There is a big pond in front of Durbar school <u>itself</u><u> </u>?
Strider asks Frodo to allow him to be his guide on his future travels. Strider, aka Aragorn, meets the four Hobbits at the inn, and tells them they should leave soon as Sauron's men are looking for them. None of the Hobbits is willing to believe Strider until Frodo gets a letter from Gandalf saying he can trust Aragorn as he is his friend. He then becomes their guide and takes them to Riverdale where there will be a meeting to discuss the future of the Ring.
The word empty as an over whelming negative connotation when you are feeling empty you are typically in a lowered state, and or sad/depressed.