A/N I am really really pissed at my computer. I had started this chapter and had all gotten it saved on my disc but then it goes and decides to be the stupidest thing since sliced bread! I can't take it! Anyway, thank you to those that reviewed, I really love you guys. LATMC, to answer you question, Elrond does know about Hermione and you will get to see some of that in this chapter. I needed them to do this for some reason. lol. Anyway, thank you all and stick with me here. This is a hard chapter since I didn't know how to say what needed to be said. Thanks and enjoy again. PLEASE REVIEW!. Thank you and love to all. : Infall

Chapter 6

The Journey Begins

Ron entered the small room quickly and quietly. He was the last to come and he felt himself go red as he looked at Gandalf. Him and Fred and George sat in a circle with an empty chair across from the wizard where Ron was obviously meant to sit.

"Sorry" Ron said as he sat down in the wooden chair.

Light shown through the large arched windows and gave the whole room a golden sheen. Ron was going to miss the city. He couldn't believe that today was the day that they were to leave Rivendale. It was still early in the morning and already everything had been packed and they were now ready to go. The only thing that had kept them there was that Gandalf had said he needed to talk to the three hobbits.

Ron thought that it was strange that he just wanted to talk to him and his brothers. He wondered why Harry and the others weren't there. Surly if Gandalf was going to tell them something important they should all be there to hear it.

"Well now that we are all here I can start" the wizard said after taking a puff of his pipe. All three hobbits waited for his next words. "I understand that Harry talked to you when you first met at The Prancing Pony. He told you a lot about why you might be here among other things, but he did not tell you everything. There is, in fact, more to the story then he let on."

Ron couldn't believe his ears. There was more? How could that be possible? So much was already going on, he didn't think he could handle it if something more was added.

He looked at each of his brothers in turn to see if he could tell what they were thinking. Both looked just as shocked and worried as Ron. They all three knew that whatever it was that Gandalf was going to tell them, it wasn't going to be good.

"You must understand that you are counterparts," he said to them. "You are basically the same person as the people you have come to be here in this world. You might share the same personalities or feelings. Even if you may not act like your counterpart deep inside you are one and the same."

"So you are saying that I am similar to this Marry guy that I have become here?" Fred asked.

"I dare say that you and Marry bare a striking resemblance," the wizard said. He smiled at how much Fred reminded him of the crafty hobbit. "It is the same with you and Paragrin Took," he said to George. His eyes then rested on Ron. "You, however, do not appear to be the same as Frodo on the outside, but I believe you two to be one and the same on the inside."

Ron didn't say anything. He just looked back at the old man, waiting for him to continue. There was a moment of silence as they waited.

Gandalf opened his mouth to speak but was cute of suddenly by George.

"So what else is there?" he asked.

Gandalf sighed, clearly annoyed that he had just been interrupted. "I am getting there, you silly Took, if you would just have some patience" he said rather sternly.

Immediately George closed his mouth.

Ron was surprised. It was usually hard for his mom to quite one of the twins but Gandalf had had no trouble what so ever.

"Anyway, what I was going to say," Gandalf started again without any interruptions, "is that counterparts are in different worlds for a reason. Two versions of the same person can't possible exist in the same world. It goes against the natural order of things. That being said, I can now tell you that results."

Everyone in the room watched the wizard with undivided attention. Ron didn't even dare to blink encase he missed what was about to be said. In his chest his heart was beating faster and faster. His palms where sweating and he wiped them against the fabric of his trousers.

"You being here is causing the people who you are counterparts with to fade" he said. "The longer you are here Frodo, Marry, and the others are slowly going away. They aren't gone though. The reside inside of each of you. You might have realised that you act a bit differently sometimes, that is because you are acting as your counterparts would. You are absorbing who and what they are and making it part of yourselves."

"I'm turning into a hobbit!" George declared.

"We are hobbits you big git!" Fred told his twin.

"So if we stay here and then go back to our own world, Frodo and them might not be able to come back?" Ron asked sadly to the wizard.

