Here we go, ladies and Gents, this isn't really my first Rodeo but it's been many-a-years and I'm far better than the crap I used to type, so let's give it a shot.
This is going to be an ÉomerxOc story, and will follow the main plotline fairly simply, and will hopefully grow from the bland bits that have sat on my laptop for ages and ages.
"If that old wizard manages to get to the shire before me, I'll never hear the end of it!" A young woman snapped, quickly shoving her spare cloak into the bag she turned her attention towards the nearby meadow, a frown on her face. "Milnear!"
Slowly a large cream colored stallion turned its attention away from the grass, setting his gaze on the frazzled woman, ears perked forward lightly. Upon another whistle he let out a soft snort, slowly making his way towards the woman as she continued to hurriedly prepare herself for the remaining leg of her small journey.
"Oh, I see you're late once again, young Adrianna." The woman mocked, forcing her voice to remain low as she frowned, "And here I thought your youth would allow you to travel much quicker than an old man such as myself."
The great stallion snorted loudly, tossing his head as he eyed the woman, who continued to mutter to herself as she moved, this time cursing her stupidity as she rifled through the bag she had just finished packing.
To anyone else, a lone woman in the woods would seem quite odd. Her hair was similar to the people of Rohan, though the blond was a much richer gold, the dark roots making it unlike those of the woodland elves she also resembled. Her skin was warm and sun kissed, the light tan smooth despite the occasional scrape that marred the otherwise soft skin.
By far the most unusual part of the woman, beyond her choice of dark leather edged pants and tunic, were her duel colored eyes, one eye was a brilliant ocean blue, the rich sapphire color standing out in stark contrast to the neon green of the other.
Letting out another snort the stallion drew the woman's attention away from her rant, a small frown pulling at her pale lips she let out a scoff, muttering to herself about the pushiness of some stallions while she rose to her feet, a crimson apple held loosely in her hands.
"I don't know what you're so hurried for, it's not like you're the one who's going to stay in the shire." She mutter to herself, offering the fruit to the stallion, who quickly and greedily snapped it from her fingers, foaming at the mouth as he chomped loudly on the treat.
Slowly pulling herself towards the side of the stallion she placed her fingers on the creature's back, bending her legs lightly she began to heave herself onto the creature's back, the extra effort required making her regret her decision to leave the saddle behind.
"The world is changed. I feel it in the water, I feel it in the earth, I smell it in the air. Much that once was, is lost. For none now live, who remember it. To fulfill your destiny here, you will need to understand this lost knowledge." The woman's gaze narrowed, shifting around the clearing while the stallion tensed beneath her, his ears flickering back and forth as he tried to locate what suddenly had his rider so on-edge.
"It began with the forging of the great rings. Three were given to the Elves: Immortal, wises and fairest of all beings. Seven to the Dwarf-Lords: Great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls. And Nine, nine rings were gifted to the race of Men who, above all else, desire power. For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived. For another ring was made." Frowning as the world around her began to grow hazy she closed her eyes, allowing the elvish magic to pull her mind to another time long since passed.
"In the land of Mordor, in the fires of Mount Doom the Dark Lord Sauron forged, in secret, a Master Ring to control all others. And into this ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice and his will to dominate all life. One ring to rule them all."
"One by one, the Free Lands of Middle-earth fell to the power of the Ring. But there were some, who resisted." Images flashed across Adrianna's mind, of an army of men and elves holding their swords erect as they march across the barren black lands of Mordor against a vicious army of black skinned monsters.
"A Last Alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of Mordor. And on the slopes of Mount Doom, they fought for the freedom of Middle-Earth." The armies collide harshly, Elves firing arrows before they drew their swords, the number of the enemies too great to be halted by the onslaught of projectiles. "Victory was near. But the power of the ring could not be undone."
