-Part four

The brass tool poked the logs into the fire to allow it to breathe and become stronger into the freplace, the fire crackeda s if satisfied and burned stronger. The satisfied Hobbit then hanged the poker on the nail that protrudes from the fireplace and turned around victoriously to face his wife, as if he did something hard.
-How's our guest? He asked and and walked to the armchair at the centre of the room and sinked in it, making himself comfortable, lifting his feet on the stool that stood in front of the armchair. His wife had just finished cutting the carrots and lifted her head to look at him.
-I don't know. I went in the room to give him some tea two hours ago and he was asleep. I will check on him when I am done here. Came her reply and she took some lettuce. Her husband nodded, while lighting his pipe and sighed, blowing the smoke out of his lungs with it. It was dark outside and the two were preparing for the last meal of the day, a little after the dinner and their house was full of pleasant smells, all coming from the boiling pumpkin on the fireplace. Their house was located a little away from the Brockenborings, it stood alone in a stretched area full of fields and some trees in the West and before the Brandywine river.
The wife threw the last ingredients into the pot and took another cup of tea and headed into the guestroom, quietly she opened the door and looked inside, not wanting to disturb the man who lay on the bed, on the edge of which stood a chair to support his legs, the bed being too short for him. She approached and put the cup on the furniture near the bed and the man opened his eyes and looked at her, their grey seemed unnatural to her but she said nothing, only smiled warmly at him.
-I... I shouldn't be here. My presence here endangers your home. He said weakly and sunk back into the bed. The woman put her palm on his forehead and bit her lips, it burned hot indicating fever. She turned her gaze to the tea and smiled once more.
-Drink the tea, it wll help you sleep, tomorrow you will feel better.
-I thank you but you must unders- his sentence was cut by a heavy pounding on the door that made the woman turn around a little startled, it was unnatural for Hobbits to visit at such hours in that area, especially their house, which was that far from the nearest village. She left the room at once, not saying anything, ready to greet or help those who came.
The husband turned to look at the wife inquiringly and stood up, putting the pipe on the stool, still burning.
-Who can it be at such an hour? I hope not that fellow Rodylack who enters any home that cooks when he's around... I will break his head! He didn't sound that daring, on the contrary, it was as if he wanted to suppress his fears and walked towards the door. Slowly he extended his hand towards the hand and another loud knock made him jump, being too loud and close to him. He looked left and right, to make sure that his wife didn't notice that and opened the door. Behind it stood a man, leaning closer to see in side and smiled at them.
-I am sorry to disturb you in such an hour, he said, but I have to tell you that you should not hide strange men! and pushed the Hobbit into the house, the husband stepped back, being violently pushed and fell on the stool, hitting his ribs and wincing from the pain. The wife let out a shriek and stepped backwards, till she touched the door of the guestroom, at that moment it opened and the man came out, holding a sword, he pushed her in and closed the door behind him. In the living room he saw two men in black clothes and hoods, under which their teeth were visible, betraying heir grin.
-It was time you showed, it's so unlike you to hide behind Halflings! Said one of the men and drew his sword. The man didn't answer, his grey eyes were blank, showing that he knew what his fate had for him, he lifted the sword and charged at them, yet he was too weak, the blood-loss he had three days ago in the fields had still its effects on him. He charged and swung his sword, too weakly for his adversaries and soon everything darkened...
The next day the fire that burned the house and he fields of Brockerings was known throughout the whole Shire, the Hobbits were cooking for a late meal but something happened and burned their house and themselves...