A/N: Thanks to Amy Lee who actually reviewed my little ficcy!! And here are some more those canon characters that you were talking about. Things are definitely going to pick up from here. The balance is there...or will be later on...just give me time people. That's all I need cuz school starts in about a week; accursed institution. ^^

Chapter Three

"Kayla-san, Kayla-san; wake up Kayla-san."

Groggily, she opened her eyes and sat up, the bright sunlight streaming in. "W-What? What the hell happened? Last thing I remember was that light."

"Hn." Midori sat back as Kayla rubbed her head. "Do you feel ill? My head was pounding for the last while."

"Eh?" Kayla looked at her as if she was crazy. "What are you talking about? Got any aspirin?"

Midori nodded before promptly opening and digging around in her bag. A few minutes later she handed the pills over to Kayla along with a bottle of water. Kayla gratefully swallowed the pills before taking a drink. Handing back the bottle, she rubbed her eyes and looked around, her jaw dropping slowly in shock.

"Where are we?" she asked in a bare whisper.

"I don't know." Midori said quietly. "We were here when I came to. Why are we here Kayla?"

She looked up at her dark brunette counterpart who had an almost desperate expression on her face; perhaps she should take control of the situation. "I don't know. Perhaps we should find some people who can tell us exactly."

"All right then Kayla-san. Can we go now?" the face relaxed with relief.

Kayla nodded as she rose and dusted off her backside. "The sooner we go, the sooner we get answers."

Midori nodded hastily as she rose and shouldered her backpack easily, falling in step beside Kayla who had nothing to carry. They walked for a bit in silence, staring ahead at the grass beneath her feet; somehow, she felt much better now and not that strange emptiness that she had been carrying around inside of her for as long as she could remember. She came to a stop as they walked out onto the dirt road that ran off towards the faint grey mountains in the distance. Bending down, she picked up a handful of dirt and let it run from between her fingers.

"It's real. . ." she murmured as she watched it fall to the ground.

Glancing back up, she saw Midori looking at her with a slightly curious gaze in her eyes. Brushing it aside, she continued on down the road, pretending to be oblivious to the looks Midori was giving her.

"Why are you so quiet anyways?" she asked suddenly out of the blue, pausing to face Midori.

Midori froze before looking back at her with sadness in her eyes. She didn't say anything before turning around and continuing down the road. Kayla hesitated for a second before she dashed to catch up; whatever it was, Midori clearly didn't want to talk about it.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kayla stood at the top of the hill, wearily looking down at the town the greeted her vision down in the peaceful valley below stained by the sunset. "Come on Midori, we've hit paydirt!"

Looking back, she saw the slim girl come panting up the hill before nodding her head and staggering down the slope uneasily, looking as if she was going to tip. Running up to her, Kayla took her arm and helped her down, walking through the sedate paths that led to the heart of the town. Kayla looked around rather nervously as the people stared as they went through, though not openly. She tucked Midori's arm into hers; the three days of straight travel unstopped with very few breaks had taken their toll on her as well as Kayla herself.

"Hey, can you make it still? I told you to let me carry the-"

Midori shook her head violently as she pushed off and stood of her own accord. "Where are we staying for the night?"

"Let's worry about food first shall we?" Kayla muttered as she ducked into a tavern, Midori lurching in after her.

Seating themselves at a table, Kayla felt the gazes of eyes boring into her back, making her feel uneasy; it would seem that foreigners weren't appreciated here. Once the serving girl came, she ordered quickly before leaning over to see Midori's face.

"Hey, wake up man!" she said patting her face. "You can't sleep here."

"My goodness, what on Earth is she doing here in that sort of condition?"

Kayla looked around to see a short man standing beside their table, gazing at Midori strangely. "She's just really tired from walking all day; she pushed herself too hard." she explained.

"All day? Where are you headed to?" the short man asked rocking on his bare feet a bit.

"Trying to find somewhere to sleep for the night first; then we'll worry about our destination." she said as she avoided staring at his feet. 'Bare feet? With so much hair?'

"Ah, I see. Traveling are we?" a twinkle lit the man's eyes.

Kayla found herself smiling back despite her lingering reservations; there was something honest and true about the man. "Yes we are. Would you care to have a seat?" she asked gesturing to the seat beside them.

"Not at all." he said hopping up. "My name is Bilbo Baggins. And yours?"

"Kayla." she said offering her hand. "And this is my friend Midori."

Midori who had been nodding off during the conversation managed to snap her head back up for a few seconds.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Kayla, as well as your tired friend Midori there. Tell me is that an Elvish word; I'm not quite familiar with it."

Kayla floundered for a minute. "Perhaps you had better ask her when she is more alert. Even I don't know about it." she said. 'Elvish word?'

