Disclaimers: See the Prologue for more information.

Sorry for not updating sooner. Life took over and I was caught in the thick of things. Now that I'm back, and writing again, here's the next chapter. :) And this chapter is going to focus on a few topics, but it is something that's been nagging at me, that I need to get out and written down on paper.

Whoo. Okay, let's get going again. :)


Chapter Seven:

News of a Coronation

Pippin's POV

Peregrin Took, Pippin for short, hadn't expected his life to change overnight. One minute, he was celebrating one of his cousins' birthdays – Merry was present for this splendid day – and then all of a sudden, a ninety-degree switch to him becoming the Prince of Tuckborough. His father was king of Tookland, but his three sisters ended up becoming Princesses of Tookland, each owning their own section of the kingdom.

As for the Great Smials of Tuckborough, it had become a hobbitish castle and a very lively one. Pippin didn't mind this. He only minded the joys of one day becoming King of Tookland. Well, he was five years old, turning six, when everything shifted. Now that he was in older, and with the completion of the quest to destroy the Dark Lord's Ring, Pippin was now a knight and a prince. Well, maybe he would become king of the Shire…

If only Samwise Gamgee hadn't already taken that role from him, Merry and Frodo… no. Frodo would've let Sam be the Mayor of the Shire. Oh well.

But fighting over which hobbit owned one kingdom or another wasn't what was on Pippin's mind. He was more interested in fancying Diamond Took. She was his dream girl. He sighed, his thoughts lost in the daydream that…

"Ow," Pippin cried, as a needle poked his skin. He jerked his arm back, in a desperate attempt not to be poked again. It didn't work out, for the same woman continued her measurements on his new brown tunic.

"Hold still," said the hobbit woman demanded. "What would Diamond think if she saw you?"

"What does half the Shire think," Pippin corrected.

"Pippin Took, you're about to be king and that in turn has responsibilities," said the hobbit woman, sharply.

"Well, I didn't count for being poked by needles a royal duty," he declared, jokingly.

Pippin turned towards the large round door, as it opened to reveal his parents. They were glad to see him, especially his father who knew the coronation was going to happen in two weeks' time:

"My son, you look festive as ever," Paladin Took declared, looking as regal as ever. Pippin watched him for a few moments, until his father breathed down his ear, "Any news from the Baggins' line. They're up for our throne."

"Frodo isn't," Pippin admitted. "That's why he ran off to get help. We can't let the Gamgee family take over, not when our line is so close…"

"I'm sure you'll do well, Pippin," his mother, Eglantine Took, spoke up.

"I hope so." Pippin observed the window. He mused, "I wonder what Frodo's doing right now." He sighed. There was a lot happening that he didn't understand. What mattered now was his role to play in the upcoming war against the hobbit families. He would be brave to face them, wouldn't he?


Aaylie's POV

The next morning, I had expected to be home. I wasn't. From the way Frodo explained, there was more happening in Middle-earth than I realized. A shift in the timeline, and the balance of things, didn't resolve what was on my mind: the hobbits were fighting against each other, like "Game of Thrones" style. I didn't ask for this and I certainly wasn't surprised at how this was my fault.

But today, Frodo was more distant, as if he hadn't expected this to come. He wouldn't abandon me, not when the fault was mine. I started this. So if there was a way to make it stop, I would have appreciated knowing…

"There's only way to reach the Shire now," Frodo faced me as he spoke, "by portal."

"Portal? You mean the same one that got me here," I asked, confused.

"Exactly that," he answered, "but not by the same portal. So, maybe if we fix the timeline and restore Middle-earth to how it was…"

"I can go home," I said. I was glad things were beginning to take shape. A question formed in my mind. It was this question that made me think of one possible scenario. "Is there something we need to know in this new timeline? Something that can give us a goal."

"Pippin's going to have a coronation, his coronation, in two weeks' time," Frodo admitted. "I know this comes as a shock, but it's the very reason I fled. If Pippin's crowned, we may end up seeing another shift in the timeline."

"Why is it so bad that Pippin's crowned?" I asked. I was only curious.

"Because we meet up with the timeline we know and love. Should it happen, we could end up in a paradox, and I have no idea how that'll make things better," he explained.

"Meaning we won't be able to change things," I said. That did not sound good. Surely, there had to be a way to fix the timeline and restore things to how they used to be. I had no idea where this would lead me, not in this moment. And yet, Frodo was just as determined to set things right.

Maybe there was a reason to trust him.

