Østhelten ✵𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴✵

✵𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘦✵

✵𝖢𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝖯𝖮𝖵✵

I waited in the prancing pony alongside Aragorn, or 'Strider'.
I hear the creaky door open, but I can only see the top of four heads enter, which means Hobbits or Dwarves. I listen to their conversation with Butterbur, "excuse me?" One of the small people asks, butterbur leans over the much to tall counter, "good evening, young masters. If you're seeking accommodation, we've got some nice, cozy hobbit sized rooms available,always proud to serve the little folk, mr... ah" butterbur says kindly. Their hobbits, good. "Underhill.. my names underhill." The hobbit replied. I could tell he was lying from across the tavern.
"We're friends of Gandalf the grey. Can you tell him we've arrived." 'Underhill' says. I raise an eyebrow and look at Aragorn, he too is fixed on the conversation. "Oh yes, I remember. Elderly chap. Big grey beard, pointy hat. Not seen him for six months." Butterbur admits.
The four hobbits take a seat after a while. Me and Aragorn still watching them from our table in the corner.
Butterbur nears their table and I can tell 'underhill' asks about us.
Suddenly we hear a loud voice from one of the hobbits over at the bar, "Baggins? Sure I know I Baggins, he's over there! Frodo Baggins! He's my second cousin, once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin, twice removed-.." The hobbits points over the where 'underhill' sits. The other hobbit jumps up and runs over to him.
We watch the commotion as the hobbit trips over a mans foot and falls, disappearing, me and Aragorn quickly get up grabbing him and pulling him away.
"You draw far too much attention to yourself, mr. Underhill." Aragorn says roughly to him. We bring him to a room, "what do you want?" He states. "A little more caution from you, that is no trinket you carry." I state warily.
"I carry nothing!" The hobbit insists. "Indeed? I can usually avoid to be seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely... that is a rare gift." Aragorn says with a raised eyebrow.
The hobbit seems shocked, I chuckle lightly and move over to the wall, "who are you?" He asks, " are you frightened?" I ask him, smiling slightly. "Yes.." he answers tentatively. "Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you." Aragorn says, suddenly we hear a sound in the corridor, me and Aragorn draw our swords.
The other three hobbits burst in, one with a candlestick, one with a chair, and one just with his fists. "Let him go or I'll have you, longshanks!" One says scared but angry. We sheath our swords, I smile. "You have a stout heart, little hobbit, but that alone won't save you." I say, "you can no longer wait for the wizard, Frodo. Their coming." Strider continues, grimly.
——-
We store the hobbits in our room, they sleep on our beds. Me and strider sit by the window, looking across the way. We hear the shrieks of rage from the other room, the hobbits wake up. "What are they?" Frodo asks, scared. "They were once men." I start, "great Kings of men. Then Sauron the deceiver-" at the mention of his name I frown deeply. "Gave to them nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness and now they are slaves to his will." Aragorn continues. "They are nazgul, ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the ring... drawn to the power of the one.. they will never stop hunting you." He finishes grimly.