And we're back with the second chapter, whooooohooooo.

That's all I got.

You may continue forward now. :D


"He's not down here." Adrianna stated bluntly, her duel colored eyes flashing over to the remarkably calm wizard who stood next to her.

The two were the only outwardly calm creatures within the chaos that now overtook the party. The shire was in a panic driven uproar, not that it surprised the blond haired woman as she ran a hand down the side of her face tiredly.

"I did not expect that." she drawled, letting out a disgruntled snort before she turned her attention back to the wizard once more. "He'll be half way to his house by now… probably hopes to be gone before we reach him."

"Undoubtedly." The wizard scoffs, turning away from her in a whirl of billowing grey robes.

Letting out a sigh she glanced over the frightened hobbits once more, wrinkling her nose lightly in distaste she let out an undignified snort. How she'd managed to meet up with such a rambunctious creature as Bilbo she wasn't sure, but she'd never have expected him to be in possession of such a powerful little ring.

Turning away from the chaos she followed after the wizard, only mildly surprised that such an old man was capable of already being up the hill and in the Hobbit's hole before she'd even reached the road.

"I suppose you think that was terribly Clever." Gandalf drawled, the pair watching as the Hobbit jumped in fright, spinning around from his locked door to stare up at the two who'd not only beaten him to his home, but knew exactly where he was headed.

"Come on, Gandalf. Did you see their faces?" Bilbo tried to reason, slowly moving around his home in an attempt to finish packing his things,

"There are many Magic rings in this world, and none of them should be used lightly." Gandalf snapped, his eyes narrowing in on the short Hobbit, Adrianna's brow arching high over her eyes as she watched the Hobbit move, un disturbed by the idea of great power coming from such a small trinket.

"It was just a bit of fun." Bilbo turned to stare at his two friends, a frown pulling lightly at his lips before he waved them both off. "Oh you're probably right—as usual. You will keep an eye on Frodo, won't you?" He questioned, turning his gaze back to them.

"Of course." Adrianna nodded, her arms folding across her chest as she leaned against the fireplace the old Wizard had abandoned,

"Two eyes." Gandalf deadpanned, "As often as I can spare them."

"I'm leaving everything to him." Bilbo continued, now satisfied the hobbit returned to his packing, pulling one of his canes out of a bin before setting it on a nearby bench while systematically adjusting the pack on his shoulders.

"What about this ring of yours? Is that staying too?" Gandalf spoke up, causing Adrianna to frown lightly.

Her hawk like eyes shifted between the wizard and the hobbit, the significance of a ring that granted it's wearer invisibility was valuable, to be sure, but her mind did not completely grasp the concept of such a ring being of enough importance that the wizard would press Bilbo for it.

"Yes, yes. It's in an envelope over there on the mantelpiece." The hobbit waved, slowly Gandalf shifted back towards Adrianna, old grey eyes scanning the top of the fireplace, Adrianna frowned lightly, her brows furrowing as the hobbit stopped moving all together, his hand moving to his chest pocket, where he began to rub the cloth. "No wait it's, here in my pocket.." He pulled the small ring out, rolling it slowly in his fingers, eyes locked on the small golden object as he continued, "isn't that… Isn't that odd? Yet…after all why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?"

"I think you should leave the ring behind." Gandalf spoke seriously, his brows knitting together, "Is that so hard?"

"Well, no." Bilbo reasoned, his face darkening more and more the longer he stared at the ring. "And yes… Now it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it. It's mine. I found it! It came to me!"

"There's no need to get angry." Gandalf comments as a worried, silent Adrianna watched from the sidelines,

"Well, if I'm angry, it's your fault! It's mine. My own. My Precious."

'my precious' Snapping up right Adrianna's gaze widened, how she'd managed to forget what that elf told her already she couldn't understand, but she mentally kicked herself for not mentioning it to Gandalf sooner.

"Precious." Gandalf mused quietly, "It's been called that before, but not by you.."

