Hunted RPG

[piosenniel]

Niluial’s post

Melody looked out the window and the nightmare was still not over, the trees, hills, lakes and everything ells was still covered in white snow. Melody hugged herself hopping to get warmer. The door opened behind her, she turned around and saw an angry face.

“There is hardly any food left!” Tom said walking into the room throwing all his papers on the floor. Melody backed away, she hated Tom’s bad moods.

“We must get a group of us together to get supplies! We need them or we will starve” he said in a calmer voice.

“But who? I am sure not many are prepared to go out in this cold. There are wolves along the bor…”

“I know there are wolves around the border and dangers out there! Do you think we have a choice?” Tom said interrupting Melody. His tone changed to angry again. “Why don’t you understand?”

“I do understand, I am just the one staying calm here!” Melody exclaimed putting her hand on his shoulder. Tom pushed Melody’s hand away and walked out the room slamming the door behind him. Melody fell to the floor and started crying. She couldn’t take it anymore, all this stress and anger. Everyone in The Shire was stressed and depressed. Melody hated seeing everyone like this, it was awful. "I must do something," she thought.

She sat at the dinner table with Tom that evening, it was silent. Melody looked at Tom, not sure if she should say anything. She couldn’t touch her food, she was hungry but was too distracted. She watched Tom across the table.

“Eat! Why aren’t you eating? And stop looking at me like I am an orc!” Tom shouted. Melody sank down into the chair and took a bite of her food. He had been so snappy lately, always shouting and giving orders. Melody sat up straight “T..To..Tom. I have” she took a breath “I have an idea” Melody said, she waited for a reply.

“Yes? What is it?” Tom asked.

“Well, we could go to Rivendell. Get a group of us together and get the supplies we need. I was wrong earlier! There are many Hobbits out there wanting to go on the trip, just to save their families, they would even die for them” Melody said with a half put on smile.

“That is the best idea we have so far I guess.” He paused, looking into her eyes “I’ll call a meeting tomorrow! We can send the news around about the meeting and ask all willing Hobbits to come.” Tom said. He looked back down onto his plate and carried on eating. Melody sighed with relief, maybe they could help.

The next morning Melody was up early in the kitchen singing. Ivy stood outside knocking on the door

“Knock, knock! Anyone home?”

Melody ran and opened the door and squealed “Ivy! You’re here, perfect timing indeed!” Melody said hugging her best friend. Ivy laughed and they both walked into the kitchen.

Ivy looked at Melody “why are you so happy? Its odd seeing someone happy in this town, everyone is so sad and snappy!” Ivy inquired.

“Tom and I are getting a whole lot of Hobbits together to go to Rivendell to get the needed supplies” said Melody, mixing the cake mixture.

“And you are happy because you can go?”

“Well” Melody paused “I haven’t spoken to him about that yet”

“Oh, Melody! You know Tom won't let you go, he cares for you too much!”

“I’ll bring up the subject at the meeting! You will come to wont you?”

“Me, miss out an adventure, huh!” Ivy said winking at Melody.

They ate breakfast and spoke about the trip and who they thought were coming. Melody felt bad, she had more supplies than the other Hobbits in the Shire - their pantry wasn’t full but enough to last a week or two. Ivy left after breakfast, she had some things to do.

Tom walked into the house while Melody was outside picking flowers. “Melody! The meeting is on for late afternoon. I told a few about the trip and it is bound to travel quick.” Tom said.

Melody smiled and said “Well I’ll see you at the meeting then!” and carried on gardening.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 5:43 PM January 12, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

Gorbadic’s post

Gorbadic walks through the woods towards a friend's house. As he makes his way there he notices a rabbit stuck in a trap. Sadly the rabbit is close to death and can not be saved but Gorbadic does not take that for an excuse not to help. He runs over to the small animal and breaks the trap with all his strength. Picking up the rabbit Gorbadic begins to cry over what has happened to it. The rabbit dies in his hand so Gorbadic takes it to some bushes and wraps some ivy around it and digs a small hole. He sets the rabbit into the hole and covers it up.


Gorbadic knows he has to be at his friend's house soon so he starts to walk a little faster than before, hoping to get there in time. From the faster walking, Gorbadic decides he should take a rest. He walks over to a fallen tree and sits down and then leans back against it. Yawning loudly Gorbadic feels better and starts to drift off to sleep. His head starts to droop over making his hair swing low. He suddenly remembers the meeting and jumps up and begins to walk slower then a jog but faster than a average walk speed.

He sees the house up ahead and notices some people by it. It was his friend's so he walks steady again and makes it there - waving to all his friends and telling what happened just to come over to the house. Gorbadic sits down on the ground and again starts to drift off to sleep when the door opens up. Happily he walks in and finally can relax for once in the day.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 5:23 PM January 12, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

Phervasaion’s post

Tom paced up and down the path by Melody’s house thinking who he could trust to go on this mission with him. He had a few good old hobbit friends that lived near by and he was sure they would come along to the meeting if he asked, so, he went to visit them all. All of them were not sure of coming on the actual journey due to the wolves and danger, but, luckily for Tom they all agreed to go to the meeting on that late afternoon.

Tom told everyone to meet at his house for four. An hour before hand Tom grabbed some spare chairs from his room and began placing them around his dining room table. He stopped and thought for a moment.

“We could have some dinner while the meeting is on,” Tom thought to himself as he let the Hobbits passion for food appear in him. “No,” he said aloud as the strictness of him reappeared on his face. “It would only make us trail off the subject… Plus I don’t have enough supplies anyway.” He finished placing the chairs around his table and stretched. The chairs were rather heavy for a hobbit to carry around and he had a bad back in the first place.

Just at four o’clock Tom heard a knock the door. He opened it and in walked Melody and Ivy along with the other hobbits. “Good! Your all on time,” said Tom in his usual dominant voice. They all made their way into the dining room and took their seats.

Tom simply explained the extremely dangerous situation they were in with all the crops being frozen over, food supplies running short, and he told them the details of their plan. When he finished he simply stood up and leaned over the table and said to them in a demanding manner, “Now… I trust I will have all your company for the journey?” All the hobbits looked at each other and there was a short silence.

“Yes err…okay we will come along with you,” one of the Hobbits replied looking slightly scared of Tom.

“Good! Now, Melody and Ivy I need you to prepare some food supplies for us before we set out tomorrow if that’s okay with you,” said Tom to the two Hobbit ladies. Melody looked back with a brave face.

“Actually we were hoping to come along with you… can we?” Tom just looked at them as if they had just offended him in some way.

“What! You think you can come along with us?? Do you know how dangerous the road towards Rivendell is!?” Tom shouted in a booming voice.

“Yes, bu…”

“But What?! The point is the road is too dangerous for women and you're not going!! This meeting is over. Everyone leave!” All the Hobbits left in a hurry to let Tom calm down. After they left Tom slumped down in his chair and took a deep breath. “I suppose I’ll eventually have to let the women come along. Melody usually gets what she wants anyway,” Tom muttered to himself unwillingly.

[piosenniel]

Elentari’s post

The snow fell silently from the grey sky, as it had done for a long while now. Merimac Headstrong couldn’t remember any winter having been this cold before, though his memory only stretched back thirty-four years, well, not even that. Food supplies were running dangerously low, and he was glad somebody was finally taking action about it. Tom Bracegirdle had invited him to a meeting at four o’clock that afternoon. Merimac was hoping that there would be some expedition to get more supplies, and he was not disappointed. He arrived with Melody, Ivy and some other hobbits at Tom’s dwelling and took his seat at the dining room table.

Tom explained the plan in much detail to the hobbits, and Merimac was inwardly both excited and nervous about the possible journey ahead. He had never left the Shire before, yet his curiosity soon overcame his fears.

“Now… I trust I will have all your company for the journey?” Tom said in a demanding voice.

Another of the Hobbits present answered for the group, though they seemed nervous and slightly scared of Tom. “Yes err…okay we will come along with you.”

Merimac was about to stand and say farewell, as the meeting seemed to be over, when Tom suddenly began to shout at Melody. Tom was right though, the road was dangerous, but Merimac had learned from childhood scuffles that hobbit lasses are just as capable has hobbit lads when it comes to protecting themselves. However, he said nothing because he did not wish to get involved in an argument with Tom. He knew that Melody would easily persuade Tom to change his mind.

He slipped quietly away from the meeting, for it was now definitely over. The road back to his hobbit-hole was quite icy under the snow, but he managed to keep his balance as he walked slowly along, deep in thought. What should he pack? He’d never been on such a long adventure before. He packed what he thought he’d need, such as some rope, food, extra clothes in case it got even colder, his sling and stones, and his walking stick. Who knows what we might meet on the way to Rivendel, he thought.

[piosenniel]

Teleri's post

The shire was stuck in perpetual winter, and the snow had long become monotonous to even the children. In a hobbit hole in Tuckborough, with a white frosted roof, a woman sat hard at work in her study. She was just beginning to leave middle age, and she wore a simple brown dress, who's only adornment was a ruffel on the end of each sleeve. Her mingled black and silvery hair was pulled back into a bun, to keep it out of her face, and tied with a rag. She was making a toy.

Ah...Two months of hard work, and now I am finished at last. Estelle slipped a tarneshed old whittling knife into its worn leather sheath, and set a toy ship on the table. She stepped back to admire the effect. A pale winter light shown through the round window in a beam. She had placed the miniature vessel directly in the light, and now its glossy paint shown and glittered, like a far off twinkling star. She could see clouds off dust faintly, and they looked like golden fog, wrapping round the mast playfully, then racing away from the narrow straight of light. The ship was made with caring detail, and even the tiny ropes were knotted just so.

This one will be for my own collection. Estelle laughed, as she imagined what what many of the hobbit-mothers near by would say if she had given a toy boat to their child.

Estelle stood to put the boat in its place, and winced. Her bones ached. Only her hands, and fingers had been spared this hurt of age. She was hungery as well. She could not afford to eat more than one meal a day, and that one not so lavishly as she might wish. Curse this long cold! She thought to herself. I hope this balsted ice melts tomorrow, and then if it is never Winter again it will be too soon! The weather did not only affect her. The children were starving, or freezing their toes off outside and catching cold. Many of Estelle's young friends were sick, and two were dead. Estelle frowned as she lifted her ship to its place on the shelf.


There was a knock on her door.


"Who is it?" she hollered, already clamoring to the door.

"It is..." she opened the door as Tom Bracegirdle finished saying, "Tom."

"Mister Bracegirdle! Come in this instant before your feet turn to ice cubes!"

The hall was not much warmer than outside, and the only fire lit was in the study, so that is where they went. Estelle was bustling about happily: a visitor was always cheering.

"Now then Mister Bracegirdle! Will you take some tea?" She asked brightly, putting the kettle on the fire. "It's a good brew, though I am afraid I have no good vittles to go with it..."

"Thank you, my good lady!" said Tom, now eyeing the newest addition to to Mrs. Tunnelly's toy collection: a miniature boat. He grinned at it mischievously.

Estelle, catching the reason of his smile, said, "Do you like it? I finished just a moment before you showed up."

"Why yes I-" he was not allowed to finish.

"Speaking of which," said Estelle, " you did not come out in this weather just to have tea with an old woman. Do you need anything?"

Tom had, infact come to recruite the help of Mrs. Tunnelly in an expedition to get supplies. But once again, he was not allowed to speak.

"Mister Bracegirdle," said Estelle, "I am beginning to grow worried. If the weather does not change soon, we will miss the planting season, and everyone will starve! Now I have been thinking about it for some time, sir, and I have an idea: we should go to Rivendell, and I am sure the elves will help us. Or even Bree! They have not been so sore in their luck as we."

"Well Mrs. Tunnelly, I should have known you would want to be in on this..."

[piosenniel]

Fool Of A Took's post

Cedric hated the snow. He couldn't sleep or read in his hammock. He took up some snow in his hand and looked angry at it. He got the feeling to hit the snow, but he changed his mind as he realized it would look silly if he stood in his own garden hitting some snow. He sighed and threw it away. His face took a more sad shape when he noticed his flower bed. His flowers were all frozen and dead. He tried to brush the snow of the leaves. “Bah! I was going to plant new anyway!”, he thought.

He rose and brushed away some snow off his knees. He saw his neighbour, the hobbit lass Crystal Whitfoot. “Good day to you!” Cedric said and tried to smile. It was so cold that it was hard to smile. Crystal looked at him. “Good day Cedric!” Crystal said and waved. Cedric turned around and went into his hole. He sat down by the fireplace in his most comfortable armchair. He started thinking about yesterday. Why did I accept to join the others to go to Rivendell. As I think of it now, I would rather stay here. He drew a deep sigh. But its too late, I have already promised them. He took up his pipe and fell into his thoughts about the journey again.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 12:19 PM January 17, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

dragoneyes' post

Hob Bolger was sitting on the step outside the back door of his house. The snow was falling gently around him and on him. He pulled his coat tighter around him. It was a fine fur-lined green coat, which he thought must have been exspensive, but had never found out as he had recieved it on his father's birthday and so of course couldn't be told the price. Now he was glad for it. He hated sitting inside only being able to hear his mother's coughs and it made outside that little more bareable, even though his ears were still aching with the cold.

As he sat, he thought over the past few days. How was it that he'd come to find himself enrolled on a trip from his home to Rivendell? He remembered meetings with other hobbits, Tom Bracegirdle stood out in his mind as the one who had planned it all, but it was his father that had sent him away from his warm house and bare larder to set out on a quest away from everything he'd ever known to the hopefully fuller larders of the Elves.

Hob stood from his familiar position, shaking the snow from where it had settled all about him. He hated the cold with all his heart for what it had taken from him, but it was time like these, when his stomach wasn't grumbling and he could see no sign of sickness, that he forgave it. He opened his door, best to get packing now, he didn't want to forget anything, as his father kept reminding him. He smiled, how his father was fussing all over him, truely proud and yet at the same time worrying. As if he were taking over the job of his mother. He heard a cough and the smile was wiped from his face. He stepped inside the house and stamped the snow off his feet. He glared back outside at the frosty scene, it was just an innocent-looking facade and underneath he saw the cold for being the sinister climate it really was and slammed the door shut behind him.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 12:21 PM January 17, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[piosenniel]

Orofaniel's post

Daisy closed the door behind her as the wind blew coldly in her hair. She shivered so she tightened her coat around her waist. The snowflakes were falling down as light feathers, but as cold as the icy waters. She walked out of the small gate from the garden. It had once been the prettiest garden in the area, because of the blooming flowers in every colour. It hadn't been like that for a long time, Daisy thought and sighed. Even during summer the snow had been there, and there hadn't been much "gardening" on daisy lately. The only thing you could see now was some stick with ice sticking up to the surface, but no flowers.

Most of, or all the crops in the back yard had also been frozen away and died.

Suddenly Daisy realised that she was standing face to face with Melody Took. Melody's beautiful hazel eyes were looking at Daisy as she greeted her.

"What brings you here?" Daisy asked curiously while she gave a short laugh. Melody laughed as well, and smiled.

"Well, actually...." She started narrowing her eyes. "Since it has been such a long winter...and since there isn't much food left, it has been suggested that group of Hobbits should get to Rivendell to get food and supplies. You know, the crops all over the shire are gone…died…." She said and looked anxious at Daisy. "Even your beautiful garden is covered in snow and ice..." She said finally looking down on the ground.

"Oh....I would live to come" Daisy exclaimed. "I would love to do something for the Shire...to bring food and supplies from Rivendell ...and too the Hobbits!" She continued, her sparks in her eyes were not to be overseen.

"Yes, that's....understandable." Melody said and shrugged. "But that is also one of the problems...."She continued. "You see...there was a meeting where Tom gathered the Hobbits that would be needed for the journey. He told me and Ivy that we should prepare the food they needed for the journey and so on. But when we asked if we could come, something we both were hoping for, he said no." Melody said with a heavy sigh. It was obvious that she wanted to come as well, and not be shut out like that.

"Oh….I see." Daisy said and blushed. "So, you want me to help or...." Daisy continued, her face now turning into her normal colour again.

"Well, you could help me and Ivy with the supplies the Hobbits need for the journey. I guess...." She said doubtfully. She eyed the disappointment in Daisy's eyes, and smiled: "Well, we could ask Tom again!" She suggested. "First time it was only me and Ivy, but no you'll be there too. So we'll be more and stronger!” She said enthusiastically.

Daisy straightened her back and smiled as well. She thought it was a splendid idea, and she thought for herself that this wasn't an opportunity to throw away. She had to try....

[piosenniel]

ElenCalaIsil's post

Ivy looked out, on the bank of the Brandywine. A cold wind rustled the leaves and brought a chill to her body. It had never been this cold in her life. The river was covered in a thin sheet of ice, and there was an air of danger about. Ivy drew her cloak about her, keeping out the prying fingers of winter’s cold wind. She stood staring past the river. A few other Shire-folk peered out from behind trees. Ivy turned to see them, and walked away. Something was not right. As she walked down the familiar path, the folks came out of their homes and gave Ivy a look. She saw that they were worried. Picking up the pace, Ivy walked towards the Great Smials, where Melody Took would await her.

It was fairly obvious to Ivy, why Melody had summoned her, it lingered in the air, it was in the faces of the Hobbit-children. It was in the ice that covered the Brandywine. Secretly, Ivy looked forward to what was coming, but she kept a solemn look upon her face, one to match the people she passed on her way. Melody had the inside word, and Ivy would not let her slip past without knowing. As she drew nearer to the place where she would rendezvous with Melody, she grew excited. A smile crept upon her face, and she was met with frowns. Ivy ignored the Hobbits’ looks and kept walking. She sensed the opportunity to go on an adventure.

When at last Ivy came closer to Great Smials, a Hobbit-lass came towards her. A worried look upon her face. Ivy’s smile receded into concern, as Melody nodded, and motioned her to come closer. As Ivy approached, she saw a group of Hobbits, gathered a bit farther behind Melody. They seemed reluctant, about something, and they all had large packs with them. They spoke in hushed voices, and Ivy listened. Melody took her aside and explained the ordeal. “Rivendell?” Ivy asked incredulously, when Melody had finished her tale. Melody nodded once more. Ivy stood, staring out at nothing, lost in thought. They would need strong Hobbits, to carry back a plenty. The crops were dying, and something had to be done.

“I will come. I don’t carry much for myself, anyhow. I can carry supplies for the others. They can’t rely on the ponies, and wagons alone.” Ivy said hurriedly. She was sure someone would protest, but she was determined nonetheless. Ivy was known for her mischievous ways, and this was a serious journey. But the yearning to go on an adventure, even one such as this, gnawed at her heart. She knew that Melody would expect this of her. She tilted her head in question.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:03 PM January 12, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Gorbadic]

*After the meeting Gorbadic notices how Tom treats Melody. He talks to her in a loud voice. To loud really to be something happy or nice. Gorbadic walks over to Tom and pulls him to the side and whispers in his left ear. "Why do you talk to her like that?" *Gorbadic lets go of Tom's arm and walks away back torwards his other friends before Tom could even answer his question. He leans on Merimac's left shoulder and gives Tom one last look. "How much food are we gonna take? Its so cold out so we probably cant take much can we?" Gorbadic wonders this with concern. He doesnt want to starve to death out in the freezing cold, well or anywhere.*

*Gorbadic gets off of Merimac's shoulder and walks over to the table. He sits down in one of the chairs and slouches so much he is practicly hanging from the chair's end. He doesnt care as long as he can lay back for a few minutes. He shuts his eyes and then as soon as he did it has to get up. The reason being because his chair was slipping out from under him. Before he can react the chair goes back while his body falls down to the floor. He lands with a loud thud and pain. He slowly stands up while holding his back and his eyes narrowed. "Now that hurt!" He says this in pain and they could tell that he was really in pain. He walks back over to Merimac and again leans on his left shoulder this time for helpful support.*

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 11:30 AM January 16, 2004: Message edited by: Gorbadic ]

[Teleri]

Estelle never really had a doubt that she would be allowed to come. Tom's a reasonable chap, even if his is strong-headed... she thought, as she began to pack an old sack with essentials for the the journey. Tom had been the only one apposed to leaving all the women behind. And he would not think of trying to make me stay. For I can be scarier than he.

This thought stirred old memories, that made Estelle smile. She remembered how, when she was a lass, nobody could leave her out of an adventure. She would toss her long hair, and glare at the unfortunate victim, until she got her way. As an older woman, she had less to be angry about, but she remembered one occasion when Tom himself had been a particularly bad guest. He was no more than twelve, and the glare had made him stagger as if he'd been hit in the chest with a rock.

Well, I'm coming, and there is nothing anyone can do to stop me! Besides, she thought, if a group of young hobbits are willing to go on such an adventure in the first place, then they are lacking in sense. They will need someone older than they are to look after them.

"There!" she said, putting some jarred food into the sack. "I don't have much else to pack that'd be useful anyway, so I guess I'm done..."

Estelle went into her study, and lay the sack inside the door. She sat infront of the dying fire, and waited for word from Ivy, or Melody, aware that it may be a long time before she sat infront of her fireplace again.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 8:09 PM January 16, 2004: Message edited by: Teleri ]

[Fool Of A Took]

Why had Tom been so hard on Melody, Cedric thought as he sat by the fireplace, I don't have anything against that a woman comes with us. Cedric rose up and walked to the kitchen and started making some tea. Why had he been so harsh to her? That question annoyed his mind all the time. And now he was supposed to go on a journey with that man. Cedric tried to think of the journey instead. Suddenly he heard someone knocking on the door. Someone was knocking so hard that it sounded like someone where going to blow up his door. He ran through the hall and opened the door. His mother, Lilly, stood outside and was jumping up and down to keep the herself warm.

“Mother!” Cedric began and hugged her.

“Cedric! What is the meaning of this?” she said and now her voice started to sound angry.

“What are you talking about?” Cedric said and looked confused at his mother.

“I’ve heard from my neighbour that you and several others are leaving, and will try to get to Rivendell?!” she said and looked shocked.

“Ehm... Yes, mother. I was just going to tell you.” Cedric said slowly. “ Come in and have a cup of tea. I will explain everything.”

They both went into Cedric's kitchen and Lilly sat down. Cedric served her tea and sat down beside her. He didn't like the look of her face. The worried look he used to get when he was in trouble. She sipped at the tea and leaned back in the chair. Cedric had a bad feeling of explaining it all. She must be worried and disappointed now, he thought and stroke his hand through his hair. His mother stared at him and had a cold look. Cedric tried to avoid her gaze. His mother seemed to await Cedric to explain it all, but Cedric still didn’t say anything.
“I don't want to lose you too, Cedric” she began.

“Mother, I will come back!” Cedric said, he actually thought at least, I hope I do.

His mother shook her head slowly. She sipped at her tea and leaned back in the chair. “I am sorry, mother, but you must go now. I will come by your house before I leave” Cedric said and tried to smile. But it was hard. His mother looked concerned, but she rose up and walked to the door. They took farewell and Cedric stood on his doorstep and looked at her as she walked home. He turned back into his hole. Now I will go to Melody and see if she’s ok, he thought and grabbed his best winter coat. He pulled his coat tight around him and started to walk slowly to Melody. He knocked at Melody’s door and started to jump up and down to keep himself warm.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 10:49 AM January 17, 2004: Message edited by: Fool Of A Took ]

[Niluial]

Melody looked into Tom’s piercing blue eyes. Tom hadn’t been himself lately, he was different, not the patient, loving, warm hearted person Melody once knew. He was under pressure and it was only natural that he changed, everyone changed. What used to be a happy, busy village was now a sad place filled with sickness and unhappy hobbits. Melody was caring; she hated seeing everyone like this. I am going on the journey, there is no other option. How does Tom expect me to just sit back and not be there? Melody questioned herself, while looking into his deep, sad eyes. The sparkle that used to be in his eyes had died out from the sleepless nights and stress.
“Tom, I am going with and so is Ivy and Estelle, we are going on the journey” Melody said in a bold voice.

