Dawn was almost coming and the Black Riders, the servants of Sauron were still galloping around on the loose which began to frighten a lot of residents in the city. As one of the riders passes by, Frodo Baggins, Ian Boothby, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Jerry Fortunov, Jane Foster, Samwise Gamgee, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Barbara Morse, Erik Selvig, Lincoln Slade, Pat Smith, Soo-jin Smith, Strider, and Peregrin Took emerge from a dark corner and keep their heads low and out of sight while walking through the city of Bree, and in hopes to find their way out and get as a far away from the Black Riders.
"This way," Linc whispered as he helped lead the way with Strider at his side.
Strider heard a clang of a hammer and grinned. He turns to the group and beckons quietly. "Follow me."
"What?" Linc asked, whispering in confusion.
"Trust me," Strider whispered back.
Strider was now leading the group towards an open shop. The Black Riders were about a mile away from where the shop was. Frodo Baggins, Meriadoc Brandybuck, Joey Burnett, Jerry Fortunov, Jane Foster, Samwise Gamgee, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Barbara Morse, Erik Selvig, Lincoln Slade, Pat Smith, Soo-jin Smith, and Peregrin Took were all confused as to why this shop was the one open during the night, but tits possible that he might've opened it up since it was getting close to morning time. Immediately, once Strider leads the group towards the open shop, they see a grimy, metal legged man was beating a breastplate with the might of his hammer. His name was Hephaestus Aetnaeus, an Olympian from the world of Olympia.
Hephaestus was known in history to be one of the most greatest blacksmiths, weapon makers, and armorers that worked in the city of Olympus, Olympia's main capital. Known to be the son of Zeus and Hera, he was also greatest craftsman of the Olympians, forging a lot of majestic armors, shields, and weapons to be used in battles. For generations, Hephaestus ventured across worlds in the universe, even those in the Milky Way where he became a great use in construting the best armor to use in war.
When he came to the planet Arda hundreds of years ago, many inhabitants spoke a lot about him and how he truly does his job in selling the best weapons and armor that would be of great use for the time of war. Hephaestus
"Hephaestus old friend how are you?" Strider greeted.
Hephaestus stopped and once he saw Strider, his eyes widen. "By the fires of Olympus, Strider, I don't believe it!" He laughs very loud and comes over to give him a nice warm hug. "Never thought you lot would come asking the mighty Hephaestus for some thing here in my shop."
"Wait, your Hephaestus?" Doctor Foster gasped.
"Of course, my lady," Hephaestus chuckled in delight upon someone knowing his name very well. "I am the patron Olympian of all the blacksmiths, weapon makers, and armorers of Olympus, the great capital of Olympia." He bows his head in respect to the group. "At your service."
"Ah, do you know Thor?" Darcia asked which was kinda silly.
"You mean the Thunderer of Asgard," Hephaestus laughed again. "Of course I did, but never met him. Perhaps next time you should try asking a question that is not too silly, cause it makes me laugh even more." He laughs much louder than before, but stops to notice four hobbits and turns to Strider and asks. "Mind if you tell me why you have four halflings with you, Strider?"
"That's why we need your help," Strider said.
"Well, what can I do for ya?" Hephaestus offered his assistance. "Whatever trouble your in, don't say it, just tell me what you need."
"We were just hoping you could direct us out of Bree," Linc answered.
"We're trying to get ourselves the hell out of here," Pat said.
"Of course I can," Hephaestus nodded and began to give them the directions. "However, with those hooded riders running about, it might not be easy. The rest of the gates are closed and no one can leave once morning strikes. However, I did notice that there is a secret passage way that leads underground. Once you find it, it'll lead you to the forest, the very place where those riders won't find ya." He gives Strider a proud remark. "You'll trust Strider very well. He's a great ranger and he can lead you all through miles and miles across the forest."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Rifleman shrugged.
"Thank you my friend," Strider gratefully bowed his head.
