Chapter Three, The Prancing Pony
Chapter Three, The Prancing Pony
"Butterbur." Aragorn called to the bar tender and owner of the Inn: The Prancing Pony. "Ah Strider," the portly man said in recognition. "What can I do for you, this lovely woman and kind Sir today?" Butterbur's eyes lit up as he spotted Aragorn's and Evelina's close proximity to each other. "Is this your wife then Strider? I see you've finally settled down then and with a Kitsune too, by the Vallar I thought they were all gone."
"Butterbur!" Aragorn said sternly stopping the mans rambling and gossip mongering. "This is Lady Evelina and I am courting her and this is her friend Lord Neville, he is stepping in as Chauffeur as her father had other matters to attend to. We'd like a couple of rooms to stay for a maximum of two weeks, with baths available and food to be brought up to our rooms." Aragorn stated dropping a bag of gold on to the counter discreetly looking around the room assessing the men within the room and those who were watching them.
He could see out of the corner of his eye that both Neville and Evelina were assessing those within the room as they discreetly held on to the handle of their swords. "I'm sorry Strider and Lord and Lady I meant no offence." Butterbur stuttered. "But I'm afraid two rooms are only available at the present time if your wishing to stay that long. So I'm sorry your Lordship your friend will have to stay in Strider's room as it is the biggest we have available, I'll have Nob make a bed of blankets for you Strider on the floor shall I?" Butterbur asked anxiously bowing to Neville and Evelina.
"That'll be fine thank you Mr Butterbur." Evelina smiled at him as he placed the keys in her hand. "No at all. Not at all." Butterbur assured. "You head on up and I'll have someone bring your food and drink up for you. Strider it is your usual room and the room next to it that is available." Butterbur told them before he was called away by a Dwarf wanting a refill of his pint of mead. "This way." Aragorn said leading Neville through the pub to the back where there was a flight of stairs, his hand pressed gently into small of Evelina's back causing a light blush to spread across her face. "It is not safe to talk down here." Aragorn whispered so only Neville and Evelina heard him.
* * *
It had been two weeks since the trio had arrived at the Prancing Pony as they waited for the Hobbits. They hoped they'd arrive soon as the two weeks would be up by morning and so would their rooms. During that fortnight the trio had gotten to know one another better and had become closer. Neville and Aragorn in the form of friends which had the looks of becoming something like brothers. But it was the relationship between Aragorn and Evelina that had Neville smiling happily when he looked at the already love sick couple for he could see the love and protectiveness blossoming between the pair.
Neville and Evelina had told Aragorn more about themselves and about their life before arriving here, though there was some things remained unsaid for the moment but not for long. Aragorn had promised to treat Teddy like he was his own when Evelina had told him about her godson/adopted son. "I promise you Mîr-nîh, that no matter who your other two mates are I won't change how I am or how I'm starting to feel about you." Aragorn said kissing the back of her hand Evelina ducked her head trying to hide her blush. "I promise you the same Aragorn." Evelina said sincerely.
The three of them sat in silence for awhile but it was a comfortable silence where they didn't need to say anything to each other just drinking and eating their dinners as they sat in the shadows at the far end of the room so everything that happened within the pub could clearly be seen. "They're here!" Evelina hissed to Neville and Aragorn who both sat up straighter and looked to where she was looking.
There at the bar by the door soaked to the bone were four small men who could no doubt be the Hobbits they were waiting for. "Now we wait for the right moment for the approach." Aragorn said as he removed his pipe from his mouth. "And now we wait." Evelina sighed sharing a sly look with Neville who was grinning at her as he too remembered what had been said all those years ago in their third year at Hogwarts. As the night progressed the three spoke quietly of small things as they continued to watch the four Hobbits as two of them became drunk, one of them obviously the youngest started blabbing about Frodo to a shady looking man at the bar.
The other three Hobbits shared panicked looks before the one of them who was obviously Frodo from the description Aragorn had been given by Gandalf; rushed over to the youngest Hobbit with a loud exclamation of "Pippin!" The hobbit now known as Pippin yanked his arm out of Frodo's grip causing him to slip and land on his back, the ring somehow ending up on his finger causing him to disappear to the shocked and fearful exclamations of the other patrons.
