Fighter || The Lord of the Rings

5 The Prancing Pony

We finally arrived at the tall wooden gate in the wall that surrounded Bree.

———

A soaking wet Frodo knocked on the door. A little seeing hole opened and an old man's head popped out.

    "What do you want?" The man asked squinting out into the dark.

    "We're heading for the Prancing Pony." Frodo told the man.

The man shut the little hole and opened the door stepping out with a lamp.

    "Hobbits. Five Hobbits? What business brings you to Bree?" The man questioned.

    "We wish to stay at the Inn. Our business is our own." Frodo told him giving no further explanation.

    "Alright, young sir. I meant no offence. It's my job to ask questions after nightfall." The man stepped aside letting us in. "There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be too careful."

—————

We walked through the muddy and wet streets. There was still quite a lot of people outside. Finally we came across a building with a sign that had a horse on in and words saying 'The Prancing Pony'.

We rushed over pushing the large door open and entering the warm and dry building. Pulling down our hoods I looked around the large room we had just entered. There was a fire place with a dancing fire that provided most of the light, there were also couple lamps hanging from the ceiling, there was a thin vail of smoke filling the room, there were many tables and benches that had many different people. I caught groups of Dwarves, Hobbits from Bree and Men. I could hear everyone talking but I couldn't understand a single word of it.

We walked up to the front desk.

"Excuse me." Frodo said.

It didn't take long for Barliman Butterbur (the owner) to lean over the counter to look down on us.

"Good evening, little masters." He said kindly. "If you're seeking accommodation we got some nice, cozy, Hobbit-sized rooms available. Mister, uh..."

"Underhill. My name's Underhill." Frodo told him.

"Underhill, yeah." Barliman nodded.

"That would be wonderful." I smile kindly as I answer his previous offer about the rooms.

"Yes, and we're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?" Frodo asked.

    "Gandalf?" Barliman thought for a moment, searching his brain. "Gandalf. Oh, yes. I remember. Elderly chap. Big, grey beard, pointy hat. Not seen him for six months."
That last part wasn't what we were hoping for but what I'm pretty sure we were all expecting. We were hoping that Gandalf came by Frodo's new home and after he discovered that Frodo had already set off he would then make for Bree and wait for us.

Frodo turned around to face our group.

"What do we do now?" Sam asked.

———

We decided to stay out and have a drink, all of us still hoping Gandalf would still come. We sat at a table not really talking much. Merry was out still waiting for his drink.

"Sam... he'll be here. He'll come." Frodo told Sam who was clearly uncomfortable in this place.

I looked around the room there were many men that gave me an odd and uneasy feelings, but there was this one man that sat hooded and alone smoking from a pipe in the little booth by the window. I watched him carefully, he was staring at Frodo the whole time. Then shivers went down my spine as both our eyes met, it took me a couple seconds to take my gaze away from the man and down onto the table. But one thing about his eyes didn't seem cruel or sinister, I couldn't quite place it but nothing in his eyes showed ill intent.

———

I bought my attention to Merry as came back to the table sitting beside Pippin with a large drink.

"What's that?" Pippin gasped as he looked at the drink.

"This, my friend, is a pint." Merry said very focused on his drink.

"It comes in pints?" Pippin said.

"Hmm." Merry answers while taking a drink.

"I'm getting one." Pippin decided as he got up from the table his drink in hand.

"You got a whole half already!" Sam said trying to stop Pippin, but he wasn't listening.

Sam sighed then leaned towards Frodo.

"That fellow's done nothing but stare at you since we arrived."
I watched as Frodo slightly turned his head to look at the man I was previously looking at.

"Excuse me." Frodo said stopped Barliman as he was just passing out tables with two drinks in one hand and a plate of food in the other. He bent over so it was easier for him to hear Frodo.

"That man in the corner. Who is he?" Frodo asked.

"He's one of them Ranges." Barliman started quietly. "Dangerous folk they are, wandering the wilds. What his right name is, I've never heard but 'round here, he's known as Strider." Barliman then got back up and walked off.

"Strider." Frodo repeated quietly.

—————

I just stared at my drink listening to the conversations around me as the night stretched on. Suddenly one voice stood out to me the most and I sat straight up.

"Baggins?" The voice belonged to Pippin. My head whipped around to see Pippin sitting at the front desk with a group of men around him."Sure, I know a Baggins. He's over there. Frodo Baggins." Pippin pointed with his drink and then men turned to take a look. "He's my second Cousin, once removed on his Mother's side 'and my third Cousin twice removed..."

My eyes bolted to Frodo as he quickly got up from the table pushing his way through the men to get to Pippin.

"Pippin!" Frodo cried.

I stand up but I don't leave the table knowing that it would only draw more unwanted attention, so I just watch as Frodo desperately pulls on Pippins arm.

"Steady on, Frodo." Pippin said as he quickly turned around to face Frodo, accidentally pushing him.
My eyes go wide as I watch Frodo fall backwards on the floor. There was a glint of gold caught by my eyes as The Ring was knocked out of Frodo's hand, then suddenly Frodo was gone.
The crowd that was watching gasped as the Hobbit disappeared. Merry, Sam and I all looked at each other with the same expression and thought.

———

Pippin came back to the table and no one spoke. I looked over the room till I spotted Frodo reappear across the room by a table. But before I could say anything a man who I recognize to be Strider, grabbed Frodo and pulled him away.

     "Sam, that Strider took Frodo, that way." I whisper so only us four can hear.

———

I lead the way through the crowd, Pippin picked up a stool as a weapon as Merry grabbed a candle stand.
We walk up to a door.

—————