What a Night

I was busy at the bar while the Hobbit was entertaining everyone with his nonsense song for the second time when there was a gasp of astonishment from the crowd. I looked up to see everyone staring at the end of the table and the floor which were both empty. I sort of just put it out of my mind until I heard someone say, but he just disappeared. So that was what the concern was about. He was not gone as far as I could see, he was leaning against the wall near Strider's table. Strider appeared to be lecturing the Hobbit about something.
The shock of this action by Mr. Underhill upset the Hobbit group from Straddle and shortly after that avoiding the rest of Underhill’s companions left for their homes. The swarthy Bree-lander looked at the spot where Underhill had bee and as if he had received a signal from the squinty-eyed visitor they both left mumbling to themselves.
Mr. Underhill's companions appeared equally upset but on seeing him speaking to Strider just sat down at their table and ordered more pints and nosh.
As I delivered their order, I caught one of them saying, He's getting like Bilbo. There one minute then gone the next.
The others were still upset and as I and Barli started to clear up the broken cups and bowls, they demanded that Barli tell them where Underhill had gone. Barli pointed out the Mr. Took was still here and as long as they paid their bill in the morning they could come and go as the pleased. As if on cue, Mr. Underhill stepped out of the shadows near the fireplace. I am still here he said, I was just speaking to Strider. Underhill apologized for the mess and offered to pay for the broken crockery with their bill in the morning. Barli was not especially upset but did caution all four of the that the towns folk of Bree did not like anything out of the way or uncanny.
Underhill and his companions indicated that they were going to go up to bed and made to leave the common room. Barli spoke to Underhill that he wished to see him in private. Mr. Underhill seemed terribly upset by this request but followed Barli into his office.
Later Barli told me that he had remembered that Gandalf had left a letter for a Mr., Frodo Baggins Bag End, Hobbiton, The Shire. He did not know the contents of the letter but whatever they were upset Mr. Underhill/Baggins greatly. After reading it he went to his companions and they retired to their parlor. Barli set about heating water for the hobbits and was prepared to take it to their room when he noticed that Strider was also gone from the common room. Handing the jugs of water to Nob and myself we followed him to the hobbit’s parlor. A quick knock on the door was answered by Nr. Underhill and we all stepped into the parlor. Nob and I headed for the hobbit's sleeping quarters when Barli started to warn them of the danger of Strider when he stepped out of the shadows startling all three of us.
Barli asked what he was doing there, and Underhill said he was there by his leave. Why did you not let us see him sooner, he asked. Barli's defense was that Ranger’s reputation was not the most trustworthy and trouble seemed to follow them. For Example, he said the numerous sighting of those black riders in the area, lately. In fact, just 2 days ago one came right to the door if the inn demanding to see Mr. Baggins. Scared Nob speechless, until I slammed the door on him, he rode away to the west on the road out of Bree. Nob and I tried to be as inconspicuous as possible so we could hear what was going on. We never did learn what the big secret was that Mr. Baggins was carrying but from the reaction of Strider, Nob and I knew it was of great importance. The mention of the Black Riders had Strider more upset and he suggested that he and the Hobbits sleep in this room that night. With that we left the room with Barli and ended our day of work. As we parted ways at the front door of the Inn, we heard Barli locking the door and throwing the bolt, something he never did in our quiet little town.

 I slept very restlessly that night, once I woke to what I thought was the sound of horns blowing and galloping horses. Later on, in the night the wind became violent and there was the sound of howling and again galloping hooves. As the sun rose in a cloudy sky giving everything a grayish sheen, I made my breakfast, dressed and headed to the inn to start breakfast for our guests. As I approached, I noticed that the windows to the bed chambers of the Hobbits were flung open and the curtains were flapping in the slight breeze that stirred in the morning. Fearing the worst, I rushed to the door of the inn to find it still locked. I pounded on the door to have it opened by Strider followed by all the hobbits. Barli came out of his room looking like he had been up all night.
I went to the kitchen and started the food while Strider and Barli went to see the rooms of the Hobbits and Samwise and Meriadoc went to see to getting the ponies ready for the troop to leave immediately after breakfast. When Barli and Strider returned to the kitchen it was with relief that they had all slept in the parlor. The beds were torn apart, the bolsters shredded, and the rug torn from the floor. Strider was saying that they need to eat and leave as soon as possible when There was the sound of running feet and Samwise burst thru the door. All of the horses and ponies are gone. The stable is partially destroyed, we need to find the ponies as soon as possible. It was about this time that the visiting Southerners, owners of the other animals stabled came to tell Barli about their animals. Frodo asked Nob if there might be a pony that they could buy or rent from a villager, but all of the animals of the village were stabled in the Stable of the Prancing Pony. In the end Bob returned with the news that the only pack pony to be had was that of bill Ferny and if he even considered selling it the price would be exorbitant. After about three hours of gathering supplies and mending that that could not be replaced, they went to Bill Ferny to inquire about the price of his pony. Twelve silver was three times the going rate for ponies in the area, but they were going to pay it when Barli stepped in and paid for the pony plus more silver to Meriadoc for the ponies that he lost. Some of the southern visitors hearing that Barli had paid the hobbit for his lost ponies came to Barli after the hobbits and Strider left demanding that he pays for their mounts also. It seemed that there was going to be a big problem when Nob asked where were the swarthy southerners? They soon realized that he and his mount were both missing. Barli sent them back to Bill Ferny's to demand of him where his companion of the previous night had gotten too.
Over the next few weeks, we put in lots of work repairing both the damaged rooms and the stable. Good news for Barli the horses of the Southerners all wandered back to the stable over the next week and since some of them had left he gained three horses that he could rent out to men. The town gate was enlarged and reenforced with a peep hole to allow the night guard to see who was at the gate. One afternoon as I was airing the bedding on a hill side near the east road, I heard a singing voice and in the tall grass of the field nearby I see a bright blue hat with a silver bell on it. Tom Bombadil had come to town from his home deep in the forest to shop and to return the ponies of Meriadoc. Barli's stable was now full of horses and ponies for rent.