"I wish I can join you all, but I need to make more weapons and armour for the Breelanders," Hephaestus sighed regretfully. "There's a lot of talking and rumors of a great shadow in the east. I fear war is coming already."
"No worries," Strider understood how important it was for the mighty Olympian blacksmith to care for the Breelanders.
"I know will meet again very soon, but until then, give Gandalf my regards," Hephaestus insisted. "Alright, you best hurry. The Watchers of Bree are gathering on the eastern side of the city."
"Thank you," Doctor Foster said.
As dawn was approaching, the Shire Conspirators follow Lincoln Slade and Strider through the underground passage which led to a forest and a mile away from the city. The escort of children and stragglers that had followed them got tired and turned back at the Southern Gate of the city. Passing through, they kept on along the Road for some miles. It bent to the left, curving back into its eastward line as it rounded the feet of Bree-Hill, and then it began to run swiftly downwards into wooded country. To their left they could see some of the houses and hobbit-holes of Staddle on the gentler south-eastern slopes of the hill; down in a deep hollow away north of the Road there were wisps of rising smoke that showed where Combe lay while Archet was hidden in the trees beyond. After the Road had run down some way, and had left Bree-Hill standing tall and brown behind, they came on a narrow track that led off towards the North.
"This is where we leave the open and take to cover," Strider said.
"Not a 'short cut', I hope," Darcia said.
"There are no short cuts," Linc told her. "When you enter the wild, you'll see what lies ahead."
"I remember our last short cut through the woods nearly ended in disaster," Meriadoc said to her.
"My cuts, short or long, don't go wrong," Strider said as he took a look up and down the Road. No one was in sight; and he led the way quickly down towards the wooded valley.
"You sure he knows the way?" Mockingbird asked.
"I've been with him for a while, I really trust the guy," Linc said.
"Glad you do, cause you and I are going to have a talk, and you are going to be honest on how you survived," Rifleman said, wanting to get everything from him.
"You'll get everything, Hunter," Linc promised.
"Good, because if we ever go back, I'm pretty sure Daisy is going to be thrilled that your alive, but why you didn't even come back," Rifleman scoffed.
"Would later be better?" Linc insisted.
"Of course," Rifleman nodded his head in agreement.
"Good, then let's keep moving, we don't want to be staying in every spot we've going through," Linc warned.
His plan, as far as they could understand it without knowing the country, was to go towards Archet at first, but to bear right and pass it on the east, and then to steer as straight as he could over the wild lands to Weathertop Hill. In that way they would, if all went well, cut off a great loop of the Road, which further on bent southwards to avoid the Midgewater Marshes. But, of course, they would have to pass through the marshes themselves, and Strider's description of them was not encouraging. However, walking was not unpleasant. Indeed, if it had not been for the disturbing events of the night before, they would have enjoyed this pan of the journey better than any up to that time. The sun was shining, clear but not too hot. The woodland the group were crossing was leafy and full of color, and seemed peaceful and wholesome. Strider guided them confidently among the many crossing paths of the wilderness, although left to themselves they would soon have been at a loss. He was taking a wandering course with many turns and doublings, to put off any pursuit from the Ringwraiths.
"So far so good," Agent Fortunov assumed if the conspirators weren't been followed by the Black Riders.
"Well now, we're about to enter the wild," Bangs said, checking her surroundings.
"Into the wild we go," Burnett said, checking if his camera was still good and placed it back in his bag.
"I be disappointed that it is," Doctor Selvig said. "Are you only goal is to keep our heads down and hope that we lost those Ringwraiths."
"I wouldn't count on it," Mockingbird said. "If those things have a good sense of smell or finding where the Ring is, they'll know where we'll go."
"They won't find us once we cross the river," Linc said.
"Good, cause as long as we keep moving, let's just hope for the best," Doctor Selvig said hopefully.
"You sure they won't follow us then?" Pat asked.
"The Elves of the Light cast a powerful spell," Linc told her about the Elves. "Once we cross the river, those Wraiths will have trouble with the water."
"Well that's good so far," Pat scoffed.
