But the most worthy of mention were the women themselves. One was tall and serious, she spoke seldom and was dressed as an experienced warrior in light, brass-plated leather, which gave the impression that in battle she preferred skill and wits over brute strength. The other was almost her perfect opposite; blond-haired and lively in manner, petite though not fragile or weak, and dressed in a dark-green linen shirt and a brown skirt. She was babbling and humming incessantly, which, time to time, seemed to irritate her tall companion. They had one horse, and what a magnificent beast it was! Both women were walking and the steed had to carry their few belongings, but more than a simple pack horse it was a war horse. Strong and quick it was, much like those of Rohirrim.

"Oh Xena, I'm so glad to be home soon again," said the smaller woman. "It has been, what, nearly three years since my last visit? Let me see, one year after we met and that was in mid-summer four years ago. So it must be even a little over three years."

"Well, you're not home yet and these are dangerous times. The dark forces of the Enemy are rising if my sources have any reliability," responded the tall warrior.

"Once again you talk about darkness, can't you drop that subject even for a little while? Here in Eriador it's safe, no matter what the situation is elsewhere. And hey! What could happen when you're with me? I'll just whack the guts out of the bad guys with my fearful staff," said the shorter woman as she moved to the front, and walked backwards ahead of Xena, spinning her beautifully carved, wooden weapon playfully, and imitating battle moves.

Xena gave her friend a warm smile. "You really know how to cheer people up, Gabrielle."

The bard smiled back. "Well, maybe sometimes. You're not among the easiest people to cheer up when you happen to have one of your ill moods."

"If my ill mood doesn't go away, at least it's not because of your lack of trying. But that's what we fighters are like."

"Oh yes, you fighters."

Xena glanced her friend sharply because of her sudden, sarcastic tone. "Something wrong, Gabrielle?"

Gabrielle took a deep breath before answering. "Xena, I don't understand. Why do you need a new sword? What's wrong with your old one?"

Xena grunted. How many times would this subject come up before Bree? "I just do, and nothing's wrong with it. I thought we were through this already."

"Well, I just don't like weapons. The world would be a better place without any."

"I'm sure it would. Until you want to hunt for food."

"And how does the sword help us in hunting?" Gabrielle countered.

"It doesn't, Gabrielle."

"Does it help in cutting firewood."

"Not really." Xena didn't like the direction that the conversation was going.

"Does it help you to kill people easier."

"It helps me to keep you alive a little easier!"

"Oh! So now you're only thinking about me. Don't you trust me to be able to protect myself? Wouldn't be the first time."

"Gabrielle, let's not make this hard. I won't call the deal off, whether you liked it or not. You better get used to the thought."

The bard pouted, and started to sulk, and didn't say a thing any more. Xena let her temper cool off, and at the same time she came to think if the younger woman was right. Xena didn't need a new sword. Sure, it would be better than her old one, but was it really worth the cost? At least it was a thing that she should have discussed beforehand with Gabrielle, knowing how the girl would feel. "I'm sorry, Gabrielle," she said at last, "The new weapon will give me better control, and so I may actually save a few lives. I don't want it so that I could kill more people. You just have to trust me on this one."

Xena looked down at her friend, who shortly looked back. "I trust you, Xena," Gabrielle said. After a brief moment of exchanging gazes filled with a spectrum of emotions, all was forgiven.

They walked a while in silence, just enjoying the warming sun. Then suddenly, the horse whinnied and started to pull back.

"Argo, what's the matter?" said Xena, but the mare was getting extremely uneasy and they were unable to hold her longer as she sprang from the road into the forest.

"What's her problem?" Gabrielle asked, and she was getting nervous, too.

"I don't know, she hasn't been like that since... In the bushes, hide, quick!" cried Xena, already pushing her friend the same way Argo had gone. They threw themselves down behind some thick bushes ten, maybe fifteen yards from the road.

No farther had they time to run before they heard the sound of the hooves of a galloping horse coming in their direction. No farther did Xena want to run because it was a fine place to see and not to be seen. But soon they both felt a pressing need to be a good deal farther and that feeling got stronger with every step that the closing steed took. One dark figure there was; one horse and a rider. That was all Gabrielle was able to see before Xena pushed her head down closer to the ground.

They thought he was going to pass them unnoticed, but when he came to the spot where they had left the road, he suddenly started to slow down and finally stopped. The rider seemed to listen and they heard something like sniffing, as if the horseman was smelling the air. Then he turned around, and looked at the exact spot where the women were hiding.

"Come on the road and show yourselves," said the rider. His voice was low and commanding and it sounded human and not human at the same time. Gabrielle's fear was condensing into open terror, even as she was too scared to raise her eyes to look. She wanted to rise and run, but she didn't know what direction, as terror told her to escape but some other force told her to stand up and go to the horseman. Xena put her hand on her arm and pinched firmly, and their eyes met. Xena's look was comforting, yet Gabrielle could see great concern in it.

"Stay here," Xena commanded and rose slowly. She stepped to the road and confronted the rider. His horse was black, darker than the darkest night, but more horrible was its master, wearing a black robe, as black as the horse, leaving only his two eyes visible -- eyes, that glowed dim, red light.

"There is still another," said the rider slowly.

"Anything you have to say, you may say to me. Speak now, or leave," said Xena firmly, although uncertainty and fear were creeping into her mind too.

The dark rider was silent, first looking into bushes where Gabrielle lay, then he turned to measure Xena with his red eyes. Finally he spoke, "We seek Baggins?"

"We know no Baggins and even if we did, what makes you think we would tell you?" Xena retorted, her own voice giving her a little more self-confidence.

"Are you sure?" asked the rider, leaning slightly forward. "He is small, smaller than a normal man. You call his race Halflings. He is a thief. He has stolen something we want."

"If you're looking for a Halfling, why don't you look for him in the Shire?"

"We did. He is there no longer. He may be coming this way. If you see Baggins, you come and tell me at once," said the rider. One brief moment he seemed to hesitate, then he gave a final glance in Gabrielle's direction and rode away leaving nothing but a cloud of dust behind him.

In your dreams, Xena thought, and yelled to the forest, "Gabrielle!"

No answer.

"Gabrielle, you can come out now."

Still no answer. Xena started to worry about her friend. She jumped to the woods and behind the bush they had been hiding in. At first she didn't see a thing. Then she heard a voice - a silent sniff - and then heavy breathing. There she was, behind a large root of a tree, exactly where she had left her.

"Gabrielle, are you all right?" she asked and knelt beside her companion who looked so small and vulnerable lying there, shuddering and scared to death.

Slowly Gabrielle raised her head and opened her eyes to meet Xena's. "I think I need a big hug now," she said voice trembling. Xena opened her arms and pressed the bard against her chest. "It's all right, cry on. He's gone now..."

They held that position for a long time. Finally, Gabrielle swept away the tears, sighed deeply, and spoke, "I'm okay now, thanks. I have never before felt so scared in my life, and we have been in pretty scary situations before."

"I was scared, too, if that's any comfort to you, and Argo ran off even before we had seen that creature, whatever it was."

They were again silent a moment, then Gabrielle started to get up, trying to get a hold of herself once more. "Look at me, crying like a baby. And totally without reason, he was just a lonely rider, right? Come on, let's get going."

"No, wait, Gabrielle," Xena said. "I don't think we should travel any longer today. As you see, it's turning into evening already and we wouldn't reach Bree until nightfall anyway. We might as well find a place to make a camp here, then get up early in the morning, and we'll arrive at Bree before noon tomorrow. We'll still be a day ahead of schedule, so it's needless to hurry."

