Adventure 2
At the Prancing Pony...
So much happened in Bree! We finally had made it to an inn calledThe Prancing Pony. The owner, Barliman Butterbur, showed us to the parlor. Sam, Pippin and I had decided to go to the main drinking hall but, Merry said he wanted to stay in the parlor. We just wanted to have a few drinks and relax. The last thing I wanted to do was make a scene. I asked Butterbur about a dark man sitting in the corner. I was told that he was a Ranger, a wanderer. People in Bree called this one Strider.
Pippin had too much to drink that night. He had begun to tell the people at the bar about Bilbo's party, and was almost getting up to the part about the Ring. To distract everyone from him, I climbed up on a table and began to do a song and dance. Unfortunately, during the second chorus, I tripped and fell off the table, and accidentally slipped on the Ring. I did what I didn't want to do: make a scene. While still wearing the Ring, I moved over to the corner where Strider was. He told me he wanted to see me later. I decided that it was time to get back to the parlor. Strider followed Sam, Pippin and me to the parlor.
Strider asked many direct questions about our being in Bree and it put all of us on high guard. He hinted that he knew a lot about our journey and destination, and he knew about the Black Riders. We were not inclined to trust him - especially Sam. Butterbur came in and said he had received a letter from Gandalf.
'Dear Frodo,
Bad news has reached me here. I must go off at once. You had better leave Bag-End soon, and get out of the Shire before the end of July, at latest. I will return as soon as I can; and I will follow you, if I find that you are gone. Leave a message for me here, if you pass through Bree. You can trust the landlord (Butterbur). You may meet a friend of mine on the Road: a Man, lean, dark, tall, by some called Strider. He knows our business and will help you. Make for Rivendell. There I hop we may meet again. If I do not come, Elrond will advise you.
PS. Do NOT use It again, not for any reason whatever! Do not travel by night!
PPS. Make sure that it is the real Strider. There are many strange men on the roads. His true name is Aragorn.
GANDLAF.'
We were relieved (that Strider was a friend) and disturbed that Gandalf wanted us to leave two months before we actually did). Sam finally trusts Strider and we agreed to take him on a guide. Merry returned from a walk, bursting in that he had seen a Black Rider in Bree. Strider told us it would be best if we stayed in the parlor for the night instead of our Hobbit-Rooms.