Meriadoc Brandybuck, on the other hand, was feeling a bit distrustful towards Strider and Lincoln Slade. Since he trusted Barbara Morse, Lancelot Hunter, Pat Smith, Soo-jin Smith Jerry Fortunov, Darcia Lewis, Jane Foster, Joey Burnett, and Erik Selvig, he caught up with Frodo Baggins and Darcia Lewis, and spole to them quietly. "How do we know this Strider and this Lincoln Slade are friends of Gandalf?"
"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer, but feel fouler," Frodo whispered.
"Well Lincoln is kinda cute, but this Strider does seem fouler enough," Darcia remarkably whispered in between them. "Still I don't like or even trust him one bit. Oh, if he tries to lead us into a trap, I'll be ready to tase him."
"I understand you don't trust him, but since Bobbi and Hunter know Lincoln Slade, who served as their companion for who knows how long, I'm afraid we have no choice," Frodo said.
"You trust him, oh sh… great," Darcia sighed wearily.
"So where is he leading us exactly?" Rifleman asked. "Hope its not something like a death trap in all that!"
"He's not leading us into a trap Hunter, look I get it do don't the trust the dude, but he's really a good man," Linc described Strider's personality.
"Okay, but we didn't get the answer on where he's leading us to," Doctor Foster sighed.
"To Rivendell," Strider answered his question. "A city ruled by the House of Elrond."
"Rivendell!" Samwise exclaimed in surprise. "You mean it! I can't believe its really happening. We're going to see the Elves."
"You seem to be really excited in wanting to see them," Mockingbird grinned.
"Oh I heard they're wonderful folk," Samwise described them.
"They are?" Darcia wondered if that was true or not, and joked with him. "Do you like them still, not unless if you had a closer view?"
"I haven't met any of them yet, madam," Samwise responded slowly, didn't buy her joke. "But Bilbo told me stories how they seem to be tall above my likes and dislikes, so to speak. It don't seem to matter what I think about them. They are quite different from what I expected. So tall and young, and so noble and stupendous."
Darcy giggled near Samwise, half expecting to see some outward sign of the odd change that seemed to have come over him. It did not sound like the voice of the old Samwise Gamgee that he thought he knew. But it looked like the old Samwise Gamgee sitting there, except that his face was unusually thoughtful.
"Did you feel any need to leave the Shire?" Darcia asked. "Besides, you get your wish to see them with your own eyes."
"Yes," Samwise nodded his head as he walked. "I don't know how to say it, but after last night I feel different. I seem to see ahead, in a kind of way. I know we are going to take a very long road, into darkness, but I know I can't turn back. It isn't to see Elves now, nor dragons, nor mountains, that I want. I don't rightly know what I want. All I have is something to do before the end, and it lies ahead, not in the Shire. I must see it through."
Darcia turns around to look at Jane with a huge grin and mouthed one word. "Elves."
"I know," Doctor Foster breathed back.
Throughout the walk, Lancelot Hunter decided it was time to get the answer out of Lincoln Slade and find out the truth on how he survived the explosion years ago. Just after Jerry Fortunov and Soo-jin Smith passed by, he quickly walks fast and meets up with him.
"So... when did you first meet him?" Rifleman asked.
"Who?" Linc asked.
"Uh Strider," Rifleman added.
"I met him a year ago," Linc began to explain how he met Strider. "It was in the woods, he found me lying on the ground. I was barely breathing, but he managed to take me to the city of Rivendell where I could recover. I didn't trust him when he took me, but when I was nursed back, I saw him as a friend, so he and I wandered the wilderness, doing all kinds of adventures."
"Sounds reasonable," Rifleman pretended to sound like he was in to it.
Lincoln jerked his head to meet Hunter face-to-face and asked. "Are you trying to find out how I survived?"
"That's exactly what Bobbi and I were trying to figure out," Rifleman said.
"Honestly, I don't feel like I want to talk about it," Linc refused to even get into it.
