Disclaimer: I do not own the lord of the rings (unfortunately)

"Hullo Gandalf! How nice you visited!" Frodo offered Gandalf a seat and a cup of tea. Of course Frodo knew why Gandalf had visited, it had to do with the Ring. "I came to tell you that I have thought of some plans. But I fear you won't like them!" said Gandalf.

"What plans?" asked Frodo.

"About when you're going to leave; you, Samwise and the rest of your friends.

If you follow my plans you will reach Rivendell on time and if you set out early enough we will have all the time we need to destroy the Ring. But I see it's a bit late for all these discussions. It's already ten thirty and we should be going to bed."

"I was nearly in bed myself," said Frodo yawning "but then I heard the door!"

"Then go now and I'll tell you about everything tomorrow."

So next morning, after breakfast, Gandalf told Frodo his plan.

"You should start packing and inform the others to do the same. And be very quick. You leave in four days." said Gandalf.

"Four days." Frodo counted them "But that's Christmas Day! And in three days it's Christmas Eve! We can't leave then!"

"The Ring is dangerous, Frodo! This mission mustn't fail. Any sacrifice should be made!"

Frodo could not argue. For one thing Gandalf was right! The Ring was dangerous and it couldn't stay in the Shire for much longer! But he found it quite unfair to leave on a day as special as Christmas (all hobbits love Christmas). And if he didn't like the plan he couldn't help thinking what Sam, Merry and Pippin would say. Especially Pippin! If Frodo knew Pippin, his friend would hate the idea of missing the Christmas feast. But he would still want to help him! So would Merry and especially Sam! Gandalf's plan had its disadvantages, but it would work and that meant that there would be more Christmases (with a bit of luck and if they even did come back to celebrate them, with a bit of luck...) But Frodo knew that Sam, Merry and Pippin wouldn't even bother to think of that when he would tell them the plan.

The night of Christmas Eve, Gandalf was troubled! He couldn't stop thinking of the four hobbits. Of course, he knew his plan was great and would work perfectly well (as anyone would say about their plan). He sat in the study of Bag End while Frodo went to tell Sam, Merry and Pippin the plan. He looked at a picture on the desk. It was a picture of Bilbo. He suddenly remembered Bilbo, Thorin, all the other dwarves and the journey to the Lonely Mountain. He had been good friends with Thorin before he died and Gandalf was sad he had. He went to the kitchen to get some water and then returned to the study. To his surprise, he found someone else sitting in his spot. A dwarf with a black beard wearing a sky-blue hood with a long silver tassel.

"Good evening Gandalf," said the dwarf "I see you don't remember me."

"I must admit that indeed I don't"replied Gandalf surprised that the dwarf knew his name.

"Well then," said the dwarf "I'll have to remind you. Go back some years to the day you sent me and the other twelve dwarves to this very house. I was the leader of all these dwarves."

"It can't be!"cried Gandalf "Thorin Oakenshield! I thought you had died in the Battle Of Five Armies!"

"I did die." said Thorin "And this is not me. It is my ghost. I am here to talk to you about something very important."

"About what?" asked Gandalf.

"About you! You're spoiling Christmas for the hobbits. You know which."

"Frodo, Samwise, Peregrin and Meriadoc. I'm not spoiling their Christmas!"

"Oh, you are! That's why I'm here! To tell you not to. I didn't like Christmas either, but I didn't spoil it for anyone!"

"But I'm not spoiling it!"

"Don't argue with me Gandalf the Grey! I will send you three ghosts tonight. You must listen to them, for they will help you understand what you're doing! If even that won't make you understand, then dark things will happen in the future that must not happen!"

"Go away! You're not real! You're only my imagination!" said Gandalf. He rubbed his eyes and then looked at where Thorin had been sitting. The chair was empty.

Author's Note: Soo what do you think? Please review and let me know!