Nianna's Journey

Chapter 8: Departure from Bree

The sun rose on the grey mists that had settled over Bree during the night. As warmth slowly dissipated the swirling fog, Strider accompanied Frodo, Merry and Pippin through the streets. They were on their way to the market to procure provisions for their journey to Rivendell.

While Strider led the three hobbits to Bree’s markets, Nianna and Sam traveled through the back alleyways to get to the stables. Nianna still wanted to keep her presence down to the minimum because she knew many questions would be asked about her being there. An Elf, four hobbits and a man was most likely a sight no one in Bree had every seen. This would cause too much disruption among the townsfolk and could quite possible delay the group’s departure from Bree.

Nianna entered the stable and quickly glanced around for any changes or visitors that may have occurred during the night. FirGael stood calmly in his stall, with the pony in the stall next to him, both happily munching on oats. All seemed to be the same as when Nianna had left the night before.

Nianna walked over to FirGael. After she said good morning to him, she turned to who who stood just inside the stable doors.

“Sam, the pony needs to be looked after. I wish to take him with us but if he is unfit to travel than we will have to make other arrangements,” she nodded towards the pony.

Sam walked over to the pony and with just a few gentle words from him, the pony hesitantly walked up to him. Sam tenderly placed a halter on him, and then led the pony to the very spot that Nianna had the night before.

“What do you think, Sam?” Nianna said leaning against one of the stall doors. She watched Sam move around the pony, gently calming it when it would shy away.

“Well, it’s been sorely mistreated but it looks sound enough.” he said, running his hands over the back of the pony, feeling the raised swells of scar tissue.

“Do you think it will make the journey to Rivendell?” she asked, gauging his reaction.

“I think with regular meals and decent care, he could make it all the way to Mordor itself.” Sam said confidently, “He’ll need a name though.”

Nianna smiled at Sam, and watched as the pony nuzzle the hobbit before replying, “Why don’t you name him, he seems fond of you.”

Sam stroked the pony’s neck while he contemplated what to call the creature. “Bill. I think I will call him Bill.”

The pony seemed to agree as it nuzzled Sam once again.

Nianna smiled, and while Sam continued to speak to the pony, she took a bag of coins out of her cloak. Leaving three coins, she hung the bag from a nail that once held the pony’s halter.

Sam noticed her actions and asked, “How much are you leaving?” he asked curiously.

“Three coins, one for the night’s lodging, and two for Bill.” she replied.

Sam frowned at this, “No offense to Bill but he is hardly worth one coin in his condition, much less two.”

“I agree, no hostility to Bill,” she quickly said while she turned towards Sam, “But his previous owner would most likely disagree with you. He’d be happy to notify all who would listen regarding the ‘theft’ of his property. And we have enough creatures pursuing us then to worry about Bree’s authorities giving chase.”

Sam only nodded before turning back to the newly named pony and lovingly prepared him for the trip. Nianna did the same with FirGael. As they prepared the equines, Strider and the remaining hobbits entered the stables with their purchases for the trip. The hobbits helped Sam load the items onto Bill. As soon as all was ready, the seemingly odd looking group headed for the fallen gates of Bree.

Before many citizens even broke bread that morning, an elf, four hobbits and a man departed from Bree hoping that the bright rising sun signaled good weather and fortune for their long journey to Rivendell.

*****

No more than two hours had passed when the hobbits stopped and began pulling cookware and food from the packs that were on Bill. Nianna also stopped FirGael, who she had been leading, and began to hand over the reins over to Sam. Just as the trip to Bree, she planned to scout ahead and search for possible dangers.

Strider looked back on the group, surprised at first “Gentlemen and Lady, we do not stop till nightfall.”

“What about breakfast?” Pippin asked, slightly startled by the news.

“We’ve already had it.” he looks at Pippin with a bemused glance.

“We’ve had one yes. What about second breakfast?” growing more alarmed as he watched Strider turn and begin walking once more.

“Don’t think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.” Merry replied as he stood beside the other hobbit. Nianna stood by and watched the two hobbits as they discussed their meal times. Sam and Frodo had replaced most of the items previously taken out and continued watching the scene take place.

“What about Elevenses? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them doesn’t he?” Pippin’s voice became more and more alarmed as he listed off the meal times of a Hobbit.

“I wouldn’t count on it,” Merry said, picking up his bag.

Nianna smiled at the poor indignant Pippin. At the slight rustling from the bush ahead, Nianna looked up in time to see an apple soar through the air. Merry caught it deftly and hands it to Pippin and pats him on the back before moving on. As Pippin looks down at his pitifully small meal, another apple flies through the air and this time hits Pippin on his head. Pippin is startled and looks up.

Impatiently Merry looks back and says, “Pippin!”

Pippin looked to Merry. “Nianna let us stop during our earlier travels,” he pouted.

Nianna, leading FirGael behind her, comes up behind Pippin and ruffles his hair a little. When Pippin glanced at her, she said, “It seems that Strider is a harder taskmaster than I, Pippin.”

She followed Merry and Strider. Merry stood by while Frodo and Sam walked past him. Both hobbits patted him on the shoulder as a form of consolation.

