Disclaimer: I do not own what Tolkien has already written about.  I do not own the Lord of the Rings at all…(duh!)  If you really want to sue me, I have absolutely no money.  I own Silmarien Goldeneve though.  That I will claim.

Chapter 2: The Journey Begins and Sillaluna Enters

            Mari woke to the gentle humming of the birds that greeted the morning's sunrays.  There was a sparkling on the tree leaves above Mari's head, as if the light of many diamonds.  The sun was rising over the hilltops showering all in bright warmth.  Mari stood up and balanced easily on the limbs of the tree.  Then suddenly, as if a blow hit her in the stomach, she knew something was not right.  There was something missing from her senses.  Mari pondered this for a moment, then realized.  Frodo was not there.  She could not trace him, keen as her senses were.  Mari hopped out of the tree and landed on her feet.  Then she raced as fast as her legs would take her towards Bag End.  Something was seriously wrong in this atmosphere. 

            Mari arrived at Bag End only to find it completely deserted.  She frantically scampered around the area looking for clues of Frodo or Bilbo.  Along with panic, Mari felt hurt.  Frodo had left without her, even Sam had also.  They were all considered to be best friends.  They now plainly left without her.  Mari pushed the blossom of sadness out of her stomach and continued her search for Frodo, Bilbo, and Sam.  Still no luck.  Mari then began to worry.  What if a dark lord kidnapped them?  What if they had evacuated because of some danger and forgot to tell her?  What if they did not care whether or not they told her?  Mari tried desperately to get these thoughts out of her head while she searched the hobbit hole. 

            After about 2 turns of searching, Mari came to a conclusion; they were nowhere near by.  Mari came up with an inspiration; she could go out and look for them!  If indeed Frodo and the others were kidnapped, she could get them back and punish the ones who did it!  This was the perfect idea.  Mari ran into her room, which was a small structure in the tree that grew right over Bag End.  She was a little too tall to dwell in the small hobbit hole.  Mari scampered up the tree into her little home and packed a small travel bag.  She packed two pairs breeches and two white shirts.  Also in the bag was a loaf of bread and a few red, ripe fruits.  This would last her until she could refill her pack with berries and such from the forest.  Mari detested meat of any kind.  Animals were her friends and her belief was that people should not eat their friends.  It was not right.  'Well, that should be it, wouldn't want to over pack now, would I?'  Mari thought to herself while gently hopping down the tree.  She landed lightly on the ground.  Even though she was panicked at the disappearances of Frodo and the others, she could not help but shed a small amount of excitement at the coming of a great adventure. 

            Mari quietly stole away into the woods trusting her senses to lead her in the right direction of where she wanted to go.  She had a pretty clear path, being somewhat elven.  She could read and tell when Frodo had last been there.  He had been in this spot a good many hours ago.  Perhaps even at this very dawn!  Mari continued and suddenly remembered something.  This was the route Bilbo had taken when he had gone to a place called Rivendell.  He had showed her a map and had told her wonderful tales of the Lonely Mountain and the Smaug the Evil Dragon.  She loved those tales quite a lot.  The path Frodo had left brought her deep into the forest.  Mari was speaking and listening to the trees for help.  Where she got this gift, she had no clue. 

            Suddenly, a small completely black cat jumped out of the nearby tree.  It had green eyes that were the exact same color as Mari's.  They even had little golden specks in them, just like Mari!  The fur of this strange cat was a sparkling flawless black that rivaled with Mari's hair.  Mari could not help it; she reached towards the cat and stroked it affectionately.  It lifted its head and made a low rich sound of contentment.  She felt a sudden affection towards this magnificent creature. 

            "*What is your name great creature? *" Asked Mari respectfully, for this was a queenly cat.

            "*My name is Sillaluna and I am your familiar.  *" Sillaluna responded.  "*Don't treat me like royalty, I am really only about your age.  I am immortal also.  If you do not mind, I would wish to be your companion.  I believe we have quite a lot in common in more than just looks.  Come, let us hasten, this area is dangerous. *" Just when Sillaluna said that, a horse came thundering through and came to an ungainly stop right in front of Mari and Sillaluna.  Sillaluna looked on curiously, and then jumped into Mari's arms.  Sillaluna shot a warning glare at the stranger. 

            "Mari!  What are you doing here?  You must get back to the Shire and stay there!  These woods are now dangerous!" Said Gandalf, he looked purely startled.   

            "Where is Frodo?  Wherever he is, I want to see him!  I am quite worried, not to mention annoyed that he left somewhere without me.  Do you know where he is Gandalf?"  Mari said rather loudly at Gandalf.  She had been scared completely out of her senses at the abandoning of Frodo and the Crew. 

            "Slow down, slow down!  You will cause yourself harm in this state.  Frodo is on a dangerous mission, which is not to be spoken of here.  I suggest that you go back and live peacefully in the Shire; you do not belong out here.  This place is dangerous," said Gandalf in a serious voice.  "You would be better suited where there is not much danger.  Please, you and your new friend should return to the Shire.  These woods are perilous!"

            "Gandalf!  Who would have known you of all people would discriminate me because I am female!  You cannot deny me the right to aid Frodo in the quest that he is fulfilling!  There is no one to protect him aside form Sam!  I can offer protection!  I can watch and I am not bad at fighting with my hands!  Please do not discriminate me because I am a female!  I never thought you could be that way!  Frodo is my best friend and I have nowhere to go if all abandon me!"

