Chapter 3: Shadow of the Past
Middle-Earth: The Shire
Later that night the gang finally met Frodo who was much younger than his uncle and less outgoing. He was asking about Bilbo and Gandalf. They had told him that they left and that he was to keep the ring in a safe place. He later found them a room to sleep in and accepted any questions they had.
For the next few days, they had found stuff for them to do while they spent their time in Hobbiton as it was called. Inuyasha had gone out to chop some wood; and what surprised the hobbits was the size of his sword. Each time he swung it, they tried to maintain their distance.
"Blimey! How is he able to lift a blade that's bigger than him?!" One of the older hobbits said to the others as Inuyasha lifted the Tetsusaiga over his head took another swing.
"There's a reason they call them big folk, they can lift more than we can with ease." Another hobbit replied back.
"Maybe we should leave him alone so we don't get chopped up."
Right after he said that, Inuyasha stopped chopping and gathered up all the wood and then took it over to their houses. He dropped them off and then walked away without saying a word which took the hobbits by surprise. Inuyasha's mind pondered on the things he heard them say.
"I saw that." He heard a familiar voice. It was Kaname. Inuyasha turned around and saw her with a smile on her face as she said, "You did something nice for them while they were worried that you would chop them up."
Inuyasha snorted and said, "I only chop up wood and demons, nothing else."
Kaname's smile only grew wider as he walked away. This kept on and Kaname would always watch as the hobbits grew less terrified of Inuyasha.
Sango and Kohaku would spend most of their time practice sparring while Shippo, Kilala and some of the hobbit children came to watch; intrigued by they're fighting styles. The first time started when Kohaku jumped into the air and threw his Kasarigama at Sango who held up her Boomerang Bone to block it. But then the steel chain wrapped around it and Kohaku pulled himself toward his sister which landed him right in front of her and allowed him to knock away her weapon. He then drew his sword and took a swing only for her to duck and draw her own sword for which Kohaku jumped over the streaking slice and their swords clashed. Kohaku was very quick with his strikes whereas Sango was the more powerful and soon after a final parry both brought their swords to a halt just inches away from their necks.
"Wow, Kohaku, you've gotten better." Sango said, praising her brother.
Kohaku smiled and replied, "Thank you, sis. I used to not like fighting but when I remembered all the bad things Naraku did, I realized that I had to fight back. But in a way, I'm actually glad that I didn't have to fight him."
Sango smiled at him and then noticed that Shippo, Kilala and the hobbit children were watching and walked over to them.
"Why were you two fighting?" One of the hobbit children asked.
"We weren't really fighting; we were just practicing." Sango replied.
"Practicing for what?" Another hobbit asked.
Sango smiled and started explaining that they were demon slayers and that they were required to practice every day to be prepared for when demons should attack people.
"Wow, that's amazing!" was all that the young hobbits' had said in amazement. Follow that the hobbits grew to like the two Demon Slayers and Sango couldn't help but to feel like a mother.
Kaname became quick friends with Merry, Pippin and a hobbit named Samwise Gamgee. As soon as she learned that they were good at cooking, she was more than glad to get them to improve Kagome's cooking skills.
Michiru, Miroku and Kagome were looking at maps with Frodo to get a sense of where they were and were told a few tales by Frodo about the well known locations relayed by his uncle.
"Are these maps completely accurate?" Miroku had asked Frodo.
"Yes. Bilbo always used accurate maps to tell his journey sixty years ago." Frodo replied.
Michiru looked at the map of Middle-Earth and said as he pointed northwest on the map, "So we're in the Shire up here?"
Frodo nodded as Kagome asked, "So where do you think Gandalf went?"
Frodo smiled and said, "Gandalf comes and goes as he pleases, but he tends to travel south towards Gondor once and a while."
When everyone got back, Michiru shared this information with them. After hearing more from Frodo about the different locations of Middle-Earth, Inuyasha asked as he pointed to the south east of the map, "So let me get this straight, the land of Mordor was ruled by some evil warlord who tried to take over the world three thousand years ago?"
Frodo responded, "Yes, according to Gandalf he often sought refuge here in Dol Guldur but Mordor was his kingdom. Some say that despite his defeat his dark power still dwells there."
Miroku put his thumb and index finger to his chin as he looked at the map and said, "Hmm, It is possible that this place must be the evil that our mysterious traveler spoke of. If dark power still dwells there then it could still threaten Middle-Earth."
Frodo replied, "I don't think so. Orcs are powerful but reckless creatures that don't take orders from anyone except their own. Since the dark lord's fall, no other being has been able to command them."
Though they did not argue that issue, everyone wasn't completely convinced by it. If evil still lingered in a place that's been leaderless for three thousand years, it was still not good news. However they decided not to let it bother them since there was no trouble at the moment and things were going smoothly.