"Quite right; it would be better to ask for oneself." the man muttered to himself almost before he perked up again. "So what brings you to Hobbiton?"

"Hobbiton? That's where we are?"

"Why yes; where else did you expect you would be?" he said as she paused again, floundering. "This is the Shire, founded way back when hobbits actually traveled about Middle-earth."

"You don't say." Kayla said in a shocked voice. "Did you want something to eat Mr. Baggins?"

"No I had my dinner already." he waved a hand in dismissal. "Call me Bilbo. Mr. Baggins is much too formal for me anymore."

"All right then." she said as the serving girl came back with the two plates of food.

She ate and talked with Bilbo, filling the rest of the night with conversation. Somehow, she managed to prevent Midori from ending up face first into a plate of food. Finally, after dwelling on the last tankards of ale, she rose with a stretch.

"It has been a pleasure talking to you Bilbo, but we have to find lodging for the night. Perhaps before we leave, we can talk to you again tomorrow."

"It's well past dinner and I am afraid that most places here aren't friendly to your kind in particular. They won't give you a room easily."

"Damn. All right thanks then. Come on Midori, it looks like another night out beneath the stars."

"Heavens no," Bilbo said as he rose hastily. "I can't allow you two to sleep out there like that! I have plenty of spare rooms that you can use for the night."

"I don't want to intrude Bilbo; you have already insisted on paying for the food and-"

"Nonsense!" he said as he ushered them out of the tavern and down a road. "Besides, how far do you think you would get with your half asleep friend there?"

Kayla had to admit he had her there; she was barely carrying Midori down the road, her backpack accounting for most of the weight. "Very well then Bilbo. You are much too generous to a person you met in a tavern."

"It's a small price to pay to feel young again. I am fairly old by all standards."

"Old? You can't be more than sixty!"

Bilbo laughed as he opened a gate, motioning for her to enter. "I'm close to a hundred and eleventy-one. I will be in a few months anyways."

"One hundred and ten!?" Kayla froze as the door swung open. "That's impossible!"

A chuckle escaped Bilbo's throat. "No my dear, I am that old. Now why don't we put your friend to sleep and we can talk further."

Kayla nodded her head as she followed Bilbo down the hallway. "I think that you may be the man to answer my questions Bilbo."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With a yawn, Kayla opened the door and walked down the hallway. "Man, just how early is it? I feel like I didn't sleep at all."

She rubbed her eyes to clear them as she raised her arms to stretch them. They hadn't made it a few centimeters before they hit the ceiling. Eyes closed she shook her head as she continued; she had forgotten how low the ceilings were; now she was walking down the hall virtually doubled over.

"Why, good morning Ms. Kayla."

Opening her eyes, she saw Bilbo seated at the kitchen table, a cup of tea in his hands. "Good morning Bilbo. How are you today?" she placed herself in a seat, her knees practically at her shoulders.

"Quite well, quite well." he said before he took a sip. "Would you care for a cup?"

"I would." Kayla said as she finally stretched her arms. "Is Midori up yet?"

"Hm? Oh yes she is. I had my cousin Frodo show her around for a bit; she looked as if she wanted to get outside."

Kayla nodded her head as she spied his hand in his pocket, turning something over repeatedly. "What's that?"

Bilbo looked up, his hand leaving his pocket. "What's what?" he bustled over with the teacup. "This?" his hand rested on the piles pf paper before her.

"Yeah." Kayla said as she nodded her head. "Is this for a book or something?"

Bilbo nodded his head as he launched into an explanation of his tale. Kayla nodded her head as she sipped at her tea and made little comments. Again, she noticed that Bilbo's hand made its way to his pocket to play with something in it. Brushing it aside as an idiosyncrasy of his, she focused his attention to Bilbo's words. She went through seven cups of tea before the front door opened again, a short silhouette followed by a taller one.

"Bilbo? We're back Bilbo!"

Kayla turned around to see a person, a Hobbit as she had learned last night, with a large mop of brown hair and generously hairy feet look at her curiously. "Hello."

"Hello." he said rather enthusiastically. "I'm Frodo."

"I gathered as much. Bilbo told me that you were showing Midori around."

Frodo nodded. "There's plenty in the Shire to keep one busy. Don't you agree?" he looked back at Midori.

She nodded her head absently. "Plenty."

"Ah. Well Bilbo, as pleasant as this stay has been, we must be leaving now. We've imposed long enough."

"Nonsense. You listen to me as much as Frodo here." Bilbo said as he rose also. "But if you must be off, then who am I stop you."

"Thank you Bilbo." Kayla said as she shook his hand. "We'll never forget this kindness."

Midori nodded her head before she vanished into the back of the house. She returned a few minutes later carrying her backpack. She paused at the door, obviously waiting for Kayla.

