The Shire

I slide through the dark forest. It was light out, but to me it was dark. For the one dark ring of Sauron had been found. Gandalf had told me how important the ring was, and how it must be destroyed. While Estelhad told me of his past, and what Iseldor had done.

Lord Elrod had trained me from the time I could walk and get into trouble. Estel had found me when I was about five, and Lord Elrod had adopted me into his family and had trained me for nine years. I had been traveling with Estel for five months now. Today I would turn ten and five years.

This was very important for me, because once I turned ten and five years I could go out and travel on my own. I wouldn't have to stay around Estel all the time. Lord Elrod had suggested that I traveled with Estel for a while. I'm half elf, and I can read minds and send thoughts.

I have dark brown hair that goes down to my waist, and light blue/ silver eyes. I look a lot like Estel, and people often mistake me for his daughter. But it's better that way. I was supposed to be traveling with Estel, but Gandalf had suggested I go with him to The Shire. I had heard of hobbits but I had never seen or met one. Gandalf told me to travel behind him so that is what I am doing.

I could hear Gandalf humming to himself.

"Mira," I heard Gandalf think to me, "be on your guard. We are nearing the shire."

"You be on your guard!" I thought to the old wizard, "I can take care of myself, but can you, old man?" I heard Gandalf laughing.

"I'm not that old." He thought amusingly, and paused that cart he was riding in. I walked up next to the cart.

"Right." I laughed, "Not that old! Compared to whom?" Gandalf just smiled and shook his head.

"Now come along." Gandalf said. I walked along side his cart in silence. Gandalf went back to humming. Suddenly I heard a book shut.

I quickly changed into a white wolf and jumped onto the back of Gandalf's cart.

Oh, yeah. That's another thing I forgot to mention. I'm a shape-shifter. Oh, yeah I'm loaded with special abilities! Even though I was a wolf, I still had light blue eyes. It's a special trait I have. In less than a minuet a small figure appeared on a hill next to Gandalf's cart.

I let out a low threatening growl, but Gandalf waved me off. The hobbit stood up straight and looked at Gandalf.

"Your late." He said. Gandalf looked up.

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins. He arrives precisely when he means to!" Both of them sat looking at each other for a while, and then they both started cracking up. I rolled my eyes and curled up into a tight ball. Frodo jumped into the cart and hugged Gandalf. Which frightened me a bit and I jumped up and landed on top of some fireworks.

"Its great to see you, Gandalf!" Frodo shouted. Gandalf kept driving the cart. He and Frodo started talking to each other, and not including me! I snorted and put my paws on the seats.

"Oh!" Gandalf looked at me, "I'm sorry! Frodo, this is Mira."

"Finally!" I thought. I raised my paw to Frodo. He laughed and shook my paw.

"Its very nice to meet you, Mira!" Frodo greeted me and smiled. I could see that he meant it so I smiled a wolfish smile and laid my head on my paws. Frodo and Gandalf were talking when some kids started shouting 'Gandalf!' I looked up and some small children were following us.

"Gandalf! Gandalf!" More yelled as they came up behind the moving cart, "Gandalf! Fireworks! Fireworks, Gandalf!" As we passed the children looked downfallen. Frodo looked at Gandalf, and smiled.

Suddenly the fireworks that were lying under me went off! I yelped and leapt into the air as the fireworks went off. I turned to see Gandalf and Frodo laughing their heads off. I growled and lay back down, careful not to lie on any fireworks.

As we approached some tiny houses in the ground Frodo jumped off the cart.

"Its good to see you again Gandalf. And it was nice to meet you, Mira." Frodo said as he walked into his house. Once he closed his door I jumped up onto the seat next to Gandalf, and sighed.

"Mean!" I accused Gandalf. Gandalf smiled and kept driving the cart.

"All in good fun, Mira." Gandalf told me. I snorted.

"All good fun until a certain white wolf named Mira gets hurt!" I thought coldly. Gandalf laughed, "I don't know what's so funny about me!"

I ignored Gandalf and listened to what the hobbits were thinking.

"Oh, great! Here comes Gandalf, the disturber of the peace!" one thought as she waved to Gandalf nicely and yelled, "After-noon, Gandalf!" "Disturber of the peace." She added on. Many of the younger hobbits seemed happy to see Gandalf.

When we approached Bilbo Baggins home Gandalf pulled the cart to a stop and jumped off.

"Come to the door when I call you." Gandalf instructed me.

"What else can I do?" I thought mildly. Gandalf huffed and turned away muttering something about teenager elves.

I stretched out on the cart and laid my head on my paws. Now, I'm a very impatient and unforgiving person. So it wasn't long before I jumped off the cart and trotted up to the door. I sat there for a moment and then finally scratched on the door.

"Gandalf…" I thought impatiently.

"Oh! I forgot." I heard Gandalf say.

"You forgot!" I barked at the old wizard that was inside, "If you forgot me already then you are getting old!"

"I brought a friend along with me." Gandalf informed Bilbo.

"How delightful!" A second voice said walking to the door, "Any friend of Gandalf is a friend of mine!"

A small figure, which I presumed was Bilbo, opened the door. Gandalf stood behind the small person.

"This is Mira." Gandalf introduced me, "Mira this is Bilbo." I turned and bowed to Bilbo. Bilbo smiled and bowed back.

"Mira, there is no need to hide from Bilbo." Gandalf told me, "But come inside first." I happily trotted past the confused hobbit as he shut the door. Once I got inside the tiny house I instantly changed back into an eleth.

I turned back to Bilbo. He was standing there with his mouth hanging open and a surprised expression on his face.