“Melody!” Tom shouted. He paused to calm himself, “I am not letting you go. How many times must I tell you that? Your going is not an option! What if something were to happen to you?”
“What if something were to happen to you Tom? Life is about taking risks, not about sitting back and letting the men do work! Please Tom, I can do more than cook, wash clothes, there is another side to me - the Took side, and you know I could cope on the journey! I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t go.” Melody said taking Tom’s hand.
Tom sighed “Well knowing you there is no way I am going to be able to stop you from going. So even though I am not happy with you going, I am going to have to let you come on the journey with us.” Tom smiled, “But I will be watching you like a hawk!”
There was silence in the room nothing but the sound of the flames crackle in the fire place. Melody and Tom both sat looking at each other. Tom reached over to Melody and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. He leaned forward, slowly moving towards her, the fire from the fire place reflected in his eyes making them sparkle like they did before. knock knock, Melody sprang from her seat and straightened her skirt. “Uh, one moment please” She shouted. Melody opened the door and there stood a tall, blonde hobbit. What is his name? Uh, Celic... no, uh, Cedric! Melody chuckled to herself. “Please come in, Cedric” Melody said, closing the door as quickly as possible. It was a very cold day and the rooms were cold enough.
“What brings you here?” Tom asked. He stood up from his chair to great Cedric. Melody smiled nervously. He wont think anything of Tom and I, will he? Well we weren’t doing anything. We are old time friends, that’s all. Melody told herself. She went to the kitchen to boil some water while Cedric and Tom talked about the journey and plans they had.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 5:21 PM January 17, 2004: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Phervasaion]

Tom watched Melody as she walked out of the room to answer the door. Maybe she just doesn't like me in that way. Tom thought to himself getting the wrong end of the stick on the way Melody reacted. He liked Melody from a rather young age, but because Tom wasn’t a very expressive person, no one really realised how much he felt about her and how much he cared for her safety.

Melody walked back into the room followed by Cedric. “Ah Cedric, it is good to see you here. Take a seat if you will,” Tom said as he stood up to greet him. Melody stood there with a nervous smile on her face and Tom Knew why.

“I’ll go and make some tea,” Melody said as she walked off to the kitchen at an unusually fast pace.

“What brings you here?” Tom asked Cedric as he sat down.

“Well, if you wish to know the truth I came to see how Melody was. Don’t you think you treated her a bit too harshly earlier today at the meeting?” Tom just looked at Cedric sharply with his piercing eyes and thought he was slightly rude for saying that. He took a deep breath, realizing that Cedric was probably right.

“I suppose your right to an extent Cedric. I have come to a decision, though, to let Melody, Ivy and Estelle come on the journey if they wish. But I only shouted at Melody because I fear for her safety and if anything was to happen to her I don’t know what I’d do with myself.” There was a short silence. “Anyway,” started Tom trying to change the subject. “You are still coming on the journey aren’t you? I trust you will be saying your goodbyes to your family soon. As he said this Melody walked into the room with the tea and placed it on the table. Tom and Cedric thanked her and she sat in the chair next to Tom.

“To be honest,” said Cedric taking a sip of his tea. “I’ve already spoken to my mother earlier today just before I came round. She isn’t taking the news about this quest very well at all. I wish she would stop worrying about me and treat me like the grown up hobbit that I am.”

“You should think yourself lucky Cedric. At least you actually have a family to worry about you,” said Tom while in deep thought about his parents, he wondered often if they were even still alive. He stood up and looked out the window. It was a cold evening. “It’s getting late. I best be off now. Farewell and have a good evening Cedric,” said Tom.

Melody sprang out of her seat. “I’ll show you to the door,” she said to Tom. They walked together to the door of her dwelling without speaking and she opened it for him.

“Thank you. And I’ll see you tomorrow,” Tom said to Melody.

“Goodbye,” she said smiling. Tom looked at her and lifted a gentle smile upon his face and turned round, went out the door and started to make his way back to his Hobbit hole.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 2:57 PM January 18, 2004: Message edited by: Phervasaion ]

[ElenCala Isil]

When Melody had left, Ivy decided to wander about again. She looked around at the beautiful snow everywhere. Everyone seems to hate the snow, but it’s just so beautiful. Oh, if only the crops weren’t freezing over! she thought in vain. Wrapping her cloak about her, she proceeded to head back over to the river. She felt drawn to it, for a reason she could not guess. At times, she would stand at its bank, watching the sheet of ice that was once a river for as long as she could withstand the cold. Ivy pondered about the meeting. We’ll get to go. Melody will have her way, it’s just the way things work.

As she came closer to the river, she saw a few figures standing close to the banks where would be her usual standing place. They seemed a bit taller than hobbits, wider, and had long beards. Ivy immediately recognized the figures to be dwarves. She wondered what brought dwarves to their beloved Shire, and moreover, why they were taking up her usual spot. In any event, Ivy continued walking over to the bank, now hoping that she might hear any news from the dwarves. She was curious to hear anything she could about how life outside the Shire would fare in such a fateful winter.

When at last she reached the Brandywine, she acknowledged the dwarves with a nod, and stood looking out at the river. She stood listening to the dwarves consult amongst themselves intently. At last, one of the dwarves walked up to Ivy. He had a long dark beard, and wore a heavy green cloak to keep out the wind’s icy bite.

“Are you Ivy Burrows?” the dwarf asked her. Ivy turned and was taken aback by this. She spoke slowly.

“Yes, and who might you be?” she asked cautiously.

“Who I am is not of importance to you,” the dwarf said in a hurried tone, “I have heard word that you and a band of other Halflings plan to head out towards Rivendell.”

At this Ivy was even more taken aback. News spread quickly in the Shire, but she had no idea it spread so quickly as to reach the ears of the dwarves.

“You heard right.” She replied, trying to act as if she wasn’t too concerned with the dwarves.

“Then you are in danger.” The dwarf proceeded to tell her what sort of danger that crossed the paths to Rivendell. Ivy immediately dropped her nonchalant act, and seemed to cling to every word the dwarf told her.

“A group of Orcs and warg riders stand between here and Rivendell.”

For a great while, Ivy spoke to the dwarves, who had taken Ivy aside as not to be seen by any other passing hobbits. The cold seemed to seep into Ivy’s flesh and down to her bones, and worsened with all the dangers that she learned about. The dwarves bade Ivy to keep the others from setting out until the Orcs and Wargs were removed from their path, but Ivy knew that could not be done.

“But we can’t wait any longer. The crops are all frozen over, and we’re running short on supplies as it is. We must set out and retrieve supplies, before the young ones begin to starve! What can we do?” Ivy ranted and wished that the dwarves would perhaps give her another means of collecting supplies safely. The dwarves told Ivy that if the Shire was in such need of supplies, to head for Bree.

“Be wary though, the Orcs may move closer to the Shire. Set out as soon as you can, and return quickly!” he told Ivy.

The dwarves were soon off, and Ivy still hadn’t the slightest idea who the dwarves were. She was left staring at the Brandywine, thoughts flooding her mind, and she wondered what could be done. Surely if I tell Tom and the others about this, they’ll never let us come along. But I can’t just let them set out to Rivendell without them knowing about the Warg riders…

The cold seemed to have no affect on her anymore; she was too deep in thought. She soon resolved with herself to tell Melody, and call an emergency meeting. As she got ready to head back to Melody’s house, the cold suddenly sunk in. She felt numb all over and her face stung in the winter breeze. She walked back as quickly as she could, and knocked feebly on Melody’s door.

When Melody answered, Ivy fell inside, and down on her knees right in the doorway. Melody rushed to get her blankets and a bit of tea, and relieve her of the cold. Ivy could feel little, but she could smell the fresh aroma of the tea, and she gladly sipped at the warm liquid. When at last she regained feeling, Ivy noticed that both Cedric and Tom were there. Tom had passed Ivy on the way to his hobbit hole, and turned round when he heard her collapse. She shifted uneasily, Well, they’ll find out anyway, I might as well tell them right off as well. She proceeded in telling all three of them about her discussion with the dwarves, describing every word said. It was indeed a long tale, and the faces of Melody and the others seemed to turn worried with every passing moment.

“We should call another meeting, Tom. It wouldn’t be right to take the others along without them knowing.” Ivy finished at last.

She breathed a sigh of relief. It was out of her hands now, and she sank into her seat with the blankets piled atop herself, and hoped that Tom would not decide that the ladies could not venture out with them.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:19 PM January 18, 2004: Message edited by: ElenCala Isil ]

[Fool Of A Took]

Just when Tom had left and Melody came back to him, and was just about to sit down again it as knocked on the door. Melody ran up again and rushed to the door. Cedric also rose up but didn't rush as much as Melody did. When Cedric reached the outer door he saw Ivy, wearing a lot of blankets around her, and Tom, again, at the doorstep. And Tom seemed very indignant. Ivy seemed like she had faced great danger.

"What have happened?" Cedric said with panic in his voice.

"I think it's better if everyone come inside" Melody said and tried to be calm.

"Yes, it's very important" Tom said and had an hard look at his face.

All of them went inside and Ivy seemed to wake up again. She looked at both Tom and Cedric. She sipped some of her tea that Melody had brought to her.

"Tell us, what have happened Ivy?" Melody said.

Ivy told them all from the start when she had met the dwarf that had warned them of the orcs and wargs at the borders of The Shire. She also suggested a new emergency meeting.

Cedric got very upset and almost got paniced. He rose up from his chair and said, "There's no time to waste. We must have the meeting now and decide what to do."

"Calm down Cedric!" Tom said and the power of his voice made Cedric sit down again. Melody that had been sitting quiet and looked at them said, "I agree with Cedric, we must hold a meeting with the others. Yet, we mustn't panic, we must calm down and try to solve the problem." Tom nodded and so did Ivy and Cedric.

[Gorbadic]

Gorbadic walked away from leaning on Merimac and walked over to the kitchen. He licked his lips and thought about what they had to eat. Gorbadic walked over to a medium sized bowl and found it full of roasted mushrooms. His eyes grew big and his mouth flew open when he saw this. He reachd down and grabed about five of them and stuffed them into his right pocket for later. He reached for them again and grabed three more and shoved them into his mouth one by one. This is so good. Why cant I have this everyday? He wondered this but quickly forgot it. He walked out of the kitchen with a smile on his face and no longer complaining about his back.

"Im starving can a friend get anything for his poor belly?"
Gorbadic smiled inoccently and crossed his arms over his chest. He walked over to the table he was at before and sat down in a nice wooden chair. He began to slouch like he always does but then remembered what happened to him awhile ago in the other chair. He straightened up and quickly fetched a mushroom from his pocket and stuck it into his mouth without being noticed by anyone. He chewed it up and closed his eyes and injoyed every bite that he made into it.

Gorbadic stretched his arms up in the air and yawned loudly. He smacked his lips together and brung his arms back down on to the table top. He got up and walked over to Merimac slowly but didn't look at him, he kinda walked sideways. When he ends up standing by Merimac he raised up an arm and smacked it upon Merimac's back. He did all of this with a smile on his face.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 9:35 AM January 19, 2004: Message edited by: Gorbadic ]

[Orofaniel]

Daisy

The road over to Melody's hobbit hole wasn't long. And it was even shorter as Daisy was walking carrying her good news. Her parents, who Daisy had thought were dependant on her presence at all times, had said that it was alright if she'd go off to get supplies. They had in fact been quite positive with that idea. Daisy however had begged them to tell her what they really thought of her going on this journey, but they had insisted that this was what they really thought.

When that was said and Daisy had been jumping around while her face was one in all one wide smile.

Daisy knocked on the door. She could hear hobbit steps hurrying over to the floor to open it. Melody's face was quite pale as she opened, and Daisy could hear that she had visitors. "Melody..." Daisy said and smiled. "Daisy!" Melody said enthusiastically, she too smiling. If faded away soon though. "Come in come in.....too cold to be outside dear..." Melody said as she saw that Daisy was shivering even though she was wearing her thickest coat.

"Oh thank you...I wont keep you up long" Daisy muttered. Her cheeks were all red because of the biting cold outside. "No..no it's alright. I have just made some tea...if you want some, I mean." Melody continued. There was something in her face though, that made Daisy worried. It was if there was something wrong.

"Oh, that's very kind of you...thanks." Daisy said and took of her coat. The two of them went further into the hallway. "Everything alright?" daisy asked Melody when she saw that there were already three Hobbits sitting there with a cup of tea in their hands. It was Ivy, Tom and Cedric. Ivy looked rather shook up, while Tom had an empty expression in his face. Cedric...was just..Cedric.

"Yeah....but Ivy here just had a horrible..." Melody didn't even get to finish her sentence before Tom was talking. "....she met a dwarf.." Tom said. "He told her that there were orcs and wargs at the borders of The Shire." He continued. Daisy gazed. "Wargs? Orcs? Here?" She muttered while she seated. "Yes....and now we're thinking of having an emergency meeting..." Melody said.

It was silent for a moment where none of the Hobbits said a thing. They sipped their tea once in a while but still, no words.

Finally, Melody rose to refill their cups. "So, why are you here daisy?" She asked while she gave Daisy some more tea. "Oh I'm sorry..." Daisy muttered and blushed. "Actually I was here to tell you that my parents said it was okay for me to go with you on this journey to get supplies. They were actually quite positive with the idea." Daisy said and smiled.

"But that's great!" Melody exclaimed. "I guess its settled then" She continued now looking at Tom. What would he think about it?

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 4:11 PM January 22, 2004: Message edited by: Orofaniel ]

[Gorbadic]

Gorbadic looked at Merimac after hitting him on the back and grinned. He now walked over to the table but heard something, something about Rivendell. "What do you mean we cant go to Rivendell."
Gorbadic looked around with a twisted face. He let out a sigh and shruged. "What are we gonna do then, huh? We need the food and supplies. We are gonna just have to get them from somewhere else. Any suggestions at all?"
Gorbadic was obviously mad. He was looking forward for an adventure or something. He kicks a pot that was on the floor because someone had dropped it there. The pot flew across the room and had hit the wall.

Gorbadic sat down in his wooden chair and tapped his fingers on the table. His nerves were shot. "What am I gonna do now? I am hungry and almost out of stinking food. I suggest we go to Gondor maybe?"
Gorbadic shruged and got up and walked around all restless like. He walked back into the kitchen and lowered his head.
"Wargs. I hate those Wargs. If its not one thing its another with them." He straightened up and walked out of the kitchen with now a plain face on.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:16 AM January 28, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Teleri]

The room was scented with the sprigs of pine that had been thrown on the fire in an effort to conserve firewood. They danced, and twisted merrily, and sent off sparks like tiny fire works.

Estelle sat close to the fire, but not so close as to block the others, or to let on that she was chilled to the bone. The second meeting was called quite abruptly, for Ivy had important news to tell. Now the small company of Hobbits sat huddled around Melody's fireplace, as they waited for someone to speak.

All were there except for Tom, Melody, and Ivy, and judging by the muffled voices coming from the next room, they were trying to settle something before Ivy told whatever news she had.

Suddenly the three truants who had called the emergency meeting rushed in to the room at once.

"I am sorry to have to desturb you lot again," said Tom, "as I know that we all have a lot to prepare for the journy at hand. But something has come to our attention about the road to Rivendell..."

Melody, Tom, and Ivy, took turns explaining what Ivy had heard learned from the passing dwarves, each repeating one another several times.

"Well, Rivendell... That's not the best place to set out to anyhow," said one hobbit. " I mean who do we know that's even been there? Might be no more than a fairy tale..."

Some of the other hobbits now joined in with agreement, only to be met with the arguements of those who belived the old tales. This won't do at all... Thought Estelle. This is becoming a debate on lore. If things go on like this any longer we will forget the purpose of our meeting.

"Well real or not," said Estelle, who had decided to put the group back on track . "The road to Rivendell will be too dangerous if we can find it at all. But we cannot just abandon our purpose, so what shall we do?"

[ElenCala Isil]

Ivy tried to explain correctly what had happened with her encounter with the dwarf, but it seemed that every time she tried to continue, Tom or Melody cut her off and explained what she had told them so far. She sighed and looked at the others. The look on Estelle’s face was enough for Ivy to know what she was thinking, and at that notion, the dwarf’s suggestion to make for Bree suddenly sprang to mind. There’s no way that we can go to Rivendell, that much is clear now…I suppose it’s time to tell the others about Bree.

Once more Ivy lifted up her voice to speak ‘Um…guys, I think there’s something I should tell you…’ It was a failed attempt, and after repeating the same various times, being cut off every time, Ivy became a bit annoyed. Now there was loud chattering, and debate going on about what to do now. At last, Ivy could stand it no longer, and she shouted. ‘STOP!!’

Her voice was so loud, that everyone immediately stopped talking and looked at Ivy awkwardly. She smiled a weak smile and hesitated a moment. Tom looked at her, expecting to say something. Ivy cleared her throat and began.

‘Okay, I need to tell you all something more the dwarf told me. This one time, no interruptions, please?’

Tom nodded and motioned for her to continue. ‘Go on,’ said Melody in a soft voice.

‘Well, I think it’s pretty clear that we can’t go to Rivendell anymore, but the dwarf did tell me that there was a different road we could take – one that leads to Bree.’

Ivy was relieved to get that out, and sighed. She leaned against a wall, and waited for the others to reply. There were a few moments of silence, which made Ivy twitch uncomfortably. As last, Tom spoke, ‘Why didn’t you tell us this before, Ivy?’

Ivy smiled sheepishly and replied in a small voice, ‘I tried to.’

She withdrew herself from the immediate crowd of hobbits who were now talking amongst themselves about going to Bree. She sat in a chair near the edge of the room, and sighed yet again, waiting for an immediate response. The suspense was killing her, and she couldn’t wait until the decision was made, and they would set off.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 5:20 PM January 22, 2004: Message edited by: ElenCala Isil ]

[Gorbadic]

Gorbadic walked over to the fire place and stared into the fire next to Ivy. He looked over to her and patted on the back. "I know you cold, i can tell. He offered her a blanket nearby but she rejected it. He nodded and walked over to the table and grabed a chair then brung it over to the fire place. He sat in it and looked around. he watched as Ivy tried to tell the peple something. And after the shout she let out he covered his ears trying to block out the sound.

After hearing the news about Bree and stood up and walked over to Ivy. "Why didnt you tell us earlier?" He asked with annoyed voice. He walked over to Tom and leaned against the wall next to him and says.."When are we gonna leave now?" Gorbadic asked. He yawned loudly from the boredom that flew around the room like a pesky fly.

Gorbadic patted Tom's back and walked away. he walked over to the chair and sat in it while stareing into the fire.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:16 AM January 28, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Niluial]

Melody joined the gathered and talking hobbits. Ivy sat at the side of the group, not wanting to have much to do with the conversation, as she was still far too shaken and cold to even think, let alone chat. The talking was now slowly becoming less talking and more arguing, fighting. Melody stood up. “Alright, everyone! Enough.” She tapped her foot impatiently on the ground.
The room quieted down when the hobbits saw the angry expression on Melody’s face.
”We can’t go to Rivendell, we can't. So it's not even an option. I vote we take the road to Bree! It sounds safer... it might not be, but it’s the best chance we’ve got,” said Melody.

There was a long pause; the silence was maintained as everybody sat and thought. Tom paced the room nervously, waiting for a reply or even a noise.
One of the hobbits looked up “Well, I say we go using the Bree road!” Others piped up, chiming in to voice their opinions, more seeming to lean towards Melody’s idea than the initial one.
“Well, if you disagree, don’t bother coming along! I would like us all to come home alive, with the supplies, and if going to Rivendell will prevent that, then I don’t want to take the chance,” Tom explained. He was in one of his serious and very motivated moods.

It was decided, after a couple more minutes of discussion, that they would take the road to Bree to get the food supplies. Some were content with this decision; others not so much. Finally, all the hobbits wandered homewards, except for Tom, Ivy and Daisy. Melody insisted that they stay for more tea. She hated being left alone in her home, because it was cold and she thought too much when alone. She loved serving on others, making tea... for that matter, anything to do with having- and entertaining- company.

They all sat and sipped their warm tea, which was now running short. Melody had made a mushroom pie which each guest got a slice of. Melody was short on many things, mushrooms, flour, tea, and the ingredients for cake batter. She was starting to get worried and knew that the journey had to happen soon. She walked into the sitting area carrying more twigs for the fire.
”I think we should leave soon," Melody said, looking at Tom. Ivy and Daisy nodded.
“When will we leave, Tom?” Ivy asked with a worried expression.
“How about two days from now? That will give us time to pack and get the needed supplies for the journey,” Melody said, adding the twigs to the crackling fire. "I also heard that we are having a going away party. I have no idea who is throwing it, but I think it is a good idea. It will be good encouragement and something for us to look forward to!" Melody said with a slight smile on her face. She loved going to parties, any occasions as long as there was food and pints.

Tom laughed, one Melody hadn’t heard in a while and then he said "Well, I think it is a great idea! And yes, we shall leave in two days time! And we will have to tell the others." With that Tom stood up, and so did the rest. Melody’s heart sank: they were leaving.

"Let me get your coats for you!" Melody insisted, rushing off to the coat hanger. They all left at once: not even one hobbit stayed, as it was getting late. Melody watched them walk off, disappearing one by one into the empty whiteness of the snow.

She walked back inside and closed the door. I wish I knew how Tom felt about me. I will express my feelings to him, one day, not long from now... Melody thought to herself.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:46 PM January 23, 2004: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[dragoneyes]

Hob opened the door of his home and was immediately hit by a wall of warmth, into which he gladly stepped. His father was sitting in a chair next to the roaring fire, quietly talking to his wife whom he was sitting opposite. Hob could only see his mother's hand on the arm rest of the chair and some curly greying hair over the top of the back of the chair. 'Ignore the colour' Hob thought to himself, his mother's skin was far too pale, 'And she's really not that bony.' Unfortunately for him, he could think that all he wanted but still not be able to ignore the fact that it was not the truth, she was far too skinny for a hobbit, or any other creature. His father jumped up from his seat to welcome his son in, grinning like a child who has found a penny.

"You're back! What did they say? What's happening?" Hob smiled innocently at his father.

"But daddy darling, surely you already know?" Hob was given a look that told him, no, his father didn't know. "I really am at a loss as to how you knew about that meeting in the first place. You come bursting in here telling me to get myself to that hole and lo and behold there's some sort of meeting there."

"Well, you know your father." Said Lilly, Hob's Mother, "He's better at picking up information than even the most practiced vilage gossips." her husband waved a dismissive hand at her and turned back to their son, nearly bouncing with excitement, he had always wanted to go on an adventure when he was a young boy and was anxious that his son got to enjoy such an opportunity, though he knew Hob's reason for going was soley to help the rest of the Shire.

"So, come along, what was said? What's going on?"

"Well," started Hob, "I have some good news, we aren't going-"

"Aren't going!" cried his father in disbelief. "How can you not be going? The Shire will starve! You cannot back out now! You just march yourself right back down there and tell them that you will all HAVE to go!" He began pushing his son back out of the door.

"But dad-" Protested Hob.

"No no no! Don't you 'but dad' me! I will not have you backing out, we need food son, if you hadn't noticed!" Hob pushed his father away, a little harder than he would usually and sent him stumbling backwards.

"Dad, I KNOW! You didn't let me finish! We are not going to Rivendell, we are going to Bree instead so we shall hopefully be quicker and there should be less dangers!" There was a short silence following, during which Hob's father gained a slight pink tinge around his cheeks. After an apology Hob smiled amusedly and shut the door. He took his coat off and hung it on a peg, where the snow began to melt and gather in a puddle on the floor.

Hob walked into the kitchen where some attempts at dinner had been made, but were mostly abandoned, probably due to a particularly hard coughing fit on his mother's part. He found a bowl of runner beans and picked up a handful, they were old and tough and uncooked, but they were better than the apples. He wandered back into the living room and sat down in the chair recently vacated by his father.

"Oh Hob, what are you eating?" asked Lilly in an exhasperated manner.

"Beans." Said Hob simply, showing them to her. "I'm not going to wait around for you to cook them if they're perfectly edible anyway.

"Strange child." said Lilly "You never were satisfied with what was put on the table, always wanted more!"

"I don't seem to remember you ever complaining."

"I'd rather a ball of lard for a son than a skeleton."

"Well, a ball of lard is what you got. Well done." said Hob, patting his still slightly rounded belly. Lilly smiled at her son, who laughed back.

"You've done a lot today Hob what with all your wood cutting and walking and talking and what-have-you, you should go relax."

"A very good idea." he said, "Dad!" he yelled at his father who was in a different room, "I'm going to have a bath!"

"Don't use too many logs for your fire! You shouldn't have a bath too often you know!" came the answering voice.

"This is the first time in two and a half weeks!" Hob shouted back.

"So that was the smell!" Hob rolled his eyes. As predictable as it was, Hob would miss his dad's humour.

Lilly watched her son leave for the bathroom. He seemed so happy at home, but around other people he was so quiet, people seemed to steer clear of him, as though he carried some kind of disease. Perhaps the journey would help him to make friends again, because he'd not always been as secluded as he now was. He knew how to make friends, he just wouldn't and it annoyed Lilly to see that her son was doing that to himself. She'd take him out to see other hobbits if only she didn't have that damn illness. As if it knew what she was thinking, her cough attacked with violence, her whole body was convulsing and her throat was being rubbed raw. Her husband rushed in to help her, but the fit had already passed. He rubbed her back in soothing circles and she smiled at him.

"Better?" He asked, his voice stringed with worry for her.

"Yes, thank you, a drink would be nice though." She watched her husband hurry into the kitchen with a frown, she might not make it, by the time Hob came back with the food and medicine and everything else she needed, it might already be too late. But she decided she shouldn't let that worry her. What would happen would happen and she was in no place to stop it.