"What business is it of yours, what I do with my own things?!" Bilbo growled, aggressively waving the wizard off, the sheer anger behind his movements causing the woman to frown once more, her brows knitting together as Gandalf followed him slowly, shifting his stance to keep his gaze on the pacing hobbit.

"I think you've had that ring quite long enough."

Adrianna backed up lightly as the hostile hobbit continued to pace, abruptly turning around to face them with a look of furry not becoming the peaceful creature taking hold as he growled up at the Wizard.

"You want it for yourself!" Bilbo declared angrily.

"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf shouts, his voice growing louder, despite the new level of deepness that it took as the room grew darker behind him, Adrianna shifting her gaze behind her, watching as the walls of Bag End seemed to grow larger, the wood groaning in protest. "Do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks. I am not trying to rob you. I am trying to help you."

Adrianna watched quietly as the room returned to normal, Bilbo's eyes wide as he realized what had just happened. With a windless gasp he quickly moved forward, his arms wrapping around the wizard in a apologetic hug.

"All our long years, we've been friends." Gandalf states, pulling away slightly. "Trust me as you once did. Let it go."

"You're right Gandalf; the ring must go to Frodo." Bilbo conceded, dropping his gaze briefly before he grasping his bag once more. "It's late, the road is long. Yes it's time."

"Bilbo the ring is still in your pocket." Adrianna spoke slowly, her brows still knitted together.

"Ah…"

The small hobbit slowly took the ring out of his pocket with shaky hands, tilting his hand until the object slowly slid off his opened palm, the woman frowned when she realized it did not bounce as any other object would have instead hitting the wood and sticking with a weight that should not be possessed by such a ring. Turning her attention to the disappearing hobbit she waved her goodbye, receiving one in return before the small creature disappeared into the night.

Shifting her attention back to the wizard Adrianna watched as Gandalf began to move towards the ring, his fingers hovering over the golden surface before he yanked his hand away, in much the same way one would if they were in danger of being bitten. Letting out a grunt she folded her arms across her chest again, a slight sneer on her face as she glared down at the golden object.

"I do not trust it." She spoke clearly, turning and leaving the room with the brooding wizard trailing behind her.

It didn't take long for the doors to burst open shortly after the pair had taken a seat in the study. Adrianna's duel colored eyes fell on the confused and concerned looking Frodo as he stepped into the house, his eyes searching the room before they fell on the gold ring still sitting on the ground near the door. A single brow arched as the hobbit leaned down, slowly picking the object up with no visible discomfort shown despite the powerful evil he now held.

"He's gone then, hasn't he?" Frodo questioned slowly, his gaze falling on the pair seated by the study, "He talked for so long about leaving, I didn't think he'd really do it… Gandalf?" Frodo questioned, the sound of his voice snapping the wizard out of his musings.

"Bilbo's ring." Gandalf smiled, his eyes locking on the object in Frodo's hand, "He's gone to stay with the Elves. He's left you Bag End. Along with all his possessions."

Adrianna arched a brow as the wizard held an envelope towards the confused hobbit, her brow arching lightly as the wizard quickly sealed the ring in the envelope with hot wax before turning right back around to offer it to the hobbit again,

"The ring is yours now." Gandalf spoke, "Put it somewhere out of sight."

Adrianna was as surprised as Frodo when the wizard suddenly jumped to his feet, his staff spinning through the air as he moved in a great hurry to gather his things.

"Where are you going?" Frodo questioned, a different sort of panic filling his voice causing the woman to frown once more.

"There are some things that I must see to." Gandalf explained hurriedly, shoving his hat back on his head.

"What things?" Adrianna questioned slowly,

"Questions." Gandalf stated, walking out the door quickly, "Questions that need answering."

"You've only just arrived. I don't understand." Frodo frowned, his shoulders saging as he came to a stop next to the doorway, the Grey Wizard paused, turning back towards the pair,

"Neither do I.. Keep it secret, Keep it safe." Without another word the wizard turned on a heel and mounted his stallion, the horse's hooves thundering across the heavy earth as the beast carried him into the night.

