A path had been cut through the wheat field, not wide, just enough to show a person had entered. Rosie followed the path of broken stems to what at first glance was a bundle of clothes. She took her walking cane and gave it a gentle poke. In a flash...
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Frodo, Velasa and Sam walked along the country lane which bordered Farmer Maggot's fields; when Velasa and Sam looked up from the road Frodo had disappeared around a corner in the lane. Suddenly panicked, Velasa and Samwise began calling Frodo's name; running down the country lane; worry clear in their cries. "Mr Frodo." "Frodo!" The blue-eyed Hobbit turned, surprised to see Sam and Velasa running towards him with obvious fear in their eyes. "We thought we lost you." Frodo looked at Sam suspiciously; the other Hobbit glanced down, embarrassed. "What are you talking about?" Frodo teased.
Mumbling Sam replied; "It's just something Gandalf said..."
"What did he say?" Frodo asked.
"He said; 'Don't you leave him, Samwise Gamgee.'" Sam looked at Frodo intently. "And I don't mean to."
Frodo laughed. "Sam, we're still in the Shire what could possibly happen?" As if the universe wished to mock Frodo, a figure came crashing out of a hedgerow sending Frodo flying. The Hobbit picked himself up, only to be knocked back down again by another figure. "Frodo!" Pippin called happily. "Merry, it's Frodo Baggins."
"Hello, Frodo!" Merry greeted as Pippin, Frodo and himself began to pick themselves up off the ground a variety of vegetables have scattered everywhere. "What's the meaning of this!" Sam bellowed. Merry ignored him; handing the angry Hobbit a large cabbage. "You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" Velasa accused as a large pitchfork poked out from the Hedgerow, racing towards them along with angry shouts from the enraged farmer. "Who's that in my field? Get out of it!" He yelled. "Get out of my field, you young varmints! I'll show you...get out of my corn!" Merry and Pippin hurriedly gathered their booty and raced away with Frodo, Velasa and Sam on their heels. "I don't know why he's so upset, it's only a couple of carrots!" Merry called, looking behind him at where Farmer Maggot's cries could be heard. "And some cabbages, and those three bags of potatoes that we lifted last week, and then the mushrooms the week before." Pippin listed.
"Yes, Pippin, my point is, he's clearly overreacting," Merry said over the sound of large dogs baying. Suddenly the four Hobbits and human tumble head over heels down a bank, onto a dark, wooded road. "That was close." A winded Pippin said, his face inches away from a large pile of horse droppings. Velasa picked herself up and looked around the dark forest quickly. To her side, Merry groaned. " Ow. I think I've broken something." He muttered, pulling a large carrot, almost broken through in the middle, out from his back pocket. "Oh."
"Trust a Brandybuck and a Took," Sam said turning on Merry and Pippin. Velesa made an offended noise in the back of her throat. "What? That was just a detour...a shortcut." Merry claimed. Sam scoffed. "A shortcut to what?"
"Mushrooms!" Pippin said excitedly, sping a patch of brown mushrooms growing amongst the loamy undergrowth under the trees on the far side of the road. Sam, Merry, and Pippin raced toward the mushrooms as Velasa turned her gaze to Frodo who stood tense and watchful in the middle of the wooded road; scattered leaves rise into the air, whirling down the road as if blown by an invisible wind.
Suddenly the sound of horse hooves could be heard in the distance. "I think we should get off the road," Frodo called to the others; the three other Hobbits ignore him, fighting over the mushrooms as Velasa craned her neck to look down the wooded road as a long drawn wail comes down the wind, like the cry of some evil and lonely creature. "Get off the road!" Frodo cried urgently. Velasa grabbed Merry and Pippin with ease as Frodo and Sam quickly scrambled down the bank, hiding under a large mossy log.
The sound of hooves could be heard growing nearer and nearer; above the mossy log a sinister mounted figure steps into view, hooded and faceless; mounted high on a huge snarling black horse with intense, glaring eyes; Frodo froze in terror. The figure paused right beside their hiding place; he sat upon his monstrous stead, head bowed, listening for any movement. From inside the hood came a sniffing noise as if he was trying to catch an elusive scent; his head turning from side to side. Beads of sweat gathered on Frodo's brow. The hooded figure suddenly slid off his horse, leaning over the mossy log, peering suspiciously into the woods. Frodo has drawn the ring out of his pocket, with trembling hands, his face fevered and sweating as if in the grip of some terrible internal struggle. The sound of sniffing intensifies as the ghoulish figure darts his head from side to side like a bird of prey; Frodo squeezed his eyes shut. Sam looked at his friend with concern. "Frodo?" He whispers. Merry desperately hurled the mushrooms across the road; the figure span around at the sound, and darted to the far side of the road with frightening speed; Frodo instantly slumps. "What was that?" Velasa hissed; quiet as she feared if she spoke too loud the creature and his beastly stead would be drawn back toward them. She turned to Frodo, who stared, a look of shock on his face, at the ring lying in the palm of his hand.
Frodo, Sam, Velasa, Merry, and Pippin hurry through the trees, slipping and sliding on the muddy ground. "Anything?" Sam called to Frodo who was peering out from behind a tree in front of the others; cheeking the forest in front of them for any more mysterious figures in black. "Nothing," Frodo replied.
"What is going on?" Merry moved past Pippin, toward Frodo, watching intently. Velasa looked around nervously. "The Black rider was looking for something or someone, Frodo?" Velasa suddenly cries 'get down!' as the silhouette of the terrifying Black Rider loomed against the skyline. The four Hobbits and Human sprawled on the ground, holding their breath. Velasa could hear her heart pounding in her chest as the Black Rider turned and departed back into the deep woods. "I have to leave the Shire..." Frodo stuttered. "I must get to Bree." Merry looked at his friends, before nodding."Right. Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me!" As the Hobbits broke cover, a Black Rider burst out of the forest towards them. "There's another one!" Merry called. "Frodo, this way!" As the Hobbits ran the creature shrieked and snarled, horse hooves pounding against the uneven terrain. "Frodo, follow me!" Merry cried as he lad the others towards the wide, placid Brandywine river and towards the Brandywine Ferry. "Get the ropes, Sam!" Merry called as four Black Riders sped through the Fog, converging on the Ferry crossing. The Hobbits stampede across the Wharf and tumble onto the Ferry. "Frodo!" Sam screams; the Hobbit raced across the Wooden Wharf, followed by the Black Riders; he leaps into the Ferry and Sam and Merry shove off with the poles. The Ferry slides out into the river as the Black Riders pull up on the end of the Wharf, shrieking with rage; the Hobbits cover their ears at the loud sound. The Black Riders wheel their horses towards the North and gallop away along the river bank, quickly disappearing into the fog. "How far to the nearest crossing?" Velasa asked when she catches her breath. "The Brandywine bridge..." Merry said still winded and panting. "...twenty miles." The group collectedly groan, their bodies already sore, unaccustomed to the sheer amount of running they had just performed.
