With a Hobbit in the party, they inevitably spent more time on the road. Bilbo knew how tight their schedule was and tried his hardest, but he simply could not go any faster.
In the end, Allen shared his horse with his friend, while the Hobbit's mount galloped behind the party carrying its master's belongings, barely managing to keep up.
Still, the journey from the Shire to Mithlond was short, less than a third of the distance to Rivendell. It would only take a few days at most.
Soon, the party passed through the White Downs, where Michel Delving, the Shire's de facto capital, lay. Bilbo's mithril chainmail was stored in a Mathom-house on a hillside there, the Hobbit equivalent of a museum.
That one museum could be worth more than the entire Shire.
Allen and the others did not linger. They spurred their horses along the East Road and crossed the Shire's border. A day or two later, they spotted three white towers standing on a range of hills, outposts of the Elves of Lindon.
It was said that the tallest white tower on the hills was called Emyn Beraid. It housed a Palantír known as the Stone of Elendil, through which one could see Valinor. Given the chance, Allen very much wanted to take a look.
But that would surely require permission from quite a few mighty figures. Even eating biscuits made from a recipe passed down from Valinor could make people long to visit that blessed land.
And actually looking at it? Who knew what might happen.
It was already evening when the party arrived. Glittering stars slowly emerged overhead, while west of the hills stretched the boundless sea.
"Let's rest here tonight. Unless something unexpected happens, we should reach the Grey Havens tomorrow."
Having said that,