[Imladris]

Not going home. The words rang hollowly in my head and I sighed. All I wanted was a nice comfy hobbit hole, with a nice comfy fire warming the tips of my toes. I glanced at them, and brushed the fur aside. I nodded: it was just like a suspected. They were turning blue because of the chill.

I couldn’t believe that Eodwine had decided to escape. Didn’t he realize that the good people were always rescued, I though bitterly. But that was only true in fairy tales. I suppose that he had doe right in escaping -- if only he had known he was going to be rescued and then all of our troubles would be over. But instead he had gotten himself captured again and now he could be dead because of his foolishness.

The men heaved up Thoronmir and another tossed me behind one of the skin clothed skeletons. “You should drop by the Shire when we rescue Eodwine,” I said cheerfully. “Get a good feeding and experience real hobbit hospitality.” I knocked myself over the head and said, “Except that you couldn’t go into the Shire proper because of an edict that the King made. But Bree is just as good,” I said.

The man nodded.

I suppose he was too hungry to talk. I couldn’t say I blamed him. Soon we reached the prison and passed through the formidable wall. The best thing about the place was that we were shielded from the wind, though the greatest allure was the food that it promised.