I stayed at Bag End for a prolonged period in which the exact time or years I am uncertain of. But in that time I had grown immensely fond of the Shire and all my new friends, (mainly Sam, Frodo, Merry, and Pippin). I went on small adventures with Merry and Pippin in Buckland and had lunch out in the garden with Sam and Frodo. All this time I had been borrowing clothes from them all (I asked for ones they didn't want anymore, but they wouldn't hear of it.) Passer-by would just think I was their new friend that went nearly everywhere together, knowing nothing of my gender or my past. I did end up telling them all of my past, or what was left of it in my memory. They all understood and gave me hobbit lessons in which I was to learn songs, history, lore, and how to cook. They claimed that I passed these tests with flying colors the next year. Despite my hatred of alcohol on the night of Mr. Bilbo's party, I had since grown a strong immunity to it's effects and was really starting to like it.

"So," said Frodo one fall day. "Everything is finally cleared out that Bilbo wanted out, and soon it will be time for me to move out of here."

"You're going to move?" I asked in surprise. It obviously showed a little too much.

"Well, you can come live with me, I suppose." he said, but rather uncomfortably. I couldn't help feeling like he was hiding something.

"Frodo..."I said slowly.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I can't help not feeling like you aren't telling me about something... I mean you and Gandalf both." I said looking concerned.

"Why do you think Gandalf is hiding something from you?" asked Frodo with unease.

"On the night of Mr. Bilbo's party I...I heard them talking, or maybe arguing about a ring. And then Gandalf leaves without a trace and hasn't been back until last week when I was kicked out of the parlor so you two could talk alone. And now you're in a hurry to sell Bag End, one of the things you love most. What's going on, Frodo?" I asked.

"I can't tell you. I just can't." he said.

"I will find out." I said slowly.

"But I won't be with one to tell you." said Frodo. "It is too dangerous."

"Have you told the others?" I asked.

"No, I have not." said Frodo. "And I would appreciate it if you didn't find out."

"No promises." I said and turned away. It was autumn then, and the fallen leaves swirled about in the cool wind. The sun was shining in a weak yellow hue that day. I got a pony from the stables and kicked it's sides. He sped off in the direction of Buckland. I needed to talk with Merry and Pippin. I was nearly to the rode out of Hobbiton when I heard my name. I stopped the pony, and he reared knocking me off. When I landed I made a sort of 'oof' sound. I massaged my back with my hand when I go up. I saw Merry and Pippin hiding in a bush.

"Look what you've made me do!" I cried. "D'you know how much that hurt?"

"Keep your voice down!" cried Merry, motioning me to the bush.

"Alright, what is it, and make it quick. I still have to catch that pony, and you're going to help." I said impatiently.

"Have you noticed how shunned we are lately from Gandalf and Frodo's conversations?" asked Pippin.

"Yes, so what's the point?" I asked.

"I know why." said Merry.

"You do, do you? Well let's have it, then." I said sitting cross-legged on the grass.

"A long time ago I was walking this very stretch of road when I saw Bilbo coming up the road. He was still far off, but the Sacksville-Bagginses came onto that road. I hid on the side of the road not wanting them to see me because I ran through their yard the week before making a mess of their garden. Anyway, they were very upset and I didn't want to get lectured, so I jumped in a bush. I watched Bilbo, and he saw them too. He nervously fingered something in his pocket and suddenly, he vanished! I cried out in astonishment, and the S-B's caught me in the bush and lectured me about destroying personal property. But since then Sam's been doing a bit of spy work for us and we know that the ring is actually the One Ring that could unleash Sauron's power. And we also found out that Frodo has to go away to destroy it. That's a very long ways to not have you're friends along with you, so me and Pippin decided we were going to go too." explained Merry.

"What about Sam?" I asked.

"Gandalf's ordered him to go along." said Pippin.

"Can I come?" I asked.

"Why not? I could be fun." said Pippin.

"Well, I hardly think it'll be fun." I said. "But it sounds like a good adventure if we come out of it in one piece." I said with a grin.

"I knew you would." said Pippin happily. "You're always a lot more fun than the other girls."

"But we have to tell Frodo that we're coming, and I was thinking when he gets to Crickhollow we'll tell him. He'll already be halfway out the door, so to speak, so he'll have a hard time leaving us behind." said Merry.

"Sounds like a plan. Now come help me catch that pony." I said getting up.

