Returning Home
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A story by Scott Sparr
Chapter 3
Darkness of the Fairy Forest.
About two hours had passed since Sam, Frodo and, Gandalf's talk of returning to the shire; and Bilbo was still trotting through the forest trail on his pony, Rainestar. Bilbo had gone quite deep into the forest and the sun had begun to set over the tallest trees in the west. The forest's darkness had begun to creep in all around poor old Bilbo.
"Oh, what is keeping Gandalf? Bilbo asked himself nervously looking behind him.
"I wonder if he is still with Frodo and Sam. He has probably told them where I am going, I bet they will be very surprised that I'm not picking berries way out here in the forest…" He said to himself.
Bilbo dismounted and gave his pony a pet on its smooth back. Looking around, he made his way to a tree trunk and sat in its sheltered grasp. Rummaging through his pockets he felt his pipe and a fresh roll of Haven- weed.
After a bit of a smoke, Bilbo felt very comfortable. "Aahh…Old boy" he said glancing at Rainestar,
"I bet you're used to this forest." He said with a small laugh. "I've never been this far out here, that old Gandalf told me to stay on this trail and to stop only for small breaks." I don't mind the trees, but the silence gets to me." He added with a small sigh.
Bilbo suddenly felt anxious and halted his speedch, something was a not right, Bilbo nervously gazed at the forest's dark corners. His gaze was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps that sounded as a distant rumbling.
Bilbo froze in his place.
The footsteps were heard again, this time heavier and Bilbo could hear twigs crack with the steps. Even louder, the footsteps continued, the very ground had begun to shake with the last step.
"W-Who's..there?" Bilbo asked the darkened forest.
"Is that you, Gandalf?" Bilbo asked again.
Out of thin air, a shady black object appeared to Swing at Bilbo with blinding speed and hit him in the gut, sending him tumbling backwards and sending his pipe flying off to the side into the bushes beside the tree. Bilbo did not feel this blow; everything had become numb. A loud wave blurred and spread across the forest, changing the trees to mounds of fire, and Bilbo, though barely conscious, could feel heat all around him. He saw that all of the forest now glowed with an orange tint. It was then that Bilbo saw a giant shadow shaped of a knight holding a mace and extending his arm towards Bilbo.
"Help! Bilbo screamed aloud, though he could not move, nor feel his entire body. The arm was getting closer, the heat was becoming more intense and the flames rose up all around him.
Bilbo screamed once more.
"Gandalf!" and his scream stretched on until he could feel cold breath upon his face and saw eyes of doomed red staring back at him.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the giant shadow drew back a few feet and raised his mase high into the air with a sharp growl. Bilbo screamed out once more as the mace began to swing down at him again, this time with greater speed.
"Help! Gandalf!"
Suddenly Bilbo found himself sitting under the tree again and Rainestar drinking out of a nearby pond. The forest was very dark now. Bilbo did not know what to think of what had happened. And with that, Bilbo became aware of the small fire on his shirt from his pipe.
With a yelp, Bilbo leapt up, ran to the pond, nearly knocking the poor pony over, and jumped in. It was then that Bilbo realized he had been dreaming. He was quite relieved, but very angry at the pesky forest fairies for playing such a trick over him.
"Grrmm…Gandalf told me to avoid falling asleep in this forest…the forest fairies can control dreams."
He muttered angrily to himself as he climbed out of the pond. "These forest fairies play dirty tricks…" he thought. Despite his remaining shock and rage, Bilbo could not keep his laughter back, he began to laugh to himself.
"Monsters in the Grey Havens?" Bilbo said sarcastically with a giggle as he paced to his pony and mounted him.
"Ahhh…" Bilbo seemed quite refreshed after his nap, even if it brought dark dreams.
'Perhaps Frodo will now be coming along. After all, he, too, grew close to that ring.'
Bilbo thought to himself . He paused. "That ring." He muttered. And without thining, Bilbo found himself looking east. Though trees blocked his site, he still could not turn himself from the direction.
"That ring…" Bilbo said again, this time he forced himself to look away. Uneasy, Bilbo walked towards Rainestar and mounted him quickly.
"Let's go find the coast, old boy, Gandalf will be show up, as he always does, unexpected and much awaited for."
Bilbo tugged at the hassle and with an encouraging "Get'p, Rainestar" from Bilbo, Rainestar began trotting forward, though the young pony looked weary.
Bilbo and Rainestar had not gone but a few feet when he became a rustling in the forest off to his left.
"No monsters, only fairies…" Bilbo muttered to himself, immediately forcing his attention to the ground below him.
"Only fairies..." He said again, this time louder. And Bilbo pressed on, ignoring the noise and whatever creature was making it.
At this point, Bilbo was only afraid that he was sleeping again, and the fairies had another terrible dream creature in store for him.
"I wish Gandalf were here..." Bilbo thought again as he kept his eyes on the ground ahead of him.
"I have a terrible feeling about this forest, Rainestar." Bilbo said looking up from the ground and staring blankly of the trail ahead of him, leading towards the coast.