"Am I the only one here who wonders when the hell he brought his horse, never mind saddled it?" Adrianna questioned aloud, causing Frodo to turn and stare at her, the incredulous look she'd grown accustomed to not at all disturbing her as she stared at the shadow that was Gandalf.

Hooves, the sound of nine different sets of hooves crash against stone and gravel, the hard pressed dirt road, the simple sound seeming more ominous as the images of grotesque horses ran through her mind. Their riders clad in black cloth and leather, matching the armor on the decaying horses.

"Shire… Baggins!"

Adrianna shot up in her bed, her forehead slamming against the overhand of the bed as her wide eyes searched the room for some unseen threat. Letting out a tired sigh she shook her head lightly, slowly pulling herself from her bed so she could make herself ready to go to the Green Dragon, suddenly in no mood to sleep despite her tired body. Frowning lightly she clenched and unclenched her fists, the uncomfortable feeling of foreboding slithering through the back of her mind, something was going to happen soon, and she knew she would not like it.

"…To heal my heart and drown my woe. Rain may fall and wind may blow, but there still be many miles to go! Sweet is the sound of the pouring rain."

Adrianna walked into the bar to see her favorite hobbits singing and Dancing, Merry and Pippin leading them by standing on a table, their voices ringing out louder and clearer than the others. Slowly shifting her gaze around the room she snickered quietly to herself to see Frodo dancing happily near one of the other tables.

" And the stream that falls from hill to plain, better than rain or rippling brook,"

"Is a mug of beer inside this Took!" Adrianna couldn't contain the laugh as Pippin finished the song loudly, chugging the remainder of his beer. Shaking her head slowly as she took one of the open seats next to Sam, their table a little ways away from the rowdy group of singers and dancers that terrorized the tables on the other side of the bar.

"There's been some strange folk crossing the shire." An older Hobbit states, drawing her attention away from the singing. "Dwarves and others of a less than savory nature."

"War is brewing." Another agrees, causing Sam and Adrianna to exchange glances. "The mountains are fair teeming with goblins."

Adrianna shifts her attention back to Sam, smiling knowingly as he looked over at Rosie, the young She-Hobbit smiling warmly at the hobbit, causing him to spin back around quickly, a blush dusting his cheeks.

"Far-off tales and children's stories, that's all that is. You're beginning to sound like that old Bilbo Baggins. Cracked, he was."

"Young Mr. Frodo here, He's cracking." One of the older Hobbits laughs, motioning good naturedly towards Frodo as he approached the table,

"And proud of it." Frodo states, taking a seat one hobbit over from Sam. "Cheers, Gaffer."

"Cheers."

"Well it's none of our concern what goes on beyond our borders." The younger hobbit next to Frodo states, "Keep your nose out of trouble, and no trouble'll come to you."

"Agreed." Adrianna nodded slowly, raising her mug quietly with a small smile.

"Good night, lads." Rosie smiles, ushering the group of Hobbits—and Adrianna—from the bar after close a few hours later, "Good night, Adria,"

"Good night." Frodo calls back, over his shoulder

"Good night, Rosie, don't get to bed too late, y'hear?" Adrianna spoke, earning a laugh from the younger girl.

"Good night, sweet maiden of the golden ale." A drunken hobbit calls to Rosie, earning a glare from Sam and a laugh from Adrianna and Rosie.

"Oi, mind who you're sweet-talkin'." Adrianna merely shakes her head at Sam, a small smile still on her face as she yanked him and Frodo along.

"Don't worry, Sam. Rosie knows an idiot when she sees one." Frodo reassured, patting his friend on the shoulder gently.

Adrianna walked quietly with the pair up towards Bag End wishing Sam a good night before she and Frodo walked into the dark house, Adrianna wrapped her arms around her with a frown, muttering about starting a fire before she disappeared into the living room.

"Is it secret? Is it safe?" Gandalf suddenly appeared in the doorway behind Frodo, startling the young hobbit and the woman, the woman having spun around to throw the fire spike at the old man, only moderately satisfied when the wizard had to duck to the side to avoid being skewered by the dangerous iron projectile.