"You lost him!" cried Pippin.

"You made me loose him, now come on!" I said yanking him up by the arm. We chased the pony around for nearly an hour before we jumped on top of him from a low tree branch and stopped him. Pippin fell off the back and got up muttering about his sore back. I rode the pony back the stables and locked the door.

"Now then." I sighed brushing off my front, which was covered in dirt. "We'd better go help Frodo pack."

"We need a cart first." said Merry. "I can't speak for you two, but I'm not carrying Frodo's things to Crickhollow on foot."

"Alright, alright, but this time one of you gets to handle the pony." I said. We started down the road to Buckland where we readied a pony and cart to put all of Frodo's belongings in. We returned to Hobbiton in the late evening and Frodo looked relieved as well that he didn't have to do any walking until his big journey. We ate supper before we left, enjoying the last of Bag End. None of us would return for a very long time. After a bit of discussion we decided that Frodo's stuff would go ahead of him, and then Frodo would come shortly after. In all honesty, I think that Frodo was simply trying to buy more time for him to be at Bag End before he went off on his quest. Merry and I took the cart ahead and crossed the Brindywine with it all. By morning, Merry pointed out Brandy hall in which he lived, but probably not most of the time. He was mostly with Pippin out on long walks or stealing vegetables. We unloaded all of Frodo's belongings into the little house at Crickhollow, which was on the edge of the Old Forest. There were a few beds inside the house in which Merry and I spent the night. The next day passed slowly, anxiety welling up inside me. Frodo and the others should have arrived.

"Well, if they aren't here by sun down, we'll go looking for them." sighed Merry.

"Agreed." I said nodding. But the day faded and the sun set, and there was still no sign of our friends.

"We should go." said Merry. I packed up the playing cards and we headed towards the door. "Here. Put this on." Merry said tossing me a cloak. "It'll be cold down by the ferry dock." I wrapped it around my shoulders. By the time we reached the river, there was a boat waiting. More of a raft, really, but it looked safe enough. The Brandywine was wide and deep. The ferry dock was only a quarter mile down river, according to Merry. He sat down and rowed.

"You know, most hobbits won't touch a boat. Most of us can't swim." he said.

"I can swim. Can you?" I asked.

"Yes. I taught myself when I was younger." he said. I nodded. The boat bumped the low dock lightly and we got out. We borrowed two ponies and went up the trail. I heard the sound of a cart and horse's foot falls. When the cart reached us, there was an elderly hobbit driving, and a cart rolling behind him.

"I want Mr. Baggins. Have you seen him?" asked Merry. The old hobbit looked fearful and then with a look like he might have remembered something, cried.

"Mr. Merry!"

"Well, who did you think it was?" said Merry.

"Merry?" asked a muffled voice. Frodo Baggins' face appeared out from under the sheet that was covering the cart. "What are you doing here?"

"Well you took so long, I thought we should come and see what was wrong." said Merry.

"We ran into some trouble. But it's alright now." said Frodo.

"Come, now, I've got a boat all tied up and everything." said Merry. We went back to the boat, waving goodbye to the old farmer. I was glad to see that they were all alive and well. Half way through the boat ride, I noticed something. I smelled the air. Mushrooms....

"Alright, who's got the mushrooms, and why aren't they sharing?" I asked.

"You can have some, if you want." said Frodo opening up a basket. I took a hot mushroom out and chewed on it.

"Thank you." I said. We proceeded back to Crickhollow where I was glad to sit down. We all had something to eat and then decided that we'd get up and 4:00 to get an early start. No one listened to my objections, so I went to bed early.

"We have a bit to tell you Frodo." said Merry.

"What?" asked Frodo.

"We haven't been entirely truthful to you." Merry said.

"Oh?" said Frodo.

"Yes. We know you're going away."

"Do you?" asked Frodo.

"Far away." added Pippin.

"Yes. And we can't let you go through with it. We are your friends, Frodo, and we won't let you go into this alone."

"Yes, and we know about the ring as well." I muttered half asleep.

"How do you know about the ring? I thought we'd kept everything very safe." said Frodo.

"I'll tell you how I came upon it. I was walking towards Bag End, when I saw old Bilbo coming up the road. The S.B.s were walking along the same road, and when Bilbo caught sight of them, he pulled the ring out of his pocket, and vanished! Having seen this go on, I decided to tell Pippin about it, and so we started to watch you. Our spy is in fact, in this room right now!" said Merry.