[Phervasaion]

Tom walked away from Melody’s house thinking about what he would need to take on this journey. “Well,” he said to himself. “I’ll need a supply of food and water to last quite a few days… The problem is where to find the food.” The thought of food made Tom stray from going on the journey and onto the idea of this ‘surprise party’. Tom laughed to himself. “I don’t know how much of a party it will be with the shortage of food at the moment.”

He made his way up the path of his home, opened the door and slowly walked into the hallway. It had been a long day for Tom, and as many of the other Hobbits needed, was in need of some rest. He hung his coat up on the peg next to the door and staggered over to his bed almost falling over from exhaustion.

“Hmm… I best start to pack my things tomorrow.” He said while clambering into bed. His switched off his light and straight away fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning he awoke to the noise of someone knocking at his door. Tom opened his eyes and looked out the window; the sun was already high in the sky. “Oh no I’ve over slept,” Tom said when he realized the time. He hated sleeping never mind oversleeping, he felt it was a real waste of time just lying there doing nothing. He heard the knock at his door again.

“Okay I’m coming!” Tom shouted diving out of bed and to his door. He opened it and Melody stood there with a smile on her face.

“It looks like you’ve only just got up,” said Melody looking him up and down.

“Well you’re probably right,” Tom said while inviting her into his hobbit hole. “What brings you here this morning Melody?” He asked.

“Oh. Not much really. I was just popping round to see what sort of things you’d be taking on this journey. The other ladies and I are having some trouble deciding on what to take,” Melody replied.

Tom looked at her with a blank expression. “Oh… Sorry I’m still half asleep. Go into the sitting room while I make some tea for us.” Melody went and sat down next to the table and Tom went into the Kitchen and put the kettle over the fire to boil.

[Fool Of A Took]

As Cedric made his way home from the meeting at Melody's house he began to think about the journey. Maybe he never would come back. Maybe he never would see his mother and friends that he loved again. These thoughts troubled Cedric's mind all the way home to his own Hobbit Hole. When he got inside and closed his outer door, he realized how tired he was. He gasped and walked into his bedroom. I better get some rest, he thought, I must talk to my mother tomorrow about the journey.

Cedric couldn't sleep. He just rolled over from side to side in his bed all the time. After nearly two hours he fell into sleep. He dreamed nightmares about the orcs and the wargs. He had actually never seen an orc, nor a warg, but he had heard stories and tales about how terrible they were.

In the middle of the night Cedric woke up. He thought he heard someone outside. He looked out the window at his right side, it was still dark outside. Then heard the noice again. It sounded just like someone knocked and scratched on the window. Cedric heard that the noices came for the hall. He walked to the hall, but nothing was there. He heard it again. He slowly opened the outer door and said "Who's there? And what ever you are, what do you want?" He pulled himself together and took a step outside. No one was there.

Cedric went back to bed and thought he was to nervous and his mind just made up noices for him. The noice stopped and he fell asleep again. When it was almost lunch time he woke up again. Now he felt relieved that the sun was up. He went up and made some breakfast. He sat down with a warm cup of tea in his most comfortable armchair he had in his livingroom and began to think of what he should bring on the journey.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 3:15 AM January 28, 2004: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Niluial]

Melody sat down on a chair in the living room. Tom’s house was warm and cosy, he had good taste. Melody sat and admired the painting she so loved on the wall, it was of a beautiful, green valley full of lush trees and with the bluest sky she ever had seen, it reminded her of the summers the Shire hadn't seen for so long, she had admired that painting for years. Tom placed a cup of warm tea on the table; he pulled up a chair and sat next to Melody. “So, how are you feeling about the journey?” Tom asked.
”Good, I guess. I am rather excited but still, very nervous”
”Oh yes, I feel the same”
An awkward silence filled the room. Melody stood up and dusted off her dress “Uh, can I see what you have packed?”
”Well” Tom paused and smiled sheepishly, “I haven't quite packed yet.”
”Oh Tom," Said Melody shaking her head and rolling her eyes, "That doesn’t surprise me at all!” She paused and thought on Tom's typical behaviour for a bit. “Well I am off to bake a batch of cookies to take on the journey, I’ll see you later” Melody said with a huge smile on her face. She was unusually happy and excited today.

Melody went home and made her own special cookie dough that she had come up with herself, after much experimenting. She was known for making delicious choc chip cookies and what would be lovelier than taking a whole batch of cookies with her on the journey for those blue moments which would undoubtedly come? Melody made sure once more that everything was packed. She planned on getting an early night so she could do what ever was needed to be done the next day and get ready for the small going away party.

The next morning Melody stumbled out of bed. It was so cold inside there was ice on the inside of the windows and Melody didn’t even wish to know how cold it was outside. She looked out of the window, misted by ice crystals, and saw white, nothing but white. The huge tree outside her window used to be green with huge pink flowers growing on it but now it was covered in snow and miserable, like the rest of the Shire. Melody hadn’t seen a bird for many weeks, not even the little robin that used to live in the garden.

She spent the rest of the day running a few errands, making cookies and doing as much as possible to make the day exciting, the last thing she wanted was for it to be dull. Melody took out her favourite green dress which had small white lily patterns around the hem. She had made the dress herself and was proud to wear it. She only wore it on special occasions though, because she didn't want to rip it. Once she was ready for the party she walked over to Tom’s house.

Melody knocked briskly on Tom’s door, desperate to come in from the biting cold. “Coming!” Tom shouted from across the passage. He opened the door and was stunned to see how Melody looked, he always had liked the green dress but she today looked extra special, even though she was hopping from foot to foot in a most undignified manner to keep the cold away. “Are you going to let me in or will you let me freeze to death?” Melody said jokingly.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 6:12 PM January 31, 2004: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[ElenCala Isil]

Ivy did not make any attempt to hurry and get her things packed for the journey. She had planned things aforetime, hoping that it would come to be one day that she would be chosen to go on an adventure. As she reached her hole, she looked around to see the soft, pallid blankets of snow piled up high all around the Shire. She sighed, and walked in.

The fire kindled and warmth seeped into the air about her home. It was a simple hole, nothing too special about it, and it had been the same way for years. In fact the only thing remotely different about her home was the small bundle set beside the door. Well, my packing has been done for a long time, now. I guess I should see how the others are faring. She looked around her modest home, and decided to delay visiting the others until after having a light meal.

Ivy suddenly stood from the table where she was sat, and grabbed a mushroom. She stuffed it into her mouth, and then made her way towards the coat rack. Piling on her heaviest jacket, she set out into the frosty outside once more. She planned to go and see how Melody was doing, and if she needed any help, but as she was well on her way, she found that her feet were not leading her to Melody’s home, but instead back to the river, where she had first met the dwarf. Without even thinking, she sat down against the bole of a tall tree. In the summer it was a sight to behold. Naturally, its beauty did not compare to that of the party tree, but by this tree had always been Ivy’s favourite spot to read, or have picnics at. She placed her hand on the tree, it seemed lifeless. She looked up to see its bare branches, adorned with only rigid spikes of ice and snow clinging to its outstretched fingers. ‘If only the cool wind of winter did not make you wither so!’ Ivy spoke aloud to the tree. ‘Why must such a beautiful season bring such misery to everybody?’ Ivy had always been fond of winter, but she was pained to see how it affected everything, everyone.

Ivy sat for a while, her coat wrapped snugly about her, and pondered about the journey. The possibilities of finding the same dangers on the road to Bree as the one that lead to Rivendell for the most part didn’t bother her, but the chill did. She wondered how the group was going to make it even to Bree with such weather, much less attempt a journey back. But we have to try, she thought, trying to push away her pessimistic views of the whole situation. We have to bring supplies back to the Shire, and we will. What a pity we aren’t going to Rivendell! I wonder what the elves are like.

Ivy looked about to see a small figure heading her way. She quickly resolved that it would be a good time to head back to her home for the night. She walked briskly back to her home, and once inside, she lit the fire and warmed her hands. Oh, Ivy! You forgot to check on Melody and the others! she said to herself, as she suddenly remembered Melody. ‘I suppose I’ll have to do that tomorrow.[/i] she said as she peered out her window at the dark sky.

After having a bit of cake and tea, Ivy retired to her bed. Her sleep was empty, and not a dream interrupted her long slumber. When at last she had awoken, the sun was high in the chilled sky. She darted out of bed, and started up the fire once more. Then she made her breakfast, and ate it happily, trying not to think that she hadn’t much food left in her pantry, and that her cupboards were bare.

[ElentariGreenleaf]

Merimac, having packed earlier than the others, passed the day pacing back and forth in his not-as-snug-as-he-had-thought hobbit hole. He'd spent some time talking with his friend Gorbadic, but he had gone off to pack for the journey ahead. Meri decided that he may as well check his things, and so unpacked then repacked his over-sized travelling bag. He put the remaining food from his larder into his bag, leaving some for the time remaining before they set out for Bree.

Rivendell, thought Meri. I suppose I shall never step foot in that fair place, or ever see an elf. But at least I'm doing my part to help the Shire! He smiled slightly and chuckled. Him, going on an adventure! A real adventure! He was quite worried about the dangers of the journey though. He'd never actually fought properly before. What if he turned out to be a really bad fighter? How would he help protect the others? What if anyone was killed?

Meri put these morbid thoughts out of his mind by packing, then re-packing his supplies. He nibbled on one of his few remaining mushrooms, then stood up suddenly. How could he have forgotten? He ran to a small room at the back of his hobbit hole, nearly falling over in his haste, and lifted one of the floorboards carefully. There, in a beautifully carved wooden box, was a secret supply of pipe weed he had been hiding since before the snows began. He had completely forgotten about it. He reached for his pipe but stopped. There was not much left true, but it could be shared. He placed the box carefully in a pocket in his waistcoat next to his pipe. Perhaps he would share it with Tom and Gorbadic, and the others too if there was enough, before they left.

[Fool Of A Took]

After his short breakfast Cedric began to pack his things he might need on the journey. He picked up his finest pipe from a wooden box that he had under his bed. I hope I will have time for this, he thought and put it in his backpack. He also packed down extra clothes, rope, all the food he could find, some kitchen equipment like knives and pots. When he had packed te most of these things he walked over to the fireplace. He took up a long knife that he had beside the fireplace. He lifted it up, and started swinging it in the air. It was light and it was very sharp. If there will be orcs and wargs around, I am ceratinly going to need this. He also picked up a short hunting bow and a few arrows that had been his fathers. He was very interested in archery. Now, the biggest problem remained. To tell his mother about all the dangers that had came to their knowledge. He scratched himself in the head and tried to think of a way to tell her. He decided to go to her and tell her right away, after all he was a grown up hobbit now, and he should follow his own paths, even if it wasn't the right path.

Just when he was about to leave and walk to his mother, he took notice of his old hammock. It was filled with the pouderwhite snow and the pear trees that were planted beside looked like they were dead. They had always been giving him good pears when he was laying in the hammock and maybe read a book. He smiled for himself as the memories of the warm summer came back to him.

"What are you smiling at?" his neighbour Crystal said and seemed like she was going to laugh at him.

"Me? Ehrm, nothing?" Cedric said as he woke up from his day dreaming and coughed.

"Are you leaving to reach Bree for supplies?" She asked and her voice became more serious and sad.

"Yes, but I don't know when." Cedric said and looked down at his feets.

"You better take care of yourself." Crystal said and her voice sounded very serious.

"I will" Cedric said very shortly.

They took a short farewell of each other and Cedric started to walk to his mother. Maybe this is not such a good idea anyway, he thought as he made his way to his mothers hobbit hole.

[Orofaniel]

Daisy

Daisy was starting to panic. There were so much to do and prepare before she left, and so little time. She had to make sure that her parents would be taken care of by her two sisters while she was gone. As she thought of this, she realised that maybe, just maybe she wasn't coming back at all. It frightened her a bit, because she loved the Shire and her parents, and she knew it would devastate them if she didn't make it back home. They were already worried!

But then again, hopefully they would know that she had done this for the Shire, and the people. Then again, she knew her parents wouldn't think like that; they would think about their lost daughter. These were indeed a bit selfish thoughts, Daisy thought. Of course they'll manage without me, she said to herself as she walked over to the kitchen. She was going to make some breakfast and then she would continue packing.

"Daisy dear..?" a thin voice cried. "Yes, mum..?" Daisy asked and went out of the kitchen. She knew it was her mother because of the very thin and low voice. Daisy’s mother was quite old, and both she and Daisy’s father needed help with most things. "Could you help me with this?" she asked as she saw Daisy appear.

She was knitting, but was obviously stuck. She handed Daisy the knitting needles. "Of course I'll help." Daisy muttered and smiled while she took them trying to concentrate. Daisy had always been very good at these thing, knitting and sewing. She loved to do it as well, and she had learned form the very best; her mother. When she was younger she could sit up once every now and then and sew or knit until she fell asleep. The next morning her sisters, or her parnets, would find her asleep in a chair while holding a tight grip around her makings.

"Here you are..!" Daisy said enthusiastically and smiled. She was about to turn around heading back for the kitchen she heard her mother again;" What will we do without you?" She asked Daisy as her eyes went blank.

"Ohm you'll manage..." daisy said and looked at her mother grievously. "And besides, I'll only be away for a while..." She added, even thought she didn't know that for sure.

"So, mom, would you like some breakfast?" Daisy started after both of them had been silent for a while, just looking at each other like strangers. "Yes, that would be great!" She muttered, while looking worried. "It'll be alright..." daisy said and gave her a hug.

"I hope so...."


***

After Daisy had arranged a small breakfast for her parnets, she started to pack again. It didn't take long before she was finished and ready to go.

"I've arranged that Holly will come and help you around the house three days after my departure. I think you'll manage to be alone for three days, eh?" She said and smiled. "I also think that Holly is bringing her children, so you'll have loads to do while I'm gone...." Daisy continued. "She wrote in her letter that they were thrilled to see their grandparents again!" Daisy added.

<font size=1 color=339966>[ 10:45 AM February 08, 2004: Message edited by: Orofaniel ]

[Phervasaion]

“…O...err... Yes, of course you can come in,” Tom said to Melody as she stood there freezing at his door. Tom was wearing his usual suit that he wore when he went out. He looked rather posh but no where near as much as Melody did. “Well…I’m virtually ready so we can set off now if you wish,” said Tom as they both walked into his hole.

“Yes, if you have nothing to do than we might as well go,” she replied. Tom walked over to his coat and took it from the peg and placed it around Melody’s shoulders.

“There. That should keep you warm for the walk down the road,” Tom said warmly to Melody. The party would usually be held outside but due to the cold weather, it took place in a large building just down the road from Tom’s house. Melody thanked Tom for the coat and they both began to walk to the party. They talked a little about the journey and how much danger they may be in on the way, but they were mainly silent.

“Ah. This is the place,” Tom said staring at the building as the approached it. They went in not knowing what to expect, but, to their surprise, there was quite a large amount of food and many hobbits had turned up to give them a fond farewell.

The party already looked well underway as hobbits were already drinking and laughing merrily along as music was being played. Like most hobbit parties were. Tom turned to Melody. “This looks like it may be a good night,” he said. Together, they walked into the main room where Ivy and the other hobbits already were and began to greet them all.

[piosenniel]

‘Here,’ said Prisca, handing Madoc her purple and yellow knit scarf. ‘You’ll need this for your journey.’ He grinned at her and stuffed it in the front pocket of his pack. ‘I’d say you should keep it to keep yourself warm, Prissy – but I know you’ve always hated that scarf.’ Prisca reached over and tucked in the knit gloves that went along with the scarf. ‘I’m sure Aunt Lobelia is quite colorblind! I know she means well, but really, who wants to wear those colors! It looks like a giant bruise when you put it on.’

Madoc’s Mother, Pearl, came over wagging her finger at her two children. ‘Now you two, she did mean well. And it will keep you quite warm, Madoc. That wool came from her own sheep.’ Prisca and Madoc knew well enough when not to argue with their mother. The subject of her sister and her sheep was a sore one. Lobelia having had to use her ‘woolly dears’ as she called them for food. Instead they just said, ‘Yes, Mother,’ then raised their brows at one another as she turned away to fetch him a small packet of dried fruits and one of dried vegetables. ‘Be good for those stews you like to make, son,’ she said, folding the crinkly pieces of parchment round them. ‘That is, if you can bring down any squirrels or birds for a little meat to go with them. You did bring some of your snares didn’t you?’

At last the packing was done – warm clothes, what food stuffs they could spare for him, and a few pans for cooking. He put his pack on his bed and drew on his cloak, giving them both a hug. ‘I’m just going off to meet the others, then I’ll be back to pick up my pack before I go.’ He gave them each a kiss on the cheek and strode off toward the place where the others were gathering. The snow had eased up just a little today, and it was clear enough to have a good view of the countryside as he strode down the road toward Tom Bracegirdle’s house.

He could hear the music as he approached. It was nice he thought. The tunes lifted his spirit. Madoc walked up to the door and stood under the protection of the small porch overhang. He shook the snow from his cloak and stamped the packed snow from his feet. With a gentle push, he opened the door and walked in. Warmth and light and the delicious smell of food hit him all at once. And there on the other side of the room was his cousin, Gorbadic. And over there was the pretty Melody with Tom.

One of the Hobbits handed him a mug of hot tea, pointing to the pegs along side the door where he could hang his cloak. He did so, then walked about the room, greeting friends as he went . . .

[Fool Of A Took]

Cedric felt sad at the little party, at the same time happy. He was going to leave the Shire that he loved, and his mother that was so worried about him, he was going to miss her. Yet, it annoyed him sometimes that she was so worried. Everyone was happy and some of them sang. His mother seemed to be happy too as she sat and eating pumpkin pie. He smiled to her. She was all Cedric cared about now, he didn't want anything to happen to his mother as she was all he had in the world left. He drew a deep sigh and looked down on is feets and tried to hide his grieve of leaving her. He knew that she didn't like at the same time she did knew that he was grown up now. Not a little lad anymore. He tried to be brave and thought that he choosed his own path, and there was nothing she could do about it. He pulled himself together and took a sip of his tea. Suddenly the door slammed and he looked up. A hobbit he had never seen before entered. That must be Madoc, Gorbadics cousin. I've heard he wanted to join us too. He ran over to Madoc and bowed. "Welcome, you must be Madoc, I am Cedric Cotton! A pleasure to meet you!" He looked up with a smile. "Tea?" Cedric asked and held up a cup for Madoc.

As Madoc came Cedric felt more talkative and much more happier and excited about the journey. He had always had a strange and a worried feeling about it, but it seemed to have fade away as Madoc came. At the moment Cedric felt so much happiness, his mother looked up at him from her pie eating and had a worried look. Cedric did everything to avoid it but he couldn't. Her gaze was as sharp as spears. He said a quick 'Excuse me for a minute' to Madoc and went over to his mothers seat and sat down beside her. "You know I am going to leave, mother! So don't have that look to me!" he whispered in here with annoyment in his voice. Her eyes got dark and her face turned angry. Cedric could see that his mother was angry from the distance of a mile. He had always, even when he was a little lad. "Now you listen to me, young lad!" she said, but tried to whisper. "You are the only one I have left! And you have no idea of how much I care about you!" she said an her eyes got filled with tears, though she didn't cry. "I am sorry mother." Cedric said and hugged her. "But don't worry, I will make it home, I will be back." he said. At least I hope I do , he thought and sighed.

He went back to Madoc and pulled a chair to him. "Here, have a seat" he said and smiled. Cedric sat down in a chair at Madocs left side and put two cups at the table. He held up tea in the two cups and leaned back in the chair and sipped on the tea. "So, Madoc, it will be nice to have you with us!" he said with a smile. "You don't fear the orcs and wargs out there? Have you ever seen any?" he then asked and got curious about Madoc, he had always been curious about everyone. Especially if they had faced dangers and been on adventures. Himself had never been out of the Shire and didn't know anything about fear or danger.

[piosenniel]

Madoc watched Cedric as he fussed over his mother. The man’s face was sad and he could see him sigh. Madoc remembered the look on his own mother’s face as he packed his belongings for the trip. Tomorrow he would be leaving for Bree, and he could already see the tears that would stain her cheeks as he hugged her goodbye. Madoc sipped at his tea and sat down at a small table near the fireplace, his feet propped on the raised hearth.

Lost in the wavering figures that marched through the orange embers as he watched the burning logs, Madoc nearly missed Cedric’s approach. A chair was offered the man, and he sat down by Madoc, taking a cup of tea for himself and filling Madoc’s from the pot on the table.

A few pleasant words passed between them; then Cedric leaned forward, asking a question about orcs and wargs. A shiver of fear ran up the Hobbit’s back. ‘I’ve never seen a warg,’ he told Cedric, in a low voice. Being a bit suspicious, he hated to even say the word aloud lest naming them might make them real and present. ‘A few wolves’ tracks and one pair of wolves from a distance,’ he continued. ‘But they were as wary of me as I was of them.’ His voice went even lower as he spoke of orcs. ‘None of those other blighted creatures . . . ever. Nor would I want to.’ He hunched over his tea for a moment, clasping it tightly in his hands. ‘My Da fought in the Battle of Greenfields with Bullroarer Took. Hobbits had the day there, but the orcs fought fiercely.’ He stared into the heart of the flames, seeing the Northfarthing battle as his Uncle told it. ‘Vicious creatures,’ he told Cedric. ‘Killed my Da.’ He raised one eyebrow at the man. ‘Is there talk we might run into such creatures?’

Madoc shook his head, freeing himself of the images. ‘Sorry! Grim thoughts bode ill for our journey’s start, or so my Mother would say.’ He smiled at Cedric and taking the tea pot, topped of both their mugs. ‘I have been to Bree. Have you? An interesting town, though a bit too closed in for my taste, what with its high, dense hedge and dike and gates. Lot of Big Folk there, too. Nice Inn. Stayed there once.’ He sat back in his chair thinking about the Pony’s fine, amber ale. Lovely, he thought, but not as nice as the Shire’s.

He raised his mug to his lips and took a gulp of the sweet, hot tea. ‘What about you, Cedric? Here I’ve gone and talked your ear off. Tell me a little about yourself.’

[Fool Of A Took]

"They say that dwarves have warned us about orcs and wargs creeping around at the borders of Shire looking for food." Cedric whispered and shrugged. Nasty creatures, he thought. Cedric didn't say anything for awhile, but then got reminded of that he might should tell something about himself.
"Well..." Cedric started, but paused and took another sip of his tea and leaned back. "...Actually I have never been in Bree before." he said and blushed. "My mother has an irongrip around me, she won't let me even leave the Shire until now." he said and looked with an annoyed expression on his face at his mother that now had returned to her pumpkin pie, and didn't pay much attention to the other guests. She was always quiet when she was eating and nothing should disturb her then. Cedric couldn't resist smiling at his mother when he thought about it. His mother looked up and gave him a happy look and then turned to her pie again. "My mother has always been trying to protect me from everything that could cause me harm" he said and then sighed, "My father died when I was little, he drowned while he fished. He loved fishing, he event tried to fish when he was drunk and could barely stand up. And that's how it turned out." He sighed again and now felt sad again. He didn't have much memory of his father, yet he would always remember him as a caring and loving father. "I guess that's why my mother really looks after me, yet I am grown up now!" he continued and his gaze turned to his mother. "She is all I have left..." he said with low voice.

Everyone seemed to have a good time and no one intended to be worried about the journey, with exception of Cedric of course. Though he didn't show it. He didn't want the others to think that he would be a coward and stay home, he wanted to prove for himself, and most of all for his Mother that he was not a little laddie anymore, he could go his own paths now. Whit or whitout her agreement. He tried to intend more mature and sat up more proper in his chair. I will show her! He looked at Madoc that was drinking his tea. "Would you like some cake?" he then asked and looked at the partytable where the cake could be. Ah, there! "Pass the cake this way, please!" Cedric shouted so someone could hear him in the tumult of laughing and talking. "We don't have much left" Melody replied as she passed it to Cedric. "I won't eat it all" Cedric said and grinned to Melody. Cedric's gaze passed the window and he noticed that it was getting dark outside. And it was snowing. Oh no! Not more snow! I am sick and tired of it.

He mumbled something about 'I hate snow' and then served some cake for Madoc. "The winter is OK when it's not chaotic like this, don't you think?" Cedric said to Madoc and pointed out the window.

[ElenCala Isil]

Ivy turned to look out at the rest of the hobbits. It seemed that a few of them were concerned about their loved ones. Ivy sighed. She didn't really have anyone to be worried to death about her, and she didn't really have to worry herself about anyone close to her starving to death in her absence. The person she was closest to, after all, was Melody. It seemed as if everything was all to perfect for Ivy, she hadn't anything to worry about. If they left this very moment she would probably have jumped up and ran most of the way there in her excitement. I guess that's a plus... she thought to herself. In fact, she was so deep in thought, she didn't notice Melody standing in front of her at all.