"Not just that," said Gandalf suddenly becoming very sad. "The longer you remain here and fill their places, the more you become anchored here." He sighed and looked at Ron, who was looking at him in fear, with much sadness. "The truth is, you might not be able to return home."

Ron looked away from Gandalf. He couldn't bare to look at him for the moment. Not with what he just said. He might not be able to go home? What would happen to his parents, or his friends at Hogwarts? He couldn't believe that he might never be able to see them again. What was there left to fight for if he couldn't go back?

Then something came to his realization, Harry and Hermione had known. They had known and hadn't told him.

¤ ¤

Hermione sat in her room. She was supposed to be packing but had stopped somewhere in the process as Elrond walked through the door.

"May I talk?" Elrond asked.

Hermione had a feeling she was not going to like this talk that much.

¤ ¤

Ron stood in Bilbo's room as the old hobbit fussed about the room looking for something. Inside Ron smiled at his "uncle". It made him feel better watching something that looked normal for once, especially after a certain meeting they had had earlier that morning. He had come out of it feeling made and depressed. It was refreshing for him. In the back of his mind he wondered if that was what Frodo felt or if it was really his own feelings. He guessed there was really no why to tell.

"AH!" declared the hobbit. "Here it is!" He pulled out a small sward and sheath and handed it to Ron. "Sting, my old sward" came his smiling replay to the questioning look on Ron's face. "Made by the elves themselves. The blade glows blue when orcs are near and it's times like that my lad, that you need your wits about you."

Ron pulled the sward out of its sheath and held it before himself. It was a beautiful thing, made smoothly and it shined in the morning light.

"Ah, one more thing!" Bilbo cried before rushing off again to find something else.

It was now only a matter of time before they would be leaving, leaving for the unknown. Ron now felt determined with the sward in hand. He would face what ever was going to come.

¤ ¤

Harry stood alone in front of a bench putting things into the sack that he had before him. He was so preoccupied that he had barely realised that someone had joined him and now stood next to him. He looked up to see the tall form of Elrond beside him looking at him.

"You are going to have a hard road in front of you," Elrond said to him. Harry just looked at him. "Many things are going to push you to your limit, but you must never falter. You have the strength in you to do this, even if you don't see it yourself."

Something about how Elrond said this seemed to calm Harry. He didn't want to do this at all, but he was starting to accept the fact that he was going to have to.

For a short time, the two of them just stood there. They didn't need to speak to one each other. They both knew what the other was thinking.

"Watch out for her Harry," Elrond. "Hermione might not be my daughter, but she might as well be. I would not have her go with you, but as it is it isn't my choice anymore." Harry looked down at his feet as Elrond said these words. The last thing he wanted was for any of his friends to be put in danger. Elrond just looked at him.

"No i Melain na le" He said after awhile. "May the Valar go with you."

"Thank you" Harry replayed as Elrond left him alone again.

¤ ¤

A few hours the whole fellowship stood at the southern entrance into Rivendale. Ron stood in front of the whole group as the last few members joined the party that was to leave. He looked as Hermione walked to the group and stood behind him. Something struck him though that worried him. It had looked like she had been crying.

"The journey to Mordor to destroy The One Ring is about to begin" Elrond said. "Those who go, no oath or bond makes you go farther then you will. May the blessings of elves, men, and free folk go with you."

Everyone in the fellowship bowed their heads then waited slowly.

"The Fellowship awaits The Ring barer" Gandalf said from behind Ron.

The group turned as Ron walked through them and out of the gate. Ron could feel everyone's eyes upon him and he took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He only had a moment's peace though as he realised that there were two paths leading off into the woods and he didn't know which lead to Mordor

"Which way to Mordor?" he asked Gandalf desperately.

He could here Gandalf give a small chuckle and smile. "left" he said.

And so the journey had finally begun. None of them knew what was ahead of them or what they were going to have to do to see it through. At that moment everyone's mind was on the feeling of destiny that they each felt wash over them at the same time. It was the end of something, and the start of something else.

A/N I am sorry this is such a weird and short chapter. The next one might be a bit short but it will all be good. Please tell me what you think. I don't know how good it is. lol. PLEASE REVIEW Thank you