Nianna's Journey

Please let me know if anyone is still reading this. Thanks Liz

Chapter 7: Black Riders In Bree

The hobbits continued to stand frozen as they watched the two embrace.

[“It’s wonderful to see you, Nianna,”] he said, pulling slightly away to gently kiss her cheek.

Nianna smiled and pulled him into another hug, [“My eyes and heart are delighted to see you, Estel,”] and she closed her eyes and tightened her arms.

No more than a second past before Nianna reopened her eyes and scrunched her nose at the foul odor that seemed to radiate ohe mhe man she currently held in her arms. Nianna quickly jumped away, and stood some distance apart from the man she so recently embraced, hoping to evade the stench.

[“You reek, Estel, you smell worse than an orc,”] she stated, covering her nose and mouth with the sleeve of her tunic to put emphasis on that fact.

Estel chuckled softly and shrugged his shoulders, [“Is that anyway to speak to someone you helped raise as a child?”]

[“Any child I helped raise would smell better,”] Nianna said simply, continuing to breathe through the fabric of her sleeve.

AN: Yeah, yeah I know. I’m really messing with things. Lucky for you, this is plot stuff for the prequel so if it really offends you, than don’t read it (then again if you’re a purist then you shouldn’t be reading fan fiction at all). However, I may bring it up once in awhile in future chapters.

Estel continued to grin but before he could reply, one of the hobbits interrup


“Umm, excuse me?” Merry said.

As Estel and Nianna turned toward them, they noticed the wide-eyed expressions on all four of the hobbits.

Nianna pulled her arm down away from her face, “I’m sorry, little ones, I would like to introduce you to Estel.”

“Strider,” said the man. He turned toward Nianna, “Only the elves call me Estel.” Nianna simply replied with a roll of her eyes.

Strider continued, “Before further introductions and explanations can be made, we must move.”

“Move, why?” Nianna asked surprised at this announcement. “This is the only inn in Bree that has special accommodations for them.”

“Exactly, Nianna, when the black riders come to Bree, this will be the room they will come to first.” he whispered gently, not wanting to injure her feelings.

As the realization of his words sunk in, Nianna’s eyes closed and her breathing hitched. She realized her grave mistake in allowing the hobbits to stay in this room. This one error could have cost the four hobbits their lives. Though only two days had past since she first met them, she had already come to care for them a great deal. To lose them, especially because of her miscalculation, was an act that would have been unforgivable.

She looked at the hobbits sta stared at her, “I’m sorry, little ones, it seems I erred greatly.” Regret laced in her voice.

Strider thought to reply, but one of the hobbits answered for him.

“It’s alright, Nianna.” Sam said gently. “You had enough worries just getting us here. Without you, I don’t think we would have made it to Bree.”

The other three hobbits quickly nodded their agreement to Sam’s statement. Nianna gave them a small smile and glanced at Strider. He simply nodded to show that he agreed with the hobbit.

With her guilt alleviated only slightly, she said, “Well then, let us correct that mistake and find other lodging.”

As Strider left to look for new lodging for the group, Nianna helped the hobbits gather their belongings.

After some whispering, Merry and Pippin stopped midway and went to one of the beds. They quickly stripped off the outer blanket and began laying the pillows vertically, plumping them a certain way as they went.

Nianna noticed their actions, “What are you two doing?”

“Well, if those riders think we will be here, then why not make them think so a little longer,” Pippin replied, barely stopping in his work of plumping a pillow.

Nianna frowned for a bit and looked at Sam and Frodo. They simply shrugged thshoushoulders and went to one of the other beds, repeating Merry and Pippins actions.

Nianna realized their plan and smiled as she went to a bed and copied the hobbits. Merry and Pippin arranged the last bed, in the same fashion, to complete the task.

Once completed, all five stood back to look at their creations.

Nianna stood there and moved her head to the side, trying to determine if the fluffed pillows resembled a sleeping hobbit.

“I suppose in the dark, the riders may be fooled,” said Frodo, who also had his head pulled down to his shoulder. Nianna agreed with him and grinned down to the four hobbits.

The five gathered the last of their belongings. Strider returned as they were nearly complete. He looked at the beds and simply raised an eyebrow at Nianna, who again only rolled her eyes as an answer.

As Nianna walked out the door with the hobbits in front, she passed Strider and gave a little sniff, [“I sincerely hope you plan to clean up before tonight’s rest.”]

Strider chuckled and as he closed the door behind him, he said, [“Only for you, Nianna.”]

*****

Nianna stood just outside the door, of the new room, while the hobbits inside freshened up. Strider had gone to clean up elsewhere in The White Chicken Inn, where they now roomed. Coincidently, the inn stood directly across from The Prancing Pony. They were able to see their old room through the window of their current lodgings.

Nianna was still racked with guilt at the possible outcomes for her mistake. As she leaned against the wall, she tried to consol herself with the fact that the danger had been averted with Estel’s help. Worrying about it was futile. There were more pressing things that needed to be attended to without continually berating herself about what might have been.

With those thoughts in mind, Nianna stood away from the wall and used her hearing to see if the hobbits had completed their washings. She heard nothing from inside the room. Before she could decide in her next course of action, she heard footsteps.

Strider strolled up the stairs and gently squeezed her arm in affection.

Nianna sniffed a little in his direction.

Raising his eyebrow, he asked, [“Better?”]