Adrianna watched as Frodo rushed to the chest he had hidden the ring in, the roaring fire Adria had started lighting the room as he dug through scrolls and maps, tossing the occasional book over his shoulder in his search.

"Aha! Here it is," Frodo holds up the envelope, not having the chance to fully turn towards the wizard before it was quickly snatched by Gandalf, who turned without pausing to toss it into the fire, earning a frown from the woman and a startled rush of air from Frodo.

"What are you doing?" Frodo gasps, blue eyes locked on the fireplace, watching as the envelope burned, away revealing the golden ring.

Adrianna's brow arched lightly as Gandalf leaned over, pulling the ring out of the hot coals with a pair of tongs, the ebony iron a stark contrast to the light gold of the ring.

"Hold out our hand, Frodo." Gandalf ordered. "It's quite cool."

Adrianna let out a disgruntled snort as Frodo flinched the ring landing in his palm, the remarkably cool metal failing to burn the hobbit the way he had thought.

"What can you see? Can you see anything?" Gandalf questioned, his shoulders tense as the hobbit rolled the ring in his fingers, eyes searching the smooth metal for something—anything that could justify the wizard's odd behavior.

"Nothing. There's nothing."

Adrianna watched quietly as relief flooded Gandalf's face, the old man slowly turning and moving towards the open window, halting next to the woman as she leaned against the desk, her brows knitted once more in confusion as she waited for the wizard to explain himself.

"Wait." Adrianna watches the muscles in Gandalf's face tighten at Frodo's words, concern she had only seen a few times taking hold of his features. "There are markings. It's some form of Elvish. I can't read it."

"There are few who can." Gandalf breathed, slowly turning his attention back to the small Hobbit. "The language is that of Mordor which I will not utter here. In the common tongue, it says 'One ring to rule them all. One ring to find them, one ring to bring the war, and in the darkness, bind them."

"I need something to drink." Adrianna sighed, running a hand down her face as she moved, "anyone want any Tea?"

Slowly walking back into the room a few moments later with a kettle of tea she took a seat at the table, staring at the small golden ring set in the center, the two males staring at it with different emotions before they looked up towards her as she took a seat next to Frodo.

"This is the one ring." Gandalf explained, sucking lightly at his pipe, "Forged by the Dark Lord Sauron, in the fires of mount doom, Taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself."

"Bilbo found it… In Golum's cave…" Frodo murmurs quietly, the gears in his head spinning.

"Yes," Gandalf confirmed, "for sixty years the ring lay quiet in Bilbo's keep. Prolonging his life, delaying old age, but no longer, evil is stirring in Mordor. The ring has heard its masters call. It wants to be found."

Adrianna tensed as Frodo's head snapped up, his eyes filling with a new found fear.

"But he was destroyed." He mumbled in a panic, "But Sauron was destroyed!"

The trio's attention shifted to the ring as a violent, hateful whisper started to float around the room, the ring's voice seeming to echo in the small space causing the three to tense, their worry growing as the wizard took a long drag from his pipe, releasing the smoke with a tired sigh.

"No, Frodo." He spoke after a brief pause, "The spirit of Sauron endured. His life force is bound to the ring, and the ring survived. He has returned, his orcs have multiplied, his fortress rebuilt in Mordor. All he needs is this ring, to cover the lands in a second darkness. He yearns for it, he yearns for it always. And the ring, it yearns for nothing else than to return to its master's hand. They are one, the ring and the dark lord. Frodo, he must never find it."

Adrianna watched quietly from behind her tea cup as the Hobbit's eyes filled with a youthful determination, the ever present fear still lingering at the back of his mind as he stood, picking the small ring off the table before turning towards the room, looking for a place to put the trinket.

"Alright then, we'll keep it safe." Frodo spoke, "Will hide it somewhere, and never speak of it again. No one knows that it is here, do they?" Adria shook her head lightly as Gandalf got to his feet, slowly moving so he could stare into the fire place.

"There is one, who knew Bilbo had the ring. Gollum, I have searched for the creature but the enemy found him first."

