I first saw the Hobbit when she was leav ing the table before Bilbo's speech, wh ich was strange. While she was walking, she bumped into me, and she spun around, looking absolutely terrified.

"Why are you leaving the table?" I asked .

"I...uh...I was just...oh, I am so dead! " she said.

"what is your name?" I asked her.

"Andrea," she answered. "Andrea Took."

"Then you're related to Perigrin Took?"

"Yes. What is your name?"

"Thorn."

"Where is Bilbo?" she asked suddenly. I quickly spun around to face the table, and sure enough, Bilbo was gone!

"Where did he go?" I asked.

"Follow me!" I did as Andrea said. She led me to Bilbo's house. We were going to knock on the door, but we heard Gandalf inside. We quickly went to the window, which Andrea opened slightly. From our positions, we could hear every word they said.

"Come on, Gandalf! It was funny! You should have seen their faces!"

"You still shouldn't have used it! You know what will happen."

"They're still after it?"

"Thorn has informed me that Sarumon grows stronger."

"And how does she know this? Has she been to Mordor? Is she in league with Sarumon?"

I felt Andrea's eyes on me.

"No, she is not Sarumon's spy."

"Well, then, what about Mordor?"

"No, she has not been to Mordor, either."

"And how do you know of this? How do you know that she isn't a spy, nor been traveling to Mordor?"

"She has not been to Mordor because the Elven lords Thranduil and Elrond have forbidden it for over 3,000 years. Thorn is only 2,000 years old."

I felt Andrea's eyes on me again, and I heard her whisper "what?" in disbelief.

"So what," I retorted. "Two thousand isn't that old."

"'Not that old'?"

"Look, if you want old, try six million. Now shut up!"

I heard Bilbo at it again. "And how do you know that she hasn't broken the law?"

"My dear hobbit, Thorn has been with Legolas Greenleaf all her life."

"Oh, really? And why is that?"

"Legolas is her father."

"You still haven't answered my question! How does Thorn know that Sarumon is growing stronger?"

"Thorn has the gift of the past."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that she can see into the past. Sarumon's past."

"So, why hasn't Sarumon made her one of his minions yet?"

"He has tried, but Thorn resisted."

"Prove it!"

"If she were seduced, she would not have Legolas' necklace. Also, she would be riding to Mordor the second you put the Ring on. Instead, she is listening at the window with the hobbit, Andrea."

"What? She's listening at the window?"

I took one look at Andrea and mouthed "Run!" Before we could move, Bilbo opened the window and looked down at us.

"What are you doing in my garden?" he asked sternly.