Author's note: I know I've said this so many times, but I want you all to know how thankful I am for your reviews and that you're REALLY enjoying this story! I didn't think I could make it this far but it's also because of your encouraging support! Also I want to mention that in this chapter, some of the dialogue is from the movie and the book.



Disclaimer: You know, you know...just borrowing Tolkien's characters and some of his dialogue. I don't own Peter Jackson's dialogue either, but Tansy is my creation.



Rating: PG



Chapter nine: Secrets



Frodo awoke, blinking several times and when he had been fully awake, he bolted from the pillow. Tansy wasn't by his side. She stood by the window and he watched her for a moment, studying the way she gazed upward at the sky. It was as if she pondered something in her mind. He questioned what it could be. Did it have anything to do with the way she slept lately? Frodo recalled the nights when Tansy would disturb his sleep, constantly getting up from the bed. He had no clue as to what she was doing, because then he would quickly drift back to sleep.

"Tansy?"

She turned to look at him. Concern etched itself onto his face at the sight of her slightly pale skin.

She gave him a half-hearted smile. "You're awake." It was a statement rather than a question.

"Are you all right?" asked Frodo.

"Yes," replied Tansy and sensing his concern, she masked the fatigue that assaulted her body.

Tansy scurried toward the bed, hopped beside him and sat upon her knees tucked beneath her nightdress.

"Are you sure?" Frodo asked again.

Tansy ousted the tired smile, then she tricked him with a cheery one.

"I'm fine," she insisted. Her hand reached out to him and fingered along his cheek.

Frodo opened Tansy's hand and nestled the left side of his face onto her palm.

Tansy did not need to tell him. He saw it in the way she gazed at him, that she loved him deeply. Each day Frodo cherished his life with her and never gave a thought to the rash decision of marrying her--a decision he knew had been the right one despite those who opposed.

Tansy peeled his hand away from his face and held it in her own.

"Your birthday is coming. It's so wonderful...sharing a birthday with Mr. Baggins."

Frodo perked at the discussion of his birthday.

"I'm going to be thirty-three and Bilbo will be eleventy-one. He's having a big celebration, something he had never done before, not for our birthday."

Again he thought about how odd Bilbo acted lately. At times, he seemed distant. Preoccupied. And it wasn't only when he had been alone inside the den and writing his book. No, something else disturbed his uncle. Then Frodo's thoughts drifted to another person close to him.

"Hmm...I wonder if Gandalf is coming?"

"Gandalf?"

"Yes, he's the wizard I've told you about and a very dear friend to us. He's the one who accompanied Bilbo on his adventure to get back the treasure from Smaug-the dragon. Smaug stole it from the dwarves and," Frodo chuckled. "I'm sorry to ramble about my uncle's adventure."

"I love to hear about his adventure, though I admit some of it sounds very frightening."

"Yes, I must agree."

He sniffed the hickory aroma of bacon that stirred a smile onto his lips.

"Uncle is cooking bacon again," Frodo said, noticing that Tansy didn't seem to share his enthusiasm about breakfast.

"Are you hungry?"

She nodded reluctantly. "Of course!" Tansy pretended.

"Well then, we better get dressed. I'm sure breakfast will be ready soon."



"I have everything I need for the party," said Bilbo while chewing off a piece of bacon that he prepared along with many eggs. "Tomorrow will be a very busy day."

"We can help with the invitations!" Frodo offered and every moment or so his eyes fleeted away from his uncle to Tansy who picked at her food in a disheartened manner.

"Oh yes, there will be much to do."

"Whom are you inviting?" asked Frodo, keeping his eyes on Tansy.

"Those who I invited to the wedding, but many more, even the Sackville-Bagginses, though I must say they were quite annoying at your wedding, spreading their gossip again. If I don't invite them you know she'll make a fuss."

Frodo asked the question because he wondered if Gandalf was coming.

He has to be. Wouldn't he be here by now to help Bilbo with the preparations?

But for the moment, he didn't say another word, concerned as to why Tansy was distant and left most of her food on the plate.



At elevenses, Frodo and Tansy had taken their usual morning stroll in the woods. The sun glared down at them from a cloudless powder blue sky. It embraced them with its warmth, which they welcomed gratefully, for there was a slight September chill that made itself known to them.

They sat against an oak tree. Frodo held Tansy in his arms. He stared at her for a while as she lay her head onto his chest. He had to ask and refused to put it off any longer.

"Tansy?"

"Yes?" she said without giving him her attention.

"You haven't been well...have you?"

Those words jarred her face away from his chest and now she had no choice but to give him her attention.

"Frodo...I'm fine."

