Sorry for the long delay. I hope this chapter was worth the wait. :)

*.*.*

Bubble Transformation

.oOo.

Amelia followed Frodo closely. Dusk arrived and with it a pale moonlight rising across the land. Some people stayed out late, while others returned to the seclusion of their homes.

Amelia looked up as Frodo wrapped an arm around her, keeping her close in a romantic setting. It wasn't that Amelia was cold. It was just that Frodo wanted to be sweet. Amelia found it satisfying.

"We should be close to the hotel now!" Balin announced for all to hear.

Melvin hissed. Something about the air unsettled him. He whispered to Balin, hoping the dwarf would hear him. The dwarf didn't. That foolish dwarf inched closer to the water. No! Balin was setting the cage down! Melvin couldn't stand it. He tried calling out to Balin, even to Kili, but to no avail.

In seconds, Balin and Kili were in the water and Melvin was trapped inside a cage. He needed to get out of here, but how was he to get out of the cage? Melvin chewed on the cage wires, doing his best to break free.

It took him a couple of minutes, but at last, he was through! He zipped away from sight, deciding it was better that he stay hidden… for now. Oh, Melvin hoped Frodo and Amelia weren't going through the same fates, if they were lucky not to do anything rash. That would have been bad. Melvin decided it was best to keep out of sight at least for a while.

.

Amelia sniffed the air. Something was off. Something salty. She turned to Frodo, surprised to see his gaze was distant as if he was drawn to a lovely tune.

Wait a minute. Lovely tune?

"Do you hear that?" Frodo asked, inching closer to the water.

"Frodo, they're sirens! Frodo, wait!" Amelia said, trying to draw her husband to her. She tried to get him to look at her, but nothing. Frodo was being pulled towards the water. "Frodo, don't! Frodo, come back here! PLEASE!"

"That sound… it's so beautiful. If only I could hear what they are saying," Frodo said, dazed. In seconds, he was grabbed by a slimy hand, forcing Amelia to let him go as Frodo fell into the water.

"Frodo!" Amelia cried, hoping her husband survived, but she feared the worst.

.

Frodo opened his eyes. He was underwater with only the sounds of the water drumming in his ears. He looked around, surprised to see merfolk leading him closer to a bubble. Frodo was drawn closer to the source. He wanted to flee, but he couldn't.

The next thing he knew, he was forced towards the bubble. In seconds, his body transformed. His shirt came off, leaving him bare chested, while his legs moved together, becoming one and turning into a tail. His breeches were gone. All that was left was a dark blue tail with light blue fins. His tail was scaly but swam beautifully with the water.

Frodo opened his mouth, surprised that he could breathe underwater. He felt so alive, so free. He turned his gaze to the King and Queen of the merfolk. The King had a beard and his hair was silver, while his Queen had flowing brown hair. The Queen looked so mesmerizing, almost like her powers were growing stronger by the day, same as her King.

Frodo turned around, stunned to see Balin with a red lionfish tail. This was unbelievable. How did Balin get turned into a merman—eh, a mer-dwarf?

"Balin, what are you doing here?" Frodo asked, swimming up to the mer-dwarf.

"I would ask you the same question, mer-hobbit," Balin said, placing his hands on his hips.

"You're one of us now," the Queen said, getting Frodo and Balin's attention.

"Go out there and hunt," the King told Frodo and Balin.

"We could have need of you both," the Queen said with a smirk. "You see, we have so many females and not enough males. So, we eat the females, while we keep the males to ourselves."

"This is your home now. The Sea has called you here," the King told Frodo and Balin. "Now, go out there and hunt. Choose any home you wish to live at. We have room. Go!"

Frodo sniffed the air. Already, his hunting instincts were on the move. He wanted something to munch on, but what? He tore off, not looking back at the King and Queen as they laughed maniacally.

It was good evening to be a mer-hobbit, if Frodo said so himself.

End of Part I.