It was midnight when Frodo awoke. The wind was blowing through the trees and there was a sort of uncomfortable feeling in the Shire.
Frodo got out of his bed and went out side. A fog hung in the air like a blanket of silence and the grass was beaded with dew. He
had always loved nights like this when he was younger but now something seemed to be wrong. He walked up to the tree that Sam had planted
long ago but Frodo didn't really look at it.He just sat down beside it and listened to the silence. Bilbo had once said that silence was
the most interesting sound and Frodo now understood. He stared out at the fog until he drifted off to sleep. This time he dreamed of nothing
and wasn't sure how long he slept but awoke to the feeling of something crawling up his leg. He looked down to see a black creature with
strange pink eyes looking up at him.He gave a small yelp and jumped up shaking the creature off him.
"They won't harm you. They feed off the flesh of dead things" Frodo turned around to see a cloaked figure in the tree. It's face was hidden
but it was a hobbit. He could tell by it's feet.
"Who are you?" Frodo was still shaking as he asked this.
"I am Shrell of the Northern Waste" the cloaked figure answered.
"...Northern Waste.." Frodo backed away. Shrell raised a hand.
"I shall not harm you. You needn't be afraid" Shrell closed her hand and brought it back under her cloak.
"What brings you to Bag End" Frodo asked.
"The Northern Waste is dangerous beyond thought and it has gotten worse. I had no reason to stay and I know Bag End quite well" she answered
with a nod.
"Oh" Frodo didn't really know what to say. He had heard of the Northern Waste but didn't think it was possible to survive there. He looked
at Shrells cloak. It was torn and rather tattered. Shredded bits of her torn hood hung over her hidden face. She gave a small sigh, then,
began to speak:
"Do you...Do you know where the Tooks live?" She asked.
"Which Took?" Frodo knew many Tooks and they lived in different houses.
"Peregrin Took" she answered.
"Oh! That house over there!" Frodo pointed to one of the few houses that wasn't burnt."I would like to see him, too. I'll go with you"
Frodo said cheerfully.
The wind whipped through Shrell's torn cloak. Frodo shivered just watching. She gazed up at the stars.Frodo could now see her eyes. They
were a bright blue that sparked and reflected the stars.
"Let Pippin get some rest it's too early" she said turning back to Frodo."Actually, you should get some rest, too, Frodo" she told him.
"How did you--"
"I have my ways.Goodnight, Frodo" she nodded and left. Frodo went back to his warm bed after one last glance at the moon.He slept
without dreams and slept quite late....... to be continued.