Again, Merry looked down to his apples. He sighed and took a bite off one of them before jogging slightly to catch up with the group ahead. Once he was amongst the group, he continto eto eat both apples. It did little to satisfy his hunger, and he hoped that Strider wasn’t serious about not stopping until nightfall.

*****

The day’s travel weighed heavily on the hobbits. The trek through the marshes was particular harsh due to their short statures. While the muddy waters caused little or no troubles to Strider and Nianna, the hobbits did not fare as well. The hobbits waded through the marshy waters, trying to stay dry and deflect the biting swarm of insects at the same time. During one of these attacks from the marsh insects, Pippin tripped and fell into the mud.

As the group stopped near a small river during the night, Pippin took the opportunity to wash up while Nianna and the other hobbits set up camp. Strider had gone off to hunt for dinner. By the time a fire was roaring, he returned with a deer and set about skinning it. Less than an hour later, the hobbits had been fed and were bedding down for the night. Soon, Merry, Pippin and Sam fell asleep for the day’s travel took its toll on them. Strider was to take first watch and as Nianna prepared to lie down, he began to sing.

Tinuviel elvanui
Elleth alfirin ethelhael
O hon ring finnil fuinui
A rene

“Who is she? This woman you sing of.” Frodo asked.

“’Tis the Lay of Leithian. About an Elf-maiden who gave her love to a mortal.” Strider said sullenly.

Frodo waited patiently. Strider glanced at Frodo and seeing his eager expression said, “I will tell you the tale but in brief, for it is a long tale…”

Strider continued, “Luthien was the only daughter of a great Elven king. Beren, a mortal, discovered her one night as he wandered the woods of her father’s kingdom. The two quickly fell in love, but when Luthien introduced him to her father, the king was appalled that his daughter wished to wed a mortal.”

Nianna listened to the sad tale of one of the fairest elves to have ever lived.

“Prior to giving his blessing of the union, Luthien’s father set what he believed an unachievable task to Beren. To retrieve one of the Silmaril.”

“The Silmaril were three precious jewels that held the light of the Land of the Valar in ancient times. Melkor had stolen these jewels during his evil reign in Middle Earth and placed them in his crown. It was Beren’s task to go to Melkor’s fortress and retrieve one of these stones from Melkor’s Iron Crown. For the privilege of Luthien’s hand in marriage, Beren eagerly took up the quest and quickly set out to complete it.”

“Much time passed, when Luthien felt a darkness settle over her heart. She soon realized that this meant that her beloved Beren had been captured. Against her family’s wishes, she rode out of her home to rescue him. After many adventures, she finally rescued Beren and the pair went on to retrieve one of the three precious jewels.”

“The couple traveled through hostile territories and fought many battles, but was soon able to reach Melkor’s throne room. And as Beren hid underneath the Dark Throne, Luthien used her powers to cast Melkor and all members of his court into a deep sleep. Beren took this opportunity to cut one of the stones from Melkor’s crown, and the two raced to the gates. But as they reached the gates, a great wolf barred their way. Beren held up the stone to protect him and his love, but the great wolf attacked him and bit off Beren’s hand and consumed the Silmaril. As Luthien healed Beren, the wolf escaped, the stone within it slowly driving it mad.”

“Luthien and Beren returned to her father’s lands, unsuccessful in retrieving the stone, the couple felt disheartened. But when rumors reached them of a demented wolf that was attacking passerby’s in a nearby woods, the two set off. With her father’s greatest warriors to give aid, the couple hoped that this would be the same wolf that contained the Jewel.”

“They found the wolf drinking from beneath a waterfall, and after a mighty battle, the wolf was slain and the Silmaril was retrieved from its belly. However, Beren had been mortally wounded during the battle and soon died,” he paused for a moment before continuing. “His beloved, Luthien, was devastated.” Strider stopped and gazed into the fire.

After several seconds had passed, Frodo asked hesitantly, “What happened to her?”

“She died,” Strider said with remorse. He looked up at the wide gaze of the hobbit, “Get some sleep Frodo.”

Though Frodo wished to ask Strider more, he knew that the tale had ended for the night. He lay down next to his fellow hobbits and soon fell asleep as the day’s trek had also wore on him.

Nianna continued to look at Strider as he stared into the fire. When he finally looked toward her, she could only give a small smile. Strider only nodded and watched as Nianna shifted to become more comfortable before falling into rest.

As Strider took the first watch, he couldn’t help but think back to the story that he just told and the similarities it had to his own life.

AN: The story of Luthien and Beren does continue but I am assuming that Aragorn is unaware of this otherwise I don't think he would be so sad about it. The rest of the story continues like this:

After Luthien and Beren died, their spirits were gathered and sent to the "Halls Of Waiting". While there, Luthien sang a song that was so powerful and beautiful that the Valar were moved and decided to give her a unique fate. They allowed her to return to Middle Earth as a mortal along with Beren to live happily for awhile.

That’s where the story ends.

Again, the version of this story is the quick and short version of the whole story. If you like to read more of this tale, please go to http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/default.htm