Chapter 12: The Ring is Awakening

AN: POV switch. Frodo's POV…for now.

Frodo ran into the hobbit hole, calling Bilbo's name, but no answer. He looked down at the floor when a glint of gold caught his eye, and noticed a plain gold ring. Picking it up, he looked around and saw Gandalf looking grimly at the fire, muttering under his breath.

"He's gone, hasn't he?" Frodo asked, approaching Gandalf. Gandalf turned to him, but he at first looked at the ring and he smiled.

"Bilbo's ring…" Gandalf said smiling sadly. "He's gone to stay with the elves. He's left you Bag End." Gandalf explained, holding out an envelope to Frodo, who put the ring inside and Gandalf sealed it. "The ring is yours now," Gandalf then. "Well, I must go."

Frodo looked stricken. "What for?!"

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

"But you've only just arrived! I don't understand," Frodo said.

Gandalf turned to him and stared at Frodo with his strange green eyes. "Neither do I, Frodo." For the first time, Frodo noticed a thin scar on Gandalf's head, faded slightly, but not much. The scar was shaped like a bolt of lightening.

Before Frodo could ask, Gandalf stopped him; "Keep it hidden, keep it safe." With that, Gandalf left

(Back to Harry/Gandalf's POV)

Gandalf raced on horseback to Gondor. He pushed his horse as quickly as he could and wondered why they let the brooms die out for the infinite time. But he made it there in three days and was quickly led to the archives.

Gandalf searched for ages, and his head started to sting slightly. Gandalf quickly brewed a potion and drank it, the pain subsided, but he drank it still. Finally he found it…

Year: 3434, Second Age

It has come into my possession; the one ring of Sauron. The ring had strange markings that I could not decipher. But the markings vanished as soon as it had come. It is a secret that only fire can tell.

Gandalf stood and his headache returned with a sharp pang. "BAGGINS!!! SHIRE!!!" This proved that Hermione was indeed still alive, but he had to make sure. Gandalf headed back to the Shire as fast as he could. Frodo wasn't home when he arrived, so he took the liberty of staying there with the lights off, just in case they came. He was certain that the nine were still alive as well; traded their souls for immortality and servitude. No…they were not alive. They were neither dead nor living.

Frodo came back soon after Gandalf returned.

Frodo gave a start when Gandalf placed his hand on his shoulder. "Is it hidden?! Is it safe?!" Frodo nodded and led Gandalf to a chest which he rummaged through while Gandalf kept watch. Finally, he pulled out the envelope; Gandalf took it and threw it into the fire. Frodo was appalled, but he trusted Gandalf too much to question him much.

Moments later, Gandalf pulled the ring out with a poker, for a second, Gandalf heard Sauron.

"What were you thinking, you idiot?" Gandalf ignored the voice and gave it to Frodo.

"Tell me what you see." Gandalf said.

Frodo shook his head. "I see nothing, no…wait…there's markings. Some kind of Elvish. I can't read it."

Gandalf turned to Frodo. "There are few who can. It is the language of Mordor, which I will not utter here, but in the common language it says: One Ring to find them all, one Ring to rule them, one Ring to bring them all and in the Darkness bind them." They sat at the table, staring at the ring.

"Go on, tell him," Hermione's voice said, and Gandalf felt like he was being lectured by her again as it was at school. "Who's gonna stop you? I'm a ring, for the love of Merlin."

Gandalf couldn't have agreed more: "This is the one ring of the Dark Lord."

"Sauron? But Sauron died, he was destroyed."

"HE?!! I'M A WOMAN!!! I would think that would be obvious." The soul screeched, but it was only heard as a whisper.

"No, Frodo. Sauron is tied to the ring and the ring survived," Gandalf smiled knowingly, but only for a second. "He cannot take bodily form without the ring."

"Harry, I ought to…you know what, when I get my body back, I'm going to kick your sorry ass back to…to…GAAAAAHHH!!!"

Gandalf attempted to keep a strait face…and succeeded (AN: of course!). "Meaning that we must do something with the ring," Gandalf said. Frodo nodded and picked the ring up.

"We put it away, after that; we never talk about it again. No one else knows it's here, do they," Frodo paused and turned to Gandalf. "Do they, Gandalf?"

Gandalf sighed, and shook his head. "There is one other who knew that Bilbo had the ring…" Gandalf debated whether to tell Frodo that he looked for Gollum, and decided it might be for the best even though it was a lie. Well, he told lies before. "I searched everywhere for the creature Gollum, but the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they tortured him, but I believe that amidst the babble, they were able to make out two words: 'Baggins' and 'Shire.'"

Frodo paled. "But that would lead them hear?"

"They're here, Harry…you know who I mean: the Nine."

"Take it!" Frodo shouted, looking frightened.

"No," Gandalf said.

"Aw…come on, Harry…we could catch up on the ol' days…"

"You must take it!"

"No, Frodo."

"I'm giving it to you."

"Harry, are you going to let a little Halfling tell you what to do?!"

"Don't tempt me, Frodo. I would take the ring with the desire to do good; but through me, the ring would yield a power far too great."

Frodo nodded and slowly pocketed the ring. "What must I do?"

Gandalf looked at him, "You must leave the Shire, and leave the name of Baggins behind you: go by the name Underhill."

Frodo nodded, and hastened to pack his things, every essential item that would be important for his journey; cloak, food, sack, pots, pans, handkerchief, and a walking stick. Once done, he turned to Gandalf. "What road must I go on?" He asked, pocketing the ring while doing so.

"None: avoid the road as often as you can," Gandalf ordered. His expression calmed. "Queer creatures, Hobbits are: you can learn everything there is to know about them, and after a hundred years, they'll still surprise you."

Frodo smiled, but his smile faded and both Hobbit and Wizard looked out the window at the sound of a large noise.