A/N: Sorry to anyone who read this story and didn't understand- I've changed the ending of LOTR a bit. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Stars in the Sky

"No, no, no!" hissed Gollum. "The precious is gone. My precious.. No, no, no." Gollum hissed and retreated to the back of his cave. He had to come up with a plan to get it back…..

Meanwhile, Frodo Baggins was sitting with Elrond in Rivendell, who was studying the Ring closely. "You should have destroyed it, Frodo" he sighed. "The Rings power is growing, after all."

"I know" said Frodo, looking at the ring. "I just couldn't make myself do it. Ah, well" he said, leaning back in his chair. "At least Sauron is dead." Elrond looked at him closely. Then he sighed. "I'm not so sure, Frodo" he said, staring into space.

"What do you mean?" asked Frodo. "Surely he's dead; Sam saw it with his own eyes."

"Yes, I know that!" said Elrond. "I know he believes. I want to know this though… do you believe?"

Frodo sighed and looked Elrond in the face. No" he said, in a slightly worried voice.

"I've been getting this feeling from the Ring. Whenever I put it in my pocket, I have this feeling. I think he's still alive."

"You think who's still alive?" asked a cheery voice. It was Merry Brandybuck, one of Frodo's best friends. He wandered into the room, carrying a big cup, full of steaming hot chocolate. "Nobody, Merry" answered Frodo. "We were just having a little discussion about Sauron."

"Well, I'm all ears" said Merry, plonking down into a big armchair. "What were you saying?"

Frodo looked at Elrond. Elrond looked at Merry and said to him "We were just debating whether or not we thought he was alive." Merry laughed and looked at Frodo in surprise. "Oh, Frodo" he said cheerily. "I never thought you would lose your mind more than what happened in the inn at Bree. I wish I'd been there to see it." He laughed and stared into space for a minute. "I guess I was wrong."

"What do you mean by that" started Frodo.

"Shush" said Elrond. "Merry" he said. "I am afraid that it might be quite true. Frodo has just told me more about the Ring. He's been getting this feeling.

"Really" said Merry, sitting up to hear the story. "What did he say?"

"Well" said Elrond. "It goes like this…"

He told Merry everything that Frodo had just said about the Ring. "So you base all this on a feeling that Frodo had." He grinned a little, before falling to the ground and rolling all over the place. Hot chocolate went everywhere. "No!" shouted Frodo, over the yelps from Merry. "It is more than just a feeling. It's a…"

"Okay, Frodo" laughed Merry. "Okay." He wandered out of the room. "I'm just going to get some more hot chocolate" he called over his shoulder. "Then I'll come back to hear why." They heard him yelping and laughing to himself all the way to the end of the corridor. "Well" said Frodo. "That went well."

"It most certainly did" said Elrond.

"Oh, how can we make them believe he's alive?" asked Frodo.

"You really want to do that now?" said Elrond. "Isn't it a bit early?"

"Yes, I do" said Frodo. "I want to do it now. I just need to know how."

"The only way to persuade them is for you to persuade yourself" a low voice said. "Only then well they see the truth."

"Gandalf!" said Frodo and Elrond, together. Frodo looked round at the door. No one was standing there. "Gandalf?" said Frodo, looking blankly round the door. "Yes, Frodo?" came a voice from behind. Frodo took two steps back and looked round, smiling. There was Gandalf standing in the corner of the room. "Where did you come from" said Frodo.

"Me?" said Gandalf. "I've been here the whole time."

"When did you get back from Helms Deep?" asked Elrond.

"I've been back…" said Gandalf. "About a month, maybe more."

"So you arrived earlier than you meant too" said Elrond.

"No" said Gandalf. "As, I've said once before, a wizard is never late, nor is he early he arrives precisely when he means too." Elrond smiled as Frodo burst out in wonder... "Helms Deep? What were you doing there?"

"I was merely looking at something concerning me and Elrond."

"What were you looking at" asked Frodo. "Is it about Sauron?"

"Well... it is connected yes" said Elrond, speaking for the first time. "It was just… Gandalf was looking at the…

"Err… excuse me Mister Elrond" came a voice. "The kitchens are wondering whether you are ready to eat." Sam peeked round the door. "Tell them we are, Sam" answered Gandalf. "Thank you." Sam bowed and said "Pleasure to help Mister Gandalf. Sam turned and walked away whistling. He turned to Elrond and Frodo. "Well I guess we don't have time to tell you Frodo" said Gandalf. "Ah well you can just go to tea and we'll come right behind you."

"Okay" said Frodo cheerily. "But you'll tell me later, won't you?"

"Of course we will tell you." Said Elrond, smiling. Gandalf just frowned and steered Elrond over to the other chairs and whispered him something. Elrond looked up and said to Frodo "You can just go now, Frodo."

"But you promise you'll tell me later" asked Frodo.

"Maybe" was the answer. "But you can just go now."

"But…"

"Go" shouted Gandalf. Frodo jumped and ran out the door as fast as he could.

When the starter was served Frodo noticed that Gandalf and Elrond were not present at tea. When it was the main course they still hadn't come to the table. "Sam?" asked Frodo. "Do you know how long Gandalf and Elrond will be before they get here?"

"No, I'm not sure, Master Frodo" answered Sam. "I think that they are in the counselling chambers though." At that minute the main course was taken away and dessert was served. Dessert was a massive triple chocolate iced gateau. Frodo looked at it in wonder and as he looked over at Sam he saw his mouth drop open with amazement. Frodo reached into the centre of the table and grabbed the smallest slice. He ate it in two bites before picking up his napkin wiping his mouth and excusing himself from the table. He walked through the beautiful gardens and walked through the daunting brass doors of the counselling chambers. He then stopped walking and looked around him. He couldn't see Gandalf or Elrond anywhere in the room, but he could hear the rustling of the branches. He drew his sword silently and took one last look around. His eyes pasted the chairs, past the table and then returned his eyes to the chairs. He found a note lying in the stuffing of the chair and pulled it out. The note was addressed to him and was just like Gandalf's writing. He opened it and read it swiftly. The note had the words

"Frodo, Elrond and I have gone away to Minas Tirith. We are searching for more evidence on Sauron. We would like you to stay there and not do ANYTHING drastic. Sorry we can't tell you any more, but I can say this.. we are being watched.

From Gandalf

P.S I completely believe you and your ring problem but please don't tell anyone else save Pippin and Sam.

Frodo stared out the window. The stars were twinkling brightly and the moon shining bright. For a second Frodo was convinced the stars made Gandalf's face and the moon made Elrond's face. Frodo looked up and saw the starry Gandalf putting his hand out and the stars around forming the words… stay there. Frodo looked round the room, but no-one was there. He sighed. No-one ever thought he could do anything anymore…..