~~~
Disclaimer: I do not own L.O.T.R. No matter how much I wish I did

"Regular speech"
"Elvin Speech"
"Thoughts"

"To start a journey never knowing how it will affect you and how it will end is one thing, to start a journey knowing it will change you for worse, and how it will end in your death,

is another thing entirely."

~Numinex

I stepped out of the home I had been living in ever since I first arrived in the shire. the crisp morning air nipped softly at my nose, it was summer but I could tell that autumn was on it's way judging by the chill that filled the air. It was in these times that I couldn't help but rise before the sun had peaked over the hilltops and await the beginning of such a glorious day.

I guess it was a habit I had developed from when I was younger and still traveling with Gandalf, he would always wake me before the sun rose and we would always sit together and watch it rise, reflecting upon the start of a new day. There were few hobbits out this morning, the majority of them curled up warm in their comfortable beds, with lovely feather pillows to rest upon.

The few hobbits that were out though were the ones who were collecting the last crops of the season and the herbs from their lawns before the heat of the day settled in and made it too hot to be able to tend the fields. One of the hobbits who actually had awoken earlier today was not out tending the gardens, but in fact had locked himself in his study, pouring over old maps and documents that have come into his possession the past few years.

Bilbo, who was working upon a tale of the quest he had gone on a while back, had taken to locking himself in his study for hours, muttering about the lonely mountain. Though my father had gone on the quest with Bilbo, I did not. I would rather stay in Lorien with Naneth and Ada then go hunting after a dragon that was terrorizing the locals around the misty mountains.

I did not want to see the death of something as ancient as a dragon, it made me think of all of the knowledge lost, the things it could have taught to others, having seen so many ages of this world. I shook my head and set out with a brisk pace for a grove of old oak trees that rested within the shire. It was at that grove that I can think best.

Though I love my adopted son Frodo and my other 'children' I couldn't help but feel out of place inside the shire, me being the only big folk who was openly welcome and loved by all hobbits who lived here. The hobbits did not commonly enjoy the presence of the big folk in their tiny and quaint towns, they were content with ignoring the world and with being ignored, for their hearts lay in peace, not in violence and war.

As the sun floated higher in the sky, one was almost able to hear the faint buzz of excitement of the Hobbits who were now helping to set up for Bilbo's 111th birthday. I assume that Bilbo was still locked up in his study and was only going to come out for the party, it is not like him to leave the house much, but rather plan out ideas and trips to see the forests he once traveled through.

"Hey Mum, what 'cha doin' up there?" I looked down upon the most troublesome two out of my four 'children'. Merry and Pippin were standing at the base of the old oak who's branches I was perching in, "Just looking for two troublesome little hobbits who should not be asking silly questions but be helping to set up for Bilbo's birthday." My voice was playfully stern as I jumped down form the tree gracefully.

the moment my feet touched the ground I was tackled by the two hobbits who were hugging me tightly, "Ya know Mum, I'm really glad you are our Mum." I smiled and raffled Pippin's hair, "And I am glad you two are my sons." we chuckled about this a bit before Merry got a wide smile, "We have something to tell you." I raised one brow expectantly as Merry turned to Pippin, "Would you like to do the honors?"

Pippin did a mock respectful bow to him before smiling widely, "One, Frodo's looking for you. Two, Gandalf has returned to the Shire!" My grin grew wide at the thought of my father and I gave the two hobbits a firm hug, "Thank you for telling me young ones." They smile din response and hurried off toward a hobbit who was having trouble with a full barrel of ale.

I smiled and shook my head at the young Hobbit's behavior as I made my way toward Bilbo's house, knowing that my father would most likely be catching up with the hold hobbit. Sure enough, as I came into view of Bag End I could see my father's cart that was full of fireworks and was being pulled by his old brown horse standing outside of the home.

With a smile I entered the home, ducking down as to not hit my head upon the low beams of the home and the chandelier, having been accustomed to the low ceiling of the hobbit home I have lived in for the past forty-two years ever since I first took in Frodo. That's right, Frodo is forty-two years old. But in truth, to a hobbit, forty is more like being twenty in both looks and maturity seeing as hobbits live longer lives than that of men.

I could hear the loud and gentle voice of my father echoing down the halls of the quaint hobbit home with the gravely voice of Bilbo taking in response to the words of my father. As I entered the kitchen I leaned upon the wall next to the doorway with a smile on my face, "Well if it isn't an old man talking of past adventures with an old hobbit."

Gandalf looked up at me sternly but I could see the laughter in his eyes, knowing he was not truly angry at me as I spoke with a hard reprimanding tone, "Age brings wisdom with it, something you have little of!" We both stayed there, locked in a stare down before a smile played across my lips and I flung myself into my father's arms, "I have missed you so much father!" I cried out, the joy clear in my voice.

"As I have missed you my dear Numinex." I sat at the table with Gandalf and Bilbo, "She has behaved herself hasn't she?" My father asked, sending a teasing glance my way, "Come on Old man! I am 1568 years old!" He laughed happily with a smile on his aged face, "That makes you an old woman."

I rolled my eyes and smacked my father's arm gently, "And yet I still look beautiful as ever and you still look like an old man!" Bilbo laughed at our banter and then served tea with Luncheon, the fourth meal of the day for all Hobbits even though the day was only half over.

Bilbo piled food upon my plate and I smiled warmly at the hobbit, even though I ate during all meals of the day as to not be offensive, I truly didn't eat much during the meals because of it, even if I did have quite the large amount of ale seeing as I can hold my liquor better than the Dwarves themselves.

