The Seventh Ring

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Visitors

Soundtrack: An Unexpected Party from "The Hobbit"

The two brothers walked through the moonlight forest. It was not a perilous forest like those the young dwarves had often trekked, it was a beautiful, quiet, peaceful place.

"I'm not sure about this plan, Hux. What can one hobbit do against an army of orcs?" Kylo asked.

"I do not know what the wizard sees in those halflings," Hux responded to his brother.

"Me either...I know that there was a hobbit in Thorin's company, but I doubt there are any others like him," Kylo answered.

"Agreed," Hux replied.

"How much longer before we get to Hobbiton? I'm hungry...and tired, we've been walking all day," his younger brother complained.

"I'm not sure but you complaining isn't going to get us there any faster," Hux said trying to keep him in line.

"Can't we just set camp? By the time we reach Hobbiton all of the halflings will be asleep," he answered, imagining grumpy half asleep Hobbits answering the doors as they knocked on them one by one.

"At least it will be interesting."

"What would?" Kylo asked his older brother.

"Sleepy grumpy hobbits but at least it's not dinner time," he paused and looked at his brother, "that would be much worse."

"Why? If it was dinner time we could at least get some food," Kylo pointed out.

"But it's hobbit's and food," Hux answered.

"But Balin said that he had the most delicious feast at Master Baggins' house," Kylo replied.

Hux nodded in agreement remembering the story.

"Maybe that's why Gandalf likes hobbits so much, they have the best food in Middle Earth," Kylo went on. Just then he spotted a light up ahead. "Look!" he exclaimed, pointing to it.

His brother looked in the direction that he was pointing a lone cottage set nestled in the earth, beautiful green grass covering it's roof.

"Let's go!" Kylo exclaimed, running towards it.

"Kylo, wait for me," Hux said running after his brother.

They reached the small hobbit house and Kylo rang the doorbell.

The door opened and young girl hobbit answered the door. She had long brown hair and hazel eyes, her pale cheeks were dotted with small, faint freckles.

Kylo's mouth dropped slightly, he had no idea that hobbits were so beautiful.

Hux looked at his brother, who had his mouth gaping open and bumped his arm bringing him back to attention.

Kylo jumped with a small start, as he was pulled back to reality.

The two brothers bowed in unison. "Hux and Kylo...at your service."

The hobbit curtsied. "Rey...at your's," she answered.

She looked at the two young dwarves curiously. One of them had shoulder length red hair and a short red beard, he had a friendly smile and sea foam green eyes.

His companion was slightly taller, he had long black hair with a single strand braided on one side. He had a black mustache and a thin patch of hair on his chin. His onyx eyes were dark and piercing.

What were dwarves doing in the Shire? she wondered. "What brings you to the Shire?"

"We were sent by Gandalf The Grey," Hux answered.