A/N: I'm glad you really enjoy my story, Celtic Cross. It's neat to have a fan as dedicated as you. :D
Chapter 6: Shortcut to Mushrooms
At dawn the next morning, Gandalf took a chesnut mare and brought it with him as he led Frodo, Valia, and Sam into the woods. Sam was lagging behind.
"Come along, Samwise, keep up," Gandalf shouted as he stopped. "Be careful, all of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: birds, beasts…" He looked over at Frodo. "Is it safe?" Frodo nodded. "Never put it on for the agents of the Dark Lord will be drawn to its power. Always remember, Frodo: the Ring is trying to get back to its master; it wants to be found."
Gandalf rode off into the woods, and the hobbits set off in a different direction. They passed through the trees and into the countryside. They rested beside a water fall then continued on, reaching crop fields. They were passing through a potato patch when Sam suddenly stopped.
"This is it," he said.
Frodo and Valia turned to him. "This is what?" Frodo asked.
"If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been," Sam explained.
Frodo walked back to him. "Come on, Sam." Sam sighed then continued walking. Frodo put his hand on his shoulder. "Remember what Bilbo used to say? It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Frodo and Valia walked down a path between crops of corn far taller than themselves.
"Frodo! Valia!" Sam called from far behind. Frodo took her hand, and they ran back to find him. Sam sighed when he saw them. "I thought I'd lost you."
"What are you talking about?" Frodo asked.
"It's just something Gandalf said."
"What did he say?" Valia asked.
"Don't you loose them, Samwise Gamgee. And I don't mean to."
"Sam, we're still in the Shire. What could possibly happen?" Frodo asked.
Merry and Pippin suddenly ran out of the corn. Merry ran into Sam, and they both fell to the ground while Pippin ran into Valia who fell on top of Frodo.
"Frodo!" Pippin said as Frodo and Valia stared at each other in surprise for a moment before quickly regaining their footing. "Merry, it's Frodo Baggins!"
"Hello, Frodo!" Merry said.
Sam shoved Merry off him and stood.
"And look, Valia's here too!" Pippin added.
"What's the meaning of this?" Frodo asked.
Merry put an armful of cabbages in Sam's arms. "Hold these."
"You've been into Farmer Maggot's crop!" Sam accused.
Dogs were heard barking, and they all looked back. A reaper could be seen over the heads of the corn then Farmer Maggot's voice was heard. "Oi! Get back here! Get out of my fields! You know what's going to happen when I catch up with you?"
Merry and Pippin grabbed Frodo and Valia and ran into the crop of corn. Sam followed moments later. Valia ran ahead with the others following when she suddenly realized the ground was disappearing quickly. She screamed as she fell over the edge of the cliff.
"Valia!" Frodo didn't get to worry too long about her because he was soon toppled over the cliff with Merry, Pippin, and Sam. They landed in a tangled mess below. Pippin's face was inches from a pile of manure.
"Oh, that was close," he said.
"Ah, I think I've broken something," Merry muttered then pulled a broken carrot from beneath him.
Valia laughed and they all looked up to see her sitting in a tree nearby. While Frodo helped her down, the others suddenly spotted mushrooms and started arguing over them. Frodo walked onto the road with Valia beside him.
"We should get off the road," she whispered.
Frodo nodded but didn't move. A screech was heard, and Valia took his hand and pulled him away. She grabbed Sam as well then Merry and Pippin followed her under the root of a tree. Merry and Pippin fought over the bag of mushrooms until Sam took it from them and hushed them. A rider in black stopped near their hiding place and dismounted. It leaned over the root sniffing.
Valia looked over at Frodo; he had his eyes closed and was reaching for the Ring. With no other idea to keep him from putting it on, Valia kissed him like she had at the Green Dragon. The rider left and she released him. He stared at her, his mouth hanging open, but before he could speak she grabbed his hand and pulled him from their hiding place. The others followed quickly.
"What was all that about?" Merry shouted as they ran, but he went unanswered.
Valia finally stopped at dusk glancing around the trees.
"Anything?" Merry asked.
"Nothing," Valia replied.
"What is going on?" Pippin muttered, plopping onto the ground nearby.
"That black rider was looking for something…or someone." Merry stepped up to his cousin. "Frodo?"
Frodo glanced at him but said nothing.
"Get down!" Pippin hissed.
All of them knelt down, and Valia glanced around the plants to see another rider in black.
"We have to leave the Shire," Frodo whispered to Merry. "We must get to Bree."
"Right…" Merry nodded then hit Frodo's shoulder. "Buckleberry Ferry! Follow me."
They followed quickly after Merry, but Frodo and Valia were suddenly cut off by a dark rider.
"Run!" Merry shouted. "This way, Frodo! Follow me!"
Frodo and Valia ran between the legs of the rider's horse. The rider gave chase.
"Go!" Frodo called to the others.
"Get the rope, Sam!" Merry ordered.
"Come on Frodo, Valia. Jump!" Pippin called.
Frodo and Valia leapt onto the raft. Valia sat up watching three riders leave, schreeching.
"How far to the nearest crossing?" Frodo asked, helping Valia to her feet.
"The Brandywine Bridge. Twenty miles," Merry replied.