Chapter 5: An Unexpected Journey
It had been a few days since Frodo and I had heard from Gandalf and I had begun to worry something was very wrong. Sam gave me the tour he promised me with Frodo, he was a very kind guy and I could tell he was very treasured by his friends. Pippin would often come to bother me whenever I made my way into the forest to get some peace and quiet, Merry would occasionally be there with him as they wanted me to tell stories of my time in the wilderness for so long. The Shire was a place I could see myself living one day when I ever grew tired of adventures of course but I doubted I'd be tired of traveling anytime soon.
Frodo had gone out drinking with Sam, Merry, and Pippin and despite them inviting me I decided to stay in Bag End reading beside the fireplace. I heard a sharp knock at the door causing me to jump slightly closing the book walking cautiously over to the door turning the handle.
"Uncle Gandalf?" I said slightly shocked watching him storm in looking around the house saying, "Where is Frodo?"
"He went drinking with his friends but he should be back soon." I said seeing how on edge he was walking closer to him saying, "What is wrong?"
"Not now… we must wait for Frodo." He said disappearing down a hallway while I frowned, something was definitely wrong.
It didn't take long for the front door to open as Frodo must have seen the fearful look on my face walking towards me until Gandalf appeared saying, "Is it safe?"
Knowing what Gandalf was speaking about Frodo rummaged through a chest taking out the envelope that held the ring his uncle had left him throwing it into the fire.
"Do you see anything?" Gandalf said worried as Frodo looked into the fire saying, "No, I don't see anything."
I heard Gandalf sigh in relief feeling the pressure in the room tense up hearing Frodo say softly, "No wait… I see symbols it looks like writing."
"It's Black Speech only seen in the heat of the fire." Gandalf said turning around using something to grab the ring holding it out to Frodo saying, "Do not worry it's quite cool."
"Gandalf… it's not possible that this is that ring." I said feeling my voice shake staring at the symbols, my mother had told me stories of a ring… a very dark and dangerous ring.
"What does it say?" Frodo asked as Gandalf replied, "In the common tongue it reads "One Ring to Rule Them All. One Ring to Find Them. One Ring to Bring Them All and In The Darkness Bind Them"."
"This is Sauron's ring, forged in the fires of Mordor and that is where it can only be destroyed." I said feeling my body shake but Gandalf placed a hand on my shoulder calming me as he said, "Bilbo has had it this whole time and now the ring has chosen you."
Frodo looked scared saying, "What must I do?"
"It must be destroyed in the fires from whence it came." Gandalf said as he looked at me saying, "Does anyone else know that you have this ring?"
I shook my head as Gandalf said, "We must move quickly before it's too late."
"Gandalf, who else knows of this ring?" Frodo said worriedly seeing Gandalf look at him sadly replying, "One other creature was aware of the ring, for years he was tortured by Sauron's forces before his escape they only got two words out of him. Shire and Baggins."
"Shire, Baggins, but that would lead them here?" Frodo said fearfully running over to Gandalf holding the ring out saying, "Take the ring Gandalf."
Gandalf looked at the ring fearfully, clearly, Frodo did not yet know the dark corrupted power the ring held telling Frodo no until Frodo said, "I'm giving it to you."
"No! It is yours now." Gandalf said seeing Frodo look at him scared saying, "What am I to do?"
"Pack lightly my lad, Marina grab your things for travel." Gandalf said as we both quickly began to get our belongings while Gandalf said, "You will head for Bree and meet me at the Prancing Pony if I do not make it I will send a friend named Strider."
I clipped on my cloak as Frodo and I stood beside each other while Gandalf looked down at us proudly saying, "Frodo you remind me so much of your uncle and you my dear are a spitting image of your mother."
Frodo and I smiled looking towards one another until we heard something outside the window as Gandalf pushed us back walking slowly towards the open window hitting whatever it was in the head before pulling it up.
I looked down surprised seeing Frodo's friend Sam hearing Gandalf say, "Doing some late-night snooping Master Gamgee?"
"I wasn't doing nothing of the sort." Sam said fearfully while Gandalf said, "What did you hear?"
"Nothing…" he said shakily then closed his eyes saying, "Okay something about a dark lord and a ring but I swear that's all."
"Frodo, I suggest packing an extra bag for Master Gamgee." Gandalf said seeing Frodo runoff while Gandalf helped Sam to his feet.
"Marina my dear make sure there is enough food for the road." Gandalf said while I nodded making my way to the pantry grabbing some bread and spices for the road seeing Frodo come up beside me.
"I am truly sorry you were burden with this." I said sadly while he replied, "I'm just meant to get the ring to a safe place and if it will protect the shire I will do so."
I smiled lightly towards him, he was quite fearless but I didn't envy him, even if this journey was short I could only imagine the impact such responsibility could have on someone. Once we finished Gandalf led us outside seeing it was still nighttime.
"Stay off the main roads and don't talk to anyone you don't know." Gandalf said warningly as we all nodded watching him get back on the horse before taking off quickly.
"Don't worry you two, I'll keep you safe." I said putting on a brave face as they both nodded scared as we made our way out of the shire in the dead of night.
