IV: The Prancing Pony
The rain beat down in bucketfuls. We panted as we raced through the trees from the the last crossing.
Finally, we reached the large wooden fence that marked entrance to Bree.
Frodo knocked.
An old person opened a small door, looked around, and then opened another one at a hobbit's eye level.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"We're heading for the Prancing Pony." Frodo answered.
The small window shut and the large gate was opened.
"Hobbits. Four hobbits!" The person said as Merry and I looked around behind us. Those Black Riders could be anywhere.
"Hurry up!" I muttered nervously.
"What business brings you to Bree?" He asked.
"We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is our own." Frodo replied.
The person nodded. "Alright young sir. I meant no offense. It's my job to ask questions after nightfall. There's talk of strange folk abroad. Can't be to careful." He shut the door.
I shuddered.
We trudged through the muddy streets to the village.
When we got there, we had trouble getting around. A horse-drawn cart rumbled by, almost running us over.
It seemed every person in Bree was a Man. We stumbled along, avoiding the other people's looks.
Two men walked through us, pushing us to the side. "Out of the way!" One said.
"Watch where you're waking." The other snickered.
Frodo spotted the sign, swinging in the wind and rain. A golden pony over the gold words on a green wood:
The Prancing Pony
We opened the door and hurried inside, happy to have shelter from the elements.
Men laughed loudly and the smell of ale reached our noses. I looked at Merry and grinned.
Pulling off our hoods, we looked at each other and then Frodo walked up to the bar.
The bar was a foot or two above our heads.
"Excuse me," Frodo said politely.
A Man walked up, cleaning a mug. "Good evening little masters. If you're seeking accommodation,-" he continued as another Man walked through our little group to leave. "- we've got some nice cozy hobbit-sized rooms available. Mister....uh....." He eyed Frodo warily.
"Underhill." Frodo said. "My name's Underhill."
The bartender nodded. "Underhill...yes..."
"We're friends of Gandalf the Grey; can you tell him we've arrived?"
"Gandalf?" The man looked up, as if thinking. "Gandalf." Light dawned upon the man. "Oh, yes...I remember. Elderly chap. Big grey beard, pointy hat."
Frodo s nodded.
"Not seen him for six months."
Frodo looked down, worried. Then he turned to us.
We all leaned our heads in.
"What do we do now?" Sam inquired.
We sat at a table, surrounded by drunk Men. Merry had gone to the bar to get a drink.
"Sam..." Frodo started. I drank again, trying not to eavesdrop. "He'll be here. He'll come." Frodo reassured him. Looking around, I saw Men giving us strange looks. Merry returned from the bar.
"Get out of my way." Someone shouted at him.
He sat down next to me with a huge mug, fills to the brim.
"What's that?" I gasped.
"This, my friend, is a pint." Merry gloated.
"It comes in pints?" I asked, shocked. My mind was blown just then. I looked up at Sam and Frodo as Merry drank deeply, nodding.
"I'm getting one." I stood up.
"You got a whole half already!" Sam cried, but I was already gone.
I got up to a seat as someone patted my back, as if to say: "Welcome to the club."
"One pint please." I ordered. It came fast, and I immediately began slurping greedily. I was halfway through it already. I felt slightly light headed.
"You know a..." A Man asked me. I looked at him by lolling my head to the side. "...Baggins?"
I hiccuped. "Baggins? Sure, I know a Baggins." I turned halfway. Raising my mug in Frodo's direction. "He's over there. Frodo Baggins. He's my second cousin." I continued. "Once removed on his mother's side... And my third cousin twice removed -"
Frodo grabbed my arm as I drank again. "Pippin!" He cried.
"Steady on, Frodo," I cried back.
Frodo slipped backwards on someone's foot, my mug knocking him down as well. Something flew out of his clenched fist and into the air. My drink spilled over the bar as I turned to watch.
The thing came down onto his finger, and he vanished.
"Ooooooooo!" I chorused with everyone else.
I blinked, knowing that I screwed up. And Frodo was gone.
Sam and Merry ran up to me. "Let's go!"
I shook my head, ridding myself of the most of my daze. We ran up the stairs. Passing a table on our way, Merry grabbed a candelabra, and I grabbed something, too.
A chair.
A door swung shut as we reached the top of the staircase. "That way!" Sam shouted.
We charged an broke open the door.
"Let him go!" Sam yelled. I noticed with dismay that this Man had a sword. "Or I'll have you, Longshanks!"
The Man regarded us, then sheathed his sword. "You have a stout heart, little hobbit. But that will not save you."
He turned to Frodo. "You can no longer wait for the wizard Frodo."
How did he know his name?
"They're coming."
The Man, Strider, Merry told me, led us out of the Prancing Pony through a back door. We entered an inn, where we rented a single bedroom with a large bed that all of us hobbits laid down in.
Soon enough, we were asleep.
My dream was strange. I was in a forest, Merry was there. I climbed a tree, yelling for Merry to follow me. Then, I looked back at the tree and the sight that met me was a large eye.
I suddenly awoke to the sounds of the shrieking Black Riders.
They had taken our bait and tried to kill the feathers in the beds of the room in the Prancing Pony.
I sat up with Merry and Sam to find Strider and Frodo sitting by the window.
"What are they?" Frodo asked as another shriek pierced the air.
"They were once Men," Strider began. "Great kings of Men. Ten Sauron the Deceiver gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one, falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgûl. Ringwraiths. Neither living not dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring, drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you."
The next morning, Strider woke us early. He had a pony, laden with our things, and led us out of Bree.
The Ringwraiths were still hunting us...obviously.
"Where are you taking us?" Frodo asked.
Strider kept walking. "Into the Wild."
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Okay, so here is the next chapter of LotR: Pippin's Point of View! Hope you enjoy it! The next chapter I hope to get out soon.
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