[Child of the 7th Age]

The party had finally made its way over the Last Bridge, and now stood in the foothills of the Misty Mountains. Bullroarer stopped for a moment to stare down at his map, and to consider the route that lay before them.

In order to do what Bullroarer intended, the hobbits would need to leave the main track and go forward on the treacherous side paths. There were two reasons for this. The scouts had reported that the main road was under constant surveillence by the two hostile groups who might attack their party. Added to this was the fact that the stony lair which Bullroarer sought lay hidden in the hills, and would need to be approached from the north, if they hoped to retain the element of surprise.

They would have about 60 miles until they reached the general area where Olo and Carl had done their earlier scouting. From there, if they survived that part, another 20 miles would lead to the Ford of Bruinen. Then, there would be a final 15 mile trek before they came to Rivendell itself and the hoped for hospitality of Elrond.

For the next five days the hobbits struggled forward to reach the tiny area on Bulroarer's map where Carl and Olo had done their secret scouting. Bullroarer had opted to leave the wagon behind on the main road, covered over with pine boughs, as there would have been no way to get it though the back tracks, which had become increasingly treacherous.

These paths were encumbered with fallen trees and tumbled rocks, and the hobbits were hard pressed to press forward a scant 12 miles a day. The scouts had managed to do their work more quickly before the last blizzard had set in. But the heavy snowfall defeated the companions' best efforts and often left them shivering and frightened.

Still, there was at least one piece of encouraging news. None of the hobbits had seen the slightest indication of wolves or wargs, or even packs of roving wild dogs. Every day they fought the weather and the rugged terrain, but at least there were no beasts larger than a rabbit to disturb their gatherings around the campfire at night.

Finally, after five days of struggle, they swung south to come within sight of the Bruinen. It was time to stop and rest and to explain to the hobbits exactly what was about to happen. From what Olo had confided to him, the original lair of the wargs lay about one mile to the south. The other place he sought was to their back, to the north, also one miles away.

Bullroarer shuddered to think of the pickle they would be in if either of these parties were to discover their presence here. There could be no campfires tonight, even if it was chill and raw. Bullroarer had saved something special for this occasion taking out a number of flasks of ale and geneva to try and keep them warm. He walked over to Tomba and Branda and spoke with them, and they both nodded their heads in conformation. Then he quietly told the hobbits to set up camp under the shelter of a neaby ridge and promised to talk to them later.