Hi, I'm Anna. Welcome back to my channel. It has been a while since I've made a reading video, but I'm back and I'm here to read chapter 10 of Fellowship of the Ring.
I'm sure if you've seen my other videos, you know the drill by now. So, I'm just going to go ahead and get started. Just a second.
The mailman is here. Chapter 10. Strider.
Froto, Pippen, and Sam made their way back to the parlor. There was no light. Mary was not there, and the fire had burned low.
It was not until they had puffed up the embers into a blaze and thrown on a couple of [ __ ] that they discovered Strider had come with them. There he was calmly sitting in a chair by the door. Hello, said Pep Pippen.
Who are you and what do you want? I'm called Strider, he answered. And though he may have forgotten it, your friend promised to have a quiet talk with me.
You said I might hear something to my advantage, I believe, said Froto. What do you have to say? Several things, answered Strider.
But of course, I have my price. What do you mean? asked Froto sharply.
Don't be alarmed. I mean just this. I will tell you what I know and give you some good advice.
But I shall want a reward. And what will that be? Prey, said Froto.
He suspected now that he had fallen in with a rascal, and he thought uncomfortably that he had brought only a little money with him. All of it would hardly satisfy a rogue, and he could not spare any of it. "No more than you can afford," answered Strider with a slow smile, as if he guessed Froto's thoughts.
"Just this. You must take me along with you until I wish to leave you. " "Oh, indeed," replied Froto, surprised, but not much relieved.
"Even if I wanted another companion, I should not agree to any such thing, unless I knew a good deal more about you and your business. " "Excellent," claimed Strider, crossing his legs and sitting back comfortably. "You seem to be coming to your senses again.
" "And that is all to the good. You have been much careless so far. Very well, I will tell you what I know and leave the reward to you.
You may be glad to grant it when you have heard me. Go on then, said Froto. What do you know?
Too much, too many dark things, said Strider grimly. But as for your business, he got up and went to the door, opened it quickly, and looked out. Then he shut it quietly and sat down again.
I have quick ears, he went on, lowering his voice. And though I cannot disappear, I have hunted many wild and weary things, and I can usually avoid being seen if I wish. Now I was behind the hedge this evening on the road west of Brie when four hobbits came out of the downlands.
I need not repeat all that they said to me, said to old Bombadil, or to one another, but one thing interested me. Please remember, said one of them, that the name Baggins must not be mentioned. I am Mr Underh Hill if any name must be given.
That interested me so much that I followed them here. I slipped over the gate just behind them. Maybe Mr Baggins has an honest reason for leaving his name behind.
But if so, I should advise him and his friends to be more careful. I don't see what interest my name has for anyone in Brie, said Froto angrily. And I have still to learn why it interests you.
Mr Strider may have an honest reason for spying and easedropping, but if so, I should advise him to explain it. Well answered," said Strider, laughing. "But the explanation is simple.
I was looking for a hobbit called Froto Baggins. I wanted to find him quickly. I had learned that he was carrying out of the Shire, while a secret that cons concerned me and my friends.
" "Now don't mistake me," he cried as Froto rose from his seat and Sam jumped up with a scowl. "I shall take more care of that of the secret than you do, and care is needed. " He leaned forward and looked at them.
"Watch every shadow," he said in a low voice. "Black horsemen have passed through Brie. On Monday, one came down the greenway, they say, and another appeared later, coming up the greenway from the south.
" There was a silence. At last, Froto spoke to Pippen and Sam. "I ought to have guessed it from the way the gatekeeper greeted us," he said.
"And landlord seems to have heard something. Why did he press us to join the company? And why on earth did we behave so foolishly?
We ought to have stayed quiet in here. It would have been better, said Strider. I would have stopped your going to the common room if I could.
I The inkeeper would not let me in to see you or take a message. Do you think he began Froto? No, I don't think any harm of old Butterbly.
He does not altogether like mysterious vagabonds of my sort. Froto gave him a puzzled look. Well, I have a rather rascally look, have I not?
said Strider with a curl of his lip and a queer gleam in his eye. But I hope we shall get to know one another better. When we do, I hope you'll explain what happened at the end of your song.
For that little prank. It was sheer accident, interrupted Frodo. I wonder, said Strider.
Accident then. That accident has made your position dangerous. Hardly more than it already was than it was already, said Froto.
I knew these horsemen were pursuing me, but now at any rate they seem to have missed me and gone to gone away. You must not count on that, said Strider sharply. They will return and more coming.
There are others. I know their number. I know these writers.
He paused and his eyes were cold and hard. And there are some folk and brie who are not to be trusted. He went on, "Bill Fernie, for instance, he has an evil name in the Bland and queer folk call at his house.
You must have noticed him among the company, a sworthy sneering fellow. He was very close with one of the southern strangers, and they slipped out together just after your accident. " Not all those southerners mean well.
And as for Fernie, he would sell anything to anybody or make mischief for amusement. What will Fernie sell? And what has my accident got to do with him?
said Froto, still determined not to understand Strider's hints. News of you, of course, answered Strider. An account of your performance would be very interesting to certain people.
After that, they would s hardly need to be told your real name. It seems to me only too likely that they will hear of it before this night is over. Is that enough?
You can do as you like about my reward. Take me as a guide or not, but I may say that I know all the lands between the Shire and the Misty Mountains, for I have wandered over them for many years. I am older than I look.
I might prove useful. You will have to leave the open road after tonight, for the horsemen will watch it night and day. You may escape from Brie and be allowed to go forward while the sun is up.
But you won't go far. They will come on you in the wild, in some dark place where there is no help. Do you wish them to find you?
They're terrible. The hobbits looked at him and saw a surprise that his face was drawn as if with pain. and his hands clenched the arms of his chair.
The room was very quiet and still, and the lights seemed to have grown dim. For a while he sat with unseen eyes, as if walking in distant memory or [clears throat] listening to sounds in the night far away. There he cried after a moment, drawing his hand across his brow.
Perhaps I know more about these pursuers than you do. You fear them, but you do not fear them enough yet. Tomorrow you'll have to escape if you can.
Strider can take you by paths that are seldom trot trotten. Will you have him? There was a heavy silence.
Froto made no answer. His mind was confused with doubt and fear. Sam frowned and looked at his master and at last he broke out.
With your leave, Mr Froto, I'd say no. This strider here he warns and and he says take care and I say yes to that and let's begin with him. He comes out of the wild and I never heard no good of such folk.
Okay. That was chapter 10 of The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring. Thanks for watching.
Bye.