"Well, out with it. I shan't be surprised by anything now." sighed Frodo.

"Come forward, Sam!" cried Merry.

"Sam!" said Frodo.

"I'm sorry sir! I didn't mean nothing of it!" he cried.

"It's really alright. But if you all want to come, I suppose I can't stop you." said Frodo.

"No, you can't. We're with you until the end." he said.

"And I'm coming too." I sighed drifting into a deep sleep.

It seemed like I barely got into bed before the covers were thrown off me, and Pippin was yelling at me to get up.

"Go away, I'm sleeping." I groaned.

"You said you were coming." said Pippin.

"It's still dark out!" I said groping for the bedclothes.

"Come on! Get up!" he said jostling me awake. I sat up.

"Yes, yes, yes, but let me have a quick bath first." I muttered. I went into the bathroom and noticed there were four tubs. The knob for the hot water wouldn't turn properly, and when it did, I accidentally let go and banged my hand on the side of the tub. This made me frustrated, and that is not a good thing for me in the morning. I undressed and filled the tub up. The door swung open.

"You forgot your towel..." Pippin started to say. I covered up and screamed at him to get out. I washed off and got out. I dressed and dried my hair.

"Where is he? I'll kill him!" I shrieked.

"What happened?" asked Sam.

"I just...forgot that she was a girl...and I barged in..." stammered Pippin. He saw me become furious. "But it's an easy mistake to make! I mean, you don't act like a girl an-and-and..." he stammered, cowering.

"Don't ever do that again." I said, breathing each syllable dangerously.

"I won't!" he promised.

"Don't insult any other girls either." I warned.

"Yes sir...ma'am." he said correcting himself with a wince.

"That's good. Truce?" I said extending my hand.

"Alright." he said shaking my hand. Merry bring back new supplies to stock our packs with. Fatty Bolger, who was to pose as Frodo while we were away, waved us goodbye, and we set out on our ponies.

"So where are we headed?" I asked.

"Into the Old Forest." said Merry pointing to the forest in front of us. It looked eerie in the early morning light that was barely hovering above the horizon.

"I was hoping we wouldn't have to go in there..." I muttered. "it's not that I'm scared, though...because I'm not..." I said trying to act calm. The forest loomed overhead in a menacing way. The others seemed calm, but I was very nervous. The forests at home certainly didn't make me feel like I did then. "There is something strange about this forest, but I can't put my finger on it." I said.

"Well, they say that the trees are living. Not just growing, but that they can hear you, and they know when you're there." said Merry.

"Have you ever seen them do that?" I asked.

"I've only been a little ways inside, but apparently the trails switch around." explained Merry.

"Then how are we supposed to know if we're going in the right direction?" I asked.

"Try not to raise your voice. They don't like it." said Merry.

"Don't like it?" I asked.

"They can drop branches and pine cones on you." said Merry.

"That makes me feel much better." I said.

"Yes, so I wouldn't say anything that might make them cross, if I were you." warned Merry. We traveled on for a long time, and the trails seemed to be leading us in circles. Pippin had his shoulders hunched as if he was ducking something.

"Oi! You trees! I'm not going to do anything!" he cried suddenly making us all jump.

"Stop that, Pippin! Remember what I told you!" he said. A large branch fell out of a tree just missing us. We quickened our pace.

"There, look. We're at the site of the great bon fire." said Merry. It was a huge open field where not one tree grew. Just long grass and shrubs. We continued on through the forest for hours and hours. The trails were always going west- the opposite direction in which we intended to go.

"We should try to find a way east. That's where the road is, after all." said Frodo.

"The trails just don't go that way." said Merry. I looked around me, and the trees seemed to be getting thicker.

"I'm really nervous." I said. "When's this forest end?" I asked. A branch fell behind us. "Never mind..." I stammered. The trails were definitely herding us west instead of east.

"It looks like we're heading straight into the heart of the forest." said Merry. "They say that is where all the strangeness comes from..."

"Isn't there a way around?" I asked.

"Not that I know of." said Merry.

"Hurray." I said flatly. I could hear the sounds of rushing water to our right. It was a river, and all of a sudden, I felt very compelled to sleep. "I'm so tired!" I said." I just need a nap...only a little one...wake me in ten minutes..." I groaned. I dismounted and collapsed in the middle of the trail.