"Well too bad!" Rifleman slightly snapped. "I don't know what the hell your problem is. We all thought you were dead. Your girlfriend mourned you, everyone in S.H.I.E.L.D. mourned you. And now, here I am, seeing that you are alive, gives me a fit of joy. Look, if this is something that troubles you, I don't care." He makes a sudden stop and pulls Lincoln to stop while the group continues to move on. "So c'mon, out with it, how... did it... happen?"
Lincoln was very hesitant at first, but since he couldn't keep it long forever. He stares at Lance Hunter for a moment and begins to explain his story on what truly happened.
"When Daisy was preparing to launch the warhead for it's path to outer space, I snuck onto the Quinjet and fried the manual controls," Linc explained everything what Hunter has to know. "I didn't want Daisy to give her life for this, so I just wanted to ensure that she would be safe. I still remember how I told Daisy that I love her and I always will. At first, I thought this was it. I was willing to give my life to save you and all of humanity from turning into these mouth breathers... and to kill Hive." He deeply sighed and closed his eyes for a couple of seconds, and then he opens them as he goes on. "But then I got lucky. Something or a part of my power was unlocked. Once the warhead exploded, my whole body turned into pure electrical energy. I wasn't in control of this new ability that I never even used before and the explosion caused me to run into hyperspace. That was when I ended up on another planet called Torfa. I was unconscious on the ground until I was found by a group of inhabitants that nursed me back to health."
"So you went through hyperspace, isn't that what you did like in Star Wars?" Rifleman asked.
"Yeah, something like that," Linc wearily sighed.
"I don't get it, if you had unleashed that type of power that you never wielded, how come you never came back to Earth to reunite with your pretty damsel in distress?" Rifleman demanded that exact answer.
"I spent many months trying to master this ability... and I did, but I knew what the risk was, so I was prepared to do it until... me and a lot of the Torfans were turned into ashes," Linc continued to go on, thus explaining about the Snap. "I don't know what it was, its like we passed out for seconds."
"You were blipped," Rifleman understood what he meant.
"Blipped?" Linc asked, confused.
"You weren't the only one, Bobbi and I were blipped," Rifleman explained. "We didn't know what it was, but it happened in 2018, but when we were brought back, we thought it was seconds. It turns out... it was five years."
"So we were like dead for five years and we didn't know about that," Linc nodded, understanding everything.
"I guess," Rifleman answered, raising his shoulders up a bit.
"That's impossible," Linc whispered, shaking his head as he continued to go on.
"Its not possible, but its the truth," Rifleman admitted as he followed him. "I still haven't figured out how you got here."
"Like I said, it was a year ago," Linc decided to finish. "End of story."
Lancelot Hunter stopped sudden and couldn't believe Lincoln's reaction, and shouted. "You could've used your powers to get back home to Earth, but why didn't you?!"
Lincoln sighed and chose to ignore his question. Instead of just deciding to answer, he continued to walk forward without saying a word to Hunter, who was greatly annoyed by all this. That was when Frodo walked up behind him and wondered what the problem was.
"What's the problem?" Frodo asked, concerned.
"Nothing," Rifleman deeply sighed in annoyance. "Just a whole bloody excuse."
The group continues to follow Strider and Lincoln through the woodland, through rain, until they reach the top of the hills that were covered in snow. This was the sign that winter was coming and everyone had to make sure they were warm enough to continue the journey to Rivendell. Strider and Lincoln pause to look around and see if the Ringwraiths were close, but by a sign of luck, there was nothing. Just as Strider and Lincoln Slade were walking ahead, Joey Burnett, Jerry Fortunov, Jane Foster, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Barbara Morse, Erik Selvig, Pat Smith, and Soo-jin Smith were looking around, but they stopped and turned to see that the four hobbits were busy getting out frying pans and cooking utensils to prepare for a meal.
"What are they doing?" Pat whispered to her sister in confusion.
"Ah guys, what'a doing?" Doctor Foster asked, concerned why the four hobbits were deciding to take out their utensils.
