Chapter 2. Some days later, Frodo was on his way back from the village market after getting some necessities he had run short of. He decided to cut through the woods as a shortcut. It was a dull, cloudy day and rain was inevitable so he hurried. The woods seemed to be holding some kind of still, unpleasant aura. The birds were silent, in fact, no animals were in sight. He stopped and looked around, the woods weren't unfamiliar to him. He came here frequently for walks or to be alone. And it was usually full of life and a friendly place. So what was wrong today? He decided it was just in his mind. He was far too negative about everything these days anyway. So brushing this aside he hurried along clutching his sling bag of vegetables and mushrooms, his thumping of footsteps loud in the still woods. Suddenly he lost balance as he tripped over a tree root spread on to the path and the contents of his bag spilled in all directions. He groan and got back on his feet, brushed himself off and began to search for the things that had disappeared on the side of the path into the bushes and tall grass. He had found most of it when there was a crackle of thunder above. He looked up studying the sky, it would rain any moment now so he considered leaving the remaining missing things and hurrying on to his home. But then he decided it would surely take five or more minutes to fall so he still had some time to look. And so he did. Soon he found two more potatoes, and scanned for the last tomato. He had seen it roll a bit further than the rest and walked a little deeper in to the trees. A figure laying motionless propped against a tree left him frozen... It was a girl. He moved closer to study her carefully. Her eyes were shut and had a sunken look about them, as if she hadn't slept in days and her skin was a pale weak colour. Her arms lay still next to her thin frail, body. She had on a tattered grey cloak. She's unconscious, Frodo thought. There was a flash of lightening as the sky grew darker. He wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't leave her out in the rain, he could save her life. So he shook her gently, "please, wake up, wake up". Seeing no response made him check for a pulse. No, she was alive for sure. But very weak. He bit his lip trying to make up his mind when all of a sudden her eyes fluttered open. He gasped. She looked up at him and murmured something faintly. He took hold of her arms and helped her stand up, steadying her as she stumbled. She looked confused. "I'm here to help you, I'm taking you to my home, don't worry, come." he said and let her lean on him. They began walking. She was quiet. He assumed it was already taking her too much effort to walk anyway. It began to drizzle slightly and he quickened their pace. Soon his home was just a little ahead. The path was clear and everyone seemed to have gone home because of the rain that had started coming harder. When they entered through the front door they were dripping wet and the girl was shivering. Frodo immediately led her to his bedroom where he dried her with a cloth and covered her with blankets and sheets. Then he lit the fireplace and dried himself. When he turned to see the girl, her eyes were closed and she seemed so small inside the many blankets. He couldn't tell if she was asleep or unconscious but he went to his kitchen and made himself some tea, only to realise he had left his sling bag back at the woods. Can't be helped now, he thought looking out the window watching the rain pour down heavily, he'd just have to buy them again tomorrow. But that wasn't important right now. What was really weighing down in him was the mystery of that girl. Who was she, and what happened to her? Had she run away? Why was she so weak? He hadn't seen her before so she couldn't be from the Shire. So where did she come from? He decided he would get the answers of all his questions tomorrow, after she woke up and ate a large breakfast. He wanted to help her, because it pained him to see someone so helpless and alone. Like she was there just waiting to die..