[Child of the 7th Age]

Branda quickly glanced around to catch Bullroarer's eyes, and the Took nodded in agreement, indicating the Stoor should go ahead with his explanation. The time had come to share their plan with the others in the company.

Branda stared nervously into the surrounding darkness, looking for any sign of intruders or even the slightest hint that their conversations might be overheard. But the night was quiet, and the only sound was
the distant hoot of a snow owl. He beckoned to his companions to gather in a tight circle around him, and then began speaking in a tiny voice.

"This area we are in....do you know what it is called? The name doesn't even show on our map, but my granny and those who know about it call it the 'Trollshaws' because so many giant trolls live here."

There was a noticeable stirring in the circle as hobbits turned to gaze out into the dark woods, wondering what lay beyond the nearby grove of trees.

Giles whispered to Branda, "What are these trolls? Are they very strong fighters? And where are they?"

"They are an evil race of Middle-earth who bear no love for the Children of Men or Hobbits. We know there are three trolls who make their home just a mile north of here, not too far from the path where we walked about an hour ago."

At this point, they were some frightened looks exchanged between the hobbits in the circle. Everyone huddled even closer together.

Branda ignored their discomfort and went on as if he was actually enjoying his tale. "Trolls are very, very big, much bigger than the big folk, and some say their favorite meal is hobbit pie. They are also very strong. My granny used to call them Stone-trolls because their hearts are as cold as stone, and when the sun comes up in the morning, they must hide in their caves or huts, or else they will turn to stone."

Robin shuddered a bit, and then said, "What you're saying doesn't bring any comfort. Why have we come to this desolate spot which has giant creatures who want to eat us? It sounds even worse than wargs."

"No, no," Branda shook his head. "They are not at all as horrible as wargs for they have one great weakness. They are ....." Branda was a polite hobbit lad and struggled for the right word, but in the end he had to put it straight out. "To tell the truth, they are terribly stupid. And any smart hobbit should be able to figure out a way around them."

Lotho furled his brow. "This still doesn't make sense. I just spoke to Bullroarer, and he told me that the wargs have a lair just a mile south of here. That means we are in between the wargs and trolls, and, if one doesn't get us, the other surely will."

"But that's just it, we can use them, one against the other. Tomba is a master thief, and for the past two weeks he has been training Daisy how to wiggle out of ropes, steal things, pick locks, and move very quietly. In fact they've been practicing on some of us. So if you happen to have noticed something missing from your pack, just ask Tomba or Daisy, and I'm sure they'll return it."

Hal laughed and grumbled under his breath, "So that's where my pipe went. I thought I lost it somewhere" At this point, Daisy dug around under her belt and pulled out the pipe along with several other 'missing' treasures--a red hairbow, a small hammer, an arrow from someone's quiver, and one of Branda's own fishing hooks, which even he was surprised to see.

"Daisy and Tomba will let themselves be kidnapped by the trolls tomorrow evening, and then they will figure out a way to escape. They'll slip to the edge of camp and take the trolls on a mighty chase through the woods. And we'll be waiting there, waiting for the runners. We'll set up a relay, one hobbit at a time, hiding behind the trees. And the relay will lead the trolls directly into the wargs' lair."

"That way, we'll get rid of two bad 'uns at once. The trolls will be dead. After running so far, they'll be no match for the beasts. And the wargs will have their bellies so full, that they'll lay down on the ground and moan. They will be too busy to think of hobbits for the next few days, and we'll be able to travel safely." Branda sat back on his heels and grinned.

There was a great chatter and noise all around the circle as the hobbits began to debate and discuss this very risky venture.

Lotho went over to Branda's side and whispered something in his ear. "What will happen to the wargs? Will the trolls turn to stone in their stomachs?"

Branda shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "I have no idea on that, and neither does anyone else. There's no sunlight way down inside them, but we'll have to wait and see."

[ January 29, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]