Last Act of Love (Sequel to The Last One)

Chapter 1

Rain poured as it often did in Bree, turning the streets into swamps of mud and water. The sign of the Prancing Pony swung under the battering rain. Inside was alive with chatter, and the odd boisterous laugh from the more intoxicated occupants. Four hobbits sat hunched over and tense in the middle of the rowdy establishment, watched carefully by two hooded figures in the furthest and darkest corner. Smoke billowed from their pipes that gave a soft glow to their faces, but not enough to distinguish any features.

These two figures did not go unnoticed by Sam.

"Those two fellows have done nothing but stare at you since we arrived." He said gesturing with his mug.  

Frodo looked over, unable to see any identifiable features. The Barliman walked past their table and Frodo was quick to catch him as he did.

"Excuse me. Those two in the corner. Who are they?"

He looked over to the two hooded strangers and looked back to Frodo quickly.

"They're two of them rangers. They're dangerous folk they are. Wandering the wilds. What either of their right names are, I've never heard, but round here, he's known as Strider and the other; folk call her Hadron." He murmured before hurrying along his way.

Hadron, having the gift of Elvish blood could hear every word they spoke. 

"Strider. Hadron, I know that name." Frodo pondered to himself, rolling the ring in his fingers.

It all happened so quickly, the dark haired hobbit who carried no mere trinket ran to another, more naive hobbit shouting his name. Pippin. Suddenly the bearer slipped and fell on his back, the gold ring flinging up into the air. The two Rangers sat upright catching sight of the gold object as it fell toward the waiting hand of the hobbit and slipped fluidly onto his finger. The dark haired hobbit vanished causing shock and surprise to erupt amongst the occupants of the Inn.

The two Rangers were up in a flash, headed straight towards the reappeared hobbit. A large calloused hand reached out and latched onto the hobbit, startling him and pulling him to his feet.

"You draw far too much attention to yourself Mr Underhill!" The Ranger hissed.

Frodo was pulled out of the Inn and pushed up the stairs by the two hooded figures and thrown into one of the many rooms.

"What do you want?" Frodo whimpered, his voice filled with fear.

"A little more caution from you! That is no trinket you carry!" The same Ranger who grabbed him hissed.

This was definitely Strider, his voice was deep and his build was that of a man.

"I carry nothing." The Hobbit denied.

"Indeed." The other scoffed, speaking for the first time.

Although her face could not be seen, Frodo could tell she was a woman. Her voice was low but considerably higher than Strider's, not to mention her build was slightly smaller than his.

Strider walked around the room, snuffing the candles and engulfing the room in darkness, speaking as he did so.

"We can avoid being seen if we wish. But to disappear entirely..." He flung his hod from his head, dark locks falling to his shoulders."...That is a rare gift."

The other followed suit, pushing the hood of her cloak off her head. Golden locks that shone even in the darkness tumbled down her back brushing her mid thighs. Though he could not see either of their features well in the dark, he could tell without a doubt, she was very beautiful, quite possibly the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.