Chapter Three

Gandalf POV

I opened the door, and walked back into the house. Seeing the ring on the floor, I bent to pick it up, but withdrew my hand when I saw the Eye of Sauron.

Rowan POV

Frodo and I ran to the house.

"Bilbo! Mimosa!" he called. He opened the door, but the only person we saw was Gandalf, who was sitting in front of the fire. "Bilbo! Mimosa!"

"Hey, look." I said. Frodo looked down, and we saw the ring. He picked it up. Gandalf was muttering something.

"They've gone, haven't they?" Frodo asked. We walked over to Gandalf. "They talked so long about leaving; we didn't think they'd really do it. Gandalf?"

Gandalf looked at us, and then the ring in Frodo's hand. "Bilbo's ring." He said. "He and Mimosa have gone to stay with the Elves. They've left you both Bag End." He held out an envelope. Frodo put the ring in it. "Along with all of their possessions." He sealed the envelope with a wax stamp. "The ring is yours now." He held it out to Frodo, who took it. "Put it somewhere out of sight." Gandalf got up to leave. He headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Frodo asked, following him. I took his arm. I didn't want to be alone, so I followed the two.

"There are some things that I must see to."

"What things?"

"Questions." Gandalf said, grabbing his staff and his hat. "Questions that need answering."

"You've only just arrived. I don't understand."

Gandalf was at the door, so he turned and faced us. "Neither do I." he said. He put his hand on Frodo's shoulder. "Keep it secret. Keep it safe."

Then, he left. Frodo and I looked at the envelope.

"Do you know what he meant?" I asked.

"No idea." Frodo answered.

Gandalf POV

Thunder rumbled over Mordor as I neared Minas Tirith. I rode in, and then walked as fast as I could to the library. I looked at the papers, and my eyes caught something.

"Year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Gondor, and the finding of the Ring of Power. It has come to me. The One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate, for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, though I buy it with great pain. The markings upon the band begin to fade. The writing, which as first was as clear as red flame, has all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell."

Rowan POV

Merry and Pippin, the two goofballs, were on top of a table, singing, and their mugs of ale in their hands. Frodo and I grabbed a few mugs, danced around them, and sung along.

"...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, and the stream that falls from hill to plain, Better than rain or rippling brook—" Pippin took it over.

"Is a mug of beer inside this Took!" he said, and everyone cheered and clapped.

"Young Mr. Frodo and Miss Rowan here, they're cracking." Said Gaffer.

"And proud of it." Frodo said, putting his mugs on the table. I copied him. "Cheers, Gaffer."

"Cheers."

"Well, it's none of our concern what goes on beyond our borders." Said one Hobbit. I kept forgetting his name. Keep your noses out of trouble, and no trouble'll come to you."

Thanks.

Later

People were walking off, or passing out. A drunken Pippin stumbled off of the table, and laughed about it. Merry, who managed to stay more sober than his younger cousin, picked him up by the arms; bid us goodnight, and the duo left. Frodo shook his head.

"Those two." He said. Sam was making googly eyes at Rosie. I waved my hand in front of his face. The guy didn't even blink. Frodo and I laughed. I got up, and went to the other side of the room. "Hey, where you going?" Frodo asked. I didn't answer, and leaned against the wall. Frodo followed me and did the same. But he crossed his arms. "Now why did you run off?"

"It's funny, really." I said.

"What?"

"Sam and Rosie. They both like each other, they just won't admit it."

"Look at the way he's staring at her." Frodo said. He smiled and shook his head.

"I wish someone would stare at me like that." I said. Frodo looked at me. "Honestly, I do. I'm not very attractive."

And then, suddenly, Frodo kissed me. He pulled away, and our foreheads were pressed together. "You are very attractive, Rowan Whitfoot. Do not ever think you are not."

I smiled. "Thanks." I said.

Later

"Goodnight." Rosie told us as we left.

"Goodnight." Sam said. I think I saw him blush.

"Goodnight, sweet maiden of the golden ale." Said that one Hobbit who's name I couldn't remember.

"Oi, mind who you're sweet-talkin'." Sam muttered.

"Don't worry, Sam. Rosie knows an idiot when she sees one." Frodo reassured. He took my hand, and we walked off. Sam stopped in his tracks.

"Does she?" he asked. We walked up to the house.

"Goodnight, Sam." We said.

"Goodnight, Mr. Frodo, Miss Rowan." Sam said, leaving our side. Frodo and I looked at each other, smiling. We opened the door, and looked around. Papers were all over the place.

"Looks like we were robbed." I said.

"Looks it." Frodo agreed. A hand was placed on his shoulder, and we both jumped back. It was Gandalf. He had his hair in his face and a wild look in his eyes, making him look as if he had lost his mind.

"Is it secret? Is it safe?" he asked us. Frodo lit a fire, and opened a chest. There was a squeal in the background, and Gandalf jumped. Frodo pulled out the envelope and held it out to him.

"Ah." He said. Gandalf took it and threw it into the fire. "What are you doing?"

We watched as the envelope soon shrunk and revealed the ring. Gandalf took something off of the fireplace, grabbed the ring, and held it out to Frodo. "Hold out your hand, Frodo." He said. Frodo was reluctant. I would be too, thinking it was going to burn me. "It's quite cool."

Frodo held out his hand, and Gandalf placed the ring in it. Frodo's hand fell under the weight of it.

"What can you see?" Gandalf asked. "Can you see anything?"

"Nothing." Frodo said. "There's nothing." I heard Gandalf sigh. "Wait," Frodo seemed unsure. Fire-red words in Elvish appeared on the ring. "There are markings. It's some form of Elvish. I can't read it."

"There are few who can." Gandalf said. "The language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here."

I gasped. We looked at Gandalf. "Mordor!" Frodo breathed.

"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.""