Lily hummed to herself as she looked at the various fruits and vegetable on the shelf. After looking at everything speculatively, she finally decided on some delicious looking raspberries, figuring they would make a good jam.

I wonder if Frodo likes raspberries, she couldn't help but think and then immediately scolded herself. You're going down a dangerous road, Lily, and asking only for heartache. You're friends. You should be satisfied with that. And she was satisfied- more than so. She felt like she had made some real friends the other night and had a marvelous time. She especially liked finding another female she could connect with. Talking with Rosie about her crafts made her want to start up again, so she looked around some more, seeing if she could find some dyes and herbs she could put in her soaps. She turned around and immediately smacked into someone, almost dropping her basket. She started to fall and the person hastily caught her. She started to apologize and immediately found herself once again found herself looking into a pair of familiar blue eyes.

"Frodo!" she said, her treacherous heart skipping a beat. "Hi!" She giggled. "I'm sorry. Again. We really have to stop meeting like this."

Frodo grinned at bit. "I don't know," he said quietly. "It's not all bad." She frowned wondering what he meant, and then realized he still had his arms around her. Blushing madly, she untangled herself.

"So," she said awkwardly after a moment. "What are you doing here?"

Frodo shrugged. "Just picking up some salted pork." He showed her the pork loin he had under his arm. "And you?" He smirked. "I'm mighty curious about that ale of yours now."

Lily laughed. "I'll plan on making some then," she said. "I also wanted to get some bulbs and herbs to grow," she said. "Uncle Fineas doesn't have the strength to keep up a garden by himself anymore, so I thought I'd give it a go."

"Ah," Frodo said. "You'll want to talk to Sam then. He's great with that sort of thing."

"Yes, Uncle said something about him being your gardener."

The two made small talk as they ambled along, looking at the different booths. Slowly, they both became aware of the looks they were receiving. Frodo looked to see a few of the town gossips whispering excitedly and shooting them curious glances.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Could they be anymore obvious? I mean, I know I'm new to town, but am I really that much of a novelty?"

Frodo sighed. "It's not you. It's me." Lily shot him a curious glance and he hesitated before speaking again. "I haven't been the most. . .popular. . .fellow since I've been back. Hobbit's don't usually go off on grand adventures, you know." He smiled ruefully.

"No, I suppose not," Lily said quietly. "Then why did you leave?"

Frodo shook his head, that familiar darkness creeping into his eyes. "I didn't have a choice. Trust me, I had no idea what I was getting myself into." He shot her a glance. "How much did your Uncle tell you?"

Lily shrugged. "As much as he knows, I suppose. You disappeared soon after Bilbo with Sam, Merry, and Pippin, and then suddenly appeared 13 months later on ponies and dressed in clothes fit for royalty." She hesitated. "He said he didn't know where you had gone or what had happened, but that it couldn't all have been good."

Frodo looked very far away. "No," he said, anguish creeping into his voice. "Not all good." He seemed to shake himself mentally. "Obviously, since then, I don't anticipate anyone electing me for mayor." He half-smiled.

Lily shook her head. "They have no right to judge you. They don't know you."

Frodo looked down. "Well, that's alright. I'm not worth knowing. Not anymore."

Acting on impulse, Lily took his hand in hers, not caring who might be watching. "I think knowing you would be a very grand thing, Frodo."

Frodo jerked his head up, meeting her eyes. He could tell she was a bit embarrassed by her admission but he could tell she was sincere. He smiled. She had no idea what a rare jewel she was.

Suddenly he spoke up. "Lily?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"Do you have plans for tonight?" he asked. She shook her head.

"Good." He licked his lips nervously. "Because I want to tell you about my journey."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Frodo ran his fingers through his hair, and looked over to where Lily was sitting on a chair in his living room, waiting patiently for him to speak. She had a look of concern on her face.

Finally, Frodo opened a drawer and removed something. He ran his fingers over it, and Lily could see that it was a simple chain. Finally he spoke.

"Tell me, Lily," he said quietly. He handed her the chain. "Do you feel anything when you touch this? A shock, or even a tingle. Anything?"

Lily took the chain and held it for a moment, but she could feel nothing but the cool metal.

"No," she said, puzzled why he would even ask. "Why?"

Frodo took the chain back from Lily. "Because I can," he said quietly. "It's an imprint of what once was there." He smiled a bit grimly. "It's no surprise that only I can feel it."

"What is it?" Lily couldn't help but ask.

"On this chain," Frodo said. "There used to be a ring." He shook his head, almost in bemusement. "Something so small, so insignificant, but it changed everything." He looked her in the eye. "Have you heard of the land Mordor, Lily?"

