The young hobbit had finally raised the courage to do what he wanted to do long ago. He was going to set out on a trip; he would journey far and wide. He would go to the dwarfen lands, or farther if necessary. There were some things he had to do away from home. Things he had to do alone. He wanted the townsfolk to get more accustomed to Aalyeh. Forcing her to go out and do things in town would get also get Aalyeh more comfortable with them.

What others thought of the couple was always a minor issue. Everyone would always stare at them when they were together. Since hobbits were not used to strange looking people passing through the shire, let alone living in it, the young hobbit often times quieted a room when he entered. People often talked of him in the same breath as the Baggins. Young Bilbo had recently run off. No one knew where to. No one knew why. At first people were worried about him, until someone said how they had seen some dwarfs and a human wizard going to his home, leaving, and then Bilbo running after them. Everyone was shocked by the conclusion that he was going on an adventure, but still not as shocked as when they found out that the young hobbit, Marco, was living with a dryad.

The elderly were complaining about how things like this would never have happened in their days. Parents were making examples of them. People were refusing to look the young hobbit in the eyes, and heaven only knows what they would do to Bilbo when he returned, if he returned, if this is what they were doing to the young hobbit. Megumi was the only one who didn't judge him for his living situation. The young hobbit often thought of how lucky he was to have a friend as kind as her. Some day she would find a wonderful husband, and be very happy.

The young hobbit was well ready for his trip; even Mr. Porky-poo-poo, the name that was eventually given to the young hobbit's pug mount, was ecstatic to go and was leaping about and woofing in his special puggy way. His frolicking made it extremely difficult to put his saddle on. He jumped about and the young hobbit was forced to follow. Mr. Porky-poo-poo grabbed one of the bags and offered a challenge to his rider. "Only the greatest of pug-riders can stop me," his eyes seemed to say. Smiling the young hobbit came up with a plan; he would offer Mr. Porky-poo-poo a treat, and while he was eating the young hobbit would put his saddle on and mount his mount. He only hoped that the treat would buy enough time, pugs eat quite quickly. He tossed Mr. Porky-poo-poo a small pork bone and he soon dropped the young hobbit's bag and began chewing. The young hobbit only just managed to slip the saddle on before Mr. Porky-poo-poo finished his bone. The young hobbit just managed to grab ahold of the reigns before the excited pug began once again to frolic about. The young hobbit was tossed about in his efforts to get a better grip.

"Sit boy! Sit! Sit! Whoa~! Stop it boy! Sit!" They young hobbit was only able to calm the pug when he slid a piece of food in front of the dog's eyes. Mr. Porky-poo-poo sat happily and wagged what little of a tail he had. The young hobbit climbed aboard the saddle and started off.

It was a good thing that the young hobbit was not actively looking for any particular town; he was more or less just wandering about. He cared not what town he visited first. He could always find things better this way. In any case, he was in no hurry and was willing to wander for as long as it took. He had no idea just how far his quest would take him. The forest was cool in the early morning, almost to the point of being frigid. Aalyeh had run quickly to catch up with her young hobbit, but to him she seemed to just brake off from the trees.

"Do you really have to go alone?" she pleaded. "Please let me come with you."

"I am afraid so," he replied, "er… that I have to go alone." The tenderfoot hobbit said awkwardly. "When I get back," the hobbit said, very unsure of himself, "there is a very important question I need to ask you."

"There is also a matter I must take up with you…when you return." Mr. Porky-poo-poo sniffed Aalyeh and made a snorting sound. Aalyeh smiled as if she and Mr. Porky-poo-poo had just shared an inside joke. She leaned over the mount and kissed her hobbit; it came as a surprise to him at first, but he soon got over the shock. He returned the gesture as best as he could. The moment ended when the half-grown hobbit almost fell off of his mount. With great anguish, the two went their separate ways, both aware that the other's task was important, even if it wasn't quite apparent. His plans were grand to say the least. He was willing to do almost anything to find perfection. Anything for her, anything, and so he started off on a quest. He didn't care what anyone else thought of him, and he would marry her! He must have perfection, for her, anything less would be insulting to his beloved. He had no idea if she returned his feelings, but that was most likely because he was blinded by his insecurities, and because of that he wanted to give her the best he could. He couldn't really see the obvious love in her eyes, he didn't notice the way she stared at him, drinking in his sight; he was oblivious to the fact that she often times had to heavily persuade herself to let go of his hand or arm, because the last thing she wanted to do was separate. He didn't realize that simply spending time with him was all she ever wanted; even if the ceiling was too small, or her beloved couldn't walk around a tree without getting lost; he was still all she ever wanted. Unfortunately, Aalyeh also had her insecurities. She didn't notice how he was often unable to stop himself from making eye contact every chance he got, even when their difference in sizes made that quite difficult. She had no idea that by the end of the day he was desperate to see her smiling face again. She had no idea that ever since he had met her, he had wasted very little time, he didn't want to spend a second more than necessary away from her. This trip would be the hardest thing both of them ever experienced.

Months had passed and the juvenile hobbit still hadn't found what he was looking for, the perfect way to confess his feelings, the perfect way to propose. The vegetation was no longer lush and green. Instead, it had become very barren. The land seemed to have almost an evil quality about it. Everything seemed to be bathed in deep blacks and greys; it was only interrupted by the crimson of the sky, which the sharp peaks of mountains pierced, creating an even darker atmosphere. This certainly was no place for hobbits. His suspicions were conformed when he saw something moving just in his vision. He had no knowledge of whom or what he might encounter this far out of the shire. Very few hobbits ever ventured out of their homes, and even fewer ever came out this far. The Shire didn't have very many visitors either, but even so, this place seemed as though it got even fewer. He was a little curious about what manner of beast could possible live in such a bleak and desolate place, but much to his dismay he soon got an answer. It noticed him just as soon as he noticed it. It closed the distance between them in speeds the young hobbit never thought possible. It was even more terrifying up close. Its flesh was white and heavily marred. As far as height went, it was somewhere between the humans and elves he had heard about from his parents in stories around the hearth, but whereas both of those races were for the most part portrayed as noble and brave, this creature would no doubt do unspeakable horrors if given any opportunity. He had tried to run, but it was much, much too fast. It grabbed him and threw him over its back in a single fluent motion. The young hobbit tried to explain that he was simply passing through, but soon the young hobbit began to question whether it could understand him, as no matter how hard he tried to make conversation the beast would not speak. Diplomacy would not get him out of this situation, and his beloved dryad was far too far away to help. He braced himself for the end and feared the worst.