped and buried the ring in his fist tightly, causing the Ringwraith to turn away again and sniffs the air again.
While the Ringwraith was distracted as he continued to sniff through the air, Meriadoc seized this opportunity by throwing a bag of vegetables, which he and Peregrin collected from Farmer Maggot's land, towards the open bushes. Upon hearing the sound, the Ringwraith let out a terrifying screech and turns quickly into the forest. This gave the group a chance to dash out of their hiding spot and ran deep down into the woods until they were sure that they were far away from the cloaked creature. Once they were far away as possible from the road and the Ringwraith, the group took a moment to stop, both weary and terrified.
"Did we lose it?" Pat asked.
"Did you see that?" Burnett breathed heavily in fear. "Did you see that thing?"
"I saw it," Doctor Selvig nodded in a whisper.
"It was screaming like a woman," Burnett described on what the scream was like.
Darcia was shakening terribly now. She was so shocked and confused as to what that hooded creature was and what it was doing. She was breathing in a very terrible panic. "Oh my god."
"What was that?!" Meriadoc exclaimed, wanting to know what that strange individual was.
"I don't have any clue on what the hell that thing was," Rifleman replied, taking a pant. "But I don't want to know at all."
"That makes three or four of us," Doctor Foster panted. "Whatever that thing was, it didn't seem like a normal man at all."
"Yeah and he'll be back," Mockingbird assumed positively. "I have a bad feeling that thing didn't take the bait."
"Well thanks for that," Rifleman sounded as he was thrilled by this, but he wasn't.
"So what do we do now?" Doctor Foster asked if there was a plan.
"This is what Gandalf warned us about, stay off the road," Doctor Selvig remembered.
"Then it settles, we keep ourselves off any road we see," Pat said. "We keep ourselves low and out of site."
"Let's hope we won't run into that hooded guy or creature, whatever it is," Agent Fortunov said.
"I think it was one of those Black Riders that Gandalf had been talking about before we left Hobbiton," Doctor Foster assumed since she remembered on what Gandalf had said.
"Black Riders?" Meriadoc asked, confused.
"Yeah well, at least we were able to ditch it... for now," Rifleman said.
"Let's hope we don't bother to see it again," Bangs sighed in relief.
Before long the wood came to a sudden end, wide grass-lands stretched before them within the Shire. The Conspirators, now including Merry and Pippin, were still in the Shire and kept themselves off the road, knowing that the Black Riders just crossed into the borders of the country. Many hobbits were terrified by the strange look of the Black Riders and remained indoors for they fear that these outsiders were highly dangerous. As for the Conspirators, they now saw that they had, in fact, turned too much to the south and had to figure out another plan to get to Bree. The group stayed hidden within the trees of the forest and kept themselves low and out of sight until they were reaching an open.
"Anything?" Rifleman called out to Bobbie, who was a far ahead of the group.
Bobbi peered her head behind the tree and turned her eyes sideways to see if any of the Black Riders were around the forest, but since Gandalf mentioned that the Black Riders would only remain on the road, there was a chance of luck that the Conspirators were lucky enough to not being seen by any of Sauron's loyal spies.
"Clear!" Mockingbird replied, notifying the others that everything was perfectly calm and clear.
"What is going on?" Pippin began to wonder why he and Merry had to be dragged into this since he wanted to head back to Tuckborough. "Look, Merry and I need to head back at once. Its already dark."
Bobbi sighed and looked down at him. "Look, you need to stay with us, its for your own protection."
"We can protect ourselves," Meriadoc politely declined her offer. "There's hardly any danger in these parts. Except for the hounds."
"Maggot's dogs," Pippin corrected.
"It doesn't matter, your lives are on the line here, so we need to plan our next move," Mockingbird said.
"We're lucky enough to have avoided that Black Rider," Doctor Selvig huffed. "It sniffed like some bloody dog."
Darcia, however, was completely frightened and couldn't stop thinking about that Wraith she saw. She was shivering very hardly while the night was cold.
