Hello again. Have reviews, will write! Thanks everyone! Replies are at end of chappie. All the names are taken from Tolkien's Brandybuck family tree and are the real names of Merry's family members. Enjoy!

A/N: I reposted this chapter with revisions—I accidentally put Wall instead of Hedge the whole way through! I feel silly. I know no-one picked it up, but I had to change it anyway. I've also included the link to DotComElf's bio.

Merry woke early the next morning. The dark was slowly beginning to lift; the first pale rays of the sun had begun to float through his window. He hurriedly sat up and threw off his blankets. The hobbit quickly discovered why this was not a good idea, and waited for the room to finish spinning before continuing.

He had prepared the night before, and was already dressed for his expedition. This time he was a little more prepared for any chance meetings—in fact he had taken measures to prevent them as far as possible. Hauling a large, heavy bag lying on the floor onto his back, he opened the round window and scrambled out, landing in the thickly foliaged bushes underneath.

He followed the path he had planned the night before. It largely avoided houses and holes, and kept to the back lanes where there was less chance of discovery. It wandered through fields, keeping close to trees and shadowed walls. It climbed hills and dived into thickets and jogged warily over the occasional open meadow.

Gradually it ceased to turn and twist about in search of shelter, and plodded steadily onwards. Always Merry's eyes were ahead of him on this last stretch, straining to catch a glimpse of his goal.

And then, suddenly through the mists of the early morning, it was there. It loomed up through the haze as Merry stumbled out of the brush. The haze burned away, and the Hedge stood before him: strong, dependable, glowing bright with the morning sun, and somehow safe. The last frontier of the world, it seemed to Merry—beyond it were strange and alien lands, and therefore not lands any hobbit should bother much about. Somehow though, Merry was intrigued by the white spaces on the edges of Shire maps.

He approached the wall, and looked up and down its length. To his right, there was nothing of note—just a line of leafy Hedge.. To his left, however, it was a different story altogether. Merry started in surprise as his eyes came to rest on a familiar face.

"Berry!"

"Ha! Caught you again, cousin!" The face—that of a young hobbit, near Merry himself in years—sprang into a broad grin and laughed triumphantly. "That's twice in three days!"

"Not again," cried Merry by way of greeting. "I thought I'd escaped this time. I've been preparing for days, but it appears you have been doing the same for longer."

"Perhaps, and perhaps not," said Berry. His real name was Berilac but, like his cousin's, it was seldom remembered. "Meanwhile I think I deserve to know why we are standing at the very borders of the Shire at six o'clock in the morning!"

"In that case," said Merry, "I deserve to know why you are standing at the very borders of the Shire at six o'clock in the morning, voluntarily."

"I asked first," said his cousin. "So you have to answer first, and then we'll see if I am inclined to reply."

"Well," said Merry, and looked very sheepish. He stared at the ground and scuffed his foot in the dirt. "I don't really know. There isn't really any reason. I just wanted to come. I…never really thought about why."

A knowing look came into Berry's eyes. "I thought as much."

"What?"

"It is almost time. You're being—" his voice dropped in awe—"prepared."

"I'm what?"

"Never mind. Maybe I'm wrong; you seem too young to understand." A teasing look came into Berry's eyes.

"Berilac Brandybuck! Stop this nonsense and speak plainly, or you won't like the consequences!" said Merry, annoyed. He knew this was just the reaction his cousin wanted, and he couldn't help it.

Berry was giggling, but soon became serious. "Haven't you heard anything about this yet?"

"No—what are you talking about?"

"Do you see that gate down there?"

Merry looked past Berry and followed the direction of his pointing finger. About a hundred yards away, he saw a depression in the hedge like a hole leading through it. He bobbed his head around and craned his neck to get a better view.

"Have you seen it before?" asked Berry.

"No. What in the Shire is it there for?"

Berry looked his younger cousin in the eye. He beckoned him closer, and whispered with much pride into his ear.