'Ivy? Ivy! Are you listening?' Melody yelled out in frustration at the fact that Ivy was so oblivious.

'Huh? What? Oh! I'm sorry, I was so deep in thought...what did you say?' Ivy said, smiling sheepishly.

'I asked you if you wanted some more tea, and what are you thinking about?'

Ivy graciously accepted the tea, but would not give but a vague hint as to what she was thinking. 'It's almost time. We'll soon be setting out.' she said, grinning her usual mischievous grin. 'Are you all ready?' Ivy added curiously.

'Well, I still have a bit more to pack. It's so exciting!' Melody ranted with a glance at Tom. 'But you don't suppose we'll find any trouble, do you?'

'I usually do, but let's hope there's no danger on our way!' Ivy said just before biting into a piece of cake. She immediately decided to try and eat more sparingly until they came back sucessfully with supplies.

A sudden feeling took over Ivy's body, and she felt that she wanted to be alone. She couldn't understand why she was feeling so odd as of late, for it most certainly was not her way to draw herself from the middle of a crowd, but she had an ill feeling in her heart. She took Melody aside, into an empty corner of the room.

'Oh, Melody,' she began, 'I don't know why, but I've been having a bad feeling about this journey.'

Melody looked at Ivy incredulously. 'What? But you've always wanted to go on an adventure! You can't be having doubts about it now.'

'I know, but I am worried - not for me, you know that I would risk anything to go on an adventure, but what if we run into the very orcs and wargs the dwarves told me about? They seemed reluctant to give me the alternative of going to Bree. What if they're there? What if we have to fight? Will the others be able to take it?' Ivy said each word, gasping at the thought. She gazed at Melody, her eyes filling with sudden fright, and then she cast her eyes down. 'Don't worry, Melody. I am overreacting. I don't know what's gotten into me, but I'm sure I'll be a-right when we leave. We need entertainment.'

Melody's eyes widened, then she looked skeptically at Ivy. 'What are you on to?' she said, eyeing her warily.

'We need a song, and ale! We 'aven't much left, but this is a good occasion to bring out some of the good wine.' she said, the spark in her eye suddenly coming alight. Melody stood dumbfounded at Ivy's sudden change in mood, and she watched as Ivy summoned for the wine to be brought forth, and she led the hobbits in one of her most favourite drinking songs, learned by her father.

[Orofaniel]

Daisy thought the party had started nice, even though you could seem to feel this tense, but cheerful atmosphere. She thought that most of them were originally quite nervous and anxious, but were hiding them behind party masks and merry laughter. There was also some food and drink, but quite a little. But then again, the Hobbits were going to Bree to get supplies because they barley had some left, so it was understandable.

Daisy sneaked over to the table to get some seedcake before it was eaten up by the other Hobbits. "Hello there Madoc…" She said and smiled. "How are you feeling tonight?" She asked politely and helped herself with some seedcake. "Hello! Isn't it Daisy?" He said and laughed. "I'm excellent..." he then said and smiled. "Hm...That's good." Daisy said and sneezed "..Sorry.." She said and got a tissue. "I'm catching a cold or something....who wouldn't these days?" She said and sighed.

"So, are you anxious about tomorrow?" he asked her as she sneezed again. "Very...Especially since my parents will be alone for some days, before my sister and her children come and help them, I mean. They can't do much themselves any longer...They're starting to get old, you know." Daisy muttered and sighed a little, before she took a bite of her seedcake.

Madoc was also chewing heavily by now.

"I see...." Madoc said finally. "I hope it will work out though....When you come home again, at least they will be happy to see you." Madoc said and smiled. Daisy couldn't do anything but laugh. If I come home..., Daisy thought and sneezed so the entire party looked at her. "Bless you!" One of the others said and the room laughed, as Daisy went red from her head and down to her toes.

[Phervasaion]

Tom’s eyes scanned the room in which the party was being held trying to identify all the hobbits that had turned up. He turned to his left and Melody looked at him. “I’m just going to talk to Ivy for a bit, okay Tom?” Melody asked while walking towards Ivy. Tom just nodded and turned to see Cedric speaking to Madoc, a hobbit which he had not seen before. ‘Hmm’ Tom thought to himself ‘that must be the hobbit that wishes to come along on the journey.’

Tom picked up a cup of tea from the table and walked towards Cedric and Madoc. “Hello good Hobbit friends,” said Tom interrupting the two Hobbits while they were in conversation. “It’s good to see you here Cedric. Having a good time?

“Yes, the party has been good,” Cedric replied. “I’m just a bit sad leaving my family and friends that’s all

“A lot of us here are having those feelings. You just need to think of the party as a good kick start to our journey rather than a sad goodbye to our relatives, that’s all,” Tom said trying to raise the hopes of Cedric. Tom turned to speak to Madoc. “Your Gorbadics cousin,” he began “I can tell by the look you have on your face, a lot like Gorbadics.” Madoc just smiled and nodded at Tom.

“It’s unfortunate that Gorbadic had to cancel for the journey, but he told of his cousin who seemed keen to take his place,” remarked Tom while drinking his entire cup of tea in one gulp.

“Well, I must say that I’m slightly worried about the Orcs and Wargs but other than that I’m ready and raring to go,” said Madoc while watching Tom surprisingly down his tea in one swallow.

Tom looked at his empty mug in a puzzled manner. “I finished that quick. I’ll go and get us some more tea.”

Tom began to walk towards the table but turned back half way there. “Remember you lot. Eat and drink as much as you like…. After all, this is a party!”

[piosenniel]

Madoc nodded as Tom walked away. He planned on taking full advantage of his invitation. He knew that once they hit the road, it would be cold rations and thin soup for the most part, and some days, only hot water, or ‘white tea’, as it was called in these days of scarce rations. He looked about the room and felt almost guilty at the quantities of food that had been brought out for them. Larders, he knew, were almost bare. But the friends and neighbors who had shared what little they had, were grateful that this little group would make the journey to find supplies. And their gratitude was expressed through food and drink.

From another corner of the room there came the sound of singing. Someone had started up a song, and mugs of ale were being raised to the singer. Madoc grinned widely. If he shut out the perpetual snow that fell in a white curtain outside the windows of the room, he could almost believe that the bad times had gone away, and spring was almost round the corner.

Someone had brought seedcake, a favorite of his, and there on the table next to it was a bottle of Gaffer Greenhand’s dandelion wine. The Gaffer was sitting at the table, pouring out small tots of the strong brew and slicing the cake paper thin to stretch it out. ‘My goodwife made this, laddie,’ he said as Madoc and Cedric approached his table. He laid a thin slice of the delicious cake in their outstretched hands. ‘Last bottle of summer’s sunshine,’ he went on, pouring each of them a generous portion of the golden wine. ‘You lads are doing a brave thing, you know.’ He tapped his thin little sticks of legs with his beech-wood cane. ‘If my pins weren’t so old and used up, I’d be going with you, you know.’

The Gaffer banged his cane on the ground and looked up at them with his rheumy eyes. ‘I was there, you know, when Bullroarer laid that Orc creature low.’ He motioned them to lean in closer, as if speaking of Orcs might bring them from the shadows in the corners of the rooms. ‘Here’s my advice to you youngsters. Orcs like to single their targets out. Like the wolves, they are. They’ll try to cut you out of the herd and then take you down.’ He tapped each of them on their shoulders. You stick together; don’t panic and get separated.’ He looked round the room at the women there. ‘They’re weaker, but they can fight, too, if threatened. Put the men in a ring around them facing outward. Fire’s good to scare them away – make sure you take some pitchy brands with you. A brand in one hand and your knife in the other. Give the women sharpened staves, long ones. They can poke ‘em at the critters. Put your bowman behind you, too. They can shoot out between a pair of lads in the outer ring.’

Madoc was all ears as the Gaffer spoke, taking in each bit of advice and filing it away for future use. ‘We can pile some brands and long poles on one of the wagons we’re taking,’ he told Cedric. ‘And I wonder if any of the others going with us tomorrow can use a bow?’

Someone else had come up to the table, and the Gaffer had turned to speak with them. Madoc finished his cake and wine and went to fetch his cloak. ‘I think I’ll go back home for now,’ he said to Cedric, who had followed him to the door to say good-bye. ‘Get some rest for tomorrow. See if my sister will loan me her old bow for the journey.’ He paused and held out his hand to the other Hobbit. ‘Glad to have met you, Cedric. I’ll look for you tomorrow. Perhaps we can walk along together.’ He waved as he reached the last step off the porch. Then, adjusting his hood about his head, he headed back to his house.

Just a little time left to pack a last few things and see his mother and sister before the journey began.

[dragoneyes]

"Come along! We're already late!" said Hob's slightly agitated father.

"Well, it wasn't my fault, blame mummy!"

"Your hair was reaching your nose, it needed a cut, not to mention on your feet, it was practically dragging on the floor!" Argued Lilly. It was a fair argument, she didn't want her sons feet getting too heavy for him to walk because snow was getting caught in his hair.

"Yes yes yes, alright alright he needed a haircut, now let's get going."

"That's all very easy for you to say, you're not carrying anything."

"You forget, I have the beans." Hob's father waved a basket at him, it contained their contribution to the party's food.

"Anything?" Lilly hit her son playfully. "Is that what I am to you now? A thing?"

"Of course not mummy." Hob reached down and kissed his mother. "Now, are you wrapped up well?"

"Yes, I feel rather like a caterpillar in a cocoon, tuck me in any tighter and I won't be able to breathe." Hob picked his mother up, he would have preferred it more if he hadn't found it so easy to lift her. "I do hope I'm too heavy for you, it would pay back for all those times I had to carry you in from the garden when you'd fallen asleep outside."

They walked as quickly as possible to the party, they were lucky it was so close, if it wasn't then they wouldn't have bothered as Hob wouldn't have gone without one of his parents, but he wouldn't have let his mother gone because it would mean being out in the cold for too long and if his mother couldn't go then his father couldn't go otherwise his mother would be left alone at home. So all in all, it was best that the party was close.

They arrived mostly unnoticed, except for causing a small chill when they opened the door. Hob put his mother down on a chair, she had made it without coughing once and Hob took that as a good omen. Hob's father disappeared through a crowd and returned moments later with plates of food, one for each of them, during the past summers, Hob would have dismissed these plates of food as snacks, barely enough for elenvensies, but now they were a feast. All three of them did nothing but eat for a few minutes until they had each eaten enough to be able to talk at the same time.

"Hob dear, you can sit and talk to us all the time at home, and you do, why not go meet someone you will be travelling with, get a headstart."

"You're mother's right, as always. Go and talk to someone else, possibly your own age. As much as we might look, we're not young." Hob paused in his eating and thought. He didn't want to make friends, they always died, and what if he died? Then he'd just cause his friends grief. But he saw reason in his parent's words, if he didn't get to know them now, he'd get to know them later. He took a deep breath, kissed his mother and father and walked to a group of people sitting scross the room.

"He looks like he's getting ready to jump into the Brandywine." observed Hob's father.

"Leave him alone, he's had a hard time."

"We all have, my love." Their conversation was cut short by a short spurt of coughing, followed by a long drink.

[Fool Of A Took]

Cedric took farewell of Madoc by the door and they decided to meet tomorrow so they could walk together. He grinned and stood watch him walk away for a while. He then yawned and decided that he might should go too soon. It was getting late, yet he really wanted to hear more of old Gamgee's stories and tips for them. He could see that Hob had arrived together with his parents. He grinned to Hob and sat down beside him. "Im just going to say hello!" he said and grinned, "I am about to leave now!" He rose up and shouted "Good night everyone! Im off now, thank you for a wonderful party!" He walked to his mother and whispered "Are you coming? Or will you stay?" His mother that thought that the party was wonderful, especially the pumpkin pie she said with a grin, so she decided to stay for a while. He turned and grabbed his coat by the door. He shut the door behind him and started to make his way home. The snow was heavy and it was colder now. He shrugged and he had the thought that a warg would jump out just infront of him and maybe eat him. He began to ran a little and was almost home.

He slammed the door behind him and ran into his living room and lighted a fire. There is no wargs here now! There is no wargs here now, he repeated for himself in his mind. He heard a hard pounding on his door. He screamed in fear of wargs and ran and grabbed a torch. He remembered that Gaffer had told him that wargs were afraid of fire. "Go away, you warg!" he shouted and tried to sound brave. "Cedric?" he could hear his mothers muffled voice outside say. She grinned at him as he opened. He realized that he stood on his doorstep thinking there was wargs outside. He felt really dumb. He threw the torch in the fire and his mother sat down in a chair beside the fireplace. As he thought of it now, wargs wouldn't probably knock on the door. He shook his head and sat down beside his mother ni an armchair.

"I want you to take care of you now." his mother slowly began.

"I will, don't worry about me!" Cedric replied.

"I know you don't like when I say this, but do you really have to go? You are all that I got! I don't want to lose you!" she said with complain in her voice.

"Enough of this!" Cedric yelled and rose up. "I can take care of myself, now please leave, mother."

"As you wish." his mother replied and didn't say another word. He could see she was in verge of tears and she just ran out and slammed the door behind her. Cedric drew a deep sigh of relieve and leaned back in his chair and stared into the heart of the fire. He yawned and thought about going to bed. He rose and walked into his bedroom. The soft pillow, his warm bed. He would miss his home. He yawned again and closed his eyes and fell into deep sleep.

[ElentariGreenleaf]

Merimac was enjoying the party. He had to keep reminding himself not to eat too much. It seemed strange to him that soon he would be out in the wild with the other brave hobbit adventurers, fending off wolves and who knows what else. It was quite a way into the party, and Meri had been talking with some old friends he hadn't seen in a while, when a draft of freezing cold air caused him to turn to the door. It was Hob! Meri hadn't seen Hob around for a while. Seeing that Hob was with his parents, Meri waited a while before he tried to catch his eye and call him over. When Hob turned in his direction, Meri waved and called him over.

"Haven't seen you for a long time Hob," said Meri. "Been looking after your parents?"

"That's right," said Hob. "This winter's taken its toll on them both."

Meri paused before he said anything else. He hadn't seen his parents very much during the long winter - they lived on the other side of the Shire. He decided he'd visit them before the journey, if he had time, just in case... just in case he did perish. "Do you think we'll all survive?"

"I hope so," replied Hob.

Meri decided it best not to talk of such dire things, and so he and Hob spoke with the other young hobbits, telling any cheerful tales they knew. But if the conversation slowed at any point, Meri's thoughts quickly reverted back to thinking of the journey ahead. It would be long and treacherous, Meri knew that, but he would do his best to make it there and back again.

[Niluial]

Melody enjoyed the party extremely, but it was time to go home. She needed an early nights sleep in her warm bed; probably the last good nights sleep she would get in a while. Melody walked over to Tom, he was talking to an older hobbit in a corner, “Tom, I am going to go home now. I think you should come too, you need an early night as much as I do!” Melody said. Tom excused himself and they both thanked everyone for the amazing farewell party. Many hobbits hugged them and bid them farewell, many with tears in their eyes. Melody felt sad saying goodbye to everyone and she felt heavy hearted. What if this is the last time I see any of these amazing people Melody questioned herself. She wiped the thought out immediately because it was crazy to be thinking such thought. They smiled once more and opened the door. The wind blew the snow into the room; it was a strong wind, the strongest Melody had seen. Tom put his coat on Melody once again and they both walked out the door. Melody held onto Tom, worried she might blow away with the wind.

They both arrived at Melody’s house. They stood looking at her house once more, there was no conversation, no sound only the wind blowing in the trees. “Would you like to come in for tea?” Melody asked, breaking the silence. Tom looked at Melody, “Uh” he paused, “I think I better go home, I still have one or two things to pack.” Tom smiled. “Ok well, I will see you early tomorrow then! We will be leaving at dawn.” Tom added. He leaned forward and kissed Melody on the cheek, “Good night Tom” Melody said trying to smile, but Tom was not fooled he could see how scared Melody was. He nodded and walked off. Melody stood holding on to a the balcony railing as she watched him walk off into the distance; soon there was nothing but white, not even a small figure in the distance. She stepped inside and lit a fire to warm the cold house up. Melody checked her bags once more, making sure she didn’t forget anything important then she climbed into bed realising that she wouldn’t be climbing into anything so warm or soft in a long time. “Good night house, good night bed, good night my lovely dancing fire” she said before falling into a deep sleep.

[piosenniel]

The snow was beginning to fall heavily as Madoc neared home. The lantern he’d brought was of no use, its light falling on the thick curtain of white showed barely a step in front of him. To his right, a pale hazy yellow blur peeked through the windblown snow, winking at him. Gaffer Heathertoes, house, he reckoned, thinking he had probably come the right distance for it to be so. He turned toward the beckoning light, hoping to find some shelter within until the snow let up.

He trudged through the snow, his head down against the driving clumps of flakes. For a moment, the little beacon was lost, and he stood shivering in the folds of his cloak wondering if he would not be found until the thaw came. But there it was again! He fixed his gaze on it and soon found himself on the snow drifted step before the door. He rapped loudly on the icy wood of the door, and was surprised when it swung open to him.

It was not the wizened face of old Hob that greeted him, but the face of one he had not seen in a long time. Fairlight Heathertoes . . . no, not Heathertoes, but Bracegirdle, he reminded himself – having married a lad from Girdley Island several years ago. ‘Come in,’ she said smiling at him, her brown eyes twinkling at him in the way he remembered. ‘My father will be glad to see you, Madoc.’ Her voice was light, and he stood in the entry way bemused by it. She took his cloak and shook the snow from it in a quick gesture, then pulled him inside by the arm and closed the door firmly. Madoc watched as she hung it on a peg by the door.

Fairlight took him by the arm, leading him into the small parlour, where Hob sat wrapped in a thick quilt, his chair pulled near the small woodstove. ‘Come in laddie,’ the Gaffer said, his wrinkled face rearranging itself into a smile of welcome. A chair was pulled up, and Madoc sat down, his feet now propped on the fender of the stove. Fairlight put a mug of hot tea in his hands, then refilled the mug her father held.

For a while, it was only the sipping of the honeyed tea that was heard against the hiss and pop of the logs in the stove. Madoc, now warmed up, looked about the room and then asked where Tomlin, Fairlight’s husband, might be. Fairlight’s face grew pale and she looked down at her feet. The Gaffer patted her hand, murmuring, ‘There, there lass . . .’, then turned to Madoc to explain that just a few weeks ago Tomlin had been killed while out hunting. Orcs it seemed had come south, and roamed near the Brandywine seeking food. Tomlin was just clearing his traps when he had been attacked and savagely killed. Fairlight had packed up what little they had and made her way home to Tuckburrough. ‘Goin’ to be staying with me a spell,’ he told Madoc. ‘Sorting things out, she is.’

Madoc’s gaze turned to Fairlight, the illumination from the stove’s front grate glinting off her golden curls. Her fair face was sorrowful in relief as she stared at the flickerings of the flames. Madoc’s heart lurched in his chest as he studied her. He had been too late to court her he remembered, though his mother and sister had pushed him to step forward. ‘Not the time to be thinking of yourself, Madoc,’ he told himself firmly, pushing such thoughts away from him. Leaning a little across the Gaffer, he murmured softly to her. ‘So sorry, Fairlight, for your loss. He was a good man, Tomlin was.’ Fairlight nodded her head, a whispered thank-you closing the topic.

It was the Gaffer who changed the subject, wanting to know why Madoc was out in the snow and so late. Madoc filled him in on the journey to Bree that was to begin tomorrow, and that he intended to go. Talk of the route and who was going carried on from there, with the Gaffer asking if Madoc was bringing his wagon. ‘Sorry to say, but no,’ answered the younger Hobbit. ‘The front axle is broken and I haven’t found the time to fix it yet.’

A shushed conversation followed between Fairlight and her father, with the Gaffer nodding his head at whatever Fairlight was saying. She laid her hand on her father’s arm, saying ‘Go ahead ,then,’ she urged him. ‘It’s yours to offer.’

Old Hob leaned over to Madoc and said with a laugh, ‘Well it’s settled then, isn’t it laddie? What the lass says makes sense to me.’ Madoc looked questioningly at the old fellow, awaiting further explanation. But the Gaffer had picked up his mug and sat sipping at it contentedly.

‘What my father means to tell you, Madoc,’ Fairlight filled in, ‘is that he would be happy to let you borrow the big haying wagon in the barn. Not much use for it at present, is ther? And he keeps it in good condition – the wheels are greased, the nuts and bolts all tightened, the axles strong. You can bring back plenty of supplies in it.’ She looked thoughtful and then added, ‘Of course you’ll need to take the two big ponies to pull it – Rocky and Nettle. There’s still hay in the barn, you can pile it on the wagon for food for them.’ She looked over at him, a smile dimpling her cheek. ‘Let us help, won’t you? In whatever way that we can.’

Madoc accepted the offer with great thanks and plans were made for him to pick the wagon up early the next morning. The snow, seen through the small window in the parlour, had lightened. And Madoc, wanting to see his family before he left, said that he should go. Fairlight walked him to the door, and it was while he fastened his cloak about his neck that he spied the bow and quiver propped in the shadowed corner. ‘Tomlin’s hunting bow,’ she offered in explanation, noting his gaze lingering on it. ‘I couldn’t leave it behind, though neither of us,’ she said nodding toward her father, ‘will ever use it.’

Madoc said nothing, only opened the door, and waved to her and the Gaffer as he stepped into the snowy light. ‘We’ll see you, then, tomorrow,’ he heard her clear voice call out to him as he made his way down the snow-crusted path. He turned, seeing her figure highlighted in the light that streamed out from behind her. Then the door closed; the light disappeared.

And Madoc found his tread a little lighter as he headed home . . .

[ElenCala Isil]

When it seemed the party was coming to an end, Ivy decided she had best go home and get as decent of a rest as she would be able to before the journey. She quickly said her goodbyes, and slipped out quietly into the cold. This time, as Ivy walked to her hole, she managed to resist the temptation of going to the river once more. Not this time... just leave me in peace for a night. she said to her feelings, and trudged on home.

As soon as she had arrived at her home, she lit the fire, and climbed into her bed, not wanting to think of anything else that night until the morning's light. She tossed and turned uneasily in her bed, trying to make herself fall asleep, but only suceeded in lying awake listening to the crackling sound of the fire as it died down. She sighed, and tried to close all thoughts from her mind, to be as careless as she generally was, and it seemed for a moment that she had reached that point. And at this moment, Ivy drifted off into slumber haunted by horrible dreams.

The warg closed in on Ivy, who yelped and tried to move. She was surrounded. Everywhere around her were the lifeless bodies of her companions. Surely she was not the only one left alive?

'Melody!' she cried out, hoping that her best friend had not perished with the others. A muffled cry came out as if in attempted reply, and Ivy was certain it was Melody. She was alive yet!

'Melody! Run!!' Ivy found herself yelling, but was met with the sound of a blood-curdling scream, and sobbing. Ivy heard Melody sobbing over Tom's broken body, and soon Ivy heard the sound she dreaded most. Vicious snarling and then utter silence. She peered out from behind the tree which was her only protection, and saw that Melody was lying on the ground, wounded, or even worse, dead.

Without thinking, Ivy ran out into the open towards Melody, and began dragging her to safety, but the warg jumped in front of her. Snarling, it opened it's foul mouth and lunged towards her...

Startled Ivy awoke, gasping for breath as if she had been held under water for quite some time. She looked out her window to see the sun climbing in the sky.

'Oh no! I'm late!' Ivy shouted as she quickly got out of bed and got dressed. She didn't bother with breakfast that morning, but simply grabbed her coat, and her pack to take on the journey and ran all the way to Tom's house.

She knocked the door lightly, and was answered by Tom, who was a bit startled to see her out of breath, and bade her come inside. 'I'm sorry, Tom. I had a horrible dream and - well, that's not important. Are the others here?' she ranted as she saw a few of the others already there, looking anxious for the rest to come.

Ivy sunk into a chair and looked around at the others. At last it seemed her sense of adventure came about her, and a smile spread across her face. At last! I'm going on a real adventure! She found it next to impossible to contain her excitement.

[piosenniel]

Madoc rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He was still tired; it had been a short night – spent talking with his mother and sister, and finishing up the packing of just a few more articles of clothing to take with him to keep warm. Now that morning had come, his sister saw him off with a brave smile, but his mother was crying, and it broke his heart to leave her so. He glanced back once at the two of them standing in the doorway, and saw Prisca put her arm around their mother and guide her into the house. With a heavy sigh, he adjusted his scarf and pulled his cape closer about him and walked a little faster.

Prisca had not been able to loan him her bow. The tip had broken the last time she strung it – the wood was brittle from the cold; and she had not had the time to repair it. Ah, well he still had his sling and walking stick, and his skinning knife. They would have to do.

