Chapter 6

The Old Forest

"Where to now?" Frodo asked Merry.

"If Gandalf said to stay off the main road, then we ought to go through the Old Forest." Merry replied. "There's a path there. If I can find it, we may be able to travel through safely."

"What do you mean if?" Estella asked.

"The path is a little hard to find. The trees seem to… be alive…" Merry replied, slowly.

"We should press on." Frodo said. "Lead the way, Merry."

The group followed Merry through the thick trees. Time seemed to have disappeared, as May could only see trees everywhere. She didn't mind. She liked being surrounded by trees. She would have enjoyed herself more if they weren't being chased by black riders.

"Oi!" Pippin shouted suddenly, making the rest of the group jump. "I am not going to do anything! Just let me pass by will you!"

"Pippin!" May snapped as she smacked him in the arm.

"Please don't shout at the trees." Diamond said. "They didn't do anything to you."

"I would listen to Diamond if I was you, Pip." Merry agreed. "I would not shout; it does more harm than good."

"I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible to find a way through." Rosie mused.

"And I'm beginning to wonder if it was right to make all of you come into this abominable wood." Frodo admitted.

"Mr. Frodo, don't talk like that." May insisted. "I'm sure we'll find our way. We just need to be patient." The hobbits walked on a little longer, until Merry stopped and looked around.

"It has not taken you long to lose us." Pippin teased. But just as he finished his sentence, Merry gave a whistle of relief and pointed ahead.

"So, the trees do shift! There is the Bonfire Glade in front of us- at least I hope so- but the path to it seems to have moved away."

They came across an open space in the trees- like a meadow. They hadn't noticed the sun before, and it was beaming down into the clearing, warming May's cheeks.

"We must continue." Merry said, pointing towards the edge of the other side. They continued through the woods, though they didn't seem to be as thick as before.

"I know where we are." Merry continued, pointing toward a puff of white smoke. "That is Withywindle. We don't want to go that way. It is an odd place. But up ahead is the Withywindle river. Take a moment. I shall go and explore." He went through the thick grass and returned to the group shortly after.

"I found a way up the river." He said. "Follow me."

The group followed closely behind Merry. The grass and reeds were quite tall.

The hobbits began to feel very hot. There were armies of flies dancing around their ears. The afternoon sun began to burn on their backs. Suddenly, they came across a thin shade. Large branches reached across the path, offering cool shadows. Each step felt heavier. Sleepiness seemed to creep up from the ground and up their legs. It seemed to fall softly from the air upon their heads and eyes. May felt her chin fall to her chest and nodded her head. She ran into the back of Frodo, who halted and turned.

"Sorry…" She mumbled, resisting the urge to press her face into Frodo's back again, for the sun had warmed the back of his cloak quite nicely. He didn't seem mad. His tired eyes were filled with concern.

Suddenly, Diamond had fallen to her knees.

"I'm all right…" She slurred as Pippin helped her to her feet.

"No good." Pippin mused, unable to form a proper sentence.

"Can't go another step without rest. Must have nap…It's cool under the willows. Less flies." Merry agreed.

Frodo didn't like the sound of this. "Come on!" He attempted to encourage his friends. "We can't have a nap yet. We must clear of the Forest first." May rubbed her eyes violently, attempting to wake herself up as Frodo suggested. Sam was standing beside her, yawning and blinking stupidly. Pippin was still gently tugging on Diamond's arm, but she was barely responding.

The rest were beginning to lie on the ground and fall asleep. Even Frodo felt his own head swimming, but he looked up and spotted a large willow tree looming over the group. Merry and Pippin helped Estella and Diamond to their feet, helping them lean against the trunk so they could have a comfortable nap.

Frodo fought the sleep for a moment, but then he heard May stir.

"It's miserable out here." She mumbled, smacking her lips.

"You need water." Frodo said. "Sam, wait for us. May needs a drink."

Frodo helped May to her feet and led her to the river. He sat beside her as they dipped their feet into the river. This seemed to help May relax a little. Frodo grabbed her water bottle and refilled it. He turned to May to see she had fallen asleep, leaning against the tree.

Sam let out a yawn. He felt worried. It was late afternoon and the sleepiness seemed uncanny. Rosie stirred and sat up. She gently slapped her cheeks, fighting against her own fatigue.

"There's more behind this then the sun and warm air." He muttered.

"I don't like this great big tree." Rosie admitted. "I don't trust it. It seems to be singing about sleep…"

"This won't do at all." Sam said, pulling himself to his feet. He helped Rosie stand as well.

"Where is everyone else?" Rosie asked.

"Mr. Frodo said something about May needing a drink… I'm sure she'll be fine with him." Suddenly, they heard some loud noises. The sound of wood creaking, a s splash, and then shouting.

Sam and Rosie ran towards the commotion. They spotted Frodo by the river, looking down in horror.

"May!" He shouted again. When Sam and Rosie approached, they spotted her in the river, held down by a large branch.

