Part One: The Fellowship of the Ring
Prologue
The One Ring had been found. And Gandalf the Gray was riding back to the Shire as fast as his horse could carry him. He only hoped that he would make it to Bag End in time…before the Ringwraiths.
As his horse carried him across the land, Gandalf's mind strayed back to the events that had lead to his frenzied ride back to the Shire. He had ridden almost nonstop from Gondor since reading the old writings of King Isildur regarding the ring he had taken from Sauron during that battle so long ago. Those writings—coupled with the events of Bilbo's birthday—had convinced him that the one ring had been found. And that it was now in the possession of the hobbit Frodo Baggins.
Now he was riding back to the Shire to check and see that Frodo was alright. If the creature Gollum had said anything when in the hands of the orcs of Barad-Dur, then Sauron would have sent his servants out by now to get to the Shire. And that was why he, Gandalf the Gray, had to be the first to get there. There was no time to be lost.
***
Frodo had just come back from a party when he walked in the front door of Bag End. However, things felt a little different. The lights were all out, and there were papers that were scattered here and there…as though someone had disturbed them in a hurry. Nervously, he continued to traverse through the house, stopping to look at something. It was at that moment that a hand reached out and grabbed him from behind. Turning, Frodo was surprised to see a harried looking Gandalf staring at him.
"Is it secret?" gasped Gandalf. "Is it safe?"
Frodo knew what he was talking about, and showed Gandalf a trunk where he had hidden the ring. Taking the entire envelope, Gandalf threw it into the fire.
"What are you doing?!" cried Frodo, staring in surprise and wonder.
It did not take long for the envelope to burn, and then the ring was revealed. Gandalf reached in with a pair of tongues and took hold of it, then turned to Frodo.
"Hold out your hand Frodo…it's quite cool," he said.
Frodo did as he was told and Gandalf watched intently. Frodo turned the ring over a couple times, then looked up at Gandalf.
"What can you see? Can you see anything?" Gandalf asked.
"Nothing. There's nothing," said Frodo.
Gandalf sighed in relief, and turned to leave. However, his eyes narrowed when Frodo began to speak again.
"Wait. There are markings," said Frodo, as a form of writing began to appear on the ring. "It's some form of elvish…I can not read it."
"There are few who can," said Gandalf, giving a heavy sigh and turning back to the hobbit. "The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."
"Mordor?" asked Frodo.
"In the common tongue it says, 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them."