"It had no face," Darcia shivered her spines behind her back in the sight of fear. "All I could see was black and…"
"I know how scared you are Darcy, but we got to keep it together," Doctor Foster encouraged her friend to stand brave and strong on whatever she and every Conspirator were about to face. "I need your skills of intelligence kept in your brain. We have to get out of the Shire while we still can."
"I just thought… I thought the Shire was the best place I would've wanted to stay at, but now, all hell is broken loose," Darcia sighed deeply and began to feel a slight tear of sadness. "I just wished I didn't come along. I should've stayed behind."
"I know," Doctor Foster whispered and nodded her head, understanding how she thought the same thing. She wished she stayed too. "But staying behind could've put us in serious danger."
"So I guess we can't go back?" Darcia asked, waiting for an answer from her.
"No, we're not going back," Doctor Selvig clicked his tongue and pointed forward with his finger. "We go forward."
"And enough power to go through the night," Burnett breathed and checked if his video camera was still 100%.
"Did you even film that thing?" Doctor Foster asked, scoffed in shock.
"Why would I do that?" Burnett asked in confusion. "I would never be stupid to ever pull something out for that thing to see or we'd be dead ducks."
"Best we keep going south-west if we can," Doctor Selvig said, looking at the map of the Shire. "If we reach the border, we could probably slip our way unseen through Buckland which we're to far from."
"I can help you," Meriadoc offered his assistance. "There's a quicker way to get out of the Shire."
"A quicker way?" Doctor Foster asked hastily. "Are you sure?"
"Most positive, my lady, I know every corner in Buckland," Meriadoc assured. "Bucklebury Ferry, that's what its called. Its at the main crossing point of the River Brandywine."
"Well, how can we get there?" Samwise asked nervously. "We don't know how many of those black riders there are? There could be more than one."
"Sam's making a point, we should probably head west where's there's more open trees for us to hide," Darcia suggested. "Gandalf said that spies are more use to crossing the roads."
"That won't work," Pat disagreed with the idea. "We'll be too far out and it'll be impossible for us to get to Bree."
"Then we have to go back," Meriadoc declared.
"Go back where? The same spot where that bloody no-face hood guy was, no thanks," Lancelot answered in a silly way and cocked his pistol that he carried during the journey. "He could still be there waiting to lure us into a trap, and then thats it."
"I was saying we should go back to Bamfurlong," Meriadoc answered correctly on what he missed.
"Bamfurlong?!" Samwise snapped. "No way! Farmer Maggot would be deeply furious if he ever saw us coming into his property!"
"Well, he didn't see our faces, that's a relief," Pippin remarked.
"And you were stealing a bag of vegetables for your special night," Darcia sarcastically added with a grin. "Hmm?"
"Oh, I'll take that back," Pippin said hastily, lowering his head and feeling unhappy of that.
"They're up to something, a Brandybuck and a Took," Samwise scoffed to Frodo. "Mr. Frodo, you know what happened to yourself years ago."
"What happened?" Doctor Foster wondered.
"Its a long story," Frodo said as he closed his eyes in a couple of seconds and opened them again. "I would not want to remember those days."
"Its fine, I don't like to recall the most dreadful things I did in the past," Doctor Foster smiled.
"So… should we head back?" Meriadoc asked. "I could lead you there."
"Are you sure thats wise?" Mockingbird asked.
"Of course," Merry shrugged. "I know Farmer Maggot. I'm most certain he can help us take a quicker way to get to Crickhollow. Its located a short way to the northeast of Brandy Hall, the heart of Buckland. Once we're there, we make our way to the chief village of Bucklebury. It lies in the shadow of Buck Hill, which of course is the seat for the Master of Buckland."
"Is there another option?" Agent Fortunov asked.
"I don't think there is Mr. Fortunov, but we can't just sit here and wait for more of those things to find us," Doctor Selvig said, deciding to agree to follow Meriadoc's advice. "I won't take my chances for a 'no', but I'm sure its worth it."
Bobbi turns to the others and asked. "Does anyone agree to this plan?"
"Heck yeah," Bangs agreed.
"I rather take my chances," Rifleman sighed in complaint. "But I'll say yes."
