[alaklondewen]

Ferd was not happy about entering the strange forest again, and as they passed under its eaves, he could feel eyes on him. Looking around cautiously, he saw nothing but heard much. The trees seemed to groan and their branches cracked and creaked overhead, but no breeze could be felt by the hobbits. In fact the air was so thick and still, what little conversation was started fell flat before them.

Ben’s frying pan and fire comment did not set well with Ferd. It reminded him too much of something old Mr. Bilbo would have said, and Ferd’s adventurousness was now gone. The small relief gained by leaving that nasty barrow was not enough to put him in high spirits under the foreboding trees. Trudging forward with his head down, Ferd tried to ignore the whispers all around him and only hoped to eventually leave the atrocious forest behind.