The Halfling of the West- Pippin's Journal

Entry 3

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything in the Middle Earth legendarium, all rights go to the Tolkien family.

October 24th, 1418

I am relieved to say we have finally reached Rivendell, and this may, at last, mark the end of our journey. However, we haven't reached here unscatched. We left Bree on the 30th of September, later in the morning than expected, due to a delay. The Black Riders had let loose all the ponies the night before, but we managed to buy an old, rough pony from a potential spy of the Enemy, Bill Ferny. It was all we could do. The pony carried much of our stuff, and we traversed the wilderness with Strider as our guide, who claims to know all the lands from the Shire to the Misty Mountains. I do not doubt him on that. We veered off the Road near the village of Archet, and spent two days crossing the vile Midgewater Marshes, tortured by flies. It was hard travelling with Strider. We moved swiftly all day, and he hasn't even heard of second breakfast!

After crossing the marshes, we made for Weathertop, a hill that once held the fortress of Amun Sûl, built by King Elendil for the kingdom of Arnor. Now, it just holds the collapsing foundation of the once grand tower. On the western flank of the hill Strider left Sam and I to watch the pony as the other three climbed up the thousand foot high hill from a path on the north side. Sam and I discovered some footprints and the hasty leftovers of a camp and firewood. Sam wondered if Gandalf had been here, and I also believed it could've been the old wizard. Unfortunately, we had accidentally trampled the footprints, so Strider couldn't determine exactly how old they were or who they were from. The three had found a rune on the top of Weathertop, possibly from Gandalf.

As we made camp that night, we were all on edge. Merry had spotted some dark figures in the distance from the top of the hill, and I, personally, was waiting for a cold blade to appear near my throat. Strider, thanks to our persistence, told us the tale of Beren and Lúthien, the greatest love between a Man and an Elf. However, with our guard lowered, we were ambushed on the top of Weathertop by five Black Riders, the one in the center was the tallest of them all. As ashamed as I am to say it, Merry and I ducked and hid, scared out of our feet hair. Frodo had put on the Ring, and beheld the Riders in their true form, before being stabbed in the shoulder by the tallest one. Strider then drove them off with flaming sticks, as they are subject to flames.

Frodo became ill and weak, and although Strider tended the wound with the best of his abilities, I believe it only eased his pain. We travelled towards Rivendell with great haste, and on the way we actually found the trolls that were turned to stone on Bilbo's adventure ages ago! Six days ago, we encountered Glorfindel, an Elf-Lord from Rivendell who was sent out to find us. He had drove away some Black Riders a few days before we met with him, but they were to regroup soon. He tried his own attempt to help Frodo's wound, who had now become very ill. We travelled even more fast and restless with Glorfindel leading. On the 20th, we were ambushed by all nine of the Riders! I was terrified, and thought for sure that Frodo would be captured, or worse! Glorfindel cried for Frodo, who had been riding on the Elf's horse, to escape. His horse flew like a storm's gusts, carrying Frodo with him. The Nine Riders attempted to cut them off, but Glorfindel's horse was too quick.

As Frodo crossed the Ford of Bruinen, the river that is the gateway to Rivendell, a mighty roar came up through the Ford, and out of nowhere, a mighty rushing wall of water, with what seemed to be horses and riders of foam, ran through the Ford and took the Riders with it!After that, Frodo fell unconscious. Gandalf and Elrond, the master of Rivendell, appeared with other elves, and they took Frodo with us to the elven valley.

It took a few days before Frodo even awoke, despite Elrond healing his wound to the best of his abilities. Sam never left Frodo's side, but Merry and I had quite the glorious time exploring Rivendell. So many stories, songs, and places to discover! It's such a beautiful place. Frodo had the past few days explained to him by Gandalf, and then we held a feast in Elrond's hall! I ate to my heart's (and my stomach's) content, I'm sure of it! Mr. Bilbo wasn't there, but rather sleeping in the Hall of FIre with his books and journals! We all gathered there after eating, and heard many songs and tales. After Strider helped Bilbo with his song, the old hobbit sang it to the elves' delight. It was the tale of Eärendil, a seafaring Man of old. Bilbo and Frodo then retired to his lodgings, and soon many of us went to bed as well.

I overheard that there will be a secret council tomorrow. Merry, Sam, and I aren't invited, which is absolutely preposterous. We deserve the same treatment as them all, since we are involved in this quest...journey...thing! Either way, I do miss the Shire, and now that the Ring is in Rivendell, we might get to go home soon after all.