Nianna's Journey

Chapter 6: Two Ponies

The rain continued to fall throughout the next day and into the night.

Nianna stood just behind the line of trees, using her senses to check the road, before her, for danger. Without looking behind her, to where the hobbits stood huddled together, she said, “Remember, go directly to ‘The Prancing Pony’. They have a special room set aside for…miniature guests.” She turned back to the hobbits and kneeled down in front of them so she was at eye level with the four.

“Request this room, if it is not offered out right. While you await your rooms, enjoy the meal and drink found there, for it may be the last hot meal you will get until we reach Rivendell. But keep an eye out for a man named Estel.”

Merry interrupted, “You are not going with us?”

“Four hobbits traveling at the dead of night will be an oddity in Bree. Four hobbits and an Elf traveling together will bring unwanted attention to you. There is a back entrance that I will go through and I shall meet you in your room,” she said. Reaching for Merry’s cloak she brought the hood further forward, to cover his face from the drenching rains.

“What does this Estel look like?” Frodo asked, drawing her attention.

She repeated the same action with his cloak, and replied, “He is a man and over eighty years old. Do not worry over much about finding him. I am sure, if he is there, he will come to you.”

After completing the task with Frodo’s cloak, she did the same to Pippin’s and Sam’s before retrieving FirGael’s reins, held by Sam.

“Go! Quickly!” she said.

Nianna kept watch over the four hobbits as they quickly crossed the road. She continued to stand in place, just out of sight from the gates that Frodo now knocked upon.

A small window on the gates opened, revealing a man’s face lined with age. He abruptly asked, “What do you want?”

Nianna overheard Frodo say, “We’re heading for the Prancing Pony.”

“Hobbits! Four Hobbits! What business brings you to Bree?”

“We wish to stay at the inn. Our business is our own.” Nianna smirked at Frodo’s curt reply.

As the gatekeeper opened one side of the large double doors, he contritely replied, “Alright young sir, I meant no offence. ‘Tis my job to ask questions after nightfall.”

The hobbits quickly entered into the town of Bree. As the gatekeeper closed the gate behind them, she heard him continue to say, “There’s talk of strange folk abroad. Can’t be too careful.”

Now that the hobbits were safely inside the town of Bree, Nianna followed the line of trees, staying hidden within its depths.

She traveled several hundred feet until she reached the southernmost point of the walls that surrounded the small city. She quickly scanned the area in front of her for danger, and curious eyes, before she led FirGael across the road.

She quickly hid herself and her steed in the shadows provided by the looming walls and searched for the door that very few citizens, and even fewer visitors, recognized. Before opening the door, she brought the hood of her cloak further down, hiding her hair as well as her ears. She hoped that no one would take notice of her as she traveled along the streets of Bree while she looked for lodging for FirGael and then to meet those that waited for her.

Less than an hour after four hobbits entered its wooden walls, an elf entered the city of Bree unbeknownst to its citizens.

*****

“Move! Watch where you’re going!” yelled a man.

The four hobbits that walked through mud puddles on the cobble stone path, quickly darted away from the man and took temporary shelter under the eaves of a general store.

“Frodo, how is an eighty year old Man supposed to help us reach Rivendell?” Pippin asked, clutching the back of Merry’s cloak. He verbalized a major concern that all four hobbits had thought of when Nianna described Estel to them.

Frodo wiped the raindrops from his face and looked down the street. “I do not know. But I trust Nianna in her judgment. If she says that he will help us, then I believe that he will.”

Merry who was shivering from the cold, excitedly said, “Maybe he is a wizard, like Gandalf.”

He glanced back at Pippin who smiled at the idea. To have a wizard accompany them on their journey to Rivendell would be very helpful if they were to come across those Black Riders again.

Sam who had been standing just behind Frodo pointed and said, “There is the sign for the inn. Let’s stop worrying about this Estel person and get there.”

The four swiftly ran out from their dry spot and crossed the road. They soon entered ‘The Prancing Pony’ and stood in front of a large counter that was over their heads.

Frodo could barely see the white-haired man due to the height of the counter in front of him. So he tentatively called out, “Excuse me?”

