The Tale of Theodebald: Chapter 1

The little Hobbit stood before the West Gate of Bree, wearing his best coat and looking nervously into the town. Nervous wasn't usually a feeling associated with Theo, but it was written all over his face now. This was the farthest from home he'd ever been, and it didn't sit well with him. Taking a deep breath, he crossed the threshold, from the Bree-fields into Bree itself, and looked around. Big Folk everywhere, plus some Dwarves here and there, and even a few Hobbits. The sight of the Hobbits put him at ease, but only slightly. As he walked further into the town, a scrap of paper caught his eye. It fluttered in the breeze, before coming loose and landing almost directly at his feet. Picking it up, he read it over. "Wanted-- Deorla, Thief in the Night." Theo muttered to himself. Dead or Alive, read the paper. Most of it didn't interest him, except a bit at the bottom. Bounty: 50 gold coins. Theo's eyes widened. Penniless as he was now, 50 gold coins sounded pretty good. As he looked further into town, he saw people gathering outside of what looked to be a tavern-- The Prancing Pony, if the sign was to be trusted. As he approached, he heard a man calling out. "She was last spotted in the North Downs! Heading north from Trestlebridge! Bring her to me alive, and you'll have your bounty." 

Theo grinned. Things were already beginning to look up. All he had to do was find this woman? Easy enough, especially with the company gathering outside the Pony. Armored Men, and even Elves! As he got nearer, he noticed a flaw in his plan-- these people were mounted, and he lacked even a pony. As the group began to ride for Trestlebridge, a black-haired Elven woman looked down at him. "Ah-- excuse me!" he called out. "Might I ride with you? If you don't mind." Her face was impassive at first, but then she chuckled and brought him up to sit in front of her. Theo was astonished-- she must be strong indeed to pick him up so easily with one hand. Stronger than her waifish figure implied, anyway. Guess it's true what they say about Elves, he thought. As he and the she-Elf rode away, he grinned again. "Onwards, to adventure!"