The Dark Within (Book One)

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We travel through the hills beyond Bree. The sun had risen but the clouds cover the sky, turning the sky grey. We travel quickly, knowing the rain is coming.

"Where are you taking us?" Frodo asks.

"Into the wild." Strider responds. We continue walking mostly in silence, I can tell that the hobbits are trying not to stare at my scar. Trying, but failing. Strider leads the way while I walk in the back with the two horses. Sam leads Striders horse and I lead my own.

"How do we know this Strider and that Raven are friends of Gandalf's?" Merry asks. He obviously doesn't realize that both of us could hear him. I smirk.

"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer and feel fouler." Frodo says. I absently touch the scar on my face.

"They're foul enough." Merry says.

"We have no choice but to trust him." Frodo says. Merry breathes out, he doesn't want to trust us. I laugh a bit. He stiffens, realizing that I heard him.

"But where is he leading us?" Sam asks.

"To Rivendell, Master Gamgee." Strider answers and they all pause for a moment now realizing that he heard as well. "To the house of Elrond."

"Did you hear that?" Sam whispers to the other hobbits. "We're going to see the elves."

"Have you been there before?" Frodo asks me, falling back to walk near me.

"Yes, not many times." I say. "I haven't been here for a while now. It must be almost 10 years."

"You must have been young." Frodo say. I smile.

"Younger than I am now yes. But young? No." I say. They all look at me confused. I do not look old. Probably around 30. But in reality I was 76. "And what about you Frodo? Have you been there before?"

"No." He says. "My uncle has though. He used to tell me stories of elves and orcs and dragons."

"Don't forget about the trolls." Sam puts in. I smile.

"It sounds like your uncle had quite the adventure." I say.

"Yes, he did." Frodo responds. A tinge of sadness in his voice.

"Do you have any stories?" Sam asks me.

"I have many stories." I say. They look at me, expectantly. I smile before telling one of my stories. It's a lighthearted story of when I got captured by rival merchants who I had stolen business from. They were a bunch of brutes who I outsmarted to escape. It's a story I usually tell to the children that come to me. But they seem to enjoy it. They start telling me their stories of the shire, not as grand as my adventures but still fun in their own way. They live simple lives, never going farther than Bree.

We start walking through plains and the wind bites. I pull my cloak closer around myself, trying to keep the wind out as much as I can. There's some snow on the ground and we go higher. We stop for a moment to breath. I hold onto the horses and scan our surroundings. The hobbits start shuffling around with their stuff.

"Gentlemen." Strider says, he's getting ready to go. "We do not stop till nightfall.

"What about breakfast?" Pippin asks.

"You've already had it." Strider says.

"We've had one, yes." Pippin says. "What about second breakfast?" I smile, hobbits and their food. Strider just looks at him for a moment before turning a leaving. The hobbits start packing up their things quickly.

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip." Merry says. Pippin looks distressed. He looks at me and I shrug my shoulders.

"What about elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper?" He ask Merry quickly. "He knows about them? Doesn't he?"

"I wouldn't count on it." Merry says. An apple flies backwards and Merry catches it easily. The next one comes and hits Pippin in the head. I laugh slightly. We continue walking.

Then we make it to the Midgewater marshes. A place I like to avoid at all costs. I'm sure this is faster and safer from the Ringwraiths. I step in and my leg sink to halfway up my calf. I look up and see the hobbits almost waist deep in the marsh. I was short for a ranger but I felt sorry for the little hobbits as they wade through this place. I hold onto both horses so the hobbits don't have to worry about them while trying to keep their balance in the marsh. We walk through until the sun starts to go down. We find a dry patch where we can put down our stuff. The hobbits start a fire and strider gets up.

"Stay here. I'll be back." He says. I nod and he leaves.

"Where is he going?" Pippin asks.

"Probably to hunt some meat." I respond. I take a bit of bread out of my bag and split it between the four hobbits. We all sit crowded around the small fire, trying to keep warm.

"That Raven on your necklace. What does it mean?" Frodo asks me. I rub it between my fingers.

"My parents gave it to me." I say. "I've had it since I was a child."

"Where are you parents now?" Pippin asks. It's an innocent question, he doesn't know.

"They died when I was ten." I say. I still see their faces, full of fear as they hide me from the wraiths.

"Oh... I'm sorry." Pippin says quietly.

"My parents died when I was 12." Frodo says softly. "That's when I went to live with my uncle."

"Losing ones parents is always hard." I say. "I'm sorry that you had to go through that little one." He smiles at me, his eyes getting misty. Strider comes back and placed down a large deer. I wasn't expecting that. I think to myself. I go over to him and start helping him gut and skin the animal. We cut the meat off and start to cook it, giving to the hobbits first once they are done.

"I'll take the first watch." Strider says once he's finished eating. I was going to argue but I felt exhaustion rush over me. We lie down, trying to find the driest spots we can. I pull my cloak over me and close my eyes.