A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. We were having computer problems.

Thanks to Breon, specialmajick, noonespecial and jete for reviewing. I know hobbits don't /always/ eat mushrooms, I just needed something hobbity for them to argue about.

Chapter 2-Forest Rescue

"Here we are." Merry says.

"Are we going in or not?" Pippin asks.

"Yes, we're going in there." Merry responds.

As they walk into the forest they both grab the hilts of their swords. All around them they can hear the erie sounds of the trees, but the strangest thing was that that could be heard for a long way off in any direction. A little while into the forest, Merry suddenly yells,"OW!"

"What is it Merry?" Pippin asks.

"Something hit me!" Merry responds.

"OW!" Pippin yells, falling face first to the ground.

The trees start to get very noisy.

"Let's hurry," Merry whispers to Pippin, "GO!"

Merry and Pippin break into a run towards the center of the forest. They suddenly come into a clearing with a rundown house in the middle. The two are stunned at the sight.

"What happened here?" Pippin asks.

The house appears to be falling apart. There are a few trees scattered about. Some have their roots buried in the old building.

"What happened? Where's Tom Bombadil?" Merry asks.

The two hobbits can do nothing but stare at the shattered remains of Tom Bombadil's home. Merry walks towards the house and says, "Come on Pip, lets see if they're in there!". Pippin quickly follows Merry .

Inside the house is a scene of chaos. Chairs and tables are overturned, rotting and caving in on themselves. Dishes lie shattered on the floor. The roof appears ready to collapse at any moment. Roots poke through the roof, floor, and walls. There are areas that are completely sealed off because the passageway has collapsed. They look everywhere but find no sign of Tom Bombadil or Goldberry among the rubble.

Suddenly there is a horrible creaking noise as hundreds of roots poke through the roof, floor, and walls of the house as they attempt to wrap themselves around Merry and Pippin. The two run from the house to see innumerable numbers of trees coming into the clearing. They watch with horror as the last remains of the house are engulfed by the roots of the massive trees.

Merry and Pippin race blindly through the forest until they come back out and enter the Shire again.

"So much for the 'talk to Tom Bombadil' plan." Pippin remarks under his breath.

"But where did he go?" Merry wonders.