To SandraSmit19: Yeah! Another review besides my brother! I'm glad you like this story and I hope you continue to read and review and even if you want, check out my other stuff. I love it when people compliment my writing skills, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
~~~~~
Ch. 8: Midnight Conversations and Interruptions
"Pip! I'm going over to Frodo's! Do you want to come?" Zilda yelled from the front hall.
"No! I think I'll just stay here!" She heard from the parlor. It made her suspicious. Pippin always wanted to go with her. She poked her head into the parlor and was met with an astonishing sight. Pippin, her little brother, that she was so sure she knew, frontward and backwards was sitting curled up in a chair with a book! He was so engrossed in it he didn't even seem to notice that she had come in the room. She walked in and stood in front of him, absolutely flabbergasted.
"Ok," She said drawing the dagger that she had received that morning, "Who are you and what have you done with my brother?"
Pippin looked up and started at the glint of metal, "What's the big idea, Zildy, it's me!"
"You can't be Peregrin Took. You have just elected to stay at home as opposed to going out with me and you're…dare I say it… reading!"
Pippin laughed, "This is really a good book, Zilda. Where did you get it?"
Zilda shook her head, put her dagger away and took a look at the book he held, "The History of Gondor? You're reading a history book?" Now she really was frightened.
"It's a real history? It's absolutely fascinating! To think that all those things have actually happened!"
Zilda shook her head and handed the book back to her brother, "Well, you have fun, Pip. I'm going out."
"Ok, Zilda," Pippin replied, returning to his book. Zilda turned and began to walk out the door, when Pippin yelled out to her, "Zilda! I forgot to tell you. Merry's coming over tomorrow and he was wondering if it was ok if he stayed here."
"That's fine, Pip. See you later!" She closed the door and breathed in the crisp fall air. It was a beautiful September evening. She wrapped her light jacket closer about her and set off down the path.
She was soon in front of the door to Bag End and was about to knock when she thought she heard voices inside. Now being the busybody she was, she, of course, didn't want to interrupt an interesting conversation that she could possibly listen into and acquire some fun information from. So naturally, she snuck around the side, and began to creep close to a window, when she saw that someone had already taken the liberty of her chosen spot. She edged closer and saw that the culprit was dear Samwise. He was listening so intently, that he didn't even hear the slight rustling of her nearly soundless elven feet, making their way behind him. Suddenly, she grabbed him from behind and covered his mouth securely so he made the least amount of sound.
Then, she leaned down and whispered in his ear as quietly as possible, "Sorry Sam. It was the only way I could get to you without making noise. I'm going to let you go now, so don't yell or talk, ok?" Sam nodded and she took her hand from his mouth and crept closer to the window. She could distinguish two voices; one Frodo's the other… She peeked over the hedge just to be sure. Yes, it was Gandalf. She also saw, surprisingly that Frodo had on a traveling cloak and Gandalf held a full pack that he handed to him. Where was he going? She started listening more intently to the conversation going on inside.
"You'll have to leave the name of Baggins behind you. That name is not safe outside the Shire." Gandalf said. Zilda was now thoroughly confused, but she kept listening, "Travel only by day. And stay off the road."
"I can cut across country easily enough." Frodo replied bravely, making Zilda smile and then wonder why she was smiling. Gandalf smiled too, looking down on the hobbit-lad.
"My dear Frodo. Hobbits truly are amazing creatures. You can learn all there is to know about their ways in a month and yet after a hundred years, they can still surprise you."
Zilda lowered her head and began to back away from the window, slowly, now ready to make her grand entrance through the front door. Unfortunately, she forgot that poor Sam was beside her and accidentally nudged him. Regrettably, his balance at that point was not the best and he fell into the bush beside him, causing a rustle and a crunch. Zilda froze, trying to decide if it would be better to get up and run or to just stay where she was. Fate, apparently, elected the latter option, not giving her a chance to run before Gandalf appeared at the window, searching the bushes intently. Sam was frozen to the spot, petrified with fear. Suddenly, Gandalf thrust his staff into Sam's hiding place and right into Sam's stomach, knocking the air out of him with an 'Oof'. Gandalf tossed his staff aside and reached down, grabbing Sam by the collar and throwing him, with a thud onto a tabletop. Zilda cringed and crawled forward a bit to hear what Gandalf would do.
