Disclaimer- The riddle that is in italics and underlined belongs to Tolkein and can be found in his book The Hobbit. The riddle that is only in italics belongs to me and cannot be used without permission.

Chapter 3- Futures

After a very enjoyable meal of fish with onions, hot buttered bread, and steaming mushrooms (one of the greatest discoveries of hobbits), Smeagol and his friends left his grandmothers home.

It had grown dark and the moon hadn't yet appeared above the trees. Therefore, it was difficult to see as they paddled the boat back to Deagol's dwelling. That didn't bother them too much though since Deagol's eyes were very good. He was very talented at finding lost possessions. Sometimes in corners and in places where others of his kind couldn't because their eyesight wasn't as sharp as his.

Ridigol chattered without ceasing for quite a while as they progressed down the river. She talked about nothing of importance, so her friends tuned her out (which was very rude of them). Therefore Smeagol didn't hear her when she asked them a question.

"What?" Smeagol asked, peering at her, in what little light there was.

"I asked you what you wanted to do with your life once you become of age?" Ridigol looked a little miffed that he had been ignoring her.

"Oh, I don't know. Let's see, let's see," Smeagol thought to himself for a minute. No one had actually asked him that question before. His father built boats, but Smeagol knew that he didn't want to do that. He didn't want to fish either. Maybe he would be like his grandmother and go on an adventure and come back with knowledge hobbits had only dreamed of.

"Yes, that's it, it is, " Smeagol said excitedly, "I shall go on an adventure."

"Where will you go?" Deagol wanted to know.

"To the mountains," said Smeagol (he was referring to the Misty mountains though he didn't know that it was there name), "I shall go see the mountains and learn their deepest secrets."

"Oh," was all that Ridigol said. She pondered this for a while and then addressed Deagol.

"What will you do Deagol?" she asked, turning around to look at him.

"Fish of course," Deagol replied without having to think, "I'm going to catch the biggest fish in the Great River, I am."

"It would have large fish," Ridigol assumed. The three young hobbits had never seen the Great River (also called the Aduin), even though the Gladden River on which they lived branched off it. They could only imagine what kinds of fish, or in Smeagol's case treasure, dwelled in the Aduin.

"What are you going to do Ridigol?" Smeagol returned her question.

"Marry Deagol," she answered. Smeagol began to laugh and Deagol blushed.

"You can't marry Deagol," said Smeagol, "he smells like fish."

"I like the way he smells," said Ridigol hotly.

"We've reached my dock," interrupted Deagol, for they had and he wanted them to talk about another subject.

They exited the boat and Deagol tied it to the dock. They climbed a ladder to the top of the bank and sat there.

Ridigol began counting the stars that she could see. She was on her back and her nut brown hair was fanned out on the grass. Deagol looked at her and thought to himself, ' I guess I could marry Ridigol one day, I could.' Then he turned to watch the moon dance on the ripples of the water.

Smeagol was on his belly observing an ant make its way back to its hole. As he did this he thought back to the skull and wondered what secrets the Misty mountain (where the grandmother thought the skull came from) held for him. Secrets, he wondered, how many were waiting to be discovered? While Smeagol thought, a riddle came to his mind.

Whispered silently ear to ear,

Sometimes it may disappear.

Can be found in deep dark places,

Underground or in our faces.

Must be kept carefully,

or it will be lost for eternity.

A secret. Those words had been one of the first riddles that Smeagol had learned from his grandmother. She had learned the art of playing with words from the elves during her time with them. Smeagol loved playing riddle games with her and had become very good at it.

"Lets play a game of riddles," he suggested to his friends.

"You know I don't like riddles Smea," Deagol groaned.

"Oh let's play Deagol, it will give us something to do," Ridigol said. So Deagol, not wanting to disappoint Ridigol, reluctantly agreed.

"Try to guess this one,"Smeagol said, and he told Deagol the riddle he had been thinking of.

"I do not know what it is Smea," Deagol said after a moment's thought.

"You're not even trying, you aren't," Smeagol scowled. He went back to watching the ant. Ridigol squealed a half a minute later.

"I know what it is, it's a secret."

Smeagol just stared at Ridigol. She had never answered a riddle before.

"Is it my turn to tell you one now?" she asked, and Smeagol nodded. She thought for while and then told her riddle.

"Alive without breath,

As cold as death,

Never thirsty, ever drinking,

All in mail never clinking."

This was a very easy riddle and Smeagol had no trouble coming up with the answer, but Deagol opened his mouth first.

"Fish," he said excitedly. Then a voice came from the home in the bank below them.

"Deagol, it is getting late. Come in now."

"I'm coming mother," Deagol answered. He said goodnight to his friends and then disappeared over the bank. Moments later Smeagol and Ridigol could hear a door closing.

"Let's keep playing," Ridigol said.

"We'd better not," said Smeagol, "It is about time that I went home."

They departed and headed for their separate houses where their families were waiting for them.

After stopping on the way to prod at a rabbit's hole, it did not take long for Smeagol to reach his family's burrow. His father was waiting for the young hobbit when he came in.

"Did you have a good day son?" the boat builder asked.

"Yes, a very good day," Smeagol replied looking at his feet, " it was also a long day and I'm ready for bed." Smeagol began to head for his bedroom.

"Did you catch any fish?" his father inquired, "I'm assuming you did go fishing with Deagol."

"Fish?" Smeagol looked up at his father and then back down at his feet, " I caught a few, but I don't have them any more. I was on my way back home when I bumped into a tree and the string the fish were on fell out of my hand and into the river."

Smeagol was lying of course and his father was not fooled.

"You didn't catch any fish, did you?" he asked. His son shook his head.

"Why not? I suppose you had better things to do, for example digging up ridiculous roots. What is going to come out of looking at roots Smeagol? Nothing. Why can you not do sensible and normal activities for once? You should begin to follow the example of your friend Deagol. He's a good and sensible person. I suppose you think you're higher then all that since your grandmother is who she is."

Smeagol's face began to burn from anger and embarrassment, but his father was not finished.

"Tomorrow, instead of going off with your friends, you will stay here and begin to learn sensible skills. You are my only son and it is time that you learn the respectable trade of boat building. We will commence your lessons early in the morning, so go and get a good nights sleep."

Smeagol was finally dismissed. He headed off to bed very angry with his father. He wanted his father's approval, but life on the Gladden River was very boring. The little river- hobbit wished for a chance to live his dreams. Just a small opportunity was all he needed.