Disclaimer: All the characters (except Julia) belong to the one and only JRR Tolkien, and so do Tom Bombadil's songs. That pretty much covers it, right?

Chapter 3

Tom Bombadil and the River-Daughter

"Fredegar's not right about this place, is he, Merry?" Pippin asked after a time.

"If Fatty were right about this forest, we should have been eaten by some nasty thing or other by now," said Merry. "But things here are much more alert; more aware of what's going on about them, so watch what you say."

"They're only trees," Julia said under her breath, but was soon sorry for it when the gnarled branches closed in a bit closer.

"Which path are we taking, Merry?" asked Frodo.

"Well, I'm trying get to the Bonfire Glade first. After that we'll get our bearings and be off—after lunch, that is."

They rode on for about an hour, their ponies stepping lightly over the roots that crossed the path. Julia suppressed several outcries; she felt as though the forest was closing in on her. After a time they began to climb upwards until they reached the top of a high hill. There they stopped, and after the midday meal, Julia went to look at the view while Frodo and Merry argued over which way they should head. The scenery was beautiful, and she thought she could see the edge of the forest where they had come in, though by now she wasn't sure if anyone knew. She wondered what her Aunt Azaelia and Uncle Holo were doing back in Hobbiton, and wished her cousins could see her now.

"Julia!" Pippin called. "Time to leave!"

They led their ponies back down the hill and began riding once more, Merry leading; he had won the argument with Frodo. They went on in silence, halting only twice to figure their direction. Now the sun shone in the west, and everyone was tired. They stopped by a stream to rest. Julia lay down on the grass near a large willow tree where Merry and Pippin were resting. Nearby, Frodo was staring into the brown water of the stream trying desperately to stay awake and Sam paced back and forth attempting the same. The heat of the day got to her, and Julia dozed of.

Splash! She sat up quick to see Frodo had fallen headfirst into the water. She rushed over and started pulling him up. "Sam!" she heard herself yell. "Sam! Frodo's fallen in!" Sam rushed over from where the ponies had been, and together they retrieved Frodo.

"That tree," gasped Frodo, motioning toward the willow, "it pushed me! The roots! I felt them push me!"

"Oh! Look!" shouted Julia frantically. Sam and Frodo looked towards the tree. Pippin was gone and Merry's legs shown from a crack. Muffled yells from within the tree trunk were barely audible.

"What shall we do?!" Sam exclaimed. "Do we have a hatchet, Mr. Frodo?"

"A small one for firewood, though I can't say that will get us anywhere."

"What about matches? I've got some here."

"No, I don't think Pippin would enjoy being roasted alive."

"We must get them out of there!"

"Don't mention fire again!" came Merry's nervous voice. "You're making him mad!"

Julia found herself panicked and running down the path by the river calling for help. She slowed down when she heard someone singing happily:

'Hey dol! merry dol! ring dong dillo!

Ring a dong! hop along! fa lal the willow!

Tom Bom, jolly Tom, Tom Bombadillo!'

She didn't wait any longer to see who it was, but ran down farther until she saw a plump man(she supposed he was human, for he was only slightly taller that a dwarf) in a blue jacket and yellow boots. He had a reddish face and a long, brown beard. He skipped along merrily carrying with him a tray of water lilies. She felt that though she had only just seen him, she had known him all her life, and ran now faster to meet him.

"Slow down there!" said he, laughingly. "What's the matter, Missy? We'll see if Old Tom here can help out!"

"Please, you must come quick! My friends are trapped in a tree! A willow, down by the steam!" she cried. Her words surprised her, but she could think of no other way to describe what was happening,. Silly or not, the old man seemed to know exactly what she spoke of.

"Old Man Willow!" he said sternly. "I know his tune. I'll soon take care of him!"

Setting down his lilies, Tom ran to where Samwise and Frodo sat puzzling over the tree. He pressed his face close to the crack and sung in a low voice. Drawing himself up again, he gave the tree a sharp kick.

"Let them out again, Old gray Man Willow! This is Bombadil talking!" He then pulled Merry out by his feet. Julia came back in time to see another crack open and Pippin fall out. Both Merry and Pippin were fine, if not a bit shaken.

