I believe it would be the second one hope this helps!
I just read a summary of Chapter 10 in The Fellowship of the Ring, .
I think Strider <span> offered to share what he knows with Frodo and give him advice so that Frodo and his friends will accept Strider as their guide.
His exact words to Frodo were:
</span><span>'Don't be alarmed!... I will tell you what I know, and give you some good advice — but I shall want a reward.'</span><span>
'Just this: you must take me along with you, until I wish to leave you.'
</span><span>
Later on in their conversation, it was revealed that Strider was actually Aragorn and he was a close friend to Gandalf.
</span>
I think its <span>A. metaphor</span>
