Swept Away by Destiny
Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit Fanfiction
Chapter 9: The Ring's Taunting
"Fear is the brains way of saying that there is something important for you to overcome. - Rachel Huber"
After another week of training, it was time for Radagast to declare Evelyn fully trained and bid his student goodbye. He had nothing else to teach her now. She was ready for her mission, whatever it may be.
Gandalf arrived on his horse to take her back to Bag End. It was a sad goodbye as she bid all the animals and the mentor she had grown close to farewell. Evelyn was excited to see the hobbits once again. She had missed them dearly and couldn't wait to tell them of all the things she had done so far.
She remained silent for most of the ride back, taking in the scenery once again. Once they arrived to the border of the Shire and all its green covered hills, A bright smile came to the woman's face and she finally spoke. "The Shire is still looking beautiful as always."
The Grey wizard was surprised at the sound of her voice, raising an eyebrow and chuckling. "So you're awake? I thought you had fallen asleep."
Evelyn chuckled herself. "No, just thinking and admiring the beauty of nature."
"I think Radagast and his ways have rubbed off on you..."
"Yeah, probably. But I've always liked nature before being around him."
Finally they had arrived to Bag End as Evelyn quickly jumped down and ran towards the three hobbits waiting for her outside. Taking them into a hug, which they were surprised by, but accepted. "I've missed you all so much!"
"You've only been gone for 4 weeks Evelyn." Frodo told her.
She pulled back, looking into his blue eyes. "Really? Well, I have a lot to tell you!"
"Lets go inside and you can tell us all about it." Bilbo replied as they all walked inside the hobbit hole of Bad End.
"How was your journey Evelyn?" Sam asked, sitting by Frodo while Bilbo sat near Gandalf who was very tall and bending slightly.
"It was good Sam. I met my mentor who happened to be Radagast the Brown of all people. He lives by Mirkwood." Evelyn told them pacing around the small living room and almost hitting her head on the ceiling and lights as she did so.
Bilbo perked up, noticing the familiar name of the place. "Mirkwood? Really? My, I haven't been there for a while. Has it changed any?"
Gandalf shook his head. "No, it still looks the same my dear friend."
"But it was so beautiful and such an honor to by there! Anyway, I told him I've been having weird and livid dreams, prophetic dreams he told me. I told him one about a figure who is supposedly Eru Iluvatar and he is the one who sent me here."
Bilbo and Frodo looked wide eyed at this. "Eru Iluvatar brought you here? You don't say?" Bilbo asked intrigued.
"Why?" Frodo asked.
"To follow my destiny as the Guardian and help stop the evil that threatens Middle Earth." Evelyn replied, looking to them with sympathy, knowing what will soon come their way.
Sam finally spoke. "There is a evil threatening Middle Earth? How exactly will you stop it Miss?"
The woman sighed briefly and then looked to them with an uncertain, but determined look. "I'm not sure how I will exactly stop it, but I have to." She looked over to the Grey Wizard. "Gandalf, didn't you say the prophesy said I will not only get prophetic dreams, but also an increase in strength, a way to defend and a sense of when danger is near so I can stop it?"
Gandalf gave a small nod. "Yes, that is correct."
"Then that will help me with my mission." Evelyn replied, looking back to Sam.
"Do you know when you're suppose to go and face this threat?" Frodo asked, looking to her with concern.
Evelyn nodded, looking nervous. "Yes..."
Bilbo noticed her nervous behavior with this talk and decided to change the subject. "Evelyn, will you be here to help Frodo and I with our preparations for our birthday party coming soon?"
The young woman looked to the hobbit with wide yes and jumped a little, finally knocking her head on the ceiling. "OUCH! Wait, how much time is left until your birthdays?!"
"In a week...why?"
She slumped down onto the floor and slapped her hands against her cheeks. "That means my birthday is tomorrow! September 13th. I'm going to be turning 21!"
They all looked to her in amusement and chuckles.
"Really?" Bilbo asked and then clapped his hands together. "We must throw you a birthday party then! There is still time today to get it all ready for tomorrow if we work on it."
Frodo and Sam went over to her with smiles.
"Evelyn, why didn't you tell us your birthday was tomorrow? We could have surprised you with the party!" The blue eyed hobbit told her.
Her cheeks became red and she shook her head. "Oh, no no. You don't have to throw a party for me, I insist. Besides, I wasn't really thinking about it so that's why. I've just been so caught up with the reality of...here."
