All was tranquil in Sarn Ford.

It may not be able to compete with the grandeur that was Minas Tirith, or the magnificence that was Rivendell, but Habren loved it just as much. The trees sprayed the backdrop with a warm golden hue. Green rolling hills against a bright blue sky. Everything was quiet, excluding the soft gurgling of the Brandywine River and the lazy chirping of the nesting birds. Yes, she thought to herself as a breeze flew around her face. This was the song of peace.

"May it last for as long as possible." She muttered.

It was ten minutes later when the elleth got up, the wind tugging lightly at her weathered garb. She never really bothered having them replaced, no matter how many times the others would try ease her into their perspectives. She made her way to camp at her own pace, slow and steady. Gathering little of what she possessed she slung the satchel over her body and made her way to a man who overlooked the entire campsite.

"Halbarad, mellon nin." The elleth greeted. "It is about time I departed."

The Ranger turned to her with a sad smile. "I had the slightest feeling today would be the day. Where will you be meeting Gandalf, Habren?"

"The Three Farthing Stones. Apparently, we will be attending a party."

Halbarad raises a curious brow upwards. "I never would have thought you a partygoer."

"That thought will certainly change soon." Habren chuckled softly. "I will no doubt meet this Bilbo Baggins my teacher speaks of so highly."

"Bilbo Baggins?" Halbarad started. "You will be in for an interesting September. Well, I best call the others to see you off."

"Oh no, Halbarad! I wouldn't want to bother them."

But the Dunedain laughs. "The others will certainly take it against you should you whisk yourself away in broad daylight without receiving their good-byes. You are going to be missed, Habren."

The elleth softly smiled.

With farewells far behind her and embraces and caring words still warm within, the elleth walked down the dusty road. Not the most convenient way of travelling, but she wouldn't want to be lent one of their horses. The journey wasn't too tiring though, her body so accustomed to constant travel. Going from one place to another, not belonging anywhere. It was amazing to see the Three Farthing Stone for the first time, towering over her like a protective guardian, casting a great dark shadow like a concealing veil. It didn't take long to hear a familiar voice humming a tune at his own leisure from the horizon, bringing with him the creaking rhythm of his cart and a bright promise of fireworks.

"Gandalf!" Habren darted forward the moment the face underneath that pointed blue hat was splashed with afternoon sunlight, a grin evident on his face. Hopping onto the cart effortlessly she threw her arms around the wizard in an embrace.

"Dear Habren." Chuckled Gandalf. "Just one month and you miss me already!" The elleth smiles. The two were quickly off, following one of the many minor roads of the Shire.

"Hobbiton, am I right?" asked Habren who already was staring off into the distant scenery.

"Correct." Replied Gandalf. "You will be most delighted, Habren. The endless rolling green hills, the quaintest houses, the most precious flowerbeds and the most interesting folk you will ever meet!"

"I have never met a hobbit before," Habren admitted thoughtfully. "But I cannot shake the fact that you seem to be advertising about it quite profoundly. I can only think of an ulterior motive in mind."

Gandalf could not contain his laughter. "Must you think all my motives ulterior? No, Habren, you will learn to appreciate the Shire as quickly as I have learned to love it."

And Habren did. She loved it when they traveled in one cart; it gave them the time to paint landscapes into their memories. "I remember every place I've been to. Every place had its own beautiful individuality. I cannot shake the fact that all of this can just slip away, gone like it never was."

The wizard raised a brow. "Pessimistic, aren't we? As of the moment there is nothing we can do. All we can do is hope that thing will never emerge into anyone's life again. "

Habren remained silent to soak up the thought, her head to the forested walls lining the sides of the road. "I hear footsteps… " She murmured. With a smirk she leaped out of the cart and vanished into the trees. Gandalf shook his head as he laughed softly, placing his long wooden pipe to his lips. "How the youth has returned to her..."

With the elleth no longer in sight, Gandalf was able to notice someone emerge from above a low cliff. Dark brown hair curled all around his face, framing big bright blue eyes like sapphires. He was short in stature with large hairy feet with leathery soles. A hobbit, and Habren would not deny it from the view of her hiding place.