"Hunter's right, I don't agree to this plan, but…" Pat paused and breathed for a moment by a giving a deep sigh. She wasn't happy about this plan. "We can't just sit around, argue, or do nothing."
"Gandalf gave us instructions, stay off the road, and keep our heads down," Bobbie sighed. "This plan isn't working. Because if we go too far away from the road, we'll get lost and will never find our way to Bree. We be going in circles... or worse."
"Nobody likes getting lost like they say in my country," Burnett remarked. "Its worth a shot."
Doctor Jane sighs and turns to Meriadoc Brandybuck. "Merry, we're really counting on you to help us, so please… lead the way."
"Right," Merry nodded in compliance. "Follow me."
Creeping cautiously out from the edge of the trees near a wide road of dirt, they checked both ways to see if any of the Black Riders were coming, but at a sigh of luck, none were coming and this was their chance for them to set off across the road and meet open as quickly as they could. At first, they were afraid as if the Black Riders would ambush them. They were all thinking of the Riders, but no one spoke of them. They were now reluctant either to stay or go on. Their fear left them, though they still felt uneasy. But the land became steadily more tame and well-ordered. Soon they came into well- tended fields and meadows: there were hedges and gates and dikes for drainage. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful, just an ordinary corner of the Shire. Their spirits rose with every step. The line of the River grew nearer; and the Black Riders began to seem like phantoms of the woods now left far behind.
Before long the wood came to a sudden end. Wide grass-lands stretched before them. They now saw that they had, in fact, turned too much to the south. Away over the flats they could glimpse the low hill of Bucklebury across the River, but it was now to their left. Creeping cautiously out from the edge of the trees, they set off across the open as quickly as they could. At first they felt afraid, away from the shelter of the wood. Far back behind them stood the high place where they had breakfasted. Bobbie held her gun tight in her hand, half expected to see the distant figure of a horseman on the ridge dark against the sky, but with pure relief, there was no sign of passed along the edge of a huge turnip-field, and came to a stout gate. Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low well-laid hedges towards a distant clump of trees.
The land itself became steadily more tame and well-ordered. Soon they came into well-tended fields and meadows: there were hedges and gates and dikes for drainage. Everything seemed quiet and peaceful, just an ordinary corner of the Shire. Their spirits rose with every step. The line of the River grew nearer; and the Black Riders began to seem like phantoms of the woods now left far behind. They passed along the edge of a huge turnip-field, and came to a stout gate. Beyond it a rutted lane ran between low well-laid hedges towards a distant clump of trees.
"It is no good our starting to go in zig-zags," Burnett said. "That won't mend matters."
"Let's keep on as we are going," Darcia said, holding herself around him since she was still remained scared. "I am not sure that I want to come out into the open yet."
Pippin stopped. "I know these fields and this gate."
"Let me guess, this is Damfurlonga," Rifleman said it incorrectly in sarcasm. "The very place you and pal were robbing."
"Actually its Bamfurlong," Meriadoc corrected.
"One trouble after another," Frodo sighed, looking nearly as much alarmed as if Pippin had declared the lane was the slot leading to a dragon's den. The others looked at him in surprise.
"What's wrong with old Maggot?" Doctor Foster asked and could the nervous expression on the young hobbit's face. "I don't think he's like an honest fellow to me."
"Oh don't be daff, I know Farmer Maggot," Meriadoc scoffed and explained about him. "He's a good friend to all the Brandybucks. Of course he's a terror to trespassers, and keeps his ferocious dogs, but after all, folk down here are near the border and have to be more on their guard."
"I know," Frodo said with a shamefaced laugh and decided to let out everything about his past. "I am terrified of him and his dogs. I have avoided his farm for years and years. He caught me several times trespassing after mushrooms, when I was a youngster at Brandy Hall. On the last occasion he beat me, and then took me and showed me to his dogs. They chased me all the way to the Ferry. I have never got over the fright, though I dare say the beasts knew their business and would not really have touched me."
"Really?" Agent Fortunov asked.
"So that's what you were hiding?" Darcia scoffed in surprise. "Well, it's time you made it up."