"Hello Bilbo Baggins. I'm Mira." I introduced myself even though Gandalf already had. I held out my hand. Bilbo put a silly smile on his face and eagerly shook my hand.

"I-I-its an honor to meet you, Mira!" Bilbo staggered. Gandalf chuckled and I smiled.

"I've always wanted to meet an elf!" Bilbo told me as we sat sipping tea.

"Yeah, well I've always wanted to meet a hobbit." I informed him. Bilbo seemed captivated by me, especially me eyes.

"Pardon me, but I have to ask. How old are you?" Bilbo asked. I smiled; it was only natural for him to be curious.

"I turn ten and five years as of today." I answered him, "I'm still very young."

"Really? Well happy birthday!" Bilbo said.

"Well, I heard it is your birthday today also." I said politely.

"Its just another year." Bilbo explained. I looked up from my tea.

"I like to think of each year as a privilege, not a right." I informed Bilbo.

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I laughed as I danced along with some young hobbits. Gandalf had told me to be a wolf at the party.

I was being quite careful not to push down any of the young ones as I jumped around. Everywhere around me hobbits were laughing, having fun, and of course eating. Even Gandalf was enjoying himself, every once and a while he would set of a variety of fireworks.

The parents of the children whom were dancing with me were looking over here every once and a while to make sure they were ok. Finally when I got tired I jumped out of the dancing mob of children and ran out to find Frodo.

I found him sitting at a table talking with a chubby hobbit and trying to convince him to dance with some other girl. When the hobbit got up to get some more food Frodo tried to grab him, but the other hobbit jumped out of the way.

I dived towards the hobbit and pushed him into the reach of Frodo. Frodo laughed and pushed the hobbit towards a very attractive looking girl hobbit. Frodo laughed as he sat down and smiled at me.

I jumped up next to Frodo and he scratched me behind the ears. I tilted my head to the left so he could scratch my good spot. Soon Frodo got up and went off to look for Bilbo. While he was gone I went up to the table of food and hid under the table. When nobody was looking I jumped up and grabbed a role.

I ran off to were Gandalf was setting off fireworks for some children and ate the role. I licked my lips and contemplated on running to get another role, but before I could decide a large firework set off to the right of me. It exploded in the night sky and then turned into a dragon.

Hobbits started screaming and running everywhere as the dragon swooped down and over the party. Finally the firework turned up towards the sky and exploded.

I snorted and ran off towards were the firework had come from. I saw two hobbits sitting on the ground.

"That was cool!" One said while the other said, "Lets get another one!"

"Oh no you don't!" I thought pouncing on the two hobbits, and pinning them to the ground.

Gandalf came up behind me, and I jumped off of the two hobbits. Gandalf grabbed the two hobbits by the ear and I licked my paw. I ran off to find more food, and to my luck when the two hobbits had set off the dragon firework other hobbits had knocked over the food table.

I pranced over to the table and picked up a piece of meat. The other hobbits started shouting 'speech!' to Bilbo. I didn't pay any attention, I was to busy chewing on the piece of meat. I didn't pay any attention until Bilbo disappeared.

I looked up from my food when I felt a presence. Bilbo seemed to be struggling with words. I saw Bilbo slide his hand into his pocket and grab onto something. Bilbo brought out a ring and put it behind his back.

"I've put this off for far to long." He muttered. I looked over at Gandalf. He was smoking his pipe, and looking intently at Bilbo. Suddenly there was a horrible screeching noise, and Bilbo disappeared. The screeching noise stopped and Gandalf got up. I made to follow him but he stopped me.

"No, Mira." Gandalf warned me, "Stay here, and keep and eye on Frodo." I shot Gandalf a look, but he kept walking.

I sighed and went to look for Frodo. I found him trying to find Bilbo like everyone else. I walked up next to Frodo and nudged his leg.

"Where's Bilbo?" Frodo asked me. I wined, wanting to reply. "Can you sniff him out, girl?" he asked me.

I lifted my head a little, and went over to were Bilbo was last standing. His sent was still there. I followed it out of were the party was taking place, with Frodo following me. After a bit Frodo realized were I was leading him, and he took the lead. Frodo approached Bilbo's house and opened the door.

"Bilbo!" Frodo called out. I walked into the house, and saw Gandalf sitting by the fireplace. I walked over to him and nudged his hand. Frodo leaned down and picked up the ring Bilbo had put on.

"He's gone, isn't he?" Frodo said. I stared intently at the ring. It seemed familiar. The very sight of it made my hair stand on end and a deep, threatening growl come out of me. Gandalf walked up to Frodo and held out an envelope. Frodo placed the ring inside of the envelope and Gandalf sealed it.

"Mira," Gandalf said firmly, "follow." I wined.

"Were are we going?" I asked him as I followed him out of the small house.

"We are not going anywhere." Gandalf stated, "You are going to go find Aragorn." I stared at the old wizard.

"But we just got here!" I objected.

"You will do as I say, Mira." Gandalf commanded, "You are going to go find Aragorn, and tell him everything that has happened." Gandalf ordered.

"Now go say your goodbyes, and then you have to leave as soon as possible." Gandalf instructed me.

"I'll do it, but I wont enjoy it." I thought stubbornly.

I padded back into Bilbo- now Frodo's house and found Frodo looking at the envelope that held the ring. Frodo looked up when he saw me at his side.

I nudged his hand, and licked him. Frodo seemed to know that we were leaving, because he bent down and hugged me.

"Bye, Mira." He murmured.

I turned and ran out the door.

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