-your POV-

I was now back with the hobbits. We were walking in the gates of Bree, a little town full of men and other free people. I was walking beside Frodo. I remember clearly what had happened and why we were here. Bilbo had slipped on the ring back in the shire and Gandalf sat us out to Rivendale, in hope that the elves could take it in safekeeping.

Soon the sign of the prancing pony was in our sight. I smiled under my hood, though the hobbits knew who I was, I did not want other people to know that just yet. And no, Frodo and his friends do not know about me being a shapeshifter.

"Excuse me?" Frodo says as he steps up to the bar, which rises far above his head. A man I'm kinda poor clothing if you ask me leans down over the bar. I had slipped into the shadows as stood there hearing their conversation.

"Good evening, little masters! If you're looking for accommodation we've got some nice, cozy, hobbit-sized rooms available. Mister uh —" the bartender says as a puzzled look crosses his face. Frodo sense this and piped up.

"Underhill, my name's Underhill." "Underhill. Yes..." the bartender sneers. "We're friends of Gandalf the Grey. Can you tell him we've arrived?" Frodo says. "Gandalf? Gandalf? Oh yes! I remember elderly chap, big gray beard, pointy hat... Not seen him for six months." Butterbur says as his face goes from glee to sorrow, kind of.

The hobbits are shocked. They huddle together. "What do we do now?" Sam asks as worry fils me. I hold my ground and continue to watch the hobbits.

-time skip-

We are seated at a table in the taproom of the Prancing Pony. The air is dark and smoke-filled. Drunken men laugh raucously. Several glances suspiciously at us. "Sam. He'll be here. He'll come." Frodo reassures Sam. I nod under my hood, hoping what Frodo says is true.

A man comes over to Merry who's coming from the bar. "Get, get out of my way." I scowl at the man but does not make a scene. Merry sits down at the table. He is holding a huge stein of beer. "What's that?" Pippin asks his friend.

"This my friend is a pint," Merry says. I roll my eyes playfully at the two youngsters. I hope they know that they shouldn't drink too much. "Aren't you gonna have one?" Frodo asks me. I shook my head. "Human drinks aren't for me. Especially beer." Frodo nods and a smile plays across his lips as he continues to watch Merry and Pippin.

"It comes in pints? I'm getting one." I laugh low as Pippin rushes to the bar. "You had a whole half already!" Sam shouts after him, a chuckle on his face. He then turns back to his mug. After a moment, he nudges Frodo and gestures to the corner of the room. A dark cloaked figure sits alone. His face is invisible inside his hood.

I also notice the dark cloaked figure and send him a glare. "That fellow's done nothin' but stares at us since we arrived," Sam says in a hushed tone to me and Frodo. Butterbur suddenly comes striding beside us. Frodo takes him aside and says. "Excuse me, that man in the corner, who is he?"

Butterbur glances at the man before turning back to Frodo. "He's one of the rangers. Dangerous folk they are — wandering the wilds. What his right name is I've never heard, but around here, he's known as Strider." I glance at the man, studying his face, as well as my enchanted eyesight, could see.

He had dark curly black hair and he had a pipe in the corner of his mouth. 'This man knows as Strider was indeed an interesting fellow.' I thought to myself as my eyes leaves him. I then see that Frodo is playing with the ring.

My eyes never leaving the cloaked man or the ring as the next thing happens quite fast.

"Baggins!" Pippin said exclaim from his seat a few paces back. My headshots up and I glare at pippin. Frodo snaps out of his reverie. "Sure I know a Baggins. He's over there, Frodo Baggins." Pippin continues. I close my eyes in irritation. How stupid can a young hobbit be?!

He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side" I hear pippin say. I growled as the big people gives us glances. I then see Strider sits up, his attention fairly caught. Frodo rushes towards the bar to stop Pippin from babbling further. I sit still, but my senses watching everyone.

