Hello, my readers. Here is the chapter you have been waiting three years for. The introduction of the Avengers to Middle-Earth.
I am sorry I have taken so long to update this story. I got focused on other stories for so long and kinda put this story in the back of my mind for a while. But, I plan on updating this story regularly from now on.
In case you haven't noticed, I changed the first chapter. The most major changes: only Steve, Bucky, and T'Challa have gone, it is set post Civil War, Steve has his Wakandan made gauntlets early, and Bucky has a new vibranium arm and vibranium knives. I'm still trying to decide if I should change Chapter 1 so that either Steve or Bucky doesn't come (T'Challa is staying one way or the other). Let me know what you think.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 2- The Shire
Gandalf smiles and hums to himself as he walks along the path leading towards Hobbiton. At last, the quest for Erebor is almost ready to fully get under way. All he needs to do is get the last member of Company to sign up.
Suddenly, there's a flash of white light off to his left in the woods. Gandalf stops short, gaze fixed on the area where the light came from.
"What was that?" Gandalf whispers to himself. He stands there for a moment, thinking about whether or not to investigate. After a few moments, his curiosity wins, and he begins walking towards the site of the flash.
After a minute, he reaches a clearing. When he is able to see the clearing in full, he stops short at what he sees.
Steve slowly feels consciousness returning to him. He groans, then manages to open his eyes.
Steve finds himself looking up at a clear blue sky. It seems bluer than any sky he's ever seen. Out of the corner of his eyes, he can see the tops of trees.
Steve turns his head to the right, and sees Bucky lying just a few feet from him, also lying on his back. A few feet beyond him, T'Challa is lying on his stomach. Both of them are still unconscious.
"Hello, there!" Steve sits bolt upright and turns to the left, and sees an old man in a gray cloak and gray pointy hat, with a wooden staff in his hand.
Steve looks at him warily. "Hello, sir," he says in a guarded tone.
"Oh, no need for that. I was just worried when I saw the flash, and found you here. Are you alright?" the man says in a cheerful tone.
Steve feels less wary. There's just something about this guy that makes Steve feel he can be trusted. After a moment, he says, "I'm alright. Just a little dazed, I guess. My two friends still need to be woken up, though."
The man nods and walks forward. He kneels down beside T'Challa and starts trying to shake him awake as Steve does the same for Bucky.
It doesn't take too long before the two start to stir. The old man stands up and takes a step back.
T'Challa and Bucky both open their eyes after a few more moments and slowly sit up. Bucky looks right at Steve and says, "Ugh. Steve. Where are we?"
"You are in the Shire," the old man says cheerfully, drawing T'Challa and Bucky's attention to him. Both look at him warily before Steve says, "Easy, guys. He's just a traveler who saw us and wanted to make sure we were okay."
T'Challa looks back to the man and nods respectfully. "We are grateful for your concern," he says.
"Well, you're at least still in one piece," he says cheerfully. Steve feels a grin start to make it onto his face.
Steve helps Bucky to his feet, and T'Challa also stands. They face the old man, and Steve says, "Thank you, sir. I think it's time for introductions. My name is Steve Rogers, formerly known as Captain America."
"I'm Bucky Barnes. People used to call me the Winter Soldier," Bucky says.
"I am T'Challa. The Black Panther, and king of Wakanda," T'Challa says.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, sirs. I am Gandalf. Gandalf the Gray. I am a wizard," Gandalf says.
Steve and the others share a glance. Gandalf notices this and wonders at it. Before he can ask anything, Steve asks, "You said we're in the Shire? Where is that? Is it in Europe? Asia? South America?"
Gandalf looks very confused. "I have never heard of those lands. Where are they in Arda?"
Steve feels a bad feeling creeping up on him. "Wait? You don't know those name? …What planet is this?" he asks.
"This is the world of Arda. You are in the Shire, which is in western Middle-Earth," Gandalf informs them.
Steve turns to Bucky and T'Challa. Bucky looks genuinely worried at the fact they seem to have gone to another world, while T'Challa looks only minorly concerned.
After a few moments, Steve turns back to Gandalf, who again looks confused at their reactions. "Mr. Gandalf. This may seem hard to believe, but we don't come from this world. We're from another planet," he says.
