[piosenniel]

Oct. 30th late night to early morning Oct. 31st

As soon as it was dark, Assiram led the other two men from the camp. The moon was bright above the trees, allowing them to see the narrow track alongside the main road. They rode quietly, no talk passing among them to break the silence of the night. When they had ridden for a while, Assiram called a halt and spoke softly to them.

‘We ain’t seen no one on the road since we been ridin’ alongside it. Let’s take the horses up and see if we can make for the mark’s house at a faster clip.’ His two companions nodded their heads and urged their horses up the small incline.

It was just after midnight when they reached the outskirts of Tukburrough. Assiram brought his horse to a halt, hissing at the others to do the same. None of them had ever been in this part of the Shire, and it took them some time, skulking about in the shadows of trees and bushes to find the dwelling they thought was probably the old Took’s.

‘Well, it’s a big enough heap . . . hold plenty of the vermin,’ whispered Ahriman. They were hidden in the shadows of a row of bushes near the front gate. ‘You go round to the left there and check things out, Helios,’ said Assiram in a low voice. ‘And you,’ he growled at Ahriman, go round to the right. Both a’ ya see if there are any lights on, people movin’ about, anybody outside on guard. Find us a way in . . . and be quiet about it . . . report back to me when yer done.’

Assiram nosed about the area in front of the dwelling. He put his ear to the door and could hear nothing, though in all probability, he thought to himself the door was a thick one that would muffle any sounds. Hoping against hope, he put his hand to the door’s knob and turned it slowly, and quietly. He paused, once he felt the barrel of the lock come free, then slowly opened the door a crack. It was dark as pitch inside, and quiet . . . very quiet.

‘This should be an easy hit,’ he snorted, pushing the door open a bit further and peeking his head in. They’re all asleep, the little fools, and they’ve left the door open for us.’

He stepped back out, closing the door silently behind him, and stepped into the shadows to wait for his fellow ruffians. They both returned soon. There had been nothing to alarm them – no signs of anyone patrolling the grounds, no lights on any where. Neither of them confessed to the fact that they hadn’t gone all they way round the dwelling’s hill. Both of them in the dim recesses of their minds were of the opinion that being bigger and smarter (they were after all Men, weren’t they?) gave them the advantage over any hole-dwelling creature.

There was a hurried conference just outside the gates where their horses were tethered. Assiram bade them get out their small lanterns and get them lit. ‘It’s darker’n the backside of a goblin,’ he told them. ‘Make sure ya hood those lanterns, boys. We don’t want a bright light announcing we’re here.’ They each grabbed a stout club and stuck it in the belt of their pants, and a couple of large flour sacks to haul off their swag in.

‘We’ll stick together. Don’t want any surprises sneaking up on us.’ They nodded their heads in unison, all of them thinking that the real reason they should stick close would be to keep an eye on the others.

Senses alert for any noises or movements in the dark, they made their way down the first tunnel to the left. There were a series of doors along it, each opening up into dusty and disused rooms. After the tenth door opened they all began to grumble a little. Their backs were aching from having to walk stooped in the low-ceilinged corridor, the air in the tunnel was dank and still, and there had been no sign of the vaunted treasure they had been promised.

‘Looks like they got tired of this side and abandoned it,’ commented Helios, as he brushed cobwebs from his hair. The only creatures left livin’ here are the spiders it seems.’ ‘Let’s go back and try the other side,’ suggested Ahriman. He mashed a spider under his boot heel, wishing all the while it was either Ferny or Assiram that had been squashed. Liars, both of them!

Assiram grunted, and let Ahriman take the lead back to the from entrance. He had seen the murderous gleam flare up in the man’s eye as their gazes met. He wanted him where he could keep an eye on him.

The second tunnel, at first, appeared more promising. The rooms were filled with things . . . lots of things . . . all sort of jumbled together. They pushed as far as they could into it, examining the rooms and their contents closely at first, sure there would find hidden riches. They busted open vases, and smashed up old desks looking for the places the promised gold might be hidden. There was nothing . . . not even a scrap of old jewelry that might bring a farthing in Bree.

Tempers were growing short, and their actions louder as they smashed their way through several more out-branchings filled with junk. Ahriman had just banged his head on the ceiling once again and he let out a foul curse. ‘Quiet,’ you’ll wake ‘em!’ growled Helios, nudging the shouting man with his club. Ahriman took offense and pushed back with all his strength against Helios, tumbling him backwards into a large heap of raggedy old curtains. Clouds of dust flew up as his backside sunk into the mound, and he started coughing and sneezing. Eyes tearing from the dust, he jumped up, yelling, and took a swing at Ahriman. ‘Now who’s being loud,’ cried Ahriman, jabbing the man in the chest with his club’s end.

‘As if it matters . . .!’ The icy voice of Assiram cut through their bickering. ‘If you haven’t noticed, there’s no sign of anyone actually living here, no hide nor hair of any Hobbits, other than their leftover garbage. We’ve been had. Ferny dangled this carrot in front of our noses, and now that we’ve looked closer, it’s rotten through and through.’ He picked up a tattered parasol and threw it against the wall. ‘There’s no rich Hobbit living here, no treasure to be found and taken . . . he’s given us directions to the Hobbits’ garbage dump! Probably thinks it’s funny, too . . .’ he gestured to the two other men. ‘C’mon boys, let’s get outta here. We’ve got a score to settle with Ferny once we meet up with him. I don’t like being played for a fool.’ He spat for emphasis on the ground. ‘He’s gonna have to pay us more for helpin’ him now.’

They made their way to the front exit and out through the gate. First light was just creeping up into the sky. They mounted their horses and rode south a ways. In the shelter of a secluded copse of trees, they bedded down - weary to the bone from their exertions and lack of sleep. They dropped off into uneasy slumber as the sun rose, their dreams filled with thoughts of phantom treasure and revenge . . .