"I guess you're right," said Gabrielle faintly. "I certainly wouldn't like to meet him again when it's dark. You don't mind if we go deeper than usual in the forest? I'm not too keen on camping this near to the road tonight, in case he does come back."

"That's what I was thinking. Now where did Argo go?" Xena whistled and almost immediately the mare neighed an answer and came through the bushes not so far away. She had been scared too, but she hadn't gone far because, after all, the loyalty to her mistress had been stronger than her fear of the dark rider.

They wandered about half a mile deep into the forest. The land was plain and the trees grew sparsely so that it was easy to pass. After finding a good spot for a camp, Xena started to unpack Argo, and Gabrielle searched for some dry wood to make a fire. Soon the flames licked the wood, and their thoughts turned away from the horrors of the day and their spirits rose. The evening sun showed its last rays behind the treetops and everything was getting back to normal.

When they had eaten, Gabrielle cleared the mess, as always, and Xena sat with her back against a tree trunk tending her weapons, as always. It took her a while to notice that Gabrielle had been silent longer than usual. She glanced her and saw her grave face.

"All right, Gabrielle. What is it?" she asked, though she already guessed what was bothering her friend's mind.

"Xena, what do you think? What was that rider after? And what power did he carry with him to make us so terrified, though you were handling the fear much better than I was?"

"Are you sure you want to talk about it?"

"Yes, I am, or else I'll be having terrible nightmares tonight. And please, don't keep secrets from me, no matter how scary they might be."

Xena considered it a moment, then sighed and laid her sword aside. "I don't know who or what he was, as I'm not sure if he was human at all. I have never seen, felt or heard of anything like that. But if it makes you feel any better, I believe he really had a power to seed fear and doubt into hearts of the people near him, and otherwise he can't hurt us if we don't allow it."

"I hope you're right. But it was strange how he spotted us. I thought we were quite well hidden. Hmm, listen, I sort-of missed a good deal of your little chit-chat, would you mind giving me some briefing. These horror-creeps always give me bad vibes."

Xena tried to hide her smile but the attempt failed miserably.

"What?"

"Nothing," said Xena. "I'm just happy to see you've recovered. I don't think you'll have nightmares tonight. But about that chit-chat, it was mainly about that someone had stolen something from him and he wanted it back."

"He didn't say what was stolen or who did it?"

"Well, he didn't say what was stolen, but the thief was a Halfling named Bag-something. Bagpipe, Bagpin..."

"Baggins!" cried Gabrielle, clapping her hands together. "I know that name. Baggins, Baggins, why does it ring a bell..." She tried hammering her head with her fists, but it did no good. "Uuh, I can't remember, and now I have a headache."

This time Xena didn't even try to hide the smirk. "I know you'll remember it in the morning. Now we'd better get some sleep."

They rolled down their blankets and crawled inside. But Gabrielle had trouble getting to sleep, as she was still trying to remember where she had heard the name of the Hobbit. In the end, weariness finally won and she slept well having no dreams, good or bad, that night. But Xena was the one having nightmares.

In her dream there were nine black beings, and they were terrible. She tried to escape but it was no use, her feet didn't carry her fast enough. Suddenly, she found herself in a dead end, her back against a wall, from which dozens of cold, skinny hands emerged and held her firmly still. One of the dark figures came closer and she saw his eyes. Terrible red fire burned in them and she couldn't turn away. He had something in his hand and he was offering it to her. It was tempting. She couldn't see what the thing was, but it mesmerised her, it sang to her and she was unable to resist. She reached her hand out to take it and -- woke up, wet in cold sweat. Someone was holding and shaking her.

"Xena, wake up!" yelled a voice. It belonged to Gabrielle, of course.

"I - I'm awake," Xena said, trembling. "It was a dream? It felt so - real."

"You were crying and rolling all over. And you kicked me hard on my leg, it's going to feel quite awful tomorrow. As a matter of fact, that's what woke me up. What event in your past was it this time?"

"I don't remember," answered Xena confused, and she took a deep breath. "Usually the dreams of my past aren't that bad. I'm sorry for your leg. Listen, you'd better get back to sleep. I'll take a short walk."

"Want company?"

"Naah, I'll be fine," said Xena. She stood up, pulled her boots on, and vanished into the darkness under the trees. Gabrielle added some wood to the dying fire. Then she held her staff closer and tried to fall asleep again.

Xena wandered aimlessly in the dark forest. Her mind was a mess, thoughts tangled and twisted. This was nothing new to her, it often happened after some particularly bad dream, only this time she was unable to specify what her nightmare was about. She didn't know how long she had walked, but the moon had risen as she arrived in the shores of a little pond. There she drew her sword and focused her mind and body into practise, repeating a sequence that she had done so many times before. The moves were to be performed every time in exactly same order and same manner, trying to achieve perfection in efficiency, continuity, power and control.

It was basically a fight against an imaginary opponents. She thrust her sword forward, slashed diagonally from right to left, then from left to right. Then she retreated a few steps, turned around, made a vertical slash, ducked and tumbled left, parried a shot and retaliated. And so on. Some of the moves were performed very slowly, some were too fast for an eye to see. Sweat gleamed on her uncovered thighs and shoulders, and the pale moonlight glimmered in the iron of her sword. If someone had seen the look in her eyes then, he would have seen not only full focusing and dedication to the art of fighting, but also great joy and mad enjoyment. Time lost meaning to her.

She repeated the very same sequence three times. Then, in the end, she let out a terrifying war cry, flipped seven feet high and landed near a young oak tree, put her full strength behind a swing of the sword and - stopped the blade a fraction of an inch before it cut the skin of the tree. Then she took a basic stance, closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled. Her mind was now as peaceful and clear as the sky above. The young moon smiled upon her when she undressed, jumped into the pond and washed off the sweat. "Almost morning," she thought, "Time to prepare a surprise for Gabrielle." In the shrubs nearby, two young pheasants started scuffling over a worm.

The morning had already brightened, clear and beautiful but freezing, when Gabrielle opened her eyes. It was rare for her to awake like that, on her own. Usually it was Xena who woke her up much earlier than she wanted. The first thing that she noticed was that her companion was not sleeping beside her. Her blanket was missing too. She felt the warmth of the fire behind her and turned around, and wrapping the blanket more tightly around her she rose to sit. Then she saw Xena, under her own blanket by the fireplace, asleep, back against a fallen tree. The young bard felt relieved.

There were two birds cooking in a pole over the fire. She noticed they were badly burned on one side while the other side still seemed to be raw. She made a quick move to turn the pole and avoid burning the birds more, when she suddenly felt cold steel pressing against her throat. Her heart skipped a beat.

"Good morning, sleepy head," said Xena and put her sword back in the sheath.

"Morning," replied Gabrielle. "You frightened me again. Why so jumpy?" Then she turned the pole around.

"Sorry about that, just a reflex. I didn't get much sleep last night."

"One of these days your reflexes will kill me. Hmm, these birds don't look so bad if you just cut out the burned side."

"Burned! They can't be! I just put them there."

"I guess you got some sleep, after all, since you succeeded in ruining our breakfast. Again." Gabrielle smiled, feeling the other bird. "Don't worry, they're still eatable. But you sure had a big nap. Why didn't you wake me up and get a decent sleep yourself?"

"I wasn't feeling tired at the time. Besides, you looked so cute that I might have eaten YOU if I hadn't managed to catch these two fellows. C'mon, aren't they ready yet?" asked Xena hungrily.

"Yes, they're done," her friend answered.

"Then let's eat."

They ate, and after that they broke the camp. "How's your leg?" asked Xena, when they came to the road, looking at a blue spot about three inches below Gabrielle's right knee.

"It doesn't hurt much any more. I can walk -- and run if necessary," the younger woman answered.