Adrianna's brows pull together as a brown haired elf stares in horror at his human companion, the King of Men raising his sword into the air before his face turned to contained horror at the sight of the tall armored demon that approached him, a gold ring glowing with fiery symbols sitting on his right pointer finger, the hand gripping the hilt of a vicious looking Mace.
The creature throws his arm, the weapon knocking multiple men into the air and throwing them hundreds of feet. The King of men was struck as he stood alone, his brown haired son quickly rushing to the fallen man's side with terror and sorrow taking his features as he tries to wake his Sire.
"It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Isildur, Son of the king, took up his father's sword.
The man attempts to pull at the long blade, desperation fueling him as the Dark Lord shattering it as he slams his foot against the blade, pinning most of the shards to the ground before he slowly reached towards Isildur. Quickly the man waves the broken blade, slashing it in his last attempt to block the oncoming hand. The creature lets out a cry as his fingers are cut from his right hand, the ring falling with the fingers to the dirt near Isildur's face.
Sauron flew back on his feet, red hot lines cutting through his body before he exploded in a bright light, the blast knocking down the armies of Men and Elves.
"Sauron, the enemy of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth, was defeated. The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever. But the hearts of men, are easily corrupted. And the Ring of Power has a will of its own." Picked up the ring smoldering finger,
Adrianna watches as the vision shows her the man's death, a horde of Orcs rushing the new King as he and his men returned home, the King disappearing as he put the ring on, running from the battle into the river. Then the ring slowly sliding from his finger, moments later the man fell, numerous arrows protruding from his back as he fell into the river, the currents tugging him along slowly.
"It betrayed Isildur to his death. And some things that should not have been forgotten were lost. History became legend, legend became myth, and for two and a half thousand years, the ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer."
"My precious."
The vision fades to black as the voice continues, Adrianna's face still pulled into a look of distaste, a frown pulling at her lips as she scowled.
"The Ring came to the creature Gollum who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains. And there, it consumed him." The faint incoherent hisses of a man echo around the darkness, the blackness fading away to reveal fish carcasses, a scraggly looking creature stood in a shaft of light, clutching a small object in its oversized hands.
"It came to me… My own, my love, my own, my precious."
"The ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For 500 years it poisoned his mind and in the gloom of Gollum's cave, it waited. Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumor grew of a shadow in the East whispers of a nameless fear. And the Ring of Power perceived its time had now come. It abandoned Gollum. But something happened then, the Ring did not intend."
The blackness creeps back in with the faint clinking of a ring as it fell over stone, causing Adrianna's brows to furrow once more.
"It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable."
"What's this? A ring?"
" A hobbit, Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. For the time will soon come, when Hobbits will shape the fortunes of all. Take this new knowledge, and prepare yourself for the trials to come."
"Lost! The precious is lost!"
0.0.0
Adria laughed, shaking her head as she stood in Bilbo's home, handing the short hobbit the papers he asked for, helping him clean up the mess of a house he had.
"The 22nd day of September in the year 1400, by shire-reckoning. Bag end, Bagshot row, Hobbiton, Westfarthing, The Shire, Middle-earth. The third age of this world."
"I will never doubt your abilities with maps, My friend."
"No no! Of course not!" the Hobbit chuckles, waving her into the small room with the fireplace and his desk she takes a seat, watching him as he prepared to write his book.
"There and Back Again: A hobbit's tale. By Bilbo Baggins…" The hobbit trails off, "Now, Where to start?"
Smiling Adria adjust her feet, folding her legs under her seat as the Hobbit is struck by an idea.
"Ah yes! Concerning Hobbits.
"Hobbits have been living and farming in the four Farthings of the Shire for many hundreds of years, quite content to ignore and be ignored by the world of the Big Folk. Middle-earth being, after all, full of strange creatures beyond count Hobbits must seem of little importance. Neither being renound as Great Warriors, nor counted among the very wise."
A knocking draws both attentions towards the door briefly,
"Would you like me to…?"
"No, nonsense, Frodo! The door if you please!" Turning back around Bilbo smiles, reading aloud once more as he continued writing.
