This is a version of my Knee-pokers Hobbit combat specialist deck, tuned for Fire in the Night. The deck builds up Tom Cotton to defend repeatedly, with a high defense and hit point value.
Tom gets at least two Fast Hitches, with one possibly going on Rosie Cotton or, if you prefer, one can also go on Merry. Without outside help, Tom can reach 6 defense and 6 hit points, using two Ring Mails and Friend of Friends (the other goes on Merry), and then Rosie can boost him to 8 defense. With Arwen Undómiel in a companion deck, he can reach 9 defense and be a sentinel.
Outmatched greatly improves this deck, as it elegantly solves Tom's need to stay engaged with an enemy.
There are more piloting instructions for this deck in the original published version (see the 'derived from' link below).
This particular tuning of the deck was paired with a Spirit-Lore deck which included spirit Beregond in 2-handed play, and which also included A Burning Brand. Hence the Gondorian Shield and otherwise not very necessary Song of Wisdom. Without Beregond to play the shield on, you might just sub in Burning Brand for the shield. I've also used Wait no Longer as a great card for this deck, which pairs with Good Meal, although the cost reduction is not needed if you have managed to get your Resourcefuls attached. Wait no Longer might whiff in Fire in the Night though, as there are not so many enemies in the deck. Legacy Blade is a great card for Fire in the Night, but is not in this deck because it was in the companion deck I used. It could replace Dagger of Westernesse here. I forgot about Halfast Gamgee, but he would be great for Fire in the Night. I would probably sub him as a 1-of and take out Keen-eyed Took. This deck eagerly awaits the upcoming Mount Gundabad AP for some upgrades and options as well.