The Beginning of Darkness [LotR] [COMPLETED]

No Second Breakfast?

Strider had taken Frodo into their room closely followed by Mariliel and the Hobbits.

“What do you want?” Frodo asked rearranging his clothes after being pushed around,

“A little more caution from you!” Strider growled

Mariliel stepped in between the two, “Really Strider there was no need to man handle him. It was an accident!” she yelled

Strider paced around the room, putting out the candles as he went, “They are coming. You can’t wait for Gandalf here” he paused by the window.

“What do you suggest we do?” Mariliel asked

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Mariliel wasn’t sure if Striders plan would work. Arranging the bed covers so it looked like there were bodies sleeping there didn’t sound like a very good plan. Surely the Black Riders wouldn’t fall for it. But there were no other suggestions so they had to go with it.

Mariliel could sense that the Hobbits didn’t completely trust Strider. He was dark, mysterious, he hadn’t really given any clue as to who he was (Mariliel of course knew), and it looked like he hadn’t washed his hair in a while.

Sam, Merry and Pippin were sleeping in the large bed in their new room, Frodo unable to sleep was sitting at the foot of the bed. Mariliel and Strider were watching what was happening at the Prancing Pony through the window.

The Black Riders let out their loud screech when they realised they had been deceived. The sleeping Hobbits bolted awake.

“What are they?” asked Frodo

Strider watched them remount their black steeds before answering,

“They were once men. Great kings on men. Then Sauron gave them nine Rings of Power, and one by one they fell into the darkness.”

“They are now Sauron’s slaves” Mariliel continued, “Nazgul, Ringwraiths. They are drawn to the power of the Ring, they won’t stop chasing you, Frodo, until they have it and return it to their Master”

The Hobbits listened to the story wide eyed, not uttering a word,

“Where are we going to go now?” Frodo asked

Mariliel and Strider looked at each other before saying in unison, “The wild”

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The next morning the small company re-started their journey to Rivendell. Mariliel wasn’t particularly happy with the route that Strider was leading them on. It wasn’t the most direct path to Rivendell and added a couple of more days to their journey. But he insisted that it was the safest way to avoid the Black Riders.

“Can we trust him?” whispered Merry to the others

“Mariliel seems to and that’s enough for me” Frodo replied

Mariliel was secretly pleased that Frodo trusted her judgement even though they had only known each other for a couple of days and she smiled to herself. Consumed in her thoughts, not paying attention to where she was going Mariliel bumped into Strider who had stopped and was glaring back behind her,

“What are you doing? We are not stopping until nightfall”

Mariliel turned to see the Hobbits had started setting up a small campsite,

“We need to have breakfast” Pippin replied

“We’ve already had it” Strider said and started to walk away

“We’ve had one yes. But what about second breakfast?” said Pippin

Mariliel smiled, “He probably hasn’t heard of it Pippin”

The look of horror on his face was priceless,

“So then no elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea?” he asked

Mariliel pulled a couple of apples from her pack and handed one to each of them, “This will have to do for now” she said

As they continued the terrain got rougher and then gave way to marshland. The swampy water only came up to Mariliel and Striders thighs, but the Hobbits were up to their waists in it. Small flying bugs kept biting them and it was raining. Overall everyone was pretty miserable.

After they cleared the marshland they set up camp for the night. Strider caught a deer and silently he and Mariliel divided it into rations. No one felt chatty, they were all cold and their clothes were still soggy and smelt like the swamp. Soon they all drifted off to sleep.