Adrianna let out another sigh, her train of thought shifting to the forms of torture the creature would have been subjected to by creatures of the Dark Lord, the possibilities were endless, and each and every one of them caused her stomach to churn uncomfortably.

"I do not know how long they tortured him. But amongst the babbles and screams, he uttered two words. 'Shire. Baggins.'" Gandalf continued, drawing the woman's attention once more.

"Shire, Baggins? But that will lead them here!" Frodo cries in horror, "Take it Gandalf! Take it!"

"No Frodo-." Gandalf backs up as the small hobbit moves forward, desperately trying to convince the the gray wizard to take the Ring, panic fueling him as he relentlessly moved.

"You must take it!"

"Do not offer my this ring."

"I'm giving it to you!"

"Don't tempt me Frodo!" Gandalf orders, the loud volume of his voice causing the small hobbit to pause lightly, retreating back a few steps with wide eyes locked on the tall wizard. "I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand Frodo, I would use this ring with the desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power to great to even imagine."

"But it cannot stay in the shire!" Frodo gasped,

"No, no it cannot." Gandalf comments, stepping forward slightly as Frodo's hand closes around the ring.

"What must I do?" Frodo questions, the brave face the small creature was putting forward causing Adrianna to smile fondly at him.

"You must leave! Quickly!" Gandalf orders, quickly ushering the small hobbit to the other room, tossing numerous supplies over his shoulder to the small creature. Adrianna watched silently, her brows arching as Gandalf shot her a look over his shoulder.

"Where, where do I go?" Frodo questioned, shoving his supplies into the pack laid at his feet.

"You must get out of the shire. Head to Bree,"

"Bree?" The hobbit's brows furrowed,

"I will be waiting for you at the Inn of the Prancing Pony." Gandalf confirmed.

"And the ring will be safe there?" Frodo questions,

"I do not know Frodo. I must speak to the head of my order. He is very brave, and very powerful. Trust me Frodo. Adrianna, are you prepared?"

"I'm working on it, I'm working on it." She mumbled from behind a closed door, the sound faintly reaching the less than amused wizard. Rolling his eyes lightly Gandalf shifted his attention back towards Frodo, rushing silently towards the door as the hobbit pulled a cloak over his shoulders.

"You will have to leave the name Baggins behind you. That name is not safe outside of the shire. Travel only by day. And keep off the roads."

"I can cut across country easy enough." Gandalf smiles down at the Small hobbit, placing his hands on his hips as Adrianna walked out of her room, her own pack slung over her shoulder with a long silver blade hanging loosely from her fingers.

"Hobbits are truly amazing creatures. Even after one hundred years with them, they never cease to amaze you." Adrianna frowned, turning her attention away from the wizard and hobbit to gaze towards the window with narrowed eyes.

"Get down!" Gandalf orders, pulling his staff he moves towards the open window. Adrianna let out a sigh, shaking her head slowly as she adjusted the blade in her hands, cool calculating eyes locked on the old wizard as he slowly moved towards the sound. Gandalf reaches through the window, the sound of wood meeting bone echoing around the room. Quickly the wizard leaned through the window, long fingers wrapping around the victim's shirt, hauling a small hobbit from the bushes below the window.

"Con-found-it Samwise Gamgee!" Gandalf snarled, tossing the hobbit onto a table, "Have you been eavesdropping again?!"

"I haven't been dropping no eve's sir! I was just cutting the grass under the window there! If you follow me." Sam quickly defends, frightened eyes shifting to each person in the room before they landed once more on Gandalf's furious gray ones.

"A little late to be trimming the ferns don't you think?" Adrianna challenged lightly, an amused smirk pulling at her lips despite the agitated look Gandalf threw her.

"I heard raised voices." Sam shrugged,

"What did you hear?" Gandalf snapped again, "Speak!"

"N-n-nothing important! Though I did hear a great deal about a ring, a Dark Lord and something about the end of the world. But please Mr. Gandalf, Don't hurt me! Don't turn me into anything… unnatural."

Adrianna sniggered quietly to herself, tying the katana in place before adjusting the cloak over it.