Frodo hopped in the water and began to untangle her from the branch.

"How did this happen?" Rosie cried out. Sam stayed by the riverside but held out his hand as soon as Frodo got May's head out of the water.

"We were just sitting with our feet in the water. May fell asleep. I must have dozed off…" Frodo admitted. "Do you know Sam, this beastly tree threw her in. I felt it. This big root twisted around her and tipped her in!"

"Rude!" May coughed.

"You two must have been dreaming." Sam reasoned.

"The same dream?!" May snapped.

"Are you all right?" Rosie asked as she and Sam helped her and Frodo to shore.

"Well, I am cooled off and awake now, so yes." May replied. "I should have thought of that sooner."

"Where are the others?" Frodo asked.

The four hobbits went around to the other side of the tree. What they saw shocked them. Pippin and Estella had vanished. Merry was trapped; a crack in the tree had closed around his waist; his legs outside, but the rest of him appeared to be inside the tree. Diamond sat outside, staring as though she had been frightened. Her usually tan skin had now become pale with fear.

"Diamond…what happened?!" May asked, as she and Rosie rushed to her side.

"The…the tree!" Diamond pointed. "It…it ate them!"

"What a foul thing to happen!" Frodo gasped.

"Ugh!" May stood and walked to the tree, losing her temper. "Why did we ever come into this dreadful forest? I wish we were all back at Crickhollow!" She yelled, kicking the tree with all her might.

"We have a hatchet." Sam said.

"I don't think it will be much use." Rosie said, still by Diamond's side, a gentle arm around her friend.

"We could burn the tree down." May suggested.

"We'd risk roasting Pippin and Estella inside." Frodo reasoned.

"Yeah, please don't do that." They heard a frustrated Estella from inside the tree.

"Then I will gnaw at it with my own teeth if I have to!" May snapped, going to their bags to find the hatchet. "Or better yet, I'll burn this tree to the ground!"

"No, don't!" Merry shouted, kicking out his legs. "He'll squeeze me in two! He says so!"

"Who? What?" Frodo asked.

"The tree is talking to us!" Pippin shouted.

"What can be done now?" Sam asked.

"Maybe I can find help." Frodo suggested, rushing toward the trail. "No one move."

"I couldn't even if I wanted to…" Merry replied dryly.

Frodo ran off, calling for help. He wasn't sure if anyone was around to hear him, but what else could he do?

He stopped right in his tracks as he heard an answer, or he thought he heard one. He looked around for the voice he was hearing. The doubt left his mind when he heard a clear voice in the forest. It was a deep, glad voice, singing carelessly and happily.

Hey dol! Merry dol! Ring a dong dillo!

Ring a dong! Hop along! Fal lal the willow!

Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!

Frodo had walked back towards the group, who had now all fallen silent to hear the voice. The song was as cheerful as the voice. They spotted what seemed to be a man. He was skipping along the path. He was wearing an old, battered hat with a blue feather stuck in the band. He was taller than a hobbit but didn't seem tall enough to be one of the Big People. He had big, yellow boots that made a lot of noise as he skipped towards the hobbits. He had a blue coat and a long, brown beard. His eyes were bright blue and glistening. His cheeks and nose were red, and his wrinkles indicated he spent most of his time smiling and laughing. He had large hands that were holding a large leaf like a tray filled with waterlilies.

"Can you help us?" Sam asked as the man approached.

"Whoa, steady there!" The man replied. "Now my little fellows, and ladies, where be you a-going to? What's the matter here then? Do you know who I am? I'm Tom Bombadil. Tell me what's your trouble! Tom's in a hurry now. Don't you crush my lilies!"

"My friends are caught in the willow-tree." Frodo said.

"Master Merry is being squeezed in a crack!" Sam added.

"What?" Tom shouted. "Old Man Willow? Naught worse than that, eh? That can soon be mended. I know the tune for him. Old Grey Willow-Man! I'll freeze his marrow cold, if he don't behave himself! I'll sing his roots off. I'll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. Old Man Willow!"

The strange man set his lilies down onto the grass, and then ran to the tree. He walked up to Merry, who's legs were still sticking out through the cracks.

"You let them out again, Old Man Willow!" Tom said sternly. "What are you thinking? You should not be waking. Eat earth, dig deep, drink water! Go to sleep! Bombadil is talking!"

The tree opened up and Merry slipped out of the crack, breathing in relief.

Estella fell out of the tree, as though she had been kicked, Pippin soon followed after.

The hobbits all thanked Tom Bombadil warmly.

"Well, my little fellows, and ladies!" Tom laughed. "You shall come home with me! The table is all laden with yellow cream, honeycomb, and white bread and butter. Goldberry is waiting. Time enough for questions around the supper table. Follow me!" He picked up his tray of lilies and led the hobbits eastward. The hobbits followed the jolly stranger as quick as they could. Tom sang a cheerful song, until the hobbits came across a beautiful house. The sun was setting, casting a golden light over the scene.