They kept going, and shortly after noon they got Bree in sight. "Home," sighed Gabrielle and hastened her pace.

"Yes," said Gabrielle who had turned on a narrower path leading beside the southern wall of the town. "And no. You see, I did tell you I lived in Bree, but as a matter of fact I lived in Staddle, which means practically the same thing. Staddle is a village on the other side of the Bree-hill. And there are also two other villages, Combe and Archet, a little further eastwards. And then Bree itself, of course, on this side of the Bree-hill looking west, but we tend to call them Bree, or Bree-land, all together."

"Staddle, huh," said Xena, "Isn't that the place where the Hobbits of Bree live? Why am I not surprised to hear you lived among hobbits."

Gabrielle glanced Xena, a little curious. "So you know a little of it after all," she said, "Yes, that's true. Most of the little people dwell in Staddle, but there are also many humans there, including my family. Boy, will they be glad to see me! And you, too. And Lila! She will just love you."

It didn't take long until they came to the first houses of Staddle. They were small but well kept and pretty, and behind them, in the steep side of the hill, there were doors leading to hobbit holes in three or four lines. Xena noticed that there were in fact a lot more doors than houses, but she was unable to keep count of them because they were competently hidden behind the plants and bumps on the ground.

However, as beautiful as the village was, it was not very well organized. A stranger would have real problems finding a certain house or hole between scattered, little hills or on the ridge by following narrow and winding paths which crossed each other in a totally random manner. Sometimes it was even possible to see the house one is trying to reach on a steep ridge, but there was no path in evidence. Gabrielle, of course, having lived there all her childhood led them unerringly to her old home.

The house of Gabrielle's family, standing right below the lowest ridge didn't differ much from the others. Its wooden walls were painted red, the window frames were white and there was moss growing on the red-brick roof. Smoke rose from the chimney only to dissolve in to the autumn breeze. A white picket fence edged a small yard in which some chickens and a pig toddled nervously around as the travellers entered through the gate.

"There's a stable on the side there," said Gabrielle, showing Xena a way around a corner. "Why don't you put Argo there? There should also be hay for her if things haven't changed much. I'll go in and see if anyone's home."

"Suits me," said Xena, "I'll join you in a minute." Then she opened a large door and led the mare into the animal shelter.

The front door squeaked when Gabrielle entered. "Who's there?" shouted Lila, her sister, as she started near the stove. Gabrielle stood in the doorway with the bright light obscuring her figure, so that Lila could not see the newcomer clearly.

"Lila, it's me," Gabrielle said, and closed the door behind her. That moment Lila recognised her and screamed, "You're back! I've missed you so much." They rushed to meet each other and hugged and wept in the joy of the reunion.

"So, how long are you going to stay this time?" asked Lila when the biggest emotions had settled. "Or are you finally back for good?"

"No, I'm afraid not," her sister answered, "But I hope I can stay at least a few days. Now, let me look at you." A puzzled expression grew on her face. "You have -- grown?"

"Yes, I have, haven't I," said Lila, holding her stomach happily, "It will born in the winter."

"A baby!" Gabrielle stammered. "I'm going to be an aunt. Wait, who's the father?"

"He is the most wonderful man," Lila answered, bent closer, and lowered her voice. "I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but who can I trust if not you. He's one of those Rangers, you remember? We used to spy them when we were kids. His name is Attahin. We got married in the summer a year ago."

"Oh, I'm so happy for you. I wish I could have been there," said Gabrielle, hugging her sister once more. "Where's mom and dad, by the way?"

"Oh, they moved away to grandma's house when Attahin moved in here. This is my house now," said Lila proudly. "Unfortunately, they are not in town at the moment at all."

"Oh? Where are they, then?"

Lila frowned. "I'm not quite sure. Dad wanted to pay a visit to Fornost, which is strange as I didn't know that he knew anyone there. He was very quiet about it. But they won't be long, so they'll probably be back in a couple of days."

"Good, as I'm sure that I can wait for them to return. We're not in any hurry."

"We?" Lila said, "Who's we? You mean...?"

Then the door squeaked again, as another person came in. "This is Xena," Gabrielle said, introducing her companion, "I told you about her last time we met. Xena, meet my sister."

But Lila went grave. She withdrew slowly from Gabrielle, and said, "Welcome, Xena. Gabrielle's friends are my friends." The words were cordial but her voice and manner betrayed her; she was not glad to see Xena. She went to the stove, trying to cover her bitter uneasiness. Xena just halted at the door, not knowing what to do or what to say.

"Lila, why are you doing this? I thought we talked this over years ago," said Gabrielle. She had a good hunch why her sister was so upset.

"That was then," cried Lila and exploded. "Three years! You have no idea what I've gone through since then. Without YOU," she pointed at Xena, "she would never have left, and everything would have been fine."

Xena had been prepared for some trouble, but Lila's attitude surprised her completely. "That was her decision to leave, not mine," she tried explaining, but it only fed the young woman's rage.

"Get out!" Lila yelled, and grabbed a broom, trying to hit Xena who barely managed to dodge. "Maybe you can fool my sister, but I'm not that easy. You tricked her somehow to go with you. You're a killer and a swindler. Leave my town and don't ever come back! And leave my sister alone."

The next time Lila struck, Xena grabbed the broomstick, and easily tore it to herself, then threw it away to a corner. She felt angry, hurt, and betrayed, all at the same time. Gritting her teeth she glared at Lila before she turned on her heels, and strode out door banging, without saying a word.

"I can't believe you did this," said Gabrielle to her sister who was now frightened by Xena's last gaze. "You drove her away! She's my best friend, for Ainur's sake! I had thought you would have respected me more. Now I'm going after her and bring her back, then you will apologise."

She met Xena saddling Argo. "Where do you think you're going, Xena?"

"Does it matter?"

"I'm sure she didn't mean what she said. Please, come back inside. We'll talk this over. Please."

"NO! I will certainly not enter that house again. I'm sick of trying to undo my past, and not getting any reward. I'm just fed up with getting that kind of response. And you know what? I really was looking forward to meet your family. Not any more."

"But you can't leave, not now. Like, where would you spend the night?"

"I'll be in the forest behind Archet if you need me. Tomorrow I'll go to the meeting in Prancing Pony, and right after that I'll take the road back to south. Unless you want to be with..."

"In the forest! Why not in the Prancing Pony at least. It's the best inn, too, if you didn't know it. I will come there with you."

"Not a chance! Too many people."

But Gabrielle was persistent. "Come on, you've got to be hungry and I know you have nothing in that sack of yours." That moment Xena's stomach gave a demanding murmur. "Think of all that food; lamb chops, fried trout, tables full of fresh fruits," Gabrielle changed to the left side of Xena and rose to her toes to whisper in Xena's ear, "Newly baked nutbread. Beer. Dorwinian wine. Mushroom soup." She changed the side again, and continued the list of Xena's favourites. "Mead. Honey cakes. Raspberry tart."

"All right, all right. I'll come to that tavern with you, if you just stop that," said Xena in a desperate voice. She was feeling hungry, now a lot more than a minute ago. "But that will not make any difference concerning Lila. I will not enter that house again."

"Deal," said Gabrielle, pleased with herself. Once again she had managed to conquer Xena's bad mood, and she was certain that in the end she could persuade her to stay long enough to make up with Lila. Lila, yes, she would be the harder one to deal with.

"Are you sure we can afford that? Aren't we a little short of money," doubted Xena weighing a money pouch hanging on her belt.

"Don't worry about money. Trust me, we have more than we need."

"If you say so. Anyway, it's always good to see the place beforehand. To scout a little," Xena continued, and the idea started to feel better and better to her.

