Butturbur's Worst Customers

[Inziladun]

Some points raised in this thread recently regarding whether the wights could leave the Barrow-downs got me wondering about something.
Aragron makes this statement to the Council of Elrond, mainly for Boromir's edification:

'Peace and freedom, do you say? The North would have known them little but for us. Fear would have destroyed them.....And yet less thanks have we than you..."Strider" I am to one fat man who lives within a day's march of foes that would freeze his heart, or lay his little town in ruin, if he were not guarded ceaselessly.'

The only creatures of evil intent that near to Bree would seem to be the wights. I could imagine them indeed 'freezing Butturbur's heart', or driving everyone from Bree. But the wights don't seem to have the inclination, or the capability, to do so. Aragorn's words suggest that the instant the Dúnedain let their guard down, these enemies would wreak havoc in Eriador. And when the Dúnedain left to fight in the War of the Ring, enemies indeed came to Bree. But those were folk out of Dunland and Isengard, hardly 'a day's march' from Bree. The wights apparently remained right where they were, though the Dúnedain were gone.
Any thoughts on who the Dúnedain were primarily fighting off from Bree and the Shire in the Third Age?

[Mnemosyne]

Let's not forget about your average, random encounter lowlifes--common brigands and the lot. Sure, they may not lay siege to Bree itself, but its crime rate would certainly go up, and with the Road more dangerous that would also limit trade. Bree itself is pretty isolated, so the loss of that trade could be devastating.

I was always under the impression that Arnor itself was a pretty lawless place at this point and it was up to the Dunedain to keep the scum at bay--from the servants of Sauron to petty thugs.

[CSteefel]

I don't think of those Bree ruffians as characters who would "freeze your heart". Somehow I mostly thought of much more evil and dangerous being from the north, for example up near Deadman's Dike. There is a reference in the Tale of Years about the time when wolves threatened the Shire and Eriador, and it is said that they are still a threat today. Others could be Orcs perhaps from the north, or Trolls. Anyway, this sort of relates to my earlier question of why so much of Eriador is deserted. The suggestion is that much of it is haunted...

[Inziladun]

It seems clear there were various mailicious things roaming around the North; at least Trolls, maybe as far west as Weathertop, possibly some wolves, etc. But Aragorn's statement seems to indicate an organised settlement of evil beings of some sort, when he talks about then being 'a day's march' from Bree.

[CSteefel]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

It seems clear there were various mailicious things roaming around the North; at least Trolls, maybe as far west as Weathertop, possibly some wolves, etc. But Aragorn's statement seems to indicate an organised settlement of evil beings of some sort, when he talks about then being 'a day's march' from Bree.

Yes, and I agree that I can find no other specific reference to what these enemies would be... To the south, there are ruffians to be sure, but as stated, more than a day's march. To the east it seems to be largely deserted, unless you approach the Troll Fells, many day's march. To the west are the Elves. So this really only leaves the North, although there are more references to the Rangers guarding the southern side than to the north, where they only go occasionally...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

That's an interesting topic. Anyway, as to what's been said, I think you can rule the North out: Deadman's Dike had bad reputation only because of the Breelanders' superstition. Gandalf told Butterbur that Rangers are regularly visiting the place, and he said it in a way that did imply rather a pilgrimage to a place bringing sweet memories of forgotten realm than to some haunted dungeon.

The words about "freezing one's heart", to me, imply something more than just "regular" brigands or wild animals (wolves etc.), but it could be Trolls or something like that, although I really doubt that they will be one day's march from Bree.

Actually, there is this thing during Barliman's discussion with Gandalf when the Hobbits are returning home. Barliman says:

For there's been worse than robbers about. Wolves were howling round the fences last winter. And there's dark shapes in the woods, dreadful things that it makes the blood run cold to think of. It's been very disturbing, if you understand me.

So basically, I think this quite corresponds with the above. Are the "dreadful things" the thing that Gandalf mentioned earlier at the Council? Then they are not robbers nor wolves - Barliman mentions those two separately from the "dark shapes". So is that what we are looking for? Somehow, it does not seem fit to me that the Barrow-Wights would awaken and roam free in the woods - they always seemed to me more like bound to one place. And somehow I do not believe that just the Rangers would stop them. But would they? Who knows.