[Mad Baggins]

Beroth slept fitfully. His dreams were full of trolls and the lifeless bodies of his two companions, their eyes staring sorrowfully at the red sky. Your time has come! a voice screamed, and Beroth jerked awake. His skin was drenched in a cold sweat and he was quivering. Someone was shaking his shoulder.

"Beroth, it's your watch," he said. "I'm sorry if I startled you."

"Oh...no, no you didn't," he replied, trying to stop trembling. He rose from his bed, shaking off the grip of sleep, and crossed his arms, hiding his hands. His awakener (he could not see his face for the darkness) gave him a strange look and asked, "Beroth? Are you all right?"

"Yes...I just had a dream. It was quite vivid and for a moment --" He gave a hoarse laugh. "For a moment, I thought it was reality. But I'm fine now."

The person put a hand on his shoulder, then turned and walked away towards his gear, singing softly. Beroth smiled and sat down, yawning. A movement upon an outcrop to the south caught his eye, but when he turned swiftly to look, nothing was there. He shook his head, thinking, That dream has made me become skittish. I must calm down.

He yawned again and shivered. He drew his hood over his head and poked at the fire with a long, pointed stick of ash. The chilly night woke him up quickly enough, and Beroth kept himself awake throughout his watch. Soon the eastern sky grew paler, and Beroth realized how fast the time had slipped by. He roused the others and was greeted by a few good-natured grumbles. Soon they were all wide awake and nibbling on a quick breakfast.

After everyone had eaten, Arathorn led them west on the road. Beroth found himself glancing at the place he thought he had seen the movement. He had a feeling that he was being watched, but he shrugged it off as leftover uneasiness from the battle with the trolls. To ease his mind, Beroth began to sing.