The white-haired man leaned over the top of the counter and smiled down at the four hobbits. “Good evening little masters! If you’re looking for accommodations, we got some nice cozy hobbit-sized beds available. Always proud to cater to the little folk, Mister…?”

Frodo only hesitated a moment before replying, “Underhill, my name’s Underhill.”

The innkeeper looked at them, “Underhill. Hmmmm.” he said suspiciously.

Frodo looked back at his friends before turning around and asking, “We are looking for a man named Estel, he is suppose to meet us here. Can you tell him we’ve arrived?”

“Estel? Estel? No, I don’t believe I’ve ever heard that name before.” the innkeeper replied.

The hobbits are slightly shocked and worry crosses their faces. Frodo looked at the innkeeper who was intently staring at them.

“We would like the room that you offered us, as well as a meal and some drink. Maybe the one we are waiting for hasn’t arrived yet,” he said to the innkeeper.

“Of course, of course, little masters. Come and enjoy the hospitality that ‘The Prancing Pony’ has to offer.” he said, coming around the counter to lead the four hobbits to their table.

*****

Nianna soon found lodging for FirGael, though she would hardly call it that by the mess inside. Her ears and hair still covered by her cloak, she turned to the short fat man that had led her to the stables.

“Is this the best that you have to offer?” she deepened her voice, hoping to disguise her true gender. The stench from the stables helped by by forcing her to hold breabreathe otherwise she would retch.

“The best that Bree has to offer,” boasted the disgusting human. He led the two inside, “Besides this is the only stable within Bree that has any available room for the night.”

“I wonder why,” muttered Nianna as she glanced around. Indeed the stable had plenty of room, it seemed the only other occupant within it was a small dejected and abused looking pony. “Is that pony yours?” she asked.

The man looked over at the poor creature. The pony seeing that its master’s attention was on him, quickly shied to the back of its small stable. Nianna watched the pony’s reaction, as the man said, “That piece of filth, yes it’s mine,” he slyly looked in Nianna’s direction. “But he is for sale for a decent enough price of course,” he said, eyeing the well-tailored cloak that covered Nianna.

Nianna noticed the look and replied, “Of course.” She quickly released FirGael’s reins and in the same motion withdrew her knife. Grabbing the fat man by the scruff of his neck, she quickly threw him against one of the doors of the stables. She placed the edge of her knife against the man’s throat, making him gasp and pale. She looked hard into the yellow-rimmed eyes of a man who had drunk too much ale during the course of his life.

“Since it seems that I have no choice but to accept your “wonderful” accommodations, I will leave my horse here for the night.” She threatened, “But do not bother to see to his needs for I will do that on my own. If I return in the morning and find anything,” she tightened the grip on the knife causing it to crease the skin of the obese man’s chin, “amiss, I will find you and make you regret it. Do you understand?”

The man attempted to nod his compliance, but quickly realized that he would further hurt himself on the knife if he continued. Nianna took this as a yes, and slowly released the man. “Go home and do not return until late morning for I do not wish to see you again. But no worries, I will leave coins for tonight’s lodging in the stables before leaving.”

The man quickly left through the doors of the stable. Nianna watched him run on his chubby legs until the falling rain hid him from her sight. She turned back to FirGael who stood calmly waiting for his mistress. The expression in his eyes was worry as he looked at his temporary home for the night.

Nianna smiled at FirGael, [“Don’t worry old friend, I will not leave you here until I’ve cleaned out your stall.”]

She picked up a nearby pitchfork and walked over to the largest of the stalls. As she passed the pony’s stall, she noticed that it was in worse condition then the other stalls.

There was another large stall next to the one she had set aside for FirGael. She sighed as she realized that she would be mucking out two stalls instead of one.

Once she had completed that task, she went in search of some clean, dry hay. There was some rolled up near the entrance of the stables and, while the outer layers were already drenched from the rain, she found some dry within its folds. Using the pitchfork, she made several trips to lie out the hay in the two stalls.

