You brushed your hands on your dress apron, your back warm from hunching over a small section at the edge of your father's farm. You let out a content sigh as you gazed around the tall crops of corn. But then there was a sound in the distance of running feet, cracking stalks, and chirping voices.

You turned just in time to see the stalks of corn behind you buckle and break as four hobbits came crashing through, their arms laden with what you quickly assumed was food from your father's gardens. You tried to call out to them to stop but they couldn't hear you over Merry and Pippin's laughing and the crashing of the corn stalks. But they did see you.

"Hey-yo (Y/n)!" Called Pip, smiling wide, "The carrots are great this year!"

Merry flashed a smile as he reached out to grab for your hand. "Come on! He will think you helped us!"

Then you heard your father, his dogs barking as he followed the four hobbits that were running straight for the edge of the farm and the edge of the land. You shook your head as Frodo came out of the corn, his face expressing how she felt, confused and mildly frustrated.

"Stop! The land drops off here!"

You were able to yank your hand out of Merry's before they tried to come to a stop at the edge of the farm. But another body broke free of the crops and came barrelling across the small section of cleared land, his arms carrying more food than the others, his pots and pans hanging from his pack clanking like beacons to your father's dogs.

Sam was looking back at your father growing closer so he didn't see you and your outstretched arms to catch him as he came running to you.

"Sam! Wait!"

But it was too late.

With an 'oof', he hit you making you fall back into Merry, who then hit Pippin, who then pushed Frodo over the edge of the cliff, the five of you tumbling down like flailing stones. You closed your eyes and grunted as you fell, letting out a breath once you came to a stop. But you were surprised at how soft the ground was. Opening your eyes you looked down only to see Sam under you, his lips pulled up in a shy smile and his hands around your waist as your curly hobbit hair fell into his face.

"You alright?" He asked, concerned.

You nodded, your eyes wide. The others were stirring, making you jump slightly. Carefully, you rolled off of your friend and stood, looking around. Sam came up behind you, his voice low as he spoke.

"It wasn't my idea, honest. They kind of just ran into Mr. Frodo and I and before I knew it we were running. "

You let out a small breath as you gazed down at the broken and dirtied garden food at your feet, just missing a pile of dung. "It's alright, Sam. You needn't explain yourself with those two around. "

You both turned to Merry and Pippin rushing over to some mushrooms, eagerly picking at them. Sam looked a tiny bit intrigued, making you smile. But before you could open your mouth to tell him to go get some himself, Frodo called out for everyone to get off the road, his voice laced with fear and urgency.

You were about to ask why when there was a loud, ear piercing screech down the road. The air grew cold and the sky grew dark, the hairs on your arms and back of your neck standing on end.

You couldn't move. You stood transfixed as your nerves froze over with fear. You had been scared before, yes, but not like this. Not where every breath hurt like a thousand needles to the chest and every sound was echoy and deafening. You would have stayed there, staring down the path at the growing darkness and fog that grew closer had you not been tugged out of your stupor.

Sam reached for your hand, squeezing it tight as he pulled you down to where he and the others were hiding. "I gotch you," he whispered as he pressed his back to the dirt and held you to his side.

You closed your eyes and pressed your head to his chest as you felt his arms wrap around your middle, his on of his hands reaching up to cradle your head. You tried to focus on the sound of Sam's heartbeat instead of the horse and its rider coming to a stop just above you. The air was colder than any winter you could ever remember. Your stomach felt sick and you found breathing to be difficult. But Sam held you close, his own shallow breaths brushing your forehead in reassuring waves as you prayed the dark stranger would go away.

Suddenly there was another scretch and quickly the horse and rider left, the footfalls of the steed shaking the ground with each stride, your heart reaturning to normal. Sort of. You held onto Sam, even as the others got up and rushed away from where the cold creature had been just seconds before.

Looking down at you, Sam's brows pinched as he made sure you were alright. You were always strong and brave, but no Hobbit had ever needed to worry about anything worse than a broken wagon wheel or hastily planned parties. Dark enemies and powerful rings were not something Hobbits were known to deal with, let alone sweet, beautiful farmer's daughters.

You looked down at your hand still clasped in his, your cheeks warming but neither of you pulled away. Not until Frodo turned to you and the others, nodding in the opposite direction from where the scary man had gone. You both dropped your hands, yours going behind your back as Sam fiddled with a strap on his bag.