The hobbits took turns thanking Tom. He laughed heartily and spoke to them, "Come now! You will return with me. The table is laden and Goldberry is waiting. Now let us hurry! Keep up as quick as you can manage!"

The hobbits, too exhausted to ask questions and still happy to have gotten away from the Willow Tree, led their ponies down the path. Tom did take some keeping up with, but they were all glad to be with him. There came a sense of security, even in the Old Forest, when one was around him, Julia thought. Soon, though, Tom skipped ahead down the path, and they no longer heard his joyous, nonsensical song. The hobbits quickened their pace; however tired, they were determined not to lose him.

It was getting dark when they arrived in a clearing where the grass under their feet was shorter. The path ahead was bordered with gray stones, and a bit farther down, a shining light came from an open door. At last they heard Tom Bombadil's voice calling them once more:

"Hey come merry dol! Hop along, my hearties!

Hobbits! Ponies all! We are fond of parties.

Now let the fun begin! Let us sing together!"

Then a another voice, flowing and clear, met them as they came nearer:

"Now let the song begin! Let us sing together

Of sun, stars, moon and mist, rain and cloudy weather,

Light on the budding leaf, dew on the feather,

Wind on the open hill, bells on the heather,

Reeds by the shady pool, lilies on the water:

Old Tom Bombadil and the River-daughter!"

With that, the five hobbits stepped across the stone threshold and into the house of Tom Bombadil.

Before them was a long room. Down the center stood a long polished, wood table with many candles all burning brightly. Amsted the candles were earthenware pots and plates all filled with berries, honey, cream, and in the center of the table, a large loaf of white bread. From the wood beams across the low ceiling hung lanterns like stars in the sky. Across the room by the opposite door sat a woman in a green and silver dress. Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders to her slender waist. "Enter, dear guests!" she said to them, coming now closer. It was she who had been singing. Tom Bombadil walked in through an opened door, his head crowned with red and brown leaves.

"Here is Goldberry, River-Daughter! And here, dear hobbits, is supper!" he said cheerfully. "Come, we will show you where you can wash up!"

While Tom led Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin down one hall, Julia followed Goldberry down another and into what she thought to be a bedroom. There was a bed, low to the ground, though long enough to accommodate one of the Big People. Near a window was a large pool of clear water with lilies floating on the surface. Now Julia noticed that draped over a chair by the water was a pale yellow dress. It was plain, but the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, and what was more, it looked to be her size.

"Now," began Goldberry, "you may wash and dress for dinner."

"Thank you," she replied, and was answered with a warm smile.

Julia washed her face and hands, which felt good after so long in the forest. With Goldberry's help, she slipped on the dress. The River-Daughter brushed Julia's curls and placed on her head a crown of white flowers.

Goldberry led her back down the hall to the table where the others were all waiting. As Julia walked in she felt the stares of her companions move from Goldberry to herself. She sat down and looked up at them. Merry and Pippin looked away quickly and Sam blushed and did the same. Soon Frodo did as they had, and all turned to their host. Tom announced it was time to eat, which all the hobbits did, and were soon full on bread and honey. When at last supper was finished, Tom and Goldberry quickly cleared the table and sat the hobbits in front of the fireplace.

Goldberry bid them all good night, and assured them no harm would come to them as long as they were in the house of Tom Bombadil. After that, she disappeared through a door, and Tom sat down with them. They sat in silence relaxing, and it came time to go to bed some time later. Julia took a candle back to her room, and Tom led the others to a room they shared. Julia fell asleep at once, and woke up in a dream.

She and Frodo were walking down a path as they had often done in the Shire, only this was not the Shire. He was saying something about having to go away, though for some reason, Julia refused to believe him. They walked on like this for what seemed to be a long time, when they emerged from the forest path, they stood at her front door back in Hobbiton. Julia's Aunt Azaelia opened the door and told her to get inside because it was getting dark, only it was daylight. Julia looked to Frodo to invite him in, but found him staring angrily at a Black Rider not far from her. The Rider moved closer and dismounted. Frodo held a glowing sword in his hand and as he moved quickly to the Rider, the black figure unsheathed a dark blade. Frodo and the Rider were about to strike each other when Julia cried out and ran towards them. The Rider lifted the sword to stop her, and everything went blank.

She sat up in bed, breathing heavily, then put her head on the pillow and moved into a dreamless sleep.