            Gandalf suddenly realized the truth in her words.  He was discriminating her because she indeed was female.  Mari was also truthful about the fact that Frodo was not completely protected, loyal as Sam was.  With Bilbo and Frodo along with the others gone, she indeed would be alone.  Sadness might even overtake her.  Gandalf was surprised at this sudden outburst from Mari, well, it was Silmarien now.  He came up with the only conclusion that could be achieved at this moment.  She would have to join up with Frodo and Sam.  It was the only thing to do.  She also seemed to have acquired a new friend.  A small black cat was lying in her arms.  It had the exact eyes that Silmarien had.  This astounded Gandalf incredibly.  They must have been placed together by fate.  "You are indeed correct.  I was not being just.  I see the reason in your words.  Though I wish that you would for once not follow your stubborn heart, I know I cannot stop you.  Please be wary though.  Not all places are as friendly as the Shire.  I do not wish to be the person who tells you of your truthful past.  Please do not pressure me to do so.  At the moment, we have pressing matters at hand.  I must now explain to you the purpose of this quest.  Please do not interrupt me while I speak," said Gandalf in a weary voice.  Mari was a bit worried; his eyes were very tired.

            For the next turn, Gandalf spoke without a single falter.  He explained the entire story of Sauron starting form the war of the Last Alliance.  Mari stared on, her mouth gaping as she heard this tale.  Gandalf explained how the Ring had gotten into the possession of Bilbo, and then moved on to Frodo.  Mari felt incredibly indignant when she realized that Sam was allowed to go and not she in the first place.  That is not very fair, thought Mari to herself.  However, angered as Mari was, she did not interrupt Gandalf at all.  Mari listened intently, her eyes glowing once Gandalf had finished.

            "Elbereth!  I knew something was wrong in the air.  This seems darker than I had expected.  Frodo cannot be out on this journey alone.  He does not have proper protection.  Gandalf, direct me please!  I do not know what to do.  I know for certain this:  I will go nowhere without Sillaluna," said Mari with a soft voice.  She was still trying to contain her fear of this awful Ring.  She had hoped for a change in life, but did it have to hold the life of the free peoples of Middle-Earth?  Frodo could not do this alone.  He would need help to do this.  He would need her help.  "Direct me in thy right directions please."

            "There is to be no arguing with you, Silmarien.  I will give you a map and you must follow it intently.  This map will lead you to a valley call Rivendell.  It is not easy to reach, so you must keep your course.  As for your new friend here, I am glad you have a creature to accompany you.  My word, you two could be related if you were the same species!  Your eyes have been imprinted on this cat.  Sillaluna did you name her?  A very fitting name.  Please, head straight to Rivendell, make no stops on the way and stay off the road!  There are many dangers in this land that are not yet tamed.  Beware the Nine Riders in Black!"  With that, Gandalf handed her a scroll and galloped away fast.  Mari stared at the scroll with an odd look on her face.  What had he just called her?  Silmarien?  It was a beautiful name, but it did not belong to her.  Mari unrolled the Scroll and looked at it.  It looked like this Rivendell would be pretty hard to access.  The way looked impossibly dangerous.

            "Well, come 'Luna.  Looks like we have a long trail to follow, if indeed we ever find the end," Said Mari in an excited voice. 

            "* Let us go into the unknown where adventures await us and call our name with strange voices! *" Said Sillaluna, matching Mari's tone of voice eagerly.  The two scampered into the woods tirelessly with a new light in their identical green-golden-sparkled eyes.  One might think that these two extraordinary creatures had known each other since the dawn of time.  From this day on, Mari and Sillaluna always were together and Mari was known for being seen with her small companion. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Mari and Sillaluna made their way cautiously through the silent forest.  The birds had decided not to sing on this day.  Mari could feel the unease in the air.  A shadow of an unspoken fear drifting across the lonely land.  Even Sillaluna, who was normally calm, was tense and wary.  Mari would feel a darkness weighing down on her heart and she would wonder why she had not felt this Shadow before. 

            " *'Luna, something is not right.  I feel like the air has grown heavy and dark.  The trees often tell me of their newfound sadness.  I so not know what to make of it.  Can you feel the Drifting Darkness settle upon the land?  It grows unmercifully in my mind.  I cannot quench it! *" Mari told her faithful companion, Sillaluna, with a deadened voice. 

            "* I know what it is you feel.  It is also covering my mind.  Something tells me that we must not tarry here.  Let us make haste to Rivendell! *" Replied Sillaluna with a faint quiver in her voice. 

Mari nodded her head in agreement.  She did not like this part of the forest.  It was silent and sad.  Something was not right here.  Where was Frodo?  Where was Gandalf?  Where had the animals gone? 

"* Sillaluna, do you hear something? *" Asked Mari in a soft voice.

"* I hear nothing at all.  Absolutely nothing. *" Replied Sillaluna in a confused voice.

"* You are absolutely right.  There is nothing at all to hear.  Do you not find that strange?  That a forest is completely silent?  Is that normal?  There are no birds chiming this day.  Nor any animals running.  There is complete silence.  Where has the life gone?  Something draws near, I can feel it. *"     

Author's Notes:

Well?  What do you think?  If you want me to continue, please review.  If you don't want me to continue, then please review.  If you want me to shut up, then please review.  Okay, point taken.  If you are waiting for a certain SOMEONE to show up, it might take a few chapters. I have to make sure there is some kind of plot!  Do you see that pretty blue button down there?  If you click, you get a cookie…*hehehe* Leave me a review!  Show mercy!  Give me a reason to live!  Okay, I think I'm getting a bit too sentimental.  I do that a lot…*Kekeke*