Having lived with the fear for many days, Ern decided that if he was going to die or disappear like those Halflings he heard about the other day, it would have happened the day he saw those eyes on the hills. He wanted to do something with his wife, after that incident he kept in the house and he himself went out only for work, but no more. At he Crafting Hall he heard about The Mad Boar Inn in Newharrow and decided to go there, from what was said, it was sa nice and cozy inn, much different and safer than the Prancing Pony which was filled with all kinds of folk, shady ones, criminals, and some good folk but still, not as many as he'd want. For one after all that time of hard work, he asked of the man he was working for to let him go three or four hours earlier, the man was happy to hear that and sent him off hours before sundown.
Upon reaching his house Ern sent his six year old boy to his parents on the other side of the village and smiled broadly at his wife, Aggy. She was hapy to see h im like that after a long time but didn't ask any questions, she only started preparing the meal.
-Hello my dear, I will prepare the meal, I didn't know you'd come this early.
-I came this early to take you and go and have a meal at an Inn, I heard of The Mad Boar Inn and I remembered that you mentioned it once or twice. Let us go there and have our proper meal, we deserve it after this hard work.
Both husband and wife got ready, it didn't takea them more than an hour to get bathed and dressed and went to the inn. It was a pleasant afternoon, the sun was warm and the wind as strong as needed and both of them were excited, despite trying not to show it to each other, tehy held hands and reached the Inn. They admired the yard and Ern feeling playful he cupped some water to pass over Aggy's forehead gently to refresh her before leaning over for a kiss. The couple entered the Inn and looked around, the friendliness of the place reached out to them at once and made them relax, Ern helped her sit and went to the counter to order some food and drinks before returning to her. They noted of the friendly staff patrons and agreed that they would come again once the child would be born. The evening came pleasantly and they got up make their way back home.
After that delightful day they walked slowly and in each others arms, following the path and the scarce light of the sun, reaching them between the bloomed trees, they went on and on and it was getting darker and darker but that didn't worry them, it was too good a day to be clouded by such thoughts, but not for long...
From somewhere in the North something like a whistle, or a screech broke the silence of the night, Aggy covered her ears and lowered her head struggling to make it stop, Ern got afraid and having his right hand around her waist he lead her out of the path and near some trees so that they'd be out of sight. As long as they got there and hid as much as they could behind the trees another whistle was heard, then another and then another. Both of them covered their ears from that horrible sound that could pierce them and closed their eyes, a thundering sound was heard and what they saw behind their closed eyes was a light that passed by fast!
Once everything was quiet again they went back home and got into bed without saying anything, Aggy knew that this is what he had seen the other day and Ern now knew why the Hobbits called it Thunderlights. What they didn't see was a mark carved on their doorpost in red...