"Olivia!" yelled Sam's voice. "Olivia, wake up!"

"What, Sam?" I asked irritably.

"Come quick!" he said. I was jostled awake, so I got up and looked around stupidly. What I saw next really woke me up. Pippin was gone, and Merry's legs were sticking out of a tree.

"What's happened?!" I cried. I ran over and started beating on the tree. "Oh, no...Merry, can you hear me?" I yelled.

"Get me out of here!" I heard his muffled voice cry.

"We've got to get him out of there!" I said.

"We could try building a fire." said Sam.

"And roast Merry and Pippin while we're at it." said Frodo anxiously.

"Lets just try it, and see what happens..." I said nervously. Sam and Frodo collected twigs and grass and made I little pile. I got out a flint and tinder and struck a spark. The grass caught fire, and is started smoking. Merry started yelling from inside the tree.

"Put it out! PUT IT OUT! He'll squeeze me in half, he says so!" he yelled. Sam and I started stomping on the flames to put them out.

"Help! Someone help!" cried Frodo running up the trail. When all hope seemed lost, I heard someone singing. And old man came up the trail singing a happy little song. I found it extremely annoying. "Can you help us?" asked Frodo frantically to the old man.

"Well, what would you little people need help with, hmm?" he asked kindly.

"Our friends are stuck inside some trees, and we can't get them out." said Frodo.

"Old man Willow, is that all?" he said like trees trapping people was ordinary. For some reason, this kindly old fellow who was about to save our friends seemed annoying, and he greatly frustrated me. I had an urge to kick him, but I was small, and he was big. Plus he was an old man, and it's not very nice to kick an old man. He started to sing another stupid song, and then he started talking to the tree. Merry's feet were now the only part of him sticking out of the tree. I guess if it got those two out, I didn't care how senile Tom Bombadil was. What a strange name. Bombadil. If my name were Bombadil I'd change it. Tom Smith sounds a lot better, I think. Anyway, Merry and Pippin were hurled out of the trees like someone had pushed them out. I went to give Merry a hand up, and he took it, giving me a weak smile. I smiled back and looked back to Tom Bombadil. I massaged my temples thinking to myself, this is going to be a long day.

"Thank you." said Merry.

"It was nothing! Now, you all look weary and in need of a place to stay. I have a cabin not a mile from here! Why don't you stay for a few days so you are refreshed for your journey?" he offered. I had another urge to run away, but that didn't seem polite, either.

"We'd be happy to." said Frodo. So off we went to his cabin, to my disappointment. We came it in no time. A girl came out to greet us. It looked to me like dear old Tom Bombadil had a maid.

"Goldberry!" cried Bombadil. "Get these fine young friends of mine some rooms ready!" Friends is a very strong word for the current situation, I think, although I can't speak for the others. While Goldberry went to prepare our beds, Tom Bombadil made us tea.

"What might all of your names be?" asked Tom.

"This is Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, Peregrin Took and-"

"Thorn Overhill." I put in, cutting Frodo off. He looked at me funny. I smiled at him like nothing was wrong. He got the hint and went on to say that he was Frodo, with the name Underhill.

"Are you two related in any way?" asked Bombadil.

"Cousins." I said nodding, putting my arm around his shoulders. Frodo looked like he was holding back a laugh, and shaking his head.

"What is wrong, Master Frodo?" asked Tom, curious of Frodo's behavior.

"Oh...sorry, I've just thought of something funny. But it's passed." he said slowly. Pretty slick, Frodo, I thought to myself grinning. A couple of hours passed, and all we did was exchange stories. I started to nod off to sleep sitting up.

"You seem tired, Master Thorn." said Bombadil.

"Nah, I just nod off to sleep for fun," I said.

"Would you like to go up to your room so you can rest?" he asked. Sure, so he can sneak up on me while I'm sleeping. Old men who sing songs in the forest are likely to be missing more than a few marbles.

"Yes." I sighed. He took me up to my room, and I got into bed and fell asleep immediately. I was woken up by the sound of my door shutting. I lay there with my eyes shut. I heard shoes, so it wasn't any of my friends. Thank God they weren't boots, because that would've meant that Bombadil was in my room. Oh great I thought rolling my eyes. It's Goldberry.

"What're you doing?" I asked.

"Bringing your breakfast. I thought that you would be hungry because you missed dinner last night." she said. Oops...