Gandalf raises an eyebrow. "Really? Another world you say?" he asks. After a moment of silence, he asks, "How did you come to this world?"
T'Challa takes over. "In my country, my sister had constructed a device that she thought would allow travel to other worlds. It malfunctioned, sending out a pulse of energy that sent us to this world."
Gandalf slowly nods. "I see. And I assume you do not know how to reserve this, or to return to your world in any way?" he asks.
Steve shakes his head sadly. "Unfortunately not. Without that device, we don't know how," he says.
Gandalf nods with understanding. "I see. Well, if you would like it, I and several others might be able to help you find a way home. If you would care to join me on my journey, we will be able to meet the others along the way," he says.
Steve turns to Bucky and T'Challa. The three of them have a brief silent conversation. After a few moments, understanding passes between them, and both Bucky and T'Challa nod.
Steve turns back to Gandalf. "We would be glad to accompany you, Gandalf," he says.
Gandalf grins. "Good! Then we must make haste. I must reach Hobbiton quickly," he says.
Gandalf turns and heads back towards the road. Steve, Bucky, and T'Challa hurry to catch up.
"Where are we going, Gandalf? If you don't mind me asking" Steve asks.
"Not at all, Steve. At the moment, we are headed to the village of Hobbiton, the most well known settlement in the Shire, in order to see an old friend," Gandalf says with a smile.
A few hours later, the group of four enter Hobbiton. Steve, Bucky, and T'Challa all look around in surprise at Hobbiton's residents. Each of them is about half their height!
The inhabitants of Hobbiton look equally as surprised at their visitors. They seem to recognize Gandalf, so they assume that Gandalf has been here at least several times. But, they also guess that humans (assuming these people aren't humans) don't come around very often. These short people look intrigued by their arrival. They seem particularly surprised by T'Challa and his dark skin.
After just a few minutes, Bucky hurries up right next to Gandalf and asks him quietly, "Excuse me, Gandalf. But I have to ask? Are these humans? Or dwarves?"
Gandalf chuckles. "No, they are not dwarves. You'll soon find out the difference. No, these are Hobbits. They look similar to men, the most obvious difference being their height. They are also very passive, and prefer to keep to themselves here in the Shire," he says.
"I can understand why," Bucky says as he looks around. The Shire is a beautiful place, and seems very peaceful. Since he broke free of HYDRA, he's found himself wanting a simple life. He finds himself a little jealous of these hobbits as he looks around, seeing what kind of peaceful lifestyle they live.
"Who are we going to see Gandalf?" Steve asks.
"A hobbit I have known for some time. His name is Bilbo Baggins. He leaves in the hobbit hole at the top of this hill, known as Bag End," Gandalf replies.
"Why are we going to see him?" Bucky asks.
"You will see," Gandalf says. All three Earth natives look at him, thinking just how interesting Gandalf is.
The four of them hike up the hill towards the hobbit hole Gandalf mentioned. As they reach the top of the hill, Steve, Bucky, and T'Challa get a view of the place Gandalf called "Bag End". A nice garden is planted out front. And sitting out front on a bench, smoking a pipe, is a hobbit dressed in a yellow vest and brown trousers. But that's not what shocks the three of them. He looks just like Agent Ross!
The three stand there in amazement as Gandalf approaches. The hobbit, Bilbo, sits there with his eyes closed as he blows a smoke ring. Then, to their amazement, Gandalf turns the ring into a butterfly, which flutters through the air before hitting Bilbo on the nose lightly, bursting apart as Bilbo opens his eyes. He shakes his head a bit before noticing Gandalf. Steve, Bucky, and T'Challa, all standing a little bit down the road from Gandalf by a few yards, escape his notice.
Bilbo looks at Gandalf for a moment before saying, "Good morning."
"What do you mean? Do you mean to wish me a good morning, or do you mean that it is a good morning, whether I want it or not? Or perhaps you mean to say that you feel good on this particular morning? Or perhaps you are simply saying that this is simply a morning to be good on?" Gandalf replies.
Bucky barely manages to suppress a snigger, and both Steve and T'Challa grin a bit. None of them can think of anyone who could draw so many meanings out of such a simple phrase.
