Daffodil strapped the dagger to her thigh and covered it with her skirts. She smoothed down her dress and anxiously waited for the others. Ever since agreeing to fight the orcs for her home, Daffodil had been preoccupied and distant from her friends. Recently, Frodo had reunited his friendship with Sam, and for a few days he had no time for her because he had promised Sam they would spend time together. Daffodil was pleased when Frodo told her that she was the one who got him to talk to his friends again.

In the house, her father From was staring at his daughter from the circled window. He had scoffed when she had told him about the war with the orcs and thought that it was all a silly misunderstanding. But now as he watched her stare off in the direction of the forest he wondered if it really was a joke. His precious daughter would never know how much she meant to him if she went off to be killed in a battle. Perhaps he should try to reason with her again.

"Daffodil?" he called, stepping out of the house. Daffodil turned and smiled at her father. From grumbled and hobbled over to her, ignoring the pains of his old, aching back.

"Daffodil, come into the house now, it's getting late."

"I already told you father, I can't. I'm going to battle," Daffodil said. She frowned when her father did and tried her very best to sound braver than she felt.

"If what you say is true, then let the men deal with it. They will handle the issue as they see fit. Come inside, now," From repeated himself. He could not believe that his daughter wasn't going to listen to him. She had always been an obedient child. Worry made its way into his heart and he grabbed Daffodil by the hand.

"Do not do this." he told her. "It is too dangerous."

Daffodil smiled at her father - the man she loved most in her world - and patted his hand.

"I will return, father," she told him patiently. From grumbled some more and Daffodil's heart warmed. He was such a funny old hobbit, her father was.

From, on the other hand was torn. He could not, would not stand by and watch as his only daughter marched into the woods and got herself killed. And if she would not listen then he would have to accompany her.

"I'm going with you," he said, and without another word he rushed into the house and came back out a moment later holding the largest cooking knife in his kitchen. Daffodil would have laughed if he had not been serious, but he was, so she didn't.

"Father-" she began. From cut her off.

"Well let's be off and find all the others who are getting into this nonsense!" He said, waving the knife around. "There are still decent weapons in the Shire someplace, I'd imagine, but I'm taking this trusted friend as back-up. He's the best carrot dicer I've ever had."

Daffodil began to protest but then thought against it. She couldn't exactly stop him from coming with her just like he couldn't stop her from going. So with a heavy heart, she explained to From that she was waiting for Nettle to show up. The hobbits had planned to surprise attack the orcs and had agreed to pick partners to stick with as they fought. That way they wouldn't get separated alone and they would always have backup protection.

It sounded like a good plan to From and as he looked about he realized that he was excited for this. He hadn't ever done anything like this before and though he wouldn't quite go as far as to call this an "adventure", he was looking forward to the thrill of the fight. He thought it could be quite fun to knock out a few foul creatures in defense of the Shire. He didn't realize that killing was necessary in battles such as these. Daffodil, however, was preparing herself for that part of it. She had never killed anything in her life (except for maybe a few spiders and some ants). She didn't know what it felt like to kill something that, like her, had life.

At that moment Nettle decided to appear. She was running up the hill and was quite out of breath when she reached Daffodil and From. She didn't seem too surprised that From was joining them and said nothing about the matter.

"Sorry I'm late. I went over to see Merry because he said he had something for me, and did he ever! Look!" Nettle grasped the short-sword that was in a sheath around her waist and presented a beautiful dagger to the other hobbits. It was quite amazing, all shiny and silver. Daffodil could almost feel the sharp point of it against her skin.

"That's great, Nettle! I'm using the old dagger I found in my mother's trunk of old things. I think it's time to put it to use." Daffodil said. From looked over at her, a pained expression on his face.

"You're using Ophelia's dagger?" He asked. Daffodil paused, then nodded slowly. From swallowed hard and nodded his head solemnly.

"Yes, she would be proud of you," he told his daughter. She was so like her mother, Daffodil was. The same bright and daring hobbit lass. He would never be so brave. Not like Ophelia or Daffodil.

"Are you ready?" Nettle whispered to Daffodil softly. Daffodil searched her friends face and found the same fear that was hidden in her heart reflecting back at her. She smiled and stood straight and tall.

"I'm ready."

When Daffodil arrived at the outskirts of the forest, the rest of her friends were waiting, as well as a few other hobbits who had agreed to join in the fight to defend the Shire. Frodo knew that none of them really knew what they were getting into, and he was sorry that this had to happen. The Shire had always been a safe haven, and now it was being invaded by creatures more terrible than anything the peaceful hobbits had ever imagined. He clenched his jaw when he saw Daffodil coming towards him. He didn't know why, but when he thought of Daffodil getting hurt his heart fell to the pit of his stomach and his head swam with images too horrible to think about. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his nerves.

"Frodo, are you okay?" Daffodil asked. Frodo looked very sad and vulnerable like a little boy and she wished that he didn't have to take part in more war. He had already been through so much. She reached out and brushed her hand against his cheek softly and smiled at him when he opened his sapphire-blue eyes.

"It'll all be alright. You'll see," she said, trying to encourage him. Frodo smiled sweetly and tugged fondly on one of her dark, curly locks, then wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Daffodil's heart was beating wildly in her chest and a strange sort of giddiness swelled inside of her.

"Here, I want you to have this for the battle," Frodo said softly. He brought out Daffodil's hands in front of her and gently place his dagger, Sting, in her hands. Daffodil gasped and looked up at him.

"I cannot accept this!" She said. Frodo only smiled and shook his head.

"It has served me and my Uncle Bilbo well. May it serve you in the same way during this battle. You can give it back to me when it's all over."

Daffodil nodded, then hugged Frodo again.

"What's going on here, why are we lollygagging? Who's in charge here? Do I get a fancy sword, or what? Let's get this show on the road, I don't want to be late for supper!" From's impatience was starting to show, and both Daffodil and Frodo giggled. Daffodil tried to hide her smile when he approached her.

"You know what would be a good thing to have in this here battle?" From asked his daughter. Daffodil shook her head 'no', and he grinned.

"A bean-shooter."

"Oh, father," Daffodil said, her laughter couldn't be contained any longer and she hugged the old hobbit just as Frodo cleared his throat and stood tall and proud in front of the hobbits that had gathered there for the fight. Merry, Pippin and Sam had made their way to stand before them, and they looked at him with stern faces, and gave him the respect and acknowledgement he deserved.

"My dear, fellow hobbits," Frodo began. The attention was abruptly switched from mingling amongst themselves to the hobbit who had organized this project in the first place.

"In a few minutes, we will head into battle to protect our home, and I know that most of you have not dealt with such troubles before. Truly it grieves me to see the Shire being invaded, but with my last dying breath I will protect it. You are brave and noble hobbits; your ancestors would be proud. Remember that anyone who falls will not have died in vain and that everyone of you is a hero from here on out. Stand strong and hold your ground. As a team we will destroy the orcs and their leader and will save the Shire! The race of hobbits will not fail on this day, as a comrade of mine once told my friends before the great battle for Middle Earth! FOR THE SHIRE!" And with that, Frodo raised his hand in the air and let out a loud battle cry. Sam, Merry, and Pippin shouted and jumped along with him, and soon the rest of the hobbits followed suit, Daffodil, Nettle, Ivy and Thorn included.

At the end of their battle cry, a few orcs were emerging from the trees carrying torches and evil weapons. They were surprised to see that an army had gathered to meet them, but screeched and howled and rushed forward, weapons and torches raised in front of them.

The Battle of Bywater had begun.