The trees had slowly transformed from tall, lively green statues swinging to and fro, to giant, pillars of darkness that blended with the darkness and seemed to stare down at him with dismal and pity. The ever- changing shades of green from the tall bushes, wild grass and massive trees in the forest were now simply darkened shadows to Bilbo.
"I think we're getting close, Rainestar, I can smell the coast's fragrance getting stronger."
Bilbo said.
Another few minutes passed silently as Bilbo, riding the young pony, Rainestar, continued to trot through the dark forest to the awaiting coast. The trees had become less numerous and the bushes seemed to get smaller and smaller, the tall grass, short and shorter. The sweet smell of the coast became stronger with each step that young Rainestar took.
Bilbo began to notice that poor Rainestar's steps had become slower and the young pony seemed to pant. Bilbo dismounted quickly, and felt his pockets for his large canteen. There it was, next to his pipe. Bilbo opened the canteen poured water into his hand and gave Rainestar several drinks, until he was refreshed. Then Bilbo, even more anxious to get out of the forest, hopped back on the young pony and continued on his trip.
Bilbo petted Rainestar on his sturdy neck and whispered softly to the pony. "There there, Rainestar, your journey is almost over, but mine will only begin with the sight of the coast."
Another few moments had passed in darkness and silence when, at last, the dirt trail ended to a large wooden fence covered in moss. Two final trees stood tall at each end of the fence, as if guarding it from the inside. The fence had not been visited in years, perhaps decades, Bilbo knew after traveling through the Fairy Forest, why it had not been used.
The forest's darkness ends here, Rainestar!" Bilbo said anxiously as he hopped off the tired pony and ran towards the tall fence with his curly hair waving in the wind and long coat dragging on the ground. Bilbo had lost all fear of the forest though he had not escaped it yet.
Bilbo rolled up his sleeves and pushed on the heavy gate door, sending it swinging open. Almost immediately after doing so, he paced to Rainestar, took hold of the pony's saddle and walked beside the pony through the newly opened gate.
As soon as the two had passed through the gate, its door suddenly slammed hard, causing Rainestar to speed off in panic and at this Bilbo lost his balance and fell to the ground. He could hear Rainestar dashing off onto the coast with great speed. Yet he knew that losing his pony was not his only concern as of now. In an instant, Bilbo became very weak and very tired. He felt his eyelids slowly close and he could not control them.
Everything became dull and quiet, and then dark. Bilbo thought he had again slipped into the grasp of the forest fairies.
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A story by Scott Sparr
Chapter 3
Darkness of the Fairy Forest.
About two hours had passed since Sam, Frodo and, Gandalf's talk of returning to the shire; and Bilbo was still trotting through the forest trail on his pony, Rainestar. Bilbo had gone quite deep into the forest and the sun had begun to set over the tallest trees in the west. The forest's darkness had begun to creep in all around poor old Bilbo.
"Oh, what is keeping Gandalf? Bilbo asked himself nervously looking behind him.
"I wonder if he is still with Frodo and Sam. He has probably told them where I am going, I bet they will be very surprised that I'm not picking berries way out here in the forest…" He said to himself.
Bilbo dismounted and gave his pony a pet on its smooth back. Looking around, he made his way to a tree trunk and sat in its sheltered grasp. Rummaging through his pockets he felt his pipe and a fresh roll of Haven- weed.
After a bit of a smoke, Bilbo felt very comfortable. "Aahh…Old boy" he said glancing at Rainestar,
"I bet you're used to this forest." He said with a small laugh. "I've never been this far out here, that old Gandalf told me to stay on this trail and to stop only for small breaks." I don't mind the trees, but the silence gets to me." He added with a small sigh.
Bilbo suddenly felt anxious and halted his speedch, something was a not right, Bilbo nervously gazed at the forest's dark corners. His gaze was interrupted by the sound of heavy footsteps that sounded as a distant rumbling.
Bilbo froze in his place.
The footsteps were heard again, this time heavier and Bilbo could hear twigs crack with the steps. Even louder, the footsteps continued, the very ground had begun to shake with the last step.
"W-Who's..there?" Bilbo asked the darkened forest.
"Is that you, Gandalf?" Bilbo asked again.
Out of thin air, a shady black object appeared to Swing at Bilbo with blinding speed and hit him in the gut, sending him tumbling backwards and sending his pipe flying off to the side into the bushes beside the tree. Bilbo did not feel this blow; everything had become numb. A loud wave blurred and spread across the forest, changing the trees to mounds of fire, and Bilbo, though barely conscious, could feel heat all around him. He saw that all of the forest now glowed with an orange tint. It was then that Bilbo saw a giant shadow shaped of a knight holding a mace and extending his arm towards Bilbo.
"Help! Bilbo screamed aloud, though he could not move, nor feel his entire body. The arm was getting closer, the heat was becoming more intense and the flames rose up all around him.
Bilbo screamed once more.