There were more and more travelers everyday taking the Greenway just and that brought us news of the hobbits once again. It seems that hey finally met up with Gandalf and they, Strider and four more companions had taken up a quest to travel to the east. Along with the news came families felling the depredations of the wild mountain men to the north of Rohan and more of the sneaky men that like the friends of Bill Ferny. the sneaky men never stayed long always heading west toward the Shire. Some would return later in wagons loaded with goods from the shire to the tower of Orthanc and Saruman, why he was suddenly buying things that he had previously produced was a mystery to all of us. One on group we never saw during this entire time was hobbits from the shire. Prior to the Night of black riders, we often had visits from adventurous Tooks and sometimes relatives of hobbits in Straddle. After that they became fewer and fewer until they came no more. I often wondered if the fact things were being sold out of the Shire might have something to do with it. In fact, on one wagon there were Hobbit guards. When they were seen Nob and Bob tried to ask them about their job and what news of the shire. They big person that seemed to be their boss quickly rushed them out to the wagon where they sent the night. That was the last time we saw any hobbits in Bree for at least a year.

One evening in early September just as the gates were about to close a thin bedraggled man and his even more bedraggled man servant came into the town. At first, he started toward the Pony but noticing Bill Ferny leaning on his fence speaking to a neighbor he headed to him. At first bill ignored the beggar as the man appeared but then after a word or two from the beggar, Bill took them both into his house. They stayed there for about 4 days never setting foot out of the house.
Bill seemed to be upset that this man was here and even though he still came to the Pony he never stayed long and only had one or two drinks. When the wagons from the shire made their stop here in Bree before going on the Isengard Bill met with the drivers. Whatever was said they turned around after resting their horses and left early the next morning. I saw the beggar and his minion sneak from Bills' house into the back of one of the wagons as it passed the house. I think it was planned because the wagon slowed down to let them in.
Life in Bree continued on its slow and easy path not disturbed by the world much until the day in October that a messenger came riding at full speed from the east bearing the news that The Tower of Barad-Dur and Sauron had been destroyed. At first, we did not know what to make of the news. Ever since the strange incidents before and after the hobbits left, we had heard that an evil was rising in the east. we never considered that it was this rise of an evil leader that was causing the mass exodus of people from Rohan and the strange men that seemed to be looking for any reason to fight with the local folk. Soon there were many more messengers going up the Greenway to the North on roads that had not been used for hundreds of years. One night there was a ringing of gentle bells and twinkling of fairy lights as a large troop of elves passed by Bree to the East. They were headed to Gondor to the coronation of the new King and his marriage to the Elven maid Arawen. It was much to our surprise that a messenger arrived just before the elves with an invitation addressed to Barliman Butterbur, proprietor of the Prancing Pony to attend the coronation of the King of Gondor. Also, there was one addressed to Nob and Bob excellent masters of the stable at the Prancing pony. The invitations were signed Elessar Telcontar, King of the reunited lands and Lord of the West. This caused much hubbub and speculation as to the identity of the king. When the elven party stopped outside of the town, sending in a messenger as to whether they would like to accompany them to Gondor, Barliman and the Hobbits nearly fell over themselves getting ready to leave the next morning with the Elves. It was from the Elven messenger we learned that the new king was our own Strider. I guess the rumor that the head of the rangers is truly the heir of Ilsildur was true after all. Barli left me in charge of the inn and although we seemed busier than normal nothing untoward or weird happened while the three were away.
their return was a sight for the ages and my grandchildren will be hearing tales of the magnificent entourage that returned Barliman. Nob, and Bob to Bree. Barliman was riding a large grey horse that strutted like it owned the world and he was wearing a coat of deep golden cloth with black pants with stockings and riding boots embossed with silver threads in the shape of twinning vines. On his head he had a wide brimmed black hat with a band to match his coat. Nob and Bob were but dressed similarly but in green and brown and of course no shoes. Both had similar hats with bands matching their surcoats. They both rode on ponies and lead a third pony with their supplies. As if the arrival of Barli and Nob and Bob did not cause a big enough stir in the town it was whom they rode with that brought the entire countryside to a standstill. With them were the four Hobbits that had left in such a hurry after the Night of Black riders under the protection of Strider, now the king of the reunited lands and lord of the west. They stayed at the Prancing pony a couple days to rest and replenish their supplies before heading back to the Shire. Samwise very anxious to see his old Gaffer and his girl.
Barliman brought gifts for the entire town from the king, in the form of dwarfs to come later and rebuild the Great North Road and repair the west road. Bree-landers from all overcrowded into Bree to see the heroes of the War of the Ring and to greet Barliman. One evening after the hobbits had left for The Shire Barliman brought out a small package from his pocket and handed it to me. At first, I was reluctant to open it but seeing the look of anticipation on his face I carefully removed the silver wrap revealing a small craved wooden box with a clever clasp that resembled two joined hands. After I figured out the clasp the top open revealing a tiny silver tree of Gondor, in full bloom. He carefully pinned it to my apron and there it still is to this day even though it has been many wonderful and busy years since my loving husband pinned it there.