He sighed, shaking his head. "No, you're not. You haven't been sleeping well. You hardly touched your breakfast."

"I think it's some kind of...cold or something. Don't worry, it will pass, Frodo."

Frodo nodded. He wanted to believe that's all it was, and yet he could not shrug the feeling that she seemed to be hiding something from him.

"Tansy, I want you to know that whatever happens, nothing will separate us again."

Bewildered, Tansy frowned. "Frodo, you say that as if...oh, Frodo, what are you afraid of?"

"I--I don't know. I remember when you had to go back home and I thought I would never see you again. I was frightened and now that we're married, I don't want anything to come between us like what happened before."

"It won't, Frodo," She cirlced her arms around his neck. "It won't."

Frodo peeked over her shoulder. Wagon wheels squeaked into his ears, and it sounded like it was headed for Bag End.

Could it be...Gandalf?

Frodo jumped up onto his furry feet.

"What is it?" she inquired.

He stretched his hand behind him, beckoning her to take it.

She leapt as swiftly as he had done and grasped his hand into her own.

"Frodo?"

"I think it may be Gandalf!" he told her.

They halted at the edge of a small hill by the road. A wagon was coming and inside sat an old man with a tall pointed blue hat and a long white beard.

"It's him!" said Frodo excitedly. When he saw that Gandalf noticed them and slowed down the wagon, Frodo stood there, crossing his arms.

"You're late."

Gandalf raised his bushy white brows as his eyes peeked from beneath the brim of his hat.

"A wizard is never late, Frodo Baggins, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."

They stared at each other for a moment. First, it had been Frodo whose laughter bellowed past his lips. Then Gandalf chimed in with a deep, hearty laugh.

Frodo grabbed Tansy's hand. He scurried alongside her down the hill and toward Gandalf's wagon.

"It's wonderful to see you Gandalf!"

Gandalf peered down at the little hobbits. "You didn't think I'd miss your Uncle Bilbo's birthday?"

Frodo gently hoisted Tansy into the back of the wagon, then he leapt beside the wizard and gave him a hardy hug. After they embraced, Frodo turned to look at Tansy.

"Gandalf, this is Tansy...my wife."

Gandalf looked around. His eyes wide with delight and he greeted her with a warm smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Baggins. Bilbo has told me much about you."

Tansy beamed. "It's a pleasure meeting you, too, Gandalf."

"I'm very sorry that I could not attend the wedding. I was busy then but I promised I would be here for the birthday party."

Frodo interrupted, "It's quite all right."

As Gandalf drove the wagon toward Bag End, Frodo added...

"What news of the outside world--tell us everything!"

"Everything? You are eager and curious for a hobbit--most unnatural. Well, what can I tell you? Life in the wide world goes on much as it has this past age, full of its own coming and goings, scarcely aware of the existence of hobbits, for which I'm very thankful." He smiled and continued on. "A long expected party. So how is the old rascal? I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence."

"You know Bilbo," said Frodo. "He's got the whole place in an uproar."

"Oh well, that should please him."

"Gandalf, half the Shire has been invited."

"Good gracious!"

Frodo gazed ahead at the road with a puzzled frown between his eyes, thinking of Bilbo again.

"He's up to something."

"Really? Mmmm..."

Frodo smirked at him again, suspecting Gandalf of knowing something.

"All right, then, keep your secrets. Before you came along, we Bagginses were very well thought of."

"Indeed," Gandalf simply stated.

Frodo went on. "We never had any adventures or did anything expected."

"If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door."

"Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace."

On the road, children dashed behind the wagon.

"Gandalf, Gandalf...fireworks!" they said excitedly.

And when he fired off several fireworks, the children cheered.

Tansy looked back at the children. Sharing their joy, she laughed with them.

Frodo said to Gandalf, "I'm glad you're back."

"So am I dear boy," he answered sincerely. "So am I."

"We'll see you later!"

Gandalf stopped the wagon to allow Frodo and Tansy to hop off.

As the wagon gingerly rolled away from them, Gandalf fired more fireworks that twirled and whirred in the air.

Tansy giggled and so did Frodo while they watched the old man head toward Bag End.



The 22nd day of September had come, and that night there was the biggest birthday celebration ever seen in the shire. On the field where Frodo and Tansy's wedding was held, there were many more tents, a huge Pavilion where the food would be served, and inside was a tree with lanterns dangling on its branches.

In one of the tents, many hobbits danced, including Frodo and Tansy. Frodo noticed Sam was shy again to ask Rosie for a dance. So when he waltzed over to his friend, he pushed Sam toward Rosie who gladly danced with the gardener.