"Gandalf!" and his scream stretched on until he could feel cold breath upon his face and saw eyes of doomed red staring back at him.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the giant shadow drew back a few feet and raised his mase high into the air with a sharp growl. Bilbo screamed out once more as the mace began to swing down at him again, this time with greater speed.
"Help! Gandalf!"
Suddenly Bilbo found himself sitting under the tree again and Rainestar drinking out of a nearby pond. The forest was very dark now. Bilbo did not know what to think of what had happened. And with that, Bilbo became aware of the small fire on his shirt from his pipe.
With a yelp, Bilbo leapt up, ran to the pond, nearly knocking the poor pony over, and jumped in. It was then that Bilbo realized he had been dreaming. He was quite relieved, but very angry at the pesky forest fairies for playing such a trick over him.
"Grrmm…Gandalf told me to avoid falling asleep in this forest…the forest fairies can control dreams."
He muttered angrily to himself as he climbed out of the pond. "These forest fairies play dirty tricks…" he thought. Despite his remaining shock and rage, Bilbo could not keep his laughter back, he began to laugh to himself.
"Monsters in the Grey Havens?" Bilbo said sarcastically with a giggle as he paced to his pony and mounted him.
"Ahhh…" Bilbo seemed quite refreshed after his nap, even if it brought dark dreams.
'Perhaps Frodo will now be coming along. After all, he, too, grew close to that ring.'
Bilbo thought to himself . He paused. "That ring." He muttered. And without thining, Bilbo found himself looking east. Though trees blocked his site, he still could not turn himself from the direction.
"That ring…" Bilbo said again, this time he forced himself to look away. Uneasy, Bilbo walked towards Rainestar and mounted him quickly.
"Let's go find the coast, old boy, Gandalf will be show up, as he always does, unexpected and much awaited for."
Bilbo tugged at the hassle and with an encouraging "Get'p, Rainestar" from Bilbo, Rainestar began trotting forward, though the young pony looked weary.
Bilbo and Rainestar had not gone but a few feet when he became a rustling in the forest off to his left.
"No monsters, only fairies…" Bilbo muttered to himself, immediately forcing his attention to the ground below him.
"Only fairies..." He said again, this time louder. And Bilbo pressed on, ignoring the noise and whatever creature was making it.
At this point, Bilbo was only afraid that he was sleeping again, and the fairies had another terrible dream creature in store for him.
"I wish Gandalf were here..." Bilbo thought again as he kept his eyes on the ground ahead of him.
"I have a terrible feeling about this forest, Rainestar." Bilbo said looking up from the ground and staring blankly of the trail ahead of him, leading towards the coast.
The trees had slowly transformed from tall, lively green statues swinging to and fro, to giant, pillars of darkness that blended with the darkness and seemed to stare down at him with dismal and pity. The ever- changing shades of green from the tall bushes, wild grass and massive trees in the forest were now simply darkened shadows to Bilbo.
"I think we're getting close, Rainestar, I can smell the coast's fragrance getting stronger."
Bilbo said.
Another few minutes passed silently as Bilbo, riding the young pony, Rainestar, continued to trot through the dark forest to the awaiting coast. The trees had become less numerous and the bushes seemed to get smaller and smaller, the tall grass, short and shorter. The sweet smell of the coast became stronger with each step that young Rainestar took.
Bilbo began to notice that poor Rainestar's steps had become slower and the young pony seemed to pant. Bilbo dismounted quickly, and felt his pockets for his large canteen. There it was, next to his pipe. Bilbo opened the canteen poured water into his hand and gave Rainestar several drinks, until he was refreshed. Then Bilbo, even more anxious to get out of the forest, hopped back on the young pony and continued on his trip.
Bilbo petted Rainestar on his sturdy neck and whispered softly to the pony. "There there, Rainestar, your journey is almost over, but mine will only begin with the sight of the coast."
Another few moments had passed in darkness and silence when, at last, the dirt trail ended to a large wooden fence covered in moss. Two final trees stood tall at each end of the fence, as if guarding it from the inside. The fence had not been visited in years, perhaps decades, Bilbo knew after traveling through the Fairy Forest, why it had not been used.
The forest's darkness ends here, Rainestar!" Bilbo said anxiously as he hopped off the tired pony and ran towards the tall fence with his curly hair waving in the wind and long coat dragging on the ground. Bilbo had lost all fear of the forest though he had not escaped it yet.
Bilbo rolled up his sleeves and pushed on the heavy gate door, sending it swinging open. Almost immediately after doing so, he paced to Rainestar, took hold of the pony's saddle and walked beside the pony through the newly opened gate.
As soon as the two had passed through the gate, its door suddenly slammed hard, causing Rainestar to speed off in panic and at this Bilbo lost his balance and fell to the ground. He could hear Rainestar dashing off onto the coast with great speed. Yet he knew that losing his pony was not his only concern as of now. In an instant, Bilbo became very weak and very tired. He felt his eyelids slowly close and he could not control them.
Everything became dull and quiet, and then dark. Bilbo thought he had again slipped into the grasp of the forest fairies.