"Are you sure Evelyn? We wouldn't mind it at all. You're one of our friends." Sam replied, giving her a warm smile.
She looked at the hobbits and Gandalf and could feel tears threatening to fall from her eyes at Sam's words. You're one of our friends. Evelyn rose up from the ground slowly, as to not hit her head on the ceiling again and nodded. "Thank you. I consider you all my dear friends as well, but I don't need a party. I'll save that for Frodo's and Bilbo's."
Bilbo looked a bit saddened by not throwing her a party, but knew she was trying to be considerate to them. "If you say so dear."
Gandalf began to rise carefully. "I best be off now my friends. I'll come back with fireworks for your party in a week." He looked down to Evelyn before leaving through the door. "Take care my dear and keep me informed if you have any concerns."
She nodded to him. "Will do Gandalf."
They all bid him goodbye and safe travels before returning to the living room. Evelyn noticed Bilbo putting him hand in his pocket and watched him. It had to be the ring. That little gold band would soon cause chaos and end this happy little moment all of them were having. Just sitting around the hobbit hole of Bag End and chatting happily with one another.
She didn't want it to happen. Evelyn didn't dare tell Bilbo and Frodo that once their birthdays came next week, it would be cut short. That in that one moment on a day meant for celebration and happiness, it would become one of tears and endless fighting.
That is why she wanted to focus on making sure they were having the greatest time of their lives and saving the party for them.
Yet she couldn't help but wonder how exactly she would help stop Sauron, even with her training as a Guardian. But it would all happen soon.
"Evelyn?"
She was broken from her thoughts looking to Bilbo. "Huh, sorry?"
"I asked you if you would like some tea my dear?"
The woman nodded her head. "Yes, please. Thank you."
"I'll be back with it soon then." Bilbo replied as he turned to go towards the kitchen. It was then when Evelyn noticed something gold fall from his pocket and hit the carpet.
She looked around and noticed Frodo and Sam weren't in the room anymore. Had she been lost in her thoughts that much to not notice?
Looking back to the gold object on the floor, she walked over to it carefully and saw it was a ring. On instinct she jumped and gasped. It was the one ring of Sauron's. Bilbo must have a hole in his pocket and it fell out when he left.
It was there on the ground and it felt like it was watching her. She didn't dare touch it, knowing what it could do. But she wanted to destroy it right now. Smash it or something so the events that would soon be didn't happen.
Debating on what to do and realizing it could only go one way, she looked to it with narrowed eyes.
It was then when she began to feel fear and nervousness. Every insecurity and fear was playing in her mind. A voice taunting her and telling her of things that would happen if she didn't stay still and sit there.
How her dead parents are disappointed in the road she is taking with her life.
And how if she stayed her any longer, she would be leading her new friends to their deaths.
Bilbo returned to the room and noticed Evelyn sitting down and looking frightened. He walked over to her to comfort her and noticed his ring on the ground. He quickly picked it up and put it in his other pocket, one without a hole. "My precious..." He whispered before putting it away.
She looked to the hobbit, realization on her face. "Bilbo...Did you say something?"
"No." He replied shaking it off. "Are you okay dear? It looks like something has you frightened. If it's about your destiny-"
"It is. Fear...that's what has me frightened about it. Just knowing what that threat can do, it scares me." Evelyn sighed, looking down at where the ring was. "Almost like it's taunting me."
Bilbo took her hand to comfort her and she looked back to him. "Evelyn dear, don't let fear stop you. If anything, let it empower you to stop it. You're right, fear taunts us. It's only because it knows we have the power to overcome it and it fears us for that. So it will try it's hardest to convince you otherwise, but don't you listen. Just remember what I told you."
"That along the way I'll find my courage I have inside myself." She said, recalling his courageous words.
"Exactly!" Bilbo exclaimed happily. "Now, join us in the dinning room for food. I got it all ready."
Following after him and entering into the happy room surrounded with yummy food of sorts and the hobbits with bright smiling faces, Evelyn felt a warm feeling overpower her and realized this is what she was going to guard and protect no matter what the ring told her.
Sorry I haven't updated for a while. Even though I had this chapter already planned out, I've been busy with life matters.
On a side note: My classes are starting up once again and I'll be putting most of my focus into them and my life matters. I'll try to update this story whenever I can. Thanks to those still reading it! The support is greatly appreciated :)
See you all in the next chapter which will involve the antics with Evelyn and her birthday.