They walked via the Bree main street, heading for the Prancing Pony. Argo had been left in the stable since Xena planned to fetch her later after dinner; she still didn't want to spend the night in the inn. Gradually the amount of peddlers and cheap-jacks on the side of the road increased, which was a sign that they were closing in on the heart of the city. Gabrielle was explaining the habits and places of Bree as she remembered them from her childhood, being even more talkative than usual.

"... and Mr. Butterbur, Barliman is his first name, is a very nice and jolly man who talks awfully lot. One can have real problems to get a word heard to him. But he sells fine beer, some say it's the finest of all. You know that I'm not really a beer expert, but you don't have to take my word for it; just ask anyone. Well, okay, the first time I tasted it I had to spit it out immediately as it tasted terrible, but then again I was so young that I shouldn't have been drinking anyway. My mother gave me a sore bottom because of it. Oh, wait a minute, my shoelace is untied," she babbled and knelt down to re-tie her left boot. Xena paused to wait for her.

Then Gabrielle got up again and they kept on walking. "So, where was I? Oh, and if you liked to smoke, then this would be the place to buy pipe-weed. Last time the best stuff was sold right HERE!" she said and suddenly pulled the surprised warrior aside and around the corner of a booth, in which an old man was selling miscellaneous items. "Buy a lamp or something!" the bard said, and hurried around another corner of the tent.

"Why on earth would I want to buy .. " Xena began, but Gabrielle was already gone. ".. a lamp," she continued, muttering to herself, and turned to the vendor. She gave him a quick smile, and started to examine his merchandise, puzzled. There were all kinds of things; some were new but most were old. Plates, pots and other utensils, cheap jewelry including a pretty brass ring, but nothing really useful. The old man had probably heard Gabrielle's last words since he tried to sell her an oil lamp which was probably even older than himself, but her mind was not into buying and bargaining. She was wondering about her friend's odd behaviour. She ignored the lamp and turned her partial attention to a flask of oil, when a knowing smile started to appear on her face.

"Son of a troll!" she thought, "This is definitely not the same Gabrielle who imposed herself on my company last time I was in this town. Back then she was a young, inexperienced girl. Now she has really grown smart, and I should keep that in mind more often. She probably noticed that man following us at the very same moment I did. The re-tieing of her boots was just to make sure, and I didn't suspect anything! If I'm right, that lurker should appear around the corner just about any second. Let's see what happens, this may be fun for a change."

It didn't take long before a young man ran into sight. He saw Xena who had turned her back to him to avoid scaring him away because of being noticed, but he was obviously confused about not seeing Gabrielle, and looked around for her.

Then a loud, stern voice came behind him. "Bill Ferny!" it yelled in an angry tone. The man started, turned around, and tried to withdraw, but unfortunately for him he ran into Xena who took him into a husky grip. "Bill Ferny," said Gabrielle again, "What on earth are you doing. Why are you following me?" She stood on a firm stance, feet apart, left hand on her hip, and the right one held a six-feet tall wooden staff. She looked angry and dangerous.

"Ah, hello Gabrielle," said Bill. "I thought it was you. Let me tell you how glad I am to see you've come back." He tried to break free but Xena was much too strong for him and he gave up. "Who's your serious friend?" he asked behind a hypocritical smile.

"Let me tell you something, blockhead," Gabrielle answered, and came closer. "First, I don't like you. You haven't changed a bit." Now her face was very close to Bill's. "Second, I am not afraid of you any more and I warn you: Stay away from me! Do I make myself clear?"

"But honey, I..," Bill started, but he never got the chance to end the sentence.

"Do you understand?!!" yelled Gabrielle and now she was pinching his nose very hard between her thumb and index finger.

"Ach! Ooh! Yes, I understand, I'll stay away. Please, let me go," he whimpered.

"Fine! Xena, release him!" she said, and let loose of his nose. Xena pushed him roughly forward, and he stumbled and fell on the other side of the street. Quickly he got to his feet again, and on his face there was a furious expression as he cried, "Some day, I swear, I will have you, Gabrielle! One way or another!" After that he ran away holding his reddened nose, and didn't look back.

"Do you mind telling me what that was all about?" asked Xena after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

Gabrielle thought a moment before answering. "You're not the only one of us with a past one would like to forget. His name is Bill, Bill Ferny. We have known each other since childhood. He was a few years older and that gave him a reason to make the life of the smaller kids miserable from time to time."

"I know the type," said Xena, "Let me guess, that's not all."

"No, that's just the beginning" said Gabrielle, as they started walking again. "For some reason I was always the one he was paying the most attention to. At first it was just ordinary teasing, things that boys tend to do, but gradually it changed to something more serious. That kept going on for years, and there were times I was even afraid to go out. Then one day, four years ago he surprised me on an empty alley. I tried to ignore him, but he didn't let me pass. Instead of trying to harass me, he said he was sorry, and confessed that he in fact had a big crush on me. And he gave me flowers. When I said clearly that I wasn't interested, his attitude changed totally. He grasped me and pushed me against a wall. I could smell he was drunk. I tried to fight back, but it only fed his anger and he tripped me down. Suddenly he was lying over me one hand on my throat and the other... I don't know what would have happened if some people had not walked that way by accident. I screamed for help, and Bill had to leave me there and run. After that I didn't go much out alone."

"How come you've never mentioned this before? I know it has been a hard experience, talking would have helped."

"I know. But it was so painful that I just pushed it from my mind and tried to forget. It was not easy, sometimes those images came back to me. At first you were so distant that I didn't dare to tell you about my miseries, then they finally stopped troubling me. Besides, you've had enough troubles with your own past."

They walked again saying nothing, until Xena opened her mouth with a question that had been bothering her. "Four years ago? That must have been only a little before we met. Was this the real reason that you wanted to leave the town and come with me?"

"No," answered Gabrielle, "I don't say it wouldn't have affected me at all, but the desire to leave and see the world had been there for a long time by then. I was just waiting for the right opportunity. And then you came." She paused and shrugged. "But enough of that, there's the Prancing Pony. It's amazing how you could have missed it last time. I thought everyone passing through Bree would take some time there." Xena gave her no other answer but a snort. "After you," said Gabrielle, bowing deeply at the door.

Xena entered. It was quite a usual looking tavern, a bit large, though. There were people sitting at tables, eating, drinking and chatting. Most of them were human, 'the big people', but there were also Hobbits. Every now and then someone would sing a song or tell a joke or funny story as the crowd roared with laughter. In the center of the room there stood a fat, bald man in a white towel, talking to a group of Dwarves. Xena assumed he must be Mr. Butterbur. Then a Dwarf noticed her, and threw an enquiring gaze at her. Xena raised an eyebrow, nodding slightly, and the Dwarf turned away. Xena ignored him, and focused on the inn keeper.

"Excuse me, you must be the master here," she said and tapped the man on his shoulder. He turned his head and said, "Give me a second, please, I'll get right back to you." He was about to turn his attention back to the Dwarfs when he noticed Gabrielle.

"What do my old eyes see! Isn't it young Gabrielle?" he said clapping his hands together in delight. "It's been all too long since you last lit our day. So, you've finally come back from the big world? Oh, wait, I'll just take care of one thing and be right back. Nob! NOB! Where's that Halfling." Then he moved on to take care of other businesses.

The women looked at each other. "Yep, that's my Mr. Butterbur," said Gabrielle laughing.

"He seems decent," Xena answered, "At least he made you appear silent."

After a while Mr. Butterbur got the things with the Dwarfs in order, and came back. "Well, where were we? Oh, it is so good to see you," he babbled, taking curious glances at Xena.

"Barliman, this is my best friend and companion, Xena," Gabrielle introduced.

