Author's Note:  Having been inspired by all the wonderful stories out there I thought I'd try my hand at it too.  This is my first attempt, so please be kind.  If you like what you've read so far, please R&R.

Disclaimer:  Just to let you all know.  I neither own the characters nor the copy right on them.  I'm just obsessed about them and think about them way too much.  

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            Feeling tired, yet also restless, Frodo fidgeted in the boat as Aragorn paddled them onward.  Because of his size, Frodo helped little with paddling the boat but at Aragorn's insistence had learned how and had practiced well.

"You never know when you'll have to paddle your own boat."  Frodo could still hear Aragorn saying that, looking sternly at the hobits.

Although he wasn't thrilled at the idea, Frodo could see the wisdom in the whole matter.  To be fair, Sam was the only one who had any real problems learning how to paddle.

"It just isn't natural I tell you", Sam said one day after yet another failed attempt at trying to paddle the boat.  Aragorn had taken to having Legolas follow his boat when Sam was trying to paddle in it.  Having Legolas do so had already saved them from losing Sam's paddle a number of times.  

"I know Sam", Frodo agreed, trying to cheer up his faithful friend.  "But I don't really think there is a lot that can be called natural about hobits being so far from the Shire."

"Ain't that the truth, Mr. Frodo."

Laughing while watching Sam to try, unsuccessfully, to propel the canoe just a little Frodo's attention was brought back suddenly to the small phial that he kept in his breast pocket.  Frodo had never seen anything so pure.  It was almost as if the very light of the sun was being absorbed by the pure clarity of the liquid in the phial.  And looking at the phial, Frodo almost felt himself transported back to Lorien, back to stand beside Sam waiting to look into Galadriel's Mirror.

"Are you all packed Frodo-lad?"

"Bilbo, is that you?"

"Were you expecting someone else?  Hurry up Frodo, Gandalf will be expecting us to meet him in Bree and we can't keep that wizard waiting."

Looking around, Frodo found himself back in his room in Bag End.  He was sitting on his bed, with his travel bag beside his door and his coat in his hand.  If he didn't know any better, he'd almost think he was getting ready to put on his jacket to leave Bag End and follow Bilbo on some wild and crazy adventure.  But that couldn't be possible, Bilbo left years ago and found his way to Rivendell.

"Will you hurry up Frodo?"

Putting on his jacket and picking up his travel bag Frodo looked for a chain around his neck, then for the ring in one of his pockets.  It wasn't there.  "Could it really be gone?"  Frodo mused to himself.  Looking into the mirror by his bed, Frodo saw a slightly older, but no less wise hobit looking back at him.  "Maybe the ring never came to me after all."

Opening his door, Frodo left his bedroom to almost walk right into Bilbo, a Bilbo that looked exactly the same as Frodo remembered from Bilbo's eleventy-first birthday party.  Only, Frodo wondered if maybe this time it hadn't been such a big event, seeing as how Bilbo hadn't intended to leave.

"Would you come along!"  And suddenly Frodo feels a hand grab his arm and yank him towards the door.

This time, Frodo had to admit, things went a lot more smoothly than they had the previous time.  First of all, Bilbo was much more experienced at travel than he and Sam had been and there were no Sam, Merry, or Pippin to slow them down, especially Pippin.  Yet, Frodo was surprised to admit how much he missed the other hobits' company, especially Sam's. 

Thinking about it, Frodo had to admit that this trip to Rivendell was a lot less eventful than the previous one (probably because no one had knifed him yet).  Still, this time around Bree came and went and there was no Strider there to meet them.  Frodo found that just a little bit strange, considering that either way, he'd have thought that Gandalf would have had his friend wait for the hobits this time round.  Come to think of it, this didn't look anything like the last route to Rivendell.  If Frodo hadn't know better, he'd have thought they weren't going to Rivendell at all.

"Bilbo, where are we?"

"Don't you worry yourself none lad, we're safely on our way."

"But on our way where Bilbo?"  Thinking back Frodo began to realize that this wasn't even the same direction that they had taken last time.  Was it fair to call it last time if that time had never happened?  Either way, he and Bilbo should have been heading in at least something of the same direction, shouldn't they?

"Bilbo, we are heading towards Rivendell, aren't we?"

"Rivendell?  That's sure to be the first place he's going to look for it.  Nope, we won't be safe there, will we precious."

Suddenly afraid, Frodo wondered whom Bilbo was speaking to.  Surely he wasn't referring to the ring. 

"Nope, we'll just find ourselves a nice safe hidey-hole.  Then no one will be able to find us and we'll be safe, won't we precious."

"Precious?  Bilbo what are you talking about?  We need to get to Rivendell."

"Rivendell, why would we go to Rivendell?  Nope, no safety there, precious, is there my precious."

Turning to look at Frodo, Bilbo had gleam in his eyes that Frodo had never seen before.  It was almost as if a malevolent presence had taken over Bilbo and it was making itself known most keenly through Bilbo's eyes. For the first time since meeting Bilbo that long ago time after his parents had died, Frodo felt afraid of him.  It was a fear that emanated from the very core of his being, one that told him to run, and run quick.

Looking in the direction of Rivendell, Frodo thought suddenly of Elrond.  "But Bilbo, surely Lord Elrond would know what to do."

And even though he felt frightened Frodo did nothing, trusting always in Bilbo as he had since he had been a small boy.  And before he knew it he saw, out of the corner of his eye something moving towards him.  Turning, for he was facing in the direction of Rivendell, and not in the direction they were going, he saw Bilbo, and evil gleam in his eyes, swinging his walking stick at him like a baseball bat, striking his squarely on the side of the head.  And before he blacked out, knowing that this was the end for him, Frodo knew he had made a serious mistake.

"Frodo, are you alright?"

Jerking his head up, Frodo looked around to find he was still in the boat with Aragorn and they were sailing down a now calm the Anduin.  It was just a dream, that's all, Frodo said to himself.

"I'm fine Strider.  I guess I just fell asleep."  Turning and looking at him Frodo could see the doubt in Aragorn's eyes.  "It was a dream.  It was just a dream."

But looking at the phial that he still held in his hand, Frodo wondered how much of it was a dream and how much came from looking into Galadriel's mirror.

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TBC