Hethan stood with her horse next to the docks at Celondim. 'Well, Gwirith.' She said solemnly. 'Our journeys in Ered Luin are coming to an end...' She sighed and looked to the ground. 'But soon, you will be able to see the fair house of Elrond!' She raised her head and closed her eyes, smiling into the morning sun. Late dawn. 'We'd better get going if we are to make it to Tuckborough by nightfall, and we'll have to avoid the road at times so we won't be seen by nosey Hobbits!'
Hethan grinned and patted her horse before bounding onto her back with a light spring. Gwirith turned and galloped up the hill with a whinny.
Gwirith's hooves struck the path with a sharp, hollow noise that Hethan had always loved. The stirrups jangled and her cloak fluttered out behind her. Just as they entered Rushock Bog, Hethan heard a merry tune further up the path. She gasped and veered sharply off the road, sending a whirlwind of leaves flying. She halted Gwirith behind the trees.
'Shh...'
A Hobbit, singing and carrying a basket hopped and skipped down the road. He stopped and looked, confused, at the unsettled leaves. He looked up and down the road.
'Hmm...' He mused. 'Best not hang around here.'
Hethan tensed and covered her face with her green Elven cloak. She breathed a sigh of relief as the Hobbit hurried off, his large feet tapping the ground as he went. Hethan moved cautiously out of the trees and looked ahead. A little village lay not far off.
'I'll have to go around...' She looked with distaste at the bog. 'Not the most favourable place, but it'll have to be done.' Her Elf eyes looked across the bog. It wasn't very long, a couple of miles at best.
She sighed and trotted Gwirith out of the scrub and into the bog.
An hour later, Hethan and Gwirith departed the bog thankfully.
'Let's hope we won't have to do that again! Travelling at night may work better...'
They walked up a hill, but Gwirith stopped suddenly.
'Where are we now?' Hethan looked with dismay at the Hobbit township. She moved off the road and took out her map. She folded out a section labelled /'Shire'/. She traced her finger over the main path. She groaned.
'Waymeet! And I can't get past without going around for miles!' She sat back in thought.
' 'Morning, m'lady!'
Hethan looked up suddenly. A Hobbit!
'What's a lady doing in the Shire? Your place would rather be in Bree, or Eastwards.'
Hethan looked sideways. 'I... I'm heading there now.'
'You know the way through?'
Hethan nodded, and pointed to the map. She folded it up, tucked it into her satchel and remounted Gwirith. As she did, a gust of wine blew back her hood. She hastily put it right, but the Hobbit had quick eyes. She stared down, wide eyed, almost frightened at him. The Hobbit stared right back in disbelief.
'She's an Elf...' He breathed in wonder.
Hethan turned Gwirith around and galloped, heedless of the Hobbits watching, South to Tuckborough.
Hethan neared Tuckborough as night closed in. Hethan looked to the sky. The stars were already out and isil shone brilliantly. Hethan looked around. There was no one out, but she certainly couldn't stay here. She looked down the road, which seemed empty enough. She gathered up Gwirith and galloped the down the road for miles.
The world was silent, not a rustle could be heard. Even Gwirith galloped without a noise as mist settled down. Hethan breathed into the silence. White fog billowed up around her face, though she felt no cold. At last she came to a tall bridge. No guard stood, which she found strange. Nevertheless, she cast her hood closer across her face and rode over stealthily. She rode swiftly onwards for the better part of the night, and just as it turned to the Late Watches, she eyed a bridge in the distance.