A while later, Gandalf's fireworks exploded, whirred and bloomed like many colorful flowers against a midnight black sky.

On the field, Hobbits cheered at the spectacular show. Tansy gasped. Never had she seen anything so beautiful. As the show went on, Frodo curved his arm around his wife, nudging her against him. She shivered at his touch and lay her head onto his shoulder.

After dinner, everyone watched Bilbo who stood under the banner that announced his one hundred and eleventh birthday. They listened attentively to his speech. Frodo, while he listened had noticed something particularly odd...Bilbo fingering something inside his pocket.

"I regret to announce that--," Bilbo hesitated, his gaze fell sadly onto his nephew. "This is the end. I am going. I am leaving now. Goodbye."

And at those final words, he suddenly...vanished.

Murmuring resonated above the crowd. Bewildered at what he saw, Frodo stood abruptly from the chair. Tansy joined beside him, stunned as well.

"Frodo," she whispered. "Where did he go?"

"I don't know," muttered Frodo and then his wide, water-blue eyes followed Gandalf who hurried away from the party.

After Bilbo's sudden disappearance, Frodo and Tansy stayed at the party that continued on, but Frodo grew comfortable. His uncle's disappearance troubled him too much to enjoy anything. So he along with Tansy raced back to their hobbit-hole only to find Gandalf in the parlor, sitting in one of the chairs by the fireplace.

"Gandalf?" said Frodo. He eased toward the wizard who stared at the fire in deep thought. "Bilbo...has he gone? I hoped it was only a joke but..."

"Yes," said Gandalf in a grave voice. "He has gone at last."

"Gone?" Tansy questioned. She shook her head. "I don't understand?"

Answering her question, Frodo said, "I knew something was wrong. Lately Bilbo hasn't been himself and...I had a feeling he would leave one day. I wish I had come back sooner to see him off."

Frodo examined the old man's face and it alarmed him to see Gandalf so troubled.

"Gandalf, what is it?"

"Your uncle left an envelope for you. You'll find his will and other documents in there."

Frodo took the envelope from the mantle and glanced at it.

There was more Gandalf needed to say. "You are the master of Bag End now. And also, inside that envelope, you'll find a golden ring."

"A ring?"

"Yes, the ring he used to make himself disappear."

Frodo remembered when he saw Bilbo finger something in his pocket.

The ring.

"So," said Frodo. He breathed. "This is what my uncle kept secret from me. Now I know the truth as to why he acted so strangely." His attention returned to the wizard. "Gandalf, something is troubling you. It's the ring isn't it?"

The wizard took his staff and rose from the chair.

"I should not make use of it if I were you," he warned. "I must go and find out more about this ring. Keep it secret, and keep it safe."

Before Frodo could utter another word, Gandalf had already gone.

Worried, Tansy peeked at the envelope, then she looked up into Frodo's eyes that conveyed his curiosity and at the same time, fear about the ring.

"Is it really safe?" asked Tansy. "Should we keep it here?"

"Yes, until Gandalf comes back."

Frodo placed it back onto the mantle.

He slipped his arm around Tansy and as they walked away, she peered over her shoulder at the mantle...

The envelope.

The ring.



Tansy tossed and turned until finally, she awoke to darkness. Frodo's arm had been locked around her. Tansy needed to get up, not that she was feeling ill, but it had been another reason. She carefully eased from under his arm, hoping her movement would not disturb him. She froze when he stirred in his sleep, then he shifted to the left side of the bed. Tansy waited. He remained asleep. Relieved, her legs slid over the edge of the bed. And as she walked away, her hands groped in the darkness until she found the doorknob.

Quietly, Tansy slipped out into the hall dimly-lit by candles perched in brass sconces on the walls. She went on her way into the parlor where the envelope lay atop the mantle. Tansy braked in her tracks. She stared at the mantle for a while, biting the bottom of her lip. Curiosity luring her until now Tansy closed in the space between her and the mantle. She lifted the envelope from off the oak wood surface. Opening it, Tansy's fingers delved inside for the ring and when she felt the round metal, she grasped it from out of the envelope, which she had placed back onto the mantle.

Tansy lifted the ring, examining it closely. Suddenly her need to see this ring had grown from being more than just an innocent curiosity. Frightened by what she felt--a strange monstrous force tugging her closer to the ring, beckoning her to put it on. A desire so immense that everything around her, for the moment, had ceased to exist.

I see you.

Tansy thought she heard a cryptic and eerie whisper. Then something flashed in her mind. A baneful, flaming eye that seemed to burn right through the veil of her soul.

Tansy gasped, jolting herself out of the trance.