"Xena, the warrior princess? Well, I suspected that, this is an honour. Now, I've forgotten the manners, what would you like to do? Drink? Eat? Have a room, maybe?"

"A dinner would be fine, thank you," said Xena.

"And a dinner it will be," said Mr. Butterbur, "Find a table somewhere, I'll be serving you in a minute. The usual way, Miss Gabrielle?"

"Well, if you insist," answered Gabrielle, and blushed slightly as he left with satisfied air.

"Psst, Miss Gabrielle, what's the 'usual way'?" Xena asked curiously while she led them to a table in a dimly lit corner.

"Ah, we don't need to pay in money if I tell a story for the public. That's the way I've eaten here many times," the bard answered, and sat down.

The food came soon, accompanied with large pints of tavern's finest beer and a flood of polite words by Mr. Butterbur. While enjoying the excellent meal, Xena took a better look of other customers. The room was crowded with folk, mostly common people from Bree-land. However, at the other side there was a group of men that drew her attention. A quick enquiry with Nob, the Hobbit who was serving them, gave her knowledge that they had come from the south earlier the same day. That was all he knew, but Xena had a bad feeling about them. Then the Dwarfs came back. Seeing this folk in this part of the world was strange because they don't willingly leave their dear mountain caverns. She knew some dwarfs from Iron Hills, but among these she didn't see any familiar faces. Yet these Dwarves were the main reason for her to be in Bree that time.

They had satisfied their appetites and Xena took last sips from her pint. Four more Hobbits entered, and went straight to talk to Mr. Butterbur. When they had finished, Gabrielle rose and said, "Well, I think it's time for us to pay. Hope I can still tell a story with this full belly."

Soon Mr. Butterbur clapped his hands together and announced, "My dear customers! After years of absence we once again have the pleasure to hear a tale by our own rising bard, Gabrielle." That made the Bree-landers cheer loudly, at least those of them who had been living there long enough to know what to expect.

Gabrielle stepped in the middle, raised her hands to silence the crowd, and began. "A long time ago, there was a mighty dragon called Smaug the Golden. His wings could raise a wind so strong that it could blow small houses down. With his breath of fire he could burn down entire forests in no time. He lived far away in the East, in the old dwarven halls of the Lonely Mountain, and it was said that he lay on a vast pile of gold and other treasures. Not far from the mountain there was a town named Esgaroth..." She really was in her element. Once again Xena had to admire the ease with which she held the audience's attention.

During her tale, a dark figure slipped inside to a table not far from Xena, and lit a pipe. Probably nobody noticed his coming; nobody but Xena. She examined him closely and saw something very familiar under his dark-green cloak. She slid closer and whispered, "Thorongil!" and the man stiffened barely noticeably, but relaxed again. "Well, the Warrior Princess. This is a surprise," he said, not turning his head, and puffed a ring of smoke from his pipe.

They sat still, listening to the story-telling bard. After a few minutes and dozens of smoke rings, Xena broke their silence. "I never really had a chance to thank you about what you did for me. So, thank you. I owe you more than I can ever repay."

"That debt may be collected sooner than you may think," said the man and puffed again. "You know," he mused, "I missed that girl and her stories. She doesn't seem to understand how good she is. I wonder where she has been and why she has now returned."

Xena had an answer ready. "Gabrielle? She's been with me. I owe my life to her, like I owe to you too. Similarly, but for a different reason."

That answer made Thorongil give her a surprised glance. "If she's been travelling with you, then she must be a terrific fighter or otherwise something special. And she doesn't look like a fighter."

"Then you should look better, because she is a fighter. But she doesn't fight with swords or bows," Xena explained. "And she is special, too. Without her, all of what you did for me would have gone in vain and I'd have fallen back into the darkness. For me she is the greatest warrior of all time."

"She must mean much to you. But may I inquire, what brings you in this part of the world?"

"We have been on the road a long time and Gabrielle missed her home, so we made a detour and here we are."

"And the Dwarves that suddenly appear have nothing to do with it?" asked the man sharply.

Xena had used to Thorongil's perception, and chose to ignore his question. "On the way here I couldn't help noticing some alarming signs which you can probably confirm. I'm going ask it straight." Xena lowered her voice even more. "Are we at the eve of a war? Against the Enemy?"

Thorongil's face darkened as he heard her question. "I fear we are. He has gathered his strength for a long time, unnoticed, and now he is almost ready. One thing he misses and that he will not get."

"What is that?"

"That I dare not to reveal, not even to you. It is too dangerous."

"Very well then." She paused. "Have you... Do you have any news concerning the lands between Great River and Mirkwood?"

"Not much, but something I know since a lot of information reaches my ears. You cannot fool me, you must be concerned about your own people. Alas, the forces of Dol Guldur were on the move, and last time I heard, they were raiding villages closest to the rim of Mirkwood. In that area there are no strong armies to protect them. Gondor is too far and they have their own problems being the kingdom nearest to the land of evil. I fear they are not strong enough to hold on long. Rohan has been all too passive on its behalf lately, minding only of its own businesses. The Riders will not cross the Entwash. And the Elves do not leave Lorien - not yet." Thorongil puffed another smoke ring before he continued like trying to remember something, "There were some Dwarves mining on that area, but for a reason unknown to me they returned to the Lonely Mountain some time ago."

"What about Esgaroth, the lake-town?" Xena asked, but the man shook his head quietly. "That really is bad news." Xena was about to say more, but Gabrielle had finished her story, and she was receiving loud applause and cheering. She came back to their table and her happy face turned cautious when she recognised Xena's company. "Gabrielle, I'd like you to meet Thorongil. He's a very good friend of mine," said Xena.

"Thorongil?! But Xena, he is Strider! Sorry, sir. I mean, they're the same person?"

"Yes, my little friend, they are the same," said the man with amusement. "Strider is the name by which most people know me. And I already know you, Gabrielle the bard. You have seen me in this tavern before and I have definitely seen you. Today I heard that you and Xena are friends. I'm living in hope that I could become your friend, too." He kissed her on her hand, and she blushed. For some reason Xena got the impression that there was more in that kiss than just a plain token of friendship or admiration.

In the corner of her eye Xena saw some more little people enter from the corridor. Thorongil saw them too. "I would like to exchange more thoughts with you, but you must excuse me now. I'm expecting company," he said.

"Very well," said Xena, "It's time for us to leave anyway. Thank you for your information. If only could you have given me hope too."

"Good luck for ranging," said Gabrielle, smiling sheepishly, and nudging him playfully to his side. "I hope you won't run into any of those dreadful horsemen."

"Hush! Not so loud!" he yelped, grabbing the young woman's arm. "You have confronted a Black Rider? You must tell me everything, this is very important."

Gabrielle and Xena shared a look, then Gabrielle told him about their intimidating encounter. "So that's the story," she said at the end. "Do you know who or what he was?"

"Yes, I know. He is one of the Nine and they are searching for this Baggins. The little Hobbit has been lucky to escape them this long and we must pray they'll never catch him. This is all I can tell you now. Avoid these creatures at any cost. Fear is not their only weapon. They cannot be killed by usual means and in the dark they are at their strongest; light is their weakness. So far they are horsemen but they can take another form; that is the power of the Nazgul."

They saw he wouldn't say more, and rose to leave. "Thanks again, Thorongil," said Xena, "It was a pleasure to see you after such a long time."

"I'm looking forward to meet you again soon," said Gabrielle and they left the table. When they had gained some distance, she said to Xena, "Strider was nice, I liked him a lot. I can't understand why I was so afraid of him. But he does look a little unapproachable and you have no idea how strange the stories are that people tell about him."