Nianna smiled and nodded, [“Much.”]

Strider only smirked and walked to their door. He gently knocked but when no reply was forthcoming, he entered.

Nianna continued to stay out in the hall, in case thebitsbits needed more time for privacy. When she saw Strider’s hand motion to her from the door, signaling her that all was clear, she entered the room and gently closed the door.

Nianna smiled at the sight before her. On the one large bed, four hobbits slept soundly.

[“I will take first watch, Nianna. Go and rest,”] Strider whispered to her as he passed. He moved across the room and sat on the window seat where he would keep watch.

Nianna strode to the side of the bed closest to the window, and gently reclined on it with her back to the headboard. The hobbits barely stirred by the slight movement of her weight.

Strider glanced at Nianna and watched as her eyes glazed over, signaling that she had begun her rest. He searched his cloak for his pipe and began the night’s watch.

*****

Nianna slowly awakened as she felt a dark presence sweep through the town of Bree. She looked to her side when she felt one of the hobbits stirring. It seemed that Frodo had also awakened as an invisible cloud of evil covered the streets in Bree. She wrapped an arm around the small hobbit as she looked toward the window.

Strider sat in the same spot that he had occupied when she rested. He continued to smoke his pipe as his gazed intently into the streets below.

Frodo jumped slightly at the distant sound of Bree’s gates falling. He shuddered as the sound of hooves rang down the streets drawing closer to their location. Nianna tightened her hold on him, trying to offer silent comfort to the little hobbit.

Both remained on the bed as the riders drew to a stop in front of the Prancing Pony. Strider watched as the nine black-robed figures dismounted and glided into the inn. His eyes darted to the window that was once their room. Soon after, he was able to distinguish figures within the room. There was a moment of stillness as the figures raised their swords. He watched as the wraiths began to plunge their weapons into the hapless pillows and bedding within the room. It was followed shortly after by a cacophony of screeches as the nine realized that they had been tricked.

Nianna’s hand instantly went numb and a blinding cold shot through her arm as she listened to the shrieks. Frodo’s body trembled uncontrollably as he listened. The other three hobbits were quickly awakened by the sounds and aey ley looked toward Nianna she motioned to them to remain silent.

Strider, seemingly unfazed by the recent events, continued to watch as the riders exited the inn and remount their horses. As the nine Wraiths rode out of Bree, the oppressing dark cloud lifted.

“What are they?” a wide-eyed and concerned Frodo asked.

Before Nianna could answer, Strider explained, “They were once men; great kings of Men. Then Sauron the Deceiver gave them nine Rings of Power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one falling into darkness. Now they are slaves to his will. They are the Nazgul, Ring Wraiths, 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.” Strider never moved from his spot nor did his gaze leave the road below him.

The bed fairly shook with the hobbits shivering from imagined cold. Nianna glanced at them as they stared wide-eyed at the who who sat by the window.

She drew their attention to her when she said, “Don’t worry, hobbits, Es…Strider and I will lead you to Rivendell where you will be protected.”

The hobbits looked at her with a slight disbelief. She smiled at them, “I make you this promise, I will not return to my home until I have seen all four of you in yours.”

Strider glanced at Nianna in shock. She caught the glance in her peripheral vision but never acknowledged it. She continued to smile at the hobbits and gently urged Frodo to lie down.

“Now it’s time to sleep. Close your eyes and listen.”

As the four hobbits followed her instructions, Nianna gently began to sing to them a lullaby that she learned long ago.

Tintila, tintila, tithen elen,
Manen inye intyale ya lle nar.
Am or i ardhon sie taur,
Ve khemir ned i menel.
Tintila, tintila, tithen elen,
Manen inye intyale ya lle nar!

Ir i urya anor na wanwa,
Ir e kai sila am,
San lle tana tithtithen calad,
Tintila, tintila, pan i daw.
Tintila, tintila, tithen elen,
Manen inye intyale ya lle nar!

From the slight snoring coming from Pippin, Nianna knew that the four hobbits had returned to sleep. She finished the last verse of the lullaby as she tucked the blanket around the sleeping quartet.

San i lelya ned i doll
Hanta lle an lyaa pigen gil;
E al cen ya athrad an lelya,
Manka lle al tintila sie.
Tintila, tintila, tithen elen,
Manen inye intyale ya lle nar!

Nianna rose gently from the bed without disturbing its occupants. She strode towards the window seat and sat across from Strider. She expected him to ask for reasons on why she would make such a promise to the little ones. Instead, Strider commented, [“I remember that melody fondly.”]

Nianna moved her gaze, from the street below, to Strider and smiled, [“You should, you requested it enough as a child prior tdtimdtime.”]

Strider only returned the smile.

[“Go and rest Estel,”] she repeated his earlier words. [“It is my turn to take over the watch.”]

Strider merely nodded and put out his pipe before placing it back into his cloaks pocket. He stood from the window and walked over to his belongings. Lying down on the floor and using his bags as a pillow, he gave one last glance to Nianna.

Nianna smiled at him, and began to sing the lullaby once more. As Strider closed his eyes and slept, he dreamt of childhood memories.

AN: I think you guys will get a kick out of the fact that Nianna’s lullaby is actually Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. When I doubled check the wording of the song before starting to translate it, I found out that it actually has two other verses that I never heard of before. So here is the complete Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star song.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!