"Especially if you are coming back to live in Buckland," Meriadoc said to her and the group. "Mr. Goodman Maggot is really a stout fellow if you leave his mushrooms alone. So let's get into the lane and then we shan't be trespassing. If we meet him, I'll do the talking since he's a friend of mine, and I used to come here with him during a good deal at one time."
"Oh I'm sorry, a good deal, I haven't forgotten the very best deal when you and…" Rifleman paused and gave a brief look at Pippin and then one second he continues. "…whatever you're called, were robbing vegetables from the same place where you bumped into us How's that hard to forget? I do doubt the angry farmer will not be good terms with the likes of you, so best you watch yourself before he releases the hounds on you."
"Well, I'm pretty sure Mr. Maggot will forget everything that he witnessed today, cause he does his business in guarding his land, keep trespassers from coming into the field," Meriadoc stated.
They went along the lane, until they saw the thatched roofs of a large house and farm-buildings peeping out among the trees ahead. The Maggots, and the Puddifoots of Stock, and most of the inhabitants of the Marish, were house-dwellers. There was a wide wooden door opening out of the house into the lane. Suddenly as they drew nearer a terrific baying and barking broke out.
"Sounds like the word: barking," Rifleman said.
"Grip! Fang! Wolf! Come on, lads!" A loud voice was heard shouting.
Frodo stopped dead, but Meriadoc walked on a few paces. The front door opened and three huge dogs came pelting out into the lane, and dashed towards the travelers, barking fiercely. They took no notice of Meriadoc at all, but Darcy shrank against the wall, while two of Maggot's dogs sniffed at her suspiciously, and snarled if she moved. The largest and most ferocious of the three halted in front of Frodo, bristling and growling. Through the gate there now appeared a broad thick-set hobbit with a round red face.
"Hallo! Hallo! And who may you be, and what may you be wanting?' Goodman asked.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Maggot," Meriadoc proudly smiled and bowed his head in respect.
The farmer looked at him closely and cried. "Well, if it isn't Master Merry. Mr. Meriadoc Brandybuck, I should say! It's a long time since I saw you round here. It's lucky for you that I know you. I was just going out to set my dogs on any strangers coming here. There are some funny things going on today. Of course, we do get queer folk wandering in these parts at times. Too near the River."
"Well its nice to see you to sir," Meriadoc grinned. "I do doubt you haven't seen any trouble lurking around."
"Well, I did notice two trespassers coming near the part of my land, snatching vegetables," Goodman explained what happened in the afternoon today. "Hobbits are suppose to take vegetables on Monday, but today is Wednesday, maybe they got it all wrong. But in the meantime, I suppose it was a misunderstanding and I should apologize." He rose his head up to stare directly at the Joey Burnett, Jerry Fortunov, Jane Foster, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Barbara Morse, Erik Selvig, Pat Smith, and Soo-jin Smith. "And I see you brought in some tall folk here tonight. Fascinating!"
"I hope this isn't an embarrassment?" Doctor Foster grinned nervously.
"Not at all, but for a second, I thought I recognized one other tall folk that actually came right at my home days ago," Goodman recalled. "This fellow didn't seem so friendly to me and I didn't wish to make his acquaintance. He was the most outlandish I have ever set eyes on. He won't cross my land without leave a second time, not if I can stop it."
"What fellow do you mean?" Mockingbird asked, concerned and curious. "Can you describe?"
"Then you haven't seen him?" Goodman sounded surprised and began to explain to her. "He went up the lane towards the causeway not a long while back. He was a funny customer and asked me two words that came out of his mouth."
"Okay, and what were those two words that his strange outlandish guy said?" Rifleman asked weirdly, sounding as he was interested in wanting to hear it.
"Hmm, Shire… Baggins," Goodman recalled the two words.
A sign of shock came around the Conspirator's faces. Those were the same words that Gandalf had mentioned a couple of days ago before they left Bag End.
"Oh my god," Doctor Foster gasped in horror.
"Then we know for sure what they are here for," Agent Fortunov whispered.
"Now we know who these outlandish folk work for?" Pat whispered to Bobbi.
