Chapter 5


We finally made our way across the river on the ferry. It started to rain very bad and the ground was getting muddy.

My dress was getting very dirty. I really didn't care at this point. I just wanted to get to the Prancing Pony to meet Gandalf.

We walked in and there was so many men. The bar was large with many men talking, laughing, and yelling so loud.

There were tables all around. We walked up to the bar and Frodo spoke. "Excuse me, we are looking for Gandalf, is he here?" he asked.

The bartender thought a moment. "Oh, Old man with a pointy hat?" he said. Frodo nodded. "Oh, I have not seen him in a few months." He said.

Frodo looked at Byron and me. "We have to eat and get something to drink. Maybe even a room for the night. Although it wouldn't be proper for a lady to share a room with all us male foke, but we must stick together to be safe." He said.

I smiled. Frodo was such a gentleman. "I'll be fine. You don't know how many times I've had a sleepover with Byron." I said.

Frodo's face paled. "Well we must rest." He said turning towards the rest of the gang. We sat down at a table and the bartender brought us drinks and some stew. We started eating. Suddenly, Frodo spoke.

"There is a man in the corner who keeps looking at us." He said. I looked around and saw a man in a hood, smoking a pipe. It was hard to see his face, but you could tell he was well built and tall. I looked at Byron and spoke. "Why does he keep staring at us?" I asked.

Byron looked and turned stiff. "He's not looking at us, he is looking at you." He said. The group stopped talking and looked at me.

"Why would a stranger be looking at me?" I asked. The group started to smile. "Oh miss Lola, don't you know your very pretty." Said Pippin.

I gulped. I was not used to attention, except from Byron, and he didn't count considering he was like a brother to me.

"I'm not that pretty." I said. Frodo smiled. "Miss Lola, you don't give yourself enough credit, but we should be careful. Always travel in pairs." He said.

I nodded. "I'm going to get another drink." I said. I walked up to the bar and suddenly, I was grabbed from behind with a hand over my mouth. I was dragged up a flight of stairs and into a room. The door shut and I was released.

I turned to see the man who was in the corner. "What do you want? Let me go right now!" I yelled.

The man sighed. "A lady as yourself should not be traveling alone with a group of men without an escort." He said.

I know what it is you seek." He said. "And if I know, then many know." He said. Suddenly, the door busted open and all of my little friends and Byron stood at the door. "Let her go, you slimy gopher!" yelled Sam.

I couldn't help but giggle. The man turned to me and smiled. "They have great heart they do." He said.

He took off his hood and I could see him for the first time. He had brown hair that went to his shoulders. Beautiful Brown eyes and a handsome body. I had to stop myself from staring. I quickly looked to my friends. "He is not trying to hurt me, he was helping." I said.

For some reason I knew we could trust this man. "I'm Strider." He said. "You all are in danger, the dead seek you." He said. Frodo sighed. "Wait, it's because I put it on?" he asked. Aragorn turned his head in confusion. "Put what on?" he asked. Frodo looked at me and I nodded. He pulled the chain out of his shirt and showed it to strider.

"You carry the Ring. It must be destroyed." Said Strider. Frodo nodded.

"That's what we are doing." He said. Strider sighed. "Come with me, they know what room you are in. You must hide." He said.

We walked into another room which was in a different location, far away from the room we were in. The room was warm, there was a fire in the fireplace. Byron and I quickly went over to warm ourselves.

The hobbits quickly hopped into the big bed and fell fast asleep, except Frodo, he had a blank stare into God knows where. I knew his body was resting, but not his mind. Suddenly, there was a streak so loud it hurt my ears. "What was that?" I asked.

Strider spoke. "That was the Nazgul!" he said. "They once were mean, but sold their souls and are now dammed for all eternity, searching for the one ring." He said. I sighed. I was really warm now so I got up. "Will you help us?" I asked. Strider just looked at me. Studying me.

Byron cleared his throat and came next to me. He put his arm around me and spoke. "We need to get to Rivendell to give the ring to the Elves to destroy." He said. Strider sighed. "I will take you to Rivendell, where the elves live." He said.

We must leave now. Soon, once the hobbits were woken up and packed up we headed out towards Rivendell. What awaited us we did not know.