Chapter 2

"Oh." He had fallen down a slope and dropped off a small cliff. He landed right in a cart on a man. "I am sorry sir." Frodo got up and jumped in the back of the cart. He than noticed it was no ordinary man but a big person. "Oh I am really sorry." Frodo got up and dusted off the gray pointy hat and cloak. "Oh dear I am dreadfully sorry." Frodo felt the need to apologize again.

"Oh no need, it was merely a accident." The man said as he sat in awe at the little hobbit. "My name is Frodo." Frodo extended a hand. "Gandalf the Gray at your service." The man said, they shook hands. "Do you need a ride somewhere?" Gandalf said politely. " Um if you don't mind." Frodo said sitting down. "So Frodo, where do you need to go?" The wizard said as he tipped his hat and clicked gently to the pony that was pulling the cart. "Buckland." He said as he looked curiously at the wizard. "Oh I am going to Buckland also." Gandalf said as he pulled out a pipe.

"So Frodo tell me a little about yourself." Gandalf said as he guided the horse.

"Um well, I am about twenty." Frodo said sitting in the front seat beside the wizard.

"I am an orphan." Frodo said quietly. "Oh, I am sorry." Gandalf said looking down. "No it is alright I live with my aunt and uncle." Frodo said happily "Oh really."

"So what about you Gandalf?" Frodo asked eying Gandalf. "Well, I am a magician you might say. I travel a lot. I come here most of the time to see an old friend. And I will not tell you how old I am." He said with a smile. "I am not exactly the best wizard nor am I the worst." Gandalf said. "Oh well, I don't care you seem a nice person in general." Frodo said smiling at him. "Oh!" just then Frodo popped out of site. "What is wrong?" Gandalf said looking around curiously. "Shhhh! Just keep going." Frodo called in a low voice. "Alright." Gandalf said in a low voice. He drove on passing Farmer Maggot's farm as he did the farmer walked up to him.

"Hullo, ave you seen a little hobbit, in his tweens. Dark hair blue eyes." the farmer asked scratching his head. "No I haven't, oh wait, I have. He fell over that cliff down the road. Got up and he was limping and started down the road limped pitifully he did. Wonder if he made it alright." Gandalf shook his head sadly. "Oh dear." The farmer said worriedly. "Thank you I better go." The farmer said leaving.

Gandalf started riding and when he was clear of the farm he poked Frodo "I think it is safe." He said as Frodo stirred and popped his head out from under the cloak. "Nice hiding spot you got there." Gandalf laughed. "Well nice lies." Frodo laughed. "Well it was not all a lie. You did limp a little when you got up." Gandalf chuckled. "When we get to your home asks you aunt to check that ankle." Gandalf said looking at Frodo. "Alright." Frodo said with a sigh. "Now Frodo, What is your last name for I am sure that you are not just called Frodo?" Gandalf said winking at him. "Well my name is Baggins but everyone around here calls me Brandybuck." Frodo said repositioning himself on the wooden seat. "Oh my, I have been talking to the very hobbit I was coming to see." Gandalf said in shocked voice. "You were coming to see me." Frodo asked inquisitively. "Yes Bilbo sent me." Gandalf hugged Frodo.

"So why were you hiding from that farmer back there." Gandalf asked now excited to learn more about this young hobbit. "Well, I stole some mushrooms. Me and my cousin although my cousin did not get blamed." Frodo said sheepishly. "Oh and is that how you fell on me." Gandalf asked as he got down to paddle the ferry across. Frodo got down and helped him. "Yes! Maggot's dogs chased me and I sprained my ankle then I fell." Frodo said looking into the blue and green water. "Well Frodo, if your ankle truly is sprained then you should sit back down." Gandalf said looking stern at him for the first time his eyebrows bristling. "Yes sir." Frodo said scared and sat down.

"So do you have any other cousins besides Bilbo." Gandalf asked as he paddled the Ferry. "Oh yes!" Frodo said then he started naming them all.

By the time they were on the shore Frodo had named them all. "Wow that is a big family." Gandalf wiped his brow and got in the cart. "Almost there." Gandalf said smiling. Frodo did not look pleased. When they came up to the house Gandalf stopped the cart. "I will carry you in if you wait." Gandalf winked at him. "Alright." Frodo said unhappily.

Gandalf got out and went to Frodo's side; Frodo gently got out of the cart and lie in Gandalf's arms. For some reason he felt safe in his arms. Gandalf walked up the pathway and then tapped on the door with his staff end.

"Who is it?" said Esmeralda. "I have Frodo Baggins and he is injured." Gandalf replied.

The door opened quickly and Esmeralda saw Gandalf holding Frodo gently in his arms.

"Hi auntie." Frodo said excitedly. "Oh Frodo what happened." She said as she led Gandalf inside to Frodo's room. "Maggot's dogs chased me and I sprained me ankle and I landed on Gandalf here after falling over a cliff." Frodo quickly said.

"Frodo it is so late." she said looking up at him." I was worried sick."

Gandalf had laid him down in the bed and was sitting next to him when Esmeralda left the room. Pippin ran in with Merry. "Frodo, Merry has been mean to me." Pippin said as Merry pulled a lock of his long curly hair. "Pippin why are you telling me." Frodo said as he sat up and looked oddly at the little hobbit.

Pippin's attention turned from Frodo to the big person who was sitting next to the bed. Pippin immediately started asking questions. "Who is he? Where did he come from?" Can he talk? What kind of food does he eat? Does he like animals? Is he an animal?"

"Shut up Pippin." Merry said pulling another strand of hair. "Ouch!" Pippin cried. "Auntie Esmy! Merry pulled my hair." Pippin cried large tears flowing down his red cheeks.

Frodo looked at Gandalf with an apologetic look. "Sorry." he said looking up at the wizard. "Oh think nothing of it Frodo." Gandalf said as he pulled out his pipe.

"Oh you two go get on your pajamas and get to bed." Esmeralda said pushing Merry and Pippin out of the room.

"I am sorry Mister?" She said looking at him curiously. "Gandalf the gray." He said nodding and letting a blue smoke ring float to the ceiling. "Actually I was sent here by Bilbo Baggins to tell you that he is coming tomorrow to get Frodo." Gandalf said looking at Frodo. "Oh dear tomorrow. But Frodo cannot walk all that way, not with his ankle like this I mean." She said as she wrapped the ankle. "Ow don't twist it." Frodo cried. "Sorry Frodo." she said with a sigh. "Well I will probably go back to Beg End for a short while anyway. Maybe the boy could ride with me." Gandalf's eyebrows rose. "Yes!" Frodo said happily.

The door opened slowly and the two little hobbits came in their heads bowed. "Mommy we are ready to go to bed." Merry said solemnly. "Good now get in bed and I don't want to hear another peep out of you." She said pointing to their beds.

"Yes Mam." The said simultaneously.

They both hopped into bed and turned over on their sides. Gandalf watched them with great interest as the two drifted off to sleep.

"Let me go get you some food Frodo dear." Mrs. Brandybuck said quietly. "Would you like anything sir?" She said. "A little tea would be splendid if you have some ready." Gandalf said as another smoke ring floated to the top of the room. "Alright." She left the room.

Frodo felt his eyelids dropping and he yawned profusely. "Thank you Gandalf for everything." Frodo said as his eyes closed and he fell asleep. "I was happy to help." Gandalf whispered as he got up and pulled the bed covers over Frodo.