Chap. 6 - Hobbits and The Ring Wraiths

"Well? Strider!" I questioned, trying to see what he was watching.

Strider had his eyes locked on something. The inn owner was talking to someone, or something. I couldn't see what or who. Then the man led 4 short men to a table. The short men looked unhappy. One plump hobbit looked at Strider, and averted his gaze quickly.

"I'm watching those Hobbits. Something doesn't seem right about them," he said.

I looked at the so called 'Hobbits'. They were in my dream. All of this is coming together in one highly developed dream..

I looked back at Strider, who was watching them intently. A different hobbit turned around, and looked at Strider. The hobbit then asked the passing inn keeper something. The inn keeper glanced at us, and continued to converse with the hobbit.

"What do they want?" I asked him quietly.

Strider looked back at me, "They are wondering who I am."

I nodded, and looked back at the hobbits. One got up to go a bar stool, and ordered a pint. I looked at my pint. I've never liked beer; the taste was disgusting to me. I tried a sip, and it still tasted like crap. I coughed, because some of it went down the wrong pipe. Strider, startled, looked back at me. A look of worry flashes across his face.

"I am.. Alright!" I managed to cough out, and forced a smile upon my face.

Strider nodded, and chuckled. He quickly scanned my face. I wonder if he blushed. I can't see his expressions because his face resided in the shadown created by his hood. I went back to watching the hobbits. One hobbit went up to the bar, and sat on a stool. His yells were heard across the pub, "Baggins? Sure I know a Baggins! He's over there. Frodo Baggins! He's my second cousin once removed on his mother's side and my third cousin twice removed on his father's side, if you follow me."

The hobbit who must be Frodo stands up, and yells, "Pippin!"

Strider looks up at the action. Frodo grabs Pippin's arm, and Pippin yelled, "Steady on!"

Pippin shoved Frodo off, and Frodo trips onto the floor. Strider bolted up out of his chair. I looked at him, and watched Frodo fall. Something shiny was flying through the air. It somehow landed onto Frodo's finger. Frodo disappeared.

I stood up, amazed, but scared. How did he do that?

"Strider! How he..." I trailed off, confused.

The hobbit reappeared, but before I had a chance to blink, Strider was next to the hobbit, and pulling Frodo up and whispering something to him.

"Strider!" I yelled, and watched as he practically dragged Frodo upstairs. He better not kill the pathetic guy! I quickly sped off after Strider, and the rest of Frodo's friends scrambled after him, carrying candlesticks and stools. I followed the hobbits, and I burst into the room. Strider had his sword drawn, and poor Frodo was huddling over by the fire place.

The plump hobbit had his fists near his chin, "Let him go! Or I'll have your Longshanks!"

Strider smirked, and turned to Frodo,

"They are coming, little hobbit." Strider turned to me, and then looked at the hobbits. "We go to the inn across the street."

The other hobbits nodded, somehow knowing what Strider was talking about. The hobbits hurriedly ran to the inn across the street, leaving Strider and I alone.

"What's coming? Strider! What is coming? Why did Frodo disappear!" I asked, growing frightened. Strider looked at me, and sheathed his sword, and walked towards me. He ushered me out of the hotel without a word. Why did he have to be so mysterious?

Once we got to the room were staying in, I sat down on one of the four beds. Two hobbits could fit in one bed, so it wouldn't be an awkward night. Strider sat in a chair by the window. The hobbits watched me sit down, curious to who I was. I smiled at them, "Hello. My name is Alex.. And you are?"

The one who I think is Pippin chimed up, "I'm Peregrin Took. You can call me Pippin."

The plump hobbit smiled, "I'm Samwise Gamgee. Call me Sam."

A hobbit who looked a little like Pippin smiled as well, "I'm Meriadoc Brandybuck. Call me Merry for short."

"I'm Frodo Baggins," Frodo said simply.

I smiled and nodded, "Nice to meet you all."The hobbits smiled and in unison (excluding Frodo's smile) said, "Nice to meet you, Lady Alex."

Strider looked at me in amusement, scanning my face to see if I was bothered by them calling me Lady Alex. "She doesn't like to be called 'Lady Alex'," Strider added, smiling sarcastically. I wanted to smack that smile off of his dumb face.

"I don't mind anymore, Lord Strider," I said, and smiled back. He chuckled.

After a while, I fell asleep. I was in the middle of a weird dream, when some weird screeching sound woke me up.

The hobbits were all sitting up, looking out the window. Strider had put the candle out, and was still sitting in the chair by the window. Black creatures rode down the street. They were the wraiths from my dream!

"What are they?" Frodo asked quietly, holding something around his neck.

"They were once men. Great Kings of Men. The Sauron the Deciever 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. Ringwraiths. 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, Frodo," Strider said, and watched the wraiths ride down the street.

Yay! Another chapter. I love writing. I forgot how much fun it is. XD