"You're late." Said the hobbit with crossed arms.

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins." Gandalf started to reply sternly. "Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to!"

Mock tension built between both parties, having torn asunder by sudden laughter. The Halfling jumped from the ledge to embrace the wizard. "It's wonderful to see you, Gandalf!" Habren could not help but smirk. Both Frodo and she had the same way of greeting the wizard.

Gandalf chuckles. "You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's Birthday? Frodo, there is someone I would like you to meet."

"Good morning!"

Frodo shot up in alarm when Habren spoke from behind him. The hobbit's bright blue eyes grew so wide Habren became even more amused, his eyes immediately shifting to her pointed ears. "An elf!" The elf laughed, brushing the leaves off her hair that had recently caught her attention. "A hobbit!"

Frodo laughed as well. "My Uncle has told me a great deal about your kind. Do you come from Rivendell? Or perhaps from another place?"

"I come from nowhere." Stated Habren. "I am one of those elves who choose not to stay in one place for a very long time. Though recently, I had decided tagging along with Gandalf the most befitting of me."

"I see. I guess you will be attending the party, then?"

The elleth's eyebrows furrowed. "If it is alright with you and your Uncle."

"It is quite alright! Bilbo was always aware Gandalf was bringing his own guest! The more the merrier!'"

Habren laughed. "As much as I would like to talk with you, I am sure you are more than willing to catch up with a dear friend. Gandalf, are you willing to set me free?"

"How old are you Habren?" the wizard amused. "You may do as you please!"

"Thank you. If I may, Frodo?" she asked the hobbit for permission.

He smiled. "I will be seeing you soon, Habren." both seemingly forgetting formalities with each other. Not that it seemed to matter (seeing how easily they have been acquainted)

Habren darted off with light feet, relishing every step that took her deeper into the world of Hobbits. It was most odd, having skirted so close to the Shire before, not knowing of the curious folk who dwelled there. The other hobbits were curious of her as well, seeing an elf for probably the first time in their quiet lives. The Shire was somewhat of uncharted land, only a few are aware of the existence of its people. Some looked at her in bafflement, some looked at her with discontent. It was all mixed feelings with them –well, except maybe for the children, who were clearly more than delighted.

But nonetheless, Hobbiton was certainly a beautiful place. Every thing was simple, yet every little thing possessed an undeniable uniqueness. The elleth had never seen a place like this similar to the other villages she has been to. Their houses with big circular doors burrowed into them, fresh air, humble patches of farmland, plots of bright colored flowers. She even remembered the big field of wheat golden in harvest. And when she saw the party reception, with many hobbits setting up tents and food and drinks, she felt excitement build up skyward.

Habren started to walk up the path that swirled around the largest hill, knowing fully what was waiting for her on the top. Burrowed cozily into the hill sat a hobbit-hole burnished with a bright green door, the knob placed snuggly in the middle. This was Bag End, the ideal home for any hobbit. The elleth neared the low gate that she could easily hop over, a light sprinkle of garden flowers lined the fence around it. Nailed onto the gate read,

No admittance

exception party business

Resisting the urge to defy it and impolitely leap over the fence, Habren sat next to it and waited for the others.

"There you are, Gandalf! Where did Frodo go?"

"I hope you haven't been waiting too long, Habren. Frodo went off a few moments ago. You'll see him later in the party. But let us go now! We are yet to meet our celebrant."

Both went towards the door. Gandalf knocked on it with the end of his staff. A rather annoyed voice shot from the inside. "No, thank you! We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers, or distant relations!"

But Gandalf suggested, "And what about very old friends?"

The door slowly creaked open, revealing an older-looking hobbit with curly grey hair that once was a dark brown hue. "Gandalf?"

"Bilbo Baggins!"

The two men embraced and released each other still laughing. "It's good to see you." Said Gandalf. "One hundred and eleven years old, who would believe it!" then the wizard seems to notice something with his old friend's face, his voice filled with wonder and amazement. "You haven't aged a day."