The sun was just peering over the rim of the horizon when he got to Gaffer Heathertoes' place. The old fellow was up and in the stable, seeing to the ponies. He stepped out as Madoc approached and waved him over. ‘I’ve got them harnessed for you laddie, just give me hand getting them and the wagon out the door.’ Madoc put his hand in the bridle near the nose band and led the pair out, while the Gaffer held wide the door. Fairlight had by this time come out of the door, a basket in her hand, and something wrapped in a piece of leather. She smiled at him, and he returned it in kind.

‘A few parcels of dried rabbit,’ she said, putting the basket up on the seat and some dried apples from our trees out back. Oh, and a small stack of journey cakes.’ She looked pensive then went on. ‘I used to make them for Tomlin when he went hunting.’

Madoc thanked her, and climbed into the seat. He took the brake off, and grasping the reins lightly in his hands gave a little cluck to the ponies to start off. ‘Wait,’ cried Fairlight, holding the leather wrapped bundle up to him. ‘I’ve something else for you.’ Madoc reached down and took the offered bundle. Curious to know what it was, he unwrapped it. It was a bow and a quiver of metal tipped hunting arrows. ‘They were Tomlin’s,’ Fairlight explained. ‘Use them well,’ she went on. Her voice dropped a little and he bent close to her to hear her next words. ‘Keep yourself safe . . . and come back.’

She stepped back before he could answer, and put her arms around her father. Smiling, they both waved to him as he started toward Tom’s house.

~*~*~*~*~

Tom was up and about when he arrived with the wagon. And several others of his fellow travelers had already gathered at the house. He set the brake on the wagon and greeted those already there. Tom introduced him to Ivy; Madoc had missed meeting her at the party. He noted she had her large filled pack by the chair where she was sitting. ‘Here,’ he said, ‘let me put that on the wagon for you.’ He raised his voice a little louder and spoke to the group that was gathered there. ‘I’ve brought a hay wagon from Gaffer Heathertoes. You can all throw your packs on when we leave. And if you get a little weary, holler up to me – I’ll slow the wagon and you can get on.’

From the corner of his eye, he saw Cedric come in the door. Madoc smiled and nodded to him . . .

[Orofaniel]

The next morning, when they were leaving, hadn't been going as planned, or at least so far. All the things she had packed seemed to be gone. Or, Daisy couldn't find it. Then after eating breakfast, all worried, she had found the packings under the coffee table in the living room. She wondered how it had gotten there in the first place. She didn't have time to figure that out though. Then it was the though Good bye to her parents. She didn’t expect it to be that difficult. After all, she did expect to come back.....some day.

Her mother had been crying and begged her to stay, even though she knew perfectly well that Daisy and the others were the only hope to survive the winter. When they had finally let her walk out the door, all set and ready, Daisy noticed that she had forgotten the most important thing of all; her scarf that her mother had knitted for her. It could come in handy these cold days, and besides this was a long trip and you always needed to be prepared. Daisy therefore sneaked in again to get her scarf, which caused yet another good bye scene with some tears and laughter at the same time. Then the finally the last good bye kiss was given and Daisy hurried over to Tom's house.

**

The snow was deep, and the wind blew in her hair. She could also feel the snowflakes falling smoothly on her skin that wasn't covered by warm clothes.

"Hello there Tom..Ivy and Madoc" Daisy said as she approached them. She smiled as if it were some sort of holiday they were going on. When she noticed that, she tried to keep her mask straight. "Hello," Ivy replied, she smiling as well.

The snowing had stopped now, but the wind was still giving her a shiver now and then. She tried not to think about the weather, and about the trip, but it seemed impossible. "Er...so Ivy...Are you...excited?" she asked and blushed. This was maybe a wrong question for the situation. But Ivy nodded a little, and grinned. "Well...it's probably going to be dangerous...and hard...." Ivy then muttered. "Yes, I know." Daisy said and shook her head. "I'm a bit anxious myself." she added.

[Fool Of A Took]

Cedric woke up and slowly rose up. He fumbled after his slippers and rubbed his eyes. He then remembered his little fuss with his mother. He hated when he and his mother were mad at each other. He mumbled something unhearable and went out to the kitchen. And by the way he could see his backpack stand ready by his outer door. He sighed and continued into the kitchen. The weather seemed a little better today, but still the endless snow. He was so irritated about it. He slammed with the cupboard doors and the porcelain as he made breakfast. He sat down in a chair with a hard, dry piece of bread with very little butter on and just one slice of cheese.

He sat and tried to eat it while waited for his tea. At the moment he wasn't so hungry. He had other problems to think of. His mother for example, he didn't want to leave her while they still were mad at each other. The problem was that he didn't now what to say. He finished his bread and drank a little tea. He had ration the tea, so it barely tasted anything so he just drank the half. He didn't have time to dish so he left it as it was. He thought that if he one day would come home again he would take care of that problem. Then he maybe would be happy that he just had to worry about dishing and not survival.

He went out to see if he had forgotten anything to pack that he needed for the journey. He packed up everything and checked. Then packed down everything again. He stretched his back and looked around and tried to remember where he put his walking stick. The finest he ever had. It was made in sturdy oak and he had owned it since as long as he could remember. Then he remembered something that he shouldn't forget, his hunting bow and dagger. He went into his bedroom and sat down with a thud.

He looked under his bed and pulled out a big chest. He sneezed of all the dust. He snuffled and then fumbled up an old, rusty key out of his pocket.He slowly opened the wooden chest and removed blanket who covered all the things under it. He picked up a hunting bow with a few arrows. He studied it and laid it beside him. He had trained archery a lot for a while, just for fun. He picked up a dagger. The only thing he had left from his father. He pulled it out of it's sheath. He let his fingers touch the blade and he then stood up and swinged it a little in the air. It shined in the air and at that moment Cedric felt really proud of that he had such a nice dagger. He also took up a very small knife that he kept inside inner pocket of his vest. It could become useful, he thought.

He pulled back the chest under his bed. He went out to the hall again and fastened his hunting bow at the outside of his backpack and his dagger in his belt. He put on his warmest coat and cloak, and then he grabbed his walking stick by the door step and walked out of his hole. He slowly closed the door and felt how the sorrow of leaving came to him. His heart sank and so did his mood. With a heavy heart he locked the door and put the key in his pocket. For maybe the last time he waved to Crystal who sat in her kitchen eating her poor breakfast. He really thought she was cute and many times he blushed when she smiled to him and said hello.

He decided to go to his mother first. He trudged through the snow to his mothers hole. He knocked very gentle on her door and said "Mother?" He heard footsteps coming closer to the door and then she slowly opened the door. He smiled to her and she didn't look angry today. "Mother!" he said and hugged her. They stood there on her doorstep and hugged each other for a long while. His gaze got blurred of all the tears and he could hear his mother cry loudly. "Now you be careful, laddie" she said and snuffled. Cedric dried his tears with the back of his hand and said "Don't worry mother, I will see you again!" She brought something up from her pocket. "Here..." she said, "Have this on you journey, it will bring you luck, it was your fathers" She handed him a golden medallion. He grabbed it and held it close to his chest. Now he could barely hold his tears back. He tried to be strong and took a farewell of his mother with another hug. He turned and got out on the road and started to make his way to Tom's house.

[piosenniel]

‘You can sit up here with me, Miz Tunnelly.’

Madoc jumped down from the wagon’s seat and took the pack from Estelle Tunnelly. He had seen her come trudging up the lane. Her raven locks were streaked with silver and glinted in the pale early morning light. She pulled her cloak close about her thin frame as she trudged determinedly through the snow, and her breath, misty white in the frigid air, wreathed her head in a ghostly manner.

With a smile of gratitude, she handed over her pack, watching as he stowed it securely just behind the long wooden seat of the wagon. ‘I’ll just keep this at hand,’ she said as he offered to put her bow with it. ‘Never know when it might come in handy!’ Madoc gave her a hand up to the seat and bade her pull up the large, thickly padded quilt his Ma had sent with him. ‘Enough for the both of us,’ he grinned as he pulled part of the quilt over his legs.

He saw a familiar mop of red curls come running down the icy path, slipping and sliding. It was Gorbadic, his pack banging against his back as he hurried along. ‘Wait up, cousin! I’m going, too!’ His steamy breath coming hard from his run, Gorbadic leaned against the wagon for a few moments, then threw his pack into it. ‘I’ll just tramp along for now,’ he said. ‘When my legs get tired, I’ll hop in back for a bit.’

In the distance, Madoc could just make out another figure trudging along. ‘Cedric!’ shouted Madoc, waving at the approaching Hobbit. ‘Good to see you!’ Madoc grinned at his new acquaintance. ‘Throw your pack in the back, there. And come on up if you want.’ Miz Tunnelly smiled down at Cedric, indicating there was plenty of room and quilt if he wished.

The crunch of iron bound wheels against the hard packed snow and ice heralded the approach of yet another fellow traveler . . .

[dragoneyes]

It was Hob, pulling behind him a smaller cart that his father had managed to drag out from the garden shed. Hob himself was wearing all the warm clothes that he could and he had more in his pack, which he wore on his back. On the wagon were a few more blankets, and under them to keep it from freezing, was Hob's bow, another pack, smaller than the one on Hob's back was in the wagon and held as much food, mostly dried, that he'd dare take from his larder, which admittedly wasn't much, but it would still help.

"Hello there Hob!" Hob jumped and looked up, he'd been so intent on just walking, he'd not realised that he'd walked far enough. "I see you've brought your own cart." it was Madoc speaking.

"Good morning Madoc, everyone." he nodded in acknowledgement to everyone and they waved or smiled back. "Yes, but I'm afraid no one's going to be able to sit on it and rest like they can do on yours, which reminds me, I've also brought a couple of spades, I thought they might be useful."

"Good thinking!" said Madoc, surprised that he'd not thought of it himself. "Yes, we may need them if there's a large snowdrift on the road."

"Do you mind if I sit up the with you? Only I think this cart is more for two people to push than just the one." Asked Hob, and he was, of course, allowed to. He climbed up next to Estelle and seemed to sink back into his huge amount of clothing. He sighed and closed his eyes, he'd gotten up far too early this morning because he'd been to nervous to sleep, a little sleep here couldn't hurt.

[Phervasaion]

Tom awoke early the next morning after the party, unlike the night before where he overslept. He got up at six o’clock to check that all things were ready for the trip and to make a few final touches to his packing. There was not much else to do so he made himself an extremely small breakfast which consisted of only two mushrooms.

Tom began to think more seriously about the journey ahead and the dangers that there could be. It wasn’t just Wargs and Orcs that he was worried about; he had heard that the East road to Bree was becoming icy and very slippery. And the cold weather itself could have been the death of the novice adventurers. He pondered these thoughts for some time when suddenly he heard a knock at the door which woke him up from his slight daydreaming. He opened the door revealing Cedric shaking in the cold weather with a huge bag on his back.

“Hullo Cedric come on in while we wait for the others to arrive,” Tom said as he invited him into his living room. He was just about to sit down again when he heard another knock at his door. “Err... Hang on just a minute while I get the door… Again,” He said as he once again walked to his front door. The hobbits now began to arrive one by one. Melody and Ivy and then the others came in. Madoc brought a wagon in which the hobbits could store their entire luggage.

Tom began throwing all the heavy bags upon the wagon and thanked Madoc for his help. After, Tom and Madoc trudged back through the snow into the house and looked and all the faces of the young hobbits about to embark on this great journey. Their faces looked worried and sad while, at the same time, excited and desperate.

After a slight pause Tom looked them all in the eyes. “Well…” He began. “If theirs n final things that anyone wants to do… then let us begin travelling.”

[Niluial]

Melody woke up from her deep slumber. Remarkably she had a great nights sleep, she dreamt of far away places, hills, flowers, Ivy and Tom. Melody looked out the window and stretched out her arms and smiled. She climbed out of bed and looked outside; the snow was thick, thicker than it had been in a while. Wont be easy to travel in Melody thought. She was in no rush for her bags had been packed and all she needed to do was to put on warm clothes and a thick coat. She had baked a batch of muffins for everyone, for Melody knew all of the hobbits were anxious and probably hadn’t eaten anything for breakfast.

Melody walked into the entrance of her house and smiled at it, “I’ll be seeing you very soon!” she said. Melody wasn’t a pessimist she liked to look at the happy things in life and not think negative. She picked up her bag and the basket of fresh blueberry and poppy seed muffins. Melody opened the door; there was a slight cold breeze nothing like the night before! She closed the door and locked her house with a small golden key which she then hung around her neck. Melody’s heart sank; no one was there to bid her farewell. She wished to see her brother’s faces, why they would be green with envy. They loved adventures very much. If only Melody thought.


**

Melody walked into Tom’s warm house. Basically everyone was there, maybe one or two were missing. “Good morning!” Melody said cheerfully. Everyone looked at her as if she were insane; it was odd to see someone so happy and perky. Melody could feel the tension, worry and anxiety in the room. She placed her bag on the floor and put the basket on the table, everyone’s faced brightened up, “I thought it would make your day” Melody chuckled. Tom pulled out a chair for Melody and slightly smiled at her. Ivy sat next to Melody, she had a huge smirk on her face. Melody knew what the smirk was for; they were going on an adventure! Not one of their child adventures but a real one! Excitement shot through Melody’s body, a pure adrenalin rush.

Once they had all finished their tea and muffins they collected their bags and placed them on the wagon. One wagon would not be enough for all the supplies but Melody was sure the Bree folk would give them a wagon. Shire folks stood around watching them take off, a few tears were shed. Excitement filled the icy air and Melody could no longer feel the cold. [i]I wonder what this journey has install, what dangers… oh I can’t wait to find out[i] Melody thought happily.

[piosenniel]

Madoc checked the harnesses on the two ponies, making adjustments on Nettle’s bridle where it was a bit too tight. Rocky shook his mane as Madoc approached him, and stamped his hooves on the frozen ground. ‘Anxious to be off, are you, boy?’ Madoc crooned to him, rubbing the pony’s nose with his gloved hand. Nettle nudged the Hobbit in the back, wanting his due, and was rewarded with a few moment of scratching to the area between his ears.

Walking around to the back of the big hay wagon, he hopped up, pulling Gorbadic up after him. ‘Let’s get these packs stowed here, along the sides,’ he directed his cousin. ‘And those thick quilts that the villagers have lent us – pile them to that side. People can use them when they climb on the wagon for a rest.’ Gorbadic bent to the task while Madoc busied himself securing some things he had gotten at the Heathertoes’ place beneath the seat. A small stack of pitchy brands rolled up in canvas were shoved under the left side, and a bundle of long oak staves tied together with twine were secured along the right side of the wagon, their sharpened heads safely under the overhang of the wagon’s seat.

Madoc had brought a wooden chest from his cellar, and into it the Hobbits put the dried meats and fruits and vegetables they had been able to glean from their pantries, and the generous gifts of what food they could spare from the villagers. The chest fit nicely under the bed of the wagon, in a shelf there built to hold the food chest for the haying crew.

The Hobbits were all assembled now. Merimac being the last one to come running up the road. The day was clearing a bit, the snow had stopped and the morning sun shown a little brighter in the wintry sky. ‘Now there’s a good sign,’ said Gorby to his cousin. ‘If only the weather will hold til we get to Bywater.’

‘Bywater!’ said Madoc, a certain gleam in his eye. It was not often he traveled north, but when his business took him there he liked to stop in at the Green Dragon. ‘So we’re going north then,’ he said, turning to Tom, who stood near him. ‘I was afraid you would want to go across the Green Hill country. Too dangerous by half these days! The wolves there are as starved as we Hobbits. It will be safer passage for us to Bree along the Great East Road.’

Madoc climbed back up to the wagon seat. Miz Tunnely, seated between him and Hob, smiled up at him and threw a corner of the quilt over his legs. ‘Gorby is going to push your wagon along for now, Hob, if you don’t mind,’ said Madoc, picking the reins up in his hands. ‘He’s full of energy and wants to walk.’ He lowered his voice to a whisper and leaned in closer to his two seat mates. ‘Though if you ask me, he’s sweet on Daisy Waggot.’ Hob and Estelle turned round just in time to see Gorby pull the wagon up alongside Daisy and flash her big smile.

In the still frosty air, the breath from the ponies could be seen circling up to the overhang of leaves. They stamped their feet, jingling their harness. Eager to be off, one of them whinnied. Madoc released the brake on the wagon and flicked the reins lightly against their backs.

Melody, Tom, Ivy, Cedric and Merimac walked in front of the wagon. As did Gorby with Hobb’s hand wagon, his red curls bobbing as he chatted up Daisy. The ponies kept to a slow pace as they followed the group. Madoc, his eyes, looking to the lightly forested area on either side of the small road that led north spoke low to Hob. ‘Probably not a concern, yet,’ he began, ‘but could you keep a look out for movement in the trees as we go along. You, too, Miz Tunnelly. There are other creatures looking to feed themselves, same as us.’

[ElentariGreenleaf]

Merimac had been one of the last to arrive before the group of brave hobbits set out for Bree. He had woken at a ridiculously early hour, though he hadn't slept much anyway, so that he could go and see his parents before he left. His old gaffer wished him luck and gave him some extra supplies: a bit of food, some rope (you never have rope when you need it) and a short bladed knife. Meri's eyes had opened wide when his gaffer handed him the weapon. It had been passed down in the family for at least two generations now. Meri only hoped he could return it safely.

Meri hadn't been very nervous at all, but now the journey had begun he was anxious for their safety. His worry was doubled when he overheard Madoc tell Hob to keep an eye out for movement in the trees. Meri almost began to panic, but he managed to calm himself down and tell himself there was nothing to worry about, yet. Cedric, who was walking next to him, seemed to notice Meri's near-panic, but shrugged and continued his conversation with Tom. Feeling left out of conversations, Meri dropped back and conversed with Hob, hoping that talking would make the journey seem less omnious.

[Niluial]

Melody was rather tired now, for they had been journeying all morning. It was almost noon, a happy thought filled Melody’s mind; food. She had been trying her best to remain strong all morning trying to ignore the ice burning her, she was in much pain, as were the others! She had been thinking a lot as they were walking, about many things. Tom had spoken to her once or twice but he was in another world; a world filled with many worries and morbid thoughts.

Melody caught up to Tom and walked beside him “Hello you!” Melody said cheerfully. “Oh, hello” Tom smiled slightly. Melody looked ahead and spotted an open grass field, it was covered in snow with small patches of green grass sticking out, “perfect” Melody shouted out. Tom looked at her strangely “Uh, what?”
Melody blushed “uh, well there is a lovely field ahead!” Melody pointed to the field, “it would be a good idea to stop to rest our legs and have lunch there. By the looks of it we need to stop.” Tom nodded boldly and told everyone to stop there.

Melody handed everyone a bite of lembas, “I know it’s not much, but it’s just a nibble, we need to save our food!” Everyone nodded and agreed; they were happy to even see food. She watched everyone eat, a few were eating fast while others savoured each bite. Tom came and sat next to Melody “Are you ok?” he asked. Melody frowned, “Of course I am ok. Do you think I am weak or that I can’t endure as mush as you can!” Melody snapped, Tom looked startled and backed away. “Well your wrong Mr Bracegirdle!” She hissed, she stormed off to where Ivy stood nibbling on lembas.

Melody didn’t know what took over her then, she wanted to impress Tom and look bigger and stronger but was now acting childish and immature. Ivy looked at her caringly, a bit worried too. “Oh Ivy” Melody said with a huge sigh.

[piosenniel]

Three more hours brought them to the Great East Road. Madoc had never been to the Green Dragon Inn, so at the first opportunity he stopped at one of the little holdings near the crossroads and had Gorbadoc ask for directions. Gorby came running back, his breath misting in the cold air. ‘They said it was just up the path to the left, not very far at all.’ Gorbadoc climbed into the back of the wagon and making his way to the front of the wagon bed, leaned over the back of the seat. Edging his shoulders between Madoc and Estelle, he rubbed his cold hands together and pointed out the way to the Inn.

Madoc pulled the wagon into the Inn yard. The stable-boy came out and offered to see to the ponies. ‘You go into the Inn,’ he told Madoc and the other Hobbits. ‘Innkeeper’s got a nice little fire going. Warm you right up!’

Estelle was helped down by Gorbadoc, and he fetched her pack and his into the Inn. Madoc handed out the rest of the packs, then taking his own, tromped up the steps to the great door. He stomped his feet to knock the snow and dirt from them; then, gave his cloak a twitch to knock off the dust of the road from it. Pushing the door open, he stepped in quickly.

The Hobbit blinked as he stood in the entry way, letting his eyes adjust to the dimmer light in the Inn. Most of the Hobbits were standing near the fire, a serving girl passing among them passing out hot tea and mugs of ale. Madoc put his pack on the floor just inside the door, and taking off his cloak hung it on one of the pegs by the door. He was just moving off toward the fireplace, when a voice from one of the little booths near the wall spoke up.

‘Well, if it isn’t another Hobbit, come down the road to taste the Dragon’s ale!’ He motioned for Madoc to come over to the booth. ‘’From Tookland, I hear, laddie,’ said the old gaffer as he eyed Madoc. ‘Sit down, sit down, and rest your bones. Peony will bring us another pot of tea.’ One of the serving girls had come to the table with a kettle of hot water and filled up the pot. She took a clean mug from one of her apron pockets and plunked it down in front of Madoc.

‘Nice to see you all,’ she remarked, saying that they had had very few travelers in the past month. ‘Aye, that’s true,’ agreed the gaffer pouring them both a cup of tea. He pushed the small pot of honey toward Madoc, and leaned in confidentially toward him.

‘We did have one, though, just a few days ago. Came here from Frogmorton, he did.’ Peony shook her head at the gaffer’s words. ‘White as a ghost, he was,’ she whispered. ‘Said he’d run like the dickens the last few miles. Said he heard something following him.’ ‘Yes, and he told us he’d found tracks crisscrossing the road as he came west on it,’ the old fellow said.

Madoc frowned at their words. Tomorrow they would be on the road and going toward Frogmorton. It would take them several days to get to the Inn there – The Floating Log. He looked up at Peony, noticing that several of the other Hobbits from Tuckburrough had gathered round. ‘What sort of tracks?’ Madoc asked.

The gaffer took his pipe from his mouth and poked Madoc on the arm with it. ‘Looked like wolves . . . or so he thought . . .’

There were murmurings among the Tookland Hobbits at the old man’s words . . .

[Phervasaion]

“Wolves!” Tom cried as he walked towards the old Gaffer and Madoc who were already speaking with each other.

“Yes wolves,” stated the old gaffer looking at Tom. “Or so he said. The young traveller looked as white as a ghost so I doubt he was lying or just having a joke about it. But who knows for sure… You young Hobbits should be careful outside your homes. Who knows what dangers may lay ahead?” The Gaffer took a long puff of his pipe and a sip of his tea.

Tom turned and looked at the other Hobbits. They looked scared slightly, but Tom could tell that none of them would give up so easily after all the preparing for the journey. Tom turned back to the gaffer and sighed. “Ah well… I expected we would run into danger but I was hoping that it would not be so soon.”

Tom slumped into a chair next to Madoc and fell into deep thought. He could tell that the morale of all the hobbits was already falling and that was not a good sign. He thought that he should try to encourage all the Hobbits with a rousing speech, but he was never good at those sorts of things and the speech would probably have ended with him just giving up.

Tom rose out of his seat. “We must have some well earned rest soon as we have been travelling in the cold long,” he said to the other hobbits. “Here would be the best place to have. And, hopefully the wolves may have passed somewhere else when we actually reach their tracks tomorrow.” The hobbits nodded at Tom and they began to bring all of their things inside the inn. Tom went to the bar and booked the rooms and also decided to order dome ales and wines hoping it might make the hobbits feel slightly happier.

Tom looked at Melody who was bringing in her belongings. He wondered why she had snapped at him earlier and was led to believe that she was not really interested in him at all. All he wanted to do was make sure she was alright and she seemed to kick him away as if she didn’t want his company.

Tom paid Peony and walked out and grabbed his luggage from outside the inn and took it up to his room. As he made his way to the stairs he glanced across the room and saw that some of the Hobbits had already settled down in the inn and were drinking merrily with the gaffer. Tom hurried up and placed his belongings in his room and went back down to join the other Hobbits.

[Niluial]

Melody threw down her belongings on the floor once she had reached her room. She looked around, the room was silent and cold, “Well this will do” she said to herself, as she rubbed her hands together to keep warm. Melody sat on a chair in her room and thought for a while. Wolves just the thought made her shudder. She had hoped that nothing too dangerous would pass their way and that hopefully they would all make it safely, but Melody knew that it wasn’t possible. She imagined the wolves’ fierce teeth, their strong bodies, there evil eyes looking for their next victim. Melody erased the thought from her head; she frightened herself with such detailed thoughts. She dug through her bag and took out her extra jersey which she put on. She decided to join the hobbits in the bar, for they were laughing so merrily like there was not one trouble in the world. Amazing,Melody thought actually typical, ale always makes one feel like nothing could go wrong.