"In fact, It has been remarked by some that Hobbits' only real passion is for food. A rather unfair observation as we have also developed a keen interest in the brewing of Ales and the smoking of pipe-weed. But where our hearts truly lie, is in peace, and quiet, and good, tilled earth. For all Hobbits share a love of things that grow. And yes, to others, our ways seem quite Quaint. But today of all days, it is brought home to me: it is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life."
Another knock draws their attention once more, causing them to sigh,
"Frodo! Can you get the door!"
Another knock,
"fiddlesticks, where is that boy? Frodo!"
"I'll send them away, and go look for him. I'll get back to you later about this book of yours, Bilbo."
0.0.0
Adria walks up next to Gandalf's cart a few minutes later, her search not at all a difficult one when the wizard was so much larger than the surrounding Hobbits, her ears perked lightly, just managing to catch the end of one conversation as she jumps on the back, popping up behind the old wizard and young Hobbit.
"Well what can I tell you? Life in the wide world goes on much as it has this past Age. Full of its own comings and goings, scarcely aware of the existence of hobbits. For which I am very thankful."
"Talkin' of the outside world are yea?" she laughs, startling the pair,
"Adrianna! How'd you—never mind, did you finish up with Bilbo?"
"He sent me after you, it seemed to escape him that you went off so I told him I would go and join you. Make sure you're keepin' out of trouble huh?"
"How is the old Rascal? I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence." Gandalf asks, earning a smile from both of the younger creatures.
"You know Bilbo. He's got the whole place in an uproar." Adria shrugs,
"Well that should please him."
"Half the Shire's been invited." Frodo puts in,
"And the rest of them are turnin' up anyway." Adria adds, causing the trio to laugh loudly, drawing attention of those working in the fields.
"To tell you the truth, Bilbo's been a bit odd lately. I mean, more than usual. He's taken to locking himself in his study, he spends hours poring over old maps when he thinks I'm not looking." The two taller beings frown lightly, Gandalf hiding the expression better than Adria did.
"He's up to something." Frodo looks to Gandalf, who had looked away and taken to smoking his pipe again, "Alright have it your way then keep your secrets."
"What?"
"But I know you have something to do with it."
"Good Gracious, me?"
"Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of."
"Indeed."
"Never had any adventures or did anything unexpected."
"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved." Gandalf defends, "All I did was give you uncle a little nudge out of the door."
"Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace."
"Oh really?"
Gandalf's brows rise as he looks over to a grumpy old Hobbit, quickly a small group of children flock to the road, cheering for fireworks. Frodo and Adria look up to the old Wizard, each waiting for what they knew was coming.
On cue the old wizard sets of small fireworks causing the children to erupt into loud cheers, grinning from ear to ear before they scampered off to find their parents.
"Gandalf? I'm glad you're back." Frodo states, getting to his feet, the pair smile,
"So am I, dear boy!" Frodo jumps off, waving at them as Adria climbs into the seat,
Adria laughed quietly to herself upon arriving back at Bilbo's door, Gandalf noticing the sign plastered to the Hobbit's fence, walking with him up to the door she stays a step back, wanting to see how Bilbo would react to another person knocking at his door.
"No thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!"
"And what about very old friends?" Gandalf calls with a laugh, smiling as the door swiftly opens.
"Gandalf?"
"Bilbo Baggins."
"My dear Gandalf!" The hobbit cries, running to hug the old friend with a grin,
"Good to see you. 111 years old! Who would believe it?" Gandalf's brows furrow as he takes a good look at his friend, "You haven't aged a day."
"Come in, come in!" the hobbit ushers him towards the door, a smile on his face. "Welcome, welcome! Oh here we are." The hobbit shuts the door after ushering the pair inside again,
"Tea? Or maybe something a little stronger?" The Hobbit offers, taking the wizards staff and hat, "I've got a couple bottles in the Old Winyard left. 1296. Very good year. Almost as old as I am. It was laid down by my father. What say we open one, eh?"