"We gotta get out right now," Mockingbird hastily whispered. "That's our plan."
"Um, what about the dogs?" Frodo asked anxiously.
Goodman Maggot began to laugh. "They won't harm you, not unless I tell 'em to." He turned to his dogs and cried. "Here, Grip! Fang! Heel!"
To the relief of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, the dogs, under their master's command, were ordered to walk away and let them go free.
Meriadoc Brandybuck introduced the other two to the farmer. "Mr. Frodo Baggins. You may not remember him, but he used to live at Brandy Hall.
At the name Baggins the farmer started, and gave Frodo a sharp glance. For a moment Frodo thought that the memory of stolen mushrooms had been aroused, and that the dogs would be told to see him off, but Goodman Maggot took him by the arm.
"Well, if that isn't queerer than ever?!" Goodman exclaimed. "Mr. Baggins is it? Come inside! We must have a talk."
Despite the house being big, Joey Burnett, Jerry Fortunov, Jane Foster, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Barbara Morse, Erik Selvig, Pat Smith, and Soo-jin Smith followed the hobbits inside the house and saw how lovely it was. It reminded them of the inside of Bag End. Together, the Conspirators went into the farmer's kitchen, and sat by the wide fire-place. That was when his wife Limnantha Maggot brought out beer in a huge jug, and filled eleven large mugs. It was a good brew, and Pippin found himself more than compensated for missing the Golden Perch. Samwise sipped his beer suspiciously. He had a natural mistrust of the inhabitants of other parts of the Shire; and also he was not disposed to be quick friends with anyone who had beaten his master, however long ago.
Farmer Maggot put down his mug and looked at them all in turn, and turned to Meriadoc. "So tell me Merry, where might you be coming from, and where might you be going to? Were you coming to visit us?"
"Well, not exactly," Meriadoc answered. "Too tell you the truth, Pippin and I recently bumped into them."
"Its true," Mockingbird admitted. "Even though, we might've taken a wrong turn and came across your fields without realizing."
"It was an accident, and we won't end up in your territory again," Pat apologized.
"I see you people are in a really big hurry," Goodman suspected. "If you were in a hurry, the road would have served you better. But I wasn't worrying about that. You all walk over my land, if you have a mind, Mr. Brandybuck. And you, Mr. Baggins, though I dare say you still like mushrooms. Ah yes, I recognized the name. I recollect the time when young Frodo Baggins was one of the worst young rascals of Buckland. But it wasn't mushrooms I was thinking of. I had just heard the name Baggins before you turned up. What do you think that funny customer asked me?"
"So a funny customer comes to you and what, ask you questions?" Darcia asked.
"Well," Goodman continued, approaching his point with slow relish. "This wasn't the case. This outlandish folk came riding on a big black horse right in front of my home. All black he was himself, too, and cloaked and hooded up, as if he did not want to be known."
"Wait, are you saying you saw one of those weird looking folk that was all in black and having no face?" Rifleman asked if that was the case.
"You saw one of them?" Goodman frowned. "By the Shire, what was that rider actually looking for?" He turned his eyes to young Frodo. "Was he looking for you Mr. Baggins?"
Frodo sat for a moment looking at the fire, but his only thought was how on earth would they reach the Ferry. "I don't know what to think."
"Hmm, then I'll tell you what I think," Goodman nodded suspiciously. "You should never have gone mixing yourself up with any Hobbiton folk, Mr. Frodo. Folk are queer up there. But you were always a reckless lad. Mark my words, this all comes of those strange doings of Mr. Bilbo's. But I think those strange outlandish folk could be coming after the gold and jewels that Bilbo brought back from foreign parts."
"I guess that explains why they're here in the Shire," Pat said.
"So tell me, where you all heading?" Goodman asked in wonder.
"We're trying to reach to the city of Bree," Doctor Selvig answered. "We think taking a ferry during the night will help us get us to the city faster."
"Gandalf even told us to stay off the road and keep track on any spies," Mockingbird added.
