<hr/><div class="floatleft">(https://fontmeme.com/permalink/220302/86db40561bcf497ceecf75fa059dfdb9.png)</div><br/><br/><hr/><br/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/peter-jacksons-the-hobbit/images/6/69/Squint_in_Prancing_Pony.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://media.moddb.com/images/articles/1/243/242615/MouthSauronLarge.jpg)</div><div align="center"><strong>Name:</strong> Squint and the Forgotten one. <br/><strong>Affiliation:</strong> Bree-lander and Sauron<br/><strong>Time:</strong> TA 3014, winter<br/><strong>Location:</strong> Near Bree<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong> N/A</div><br/><br/><div align="center">--- The night before, East of Bree ---<br/></div><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Under the moonlight, traveling amidst rocks and trees barely covered by the white mantle of winter, the dark horse was bleeding.<br/>From around its mouth, an iron chain was hanging, connecting the mount to a pair of iron gloves.<br/>The strength applied to direct the horse, to force the animal to halt, was creating wounds which had barely time to close. Drops of blood were leaving the animal's mouth and were running along the metallic chain, falling to the ground. Hence, the thin layer of snow covering the earth was turning to crimson.<br/>The sides of the horse's neck were abrased, burned by the action of the chain rubbing against the animal's flesh.<br/>Yet the dark horse was calm, totally submitted to the Will of its master.<br/><br/>The tall figure was wearing a black and grey armor, hidden beneath a robe. His dark helm was giving the impression that his head was deformed, elongated and that from his skull, spikes protruded. His eyes were hidden behind his helm, and an emaciated arm moved to the side and upward, ordering the troop following him to halt.<br/><br/>From afar, a silhouette in a mantle of fur, emerged from the shadows and quickly approached the troop.<br/>The hood covering his face was removed as the man bent his head down, unable to sustain the presence of the Dunadan whose name was forgotten.<br/>Squint spoke to the man on the dark horse, his eyes fixated on the red-tainted snow at his feet.<br/><br/>"Time is running out for me...<br/>Can't you see what you are doing to me?<br/>Can't you see what you have done?<br/>As I try to pass another long and sleepless night<br/>A hundred crazy voices call my name...<br/>As I try to pass them by<br/>I can almost believe that she is here..."<br/><br/>The Helm moved down to look at Squint. Then, as if he had turned into a reptile, the Forgotten one's frame, moved down, so that his mouth leveled with Squint's head.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial black;">"Don't you see you shall never be together again?"</span>the Forgotten said, his mouth contorted in a terrible smile.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial black;">"Do not ever address me with such words you pathetic living flesh. You're going to play your role, and guide us, and in return you'll keep your life. Eventually you'll save hers, but, it is too late for you both to be reunited. She's been sent far from here, to the East."</span><br/><br/>"She's a child !" Squint said.<br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial black;">"She's meat."</span>the dark figure replied.<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: arial black;">"Let's move, you'll point out friends and allies of the Eye. Let's claim <em>my</em> Land, <em>my</em> soldiers and <em>my</em> stone."</span><br/><br/><div align="center">-----</div><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRjNco2Y21b_pUj8Z7Yy1L1CDGhdqznDz-Trg&amp;usqp=CAU)</div><div class="floatright">(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/peter-jacksons-the-hobbit/images/6/69/Squint_in_Prancing_Pony.jpg)</div><div class="floatright">(https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/peter-jacksons-the-hobbit/images/8/86/Dale-Folk20.png)</div><div align="center"><strong>Name:</strong> Barliman Butterbur, Nob, Bob, Squint and Farulf, Dale-folk Merchant. <br/><strong>Affiliation:</strong> Bree-landers<br/><strong>Time:</strong> TA 3014, winter<br/><strong>Location:</strong> Bree, the Prancing Pony<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong> Cat, Ubara, Shishi, Galad, Arion, Oleryd, Dagrahir</div><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Squint's gestures, as he moved from his table, with an empty pint in hand, came to an halt when he realized that it was too late to act.<br/><br/>That damned Barliman, and that Dale-folk had said enough to attract the attention of the people within the Prancing Poney. Worse, there were strangers, entering the inn who were asking to know more about that "Dunadan" who had brought down the marks of Sauron's defeat, and was traveling North.<br/><br/>If Galad's entrance, accompanied by a large dog -<em>a wolf </em>!- made Squint startle, he almost fell back on his seat when someone immediately recognizable as a man of Gondor penetrated the Inn and asked for Barliman.<br/><br/>"No, no-no-no-no-no..." he muttered.<br/><br/>Squint started sweating and panic transpired also from his being. Despite his own experience as a thief, mercenary or whatever one could define him with, his sudden change of attitude could be noticed by anyone observing the tables or customers of the inn.<br/>Lirion, or even Ubara, should they concentrate slightly, could suddenly smell animal blood emanating from Squint's table.<br/>The latter sat back at his table, and tried to calm down.<br/><br/><em>-"I would not want to impose on anyone else who does not wish to hear it again, but for my own part I would welcome the chance to hear more.  Though I do agree that North does sound rather... broad as a destination, the tale intrigues me."</em>- had said a red-headed woman on Squint's far left.<br/><br/>-<em>“I would like to hear news about the north as well. This is my friend Lirion”</em>-<br/><br/>-<em>“I’d like to hear it.”</em>-<br/><br/>-<em><strong>"Yes, please do tell. I'd like to know as well,"... "If you don't mind, that is."</strong></em>-<br/><br/>Barliman was about to reply to all his customers when he was asked by two newcomers for help.<br/>The innkeeper smiled at the petite woman who spoke first :<br/><br/>-<em>"Good evening, dear sir"... "I'm in need of a room if you have one. And I would appreciate a glass of wine and your recommendation for the kitchen's best. I have traveled up the greenway and have not had a bed or good food in a while."</em>-<br/><br/><strong>"Well, well, well. I'll have Nob serve you with a wine, although, and I'll apologize for that, we're more specialist of Ale and a good pint. But..."</strong>he murmured<strong>"I'm sure I can find something special for you."</strong><br/><br/>He continued, with a louder voice :<br/><strong>"As for the good food, you've come to the right place. We have hot soups, cold meats, blackberry tarts, new loaves, slabs of butter, or half a ripe cheese...and we have a few rooms ready, M'am."</strong><br/>Barliman will wait for Shishi to reply, and serve her with her choice. Strangely enough, he had not spoken to her about money regarding her requests.<br/><br/>-<em><strong>"Might someone point out the famous Butterbur?"</strong></em>- Dagrahir asked.<br/><br/>Nob instantly replied :<br/>"That's him Good Lord. Owner of the Prancing Pony and Storyteller when he's got a few pint into him."<br/><br/>Nob moved at Squint's table, holding a plate with several pints filled with Ale.<br/><br/>Barliman looked at Dagrahir with a smile.<br/><strong>"Come, come friend of the South. This story will also be of interest to you. As we all know, except our Dale-Folk here, a shadow moves North. A man wearing a helm and a dark cloack. While the three remaining Kingdom of these lands are in ruin, that Dunadan will claim thrones. For sure, he's going to Fornost. Rumors are saying this city is not abandoned anymore. Survivors from the wars against Angmar are trying to live there. To find shelter."</strong><br/><br/>Barliman shook his head.<br/><strong>"Yet, this city is a fruit ready to fall."<br/></strong><br/>