"We're making breakfast," Pippin told her.
"What?" Bangs responded in confusion.
"Are they blimey joking?" Rifleman asked quietly with a weird-looking face and his mouth left open.
Pat scoffed, thinking it was a joke. "Guys, we just had breakfast about an hour ago."
"We've had one yes," Pippin nodded. "What about second breakfast?"
Joey Burnett, Jerry Fortunov, Jane Foster, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Barbara Morse, Erik Selvig, Pat Smith, and Soo-jin Smith all frowned and looked at each other when Pippin said those two words 'second breakfast'. This was something that they did not see or heard about while they stayed in the Shire.
"I'm sorry, did you say 'second breakfast'?!" Rifleman exclaimed weirdly.
"Guys, we don't have time to make ourselves a second breakfast, cause we need to keep moving," Mockingbird said, giving them an order.
"Those Ringwraiths are probably still on our tale, so we need to keep moving through if we're to avoid them," Agent Fortunov stated.
"But we're still hungry," Pippin said disappointedly.
"We can't stop until nightfall, so pack it all up," Mockingbird ordered him twice.
"Wow, its amazing how a tall woman like her would give us an order," Meriadoc quietly remarked about Bobbi. "I like her."
"Its funny though that they can't understand breakfast," Pippin sighed in ignorance.
"Well I don't think they know about second breakfast, Pip," Meriadoc said as he placed his bag back on his shoulder and continued to stroll forward.
"What about elevenses?" Pippin asked very hastily. "Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner? Supper! I'm sure they know about them, don't they?"
"I wouldn't count on it," Meriadoc said.
That was when Bobbi found a free green apple and threw it over to Meriadoc who was fast enough to catch it in time. He then gives it to Pippin and gave him a pat on the shoulder until he goes off to follow the others. Suddenly, another apple flies through the air and hits Pippin on the head, causing him to tumble backwards a bit until he managed to stand up.
"Pippin, c'mon!" Merry called back for his cousin to keep up.
"Its very odd for hobbits, such as that one, would even consider having a second breakfast," Doctor Selvig whispered with Darcy as he walked with her.
"Do they make second lunch, second snack, or second dinner?" Darcia giggled. "I wonder if they make a third."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Darcy," Doctor Selvig scoffed. "No way in this world I consider eating second meals."
"I hate to tell you, but walking makes me hungry," Darcia started to groan. "Ugh, I think they make a solid point."
"Well take an apple," Doctor Selvig suggested by taking an apple from the apple bush. "Eat it along the way. Besides, I don't think we're too far from Weathertop."
Darcia sighed and turned to her fiancee. "YOu don't feel that hungry."
"No," Burnett shook his head.
"Good, cause I have a lot of stories to tell you," Darcia said.
"What kind?" Burnett asked. "Is it the one from Westview?"
"That's what I was going to add," Darcia moaned in disgust. "Ugh, you have no idea. I never told Jane what happened before we ended up here."
"Well, I'm looking forward to hearing it," Burnett scoffed in a bit of laughter. "Hope its a good story you can tell Miss Foster and Doctor Selvig."
The next day, the Conspirators began to steer a steady course eastwards, and found it very quiet and peaceful. On the third day out from Bree they came out of the Chetwood. The land had been falling steadily, ever since they turned aside from the Road, and they now entered a wide flat expanse of country, much more difficult to manage. They were far beyond the borders of the Bree-land, out in the pathless wilderness, and drawing near to the Midge-Water Marshes. The ground now became damp, and in places boggy and here and there they came upon pools, and wide stretches of reeds and rushes filled with the warbling of little hidden birds and angry midges flying around. They had to pick their way carefully to keep both dry-footed and on their proper course. At first they made fan-progress, but as they went on, their passage became slower and more dangerous. The marshes were bewildering and treacherous, and there was no permanent trail even for Rangers to find through their shifting quagmires.
"Looks like its a dead end," Bangs said.
"Uh, where's the path?" Burnett asked, confused.