Later that night, Inuyasha, Miroku, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin went out to the tavern while the others remained at Bag End discussing their situation.
"This place is beautiful. It's so calm and peaceful; I couldn't bear to see anything bad happen to it." Kaname said.
Michiru replied, "Yeah, most of the hobbits here are very polite and thoughtful. But after hearing about the elves, I hope we can get a chance to see them."
"Same here, but right now we have to figure out what we're after. Our duty to protect these people has to come first and we can't do that if we're going around sight-seeing. We're not exactly on vacation here." Kagome interjected.
"She's right," Sango spoke up. "The sooner we get this over with easier it will be to get back to our own world."
Knock, knock, knock!
They heard someone at the door and Sango decided to answer it. She opened the door and inside came a very weary Gandalf. He looked at Sango and said, "Ah, so you're still here? That's good, but I'm afraid that I must speak with Frodo privately."
Sango replied, "Frodo's not here at the moment."
He frowned and then asked, "Do you happen to known where he is?"
Michiru stood up and said, "He went with Inuyasha and Miroku down to the tavern."
Gandalf sighed in relief and said, "I must ask that you fetch him for I must speak with him immediately."
Michiru nodded and ran out to find Frodo while the others obeyed Gandalf's request to step outside and shut the door behind them.
As Frodo returned to the house while Michiru joined his friends, the young hobbit was feeling uneasy. Michiru told him that Gandalf had returned and wanted to speak with him privately, but when he entered the house all the lights were out and the fire place had been dimmed and there was a chill blowing through the house.
Suddenly a hand fell upon his shoulder and turned him around. He saw Gandalf with a weary look upon his face as he asked, "Is it secret? Is it safe?"
Frodo quickly understood what he meant and ran toward one of the chests that contained documents digging through. Gandalf heard a crow outside and turned to make sure they were safe. Frodo finally found an envelope which contained the Ring that Gandalf had ordered to keep hidden. He gave it to Gandalf who then threw it into the fireplace.
"What are you doing?!" Frodo asked bewilderedly.
Gandalf grabbed clippers just as the envelope shriveled up revealing the golden ring completely unaffected by the flames. Gandalf picked it up using the clippers and said, "Hold out your hand, Frodo."
Frodo looked even more confused wondering how he would be able to hold a hot piece of metal until Gandalf assured him, "It's quite cool."
He dropped the ring in Frodo's palm and to his surprise it wasn't the least bit hot. Gandalf asked in a desperate manner, "What can you see? Can you see anything?"
Frodo looked at the ring and fiddled with it a bit and saw no change. "Nothing, there's nothing."
Gandalf let out a sigh of relief when Frodo said, "Wait," Suddenly strange writing started to glow upon the band of the ring. Frodo recognized part of the writing but couldn't make out its origin. "There are markings. Its some form of elvish but I can't read it."
Gandalf's face expressed grimness as he said, "There are few who can. The language is that of Mordor which I will not utter here."
"Mordor?" Frodo said with surprise.
Gandalf looked him in the eye and said, "In the common tongue it says, 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.'"
Frodo and Gandalf made their way into the kitchen as Gandalf told him the tale about the Great Rings of Power while Frodo placed the ring on the table. And as Frodo poured some tea for Gandalf, he concluded the tale. "This is the One Ring forged by the Dark Lord Sauron in the fires of Mt. Doom taken by Isildur from the hand of Sauron himself."
Frodo was shocked by this revelation and said, "But Bilbo found in Gollum's Cave."
Gandalf nodded and continued, "Yes, and for sixty years the Ring laid quiet in Bilbo's keeping. Prolonging his life, delaying old age," Gandalf's face grew grim as he finished. "But no longer, Frodo; evil is once again stirring in the land of Mordor. The Ring has awoken. It's heard its master's call."
This news started scare Frodo. His uncle was carrying the weapon of evil for sixty years and it is only now started to rouse attention? He found this hard to believe. "But he was destroyed. Sauron was destroyed."
Suddenly they heard a strange voice say something unrecognizable. They turned toward the source of the voice. It was coming from the ring.
Gandalf looked at Frodo and said, "No, Frodo, the spirit of endured. His life force is bound the ring and the ring survived. Sauron has returned. His Orcs have multiplied; his fortress of Barad-Dur is now rebuilt in the land of Mordor. Sauron needs only this ring to cover all the lands of a second darkness. He is now seeking it, all of his thoughts are bent on it and the ring yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one, the Ring and the Dark Lord. Frodo, he must never find it."
Without hesitation, Frodo took the ring and walked away as he said, "Alright, we'll put it away, keep it hidden and never speak of it again; no one knows its here, do they?" Gandalf was silent as he joined Frodo in the living room and Frodo asked him, "Do they, Gandalf?"