She saw an empty seat next to Tom and walked over and sat in the chair. Melody still felt terrible about snapping at Tom earlier, it wasn’t right of her. She did plan on apologising but now was not the right time. The Hobbits spoke of happy times; fields, flowers, treasures, the Shire and they told many amusing stories. The tense anxiety had left the room and now a happy, joyful atmosphere filled the room. They lit the fire and sang songs; some danced, others just sat and watched. The lovely serving girl brought out some warm soup with a loaf of bread that had just come out of the oven. They all ate and felt warm and content, they forgot about the cold, the snow and the thought of the wolves nearby.

Melody looked at Tom, “Uh, Tom can I speak to you, outside?” Tom looked at Melody puzzled. He nodded and they walked outside, into the cold air but it wasn’t that cold, for their bodies were warm. “I need to apologise for earlier! I don’t know what came over me Tom. I… I, just… I wanted to look stronger than what I felt and the cold it was getting to me! I needed you to approve of me, I didn’t want to look weak and pathetic.” Melody looked at Tom fondly, and sighed.
“Oh Melody, I understand.” Tom said. They never spoke a word, they just listened to the laughter of the hobbits in the background and the wind blowing in the trees. Melody leaned forward and kissed Tom. Melody blushed at her actions and nervously said “Uh, its getting cold, um” she paused “we better get back inside” she laughed a nervous laugh. She quickly walked back inside but Tom did not follow her, he stood outside for a minute or so.

Melody excused herself from all the hobbits “it’s another day tomorrow and well I think I need my sleep.” With that she left the room and went to her room where she climbed into bed immediately. There were many blankets in the room, she piled them all on top of herself and tried to sleep. Melody thought about the journey, the wolves and about Tom. Slowly her eyes started to close, they were heavy, her body completely relaxed, her mind at peace, she fell into a deep slumber.

[piosenniel]

The table they were sitting at was near on of the Inn’s windows. The old gaffer was talking, embroidering his stories about wolves in the vicinity. It had gone from one lone wolf to packs of the yellow-fanged beasts roaming the countryside at will. The gaffer’s eyes twinkled as he talked, but the majority of the Hobbits gathered round him sat wide-eyed taking in every word.

Madoc noted that Tom had come back downstairs and nodded at him, sliding a chair out for him with his foot. He was there only a few moments when Melody came and sat next to him. ‘An interesting couple,’ he thought to himself. Madoc leaned back in his chair and watched the interactions between the two. There seemed to be a lot of tension and friction between the two at times. He wondered what was the cause of it.

His gaze drifted to the small table next to him. Some of the Hobbits from Tookland had gathered there. They wanted to be near enough to hear the gaffer’s stories. Gorby was there he noted – being very solicitous of Daisy Waggot. He had fetched her a drink and a little something to eat, and now sat near her, glancing shyly toward her when she made some comment to him. ‘Poor Gorby!’ Madoc chuckled as he saw his cousin’s face turn almost as bright a red as his hair when Daisy offered him a ‘thank-you’ for getting her a little extra jam for her bread. ‘Oh my! The poor lad has it bad for her!’

The curtains at the little window near his seat were open, and a movement outside the Inn caught his eye. He peered cautiously through the glass and spied another couple – Melody and Tom. They had left the table earlier, and now here they were. Outside . . . talking. Madoc’s eyes went wide. Not just talking . . . Melody had kissed Tom!

A few moments later, the still blushing Hobbit lass had come back into the common room and gone upstairs after saying goodnight to the others, while Tom remained outdoors, his breath misting in the frigid air. Madoc rapped on the window, drawing his attention. He held up his pint and motioned to Tom to come in and have another ale.

The gaffer by this time had run out of steam and stories and was yawning widely. He said good night to the group and waved at them as he went to his room. The group broke up into little groups of two’s and three’s and talked quietly among themselves. Tomorrow morning they would be on their way down the road toward Bree. Tonight they would be safe at the Green Dragon.

[Orofaniel]

Daisy thought the Green Dragon was a quite nice Inn. The atmosphere was bright and relaxed. The only thing that bothered her now was the stories about the wolves. She had to admit it made her a bit scared, even thought she knew that nothing would happen to them as long as they were here. But outside these walls, almost anything could happen even Daisy knew that. She just hoped that this journey would be less fearful as they'd all expected, so that she could return home when they'd got the supplies they needed.

"Thank you.." Daisy said as Gorby approached her with a drink and something to eat. That was kind; she thought and took a bite. "Eh...you're welcome." Gorby said and seated down near her. Daisy had soon forgotten all about the danger that would come and about the wolves.

"So, is Madoc your cousin.....he is, isn't he?" Daisy asked after a little while. Gorby looked at her and nodded. "Yepp, he's my cousin," he said and smiled.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?" Daisy asked Gorby after yet another moment with silence. "You ought to eat something..." She said seeming a bit worried. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea;” he said and blushed. "I'll go and find something to eat, I'll be back in a moment," he said rose from his seat. He almost stumbled himself on to his feet, and was about to fall. He let out a tiny wine, before he managed to stand up properly. His red curly hair had blocked his view, or so it seemed. He brushed his hair away with his hands so that his small brown eyes appeared. "Are you a-alright..?" Daisy asked trying to keep a straight face. "Yes, of course." Gorby said weakly, seeming a bit embarrassed. "I just....ehm..Stumbled...that's all," he said and turned away.

"I'm going to get some food now..." He muttered and pointed towards the kitchen. "A-
alright.." Daisy said and smiled, while she took another bite of her bread.

**

When Gorby returned Daisy had finished up her own meal, but she sat with him while he was eating.

While she sat there she thought about the Hobbit sitting next to her. He was indeed a strange Hobbit, she thought and smiled. He seemed kind of nervous, didn’t he? Well, under the circumstances.... Anyway, there was something special about this young Hobbit, Daisy thought. He seemed interesting, and funny in his own way.

“So, tell me about yourself...” Daisy said suddenly. Gorby looked up from his plate seeming a bit surprised. He looked questioned, “Come on..” Daisy said encouraging. “A-alright...” He said while he took a sip from his mug.

“I was born in Bree. I spent my childhood there as well...My parents passed away when I was small, so my uncle raised me.” He said and looked puzzled. “Oh..I’m sorry.” Daisy said while her eyes narrowed. “No, it’s alright....They died so early, I didn’t get to know them...really...”

Daisy hadn’t really noticed that it was starting to get late, and she, as tired she always was should have gone to bed hours ago. “I think it’s time to get to bed,” Daisy said to the remaining hobbits. There were only a few of them left, because some had already gone to bed. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, Gorby,” Daisy said as she rose from her seat and gave a small wave as she walked out of the common room, heading for the stairs. “Good night,” Gorby said yawned. “I think it’s time to go to bed for me as well...” He said and laughed.

“Good night...”

[ElenCala Isil]

Ivy was seated at a small table near Meoldy, naturally. She was bouncing up and down lightly, which was either result of her exceitement, or the ale. Ale, she had grown far too fond of it. A trait undoubtably picked up by her father when she was but a lass. She drained a mug. It must have been her third, possibly fourth one, it was too hard to tell at the moment. Melody watched her bemusedly for a moment, as she tried to settle down. At last with a hiccup, she stopped bouncing around, and felt dreadfully tired.

We've come this far. A familiar site, no doubt, but it means we've made progress. she thought to herself, as she watched everyone slowly pile out of the common room and into their own rooms for the night. She noticed Madoc peering out the window. Now, Ivy longed to talk to Madoc, ask him what he thought of the trip, and he was very kind to her in her tardiness...but she knew that trying to go talk to someone in her current state would not be a good idea. In fact, it was a bad idea that she ever rolled out the ale in the first place. She'd be fine the next day though, she usually was, and the excitement would make up for any wan feelings in the morn anyway.

Pondering about this, Ivy found herself stumbling off towards her room. She managed to gather that she'd have a lot to think about later on, but she couldn't tonight. This was Ivy's true way of journeying. Not to think about anything, except the path she was on, which in any event, was the only thing she could think about at the moment. Any thoughts of death or injuries, or of losing her friends were lost.

I'll talk to Madoc in the morning, I've been meaning to ask him how he fares so far. Just to be kind... she thought, and glanced towards him.

As she walked away she noticed Melody was bright red, and gazing at Tom. I should get to know some of the others on the journey. It seems that Melody is quite occupied with Tom at the while. she continued telling herself mentally. She stifled a snigger, and walked away swiftly until she reached her room. Once she got there, she threw herself on her matress and fell immediately asleep.

[Fool Of A Took]

Cedric wasn't so used to so many people, and different kinds of people. He looked up at a tall man that looked down at him with a grin. He muttered something and sat down by a table. He sighed and leaned back. The Inn was quite nice, but too many people. Cedric didn't like so many people at once. He felt really tiny and like he was a nobody. He yawned and felt tired. His heart now felt empty. He took up his pendant that hang around his neck.

He thought about his mother and now felt sad and lonely. This journey maybe was a bad idea? Maybe I never should have joined!? He tapped his fingers against the table and shook his head like he tried to get his silly thoughts out of his head. He rose up and walked to the bar and asked for an ale. The ale tasted really good and the Inn seemed to not be so affected by the winter and starvation. He smiled at a dwarf that approached him. "G'day master dwarf." Cedric started and tried to be polite. Te dwarf hummed something unhearable, but then said "Good day to you too, stranger, my I join you?" Cedric nodded and then bowed. He had always been polite. His mother had always told him to be polite.

The dwarf seemed very talkative, and immediatly to babble about journeys. Cedric sat and listened and nodded all the time and hummed in agreement. Actually he wasn't really listening. He sat there and tried to be polite. The picture of his mother came back to him and he smiled as he could he see her in front of him. "What are you smiling at? I was this close to get a grip of that huge diamond before the orcs came and my comrades dragged me away so I shouldn't get slaughtered." he said and stretched out his arms as long as he could to show how big the diamond was.

The dwarf now began to ask Cedric many questions about him and Cedric answered them with joy. The dwarf listened and seemed intersted. I'll see Tom and see when we will be leaving tomorrow. He ran up from his stool and bowed deeply to the dwarf and excused and said that he had to leave. The dwarf bowed and smiled. "I wish you luck on you journey!" he shouted after Cedric as he ran to Tom. Maybe he was rude, but right now he felt that he didn't always had to be polite and follow his mothers strict rules.

He approached Tom just as he came from his room leaving his luggage at his room. "Hello Tom" Cedric said and puffed, "I was just wondering when we will be leaving tomorrow?" They both started to walk to the bar where all the other hobbits seemed to now had a good time and enjoyed some good ale and talked.

[piosenniel]

Madoc went to the stables a last time before heading to his room for the night. He waved at the cluster of his companions who still sat about the fire enjoying each others company along with their ales.

Willem, the stableboy rose sleepily from his pallet of straw, asking if he could be of any service. ‘I hope so, lad,’ said Madoc throwing back the canvas cover on the contents of the wagon he’d brought and looking at the supplies he’d brought with a critical eye. The old gaffer’s stories of wolves on the road ahead had put the hair up on the back of his neck.

He spoke quietly to the boy, who nodded his head thoughtfully at the end and led Madoc to a place behind the stables. ‘This is where we keep, ‘em, sir,’ said the boy, pointing to a large pile of pitchy limbs. Use ‘em for getting the Inn fire going nice and hot.’ They discussed how many Madoc might have, and after the exchange of a few pennies for the boy’s help, they loaded a good quantity of them into the back of the wagon. Once done, Madoc pulled the canvas over them and bade the boy goodnight. He returned to his room, and placing his cloak over the top quilt as an extra cover, slipped into the shivery cold of his bed and huddling there until it had warmed up enough for him to sleep.

[Phervasaion]

Tom had just put his belongings away and had begun to make his way down stairs when Cedric ran up to him. “Hullo Tom,” he said while trying to catch his breath “I just wondered what time we would have to be setting off tomorrow.” Tom stared at him blankly for a few seconds.

“Hmm… I’d never really thought about that until you asked,” Tom began as they made their way back down to the others. “I think we should all be up at dawn. Then have a good long breakfast here and then set out after, when we are all ready of course. Just make sure your up at dawn.”

Cedric nodded at Tom and they both went into the bar area where all the other Hobbits were sitting. Tom talked to Madoc for a while but it wasn’t long before Melody came and sat next to him. She then asked him to come outside for a second where they could talk privately about something, Tom wasn’t sure what it would be about though.

‘Oh no’ thought Tom. ‘I hope she isn’t going to say something horrible or snap at me like she did earlier’. They both stepped out into the deep snow and it was freezing them both to the bone. Except, in the night sky when Tom looked up, the stars were shining and they seemed to Tom, to be letting of an aroma of warmth which was falling down upon them. He looked at Melody who seemed to have a slightly sad and regretful expression on her face, which was of course unusual for her as she usually happy and cheerful. She suddenly started to speak to Tom about her actions earlier, when she snapped at him, and apologised for everything.

There was then a long pause but suddenly Melody leant towards Tom and kissed him. Tom didn’t know what to do apart from go along with it and after Melody seemed extremely nervous and went back inside as red as a tomato. Tom stayed out for a while pondering his thoughts of happiness and confusion at the same time. Then, as if from nowhere, he heard a knocking noise to his right. He turned to see Madoc with a huge grin on his face.

‘What’s he smiling at?’ Tom said to himself. He was beginning to get suspicious of what Madoc had seen, but Madoc lifted his pint to the window and gestured Tom to come inside. Tom nodded and then had another pint with Madoc, but, now he was extremely tired after the long day and decided to bid Madoc a good night.

Tom left and made his way up to his room. Here he fell into a deep slumber thinking of Melody and the goings on of the night.

[piosenniel]

Leaving The Green Dragon Inn . . . arriving near Buckland . . .

Surprise Attack!

The weather had gone from bad to worse as the companions trekked down the road toward Buckland. The morning of departure from The Green Dragon Inn was bitterly cold. No snow, but the day had been overcast and the wind came in great gusts from the north, blowing its icy breath through every little hole and tear in the Hobbits’ clothes. The following day brought flurries of snow and spells of icy rain.

Madoc drove the big wagon with Estelle on the seat beside him. Others of the Hobbits took turns walking and riding in the wagon as they trudged along, grateful fot the thick layer of straw that cushioned them from the cold wood bottom of the wagon bed as they huddled under the stacks of quilts their neighbors back home had lent them. Once one group had warmed up, they would hop off and start walking, making room for another bunch of nearly frozen Hobbits to climb on board and warm up for a spell.

Tom and Gorbadic walked in front of the wagon for most of the way – trading places with each other when one would grow too cold. They were on the alert for signs of the ‘wolves’ that the gaffer at the Green Dragon had spoken about. Much to the relief of the other Hobbits, the only signs seen were old frozen paw prints . . . nothing fresh. Still the companions kept to the road . . . none dared the darkness under the trees that lined the road.

Their first stop after Bywater was The Floating Log Inn at Frogmorton. Business there was as sparse as it had been at the Green Dragon. The Hobbits were glad to be inside for the night. They were able to dry out their wet clothes and to sleep in warm, comfortable beds. That, and there was ale to make them feel less grim.

Again, though, the Hobbits heard tales of ‘things’ bedeviling hapless travelers. Not just four-legged marauders this time – but now two-legged creatures of dubious ancestry were mentioned. Gorbadic, his second flagon of ale in hand, nudged Madoc in the ribs. ‘Next thing you know they’ll be saying there are goblins about!’ Gorbadic laughed out loud. ‘Everyone knows old Bullroarer Took drove them all away!’

Well rested, warm, and their bellies full of hot porridge, the Hobbits set out early the next morning from Frogmorton, bound for Buckland. They would cross the Brandywine River at the Stonebow Bridge late in the day, then make camp at High Hay. From there it would only be a two day journey into Bree.

It was early noon, the day cold and cloudy. The Hobbits had just passed the small hamlet of Whitfurrows and deciding it was time for lunch had pulled off into a little clearing at the side of the road. Madoc unhitched rocky and Nettle from the wagon while several of the others gathered wood to build a small fire.

Estelle took a bucket from the hook on the side of the wagon and walked to the small stream that ran on the far side of the clearing. ‘Tea water,’ she called out to Daisy, as she passed the Hobbit lass with an armful of small branches and twigs tucked up in her overskirt. Daisy nodded at her and hurried to where the fire was being started.

The flames from the small blaze crackled cheerfully as Gorbadic fetched the big kettle for tea water from the back of the wagon. He put it down by the fire and fetched out a packet of loose tea leaves from his pack, along with a small tin of honey. Madoc grinned at his cousin as Gorbadic crouched down by the fire to warm his hands with the others. ‘Now all we need is for Estelle and the water to make an appearance,’ he said, poking the fire with a stick.

Then, from the direction of the little stream came a ghastly, high-pitched scream, ending suddenly with a strangled cry for help. ‘Estelle!’ cried Madoc leaping to his feet and grabbing up his stout blackthorn club . . .

[Orofaniel]

“Hurry!" Madoc cried. He had already run down to the steam and was crying for the other Hobbits to do so as well. He held up his blackthorn club as he was going in a fight and ran down towards the steam. Daisy knew something was wrong as soon as she heard the terrible scream that belonged to no other than Estelle. Daisy took up her own knife from her apron, in case she needed it. "Where is Estelle?" She asked Tom as they were running along. Daisy was soon out of breath. Then suddenly she saw the wild dogs. The big creatures with their enormous teeth, fangs in the front, were barking at them. Daisy could feel coldness, as cold as ice, crawl down her spine. In the background she could see Estelle, she'd been knocked down, and she wasn't moving.

"Get back you foul creatures!" Madoc cried and held his club trying to threaten the dogs. They seemed to take no heed of Madoc’s weapon however. Soon Gorby, Cedric and Ivy were standing behind Madoc, supporting him against the wild dogs.

All Daisy could think of was Estelle, who was lying on the ground. It seemed so far away, yet it wasn’t.. Se wanted to get over to help her, but it seemed impossible as the dogs were blocking the way.

Without being warned one of the dogs attacked Madoc, and Madoc fell to the ground with the dog upon him. The dog showed his teeth, and barked yet again to show its own strength. Madoc let out a little whine.

Suddenly Cedric cried for help. The other wild dogs had jumped over him. "Help!" Help me!!"

Daisy watched all of this with horror, but couldn't do much because it happened so fast. "Cedric!" Daisy cried a she saw that one of the dogs had opened his mouth, ready to kill. She ran forwards, even though she was scared, and stabbed the dog from the back, and the blood was flowing. It cried out in anger and turned towards her. As it was just to jump over Daisy, she managed to sneak away, and the dog hit the ground. Daisy had great fortune, and it didn't stop there; because there, where the dog had landed, stood Gorby ready to kill it. He stabbed it twice in the neck and it took its last breath, while barking angrily.

"Are you alright?" Gorby asked and ran towards her. She gave a small nod, she wasn't quite herself and wasn't capable to say anything, but she managed to thank him for saving her life. Cedric had also managed to get to his feet by now and he hurried over to them before another dog could attack him. He seemed alright, but he was bleeding from his left shoulder, and his shirt was torn apart. The white colour of the shirt had turned into a mix of brown, from the ground, and red from the blood.

They didn't get much time to clear their thoughts before yet another dog eyed them, wanting to revenge its fellow dog they’d just killed…..

[dragoneyes]

Hob fumbled for his bow, the camp was in turmoil, almost as much as his mind. Why had he come? What were they going to achieve? But he was given no more time to dwell on it as the wild dogs attacked. He stood back from the front line of fighting and wherever he saw a gap in it or a dog without a knife in its throat, he shot. He didn't know what was happening around him it was all going so fast. Some times he'd think he was the only one left alive but then he'd see Ivy or Tom.

He wanted to know where they'd come from, had they once been tame farm dogs driven wild by hunger? Or had hunger just emboldened their already wild nature?

Hob's thoughts were cut off. Perhaps he hadn't been paying enough attention to the fight, or perhaps he just wasn't fast enough, but a dog had broken free and gone straight for him. Hob quickly aimed at it and shot, but he only caught its shoulder. Before he knew anything more, the dog had leaped on him and knocked him over. Hob reached out to grab for some kind of weapon, his first grab came away with just a handful of snow, but he threw it in the dog's face anyway. The dog backed off a little, sneezing and soon came back. This time, however, Hob had found a stone, a hard and sharp flint. He hit the dog repeatedly over the head with it, how he wished he was back in Tuckborough.

Hob heaved the dog's cooling body off himself and wiped his face, where much of the blood had fallen. He checked for his own blood and found only scratches where the dog had clawed at his chest. He counted this as a blessing, though he now had even less of an idea what was happening around him. For all he knew, he was now surrounded by twenty snarling dogs, he sincerely hoped he wasn't.

[ElenCala Isil]

Ivy stared out at the large dogs, snarling and viscious. They could only be evil. Without much thought she grabbed her small dagger from her overskirt pocket, and lunged at one of the dogs nearing to Melody. She screamed as she watched the blood pour forth from the dog whilst she stabbed away at it. She wouldn't allow herself to think, but instead just focused on her hand thrusting forward and striking the wolf, until it drew breath no longer. Surely she could not have just killed a wolf on her own?

She backed away slowly, panting, and staring at the dead beast as if half-expecting it to spring back to life and make an attack. Behind her another wolf drew near her small frame. She heard the soft snarl and the heat of its breath. The fur on her feet stood on end, as she cautiously turned around to face the menace. Ivy fought herself, trying not to scream in her fright. She was nearly under the wolf, but her brain didn't seem to let her know emotion. Behind her she heard Tom screaming at her. 'Stab it, Ivy! Quick!' The wolf held up a clawed paw and swiped at her face, she felt nothing - a miss. Her hand clutched the dagger, and Ivy closed her eyes as the blade punctured the wolf's chest. It staggered back, and Ivy managed to run away before it got back up.

She instinctively hid herself behind a bush and breathed heavily, gasping for breath. She looked down at her dagger and winced, seeing the dripping blood from the blade. She wiped it off in the grass, and wondered if she had gotten any wounds herself. Wiping away the sweat from her forehead she noticed a bit of blood on her hand when she brought it down. It was nothing much, and for that she was very thankful, but all at once those feelings her brain would not let her feel came rushing back at her. Her head stung like fire, and she was glad that she was already flat on the ground, for she felt if she wasn't she would have fell. A tear rolled down her face as she looked around, wondering how the others fared.

[piosenniel]

Gorbadic turned to face the dog that now threatened him and his friends. Cedric and Daisy and he stood back to back in a tight little knot as the hungry beast circled them. Gorby slashed out at it with his knife when it drew too near. It drew back its lips from its yellowed teeth and lunged at the group again and again . . .

It was a raggedy looking dog, half-starved; its ribs showing through its mangy fur. Once a farm dog, it had been abandoned when his owners left their meager farm to move closer to town. There were others in the area who had abandoned their dogs also, and now this poor, hunger driven pack of what once had been a Hobbit’s best friend were out scavenging the roads, looking to fill their bellies with whatever came along – two-legged or four.

~*~

Meri, for his part, had stood back a little from the battle. Pulling out his little sling, he fished into the pouch that hung at his belt and began firing rocks at the two dogs who were attempting to drag off the body of poor Estelle. One his jagged missiles connected with the male dog’s eye and sent the creature yelping off into the woods. The female kept her teeth firmly clenched in the collar of Estelle’s blouse and was slowly inching her lifeless body beneath the cover of the trees.

The doughty Hobbit drew closer to the dog, hoping to get it away from its downed prey. Swinging his sling above his head, just ready to launch its rocky missile, he didn’t see the craven beast that had run up on silent paws behind him. Meri’s arm froze in mid-swing at the sound of the growl. Before he could turn, he was borne down by the weight of the leaping dog; the canine teeth sunk deep in the arm whose hand held the sling . . .

~*~

Madoc heaved himself from the ground where he had fallen. His club had rolled from his hand when he fell under the weight of the dog. With the dog’s hot, fetid breath in his face, teeth just inches away from his face, he had raised his stout arm and with his fist, he’d punched the creature hard on the snout. The dog withdrew, yelping, giving him enough time to scramble to his feet and retrieve his cudgel.

He could see two dogs harrying Melody and Tom. And there, to the side a little, stood Hob, bow in hand, his chest heaving from fear and the exertion of the fight.

Ivy was flat on the ground, she raised her head a little, but he could not tell if she were hurt.

Gorby, Daisy and Cedric stood together, fending off the maddened attack of two dogs now – the one that originally had had them cornered was now joined by the one Meri had driven off with his sling.

‘Go help them,’ he yelled to Hob as he passed him, his own feet carrying him to where Tom and Melody faced their two attackers . . .

