Disclaimer: As I'm sure everyone realizes, I do not own any of the Lord of
the Ring characters or locations nor do I own rights to the either the
novel or the movie, etc.
I opened my eyes to find myself in a strange little hallway. A coat rack hung on the wall to the left of me, while directly before me was a little round door. The ceiling was low; it couldn't have been much higher than 6 feet. A small stool stood near the entrance; it looked as if it were designed for a child… in fact everything seemed of small proportion.
I groaned, lowered my head, and began massaging my temple… the last thing I remember was walking to school when a car whipped around the corner and came straight towards me. I snapped my head up straight, "Oh my God, it must have hit me… Could I be," I paused taking in a deep breath to calm myself, "dead? Or maybe I'm just in a coma… Yeah, maybe this is just a dream. It would make sense, I read so much fantasy that I probably just put myself into this scenario… yeah that's it…unless… I am dead and this is heaven? Hell? Purgatory?" I groaned again, "This can't be good whatever it is."
I looked around some more trying to figure out what this place was... I wouldn't accept the idea of being dead, and everything felt too real to be a dream. It was cozy whatever it was. I walked into the next room to find an assortment of paper and writing utensils, as well as a few maps. I bent over to look at them deciding it was best not to disturb anything. Laying on op of the pile was hand drawn map with a picture of a mountain. There were two different languages written on it, English and one other that I was unable to determine. In the lower left corner was written Thror's Map.
"I wonder if this house belongs to someone named Thror... it certainly is an unusual name..." I mumbled to myself before continuing to look around. As I walked past one of the little round windows I heard the explosion of fireworks outside. The sky was filled with sparkling colours and the cries of awe rose over the sound of the show.
By the time the sound of the fireworks stopped, I had made my way back to the front door. I doubt I'd even searched half of the rooms, the place seemed to have hundreds of passageways. I was about to give up and sit down in the middle of the floor when the little door began to open. Well, here goes... I hope whoever they are isn't mad about my being in their house... I thought to myself.
The door opened wide then closed, and as far as I could tell it did it by itself. I began to walk over to the door when a little man appeared out of thin air right in front of me. He was about 4 feet tall, and had short curly hair that fell over his little pointed ears. He also had the hairiest feet I'd ever seen in my life. He was laughing as he looked at the little gold ring in his hand before flipping it and putting it in his pocket. I was about to speak to him, to apologize for being there when he proceeded to walk right through me, pick up a walking stick and continue into the next room.
I stood there for a few seconds trying to wrap my mind around what just happened when I heard a deep voice from the other room say, "I suppose you think that was terribly clever?" It couldn't have been the little man, there's no way his voice could be that deep.
"Huh? Excuse me? Are you talking to me?" I started to say when I heard another voice, presumably the little one's voice respond, "Come on, Gandalf. Did you see their faces?"
"There are many magic rings in this world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly."
"It was just a bit of fun... oh you're probably right, as usual."
Magic ring? Well I guess that would explain the invisible part... and possibly the walking through me... but how come neither of them can see me? I thought as I walked into the room with them and began to wave my arms at them in desperation. This is really starting to scare me.
They began to talk about another person... some Frodo person. I assumed he was another little person like Bilbo, and hopefully he'd be able to see me. Bilbo and Gandalf began to talk about how Bilbo was leaving, and not coming back. I sat down on the floor and listened to them. Normally I wouldn't eavesdrop... but since I had no clue what was going on, and they couldn't see me I figured it couldn't hurt... that, and I hoped their conversation might shed some light on my situation. Even if I only figured out where I was, at least it would be a start.
The two continued to talk about the ring, all the while Bilbo began to get more and more agitated. He began to shout at Gandalf, saying the ring was his and that Gandalf was trying to steal it. Even though they couldn't see me, I began to back up slowly... Bilbo was giving me the creeps.
Then, out of the blue, Gandalf grew larger and all the light in the little room seemed to grow dim. "Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks! I am not trying to rob you," Gandalf faced softened after this, as Bilbo began to whimper, "I'm trying to help you." After this Bilbo embraced Gandalf. "All the long years we've been friends... trust me as you once did. Let it go"
"You're right Gandalf... the ring must go to Frodo."
You know... if this is what that ring does to people, I don't think I'd want it. I thought sarcastically to myself.
Bilbo packed up all his papers and a few other items then proceeded to head to the door. As he was about to leave the little house, Gandalf reminded him that he still had the ring. He pulled it out and stared at it. It was as if it had a great hold on him, I shuddered involuntarily. Slowly, he rotated his hand and let the ring fall to the floor. Then he turned and left the house, but he stopped a few feet from the door and turned back to Gandalf. "I've thought up an ending for my book. And he lived happily ever after, 'til the end of his days."
"Gandalf knelt to say his farewells, "And I'm sure you will my dear friend..."
The goodbye brought a tear to my eye, as I watched Bilbo walk down to the path and begin singing to himself as he left his home forever.
Once Bilbo had disappeared into the distance Gandalf re-entered the house. He looked down at the ring with purpose as I watched him from against the wall. He bent down as if to pick it up, but as his fingers made contact with the metal, his face contorted ever so slightly and he backed away from it. Then he moved into the next room, lighted a pipe, and sat starring into space.
I watched him for a few minutes before going to look at the ring myself. I bent over and looked at the ring. It looked ordinary enough. It was a simple gold band, no markings, nothing. I reached out and touched the smooth surface. Instantly everything in the room disappeared only to be replaced by darkness. And at the center of this darkness was what looked like an eye made of fire. I can only describe what I felt by using the word evil. It was horrible, I felt like screaming. I was so startled that I thrust away from the ring so fast I lost my balance and slammed into the floor. I sat there dazed for a few seconds, my heart pounding in my chest. I'd never been so scared in my life.