"Well, thanks, but could you go now? I like my privacy." I said.

"As you wish, Master Overhill." she said bowing as she retreated from the room.

"These people are so...creepy." I sad eyeing at what she'd brought me. "Oooh, bacon..." I said biting into a slice. "I hope we get going today." I muttered through a bite of toast. "It's against man standards to skip around in the forest singing, even I know that." I said to myself. "I mean, Frodo doesn't skip and dance. And the others better not skip and dance either." I added through my porage. I dumped brown sugar and milk all over it and stirred it in. I finished my breakfast, showered, and went downstairs to find everyone sitting around talking. I seemed we'd be staying a few more days. Mostly I pretended to sleep, but finally, Frodo said we should probably go. The next morning I came down to see everyone already dressed and ready to go.

"Where have you been?" asked Pippin.

"Upstairs eating breakfast. Examining my chest hair. Manly sort of things, you know." I said nodding. Frodo snorted this time, and Merry chuckled and shook his head at me, and Pippin leaned against the wall, his head resting on his arm laughing. But Tom Bombadil never gave me a second glance.

"I have found your ponies, and have properly saddled them and packed your things on them." reported Bombadil.

"Goodie." I said under my breath.

"Thank you so much for letting us stay in your house." said Frodo.

"Anytime." he said. "You remember where Old Tom Bombadil lives. He'll give you a place to stay any time."

"Right, well we must be off. Come on, gents, hurry up..." I said hurrying everyone out the door.

"Go to the east until you reach Bree. Their Barley Butterbur will surely give you rooms to stay at. Look for the sign of the Prancing Pony. I will show you out of the forest, but from there, you are on your own." he said. We mounted our steeds, and fallowed old Tom Bombadil into the forest. He started up another song and I snapped.

"Look, Tom." I burst out." If you sing another stupid word, I'll get medieval on you." I said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"He's going to hurt you." said Merry shaking his head.

"Alright, if you detest my singing, I will bother you not for the rest of the trip to the ford." he said.

"Much appreciated." I growled. We finally reached the edge of the forest. I laughed out loud. It might've sounded eccentric, but I sleep better at night if I let all my feelings out, no matter how crazy they are.

"Now I leave you to your own devices." said Bombadil. He said this as if he was going into a long speech.

"Good!" I cried. "Go away! I wouldn't care if I ever saw you again, you stupid homo! And I got something else for you! I'm a girl!" I said busting out laughing. I kicked my pony, and he galloped away from the group. "I'm free!" I shouted. "Hurray!"

"Wait up, Olivia!" shouted Merry and ran after me, laughing at the top of his voice too. The others fallowed, not even saying goodbye to Tom Bombadil. We stopped for lunch near midday, and let the ponies rest on the grass. I guess before I knew it, I was falling asleep. When I woke up I felt uneasy. Everyone else seemed to have the same experience. We jumped up and looked around. We were resting on what looked like an island of fog. Only the place in which we stood was showing above the swirling clouds.

"What's with this fog?" I asked.

"I don't know. We shouldn't separate though." said Frodo. We hiked down our ponies close behind, into the fog. It was freezing cold, and wet inside the blanket of fog that surrounded us. My hair was sopping, and was sticking flat to my head. I felt very uncomfortable, and miserable. As we slogged down the hill, Merry came up on my left side. He looked over at me, and I gave him a concerned look. His hand slowly made it's way over to mine. He took my hand and gripped it tightly. It surprised me and my hand jerked it back. I looked at him, but I could not read his

"Your hands are cold." he whispered to me. I nodded feeling slightly uncomfortable and out of place. The others must have been staring, but I didn't notice. The fog swirled between our company, making it difficult to see one another. We were all going very slow down into the valley. Two large spots of darkness loomed over head. I saw Frodo's face light up.

"Come on! We don't have much father to go!" he said hurrying forward.

"Frodo! Come back!" I yelled. Merry started to go after him. "Don't you leave too!" I scolded.

"We have to find Frodo. Come on." he said. We quickened the pace ever so slightly, and as we did, we started calling Frodo's name. There was no reply. I was about to say something to Merry when I turned around, and he was gone.

"Merry?" I whispered. "Merry! Where are you? Come back! Don't leave me alone out here!" I shouted. I heard my voice echo in the emptiness. I felt like crying, but held back the tears. Suddenly, I was hit on the back of my head, and I fell to the ground.