[Phervasaion]

Tom sprang up to his feet as he heard the cry of Estelle and he saw Madoc grabbing his club and rung down to the dog that attacked her. Toms weapons were in the wagon so he ran to it as fast as he could, and he could hear his friends screaming for help even before he reached his belongings. He took his bow and two arrows and put his knife in his trouser belt as fast as possible.

He turned and saw Ivy protecting Melody from one of the wild, vicious dogs but there was one behind her getting ready to pounce and Ivy didn’t notice it. Tom drew his arrow and ran nearer to get a clearer shot. Suddenly, while he was running he felt a sharp pain in his ankle and he fell to the ground. He shifted frantically and saw one of the dogs, which had blood pouring from its teeth, tugging at his ankle. He hit it in the face as hard as possible which made it back off slightly and it let out a whine. He pulled out his knife while he still could and, before the dog attacked again he stabbed it three times in the side of its body.

Tom looked round and could see the other dog was already on top of Ivy. He tried to get up to help her but he collapsed due to the dog’s deep bite in his ankle. “Stab it, Ivy! Quick!” He shouted desperately trying to help her. Tom looked round the deep snow for his bow and saw it near Melody. He crawled as fast as possible towards it and saw that Ivy had killed the dog and was now behind cover, luckily.

He looked at Melody and she was being challenged by two dogs, one in front and one behind, the one behind was ready to kill. Tom quickly picked up his bow again, drew the arrow and shot. It hit the dog straight through his neck and it did not move again after gently swaying and then falling to the ground with a thud. Tom looked for the other arrow except it was gone. He dropped it when the other dog attacked him and now Melody had to face the remaining dog or dogs alone as his wound prevented him from getting to her in time…

[Niluial]

Melody backed away from the one dog. She was shivering, this time not from the cold but a scared shiver. “Uh… T…Tom” Melody said nervously. Tom lay on the floor wounded, a dog had attacked him but it moved away from Tom and walked towards Melody. Tom wanted to help, one could see that with out difficulty but Tom was badly wounded with a deep bite in his leg and arm. Another dog appeared from the left and she now had three dogs walking towards her, slowly she backed away trying not to make any sudden moves. Melody looked at the dogs; they were growling viciously with their huge, white teeth showing. Melody was surprised they didn’t just attack her, they just moved towards her like they were capturing their unwary prey. A tear fell down and she started to sing softly to herself “lo…lovely d..ay, isn’t..t a lo..vely day” she now couldn’t go back any further for she was now against a tree. She bent down slowly, keeping her eyes on the dog as she felt around on the ground. Next to her she found a sharp stick. She felt it… it was thick and wouldn’t break easy.

The wild dogs ran towards her, all three of them. Melody couldn’t move for she was so frightened. She lifted her stick and started to whack around her, trying to make the dogs back away but it only made them angrier. There eyes looked even scarier and their growls grew louder.

Melody jumped “my knife!” she exclaimed. She took out her dagger and held it to the air. A slightly wounded Ivy ran to where Melody was with a dagger of her own. Ivy jabbed her dagger into the one wild dog, not killing it but harming it. Melody stabbed one of the other dogs too, it fell to the ground. The last standing dog growled loudly and viciously and jumped onto Melody holding her down. Ivy screamed as she saw the huge dog attack Melody. A frightened Melody lay too scared to actually understand what was happening, where she was and what to do. Melody entered a dreamy world for two seconds but it felt like a life time to Melody. She saw clouds and flowers, muffins and the faces of her brothers…

[dragoneyes]

Hob was glad to have someone tell him what to do. Doing what he had been told to do was what he was best at and in some strange way, it comforted him. Grabbing an arrow from the quiver he had hastily slung over his shoulder, he stopped and aimed for one of the dogs that trapped Gorby, Daisy and Cedric. He pulled back and let it loose, but the dog moved and the arrow continued. Hob could barely look as it carried on towards his friends, he prayed that it wouldn't hit any of them. For once in what seemed like an age, fortune was on his side and the arrow ended its flight lodged in a tree some yards away. Gorby was barely aware that his arm had nearly been skewered.

Hob toko a deep breath of relief and drew another arrow out. This time he was less hasty in letting the arrow fly, despite their situation. He hit. Daisy looked up from the dog that was now yelping in pain with an arrow in its back and nodded in thanks to Hob. But Hob had seriously injured the dog, it wouldn't last for much longer and it wanted to take Hob with it. Hob drew his final arrow from his quiver but had no time to do anything with it as the dog ran and stumbled toward him.

He waited for the dog to come close enough then he rammed the arrow into its open mouth. The dog fell limp almost immediately and Hob dropped it. It reminded him of a stray dog that Hob and the others in his road had befriended when they were young. He was thankful that that dog had ended its days in a better way.

[Niluial]

Melody feared that this was the end… As the dog was about to bite Melody with its vicious teeth Ivy stabbed the wild dog in its back and the dog fell. Melody screamed “ouch” for the heavy dog fell on top of her. Ivy tried very hard to push the dog off and after quite a bit of pulling and pushing she got the dog off Melody. Melody got up with tears in her eyes, “Thank you Ivy, thank you so much!” Ivy smiled.

They both looked around the site and no more dogs could be seen. Melody looked at Meri but she couldn’t cry, no one could. They knew it would happen; someone or many would die in the journey. Melody sighed and they all walked on not talking. The injured did not complain… no one did it was complete, utter silence! They found a camping ground a few miles on and they set out there. Melody tended to a few wounds and handed everyone the last muffins she had.

********************************************

The next morning Melody woke up before anyone ells did. Melody looked at her surroundings; the snow was thick and blinding white. The trees stood high but were leafless and bleak. There was a howl of some sort in the far distance, it woke everyone up. Everyone looked miserable and Melody knew why, the passing of Meri and hunger. Food is all Melody could think of. It gnawed at her, the hunger overtook her, overtook everyone which made then irritable and snappy.
“Let’s pack up and carry on with the journey,” Tom ordered. And everyone did so. They started to walk while the injured ones sat in the wagon. All the injured ones but Tom, he refused to and told everyone he was fine. Melody walked next to Tom. They chatted about a few things. Everything between them was normal again, no odd feelings of the other night, Melody was pleased with this.

Melody and Tom walked ahead of everyone ells, Tom wanted to make sure no more danger was near and Melody wanted to keep Tom company.
“Um” Tom paused, “You know about the… you know… the um… other night?” Melody nodded. “What um, why… you… it…” Tom couldn’t find the right words, “Why did you do it?” Melody kept on walking not answering Tom. Why did I do it? I love him of course. Wait, do I? I am sure, no I don’t! Or… Melody battled with herself.

Tom and everyone kept walking not saying much as a group. All of a sudden Melody heard a big noise. She jumped and turned around to see what had happened. The wagon was slightly tilted and not even on the ground. Melody looked at it strangely.
“A hole!” Hob exclaimed.
Tom hissed, “A hole?” He examined the hole. “It’s a rather deep hole…!”
“Don’t tell me it’s stuck!” Melody said.
“Melody just… just… we can get it out. It’s no big deal!” Tom snapped.
They all pushed and tried to pick the wagon up but it was indeed too heavy

[piosenniel]

Gorby jumped from the back of the wagon, his already cold feet landing in a chilly puddle. He gave an ‘Oh!’ of surprise, then blushed as he heard Daisy giggle. Wrapping his scarf about his neck to hide the red that was creeping up it, he approached Melody. She and Tom stood by the front wheel of the wagon, frowning.

Madoc wrapped the reins around the brake handle and jumped down from the front seat. Motioning Cedric over for some assistance, he nodded to Tom and Gorby to put their shoulders to the back of the wagon on one side while he and Cedric took the other side. Daisy and Ivy went to the front of the wagon, each of them taking hold of the ponies’ reins. They urged the ponies to pull the wagon forward while the four men gave several hard pushes on the wagon’s back end.

Melody and Hob urged them on. After several tries, the wagon creaked and shifted forward just enough to clear the rim of the hole. There was a collective sigh of relief as the rim of the wheel rolled free . . .

~*~

Two more days of trudging down the long, cold road brought them to the outskirts of Bree-land. The little group was tired and hungry as the hedge that walled the town hove into view through the lightly swirling snow.

The sight of Bree, so near, brought some hope to the companions. Their pace quickened and soon they reached the hedge. One of the group stepped up to the door and rang the bell, then stepped back a pace and waited for the doorman to answer . . .

[Phervasaion]

The gate to Bree creaked open revealing a tall dark man, which was an unusual appearance for the men of Bree, standing with a wondrous smirk upon his face. “Hello young Hobbits,” he said with a smile. “It has been a long time since we have heard any word from the Shire folk. I trust all is well at your homes in the Shire?”

Tom stepped forward with a stern and serious look on his face. “No, all is no where near well at the moment, and if it were, we probably wouldn’t be paying a visit to your humble town at this moment in time,” Tom stopped for a second and sighed. “But,” he began once again. “Due to the recent bad weather there was a huge shortage of food supplies, and the Hobbits of the Shire decided they would need to send out some brave Adventurers to retrieve some food. The Adventurers being us. We are sorry if you feel that we are intruding slightly and you may think that we are stealing the food in some way. But trust me, these are desperate times in the Shire at the moment and we need help.”

The gatekeeper stood shaking his head at Tom’s last remarks. “No of course we don’t think your intruding,” He began. “Well I don’t at any rate, and to be honest its good to see some travellers around here, we haven’t seen any for some time and gate duties have been so boring as of late. I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard you knock at the door!” He laughed and took in a deep breath.

“As for your question, we would be most glad to help you. I can’t say that we have excess supplies at the moment… But we have enough to fill your wagons as well as looking after our people. Follow me to the storage areas.”

The Hobbits pulled all their wagons along and followed the doorman to the supply rooms while talking about their journey and hardships to him. He looked terribly upset as Tom told of the attack of the wild dogs and the death of their friends. After a short walk, they reached the supplies and filled their wagons to the brim with food and drink. The Hobbits grinned while looking at all the food that they would take back to the Shire, and they thought about being back at their own homes, in the warm.

Well,” said Tom as he put the last bag of supplies on the wagon. “We have completed the first half of our task and now we must journey back home, but I say now that the way back will be harder than the way here as we will be hauling all these supplies along with us, and we need our strength. Therefore I have decided we will rest at the Prancing Pony tonight. Let us drink and be merry!” And so the Hobbits did have a merry night, but they never forgot the valour of both Meri and Estelle for helping the others until the very end. Modoc decided that the remaining Hobbits would toast to them at the end of the night, and so they went to their beds thinking about the two brave Hobbits that lost their lives.

The next morning they all awoke early and were now eager to finish their journey. The Hobbits had a short breakfast and then went to collect their supplies and wagons from the inn yard and began to make their through the town. Some of the villagers bade them farewell as they heard of their deeds so far, but the gate keeper seemed most concerned with their welfare.

“Good luck,” he said while looking at each one of the Hobbits. “And I hope that the journey back will be a lot safer than the part you have already travelled.” He smiled and opened the large gates before them. The Hobbits looked down the long road, with trees lined down both sides and their hearts and spirits rose. They now knew that all they had to do was get back, and a large part of the journey was over. And they were determined to make sure that the death of both Meri and Estelle was not in vain.

[Niluial]

Melody smiled, she was pleased. “We are half way through the journey! We have completed half the task and we should smile and be, oh so very proud of ourselves” Melody said cheerfully to the group. “Shire needs us to return and with out the will power we won’t return let’s do this for Shire, for our families, for ourselves and most certainly for Estelle and Meri!” Melody laughed. They set out on their journey once again.

Tom and Melody were seen laughing once again and they both talked of old times back in the shire, you know those hysterical happenings, the ones that could never be forgotten. Melody felt free, she knew the burden wasn’t fully off them but half of it was… there was light and hope. For a few minutes Melody forgot the whole burden and enjoyed Toms wonderful, calming presence. She just wanted to run off into an open field of colourful grass and dance, hop and sing like when she was a child once again… she wanted to run, hope and dance not alone but with Tom.

They looked back and could see Bree slightly in the distance… but now they were all scared… what next? What was around the corner, a safe journey? Danger?

[Orofaniel]

Daisy had still not come over the dog attack. The atmosphere however among the Hobbits had slowly lightened up a bit, after they’d picked up their supplies in Bree. Even Melody and Tom had been laughing not long ago, and the other Hobbits were shortly doing the same. Daisy had talked to Gorby while they were walking out from Bree. Both of them very pleased that they finally had gotten their supplies. They agreed that the worst part of the journey was probably over.

"Three days from now, or so, we'll be in Buckland...." Tom announced suddenly. He smiled and turned to look at the other Hobbits that were walking behind him. "Am I correct?" He asked Melody who was walking beside him. "Yes, I do believe you are Tom," She answered merrily.

The Hobbits seemed happy about this and continued their walking for yet a few hours, before sleeping.

[piosenniel]

The sky was a leaden grey; the clouds, heavy with rain, scudded close together in the chilly wind . . . threatening . . .

Two days out of Bree brought the Hobbits just past the Barrow-Downs. Another day’s travel would bring them well into Buckland. Madoc’s mood, which had lifted somewhat at the generosity of the good people of Bree, grew heavier with each mile. ‘I should be happy,’ he murmured to himself. One of the ponies drawing the heavily laden wagon twitched its ear back at him as if to catch the Hobbits fleeting words. Madoc sighed and clucked encouragingly at the team to pick up its speed. ‘The sooner home to my sister and mother, the better,’ he said to the inquisitive pony, ‘the sooner I can shake this feeling of gloom and unease.’

It was late afternoon, and the little band of companions was beginning to slow down. Gorby had gone on ahead just a little and now came running back down the road toward the wagon. ‘I’ve found us a nice little place just off the road. Just round that curve there,’ he said, pointing back in the direction from which he’d come. ‘There’s a small clearing with some trees on the edges to block the wind. And a nice little stream . . . the ice is thin on it – no problems drawing water.’

The other hobbits gathered round the wagon. All were tired and hungry, ready for some hot tea and a little food. ‘Let’s go, then, Gorby,’ said Madoc, taking hold of the pony’s bridle. ‘You lead and we’ll follow along.

Soon they had pulled into the safety of the clearing. Gorby and one of the others went to gather wood for a little fire while the rest set up their little camp. Madoc began freeing the ponies from their harness and led them to a place where there was a little dried grass left for them to munch on. The ponies seemed a little restless, but he shrugged their actions off as them just being nervous about being in a strange place. He fetched some hay from the wagon for them, and as he was laying it on the ground for them, a small whiff of icy breeze against his neck made him shiver.

‘Pull yourself together,’ he admonished himself. ‘We’re almost to the Shire. Nothing to worry about.’

He shivered again though the wind was still . . .

[ElenCala Isil]

Ivy lagged behind all the others, staring at the sky in all its gloominess. Occasionally one of the hobbits would yell at her to hurry up and she'd sprint forward absent-mindedly until she nearly ran into someone. She wondered how the folk in the Shire were faring, and if and what the grey skies could mean. A brittle chill engulfed her body and she shivered, along with everyone else, it seemed. She grabbed onto her coat tightly and scurried forth to catch up with the group once more.

They were all fairly silent, only speaking a few words here and then, and Ivy said nothing. She was excited, and who could blame her? All her life she wanted to actually go on an adventure, and she did. She battled with wolves and made it to Bree, and now came the sweetest part of the journey, if not the most bothersome. The journey home. She inhaled deeply, letting the chill air into her lungs and exhaled after the cool became too much to handle. She decided that the silence was too much for her, and she scampered off to the front of the group and walked alongside the ponies. She hummed one of her favourite walking songs in hope that just maybe one of the others would recognise it and pick it up. Her voice seemed to echo softly and absorb into their chill surroundings. No one picked the tune up at all.

They would take the occasional small break, but it was never anything much, and it seemed to Ivy that they were all slightly on the edge and fairly alert. Whether this was because they were anxious, or they suspected another attack like the one on the journey to Bree, Ivy did not know. But she dearly hoped it was not the latter, though the thought had been growing on her mind ever increasingly.

Oh, I do hope we get back home soon! she thought to herself, something just doesn't seem right... the thought of the attack of wolves flooded into her mind, and she saw Estelle and the others die slowly, though she did not witness it firsthand. She cringed and walked on.

[Niluial]

They all walked close together for there was an eerie feeling in the air and no one felt safe or comfortable. No one spoke a word, they just looked around at the snow covered trees and the black rocks that stuck out of the icy ground. The leafless trees stood tall, covered in snow but they looked creepy for there were many of them. It was like walking through a forest without any green, just gloomy white, dark browns and black with a grey sky above them.

Melody shivered, “this place is giving me the creeps” she whispered to Tom and Ivy. They both nodded but didn’t say anything. Melody looked at Madoc who looked a bit pale, “Is everything ok? Are you feeling sick? Maybe you should get in the wagon” Melody said quickly not giving Madoc a chance to say anything.
“I am fine; I just have this odd feeling inside.” He whispered.

There was silence again and all they could hear were the cries of wild dogs in the distance and the whispering trees. Melody suddenly halted, “Can you smell that?” She said as quietly as possible. Everyone stopped and sniffed the air all looking confused and frightened.
“Yes” Madoc replied, “It smells like burning wood, a outside fire.”
“Odd, who would be out here?” Melody said with a puzzled expression on her face.
“Well” Tom paused, “Maybe travellers? But why would they be in this cold? Who in there right mi…” Tom gasped.
“What is it Tom? Tom!” Melody said looking all around.
“That… looks like… no!” Madoc looked “an orc camp! Quickly hide or do something.”

Melody and Ivy hid behind a rock and looked into the distance where the camp was she looked at the one orc who was pointing in their direction.
“We’ve been spotted Ivy, we’ve been spotted!” Melody cried softly.

[piosenniel]

Madoc pulled Ivy and Melody down behind the cover of the rock. ‘’Stay low,’ Tom said to them nodding at Madoc. ‘We’ve got to get back to the others . . . and quickly.’ He crouched down and scurried quickly back the way they came, ducking behind trees and rocky outcroppings as they went.

No sound of footsteps hurrying after them came to Madoc’s ears as they neared the little encampment and stood up sprinting toward their little group. ‘Orcs!’ he yelled out. ‘Grab your weapons!’ Get out the pitchy brands from the wagon and light them from the fire,’ he yelled to Gorby and Hob. ‘We can keep some of them at bay with the flames.’

The doughty Hobbits readied their weapons, gathering behind the big wagon for protection. It stood between them and the direction of the Orc camp; at their back was a small rocky outcropping that would also afford them some protection.

Gorby was the first to see the approaching Orcs, coming straight at them. There were six of them, their great leering faces hideous in the late afternoon light. He raised his knife and ran toward the Orcs, hoping to draw them off from the others as he feinted to his left. One of the uglier fellows came rushing after him, and Gorby threw his knife, hitting the Orc in the chest.

With a gurgle, the beastly creature keeled over. Gorby rushed to the fallen Orc and knelt down, preparing to take back his knife. A look of quick surprise followed by dismay fell over his features as an arrow shot by one of the craven creatures found its mark. Gorby crumpled to the ground, his life’s blood spilling into the brown grass.

With a cry, Madoc and the others began firing their arrows at the bloodthirsty Orcs, along with stony missiles flung with deadly accuracy from their slings. Surprise turned to anger from the Orcs, and the remaining five charged after the Hobbits, seemingly heedless of the knives, clubs, and sharpened staves that now came out to meet them . . .

[ElenCala Isil]

Ivy stood, having strayed from where Madoc had dragged her to, staring wide-eyed at the orcs before her. A voice behind her shouted out "Move, Ivy!" and without thinking she pulled her knife violently from her apron, leaving a nice rip in her skirt. She charged out towards the orc closest to her, lunging with all her strength to insert the knife wherever she could. The orc snarled at her in small agony from the tiny pierce of Ivy's small knife. As she came about her senses, she let out a yelp. The orc advanced towards her, the knife still embedded in its leg. She turned round to run quickly. As if it was placed strategically to trip her, Ivy stumbled over a felled tree branch, and was flat on the ground, where she dare not move a muscle. She was panged with the thought that the others might be in worse danger. Melody! she yelled out to herself, closing her eyes tight.

The foul stench of the orc approached Ivy, it's stagnant shadow cast over her body like a dark veil, and a small drip of its blood fell on her arm. She stifled a scream at the feel of the drop, and turned round instantly. The orc loomed above her, holding a knife of its own. Ivy, wide eyed tried to back away slowly. There were voices, voices screaming at her to run.

"IVY!" came the shrill voice of Melody as she spotted her good friend. Ivy couldn't see her. She could see nothing but the orc before her. The orc made a strike at Ivy, but she darted to and fro. Yet that was not enough to stop the knife from piercing her leg. She let out a scream of pain, that was answered with a cry of terror from Melody. The orc turned round to see to whom the shriek belonged to. Ivy seized this opportunity to scream out to her friend. "Melody! Run away! They heard you!!" she gasped at the top of her lungs. She saw Daisy from the corner of her eye, gasping in horror to see Gorby's body, lifeless; but the image was quickly gone when Daisy decided to make a plunge for the orcs near them. Tom, she could not see, nor Melody, but she hoped they would be safe.

Meanwhile, she looked around frantically for anything to throw at the orc while it was distracted. Picking up a good sized stone, she flung it at the evil creature with all her might. It staggered around for a moment, but did not seem to be hurt from the blow, simply angry. It let out a warning, so it would seem, and struck again, this time with much more precision.

Ivy screamed as the blade went in, and for a brief moment it seemed that she could see the Shire again, but it was not so. As the pain sunk in fully, she closed her eyes, which would not open again; and she drew her last breath.

[Orofaniel]

"Gorby!!!" Daisy screamed with her voice full. She had watched Gorby die when the arrow had hit him. She ran towards him, standing over him, while she tried to loosen the arrow. She felt so helpless...what could she do? Then suddenly she could see that Gorby still wasn’t dead. His eyelids were flickering. "D-aisy.." He muttered under his own breath. It was like a silent whisper, which was hard to catch. "Yes..yes! It's me..." Daisy said, while a tear was running down her cheek. She wiped it off quickly with her left hand, while holding Gorby's head p with the other hand. "Don't die Gorby!" Daisy said while breathing heavily. She was panicking.

"Help me!" She whispered so no one but herself could hear it. The truth was that no one was here to help her, or for that matter Gorby, this time. They were fighting the Orcs while she watched her dear friend Gorby die...slowly, but for certain. There was absolutely nothing she could do.

"I'm sorry, Gorby.." Daisy said, she was now crying. Her eyes were already swollen, and her cheeks were wet.

"N-no, don't be dear Daisy," Gorby said finally. He seemed weak, like he was soon about to take his last breath. "I'm sorry...for not telling you who I really am...who I really was. I’m nothing but a simple thief." He muttered slowly. Daisy tried to understand what Gorby had just said, but her mind had focused on his lovely curly red hair. "I don't care Gorby....remember, you set out for this journey because you wanted to help people...so the Hobbits of the Shire could get through another winter. This special journey makes you a hero, not a thief." Daisy said, while crying even more. She couldn't stop the tears from coming, they just came.

"B-but why didn't you say anything?" Daisy asked quickly. She knew it was a stupid question, because he was dying and this wasn't a really good time for questioning- But somehow, she just had to know.

"I thought...that a pretty lady as yourself wouldn’t want to talk to me if I told you who I really was.." Gorby said at last. "But...now, it's over. Just get those supplies safely to the Shire, so I can die knowing that the Hobbits won't starve...and that I didn't die all in vain..." Gorby said. His eyelids were flickering again. His wound was now surrendered by a huge pile of blood "I will dear Gobry..I will.." Daisy said at last, and then she kissed his forehead. In that moment, she knew he was gone. She also knew what she had to do.

*

"This is for Gorby you filthy Orc!!" Daisy cried as she picked up a knife she found close by, while running towards the nearest Orc.

[dragoneyes]

Hob looked about him, he was all but out of arrows, not that they had been doing too much anyway, and the only thing standing between him and the orcs were his friends. He couldn't let that happen, he couldn't let them die without doing anything to protect them. He'd only known death by illness and old age, but now he could do something to stop his friends dying, so they could live to see long and happy lives, or at least summer.

With this thought in his head he pulled and old carving knife out of his pack, hoping it would slice living meat as well as it had done dead and cooked meat. He took a deep breath and charged, bellowing at the nearest orc. His voice joined and merged with the screams, yells and growls of the scene around him. He could see the dead body of Ivy and in his mind's eyes of Estelle and Meri. Every thing seemed so hopeless, but Hob was not one to give up all hope.

The knife slid into the orc's side, the orc's arm stopped where it was throwing a knife and it looked down at Hob, surprised. Hob smiled, almost politely as he would to an old gaffer he met walking down the rooad, but a fire was burning in his eyes and it told a different story; either he or the orc would die.