I opened my eyes to find myself in a strange little hallway. A coat rack hung on the wall to the left of me, while directly before me was a little round door. The ceiling was low; it couldn't have been much higher than 6 feet. A small stool stood near the entrance; it looked as if it were designed for a child… in fact everything seemed of small proportion.
I groaned, lowered my head, and began massaging my temple… the last thing I remember was walking to school when a car whipped around the corner and came straight towards me. I snapped my head up straight, "Oh my God, it must have hit me… Could I be," I paused taking in a deep breath to calm myself, "dead? Or maybe I'm just in a coma… Yeah, maybe this is just a dream. It would make sense, I read so much fantasy that I probably just put myself into this scenario… yeah that's it…unless… I am dead and this is heaven? Hell? Purgatory?" I groaned again, "This can't be good whatever it is."
I looked around some more trying to figure out what this place was... I wouldn't accept the idea of being dead, and everything felt too real to be a dream. It was cozy whatever it was. I walked into the next room to find an assortment of paper and writing utensils, as well as a few maps. I bent over to look at them deciding it was best not to disturb anything. Laying on op of the pile was hand drawn map with a picture of a mountain. There were two different languages written on it, English and one other that I was unable to determine. In the lower left corner was written Thror's Map.
"I wonder if this house belongs to someone named Thror... it certainly is an unusual name..." I mumbled to myself before continuing to look around. As I walked past one of the little round windows I heard the explosion of fireworks outside. The sky was filled with sparkling colours and the cries of awe rose over the sound of the show.
By the time the sound of the fireworks stopped, I had made my way back to the front door. I doubt I'd even searched half of the rooms, the place seemed to have hundreds of passageways. I was about to give up and sit down in the middle of the floor when the little door began to open. Well, here goes... I hope whoever they are isn't mad about my being in their house... I thought to myself.
The door opened wide then closed, and as far as I could tell it did it by itself. I began to walk over to the door when a little man appeared out of thin air right in front of me. He was about 4 feet tall, and had short curly hair that fell over his little pointed ears. He also had the hairiest feet I'd ever seen in my life. He was laughing as he looked at the little gold ring in his hand before flipping it and putting it in his pocket. I was about to speak to him, to apologize for being there when he proceeded to walk right through me, pick up a walking stick and continue into the next room.
I stood there for a few seconds trying to wrap my mind around what just happened when I heard a deep voice from the other room say, "I suppose you think that was terribly clever?" It couldn't have been the little man, there's no way his voice could be that deep.
"Huh? Excuse me? Are you talking to me?" I started to say when I heard another voice, presumably the little one's voice respond, "Come on, Gandalf. Did you see their faces?"
"There are many magic rings in this world, Bilbo Baggins, and none of them should be used lightly."
"It was just a bit of fun... oh you're probably right, as usual."
Magic ring? Well I guess that would explain the invisible part... and possibly the walking through me... but how come neither of them can see me? I thought as I walked into the room with them and began to wave my arms at them in desperation. This is really starting to scare me.
They began to talk about another person... some Frodo person. I assumed he was another little person like Bilbo, and hopefully he'd be able to see me. Bilbo and Gandalf began to talk about how Bilbo was leaving, and not coming back. I sat down on the floor and listened to them. Normally I wouldn't eavesdrop... but since I had no clue what was going on, and they couldn't see me I figured it couldn't hurt... that, and I hoped their conversation might shed some light on my situation. Even if I only figured out where I was, at least it would be a start.
The two continued to talk about the ring, all the while Bilbo began to get more and more agitated. He began to shout at Gandalf, saying the ring was his and that Gandalf was trying to steal it. Even though they couldn't see me, I began to back up slowly... Bilbo was giving me the creeps.
Then, out of the blue, Gandalf grew larger and all the light in the little room seemed to grow dim. "Bilbo Baggins, do not take me for some conjurer of cheap tricks! I am not trying to rob you," Gandalf faced softened after this, as Bilbo began to whimper, "I'm trying to help you." After this Bilbo embraced Gandalf. "All the long years we've been friends... trust me as you once did. Let it go"
"You're right Gandalf... the ring must go to Frodo."
You know... if this is what that ring does to people, I don't think I'd want it. I thought sarcastically to myself.
Bilbo packed up all his papers and a few other items then proceeded to head to the door. As he was about to leave the little house, Gandalf reminded him that he still had the ring. He pulled it out and stared at it. It was as if it had a great hold on him, I shuddered involuntarily. Slowly, he rotated his hand and let the ring fall to the floor. Then he turned and left the house, but he stopped a few feet from the door and turned back to Gandalf. "I've thought up an ending for my book. And he lived happily ever after, 'til the end of his days."
"Gandalf knelt to say his farewells, "And I'm sure you will my dear friend..."
The goodbye brought a tear to my eye, as I watched Bilbo walk down to the path and begin singing to himself as he left his home forever.
Once Bilbo had disappeared into the distance Gandalf re-entered the house. He looked down at the ring with purpose as I watched him from against the wall. He bent down as if to pick it up, but as his fingers made contact with the metal, his face contorted ever so slightly and he backed away from it. Then he moved into the next room, lighted a pipe, and sat starring into space.
I watched him for a few minutes before going to look at the ring myself. I bent over and looked at the ring. It looked ordinary enough. It was a simple gold band, no markings, nothing. I reached out and touched the smooth surface. Instantly everything in the room disappeared only to be replaced by darkness. And at the center of this darkness was what looked like an eye made of fire. I can only describe what I felt by using the word evil. It was horrible, I felt like screaming. I was so startled that I thrust away from the ring so fast I lost my balance and slammed into the floor. I sat there dazed for a few seconds, my heart pounding in my chest. I'd never been so scared in my life.