Adria laughs as she watches Gandalf hit his head on the chanticleer, swiftly walking into the other room so as not to be hit by the old wizard.
"Just tea, thank you." Gandalf and Adrianna respond in unison, the woman laughing quietly as she watched as Gandalf struggles to readjust to the small house's low roofs.
"I was expecting you last week. Not that it matters, you come and go as you please. Always have, and always will. You caught me a bit unprepared I'm afraid. We've only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle there's some cheese here. No, that won't do. We've got raspberry jam, an apple tart. Not much for afters. Oh, no, we're alright. I've just found some sponge cake!"
Adrianna laughed softly as the hobbit talks to them, her gaze shifting to Gandalf as he looks over an old map.
"I could make you some eggs, if you'd-."
"Just tea, thank you." Gandalf states, startling the hobbit as ha appears behind Adrianna, taking a seat next to her as Bilbo smiles,
"Oh you don't mind if I do?"
"Oh no, go ahead."
"Bilbo?" A harsh knocking sounds through the house "Bilbo Baggins!"
Adria laughs as another knock sends the eating hobbit up against the wall, pressing himself against the woodwork to avoid being seen by the relatives at the door.
"I'm not at home!" the hobbit explains, looking over to the window he tip toes his way towards it, causing a grin to stretch over Adria's lips once more, as she knew it would not have made a difference.
"It's the Sackville-Bagginses." Bilbo whispers.
"I know you're in there!" The woman cries,
"They're after the house; they've never forgiven me for living this long." The old Hobbit explained, slowly making his way along the wall trying to remain as stealthy as he could, eyeing the door warily, "I've got to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day they never give me a moment's peace! I want to see mountains again, Mountains, Gandalf." He continued, turning away from the door so he could face the wizard fully, his gaze stubbornly clinging to the idea of traveling again, "And then find somewhere quiet where I can finish my book. Oh. Tea."
"So you mean to go through with your plan?" Gandalf questioned, as the Hobbit danced around them, pulling the pot from the fire while Adrianna took a seat at the small table, neatly resting her fingers against the wooden surface.
"Yes, yes. It's all in hand. All the arrangements are made."
"Frodo suspects something." Adrianna states, watching as the Wizard grunted lightly, lifting the lid from the tea pot to make it easier for Bilbo to pour the steaming liquid from the equally hot kettle.
"Of course he does. He's a Baggins not some blockheaded Bracegirdle from Hardbottle." He waved her off, setting the kettle near the fire place, turning back a few moments later, meeting the gazes of his two old friends.
"You will tell him, won't you?" Gandalf questioned,
"Yes, yes."
"He's very fond of you." The wizard added, watching the emotions flickering across his friend's face.
"I know." Adria watches as the hobbit become solemn, slowly walking around the table to an open seat. "He'd probably come with me if I asked him. I think in his heart, Frodo's still in love with the Shire. The woods, the fields, Little Rivers. I am old Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart."
Gandalf frowns, watching as the hobbit takes his seat, fingering an object in his vest pocket, the old wizard shares a look with Adria briefly before looking back to the Hobbit.
"I feel thin. Sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread. I need a holiday. A very long holiday. And I don't expect I shall return, in fact I mean not to." Adria frowned lightly, her eyes flashing with sadness at the exhausted air the hobbit now held as he gripped his hands near his heart.
0.0.0
It was well into the night by the time Adrianna joined the party, the warm glow from numerous fires and candles set up below a beacon she could see even from the highest hill. The party was over the top, not that it surprised the woman in the least bit, if there was one thing she had learned in her years within the Shire it was that the Hobbits could throw parties and celebrations that could rival even those of the Dwarves, given enough reason and time.
The empty meadow was not willed with large tents, the hard earth packed down with a makeshift dance floor, lined on each side with tables and a small stage where an equally small gathering of Hobbits played numerous Instruments that the woman wouldn't have been able to pronounce let alone play.