"Pippin!" Frodo hisses as he grabs pippin. "Steady on, Frodo!" Pippin says, a little surprised to see his friend so hissed up. Frodo then slips on someone's boot and falls back, tossing the Ring into the air. I sit up, following the ring with my eyes as it slips onto Frodo's finger.

Frodo disappears. Folks gasp in surprise. Strider is alarmed. I, too, am alarmed. I have now stood up from my stool and my eyes flicker over the floor to find Frodo. I then hear a voice I never wanted to hear again.

"You cannot hide! I see you! There is no life in the void, only death!" It hissed. I can see Frodo back away. He's terrified. I close la my eyes, focusing on the picture I see in front of me.

Frodo gropes for the Ring, unable to tear his gaze from the hideous Eye. Finally, he wrenches the Ring off, reappearing with a relieved sigh. I open my eyes. Strider suddenly grabs him from behind.

I lure them closer to them but do not interfere as he slams Frodo to the wall. "You draw far too much attention to yourself Mister 'Underhill'!" Strider hiss. I follow as Strider tosses him up the stairs, flings open the door of his room, throws Frodo in and shuts the door behind them. Frodo stumbles, falls to his knees, and stands up.

"What do you want?" Frodo asks as Strider had turned to him. He did not notice me in the shadows. "A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry." Strider states. "I carry nothing!" Frodo restorts.

"Indeed." Strider says. Sarcasm in his voice. I scowl at him under my hood. How dare he talk to Frodo like that? Oh, this man just got on the suspicious list. I follow him with me eyes as he walks over to the window, and puts out the candles with his fingers.

"I can avoid being seen if I wish. But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift." He says as his eyes wander to Frodo. I smirk. Then it's a rare gift I got. "Who are you?" Frodo asks.  "Are you frightened?" Strider asks says, innoring Frodo's question. He then takes of his hood, reavaling quite a handsome man. 'What? Get a grip yourself, Aurora! You can't not fall for this man, not yet!' I scowl at myself.

"Yes." Frodo says, snapping me back to reality. "Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you." Strider continues. The door bursts open. Strider draws his sword. Sam, Merry and Pippin rush in, Sam with fists clenched and ready to fight.

"Let him go! Or I'll have you Longshanks!" Sam threaten. I have to suppress a laugh. Poor frightened hobbits. They don't have any chance against this man, so much I can see. Strider sheaths his sword. "You have a stout heart little hobbit, but that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the wizard Frodo. They're coming." I then step into the light, reaciing that u had been standing there.

"Then we will have to get out of here. For I do not wish to be a leaving stabbing pillow. Follow me young hobbits, I know a room." I say. I eye strider, giving him a small nod before turning to the door. The hobbits follow me, so do Strider.

Inside the gatehouse of Bree, the wizened gatekeeper hears a horse snorting. He gets up to investigate and opens the window in the gate. Suddenly the Black Riders crash through the gate, crushing the gatekeeper underneath it.

The riders gallop to the Prancing Pony. Screeches are heard. The Riders enter the Inn, swords drawn. Butterbur hides behind the door, terrified. Inside, the Hobbits are soundly asleep.

The Riders make for the hobbit-sized room. Silently, they raise their swords high above them to plunge into the beds. The swords descend, stabbing at the still forms as the Hobbits awake. The Riders pull back the covers and realise they have been attacking stuffed bedclothes and pillows. They scream. Strider and I watches from the window in his room as the Riders remount their horses.

Frodo sits at the foot of the bed. The rest of the sleeping hobbits, awakened by the Riders' cries, lean wide-eyed against the headboard. "What are they?" He says. I turn to strider and waist for his reply.

"They were once Men. Great kings of Men." He starts. "Then 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." I ends. I cringe at the memory. I was there that day.

Strider gives me a look. One with concern and curiosity. He then turns back to the Hobbits. "Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgûl, Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring. Drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you."

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So that's all for this chapter:) let me know what you think of it:3
-Saph