"Confound it all, Samwise Gamgee! Have you been eavesdropping?" He roared.
"I ain't been dropping no eaves, Sir, honest." Poor Sam, he sounded terrified. Zilda felt bad for him, especially since it was actually her fault that he had been caught in the first place, "I… I was just trimming the grass under the window there. If you follow me." But Zilda would give him this much. Even in a tough spot he was good for making up a story.
Unfortunately, Gandalf was not convinced, "A little late for trimming the verge don't you think?"
"I heard raised voices." Zilda heard him start to crack and began to pray to any of the Valar that were listening at that particular moment, that he wouldn't give her away.
"What did you hear? Speak!"
"Oh, oh, nothing important. Well, that is, I heard a great deal about a ring, and a dark lord and something about the end of the world…" Zilda realized that she was learning more about the situation before her from Sam's capture, then she would have ever known without it and thanked whichever of the Valar had thought of that little stroke of luck for her, "…Please Mr. Gandalf, sir, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything… unnatural."
"No. Perhaps not." Years of experience and jokes, gave Zilda the ability to hear the hint of amusement in the old wizard's voice, "I've thought of a better use for you." She could hear him help Sam off of the table, "Since you seem to know so much of this quest, you will accompany Frodo, as his friend and helper." This was too much for Zilda.
"Oh no!" She exclaimed, leaping to her feet outside the window, "Not without me! Nobody's going anywhere until I know just exactly what's going on." The three in the parlor each turned to stare in her direction, each with a different look on his face. Sam looked at her with relief plastered all over his features, Gandalf's eyes twinkled with amusement and a hint of pride, Frodo looked plain shocked. Zilda crossed her arms and waited impatiently for someone to find a voice.
Gandalf, of course was the first, "Azaldia, I was wondering when you might get here. Come in." The girl quickly obliged, climbing through the window.
"I know what you're all thinking and I just want to let you know that if you don't take me willingly I will follow you. Besides, you can use me." She saw the confused look on Frodo's face, "From what I've heard, this expedition is going to be quite dangerous and quite frankly, neither of you dear boys could defend yourselves against a lame wolf, much less whatever it is that you're going to find yourselves up against. You need me, am I right Gandalf?"
The wizard smiled down at her, "My dear, before you go volunteering yourself, why don't you let me explain what it is that you are volunteering for."
"I don't need an explanation. Frodo goes, I go." Gandalf gave her a questioning look that she didn't answer in words or looks, because she didn't know the answer either.
"All the same," he continued, "I think you do need to know what's going on." Zilda stood waiting. Gandalf took a deep breath, "Frodo is going to Rivendell. He has something in his possession,"
"A ring?" Zilda asked.
Gandalf nodded, "Correct. A ring that is more than just an ordinary ring. It was forged by the Dark Lord, Sauron."
Zilda shuddered. She had read about the Dark Lord and his reign of terror, "But I don't understand. If the Dark Lord was destroyed, like the histories say, then the ring should be harmless, shouldn't it?"
Gandalf sighed, "That's right. If Sauron had been destroyed, the ring wouldn't even be in existence. You see, while the ring remains, so also does the Dark Lord. He is weak, but still he lives. The ring must be destroyed. Frodo is taking it to Rivendell, where its fate will be decided by a council. The minions of Sauron already scour the land, searching for it, which is why it would be wise for Frodo to have protection, such as yours. But the question still remains, will you still go, now that you know his full purpose?"
It took a full second for Zilda to make her decision, "I told you before. If Frodo is going, so am I. I'm not afraid."
Gandalf smiled knowingly, "For some reason, I knew you would say that. But come! Much time has already been wasted and the Dark Lord's minions do not rest." With that, the four companions, took what gear Frodo had and stole stealthily out of the door melting into the night.