Shifting her attention towards the fireworks near Gandalf's cart she couldn't help but smile as the small children bounced around the Wizard excitedly, the old creature all too willing to show off his newest explosives to appease his tiny audience.
Small fire butterflies flew around her as she made her way through the crowd of children, offering a smile to a child who had bumped into her, too excited to see her despite the fact she towered over the children even more than she did the adults.
Slowly turning away from one of the many buffet lines she danced and dodged the happy hobbits as she made an attempt to make it to a table without losing the entirety of her mug, the cool amber liquid shifting only slightly as she side stepped around a particularly large hobbit.
Shifting her attention towards her desired target she smiled as Sam stared over his shoulder at the dance floor, a chuckle building in her throat as he spun around when one of the female hobbits waved at him. Unable to contain her laughter as his faint mumbles reached her she dropped down next to the disgruntled—embarrassed—hobbit, briefly hearing Bilbo thanking people for arriving, in the next moment Frodo drops between the pair with a grin on his face.
"Go on, Sam! Ask Rosie for a dance!"
"I think I'll just have another ale." Sam states after a brief pause, slowly getting to his feet while Frodo only frowned.
"Oh no you don't! Go on!" Frodo laughed, swiftly getting up after Sam he grabs the other Hobbit, spinning him around until Sam was caught by Rosie, who smiled and took him through the dance floor causing the two friends at the table to laugh merrily.
"Well, My Lady, will you do me the honor of a dance?" Adria laughs, allowing herself to be pulled by the shorter creature,
"Come on, my good sir, we should probably find Bilbo! See if he is staying out of trouble."
The pair laughs quietly to themselves as they began walking towards the eldest hobbit, the Hobbit in question spinning towards them with a startled expression.
"It's the Sackville-Bagginses!" He whispers in a panic, Frodo pulls him towards a tent, Adria following after.
"You there!" The agitated she-hobbit snapped, drawing the young woman's attention. "I know you know where Bilbo is! We very much want to speak with him!" Adria nods, furrowing her brow in thought she pointed towards the dance floor,
"You just missed him, Miss, he just cut through the dance floor, I think he was looking for someone." The two sneer, before quickly rushing off to the other side of the dance floor.
"You're a good boy my lad, I'm very selfish, you know. Yes, I am, Very selfish. I don't know why I took you in after your mother and father died but it wasn't out of charity. I think it was because out of all my numerous relations, you were one of the Baggins that showed real spirit."
"Bilbo, have you been at the Gaffer's home brew?"
"No. Well, Yes, but that's not the point. The point is, Frodo, you'll be all right." Adria shakes her head slowly, leaving the pair to look for a drink of some sort,
"My dear Bagginses and Boffins, Tooks and Brandybucks, Grubbs, Chubbs, Hornblowers, Bolgers, Bracegridles and Proudfoots!"
"Proudfeet!" a grumpy hobbit corrects, earning a shrug from Bilbo and a laugh from the crowd.
"Today is my 111th birthday! But alas, even Eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent admirable Hobbits, I don't know half of you as well as I should like, and I like less than half as you half as well as you deserve."
Adria's brows furrow slightly from her spot next to Gandalf as the crowd grows silent, the smiles falling from everyone's faces as Bilbo messes with the object in his pocket,
"I uh-. I have things to do. I've put this off for far too long."
Adria frowns deeply as he pulls the small object out, hiding it behind his back as Gandalf shares a brief knowing look before turning back to the hobbit.
"I regret to announce this is the end! I'm going now. I bid you all a very fond farewell. Goodbye."
Bilbo disappears and the crowd erupts into Chaos, gasps of shock and horror echoing before they jumped to their feet, beginning a search for the missing Hobbit.
"We must find him."
And there we have chapter one, and I'm off to bed so I can function at work tomorrow, whoohoo!
I'll be posting a few other stories within the next week and I suppose the one that ends up with the most traffic will end up being what gets updated the quickest.