"Well, we should eat something, before we travel," he admitted, extending a hand towards me. "Come on." I paused. I didn't know what to do next. He asked me, "Don't you trust me?"

It was a major decision: should I trust the hobbit who practically stopped my outbursts? He saved my life in that ravine. I remembered that moment. And now on this moment, he was asking me to trust him. To tell the truth, I wasn't sure what to think. Maybe trusting Frodo was the better idea.

"Come on." Frodo gestured again with his hand. I looked up at him then and there. He did seem trustworthy… oh. In one swift gesture, I took his hand. Although I tried pulling myself up from the ground, Frodo managed to pull me up in only a few seconds. For a moment, our eyes locked. It was an awkward moment, one Frodo broke off quite naturally, "Let's go and find Galadriel."

He didn't let go of my hand, and yet I followed him across the grassy field. By the docks were a gathering of elves. The elves turned and looked at Frodo and me. It was clear that something was about to start, but I had no idea what that was. Fortunately, Frodo clued me in with a whisper in my ear: "Galadriel's going to help us reach the Shire. We must be there before the two weeks are up and the story's changed."

"Is this really necessary?" I whispered back, nearly hissing out my words, "I'm not properly dressed. Even a dress would…"

"Come on," Frodo said, pulling me along for the trip. I didn't object, but I couldn't imagine rejecting Frodo. Whatever drove that idea in… well, it wasn't the best idea I've thought of. I wouldn't abandon Frodo. I couldn't. My thoughts stopped pondering the moment Frodo started talking to Galadriel and Celeborn: "Lord Celeborn, Lady Galadriel," Frodo looked at me then and there, "Aaylie and I would like to head home, back to the Shire. Is the portal open and ready for us to travel there?"

"Almost, but Frodo," Celeborn pulled Frodo and me away from the crowd, "when you return to the Shire, be warned that there are dangers amongst your own kin. Goblins have invaded the north, but the Shire remains untouched. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"I'm ready for anything," Frodo answered. He was such a gentle-hobbit.

"The elves won't be around to aide you, and the Men are busy with their own wars…"

"I know, Lord Celeborn," he said, slightly embarrassed. "I only wish to return home and stop this madness, before it's too late."

"Then may you travel home safely," Celeborn said last. But I had to say something:

"What? We don't receive any gifts." I was curious.

"Not in this altered timeline." Frodo looked at Celeborn then, confused. "We don't, do we?"

"Anything in this timeline is altered." Galadriel announced, getting our attention, "But if we manage to return to the proper timeline, everything should return to its right place."

"Then we needn't worry," Frodo answered.

"The portal's ready. Good luck, Frodo, Aaylie. Namárië," Galadriel said last, allowing Frodo and me the chance to head towards the docks.

As promised, there was an invisible barrier, only seen because of the sun's rays retracting against it, revealing rainbow light. I don't know how to better explain the barriers, portals as they were, but this barrier revealed a forest with green trees and green grass. It was the Shire. It had to be. I looked at Frodo, who looked at the elves for a moment, before returning his gaze to me.

"Are you ready? The Shire won't be what you remember," Frodo asked me.

I nodded. "I'm ready. Let's get this done and over with."

"You ran away once, Aaylie. I hope you've learned your lesson," he said, curtly.

"I hope so," I said, putting on a brave face.

"That doesn't answer what I'm asking," he admitted, concerned.

"I don't know how better to put it," I said back.

"Think before you act, Aaylie." Frodo momentarily changed the subject, "Middle-earth isn't what it once was. If you're not ready…"

"Let's just head to the Shire," I said, my voice snippy.

"You don't know what you're asking. You need to trust me." He added, "We can stay here, talking about this, or you can start doing right."

"Why do you press this on me?" I asked, concerned. "I didn't do anything to you."

"Aaylie, do you trust me?" Frodo asked, serious.

"Yes," I said, truthfully. "Yes, I trust you."

"Then let's go. It's time we head back to the Shire," he said, still holding my hand.

Seeing no other options, except to trust Frodo, I followed him through the barrier. I could hear ripples, like sea waves within the barrier. On the other side, Frodo and me were back in the same forest in Tookland. I knew it was in Tookland because I remembered the trees, the opening, and the village in the near distance. Only there was a large stone castle in replace of the Great Smials.

One thing was clear: Frodo and me were back in the Shire. It looked so changed.

End of Part I…


This chapter was drafted at two different times, but very recently. And since everything's different in Middle-earth, obviously things will have changed in the Shire, too. Thanks for reviewing. :) More is to come…