Chapter 3: Interesting things happen. El realizes it's Mary-Sueish. Bex can climb a tree.

Bex and El made their way to Bag End and walked up to the door.

"Uuuuuh, El?"

"Yeah?"

"What do we say when someone opens the door?"

El was silent for a moment. "I don't know. Ask for directions?"

"Yeah that works."

Bex knocked on the door and waited, with anticipation.

The door opened.

"Can I help you?" the hobbit lass asked. It was Rose.

"Mrs. Gamgee?"

"Indeed."

"Hello, is Mr. Gamgee at home?"

"He is. Do come in."

El looked happier then when she saw her hobbit feet.

"Thank you!"

Rosie moved aside so the girls could enter.

They walked in and looked around as though they'd been there thousands of times. Bex had to resist the urge to wander around the place.

"Lovely hole you have," she said, conversationally.

"You do," El agreed. "Very nice"

"Thank you."

Rosie walked down a hall and went into a room. Muffled voices are heard, then another hobbit it heard coming up the hall and they know exactly who it is.

El looked up with a giant smile, you wouldn't have thought could fit on one face. "Hello Mr.Gamgee. My name is Elinor Corwin." El bowed.

"Bex, no last name. At your service." Bex bowed as well.

Sam looked a little shocked at hearing this small child had no last name. Also at how dirty and beat up she looked. And alone as well. Bex breaks eye contact, knowing what he was thinking, and Sam coughs lightly, not wanting to embarrass her.

"Er, yes. How can I help you?"

Bex smiled, putting a hand on El's shoulder to make sure she didn't start bouncing on the spot again.

"We were hoping you could give us some directions to the Green Dragon."

"Of course. I was on my way out there anyway. I'll take you myself."

Bex had to put pressure on El's shoulder as she was starting to bounce a little.

"Thank you, but we don't want to be any trouble."

"Not at all. I'll have some company now, on my way."

Sam grabbed his overcoat, and ushered them out the door. Bex looks around at the gardens.

"The gardens are beautiful!"

"Thank'ee. I've worked on them for a while now."

"It really shows!"

Sam beamed at her and lead them on down the road.

Bex realizes something and hisses to El, "We have no money! How are we going to get a room and stuff with no money?"

"I don't know. What I also don't know is why he would do this. I mean, perfect strangers? Ask to see him? Can't get weirder than that."

Bex looked at her strangely. Rather a, Shut-it-we're-in-Middle-earth look.

"Yeah. Anyway. You go with Sam, and I'll find a place to camp. Meet back at the Place where we.uh. landed."

"Right."

"Sam?" Bex raised her voice so Sam could hear.

"Yes?"

"I think I've forgotten something. I'll catch up later."

"Alright. You sure you'll be able to find your way?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Bex noded, turned back and waved, then ran. Then she realized she just did the same kind of wave Frodo did. Bex laughed to herself as she ran off. Sam and El continued to the Green Dragon.

Bex walked on. She came up the hill, passing Bagshot Row again, and a rock hit her in the back of the head. She turned swiftly and dodged the next that came her way. She picked one up and threw it back at her two attackers. They fled, laughing, and Bex continued on, grumbling to herself about brainless-gits, also by the name of Sackville-Baggins.

El thanked Sam as he headed back home, and then went to meet Bex.

"Absurd, absolutely absurd. Walked all the way down here and now I'm going back up to that silly clearing. What's our point here anyway? Probably some dinky "quest" with the fellowship!" El snorted, still muttering. "I'm a freaking Mary-Sue."

"Hoy, El!"

El looked up, and gave a cheery wave.

"So, where did you find us to sleep?"

"Here."

"Oh."

"And I've gathered wood for a fire"

"Great."

El glanced about. "Fire starters?" she asked. Bex pulled out, with lots of flourishing, a piece of flint and a tinder box.

"Where the hell'd you get those?"

"Like I know. Light the fire."

El rolled her eyes and knelt by the ring of stones. Ten long and painful minutes later, the fire crackled. A little.

"Well, wadda you know? Girl Scouts does come in handy."

Bex clambered up a tree, settling herself in the crook of the branches.. "I'll take your word for it. Hey, I'm fairly graceful with this tree stuff. Especially considering Hobbits don't like heights and stuff. Maybe I'm part elf.

Bex and El shared a laugh.

"Right," El joked. "The first Elbbit."

"Har de har, very funny."

"I thought so."

El sat back from the fire, sighing.

"But hobbits actually have no problem with climbing trees. They just don't like sleeping in them."

Bex jumped down very "Elvishly" and laughed.

"Always wanted to see if I could do that. But they don't like sleepin' in trees. Remember Pippin complaining about it in Lorien, in the books?"

"Was it Pip? Thought it was Sam. But whatever."

"No, Sam said 'When I do go to sleep, I'll go on sleeping, weather I fall off or no.' Or something."

"Like I said, whatever."