"You're looking at it," Linc answered.
"Uh, is he really kidding?" Darcia asked, looking at the swamp in utter disgust. "Cause I really don't like going through swamps. There are bugs, frogs, and creepy crawlies that enjoy to bugger around people, like me."
"Are you really sure we should do this?" Burnett asked, not liking the idea. "I mean cross the swamp?"
"This is our only path through, I'm afraid," Strider replied, telling them that there is no choice. "We will not be pursued by the enemy through here, for they already know we now wander the wild."
"And its the only way for them to lose our trail," Mockingbird agreed to the plan. "We have to do this or we're screwed with the no-faces."
"You mean the Ringwraiths, right?" Burnett asked.
"That's exactly the point," Lancelot groaned, not liking the idea in wanting to cross the marshes.
"Is there any possibility we can go around?" Darcia asked with a fake grin.
"I don't know if its a good idea to do that Darcy," Doctor Foster disagreed with the idea, but took her friend's point since she too doesn't like going through swamps.
"If what Strider says is true, I doubt we must do what he says," Doctor Selvig agreed to Strider's plan. "But I should disagree."
"Well, we didn't come a long way to get ourselves out of harm's way, so let's do it," Pat implored.
"Great," Rifleman huffed. "This sounds great, but this is not what I expected."
"Same here," Doctor Foster gulped. "I agree with Darcy, I hate marshes."
"Glad you agree," Darcia remarked.
"Surely, I don't think its a good idea to go through there," Burnett stared at the marshes in disbelief. "Lot of hungry bugs."
"I got bug spray if anyone needs it," Darcia included.
"Since when did you ever say that?" Rifleman asked, giving her a scoff. "You kept bug spray for a year?"
"Uh, I bought it during our trip in England a year ago," Darcia told him. "Ring a bell."
"Well lucky you," Rifleman remarked. "Hope you have enough for all of us."
"Okay, if you insist," Darcia scoffed in dugust over Hunter's attitude. "No wonder why they call you the Rifleman."
"Its a good name for me since it makes me look like some superhero ready to assemble," Rifleman remarked.
"Well we're not Avengers," Darcia sighed. "Speaking of which, maybe you and your girlfriend should've thought of joining the Avengers."
"Why, so I could just wield a hammer and toss a shield?" Rifleman joked by asking her that.
"You would be known as Captain Rifle Thor," Darcia joked back.
"Hmm, that seems like a good ring to it, but I would prefer Rifleman since I don't have a hammer or a shield to defend myself," Rifleman said.
None of the conspirators agreed to the idea in wanting to cross the marshes like this, but now that the Ringwraiths know that they were crossing through the wild, they had no other choice. The air was foul in every part of the swamps and the path they had top cross was very narrow. As for the flies, they seemed to be happy of spotting the group crossing the Midgewater Marshes, and so they began to torment them. Some were trying to bite at them, causing a lot of swatting.
"I am being eaten alive!" Meriadoc cried. "Midgewater! There are more midges than water!"
"What do they live on when they can't get one?" Burnett complained while scratching his neck.
"Hope we didn't have to cross through these marshes for nothing," Pat grunted.
"Just keep walking, sis," Bangs implored her sister. "Will be out of this place in no time for god knows how long."
"Never thought we would do this," Pat giggled as she and some of the conspirators were swatting the flies away.
"Last time, we went canoeing into a swamp," Bangs remembered on what she and her sister did. "Wasn't fun."
"Don't ever bring that one up," Pat insisted for her sister to not tell her that. "Flies were surrounding us like planes."
"I know it wasn't fun," Bangs nodded, understanding what her sister went through.
"You know Darcy, I think this was a bad way for us to go," Burnett said.
"You said it," Darcia spat in absolute disgust. "Ugh, this place is foul enough already."
"Maybe we should turn back," Burnett suggested.
"And run into those no-face freaks?" Darcia scoffed in disapproval. "No thanks. They'll probably kill us the moment we do."