Merry considered this momentous news for a moment, and then asked sceptically, "How do you know? If no-one has ever told me, I don't know why they would tell you instead."

"Well, I am older than you by two years, for a start. But in any case, my father enlightened me when I was your age, and your father shall tell you presently."

"I am not sure I want to be told," said Merry unhappily. "It would make it seem too real somehow—if it is true." He looked up at the Hedge, and the shade beyond it. Somehow the Forest did not seem so fascinating as it had. It looked decidedly darker, gloomier and just a little menacing. Merry felt he had overstayed his welcome—the sight of the edges of the great Outside was too much for one small young hobbit. He said something about breakfast to Berry, and escaped back to safety.

Once breakfast was over, Merry felt decidedly braver, and decided to tackle his parents on the issue. His mother would be of no use, being a Took by birth. That left his father, Saradoc.

Saradoc proved hard to find, but through various enquiries Merry eventually located him in his study. He was not writing, though paper, pens and ink were scattered over the desk. The hobbit was sitting back in his chair, smoking thoughtfully. Merry entered cautiously.

"Father?"

Saradoc broke out of his reverie calmly enough and turned to the door. "Why hello, Merry! Come in, I won't bite you."

Merry happily approached, and was lifted onto his father's knee. "I hardly see you nowadays, popping in and out like a bird with a nestful of chicks. What have you been up to, eh?" Saradoc ruffled his little son's soft brown hair.

"I've been finding things out," said Merry.

"Really? What sort of things?"

"Very mysterious things. Forests and Gates in Hedges. And Brandybucks."

A slightly troubled look came into Saradoc's kind brown eyes. "What have you found out, lad?"

"There is a gate in the Hedge, near the Old Forest."

"And you know why it's there?"

"Yes. Cousin Berry said I was old enough to know."

"Know what?"

Merry took a deep breath and recited what Berry had told him. "Every Brandybuck must go through the gate when they reach twelve years of age. There is a grownup with him—for a while. Then he must stay in the Forest for an hour, alone." Merry looked up at his father with wide eyes. "Is it true? He said it was almost my time…" His voice trailed off.

"He was right on both counts. You've seen twelve summers. It will be your turn very soon." Merry's father paused. "And I will be with you."

Merry relaxed—he had unconsciously been tense as a spring while waiting for a response. His thoughts became calmer as he considered this new development.

It still seemed a daunting prospect, staying in the Old Forest alone—but it had now taken on the look of an adventure.

Thanks so much everyone who reviewed—six reviews for one chappie! Yee-ha! Anyway, replies:

NightDaughter: Thank you! I thought it was too!

blah and bass: thanks heaps! He he...I told you to review and you still like it! This is good:)

thelightwithin: Um, thanks, cl…I feel so encouraged…

Lady Meriadoc: Wow—I'm honoured! Glad I made an impression with a true fan. I'll try and clear it up for you; we'll see where my muse takes it. Thanks so much!

Birch tree: I am writing more, and I don't plan on stopping any time soon—this is way too much fun!

Eregriel Gloswen: Many thanks for the encouragement, as per usual! Well, Elf overload was part of the reason for this fic actually. Hopefully you'll enjoy it as much as I will!

I shall now indulge in some shameless plugging:

First off, for anyone who isn't aware, which seems to be most of you, I have a C2 community, and it needs staff! It's called LotR Cutting Room Floor, I do believe two of Eregriel Gloswen's fics are in it, and I am very proud of it so please go to my bio and look at it, if nothing else. Thank you Eregriel Gloswen for joining!

Secondly, everyone go and read my pal DotComElf's debut fic! It's called Life and Those Who Live it, it's a LotR fic and it's suffering from a sad lack of reviewers so far. It's a little bit angsty and will involve the whole Fellowship, chapter by chapter. More than that I'm not saying, but it's worth reading, and we all know how much a new writer needs encouragement to continue, and refine their skills. You'll find it here: http: you enjoyed the chapter, review if physically possible or I'll bite your legs off, and may you visit Middle-earth at least once in your life!