Upon a watch tower

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The following morning, Strider leads the four hobbits and Hali pulls along a newly acquired pony away from the village of Bree

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The following morning, Strider leads the four hobbits and Hali pulls along a newly acquired pony away from the village of Bree. "Where are you taking us?" Frodo questions
"Into the wild." Is Striders only answer
"How do we know this Strider is a friend of Gandalf?" Merry accuses
"I think a servant of the Enemy would look fairer and feel fouler." Frodo responds looking back and forth between Merry and Aragorn.

"He's foul enough!" Merry hisses
"We have no choice but to trust him." Frodo snips back at Merry.
"If you cannot trust him, why do you not trust me instead. Estel is leading us back to Rivendell where we both grew up, we're to seek the council of the Lord Elrond" Hali says smiling at them while pulling Bill along the road. "Did you hear that? Rivendell! We're going to see the Elves!" Sam says with a sparkly in his eyes.

Aragorn keeps a steady pace keeping a few meters in front of the small hobbits with Hali keeping a many few paces behind them. The Hobbits pause, pulling cookware and food from their packs. Strider looks back at them.  "Gentlemen, we do not stop 'till nightfall." Aragorn looks back at them. "What about breakfast?" Pippin asks with a crestfallen face.

"We've already had it." Aragorn says
"We've had one, yes. What about second breakfast?" Pippin grows more crestfallen as Aragorn continues onward.
"Don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip." Merry intervenes
"What about elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them doesn't he?" Pippin rants with confusion written all over his face, "I wouldn't count on it." Merry consoles his cousin. When from over the bushes, Aragorn tosses an apple and Merry catches it. He hands it to Pippin and pats him on the shoulder. Another apple flies through the air, hitting Pippin in the head. He looks up bewildered.
Hali giggles to herself watching the anguished look appear on Pippin's face as they continue to march through the wild terrain. "Pippin!" Merry calls out from up ahead.
The party slowly make their way through increasingly rough country. It becomes darker and the forest gives way to flat marshland. All go up to their knees in the sludgy mire. The conditions are made worse by an army of midges which attack them unmercifully. Merry slaps despairingly at the cloud of pests hovering around him.
"What do they eat — when they can't get Hobbit?" Merry swats at the bugs.
Behind him, Pippin stumbles and falls into the mire. They make camp for the night. Aragorn manages to kill a deer which he brings back for their rations.

The Moon rises as the hobbits fall asleep. Aragorn keeps watch by the fire. He hums a tune softly.

Aragorn sings softly to himself by the low fire.

"Tinúviel elvanui,
Elleth alfirin ethelhael
O hon ring finnil fuinui
A renc gelebrin thiliol."

(Tinúviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her night-dark hair,
And arms like silver glimmering.)

Frodo wakes, hearing Aragorn's song. He lifts himself up and stares at the Ranger. "Who is she? This woman you sing of?" Frodo whispers to the ranger. Aragorn looks up sadly before answering the young hobbit  "'Tis the Lay of Lúthien. The Elf-maiden who gave her love to Beren, a mortal."

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