With that task completed, she went to the patient FirGael and removed his harness and saddle. She brushed and dried him before leading him to his now clean stall. She then went to the small stall that housed the pony, and spoke gently to him in Elven as she guided him to the space between the rows of stalls. She quickly brushed and cleaned him of his filth.

She took note of numerous scars and more recent marks. She sincerely hoped that the owner would not return until after she haft ift in the morning, for she was unsure if she would be able to contain her anger for the mistreatment of the small pony. She would have to leave enough coins for the purchase of the pony, for she would not leave the poor creature at the hands of the heartless man. Using the herbs from her saddles bags, she doctored them before leading the small equine to the stall next to FirGael.

As the two acquainted themselves to each other’s scent, Nianna set off to find some feed. It seemed that, along with the hay, oats had been recently delivered as well. Though not of as high quality as she would like, at least they were clean and did not contain any insects.

She fed the two horses, also bringing them fresh water from a barrel, which was overflowing from the downpour. Using one of the other stalls to preserve her modesty if someone was to enter the stables, she washed off the stench from the cleaning with the same water found outside in the barrel. She quickly changed into her spare tunic and leggings.

Removing two apples from her bags, she gave one to FirGael who instantly took the treat. She spoke gently to the little pony, coaxing it to come forward and take the treat from her hand.

[“FirGael, I will leave your stall unlocked in case that man returns,”] she said as she stroked his dark brown fur. [“I will be here in the morning to retrieve you and the pony.”]

Having said her good byes to the two equines, she donned her cloak and began her short trek through the streets of Bree, heading towards The Prancing Pony.

*****

As Nianna stealthy climbed the trellis that was connected to the Prancing Pony, she kept to the shadows so that probing eyes would not see her. She gazed through a lighted window and saw that this was the room that was set aside for “little folk”. She recognized the items in the corner as belonging to the hobbits, so she hastily entered the room.

As she waited for the hobbits, she felt a brief disturbance within the building. Though it was quick, it still concerned her.

She debated on whether or not to see if the hobbits were in any danger but didn’t want to reveal her presence to the patrons of the bar unless absolutely necessary. Her thoughts were quickly swept away, as her Elven hearing picked up on the conversation that was taking place on the stairwell.

Frodo’s small shriek echoed through the walls. Nianna withdrew her knife, as she hears a deep voice say, “You draw far too much attention to yourself, Mr. ‘Underhill!’” Nianna raced for the door before realizing that the one who held Frodo was quickly approaching the hobbit’s room.

Nianna quickly hid amongst the shadows and watched as the man fling open the door and toss Frodo into the room, and shutting the door behind him.

Frodo quickly climbed to his feet and asked, “What do you want?”

“A little more caution from you. That is no trinket you carry.” the man replied.

“I carry nothing.” Frodo bravely said.

The man glanced at the hobbit, “Indeed.” he said as he walked around the room distinguishing the candles with his fingers. He never noticed the Elf hiding in one of the corners, “I can avoid being seen if I wish,” Nianna smiled as he walked right past her, never seeing her, “But to disappear entirely, that is a rare gift.”

“Who are you?” the hobbit asked, trying to be brave.

“Are you frightened?” the man said, turning towards the hobbit.

“Y-yes,” Frodo stuttered, answering honestly.

The man smirked, “Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you.”

The door burst open and three hobbits barreled in, bravely readied with assorted items to protect their friend. The man drew his sword, ready for attack.

“Stand off! Or I’ll have you Longshanks!” Sam yelled defiantly.

The man relaxed his stance and lowered his sword, “You have a stout heart, little hobbits, but that will not save you.”

Before the man could notice her, Nianna quickly drew upon him. Grabbing the hair at the back of his neck, stretching his throat taut, she placed her knife against it.

The man before her stiffened, realizing too late tha was was in mortal danger.

“And what of the heart of an Elf? Would that save them?” she said, smiling.

Upon recognizing the voice behind him, the man relaxed within her hold and dropped his sword.

“Nianna.” he said simply.

Nianna released him. As he turned to greet her, she smiled, “Estel.”

The four hobbits stood with their mouths agape and were stunned into immobility.