A Price To Pay- The Hobbit & LoTR

Chapter 1

The night wasn't that bad, Raewynn decided. Despite her black boots turned burnished-red with slick mud and her feet sloshing in rain water, she'd had a decent journey to Bree. She'd allowed a traveler onto her cart to give him a ride to the next town she'd be passing by. The traveler was a humorous old timer that kept her entertained with his wild stories of adventure, past loves, and too many times of his being whacked-across-the-head. He'd gotten more than a chuckle out of her, the moments shining golden in her memories of her day. After saying goodbye to the stranger-turned-strange-friend, night descended with a fierce rain and wind that soaked her through her heavy cloak. The torch-lit gates of the town shone through the night's darkness like angels beckoning her towards the promise of a warm meal and shower. Yes, today was a good day.

"What da yer want this late a' night?!"

Until now. The stable master before her was a grouchy man with a permanent frown and mouth chronically pulled down. He slouched in his deteriorating velvet chair, the wooden frame chipping away and stains littering the cushion, but he sat like he were a Lord in his castle, completely confident in his authority. 

Her day dimmed a little bit just looking at him. With a heavy sigh that cost her more energy than traveling 9 hours, she fished out a coin purse and tossed it onto his desk. She could see the way his ears perked up at the sound of metal clinking as the bag hit the desk.

"I just need a stable for my companion. Someplace warm and away from the feeding closet. He can pick locks." She could have smiled at the memory of her brilliant steed.

She watched him snatch the bag from the table and weighed it in one hand carefully, rattling it. He threw it back down to the woman. "You'll have to do better than that," he said dismissively, turning his nose in the air.

With a eye roll, she tossed another identical bag. His hand swiped both bags before the second bag could hit the desk, a greasy smile revealing yellowed and brown teeth. "It's a pleasure doin' business with yer, madam." 

The owner leaned back in his chair to look down the hall, "Boy! Get this lady's horse! 'n treat 'em well, paid a high price for 'em." Footsteps pounded from the hall and a boy came screeching around the corner. Raewynn glanced over the boy, her brows lowering as she noted how baggy his already-small clothes hung from his frame. The boy bowed respectfully to her before hurrying out the door into the rain. She followed after him, not sparing a second glance for the stable master and the clinking in his hands. 

Stepping out of the fire-warmed room into the dark, cold rain almost made her turn back and just endure the stable master's company for a while longer, but when she saw the boy come to a halt when he caught sight of the beast of a horse tacked to her cart... she grinned under her hood. 

Her companion was a mighty steed indeed. Powerfully sculpted limbs, head held high, feathers along his hooves- his painted brown and white coat shone silver in the rain. He was a sight to behold. And his eyes... they shone grey in the moonlight, a certain presence watching from behind them that was more than any horse's. He stood in place as if he were waiting patiently, caring not for the people darting between buildings past him despite bearing no reins or leads to keep him there. She had given him the name Norethun, and he was a trusted friend that had been with her through many journeys. 

She watched as the boy untacked Norethun, having had to grab a box to stand on in order to reach the steed's back. After untacking him from the cart, the boy gently wrapped a rope around Norethun's thick neck to guide him to his stable. Norethun followed without effort or fight, mindful of the young human. The boy led Norethun past her, his mouth open in shock or awe as he guided the large horse. She chuckled under her hood, but a sharp whack to her face took her by surprise. She yelped silently, jumping back and immediately rubbing at her eyes and face. She cracked open an eye to glare accusingly at the swishing tail that walked away, familiar grey eyes watching her from over his back in a manner that certainly proved there was more to this horse than normal. Norethun turned his head back forward, as if he were a perfect angel. She huffed and followed after them,