The orc's arm moved too quickly for Hob to react and he found himself with a hand around his throat and it was slowly lifting him upwards towards the orc's face. With one hand Hob tried vainly to pull the hand away from him while the other flailed around looking for something that may be used as a weapon. He found something. His hand closed around the last arrow in his quiver, flipped it out and stabbed it into the arm that attached him to the orc. The orc yelled and threw him across the battle. He landed on something soft, winded and his throat was burning with a fire worse than any sore throat he'd ever had. He rolled onto his front so he could stand up and found himself face to face with the deathly pale visage of Gorby, no breath was coming from his lips.

Hob yelled hoarsely in horror and crawled off the body. He slowly stood up, clutching his stomach and gulping the air down, his eyes fixed on Gorby's pale face. Then his legs were swept from underneath his and was once more staring into the face of the orc. The orc pulled the knife out of his side and without any further hesitation, stabbed it through Hob's chest.

The world stopped.

Hob tried to gasp as the pain shot through his body, but his broken lungs couldn't allow it. With no last breath to breathe, his mind floated to a place where there were no orcs, no arrows, swords or spears but where his mother was waiting for him and the smell of blossom on the apple trees was no longer just a memory and he could work all day with the sun on his back and stare up at the stars at night without his breath obscuring the view. Then, he was gone.

[piosenniel]

‘This is for Gorby! You filthy Orc!’

Madoc heard Daisy’s voice ring out over the harsh cries of the Orcs and the screams and yells of the Hobbits. The Orc that had downed Ivy stood grinning at the fallen Hobbit, his back to the charging Daisy. His face turned from its leer of triumph to one of surprised pain as the little Hobbit drove her knife between his ribs. The momentum of her run put the full force of her body into the thrust. With a strangled gurgle, blood gushed from the beastly lips and the Orc fell to its knees, and with a single convulsion toppled over dead.

Daisy ran back to where Madoc was standing, the bow that Fairlight had given him, sending arrows at the remaining four Orcs. She grabbed up a long, sharpened stave and ran to help Melody and Tom who stood back to back as two Orcs circled them, clubs in hand.

The remaining two Orcs, one with a long-knife in his hand, the other with a gnarled, heavy oak club were drawing near to Cedric, who had gone to the aid of the fallen Hob. The Hobbit, finding the old fellow dead, had risen up as his eyes caught the movement of the two Orcs to his left. Brandishing his own knife and sturdy oak walking stick, he fended them off, driving them back from where he stood. Seizing opportunity to bring one down, he threw his knife with all the force he could muster. A satisfying thunk rewarded him as his knife sank deep into the Orc’s neck, dropping him in his tracks.

The other Orc took no notice of his fallen comrade, but ran Cedric swinging at him with his club. His hairy muscled arms outreached the Hobbit’s, his club soon finding purchase against the side of Cedric’s skull. Madoc fired a well aimed arrow and brought the Orc down. The Orc toppled over, falling heavily over the prostrate body of Cedric.

Madoc pulled out his skinning knife and ran to the aid of the fallen Cedric. Shoving the dead body of the Orc to one side, he knelt down by Cedric, cradling his companion’s head in his hand. Cedric grimaced as the blood flowed from the wound at his temple. Then reaching up for Madoc’s free hand, he clasped it tightly.

‘My mother,’ he gasped. ‘Tell her I love her . . .’ His voice trailed off as the light fled his eyes. Laying him down gently, Madoc whispered,’Yes.’

He looked up to where the last two Orcs were harrying Tom, Melody, and Daisy . . .

[Phervasaion]

Tom looked to his left as he saw Daisy run up to join Tom and Melody against the remaining two Orcs, which were now standing near to each to each other, snarling and grunting at the three Hobbits. Tom stepped forward and drew his knife from his pocket. “No more harm will come to any of these Hobbits as long as I am here to protect them!!” Tom bellowed. “And believe you me! I will rid this world of your filth if it is the last thing I do!!!” Tom’s voice rose and echoed through the land, but it did not scare the Orcs. Instead they just looked in surprise, wondering how such a small creature could make such a loud noise.

Tom fixed his wide eyes on one of the Orcs and ran towards it screaming, and he could hear the voices of Melody and Daisy as they charged to the other. Tom lunged towards the Orc but his arm was caught and his weapon was thrown to the ground. The Orc threw Toms arm in mockery of the Hobbits strength. But, to the surprise of the Orc, Tom brought his clenched fist back round and hit the hard face of the creature with a thud. The Orc backed away and gave out a scream, not of pain, but of anger and he looked back at Tom and snarled to him with an evil look on its face.

Tom did not back away and still dared to stare the Orc in the eye. It came back at Tom with one of his own powerful hits and he fell face first to the ground, tasting the cold snow. He turned to see the foul Orcs short sword, which was smeared with blood, of animals or one of the other poor Hobbits, Tom did not know.

As the sword came down Tom suddenly rolled to the right and kicked the Orc in its left leg, and this time the Orc was feeling pain from Toms hit. Tom rose from the ground with and with anger more extreme than he had ever felt before, the Hobbit leaped upon the back of the Orc and wrapped his arms tightly around his slippery neck. The large creature struggled greatly except still Tom clung on squeezing the life slowly from its body. The Orc could now not escape the grasp of the small, yet suddenly strong Hobbit, and it fell to its knees. Even on its Knees Tom were only a few inches taller than the foul being. With a last squeeze from Tom, the Orc fell to the ground and did not move again.

Tom spat on the dead Orc for all of its foul deeds and turned to see Melody and Daisy, unharmed, but still being harassed by the last Orc.

[piosenniel]

Niluial's post

Melody wasn’t thinking straight she couldn’t she wasn’t sure of her surroundings or what to do. She charged for an Orc and stabbed it in the stomach. Its huge, sweaty, smelly body fell to the ground with a large thump. There were too many Orcs, too many dead bodies and Melody lost hope. She stood there, watching not doing anything but standing. All she could think about was Ivy, her best friend, her first friend that lay there… dead.

She felt a sudden pain in her stomach, a jab but she had become numb to any pain or any thoughts. Everything was spinning, nothing was clear. Her breathing slowed as she fell to the ground. Melody heard a scream in the distance, it was Tom. He started to go wild stabbing and harming everything in site for revenge. Melody lay there surely I am dead she thought. She opened her eyes barely but saw Tom screaming and stabbing while Daisy set objects alight while waving fire in the air to keep the Orcs away. She couldn’t spot Madoc.

She saw an orc walk closer to her, she closed her eyes and acted dead which wasn’t hard for she wasn’t breathing much and it was an effort to keep her eyes open. After just lying there thinking of her Ivy the noise began to disappear. It is so peaceful and calming… Melody thought as she was sure she was dead. She heard a soft, gentle voice whispering in her ear. “Melody stay with us please” the voice stopped and weeping took its place. “Melody please! I love you and… and I want to know you for, for as long as I can! I’ll buy us a cottage and I’ll give you a garden or whatever please don’t leave me… I need you!”

Melody recognized the voice and with a huge amount of effort she opened her mouth and said, “Tom? I’m ok… I’m not… no…t going anywhere”
She opened her eyes and saw Madoc and Daisy too. They looked sad but had a slight smile. They had tear stains on their faces from their tears and dirt mixing.

Melody wasn’t too sure what had just happened, all she remember was blood. But it was gone. She wanted to ask what had happened. Why was she is such pain? What had happened to all the noise and blood? But she had no strength to ask the questions.

[piosenniel]

The trip home . . .

The weather was sullen and grey as the Hobbits trudged west toward the road that would take them to Tookland. The expressions their faces bore were even darker than the gloomy day. Even the ponies moved along with their heads hung low.

Madoc sat on the wagon’s seat watching the trees pass by as the ponies clip-clopped along. Daisy sat on the seat beside him, her eyes darting about at the shadows beneath the trees. He knew she was wondering what dangers lurked in the darkness. Worried himself, he kept his bow strung, his quiver on his back, and his cudgel leaning against his knee.

‘There are only four of us left,’ he thought to himself. ‘Four of ten brave Hobbits who started out together.’ He touched his cudgel, giving himself some reassurance.

They were all tired and wounded in some way from their encounter with the Orcs. Tom sat in the back of the wagon, Melody held close to him, wrapped in a thick quilt to keep her warm. She bore the most grievous of the hurts from the Orcs, and Tom was determined that she would remain safe and whole until they could return to their little village.

Along the way they stopped at the Inn’s that had taken them in on their journey to Bree-land. The Floating Log at Frogmorton welcomed them with open arms as did The Green Dragon in Hobbiton. At each the Hobbits shared what they could with the good folk of the Inns.

On their sixth day, they came to the little road that turned south to Tookland. The familiar countryside about them, their spirits rose a little. The end goal was almost in sight . . .

~*~

Tuckburrough at last . . .

This last week Madoc’s sister, Prisca, had ridden out to the crossroads every morning and late afternoon. And every day had ridden back with a heavy heart. ‘No, Mother,’ she would say as she opened the door to their burrow. ‘No sign of Madoc yet.’ Madoc’s mother would sigh and turning away from the door, returned to her rocker by the fireplace. Taking up her knitting, the needles would clack away row after row driving the worrisome thoughts away.

Prissy was about to turn away this late afternoon when she heard the whinny of ponies just around the bend to the north. Her hands trembling she flicked the reins against her own pony’s flanks and sped up the road. ‘Madoc!’ she cried as the wagon hove into view. The joyful reunion between sister and brother was cut short as Prissy looked about the wagon, wanting to welcome back the other Hobbits. Her face fell and her greetings died on her lips as she realized only three others had returned.

‘So few!’ she whispered, tears threatening along her lashes. Prissy hugged each of the others and clasped her brother’s hands. ‘What happened?’ she said softly.

Madoc tied her pony to the back of the wagon and tucked her in between him and Daisy. Prissy sat close to him, gripping his arm as he spoke about the dogs and the Orcs and the awful weather. ‘They died bravely, Prissy,’ he said nodding his head as he spoke. ‘Indeed they did,’ said Daisy. ‘They did what they could so that we could get through.’ She wiped away her own tears with the sleeve of her shirt.

~*~

It was late evening by the time they pulled into Tuckburrough. A young lad they had met along the way had been sent ahead on Prissy’s pony to alert the village. The meeting hall in the town square had been opened, the fires lit. And by the time the weary travelers arrived, most of the town had gathered there.

With faces glad and sad the returned Hobbits were greeted by their friends and neighbors . . .

[Niluial]

Melody was in pain but it all eased when she lay close to Tom. He was worried about her. Melody could see it and so could all the other survivors. Melody had many dreams whilst huddled in Tom’s arms. Many weren’t pleasant dreams; Orcs and Wild Dogs and her lovely Ivy. She could see Ivy’s big smile in her mind, she could see Ivy running in the fields of flowers. She wanted Ivy back; she wanted revenge or at least some closure.

Tom's words kept coming back into Melody’s mind, “I love you and… and I want to know you for, for as long as I can! I’ll buy us a cottage and I’ll give you a garden or whatever please don’t leave me… I need you!”
The words made her smile but was it true? If Tom hadn’t spoken to Melody she would have given up. The things he said gave her hope, a reason to keep going! She hoped and prayed that Tom really meant that. She pictured her garden filled with green, red, pink and yellow. She wanted to plant a huge tree where she could sit under reading a novel in spring time. Or a big, healthy rose bush that she could sit for hours admiring.

Tom played softly with Melody’s hair talking to her softly about the Shire. He reminded her of how it looked and how happy the people would be to see them. She opened her eyes slightly and tried to sit up but Tom begged her to rest and not move. So she stayed there covered in a quilt to keep her warm while Tom carried on speaking to her.

~*~

Melody heard talking and a different, happier vibe in the air. She opened her eyes slightly and saw Madoc with Prisca his sister. Melody smiled, “We are close to the Shire aren’t we Tom?” she said. Tom chuckled, “We are Melody, we are” he said with a sigh of relief.

Prisca looked sad when she noticed how few hobbits had returned. Melody didn’t want to picture all the sad faces when they return. But the ones who passed would be loved and honoured forever this Melody knew as did the others.

Melody could smell the distinctive air of The Shire. There was cheering in the distance, not far away as they returned. The wagon drew nearer and soon entered The Shire with a warm welcome. The happy cheers soon became shocked and sad. Only a few Shire Folk were there, not all. The others didn’t know of their arrival yet.

“Excuse me! We need warm water and some help for her first of all. She has been stabbed.” Tom shouted wanting immediate help. Melody’s wound was cleaned and bandaged up and she was wrapped in a warm quilt and put in a chair close to the fire place at Tom’s house. Daisy, Madoc and Tom were also cleaned up and bandaged where needed.

[dragoneyes]

Madoc walked down the short path from the road to the door of Hob's house. He was dreading telling Hob's parents that their son was dead. He had with him a small package of food, a bad replacement for a son but it was all that could be thought of. His feet felt heavy as he walked down the icy path, he wanted to turn around and go back to his own family where he could be happy. 'no,' he told himself 'I have to do this one last thing'. He found himself at the door of the house. He knocked.

The door opened and out stepped a withered old gaffer. Madoc had only seen this man once before, but he could still see the change. His hair was disheveled and a few white hairs were beginning to show themselves. He was sloppily wrapped in an old and dirty blanket. Madoc noticed that the air inside the house was only just above freezing and the fire in the grate was nearly dead, but he wasn't here to worry about that.

Upon seeing who it was, the old hobbit's eyes lit up.

"You're back are you?" he said with a friendly smile. "And with food I see." He motioned to the parcel in Madoc's hands. "You truely are the saviours of the Shire you know, none of us could thank you enough. Oh, would you like to come in?"

"No, thank you, I shall be quick." said Madoc.

"Yes, I suppose you have your family that you want to get back to. No doubt they've been as worried as I have." Madoc felt a pang of guilt about the bad news he was going to give. Hob's father was being so friendly and cheerful though he was plainly hungry and cold, it didn't seem fair. "Speaking of family, where is Hob? Out giving food to the rest of the Shire I suppose, that sounds like him. Did he send you with this food? It's a pity he didn't come with it himself, I really wanted to speak with him as soon as possible. I have some bad news for him, his mother died not long after he left you see..." this was getting worse and worse, he should really just say it and be done with it before Hob's father came out with anything else that would make it harder for him.

"Mister Bolger. You are right, I am here on behalf of your son, but he is not handing out food to other hobbits-"

"He's not? Gone to get himself a drink or two then? Not unlike him and I can't say I blame him," interrupted Hob's father.

"No, please Mister Bolger, hear me out. The reason I am here - aside from giving you your food - is to tell you..." Madoc paused and gathered himself together.

"Yes? Out with it lad!"

"...Is to tell you that your son is dead." he sighed, that was it, he'd said it.

"He's what? Dead?" The old hobbit looked so pitiable, he was beyond Madoc's understanding of sadness and grief and Madoc felt so sorry for him, but he could do nothing.

"I'm so sor-" the old hobbit put his hand up to stop Madoc from speaking.

"Don't be, there was nothing you could do. And anyway they're together and happy now." he paused, "You go to your own home now. Thank you for coming, good-bye!" he went to shut the door. but Madoc stopped it with his foot.

"At least take the food will you?"

"Oh no, there are other people much more deserving of it than me. Now I insist, you go home to your family and have a good time, you don't want to waste the rest of the day standing outside an old hobbit's door do you?" a ghost of a smile flitted across his face. "Good-bye!" and he shut the door. Madoc stood there, looking at it, wondering whether he should knock again. Then he reasoned that the door probably wouldn't open again. So he took the old hobbit's advice and turned away.

[Orofaniel]

Daisy was ready to return home. She didn't know what her parents would say, but she knew they would be happy to see her, and she would be happy to see them. As Daisy walked up the little garden towards the small Hobbit hole, she could feel her heart pounding heavily in her chest. She was nervous and happy at the same time. In her hands she was holding some food she had brought back with the other remaining Hobbits, while six Hobbits had died trying to get the supplies back to The Shire. Of those six, Gorby, her newest friend was among them. This saddened her while she was walking, but she tried to smile because she knew that Gorby had wanted it that way.

She knocked on the door, which she found rather silly since it was her Hobbit hole. Only a few moments after she just walked in. The hole was just as she remembered it; it was just the same. This enlightened Daisy. Suddenly she could hear the voices of her nephews. Their roaring voices led her to the dining room, where she could she her parents seated at the table. Holly, her sister, and her husband were also sitting at the table. To her big surprise however, her other sister with her husband as well, were sitting there too. The moment seemed to last forever, but then Holly ran towards Daisy and embraced her. "My dear sister has returned!" She announced and kissed her on both cheeks. "Yes indeed..I have..and here..I've brought some food," Daisy said merrily. Thereafter more hugs and greetings followed.

"You are here...both my sisters are here!" Daisy cried and she hugged Lily, her other sister. "It's lovely to see you Daisy" she exclaimed as she had to let her go; the others were waiting to get a hug from Daisy as well.

Daisy's mother started to weep, because she had started to loose hope, and didn't think Daisy would return. Now, however, she was overwhelmed and grateful that her daughter had returned to them safe..and alive.

Her father told Daisy how worried her mother had been, but how he, himself had known all along that Daisy would come back. "Your mother has counted each day, you've been gone...and each day she has lost faith..But Holly has tried to encourage her to think otherwise. I've told her plenty of times that you'd be fine, but she didn't believe me," he said a bit anxious. When Daisy heard this she ran over to her mother again and hugged her. "I'm here now, and I've brought food...and I'm alright," she said to comfort her. It seemed to work, because soon the big family where laughing at old stories from the past.

“You boys have gotten so big already..” Daisy said suddenly looking at the Holly’s small boys. “Yes, they’ve grown since you last saw them…” Holly replied. She seemed proud, and she had all reason to be; they were so adorable. “So, Daisy, are you going to tell us a bit about your journey?” Lily asked after a while. Daisy shrugged, and didn’t know what to answer. “I’m exhausted!” She laughed to hide her feelings. The truth was that she didn’t want to spoil the current atmosphere that seemed so merry and relaxed, by telling dreadful stories about wild dogs and Orcs, especially thinking about Holly’s children. Besides it would remind her too much about the Hobbits that didn’t make it back home, and she didn’t want to think about that now…She didn’t want to think about Gorby.

“In the morning perhaps..” Daisy muttered at last. The family respected Daisy’s wish by trying to make the evening as remarkable as they possibly could for the family member that had returned to them at last.

[piosenniel]

Madoc helped unload the provisions then stepped back as some of the lads from Great Smials tucked them away. Others in the village had begun sorting them out into bundles, to be parceled out to the grateful folk who had already begun queuing up.

Prisca had stayed to help him and when the work was done they gathered up a basket of foodstuffs for their family and started home. ‘Wait,’ said Madoc, turning back to those who were handing out baskets. ‘I have to take back Gaffer Heathertoes wagon and team, so just let me take a basket back for them also.’

A half hour’s ride brought them to the Heathertoes’ burrow. The ponies whinnied as they neared the familiar barn, picking up their pace anxious to be back in the comfort of their stalls. The door to the burrow swung open as Madoc and Prisca climbed down from the wagon. The gaffer’s querulous question challenged their presence.

‘Who’s out there, stamping about in my yard?’ he demanded, his old eyes squinting out into the evening’s dim, grey light. ‘Oh my!’ His eyes caught sight of his ponies who, freed from their harnesses, ran up to nuzzle their old master.

‘Who is it, Da?’ Fairlight stepped into the doorway. Her face lit up with delight at the sight of the ponies. Another smile, wider than the first, beamed out as she caught sight of Madoc. Prisca nudged him, and he stepped forward as Fairlight came out to greet them. ‘We visited . . . often,’ Prisca whispered to him, giving him a sisterly shove to the small of his back.

There was an awkward moment of silence between Madoc and Fairlight once they stood face to face. He mumbled something unintelligible as he handed her the basket, then began taking the bow and quiver from his back, preparing to hand it back to her. Her hand came up and rested lightly on his arm, staying his efforts. ‘Keep it,’ she said in a clear voice. ‘I have no use for it.’ She looked closely at his face. ‘I trust you had good use of it.’

Madoc nodded, a grim look coming on his face for a few moments. ‘This homecoming is a pleasant time. Press me no further now about the journey, and I will tell you later of how your husband’s bow revenged his death.’

Prisca and the Gaffer stood close to each other, a conspiratorial look on their faces. ‘Madoc,’ directed Prisca, ‘take the small buggy and go get Ma, why don’t you. Fairlight and I and the Gaffer will get some supper going.’

Gaffer Heathertoes linked his arm through Fairlight’s and winked at Prisca as she picked up the two baskets of food and proceeded on into the little house. ‘Go on now, Maddy!’ called his sister, laughing as she closed the door behind her.

~*~

Madoc’s mother was overjoyed when she opened the door to his light knock. She hugged him so tight he could barely breathe, and her tears wet the front of his vest as she buried her grey curls against his chest. He, in turn, sighed gratefully at her embrace, murmuring words of relief at being home once again.

When she had wiped her eyes and a smile was on her face, Madoc slipped her cloak about her and ushered her out to the cart. They spoke of pleasant things as they went along; though often she would turn to him and catch the sadness that hid behind his smile.

The Gaffer came out to greet them as they pulled into the yard and shooed them into the cheery little dwelling while he put the cart and pony away. Delicious smells from the soup pot one grate greeted them, as did the enticing smell of fresh-made biscuits. Dinner passed in pleasant conversations – tales of what was happening in Tuckburrough brought them through the small dessert of dried apple pie. It was late when they had finished, and the Gaffer pressed them to stay. The snow had begun falling lightly and he saw no reason they should head home in it.

Fairlight and Madoc sat up late at the worn kitchen table, sharing the last of the chamomile tea. The others had gone off to bed and were tucked snugly under warm quilts, their bellies full, smiles on their faces. The little fire in the kitchen grate had burned down low, its orange embers winking into the shadows in the room. A comfortable silence had grown between Madoc and Fairlight as the fire hissed and popped.

‘Tell me if you will about the bow now, Madoc.’ Fairlight broke the silence with her quiet question.

Madoc leaned back in his chair, a frown on his face as he sucked in his breath. It had been so pleasant, this evening with friends and family . . . sitting here with her now . . . She leaned forward, putting her hand lightly on his arm to encourage him.

‘Go on,’ she said quietly.

Haltingly at first, the words fell from his lips . . .

[piosenniel]

Niluial's post

The Shire, though still beset with cold winter winds, was now a happy place once again. Of course, how could it not be happy since the Hobbits could have their six dinners again. The hobbits returned hospitable ways and their garden plots, but were saddened at the news of the deaths. It was dreadful telling the families that their loved ones had died, and all Tom and Melody could say was, “I am sorry,” knowing full well that those words held scant comfort..

A huge celebration, with plenty of food and merrymaking, was held to honour the Hobbits who went on the journey to get the much needed supplies. The ones who had fallen were especially honoured and, through the years, were remembered as heroes. To commemorate them, Melody planted six crimson rose bushes.

Madoc was reunited with his family. He still remained great friends with his fellow survivors but the memory of the six that were killed haunted him, and he often realized that he could have been one of them. He never forgot them, never forgot the wolves that had ripped Ivy’s throat, never forgot the cruel deaths of the others. They hadn’t deserved it, but who did deserve death? They had not died as cowards, but as heroes, and the Shire would remember them as such. They had brought supplies to the starving Shire, and the hobbits were merry as the snows melted and the grass turned green and the flowers bloomed. He would try to return to the life of a normal hobbit, but, even through the bounteous dinners and the curling tobacco smoke, he would remember them with fond sadness.

Daisy soon returned to being herself and spent most of her time with her family and adorable nephews. It amazed many at how strong Daisy had been! She was always smiling and moved on with life quicker than the others. But Melody, who soon came to know her better than anybody else, realized that it was a mere façade to cover the sorrow that lived within her. As the years fled by, Melody and Daisy laughed with each other, wept with each other, gardened with each other, and became fast friends.

Melody’s deep wound healed in time. Two months later, Melody and Tom wedded and, as Tom had promised long ago, she got her huge garden in which she grew many flowers and tall trees. They were a happy couple and cared for each other very much, but, though she had a husband’s love, Melody realized that she missed Ivy and that she was incomplete without her. In retrospect, she wished that Ivy had never gone on the journey. She could have been a happy hobbit, sitting by the fire, waiting for the tea to boil. When they had their first child, a daughter, they named her Ivy, who somewhat filled the hole that the first Ivy had left.

The four remained good friends and, once a week, they would stroll to the entrance of the Shire and would chat and remember their fallen comrades beside the six rose bushes Melody had planted. Trials and misery and sorrow had forged bonds of friendship that the other simple hobbits could not understand. Out of the death-ridden trip had been born friendships that would last forever.

[piosenniel]

~*~ To Elvenhome ~*~