"Yes, it is easy to like him once you learn to know him. Before we go, let me have a word with our host. Wait here, it won't take long."

Xena seized Mr. Butterbur and talked with him a while. Gabrielle's gaze wandered around the room, and found Strider talking with a halfling whom she had not seen before. However, his face was covered in shadows so that she couldn't say for sure. From his outfit she concluded that he must have been from another village. After a while Xena came back, and they left the tavern just when that very hobbit was starting a song, standing on one of the tables.

  "There is an inn, a merry old inn
     beneath an old grey hill,
   And there they brew a beer so brown
   That the Man in the Moon himself came down
     one night to drink his fill ...." (*)

"So, where did that story about that dragon came from?" asked Xena outside, trying to turn her worried mind into other things.

"I heard my father telling it a few times when I was a kid. I recall him saying that he had been in that battle as a young man, but I don't see how that could be possible. Even if Smaug ever existed, he's been dead for a hundred years."

They had only taken a few steps down the road when there was a silent hiss behind a corner of the house. "Psst," repeated the short and stout, hooded figure, and beckoned Xena to come closer.

Xena looked around, and waited for a party of three men pass them before she casually stepped in to the shadows of the side street. Gabrielle stayed on the dim light, and kept watch, leaning to a wall just on the other side of the corner so that she could still hear the conversation.

"Rohan breeds fast horses," said the stranger.

"Khazad-dum is lovely at night," said Xena, "We were not supposed to meet until tomorrow."

"Yes, I know. But we have a reason. We would like to close the trade as quickly as possible. Bombur the Fat is here."

"Well, in that case. Lead the way. Gabrielle." The bard slid to the side street as well, and they followed the stranger to a back door of the inn, and entered a hallway in the guest house. The hallway was empty, and they quicky went into one room.

Apparently they had already been expected. There were three sterny Dwarves standing around a table, each having a tankard half of beer, and each of them keeping an axe at hand. After extremely brief introductions, a Dwarf called Burin said, "Do you have the payment?"

"Show me the merchandise first," Xena replied.

The Dwarves looked at each other. Then Burin nodded at the one on his left who soon presented a slim, oaken case. Burin opened the locks, and spinned it around towards Xena, opening the lid.

Inside there was a beautiful, shiny sword.

Xena couldn't get her eyes off the magnificent weapon. It was hard to keep a stoic face when all she wanted to do was grab the sword, and feel the smooth metal. "Can I..." Her voice failed, and she cleared her throat before trying again, "Can I examine it?"

The Dwarf squinted, but nodded at last. While the warrior carefully took the sword, and ran her fingers by its blade, he explained, "It's an alloy of nine hundred and ninety nine parts of iron, and one part of mithril. Mithril gives it resistance, and allowes a narrower, yet sharper blade. The measurements are exactly as you ordered. The hollow hilt and the blade are one piece of metal. The only thing is..." His voice faltered. "Well, it could be better."

Xena froze, and glared at the Dward sharply. "What do you mean?"

"Just that... you didn't say anything about enchantments, so we assumed... We didn't bind any spell to it."

"Oh. That's good since I didn't want any."

"Not even a simple protection spell...?"

"No!" Xena yelled, and pointed the sword at the frightened Dwarf. The other Dwarves reached for their axes, but she drew back in time. "I don't like spells. They seem like a good idea at first but there's always a catch, and suddenly it just doesn't work. Like, I've seen a bow that could drop a flying sparrow, but it was unable hit a troll at all, and a sword that dissolves in moonlight. I don't want that kind of surprises. I don't hate spells, I just don't trust them."

They Dwarves eyed at each other again, then Burin said, "Well, then, if you're pleased with the weapon, may we see the payment?"

"Yeah, yeah," Xena said, distracted with her new toy again. "Gabrielle."

The young bard took her back pack that she had been carrying everywhere during the past few weeks as the most precious thing she had. She unpacked a leather wrapping, and placed it on the table. Then she removed the wrappings, uncovering an old and probably unedible bread, grunting with disgust.

"Is this a joke?" asked Burin with fury and impatience.

"Well, I'm not touching it. It smells," Gabrielle announced.

"Just break it," said Xena nonchalantly, still unable to take her eyes off the sword as she spun it around slowly.

The Dwarf glared at her suspiciously, but took a broad knife from his belt, and cautiously cut the bread with it. The knife hit something hard. In a matter of seconds the bread was demolished, and the three Dwarves now admired a piece of golden jewelry.

The thing was now damaged, and worn by age, but it was clear that it had once been the most beautiful thing. When the Dwarves hastily tried to assemble it together, it made a necklace with half of it still missing. The largest piece looked like a great jewel had once been mounted there.

"The pieces of the Nauglamir?" Burin said under his breath, and Xena nodded. "This is... so much more than was asked," he continued with wonderment.

A pile of rags, so it seemed, in the shadows at the corner moved, and spoke with creaky voice, "That's because we have only filled half of the deal." Every eye was now fixed at an ancient looking Dwarf who slowly stepped into light. "Hullo, Xena. Bombur the Fat at your service."

Xena laid her new sword on the table. "I'm honoured, Bombur," she said, and bowed respectfully.

"He doesn't look so fat," Gabrielle whispered to Xena, but the Dwarf overheard her.

"You should have seen me fifty years ago, young human, and you wouldn't wonder my epithet. Now, Xena. Let me see the thing for which I was dragged out of my cozy halls."

Without hesitation, Xena unclipped the chakram hanging on her waist, and handed it over to Bombur.

The old Dwarf examined the round weapon closely. He turned it over, grunted and puffed. He asked his fellows to arrange more light for him to see better, and having that done, he kept grunting and puffing. Time to time, he made mysterious gestures, and threw peculiar gazes at the warrior princess. It seemed to go on forever, until at last he laid the weapon back on the table, and sighed.

"Well?" asked Xena. Her patience had been strung to the utmost limits.

The old Dwarf grunted once more. He was silent for a long while, then he threw in quickly, "It's old."

"What? All that grunting and all you can say is that it's old!" Xena cried, bending over the table. Bombur remained silent, glaring at Xena behind his big brows. She straightened up, and threw in a challenge, "You don't know what it is."

It made the Dward defensive. "It's certainly Dwarvish craftmanship!" he yelped. "Very delicate, very fine, very... round." He took a pause as he cooled off. "I know what it is, but how and who made it, that I don't know. There are too many unknown characteristics. The Dwarves are involved, they forged it, but they didn't do it alone. That is all I can say. Maybe you could find out more if you took it to Dain Ironfoot at the Iron Hills."

"No, I already asked him. He knew even less than you, if possible," Xena retorted, and picked up all of her weapons, preparing to leave.

"Xena, what about the payment," Burin said before she was at the door. "You paid us for information that we were unable to give. As much as it makes my heart cry, I must ask you to take back one piece of the Nauglamir."

"No," said Xena. "Keep it, and remember it if I need a favour some day." And then the women were outside. The evening was turning chilly and they had to run to stay warm.

"Hey Gabrielle," said Xena when they arrived at Lila's house, "I'll go and sleep in the stable with Argo. That will be most comfortable for everyone. Besides, I might want to do some sword practise. There's no need for you to get disturbed by me. You go ahead and sleep inside."

"No, Xena. If you sleep out in the stable, so will I."

"Look, it's better that you have some time with your sister. We spend three hundred and fifty nights in a year side by side, I'm quite sure we can afford one apart. Go, I'll be fine. Good night."

"If you say so. Pleasant dreams," said Gabrielle and went reluctantly inside.

But Gabrielle didn't sleep, nor did Lila. Instead they had a long discussion which took all night. Gabrielle told her sister about everything she had experienced and learned in her journeys, about good times and bad times and about the people she had met and come to know, especially Xena. And Lila told about the happenings in Bree, her own life, and her dear husband who had been away on his journeys for a few days. They laughed and wept until the morning sun rose.

