Raising The Shire

Posted By a Hobbit on October 31, 2011

Pareth and five of her kin recently decided to scout the northern area of the Trollshaws called Nan Tornaeth. They were told that many evil creatures had over-run a hidden Rhudaurian temple, the Lost Temple.

So they rode through the Trollshaws in relative safety and they entered into the Lost Temple. Pareth could barely breathe, for the air smelled like death, but she was mesmerized by the beauty of the ruins, as was her companion, Gallagale, an Elven guardian from Mirkwood.

“How can a place of such beauty smell like death, Gallagale?” Pareth asked in dismay.

“Yes, Pareth, evil dwells in this place, one who unleashes a plague on all who enter. We will need to remove disease quickly for it will drain our strength and we must not fail in our mission.”

Pareth checked her bags to make sure she had the Lhinestad draughts she needed to cure disease. Yes, she had some of the more potent Westfold draughts that she had recently purchased at the Rohirrim campsite in Dunland.

Pareth looked at her companions and her face was grim with determination. “Let’s do this, my friends, I am ready.” And they proceeded with caution through the many recesses of the Lost Temple. They remained trapped in the temple for a long time, for the place was infested with vile pests, rot maggots that spread disease and slowed their progress.

But killing off the pests was the least of their problems, like the calm before the storm. They would face worse: trolls, wights, gaunt men, all who attacked their group with a vengeance.

They battled many foes whilst inside the ancient ruins, and though there were some serious injuries, they carried on until they succeeded in defeating the vile Ferndúr the Virulent.

The six warriors, though sickened by the diseases they were inflicted with, left the Lost Temple together. And it wasn’t long before everyone back at the Free People’s camps across Middle Earth heard of their brave deeds and raised glasses in their honour.

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Posted By a Hobbit on October 14, 2011

Treachery! Pareth had a feeling that the Dunlendings in Tal Methedras under the leadership of Lheu Brenin could not be trusted. It was just a strong hunch and it started when she learned that a Dunlending had throne a stone at Saeradan of the Grey Company.

After tending to Saeradan and doing her best to ingratiate herself to the Falcon-clan in Tur Morva, she sensed the under-current of hostility from some of the locals. And whenever she spoke to Lheu Brenin, he never looked her in the eyes. To Pareth, that was a sign that he could not be trusted, and she discussed her misgivings with some of her companions.

It seemed that Théodred, prince of Rohan, shared her feelings and confided in her. At his request, Pareth scouted the areas around the Rohirrim camp to see if she could spot anything unusual. She found nothing and reported back to Théodred.

As it turned out, Pareth’s misgivings were accurate. Lheu Brenin deceived them all and Pareth, along with some of the Rangers and her companions, were captured and brought to Isengard. There they were taken down to the depths of Isengard and were treated as slaves.

Pareth was not treated as roughly as the men, but she was sent to the kitchens to clean up slop, and was taunted and threatened by the servants of the White Hand. But what chilled her the most was her meeting with Saruman. She saw madness in the wizard’s eyes. He would stop at nothing to get the One Ring for his own devices. His cold laughter gave her chills. She would never forget his piercing eyes while he questioned her relentlessly about the whereabouts of the Fellowship. She didn’t know enough to be of any use to him. So she was taken away and she presumed that she would perish in Isengard.

She had almost given up hope until she was sent with a bucket of slop to the dungeons. There was a prisoner who beckoned to her. He whispered that he knew how to escape Isengard and that he had a plan and explained it to her. But Pareth had to defeat the prison guard in order to get the keys to unlock the prisons. She did and they carefully and quietly made their way back to the surface of Isengard, without attracting any attention.

They had stolen some of the black powder that Saruman’s minions had left unattended. They would create a diversion using the black powder to set off a massive explosion and destroy one of the largest war machines in Saruman’s arsenal. One of their group would be left behind to set the explosion. It was a very risky plan but it worked and Pareth escaped unharmed except for minor injuries.

Little did she know that she would one day have to return to that awful place, but she would not go alone. Saruman’s treachery was now out in the open. And the horse lords of Rohan were ready to avenge their fallen comrades. They didn’t know it yet, but they would soon get help from the most unlikely source.

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Posted By a Hobbit on September 29, 2011

After several weeks of being tended by the Elves of Duillond, Tearose Underhill, feeling more like herself than ever, was beginning to get restless. She was more than a little ashamed that she had to abandon missions in Moria, but she still wanted to help the dwarves. So she traveled to Thorin’s Hall in search of adventure.

The Dwarves of the Blue Mountain were skeptical of the value of hobbits, especially female hobbits, and so they weren’t eager to discuss battle strategies with her.

She ran into one fellow by the name of Rútur, though, who seemed eager to speak with her. “You seem like you could hold your own against some of the vermin who have infested our lands and now hide in the ruins of Sarnúr, in the western mountains. I challenge you to travel there and return to me once you have defeated at least a dozen of the vile Dourhands you encounter. Once you have returned alive, I will then make sure your name is remembered by all dwarves with honor, and I will then also ask you to assist me with other matters. Do you accept my challenge, young hobbit?”

Tearose was more than a little annoyed with the attitude of most of the dwarves she had spoken to in Thorin’s Hall, but this one seemed different. He had a friendly twinkle in his eye, and that was good enough for her.

“I accept your challenge, sir, and I will defeat double what you asked me. Therefore, let it be known that two dozen Dourhands will fall at my feet by the swift arrows of my bow and the steely blade of my sword.”

And with those words, Tearose left Thorin’s Hall and rode swiftly to Orodost. The goblins feared her and Tearose ignored their screeches as she climbed the recesses of Orodost until she was outside the entrance of Sarnúr. She entered and within less than a day she had defeated many more than two dozen Dourhands. She slew other creatures in there as well, and it was several days before she returned to Rútur with the proof of her deeds. Tearose knew that she no longer should have to feel ashamed. The western parts of Middle Earth needed her skills just as much as ever, so she didn’t need to worry ever again about abandoning Moria.

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