"I'm sure that I will see you again Frodo." Midori said quietly as she gazed out the door. She glanced back, giving him a faint smile. "As well as you Bilbo."

"It was a pleasure meeting you Kayla and Midori." Bilbo said shaking their hands. "If you're ever in the Shire, make sure to stop by and visit."

"We will. Bye!" Kayla called as they walked out of Bag End and started down the road. "Well, at least he was nicer than pretty much everyone else here. Why on Earth were they looking at us like we were going to rob them blind?"

Midori shrugged. "You grow used to it after awhile."

"Maybe they're xenophobic." Kayla said with a shrug. "But still. . .I did like it here. We should come back and see it again some time. Maybe in time for Bilbo's one hundred and eleventh birthday."

Kayla sighed as Midori simply shrugged in response, shifting around her backpack to make it more comfortable. Once they reached the top of the hill, Kayla paused to look back. The small town was starting to bustle as the inhabitants decided to start about their work for the day. The market stalls were set up, farmers bringing in their goods while some women and men perused through the growing selection. The ponies were brought out pulling the carts behind them. Kayla turned away as she ran after Midori. Falling in step beside her she couldn't; help but smile at the hobbits. 'They seem so oblivious to the outside world. I hope that doesn't end for them abruptly.'

They walked over the crest of the hill, and started down, unknowing that a cloaked figure trailed behind them for a bit longer before it headed off towards the southwest.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Walking into the noisy pub, keen eyes searched out and spotted the other cloaked figure in the back. He strode over easily enough, seating himself in the opposite seat. Pipeweed smoke curled around in gentle curves as neither man said anything at first.

"Are you still searching for the creature?"

"I am." came the response. "Do you have any news?"

"Not exactly." the man said. "I have news but not of Gollum."

"Then what of?"

"I was passing through the Shire and I saw two Elves."

"Two Elves is of no consequence Garath."

"No Strider, these two were far different from Elves. They ate at the tavern in Hobbiton. There were a few Dwarves there and they actually talked to them. And their dress and manner was far from Elvish."

"How so?"

"Most of the Elves I know tend to speak in flowing words and a sweet tongue. These Elves talked as if they were human."

"Human. Surely you can't mean to say. . ."

"Just as a person in a tavern would talk. Just like the neighbors who own farms."

"If they were in the Shire, they were most likely trying to fit in. What else?"

"They weren't dressed in any clothing that I could identify as Elvish."

"Garath-"

"Or human for that matter. Strider, there is something definitely off about these Elves. I have never seen an Elf with flaming red hair in all my years as a Ranger."

Strider remained silent for a few minutes, the fragrant scent of the pipeweed filling their noses. "Very well, I shall see these two Elves for myself and confirm your suspicions. Where were they last heading?"

"Towards Bree." Garath said. "They do travel fast Strider. I was trailing them from the countryside. They started off close to Grey Havens and made it to Hobbiton in little over three days. I was hard pressed to keep up with them."

"They started off near Grey Havens and didn't go there?" Strider said in a surprised voice. "Perhaps there's more to these Elves than you thought Garath."

"Are you going after them?" he asked as Strider outed his pipe and fixed his cloak.

"If they travel as fast as you say they do, then this I must see for myself." a small smirk came to Strider's face. "If Gandalf shows up and you are still here tell him what you told me. He'll know what to do from there."

Garath nodded as Strider walked past him and exited the tavern. Calling over the barman, he ordered himself a pint of beer before he took out his own pipe and lit it up. 'Let's hope that Strider doesn't find himself outpaced for once.'

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kayla collapsed to the ground, yanking off her sneakers and massaging her sore and aching feet. "No more walking for the day! My feet are five seconds away from walking off the job! We've been dong this for the past four days Midori; can we please take a break?" she looked up at Midori sheepishly at her small pun.

"Are your feet that tired?" Midori asked in an exasperation tinged voice.

"You want to see?" she pulled off her socks to reveal her angry and blistering feet that were close to bleeding.

"Wait here then. I'll be back."

Kayla watched as Midori vanished back down the way they came. 'Where the hell are you going? It's almost nightfall.' She glanced up at the sky that was turning a deep blackish blue. Rubbing her feet gingerly in an effort to relieve some of the pain, she watched her surrounding warily, the painful fact that she was unarmed constantly springing to her mind. 'I hope she doesn't take long with whatever it is.' Kayla started humming to herself when the clip clop of hooves reached her ears a few minutes later. Picking herself up, she forced her feet to carry her to the small clump of trees by the roadside.

"Kayla, come out. I have horses for us to ride."

She peered forward to see Midori giving her cover a disgusted look. "How did you know I was here?"

