“And so, I must leave you to go on through Bree and towards Crickhollow and Buckland,” said Gandalf’s familiar voice, looking at each of the four carefuly with a smile.
Gandalf mounted his snow white horse, Shadowfax, and with one quick look at each of them, he waved farewell and rode off, the wind and the air at his side.
Frodo watched him until he was out of sight. Then he sighed deeply and turned to his friends, whos heads hung low with sorrow. Merry was the first to uplift his head.
“You know the land from here, better than I,” Frodo said to him. “My mind has been washed with all this Ring nonsense, and prehaps since you are younger that I you’ll remember.”
Merry nodded. “Bree should be south from here, and the Old Forest west, as the Shire will be as well. Come!”

*****************

And so they moved on, at a slow pace. They rested much in one day, and slept regularly. And yet, even as slow a pace as they were going, the buildings of Bree shone in the sun rise and sunset.
On one morning, they found themselves upon a steep hill, with the dirt roads of Bree bellow them. They paused and looked grim and scournful.
“We’ll never make it down this hill alive!” Pippin cried looking down and stepping back. “`Tis too steep and we’ll all fall to our doom. Imagine! Us all living through the Wars of the Ring and die by rolling down a hill!”
“Your over reacting,” Merry said taking a step forward.

“Merry!” Frodo cried pulling him back.
Merry gave him a stange look. “It’s a hill, Frodo.”
“A steep one!”
“And nothing we can’t handle!” Merry said stepping down the hill a few steps before gravity with took him and sent him tumbling over the hill.
Pippin jumped forward with a cry, and as Sam and Frodo tried to pull him back, they stumbled over one another and came sailing down the hill, their baggage tumbling out.
Frodo felt himself hit many rocks until all was still and he was shooken by Sam. “Mr. Frodo? Mr. Frodo?”
“Here here, Sam Gamgee! I’m alright!” Cried Frodo sitting up. “Merry, that was not just a hill.”
Merry sat up and looked up back towards the towering hill. “Call it what you want, it was a hill.” He said standing up and facing Bree which was now only half a mile ahead. “Is everyone alright?”
Pippin grumbled and sat up. He was scartched and bruised all over. “Fine, fine, except for a few broken bones and forming scars.”
Frodo gave him a strange look. “Honnestly, are you ok?”
Pippin laughed. “I’m fine.”
“Then come on!” Sam cried pulling him to his feet.

***********

The four friends now were on the dirt roads of Bree. Some faces were familar, and others were dark and horrific. But the Dark Days had passed, and their was always light in a citizens face, even if they did look downcast and dreary.
They came to the road of which the Inn of the Prancing Pony was on. “At the end of this road,” Merry said, and led them on.
They knocked upon the door, and when there was no answer, Merry fiercly went to an open window.
“Barliman! If you do not open this door, I swear I’ll pound you down into a ball! Even if I am smaller than you! Hurry now, were cold!”
There was loud cursing and a loud noise like a shattering of dishes. A chubby man opened the door wiping his hands on his apron and giving each of them a strange look.
“Why! Master Merry! Why such hard words at old Barliman! Made me shatter my best dishes and drop food I was `bout to serve! Now come in, Masters, I thought with all my heart I’d never see your faces again!”

*Next Chapter Coming soon!*