"Bilbo, I do not need so much food!" I said exasperatedly as he continued to pile food upon my plate, from various meats to different kinds of rolls, "Rubbish! you hardly ever eat!" my father laughed in response and the rest of our time together continue din this kind of light hearted banter until I remembered I need to meet with my son.

"Well it has been lovely chatting with the two of you, but I must go find my son as he was searching for me earlier today." they both voiced their goodbyes as I grabbed Frodo's gift from my room and walked to the grove of oaks I had been resting in earlier this morning.

Sure enough, my son was resting in one of the lower branches of the tree staring off into space, "Frodo~" I called out to him and he looked up as a smile lit his features and he spring from the tree tackling me in a hug, "Mum! I have been waiting for you!" I laughed at his good mood and smiled fondly.

It had become a tradition for Frodo to wait at the oak trees for me on his birthday, seeing as he and Bilbo share the same birthday and that Bilbo got the majority of the attention from the Hobbits of The Shire, I ensured to spoil Frodo on his birthdays and I smiled kneeling down to his height and handed him his present that I had carefully wrapped.

Though he was excited he carefully removed the fine fabric that was wrapped around his birthday present, the wrapping in itself was a present. It was a white silk shirt that I had made myself for him and he smiled at the concept of it. his smile quickly turned to wonderment as he came upon the object's that were wrapped in the cloth.

"A flute on a gold chain and a dragon ring?" He asked me curiously and I nodded, giggling softly to myself at the look of awe upon his face. The flute was an ivory dragon who's tail was wrapped around the golden chain, its eyes were two rare gems called Alexandrite that changed from the deep green it commonly was to purple depending upon the lighting.

"I made the flute myself, it took a while to find the Alexandrite that make up it's eyes, but I figured you might like it. This flute is special though, I put a spell on it so that it will only play for you, no other can use it and should you find yourself in what seems like a hopeless situation, just play the tune I taught you when you were a child and it will call me to you."

I picked up the flute and then slipped the chain over Frodo's head, "I'll keep it with me always." I smiled warmly at my son's words, "That ring is of great importance to me Frodo, Gandalf told me that it belonged to my real mother who gave it to him to give to me to pass on to my child when they came of age."

Frodo slipped the ring onto his left thumb because it was too large for any of his other fingers and he threw his arm around me, "Thanks Mum." I smiled at the fact he was speaking in elvish, a language I taught to him and Bilbo because of their keen interest in the elves.

"Of course Ernil." He smiled at my nickname for him but then a look of realization seemed to cross over his face, "You are planing to leave the Shire..." I let out a soft sigh, knowing that I could not keep it from him for long. "I have spent forty-two good years in the shire Frodo, years of peace and joy, but that is not the life I am able to live for long.

"You know I am 1568 years old, I have seen many roads and met many a good friend in my travels. It is time for me to set out once again and to see those friends of old, rekindle the companionship that as begun to fade over the years of my absence and be the Great Sorceress of the Forests again. I do not wish to leave you my dear Frodo... but I do not have a choice, for the work of the Istari council is never over."

Frodo looked sad and his eyes were down cast at the grassy floor and I sighed sadly, "Do not despair Frodo, for I will always be with you, I am merely a tune away and should I hear you play that tune, no matter where I may be, I will come to you and help you." He looked up at me now, the sadness in his eyes was less now, but it was still there.

"I'm gonna miss you Mum..." he said softly and I hugged him gently rubbing his back soothingly, my instincts telling me to not leave but I knew that I had to. "I will miss you too my son. I am to leave soon, before Bilbo's party for I have been summoned to speak with my Uncle, Saruman, the leader of the Istari council. I wish I could stay longer, but I have already taken too long."

I sighed and stood up feeling guilty of some terrible crime for leaving Frodo like this , "Will you come to help and old woman pack for the long road ahead?" This got Frodo to smile as he looked up at me with an impish grin upon his face, "You're not that old Mum." I raised one eyebrow at him and he laughed, "You don't look old at least."

I smiled widely at this and ruffled his hair, "There's the Hobbit I raised!" he laughed and we made out way through the Shire to Bag End where I have spent most of my days in all of my years here. As Frodo and I entered the small house I noticed the absence of my father and of Bilbo. 'Well damn, I wanted to say goodbye to my father before I set out to Isengard to meet Saruman.'

With a gentle sigh I entered the room that has been where I have stayed my entire time at Bag End, Frodo grabbed my traveling pack and helped me put some food into it just in case and I packed some spare clothing and one dress as well as my Black robes that showed I was part of the Istari council.

As Frodo left to get some more food, bless his heart, I changed into my traveling gear, no longer in a plain dress as I commonly wore, but now in a pair of black trousers simple boots and a white tunic. Then I strapped Ambar, Taure and Galad to their respective spots before Putting my other pair of black robes over my gear to show my status.

Frodo entered my room and as he looked upon me tears formed in his eyes making me forget everything about leaving and just become the motherly woman I was as I pulled him into a hug stroking his hair gently and speaking softly in elvish, "Do not weep Ernil, for I will return. I am not leaving you forever, and remember that I will come to your aid should you need me."

Frodo nodded and I smiled sadly before picking up Dulin and then heading out the front door, Frodo following close behind me as I made my way toward the edge of the small town, "Frodo, please tell Bilbo, Gandalf and your brothers where I have gone, for it might be a while until I return, but I promise you, I will return."

I then walked off into the waiting forest that loomed in front of me concealing me from the ever watchful eye of the hobbit I have raised from such a young age, I felt horribel for leaving him, but I was summoned by my uncle, so I have to go.