One Geek to Rule Them All

Into the Wild

Bill Ferny's price was twelve silver pennies, at least three times the pony's value in those parts. It proved to be a bony, underfed, and dispirited  animal; but it did not look like dying just yet. Mr. Butterbur paid for it himself, and offered Merry another eighteen pence as some compensation for the lost animals. He was an honest man, and well-off as things were reckoned in Bree; but thirty silver pennies was a sore blow to him, and being cheated by Bill Ferny made it harder to bear. The blame for the rest of the missing horses ended up falling on the squinty-eyed Southerner once it became known that he had disappeared as well during the night, so Butterbur managed to avoid being harassed too much by the other guests when they came looking for their rides.

After breakfast, the hobbits had to repack and get together further supplies for the longer journey they were now expecting. The girls managed to squeeze a few more things into their own pack after removing Kitty's trumpet case (which she never went anywhere without) and an opened pack of Jammie Dodgers that were still waterlogged and completely beyond saving.

"Let us never forget, that the Doctor once attempted to save the universe by passing one of these off as a self-destruct button for the TARDIS," Kitty said dramatically, sniffing, as they performed last rites for their tasty snack and lowered it down into the waste basket.

"I know. It's always hard to loose a good snack, isn't it?" Pippin said sympathetically, patting them on the back. He didn't understand the fandom reference, but he knew good food when he saw it.

It was close to ten o'clock when they finally set off. By that time, the whole of Bree was buzzing with excitement. Frodo's vanishing trick; the appearance of the black horsemen; the robbing of the stables; and not the least the news that Strider the Ranger had joined the mysterious hobbits, made such a tale as would last for many uneventful years. The road was crowded with people who were waiting to see the travelers start, and the other guests in the inn were at the doors or hanging out of the windows.

"Jeez, don't these people have anything better to do?" Kitty had asked before Devin reminded her that they probably didn't because there was no TV or internet in Middle Earth.

Aragorn had changed his mind, and he decided to leave Bree by the main road. Any attempt to set off across country at once would only make matters worse: half the inhabitants would follow them, to see what they were up to and to prevent them from trespassing. They said farewell to Nob and Bob, and took leave of Mr. Butterbur with many thanks.

"I hope we shall meet again someday, when things are merry once more," said Frodo. "I should like nothing better than to stay in your house in peace for awhile."

Then they tramped off, anxious and downhearted, under the eyes of the crowd. Not all the faces were friendly, nor all the words that were shouted. Devin chose not to dignify such remarks with a response, but Kitty was only too happy to return the favor by flipping a few of them off. Aragorn seemed to be held in awe by most of the Bree-landers, and those he stared at shut their mouths and drew away. He walked in front with Frodo; next came Merry and Pippin; then Devin and Kitty; and last came Sam leading the pony, which was laden with as much of their baggage as they had the heart to give it. In fact, Kitty had taken one of the other packs to carry to spare the poor thing an extra thirty or forty pounds while Devin carried their pack. Kitty had a special place in her heart for horses since her family used to own a ranch back when they lived in Texas. Actually, the poor pony already looked less dejected, as if it approved of the change in its fortunes and ownership.

After awhile, the hobbits took no notice of the inquisitive heads that peeped out of doors or popped over walls  and fences as they passed. But as they drew near to the further gate, the girls saw a dark, ill-kept house behind a thick hedge—the last house in the village. In one of the windows they caught a glimpse of a sallow face with sly, slanting eyes, but it vanished at once. Frodo noticed it, too.