Bilbo seems perplexed by this response from Gandalf. After a few moments, he slowly says, "All of them at once I suppose."
Gandalf just looks at Bilbo for a few more moments. Feeling a little uncomfortable, Bilbo asks, "Can I help you?"
"Well, that remains to be seen. I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure," Gandalf says.
Bilbo looks a little alarmed at that. After a moment, he says, "An adventure? No, I don't think anyone west of Bree would have any interest in adventures." He walks up to his mailbox and says, "Nasty, disturbing, uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner."
He opens his mailbox and removes his letters. He starts going through them, pretending not to notice Gandalf, and still not noticing Steve and his companions. After a few moments, he looks up at Gandalf and says, "Well, good morning."
He turns to walk back into Bag End, but stops when Gandalf says loudly, "To think I had lived to be 'Good Morning'd by Belladona Took's son, as if I were selling buttons at the door."
Steve, Bucky, and T'Challa look at Gandalf, a little intrigued at seeing Gandalf has a fiery side.
Bilbo looks confused. "What?" he asks.
"You've changed, and not entirely for the better, Bilbo Baggins," Gandalf says.
Bilbo looks even more confused, feeling he's missing something. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" he asks Gandalf in confusion.
"Well, you remember my name. Although you don't remember I belong to it. I'm Gandalf! And Gandalf means…well...me," Gandalf says.
Recognition begins to cross Bilbo's face. After a moment, he points his pipe towards Gandalf and says, "Gandalf. Not Gandalf, the wandering wizard, who made such excellent fireworks! Old Took used to have them on Midsummer's Eve. Hmm. No idea you were still in business."
"And where else should I be?" Gandalf demands.
Bilbo chuckles nervously. Steve gets a feeling he knows what Bilbo's answer would be as he kind of points his pipe around before putting the end back to his mouth and taking a few puffs.
"Well, I'm pleased you remember something about me. Even if it's only my fireworks," Gandalf says.
He waits for a moment, then decides it's a prime time to introduce his companions. He turns to Steve and the others and says, "Bilbo Baggins. I would like to introduce some new friends of mine to you."
Bilbo looks towards them and looks surprised at the three of them standing there. Gandalf gives a mental chuckle before saying, "This is Captain Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, and King T'Challa."
Bilbo's eyes widen a little at the word king, and he stares at T'Challa. Gandalf takes advantage of his amazement to ask, "I trust that the Baggins family hospitality is as good as when I last visited."
Bilbo looks at Gandalf and says proudly, "Of course it is!"
"Well then, perhaps I could ask you a favor. These three have been brought from their homeland by some unknown power, and cannot get back home. I have some business to attend to, and I was hoping you would allow them to stay at your home for a brief time. Until tomorrow morning at most," Gandalf says.
Bilbo stands there, caught. He can't back out now, and he feels a little pity for the three. Plus, he feels it be extremely improper to turn away a king! So, after a moment, he says, "Of course."
Bilbo unlocks his front gate and motions for his new guest to come in. They smile and all walk into the garden. Bilbo closes the gate behind them, not wanting to let Gandalf in.
"Well, I shall be back later," Gandalf says.
"Very well," Bilbo says before turning and trying to hurry his guests inside so he can get away from Gandalf, not wanting him to bring up the adventure again.
Steve, Bucky, and T'Challa all duck their heads to avoid hitting their heads on the low doorframe. Entering the hobbit hole, they realize that the home is Hobbit sized, and while they could stand up in the rooms, they had to be careful, and had to duck down to avoid hitting their heads when going between rooms.
"Well, if you all want to take a seat in the sitting room, I can bring you something to drink," Bilbo says.
"Thank you, Bilbo. That would be nice," Steve says as he, Bucky, and T'Challa move into the sitting room and take seats around the fireplace, though there is no fire lit. Bilbo heads into the kitchen to grab mugs and a water jug.
None of them notice Gandalf walk up to the door, put a mark on it using his staff, and walk away, smiling to himself.
I hope you guys liked that chapter.
For those of you who haven't seen it, I have a new Star Wars/Lord of the Rings crossover up called Middle-Earth and the Mandalorian. Go check it out, please.
I don't have anything else to say. Except to please review, and stay tuned for the next chapter.