But something had distracted her friend. "What? Uhm, hello. Oh, I just remembered that there was supposed to be a pony in here. I, er , I had totally forgotten it," she said.

"Really," said Xena and finished brushing Argo's mane, "What was its name?"

"Happy. He was so joyful and lively as a colt. I loved him instantly. But that doesn't matter now. Aren't you hungry? Come inside, we've made breakfast."

"Are you sure it's okay with Lila?"

"Yes. We spoke last night and I think she's ready to forgive and make peace. But it took all night, a lot of talk, and a victory in arm wrestling to convince her that you are the best thing ever happened to me."

"Arm wrestling?" Xena was both amused and a little surprised as they walked towards the front door.

"Well, you know, Lila has been able to best me in fighting since we were kids, even though she was much younger. She grew sturdy and matured early, I was always more like skinny compared to her. It was quite embarassing sometimes, being beaten up by the kid sister. Now that I've travelled the world I once again have overtaken her in both strength and skill, and I had to prove it somehow. I am the big sister again."

Lila was placing the third plate on the table when they entered. "We have already eaten, so please, sit and take anything you want," she said to Xena and her voice was truly friendly. Xena thanked her and sat down. She suddenly felt very hungry and all that food looked and smelled delicious.

"Hey sis'," said Gabrielle, "I was in the stable to call Xena and I noticed Happy was not there."

The question seemed to startle Lila, but maybe Xena was the only one to notice. "Dad had to sell him a couple of years ago when his upkeep was becoming too much trouble and we had no use of him any more. So, dad put the old boy on sale, and Mr. Butterbur was kind enough to buy him."

"Well, as far as I know he's good to animals and I'm sure he keeps him well," said Gabrielle, relieved after she had recovered from the disappointment. Then she seemed to have an idea. She rose, took her staff, and went to the door. "You two make up while I'm seeing Mr. Butterbur and Happy. It won't take long."

"Why are you taking that stick of yours. Surely you won't need it."

"It's a STAFF, Lila, a fighting staff. And I won't need it, but I'm taking it anyway. Call it a precaution," said Gabrielle and left. She wouldn't even think of leaving the staff behind, sometimes her sister seemed so naive.

She took a shortcut to Prancing Pony. It went over the steepest hillside and through a hole on the Staddle side of the high wall girdling Bree. Most people didn't know it existed; if they had known, they would have already closed it. But it was still there, as were several other secret passages that kids had opened up here and there.

When she reached the tavern, the first thing she did was to go into the animal shelter. To her surprise the stable was empty, completely empty. She saw no ponies nor horses, although there were signs of them everywhere. In the old days there were always at least some steeds belonging to guests or to locals. So she went into the pub and found Barliman preparing for the forthcoming evening, cleaning and putting things in their places.

"Sorry, the bar is closed," he said when she entered. "Oh, Miss Gabrielle! We are always open for you. What can I do for you this lovely morning? Ah, you must be here to fetch Xena's package. I'm sorry, it's not ready yet. But I can prepare it next, if you don't mind waiting a few minutes."

"A package? Hmm, I don't know about that, but I have a question. You don't happen to know where Happy is?"

"Excuse me?"

"Happy, my pony. I heard you bought it a couple of years ago."

----

Xena was cleaning her breastplate in Lila's house and waited for Gabrielle to return. Her talk with Lila had gone better than she had expected. They were practically friends now. She believed that Lila felt the same and that she was not mad at her any more.

"So, how important was this pony to Gabrielle anyway," she asked, just to keep ut the conversation.

"Happy? He was very dear to her," said Lila, "She was there when he was born. She spent whole night beside him when he was ill. It must have broken her heart to have to leave him here when she left after you."

"And now he's owned by Mr. Butterbur. Does he keep him well?" Xena asked.

"Well, that might be a problem," said Lila and came to sit next to Xena. "You see, Barliman doesn't own the old boy any more. Listen, you seem to know Gabrielle better than me these days. How would she react, if she learned that he sold the pony again to Bill Ferny?"

"What!" cried Xena devastated and jumped to her feet.

----

"What! You sold him to Bill?!" Gabrielle grasped his collar with both hands. "Man! Do you understand what you have done."

"Er, oops, now I remember," said Butterbur, gasping for breath. "Your sister told me not to mention that to you. Uuh, good grip, by the way. I'm so sorry. Lila will hang me for this."

"Oo-oh, do not worry about Lila, as you won't live long enough for that if Bill has done anything to hurt my pony!" said Gabrielle smiling, but that smile was cold and unkind. The wrath that she had kept back so long had finally grown too powerful to restrain and it was now searching a way to erupt. She took her staff and ran out of the inn before Butterbur was able to utter from his shock, "But he doesn't have it any more..."

----

Lila found it difficult to believe that it was possible to put on a leather armor as fast as Xena did. "Hey, why's the rush? Where are you going?" she asked.

"To save Bill Ferny," answered Xena.

"From what?"

"From Gabrielle."

"But Barliman won't tell her, I made him swear to that."

"She'll find out," yelled Xena, already outside.

"Besides, why is saving Bill Ferny worth the effort," muttered Lila, knowing there was nobody to hear.

----

Xena arrived breathless at Ferny's house which Gabrielle had shown her earlier. The gate had been smashed open, and it hung on its lower hinge only. The front door was also open, and from inside she heard noises of a fight. She could only hope it wasn't too late and hurried in.

Inside things were like the aftermath of a storm. She saw a broken lamp, some fallen furniture, various smaller items lying everywhere, and in the middle of everything was one furious Gabrielle. She stood on Xena's side of a large table, facing Bill Ferny who was on the other side, back against a wall, trying to get as far as possible from her and her staff.

"Don't you come closer!" cried Bill.

"Tell me, where's my pony! What have you done to him?!" yelled Gabrielle back at him, and to emphasize her question she hit the table so hard that it cracked a little.

"Gabrielle, calm down," told Xena but since it seemed to have no effect she grabbed her friend firmly and tried to keep her still. But it wasn't an easy job.

"Xeenaah, let me go! I want to hurt him."

"Keep her away from me!"

"Bill, I don't think I can hold her long," claimed Xena, being not entirely honest.

"I'll tell anything, please, just don't let her get me!"

"I'm trying, but start singing quickly."

"Okay, okay. The pony, I bought it long time ago and paid well. This morning I sold it again. I swear, I don't have it!"

"You're lying! Where is he!"

"I'm telling the truth! I sold it to four Halflings who arrived late yesterday. They left the town only an hour ago, and that stranger, Strider, went with them."

"Strider and Hobbits," said Xena curiously, "What on earth would he do with four Hobbits? Where were they going?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything. Please, go now. Please."

"All right. Gabrielle, out!" said Xena and turned her friend around by force.

"But Xena..."

"No buts. Out!"

Outside on the street Gabrielle broke loose and turned angrily to Xena. "Why did you stop me? I would have made him talk. And suffer while doing it. What, you don't actually believe what he said?"

"Well, you saw his face. Do you believe a man that scared would lie? No, I think we got all he knew. That strategy of questioning works every time."

"Strategy? What strategy?"

"The good guard and the bad guard strategy, of course."

"What's that."

"My dear Gabrielle, 'that' is a little word, T - H - A - OUCH!"

"How dare you make jokes while I'm in a bad mood! Now explain, or I'll slap you again, and I won't be using an open hand next time."