"If those outlandish folk are still in the Shire, riding by every road, then its going to be very difficult for you all to get to the city," Goodman said. "Its not easy going off a road. You get lost very quick, not unless if you have the skill to remember which way you go or even recognize certain parts that you've been to." He turned and gave Frodo a friendly look on his face. "Well Mr. Frodo, I'm pleased to see that you're alright and those mysterious outlanders haven't got you yet. If any of these black riders come after you again, I'll deal with them. I'll say you're dead, or have left the Shire, or anything you like."
"No need," Frodo declined, not wanting Farmer Maggot and his family to get involved. "We just don't want to put either of you all in danger."
Goodman looked at him thoughtfully. "Well, I see you have ideas of your own. It is as plain as my nose that no accident brought you and that rider here, and maybe my news was no great news to you, after all. I am not asking you to tell me anything you have a mind to keep to yourself, but I see you are in some kind of trouble. Perhaps you are thinking it won't be too easy to get to the Ferry without being caught?"
"That's why we're trying to avoid ourselves from being caught by these weird looking no-face freaks, whatever they're called," Lancelot snorted.
"We have got to try and get there as soon as possible," Doctor Selvig said. "And it won't be done by sitting and thinking. So its we be going at once."
"I will help," Goodman offered his service. "I'll get out my wagon, and I'll drive you all to the Ferry. That will save you a good step, and it might also save you trouble of another sort."
"Are you sure that's a great idea?" Darcia asked, worried. "Because what if those hooded freaks or those dark guys with no faces might spot us and then they'll kill us on the way."
"I have barrels that I received from the Light Elves of Lindon," Goodman offered another idea. "Perhaps those riders won't figure it out."
To the relief of Frodo and Sam, the Conspirators stayed with the Maggots for a day and remained hidden if any of the Black Riders would comeback, but with better luck, they didn't, and this was a chance for the group to make their preparations to get to the ferry and make their way to Bree as soon as possible, but they kept their hopes up and imagined if any of the Black Riders would try to find them.
The sun was already behind the western hills, and the light was failing. Two of Maggot's sons and his three daughters came in, and a generous supper was laid on the large table. The kitchen was lit with candles and the fire was mended. Mrs. Maggot hustled in and out. One or two other hobbits belonging to the farm-household came in. In a short while fourteen sat down to eat. There was beer in plenty, and a mighty dish of mushrooms and bacon, besides much other solid farmhouse fare. The dogs lay by the fire and gnawed rinds and cracked bones.
When they had finished, the farmer and his sons went out with a lantern and got the wagon ready. It was dark in the yard, when the guests came out. The wagon was big enough for the group to fit inside. They threw their packs on board and climbed in. The farmer sat in the driving- seat, and whipped up his two stout ponies. His wife stood in the light of the open door.
"You be careful of yourself, Maggot!" Limnantha called. "Don't go arguing with any foreigners, and come straight back!"
"I will!" Goodman promised, and drove out of the gate.
There was now no breath of wind stirring. The night was still and quiet, and a chill was in the air. They went without lights and took it slowly. After a mile or two the lane came to an end, crossing a deep dike, and climbing a short slope up on to the high- banked causeway. Goodman got down and took a good look either way, north and south, but nothing could be seen in the darkness, and there was not a sound in the still air. Thin strands of river-mist were hanging above the dikes, and crawling over the fields.
"It's going to be thick," Goodman said. "But I'll not light my lantern till I turn for home. We'll hear anything on the road long before we meet it tonight."
"Just make sure you get back in one piece," Limnantha pressured him to return home safe and avoid trouble.
It was five miles or more from Maggot's lane to the Ferry. The hobbits wrapped themselves up, but their ears were strained for any sound above the creak of the wheels and the slow clop of the ponies' hoofs. The wagon seemed slower than a snail to Frodo. Beside him Pippin was nodding towards sleep; but Sam was staring forwards into the rising fog. They reached the entrance to the Ferry lane at last. It was marked by two tall white posts that suddenly loomed up on their right. Farmer Maggot drew in his ponies and the wagon creaked to a halt. They were just beginning lo scramble out, when suddenly they heard what they had all been dreading: hoofs on the road ahead. The sound was coming towards them.