The Year Passes

Tarrod had returned when Padima and Laivilya joined Ferin. Padima dismounted and rushed to him.

**Tarrod!**

She hugged him around the waist and the elf petted her hair. His two brothers waited to tell them what he found, but he merely grabbed his black steed's reigns and let Padima mount, then he too swung onto its back. The others followed his example.

**We have a long way to go, brothers, we've done all we can,** With that he snapped the reigns and the horse galloped forward.

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Bilbo returned to his hobbit hole feeling shaky and ill. No one was about when he entered.

"Frodo must be out with Sam, the little scamps," He murmured and shrugged off his worn jacket. His hobbit hole did not seem like the cheery place he remembered. The shadows made his skin crawl and he dreaded all the doors.

He quickly scrambled went over to the fireplace and grabbed a match. As he hunched over the logs of the fire he felt two cold hands grab his shoulders.

AAAAIIIIEIEEEEEE!!!!

Frodo froze as he and Sam trudged up the slope to Bag End when they heard a blood-curdling cry.

"Sam! Did you hear that!?" Frodo gulped and the two raced to the white picket fence. The green door was wide open and then inside was dark with afternoon shadows. Sam pressed forward before Frodo, his knife used more for chores than gouging, clamped tightly in his brown hand.

"Uncle Bilbo?" Frodo called softly when they heard a sound from the living room. They flattened themselves against the wall and couldn't believe what they saw. A huge dark figured loomed over Bilbo's tiny figure. The hobbit was ungracefully on his rump, hand clutching his heart, and his eyes wide in fright.

Frodo acted before Sam, rushing the figure without a weapon or a plan, but jumped on his back and tightened his arms around its neck.

"Mr. Frodo!!"

"Frodo Baggins!!" Bilbo roared, no longer looking frightened, but absolutely furious. "You get off Gandalf at once!"

The figure turned his head and Frodo found himself starring into two depthless smoky eyes. The old man's mouth turned into a smile.

"Quite a grip you've got there, Frodo, lad, now could you please let go?"

Horrified, Frodo let go, dropping to his feet as Gandalf turned around, rubbing his neck.

"I'm, I , Terribly sorry! I 've been looking for Uncle Bilbo all morning and then I heard a scream and then I thought you were a great shadow thing and I just- I'm so sorry!"

Gandalf laughed and pointed to Frodo with his staff, "You see Bilbo, this is why I tell you to never tell such young people those horrible stories. Makes them think funny,"

Bilbo gave a weak laugh, "Then I shall have to stop for you gave me quite a start, Gandalf,"

"Ah, thought maybe I was an orc?"

Frodo watched as Bilbo's flushed cheeks went slightly pale. The elder hobbit stared at the old man, "How did yo-"

"Well, Bilbo, I am a wizard. Now this is not something to speak of in front of young ears, let us go to your drawing room,"

"Yes, Gandalf, right away, uh Frodo Sam, why don't you two go back outside for a bit?" And the wizard and hobbit disappeared down the hall.

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So this day's horrible events soon faded into memory and one turn of the year passed. Tarrod took Paddy and she met her father. He was a great figure among elves, but his name shall not be revealed now. But for a year, Padima lived like an elf. She learned song, dance, hunt, and feast. So came the day when she would leave the world of elves and that night her father came into her room.

** I do not wish to leave, father, I remember Mr. Baggins well, and he was kind, but I wish to remain with you,**

Her father smiled upon her, running his milky hand down her goldening skin, **Sweet Himanoon, I am only half of you, the other half id the world of your mother. You did not even get to sample that from your life in the forest. You will go and live with Master Baggins till the tie comes when our paths cross again,**

Padima gave a great sob and fell into her father's embrace. He stroked her dark tresses that reflected his own.

**Do not weep, Himanoon, you must be strong. Although you're mother was not a hobbit, she learned great things from them, as you will. You will make me proud, my star,** With that he kissed her forehead and placed a simple chain about her neck. On the end dangled an eternity stone, the symbol of peace and longevity. As her father was immortal, so was she.

Ferin, Laivilya, and Tarrod rode with her the next morning. They reached the Shire by nightfall where a rain began to fall. Everyone snug inside their holes did not notice the four strangers ride to Bag End and drop off their most precious bit of cargo.

**Take care, my sister, remember we are always near. We will always be close if you need us,** Ferin whispered as she hugged him close and then he gave her a locket with a lock of his gorgeous silver mane.

**Take heart, and be strong, the woods will always protect you, as will I,** Tarrod said, embracing her next. She felt the tears well in her eyes, mingling with the raindrops as he pressed his sword into her hand.

**Take love, for if no one else loves you, Himanoon, I do,** Liavilya said touching her face and then dipped down, kissing her sweetly.

**Liavilya!** Padima cried and threw herself into his arms. He held her close and then broke.

The three brothers mounted their horses and sped off into the night as Padima watched, the elf's kiss still warm on her lips.

Then the round green door opened and two blue eyes peeked around it.

"Can I help you, miss?"

She turned, sword and locket in hand, and nodded.

"Please tell, Master Baggins that Padima had come,"