Evelina, Neville and Aragorn shared a look that spoke more than words could, Neville silently agreed to stay and watch the over three Hobbits while Evelina and Aragorn felt with Frodo who had just reappeared. "You draw far too much attention to yourself Mr Underhill!" Aragorn sneered quietly as he pushed Frodo up the stairs after Evelina to their room. "What do you want?" Frodo asked as stood up from where Aragorn had pushed him into the room.
"A little more caution from you," Aragorn snapped. "That is no trinket you carry."
"I carry nothing!" Frodo snapped looking at the two of the warily.
"Indeed!" Evelina sneered.
"I can avoid being seen if I wish," Aragorn started softly as he extinguished the candles and Evelina closed the curtains. "But to disappear entirely, now that is a rare gift. One that Lady Evelina here, can only do by the aid of her magic and her families cloak." Aragorn confined as he pushed his hood off.
"Who are you?" Frodo asked instead not answering the hidden question. "Why are you frightened?" Evelina asked not turning to look at him but to peek through a gap in the curtain. "Yes." Frodo breathed a slight tremor entering his voice.
"Not nearly frightened enough. I know what hunts you." Aragorn stated. But no more could be said as they heard the sound of rushing feet heading towards their door. Spinning around Aragorn and Evelina pulled out their swords just in time for the door to burst open as the three other Hobbits entered each holding a household item in front of them as a weapon.
"Let him go! Or I'll have you Longshanks!" The Hobbit in front holding a candelabra shouted.
"You have a stout heart, little Hobbit." Aragorn smirked as he put his sword away once Neville had entered the room and locked the door. "But that will not save you! You can no longer wait upon the wizard, Frodo. They are coming!" Aragorn told them causing everyone to tense up and for Evelina and Neville to Ward the door and hold on to their weapons, a instinct they thankfully hadn't lost since the war.
"I suggest the four of you either stay in here or in my room with me and I can protect you. I'm Lord Neville Frank Longbottom." Neville introduced himself.
"How will you protect us and hoe do we know you won't hurt us instead?" The one who had shouted at Aragorn asked.
"I'm a Wizard and the Wild Hunt trained myself, Evelina, another friend of ours who is now with the Lothlôrien elves how to fight with swords and bow and arrows. We won't hurt you that I promise you." Neville promised. The Hobbit looked at him warily for awhile before he nodded and introduced himself.
After everyone had introduced themselves (Aragorn only introducing himself as Strider) and answering all the questions the Hobbits asked them, though they were mainly aimed at Evelina and Neville as they had come from another world and about Evelina as she was the only Kitsune to be seen for Centuries. It was also decided that they would all stay in Aragorn's and Evelina's room for protection, the Hobbits staying in the bed while the others took watch during the night.
Surprisingly Pippin had come up with the brilliant idea of creating decoys in their Hobbit room incase anyone had come looking for them. Evelina and Neville had snuck into their room under a Notice-Me-Not spell and created life-like double gangers asleep in the Hobbit sized beds. Before they snuck back into their room where the Hobbits were asleep in the bed and Aragorn was sat in the chair by the window keeping watch. "Eve why don't you get some sleep," Neville suggested to his sister as he saw her ears were dropping which was the only sign that she was tired.
"Are you sure?" She asked looking at Neville and then to Aragorn suppressing the urge to yawn. "Yes we're sure Evelina, get some sleep. Neville and I will take the first watch." Aragorn assured. Evelina sighed as she knew she wasn't going to win this argument and she knew just when to drop an argument and when not to. Saying goodnight she got her sleeping bag out of her beaded bag and laying it on the only floor space left which was in between Neville's sleeping bag and the spare one they had gifted to Aragorn before settling down for the night.
* * *
"What are they?" Frodo asked as he crawled across the bed so he could watch out of the window at the Nazgûl across the street. He'd been woken up by a large shriek that made you feel chilled to the bone. "They were once men," Aragorn sighed. "Great kings of men. Sauron the Deceiver gave to 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 Nazgûl. 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." He said seriously as he looked Frodo in the eyes. "I suggest you try and get as much sleep as you can as we leave at day break."
End of chap 3!
Translate:
*Elvish: Mîr-nîh. English: My treasure.
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