"Let's hope that Strider guy is not in league with them," Burnett whispered.
"I hope not," Darcia whispered in a sigh.
"How far to the other side?" Doctor Selvig called out to Strider.
"Will reach to it by nightfall," Strider answered back loudly as he can, resisting the flies. "Once there, the enemy will not hinder us."
"Well that's good advice!" Doctor Selvig loudly remarked.
"I hope he's right," Doctor Foster sighed in disgust.
After crossing the swamps, the group were relieved that they made it to the other side. The midges were no longer a problem to them, but they knew that Sauron's servants were possibly still on their trail. These hunters were never going to stop looking for the One Ring and the only way is to keep moving or finding somewhere to hide once they passed. As for the Conspirators, they found a good spot to make camp for tonight and decided it was time to rest. Ian Boothby, Jerry Fortunov, Jane Foster, Lancelot Hunter, Darcia Lewis, Barbara Morse, Erik Selvig, Pat Smith, and Soo-jin Smith still didn't trust Stider, but truly vouched for him. While Lincoln was asleep, Lancelot Hunter, Barbara Morse, and Soo-jin Smith made sure that Strider did not leave their site and stayed awake to watch him following his so-called attempt to kidnap Frodo, as they are afraid he might do it again.
Throughout the night, Strider began to sing a most soothing song, but the words he was saying were not english and instead he was singing in different language. Even while the hobbits were fast asleep, Jane Foster, Darcia Lewis, Joey Burnett, Erik Selvig, Barbara Morse, Lancelot Hunter, Jerry Fortunov, Pat Smith, and Soo-jin Smith were the only ones to listen to the most beautiful song.
"Its beautiful," Doctor Foster scoffed in remark.
"It is known in Middle-Earth to be one the most oldest songs that no being has ever forgot," Strider answered. "When I was raised in Rivendell, Lord Elrond taught it to me."
"Whats it called?" Burnett asked.
Strider sighed and paused before he spoke again. "It is called Ann-Thennath among the Elves, but is hard to render in our Common Speech, and this is but a rough echo of it. It tells of the meeting of Beren and Lúthien Tinúviel. Beren, son of Barahir, was a mortal human man, but Lúthien was the daughter of Thingol, a King of the Light Elves upon Middle-Earth when the world was young. Lúthien was the fairest maiden that has ever been among all the children of this world and Alfheim. As the stars above the mists of the Northern lands was her loveliness, and in her face was a shining light. In those days the Great Enemy, of whom Sauron of Mordor was but a servant, dwelt in Angband in the North, and the Elves of Valinor and Alfheim were coming back to Middle-Earth made war upon him to regain the Silmarils which he had stolen, and the mothers and fathers of Humans aided the them, but what I know is that the enemy was victorious and Barahir was slain. His son and heir Beren escaped the peril came over the Mountains of Terror into the hidden Kingdom of Thingol in the forest of Neldoreth. There he beheld Lúthien singing and dancing in a glade beside the enchanted river Esgalduin; and he named her Tinúviel, that is Nightingale in the language of old. Many sorrows befell them afterwards, and they were parted long. Tinúviel rescued Beren from the dungeons of Sauron, and together they passed through great dangers, and cast down even the Great Enemy from his throne, and took from his iron crown one of the three Silmarils, brightest of all jewels, to be the bride-price of Lúthien to Thingol her father. Yet at the last, Beren was slain by the Wolf that came from the gates of Angband, and he died in the arms of his lover."
"What happened to the elf maiden?" Doctor Selvig asked.
Strider sighed quietly before he answered his question. "She died. Since she chose mortality, she followed him as she sung."
That was when Jane seemed to notice a light in the eastern sky. It was flashing and fading many times. It was not the dawn, for that was still some hours off.
"What is that light?" Doctor Foster wondered.
"I do not know," Strider answered. "It is too distant to make out. It is like lightning that leaps up from the hill-tops."
"Well, whatever that light is, its miles away," Rifleman said. "Nothing to worry for the likes of us."