The ring tumbled from her fingers. It struck the tiled floor with a 'clink' and rolled toward the fireplace where it stopped.

She panted and threw her trembling hand against her mouth.

"Tansy!"

She whirled around in the direction of where Frodo stood. He hurried toward his wife, concerned as to what frightened her.

His hands clutched onto her arms. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "N-nothing. I couldn't sleep."

Frodo glanced at the mantle. Part of the envelope peeked over the edge. That's not the way it was when he left it there. He walked over to the mantle and when he looked inside the envelope, Frodo didn't see the ring.

"Tansy," he said, turning to face her. "What did you do with the ring?"

"O-over there, by the fireplace."

He knelt and picked up the ring.

"Frodo, put it away!" said Tansy hastily.

Frodo glanced at the ring and when he found himself drawn to it, he did what Tansy begged him to do and dropped it back inside the envelope.

He rushed back to her again. "What happened?"

"I don't know," Her voice quivered and raspy. "Frodo, I--,"

Something terrified her. He knew it had to do with the ring and she was obviously reluctant to talk about it.

Frodo cupped her face in the palms of his hands.

"Come back to bed," he said softly.

Tansy nodded. Cradled in his arms, she had gone back with him to the bedroom.



It had been several days since Gandalf left Bag End and the ring that remained in the Baggins' home. On a brisk late September afternoon, Tansy rode out to Bywater. The Cottons were thrilled to see her again. And Rosie, she wondered why Tansy insisted they talk privately in her room. Both sat on the edge of the bed. Tansy held Rosie's hands.

"Come now, Tansy," said Rosie. "Tell me what you want to say."

"Well," Tansy began with a whisper, as if someone else could hear. "I've been to the doctor. I didn't want him coming to the house so I went to see him. Remember the times I've been sick?"

Rosie nodded.

"Well, it's because...I'm carrying Frodo's child."

Rosie gasped. Ecstatic, she threw her arms around Tansy.

"I'm so happy for you and Mr. Frodo! I'm sure he's delighted."

Tansy frowned.

"Tansy, what...what is it?"

"He doesn't know. I didn't tell him."

"Why?"

Tansy shrugged her shoulders.

"How long did you know?"

"Since a few days ago. I'm afraid he'll be angry with me. What if he doesn't want a baby now?"

"Tansy, why would he be angry?"

She shrugged again, shaking her head.

"I'm sure Mr. Frodo will be delighted to know you're carrying his child. Go on now, tell him."



Night had drawn near. Tansy hurried back to Bag End and excited about the wonderful news she wanted to share with Frodo. When she neared the house, Tansy hesitated. She saw Sam outside and hauled through the window by someone. She couldn't see who it was and sneaked over to the window. Tansy peered inside, only to see Gandalf back and Frodo standing a few feet away.

What happened to Sam?

Then she heard Gandalf grumble sternly,

"How long have you been eavesdropping?"

"Eavesdropping, sir?" said Sam. "I don't follow you, begging your pardon. There ain't no eaves at Bag End, and that's a fact."

"Don't be a fool! What have you heard, and why did you listen?"

"Mr. Frodo, sir! Don't let him hurt me, sir! Don't let him turn me into something unnatural!"

This all frightened Tansy and demanding to know what in Middle-earth was going on, she unlocked the door with her brass key and stormed inside.

There on the floor was Sam who, embarrassed, pushed himself up from the cool tiles.

"Sam?" said Tansy. "Gandalf?" Her eyes darted nervously to Frodo. Her fear heightened when she saw he was deeply troubled.

"Frodo?"

When he didn't answer, Tansy marched away from them and bounded down the hall.

"Tansy!" Frodo called. Distressed, he turned to look at Gandalf who plopped down into the chair by the fireplace. He was also disturbed by all that had transpired, especially when he thought about Tansy.

"Gandalf," cried Frodo. "I can't do this. I just can't leave Tansy here."

The wizard let out a deep, frustrated sigh. "I understand, Frodo. But...the ring cannot stay here."

Frodo shook his head. "No, I can't. I won't do it. I won't!"

He tottered backwards, then Frodo bolted down the hall until he stopped short at the bedroom door.

The troubled hobbit didn't go inside. He pressed his forehead against the door. Hot tears burned and demanded to be released, but he strained them back, clenching his eyes shut.

He missed Bilbo dearly and recalled what his uncle had told him.

Frodo, don't be too hasty with your decision to marry.

Don't be too hasty...

"No," he whispered. "I made the right decision."

Frodo lightly touched the door with the tips of his fingers.

"Tansy..."



TBC



A/N: Please review and let me know what you think about this one. If you like, there will be more!