That line caused Habren to baffle. Bilbo was a hundred and eleven yet he seemed so much younger than that. But then she shrugged it off, remembering Gandalf saying to her one time that hobbits aged slower than men. Noticing a different face Bilbo looked up to her. "Gandalf, is this the elf your letters have been telling me about?", "Indeed, Bilbo. This is Habren, my, would you believe it? My apprentice."

The elleth bent down to meet Bilbo's face. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Bilbo."

The older Baggins had given his full hospitality to his two visitors, rushing around scavenging for wines and cheeses. They chatted for a while, with Bilbo asking about their trip. He occasionally asked Habren a question about herself and the elleth would answer back with as much enthusiasm as the interrogator. But Habren was thankful the conversation did not accidentally lurk into darker memories.

Soon sunset splashed its warm hues into the windows as the light soaked the room. Frodo emerged from the door and carefully closed it. "Hello everyone! The party is almost here!"

"Goodness, how time flies." Sighed Bilbo. "Frodo, be a good lad and lead Habren to the room. You know, the one with the surprise?"

Habren blinked. "Surprise?"

Frodo tapped her arm lightly. "You'll see. This way, please."

Maneuvering through the hobbit hole proved to be a bit tricky for the elf. Bending down and hoping she wouldn't hit a chandelier or wall like Gandalf had done earlier (it was so amusing) but soon they stopped in front of the guest room door. Frodo turned the knob and opened it for her, allowing her to get in first. Unluckily, the ceiling of the room wasn't high enough for Habren to stand upright again, much to her disappointment. Atop the bed sat a brown parcel tied up together in green string. The surprise.

"Go on now," Frodo urged. "Open it."

Habren picked the parcel up and carefully began to reverse-engineer. The item cascaded down as it was released from its confines. The dress was a hybrid of hobbit and elf raiment in a soft pale golden hue with flower accents and embroidery. Sheer sleeves cascaded like bellflowers.

Habren's eyes softened. With all the patrolling and travelling she had done in the wilder regions of Middle-earth, the elleth seemed to have forgotten how strongly a pretty dress could make her feel. She was still, in fact, a woman. She breathed out what was almost a laugh. "Gandalf."

Frodo smiled. "He sent Bilbo a letter months ago asking if he could fulfill a favor. He sent in a pair of elven clothes in the mail as well, hoping it would help create a pattern for a larger-scaled woman. Mrs. Cotton and her daughter Rosie have worked hard on it."

"So that's where one of my things went. Here I though I've grown clumsy." Chuckled Habren." I will have to thank them personally. Most especially Gandalf."

Frodo took some time before he said anything again. "I didn't mean to pry, but Bilbo told me from the letter that you've been through a lot the past years. He said Gandalf really wanted you to enjoy yourself tonight. At least have a moment where your thoughts wouldn't be locked inside."

Gandalf told them? Habren thought of earlier dark hours where all she gave the wizard were snarky comments and a foul attitude. While she had changed, her deeds were done. And still, the wizard had been patient, and now he was doing this for her. Gratitude. That was what she was feeling. She returned her focus on Frodo. "How much have you been told?"

"Enough for me to understand."

The elleth said nothing, her expression enough to show she was confused. Frodo looked confident as he looked straight at her, but at the same time, Habren could see the sorrow in his eyes. "Though I may have been young, I know what it feels like to lose a parent. Well, in my case I lost them both. I know what it's like when they're not around."

"I'm sorry…" Habren whispered. Eventually the elleth looked as if she were mute, though at length her voice came back up her throat. "How did they…?" Hesitant Frodo turned his head away so that she could only see his profile. "They drowned."

Habren saw a river where two figures struggled desperately for the world above them, the water clawing at them and bringing them down. She remembered, and it had not been the most enjoyable of experiences. She sat down on the bed, still clutching the bundle that was her dress, motioning Frodo to sit next to her. They both sat in a comforting silence as if they have been friends long enough to simply enjoy the other's mere presence.

Habren sighed, giving the hobbit a sincere smile. "It's nice to know there's someone here I can relate to."