"Don't leave your shoe half lying out of the bush. There were only these two horses. The farmer didn't want them because he said they were too wild for him to tame." Midori said as she held out the reins. "I didn't see the problem. You don't mind a black horse do you?"

Kayla drew herself up and took the reins. "No, what does it matter; they're both black. Now if you would be so kind as to let me put my shoes back on. . ."

Midori took the reins back as Kayla quickly shoved put her socks back on and shoved her feet into the sneakers once more. Placing her foot in the stirrup she swung herself up and settled on the saddle. Almost immediately, the horse started to dance around, trying to chuck her from its back. She gave the reins a sharp yank as she moved with the horse.

"Don't try it again buddy; I am not in a good mood and I am not far from sending you to a glue factory in my present state."

The horse gave an irritable snort before it stopped dancing around. Hearing the sound of laughter she looked around to see Midori with a faint smile on her face before she clucked to the horse and started forward.

"Was that a smile I saw on your face?" Kayla asked as she speeded up to catch up with Midori. "And was that a laugh as well?"

"Let's just hurry shall we?" Midori said as she glanced back at Kayla, her usual expression falling into place.

Kayla nodded as she set her horse into a trot, the gentle sound of the hooves against the grass soothing. 'I haven't ridden a horse in so long. . .not in the last hundred years. Now I remember why I missed it.' Kayla didn't say anything else as they went off at a sedate pace, enjoying the cool night air. She found herself glancing up at the moon every once in awhile, feeling a rare contentment taking hold in her. She paused when Midori's horse reared suddenly, eyes looking around as the animal sensed danger. She looked around, her instincts warning her against the thick dark forest that lay across a small stretch of grass.

"Midori, what's up with your horse? Does it sense it too?" Kayla asked as her horse started to dance around in nervous anticipation.

"There's something in there watching us." Midori said as she took off her backpack and tightened the strap, gripping them tightly in her hand. "I think we should leave here-"

Kayla didn't hear the rest of Midori's words as a frightful shriek came from the forest before it burst alive with bristling spears and axes. She barely had time to wheel her horse around to see the charge that had come from the woods. Her horse gave a high pitched whinny and thundered forward. She caught flashes of Midori's black horse as it brought its hooves down in time with her backpack.

The night was broken with the sounds of battle, the blows of the enemy missing or scratching off Kayla and Midori while they were pummeled to death. Finally the remaining few took off back into the forest, fleeing for their lives. With a loud cry Kayla started the chase after them.

"Kayla! Come back now!"

She wheeled around sharply at Midori's rough command. "I will not. They must be defeated!"

"They are defeated! There is no point in hunting them down like animals. Come away and know that you are the victor. Do not be so quick to cause 'defeat'."

Kayla grumbled as she came back grudgingly, not too pleased with the meaning Midori had slipped into the word 'defeat'. "You have your definition and I have mine." she muttered beneath her breath as she came back. "There's something else!"

She watched as the horseback figure came closer and closer, a plume of dust flying up high behind it. She saw Midori swinging her backpack in anticipation as her horse started to dance around a bit. When the figure stopped a few feet away and called to them in a strange tongue, they looked at each other puzzled before Midori backed away slowly.

"Just back away slowly and he's bound to get the message." she said in a hushed voice as she backed away farther.

Kayla didn't say anything but did the same, keeping her eyes locked on the deep shadow where the person's face should have been.

"Wait!"

Kayla paused as the person's voice carried to her. "What?" she asked in a hesitant voice.

"May I ask what two Elven ladies are doing so far from home?"

Kayla glanced at Midori as she mouthed the word over again. Midori gave a barely imperceptible shrug before she came back forward.

"What do you want with us? And answer us straight or we leave."

A brief pause descended over the impromptu party before the man spoke again.

"To see if there really were two Elves about with no sense of direction."

"No sense of direction?! I'll have you know that we know all the directions! North, south, east, west, north-"

"Enough Kayla!" Midori barked before she rubbed her temples. "Why are you questioning us here in the middle of the night on a bloodied patch of grass? Because you think we're Elves?"

"I can't say for sure. I've only heard rumors. But if you are looking for a place to stay we aren't far from Rivendell."

"So now we're a charity case." Kayla grumbled as she shifted about in her saddle. "I say-"

"But you are not." Midori said in an exasperated voice. "I have had it up to here with you as of now so I suggest that you be quiet and we go to this Rivendell. You seem to want answers and that's what we're likely to get there!"

Kayla paused simply blinking; she hadn't heard Midori say so many words in two sentences before or with so much emotion. She nodded her head mutely as she looked away, suddenly finding the grass interesting. After a few more words were exchanged, Kayla found herself trotting off towards the mountain path that supposedly led to the place called Rivendell.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~