"We need to get away from here."

~~~~

Night time was still warm in the Shire this time of year but not anymore. At least not to you. You stumbled through the darkening forest, trying to stay close to the group but Frodo lead them like there was a pack of wolves behind you. The group came to a stop where you nearly collapsed, bending over to breathe as you leaned against a tree.

Sam approached you, placing a warm hand on your back as he gave you a kind and encouraging smile. You gave him a weak one back. Sam then turned to Frodo, his voice coming out in a loud whisper.

"Anything?"

"Nothing."

Pippen lifted a hand and shook his head. "What is going on?

Merry walked to Frodo who hid behind a bush, his worried expression never leaving his face since the rider had nearly caught them.

"That Black Rider was looking for something... or someone. Frodo?

There was an echo of a branch snapping drawing your attention. You let out a small gasp as you spotted one of the dark riders a mere stone throw's distance from the group. You reached for Sam as you ducked behind a tree.

"Get down!" You called out as discretely as you could.

Frodo hid behind a bush close to you and Sam. The brown haired Hobbit turned to his friends, his eyes beseeching as he spoke.

"I have to leave the Shire. Sam and I  must get to Bree."

Your eyes widened as you looked at Sam, wondering if you heard Frodo right. He nodded in agreement, his body slightly pressed against yours as you both didn't move from your hiding spot. Merry contemplated a moment then nodded.

"Right. Buckleberry Ferry. Follow me."

"Wait!" You called, making the others turn to you. Sam's brows furrowed as he looked at you with curiosity. You swallowed nervously as you returned his gaze. "I know a faster way. My father uses it when we get large seed orders. It's narrow but it will be much faster than the Ferry."

Sam nodded, placing a hand on your shoulder. "Then lead the way, (Y/n)."

~~~~~~

With not a single problem, you lead the four boys to the Bree Prancing Pony, smiling to the keeper and a few of the tenants you knew from all the times you had to come get various supplies for the farm that your dad left as a chore for you. Inside, you watched as Frodo lied about his name while asking for Gandalf the Grey. You smiled wistfully at the mention of the kind old wizard that once had a hand in helping you heal a section of crops plagued with perpetually dying.

With no wizard in sight, the five Hobbits grabbed a table and decided to get some ale and some food. You excused yourself to go freshen up, your mind reeling after what you had experienced so far. You were sure your father was worried sick about you and searching everywhere.

Sam stopped you before you left, his hand gentle as he caught your arm. His kind eyes were filled with concern and a touch of fear, his voice sounding much the same.

"Steer clear of that fella," he indicated a man smoking a pipe on the other side of the inn, his hood pulled up and his cloak wrapped like a shield around him.

You nodded, smiling gently as you reached up and patted Sam's upper arm. "Thank you, Sam. I will only be a moment."

You needed time to yourself to figure things out and to see if and when you should go back home and leave the boys to a trouble you did not wish to be a part of. But in that moment so much happened you only learne of it after you found the others.

You had come back to see everyone gone from the table but the other taller patrons of the bar and inn were mumbling something about "the little boy disappeared" and "them smaller ones are always causing mischief". You looked around the place, your heartbeat rising as you worried they may have left without you.

That is until you heart Sam's loud, strong voice from one of the upstair's rooms. As quickly as you cold you rushed up the stairs and found Sam, Merry, and Pippin standing in front of a room, each of them brandishing some sort of odd object as a weapon. Except for Sam, he had his fists up and ready for a fight. Bless that man.

You walked up to them, looking in the room to see Frodo and that cloaked man from before. "What is going on? Is everything alright."

Sam turned at your voice, his fists lowering slightly. "We need to leave this place."

The tall man shook his head, his long, unwashed hair swaying. "You may want to rethink that idea, young sir. You are being followed."

Instinctively you reached for Sam's arm, your hand taking hold of his sleeve as you remembered the dark, cold, riders with screeching voices.

~~~~

You lay in the middle of the bed, your eyes squeezed shut as the sounds of the Ring Wraiths as Aragorn called them, started screeching and attacking the small room where you and the boys were going to be saying in across the street. The others had gotten up with a start, but you wanted to hide under the covers and never leave.

A soft touch on your shoulder made you jump, a small squeak leaving your lips.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Sam said quietly as he looked down at you with worry.

You peeked your eyes open, subconsciously leaning closer to him, Merry on your other side. Sam sat up straighter and gently pulled you up too, pressing you to his side like before. You easily laid your head against his shoulder, letting out a low breath.

"Sam, what is happening?"

You felt his breath hitch as he thought about what to say. You and Sam were ignored as the others were talking with the man, Aragorn, who turned out to be a friend rather than foe. Sam's hand on your side moved up and down on your arm, his fingers creating nonsense patters on your goosebumped skin.

"I'm sorry you got roped into this. But I'm sure we can find a way to get you home,"

You sat up a bit more, pressing a hand to his chest as you held his eyes with a fierce gaze. "I got yo here without a single one of those...things seeing us. I can see that this is some sort of task that is very important but also dangerous. I'm here now and as terrified as I am, I want to help.

Sam stared at you for a moment before a small yet sad smile pulled at his lips. "You are incredibly brave, (Y/n)." He leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to your forehead, reaching for you and to pull you down to his chest again. "Try to get some sleep. I promise to tell you more in the morning."

You nodded into his nightshirt as you focused on his warmth and steady breathing to lull you to sleep. You dreamed of dark shadows and screaming birds, but you didn't feel scared because of the strong arms that were wrapped around you.