The golden bell chimed three times.
As Parker stared at the spot where Eliza vanished, he knew his heart had changed. If it was important for his family that he travel, time travel, then that was what he would do.
He looked up as the last spirit glided towards him. The spirit of the future was not who he expected. No. It was Tobias, the lookalike who looked like his human-hobbit form, who looked like Frodo Baggins. Tobias' face was not cheerful this time, but sullen and mysterious.
Parker wondered if he should be terrified of Tobias or seek his aide.
"Tobias," Parker approached the hobbit spirit, desperate for answers. "Oh Tobias, I'm glad to see you!" He hugged the hobbit spirit, doing his best to keep his composure together.
Tobias pulled away from Parker, straightening himself up and looking absolutely pale. "There'll be enough of that. I am the ghost of your future. I'm sure you wish to see it."
"Well, if it's anything like what the other spirits showed me, it can't be anything more troublesome," Parker admitted, somberly.
"Come with me. It's time for you to see your future," Tobias said, leading Parker to Lamia, which materialized before their eyes.
All around, Parker could see and hear the citizens of Lamia talking about him. Some sort of accident occurred, one he apparently was involved in.
"I'll give you 10 shillings for Parker's nightgown!" one elderly woman declared in a greedy voice.
"10 shillings! That won't be enough, not compared to the mess Parker Dooley rid himself of years ago," another elderly woman cackled. "He won't be needing much where he's going."
"Ai!" an elf declared, sneakily. "He won't be much after the accident that killed him! Terrence must be so devastated."
"What accident?" Parker faced Terrence, confused. "I don't understand."
"Shh! Keep watching," Terrence said, leading the light red dragonoid down the street.
Parker stared at the folk, eavesdropping in on their conversations. Apparently, a fire took place at the Dooley house, close to the village of Pim. The fire destroyed half the forest, leaving him dead. Terrence survived, as did his wife Marjorie, and Slannen survived, upon which Parker saw the elf wander down the streets like a madman, screaming he was alive. But Autumn—dear Autumn—did not make it.
Tobias pressed his hand against Parker's shoulder, allowing the landscape to change again.
They were at a graveyard. Before Parker, he saw Terrence and Marjorie wearing black, mourning for their little girl at her tombstone. Parker gasped in shock and horror. No! How could they lose their daughter like that? It made no sense at all!
Parker turned his gaze to the gravestone he and Tobias stopped by. It was covered in snow. Oh, Parker couldn't bear to look at the tombstone!
"No. This cannot be me. I cannot have this future! I cannot let these events come to pass!" Parker cried. Tobias' face remained sullen and cold.
"These are your future events, should you choose to stay at Terrence's house for years and years, never leaving and growing old a lot quicker than you know. This is your decision," Tobias raised his head, staring fiercely at Parker, "but you choose the opposite path from your destiny. You choose to abandon Frodo Baggins and the fate of your family for comfort, for your comfort zone! Parker, how dare you do such a thing! Do you not care what happens to your family? Do you not care what happens to all of us? It is your fault these events must come to pass!"
Tobias yelled with rage. He calmed down, admitting to the light red dragonoid, who was in great pain. "Your decision affects us all! Do not forget that."
"I won't become like this!" Parker cried out in terror, finding the courage in his heart. "No! I won't be like this anymore! I'll do what the spirits tell me! I'll go. I'll leave Terrence's house and continue my journey, no matter where Aslan takes me, no matter what you decide. I will follow you, always. You, the other spirits, and Aslan. Don't let me see the dragonoid who did wrong here. Let me become the dragonoid I am now!
"Please?" Parker pleaded, grabbing Tobias' jacket. "I want to change! I want to do right! Just let Autumn live!" He wept, collapsing in Tobias' arms, only to land on his bed a moment later.