"No…? Perhaps not. I have a better use for you." Gandalf comments, turning slowly to lock eyes with the now armed woman behind him. "Adrianna, are you prepared to make this journey?"

"Of course," Adrianna confirmed, slinging the pack into place over her shoulders, "Ready to move when you are, Frodo, Sam." She smiled softly, trying to ease the tension slightly as the Wizard began ushering them around once more.

It had been less than a day they'd been walking; they'd covered a wide distance in a short amount of time, crossing tree lined meadows and hills until they descended into the low plains, wide fields of the Shire's crops painting the landscape in gold and green. In all her years of traveling, Adrianna had yet to see anything that rivaled the simplistic beauty of the Shire, the golden fields of Grain mixing with the green and yellow of the corn fields, he edges of the fields all lined with the dark green of the approaching forest.

Adrianna adjusted her pack lightly, her gaze resting on the mountains in the distance as Frodo and Sam trailed behind her, the later slowing until he came to a stop near the field's scarecrow, a frown pulling at his lips as he stared at the ground.

"This is it." Sam comments, drawing the attention of his companions, who both came to a stop, glancing to one another before shifting their gaze back to him.

"This is what?" Frodo questions slowly, backtracking to stand in front of his friend.

"If I take one more step, it'll be the furthest from home, I've ever been." Sam explained, a deep frown on his face as he stared at the ground, the invisible line separating him from his companions.

"Come on Sam," Frodo urged, slowly turning towards the waiting woman. Adrianna smiled encouragingly as Sam slowly took tentative steps towards her, Frodo close to him, slowly placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Remember what Bilbo used to say?" Frodo questioned as the three began walking once more, "'it's dangerous business, walking out your front door. It's a dangerous world out there. And if you don't keep your feet, there's no telling where you might be swept off too."

Adrianna let out a bored yawn, stretching her arms out above her head before she adjusted her position on the tree branch. Below her on a branch much closer to the ground lay an equally calm Frodo, the smoking pipe resting at his lips while he looked up at the sky above them. Turning her attention downwards she watched as Sam threw different spices into the pot over the campfire, the aroma reaching her despite the height she rested at.

Twitching lightly she perked her ears, her gaze shifting once more towards the pathway a few yards away from them, the faint sound of singing floating through the air catching even the dozing Frodo's attention.

"Sam, Adria." Frodo breathed, drawing Sam's attention away from the cooking food, before glancing off in the distance. "Wood-elves."

Adrianna watched quietly as the hobbits raced off to get a closer look at the elves, letting out a disgruntled sigh she reaches over to grab the katana she had hanging on a nearby branch.

"No, let's not stay, let's go spy on a caravan of elves who want nothing more than to just reach the Harbor without trouble." She grumbled, "Why yes, my dear hobbits, this seems like a fantastic, and not at all stalkerish idea…." Frowning lightly her brows knitted together, "Ah who am I kidding. Stalkerish probably isn't a word here….Not technically a word back home either."

Rolling out of the tree she landed in the dirt with a soft thud, slinging the blade over her shoulder as she followed after the hobbits, standing a few feet behind them along the side of the road as the smaller creatures stared at the Elves as they moved by, their bodies and horses glowing in the twilight.

"They're going to the harbor beyond the White Towers." Frodo whispers, "To the Grey Havens,"

"They're leaving middle earth." Sam spoke,

"Never to return." Frodo confirmed,

"I don't know why, but it makes me sad." Sam confesses, watching as one of the elves turned towards them, crystal eyes locking onto the three.

The two hobbits inhaled sharply, only to glance back at Adrianna to see her standing calmly behind them, not at all trying to hide from the marching elves. Their shock grew as the woman waved to the elf, earning a smile and a nod in response before they continued moving.

"You know the elves?"

"Yep. I've done a lot of traveling, you met lots of people when you travel." She shrugged, nodding her head back towards their camp. "We should go before we start the forest on fire."


And there's Chapter 2. Things are gonna start picking up speed after this, so just hang in there ladies, I'm workin' on it.