Gandalf sighed and said, "There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the ring. I looked everywhere for the creature, Gollum. But the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they tortured him, but amidst the endless screams and delaying babble he said two words: Shire, Baggins."
Frodo started to grow scared as he put the pieces together. "Shire, Baggins? But that will lead them here." He then held out the ring and said, "Take it, Gandalf, you must take it"
Gandalf tried to keep his distance from the now panicking Frodo and said, "No, Frodo, you cannot offer me this ring."
"I'm giving it to you." Frodo replied, begging Gandalf to take the cursed ring as far away as possible.
"Don't tempt me, Frodo!" This made the young hobbit get a grip on himself as Gandalf said, "I cannot take not even to keep it safe. Please understand, Frodo, I would use this ring for the desire to do good but through me the ring would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."
Frodo started to understand and said, "But it cannot stay in the Shire."
Gandalf shook his head and said, "No, no it can't
Frodo held the ring tightly and asked, "What must I do?"
Frodo quickly packed some supplies as Gandalf told him to get out of the Shire and to head toward the town of Bree at the Inn of the Prancing Pony while Gandalf would go to see the head of his Order for counsel. As he finished packing, the young hobbit suddenly realized something. "Wait, Gandalf, what about the others? Do you think they should be left here alone?"
Gandalf looked at Frodo; he hadn't thought about them for he was mostly concerned with Frodo and the Ring, but he was concerned about their presence in the Shire. If the Enemy were to learn of their presence, they would more than likely take them prisoner. Though he hadn't known them long and got a bad vibe about some of them, they were still good people and they merely wish to help. Just before he could answer Frodo's question, they heard the bushes outside the near window rustle. They then heard a few whispers and Gandalf said, "Get down."
Gandalf picked up his staff and slowly approached the window. The bushes moved a little more and Gandalf seized his chance. He hit the thing in the bushes and it grunted in pain.
Upon recognizing the voice he tossed his staff and pulled the thing hiding in the bushes through the window and onto the table saying, "Confound it all, Sam-!"
Suddenly he got a good look at who he had pulled through window. It was Kagome. He let go of her shoulders and she slowly sat up, looking at him nervously.
"I could have sworn that I heard Samwise Gamgee." Gandalf said. Kagome simply smiled nervously, hoping that he wouldn't punish her, until suddenly Inuyasha came running in with his hand on the Tetsusaiga being that he couldn't draw it in the small house.
"Let her go." He said.
"No need to fear, boy." Gandalf replied, unimpressed by his entrance.
"Well I didn't know what you would do, old man." Inuyasha said gruffly as he took his hand off the Tetsusaiga.
"I would do what I would do to any eavesdropper." He said, watching as Michiru, Kaname, Miroku, Sango and Kohaku entered behind him as Shippo, Kilala and Sam hid behind the doorframe. "Have you all been eavesdropping?!" Everyone said nothing as they hung their heads, but Sam hid behind the doorframe scared of the wizard's anger.
Finally Michiru stepped forward and said, "We want to help Frodo, Mister Gandalf."
Gandalf smiled slightly to the Kururugi boy's courage and said, "I'm afraid it doesn't matter whether you want to or not. You will accompany him."
Inuyasha then said, "Who are you to tell us what we will do?"
Gandalf replied sternly, "Because he will need your help and besides, we cannot risk the Enemy coming here and learning of your presence. The Dark Lord will have you captured and questioned for information on Frodo as well as your origin."
Inuyasha said, "Are you saying that we're weak you old-?"
"Inuyasha, sit!" Kagome yelled.
Gandalf, Frodo and Sam were surprised when they saw Inuyasha hit the floor face first. Inuyasha groaned in pain as Gandalf looked at Kagome and actually laughed. He turned to Frodo and said, "Well, that settles it. You will take Sam and all of them with you to Bree. I will meet you all there at the Inn of the Prancing Pony; and as I said before I must see the head of my Order, he will know what to do now that the ring has been found." Gandalf turned toward the others. "Get as much rest as you all can. We will be leaving at dawn. And as for you Samwise, since you started the eavesdropping I've thought of a proper punishment for you."
And the Journey to Bree begins. For the Characters POVs I figured Michiru would be, like Sam, fascinated with the Elves and would be the one to try and hold the team together. Soon Inuyasha will find common ground with the dwarves in regards to attitude and mannerisms. I can see him and Gimli getting along after the Fellowship is forged. Sango and Aragorn will be the conflicted warriors who know what its like to feel forbidden to fall in love. I can also see Shippo and Kaname getting along with Merry and Pippin in regards to playing jokes and picking food.