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist. It's quite simple: one plays a 'bad guard' and the other is a 'good guard'. The bad one acts wild and violent while the good one tries to keep him away from the man to be questioned. The point is that the subject becomes so scared of the 'bad guard' that he'll tell everything. He only needs to believe, that without the 'good guard' he is really going to get injured - or something worse. You made an excellent 'bad guard'."

That made Gabrielle cool off a little. "Fine, but we still don't know much about Happy. If Strider really has him, should we go after him or what?"

"Selling Happy to Strider may have been one of the wisest things Ferny has ever done. I know him, he will keep the pony well, better than Ferny at least. But if he wants to move swiftly, leaving as few tracks as possible, we have little hope of catching him; since for some reason I don't believe he's using common roads. He and his people are not called Rangers without reason, and he is the best. I might be able to track him, but we'd be moving too slowly, even if the Hobbits and the pony are with him."

Gabrielle went silent, but at last she uttered, "Then there's not much we can do. Let's go back home. And thanks for stopping me from beating Bill. He seems to bring the worst out of me."

"That's what friends are for."

They arrived at the front door together with Lila who carried a basket full of vegetables. "Is everything all right," she asked, "You two seem to be in a good mood. I suppose you heard the news?"

"Yes, we're okay, even Bill is okay, at least physically. But what news are you talking about? We haven't had a chance to talk with townspeople yet."

"Well," said Lila excitedly as they entered. She didn't often have a chance to gossip. "There has been a funny incident in Prancing Pony last night. Someone disappeared, or that's what they told me."

"What do you mean disappeared?"

"Exactly that; disappeared into thin air. It was one of the little people, some Underhill. He had been singing on a table, people said he had tasted quite a lot of Mr. Butterbur's beer, and suddenly he just wasn't there. He had disappeared. Just like that. Puff. Gone."

"We were in that tavern last night and nothing like that happened," said Xena skeptically, "Must have been after we left."

"Xena, Baggins!" yelled Gabrielle suddenly, eyes sparkling. "Bilbo Baggins, Lila, don't you remember?" Lila shook her head. "I was sure I had heard that name before and now I know. When I was only a child I heard this story. I can't remember who told it, maybe one of the Tooks, but here it goes. Bilbo Baggins was a very rich and respected Hobbit living in Shire. Nobody knew how he had got his fortune, but rumours tell that in his youth he had travelled abroad and found a great treasure, and that he was in good terms with Dwarfs and Elves, as well as with one great, old wizard, Gandalf."

"You can't tell if a wizard is old," Xena corrected. "They are ageless and if they seem old, it's only because that is what they want to look like."

"Whatever, like we'd ever meet a wizard. But let me continue. In his older days Bilbo had a big birthday party. Everyone in Shire was invited and everyone came. Even Gandalf was there. And what a party it was! The fireworks alone would have been worth of a story or two. Then Bilbo had a long speech, which is common with the little people, said thanks and goodbye and disappeared. Just like that, as Lila put it. Puff. Gone. And nobody has seen him ever since. That's about all I know."

"So what are you saying? That Mr. Bilbo Baggins all of a sudden appeared yesterday only to do his vanishing trick again?" asked Xena.

"It's not totally impossible. By the time of his party he was a hundred and eleven years old, meaning now he would be maybe a hundred and thirty. We should ask some Hobbits to be sure. It's quite astonishing how they seem to know everything about everybody, especially when it comes to their family and ancestors."

"That old sounds a little too old to sing drunken on a tavern table. But as you said, not totally impossible. Anyway, it's not our job to speculate about it. As far as I'm concerned, Mr. Baggins is free to vanish whenever he wants as long as it doesn't endanger anyone I care about."

The sisters agreed with Xena and that ended the conversation about that matter. Lila started to make lunch and Gabrielle helped her. They talked about lighter things, like happenings in town, but gradually the subject turned to the threatening war. Lila's husband had told her about foul creatures who wandered on Misty Mountains, and who sometimes even dared to came down. All the time Xena was quiet, sitting near window merely staring out.

The meal was quickly ready and they ate in silence. The morning's happenings had given Gabrielle an enormous appetite. She was too eager packing her demanding stomach with food to notice that her best friend was mainly pushing meat balls and vegetables around the plate and eating very little. But even Gabrielle's sack had a bottom. "Oh my, oh my. I'm full up to my ears," she announced finally. Lila laughed when she retired on a couch at back of the room, holding her belly.

She groaned and suddenly felt tired; after all, she had stayed up all last night. She watched her sister cleaning the table and Xena turning back to stare out of the window. Xena looked troubled in a way Gabrielle had not seen before. While she thought about this, the warrior rose and came to her, and whispered in her ear, "Gabrielle."

"Yes, Xena."

"There's a man outside."

"What," she said and jumped when the door burst open so hard that it came off and fell to the floor. A man rode in with a large, white horse. He was young and handsome, and royal too. Gabrielle knew him; he was Eomer, Prince of Rohan, and the nephew of King Theoden.

"Gabrielle," he said, "Will you be my Queen?"

"My Prince, I have been waiting for you to ask me this so long. Yes, of course I will. If only could my parents be here to share my happiness with us."

"But they are," said the Prince as two more people came in through the open doorway.

"Mom! Dad!" She ran to them and they embraced her. Tears streamed from her eyes. "Oh, how have I missed you."

"We have missed you too, child," said her mom. "I have something very important to say to you. So listen good. Don't let Xena go to Misty Mountains without you." But her voice was no longer her mom's, it was a man's voice. She opened her eyes and saw Xena and Lila gone. Also her Prince was gone, his horse was gone, the whole house was gone.

Her parents were gone.

What was left was thick, green forest. In her hands she had not her staff, but a spear of iron. The same voice behind her made her turn swiftly around. "If she goes there alone, she will die. Do not let her."

"Who are you?"

"No time to explain. Now hurry! She has already left. Awake."

Gabrielle woke up screaming Xena's name in agony. Oh no, not yet, she thought. Lila had heard her yelling and ran in. "Lila, have you seen Xena."

"No more than twenty minutes ago. She went outside soon after the lunch. Why?"

"Have you been in the stables? Is Argo still there." She got no certain answer and rushed out. Argo was gone as she had feared. "She really has left me. I knew she might try that, but not this soon. Tomorrow maybe, not today." She ran back inside. "Lila, I'm so sorry, but I have to leave."

"I understand; you must go after her. But do one thing for me."

"I'd do anything for you, you know that."

"Promise me you'll come back soon. Don't wait three years."

"That I can promise easily. I'll be back before your child is born. Help me pack some rations."

"Don't make a promise you can't keep, Gabrielle. You'll come back when you can, I guess I have to live with that. But do you even know where you're going now?"

Gabrielle had to think about it a moment while packing her backpack with everything she thought she might need. "Xena is worried about her hometown and her family. That is where she is heading. She is trying to get there fast, so she's taking the road over Misty Mountains. I must catch her before she reaches the mountains. I saw a vision just minutes ago where an unknown male voice said that Xena will die there if I am not with her. That's why I must hurry. Mr. Butterbur said that she had ordered some things from him, so she has to go to the Prancing Pony and fetch them. I'll cut ahead, and when she rides back, I will be waiting for her."

"Here, I've packed you bread and meat for at least three days, but only a small skin of water. That's in case you don't catch up with Xena as you planned. It doesn't hurt to be prepared. And don't forget all your writings. They're here as well."

"My books and notes? No, you better keep them. They're too heavy, anyway. Keep them safe for me, will you?"

"I will. Be careful. I love you, sis'."

"I love you too. Be well. I'll be back before you know it." Then Gabrielle grabbed her pack and staff and ran out, heading south-east over some little hills of Staddle. A few inhabitants didn't like it much when she ran over their roofs, but she didn't have any time for apologies.