To steal from a Giant (The Story itself)



  In the following nights after Aallan proposed his plan to rob a giant in the Brandy Hills to Dufr, he drew up a map of the far western areas of Bree-Land using a quill pen, a sheet of parchment, and an inkwell.  All three of which he certainly did not steal from a drunkard or a crook of a book-keeper...  On and off, he would illustrate the areas and where the giant could possibly be, as well as mention his 'little' venture with the fair Brynleigh.  Upon hearing of this trip to the giant's hut, she had worried in her heart if Aallan had gone mad.  Luckily for both of them, he already had a plan to bring Dufr along, even if it meant tricking him into coming if it came to it.  Though little reassurance could come from such an idea, it would have to be better than nothing; however, with Brynleigh mentioning about her having to worry about both Aallan's and Dufr's well being on top of everything else, who could blame her for her concern?

  With their final goodbyes to each other that night before the actual trip, Aallan wrote a little letter to Dufr, requesting his presence in Hobbiton to discuss the ethics of robbing a giant.  Almost a day passed before the dwarf's arrival, and the two began to talk much about the ethics of such a feat.  Walking down the Shire's roads all the way to Buckland, the discussion continued, with Aallan showing Dufr the improvised map from time to time.  Upon their arrival to the other side of the Brandywine River, Dufr was finally won over, albeit reluctantly out of some odd sense of fatherly concern.  

  Thus, the thief in red and the dwarven soldier trekked through the Brandy Hills, with the former keeping track of where they ventured through on his map.  Once the giant's stone hut was in sight, Dufr had started to express some sort of doubt on whether a giant was there to begin with, reasoning bandits would make a formidable stronghold.  It must have been out of half joking humor, since the old dwarf retracted the statement.  Odd thing really. He waited next to the fire made of small tree logs, while Aallan snuck off inside the giant hut to find two horses tied to a tree sized steak, and four bags of varying size.  One bag held oats, another kept hay, the third was a sack of vegetables, and the final one was a small, but hefty bag of silver coins.  

  It was then, a noise was heard from outside the hut... a large bear's growl...  Aallan rushed outside to find it was a tan furred bear eyeing Dufr.  However, at almost a moment's notice, the bear relented its apparent threat, as a grey robed and cloaked man carrying a staff strolled up beside it.  The newly arrived man with a full beard was known as Lockewood (the Magnificent, as his signature would indicate), much to both Aallan and Dufr's surprise.  He and Dufr had begun to discuss other things, Aallan loaded up one horse with the bags of hay and oats, and the second would have the sack of vegetables.  Aallan made sure to keep the bag of silver tight on said second horse.  Soon enough, he made his way out to the giant's campfire outside with both horses packed and ready.  Dufr grabbed the reins of the horse with the hay and oats, while Aallan retained those of the second.  Lockewood and his bear started to follow the duo, when both the 'magician' and Aallan could hear thundering stomps from a distance down the hillside.  Both men could make out the words from the incoming being:

"Fe-fi-fo-fum, ask not whence the thunder comes..."

  Aallan, after telling Dufr what was soon to approach, agreed with him to hide their now stolen prizes.  The footsteps grew louder as the being marched up the hill to the trio's location.  One step after another did the stomping grow louder and louder... 

  Before any of the intrepid adventurers could proceed far with the loot, its presence was now fully known and seen.  The beast seemed to look like a regular hill-man, though with only a loincloth and leathery shoes.  However, he was as tall as ten men, and with his build seemed to have the strength of twenty.  His name was apparent to those who faced his wrath before:  Svalfang.

  Both Dufr and Aallan yelled to run for it, as the horses with the stolen goods broke free from their grasps and galloped down the opposite direction of the giant as if wargs were after them.  Allan had also yelled for Lockewood to make a run for it, though before the robed 'magician' could react, the giant swiped him up and held him, as if he was ready to squeeze..

  Fortunately, Lockewood managed to keep his arms free, while holding his staff, and pulled out a small pinecone.  He somehow set it ablaze and threw it at Svalfang's face.  Unfortunately, however, since it hit his eye, though not blinding him, set him in a near blind fury enough to viciously throw him to what seemed like all the way to Buckland.  With poor Lockewood screaming, his bear rushed to its master's aid to who knew where.

  Without the horses, or Lockewood, Aallan and Dufr rushed down the hill as fast and as far as their legs could carry.  After what felt like minutes of running, both the dwarf and the thief took a great tumble down a hill farther away from the giant's lair.  Dufr bumped into Aallan and Aallan into Dufr, all the way down from whence they tripped to the bottom of the hill.  Bruises were abound with the now seemingly hapless duo... until for some reason, whether miraculous or out of sheer luck, the horses with the bags awaited them, though with much exhaustion in them as much as the lads.  Across the hills on which they ran, they could hear the giant yell and scream in rage, and a few trees felled because of the apparent tantrum.

  Collecting themselves, Aallan and Dufr walked with the two horses back to Buckland, from which their real journey had begun.  When they entered, a two hobbits and three menfolk greeted them and thanked them graciously for the return of their property, much to Aallan's confusion.  What had happened, and possibly still, was Svalfang would walk up to a weary traveler, and simply take his property without a fight, because of his intimidating size.  Dufr was of course, half satisfied, since he was able to do some good for the people, while Aallan... well he felt the same way to be honest.  However, the second horse did not belong to anyone in Buckland, as neither did the silver in the bag.  Aallan eagerly accepted the silver, though Dufr just sighed and thought seeing property returned to its rightful owners sort of made the trip worth it... SORT OF.  Moments later after the thanks given to the two, a pile of hay rustled and a robed hand popped out.  As if by another miraculous turn of events, Lockewood's life was saved by a well placed hay pile at the town's entry wall.  The bear was not far behind, though not present for the occasion.  Lockewood then elected to go wander in Bree-Land to practice his craft of whatever it was he did.  So-called magicians were rather strange folk.

  As they said their goodbyes and headed for Bree, Dufr held a rather tired expression as the two walked with a spare horse, and a bag of silver.  Almost an hour later, they arrived to the Prancing Pony, where Aallan stabled the horse, but took the bag of silver in hand.  The first thing on old Dufr's mind was a good sleep, as he walked into the inn, with a stern, though mad look on his face from their little misadventure with a giant.  His last words to Aallan before he headed to a bedroom were: "Never again..."

  Soon, Aallan dropped a few silver pieces from his bag to the ever quiet, but charming Cesistya, who was a rather winsome elf.  Soon he came face to face with the now relieved Brynleigh, as she wanted to hug him for his troubles.  One trip from his tiredness, and Aallan unwittingly planted his first kiss onto Brynleigh's lips.  The two laughed, and chatted for a brief while.  Afterwards, Aallan elected to check on Dufr and plant the bag of silver in Dufr's arms, so as to act as a sort of teddy bear for the snoozing dwarf.  Later that night, after yet another happening at the Pony (one not to be discussed here due to the gruesome details), Aallan brought the spare horse to Brynleigh's dwelling in the outlying villages as a gift to not only her, but to her family-kin.  One last goodbye for the evening was exchanged between the two as well as Conrob, who took her back to her village at the time.  Then all which remained between him and a well earned good night's rest was the walk back to Bree, where Dufr still slept like a bear.