The Last Othellan

Weathertop

We started our journey early the next morning. I could tell by the sideways glances between the hobbits that they didn't entirely trust us, least of all me. Strider had taken his hood down of course, but I had kept mine over my face. I would take it down when the time was right, I told myself. Once the hobbits trusted Strider more, perhaps they could learn to trust me, too.

"Where are you taking us?" called Frodo to Strider at the front of our group.

"Into the wild" he replied, not altogether reassuringly, as we trekked up a grassy bank out of the woodland. I wondered for the first time whether I should have trusted the man. However, Gandalf had given me this task, and if he meant for me to meet Strider, then I trusted him. If not, I had been in worse situations.

As if following my train of thought, Merry voiced his concerns "How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?" he muttered to Frodo.

"I think a servant of the enemy would look fairer, and feel fouler" Frodo replied wisely. I nodded in agreement from beside him, and the hobbits looked up surprised.

"He's foul enough" replied Merry darkly.

"We have no choice but to trust him" answered Frodo calmly

"But where's he leading us? Sam said in a carrying whisper, leading Bill the Pony on behind him.

"To Rivendell master Gamgee" answered Strider from in front. No doubt he had heard the whole exchange. "To the house of Elrond"

"Did you hear that?" Sam exclaimed "We're going to see the elves!"

I smiled at his words. Here was one hobbit whose trust I would have no trouble gaining.

A few hours later, the hobbits stopped suddenly. I looked suspiciously around me, wondering if they had spotted something I hadn't, and stayed behind them. I was startled when they began to remove their packs, ready for a break in the walking. Rolling my eyes wearily, I cleared my throat loudly, making Strider look back at us in confusion. I shrugged my shoulders in mild irritation at their actions as he looked questioningly into the depths of my hood.

"Gentlemen" he said "We do not stop until nightfall"

"What about breakfast?" asked Pippin in amazement, increasing my perplexity.

"You've already had it", answered Strider, my puzzled expression mirrored in his own face.

"We've had one yes" replied Pippin simply, "what about second breakfast?" I chuckled, torn between exasperation and amusement, as Strider turned away in apparent disgust.

"I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip" muttered Merry.

"What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he? Answered Pippin, the panic and astonishment clear in his voice.

"I wouldn't count on it" answered Merry basically. I couldn't resist laughing quietly at the back of the group. I don't think I'd ever met someone so hungry in all my long years. Frodo looked back at me and smiled knowingly.

We struggled through the midge water marshes that day. Aragorn and I could move quicker than the hobbits, though it was still a struggle, and we had to stop frequently to make sure they were behind us.

"What do they eat when they can't get hobbit?" Merry shouted from the back of the group. I heard a splash and Pippin, the smallest and youngest, had fallen flat on his face. He scrambled up and we carried on.

It was a relief to finally reach the end of the marshes and make camp for the night. I lit a fire while Sam fussed over a soggy and miserable looking Bill the pony.