A chill swept over Lily. Who hadn't heard of Mordor? Hobbits had little to do with what was outside their own land, but even the most reclusive hobbit knew of the dark things that crept out of the shadow lands. Mutely, she nodded.

"Thousands of years ago, there were rings created for the beings of Middle Earth. Elves, dwarves, and men. What they didn't know is that another ring was created to master over all the rest. A ring created by Lord Sauron of ring poem" Frodo briefly gave her the history of how Isildor came to have the ring and then how it passed to Gollum.

"When Bilbo went on his adventure with the dwarves, he stumbled upon Gollum in his cave. Or rather, he stumbled upon Gollum's ring, and then Gollum found him. Bilbo tricked Gollum, and stole the ring. For years, he had the ring in his possession. Until his 111th birthday."

Suddenly something clicked. "Uncle Fineas told me about that. He said that Bilbo got up to make his speech, said he was leaving forever, and then disappeared into thin air." She smiled sheepishly. "I didn't believe him."

Frodo smiled. "Because it sounds impossible, I know. Bilbo's ring had the power to turn the wearer invisible. After the party, Gandalf made him part with the ring, leaving it in my possession."

Lily's eyes widened. "You inherited a ring forged by Lord Sauron? Gandalf just left you with such an evil possession?"

Frodo shook his head. "Gandalf knew that the ring was magical but he had no idea it was the One Ring. He returned later and told me everything. It was here when Gandalf told me that I had to leave with the Ring. It was no longer safe in the Shire."

"But why?" Lily asked. "Gollum was the only one who knew Bilbo had it."

"Yes," Frodo said grimly. "But the enemy got to him before Gandalf could. They tortured him and he managed to get out two words." He paused. "Shire. And Baggins." Lily gasped in horror.

"Gandalf returned and insisted that I get the ring out of the Shire. Sam accompanied me and later on we met up with Merry and Pippin. From there we made our way to the town of Bree, where we were to meet Gandalf. Except we weren't alone." He swallowed hard and a lingering terror crept into his eyes.

"What do you mean?" Lily asked.

"We were followed by the Nine Ringwraiths. They were once the nine kings of Middle Earth but as the years went on they lost their souls in their obsession for the One Ring." He rubbed his forehead. "It's hard to explain, but this ring. . .Lord Sauron poured all his evilness and cruelty into it. It answered to no one but him. It could breed evil into the noblest of hearts. It thrived on anarchy."

"And you carried it for a year?" Lily shuddered. "What happened in Bree?" She asked.

"Well. . .we were supposed to meet Gandalf there, but he never showed up." He looked away for a moment, looking deep in thought.

"Are you alright, Frodo?" Lily asked gently.

Frodo tried to shake himself of the dark memories. "Yes," he said, smiling slightly at her. "But if it's alright, I think I'll stop there today." He hesitated a moment. "There's so much more that goes on. . .terrible things," he said quietly. "I can only handle a few of those memories at a time. They're still too fresh, I suppose."

Lily smiled. "Of course, Frodo, I understand. Take your time."

Frodo leaned back into his chair and studied her for a moment.

"So you know more about me than many another hobbit can say," he said smiling. "What about you?"

Lily shrugged and smiled shyly. "What would you like to know?"

Everything, he thought to himself. "What was your life like in Lochewood?"

Lily shrugged again. "Nothing too special I suppose. Lochewood is much quieter than the Shire, not as lively. I lived with my mother and father, I was an only child." She smiled. "As you know, I've loved reading since I was a child. I wasn't really popular with the frilly lasses in town and didn't care to be. I was always considered a bit odd because I was always off dreaming of the grand adventures I would have one day."

Frodo grinned. "Be careful what you wish for," he said and they both laughed a bit.

"So other than these grand adventures you plan on," Frodo said smiling. "What are your plans for the future? Do you want your own family?"

Lily's eyes sparkled. "Oh yes," she breathed. "I would love to have a husband and a few children one day." She blushed a bit.

An image suddenly came to Frodo of Lily and few toddlers with her green eyes clinging to her skirts. It was an image that made him smile unexpectedly.

"What about you?" she asked. "Your plans for the future?"

Frodo's smiled faded as he looked into her wide green eyes and bright smile. I plan on leaving the Shire forever, sailing to the Undying Lands, never to be seen again. But the words wouldn't come to him. "I plan on healing," he said simply.

Lily smiled and placed her hand on his. "Well, I hope you do that then."

Frodo smiled back at her and he unconsciously rubbed his thumb on her hand, sending shots of awareness through both of their bodies.

"You know," he said suddenly. "I think I already am."

Lily seemed to understand what he meant and blushed slightly. Frodo inwardly sighed. If only it were enough. If only. . .